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fniiiiiii^iii'iiriT/ PUBLIC I
3 1833 00827 9108
COUNTIES
OF
HITLEY® NOBLE,
IN^DIANA.
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
ILaLaUSTRA^RD
Historicai^^EdUac^ - ■- ^^^^
Biographieal Editor.
CHICAGO:
F. A. BATTEY & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1882.
PREFACE.
1143267
THIS volume goes forth to our patrons the result of months of arduous,
unremitting and conscientious labor. None so well know as those who
have been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met
with in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the inauguration
of the enterprise, nearly one year ago, a large force has been employed — both
local and other — in gathering material. During this time, upward of three
thousand persons have been called upon in the two counties, to contribute from
their recollections, carefully preserved letters, scraps of manuscript, printed
fragments, memoranda, etc. Public records and semi-official documents have
been searched, the newspaper files of the counties have been overhauled, and
former citizens, now living out of the counties, have been corresponded with,
all for the purpose of making the record as complete as could be, and for the
verification of the information by a conference with many. In gathering from
these numerous sources, both for the historical and biographical departments,
the conflicting statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete
nature of public documents were almost appalling to our historians and biog-
raphers, who were expected to weave therefrom with any degree of accuracy, in
panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree
as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other's statements as to
dates of births, of settlement in the county, nativity and other matters of fact.
In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance of
authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability
to furnish a perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of our
promises, and given as complete and accurate a work as the nature of the sur-
roundings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not
and will not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured that all
just and thoughtful people will appreciate our efforts, and recognize the impor-
tance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been accomplished
in preserving the valuable historical matter of the county and biographies
of many of its citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed into oblivion.
To those who have given us their support and encouragement, and they are
many, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years go by
the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing reading matter,
but of treasured information of the past, and become a monument more en-
during than marble.
May, 1882. THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTEl^TS
PART I.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
CHAPTEK I. Paoe.
Abstract of Assessors' Report 32
Blooded Stock 26
Boundaries 12
Church and School Statistics 32
Climatic Conditions 11
County Agricultural Society 23
County Press 27
Cranberry Marshes 12
Geological Features 21
Hints on Drainage 13
Lakes and Rivers 12
Mean Temperature 13
Medical Practitioners 21
Peat and Iron 22
Railroads 31
Sanitary Condition 15
State Ditches, Table of IT
Surface and Soil 12
Tile Manufacture 18
Whitley County Medical Associa-
tion 18
CHAPTER II.
Arrival of Settlers 51
French Traders 44
Hardin's (Col.) Defeat 41
Harmar's (Gen.) Expedition 41
Indian Customs 61
Indian Trails and Villages 42
Indians of Whitley 35
Little Tui tie and Coesse 38
Mound-Builders 33
Seek's Village 38
Treaties of Cession 43, 45, 47
Treaties with the Miamis 36
CHAPTER IV. Page.
Bounty and Relief Funds 91
Deserters, Arrest of 87
Drafts, The 85
Fall of Sumter, Excitement over... 76
Field Work, Record of. 91
78
75
Newspaper Animosities..
" Pap Shoemaker's Fort"
Public Sentiment in 1861
Quotas, Condition of
Roll of Honor
Soldiers' Aid Society
Soldiers of the Earlier Wars.,
Soldiers of the Mexican War.
Volunteers, Roll of First..
CHAPTER III.
Bench and Bar 64
Boundaries, County 56
Circuit Court, First Term of... 58
County Courts, First 57
County Officers, First 57
County Officers, Table of 66
County Seat, Location of. 57
County Seat, Survey of. 58
Election, First 56
Horse-Thieves and Regulators 71
.Jurors, First Grand 61
Jury, First Petit 62
Land Entries, First 55
Murder, The First 63
Naturalization, The First 64
Origin of Name 56
Perjury, First Case of. 62
Pioneer Life 73
Political Caucus, First 68
Presidential Vote 71
Probate Court, The First 64
Public Buildings, First 64
Settlements, First 56
State Roads 72
Surveys, Table of. 64
Trial For Forgery 62
74
75
78
War Meetings 76
Town$«Iiip Histories.
CHAPTER V.
Columbia City and Township 98
Birth, The First 105
Business Firms, List of. 108
City of Columbia, Platting of. .101
Churches 117
Court, First 105
Election, First 102
Election Laws from 1838-52 103
General Industries 107, 111
Grain Traffic 112
Hotel, First 105
Marriage, First 105
Merchant, First 106
Mill, First 107
Organization of Columbia City ..113
Organization of Township 102
Railroads 113
Secret Societies 121
School Officers 115
School Revenues 115
Schools and Teachers 114
Settler, First 105
Sunday Schools 116
Whirligig of Politics.
Page.
Schoolhouses and Districts.... 131
Secret Orders 133
Settlers, First 123
South Whitley 132
CHAPTER VII.
Richland Township 135
Biographical 153
Birth, First •""•,^^
Church Organizations 146,155
County Officers, Early 142
Crimes and Casualities 144
Death, First 145
Election, First 137
Elections, Presidential .138
Educational 147
Indian Trails 136
Individual Reminiscences 161
Inn.The First 153
Jurors, Grand and Petit 142
Lakes and Streams 136
LarwiU Village 151, 157
Lorane Village 158
Marriages, Early 143
Mercantile Enterprises 152
Mill, First 153, 155
Mill. First Steam Saw 162
Name, Origin of 136
Organization 136
Land Entries, Original 148
Officers, First 138
Physicians, Early 151
Post Office, First 161
Pioneers as Experts 143
Railroads 151
Richland's Volunteers 163
School and Church Buildings,
^-* ,::;:::::::::l67
.104
CHAPTER VI.
Cleveland Township 122
Area and Population 123
Ashery, First 127
Birth, First 125
Business Men
Cemeteries .
.125
Churches and Ministers 131
Collamer Village 134
Death, First 125
Early Elections 132
Indians, The 125
Land Entries, First 124
Marriages, First 128
Merchants, Eariy 126
Mills, Early 126
Organization IfJ
Origin of Name 122
Roads 124
Schools, Early
Secret Orders
Settlers, Early 164
Settler, First 137
Summit Village 161
Tax Exhibits 142
Tax List, 1838 142
Township Officers 141
Voters, The First 138
CHAPTER VIII.
Smith Township 171
Birth, First 175
Churubusco ]'°
Churubiisco County Press 183
Church, First •• 183
Conviction for Passing Coun-
terfeit Bill 177
Conviction for Perjury 17T
Fatal Accident 175
Marriage, First • 175
Mercantile and Industrial 178
Mill, First 176
Mill, Second 177
Murder, First 176
Organization 173
CONTENTS.
Page.
Origin of Name 171
Pioneer Tribulations 173
Post Office, First 177
Secret Societies 1S4
Schoolhouse, First 175 '•
Settlers, First 171
Tayems, Early 176
Terrific Explosion 185
Tragic Fate 177
CHAPTER IX.
Union Township 185
Adventures in the Woods 187
Amusements, Early .193
Births, Early 193
Bridge, First 193
Church History 196
Coesse A'illage 194
Death, First 193
Experiences, Earlv 191
FatalFall 188
Good Templars Lodge 195
Growth of Township 186
Justices of the Peace. Early 186
Marriage, First 193
Mills 188,194
Organization 185
Physician, First 186
School Teacher, First 188
Settlers, Early 186
Tavern, First 194
Traders, First 186, 194
Wartburg College 196
CHAPTER X.
■Washington Township 198
Church Societies _ 203
Election, First 201
Land Entries, Early 201
Marriages, First 201
Mill, Early 205
Organization 198
Origin of Name 198
Physicians, First 202
Post Office, First 202
Roads 203
Schools and School Statistics.... 202
Settler, First 198
Tax Assessment 201
CHAPTER XI.
Jeiteeson Township 205
Adoption of Name 212
Page, i
Blacksm'th. First 207 I
Clergy and Churches 214
Forest Adventures 208 ]
Forest Village 216 :
Mastodontic Remains 212 i
Mills, Firet 213 |
Organization 212
Pioneer Customs 207 !
Postal Facilities 216 ■
Raccoon Village 211 '
Road, First 206 j
Schools and Schoolhouses 213
Secret Societies 216
Settlement, The Early 206
Settlers, Early 207 ;
CHAPTER XII. I
Thorn Creek Township 217
Birth, First 221
Bloomfield Village 223
arcuit Court, First 225
Election, First- 221
Fatalities 225
Lakes 218
Matrimonial 224
Mills and Manufactures 223 I
Name, Derivation of 217 I
Physical Features 218 i
Religious Societies 225
Schools and Teachers 221
Settlement, Early 218
Social Life 222
Surface Features 226
CHAPTER XIIL
Tbot Township 226
Address of E. L. Barber 231
Birth. First 228
Churches 229
Educational Reunion 230
Election, First 226
Roads and Mills 228 I
Old Settlers' Reunion 230
Organization 226
Origin of Name 226
Physical Features 229
Prominent Citizens 229
Roll of Settlers 227
Schools and Teachers 228
Settlers, First 227
Taxes, First 228
CHAPTER XIV. Page.
Etna Township 234
Birth, First 235
Characteristics of Population. ..236
Cold Springs Village 235
Death. First 235
Etna Village 236
Mills and Tanneries 235
Schools and Churches .235
Settlers, First -234
Wedding, First 235
Biogrrapliical Sketches.
Cleveland Township 286
Columbia City 237
Columbia Township 278
Etna Township 423
Jefferson Township 391
Richland Township 307
Smith Township 328
Thorn Creek Township 402
Troy Township 413
Washington Township 376
Union Township 354
Portraits.
Austin, Stephen S 119
Broxon, James 209
Collins, Richard 39
Creager, Peter 199
Foust, F. H 89
Harrison, James M 99
Hughes, C. W 49
Magers. F. M 169
McDonald, I. B 69
McDonald, Mrs. I. B 79
McDonald, F. M 109
Merriman, Elijah 129
Putt, B. F„ 179
Richard, Lewis 149
Richard, Huldah 159
Tulley, Francis 29
Trumbull, A. M 139
Wenger, N. R 189
Tiews.
Court House, Whitley County 19
Infirmary, Whitley County 219
Jail, Whitley County 59
PART II,
HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I. Page.
Geology 5
Indian History 19
Indian Mounds 11
Lakes and Ponds 9
Meteorology 10
Topography 9
CHAPTER II.
A Child's Mysterious Disappearance 38
Birth, The First 54
Churches, The Early 54
County Buildings 42
County Census 39
County Officers 44
County Organization 27
County SesiU 41
Judiciary, The 47
Judicial Execution 34
Land Entries, The Early 28
Page.
Marriage, The First 54
Members of the Bar 48
Physicians, The First 53
Poor, The County 43
Post Office, The First 57
Settlement, The First 27
State Canal 32
Suffering in 1338 31
Thieves and Counterfeiters 33
Valuation and Taxes 40
CHAPTER III.
Agricultural and Historical Society 62
Early Roads and Routes 57
Execution of McDougal 72
Journal-i and Journalists 74
Newspaper, The First 74
Outlaws and Criminals 63
Railroads 6U
Regulators, The 69
CHAPTER IV. Paok.
Career of Regiments 107
Death of Lincoln 106
Draft Statistics 99
Fall of Sumter 89
Republican Convention of 1864 104
Roll of Honor 110
Soldiers of Early Wars... 87
War Meetings and Speeches 89
War Statistic*. 115
Township Histories.
CHAPTER V.
CiTT or Kendallville 116
Banks 123
Business Development 120
Church Organizations 130
Conflagrations 123
Election, The First 122
CONTENTS.
Page.
Incorporation 122
Origin of Name 120
Railroad Subscription 124
Schoolhouses 129
Settlement, The First 119
CHAPTER VI.
Watse Township 134
Birth. The First 139
Churches 142
LoK Rolling and Whisky 139
Mills, The Early 140
Scarcity of Cash 141
Schoolnouses 141
Settlers, The First 135
CHAPTER VII.
Town of Ligonier 145
Building and Loan As80ciation..l48
Church Organizations 153
Destructive Fire 148
Early Development 146
High School 150
Interesting Statistics 157
Eeviva 8 156
School Buildings 148
Sons of Temperance 147
Town Plat.... 145
CHAPTER VIII.
Pebet Township 161
Brvurie's Reminiscences 164
First Election 162
Rochester Village 163
Roll of Settlers 161
Saw-Mills, The First 163
Schools and churches 167
CHAPTER IX.
Town of Albion 168
Business Men, The Early 170
Church Societies 180
Early Land Entries 168
Incorporation 176
Plat of the Town 169
Schools 177
Secret Orders 175
Table of Fires 182
Town Funding Bonds 179
CHAPTER X.
JirrEESoN Township 183
Agricultural Features 192
Burial Grounds 193
Death, The First 193
Indian Mounds 191
Mills and Hilling 186
Pioneer Life 184
Population 191
Schools and Teachers 187
Sermons and Churches 187
Township Organization 186
Township Pioneers 183
CHAPTER XI.
Obange Township 194
Brimfield Village 203
Church Organizitions 204
Island Park Assembly 206
Land Owners, The Early 194
Mills, The Early 196
Northport Village 197
Rome City 198
Water Power at Rome 202
CHAPTER XII.
Allen Township 208
Avilla's First House 214
Page.
Churches, The Early 217
Deaths, The Early 211
Election, The First 211
Franciscan Convent 218
Hunting Reminiscences 214
Incorporation of Avilla 216
Industries and Improvement8..212
Marriage, The First ..211
Roll of Early Settlers 208
Schoolbouse, The First 268
Underground Railroad 216
White Settler, The First 208
CHAPTER XIII.
Elkhart Township 221
Early Settlers, List of. 223
Pittsburg Village 225
Religious Development 228
Schools and Teachers 227
Settlers, the First 221
Springfield Village 225
Wawaka Village 226
CHAPTER XIV.
Sparta Township 231
Church Organizations 241
Cromwell Village 236
Election, First 233
Mills and Kilns 234
Pioneer Experiences 232
Roll of Settlers 231
Schools and Teachers 237
Sparta Village 236
CHAPTER XV.
Noble Township 242
Church Societies 253
Indians 245
Milling Enterprises 245
Nobleville City 251
Roll of Pioneers 243
Schools and Teachers 252
White Settler, First 242
Wolf Lake Village 247
CHAPTER XVI.
York Township 254
Augusta Village 258
Catalogue of Settlers 255
Election, First 266
Life in the Wilderness 256
Mills, First 255
Pioneers, The 254
Port Mitchell Village 262
Schools and Teachers 263
Van Buren Village 25(8
CHAPTER XVII.
fiREEM Township 266
"Canalers,"The 271
Fatal Casualty 271
Hunting Experiences 267
Mills and Trade 272
Religious SQcieties 276
Schools and Tutors 273
Settlers, First 266
CHAPTER XVIII.
Swan Township 277
Early Settlement 277
First Election 281
First Preaching 285
Hunting Exploits 278
La Otto Village 284
Marriage, First 282
Schools and Teachers 286
Swan Village 283
Trade and Traffic 282
CHAPTER XIX. Page.
Washington Township 287
Bears and Other Beasts 291
Birth, First 288
Election, First 288
Fish Stories 292
Marriage and Death, First 288
Religious Societies 294
Roop and Other Pioneers 287
Saw-Mill, First 291
Schools 293
Biographical Sketches.
Albion, Town of 363
Allen Township 415
Elkhart Township 437
Green Township 478
Jefferson Township 381
Kendallville, City of. 297
Ligonier, Town of. 332
Noble Township 467
Orange Township 399
Perry Township 354
Sparta Township 450
Swan Township 489
Washington Township 499
Wayne Township 319
York Township 467
Portraits.
Alvord, Samuel 35
Bowman, John 45
Bowman, Mrs. Mary 55
Calbeck, Joseph 230
Clapp, William M ,. 16
Eambart, John 239
Fisher, Eden H 199
Foster, Jehu 184
Gerber, E. B 151
Hall, William J 321
Hall, Lucinda 322
Keehn, George 165
Kimmell, Orlando 66
Kiser, Jacob 234
Kiser, William S 173
Lang, Julius 75
Lash, James J 178
Mitchell, John 117
Mitchell, William 85
Ott, Abraham 249
Ott, George 276
Pancake, John 220
Prentiss, Nelson 8
Reed, L. N 131
Shifaly, John 327
Singrey, John A 189
Stanley, H. C 269
Stewart, James C 244
Teal, Norman 125
Tousley, Hiram S 25
Vanderford, Joel 96
Vanderford, Mrs. Joel 101
Voris, W. N 289
Walker, John 259
Weston, Thomas B 137
Weston, Catherine 143
Wolf, Jacob 159
Zimmerman, John 224
Views.
Court House, Noble County 4
Infirmary, Noble County 279
Jail, Noble County 20»
ERRATA.
In note at foot of page 188, Part I, instead of Bond, read Baughan.
In sketch of Leggett & Crider, on page 254, Part I, last line, instead of May 27, 1838, read May 27,
In last paragraph on page 280, Part I, instead of George Eberard, Sr., read George Eberhard, Sr.
PART I.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY,
CHAPTER I.
by weston a. goodspeed.
Physical Features of the County— Lakes, Rivers, Swamps, Etc.— Cran-
berries — Meteorology — A Classification of the Advantages of
Drainage — Public Health — County Medical Society — Xames of
Physicians— The Extent of Open and Underground Drainage— In-
teresting Facts— The Origin and Nature of the Drift— A Complete
History of the "Whitley County Agricultural Society" and the
"Joint Stock Agricultural Association"— Fine Stock— Suggestions—
A Complete History of the County Press— The Railroads— County
Productions— School and Church Statistics.
PATHOLOGICAL students have found, by patient and protracted research,
that the physical and climatic conditions of a country are closely identi-
fied with the bodily welfare of its inhabitants. Many diseases which devastate
whole sections, sparing neither the beautiful nor the wise, and leaving countless
hearts broken with the pangs of sorrow, are found to be propagated by organic
growth ; and the air breathed, the water quaffed and the food eaten are more
or less contaminated by the omnipresent seeds of human disorder. It thus be-
comes necessary, in order to ascertain the sources of the various human infirm-
ities, to study carefully and continuously the ever-changing relations between
climate and disease. While the considerations of human life are, perhaps, of
primary importance in questions of this nature, still that of human happiness
and all its attendant and contributing elements should not be overlooked. In
consequence of the imperative demands of social wants, human creatures have
been led to value their property (the means of sustaining life) second only to
their lives. This is decidedly natural, as it is logical to value, next to life, the
means of sustaining life itself. This will account for the universal development
of the desire to accumulate property. As the topographical and sanitary
conditions of a country seriously affect the acquisition of property, this renders
it doubly necessary to become familiar with the climatic conditions. It is the
desire in the succeeding pages to point out, from the natural conditions of the
county, the sources of numerous diseases, and as nearly as possible the means
of avoidance.
A
12 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Whitley County is bounded north by Noble County, east by Allen, south
by Huntington and Wabash, and west by Wabash and Kosciusko, and at pres-
ent comprises 210,458 acres of land. The southern portion is comparatively
level, while along the streams, and throughout the northern and central portions,
the surface is more diversified. The general characteristics of the surface are
similar to those of all Northern Indiana. The soil in the southern part is quite
deep, is dark and rich, and is excellent for all the cereals. There are more clay
and sand on the surface of the northern and central portions ; but only in a very
few places is found that peculiar sterility due to a superabundance of sand, and
known as " oak openings." Even these, by careful cultivation, have been im-
proved.
Eel River and its tributaries afford almost the entire drainage. This
stream enters the county near the southeastern portion of Smith Township, takes
a southwesterly course, and leaves the county near the center of the western
boundary of Cleveland Township. Its principal southern branches are Sugar.
Hurricane, Stony and Mud Creeks. These drain the northern parts of Cleve-
land, Washington and Jefferson Townships, and the southern parts of Union
and Columbia Townships. Its principal northern branches are Clear, Spring,
Pike and Little St. Joe Creeks and Blue River. The former three drain north-
ern Cleveland, western Columbia and about all of Richland Townships. Blue
River drains northeastern Columbia and the greater portions of Smith and
Thorn Creek Townships. It has several branches, the principal being Little
Blue River and Thorn Creek. Troy and Etna Townships are drained almost
wholly by small streams, which flow westerly into Tippecanoe River. Big In-
dian Creek carries away all the superfluous water of central and southern Jef-
ferson Township, and Clear Creek that of southern Washington. There are no
lakes in the southern half of the county. In Smith Township is Blue River
Lake — the largest. In Thorn Creek Township are Round, Cedar, Shriner
Lakes, and a portion of Crooked Lake. In Troy are Robinson's, Cedar, Goose,
New, and several smaller ones. Etna Township has the greater share of Loon
Lake and all of Old Lake. Several of them are fine sheets of water, with solid
sandv or gravelly beaches, and, if suitably situated, could be made excellent
pleasure resorts. Parties having this object in view have recently erected
buildings on the shore of Loon Lake, and have boats there. There is more or
less swampy land in the county, the greater portion, perhaps, being in Union,
Jefi"erson, Smith, Washington and Columbia Townships. Thorn Creek, Smith,
Troy and several others have, in places, quite extensive cranberry marshes, as
well as huckleberry marshes. Several of the cranberry marshes were formerly
lakes ; but, having become filled up by means of the marsh-moss Sphagnum,
which has the peculiarity of slowly dying at the extremities of the roots, cran-
berries sprang into life over the whole surface, while the swamp was yet very
wet. The cranberry is a member of the heath family, and is known to botan-
ists as Oxycoccus macrocarpus. The plant is a creeper or trailer, with slender,
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 13
hardy, woody stems, and small evergreen leaves, more or less white underneath,
with single flowers borne on slender, erect pedicles, and having a pale rose
corolla. The berries, which get ripe in autumn, are red, with some yellow, and
are very acid. They may be gathered all winter, and are better for culinary
purposes after they have been frozen, as they then require less sugar to render
them palatable. Hundreds of bushels have grown in the county annually since
the earliest times, and some of the citizens have derived no little income from
them. Mr. Johnson, of Thorn Creek Township, gathered 250 bushels the
past year, and doubtless others in the county did as well. It may be safely said
that not less than eight hundred bushels were grown in the county in 1881.
The mean annual temperature at Indianapolis, for the fifteen years prior
to 1880, was 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The mean monthly temperature for the
same time was, in degrees, January, 31.3 ; February, 36.7 ; March, 41.8 ;
April, 54.1; May, 64.4; June, 74.3; July, 77.7; August. 75.6; September,
67.9; October, 54.7 ; November, 41.6 ; December, 33.5. The mean annual
precipitation of rain and melted snow during the same time was 43.17 inches.
The monthly mean precipitation for the same time, in inches, was, January,.
3.75 ; February, 3 ; March, 4.5 ; April, 3.66 ; May, 4.47 ; June, 4.36 ; July,
4.57; August, 3.17; September, 3.68; October, 2.37; November, 2.94 ;
December. 3.51. The prevailing direction of the wind is from the southwest,,
as are also the principal heavy storms ; and hence, in planting orchards or
groves, the trees should be slightly leaned in that direction. March is found
to be the windiest month, while August is the quietest. The humidity or
moisture of the atmosphere varies with the direction of the wind, the season
of the year, and the local conditions of temperature. The barometer at
Indianapolis ranges annually from 29.4 inches to 30.8 inches, the average
being about 30.038 inches. The above figures show very nearly the condition
of things at Columbia City. The mean temperature would, perhaps, be a little
colder ; otherwise but little difference would be noticed. The quantity of rain-
fall during any year varies but little. If any season of the year be very dry,
the remainder, usually, will be correspondingly wet. If the water does not
come in the form of rain, it will appear as snow, sleet, etc.
The major part of the swamp land in the county, as above hinted, was
once small lakes, the water level having been lowered, or the basins having been
filled, in past centuries, by deposits of decaying vegetation, or soil washed in
from surrounding localities. All that is necessary to render the swamp land
tillable, is to lower the water level below the point necessary for the proper
growth of the roots of the various vegetable productions. This may be done
either by drainage, or by raising the surface of the swamp by coverings of soil.
Such lands, when reclaimed, are remarkably adapted to the growth of corn,
oats, vegetables and tame grasses, and, after the lapse of time, of wheat. There
are all variations of soil in the county, from swamp land to that which is so
high and dry as to be unproductive. Those having land which is low and too
14 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
wet for satisfactory cultivation, should adopt that system of drainage which will
lower the level of stagnant water. This can be done by open side ditches, or,
what is far better, by tile drains which run across the land. It may be
said that all land should be under-drained. That wet lands should be so,
needs no proof, nor does it require a mathematical demonstration to show that
rolling land would be benefited by the same treatment. It is clear that, in
times of heavy rains, the rolling lands are washed of a large portion of their
richest material ; and also, as the rain itself contains many necessary elements
of fertility, if it be permitted to run off without having first passed through
the soil, such elements are lost, or conveyed to the low lands. Here, then, are
two causes which combine to impoverish the rolling lands. Judicious under-
-drainage will, in a large measure, prevent both. The following may be con-
sidered a general summary of the benefits of drainage :
1. The surplus water which greatly damages the growth of crops is
removed.
2. The depth of the soil increased, thus allowing the roots of plants to
descend to greater and better depth for the necessary food, and beyond the
action of continued droughts.
3. Air, containing vital elements of life for the plant, is admitted to the
roots.
4. The soil is enabled to absorb fertilizing substances, from the lower
depths of the ground, that otherwise could not bo used.
5. The decayed vegetation in the soil, and the nitrogenous food absorbed
from the air during a considerable time of fair weather, are prevented from
i)eing washed away by sudden freshets.
6. Such rainfalls are passed through the surface soil, which absorbs the
ammonia, nitrogen, and other plant-foods contained therein.
7. The surplus water, after passing through the surface soil, is carried
ofi" rapidly through the drains, thus preventing the severe cooling process of
the evaporation of such water, and rendering the soil warm and porous.
8. The warmth and moderate moisture promote the germination of
seed .
9. The cheerless labor of replanting is avoided.
10. The packing and baking of the soil is prevented ; it is left open,
porous and easily pulverized.
11. Winter crops are prevented from being frozen out.
12. The damages of long-continued wet weather are avoided.
13. The surface soil from its porosity can, in times of drought, absorb
moisture from the air, and draw drafts of water from the lower depths of
the ground, a most desirable state of affairs.
14. The uniformity and yield of crops are satisfactory.
15. The quality of crops is greatly improved.
16. Years of useless labor are saved and enjoyed.
HISTORy OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 15
17. The source of half the diseases incident to humanity is destroyed, and
all the attendant blessings follow.
Perhaps the strongest reason for a thorough system of drainage, especially
about dwellings, is the certain means thus adopted for the total avoidance of
the various malarial disorders resulting from the poison spread broadcast in
the atmosphere by large quantities of decaying vegetation. That many of the
fevers, such as typhoid, typho-malarial. intermittent, remittent, bilious, ague,
etc., with their attendants, neuralgia, pneumonia, bronchitis, diphtheria and
consumption, are largely due to malarial poison, is no longer a question of
doubt. Neither is it longer a matter of doubt that, in order to avoid these
distressing disorders, the cause must be removed ; this can only be done by
judicious drainage. While people generally understand that many of the dis-
eases enumerated are due to a lack of proper drainage, the real magnitude of
the cause and its intimate relation to health and happiness are not fully realized.
Families will continue to drmk from wells that are the silt-basins of barn-
yards or back -yards, implanting seeds in the blood of children that, in after
years, make their appearance in the full and sorrowful fruitage of permanent
blood or epidermic disorders. Doctors, as a rule, are not employed to point out
the cause of human ills ; they are required to correct the disorder in the sys-
tem, and to strengthen human organisms to resist malarial influence. They
would probably be regarded as jesters on the important subject of human life,
were they to announce ostentatiously that the cause of family sickness was
due to the proximity of some neighboring swamp, and then sit down, fold their
hands and make no eifort to remedy the evil. At least, such a remark would,
be regarded as extraneous, and would be dropped forthwith from the mind,
while the services of the follower of Esculapius would be expected to be
directed to the immediate correction of the trouble ; and, if failure attended
his efibrts from the violence or permanence of the affliction, he would be
branded without compunction as an ignoramus and a quack. Thus the af-
flicted in their inexcusable ignorance are led to believe that the lamentable results
are due to a criminal lack of skill on the part of the family physician, whereas
the burden rests upon their own stupidity and mistaken judgment. It should
always bo born in mind thac " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure," or, in other words, " a stitch in time saves nine." People should study
the laws relating to health. They should become familiar with the causes of
human ills, and being thus forewarned and, therefore, forearmed, they could
escape many hours of suffering and, perhaps, in the end, total family extinc-
tion. It is impossible to detail all the splendid results of proper drainage.
Every family should understand the relation between health and happiness and
the conditions of climate, and natural surroundings. This can easily be done,
as there thousands of books explaining the whole subject.
While Whitley County may be said to be quite a healthy locality gener-
ally, still there is not a farm which could not be improved by drainage. Every-
16 HISTORY OP WHITLEY COUNTY.
where, throughout the wanner months, may be seen stagnant ponds and damp,
heavy lowhinds, from which emanate, under the heat of the sun, all the malarial
ills. Although it may be regarded as a cold, fiendish cruelty to thus deprive
physicians of their sources of employment, still, as man is a selfish being,
caring apparantly much more for himself than for his fellows, they can hardly
be authorized to require people to get sick for their amusement. However, in
view of the fact that people are, to say the least, certainly careless of avoiding
the results which common sense tells them will be sickness, they appear to
take an altogether different view of the matter. Hence the doctors, with their
pills and poultices, continue to thrive and multiply, and people as usual con-
tinue to squirm and agonize with bafiling disorders. Of course the doctor is
always to blame, and ought to be pulverized ! The severest lash of censure
and criticism should be mercilessly used upon him, for is he not paid to cure,
not kill ? Ah ! there is a serious— a criminal— fault somewhere. Seriously,
there should be less curing and more preventing ; less medicine and malaria,
and more decision and drainage.
It should be noticed here that as the southern part of the county is quite
level, and contains a large percentage of decaying vegetation, malarial troubles
are more prevalent there than in the central and northern portions, where
the country is more rolling, and where a certain degree of necessary drainage
is natural. This is the judgment of old and experienced physicians in the
county. It is stated by them that, whereas, prior to some ten years ago, all
the malarial disorders were alarmingly prevalent throughout the county (though
perhaps cases of typhoid fever were less numerous than in surrounding coun-
ties).* the general improvement in health, since about 1870, is nearly^SO per
oent. Especially during the last few years has the public health undergone a
marked amelioration. Why is this ? In 1869, the first noteworthy la°w was
enacted by the State Legislature concerning the subject of drainage. For
some reason the law proved largely inert, although about $10,000^ was ex-
pended in those localities where drainage was imperatively necessary. In
1875, another and a much better enactment came into efi"ect. This law made
It incumbent upon the County Commissioners to hear ali petitions of the
citizens for the location of ditches ; to weigh and accept or reject remonstrances
or objections to the construction of such ditches; to appoint the necessary
viewers and engineers; to assess the citizens unquestionably benefited along
the route of the ditch in proportion to the advantage each received, and to
audit all claims presented by those entitled to remuneration for services. The
imperative requirements and expected advantages of this law have been realized
in a marked degree within the last five years, although in 1881 an additional
provision was enacted, whereby the jurisdiction of the County Commissioners,
in matters of drainage, was curtailed, and the greater portion of their duties in
this regard was transferred to the action of the Circuit Court. Whether,
•Dr. Linvill, Columbia City.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
17
under the new order of things, the same results will be accomplished, remains
for the future to reveal. When it is known that some ten petitions for ditches
are now being favorably considered by this court, and that others will follow
rapidly in their wake as the years proceed, those who have made the question
of public health a matter of earnest solicitude will have no reason to feel
dejected. The following unparalleled results have been accomplished since
1875 (about five and one-half years), although the figures must not be regarded
as exact :
NAME OF DITCH.
Suaar
Richard's
Capp & Luicke's
Humbarger's
Taylor's
Krumbarger's
Jeffrey's
Mowrey's
Emerick's
Schcenauer's
Pachniche's
Lawrence's
Wade's
Sell's
Funk's
Long's
Lehman & Decker's.,
Boggs & Hull's
Huffman's
Smith & Braden s ...
Winter's
Smith's
Schrader'f^
Alexander's
Meredith's
Stumpff & Huffman's .
Clark's
Smith & Heneley's
Ackley's
Maynard's
Jehu Clark's
Miller's [Smith Township
S. H. Clark's |Union Township
Length
Feet.
Washington Township
Washington Township
Washington Township
Thorn Creek Township
Jefferson Township
Washington Township
itli Township
Jefferson T<iwnship
Union and Jefferson Townships.
Jefferson Township
Columbia Township
Union and Columbia Townships
Smith and Thorn Creek Townships
Washington Township
Cleveland Township
Washington Township
Washington Township
Smith Township
Washington Township
Jefferson Township
Union Township
Jefferson Township
Union Township
Union Township
Washington Township
Columbia Township
Cleveland Township
Union Township
Columbia Township
Smith Township •
Richland Township
Union Township
45200
16600
7700
8400
493(1
20740
8600
56827
32726
4100
5600
34200
18180
33402
10400
10780
15445
16860
16120
33186
19595
11432
24875
8100
24267
20904
8700
13426
27474
15959
16442
13426
16314
16600
1876
1876
1876
1876
1876
1877
1877
1877
1877
1878
1878
1878
1878
1879
1879
1879
1879
1879
1879
1879
1880
1880
1880
1880
1880
1880
1880
1880
1881
1881
1881
1881
1881
1882
$4950
1200
825
612
990
1060
600
3440
1374
308
291
2373
1103
2971
1488
707
1007
1585
1532
2248
1550
1080
2022
ft72
2153
1968
401
1726
5609
1930
3083
1952
1900
2000
The above making a total of 34 ditches, 8 townships, 627,420 feet or 118.83 miles, 6 years,
time and a total cost of $58,610.
From this remarkable exhibit, it will be seen that within a period of about
six years the enormous amount of nearly $60,000 has been expended in con-
structing ditches, whose aggregate lengths exceed one hundred and eighteen
miles. It is safe to say that within the next six or eight years as much more
will be done. The people of the county have at last awakened from their Rip
Van Winkle sleep, have rolled up their sleeves, and now mean business. It is
no trouble for them to see the really excellent results, not merely of the
increase in the value of lands, but also of the more important improvement in
the public health. The vast decrease in malarial disorders in the county within
18 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
the last few years is undoubtedly mainly due to the extensive systems of drain-
age adopted. Prior to 1870, and more particularly in early years, the malarial
fevers raged with unabated fury, shaking whole families most pitilessly, carry-
ing away to the silent graveyard the young and the old, and defying the utmost
energy and skill of the pioneer physician. A removal of the cause is steadily
accomplishing what the physicians could not. The removal of the forests,
where large quantities of leaves and twigs were constantly decaying, and the
cultivation of the soil where the heat and light of the sun have been permitted
to destroy tlie malaria, have contributed largely to the improvement in health.
From reasons appearing in this chapter, it will be seen that of the two systems
of drainage — open ditch and underground ditch — the latter is far preferable.
This has been recognized by the citizens of the county for niany years, and the
$60,000 spent for open ditches is only a portion of the amount spent for drain-
age. The manufacture of tile was begun at quite an early day, but did not
begin to assume excellent proportions until soon after the war. Then several
good factories sprang into existence, but were unable to supply the demand, and
others were started. Since about 1867, there has been a constantly increasing
demand for tile, and mill after mill has been built, until at present some eleven
or twelve are in the county, manufacturing in the aggregate about 45,000 rods
of tiling annually, the greater portion of which finds a ready sale in the county.
When the reader learns that some twenty-five miles of tiling are laid annually,
and that this seems to be constantly increasing, it will be observed that the
land owners know what they are about. They notice the great improvement in
the land, and they also notice the excellent effects upon the general health. A
number of brick kilns have started up to supply such work as is in their line.
The quantity manufactured in the county annually could not, at this writing,
be ascertained.
Whitley County has had good physicians — men who could go beyond the
mere technical performance of their duties and trace results to their causes —
men who could sweep out into the vast depths of consistent theory and skill-
fully unite their ideas and their practices. In accordance with the wishes of
the leading medical men of the county, who. had often before favorably consid-
ered the matter, an organization called the " Whitley County Medical Associa-
tion," was efiected during the spring of 1868, at which time the following well-
known physicians became (so to speak) charter members : S. S. Austin, Martin
Ireland, D. G. Linvill, A. P. Mitten, Mr. Pierce, W. H. Coyle, Mr. Kirkpat-
rick, J. B. Firestone, Elijah Merriman, David Strouse, W. S. Ferguson and
J. W. Miller. Dr. Stephen S. Austin was chosen President, Dr. A. P. Mitten,
Secretary, and Dr. Martin Ireland, Treasurer. There was also appointed a
board of three censors. Dr. D. G. Linvill being one of them. A constitution
and by-laws was adopted, detailing the duties of the individual members, and
outlining the results to be accomplished by the Association. The object was
similar to that of all organizations of the kind. Theses on the theory and
A^
«*'" -^
tf-
^''
v\ \
^<
IV
^^ ^1
)X >
r/
>.^ ^ ^'^t.
imA
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 21
practice of medicine, written by the members in rotation, were to be read at
every meeting. As far as possible, the examination of interesting clinics before
the association was conducted. During the brief period of the existence of
the association (about two years) there was so much sickness in the county that
the members had but little spare time to devote to the requirements of their
organization, and as a necessary result the proceedings became sickly, probably
to correspond with the times, until at last the whole thing was abandoned.
This was very unfortunate to the citizens of the county, as intelligent consul-
tation among physicians on questions of health is sure to develop all the latest
and best methods of practice. The association should be revived. Several
physicians in the county are members of the American Medical Association.
The following is as complete a list as could be obtained of medical practitioners
who have lived in Columbia City, with approximate dates of their coming :
Francis L. McHugh, 1840 ; James B. Sincoke, 1842 ; J. T. Beebe, 1845 ;
A. H. Tyler, 1846; Samuel Marshall, 1846 ; William W. Martin, 1848; Peter
L. Cole, 1846 ; Francis A. Rogers, 1848 ; William M. Swayze, 1849 ; David G.
Linvill, 1849 ; S. G. A. Reed, 1851 ; Doctor Myers, 1852 ; William Morris,
1852 ; Henry Gregg, 1853 ; Charles Kinderman, 1853 ; Joseph Harper, 1854 ;
Doctor Knouse, 1854; J. B. P'irestone, 1854; Martin Ireland, 1855; Dr.
Parkey, 1856 ; Stephen Majors, 1856 ; James Z. Gower, 1856 ; James Toler-
ton,1860 ; A. L. Sandmire, 1863 ; William T. Ferguson, 1864 ; Henry Safford,
1864; Franklin McCoy, 1865; John Foster, 1865; C. C. Sutton, 1864;
A. P. Mitten, 1867; William Weber, 1870; J. E. Lawrence, 1870; W.
W. Walkup, 1872 ; D. M. Marshall, 1873 ; Charles S. Williams, 1873 ; N. I.
Kechcart, 1876 ; John Maine, 1876, and C. L. Cass. 1880.
So much has been said in Part II of this volume regarding the geology of
Northern Indiana, that but little more need be added. The entire county is
deeply covered with what is known as "the drift." Owing to certain changes,
made during long periods of years, in the inclination of the earth's axis to the
plane of its orbit, the poles are alternately locked in ice and intense cold, and,
after the lapse of some 21,000 years, are again admitted to the heat and
general effects of the sun. These facts are apparent for many reasons, one
being the presence of vast coal beds in high latitudes, which could only have
been formed under a tropical sun, and another being the presence in this lati-
tude of the drift, which could only have come here from northern regions
through the agency of melted ice moving southward as the polar region slowly
became warmer. That all the surface of Northern Indiana, including Whitley
County, is covered to the depth of from one hundred to two hundred feet with
soil that has been transported here from Northern latitudes, is no longer doubted
or questioned by geologists. Keeping in view what has been said above, the
whole theory is that all this heavy surface of drift has been brought here from
British America by glaciers and icebergs. While the north pole was turned
farther away from the sun, it became bound in vast, icy chains ; then through
22 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
the centuries, as the pole slowly returned toward the sun, the ice of the vast
northern glacier began to melt on its southern extremity, and was necessarily
forced slowly and surely toward the south. Uplands and hills were planed oflF,
and the shavings (so to speak — meaning the soil scraped off), were transported
on their icy scrapers toward the south, until at last, the sun of lower latitudes
having melted the ice, the load of the vast scraper was dropped upon the earth.
Afterward, when the vast glacier had been broken into innumerable icebergs
by the sun's heat, the enormous quantities of soil that had been previously
dropped were ground down and made comparatively smooth, as these icebergs
steadily and obediently moved southward. They also, no doubt, carried more
or less soil with them from the north. The movements of these glaciers and
icebergs were not always directly south, though they universally had a general
southerly motion. The exact direction of their motion is readily told by
"glacial markings" or strice. These are scratchings, and other marks, made
by the ice on beds of stone, etc., the directions of the marks being the same as
the motion of the ice. This was, of course, thousands of years ago — long prior
to the present approved chronology of the antiquity of "Fossil Man." Since
then, either the waters have receded, or the land has arisen, or both, and the
country we now occupy has, for scores of centuries, been above the surface of
the sea, subject to the action of the elements. The difference between the sur-
face soil and that down at a depth of a yard or more is due to the disintegrat-
ing action of freezing and thawing, rain and shine, through successive centuries.
Beside this, the surface soil has been largely mingled with many and minute
forms of decaying vegetation.
It must be borne in mind that directly underfoot, just beneath the great
mass of drift, are large beds of excellent limestone, and, possibly, sandstone.
It is tantalizing to think that within 200 feet of the surface is an abundance of
fine and durable building stone, as free as water, yet practically so distant that
the effort to reach it is not made. Geologists, who have studied the soil of
Northern Indiana, are of the opinion that just underneath the drift are the large
beds of Niagara limestone. Scattered throughout the drift in varying quanti-
ties is an abundance of granite bowlders ; these, with a few exceptions, furnish
the only native available building stone. The bowlders are much used ; though,
if anything extra in the way of stone is wanted, it is shipped in from abroad.
In Thorn Creek Township, quite a quantity of limestone bowlders were un-
earthed a number of years ago, but not in paying quantities. Sandstone has
been found in Troy and Etna. Peat-beds are found in almost every township.
Bog iron ore is also found in considerable quantity in nearly all the larger
tracts of low, wet land. Union Township has several excellent beds, as have
Columbia, Thorn Creek, Troy, Richland, and, perhaps, others. However, it is
not at all probable that the time will come when it will be profitable to work up
this ore ; the following table will show in an imperfect way the native prod-
ucts of some of the townships :
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
23
PRODUCTS.
1
1
S
1
1
1
a
.2
1
.
485
30
1
123
69
4
18
"i>
■"38
"io
"i'ti
466
1-^8
Bushels of cranberries. 1870
Acres of cranberries 1880
21
9
2
172
90
It is certain that if Whitley would gather all her cranberries and report them
to the Assessor, there would be found annually not less than eight hundred
bushels of this excellent berry. There are not far from one hundred acres of
cranberry swamp in the county. The supply from each acre, on the average,
is much smaller, owing largely to the drainage of the marshes. This will con-
tinue until cranberries will no longer grow. They will fade away like the In-
dian race.
In the month of May, 1856, in pursuance of public notice posted and pub-
lished through the county, a large meeting of the public-minded and personally
interested was held at the court house for the purpose of effecting the organiza-
tion of a county agricultural society.* For several years previous to this event,
the more prominent and intelligent men throughout the county had often in-
dulged in speculations regarding the propriety of the formation of such a soci-
ety. It was thus ascertained and mutually agreed, that the advantages to the
material prosperity and wealth of the county demanded a speedy organization
of a society that should have for its object the manifest improvement of all those
vital pursuits in which the citizens of the county were so materially interested.
The conclusion reached was that an agricultural society should be immediately
organized. At that day Whitley County had not that development of native
resources so perceptible at present. Large portions of its lands were unculti-
vated, or, at best, scarcely out of that deplorable condition so familiar in newly
settled localities. Yet its farmers at that time were generally aware of the ne-
cessity and advantage of keeping pace with all improved methods or systems of
cultivating the soil or rearing stock. The advantages resulting from learned
consultation on all questions touching the management of farms, were plainly
apparent to all the more intelligent citizens. These and other important con-
siderations led to the formation, as above stated, of the " Whitley County Ag-
ricultural Society." Early in the meeting, it was decided that the payment of
^l, by any citizen, into the treasury, should constitute membership. This was
done by about one hundred prominent men in all parts of the county ; and the
society then began electing its officers, appointing its Directors (one from each
township), and drafting and adopting its constitution and by-laws. James L.
Collins became President, and Isaiah B. McDonald, Secretary. The names of
the other officers and of the Directors cannot be recalled. At this meeting, or
soon afterward, it was announced that a fair would be held in Columbia City
* Many of these facta are given from the recollection of Col. I. B. McDonald.
24 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
for four days during the following September, the display of all the various
and usual departments to be held in the court house and court yard, and in
the McDonald Schoolhouse standing on the site of the present McDonald
House. Quite a collection of agricultural implements and farm stock (horses,
cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, etc.), was exhibited in the court yards to view
which no admission fee was charged. But, to look upon all the finer pro-
ductions of the farm and hou^^ehold, the payment of 25 cents was absolutely
necessary, such sura serving to admit to both the court house, where the grains
and vegetable productions were on exhibition, and to the schoolhouse, or " floral
hall," where the various domestic articles of use or fancy were to be seen. The
first fair thus held was an encouraging success. It is stated by several to have
been much better than many of those held since. As there was no track, of
course there was no racing of any kind — except the racing for official honors.
The present County Clerk's oflBce was headquarters, whence issued all those
orders and decisions determining the awarding of premiums. The great major-
ity of those who took premiums immediately donated them to the society.
Thus the fair was annually held in the court house and yard and in the
schoolhouse for three years. In February, 1859, the society contracted with
Henry DufBn for outlot No. 22 of the original plat of the town of Columbia
City, the same bounded on the south by the reserve line, and including within
its limits the channel of Blue River, and comprising nine acres, one rod and
eight perches, the consideration for such land being $275. The first fair on
this ground was held during the autumn of 1859 ; but there were many serious
drawbacks, as the ground was an ineligible site, being damp and confined, and,
to add to the depressed condition of affairs, the novelty in having a fair had
passed away, and the voice of a leader to infuse life into the drooping energies
of the citizens was demanded but unheard. It must not be understood by this
that proper interest had disappeared. It had simply flagged, and needed the
magnetism of a leader to kindle opinion into action. Perhaps, no man has
done more for the society than Isaiah B. McDonald. Among those who early
identified themselves with the society may be mentioned I. B. McDonald, James
L. Cotlins, Richard Collins, William Rice, Daniel Rice, Jacob Nickey, Francis
Tulley, A. M. Trumbull, John Q. and Andrew Adams, Levi Adams, Henry
McLallen, Sr., Benjamin Cleveland, Thomas Cleveland, Thomas Neal, Martin
Bechtel, John Brenneman, Francis Mossman, John A. Kauff"man, James H.
Shaw, Samuel Rouch, Robert Spear, Lemuel Devault, Henry Swihart, John
S. Cotton, James Grant, Dr. S. S. Austin, James W. Long, Dr. D. G. Linvill,
C. W. Hughes, J. T. Long, A. Y. Hooper, C. D. Waidlich, Jacob Slesman,
George Everhard, Sr., J. B. Sterling, W. D. Reed, G. W. Lawrence, J. W.
Crowel, Reason Huston, R. M. Paige, J. M. Sherwood, Frederick Humberger,
G. T. Klink, W. H. Widup, George Ream, A. T. Martin, Thomas Washburn,
Otis W. Minor, H. F. Crabill, Edward Beckley, J. B. Edwards and several
others.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 25
From the organization of the society, onward for many years, the fair did
not amount to as much as its friends had hoped and expected. Some years
the receipts were unequal to meet the expenses, and the members were often
called on for funds from their private stores to meet the deficiency. At
other times the fair was a decided success in attendance, display and interest;
and the officers of the society came out laughing, and enjoying the encourag-
ing results. During the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, all attempts to continue
the fair were abandoned. The citizens had put on the gaudy armor of war,
and were prepared to obey that stirring command of Gen. Dix : " If any
man attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." Under
the stern and repeated calls to arms, and the general abandonment of labor,
all the peaceful pursuits languished and were neglected. The fair was left to
its fate, as, not only was it thought that the bloody scenes of war might be
carried into Northern Indiana, but also that the disloyal element in the North
might break into open, determined and successful revolt. However, in 1864,
and onward, the citizens were again called upon to renew their interest in
agricultural pursuits and display. But little improvement was made on the old
ground, though, at the start, a tight board fence had been built, and a few
sheds and board buildings constructed : but probably all the improvements
made did not cost more than $500. After the war the society did better.
Greater interest was displayed by greater attendance and more numerous
entries. For several years prior to 1870, the society felt that it could afford
larger and better grounds, and considerable controversy with that object in
view was indulged in. At last, in August, 1870, the grounds were sold to
Richard Collins for $600 cash, the deed being signed by Cyrus B. Tulley,
President, and J. W". Adair, Secretary. At the same time, or perhaps pre-
vious to this conveyance, arrangements had been made to purchase the present
grounds, a tract of twenty and twelve-hundredths acres, situated on the east
half of the southeast quarter of Section 3, Columbia Township. No sooner
were the old grounds sold, than the new were purchased of John Brand, for
$2,452. About $1,600 of this amount the society assumed as indebtedness,
held in the form of notes. A proviso in the deed conveying the old ground
reserved the right to remove the fencing, lumber, pumps and accumulated stone.
All this was taken to the new grounds, upon which some $1,500 improvements
were made. This caused a further increase of the indebtedness. A consider-
able portion of these liabilities was paid off" annually from the receipts of the
fairs that were held in 1870, 1871 and 1872 ; but there still remained an out-
standing obligation of something over $2,000. Portions of this amount were
held in the form of notes by Lemuel Devault, Foust & Wolf and C. D. Waid-
lich. At the April term, 1873, of the Whitley County Circuit Court, Lemuel
Devault and Foust & Wolf recovered judgment, each, for something over $600,
which, with costs attached, amounted to $717.34, or both claims to $1,434.68.
To meet this judgment, the court ordered the iss-uance of an execution against
26 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
the property of the society (the fair grounds), directing the Sheriff to raise the
necessary funds to satisfy the judgment from the sale of the rents or the sale
of the property. In compliance with this order, the Oounty Sheriff, J W.
Miller, on the court house steps, on the 19th day of July, 1873, first offered
for sale the rents and profits of the fair grounds for a period of seven years ;
but, receiving no bid, he thereupon, at auction, sold the fair grounds to CD.
Waidlich for $2,055. The claims of Messrs. Devault and Foust & Wolf were
immediately satisfied, and that of Mr. Waidlich was, of course, merged in his
purchase. At this time the society had no heart to continue its annual fairs.
Something, however, must be done. After careful deliberation, fifty citizens
of the county organized themselves into the "Whitley County Joint Stock
Agricultural Association," each member paying into the general treasury
$100, or rather subscribing that amount, which constituted one share. Some
of the original subscriptions were not paid and other members were taken in
who were able to meet the demand. The names of the original subscribers
are as follows : A. F. Martin, Nathan Chapman, Henry Chapman, C F.
Marchand, Matthew Taylor, A. M. Trumbull, S. J. W. Elliott, R. A. Jellison,
M. B. Emerson, Enos Goble, Eli W. Brown, Theodore Reed, J. S. Hartsock,
Joseph W. Adair, John Brand, C. D. Waidlrch, Phillip Anthes, R. Tuttle, A.
Y. Hooper, G. W. HoUinger, G. M. Bainbridge, I. B. McDonald, J. C.
Cheyney, F. H. Foust, H. C. Yontz, John B. Sterling, W. M. Appleton,
Henry Knight, John Q. Adams, Fred Humbarger, E. W. Barney, J. W.
Yontz, Andrew Adams, M. D. Garrison, James Garrison, W. M. Crowel, S.
B. Kelsey, James Broxen, Silas Briggs, G. W. Lawrence, J. H. Shaw, John
F. Lawrence, Levi Waugh, Lemuel Devault, David W. Nickey and two or
three others. As above stated, the shares were worth $100 each. No one
man took more than two shares, but, since they are transferable, several of the
stockholders have owned more than two in later years. Since the creation of
the joint-stock company the fairs have been successful; though at no time,
except the year 1882, has a dividend been struck. The property of the com-
pany is valued at about $7,000 ; the shares are worth in cash, each, $125.
Immediately upon its organization, the company purchased the fair grounds of
Mr. Waidlich for $4,231.37 ; the transfer being completed in July, 1874.
After this for a number of years the stockholders were often required to pay
their subscription of stock to Mr. Waidlich, to satisfy his claims for the selling
price. At the present writing the company is entirely out of debt, and smiles
with supreme satisfaction and glee as it contemplates the several hundred
dollars of revenue on hand. But this satisfactory condition of things has not
been attained without repeated discouragements. Sometimes the association
has been very feeble, almost on its last legs ; but, by the repeated use of proper
stimulants, it has regained its usual activity and vigor.
If the writer has been correctly informed, there is no man in the county
who has followed the occupation of rearing fine-blooded stock to the exclusion
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 27
of other pursuits. While there is a strong demand for such stock, yet but few
men in the county can afford to pay the enormous prices asked when they know
that five times out of ten they are likely to draw a blank. , There are several men
in the county who have taken considerable interest in the rearing of fine stock.
Among them may be mentioned Francis Mossman. Willaim C. Mowry, John F.
Mossman, A. F. Martin, John Q. and Andrew Adams, Lemuel Devault, D. W.
Nickey and J. A. Ramsey. Many others, in a<idition, have taken an apprecia-
tive interest in getting better grades of stock. Some, of the men above have
small herds of the best grades. Samuel B. Kelsey has a fine herd of Durham
and Devonshire cattle ; John B. Sterling has fine sheep and swine; John G.
Leininger deals largely in sheep and swine ; C. S. Marchand rears fine cattle,
sheep and swine ; John Trerabley has a small fine herd of Durham cattle :
George Coulter has a number of fine Norman horses. This list might be con-
siderably increased. Farmers often think : " Well, I'm getting along about
as well as my neighbor who has fine stock and farms according to science."
When a man says that you will always find that he has never reared stock and
conducted his farm in an intelligent manner. He is one who does not believe
that " book larnin' " is necessary to make a good farmer. But just look at his
stock — look at his fences, his house and barns — look at his orchard, his front
yard and his appreciation for natural adornments. In this manner you can
always tell the learned farmer from the ignorant one.
In the month of July, 1853, Joseph A. Berry, at the earnest solicitation
of the Democracy about Columbia City, came to the latter place with the neces-
sary apparatus and began the publication of the Columbia City Pioneer^ a
small sheet with gigantic Democratic proclivities. The probability is that Mr.
Berry was paid a sum of money for thus starting a new paper in a new place,
or else guaranteed a satisfactory circulation. At any rate, Mr. Berry un-
moored his bark and sailed out on the boiling sea of Democratic journalism.
The paper had a circulation of about 400, but was sold in August, 1856, to
P. W. HarJesty. The paper advocated that phase of Democracy known as
" Free-Soilism." In 1858, the paper was purchased by I. B. McDonald, who
gave T. L. and W. C. Graves the editorial management. T. L. Graves was
sole editor for a time. In 1859, I. B. McDonald and W. C. Graves were
editors, and S. H. Hill, publisher. Mr. E. Zimmerman became publisher and
part proprietor in 1860, McDonald remaining editor and part owner. When
Mr. McDonald bought the Jeffersonian, of Fort Wayne, in 1858, it and the
Pioneer became merged under the name Columbia City News. When the
rebellion burst upon the nation, Mr. McDonald enlisted and turned the paper
over to Mr. Zimmerman, but retained his partial ownership. Thus the paper
was continued until about 1864, when Engelbert Zimmerman's interest was
transferred to Frank Zimmerman. About this time Mr. McDonald, having
resigned from the army, took editorial control of the paper. In November,
1865, the News passed to Eli W. Brown, and at that time had a circulation of
28 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
about 500. The name was changed to the Columbia City Post a short time
before this. In 1867, a power-press was obtained, and the paper enlarged. In
April, 1879, John W. Adams became a partner, taking control of the business
management. The circulation continued to increase, until a short time ago it
was about 1,000. In April, 1881, Mr. Adams purchased Mr. Brown's interest,
and has sole control of the Post at present.
In the month of July, 1854, the Republicans of the county began to per-
ceive that they ought to. have an organ to oppose the views disseminated by the
Pioneer, and to advance the principles of the new political party that was just
springing into life. Quite a number accordingly purchased the necessary out-
fit (at what place could not be learned), and came to Columbia City, where
Henry Welker was installed as editor. In some way, Mr. A. Y. Hooper had
guaranteed the payment for the press, type, etc., and about the first thing he
knew he had paid the purchase price, and was the sole owner of the Repub-
lican, which had been named in honor of the new party. Mr. Hooper remained
owner of the Republican for many years. He sold out to Mr. Welker, but
the latter could not pay for it, and the property reverted to Mr. Hooper.
This peculiar procedure was repeated many times, to the disgust of the owner.
Finally, during the winter of 1859-60, J. O. Shannon and W. T. Strother
bought the paper and changed its name to the Columbia City Argus, hoping
that a change of name and style might have a beneficial eifect ; but they were
doomed to disappointment, for the paper languished, and finally Mr. Hooper
and S. H. Hill took the helm. After one issue the name was re-changed to
the Republican. In February, 1861, Hill left and George Weamer became
publisher and local and literary editor, Mr. Hooper still retaining chief com-
mand. In September, 1861, Mr. Weamer went to the war, but the brave
fellow was sacrificed to save the Union. The Republican was conducted
through the war by Mr, Hooper. In 1865, the paper passed to John Davis,
and during the same year to 0. H. Woodbridge. In 1866, it was owned by
W. B. Davis and Henry Bridge. In 1867, it was partly owned by A. T.
Clark. In the latter part of 1867, Frank J. Beck became editor and proprie-
tor, and continued until January, 1868. During all this time, if the writer is
correctly informed, Mr. Hooper virtually owned the paper. When the present
owner, J. W. Baker, took charge of the office in 1868, the name was changed
to the Columbia City Commercial. Thus it has remained, doing good work
until the present.
In 1877, D. M. Eveland issued at Churubusco the first number of an
independent Republican paper called the Herald. Its circulation at first was
about three hundred. It was a newsy organ for those who wished to advertise
at 'Busco, and was continued until December, 1880, when it was bought by
I. B. McDonald and H. C. Pressler, the latter having but a small interest.
At this time the politics became Democratic. After a very short time the
paper pag.sed to William Hall & Son, and in June, 1881, to C. T. & F. M.
'^/rci^^cuS ^
COLUMBIA CITY.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
31
Hollis. These men conducted the paper at 'Busco until November, 1881, and
then removed it to Columbia City, and soon afterward it passed to I. B. Mc-
Donald, who seems to find it impossible to remain out of the ranks of journal-
ism. The editor has increased the circulation from about three hundred to
about eight hundred.
In 1876, the Larwill Review was issued, and was continued about a year.
It was independent politically, and, being a very sickly sheet, soon died for the
want of breath. About two wears later, Larwill was made superlatively happy
by the appearance of the Larwill Blade, an independent paper of small size,
edited by R. B. Locke. It afterward passed to C. T. Hollis, and finally to I.
B. McDonald. The White Elephant was first issued about three and a-half
years ago, at Churubusco, by Anes Yocura, editor and proprietor. The small
quarto is a newsy semi-monthly, and lives and thrives, and does not seem an
elephant on the hands of Mr. Yocum.
There are three railroads which cross Whitley County. The Fort Wayne
& Chicago Railroad was completed (this division) in 1855, and is now the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, one of the best in the country.
So far as known, no aid whatever was given the company by the county. The
Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad was first projected during the last war ;
but the owners, finding that the people were not willing to be taxed to death,
dropped the matter until after the war, when another effort was made to secure
aid ; but it went no farther than the County Commissioners. In 1869, the
Commissioners were petitioned to order an election in the county, for the pur-
pose of raising $85,000, or a sum not to exceed 2 per cent on the taxable
property to aid in building the road. The Commissioners accordingly ordered
an election, to be held on the 7th of August, 1869, to determine whether such
aid should be rendered. The following is the vote by townships :
TOWNSHIPS.
FOE.
AGAIKST.
TOTAL.
Cleveland
346
75
28
6
31
604
153
1
75
139
10
225
113
57
57
4
3
187
125
7
356
Richland
300
Troy
141
Etna
63
88
608
Thorn Creek
156
188
200
Smith
146
Total
1458
788
2246
The total amount that has been paid to the railroad, up to the present time, is
$93,088.07. The movement to vote aid to the road was met with severe oppo-
sition. But the friends of the measure were successful, and saddled the burden
of tax upon the county. It was money well spent, as the road was no sooner
completed than the farmer could receive a better price for his grain than he
could at Fort Wayne. This makes Columbia City one of the best grain and
32
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
shipping markets on the Pittsburgh Road. The writer was unable to obtain
many interesting facts regarding this road, which, within the last year or two,
has passed to the control of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Company. There
was but one man in the county who could have given the facts necessary for a
complete history of the relations between this road and the county, and he,
when politely asked to impart such information as would interest the citizens of
the county, refused it for reasons purely his own. The New York, Chicago &
St. Louis Railroad is now being built across the southern part of the county.
It is reported that the citizens at South Whitley have contributed $5,000 to
id the road^ and, along the line in this county, individual help will amount to
about as much more. It would be impossible to vote a tax in the county to aid
the road.
The following valuable compilation of school and church statistics of 1879
will prove of interest to the citizens, as a matter of reference :
STATE OF FUND.
CommoD
School Fund.
Congressional
School Fund.
Total.
$1,967 54
17,495 17
$3,641 85
13,636 75
$5,609 89
31,131 92
Total
$19,462 71
$17,278 60
$36,741 31
CHUKCHES.
•sl
II
'A
MEMBEBS.
.11
111
H
>
2.1
i
1
\
§
II
■a -g
1"
»D,
DENOMINATIONS.
1
£
<
1
1
1
3
3
2
45
3
12
174
102
49
20
40
55
5
16
160
104
62
20
50
6
850
10
1
50
120
Albright
■■■■30*
800
13000
11000
10700
2000
6000
3000
7000
Methodist Episcopal
2030
1720
1575
150
700
150
128
70
593
291
226
300
340
75
100
67
Baptist
10
United Brethren
Lutheran ... .. .
2
1
3
7
40
Catholic
92
134
28
500
6
155
170
Totals
17
537
606
51
54350
6705
365
1355
1172
The following valuable statistics of the county are for the year 1879, and
are found in the report of the Assessors of April, 1880 :
Bushels of wheat
Bushels of corn
Bushels of oats
Bushels of barley
Bushels of rye
Bushels of Irish potatoes.
Bushels of sweet potatoes.
442,810
711,604
231,357
2
222
49,643
372
Pounds of tobacco
Bushels of buckwheat
Tons of timothy hay
Bushels of hay seed
Bushels of clover seed
Bushels of blue grass seed.
Bushels of flax seed
796
1,166
15,266
485
9,270
114
20,660
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY,
33
Bushels of hemp seed ,
Bushels of fall apples
Bushels of winter apples
Bushels of pears
Bushels of peaches
Bushels of plums
Bushels of cranberries
Bushels of quinces
Pounds of grapes
Gallons of strawberries
Gallons of other berries
Gallons of cherries
Gallons of cider
Gallons of vinegar
Gallons of wine
Gallons of sorghum molasses.
Gallons of maple molasses
Pounds of maple sugar
Acres of orchards
Pounds of butter
Stands of bees
Pounds of wool
20
402
(»21
575
744
195
9
172
14
415
964
,749
,314
,885
,261
6^9
,833
,963
,534
,153
,142
,590
,209
Dozens of eggs sold 240,620
Pounds of feathers picked 2,078
Number of horses 5,013
Number of mules 200
Number of cattle 12,261
Number of sheep 14,000
Value of personal property $1,480,540
County population, 1880 16,941
Value of real property $4,004,381
Taxable polls 2,736
Unsatisfied mortgages |13,790
Voters in 1880 4,203
Enumerated school children 5,872
Acres of land 210,458
Value of land $3,360,698
Value of improvements $643,783
Wiles of railroad 40.18
Valuation for taxation $3,801,992
Miles of common road 677
Value of school buildings $92,875
Value of church buildings $95,720
Value of public county buildings... $67,570
CHAPTEK II.
by weston a. goodspeed.
The Mound-Builders of Whitley County— Their Origin and Customs—
The Structure and Contents of their Mounds— The Miamis and the
PoTTAWATOMiES— Cession Treaties of Indian Lands— The Indian Res-
ervations IN Whitley County— The Defeat of Harmar and LaBalme
—Mish-e-ken-o-qua— Cessions of the Reservations— Peculiar Customs
OF THE Natives — Interesting Incidents — Departure Beyond the
Mississippi.
" An Indian chief went forth to fight,
And bravely met the foe ;
His eye was keen, his step was light.
His arm was unsurpassed in might,
But on him fell the gloom of night.
An arrow laid him low :
His widow sang with simple tongue.
When none could hear or see.
Ah, cher amil" — Anonymous.
THE wisest antiquarians are at loss to account whence the Mound-Builders
originated, and what eventually caused them to fade away, leaving nothing
behind save their crumbling bones and habitations. There is an attractive mys-
tery enveloping their ancestry, their peculiar lives and final fate, that proves
a constant bar to the investigations of scientific men. That a peculiar people
inhabited this country prior to its occupation by the Indians, is no longer a mat-
ter of doubt; That they were of a higher antiquity than the Indians, is not
doubted by men who have studied the subject; nor is it doubted that they pos-
34 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
sessed a higher civilization than the red race found here by the first white set-
tlers. Their osseous structure, their manner of living, their type of habitation,
and their customs regarding their ceremonies over and burial of their dead,
render it improbable that they were the ancestors of the Indian tribes. This
view is taken by the majority of students. It is found, with reasonable cer-
tainty, that the people were agricultural in their pursuits, of necessity, as they
were too numerous to live by the chase alone. They had large farms, but what
they raised is a mystery. They cultivated the ground with stone implements;
in fact, all their implements were of stone, or copper, or, perhaps, some acci-
dental metal they had found and had worked into rude ornaments or imple-
ments. They were weavers of a coarse cloth made from reeds, strong grass, or
the inner bark of trees ; and their weaving implements are found in all direc-
tions. They manufactured earthenware with a considerable degree of skill and
intelligence ; and large quantities of vessels of this character are often found
buried in mounds, probably intended for that purpose. Their large and small
earthen or stone embankments indicate much regarding this people. They
show that animals, birds, beasts, and, probably, the sun, moon or stars, were
worshiped. Animals and, probably, human beings were immolated to secure
the favor of the being worshiped by the Mound-Builders.
Several mounds have been discovered in Whitley County, and a few of
them have been opened by novices, and as a consequence the more important
features have been lost or overlooked. It may be stated in general that, in this
locality, the earthworks are of three kinds — sepulchral, where the dead lie
buried ; sacrificial, where offerings were burned to gain the favor of the deity ;
and memorial mounds, which were erected to commemorate some great event,
similar to the Bunker Hill Monument, or to that beautiful column of marble
on the bloody field of Gettysburg. A number of years ago, a sepulchral
mound was opened about three miles east of Columbia City, and a quantity
of crumbling bones and a few stone implements were taken therefrom. This
was a sepulchral mound, and, if a cross-section had been examined, the alter-
nate layers of clay, sand and small cemented pebbles would have been seen.
This kind of mound was wisely made. There was first the stratum of fine gravel,
almost as good as cement, placed directly over the skeletons ; next was a hardpan
of clay that was almost as impervious to water as the cement ; then came a stratum
of sand that would carry all percolating water down the sides of the mounds and
away from the skeletons. It is maintained on good authority that corpses, placed
under these conditions, with additional strata of earth above the sand, will be pre-
served for centuries. The burden of authority places the erection of the mounds
throughout the country at a period preceding the Christian era and co-existent
with the old Assyrian, Egyptian and Babylonian nations. People who do not
understand the structure of the mounds, quite naturally believe the impossibility
of such an extended preservation of the skeletons. Those who nave never
examined the soil above these moldering bones, are the ones who assert that the
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 35
skeletons could not be preserved longer than about one hundred years. The
sacrificial mounds — those where a considerable quantity of charcoal and ashes
are found — were unnecessarily built in the same manner. Charcoal and ashes
buried in the ground under any conditions will keep for ages. This proves
that the Mound-Builders were not aware of the preservative qualities of those
substances. 1143267
Several mounds have been opened in the county, in which charcoal has
been found. If carefully examined, these mounds will present the following char-
acteristics always present in sacrificial mounds. A small earthen altar, sometimes
two or more yards square, in the center and at the bottom of the mound, upon
which is often found a bushel or more of charcoal and ashes, often
mingled with the half consumed bones of the animals that were burned to pro-
pitiate the deity. Over this altar are found the strata of earth already men-
tioned. A careful person can trace the shape and size of the altar, by first
making an excavation in the center, going; down until the charcoal is reached,
and then following the latter out on all sides. The altar is generally about a
foot above the surface soil, and is often burned into a sort of brick by the
repeated fires upon it. Nothing of note is ever found in the memorial mounds
proper. No attention to the strata of earth seems to have been paid. Some
of the sepulchral mounds contain not a vestige of human remains ; this is due
to the careless structure and location of the mounds, where the conditions of
rapid decay were not avoided. These mounds can be told from memorial mounds
by the structure. The writer learns from various sources that there are mounds
in the following townships : Etna, Jefferson, on its eastern line, Troy, Thorn
Creek, Smith, Uni^n, and possibly in Columbia and Cleveland. Openings
have been made in the most of them, and bones, charcoal, ornaments and im-
plements have been discovered. Real Indian graves are found here and there
in the county ; but they must not be confounded with those of the Mound-
Builder. The earthworks in northeastern Union Township are probably the
remains of an old Indian village. Indian skeletons have been found there.
Occasionally a horse-shoe is found there to indicate the presence of white men,
probably French. Care should always be used in examining mounds.
The Indian history of Whitley County, though somewhat meager of
prominent events, contains many items that will prove of interest to those who
are passing their lives where, less than a century ago, the native North Ameri-
can roamed unmolested. Previous to the appearance in Eastern Ohio of that
hardy and courageous race of earliest pioneers, all the country, whose proxi-
mate corners were Detroit, the mouth of the Scioto River, the mouth of the
Wabash River, and the southern point of Lake Michigan, was the property of
the Twigtwees, or Miamis.* Within this vast scope of country they had lived
*At the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, Little Turtle, a distinguished Miami chief, said to Gen. Wayne: " I hope
you will pay attention to what I now say. * * * it jg well known by all my brothers present that my
forefather kindled the first fire at Detroit; from thence he extended his lines to the head-waters of the Scioto ; from
thence to its mouth; from thence d )wn the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, and from thence to Chicago, on Lake-
Michigan."— American Stale Papers, Indian Affairs, I, 570.
36 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
through many generations, engaged in all the barbarous and peculiar customs
of savage tribes. Here they were found as early as 1672 by French traders
and missionaries, and here they had undoubtedly lived for centuries before.
As the dauntless white settlers of the East began to cross the Alleghany Mount-
ains, and invade the Indian territory northwest of the Ohio River, the lands
of the latter were slowly yielded to the resolute and unscrupulous former,
though not without countless effusions of blood; and the red race which had
so long occupied the country, and which manifested that unfaltering devotion
to the memory of ancestors and home that is always exhibited by semi-barbar-
ous man, was compelled to retire westward and join other tribes. It thus oc-
curred that numerous Ohio tribes were obliged to appeal to the Miamis, and
were allotted portions of territory within the broad domain of the latter.
Slowly but surely the tide of emigration swept westward, forcing the savages
back into the unexplored wilderness, until, finally, the Miamis were induced to
cede portions of their territory to the avaricious whites. Numerous treaties
for the purpose of securing peace or cessions of land were effected, and the
imposture then often practiced was sooner or later perceived by the Indians,
who, thereupon, resented the indignity with frequent and bloody onslaughts on
the border settlements. The native North American was not the most tracta-
ble and reasonable creature in the world ; yet, after he had spent the pittance
paid him for his land, his intellect was suflBciently acute to see that he had been
fleeced. He knew of but one way to redress his wrongs ; that was to imitate
the bloody example of Logan and "fully glut his vengeance." Consequently,
the border settlements were laid waste. Scores of expeditions were sent out
to subdue the Indians, destroy their crops and villages, and disperse the
inhabitants — no one cared where. Several expeditions of this character were
sent to Indiana, some of which suffered severe defeats at the hands of the infuriated
savages. During the latter part of the last century and the first of the present
one, Ko-ki-on-ga (Fort Wayne) was one of the most important of the Miami
villages. This tribe was really a confederacy — the Twigtwees, or Miamis
proper, the Weas or Ouiatenous, the Shockeys, and the Piankeshaws.
The first treaty made with the Miamis was held before Benjamin Shoe-
maker, Joseph Turner and William Logan, at Lancaster, Province of Penn-
sylvania, in 1748, the tribe being represented by Aque-nack-qua, As-se-pau-sa
and Nat-oe-que-ha. At this treaty, the Miamis pledged themselves firm friends
of the English. They remained so until the time of colonial independence,
and even after that, for they generally sided against the colonies and fought for
England. The treaties afterward held between the United States Commissioners
and the Miamis were as follows : Greenville, August 3, 1795 ; Fort Wayne, June
7, 1808; Vincennes, August 7, 1803; Vincennes, August 27, 1801; Grouse-
land, August 21, 1805; Vincennes, December 30, 1805; Fort Wayne, Sep-
tember 30, 1809; Vincennes, October 26, 1809; St. Mary's, Ohio, October 2,
1818; same, October 6, 1818 ; Vincennes, August 11, 1820 ; near mouth of
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 37
Mississinewa River, October 3, 1826 ; with the Eel River Miamis, near
Wabash, February 3, 1828 ; Forks of Wabash, October 23, 1834 ; ratified
November 10, 1837 ; Forks of Wabash, November 6, 1838 ; Forks of
Wabash, November 28, 1840.
As Whitley County has but little to do with any tribe of Indians, except
the Eel River Miamis, reference to any others will be omitted, save where it is
necessary to connect the narrative. At the treaty of Greenville, the Miamis
ceded to the whites (among other lands) " one piece two miles square, on the
Wabash River, at the end of the portage from the Miami (Maumee) of the
lake, and about eight miles Westward from Fort Wayne." As the end of the
portage in high water was at the mouth of the Aboite River, and about eight
miles west of Fort Wayne, this ceded land might have been partly in Whitley
County, as the Wabash is twice eight miles from Fort Wayne. All along Eel
River, and on some of its branches, where the streams were of considerable
size, the Eel River Miamis had resided for many years. About the year 1820,
much of the land in Whitley County was claimed by the Miamis ; and the
greater portion of that north of the Wabash was claimed by the Pottawatomies.
This will be seen more fully farther along. At the Greenville treaty, it was
agreed that thereafter the sum of $500 should be paid annually to the Eel
River tribe, with the following proviso :
If the tribe shall hereafter, at any annual delivery of their share of the goods aforesaid,
desire that a part of their annuity be furnished in domestic animals, implements of husbandry,
and other utensils convenient for them, and in compensation to useful artificers who may reside
with or near them, and be employed for their benefit, the same shall, at the subsequent annual
deliveries, be furnished accordingly.
This treaty was signed on behalf of the Eel River band by Sha-me-kun-
ne-sau, or Soldier, their chief. The principal village of this band was on Eel
River, about six miles from its mouth, and was known among the Indians as
Ke-na-pa-com-a-qua, and by the whites as Thorntown, or in French, I'Anguille.
On the evening of the 7th of August, 1791, Gen. Wilkinson, at the head of
about five hundred and twenty-five men, destroyed this town, killing six war-
riors and (accidentally) two squaws and a child, and taking thirty-four
prisoners, with the loss of two men killed and one wounded. Nearly all the
warriors, about one hundred and fifty, were absent at the time. Prior to this,
in autumn, 1780, a Frenchman named La Balme recruited about thirty men at
Kaskaskia, and, going thence to Vincennes, was joined by about as many
more. The design was to attack Detroit. He moved up the Wabash River
to capture, first, the British trading-post, at Fort Wayne. He succeeded in
surprising the traders (nearly all the Indians were away at the time), though
they artfully eluded him ; whereupon- he plundered the post, his men filling
themselves with whisky, and retired to a point about where the Erie Canal
crosses the Aboite River ; or, perhaps, to the old Indian village near there, on
the line between Allen and Whitley Counties, where, in fancied security, he
encamped for the night. While himself and band were locked in slumber, the
38 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Indians, headed by the distinguished Miami chief, Little Turtle, or Mish-e-
ken-o-qua, fell upon them, and slaughtered almost the entire party. A few
succeeded in effecting their escape. This massacre was undoubtedly partly
within the limits of Whitley County.
The Indian tribes living in Northern Indiana were not entirely distinct
from each other, but were more or less leagued together for the purpose of pro-
tection and concentration against the whites. It was also true that, as many of
them had come from Ohio, having being obliged to flee before the whites, they
were compelled, by reason of not owning any land themselves, to undergo the
ceremony of adoption into other tribes. The Miamis thus became sprinkled
with refugees from many nations. The Pottawatomies had obtained the greater
portion of the land north and west of the Wabash, and had, by confederacy and
conquest, extended their domain far westward on the prairie of Illinois. Seek's
village had been established on the line between Columbia and Union Town-
ships for many years before the appearance of the first white settlers. The
most important place, by far, on Eel River, except, perhaps Thorntown, was
the favorite camping place of Little Turtle, in the northeast corner of Union
Township. During all the latter half of the last century, this point was second
to none in Northwestern Indiana, except the large place at Fort Wayne, as it
contained a numerous population ; for, upon the site of this old village, several
lines of earthen embankments had been thrown up in the formation of a large
and flourishing village, extensive fields had been cultivated, and the inhabitants
that had died were found reposing near by in the cemetery of the band. These
things, together with many trinkets and implements, have been discovered since
the settlement of the country by the whites. Aque-nac-gue was the father of
Mish-e-ken-o-qua, or Little Turtle, and for many years was the chief of the
Miamis. The mother af Little Turtle was a handsome, intelligent squaw of
the Mohegans, who transmitted her noble appearance to her distinguished son.
The biographer of Little Turtle locates his birthplace " at the Turtle village of
the Miamis, sixteen miles northwest of Fort Wayne, on Eel River." This
could have been at no other place than at the old village in the northeast cor-
ner of Union Township, or, perhaps, at what afterward became Seek's village.
The indications are that the former was the birthplace. i\.s the mother of
Little Turtle was not the descendant of a chief, and as the right of Indian
children to claim a title to chieftainship depended upon the ancestry of the
mother. Little Turtle did not become a chief by inheritance. He was granted
that distinction, at an early age, by reason of his remarkable intelligence, per-
sonal valor and ability to command. He was the prime leader of all the
movements of the Miamis up to the time of his death, in about 1814. He
was undoubtedly born in Whitley County about the year 1747. A number of
years ago, at Fort Wayne, Coesse, the nephew of Little Turtle, and a dis-
tinguished chief of the Miamis, delivered a touching and eloquent eulogy in
memory of the latter. Soon after the death of Little Turtle, Jean (or John)
/- /
Wu£^( ^^z^^^
COLUMBiA CITY.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 41
B. Richardville, the son of a Frenchman by an Indian squaw, became the
principal chief of the Miamis, with village on the Mississinewa River. Little
Charley was the principal chief of the Eel River Miamis, his village being Thorn-
tov/n ; while subject to him was Seek, or Mack-on-sau, with a band of about
one hundred, twenty-five of whom were warriors. This was the order when
the first white settlers began to arrive nearly sixty years ago.
Going back to an early period — back to the autumn of 1790 — the reader
will find that an expedition, composed of 1,453 men, two battalions of whom
were regular troops, the entire force commanded by Gen. Harmar, left Fort
Washington, on the Ohio River, to reduce the Indian towns on the head-
waters of the Wabash, the Miami village at Fort Wayne being the objective
point. On the 30th of September the command started northward, and, on
the 15th of October, a detachment under Col. Hardin, sent in advance,
reached the Miami village (Fort Wayne), which was found just abandoned.
The militia, without regard to orders, began to plunder the place.* Thus the
time was passed until the arrival of the main body, on the afternoon of the
17th. The commanders could not compel obedience from the militia, as the
latter, in violation of orders, attempted all sorts of wild goose chases around
the village, and indulged in all manner of boasting as to what would be done
when the red-skins were encountered. On the 18th, a detachment under Col.
Trotter was sent out to inspect the surrounding country ; but the militia, in
defiance of the commander, returned to the village in the evening. On the
following day, Col. Hardin was given command of the same detachment
(thirty regulars and about one hundred militia), and moved northwest, leaving
by mistake a portion of his men at a point five miles out, but being joined by
them about six miles further on. About this time, Capt. Armstrong reported
to Col. Hardin that he had heard a gun fired in advance — an alarm gun — and
that he had " seen the tracks of a horse that had come down the trail and had re-
turned." The Colonel, however, moved on carelessly, giving no special orders
to his men to be prepared for business, and even saying that he did not believe
the Indians would fight. At length the camp-fires were seen ; but the troops
moved on, unconscious of the calamity that was to result from their careless-
ness and lack of military discipline. No sooner were the fires reached, than a
terrific storm of leaden balls was poured upon the frightened column, from be-
hind trees and embankments; and scores of painted and infuriated savages
leaped forth to continue the awful work of butchery. All the militia, except
nine, immediately fled like frightened deer in the direction of Fort Wayne,
throwing down guns, clothing and anything that would impede their rapid
progress through the woods before the yelling and pursuing savages. The
whole force of the charge of the Indians was thrown like an avalanche upon
the heroic little band of regulars and the nine resolute militiamen ; and the
yelling and advancing Indians were met by a hot and destructive fire, and
*From the private record, kept daily by Capt. Armstrong, commander of the regulars.
42 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
forced back to the shelter of the trees and embankments. The remainder of
the band of whites immediately began to retreat, keeping up, in the meantime,
a rapid fire as the Indians appeared, and moving swiftly without rout.
They were pursued the greater portion of the distance back to the Miami vil-
lage, twenty-two out of the thirty regulars suffering death. A total of about
OQe hundred men was killed (that being about the size of the attacking force
of Indians) ; and this sad result was occasioned by the cowardly conduct of the
militia. Little Turtle commanded the Indians on this occasion, and Jean B.
Richardville, afterward, during his life, always claimed to have been present
with the assailants. The Indians gained a complete victory, though not with^
out severe loss, as many were shot or bayoneted by the regulars and the nine
militiamen. This battle took place in Eel River Township, Allen County, so
near the Whitley County line that it is highly probable that some of the scenes
of death were enacted within the limits of the latter. Without a doubt several
of the militia were captured, and made to pay the penalty of their rashness and
cowardice in agonizing deaths by torture with fire. Perhaps the hills and dales
around the old Indian villages in Whitley County, though now so silent and
peaceful, once echoed with the frenzied death-cries of wrhite men, while around
them circled the leaping and exulting savages, tearing up with hot iron the
bleeding flesh of the despairing sufferers, and filling the air with their dreadful
yells of revenge.
Gen. Harmar was greatly mortified at the terrible defeat of his men, and,
on account of the glaring insubordination of the militia, concluded it wise to
retreat to Fort Washington. On the way back, one day out, Col. Hardin asked
permission to return with a strong detachment of men and regain the laurels
he had lost, and vindicate the hooted courage of his militia.* Permission was
granted, and accordingly he returned with 340 militia and sixty regulars.
The town was reached ; but on account of the incompetency of the com-
mander and the cowardice of the militia, the force became scattered, and
was terribly beaten in detail by the Indians under the sagacious Mish-e-ken-
o-qua.
The old Indian trail which afterward became the Fort Wayne and Goshen
road, extended from the former place, first to a small Indian village on Section 4,
Smith Township, thence onward to Flat Belly's reservation in western Noble
County, thence onward to the Indian villages near Elkhart. As near as can be
learned, the only IndianvillagesinWhitley^County, in about 1825, were the one in
Smith Township, the small one on Chapine's reservation in Union Township,
the small one on Beaver's reservation, in Columbia Township, a portion of the
old one on Raccoon's reservation, in southeastern Jefferson Township, and the
large one (Seek's village) near the line between Union and Columbia Town-
ships. The following extracts from treaties made at different times between
Special Commissioners of the United States and the Miamis and the Pottawat-
*Hi8tory of Indiana, by John B. Dillon.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 43
omies, will show whan the lands of Whitley County were first the property of
the Government, and also various important facts regarding the reservations :
Ariiclen of a treat'/ made and concluded near the mouth of the Missitsinewa, upon the Wabash,
in the Stale of Indiana, October 23, 1S36, between Lewis Cass, James B. Ray and
J )hn Tipton, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the chiefs and warriors of the
Miami tribe of Indians :
Article 1. The Miami tribe of Iniians cede to the United States all their claim to lands
in the State of Indiana, north, and west of the Wabash, and the Miami (Maumee) Rivers, and
of the cession made by the said tribe to the United States by the treaty concluded at St. Mary's,
Ohio, October 6, 1818.
Art. 2. From the cession aforesaid, the following reservations, for the use of the tribe,
shall be made :
Fourteen sections of land at Seek's village. Five sections for the Beaver below and adjoin-
ing the preceding reservation. Thirty-six sections at Flat Belly's village. Five sections for
Little Charley above the old village (Thorntown) on the north side of Eel River.
*********
One section for Laventure's daughter, opposite the Islands, about fifteen miles below Fort
Wayne. One section for Chapine above and adjoining Seek's village. Ten sections at White
Raccoon's village. Ten sections at the mouth of Mud Creek, on Eel River, at the old village.
Ten sections at the Forks of the Wabash.
*********
And it is agreed that the State of Indiana may lay out a canal or a road through any of the
reservations, and for the use of a canal six chains along the same are hereby appropriated.
Art. 3. There shall be granted to each of the persons named in the schedule hereunto
annexed, and to their heirs the tracts of land herein designated ; but the land so granted shall
never be conveyed without the consent of the President of the United States.
Art. 4. The Commissioners of the United States have caused to be delivered to the
Miami tribe goods to the value of $31,040.53, in part consideration for the cession herein made,
and it is agreed that, if this treaty shall be ratified by the President and Senate of the United
States, the Government shall pay to the persons named in the schedule this day signed by the
Commissioners and transmitted to the War Department, the sums affixed to their names respect-
ively, for goods furnished by them, and amounting to the sum of $31,040.53. And it is further
agreed that payment for these goods by the Miami tribe shall be out of their annuity, if this
treaty be not ratified by the President and Senate.
And the United States further engage to deliver to the said tribe in the course of the next
summer the additional sum of $26,259.47 in goods. And it is also agreed that an annuity of
$35,000, $1,000 of which shall be in goods, shall be paid to the said tribe in the year 1827; and,
also, $30,000, $5,000 of which shall be in goods, shall be paid said tribe in 1828, after which time a
permanent annuity of $25,000 shall be paid them as long as they exist together as a tribe, which
several sums are to include the annuities due by preceding treaties with the said tribe.
And the United States further engage to furnish a wagon and one yoke of oxen for each
of the following persons : Joseph Richardville, Black Raccoon, Flat Belly, White Raccoon,
Frangois Godfrey, Little Beaver, Seek, Met-to-sin-eau and Little Huron, and one wagon and a
joke of oxen for the band living at the Forks of the Wabash. And also to cause to be built a
house, not exceeding the value of $600 for each of the following persons : Joseph Richardville,
Frangois Godfrey, Louison Godfrey, Francois Lafontaine, White Raccoon, La Gros, John B.
Richardville, Flat Belly, and Wau-wau-es-se. And also to furnish the said tribe with 200 head
of cattle, from four to six years old, and 200 head of hogs, and to cause to be annually delivered
to them 2,000 pounds of iron, 1,000 pounds of steel, and 1,000 pounds of tobacco. And also
to provide five laborers to work three months in the year for the small villages, and three
laborers to work three months in the year for the Mississinewa band.
Art. 5. The Miami tribe being anxious to pay certain claims existing against them, it is
agreed, as a part of the consideration for the cession in the first article, that these claims, amount-
44 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
ing to 17,727.47, and which are stated in a schedule this day signed by the Commissioners and
transmitted to the War DepartmAt, shall be paid by the United States.
*********
Art. 8. The Miami tribe shall enjoy the right of hunting upon the land herein conveyed,
so long as the same shall be the property of the United States.
Art. 9. This treaty, after the same shall be ratified by the President and Senate, shall
be binding upon the United States.
In testimony whereof the said Lewis Cass, James B. Ray and John Tipton, Commissionera
as aforesaid, and the chiefs and warriors of the said Miami tribe, have hereunto set their hands,
at the Wabash, October 23d, 1826.
(Signed by, on behalf of the Miamis), Flat Belly, La Gros, Wau-wau-es-se, White Raccoon,
Black Loon, Seek, Mes-e-qua, Nota-wen-sa's son, Lafrombroise, Nego-ta-kaup-wau, Osage, Met-
to-sin-eau, Little Beaver, Black Raccoon, Chin-quin-sau, James Abbot, Lahgua, Little VfoU,
Pun-ge-she-nau, Won-se-pe-au, Frangois Godfrey, Joseph Richardville, Frangois Lafontaine,
Wau-no-sau, Popular, Chapine, Pe-che-wau (John B. Richardville), Chin-go-me-shau, Little Sun,
Shin-gau-leau, Louis Godfrey, Ou-san-de-au, Me-shan-e-qua, Un-e-cea-sau, She-qua-bau, Shin-
qua-keau and Little Charley's son.
William Connor, Lewis Cass,
J. B. BouRiE, J. B. Rat,
Interpreters. John Tipton,
U. S. Commissioners.
The Frenchmen, who had come into the Indian country to trade, found
the business so lucrative that they usually remained, having but little difficulty
in making warm friends of their red brothers, or in acquiring the semi-civil-
ized habits of the race they were endeavoring to hoodwink and fleece. They
became thoroughly conversant with the customs and dialects of the various
Indian tribes, were often employed as interpreters at treaties, or witnesses to
the assent and signatures of the savages, and many of them became the hus-
bands of the handsome squaws of the leading chiefs and the fathers of their
half-breed children. In all treaties thereafter, when the children had reached
maturity, they were considered in all respects as Indians ; and, when reserva-
tions were retained from cessions of land granted by the Indians to the whites,
the half-breeds were considered on an equal footing with full-blooded Indians
as regards rank, purity of blood and right to tracts of land. Hence it is found
that, in almost every treaty with the Indians, where lands were reserved, half-
breeds came in for their share, and they also came in for their share of the
annuities.
As was stated some distance back, the first annuity paid by the Govern-
ment to the tribe of Eel River Miamis was in 1795, and consisted of ^500.
At the treaty held by Gen. Harrison at Grouseland, near Vincennes, August
21, 1805, a further annuity of $250 was paid them ; and, still later, at the
treaty held by Gen. Harrison at Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809, the annuity
was increased $350, making a total paid them yearly, from that time onward
until they were removed to Kansas, and even after that, of $1,100. This, of
course, only refers to the Eel River branch of the Miamis, numbering in all
about 500 souls, with the principal village on Eel River, about six miles from
its mouth. Of this number, about 100 lived in Whitley County, the greater
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 45
number being at Ma-con-sau's (Seek's) village. This was the condition of
things in about 1830. The following selected portions of a treaty made
between the United States and the Miami nation of Indians, October 23, 1834,
explain themselves :
Article 1. The Miami tribe of Indians agree to cede to the United States the following
described tracts of land within the State of Indiana, being a part of reservations made by said
tribe from former cessions, now conveyed for and in consideration of the payments stipulated
to be made to them in the second article of this treaty of cession : One tract of land, thirty-six
sections, at Flat Belly's village, a reserve made by the treaty of AVabash of 1826 (this reserva-
tion lay partly in Noble and partly in Kosciusko Counties, Flat Belly being a Miami. See Part
II of this volume). Also one other tract of ten sections at Raccoon's village (including the
southeast corner of JefiFerson Township, about four sections) and a tract of ten sections at Mud
Creek, on Eel River, reserves made at Wabash treaty of 1826.*
******** ***
Article 8. The United States agree to cause patents in fee simple to issue to the following-
named persons, for the several tracts of land attached to their names, granted to them by
former treaties: To Chapine, one section of land (partly in Whitley County), to include Rac-
coon Village, commencing two poles west of the village, thence in an easterly direction to River
Aboit, thence with said river until it strikes the reserve line, thence with said line for quantity,
to include within the bounds one section of land.
****** ** ***
This treaty (quite a lengthy one) failed in some of its provisions to satisfy
the administration at Washington, and was not ratified until the autumn of
1837, at which time it received in its amended form the signatures, or rather
marks, of seventy-three chiefs and warriors, among the signers being Jean B.
Richardville, Little Charley, Ma-con-sau (Seek), Chapine, Wau-wau-es-se,
Frangois Godfrey, Flat Belly, and others of no less distinction. The well-
known Frangois Comparet acted as interpreter, and A. C. Pepper as Indian
Agent. Thus the territory of Whitley County remained, as far as the Miamis
were concerned, until the 6th of November, 1838, at which time, by a treaty
of cession held at the Forks of the Wabash, the following land, among many
other tracts, was ceded by them to the United States :
****** ** **
The reservation of land made for the use of said (Miami) tribe at Seek's, or Ma-con-sau'a
village on Eel River, by the second article of a treaty made and concluded on the 23d of Octo-
ber, 1826.
Article 8. It is further stipulated that the Unite! States patent to Beaver the five sections
of land (in Columbia Township), and to Chapine the one section of land (in Union Township),
reserved to them respectively, in the second article of the treaty made in 1826, between the
parties to the present treaty.
The United States agree to possess the Miami tribe of Indians of and guarantee to them
forever, a country west of the Mississippi River, to remove to and settle on when the said tribes
may be disposed to emigrate from the present country ; and guaranty is hereby pledged that the
said country shall be sufl&cient in extent and suited to their wants and condition, and be in a
region contiguous to that in the occupation of the tribes which emigrated from the States of
Ohio and Indiana.
*** ***** ***
Article 12. The United States agree to grant by patent to each of the Miami Indians
named in the following schedule the tracts of land designated : To Chapine, one section of
♦This was not the Mud Creek in Whitley County ; but was another email stream of the same name which joined
Kel River, six miles from Its mouth, a t the old village of Little Charley. No traces of such a reservation in Whitley
County could be discovered.
46 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
land where he now lives (Allen County) on the Ten-Mile reserve. To Seek, one section of land
(in Huntington County), south of the section of land granted to Wau-pau-se-pau by the treaty
of 1834, on the Ten-Mile Reserve. To Ki-was-see, a chief, one section of land, now Seek'i
Reserve, to include his orchard and improvements (probably in Columbia Township).
The ten-mile reserve did not include any portion of Whitley County.
The treaty just mentioned was approved January 28, 1839, Francis Godfrey,
though a full-blooded Frenchman himself, had been adopted by the Indians,
had married one or more squaws, by whom he had several children. Upon his
adoption he was given the name Ke-ki-lash-we-au, and afterward, for meritori-
ous action, was made a chief. Both he and Richardville played their hands
shrewdly with the Miamis ; and, being men of more than ordinary ability, the
latter at last became chief of the entire tribe, and the former became war chief
of the same. Francis Godfrey is said to have been a man of enormous physical
strength and endurance, of unusual sagacity and alertness of perception, and
of that character of courage so coveted by the Indians In all the annuities
paid to the Miamis, and in all the lands reserved by them, Godfrey and Rich-
ardville came in for the lion's share. Descendants of both are yet living near
Fort Wayne, and are yet regularly receiving their annuities. On the 28th of
November, 1840, a treaty was concluded at the forks of the Wabash, whereby
the Miamis, as a nation, ceded all their land in Indiana to the United States,
save a few small tracts, none of which were in Whitley County. After some
changes and amendments had been made to this treaty at Washington, and
these alterations had been sanctioned by the Indians, the amended treaty waa
ratified on the 25th of February, 1841, and signed by John Tyler, President,
and Daniel Webster, Secretary of State.* For the above important cession of
land the Miamis were paid $550,000, partly by way of annuities. At this
treaty, the Miamis were assigned a tract of land estimated to contain 500,000
acres, in Kansas, whither they removed a year or two later. Quite a number
of the tribe did not go West, but remained on reservations along the Wabash
and elsewhere. This is true of Richardville, who lies buried at Fort Wayne.
It is also true of Coesse, a nephew of Little Turtle, who refused to leave the
land where his affections were centered, but remained until his death, giving
name to a small town in Union Township, upon the site of which he is said to
have had a small village in early years.
It seems that in the treaties made between the United States and the
Miamis on the one hand and the Pottawatomies on the other, both of the
Indian tribes claimed lands in Whitley County, the claim of the former tribe
being far the smaller. The Miamis had formerly owned Whitley County, but.
whether they were overcome by the Pottawatomies, and the most of them driven
south of the Wabash, or whether they permitted the latter tribe to occupy the
country north of the Wabash as lease-holders, or whether the two tribes
mingled at will over all Northern Indiana, each claiming a sort of an undivided
interest in the land, cannot be determined with certainty. In view of estab-
♦Laws of the United States, 1841.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 47
lished facts, the last supposition seems more plausible than the others. It
should be noticed that at the Wabash treaty of 1826, the Miamis ceded to the
United States (not Iheir lands, but) " their claim to all lands in Indiana north
and west of the Wabash and the Miami (Maumee) Rivers." The wording of
the Pottawatomie treaties was different. The following-described tract of land
was ceded by the Pottawatomies October 16, 1826, the treaty being held near
the mouth of the Mississinewa :
Beginning on tiie Tippecanoe River where the northern boundary of the tract ceded by
the Pottawatomies to the United States, in 1818, crosses the same, thence in a direct line to a
point on Eel River, half way between the mouth of said river and Perish's village; thence up
Eel River to Seek's village, near the head thereof; thence in a direct line to the mouth of a
creek emptying into the St. Joseph of the Miami near Me-te-au's village; thence up the St.
Joseph to the boundary line between the States of Indiana and Ohio ; thence south with the
same to the Miami ; thence up the same to the reservation at Fort Wayne ; thence with the lines
of said reservation to the boundary established by the treaty with the Miamis in 1818; thence
with the same to the mouth of the Tippecanoe ; thence with said river to the place of beginning.
From this it will be seen that the Pottawatomies were the ones who really
ceded to the Government the land in Whitley County, south of Eel River.
This was done without any reservations of land in Whitley County. To show
that the claims of the Miamis to the soil of this county were small, it may be
stated that the latter were paid but a pittance by the Government, compared
with what was paid the Pottawatomies. The following described tract of land
ceded by the last-named tribe, September 20, 1828, included the greater por-
tion of the county north of Eel River:
Beginning at a point run in 1817 due east from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan,
which point is due south from the head of the most easterly branch of the Kankakee River, and
from that point running south ten miles ; thence in a direct line to the northeast corner of Flat
Belly's reservation ; thence to the northwest corner of the reservation at Seek's village : thence
with the lines of the said reservation and of former cessions to the line between the States of
Indiana and Ohio ; thence with the said line running due east from the southern extreme of
Lake Michigan, and thence with said line to the place of beginning.
This treaty was signed, among others, by To-pin-e-be, Po-ka-gon, Ship-
she-wan-nau, Wau-ban-se, Ash-kum and Mish-qua-buck. The only reserva-
tion in this county kept by the Indians at the time of this treaty was Section
4, Smith Township, which was retained by Stephen Bennack, a Pottawatomie.
It remained his property until July 14, 1831, when it was sold by the Indian
to Alexis Coquillard and Francis Comparet for $800. The old Raccoon reser-
vation took in about three and a half sections of Jefferson Township, while a
section that was granted to Chapine some time afterward, was included within this
reservation, and extended across the corner of Section 36, same township. The
six-chain reserve also included a portion of Section 36, and was retained by
the Government, as will be seen above, for canal purposes. The land was
laid off into lots, and was sold afterward as " canal lands." It is probable that
the transfer of Section 4, Smith Township, from Stephen Bennack to Coquil-
lard and Comparet was the first in the county to white men.
48 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
At the time the various treaties mentioned above were made, all the land,
before it was ceded to the Government, was the property of the Indians. As
cessions were made, portions were reserved by the Indians, who had owned
the land at the time of the treaty, and who had the unquestioned right to reserve
any portion of such land they chose. By subsequent purchase or cession these
reservations became the property of the Government ; but this was not ilways
the case, as some of the Indians preferred to retain their land and cast their
lot among the whites, rather than follow their tribes to lands beyond the Mis-
sissippi. Whether the Government, in order to confirm the ownership of the
reservations, issued patents to the Indians who saw proper to reserve portions
of their lands, is not known to the writer ; but it would seem that the reverse
was true, as to patent to an Indian something that already belonged to him
was certainly unnecessary. From the treaty of 1838, it will be seen that the
Government agreed to patent to Beaver five sections now in Columbia Town-
ship. One of two things is true : Either the Government did patent to Indians
their reservations, or else Beaver had transferred his five sections, so that, at
the treaty of 1838, they were the property of the Government, in which case
the latter had the right to patent. At least, the Government agreed to grant
Beaver a patent for his five sections ; and what is peculiar about the case is,
that the agreement ended with the promise, or, in other words, Beaver never
received his patent. If the granting of the patent was vital to the ownership
by Beaver, the title to the lands on this reserve is clouded, as all such titles
are traced to Beaver, or his heirs, who really never owned the title. If this
reservation was ever the property of the Government, such fact could not be
learned. It is only presumed from the fact of the agreement to patent to
Beaver the land. The cloud to the title is, that, as Beaver never received the
patent promised him by the United States (none having ever been issued), he
had no power to convey. But he did convey (or his heirs did), and the present
holders of deeds of those lands trace their titles to this promise on the part of
the Government to patent the soil to Beaver. Notwithstanding all this, no
harmful results can happen to the present owners, as, in case the validity of a
title is questioned on the score that the patent to Beaver had never been
issued. Congress would come to the rescue and, at this late day, with all the
known descendants of Beaver dead, would remedy the neglect by issuing the
patent to Beaver. This would simply result in confirming the power of Beaver
and his heirs to convey, and would therefore place the titles on a firm founda-
tion. To do much damage, it would require a smart lawyer, even as the case
stands at present.
The cession of all the land of Whitley County by the Pottawatomies,
except a considerable portion of the western part, has been accounted for in
preceding pages. Access to the treaty concerning the cession of this part
could not be gained by the writer ; but the land evidently became the property
of the United States in about 1828, and was soon afterward surveyed and
^-
-"^.-s^*
(deceased; COLUMBIA TR
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 51
thrown into market. The settlers began to come in 1833, and at that time
about 150 Indians lived within the county limits. About eighty were congre-
gated at Seek's village ; a few were at a small village on Beaver's reservation,
the chief being Coesse; another small band was near Blue River Lake, in
Smith Township, while others were at Raccoon's village. From this time
onward, until the Indians were removed West, they were constantly associated
with the white settlers. A well-worn Indian trail extended along the banks of
Eel River, from which side- trails branched to the principal Indian villages
throughout the surrounding country. The Indians, who, but a comparatively
short time before, had been at war with the whites and with other Indians, still
retained their war-like customs. They always went armed with butcher -knives,
tomahawks, rifles and huge plugs of tobacco. They were then armed to
the teeth. Dances were often held, being largely attended both by the Indians
and the white settlers. The latter were usually invited to take part in the
games or dances, and often did, but from awkwardness were usually the laugh-
ing-stock of the Indians. Some of the settlers became quite expert savages,
and could whoop, brandish their weapons, swear, chew tobacco, and drink like
a native. In truth, it seems as if these strong traits in the present generation
were inherited from fathers who innocently acquired them from the cruel
Indians, and then transmitted them to their oifspring.
Many incidents might be told regarding the contact of the whites with the
Indians. In 1837, the Indians, nearly 1,000 in number, met at Seek's village
to have a big feast and dance. Evening came, and twenty or thirty fires were
burning, around which squaws were preparing savory dishes of dog soup,
venison or bear steak or wild turkeys that had received no dressing save pluck-
ing. About twenty of the warriors were having a war- dance around a pole,
the rendition being a sort of limping motion, while one of the Indians with an
otter skin would approach each dancer in succession, pointing the skin at him,
at the same time uttering a continued " Poo-oo-oo-oo," until at last, reaching
the one he wished, he would exclaim, shortly and loudly, "Poo-poo!" at
which the individual pointed at would drop to the ground as if dead. This
creature was carried from the ring, the dance was continued, and another being
was shot in like manner. After a few minutes the dead (?) ones would return
and join the sport. While this was going on a very savage Indian named
Tau-tau, who was sitting on a log at the side of a wigwam, arose
quickly and, walking a few paces to an Indian near by, plunged his
knife into the heart of the unsuspecting savage. The latter, with an unearthly
whoop, leaped high in the air and fell dead upon the ground. Quite a com-
motion was created by this act, but it was not permitted to interfere with the
dance or the supper. Mr. Tau-tau had, in some dispute with the murdered
Indian the previous morning, been grievously wronged, as he considered, but
any trouble had been prevented by the interference of Mack-on-sau, or Seek.
The savage resented the supposed wrong as related above.
52 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The Indians had a sure cure for snake-bite. It was a poultice of some
weed quite common in the woods ; but the white settlers, for some reason or
other, could not find out what it was. Mr. Minor, of Columbia City, says that
an Indian boy one day entered a swamp near the village, but after a few
minutes came running out with a big " massauger" fastened to his foot. An
old squaw went forward, and, taking the reptile by the neck, unfastened its
fangs, and then killed the snake. She went out a short distance in the woods
and soon came back, chewing a huge mouthful of some herb ; as soon as the
"cud" was in suitable condition, she applied it with a bandage to the wound.
No harm, whatever, resulted from the poison of the bite.
Another incident is told of the Indians that the people of to-day could
wisely imitate. The Indians at Seek's village, having invited in some of their
friends, concluded to have a steam dance. Quite a large heap of dry wood
was formed, upon which was piled many stones, after which the heap was set
on fire. The wood burned away, leaving the stones as hot as blazes. A large
deer-skin wigwam was immediately placed around this pile of hot stones, as
near air tight as possible ; and then some fifteen or twenty Indians entered,
and threw on the hot stones enough water to completely fill the wigwam with
steam. Water was kept near, so that the supply of steam could be replenished.
The Indians, who were entirely naked, except an insignificant breech-clout,
began a wild dance around the hot and steaming stones. They practiced all
sorts of artful activities within the wigwam, filling the air with discordant and
hideous cries. Of course this procedure threw them into a profuse perspira-
tion ; and, when they emerged from the wigwam, after the lapse of about half
an hour, they Were covered with water that ran from their bodies in streams.
Without delay they clothed themselves, and it may be assured that they en-
joyed the remainder of the festivities. These dances were called " dum-dums,"
and were a common occurrence, often participated in by the whites. It was a
source of unalloyed enjoyment for the Indians to try to frighten new settlers.
When Samuel Minor was a strippling about seventeen years old, he had occasion
to pass near the spot where Seek was straightening a gun-barrel. As soon as
the latter saw the boy, he drew a long knife from his belt, gave an unearthly
whoop and started for him ; but, although the boy was scared half to death and
thought the Indian in earnest, he advanced toward the chief to give him
the best he had. When Seek fancied he had not scarced the boy, he sat down
on a log and laughed heartily. Mr. Minor has always considered that he got
the best of that afi"air ; for, while he was really scared. Seek was never aware
of that fact.
John Owl, a Miami Indian, died at Seek's reservation, expressing a wish
on his deathbed to be buried after the manner of white men. Rudolph Crow
and Adam Hull, who were present, agreed to see that his last wish was carried
into effect. After Mr. Owl had passed away, his grave was dug in the ordi-
nary way, a big slab was placed on the bottom, two more on the sides, two short
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 53
ones at the ends, after which the corpse was placed in the box thus formed.
The relatives of the dead Indian then came forward with a teacup containing what
appeared to be browned coifee, and a saucer containing small cakes. After
these had been placed at the sides of his head, a heavy slab was placed over
the whole, after which the grave was filled with earth. A volley was fired over
his grave, as in the case of soldiers, and Seek fired twice, as a chief should. The
exact location of this grave is unknown, and it is safe to say that old Mr. Owl
yet sleeps with the tea-cup and saucer at his head, near Seek's old village.
Similar instances of Indian customs might be related by the score, but it is
unnecessary. The race so glorified by the pens of Longfellow and Cooper is
slowly passing away and becoming extinct. The social influences of civilization
could not soften the hearts that, through thousands of generations, had been
taught to stifle the nobler sentiments of humanity, and to kindle into terrific
conflagration the most wrathful forms of brutality. The whole nature must be
altered, or the uncivilized race must pass away. The savage heart was con-
stitutional. It is his sorrowful destiny to pass from the earth forever.
54
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY,
CHAPTER III.
by eichabd collins.
The Condition of the County Before its Creation— Survey of the Lands-
First Entries Made— Organization of the County— Proceedings of
the County' Commissioners— Location of the County Seat— Early
Courts— Juries— Trials for Murder— County Buildings— Names of
County Officers— Political Organizations— Votes Polled for Presi-
dential Candidates— The Blacklegs.
THE county of Whitley was formed of territory originally occupied by the
Indians, and claimed by the Miami and Pottawatomie tribes. The
Miami tribe, by treaty made with the Government in 1826, and by subsequent
treaties, ceded to the Government its claim to all lands north of the Wabash
River. In 1828, the Pottawatomies by a like treaty did the same, for it seemed
that each tribe held an undivided claim in the same land. The next thing
in order after the land had become the property of the Government, was to
survey it into townships and sections, after which, when the proper time had
arrived, it was thrown into market and sold in size to suit purchasers. All
the land in the county, sold at private sale, was at the rate of $1.25 per acre.
A few tracts were settled and held under the pre-emption laws then in force
giving the occupant one year to make payment at $1.25 per acre, that being
the usual entry price. The lands in the county of Whitley were surveyed and
offered for sale as shown in the followino; tabular statement :
Townships
North.
Ranges East.
Parts of Congressional
Townships.
When
Surveyed.
By Whom Surveyed.
When Sales.
Commenced.
30
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
South of Eel River
North of Eel River
Whole
1828
1834
1834
1834
1834
1834
1840
1834
1828
1840
1834
1840
1829
Basil Bently
1834
30
31
John Hendricks
1834
John Hendricks
John Hendricks
1836
32
Whole
1835
30 ..
Whole
Basil Bently and ")
Wm. Brookfield /
John Hendricks
1836
31
All except Reserve
1835
31
Ghauncey Carter
1848
32
Whole
1835
30
All except Reserve
In Reserve
Basil Bently
1835
30
Ghauncey Carter
John Hendricks
1848
31
All except Reserve
1885
31
Ghauncey Carter
David Hills
1848
32
Whole
1833
The Reserve of fourteen sections at Seek's village was surveyed in a
whole tract in 1827, closing November 9, 1827, by Ghauncey Carter, Deputy
Surveyor. In January, 1840, Ghauncey Garter surveyed this Reserve into
sections, conforming to the general survey. The sales of the lands in that
Reserve appear to have commenced in March, 1848. The lands were all sold
at the land office at Fort Wayne, except a few remaining tracts at the time the
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
55
land office was removed to Indianapolis, the same lands being portions ceded
to the State by the General Government as swamp land.
The following were the first tracts of land purchased in the county, and
the only ones during the years 1833 and 1834 :
PURCHASKES' NAMES.
Descriptio
Date of Entry.
Jesse W. Long
Jesse W. Long.
George Slagle
George Slagle
Absalom Hire
M. P. C. Wood
Samuel Smith
Aaron Bixby
William Vanmeter ">
Christian Corner j
Jesse W. Long
Jesse W. Long
Samuel Nickey
Aaron Bixby
John Shade
John Shupert
Christopher Shupert
Jacob Sine
Richard Baughan
Jesse W. Long
John H. Falkumph
John H. Falkumph
John H. Falkumph
John Wilcox and William )
Vanmeter j
William Beall
William Beall
Francis Tulley
Francis Tulley
John Strean and Luther Nott
John Streun
John Strean and John W. )
Moore J
Jacob Sine
John W Moore
John W. Moore
Otho W. Gandy
Zachariah Garrison ">
J. A. Vanhouten /
Samuel Walker
Samuel Walker
William Walker
Morse P. C. Wood
40
80
40
40
40
160
160
320
40
320
80
160
80
40
80
40
80
40
80
40
40
40
40
40
80
80
40
40
80
80
80
160
80
40
160
91
S.WJS. E. J
E. i S. E. J
S.W.JS.W. J....
S.E.J S.W.J...
S.W. JS.E.J....
N. W. J
S. E. J
N. ^
S.W.J
N. E.JN. E. J.
W. ^ N. E. J...
N.W. JS. E.J..
S-^
N. ^ N.W.J...
S.W. J
W. ^ N.E.J...
N.W. JS.E. J..
W. J N.W. J..
N.W. JS.E. J..
S. ^ N.W. J....
S.E. JS. E.J..
W. ^ N.W. J...
S.E. JS.E J..
N.W. J S. W.J. .
N. E. JS.W.J..
S.E. J N.W. J..
N.E.JS.W. i..
E. i N.W. J....
E. ^ N.W. J....
S.E. J S.W. J..
N.E.J S.E. J..
W. ^ N. W. J...
W. ^ S. W. J...
S. ^S. E. J....
N.E. J
W. JN. EJ....
N.E.JS.W.J..
N.W. J
50 N. E. Fract'nl.
Sept. 10, 1883.
Sept. 10, 1883.
Sept. 11, 1833.
Sept. 11, 1833.
Sept. 24, 1833.
March 24, 1884.
June 10, 1884.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 10, 1834.
June 16, 1834.
June 16, 18:^.
June 28, 1834.
July 4, 1884.
July 19, 1884.
July 19, 1834.
July 19, 1834.
Aug. 2, 1834.
Aug. 8, 1834.
Aug. 8, 1834.
Aug. 28, 1834.
Aug. 28, 1834.
Sept. 24, 1834.
Sept. 24, 1834.
Sept. 24, 1834.
Sept. 30, 1834,
Oct. 11, 1834.
Oct, 11, 1834.
Oct, 11, 1834.
Nov, 19, 1834.
Nov. 10, 1834.
Nov. 20, 1834.
Nov. 20, 1834.
Dec. 6, 1834.
Making in all 240 acres entered in 1833, and 3,417.50 acres in 1834.
Section 4, Township 32, Range 10, was probably the first tract of land in the
county owned by white men. See Chapter II of this volume. As a continua-
tion of the above facts, it may be stated that, in 1835, there were not less than
118 tracts of land entered in Cleveland Township ; 63 in Richland ; none in
Troy ; 20 in Washington ; 26 in Columbia ; 14 in Thorn Creek ; 93 in Jeffer-
son ; 11 in Union, and 52 in Smith.
56 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The first settlement in Smith Township was made in the southeast corner ;
in Union, in the northeast corner and southern part ; in Jefferson, in south half;
in Thorn Creek, near the center ; in Columbia, northern part ; in Washington,
in the northern part ; in Troy, near the center ; in Richland, scattering ; in
Cleveland, near Eel River. Reference is here made to Congressional town-
ships, and not as they are now divided into civil townships. Large numbers of
settlers arrived in 1836, 1837 and 1838 ; and, before 1840, all the better por-
tions of land in the county were purchased, except the lands in Seek's village
reservation, which were not in market until 1848.
Whitley County was named in honor of Col. William Whitley, of Lincoln
County, Ky., who was killed at the battle of the Thames, in Canada, in the
war of 1812. The county was originally eighteen miles square, containing
nine Congressional townships, each six miles square, making 324 square miles,
or 207,360 acres of land (if the surveys were all full). The boundaries of the
connty were fixed by the Legislature, at the session of 1833 and 1834, as fol-
lows: Bounded on the east by Allen County, on the north by Noble, on the
west by Kosciusko and on the south by Huntington. The boundaries of the
county were changed, in June, 1859, by the addition of twelve sections of land
taken from the south side of Township 33, Range 8 east, in Noble County,
making an addition of 7,680 acres. Allen County, at first, embraced all the
territory in Whitley County, and exercised jurisdiction over it from the organi-
zation of that county, in 1824, until the year 1837, when this county was
attached to the county of Huntington for civil and judicial purposes, and re-
mained so until organized in 1838.
The Legislature, at their session in 1837 and 1838, declared Whitley to
be an independent county from and after the 1st day of April, 1838, and
Richard Baughan was appointed Sheriff, by Gov. Wallace, by commission dated
March, 1838, to serve until the next annual election, in August, 1838. It
being his first duty to advertise and cause an election to be held at the most
convenient places in the settled portions of the county, where they would be
most accessible to the electors, he fixed only four voting places, as follows:
One at the house of Lewis Kinsey (now Cleveland Township) ; one at the
house of Andrew Compton (now Richland Township) ; one at the house of
Richard Baughan (now Thorn Creek Township) ; and one at the house of John
N. Moore (now Smith Township). There then being no organized townships,
for the purpose of electing a County Clerk, Recorder, two Associate Judges
and three County Commissioners, after notices of the election were posted on
trees at important points on the various Indian trails passing through the
county and on the cabin doors of the pioneers, a meeting of the citizens was
called, and fifteen or twenty assembled at the house of Calvin Alexander (near
where Beech Chapel is now located), in what is now Thorn Creek Township,
and organized by the appointment of a Chairman and Secretary, and proceeded
to select candidates for the different offices to be filled, which resulted in the
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 57
unanimous selection of Abraham Cuppy for Clerk and Recorder, Jacob A.
Vanhouten and Benjamin F. Martin for Associate Judges and Otho W. Gandy,
Nathaniel Gradeless and Joseph Parrett, Jr., for County Commissioners, all of
whom were elected and qualified, and all discharged the duties of their respect-
ive oflBces. They have all gone to their final rest, some of them many years
ago. Otho W. Gandy was the last, by a number of years, to pass away. He
died in 1879, at the age of eighty-five. The place designated for holding
courts in the county was the house of James Parret, Jr. There being no
James Parret, Jr., in the county, the Board of County Commissioners met at
the house of Joseph Parrett, Jr., where South Whitley is now located (that
being the place intended by the Legislature for holding courts), on the 7th
day of May, 1838, and, after taking the oath of office, proceeded to select
Otho W. Gandy as President of the Board. Their first important act was the
appointment of John Collins, Treasurer ; Henry Pence, Assessor ; Benjamin
H. Cleveland, Three Per Cent Fund Commissioner; and Henry Swihart,
County Agent. They adopted the eagle side of a ten cent piece as the seal
of the Board of Commissioners of the County, to be used until they could pro-
cure a proper seal. The Board granted a license to Joseph Pierce and Robert
Starkweather to vend foreign merchandise and foreign and domestic groceries
for one year for $5, capital to be less than $2,000, place of business near
Pierce's saw-mill, on Eel River, in Union Township, that being the first store
in the county, except an Indian trading-post, kept by John B. Godfrey, on the
Goshen road, north of Blue River, in Smith Township, which had been estab-
lished a number of years previously, probably as early as the year 1828.
The Legislature, at their session in 1838-39, appointed Madison Switzer,
William H. Coombs, Daniel R. Bears and David Bennett, Commissioners, to
locate the seat of justice of the county, and directed them to meet at the house
of James Parret, Jr., on the first Monday of May, 1838, for that purpose.
Madison Switzer, being the only Commissioner in attendance at the supposed
point at that time, adjourned to meet at the house of Joseph Parrett, Jr., on
the 18th day of June, 1838, at which time Madison Switzer, William H.
Coombs and David Bennett met, and proceeded to examine the different sites
offered. After due deliberation, they decided to locate the county seat upon
lands offered by Lott S. Bayless, on Section 19, Township 31, Range 9 (now
Union Township), occupied as a farm by John Metz at the present time. As
a consideration, Bayless was to pay the county $500 in money, furnish a set
of record books (worth |100) for the county offices, and pay all expenses of
the location. The citizens of the county generally being dissatisfied with the
location, petitioned the Legislature to appoint Commissioners to relocate the
seat of justice, and the Legislature, at their second term of the session of
1838-39, appointed Samuel Edsall, John Jackson, A. S. Ballard and Isaac
Covert, Commissioners, for that purpose, to meet at the house of Richard
Baughan (the place then designated for holding courts in the county), on the
58 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
first Monday of June, 1839. On that day, Samuel Edsall and John Jackson
met at the place and time designated, and, there not being a majority of the
Commissioners present, they adjourned to meet at the same place, on the 19th
of October, 1839. On that day, they all met, and proceeded to discharge the
duties assigned them. After carefully examining all the sites offered, and after
mature deliberation, they decided to locate the county seat on fractional Sec-
tion 11, in Township 31, Range 9, containing 443 acres of land, owned by
Elihu Chauncey, of the city of Philadelphia, in consideration of his conveying
to the county one-half of said land, and building a saw-mill on Blue River, at
a site on said land, all of which he complied with on his part.
The Board of County Commissioners, the Clerk and the Sheriff, and
Zebulon Burch, conducting a supply train, went into camp on the land selected
as the county seat, near where Jacob Ramp's lumber office is now located, on
the 25th day of November, 1839, there not being a white family living nearer
than one and a half miles. The meeting was called for the purpose of making
suitable arrangements for surveying a town plat, and Richard Collins was
employed to survey and plat a town on said site, which he commenced at once,
and completed as soon as possible, making a plat of twenty-eight blocks or
squares of eight lots each, and one of four lots, including the public square, on
which the court house now stands, and the town was then christened Columbia.
The balance of the section was surveyed by the same person into lots and
outlets of different sizes, in January, 1841, the County Commissioners and
Elihu Chauncey each paying one-half the expense, by agreement. After setting
apart the public square, and one outlot of four and a quarter acres of land for
a public cemetery, the balance of the land was equally divided between the
county and Elihu Chauncey. By order of the Board of County Commissioners,
the County Agent, Richard Collins, advertised and sold at public auction, on
the town plat, on the 25th of May, 1840, $800.05 worth of lots at very low
figures. David E. Long had previously contracted for a lot on the corner of
Main and Van Buren streets, now owned by Dr. Linvill, where the building
now occupied by Ruch Brothers as a drug store stands. Mr. Long built a
one-story frame house, of two rooms, on the lot, and was living in the same at
the time of the sale, running it as a boarding house and hotel ; but the rooms
were insufficient to comfortably accommodate his guests during the terms of
court, until he enlarged his buildings some time afterward. This hotel building
was, if not the first, one of the first, in Columbia City. When the county seat
had been located with certainty, the young town began making rapid strides
toward a populous and commercial point. One store after another appeared,
and residences, some of them quite elegant, began to form themselves into
streets, and ere long the place assumed the appearance of a thriving town.
The county of Whitley formed a part of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of
the State, composed of the counties of Miami, Wabash, Huntington, Allen and
Whitley. Charles W. Ewing, President Judge of the Circuit, and Thomas R.
<
y
H
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o
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u
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5:
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 61
Johnson, Prosecuting Attorney, were both residents of Fort Wayne. The place
designated for holding courts in the county was the house of James Parret,
Jr., the first term to be held on the fourth Thursday of September, 1838. The
Judges, Clerk, Sheriff, jurors, attorneys and all parties interested, met at the
house of Joseph Parrett, Jr. (there being no James Parret, Jr., in the county),
at the time appointed for holding court. The Judges, finding a mistake in the
name of the place for holding courts, decided if they proceeded to hold a term of
court their acts would not be legal, and for that reason they did not continue the
session. The following is a list of the names of the panel of grand jurors sum-
moned to serve at that term : Jesse W. Long, David Wolfe, James Jones, John
Collins, Daniel Miller, Samuel Dungan, William Parrett, George Pence, Benjamin
Krusan, Steadman Chaplain, Jacob Hartsock, Ezra Thompson, Thomas Cleve-
land, Jesse Spear, Benjamin Gardner, Samuel Smith, Benjamin H. Cleveland
and Joseph Egolf The following is a list of the names of the traverse jurors
summoned to serve at that term : Thomas Geiger, Joseph Ecker, Jacob Sine,
John Turner, John W. Moore, Samuel Nickey, John H. Alexander, Joseph
Crow, Jacob Brumbaugh, John Egolf, Calvin Alexander, Edwin Cone, Samuel
Creager, Tolcut Perry, William McDaniel, James Gordon, Charles Chapman,
James Rousseau, David Haydon, John Jones, Zachariah Garrison, Henry
Swihart and Zebulon Burch. The first term of the Circuit Court held in the
county was at the house and saw-mill of Richard Boughan, in Thorn
Creek Township, two and a half miles northeast of Columbia, on the 9th day
of April, 1839. Court was composed of the following ofiicers : Charles W.
Ewing, President Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit ; Benjamin F. Martin
and Jacob A. Vanhouten, Associate Judges ; Abraham Cuppy, Clerk ; and
Richard Collins, Sheriff.
The Prosecuting Attorney not being present, the court appointed Reuben
J. Dawson Special Prosecutor for the term. The Sheriff then brought into
court the following grand jurors : David Wolfe, Seth A. Lucas, James Jones,
William Vanmeter, Jesse Spear, Samuel Creager, Peter Circle, Christopher W.
Long, Horace Cleveland, John S. Braddock, Adam Egolf, Levi Curtis, Will-
iam Cordill and Joseph Tinkham — fourteen in all — the law then requiring
eighteen grand jurors to be summoned at each term of court, any number not
less than twelve forming a panel. Christopher W. Long was appointed foreman,
and the grand jury were sworn, charged and sent to their quarters with their
bailiff, and soon reported to the court that they had no business before them,
whereupon they were discharged. There were no criminal cases on the docket
at that term, and but three civil cases, viz. :
Webster et al. ^ Jq Chancery. Petition for Partition.
vs. V
Webster et al. I Case continued for publication.
Jesse S. Perrin \ Domestic Attachment.
vs. y
John A. Thompson. J Judgment for the Plaintiff.
Jesse S. Perrin \ Qn appeal from Justice of the Peace.
Asel Bennett. Uppeal dismissed.
<)2 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The names of the petit jurors selected and summoned to serve at that term
of court were as follows : Samuel Hartsock, Stephen Martin, Aaron M. Col-
lins, B. H. Cleveland, John W. Moore, Jesse Briggs, Zebulon Burch, Jacob
Brumbaugh, Lewis Kinsey, J. H. Alexander, David Hajdon, George C.
Pence, Thomas Estlick, Jesse W. Long, James H. Russan, Daniel Hively,
Benjamin Gardner, Benjamin Grable, Benjamin Krusan, James Zolman, John
Collins, Philetus Wood, Francis Tulley and William Blair. There were no
cases tried by jury, and the court at that term appointed John H. Alexander
County Surveyor.
The October term of the Circuit Court was held at the same place by
the Associate Judges (in the absence of the President Judge) ; there were no
important cases tried. The court held three days, and adjourned until court
in course, to meet at the house of Zebulon Burch, in Richland Township. The
Circuit Court was held there until the March term, 1841, when the session
met at the house of David E. Long on the 29th of March, 1841, and forth-
with adjourned to the house of Abraham Cuppy, in Columbia. The court was
composed of the following officers : John W. Wright, President Judge of the
Circuit ; Associate Judges, Jacob A. Vanhouten and Benjamin F. Martin ;
Lucien P. Ferry, Prosecuting Attorney ; Abraham Cuppy, Clerk, and Richard
Collins, Sheriff. The first important criminal case tried in this county, was
the case of the State vs. Alexander Smith for forgery, in uttering and tend-
ering in payment of a bill for a night's lodging for himself and comrade, John
Adams, to Jacob Sine, who kept a house of private entertainment on the
Goshen road, just north of Churubusco, a false, forged and counterfeit bank
bill of the denomination of $5. They were both arrested and examined before
John W. Moore, a Justice of the Peace of Smith Township, and Smith was
adjudged guilty, and Adams acquitted. Smith not being able to give bail,
was delivered to the Sheriff for safe keeping ; there being no jail in the county,
and the Board of Commissioners not being willing to incur the expense of send-
ing him to the jail of Allen County for safe keeping, he was permitted to run at
large by the Sheriff until the next term of court. He was then indicted by the
Grand Jury, tried, convicted, and sentenced to State Prison for two years ; he
was ably defended by Judge Charles W. Ewing, counsel assigned by the court.
The jurors who tried the case were as follows : George C. Pence, John L.
Hamilton, John Buck, John Thompson, Jesse Briggs, Samuel Andrews, Joel
McPherson, Lewis Kinsey, Robert Gaff, James B. Simcoke, George Harter
and Zebulon Burch. Upon the trial of the case, John Adams came into court,
and was sworn as a witness in the case, but was ordered from the witness
stand into the custody of the Sheriff until the Grand Jury could find an indict-
ment against him for perjury (the Grand Jury being then in session in the
room adjoining.) In less than one hour, the Grand Jury returned a bill of
indictment against him, and he was immediately arraigned upon the indict-
ment and pleaded not guilty, and Judge Ewing, his counsel, moved the court
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 63
for a change of venue upon affidavit, which was granted, and the venue changed
to the county of Allen. He was tried at the next term of the Allen Circuit
Court, commencing the week following, convicted, and sentenced to State
Prison for two years. The house where court was held was located on the
corner of Main and Jackson streets, where Henry McLallen now resides, being
a one-story building divided into two rooms. The jury trying the case of
Smith congregated around a large black walnut stump on the opposite corner
of the street, near where the Lutheran Church now stands, to deliberate upon
their verdict. The bailiff having charge of the jury had some difficulty in
keeping them together, on account of the woods in their immediate vicinity.
The first murder committed in the county was by Peen-am-wah, a Potta-
watomie Indian, who killed a Miami Indian named A-to-ke-suck, on the 10th
day of June, 1843. Coesse, a Miami Indian (brother-in-law of A-to-ke-suck),
offered a reward of $200 for the arrest of Peen-am-wah. William Thorn, of
North Manchester, followed him into Northern Michigan, arrested him, brought
him back, and delivered him to the authorities at Columbia. He was com-
mitted to jail by the examining Justice to await the action of the Grand Jury.
The next murder committed in the county was by John Turkey, a Miami
Indian, who killed a squaw of the Pottawatomie tribe (name unknown), on the
1st of January, 1844. He was arrested, examined and committed to jail to
await the action of the Grand Jury. Afterward, at the March term of the
Circuit Court, 1844, Peen-am-wah was indicted for an assault and battery with
intent lo murder; and John Turkey was indicted for murder. They were
arraigned upon the indictments, and pleaded not guilty, and both moved the
court for a change of venue upon affidavits. The court sustained the motion in
each case, and changed the venue in both to the county of Allen, and the
prisoners were remanded to jail to await removal by the Sheriff to Allen
County. Peen-am-wah, being a desperate Indian, was chained in his cell for
better security. Before the close of the March term of court, on the Sheriff's
going to the jail in the dusk of the evening with their food, accompanied by
John C. Washburn, who remained in the doorway, while the Sheriff went into
the jail to feed the prisoners and look after their wants, Peen-am-wah, having
by some means separated a link in his chain, rushed past the Sheriff, knocked
Washburn out of the door, and both prisoners made their escape, and were
never arrested again ; the woods coming within a few rods of the jail, and the
Indians being expert woodsmen, made good their escape. The county was
thereby saved of a large expenditure in the trial and probable execution of
John Turkey, and no good could have possibly resulted from it to the county,
and would have only incensed the Indians.
The first murder trial of a white man in the county was the State against
Samuel Pegg, for the murder of his son, on the 1st day of October, 1843. He
was indicted and tried at the March term of the Circuit Court, 1845, convicted
of manslaughter, and sentenced to State prison for the term of eight years.
64 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
There never has been a person executed for murder in this county since its
organization, which speaks well for its inhabitants. The first application by
an alien for naturalization was made by Charles Ditton, an Englishman, who
made the proper proof, and took the oath of allegiance in open court at the
October term of the Circuit Court, in 1840. The first term of the Probate Court
in the county was held at the house of Richard Baughan, on the 11th of Novem-
ber, 1839, the court being composed of the following officers : Christopher W.
Long, Judge; Abraham Cuppy, Clerk, and Richard Collins, Sheriff. One of
the first acts of the court was confirming the letters of administration on the
estate of John Braden (deceased), granted to Price Goodrich by the Clerk in
vacation of court, on the 9th of April, 1839, being the first letters of adminis-
tration granted in the county. The first will admitted to probate in the county
was one executed by James Perkins (deceased), which was admitted to probate
in open court on the 11th of February, 1840. The Common Pleas Court was
organized in 1852, and probate jurisdiction was transferred to that court, and
the office of Probate Judge was abolished. The Common Pleas Courts were
dispensed with, and probate jurisdiction transferred to the Circuit Court, and
the office of Common Pleas Judge abolished in 1872.
The following are the names of the Judges of the Circuit Courts in the
circuit of which this county formed a part, from the organization of the county,
in the order they served : Charles W. Ewing, John W. Wright, James W. Bor-
den, Elza A. McMahon, Edward R. Wilson, Robert Lowery and Elisha V.
Long, the present incumbent. None were residents of this county. The Com-
mon Pleas Judges of the Nineteenth District, composed of the counties of Noble
and Whitley, in the order they served, were Stephen Wildman, James C. Bod-
ley and William M. Clapp (James C. Bodley was a resident of this county,
the others of Noble County), who served until the jurisdiction of this court was
transferred to the Circuit Court, and the office of Common Pleas Judge abol-
ished in 1872, The bar of the county has been composed of the following-
named attorneys, at different periods since the organization of the county : James
L. Warden, James S. Collins, Joseph H. Pratt, Justus H. Tyler, Mr. Stout, A.Y.
Hooper, C. W. Jones, I. B. McDonald, Abraham Myers, Mr. Hardesty, Alex-
ander J. Douglass, D. H. Wilson, Samuel B. Eason, Michael Sickafoose, John
S. Cotton, A. J. Gool, Walter Olds, Joseph W. Adair, John Krider, Cyrus B.
Tulley, Ed A. Mossman, Thomas R. Marshall, William McNagney, J. A.
Campbell, Mr. Brit, F. B. Moe, Hugh Well, Jr., 0. P. Stewart, W. S.
Gandy, James E. Knisely, John Wigent and Charles Hollis.
The first public building erected in the county by order of the Board o^^
County Commissioners was a jail, built of hewn logs, located on the southeast
corner of the public square, built on contract by William Blair in 1840, at a
cost of $490, and used as a jail until burned by John Wheatley in March,
1855, who was confined therein awaiting trial for larceny. He was indicted,
tried, convicted and sentenced to State's Prison for two years, for the offense.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 65
at the March term of the Circuit Court, 1855, which was thought by many of
the citizens to be a hard verdict. The next public building erected was a two-
story frame structure, for a court house, on the west side of the public square,
on the lot where the engine house for the Fire Department is located, built by
Joseph W. Baker, on contract, at a cost of ^411.50, and completed in October,
1841 ; the lower story used for court room, a part of the upper story used as
an office for Clerk and Recorder. The next public building was a one-story
frame, located on the west side of the public square, divided into two rooms,
one for Clerk and Recorder's office, the other for County Treasurer's office,
built on contract by Benjamin Grable, Jr., completed in September, 1842, at a
cost of ^197. The next, a one-story building of stone and brick, located on
the east side of the public square, with two rooms, one for office for Clerk and
Recorder, the other for County Auditor, supposed to be fire-proof, having tin
roof and iron shutters, built by David Shepley, on contract, and completed in
1844, at a cost of $1,250. The next was a two-story brick court house, built
on the public square, court room above and offices below for Clerk, Recorder,
Auditor and Treasurer, built by Henry Swihart and Thomas Washburn, on
contract, completed in 1849 at a cost of $7,747.50, and is now in use in a good
state of preservation, but is not quite as fancy as many of the older coun-
ties have. The next, a two-story jail and Sheriff's residence, built of brick,
stone and wood, the cells lined with planks spiked together, the partitions be-
tween the cells made in the same way, located on the site of the old court house,
built by James B. Edwards, on contract, and completed and accepted October
10, 1855, at a cost of $5,224. Owing to improper ventilation for the cells, it
was very unhealthy and not at all secure for prisoners, rendering it necessary to
construct a new one. The next was a three-story brick building on the county
farm, one mile west of Columbia City, an asylum for the poor of the county,
built by David J. Silvers, on contract, and completed and accepted December,
1864, at a cost of $12,400. The next was a jail and Shei'iff 's residence, southeast
of the court house, the jail two stories high, built of stone, iron and steel and
roofed with slate, containing twelve cells and all the modern improvements.
The Sheriff's residence is built of stone, brick and iron, two stories high,
with mansard roof covered with slate ; contains two commodious cells on
second story for female prisoners, and contains all the modern improvements,
the whole building heated by steam ; the structure built by James M. Bratton,
on contract, under the supervision of J. C. Johnson, architect ; completed and
accepted June 26, 1876, costing the county $34,486. It is one of the best
buildings of that character in the State, and is a credit to the county.
On the following page will be found a tabular statement showing the
county officers from the organization of the county up to the present time,
including the present incumbents:
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY
NAMES OF OFFICEBS.
Date of Expiration of Term.
Abraham Cuppy Clerk
Richard Collins Clerk
I. B. McDonald Clerk
William E. Merriman Clerk
James B. Edwards Clerk
E. W. Brown Clerk
James Rider Clerk
James M. Harrison, the present in-
cumbent Clerk
Abraham Cuppy Recorder...
Richard Collins Recorder..,
Charles W. Hughes Recorder..,
Henry Swihart Recorder..
Casper VV. Lamb Recorder..
D. A. Quick Recorder..
J. S. Hartsock Recorder..
John Wigent Recorder..
VV. A. Lancaster (present incumb't) Recorder..
Richard Baughan Sheriff
Richard Collins Sheriff.
James B. Simcoke Sheriff.
Jacob Thompson Sheriff.
Jacob Wunderlich Sheriff.
James B. Edwards Sheriff.
William H. Dunfee Sheriff
John Brenneman Sheriff.
Adam Avey Sheriff.
John Wynkoop Sheriff.
Oliver P. Koontz Sheriff.
Jacob W. Miller Sheriff.
William H. Liggett Sheriff.
Alexander T. McGinley Sheriff.
F. P. AUwine (present incumbent) Sheriff
John Collins Treasurer.
Benjamin Grable Treasurer.
Joseph H. Pratt
Charles W. Hughes
Jacob Wunderlich
Charles W. Hughes
James T. Long
Robert Reed
Jacob Wunderlich
Henry Gregg
John S. Cotton
William Reed
John Q. Adams
Henry McLallen
Jacob A. Baker
Joseph Clark (present incumbent) .
Jacob Wunderlich* "1
Charles W. Hughes* /
Samuel Nickey
Seth A. Lucas
Asa Shoemaker
David Richmond
William Guy
William M. Swayze
Adam Avey ,
Benjamin F. Beeson
William Walter
Henry H. Hackett
A. Y. Swigart ,
Treasurer..
Treasurer..
Treasurer..
Treasurer..
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Treasurer.,
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ..
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
Coroner ...
April, 1838.... August, 1842; resig'd July 16, '42.
July 16, 1842. November, 1855.
Nov. 1, 1855.. November 1, 1859.
Nov. 1, 1859.. November 18, 1863.
Nov. 1, 1863.. November 19. 1871.
Nov. 1, 1871.. -November 1, 1875.
Nov. 1, 1875.. November 1, 1879.
Nov. 1, 1879.. November 1, 1883.
April, 1838... August, 1842.
August, 1842. November 1, 1855.
Nov. 1, 1855.. November 1, 1859.
Nov. 1, 1859.. November 1, 1863.
Nov. 1, 1863.. November 9, 1867.
Nov. 1, 1867.. November 1 , 1871.
Nov. 1, 1871.. November 1, 1875.
Nov. 1, 1875.. November 1, 1879.
Nov. 1, 1879.. November 1. 1883.
March, 1838.. August 23, 1838.
Aug. 23, 1838 August 27, 1842. Resig'd July, '40.
November,'41 August 19, 1844.
Aug. 28, 1844 August 28, 1846.
Sept. 10, 1846. September 10, 1850.
Sept. 10, 1850 September 10, 1854.
Nov. 11, 1854 November 11, 1858.
Nov. 8, 1858 November 19, 1860.
Nov. 19, 1860 November 19, 1862.
Nov. 19, 1862 November 19, 1866.
Nov. 19, 1866 November 19, 1870.
Nov. 19, 1870 November 19, 1874.
Nov. 19, 1874 November 21, 1878.
Nov. 21, 1878 November 21, 1880.
Nov. 1, 1880.. November 1, 1882.
May 7, 1888.. May 5, 1840.
May 5, 1840.. August, 1848. Office vacant by
death, March, 1848.
March 7, 1848 August, 1848.
August, 1848. August, 1851.
Aug. 25, 1851 August, 1852. By appointment.
August, 1852. November, 1864.
Nov. 11, 1854 November 11, 1856.
Nov. 19, 1856 November 19, 1858.
Nov. 8, 1858.. November 19, 1860.
Nov. 8, I860.. November 8, 1862.
Nov. 8, 1862.. November 8, 1864.
Nov. 19, 1864 November 19, 1866.
Nov. 24, 1866 November 8, 1870.
Nov. 8, 1870.. November 23, 1874.
Nov. 23, 1874 November 8, 1878.
Nov. 8, 1878.. November 8, 1882.
August, 1838. Did not qualify.
Aug. 25, 1839 August 26, 1841.
Aug. 25, 1841 August 25, 1847.
Aug. 25, 1847 August 26, 1849. Died Mar. 6, '49.
Aug. 25, 1849 August 25, 1851.
Aug. 25, 1851 August 25, 1853.
Nov. 8, 1853.. November 8, 1855.
Nov. 1, 1855.. November, 1863.
Oct. ], 1863... October 1, 1865.
Oct. 28, 1866. October 28, 1867.
Dec. 2, 1867.. December 2, 1869.
♦Jacob Wunderlich and Charles W.
the anoual election in August. No person
Hughes each
being elected,
received an equal number of votes for County Treasurer at
Jacob Wunderlich was appointed Treasurer.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
67
NAMES OF OFFICERS.
What OflSce. Date of Comm'i
Date of Expiration of Term.
John B. Firestone jCorouer ...
John Richards Coroner ...
Coronor ...
Auditor ...
Auditor ...
Auditor ...
William "i'ontz (present incumbent)
Abraham Cuppy
Richard Collins
Charles W. Hughes
Thomas Washburn
Adam Y. Hooper
John S. Cotton
Simon H. Wunderlich.
Theodore Reed
Robert A. Jellison
W. H. H. Rutter
Wm. E. Merriman (present incum.
Joseph Pierce
Christopher W. Long
Charles W. Hughes
Price Goodrichf
Auditor ....
Auditor ...,
Auditor ...
Auditor ...
Auditor ...,
Auditor ...,
Auditor ...
Auditor ...
Probate Judge.
Probate Judge.
Probate Judge.
Probate Judge.
Oct. 23, 1870. December 5, 1874. .
!eriiher'74. December, 1878.
Oct. 28, 1878. October 28, 1882.
August, 1841. August, 1845. Resigned.
August, 1842. August, 1845. Resig'd June 7, '44.
June 7, 1844. August, 1844. Appointed until
annual election.
August, 1844. Novemberll, 1845.
Nov. 11, 1855 March 1, 185y.
Nov. 8, 1859.. March 7, 1863.
Nov. 8, 1862.. November 8, 1870. Died.
Oct. 18, 1869. November, 1874.
November, '74 November, 1878. Died Dec. 1, 1877.
Dec. 4, 1877.. November 8, 1882. DiedApl 21,'81.
April 26, 1881 November 8, 1882.
August, 1838. Did not qualify.
August, 1889. August, 1846.
August, 1846. August, 1848.
August, 1848.1
The Board of County Commissioners, at their session in June, 1838, dis-
tricted the county into three Commissioners' Districts, as follows : Range 8 ta
form the First District, Range 9 the Second District and Range 10 the Third
District.
The following are the names of the persons who served as County Com-
missioners, from the organization of the county, from each district, in the order
they served :
DISTRICT NO. 1.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
Joseph Parrett Jr.. .. ..
Nathaniel Gradeless
Otho W. Gandy.
Joseph Pierce.
Daniel B. Rice.
Lorin Loomis
TnKn a n,-«AAn.r.h
Henry H. Smith
Adam Egolf
Daniel B. Rice.
Price Goodrich
Adam Creager
Jacob Nickey.
R. M. Paige.
James H. Shaw.
Christian H Creager
Henry Swihart
Alfred J Koontz
Andrew Adams
William Dunlap
George Eberhard
William TanneyhiU
Shaw, Thompson and TanneyhiU are the present Commissioners.
The following is a list of the County Surveyors, in the order they served,
from the organization of the county: John H. Alexander, appointed 1839;
Stephen Martin, elected 1842; George Arnold, elected 1846; John H. Alex-
ander, elected 1848 ; Jonathan Miller, elected 1850, resigned ; Richard Knisely,
appointed 1851; Levi Adams, elected 1854; Amasa W. Reed, elected
1856; Eli W. Brown, elected 1858, resigned in 1864; John H. Tucker, ap-
pointed 1864; Thomas B. Hathaway, elected 1864, left June, 1865; D. A.
t Price Goodrich served until Common Pleas Court was organized in 1852, and the oflSce ■was then abolished.
68
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Quick, appointed 1865, to fill vacancy; Edward A. Mossman, elected 1865,
resigned; 0. B. Tulley, appointed and elected 1867; Charles D. Moe, elected
1870; James E. Dorland, elected 1872; Herman Theil, appointed and elected
1874; Levi Adams, elected 1878: Roscoe A. Kaufman, elected 1880, now
serving.
The following are the names of the Commissioners appointed to expend
the three per cent fund, which they were entitled to receive from the State, in
the order they served: Benjamin H. Cleveland, appointed 1838; Richard
Boughan, appointed 1840; Zebulon Burch, appointed 1840.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court was ex officio Clerk of the Board of
County Commissioners from the organization of the county until 1841. Then
the duties of the office were transferred to the County Auditor.
The following were the Associate Judges :
NAME OF JUDGES.
Benjamin F. Martin.
Jacob A. Vanhouten.
John Wright
Richard Knisely
Henry Swihart
Lorin Loomis
Appointment.
Expiration.
April, 1888 'August, 1845.
April, 1838 lAugust, 1845.
August, 1842 1 August, 1845.
August, 1815 JAugust, 1852.
August, 1846 August, 1852.
August, 1847 [August, 1852.
Died in 1841.
Died in 1845.
Resigned in 1847.
Loomis and Knisely served until the office was abolished by the Legislature
in the year 1852. The following were the School Commissioners :
NAMES OF COMMISSIONERS.
Appointment.
Expiration.
Andrew Compton..
James B. Edwards.,
Henry Hanna
August, 1839.
August, 1845.
August, 1847.
August, 1845.
August, 1847.
August, 1850.
Hanna served until the duties of the office were transferred to the County
Auditor, and the office of School Commissioner was abolished.
There were no political organizations in the county prior to 1844. The
first political caucus in the county was held at Columbia by the Democrats some
time before the annual election held on the first Monday of August, 1844, to select
candidates for the county offices then to be filled. The first regular political
convention held in the county was at Columbia, previous to the annual election
in 1848 by the Democracy, followed in a short time by the Whigs holding a
convention at the same place. Conventions were regularly held after that
date for the selection of candidates for the difi'erent county officers, delegates to
the State Congressional, Senatorial and Representative Conventions in the
district of which this county forms a part. The leading political organizations
in the county were the Democrats and Whigs until 1854, when the Whig party
changed their name to that of Republican, In 1854, the party known as
Know-Nothings flourished, but was short-lived. In 1878, the party known as
Greenback flourished in this county, and there are men yet who clamor for
more greenbacks. The Democrats have claimed, since the first political caucus,
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
71
in the county, majorities ranging from twenty-five to four hundred, in the
greater number of cases electing their candidates, and holding the important
oflSces of the county a greater portion of the time. The following statement
shows the vote of the county at each Presidential election since the organiza-
tion of the county :
NAME OF CANDIDATE.
Of what Party.
Date of Electlo
Whig
Democrat.
Democrat.
Whig
Democrat
Whig
Free-Soii.,
Democrat.
Whig
Democrat.
William H. Harrison
Martin Van Buren
James K. Polk
Henry Clay
Lewis Cass
Zachariah Taylor
John Van Buren
Franklin Pierce
Winfield Scott
James Buchanan
John C. Fremont iRepubiican.
Horace Birney I Free-Soil...,
Stephen A. Douglas I Democrat...,
Abraham Lincoln .| Republican.
John C. Breckinridge
George B. McClellan
Abraham Lincoln ...
Ulysses S. Grant
Horatio Seymour
Ulysses S. Grant
Horace Greel ey
Charles O'Conor
Samuel J. Tilden
Rutherford B. Hayes
James B. Weaver
Neal Dow
Democr
Democrat
Republican
Republican
Democrat..
Republican
Lib. Republican...
Democrat.
Democrat
Republican
Greenback
American
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
November,
1840
1840
1844
1844
1848
1848
1848
1852
185-J
1856
1856
1856
1810
1860
1860
1864
1864
1868
1868
1872
1872
1872
1876
1876
1876
1876
91
219
216
355
318
21
568
497
851
797
57
1133
1067
4
1327
1074
1372
1628
1401
1650
28
2052
1660
23
At the annual election in August, 1838, there were only four organized
townships in the county, as follows : Cleveland, Richland, Thorn Creek and
Smith, and only four voting precincts. At that election, there were seventy-two
votes polled in the county. The offices were not very lucrative, and but few
persons were desirous of being promoted. There is no means of knowing the
precise date of the first election held in the county, the returns of the election
having been made to Richard Baughan, Sheriff, the only officer in the county ;
and the poll-books and tally-sheets of that election were never filed in the
Clerk's office ; hence there is no means of knowing the exact date of the elec-
tion, or the number of votes polled ; there certainly were not more than sixty
votes cast.
There was but little trouble with blacklegs in this county. Professionals
of that class were not very numerous at any time. There were a few bad men
in the county, who were connected with organized bands of horse-thieves and
counterfeiters who made raids into this county, scattering counterfeit
money (coin, principally) and running off horses, giving information as to the
whereabouts of good horses and the proper routes to travel and the safe harbor-
ing places on the route. Our horses generally traveled north, and may have
found a market in Michigan. There were, at different periods, organizations
72 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
of Regulators formed for the better protection of their horses, following and
recovering them when stolen, and, if possible, arresting the thief or thieves.
It was reported, and generally accepted as true, that there was one or more
of the citizens of this county roughly handled by an organization in Noble
County, known as the " Regulators." (They understood keeping their secrets.)
The public knew but little of their operations, yet they were credited with
effecting a very decided reformation in the behavior of the roughs throughout
quite an extent of country.
The first State road located across the county of Whitley ran from Fort
Wayne, Allen County, to Goshen, in Elkhart County, crossing Eel River
where Adam Hall settled, who, after the location of the road, erected and
maintained a toll-bridge across the river, at his place, for a number of years,
or late as the year 1838 or 1839. The road passed where the town of Churu-
busco is now located, and the trading-post of John B. Godfrey, north of Blue
River, who was located there at the time the road was surveyed and located in
1833. He was engaged in trading with the Indians, they being his principal
customers. In those days, that was a very lucrative business, if men were not
scrupulously honest. The next important road located across the county was
the State road, running from Fort Wayne, the nearest and best route, to Yel-
low River, where the Michigan road crosses the same by way of Turkey Creek
Prairie. This road passed the Indian village in Whitley County (known as
Seek's village) and several other Indian villages. It also crossed Blue River
two and a half miles northeast of Columbia, where Richard Baughan's mill
was erected, in Thorn Creek Township. The road was located and surveyed
in the summer of 1834, under the direction of Francis Comparet, a Commis-
sioner appointed by the Legislature of the State, and known as the Yellow
River road. The next was a State road running from Huntington, in Huntington
County, to Goshen, in Elkhart County, crossing Eel River where South Whitley
is now located, and passing where the old town of Summit was afterward lo-
cated, juSt west of Larwill. It was located and surveyed in the year 1835. The
next road of importance located across the county was a State road from Osceola
to Rochester, in Fulton County. This road was located, in 1836, by Reuben
Howe, commencing at Rochester and terminating in the woods near Pierce's
saw-mill, in Union Township, the Commissioner being unable to find the place
called Osceola. The next road across the county was a State road from Fort
Wayne to intersect the La Gros road where the same crosses the Tippecanoe
River at Peter Warner's, near the center of Kosciusko County; located, in
April, 1838, by Peter Warner and Jacob Sebring. This survey crossed Blue
River some distance south of Columbia City, and is now known as the Colum-
bia and Warsaw road. The next was a State road from Logansport to Sparta,
the then county seat of Noble County; located by Samuel Lowman in 1838.
This survey passed some distance west of Columbia City ; but little, if any, of
this line was ever improved, on account of the manner in which it angled across
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 73
the county. The next important road was a State road from Lima, in La
Grange County, to Huntington, in Huntington County ; located and surveyed,
in November, 1839, by Isaac Spencer and W. T. McConnell, Commissioners
for that purpose. This road passed along Line street, in Columbia City, and
the south part of it is much traveled.
A part of the State roads described was partly cleared of timber and the
impassable places bridged and crosswayed by appropriations from the three per
cent fund set apart for the improvement of State roads in the different counties,
of which the county of Whitley received and disbursed the sum of $3,192. 2L
This was quite an advantage to the early settlers of the county. Had it not
been for the improvement of the roads with that fund, it would have been many
years before the roads could have possibly been opened.
The early settlers of this county suffered many privations, and endured
many hardships incident to the settlement of a new country heavily timbered
as this was. Just for one moment think of a family of husband and wife and
one, two or more small children hewing a passage for team and wagon into the
forest, miles from any white inhabitant, then encamping until logs could be cut
and a cabin erected into'which they could find shelter, in the meantime, the
husband having to leave the family in charge of his trusty dog, and absent
himself for a number of days in quest of provisions. The settlers in the west-
ern portion of the county in 1836 generally got their meal and flour in the
land of Goshen, located near the Elkhart Prairie in Elkhart County, at the
mill of one Wyland. In the spring of 1837, a number of parties joined and
sent a team of cattle and wagons to the Wea plains, below La Fayette, for a
cargo of corn-meal and bacon. When that cargo arrived and was distributed,
there was great rejoicing in the land. Near the streams, the inhabitants fared
better than those a distance away, owing to the great amount of wild onions
growing there spontaneously, and they were much used and appreciated by the
settlers in the absence of better and more palatable vegetables. In the spring
of the same year, a party of men from the west part of this county and the east
side of Kosciusko County constructed a mammoth canoe (or pirogue) out of a large
yellow poplar tree found some distance northwest of where the town of Colla-
mer is now located, conveyed it to Eel River and successfully launched and
christened her "Pioneer," provisioned and placed her in charge of two ex-
perienced sailors, and she started down the river under full sail for the south-
ern port of La Fayette, to purchase a cargo of corn-meal and bacon, and after
forty-eight hours' sailing, they ran the Pioneer into harbor, not having encount-
ered any adverse winds or fogs. Eel River was somewhat dangerous to navi-
gate on account of dams, and driftwood running in the stream. The parties
succeeded in purchasing a cargo of corn-meal and bacon, and started up the Wa-
bash River, and after a great amount of hard poling succeeded in getting up into
Eel River a short distance, but finding their vessel drew so much water, they
could not navigate Eel River any farther. They tied up the pirogue, and one
74 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
of the party remained in charge of the vessel and cargo, while the other came
home on foot, about fifty miles, and collected some teams and went after the
freight. When they arrived with the provisions, there was great rejoicing in
the neighborhoods; the meal and bacon were distributed partly in the vicinity
of where Dodgertown is now located, in Kosciusko County. It is not positively
known whether that event had anything to do with furnishing a name for that
town. The other part of the cargo was distributed in this county, in the
vicinity of Collamer. After roasting ears and potatoes in due course of growth
were ready for eating, the inhabitants fared sumptuously. There were plenty
of deer and some bear in the country, and plenty of fish in the streams ; but
men could not hunt, fish and clear a farm at the same time, and hence there
were but few professional hunters in the country in those days.
The lands in this county were very productive when first improved and
cultivated, and many of the early pioneers reared large families of children ;
not unfrequently were found families numbering ten, eleven and sometimes a
dozen children, healthy and vigorous. But there has been a great change
brought about for some cause within the last few^ years. There is rarely now
seen a family of more tha.n from two to six children. What this unproduct-
iveness is to be attributed to, the reader is left to conjecture.
OHAPTEE lY.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
War History— Soldiers of 1812 and of the Mexican War— A Sketch of
Their Services— Public Sentiment in Whitley County When Sumter
Fell— The First War Meeting, and the First Company of Volunteers
—Intense Excitement — Progress of the Enlistment — Loyalty and
Disloyalty— The Arrest of Deserters— The Draft— The "News" and
THE "Republican"— Aid Societies and Bounty— Sketches of the Regi-
ments —Whitley County's "Roll of Honor."
IT is not known that any Revolutionary soldiers ever settled within the limits
of Whitley County ; but it is known that their descendants, proud of the
military services of their fathers, are scattered throughout the length and breadth
of the land. Years passed by, leaving no hearts rent with anguish at the separ-
ation from loved ones who had gone to the wars. At last, the Eastern horizon
was obscured by the black clouds of war with the mother country ; and brave
men were called out to maintain the prerogatives of the nation. Among those
who stepped forth, in 1812, at their country's call, was Daniel Hemmick, who
served as Orderly Sergeant in one of the militia regiments under Gen. Harrison.
He thus fought the Indians in Indiana, and was very probably at the battle of
Tippecanoe in November, 1811, and at the various other smaller battles which
made the name of Harrison famous. He lived to an old age, but is now at rest
in the grave. Thomas Walker served in a Virginia regiment. He lived east
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 75
of Columbia City. James Jones also went out from the Old Dominion to fight
his country's battles. John Jackson, who lives west of town, also served his
country in 1812. William James, yet living some distance from Columbia
City, was a soldier in the war of 1812; but in what regiment, or from what
State, has not been learned. Mr. Maring, who lived near Forest for a number
of years, was among the number. These are all the names of soldiers of 1812
that could be learned that ever resided in " Little Whitley," although there were
several others.
In the Mexican war, there were Thomas Kelley, John Sleesman, William
Smith, Joseph Crow, James Van Ness, Mr. Disbrow, Edward McMahon, Peter
McMahon, William McMahon, Charles Howe and James E. Serjeant. So far
as known, all these served with Gen. Taylor along the Rio Grande, except
William Smith, who claims to have been with Gen. Scott. Some of these
men did not go from this county. Charles Howe was in Van Arnim's regi-
ment from Chicago. The most of the others were in the First Regiment, Com-
pany E, the officers being : Captain, J. W. McLain ; First Lieutenant, Thomas
Lewis ; Second Lieutenant, Charles Colerick ; Third Lieutenant, George
Humphrey. The boys of this county enlisted at Fort Wayne. In June or
July, 1846, the regiment reached New Orleans, and was then transported across
the Gulf to Point Isabel. It occupied Brownsville, Beretta, Monterey, Buena
Vista and other places of less importance, doing guard duty the most of the
time. It took the regiment thirteen days to cross the Gulf coming back, owing
to a terrific storm that swept away all the masts of the schooner " Maria
Thomas." When within several miles of the mouth of the Mississippi, and
when the storm had spent its fury, a steamer came out at the end of two days
and pulled the disabled vessel and the half-starved soldiers into port. We must
not forget our soldiers of the older wars, under the gigantic shadow of our last
civil war. Let their names be recorded and remembered with gratitude.
Public sentiment in Whitley County on the question of the impending
civil war between the States, prior to the tragic fall of Sumter, was somewhat
bitterly divided. It is probable that no living representative of Southern policy
and principles resided in the county when the war burst upon the nation ; but
but there were all gradations, from those who believed, on the one extreme,
that, rather than have a gigantic civil war, it was better to let the " erring sis-
ters" go out of the Union, with all their coveted rights of secession, State
sovereignty and power to expand slave territory, to those who believed, on the
other extreme, that the Union must be preserved, and the principles of seces-
sion, State sovereignty and growth of slavery be forever blotted out of hearts
that had been taught to love the name of liberty. Between these extremes there
were the "War Democrats," who were willing to fight solely for the preserva-
tion of the Union, without regard to the claims of the Secessionists on one
hand or the demands of the Abolitionists on the other. The majority of the
Republicans were confident that secession and State sovereignty' were unconsti-
76 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
tutional. The bulk of the Democracy was ready to fight to preserve the Union,
therefore saying by their action that they opposed the right of the Southern
(or any other) people to secede. This was about the condition of opinion in
Whitley County early in 1861.
As the news of the fall of Sumter was received, and doubt was changed
to certainty, the excitement became intense. Occupations and pursuits were
almost wholly neglected, and the loyal men of all parties announced their read-
iness to follow their country's call. The great mass of the Democracy of the
county came loyally forward, and the citizens as a whole immediately united on
the question that the "Jeff Davis rebellion" must be promptly put down.
The country became almost deserted, and the towns and news-stations were
thronged with excited Republicans and Democrats, asking for the latest news
from the seat of war. The following extracts are taken from che Columbia City
Republican of April 17, 1861 :
Since the news of the attack made upon Fort Sumter by the Southern traitors, our town
has been a scene of continual excitement. Look which way you might, you would see crowds
of angry, excited men on the streets, all talking about the Southern rebellion. The policy of
the President, as recently developed, meets with almost universal approbation here, and when
the news reached us that Fort Sumter was to be supplied with provisions at all hazards, joy and
gladness were exhibited in the countenance of nearly every one. We doubt if Columbia City
was ever in such a state of excitement as during the past week.
Whatever difference of opinion may have existed in the minds of our citizens as to the
policy to be pursued by the Administration, now that a blow has been struck and actual war in-
augurated by the rebels, we rejoice to hear an almost unanimous expression of opinion that the
Government must and shall be sustained. It is no longer a question as to what policy ought to
have been pursued in the past ; but war is upon us, our Government has been attacked, and one
of its strongholds has been taken at the mouth of the cannon, and we must now be either for or
against the Government. Men of Whitley County ! we appeal to you — not as Republicans or
Democrats, but as American citizens — and say to you, Rally as one man to the support of this
Government. Let the past bury the past, let by-gones be by-gones, and let us look only at the
present and the future. As sure as we are living men, so sure is it that our very existence as a
nation depends upon sustaining the Government at all hazard and at any cost. It is a question
involving all that is sacred to us in the future. Let there be no faltering in this hour of our coun-
ry's peril.
The Democratic paper, the News, came out with loyal editorials, and the
excitement, instead of subsiding, continued to increase, until at last notices
were posted in public places that a mass meeting of the citizens would be held
at the court-house on Saturday, the 20th of April, The following is quoted
from the Repuhlican of April 24 :
Pursuant to notice, a very large and enthusiastic meeting met at the court house on the
20th of April, 1861, for the purpose of raising a volunteer company to respond to the call of our
country. On motion, Mr. J. C. Cotton was called to the Chair and H. D. Wilson appointed Sec-
retary. The Chairman, on taking his seat, made a patriotic speech, explaining the object of the
meeting and urging prompt action in support of the Government. Addresses were delivered by
Hon. J. S. Collins, Hon. A. Y. Hooper, H. D. Wilson, Dr. C. Kinderman, I. B. McDonald, C. W.
Hughes, T. Washburn, Dr. D. G. Linvill, A. W. Myers and E. W. Brown. The speakers were
frequently interrupted by immense applause from the audience, and the whole scene was enliv-
ened by the stirring strains of martial music. On motion of H. D. Wilson, the following reso-
lutions were unanimously adopted :
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 77
Resolved, That we support this Government because we love it.
Resolved, That we will follow the stars and stripes wherever they lawfully lead.
Resolved, That the constitution must and shall be maintained.
Resolved, That, laying aside, for the time being, all party feelings and prejudices, the pres-
ent administration, in this trying emergency, must and shall be sustained.
Volunteers to respond to the call of the country \*ere then called for by George Stough,
and fifty-four names were quickly enrolled. On motion of A. Y. Hooper, the following addi-
tional resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That if those who shall volunteer in this county shall be called into service, we
will contribute of our money and means to maintain and support their families while they shall
be in the service of their country.
iiesolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to carry into effect the
above resolution.
The following gentlemen were appointed on said committee : Messrs. Hooper, Washburn,
Linvill, Foust and Keefer. On motion of Dr. Linvill, the following gentlemen were appointed
a committee to solicit subscriptions for suitable outfit for Whitley County volunteers : A. A.
Bainbridge, C. W. Hughes and I. B. McDonald. A telegraphic dispatch was just then received,
announcing that Fort Pickens had been attacked by the secessionists wnd 300 of them killed by
the well-aimed fire of Lieut. Slemmer. Unanimous cheering ! After giving three cheers for our
flag, three cheers for our Government, three cheers for Lieut. Slemmer and three cheers for our
patriotic volunteers of Whitley County, the meeting adjourned amidst the wildest enthusiasm
and the patriotic music of fife and drum.
We noticed in circulation yesterday a petition asking the Board of Commissioners to make
an appropriation for the support of the families of those who shall volunteer from this county.
This is a good move in the right direction, and should be acted upon promptly and a generous
appropriation made by the board.
The formation of the volunteer company was continued and soon com-
pleted. In the meantime, anxiety, loyalty and enthusiasm were displayed
everywhere. War seemed the only topic of discussion. Even the usual re-
marks regarding the weather and the health, strange as it may seem, were
neglected and apparently forgotten. The loyal ceremony of raising poles and
hoisting flags was freely indulged in ; and, of course, the actions of the older
members of the community were reflected by the transparent spirits of the
youths, who raised poles, organized companies, filled the air with discordant
martial music, fought mock battles, where rebels were always worsted, and, in
short, imitated the example of patriotism exhibited by their elders. About this
time. Union pole-raisings by both parties were very popular. Five or six were
erected in diff"erent portions of Columbia City and scores throughout the
county. In the Republican of May 1, 1861, appeared the following :
During the past week, the excitement of our citizens on the war question was intense.
And no wonder, for, amidst the firing of guns, the thrilling notes of the fife, the beating of
drums and the parading of soldiers, who couM help being excited? Whitley County is thor-
oughly aroused and even the children are rushing to arms. The ladies, too, who were never
known to falter in the hour of our country's need, are fully awake to their duty, and have
gotten up quite a large company of infantry. Below we publish the roll of the Whitley Volun-
teers. The company is composed of the right kind of material— mostly young men, who are
fearless and brave — and, if called into active service, we expect to hear of their coming off vic-
torious at every engagement. Certain it is, that they never will allow their flag to trail in the
dust. The company is ready and waiting for marching orders. Their worthy Captain, Mr.
Stough, is daily putting the boys through the drill, and we notice that they are making rapid
advancement toward perfection. The ladies of this place are engaged in making a splendid silk
banner, which will be presented to the volunteers at the proper time.
78 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
OiBcers— George W. Stough, Captain; James E. Serjeant, First Lieutenant; Isaiah B.
McDonald, Second Lieutenant; Nimrod Smith, James K. Ward, Cyrus J. Ward, John F. Drury-
am, John J. Weiler, Sergeants ; Edward B. Beeson, David Garver, E. A. Mossman, D. R. Hem-
mick, J. M. Hartman, William L. Birney, D M. Shoemaker, T. J. Gardner, Corporals ; Nicholas
Beesack and John Ward, Musicians ; Jacob J. Conrad, Wagoner.
Privates — Nimrod Asbury, Henry Banta, William M. Barnhill, Nicholas Bear, Joseph
Beesack, B. F. Bennett, John Bennett, William Brubaker, W. S. Collins, G. P. Connett, Jacob
Dinsmore, Oliver Droud, A. B. Dudley, Russel Earle, Joseph EfiFert, G. W. Elder, Samuel English,
F. G. Ford, James Force, Franklin Freese, Joseph Fries, Otis J. Gandy, Samuel J. Goodin, J-
H. Gurt, William Grimes, M. V. Hammond, Isaac Harrison. Lewis Hartman, G. W. Hartsock,
James 0. Harvey, Conrad Hilligas, J. W. Hyler, W. F. Johnson, Charles S. Keech, N. H. King,
Jesse Kyler, G. W. Lamson, J. W. Lawhorn, Isaac Leaman, G. F. Loveless, J. G. N. Marks,
George Marsh, Conrad Miller, Henry Moore, J. H. Nelson R. H. Norton, Samuel Parke, H. R.
Pegg, T. W. Piper, Joseph Plummer, J. A. Poff, H. C. Pressler, R. S. Pumphrey, C. W. Ramsey,
John Raypole, G. T. Roily, F. L. Rhodes, Jesse Rowles, J. E. Sherrod, S. 0. Shoup, Isaac Shin-
neman, Alexander Sho waiter, .John Simpson, J. H. Slagle, F. M. Slagle, John Smith, H. D.
Smith, Frederick Smith, T. A. Smith, Henry Snavely, Anderson Spear, Peter Stephens, David
Stough, William B. Summy, Anthony Seymour, Jr., Sidney Tuttle, Allen Underbill, W. H.
West. Lewis Whiteman, Milton Whiteman, C. L. Wilder and John Wireman. Total officers and
men. 101. [This was the first muster-in-roU of the company, and was made by Lieut. I. B.
McDonald on the 11th of June, 1861, at Camp Morton, Indianapolis. — Ed.]
It was at first the intention of this excellent company to get into the
Twelfth Regiment ; but, failing in that, they next tried for the Sixteenth, and
again met with failure, though immediately after this they were assigned to the
Seventeenth, remaining a part of the same throughout the war. While they
remained at Columbia City, they were daily subjected to drill and discipline to
fit them for active service. Great enthusiasm and pride were manifested by
the citizens over the boys, who performed the manual of arms so skillfully, and
executed the military maneuvers so gracefully while on parade. They were
permitted to participate in an engagement, as the following, from the Republican
of May 22, will show :
Our citizens were thrown into a fever of excitement on Thursday of last week, upon the
receipt of intelligence to the effect that a secession fort, from the walls of which floated the
Confederate flag, had actually been erected west of this place, and that from all appearance an
attack upon our city was about to be made. So speedily had the work of erecting this fort been
accomplished, that our citizens were at a loss to understand how it could be. But no time was
to be lost. All saw at a glance the perilous situation of our city, and vigorous measures were at
once resolved upon for the storming of the fort. Lieut. Serjeant was immediately detailed on a
reconnoitering expedition. Upon his return, he reported the rumors correct, and that three
ten-inch Columbiads were leveled directly upon the town. Our brave volunteers were immedi-
ately marched to the walls of the fort, showing thereby that they were not afraid to face the
cannon's mouth in defense of the stars and stripes. An attack upon the fort was ordered, and>
with a daring worthy of older and more experienced soldiers, our volunteers stood their ground,
though the cannon of the enemy was playing heavily upon them. The battle was brisk, and in
a very short time our soldiers had the fort silenced. The Captain of the fort wa^ captured, and
marched through the streets as a prisoner of war. The fort, in honor of its builder, had been
named " Pap Shoemaker's Fort."
It should be noticed at this point, that, about the time the company was
preparing for the field, the two newspapers at Columbia City — ^the Republican
and the News — were indulging in rather bitter personal attacks upon those who
^^/#^t^^— ^
COLUMBIA CITY.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 81
opposed the policy of the party, of which each was the organ. These animosi-
ties have no place in a volume of this character, though they serve to shed light
on subsequent events. The following extracts are taken from the papers of
May, 1861, as showing, in a general way, the progress of events, and to some
extent the condition of public sentiment :
Much praise is due Mrs. C. H. Pond, Mrs. J. W. Brigg, Miss Carrie Ford and other ladies
of this city and vicinity, for their efforts in getting up a nice silk star-spangled banner [the silk
was purchased in Indianapolis by I. B. McDonald. — Ed.], for the Whitley County Volunteers
The banner is said to be one of the finest in the State. May it ever wave over and protect the
fair women who made it. — News.
The " Lutheran Union Mite Circle" will meet at the residence of W. W. Kepner, on Tues-
day evening, May 14. Readers — Rev. Hugh Wells, A. H. Swihart, Mrs. Morehouse and Miss
Jennie Kepner. A cordial invitation is extended to all. — News.
An artillery company was organized last evening (May 7), composed of some of our best
citizens, and the following officers were elected : Captain, J. C. Bodley ; First Lieutenant. P.
Simonson ; Second Lieutenant, A. Avey; Third Lieutenant, T. B. Hathaway. — Republican.
Those who have given their names for the purpose af forming an independent cavalry Com-
pany are requested to meet at the court house on next Saturday, at 1 o'clock, P. M. — Republicnn.
On yesterday afternoon, at about 3 o'clock (May 7, 1861), the ladies presented to the Whit-
ley Volunteers a beautiful silk flag, together with the necessary rigging. The presentation speech
was delivered to .Judge Bodley in behalf of the ladies, and the flag was received by Capt. Stough
in the name of the volunteers, in a few appropriate remarks. Lieut. McDonald also made a few
remarks, after which three cheers were given for the ladies of Whitley County, and then three
more cheers for the volunteers. The company made a fine appearance, dressed as they were in
red flannel shirts, and black pants with red stripes down the legs. — Republican.
Pursuant to call, the residents of Union Township met at Coessa (May 4), for the purpose
of raising a Union pole in honor of the glorious flag of our country. At an early hour, the
bridge was densely thronged with ladies, and, on the grass plat south of the railroad, the gen-
tlemen, both Republicans and Democrats, rallied together to raise the Union pole. On motion of
Mr. .J. Kaufman, Rev. Mr. Wolf was elected Chairman, H. Cleveland and M. ^NIcGinley Vice Pres-
idents, and D. F. Manning, Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting in a few
patriotic remarks. A pole, seventy feet long, was then raised, from the top of which floated in
the pure air of heaven the stars and stripes, the symbol of American union, liberty and inde-
pendence. On motion, three cheers were given for our national banner, after which short
patriotic speeches were delivered by A. .J. Douglas, H. D. Wilson, A. W. Myers, Dr. E. Pierce
and Simon Kerr. Three hearty cheers were given for the Union, after which the meeting ad-
journed. — Republican.
On Saturday, May 11, the residents of Union Township met at Coesse for the purpose of
organizing a military company for home defense, S. H. Pierce, Chairman, D. F. Manning, Sec-
retary. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting and urged the necessity uf being
trained to military duties. Upward of fifty names were quickly enrolled, and the following gen-
tlemen chosen officers of the company. S. H. Pierce, Captain ; D. P. Spore, First Lieutenant ;
G. B. Bonestil, Ensign. On motion, it was decided that the uniform of this company be blue
pants, red shirts and glazed caps. Adjourned to meet Saturday, May 25. — Republican.
On Saturday last (June 25), a Union pole was raised at Huntsville (Larwill). It is said
that the flag, which now floats on the breeze at 115 feet, is one of the finest in the county. It
was run up by the ladies of the neighborhood, and immediately afterward excellent speeches
were made by Rev. Mr. Baker, N. Andrews and E. L. Berber, of this place. Huntsville was
never so crowded as on this occasion. We have been informed that the Democrats of Huntsville
are about to raise a pole. We hope that we were misinformed, however, for this is not the time
to enter into party strife. — Republican.
82 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
On Monday, the 13th of May, the following dispatch was received by the Whitley vol-
unteers :
Indianapolis, May 13, 1861.
Capt. Stough, Columbia City — Your Company is accepted, and will be ordered here when
quarters are provided. John M. Wallace, Adjutant General.
When the messenger appeared with the dispatch, the boys — who were on parade — threw
down their arms, broke ranks, and rushed with a yell to meet him. When the news became
known, cheer after cheer rent the air, and the boys seemed wild with delight. — Republican.
On Tuesday evening. May 21, Capt. Stough' s command took its departure from this place
for headquarters, in pursuance of orders received the day before. At about 10 o'clock, P. M.,
the order was given to march to the depot, the utmost enthusiasm pievailing, both soldiers and
citizens being in good spirits. Messrs. Douglas and Myers entertained soldiers and people in
appropriate speeches until the cars arrived. It was a sad spectacle to witness the parting of
husband and wife, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers with their sons, the lover with his
sweetheart, and friends with their neighbors. — News.
The Republicans of Huntsville erected what they termed a Union pole in the aforesaid vil-
lage about a week ago. The pole has three divisions — first ash, then hickory, then ash again —
signifying Republicanism, Democracy and Abolitionism. The Democrats did not like the idea
of being thus amalgamated to two isms, so they on Saturday last erected a large hickory pole
in that village about one hundred and seventy feet high, from which proudly waves the "star
spangled banner." Speeches were made by A. W. Myers and D. T. Davis, of this place. Much
enthusiasm was manifested and everything passed off agreeably. — News, July 2, 1861.
Public feeling had been wrought up by the strong position taken by each of
the two newspapers in the county ; and as time went on and events were devel-
oped, the rancor and extreme bitterness became more intense and warlike.
The Fourth of July, 1861, was celebrated at Columbia City by not less
than six thousand people. There were present the Whitley Artillery, Capt.
Bodley ; Whitley Cavalry, Capt. Keefer ; Richland Township Guards, Capt.
Webster ; Union Township Guards, Capt. Bierce ; Washington Township
Guards, and a martial band from Noble County. On the fair grounds. Rev. L.
Dorland opened with prayer ; the Declaration of Independence was read by
K. B. Miller ; speeches were made by H. D. Wilson and J. S. Collins ; " In-
dependence Day " was sung by the children ; a picnic dinner was consumed by
all; twenty toasts were read by A. Y. Hooper and A. W. Myers, and re-
sponded to by the citizens amid great enthusiasm. Patriotic songs closed the
ceremonies of the day.
During the autumn of 1861, some six or seven recruiting officers were
posted in the county to secure men for the war. The County Commissioners soon
made ample provision for soldiers' families and bounties. Strong, well-attended
Union meetings were held from time to time throughout the county, and the
able-bodied men were not permitted to sleep under the delusion that no more
men would be required. On the 4th of September, 1861, " Popgun" Smith
and Charles Case, from Fort Wayne, entertained a vast audience at Columbia
City, on the issues of the war. The smaller villages " braced up " in a similar
manner, and soon the country schoolhouses were made to echo with the patri-
otic speeches, songs and cheers of loyal citizens. Some localities were silent,
not daring, perhaps, to avow their real sentiments ; others grimly and senten-
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 83
tiously muttered their maledictions against the Administration and the war.
Notwithstanding the growing tendency not to enlist, recruits from the county
were constantly entering the service. Many left the county, joining regiments
raised in neighboring places. Isaiah B. McDonald, an uncompromising Dem-
ocrat, one of the first men, so far as known to volunteer in Whitley County,
set an example for his brethren that was worthy of imitation. He went out as
Lieutenant of Company E of the Seventeenth Regiment at the first call for
troops, and his loyal utterances in frequent letters written home and published
caused many a man in Whitley County to halt at the brink of disloyalty and
turn back toward the old flag. The following is an extract from one of his
letters from Western Virginia :
If some of the peace howlers were here awhile, they would get bravely over their com-
plaints. Mr. Lincoln's modification of Fremont's proclamation is well received here by all.
This last strike of the President will do more for us than 100,000 soldiers well armed. I say,
Ood bless Old Abe.
Such sentiments, coming from a prominent Democrat, could only have an
excellent efi'ect among the Democracy of Whitley County. Capt. Cuppy's
company was completed about the middle of October, and Capt. Simonson's
a short time before. Capt. Cuppy was from Cleveland Township, where the
greater number of his company was enlisted. On the 17th of October, this
company were ready to depart. The village. South Whitley, was filled with
relatives and friends of the brave boys. A stand was erected, from which the
principal citizens said, ''God bless you" to the untried soldiers. A splendid
dinner had been spread out, free to all, which was often thought of afterward
by the boys when half starved down in Dixie. At last, hands were wrung,
tears were shed, good-bys were spoken with pale faces and white lips, and the
boys marched proudly away to Columbia City, whence they were conveyed by
rail to Fort Wayne, the place of rendezvous.
- In response to the Governor's "Appeal to the Patriotic Women of Indiana," the ladies of
Columbia City met on Saturday afternoon, October 19, for the purpose of organizing a society
to aid in furnishing the Indiana Volunteers with the articles of clothing specified in the call of
Gov. Morton. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted, and a society organized
to be called the " Whitley County Soldiers' Aid Society:"
Whereas, The Governor of the State has appealed to the patriotic women of this State in
behalf of the Indiana Volunteers now on the tented field, asking them to aid in furnishing blank-
ets, mittens, socks, woolen drawers and shirts for our needy soldiers, therefore
Resolved, That in response to the call of the Governor, we, the ladies of Columbia City and
vicinity, do hereby organize ourselves into a society to be called the Whitley County Soldiers'
Aid Society.
Renolved, That the officers of this society shall consist of a President, Vice President, Sec-
retary, Treasurer and a committee of six members to solicit contributions.
Resolved, That the object of this society shall be to purchase and make such articles of
clothing for the soldiers as are enumerated in the Governor's appeal, and solicit contributions
from all who can render aid in this sacred cause.
Resolved, That the society meet every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon of each week.
Resolved, That an earnest invitation be extended to the ladies throughout the county to
co-operate with us in this holy and patriotic eifort.
Resolved, That a membership fee of 25 cents shall be paid by each member for the pur-
chase of material for the making of the articles needed.
84 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The following-named officers were chosen by the society: Mrs. J. L. Collins, President ;
Mrs. Samuel Keefer, Vice President ; Mrs. H. D. Wilson, Secretary, and Mrs. A. Y. Hooper,
Treasurer. Mrs. John Rhodes, Mrs. N. D. Torbet, Mrs. T. P. Gaylord, Mrs. Wm. Lohman,
Mrs. George Stough and Mrs. Leonard, committee to solicit contributions. — Republican, Oct. 22.
About the same time, a similar society was organized at Huntsville (Lar-
will), the officers being Mrs. H. McLallen, President ; Mrs. E. M. Baker,
Vice President; Mrs. D. B. Clugston, Secretary; and Mrs. David Kerr,
Treasurer; Mrs. Truman Hunt, Mrs. William Rice, Mrs. J. E. Hayden, Miss
Lucinda Carder, Miss Matilda Kerr and Miss Maria Burns, Soliciting Com-
mittee. Another was organized at Coesse with the following officers : Mrs. J.
Root, President ; Mrs. F. Mossman, Vice President ; Mrs. M. J. Swayne, Sec-
retary; Mrs. S. Douglas, Treasurer; Mrs. Joseph Mossman, Mrs. Joseph
Pierce, Mrs. D. S. Morse, Mrs. Rachel Edger, Mrs. George Omans, Mrs. G.
Pettit, Mrs. R. Drew, Mrs. W. Taylor, Miss Barbara Rouch and Mrs. J. H.
Clark, Soliciting Committee. $22.25, the receipts of an exhibition, were paid
to the Aid Society at Columbia City in October, 1861, by the young ladies of
the public school. Another society was organized in Richland Township, the
following being the officers: Mrs. W. Goldsmith, President; Mrs. J. Graham,
Vice President ; Mrs. N. G. Parret, Secretary ; Mrs. A. F. Marvin, Treasurer ;
Mrs. R. Rollins, Miss H. Munger, Mrs. W. Newman, Mrs. D. Kimes, Mrs.
G. P. Cullimore and Mrs. W. Rollins, Soliciting Committee.
Similar organizations, with similar laws, were created all over the county,
and large quantities of blankets, shirts, socks, drawers, mittens, etc., were
boxed up and sent to the boys in the field. Goods of this character and pro-
visions to the value of at least $800 were sent out of the county during the
war. The effect of all this was realized only by the poor boys who were suffer-
ing from wounds or disease in Southern hospitals, or who were undergoing
protracted and harassing marches and fatigues in the rebellious States. Many
a poor fellow has cried out, " God bless the noble and loyal women of the
North!"
After the first few months of excitement had passed away, people settled
down, prepared to hear almost anything. The enlistments went on generally
under the stimulus of a war meeting, where spread-eagle speeches were delivered,
with much eclat, to appreciative and applauding assemblages. Every encourage-
ment, in the way of bounty, loyalty and national preservation, was held temptingly
out to lure into the service the stalwart sons of noble old Indiana. Capt. Stough
had resigned his position and had come home, and, in July, 1862, he began raising
another company for the service. About the same time, Capt. Serjeant began
the enlistment of a company for the Seventy-fourth Regiment. Enthusiastic
meetings were held, in July, at Coesse, Concord, Troy Center, Etna, Thorn
Creek Center, Richland Center, Bechtel's Grove, Springfield, Jefferson Center
and Columbia City. Mr. Serjeant had been with Taylor in the Mexican War
and had the confidence of the citizens, and, as a consequence, his company
rapidly filled. These companies were dispatched to the field during the early
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 85
autumn of 1862. An artillery company, previously mentioned, of which
Judge Bodley was at first Captain and which had been largely raised in the
county, was dispatched to the field, under Capt. Peter Simonson, in about No-
vember, 1861. The Indiana Regiments which contained men from Whitley
County were the Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Seventeenth, Twenty-
ninth, Thirty-fourth, Thirtieth, Thirty-eighth, Forty-second, Forty-fourth,
Forty-eighth, Seventy-fourth, Eighty-eighth, One Hundredth, One Hundred
and Twenty-ninth, One Hundred and Forty-second, One Hundredth and Fifty-
second, Fifth Light Artillery, Eighth United States Colored Troops, Four-
teenth Light Artillery and the Twenty-third Light Artillery. Other regiments
also contained a few men from the county. The writer, by careful count and
estimate, has found that '"Little Whitley" sent into the war of the rebellion
about eight hundred men. Company E of the Seventeenth was commanded
by Capt. G. W. Stough. Company E of the Forty-fourth was commanded by
Capt. William E. Cuppy. Company B of the Seventy-fourth was commanded
by Capt. James E. Serjeant. Company K of the Eigty-eighth was commanded
by Capt. James C. Bodley. Company F of the One Hundredth was com-
manded by Capt. Abram W. Myers. Company D of the One Hundred and
Twenty- ninth was commanded by Capt. Francis M. McDonald. Company G
of the One Hundred and Forty-second was commanded by Capt. John H.
Slagle. Company I of the One Hundred and Fifty-second was commanded
by Capt. John M. Albright. All these officers were from Whitley County. In
addition to these, there was the Fifth Light Artillery, commanded by Capt.
Peter Simonson, who was shot in battle, and who was succeeded in command
by Capt. Alfred Morrison. There must also be mentioned the " Whitley
County Legion of Honor," composed of the following companies: Whitley
Guards, Albert Webster, Captain, August, 1861; Richland Guards, Isaac N.
Compton, Captain, September, 1863; Whitley Artillery, James C Bodley,
Captain, June, 1861. The men composing these guards were afterward re-
quired to face the bullets of the Southern Confederacy. Taking into consid-
eration the influences brought to bear upon the citizens not to enlist, and even
to discourage assistance to continue the war, the reader will be led to think
that Whitley County did her full share in suppressing the rebellion. But it
must be borne in mind that several drafts were instituted to compel localities to
fill their quotas, and great exertions were necessary on the part of recruiting
and enlisting officers to fill their companies. The first draft occurred October
6, 1862, anil gave the citizens a taste of what was to follow. The following
were the officers of the draft: Alexander Hall, Provost Marshal; James S.
Collins, Commissioner; and Dr. D. G. Linvill, Surgeon. The call for 300,000
men had been made in August, 1862, and as Whitley was considerably behind,
or at least that was the understanding, it was thought here that unless some-
thing very important was done in the way of filling the required quota, the
county must submit to the humiliation of a draft. A fiiir bounty was imme-
86 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
diately offered by the County Commissioners, and this, with the State and Na-
tional bounties, besides the regular pay per month, proved almost suflBcient to
relieve the county. On the 20th of September, 1862, the townships in the
county stood subject to draft as follows : Richland, 6 ; Troy, 9 ; Washington,
38; Columbia, 18; Jefferson, 34; Union, 5; Smith, 9; Thorn Creek, 34;
total, 153.
Between the 20th of September and the 6th of October, a sufficient num-
ber enlisted to clear all the townships except Thorn Creek, Washington and
Jefferson, these townships being behind some twenty-five men. The draft was
conducted in the Court House by the above-named officers, amid such severe
excitement as to indicate, if anything was done to precipitate events, a success-
ful resistance to the draft. There were read out the names of men who violently
cursed everything, from Lincoln to the Draft Commissioner, and who swore
that they would never enter the ranks to continue the damnable war. There
were also read out the names of those who looked like death when they knew
they were in for it. Others, of both parties, loyally faced the music, and de-
clared they had taken their chances and were ready to go. The drafted men
were taken to Indianapolis, where, through the neglect of a number of military
" nincompoops," they were compelled to " cabbage," without orders or payment,
a large barrel of crackers. This food, with a little water, constituted their only
supper. The aforesaid " nincompoops " were summarily cashiered for their
neglect and dismissed the service, and payment was made for the barrel of
crackers.
This draft, promptly made and executed, proved to the citizens that the
Government was in earnest, not trifling, and thereafter all but rebel sympa-
thizers exerted themselves to avoid any further conscription. Yet, notwith-
standing all efforts, several drafts occurred afterward, under the supervision of
Hiram Iddings, Provost Marshal ; William S. Smith, Commissioner, and Ste-
phen Morris, Surgeon, draft officers, located at Kendallville, for the Tenth Con-
gressional District. The commissions of these officers took effect in May, 1863.
Charles W. Hughes was appointed Assistant Provost Marshal for Whitley
County. On the 4th of July, 1863, Mr. Hughes attempted the arrest of a
deserter whom he met on the street of Columbia City. The deserter resisted,
and, escaping, ran out of town, but was pursued by Lieut. Slagle and
brought back. The day had been one of great political excitement, and
the celebration had been interrupted several times by riots and fights. As soon
as it became known on the streets that the deserter had been arrested, a rescue
was determined upon, regardless of the consequences. A small body of men had
assembled to sustain the arrest, but they were greatly outnumbered. Everybody
was excited at the prospect of the impending conflict, and the interest became
intense. Women began to cry out and shed tears, and even some men sought
the presumably safe fortification of female crinoline. The crowds met, the
smaller was swept back and scattered, and the law-breakers rescued their friend
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 87
with shouts of joy. This was not done, however, without desperate resistance
from the Marshal and his band, and sundry noses were made to flow, and eyes
made to assume the hue of Erebus.
Almost every week, news was received that women had met in sanguinary
conflict at scho.olhouses or cross-roads. Every week or two, the papers contained
highly sensational pen portraits of the fights. It was certainly a scene to make
the blood of the boldest run cold. The men were not behind in " scrimmages "
of this nature. During the entire continuance of the war, scores of terrific
fights occurred over hard names and bad blood.
The condition of affairs in Whitley County was announced to the District
Provost Marshal at Kendallville, who, thereupon, resolved that he would arrest
the three or four deserters who were lurking in the county. Accordingly, on
the 17th of July, 1863, the District Marshal, in command of about seventy-
five men — soldiers — from Kendallville, entered the county from the north,
arresting a deserter in Thorn Creek Township, thence moving to Larwill, where
another deserter was taken, thence to Columbia City, arriving there about 8
o'clock in the morning. The deserter there was soon found and arrested, and
the three taken to the Tremont House, handcuffed and closely guarded. [News^
July 21, 1863.] This paper stated that the cause of the last man's arrest was
not because he had deserted ; but because he rescued, as above stated, on Inde-
pendence Day, the deserter who had been arrested by Marshal Hughes. The
statement of the paper is probably correct. As soon as it became known that
a body of troops was in town, and that arrests were being made, hundreds of
people appeared on the streets to see what was transpiring. Excitement ran
to mountainous heights when it was discovered that all efforts would fail to
prevent the arrests. The soldiers breakfasted, and, in the meantime, it became
apparent on the streets that trouble would ensue. The military body, with the
deserters in charge, had no sooner reached the street (Van Buren) than it was
surrounded by a shouting mob, which heaped insult upon insult upon the soldiers,
until the latter were compelled to chastise a few with swords and bayonets.
During this conflict, two prominent citizens were arrested, one for disloyal
expressions and unwarranted interference with the arrests that were being made
by the soldiers ; the other, for resisting the arrest of his friend, who was a rela-
tive. During the arrest of these two, it became necessary to resort to stern meas-
ures. The commanding oflBcer of the detachment of soldiers drew his revolver
and fired three or four shots, one or two of which took effect in the person of
one of the citizens under arrest, both of whom, when the soldiers moved, were
taken some distance into the country with the rest of the prisoners, where, after
a parley with the oflScers, they were released ; but the deserters were retained,
and, after a few months, the one arrested at Columbia City for resisting the
arrest of a deserter returned to Columbia City, and was given a public ovation
by his friends.
Disturbances much of a similar character were afterward enacted in the
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
county. This was the condition of public feeling and action during the entire
war. The drafts of 1863 and 1864 came on, and many were thus called into
service.
The following was the condition of the quotas of the different townships
of Whitley County under the call of July 18, 1864 :
Quota. To furnish.
Smith Township
Thorn Creek Township
^tna Township
Troy Township
Richland Township
Columbia Township
Union Township
Jefferson Township
Washington Township..
Cleveland Township
Total.
148
349
A draft was ordered for this call of 500,000 men, but was postponed
until December, 1864, at which time another call for 300,000 men was issued.
The citizens well knew that, unless the county exerted itself wonderfully, the
quota of Whitley County under these two calls, as shown in the two tables — a
total of 418 men — would have to be filled by draft. The quota of Whitley
County under the last call of the President, in December, 1864, for 300,000
men, was 207. The quotas of the different townships were : jj^^
Smith Township 31
Thorn Creek Township 17
^Etna Township 5
Troy Township 40
Richland Township 32
Columbia Township 16
Union 4
Jefferson 24
Washington 27
Cleveland 11
Total 207
The citizens resolved to fill the quotas, if such a thing were possible. The
County Commissioners met and raised the county bounty to $450, and then the
inducements held out took the following excellent shape :
The quota of Whitley County is not quite full yet, and, unless the men come forward and
enlist, the draft will certainly come off at no distant day. Drafted men get no bounties. Volnn-
teers receive the following for one year's service :
Regular Government bounty $100 00
County bounty 450 00
Township bounty 100 00
Monthly pay for one year 192 00
Clothing, not less than 150 00
Rations— lowest rate of boarding 200 00
Total for one year's service $1,192 00
I#^ ^H^
COLUMBIA CITY.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 91
Thig is a good chance to make a little money. For one year's service you get $1,192, of
which amount $583 — nearly one-half — is paid in advance, in shining greenbacks at that, before
departing for the tented field. Recruiting offices have been opened at the Tremont House, in this
city, and at the American House, in Springfield, this county. — News, last of February 1865.
These inducements were too much for the boys, who volunteered rapidly
from all quarters. Soon it beiame apparent that, even if Whitley County did
not quite fill its quota, no draft would be held.
The following table shows what the county paid during the war as bounty
and relief fund :
County, City or Township. Bounty. Belief.
Whitley County $105,900 |13,883
Cleveland Township 2,750 500
Richland Township 11,072 304
Troy Township 5,000 300
Washington Township 2,200 200
Columbia Township 6,020 500
Thorn Creek Township 2,250 200
JeflFerson Township 1,500 200
Union Township 1,126 260
Smith Township 4,719 200
Etna Township 500 100
Whitley County Total $143,037 $16,647
Total Bounty and Relief $159,684
The regiments from Indiana which contained the greatest number of men
from Whitley County were the Eleventh, Seventeenth, Forty-fourth, Seventy-
fourth, Eighty-eighth, One Hundredth, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, One
Hundred and Forty-second, One Hundred and Fifty- second, and the Fifth
Light Artillery. The Eleventh Regiment fought at Forts Heiman, Henry and
Donelson; at Shiloh ; siege of Corinth; Yazoo Pass Expedition; the Vicksburg
movement; the siege of Vicksburg; battle of Winchester; and battle of Fisher's
Hill, besides many other smaller engagements. The Seventeenth Regiment
fought at Greenbrier, siege of Corinth, battle with Gen. Forrest, skirmish with
Bragg. February, 1863, the regiment was mounted and supplied with Spencer
rifles ; desperate battle at Hoover's Gap ; Manchester ; Cowan ; Dalton ; near
Ringgold ; numerous small skirmishes ; Chickamauga ; Thompson's Cove ;
McMinnville ; Shelbyville ; Farraington ; battle with Kelley's Brigade ; skir-
mished constantly on the Atlanta campaign ; Pumpkin Vine Church ; Big
Shanty; Belle Plain Road; Kenesaw Mountain; Marietta; Chattahoochee
River; Stone Mountain ; Flat Rock ; New Hope Church ; Rome; Coosaville ;
Leesburg ; Goshen and pursuit of Hood; then followed the " Wilson raid," in
which the Seventeenth took a prominent part; Bogue's Creek; assault on
Selma ; Tobesoif kee Creek ; numerous hot skirmishes ; Rocky Creek bridge ;
captured, without aid, Macon, Ga., with one Major General, three Brigadier
Generals, 3,000 prisoners, 60 pieces of artillery, 3,000 small arms, etc., etc.
The Union troops numbered 451 men. Here the regiment was mustered out
of service. The loss of the regiment during the Wilson raid, from March 22d
92 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
to May 1st, was twenty-one killed and ninety-four wounded. Up to this time,
the Seventeenth Regiment had marched over 4,000 miles ; captured over 5,000
prisoners, together with 6,000 stands of arms ; 70 pieces of artillery ; 11
stands of colors, and more than 3,000 horses and mules. This was done with
the total loss of 3 officers and 66 men killed, and 13 officers and 126 men
wounded. The Mumfordsville affiair was engaged in in 1862 by a detachment
of the regiment. The Seventeenth was one of the most active regiments in
the war from any State.
The Forty-fourth Regiment, the latter part of October, 1861, went to
Indianapolis, and, in December, to Henderson, Ky. In February, 1862, it
was ordered to Forts Henry and Donelson, where it suflfered severely in killed
and wounded. It went to Pittsburg Landing, and was in both days' battle of
Shiloh, where it lost the appalling number of thirty-three killed and one hun-
dred and seventy -seven wounded. It was at Corinth and at Boonville. It
pursued Bragg northward, reaching Louisville, Ky., on the 26th of September.
It fought at Perryville and at Russell Hill. In less than three months and a
half, the regiment had marched on an average ten miles per day, without
tents. It had suffered terribly on the long marches. The regiment was at
Stone River, suffering eight killed, fifty-two wounded and twenty-five missing.
It was present at Chickaraauga and Mission Ridge. In these two battles, the
loss was eighty-two killed, wounded and missing. While at Chattanooga, the
boys " veteranized " and went home on a visit. It returned to Chattanooga in
the spring of 1864, and did provost duty there until September, 1865, when it
was mustered out of service. The regiment, during its term of service, lost
350 in killed and wounded, and 58 by disease. Recruits after this from the
Forty-fourth served in the closing scenes of the war.
In August, 1862, the Seventy-fourth Regiment, less two companies, left
Indianapolis for Louisville, Ky. It went to Bowling Green and then to Louis-
ville. It participated in the pursuit of Bragg. In November, it reached
Gallatin, and in December it was joined by Companies C and K. These two
companies had had a severe fight with Bragg's army, and were captured,
paroled, and in November, 1862, were exchanged and then joined their regi-
ment. The regiment fought Gen. Morgan. It occupied Gallatin in January,
1863, then Lavergne, then to Triune, where it arrived in June. It moved in
the campaign against Tullahoma, skirmished the enemy at Hoover's Gap, and
in August, participated in the campaign against Chattanooga. In September,
it skirmished at Dug Gap, Ga. It was one of the first regiments engaged at
Chickamauga, and with the Tenth Regiment was the last to leave the field.
The regiment was with that old hero. Gen. Thomas, and lost 20 killed, 129
wounded, and 11 missing. The Seventy- fourth was constantly skirmishing at
the siege of Chattanooga. It was at Mission Ridge in November, losing
eighteen killed and wounded. It followed the enemy to Ringgold, Ga., and
then returned. It was at Buzzard's Roost, February, 1864, but returned to
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 98
Ringgold, where it remained until May, when it moved on the Atlanta cam-
paign. It fought at Dallas, Kenesaw and Lost Mountains, Chattahooehie
River, near Peach Tree Creek. The Seventy-fourth on this campaign lost
forty-six men. The regiment fought at Jonesboro, pursued Hood, fought at
Rocky Creek Church. It marched around via Savannah, Raleigh, Richmond
and Washington, D. C, and finally reached home during the summer of 1865.
This was one of the best regiments from Indiana.
The Eighty-eighth Regiment reached Louisville late in September, 1862.
On the 8th of October, the regiment fought like veterans at Champion Hills,
losing heavily. It then moved to Nashville, thence to Murfreesboro, where it
fought at Stone River, participating particularly in the last charge. Again the
regiment suffered terribly. In the summer and early autumn of 1863, the Eighty-
eighth fought at Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Hillsboro, Elk River and Lookout
Mountain. On the 10th of September, it had a severe skirmish with Polk's
command. It fought desperately three days at Chickamauga. It charged on
Mission Ridge, and was personally complimented by Gen. Thomas. It
fought at Graysville and Ringgold, and was on the terrible Atlanta campaign,
fighting at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas,
Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahooehie, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Utoy
Creek. The loss in this campaign was sixty-five killed, wounded and missing.
The Eighty-eighth pursued Hood, and then moved to the sea with Sherman.
It also went with Sherman north, fighting at Averysboro and Bentonville — loss
at the latter thirty-nine. It started home via Washington, D. C, and was
greeted all along the route by crowds of grateful people.
The One Hundredth Regiment, organized in Fort Wayne in August, 1862,
took the field at Memphis, where it arrived on the 16th of November. It
moved on the first Vicksburg campaign, but soon returned to Memphis, near
where it was assigned guard duty. In June, 1863, it went with Grant, and
participated in the siege of Vicksburg. It marched and fought with Sherman
at Jackson, being under fire for five successive days. The regiment then
marched to Big Black River, where it remained during the summer. In Sep-
tember, it moved to Memphis, thence to Bridgeport, Ala., thence to Trenton,
Ga., where it turned the left flank of Bragg's army. It moved to Chatta-
nooga, and afterward fought severely at Mission Ridge, losing in killed and
wounded the appalling number of one hundred and thirty-two men. It pur-
sued Bragg to Graysville, thence marched to Knoxville, thence to Scottsboro,
Ala., arriving there December 26. Within a few weeks the regiment had
marched over eight hundred miles and had fought bravely, and was only half
clothed and half fed — all performed without a murmur. The One Hundredth
moved with the Atlanta campaign in 1864, fighting at Dalton, Snake Creek
Gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain,
Nickajack Creek, Chattahooehie River, Decatur, Atlanta, Cedar Bluffs, Jones-
boro and Lovejoy's Station. It had marched and fought nearly one hundred
94 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
days. It pursued Hood, and then moved to the sea with Sherman, fighting
at Griswoldville, Ga., reaching Savannah December 10, and moving through
the Oarolinas. It went to Washington, D. C, where it remained until June,
1865, when it was mustered out. The One Hundredth, during its term of
service, lost 464 men, killed, died of wounds and of disease.
The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment took the field at Nash-
ville April 7, 1864. • After several severe campaigns, the regiment took up its
march on the Atlanta campaign. It fought at Dallas, and skirmished with
the enemy for several weeks near Lost Mountain. The regiment was in a ter-
rific fight at Decatur, losing heavily. It skirmished around Atlanta and at
Strawberry Run, losing twenty-five men killed and wounded. It pursued
Hood, moved to Chattanooga, to Nashville, joined Gen. Thomas, thence to
Johnsonville and Columbia. Here heavy skirmishing was carried on, and soon
after the regiment moved rapidly to Franklin, at which place, as is often said,
the hottest conflict of the war took place. The One Hundred and Twenty-
ninth lost very heavily. It returned to Nashville, where it remained until Decem-
ber 15, 1864, when it moved out with Gen. Thomas and participated two days
in the fight with Hood. It joined in the pursuit, but was soon conveyed to
the Atlantic coast, landing at Moorhead City. It moved out skirmishing at
first, but finally fighting with great desperation at Wise's Forks, losing very
heavily. It did provost duty during the summer of 1865 at Charlotte. In
August it was mustered out of service.
The One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment (one year's service) reached
Nashville in November, 1864, and was assigned garrison duty. The regiment
was at the battle of Nashville, when Thomas thrashed Hood, and was held as
reserve. After the battle, it returned to Nashville, doing duty there until July,
1865, when it was mustered out.
The Fifth Battery Light Artillery, with six guns, took the field, near
Louisville, November 29, 1861. It consisted of 148 men, under Capt. Peter
Simonson. The battery was raised in Whitley, Noble, La Porte and Allen Coun-
ties. After various movements, it won its first laurels near Huntsville, Ala.,
where it stopped several flying railroad trains of the enemy. The guns were put
on locomotives, and sent down on the track to burn bridges, etc. The men were
also used as scouts while here. The battery fought hard, at Stevenson, to pro-
tect government stores. It fought desperately at Champion Hills six hours,
losing two men killed and eighteen wounded, thirty-two horses killed and crip-
pled and one caisson chest blown up by the enemy's shell. It was compli-
mented by the commanding General. It skirmished with the enemy at Triune
December, 1862, and finally participated in the fierce battle of Stone River.
Early in the morning of the 31st of December (first day of the battle), the
Fifth was terribly cut up, losing three men killed and sixteen wounded — one
mortally — and thirty-two horses and two guns. The division commander paid
the Fifth a high and merited compliment. In June, it skirmished heavily at
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 95
Liberty Gap, but afterward moved gradually southward with the main army,
fighting at Pond Springs in September, losing one gun and several horses. It
fought desperately nearly all the next day, and when ordered back lost another
gun. While at Chattanooga, it lost one man killed, nine wounded and two
prisoners, besides twenty-six horses and two guns. It was ordered to Shell
Mound, where it remained on guard until February, 1864. In a reconnoissance
on Buzzard's Roost, the Fifth fought again, but without loss. The battery, in
the Atlanta campaign, fought at Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca,
near Adairsville, Kingston, Cassville, Pine Mountain (where the gallant Capt.
Simonson was shot through the head with a musket ball), Kenesaw Mountain,
New Hope Church, Hurst's Station, Peach Tree Creek, before Atlanta and at
Jonesboro. The loss in these engagements was six men killed and six wounded.
At Pine Mountain, the shot that killed the rebel Gen. Polk was fired from one
of the Rodman guns of the Fifth Battery. The battery lost during the war
nine killed, three mortally wounded, forty-eight wounded, twenty-one died of
disease, prisoners three. It also lost four guns, but was one of Indiana's best
batteries.
WHITLEY county's ROLL OF HONOR.
Lieut. Col. George B. Stough, died of wounds in Libby Prison, October
29, 1863.
Capt. Peter Simonson, killed in action at Pine Mountain, Ga., June 16,
1864.
Lieut. William Forrest, died of disease, September 28, 1863.
Lieut. Daniel Little, died of wounds received in action, Decembsr 15, 1863.
Washington Acker, died at Memphis, November 1, 1863 ; William Abbott,
died at Chattanooga July 20, 1864 ; Andrew Arnold, died at Chattanooga June
25, 1864.
Nicholas Beesack, killed at Noonday Creek, Ga.. June 20, 1864 ; Jacob
Bryer, died of wounds, at Murfreesboro, January 3, 1863 ; Robert Blain, died
at Mitchellsville, Tenn., November 10, 1862; Reuben Barnes, died of wounds
at Murfreesboro, January 3, 1863 ; Edwin A. Briggs, died at Louisville, Ky.,
November 27, 1862 ; William Boyd, died at Nashville July 9, 1863 ; Warren
Banta, killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862 ; Henry Brenneman, died May 12, 1862;
Samuel Baker (veteran), killed by cars, January 30, 1865 ; John C. Brown,
killed at Chickamauga September 19, 1863 ; Emery Bennet, died at Gallatin,
Tenn., December 2, 1862; James Barber, died of wounds at Ackworth, Ga.,
June 19, 1864 ; John Bennet, died at Camp Sherman, Miss., August 1, 1863 ;
Nelson Bugbee died at Scottsboro, Ala., January 12, 1864 ; Christopher
Burnsworth, died at Chattanooga October 1, 1861 ; Ansel Bloomer died at
Murfreesboro May 2, 1864 ; John Batz, died at Indianapolis March 24, 1865.
William Croy, died at Louisville November 13, 1862 ; Archibald Carter,
captured at Chickamauga September 20, 1863 ; Joseph Carnes, died February
4, 1862 ; John M. Collins, missing in action at Chickamauga, September 19,
9t) HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
1863 ; Solomon Carpenter, died March 15, 1862 ; James Carpenter, missing
in action at Cliickaraauga, September 19, 1863 ; John E. Cassel, died at Nash-
ville October 3, 1863; John Cooper, died at Altoona, Ga., June 9, 1864;
George Cummins, died at Danville, Ky., November 7, 1862.
Stephen Donley, died at Gallatin, Tenn., December 11, 1862 ; Henry
Dilater, died February 8, 1862 ; Jesse A. Denny, died at Nashville August
29, 1864 ; William Denevy, died in the field June, 1864.
George W. Elder, died at Huntsville,Ala., February 2, 1865.
Richard Francis, killed at Hoover's Gap June 24, 1863 ; William Farris,
died November 11, 1864 ; Andrew J. Fox, died at Nashville March 20, 1863;
George Forrest, died at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 21, 1864 ; Leroy Foust,
died of wounds received at Kenesaw, June 20, 1864.
William Grimes, died of wounds, at Murfreesboro, July 20. 1863 ; B. F.
Gingher, died at Euharlee, Ga., May 31, 1864 ; Josiah Gradeless, died at Gal-
latin, Tenn., December 23, 1862 ; Walter Gruesbeck, died of wounds, August
25, 1864 ; John P. Grace, died at Bentonville, N. C, March 20, 1865 ; As-
bury Grable, died of wounds received at Stone River January 12, 1863 ;
Nathaniel Gordon, died of wounds at Chattanooga, November 8, 1863 ; Elijah
Graves, died at Memphis November 12, 1863 ; Isaac Groves, died at Chatta-
nooga November 7, 1864.
Isaac Harrison, died of accidental wounds, July 2, 1862 ; David Hyre,
killed by guerrillas March 14, 1865 ; Peter Haynes, died of wounds at Ste-
phenson, Ala., October 17, 1863 ; James Huston, died in Andersonville Prison
June 23, 1864 ; Frederick Hively died of wounds at Chattanooga, June 25,
1864 ; Daniel Herr, died at Tyree Springs, Tenn., November 29, 1862 ; George
Holloway died in rebel prison, Danville, Va., March 7, 1864 ; George G.
Ilennemeyer, died at Bowling Green, Ky., January 1, 1863 ; William Huston,
died at Bowling Green November 7, 1862 ; John D, Harbor, died at Nashville
January 5, 1864 ; Reuben Householder, died at Camp Piatt, West Va., August
3, 1865 ; William Hutchcraft, died at Savannah, Ga., January 1, 1865.
William F. Johnson, killed at Shelbyville, Tenn., October 7, 1863 ; John
A. Jameson, died of wounds at Nashville, November 1, 1863 ; Orange L. Jones,
died at Murfreesboro September 23, 1863.
Horace S. Klinck, died of wounds December 10, 1863 ; David Kime, died
at Macon, Ga., April 23, 1865; C. L. Kaufman, died at Gallatin, Tenn., Jan-
uary 1, 1863 ; William S. Kearns, killed at Mission Ridge November 25, 1863 ;
Samuel B. Kernes, died at Beaufort, S. C, August 14, 1864 ; John W. Kline,
died at Nashville July 30, 1864.
David J. Lamb, died at Memphis November 10, 1863 ; William W. Lin-
dle, died at Memphis.
Conrad Miller, killed at Shelbyville, Tenn., October 7, 1863 ; James Mc-
Donald, died in Andersonville Prison October 16, 1864 ; Jasper McNear, miss-
ing in action at Chickamauga September 19, 1863 ; Jackson Mosher, died at
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 97
Chattanooga, February 18, 1864 ; Allen Myers died at Calhoun, Ky., Febru-
ary 8, 1862; Francis M. Martin, killed at Chickamauga September 19, 1863;
William Marshall, died at Nashville January 20, 1863 ; John Mossman, died
at St. Louis December 1, 1863 ; Calvin Mellet, died at Memphis November
24, 1862 ; John McNabb, died at Holly Springs, Miss., January 15, 1863.
George Neff, missing in action at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863 ;
Abraham Nicheles, died at Nashville February 6, 1863 ; Edward North, died
at Columbus, Ohio.
John Owens, died at Indianapolis November 25, 1862 ; Anthony dinger,
died at Marietta, Ga., September 21, 1864.
Solomon Payne, died at St. Louis May 10, 1862 ; Wesley Parret, died at
Memphis July 7, 1862 ; Noah Pence, died at Nashville, December 21, 1862 ;
Reason W. Pumphrey, died at Memphis November 28, 1862 ; Royer Pittman,
killed at Mission Ridge November 25, 1863.
George T. Roley, died at home February 21, 1864 ; Jesse Rowles, died
of wounds at Shelbyville, Tenn., December 16, 1863 ; Albert Rovenstine, died
at Bowling Green November 8, 1862.
Nimrod Smith, died November 23, 1861 ; Francis M. Slagle, died March
2, 1863 ; Henry Snavely died at home February 18, 1864 ; David Stough,
killed by pistol shot December 16, 1862 ; W. B. Summany, wounded, supposed
dead. Rock Springs, Tenn., September 12, 1863 ; David Smalley, missing while
foraging near Calhoun, Ga., October 20, 1864 ; Linton Shoemaker, died at
home November 2, 1863 ; John A. Shoemaker, died at Lavergne, Tenn., May
13, 1863 ; Mahlon Sipe, wounded and missing at Stone River December 31,
1862 ; Joseph Swisher, died at home February 24, 1864 ; Hiram Smith, died
at Evansville March 1, 1864 ; William Stiver, died December 6, 1861 ; E. A.
Smith, died at Gallatin, Tenn., February 26, 1863 ; James Samuels, killed at
Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863 ; Charles Swindle, died at Grand Junction,
Tenn., April 8, 1863; George Simpkins, died in the field November 16, 1863;
Allen Sears, died at Tullahoma, Tenn., October 27, 1864 ; David' Sprinkle,
died at Louisville November 10, 1862.
Andrew Tinkham died at Gallatin January 25, 1863 ; Samuel Taylor,
died at Camp Sherman, August, 1863.
Milton Whiteman, killed at Macon, Ga., April 20, 1865 ; John H. Wire-
man, died September 16, 1862 ; James C. Watson, killed at Chickamauga, Sep-
tember 19, 1863; Nathan Walton, died at Nashville September 13, 1863;
James Walker, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., January 20, 1863 ; Jacob Wise,
died May 17, 1865; David Warts, died December 8, 1861; George Weamer,
died of wounds received at Shiloh, April 7, 1862 ; Abram Walker, died at
Louisville October 23, 1863; Josiah Walker, died at Springfield, Ky., Octo-
ber 10, 1862 ; John Weil, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863.
98 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
CHAPTER V.
by thomas r. marshall.
Columbia City and Township— Locating Columbia— Survey and Plat—
Elihu Chauncey— Town and Township Organizations— Early Settlers
AND Officers— First Buildings— Growth and Improvement— Indus-
trial Interests— Present Business Men— Incorporation— Education
AND Religion— Secret Societies— Election Statistics— Other Valua-
ble Information.
" We have no title deeds to house or lands ;
Owners and occupants of earlier dates,
From graves forgotten, stretch their dusty hands,
And hold, in mortmain still, their old estates."
THIS is indeed an age when men count lives by milestones and not by
paces. The horning of yesterday has become the manhood of to-day.
The mythologic era, when Minerva sprang in panoply from the brain of Jove,
has found its counterpart in the sudden development of these once lately Wes-
tern wilds. " Life ripens in these later years.
The century's aloe flowers to-day."
Come with me to the spire of your temple of justice, this glorious spring
morning. From the purple chambers of the East, a modern Phaeton is rising
from his couch to harness the fiery steeds of the sun, and take such a ride as
the elder Phaeton never dreamed of Over cities of a million souls, beside the
classic seats of learning, among the mountains, round the valleys, until at
eventide he shall water his foaming steeds in the peaceful waves near our
Golden Gate. I know that we are an English, liberty-loving people, and an
aggressive one, too, for I hear the twitter of the English sparrow, that goes
where it listeth, and stands back for no bird of beauty or of song. I know
that we dwell in the midst of a Christian civilization — for I can see four
spires pointing heavenward, and the place for five more to point. I have been
told in my researches among the archives of this people that the reason why
they do not point is because they have already built as high as they own. I,
however, look upon this as a base canard, suggested by denominational jeal-
ousy. I know, too, that the schoolmaster is abroad in the land. There are
four of him — the other five of him are schoolmistresses. I know that we are
a quiet, law-abiding people, for I see to the southeastward an immense pile of
hewn stones, whose windows are of tempered steel and whose doors are of iron,
double jointed. And yet when I hear, now and then, of the escape of a pris-
oner, I realize with crushing force the truth of the poet's statement,
" Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage."
I look upon the busy marts of trade, I hear the hum of industry, I see
the smiling faces of the children of our town, and my heart goes out in adora-
COUUTY CLERK, COLUMBIA CITY.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 101
tion to Him who hath made these things possible to be. I say to myself,
truly tills is a ^ land of settled government, and just renown,
Where freedom slowly broadens down,
From precedent to precedent:"
and a longing comes over me to know whence and how allthese things have come
to pass in so short a time. Let us trace, therefore, as well as may be, the life of
this town and township for the little more than forty years since from nothing
it has grown to what it now is.
Upon the 25th day of November, 1839, the Board of County Commis-
sioners, consisting of Otho W. Gandy, Joseph Parrett and Nathaniel Gradeless,
came to what is now the town of Columbia City, and the seat of justice of
Whitley County, for the purpose of platting the town. Henry Swihart, County
Agent, Richard Collins, Sheriff and Abram Cuppy, Clerk, came with them.
Zebulon Burch was also of the party, and acting in the capacity of Commissary.
The party stopped at the place where now stands the office of Jacob Ramp, in
Block 7, Swihart's Addition to the town of Columbia City. At that time, the
snow covered the ground. It was in the primitive days, and long before
Prometheus had brought a second time fire from Heaven in the shape of
Lucifer matches. It may be observed by the enlightened reader that Lucifer
has not been in Heaven for a long time. The only excuse I can offer is that
a country historian, like a spring poet, cannot afford to be too choice in the use
of his similes and illustrations. Richard Collins, therefore, unlimbered him-
self from his steed at the farm now known as the Essig farm, southwest of town
about four miles, and where R. J. German then lived, and gathering from his
hearth a tin pail of coals, bestrode again his foaming steed and carried the
coals to the point of destination. This company proceeded to cut down timber
and built a fire. Zebulon Burch then stretched a tent, and, amid the almost
unbroken solitudes, the founders of this city lay down to rest.
Upon the next day, Thursday, the 26th of November, 1839, Richard
Collins began the survey of the town plat, and proceeded with the same until
Friday afternoon. At that time. Dr. Council and Isaac Spencer were Com-
missioners to view, locate and lay out the Lima & Huntington State road.
They came to the camp where Mr. Collins was on Friday night. From that
point south, there were no settlers until you reached the vicinity of Hunting-
ton. Isaac Spencer was a staid old Presbyterian Deacon, who had that extreme
reverence for the Sabbath which has latterly grown to be only a reminis-
cence of the past. He would not work on Sunday. He, therefore, went back
to the cabin of Richard Baughan, two and a half miles up Blue River. On
Saturday Mr. Collins set Mr. Kromer, County Surveyor of La Grange County,
and his hands at work surveying the town plat. On Saturday afternoon the
snow had melted ofi". On Sunday morning, Richard Collins, who then resided
near South "Whitley, concluded to go home. At that date the only highways
were Indian trails. He accordingly mounted his horse and struck out. Four
102 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
or five hours taught him that if there was nothing in the faith of Isaac Spencer,
it at least kept a man out of trouble. For upon examination of his compass,
the day having grown foggy, Mr. Collins found himself in the neighborhood
of Fort Wayne. He thereupon proceeded to reef and tacked about until finally
he reached South Whitley. And thus was begun what in time, we hope, may
be an honor and glory to our commonwealth.
On the 1st day of February, 1840, one Elihu Chauncey appeared before
William Milnor, one of the Aldermen of the city of Philadelphia in the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania, and as such Alderman and ex officio Justice of
the Peace, and in due form of law, executed a conveyance to Richard Collins,
Trustee of Whitley County, Ind., which embraced these facts :
Whereas, Elihu Chauncey is the owner of a certain tract of land situate in Columbia
Township, Whitley County, Indiana, which has been selected by Commissioners duly appointed,
as the location of the county seat of Whitley County ; and.
Whereas, Elihu Chauncey hath agreed to appropriate and convey to and for the use of
said county, one-half of the lots into which the site of said town has been laid off; and,
Whereas, A plat or map of the said site has been made containing 28 squares, each
square being subdivided into Slots, except Squares 21, 22 and 28, which are divided into 4 lots
each, which map has been certified and acknowledged.
Now, in consideration of said premises and one dollar to him in hand paid, the said
Elihu Chauncey releases and quit-claims to Richard Collins, all the lots numbered 3, 4, 7 and
8 in all the squares except 21, 22 and 28, and in 21 and 22, lots 3 and 4, and in 28, lots 1 and
2, to have and to hold the same forever to the use of Whitley County, as and for the location of
of a county seat.
On the 4th day of May, 1840, the Board of Commissioners met at the
house of David E. Long, in the town of Columbia, the county seat. Present,
Otho W. Gandy, Joseph Parrett and J. G. Braddock, Commissioners ; Abra-
ham Cuppy, Clerk ; and Richard Collins, Sheriff. On the 5th day of May,
1840, the following entry appears upon the records of said board:
Ordered, That Congressional Township 31, of Range 9 east, be organized as a civil town-
ship, and call the same Columbia Township, and order an election of one Justice of the Peace in
said town on the first Monday in August next, and appoint Raymond J. German Inspector of
Elections therein. The election to be held at the house of David E. Long, in the town of
Columbia, in said county.
The first election in this township was accordingly held on the 3d day of
August, 1840. After a closely contested election, Elijah C. Osborn was elected
Justice of the Peace, having received four votes to two votes cast for Raymond
J. German. He failed to qualify, and Joseph W. Baker was appointed and
qualified as the first Justice of the Peace. On the 6th day of September, 1841,
at a special election, Horace Tuttle was elected Justice of the Peace to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Joseph W. Baker.
It is unfortunately true that the early records of the township of Columbia
have been lost or mislaid, so that in this sketch it is impossible to give the
names and periods of incumbency of the several township officers. In the early
days, however, not much attention was paid to the political affiliations of a man
when he was a candidate for a local office. The simple query asked was, '' Is
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 103
he honest and capable?" In the year 1844, the Democrats made their first
purely party contest in the township, and succeeded in giving Jacob Wunder-
lich in the county a majority of five, as against his opponents, Gillespie and
Thompson. Jacob Thompson at that time was running what was called in
those primitive days a tavern. He was exceedingly anxious to be elected
Sheriff, and for that purpose opened up on the day of the election a free lunch
table, and poured his free whisky out to the electors by the pailful. It was of
no avail, however, for upon the final count he had only forty votes. A close
observer of any election of recent date may perhaps have noticed that a portion
of this ancient mode of electioneering has not wholly passed into disuse. He
might also observe that there be yet electors who will drink one man's whisky
and vote for another.
It may not be amiss, however, to give to the public, through this medium,
a general idea of the manner in which township business was conducted prior
to the passage of the new constitution in 1852. On the 17th day of February,
1838, the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, passed an act, which
provided as follows :
First. Township elections were to be held annually on the first Monday
in April.
Second. The officers to be elected were three Township Trustees ; a
Township Treasurer ; a Township Clerk ; two Fence Viewers ; two Overseers
of the Poor, and as many Constables as there were Justices of the Peace.
Third. The Township Trustees were to meet on the first Mondays in
March, June, September and November. At their first meeting they were to
divide townships into road districts and appoint Supervisors.
Fourth. The Township Trustees were to assess the township taxes and
they were to appoint one of the Constables collector thereof.
Fifth. They were to have power upon the petition of twelve householders
to establish, vacate or change highways.
Sixth. This was a local act and applied only to the counties of Carroll,
Delaware, Clay, Madison, Warren, Clinton, Adams, Jay, Wells, Huntington,
Whitley, Allen and Hancock.
At that date this county was in the Tenth Congressional District. It
was joined with Elkhart and Kosciusko for senatorial and representative pur-
poses. So stood the law until in 1843, Samuel Bigger, by authority of the
Legislature of this State, revised the statutes of the State. In that year the
oflacers created were one Inspector of Elections ; as many Constables as might
be required ; a Supervisor for each road district ; two Fence Viewers, and
two Overseers of the Poor. This act was in force until the year 1852, when
the new constitution and revised statutes made a change. On Monday, April
4, 1853, was held the first election under our present constitution, with the fol-
lowing result : Jacob Wunderlich, A. A. Bainbridge, Samuel Brown, Trustees ;
David M. Hammond, Township Clerk; William H. Dunfee, Township Treas-
104 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
urer. For license, 47 votes. Against license, 80 votes were cast. And so
it seems that in the raythologic years of the fifties, Columbia Township would
have been prohibitory in its vote. At this election 145 votes were cast.
May 28th, 1853, an election was held for the purpose of determining
whether a tax for school purposes should be levied. There were only nine-
teen votes polled — eleven for and eight against the proposed taxation. The
residue of the electors did not vote aye. It has been suggested that the reason
why was because they did not know of it.
The whirligig of politics shows strange things to the looker-on, for
upon the 11th of October, 1853, the present incumbent of our guberna-
torial chair, Albert G. Porter, as a Democrat, received in this township sixty-
eight votes for Reporter of the Supreme Court, as against seventy votes cast
for his Whig opponent, Jonathan W. Gordon, now Clerk of the Supreme
Court. From out the crucible of life, how doth the alchemist of the ages melt
into a common mass the divers elements. At this same election, James L.
Worden was elected Prosecuting Attorney. If nothing more could be said
of Columbia Township, the fact that in her borders first grew and strengthened
the mind of Judge James L. Worden, now of the Supreme Bench of this
commonwealth, would be sufficient to show that there were indeed giants in
those days.
It is not within the scope of this sketch to record the war period. As an
instance however of how strong a hold a military title had upon the minds of
the people, it may not be out of place to clip from the Township Records the
following portion of the entry made in relation to the election in October, 1864 :
"For Lieutenant Governor, Col. Conrad Baker received 178 votes and no
more. For Clerk of the Supreme Court, Gen. Laz. Nobles received 178
votes and no more. For Reporter of the Supreme Court, Col. -Gen. Benj.
Harrison received 178 votes and no more."
There is at the present time in the county of Whitley a large and very
respectable number of people who are surprised that we still continue to vote
the Democratic ticket. Nay more, by way of joke, they intimate that we are
still casting our ballots for Andrew Jackson. Let me for the moment enter the
arena as a politician, and deny the soft impeachment. Let me say that I have
carefully examined the records, and I find that the last votes cast for Andrew
Jackson were in 1860, when he received 247 votes in this township as Elector
for the 11th Congressional District upon the Douglas ticket.
This is neither proper time nor place to speak of the struggles and triumphs
of the local politician. He is a race and a law unto himself. Nor is this the
place to detail the life and fortunes of those who in humble as well as in exalted
situations of public tru^t served this people faithfully and well. Be it for other
pens to glide in Lydian measures softly and sweetly over the stories of their
lives. The mere mention of their names suffices here to call up all the amen-
ities and asperities of this township's political life. The calling to remembrance
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 105
of the names of the Hon. Adams Y. Hooper, Thomas Washburn, nunc
ad astra, of I. B. McDonald, Cyrus B. Tulley, Joseph W. Adair, Walter
Olds, James S. Collins, Michael Sickafoose and others, in and of itself sheds
a light upon that past which is the future in that what hath been in politics
shall be again. Suffice it to say that the present officers of this township are :
George Snyder, Trustee; George Eberhard, Jr., Road Superintendent; Cyrus
B. Tulley and W. F. McNagny, Justices of the Peace ; William Meiser and
Joseph Yontz, Constables ; John Perry, Assessor ; Daniel M. Marshall and
John G. Leininger, Inspectors of Elections.
In the year 1837, Asa Shoemaker came into the confines of what subse-
quently became Columbia Township, and settled upon Big Spring Creek, in
the northeast corner of Section 6, and resided there until his death. His son,
Samuel F. Shoemaker, was the first white child born in the township. He
was born upon his father's farm October 18, 1838, and still resides there.
Joseph M. Baker was the second settler, and was also the grand architect and
builder of the first court house. He then lived upon what is now known as the
Cornell farm, just north of town, in Section 3. Raymond J. German moved
into the township shortly afterward. The court house which Joseph W. Baker
built was erected in 1841, and was used until 1849. It is still in existence,
and used and owned by Joseph Zimmerman as a dwelling-house, and is situated
upon Lot 1, Block 12, in the original plat of the town of Columbia.
Elijah Scott and Livonia Witt were the first people married in the town-
ship. Their marriage was solemnized April 8, 1841, by Henry Swihart,
Justice of the Peace. David E. Long built the first house in what is now the
town of Columbia City. He built at first a one-story back, and subsequently
added a two-story front. It was erected upon the spot where now stands the
drug store of Ruch & Bro., to wit, upon Lot 8, Block 7, of the original plat of
the town of Columbia. At that spot David E. Long opened up a hotel ; and,
in front of it hung a huge, creaking wooden sign, upon which was emblazoned
in large characters, " David E. Long, Entertainment for Man and Beast."
And here for many years, beside the ruddy glow of that hearth, gathered the
prime factors of progress, and laughed, and joked, and talked of home and
friends and native land. When will the time come again when such good cheer
shall be found as this which threw itself at the weary traveler as he approached
the tavern of those bygone days ? As the world has enlarged, has not man
contracted ? And do not some among us even now sigh for the departed glory
of other days, and mourn for the wassail and good cheer of the old-time bar-
room ?
It was in what is now the residence of Henry McLallen that the first
court was held in Columbia City. The house at that time consisted of two
rooms, and in one of them the grand jui'y held its sessions. John Wright, of
Logansport, was then Judge. On the spot where now stands Grace Lutheran
Church was an uprooted tree, on which the petit jury deliberated. A reform
106 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
among juries might even now be accomplished by sitting them on a log until
they agreed.
The first stock of goods ever opened up in this town was by John Rhodes,
on the lot he now owns, upon the corner of Van Buren and Chauncey streets.
His stock consisted of a few calicoes, groceries and like articles, as are usually
kept in the ordinary frontier store. It was not conducted upon an extensive
scale, and yet it was of very great convenience to the few settlers in and around
Columbia, enabling them to purchase the necessaries of life without a trip on
horseback to Wayne, "twenty miles away," and to dispose of the scanty prod-
uce they might have for sale.
In the year 1844, James B. Edwards came to Columbia with a general
assortment of dry goods, groceries, etc., and opened up his store beside the
then tavern of David E. Long. Mr. Edwards, in the years following, became
actively engaged in molding the political history of the county, and discharged
at different times the onerous duties of Clerk and Sheriff of the county. Mr.
Edwards was and is, in popular parlance, "a hail fellow well met," and his
store soon became the popular resort of the settlers, where the tide of conversa-
tion ebbed and flowed from politics to potatoes.
Among the early settlers of this township, and men who afterward became
prominent in the affairs of the county, were Jacob and Simon Wunderlich.
They came from Pennsylvania, and arrived here in February, 1844. It grew
dark before they were enabled to reach town. In the darkness they inquired
of a man how far it was to Columbia. He replied, a short mile. Carefully
pursuing their way, they suddenly saw tire flashing from the fire-place. They
then observed that they were in front of a building of some kind. They
3topped and made known their arrival by the usual backwoods salutation of
" Halloo ! " David E. Long came to the door. Jacob Wunderlich inquired
how far it was to Columbia. The reply came back, " You are in town." The
sarcasm of the answer so completely disarmed them that, without further parley,
they dismounted and slept beneath the roof of Long's Tavern, the first night of
many passed in Columbia.
In the same year, 1844, Thomas Washburn brought the third stock
of goods to Columbia, and opened up where the Columbia City Woolen
Mills now are. Mr. Washburn was, perhaps, the most successful business
man that ever came to the town. He was a man of sterling character,
of irreproachable honesty and of kindly ways. He was charitable and well dis-
posed to all mankind, and had he not been so generous, might have left to his
estate a princely fortune.
In the year 1845, Thomas Ellis came from Wayne County, in this State,
and built the house which is now the residence of Hon. William Carr. In it
he also opened up a general stock of goods and seemed upon the highway to
success, when, in 1847, he died. His widow disposed of the stock of goods,
and returned to Wayne County.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 107
The approaching march of civilization soon made itself apparent, for before
1845 Christian Hower started a saloon where enthusiasm was sold in quantities
to suit. William W. Kepner came in shortly after, and bought him out.
Among the strange things of those days was the fact that the law did not per-
mit the sale of intoxicants to the Indians. From that it seems that the noble
red man of the forest was not thoroughly reliable when under the potent in-
fluence of the flowing bowl, and therecords of the criminal courts of the county are
full of incidents showing the evasion of that law, and the records of any people will
be so filled as long as humanity hopes force will do what argument cannot do.
Surely, it cannot be long until the world shall find out that that law is only
strong and good which meets the hearty approval of the citizens.
In the year 1842, Jacob Thompson started an opposition tavern, near
where now stands the brick business block belonging to Henry Snyder. James
B. Simcoke was the first physician and Sheriff of the county. How many there
have since been, let yawning gallows and graveyards tell. I dare to make
this cut direct, upon the assurance of the publishers that if a second and revised
edition of this volume is ever issued, I shall have the honor of re-writing this
chapter.
In the year 1844, Henry Swihart, as the agent of Henry Ellsworth,
erected upon the banks of Blue River, near where now stands the steam grist-
mill of R. Tuttle & Co., a saw and grist mill which was run by water. Traces
of the old race are still observable in the contour of the land just northeast
thereof. Col. [. B. McDonald, who was then a boy, helped to score the timber
therefor. One of his friends has observed to me that he is still scoring. The
erection of this mill was a God-send to the young and growing community, as
it gave an opportunity for the grinding of wheat and corn without going many
miles to mill. The mill now standing upon the site of that one is a grist-mill
in fine running order, doing a large and extensive business, and owned and
operated by R. Tuttle & Co.
William M. Caff"ertY was the first shoemaker in the town of Columbia, and
had his shop where is now the home of Benjamin F. Beeson, on the banks of
Blue River. A. K. Goodrich started the first tannery in Columbia, just east
of where the county jail now stands, upon the lot owned by Frank Supple.
John A. Taupert erected the first foundry near what is now the depot of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and operated the same until it was consumed
by the flames.
Pause we here upon the early history of the business interests of this
town, and with such a step as only a Colossus, or an historian could take, begin
again at the year of grace, 1882. And since the dog law has come into force,
and the season of the year is already at hand when the man with the tin box is
once again around, it has become almost an impossibility to glean the necessary
facts to make a full and accurate statement of the now business of the
town. As a pointer in that direction to all uninformed brethren, let me here
108 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
insert under the captions of their several businesses a list of those engaged
therein :
Agricultural Implements — Thomas J. Cuppy, William Sell.
Attorneys — Joseph W. Adair, Curtis "W. JoneSj Thomas R. Marshall,
W. F. McNagny, Michael Sickafoose, Cyrus B. Tulley, James S. Collins, Ros-
coe A. Kaufman, I. B. McDonald, Walter Olds, John C. Wigent.
Bankers— F. H. Foust & Co., Columbia City Bank ; E. L. McLallen &
Co., Farmer's Bank.
Barbers — John Feist, R. T. Weibe, Henry Noxall.
Blacksmiths — B. F. Beeson, John W. Lynch, Horth & Cutter.
Booksellers — Liggett & Crider.
Boots and xS'Aoes— David Garver, W. W. Kesler, R. Tuttle & Co., Fred-
erick Grund, Charles Saunders, Adam Weick.
Brick — John Brand.
Brooms — Christian Shaffer.
Brewery — Raupfer & Walter.
Butchers — Carver & Circle, Simon Levy, Daniel & Brother, Charles
Ulerick.
Qlothing — Charles J. Eyanson, L. M. Meiser.
Dentists — W. W. Makenson, H. R. Rouse, B. F. Slessman.
Druggists — H. N. Beeson, Ruch & Brother, John W. Hunter, W. H.
Smith, two stores.
Dry Groods — Milton Bainbridge, Meeley & Hemmick, James Washburn,
Clugston, Adams k Co., Ephraim Strong.
Feed Yard — Ramp k Brother.
Foundry — Thomas Washburn estate.
Furniture — Andrew Miller, H. Snyder & Son, L. C. Mitten, George
Steerhoff.
Qroceries — Haas k Brenneman, Kepner & Hunter, Kraus k Brother,
A. A. Ricker, Arthur Stouffs, S. F. Winegardner, John E. Harris, Abraham
Kramer, F. C. Reese, Ruch & Brother, W. C. Wallace.
Hardware — Vallorous Brown, Knisely, Reider k Co., Edwards k Ander-
son, George W. North.
Harness — Moses Metz, I. W. Prickett, J. E. Sergeant.
Hotels — Maine Hotel, McDonald House, Huffman House.
Hoop Factory — Ernest Schwartz.
Jewelry — L. C. Show, A. H. Woodtvorth, two stores.
Livery — Mrs. 0. J. Dempsey, Samuel Lore, Heacock k Ruch, D. k F.
T. Ruch.
Lumber — S. J. Peabody, E. A. Randolph.
Marble Works — Ferguson & Elliott, 0. E. Line.
Milliners— Mrs. M. J. Mason, Mrs. A. T. McGinley, Mrs. S. J. North,
Mrs. W. C. Wallace, Mrs. S. A. Washburn, Mrs. J. G. Williams.
(^JZa^c^ ULUi^<^t^^-^C
WASHINGTON TP.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. Ill
Music — D. R. Benneman & Bro.
Physicians — N. J. Kithcart, I. E. Lawrence, D. G. Linville, D. M. Mar-
shall, A. P. Mitten, William Weber, C. S. Williams.
Photographers — M. E. Click, Jones & Study.
Planing Mill — Philip Ramp.
Produce — H. McCray & Sons.
Printing Office — Commercial, J. W. Baker, Editor; Herald, I. B.
McDonald, Editor ; Post, J. W. Adams, Editor.
Pumps — Albert Hilbert.
Restaurants — H. E. Brandenburg, Daniel Meyers.
Saw Mills — Jacob Ramp, Philip Ramp, Peabody & Bro.
Spoke and Huh Factory — Edwards & Anderson.
Stave Factory — James E. Clark.
Saloons — Philip Anthes, Arthur A. Busch, Anton Meyer, Miller &
Brahm, William Meitzler, Alfred Miller, F. C. Reese, Herman Schaiper,
A J. Stouffs, Henry Strauss, Julius Saunders, William Walter.
Table Leg Factory — Theodore Garty.
Tiling — J. S. Hartsock.
Tinware — S. M. Zent, Zeno Wood.
Tobaccos — George Bechtoldt, George W. Cribbs, J. C. Miller & Bro.
Undertakers — Ferguson & Elliott, H. Snyder & Son.
Wagon Makers, Carriages, etc. — W. M. Appleton, Robert Hood, Horth
& Cutter, North & Thrush.
Woolen Mills — R. S. Glass, Eel River Company.
The woolen mills now owned by R. S. Glass were first fitted up to their
present capacity for Thomas E. Eyanson. They are now in good running order
and are worked to their full capacity. Mr. Glass manufactures about $20,000
worth of goods each year, for which he finds a ready market.
In April, 1881, a joint-stock company was established in Columbia City
for the purpose of erecting a new woolen mill. The stockholders were the
Hon. Thomas Washburn, since deceased, Dr. M. Ireland, Christian D. Waid-
lich, John W. Hunter and Thomas E. Eyanson. This company erected a two
story brick structure, 36x126 feet, completing the same in September, 1881.
They placed in it the best and latest improved machinery, making a total cost
of about $16,000. By December, 1881, they were ready for work, and since
that time have been doing a large and rapidly increasing business. They
make a specialty of the manufacture of flannels, but also to some extent manu-
facture blankets and yarns. The present officers are: President, Dr. M.
Ireland ; Vice President, C. D. Waidlich ; Treasurer, John W. Hunter ; Sec-
retary and Superintendent, Thomas E. Eyanson.
In the same year, Hon. Thomas Washburn erected a large foundry on his
lots, east and southeast of the court house. Just as he was preparing to put
the same in operation, death ended his labors and closed in peace a life full of
112 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
good will and charity toward all mankind. The brewery property of Messrs.
Raupfer and Walter, on the banks of Blue River, is probably one of the
most extensive of its kind in Northern Indiana. It is now in the very best of
shape, ably managed and is turning out kegs of foaming beer that is said by
the followers of Gambrinus to be of the very best quality. The planing and
saw mill of Mr. Philip Ramp is of about the usual capacity of such mills in
towns of this size. The saw-mill of Mr. Jacob Ramp is in good condition
and is doing a good business. S. J. Peabody, as well as Peabody & Bro.,
of which firm he is the senior member, is one of the few extensive dealers in
lumber in Northern Indiana. Bnergy, ability and integrity have enabled him
to amass a good sized fortune ; and, in his large and continually increasing
business he is doing his best to double his ducats. Mr. Theo. Garty has a
neat little factory, and he struck quite a lead on the mountain of wealth when
he conceived the idea of using up the walnut butts of the country by manu-
facturing them into table legs, chair arms, etc. J. E. Clark erected in 1881
a very large stave mill south of the Pittsburgh Railway, with a capacity of
7,000,000 per annum. It will require a capital of $25,000 to run this busi-
ness. Messrs. Edwards & Anderson, the hardware men, in the year 1881 also
erected a spoke and hub factory at the Wabash Railway depot, where they are
giving employment to about twenty men and doing a good thing for themselves
and the county.
The flouring-mills of R. Tuttle & Co., on the banks of Blue River, cost
at least $20,000. They have five run of buhrs and are capable of grinding
out 100 barrels of flour per day. The new flouring-mills of W. H. Liggitt
& Co. are also in fine shape, with four run of buhrs and all the latest improve-
ments. They can do about as good work in their special line of business as
can be done in any town in the country. Their capacity is about eighty barrels
per day.
Messrs. H. Snyder & Son have also attached to their large furniture es-
tablishment a neat little factory, where they manufacture anything a man may
want in their special line of trade.
Enterprise and competition between the two great railways passing
through Columbia City, have made it the leading grain market of Northern
Indiana. At any season of the year, wheat is from 3 to 7 cents higher upon
the bushel than at any of our neighboring towns and cities. Let us give some
figures upon this point :
During the year 1881, Mr. A. Kramer shipped as follows : Wheat,
33,426 bushels ; oats, 8,000 ; clover seed, 3,500 ; flax, 1,950 ; wool, 9,200
pounds. Messrs. Daniel & Brother: Cattle, 1,000 head; sheep, 1,500;
hogs, 1,000 ; horses, 100 ; wool, 10,000 pounds.
In addition to this business, which aggregated about $75,000, they
purchased $10,000 worth of hides, pelts, tallow and furs. Messrs. Kraus &
Brother, of the Central Building Grocery, are also very large purchasers of grain.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 113
wool, pelts, etc. Messrs Meeley & Hemmick also deal largely in grains. I
am informed that during the year 1881, about 150,000 bushels of wheat were
bought and sold in Columbia City.
It was in the year 1853 that the present incorporated town of Columbia
City was organized as an incorporated town under the laws of the State of
Indiana. Prior to that time, the name of the town had been Columbia and
the post office had been Whitley Court House. There was then as now a
post office in Fayette County, this State, called Columbia. By a majority of
three, the name of the town and post office was changed to Columbia City, as
against the proposition to change it to Beaver. The town as a corporation has
little worthy of mention, having pursued the even tenor of its way from that
time to this, except that twice an effort has been made to incorporate it as a
city. These efforts have both failed. It would be an unending and a useless
job to give the various officers of the town from its inception to the present.
In fact it would be an impossibility, as the early records of the town have been
misplaced so that no data can be obtained. The present officers of the town
are : Henry McLallen, William Weber, Vallorous Brown, Chauncy B.
Mattoon, Abram Meyers and W. A. Beall, Trustees ; Charles J. Eyanson,
Treasurer ; Theodore Garty, Clerk, and John Hildebrand, Marshal.
In the year 1877, the town recognized the necessity of making some
provision in case of fires devastating it. Upon a petition signed by the prop-
erty owners, the board finally contracted an indebtedness in the sum of
310,000, for which they issued the bonds of the town, payable at their option
inside of twenty years, with 8 per cent interest, payable in advance. From the
proceeds of this fund the town first proceeded to purchase the old jail property
of the county, being the lot just west of the court house. Upon this lot, after
removing the old jail, they erected a two-story brick, the lower story of which
is utilized for the apparatus of the fire department, and the upper story is
divided into a Council chamber, a fireman's hall, and an office for the chief of
the fire department. Then arose, perhaps, the most spirited contest the town
ever knew, over the purchase of an engine, the principal contestants for
corporate favor being the Silsby and the Clapp & Jones Company. At last the
board purchased a Clapp & Jones steamer. The same is now under the
management of Mr. Frederick Schinbechtel, as engineer ; and, in the few
instances in which it has been necessary to use the same, it has always been
ready. The residue of the firemen, besides those who run with the engine, are
divided into two hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The town
is well supplied with cisterns, and all due precaution is taken that in case of
necessity no citizen shall suffer by the negligence or inattention of the fire
department. The present chief of the department is Henry N. Beeson.
The two great railroads, the Pennsylvania Company and the Wabash, St.
Louis & Pacific Company, pass through the town. The outlying lands are
fertile, and are inhabited by a race of hardy yeomanry, whose chief delight,
114 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
from year to year, is to see the county prosper. The roads of the town and
township are, however, like those of the county, in a miserable condition, and
the cry of the wayfaring man still goes up to Heaven, " How long, Lord,
how long !" This state of affairs has come about, not by a misapplication of
the road funds, nor by inattention ; but it is the result of the peculiar charac-
teristics of this soil. The major portion of it is a grayish clay that you would,
upon cursory examination, assume to be unfit for the sprouting of black beans.
But upon more thorough research you would find it to be one of the richest of
soils. One of its peculiar features, and probably the reason why it is so fertile
is, that by burning you can set free quite a quantity of lime.
The sidewalks of the town are in a deplorable condition at present ; and
yet there is hope for better things. In the last few years the erection of fine
business blocks has attracted the attention of its citizens, and the indications
are that in a few years Columbia City will be as neat and trim and as pros-
perous a town as can be found within the borders of our ever-blessed common-
wealth. We make this statement with a belief in its absolute verity. Man is
a dissatisfied being, and, since Babel, has been a wanderer. Eutopia is just
beyond, and Eldorado is the last* land found. To us the benefits of good
climate, good soil, good government and good people, are not fully known.
Before Christ, it was advised, let the shoemaker stick to his last. To-day let
me give this gratuitious advice : Let the Hoosier hang to his inheritance.
Let us thank God for these forty years of progress, and, fervently invoke His
blessing for the hundreds that are yet to come, wo hope.
I have found very great diflficulty in being able to glean any facts what-
ever as to the schools of this town and township. Prior to the year 1852,
when the present magnificent school fund of this State was begun, learning was
dispensed, either by local taxation or by private schools, or entirely dispensed
with. No records whatever have been kept. Therefore, prior to that time,
all the facts in relation thereto rest in the uncertain memory of mankind.
James Smith and Warren Mason both taught school here in the year 1844.
John H. Alexander also taught here shortly after.
Just west of the court house square, and upon the corner where now
stands the mammoth dry goods house of Clugston, Adams & Co., had been
built two small houses for the county officials. These offices had been vacated
when the new rooms were built upon the court house square. In April, May
and June of 1846, Jacob Wunderlich taught select school in one of those offices.
He had at that time about 30 scholars, and charged fchem $2 each. Among his
scholars were Adam Swihart, his sister, now Mrs. W. C. Scantling, Curtis W.
Jones, Dewit C. Jones, their sister, now Mary Sherwood, and Matthias Sless-
man. The course of study then pursued embraced McGuffey's readers, Ray's
arithmetic and Webster's spelling book. Grammar was not taught, nor was
geography. In fact it might be doubted by Richard Grant White, whether
grammar is yet taught in our schools. Mental arithmetic was the elabor-
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 115
ation of a later period. Slates were however in vogue, and the gay and
festive spit-ball, then as now, attracted the attention of the future Presidents
of the United States. The Scriptures were used in those days, and the solemn
warning of Solomon to spare the rod and spoil the child was duly heeded, for
instructions were imparted at both ends of the human anatomy. The first
schoolhouse built in the township was of logs, the prime mover in the erection
of which was Asa Shoemaker. It was there that his son Samuel F. Shoe-
maker obtained the major portion of his education. The first brick school-
house in the township, as well as in the county, was erected in the year 1847,
upon Lot 3, Block 25, in the original plat of the town of Columbia, and is now
owned by the Slessman estate. The brick used in the construction of said
building were burned upon the Kinderman property.
In the year 1852, under the new law, Isaiah B. McDonald was elected!
School Examiner, and held the office until 1854. From 1854 to 1864, I am
unable to give the several periods of the different incumbents. The official*
were, however, all residents of Columbia City, and their names were A. J.
Douglas, A. W. Meyers, Philip Hardesty, Isaac Vanhouten and H. D. Wilson.
In 1864, I. B. McDonald was re elected upon his return from the army, and
held the office until 1871. From 1871 to 1881, Rev. A. J. Douglas was the
incumbent, when he removed to Florence, Ky. The Hon. J. W. Adair was
elected as his successor, and now holds the position to the entire satisfaction of
all classes of people.
The wise and beneficent legislation of 1852 has enabled the officers of this
town and township to dot its hills and valleys with schoolhouses, whither the
tribes go up to the preparation for future citizenship. From 1861 to 1881,
there was raised for special school revenue in this township, $18,095.38, and for
tuition purposes $30,932.88. In the town of Columbia City, during the same
period, there was raised for special school revenues $26,192.16, and for tuition
purposes $32,605.67. From the above given figures it will be seen that the
current rumor that the West End Schoolhouse cost $20,000,000 is incorrect to
the extent of a dollar or two. The school facilities of the town of Columbia
City are embraced at present by a three-story brick in the west end and a two-
story brick on the south side, with a cupola and a lightning rod, but no mort-
gage on it. It is the intention of the present Board of Trustees to erect a new
building in the east end. There is some talk that the same will be built near
the old cemetery. The subject of the proposed site has met with very grave
discussion.
The present Board of School Trustees is composed of J. G. Leininger,
President; Dr. N. I. Kithcart, Secretary, and E. L. McLallen, of the Farmers^
Bank, Treasurer. The schools are under the very able management of Prof.
W. C. Barnhart, who might be termed a school god, in that he has brought
order out of chaos. Under him are the following instructors : Francis B..
Moe, High School; Walter Irvin, Eighth and Ninth Grades; Ida M. Lore^
116 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Sixth and Seventh Grades ; Lizzie F. Irwin, Fourth and Fifth Grades ; Min-
nie M. Markwood, Second and Third Grades; Lottie Earl, Infant and
First Grades ; Robert J. Emerson, Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades, South
Ward — Mabel West, Infant, First and Second Grades, South Ward.
For the year 1881, there were enumerated for school purposes 769 children.
Of that number, 565 were enrolled as scholars. The per cent of attendance
was 93. Scholars to the number herewith given pursued the following branches :
Spelling, 521 ; writing, 521 ; language lessons and grammar, 225 ; drawing,
521 ; United States history, 20 ; English analysis, 15 ; higher arithmetic,
21 ; higher algebra, 6 ; physics, 7 ; civil government, 6 ; Latin 29 ; reading,
521; arithmetic, 521 ; geography, 161 ; oral science and literature, 521 ; phy-
sical geography, 22 ; physiology, 15 ; elementary algebra, 13 ; book-keeping,
7; geometry, 6; botany, 8; English and American literature, astronomy,
chemistry, rhetoric and general history, each, 2.
From the above it will be seen that the schools of this town are in a
flourishing condition, thanks to the hearty co-operation of the citizens, Trustees
and Instructors.
The first private high school taught in the town was over the old Baptist
Church, what is now the McDonald House, and was taught by Isaiah B. Mc-
Donald. In 1873, the late Hon. A. Y. Hooper built what has since been
known as Green Hill Academy, and placed the same in charge of Misses Lovisa
C. Kinney and Sara A. Nichols. They conducted the same with signal ability
until the year 1880, when they went West, since which time the academy has
not been used for school purposes, but has been converted by its present owner,
Mrs. A. Y. Hooper, into a dwelling house.
In the year 1846, the first Sunday school was organized in the township.
It embraced the following members, as shown by the Constitution, now in the
possession of the family of the late Levi Myers, deceased, to wit : Henry
Swihart, Benjamin Grable, Sr., James B. Simcoke, John Gillespie, Joel
Gregory, Benjamin Grable, Jr., Richard Collins, J. B. Edwards, D. E. Long,
Jacob Wunderlich, James S. Collins, S. H. Wunderlich, Levi Myers, Jacob
Taylor, Jacob Keefer, Martin Schrader, Samuel Brown, S. S. Soules, Z.
Brown, James Myers, Franklin Templin, Lorenzo Havens, Isaac Whiteman,
Jacob Whiteman. It was known as the Union Sabbath School at Columbia,
and had a formidable Constitution with all its provisos and whereases.
Upon the 15th day of April, A. D. 1847, its name was changed to the
American Sabbath School Union at Columbia, Whitley Co., Ind. This
organization continued to exist until the various church organizations of the
town established schools of their own. It was under the general management
of Levi Myers, who was an indefatigable laborer in the Sunday school vine-
yard to the day of his death. To Mr. Myers perhaps more than to any other
man the present high state of the Sunday school cause in the county is attribut-
able.
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 117
On the 4th day of April, 1853, pursuant to the invitation of a number of
brethren and sisters, an ecclesiastical council convened at Columbia and was
organized by the choice of Elder E. Barnes as Moderator, and Elder Ira Grat-
ton as Clerk. Thereupon, in conformity with the laws of the Baptist Church,
the following persons presented themselves, wishing to be recognized as a Reg-
ular Baptist Church : James Gruesbeck, Simon Trumbull, George W.
Harley, Samuel Whiteman, John Worth, Henry Harley, Rachel Shinneman,
Phoebe Whiteman, Polly Trumbull, Permelia Harley, Sarah Harley, Mary Grues-
beck, Accordingto their petition they were all duly recognized as a church. They
organized as a church, and elected George W. Harley as Clerk, and James
Gruesbeck, Deacon. Sunday evening, May 15, 1853, they resolved to make
application for admission into Elkhart Association, by sending a letter and
delegates. James Gruesbeck, John Worth, Henry Harley and George W.
Harley were accordingly chosen delegates.
On May 31, 1855, the church gave Elder Wilder a call as its pastor,
which was at once accepted. A strange thing appears, or rather fails to ap-
pear, in the records of this meeting, in the light of the latter-day way of call-
ing pastors, in this that no reference was made as to the salary. I now desire
to withdraw the above remarks, for upon the next page, under date of June 1,
1855, it was resolved to apply to the Home Mission Board for an allowance of
$100 to aid in the support of Elder Wilder. April 7, 1857, the church began
the discussion of the advisability of disbanding; but in God's providence they
failed to agree to it. On Saturday, July 11, 1857, Daniel Hartsock, now de-
ceased, joined the church by letter. On October 3, 1857, the church was
organized as a corporation under the laws of the State. I. B. McDonald, K.
B. Miller and James Gruesbeck were elected Trustees. On December 26,
1857, I. B. McDonald presented a proposition to the church that if they would
erect a building on his lot west of the court house, to cost $400, he would give
$40 thereof, and build the same so that the church should have a room 36x52,
and not less than thirteen feet in height, all painted and comfortably seated,
and they should have the use of the same for ten years. This was at once
unanimously agreed to. The building was built, and is now the McDonald
House. It was used by the church until the erection of their new church
edifice. On December 11, 1858, Rev. J. L. McLeod was elected the second
pastor. April 2, 1859, the Sabbath school was established. March 1, 1862,
Rev. R. H. Cook was elected pastor. It seems that the church had its periods
of warfare also. Without giving names, the record of March 19, 1864, shows
that some of the brethren could not dwell together in unity. C. B. Kendall
was the fourth pastor of the church. Adam Snyder was the fifth pastor.
In the year 1872, this church erected its new, commodious and elegant
place of worship, and first met there on December 27, 1873. The pastor at
that period was the Rev. John Reider, who was a schoolmate of the writer. Of
his incorruptible manhood and sterling piety, I have never had a moment of
118 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
doubt. It is, therefore, with pleasure that I record the fact that to-day the
cause of the Lord prospers in his hands at Bluifton. In January, 1874, John
H. Reider was ordained to the ministry by the Ecclesiastical Council convened
for that purpose in Columbia City.
W. W. Robinson accepted the call of the church to be its pastor February
3, 1877, and so continued until October, 1880, when the Rev. V. 0. Fritts,
the present pastor, assumed charge. At the present time the church consists
of sixty-nine members. And if an outsider might be permitted to judge, there
has been a great deal in the past to encourage this church. It is not only now
the possessor of a fine church edifice, but it is also the mother of the flourish-
ing church in the Sheckler settlement, known as the Mission Chapel.
Grace Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. J. B. Oliver April 19,
1847, with six members. His successor was Rev. Franklin Templin, who
served the church, in connection with one in North Manchester, for the space of
four years. During his incumbency the first church building was erected,
prior to which time they worshiped in the Methodist Church. The next
pastor was Rev. H. Wells, who began his labors October 1, 1852, and contin-
ued sixteen years. In the summer of 1868, Rev. S. Ritz took charge of the
church. He remained a short time longer than one year. He was succeeded
in 1870 by Rev. A. J. Douglas. Rev. A. H. Studebaker was called in 1871,
and remained until 1876, when Rev. J. B. Baltzly, D. D., took charge of the
church for two years. October 5, 1879, Rev. J. N. Barnett, the present pas-
tor, assumed control. The church is the largest and finest edifice in the town ;
and is capable of seating 1,500 persons.
I have been unable to learn the facts in relation to the organization of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. It is at the present in a very flourishing condi-
tion, with the Rev. Albert Cone as its pastor. They now worship in the
most elegant church edifice in the city.
The Roman Catholic Church, under the charge of the Rev. H. A. Hell-
hake, is pursuing the even tenor of its way, as all such churches have done
since the days of Christ. They own a very fine church edifice, and, they keep
up a school for the education of their children.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in an early day, and has kept on
organizing ever since. It seems to have been foreordained from all eternity to
be a failure. They are the possessors of a small church edifice and a bell. They
are without a pastor, but the ladies are full of hope, and, doubtless, God will
in time work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of joy and
glory than they now possess.
The United Brethren in Christ, the German Lutheran and the German
Presbyterian have each edifices and pastors, and are doing their share of the
work for the upbuilding of the cause of Christ on earth. The Revs. Thomas,
Hess and Zimmerman are their pastors. The Universalists are now the owners
of the old Methodist Church edifice, but are without pastor at present.
ETNA TR
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY. 121
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows have elegant quarters in the third
story of Central Building, and are in a flourishing condition. The members
are active, zealous, wide-awake, full of charity, and are from the best of our
citizens. Their charter was granted to J. M. Barnes, J. Z. Gower, C. C.
Romig, J. S. North, C. T. Barber, David Hammond and James Briggs on the
22d day of May, 1856, from the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana. Their
first oflScers were : James M. Barnes, N, G. ; J. Z. Gower, V. G. ; J. S.
North, Treasurer ; D. M. Hammond, Recording Secretary ; G. Hook, Perma-
nent Secretary ; G. Hook, Inside Guardian ; J. G. Williams, Outside Guar-
dian ; C. C. Romig, Warden ; C. H. Pond, Conductor ; C. Kinderman, R.
Supporter N. G. ; James Briggs, L. Supporter N. G.
The present officers of the lodge are :
C. D. Waidlich, N. G. ; Jacob Ramp, V. G. ; J. W. Baker, Recording
Secretary ; H. Snyder, Treasurer ; Robert Hood, Permanent Secretary ; D.
R. Hemmick, Warden ; J. F. Johnson, Conductor ; Lewis Baker, Inside Guar-
dian ; Zeno Wood, Outside Guardian ; Daniel Myers, R. Supporter N. G. ;
John Brand, L. Supporter N. G. ; Fred Schinbechtel, R. Supporter V. G. ;
David Baker, L. Supporter V. G.
The number of members at the present time is eighty. This lodge is the
mother of the two flourishing lodges at Churubusco and Forest.
Upon the 29th day of January, 1856, A. C. Downey, Grand Master of
the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana, issued a dispensation to James
Briggs and others, empowering them to work as a lodge of Ancient, Free and
Accepted Masons. They worked under this dispensation until the 27th day
of May, 1856, when the Grand Lodge granted to them a charter under the
name of Columbia City Lodge, No. 189, A., F. & A. M. The first officers
were James Briggs, W. M. ; William Larwill, S. W. ; John B. Firestone,
J. W. ; James B. Edwards, T. ; P. W. Hardesty, S.; Charles H. Pond,
S. D.; Peter Simonson, J. D.; H. Rankin, T. J. W. Bradshaw and H.
Duffin were also charter members. The present officers of this lodge are :
William Carr, W. M.; Chauncey B. Mattoon, S. W.; M. Ireland, J. W.;
Charles S. Edwards, T.; Charles H. Pond, S.; Thomas R. Marshall, S. D.;
John M. Ireland, J. D. The membership at present consists of 101 members.
The lodge is in a flourishing condition and occupies elegant quarters over the
business room of William Meitzler.
Columbia City Chapter of Royal Arch Masons began its labors under a
dispensation from Thomas Patterson, Grand High Priest of the State of
Indiana, under date of May 11, 1865, to companions Charles H. Pond, H.
P.; Henry Vanarsdoll, K.; and John A. Taupert, S.; and worked thereunder
until May 24, 1866, when a charter was granted them from the Grand Chap-
ter. The other officers in addition to the above were : I. B. McDonald, S.
and R. A. C; M. E. Click, C. of the Host ; J. H. Hutchinson, G. M. 3d
v.; William Carr, G. M. 2d V.; H. H. Beeson, G. M. 1st V. and G.; Adam
Zumbaugh, P. S.
122 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The present officers of the Chapter are as follows : Joseph "W. Adair,
H. P.; W. H. Liggett, K.; James Worden, S.; E. L. McLallen, P. S.; Will-
iam Carr, C. of the H.; C. B. Mattoon, R. A. C; Silas DeardorfF, G. M.
3d v.; Joseph Clark, G. M. 2d V.; A. R. Clugston, G. M. Ist V.; C. H.
Pond, S.; John Brand, T.; Joseph Yontz, G. Companions in good standing,
forty-seven.
The Improved Order of Red Men was organized under a charter from the
Great Council of Indiana, bearing date the 21st Sun of the Traveling Moon, G.
S. D., 383, to be called Blue River Tribe No. 47, and to bear date as of the
4th Sun of the Hot Moon G. S. D. 383, which corresponds to the 4th day of
June, 1874. Its charter members were William Wolff, Philip Anthes, Daniel
Wagner, Fred Heitzfield, Fred Grund, John Wagner, A. L. Sandmyer, Jacob
Hose, Jacob Steinfield, Nathan Kramer, Daniel Daniel, Simon Kraus,
Adolph Schiffermyer, Martin Schnetzler, Leopold Daniel, Theodore Garty, Wil-
liam Meiser, Herman Theile, Michael Slessman, I. B. McDonald and George
Bechtold. The present officers of the tribe are : I. B. McDonald, S.;
Adolph Shiffermyer, S. S.; John Shulthieis, J. S.; George Bechtold, C. of
R.; Daniel Daniel, K. of W. The Tribe at present consist of twenty-two
members and has its wigwam in the third story over W. H. Smith's drug
store.
And thus, in an imperfect manner, I have gleaned from the rich harvest
of the past a few sheaves that may, perhaps, furnish food for future contem-
plation. I had not that leisure without which, Lord Macaulay says, no man
should write history. By "the oldest inhabitant" it may be said, "I could
have done better." Grant it. No man yet ever made so perfect his plans
but that his fellow-men could improve on them. To him, and to all such, I
say, "The field is open, and the public, which bade these lines be written, will,
with equal cordiality, receive and acknowledge, for what it is worth, anything
that may be penned upon the prehistoric era of Columbia Township." Close
we, therefore, this sketch with the hope that peace may long prevail and pros-
perity abide within the palaces of this people.
CHAPTER VI.
by pkof. w. l. matthews.
Cleveland Township— Early Events— Settlement and Growth— Anec-
dotes— Land Entries— Privations of the Pioneers— Stories of the
Chase— Mills, Factories, etc., etc.— Villages— Early Teachers and
Preachers,
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP, named in honor of Benjamin Cleveland,
enjoys the honor of having been the site of the second white settlement
of Whitley County. Its history carries us through many scenes of pioneer
life to the present. The building of the log cabin, the moving of the family
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 123
from the familiar scenes of its youth and civilization, to the then wilderness,
the toils and hardships of the father and mother rearing their family with
nought but their own hands to administer to all their wants, come with them a
sympathy felt and realized by the present generation. Many years of toil and
danger, forests fading away, fertile fields coming into existence as if by magic,
comfortable homes instead of the log cabin, the schoolhouse, the church, and,
in short, the various changing scenes from the wilderness to the metropolis,
from barbarism to civilization, from uncertainty to success, all combine to make
a history worthy of perusal by the present generation.
Cleveland Township, as was Whitley County, was originally a part of
Huntington County, and was organized May 1, 1838, at the first session of the
Board of County Commissioners, which was held at the house of Joseph Par-
rett, Jr., near the present site of South Whitley, Springfield, and an election
was ordered for Justice of the Peace ; subsequently, Henry Swihart and Aaron
M. Collins were chosen. It was at one time a Congressional Township, but
since its organization, a few sections have been added to it from Richland
Township. It is now eight by six miles in area, and contains about 30,720
acres of land in a fair state of cultivation. The population in 1840, the first
census, was about sixty-five, in 1880, the last census, it was 2,295. In 1838,
at the first election, there were eight votes polled ; in August of the same year,
there were twenty votes polled ; at the time mentioned, there were twenty-one
polls ; the personal property was valued at $2,198, and the assessment for all
purposes was $55.25 ; the taxables of Cleveland Township for the last year
were $8,709.50, and 415 polls, which shows a decided gain and a great com-
parison to those who survive the great change that time has wrought. Among
the first settlers to whom honorable mention is due, is James Chaplin, who
settled near Collamer (Millersburg) with his family in the fall of 1835 ; the
farm is now known as the Joseph Myers farm. He built a rude log cabin near
where a stately farm dwelling now stands, surrounded by all the comforts of modern
civilization. Mr. Chaplin cut the first road from his humble cabin intersecting
an Indian trail which led to Monoquet and Oswego on Turkey Prairie in
Kosciusko, to which he made frequent pilgrimages in order to purchase meager
supplies for his family. John Collins came in the latter part of the year 1835,
and settled on the farm now owned by Isaiah Pence. Scarcely a tree had
been felled ; no roads, no bridges ; wild game, together with a company of
Indian hunters now and then, were about the only elements to disturb the mo-
notony of the pioneer's home. His journey was a tedious one ; at night he
slept in his wagon, while the horses, either hobbled or tied in order to prevent
escape, grazed on the grass or browsed upon the trees around them. The
cabin is built, the trees are felled, the ground is planted, the family is reared,
and after a lifetime of toil and success, he passed to his rest. He left seven
sons — Richard, who has served as County Clerk, Auditor, Recorder and in va-
rious other positions, while Judge Collins is a lawyer of good ability, now prac-
124
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
ticing in Columbia City. Benjamin Cleveland and family came in 1836, set-
tling two miles southeast of South Whitley ; his remains repose in the grave-
yard which bears his name, and perhaps he was among the early dead to be
deposited there, about the year 1845. He was a man of more than ordinary
ability, sagacious, honest, frugal and industrious. About the same time came
Samuel Obenchain, who settled near the Cleveland family ; Joseph Creager
and Joseph Parrett, settling on the present site of South Whitley. Joseph
Parrett was a man of great enterprise and business capacity ; he actively en-
gaged in cutting out roads, building bridges, mills, holding religious meetings,
and, in fact, was just such a man as pioneers love to welcome among them.
David Cuppy, afterward County Clerk, John Arnold, noted for his enterprise,
Dr. Edwards, Dr. Merriman, the Stewart family, the Myers family, the Pence
family, the Miller family, the Butler family, the Swihart family, the Kinsey
family and a few others came at an early day, and were among the first settlers
of this vicinity, the majority of whom came between the years 1837 and 1844.
The following tracts of land were among the first that were entered within
the present limits of Cleveland Township, although many of the owners did
not settle at the time of entry of the lands :
NAMES.
Section.
Town.
Ran eg.
Acrei.
Hundreds
Description.
Time of Entry.
John Delafieid
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
8
4
4
4
4
5
6
6
7
8
9
9
9
29
85
30
30
80
30
80
30
80
30
80
80
30
80
80
30
80
30
30
30
30
80
30
30
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
160
91
79
12
147
144
80
40
98
148
155
128
313
160
185
90
80
80
160
80
820
160
79
40
37
20
16
24
N. E
Oct 19 1835
John Delafieid
N. partN. W
Oct, 19, 1835.
Abram Halderman..
John S. Barry
N. E., N. E. Fr. Lot.
N. W. Fr. N. W. i
N. W
Oct. 12, 1835.
Oct. 12, 1835.
Oct. 12 1835.
John Delafieid
William Harper
Stephen Reaves
Stephen Reaves
Henry S. Gobin
David Reed
W part N. E. J
s. ^ s. w
Oct. 19.1835.
Aug. 21,1836.
May 16, 1835.
May 16, 1835.
Oct. 15, 1835.
S E. S W
95
84
34
54
84
Fractional Section
N. E
N. W
Oct. 15, 1885.
David Reed
S. W
Oct. 15 1835.
Levi Beardsley
Joseph Dickey
Allen Halderman....
W. h
Oct. 15 1835.
s. l:::::::::::::::::::
Oct 16 1885.
68
61
s. w
Oct 16 1835
Morse C. Wood
N. E. Fractional
Dec. 6, 1834.
W. ^ s. W
Oct. 12, 1835.
Daniel Lesley
W. ^ N. W
Aug. 31, 1835.
June 12, 1835.
N. E
Benj. H. Cleveland..
Robert Grimes
N. i S. W
July 10 1835.
:::::::::::
N. 1
Oct. 18 1886.
George Sickafoose...
S. E. ^
June 8, 1836.
As has been stated before, the first session of the County Commissioners
was held at the house of Joseph Parrett, Jr. ; the members of the board were
Otto W. Gandy, Nathaniel Gradeless and Joseph Parrett, Jr. Gandy was
chosen President of the board, and John Collins was appointed County Treas-
urer. At a subsequent meeting, the township was divided into two road dis-
tricts ; all that portion south of Eel River constituted Road District No. 1.
Charles Chipman was appointed Supervisor. All that portion of the town-
ship north of the river constituted District No. 2, John Parrett, Super-
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 125
visor. The principal road at that time led from Huntington to Goshen, a
distance of abouty sixty-five miles. The majority of the other roads had been
made for the convenience of the people and did not follow any direct line or
section, so that the work of the Supervisor was an arduous one. The paths
and traces were mere starting points. Soon after, trees were blazed, roads
widened, creeks bridged and the low ground either " brushed" or poled. About
the year 1840, one passable road led from South Whitley to Columbia City,
one to where now stands Liberty Mills, Wabash County, and two running
north and south in the east and west parts of the township, in addition to the
Huntington & Goshen road.
The Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad was surveyed through the town-
ship in 1865-66, and completed in the fall of 1870. The road is now known as
the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. The road enters the southeast part
of the township and runs in a southwesterly direction. At the present writ-
ing (April, 1882), the New York, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad is completed,
and crosses the former at South Whitley, and will be an additional aid to the
county and to shippers.
The first cemetery is located west of South Whitley one-fourth of a mile.
It was originally used ag a family burial-place, in which Henry Parrett was
the first person laid to rest — August, 1845. At this spot, soon after, others
were interred, and it was soon known as the South Whitley Cemetery. It is
rather a beautiful spot of ground, containing about four acres, and there are
numerous neat monuments standing here and there at the graves of the loved
and dead. The other cemetery, just west of the South Whitley Cemetery and
adjoining it, was also used as a family burial-place, until, after a few remains
were deposited there, the people around Collamer began to use it as a last rest-
ing-place for their dead. It contains about three acres, and is similar to the
other. John Collins' body was the first deposited in this cemetery — buried in
the year 1845, as far as known. The Cleveland Cemetery was started in much
the same way, and Horace Cleveland's was the first body deposited within its
limits, about the year 1840. The first person who died within the limits of the
township was Roxina Chaplin, September, 1836, and was buried on the Myers
farm, formerly owned by James Chaplin, her father. The first birth was Byron
^Chaplin, born April, 1836.
The settlers had but little trouble from the Indians, as their villages were
located near the line in Huntington County on the south, and near the present
village of Coesse, on the southeast. They were great beggars, and often vis-
ited the homes of the settlers in order to get something to eat. From the great
abundance of game in the country the Indians derived their supplies, when not
too lazy to pursue or take it. The whites seemed to be more expert in the hunt
of game than the average Indian. Indeed, the dusky brave often took lessons
from his white brother, and the Clevelands, Martins and Parretts were often
more successful than they. In 1844, the Indians — the Miarais and Pottawat-
126 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
omies — were moved beyond the Mississippi River, and the whites were not
bothered with them after that date.
As has been stated, the supplies were procured from Turkey Prairie and
Fort Wayne, as far as provisions were concerned. But dry goods, groceries
and notions were generally purchased at Fort Wayne. In 1839, Henry Parrett
erected a humble log house, 18x24 feet, on the west side of State street, near
the bridge, South Whitley, and in it he placed a stock of notions which the
people would likely need. The stock would probably invoice $100, and was
placed on sale in this rude building. Mr. Parrett was succeeded by Arnold &
Townsend, who came from Stark County, Ohio, some two years after the store
was established. Their stock was probably worth $400, and they did a good
business. Soon after the first store was established, Parrett & Cotton started
another on the corner of State street. This firm had a good stock of goods
for those days, and, after 'doing a good business and establishing a fair patron-
age, the firm sold out to Edwards & Cotton, the value of their stock being
about $1,200.
About the year 1841, William Parrett erected a saw-mill on the farm now
owned by Nathan Witzell. It was of the most rude structure, with but little
iron or steel, save only the saw and a few cogs on a wheel. This mill was kept
running constantly when the season would admit, and aided the people very
much in getting building material. The saw was of the " up-and-down " char-
acter, and some say that the head sawyer could start the saw on a log and then
go to the woods and cut and haul another before the saw would get through the
log. It continued to run until the year 1870. Another mill of ancient date,
and the second saw-mill built in the township, was erected by Milton Grimes and
David Clapp, about the year 1842, one mile southeast of South Whitley, and
was not so rude in appearance. It did good work in its day, but the circular
saw of " finger fame " superseded it, and, after changing hands a few times,
ceased to run in the year of 1872. These mills in their time aided the settlers
very much in preparing lumber for building purposes, and lightened their labors
very materially. The roofing, flooring and furnishing material all had to be
hewed and cut from the forest by the ax. The "bee," or raising, in those days
was an important event. One party, for which the Clevelands, Parretts and
Collinses were noted, generally cut the trees into proper lengths ; others, no less
generous, prepared the boards for the roof; and others would hew the puncheons
for the floor. The material all on the ground, the first thing to be done was to
select the four " corner-men," whose business it was to notch the logs and assist
in putting them in place; the rest of the company did the lifting. In numer-
ous instances, when the building or cabin was finished, the event was generally
celebrated with a "break-down" or dance, with "a little liquor." These exer-
cises were generally full of spirit and fun.
Going to mill in early days was quite an undertaking with the pioneer.
The time required was often two or three days, and frequently performed on
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 127
horseback. It was a tedious way of transporting grain to the mill, and the
father was often anxiously waited for by the family at home, sometimes suf-
fering from the scarcity of flour or corn-meal. The first grist-mill that Avas
built in the vicinity of this township is located at Collamer's. It was erected
by Elias Miller about the year 1845. It is large and commodious, propelled
by a magnificent water-power, and is in excellent running order at the present
writing. For the time being, the people were relieved from their long journeys
to the mill. The next grist-mill in the township was built, in South Whitley,
in 1851. It was commenced by W. W. Arnold and S. A. Shively in 1848,
and completed, by Jesse Arnold, at the time indicated above. It is said to be
one of the best mills in the State. It has four run of buhrs, new and improved
machinery and a grinding capacity of 240 bushels per day. The mill is now
run by J. Arnold & Co., and does the principal business of the county. It has
a magnificent water-power, made powerful by a dam thrown across Eel River,
which furnishes abundance of water during the entire year. In fact. Eel River
is one of the best streams of water for power in the State. While other streams
run low at certain seasons of the year, this river always furnishes a sufficient
supply.
In 1841, or near that time, H. S. Parrett erected an ashery on the south
side of Eel River and east of the iron bridge at the foot of State Street, and
began the manufacture of what was then called black salts. It was the first
process in making saleratus. The process was to get the lye from ashes put
in large kettles set in a furnace, and boil until sufficiently reduced to be called
black salts. The salts were then put into barrels and conveyed to Columbia
City by teams, where the salts were converted into pearls by another process.
The process was to put the black salts into a large oven, and, by a hot fire,
scorch them until they became partly white, when they were then put into a
large trough of clean water; from thence into a settling trough; then drawn
off into clean kettles and boiled until they became pure white salts. They
were transferred to an oven, and, by a heating process, became pearl ash. It
was then put into a tight room, made for the purpose, refined and carbonized,
and became saleratus. In 1848, the ashery was transferred to C. S. Lawton,
who added the last processes to the manufacture. He continued the business for
ten years, shipping large quantities to various towns in Northern Indiana.
Many of the old settlers remember his brand used upon his packages, and the
journeys they took in marketing the commodity.
The wedding was an attractive event of pioneer life, and was celebrated
generally at the home of the bride, she choosing the officiating clergyman.
The wedding engaged the entire attention of the neighborhood ; there was but
little distinction of rank ; old and young participated in the festivities of the
occasion ; the groom's friends went to the wedding usually from his home on
horseback or on foot ; after the ceremony the supper was served, then the
dance, or some other amusement, continued until a late hour ; soon after dark,
128 HISTORY OF WHiTLEY COtlNTY.
came the party to make the night hideous with guns, bells, horns, tin pans,
and whatever else was at their command ; if the party was invited to come in,
or received some cake, pie or something stronger, the belling ceased ; if not, the
noise continued until the party became wearied. This custom often resulted in
serious accidents, and is now nearly gone into disuse. The first marriage of
which there is any record took place December 27, 1838, between Isaac H.
Collins and Nancy Cuppy. The next marriage was between John Cuppy and
Nancy Hale, February 8, 1839, a Justice of the Peace officiating. The third
marriage occurred on September 16, 1839, between A. Rombo and
Margaret Collins, a Justice of the Peace officiating. The bride and groom
usually went to the home of the groom the day after the wedding. This
was called the infair, and with about the same festivities as the previous day.
In those days the young married couple did not go on a wedding tour to
Niagara Falls, New York or Chicago, but quietly settled down and engaged
earnestly in the various pursuits of life. Frugality, economy and industry
were the leading characteristics of the average pioneer family.
The facilities for acquiring education were limited and the accommoda-
tions were of the most rude character. In pioneer days, the school master
was looked upon with a good degree of veneration, and although similar to
the rural surroundings he was the principal man among the people. The only
period of the school term that the pupils lost their respect for the schoolmaster
was when he refused to treat them ; he was sure to ''be barred out," or have
his face washed in the snow or stream of water near by. In this sport the
heads of families took especial delight, and even encouraged their children to
exact the " treat " from the master. In 1837-38, David Parrett taught the
first school in the vicinity of South Whitley. He taught in the log cabin
which stood near and below the iron bridge which now spans Eel River. He
taught in the summer time and had not to exceed ten pupils in attendance ; the
school usually lasted from three to four months in the year and was sustained
by subscription ; the length of the term, of course, was contingent on the
pioneer's pocket-book or funds. This first schoolhouse had but one desk on
which the scholars could write, and it was a long slab hewed as nicely as possi-
ble, and was sustained by two or three pins driven into the wall some three
feet from the floor ; rude benches completed the rest of the school furniture,
which, at the present day, would not even be allowed in the school room ; the
books were Cobb's and McGuffee's readers, the Testament, Smith's and Pike'g
arithmetics, Webster's spelling-book and Parley's geography. Mr. Parrett was
succeeded in the school-work by Miss Elma Thompson, she by Sarah Sluves.
In the year 1851, David Decker taught a subscription school in what is
now known as District No. 7. The log schoolhouse was still in existence, and
the attendance had increased from ten to about twenty-five. This schoolhouse
has long since disappeared, and the third now stands by where the old one
stood years ago. The old play-ground, with its extended woodland surround-
<^ CLEVELAND TP.
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 131
ings, has been circumscribed to the usual modern limits ; the once familiar
paths traveled by the young hopefuls have been obliterated, and not a few of
the feet that passed over them have grown weary and passed from earth.
In 1853, there was a change in the school system of the State, and a
school fund began to be realized, so that in addition to the subscription fund,
schools were maintained from three to six months in the year. At the present
time, there are thirteen districts in this township, in which are erected brick
and frame schoolhouses. The apparatus is valued at about $2,000, the
school fund of all kinds aggregates |3,421.37, and the children of proper ages
enumerate 781. The average length of school term for the year is seven
months, and sustained by public money.
The following are the schoolhouses, number of districts, together with
their cost, etc. :
District No. 1, frame, cost $600 ; District No. 2, located in South Whit-
ley, brick, cost $6,000, three teachers ; District No. 3, located in Collamer,
brick, cost $2,000, two teachers ; District No. 4, brick, cost $1,200 ; District
No. 5, brick, cost $1,200 ; District No. 6, brick, cost $1,200 ; District No. 7,
brick, cost $800 ; District No. 8, frame, cost $600 ; District No. 9, frame,
cost $550 ; District No. 10, frame, cost $550 ; District No. 11, brick, cost
$1,200; District No. 12, frame, cost $550; District No. 13, frame, cost $550.
Dr. Merriman, the Trustee just gone out of oflSce, was a worthy and efficient
school officer, labored unceasingly to bring up the schools of the township to a
high standard, and also to put the township out of debt.
Among the first ministers to labor in the section were Revs. Martin B.
Goodrich, Simon Smith and Rev. Bodley. The first protracted meeting was
held at the house of Andrew Sickafoose, owned then by William Parrett ; the
meeting was conducted by C. W. Miller. The members of the first class at
South Whitley were as follows : Joseph Parrett, Jr., and wife, John D. Par-
rett and wife, William D. Parrett and wife, David Parrett and A. Parrett and
wife. The class was formed about the year 1839. In those days there were
no costly houses of worship ; but the private homes of the settlers and the
groves were " God's first temples." The ministers often went from place to
place, and met from ten to twelve persons at an appointment ; they preached
the Gospel in its purity and simplicity ; they traveled on horseback and on
foot to meet their appointments, and their salary at any one place did not exceed
$5. The first funeral preached was Mrs. Roxina Chaplin's, who died in Sep-
tember, 1836.
Records of the churches are so incomplete that we are unable to give the
date of organization or membership complete. Houses of worship, with the
denomination, are as follows : M. E. Church, South Whitley ; Baptist Church,
South Whitley ; Christian Church, Collamer ; Union Christian, Fairview •
West Bethel M. E.; Sickafoose United Brethren ; County Line Lutheran.
There are now seven churches with a membership of nearly five hundred.
132 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The Lutheran Church, built in the southeastern part of the township in
the latter part of the year 1839, was probably the first church edifice erected
in this section of the country ; it was built of hewn logs and principally by its
first pastor, James Oliver ; this good man could not only administer to the
spiritual wants of his flock, but labored in many other ways to develop the
country. The church was organized in 1840, with a membership of about ten
persons. Mr. Oliver continued to be its pastor for two years.
An election was held at the house of Lewis Kinsey, May 19, 1838, for Jus-
tice of the Peace. The electors present were Lewis Kinsey, John D. Parrett,
Anderson D. Parrett, S. A. Chaplin, Aaron Collins, Peter Creager, Charles
Chapman, Samuel and Henry Swihart and John Collins. As has been stated,
Henry Swihart and Aaron M. Collins were chosen Justices of the Peace. An
election was subsequently held at the same place, April 6, 1838 ; at this elec-
tion. State Senator, Representative, Sheriff, Probate Judge, School Commis-
sioner and Coroner were chosen. The electors present were Moses P. Chaplin,
W. D. Parrett, John Collins, Palmer Cleveland, Joseph Parrett, Jr., Aaron M.
Collins, Jesse Cleveland, John D. Parrett, Samuel Cuppy, D. D. Parrett,
Adam Creager, Benjamin Cleveland, Thomas Cleveland, Elias Parrett, Henry
Swihart, John H. Alexander, S. A. Chaplin and Abner T. McQuigg. Charles
Chapman, A. T. McQuigg, Clerks ; S. A. Chaplin, Inspector, and John Col-
lins, W. D. Parrett, Judges.
In Cleveland Township, there are two voting precincts, South Whitley and
Collamer. At the Presidential election held in November, 1881, there were
554 votes polled ; at the April election, 1882, there were 475 votes.
South Whitley, originally Springfield, was laid out in the fall of 1838,
and is the oldest town in the county. The name has never been legally changed
from Springfield to South Whitley, although frequent attempts have been made
to do so. The name of the first post office is South Whitley, hence the name.
The town was surveyed and laid out by Joseph Parrett, who owned the land.
Section 4, Town 38, Range 8 east. The original plat contained ten lots, and
since then additions have been made by D. D. and A. D. Parrett and Vants &
Edwards. The town is situated on the south side of Eel River and at the
junction of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, and the New York,
Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. Eel River, the northern boundary, runs in
a westerly direction and furnishes abundant water-power for all kinds of ma-
chinery. The town is nine miles southwest from Columbia City, and contains
about six hundred inhabitants. The Pacific express furnishes mail twice a day,
and S. Robbins is the obliging Postmaster. The first Postmaster was D. D.
Parrett.
The town is located on an elevated portion of ground, with a beautiful
country surrounding it, and, in fact, is the oldest town in the county. The
merchants and business men are accommodating and enjoy a good trade. The
first hotel, built of hewn logs in 1837, was a great stopping-place ; its genial
landlord, John Parrett, was never known to turn anybody away, either rich or
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 133
poor ; the bill of fare consisted of corn bread, potatoes, and almost all the
varieties of wild game. It changed hands several times. Other places of en-
tertainment were built as the changes of time demanded. There are two ho-
tels at present, one kept by Samuel Sickafoose and the other by William Dunlap.
Among the business men who may be mentioned are the following: John Ar-
nold & Co.. proprietors of the flour-mill and bankers ; this firm shipped last year
about 15,000 bushels of wheat, 10,000 bushels of corn, 8,000 bushels of oats
and 2,000 bushels of flax seed ; they pay the highest market price in cash for
all kinds of grain. The bank was organized more as an auxiliary to their in-
creasing business than for general banking purposes. The capital aggregates
$10,000 ; deposits are received and money loaned ; it organized in the sum-
mer of 1875. Edwards & Cotton, dry goods, do a business of perhaps $150,-
000 annually ; this firm buys and ships grain of all kinds. Merriman & Rob-
bins, druggists, do an extensive business, amounting to over $10,000 annually ;
the stock is well selected and amounts to over $4,000 ; the firm keep first-class
goods, pure drugs, paints, oils, notions, etc. S. Weimer & Co. keep
clothing, notions, etc. Grimes & Stults, dry goods ; Wyatt B or ton, dry goods ;
Thomas J. Cuppy, agricultural implements, and Remington & Co., the same.
In addition to those already mentioned, there are four groceries, two boot and
shoe stores, one drug store, two millinery stores, one furniture store, one meat
market, one wagon-shop, two blacksmith-shops, one planing-mill, one stave fac-
tory, one harness-shop, one saw-mill and tAvo saloons. South Whitley also has
five physicians and one lawyer.
The secret orders are well represented in South Whitley. Masonic, known
as Eel River Lodge, No. 510, was organized originally at Liberty Mills, Wabash
County, October 13, 1874. The lodge had the following ofiicers : Cyrus V.
N. Lent, Worshipful Master; Lewis J. Long, Senior Warden; George B.
Bender, Junior Warden ; Robert Carson, Treasurer ; Thomas W. Piper, Sec-
retary ; Joseph Cave, Senior Deacon ; Peter Runkle, Junior Deacon ; T. A.
Wheeler, Tiler, and E. S. Baugher and H. Phillips, Stewards. In order to
better accommodate the members, the lodge was removed to South Whitley,
October 4, 1879, and is now located in John Arnold's Hall. The following
names appear on the records of the lodge who have either been members or are
at present: C. V. Lent, Lewis J. Long, John Simonton, Robert Carson,
Henry H. Phillips, T. A. Wheeler, M. K. Martin, Peter Runkle, W. S.
Beigle, Joseph L. Cave, G. W. Bender, Washington Messmore, John Fisher,
E. Baugher, Wyatt Turner, Charles D. Moe, W. A. Danner, S. M. Mc-
Cutcheon, John W. Perry, 0. P. Stewart, A. Ross, J. M. Stults, B. L. Eber-
hard, S. Weimer, Richard Shenifield and H. Cole. The following officers gov-
ern the lodge during 1882: 0. P. Stewart, W. M.; Alfred Ross, S. W.;
W. S. Beigle, J. W.; J. M. Stults, Treasurer; E. L. Eberhard, Secretary;
S. Weimer, S. D.; Richard Shenifield, J. D.; H. Cole, Tiler. The lodge is
in a prosperous condition and many of the best citizens are members of it.
Springfield Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., was organized November 15, 1859, at
134 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
which time a charter was granted by Grand Master A. H. Matthes. The
lodge is located in a building formerly owned by Obadiah Carper, which has
since burned down, about the year 1877. The following members were in-
cluded in the charter : Dr. Elijah Merriman, Obadiah Carper, Daniel Nave,
George H. Winters, A. T. Bitner, 0. P. Koonts, Aaron Metz and S. B.
Koonts. Dr. Elijah Merriman was the first Noble Grand; Daniel Nave, Vice
Grand, and A. T. Bitner, Permanent Secretary. The lodge is pleasantly
located in the hall which it owns, and at the present time is without debt. The
present officers are : S. W. Doll, Noble Grand ; Enos Stanley, Vice Grand ;
Martin R. C lapp, Permanent Secretary ; M. Pinkham, Recording Secretary ;
S. B. Foster, Treasurer. The order has a substantial membership composed
of a number of the best citizens.
The Ancient Order of Workmen, known as Welcome Lodge, No. 65, is
located in the hall owned by the Odd Fellows. The lodge was organized May
17, 1881. Its objects are to better the condition of the laboring classes and
to give dignity to labor. The following were charter members : H. Cole, G.
W. Bonebrake, C. E. McCarty, J. S. Norris, A. Seymour, W. H. Foster, S.
Weiraer, J. Keiser, H. Shively, W. A. Rynaerson, John W. Parrish, D. S.
Cullimore, E. L. Eberhard, J. N. Whittenberger, D. Doll, M. R. Clapp, G-
W. Reaser, F. F. Fisher, L. Cornelius, J. Hapner, H. H. Quick, A. H.
Baughman and W. W. Smith. The society at present has a membership of
twenty-six. The first officers were : M. R. Clapp. Past Master Workman ; S.
Weiner, Master Workman ; Jeremiah Hapner, Foreman ; E, L. Eberhard,
Overseer; W. W. Smith, Receiver; D. Cullimore, Secretary; J. Stiver, Fi-
nancial Secretary; John Clapp, Inside Watchman; H. H. Quick, Outside
Watchman ; and A. Baughman, Guide. The present officers are : Henry Shively,
Past Master Workman ; M. R. Clapp, Master Workman ; S. Weimer, General
Foreman; J. Hapner, Overseer; J. N. Whittenberger, Receiver; E. L. Eber-
hard, Recording Secretary; C. McCarty, Financial Secretavy ; John Clapp,
Outside Watchman ; and John Kaser, Inside Watchman.
Numerous temperance organizations have existed at various times, but
none of them have been permanent. Nevertheless, there are a number of good
temperance workers in South Whitley.
This town has a bright future before it, and the historian who visits it ten
years hence will write a more lengthy history of it, for it will undoubtedly
extend its present limits and increase in prosperity.
Collamer (Millersburg), located near the Wabash & St. Louis Railroad,
and on the south side of Eel River, contains a population of about one hundred
and fifty souls. The town was surveyed by John Arnold, and the plat filed by
R. Miller in the summer of 1846. It was at one time a place of considerable
trade, grain, stock and lumber being exported in large quantities. It contains
a good grist-mill, one saw-mill, two general stores, one drug store, one boot and
shoe store, one physician, a graded school and a Christian Church. Alfred
Boss is the present Postmaster.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 135
CHAPTER VII.
by elisha l. mclallen.
Concerning Richland Township — Its Early Settlement and History—
The Men and Women who have made it their Abiding Place, and
THE Notable Events that have Marked their Footsteps.
" Whoever thinks a perfect work to see
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be."
THIS memorial of Richland Township will, we trust, have some interest for
citizens of the township ; it is not expected that it will interest others, as-
it treats solely of matters of local interest. Nothing would have induced the
undersigned at this time to prepare this memorial — with his hands already full
of work — but the fact that he came to Richland when a small boy, in 1845, grew
with its growth, strengthened with its strength, participated in the attendant
pleasures and pains of its early life, was identified with its business interests
and its social life, and he felt an interest in doing what he could to set her fairly
before the world with her sister townships.
Want of time to search for the needle of truth in the haystacks of allega-
tion and negation, non-existent and imperfect records, the lapse of time, the-
fallibility of the human memory, were some of the stumbling blocks in his way ;
want of time was, however, the greatest. The theme is one that warms with
its unfolding, and the temptation to enlarge must be resolutely curbed,
and the bare statement of fact given where pages might have been written.
The writer must condense continuously in order to remain within the field
assigned by the publisher, and in this case, withal, that space has been consid-
erably exceeded. Life is short and uncertain, and it is well to glean from the
few survivors facts and incidents connected with the advent of the white man
almost fifty years agone, into this our glorious inheritance, for ours it is now,
whatever may have been the prior right of the red man. And it is in that
respect, more than any other, that the writer found it out of his power to meet
the demand — to visit and make note of the recollections of those first-comers,
who, by reason of nature's law, must soon "go over to the majority." Un-
favorable criticism he expects, and blame for omissions and noteworthy things
not noted, but no one will be half as conscious as he of the imperfections of this
memorial. Trusting that he has in some measure fulfilled an obligation to the
home of his boyhood, the friends of his youth and manhood, and, by personal
experience, knowing that " there is a great deal of human nature among man-
kind," he rests his case.
It is to be borne in mind that whatever this memorial sets forth is with
reference to the township as at present formed, including the portion added
from Troy Township and excluding the portion set ofi" to Cleveland Township,,
to which event reference will be made further on in this veritable history.
136 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Rightly named is Richland Township. He or they who named it were
evidently persons of discernment and observation. Lying midway in the west-
ern tier of townships, its general surface somewhat more undulating than the
prairies of Northern Indiana, yet so diversified that its landscapes are pleasing,
and its surface is yearly becoming more and more enriched with spacious and
well tilled farms, pleasant, tasteful and commodious homes.
Fifty years ago, probably, no white man's foot had rustled the fallen
leaves that carpeted her primeval wilderness, and to-day it taxes the memory
of the first comers to detail what was the stately magnificence of her forests,
much more those later comers, who found her bosom dotted with growing farm-
steads and the lusty struggle for the mastery over the forest well advanced
toward completion.
As has been detailed in other portions of this history, Whitley County
was organized in 1838, having previously had a sort of territorial connection
with Huntington County. At the first Commissioners' Court held in the
county, and which met at the residence of Joseph Parrett May 7, 1838, Rich-
land Township was organized, and the court ordered that for road purposes it
should constitute one road district. Zebulon P. Burch was appointed to be
the first Supervisor, and an election was ordered to be held on the 19th of May
following.
Within its limits is the thriving village of Larwill (of which more anon),
lying one mile north of the center, and the seat of township government. Part
of the village of Lorain is in its northeast corner. Five small lakes lie within
its limits, and Spring Creek, with its two branches, on the east and Clear
Creek on the west afford an outlet for superabundant waters, emptying them
into Eel River, just above South Whitley, in Cleveland Township, thence, via
the Wabash, th^ Ohio and the Mississippi, to the Mexican Gulf.
The Squawbuck trail (an Indian trail, which was doubtless the route by
which the very early settlers reached the western part of the county) passed
through the north part of the township. Other Indian trails there were cross-
ing the township at various angles and in various directions ; but the white
man, actuated by thrift and utility, has. in most instances, placed the highways
on lines and at right angles, while the Indian was content to have short cuts
and to follow ridges and devious ways, to avoid swamps and other disagreeable
impediments. A trail was blazed through the forest from Asa Shoemaker's, in
the northwest corner of Columbia Township, in a westerly direction, past
where Larwill now is, and on into Kosciusko County by way of Hayden's.
The first practical attempt to open communication with the outside world was
the Huntington and Goshen road and the Fort Wayne and Warsaw road, inter-
secting at a point one mile west of Larwill. It is to be remembered that the
prairies up about Goshen and Elkhart were settled several years earlier than
our county, and that was the Egypt to which our early settlers were wont to go
to get grain, to have flour ground, etc., and the roads were merely blazed
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 137
through the woods, with here and there an old log cut off or a bit of under-
brush cut away, and were devious and rugged to traverse.
David Hayden was the first settler in the township, although several
others followed him the same season. He was the first comer, built the first
cabin and long and far shall the seeker go ere he find a worthier example of
the men who bore the heat and burden of the day in the first settlement of our
county.
David Hayden was born June 5, 1807, in Fayette County, Penn., thence re-
moved to Franklin County, Ohio, and was married to Alma Cone. He deter-
mined to come West and settle in Indiana. On the 9th of March, 1836, he landed
in Richland Township with wife and children, twenty-nine years of age, in the
prime of young manhood, in the heart of the wilderness, miles and miles away
from any other human habitation, armed with his trust in God and his ax and
rifle, and endowed with those qualities of heart and head which made him in
after time a successful and prosperous man, esteemed and respected by all who
knew him. Of him his sons might have said
"A prompt, decisive man ; no breath
Our father wasted."
From early life, a professor of religion, adhering to the Methodist Church
with unswerving tenacity, there was something of the Puritan spirit in the way
he held to his earlier convictions. In early life a Whig, later a Republican of
the straightest sect. In all the relations of life, the same characteristics pre-
dominated — laboring in season and out of season, naught but an iron constitu-
tion enabled him to bear all his burdens. His native sagacity was shown in the
lands he entered and the very comfortable estate he was enabled to gather about
him. He died at the homestead, October 22, 1878, aged seventy-one years nine
months and seventeen days. His ashes lie in the family burial-place, a short dis-
tance from where he built the first cabin in Richland Township. Loved, hon-
ored, revered, his aged consort survives him, born at Turin, Lewis County, N.
Y., August 5, 1810. Walking steadfastly by his side through all the trials and
privations of frontier life, animated with strong and high purposes for the wel-
fare and prosperity of her sons and daughters, her old age soothed by the lov-
ing care of her children, long may she remain among us. The first woman
who dwelt within our borders, the mother of C. W. Hayden, the first man child
born in the township. Of the sons and daughters of this Adam and Eve of
Richland Township there survive John E., Daniel C, Charles W., David F.,
Alvah 0. and Mary E. Hayden.
Pursuant to an order of the first Commissioners' Court held in the county,
there was held, on May 19, 1838, the first election in the township ; officer to
be elected. Justice of the Peace. Inspectors of Election, John Jones, William
Rice and Zebulon Burch. William Cordill and Edwin Cone were Clerks. The
record says nothing of grand rallies and mass conventions, stump speeches or
rallying the masses, it simply points its dead finger to the names of the five
138 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
voters, viz.: William Rice, Edwin Cone, Zebulon Burch, John Jones and Will-
iam Cordill. The candidates were Edwin Cone, who received four votes, and
William Rice, who received one vote. And, of that memorable first board of
voters and election officers, William Rice alone survives to tell the tale this
spring of 1882.
The second election was held at the house of Andrew Compton, August
6, 1838. Eleven voters appeared, viz.: Otto M. Webb, Zebulon Burch, Levi
Curtis, Ezra Thomson, John Jones, Jackson Gunter, Abraham Cuppy, Jacob
Kistler, John Thomson, David Hayden, Edwin Cone. For State Senator, W.
G. Ewing received four votes, David Colerick three, Thomas Swinney one ; for
Representative, J. F. Merrill received four and William Vance seven ; for Sher-
iff, Richard Collins received eleven votes ; for County Commissioner, Joseph
Parrett received eleven votes ; for Probate Judge, Jesse Cleveland had three
votes, Joseph Pierce one. These were the old Whig and Democrat days, and,
as we are accustomed to say, the good old times. However, it is doubtful if
Mr. Richard Collins could take the unanimous vote of Richland Township for
Sheriff to-day, as he did forty-four years ago, worthy though he is. At the
next election, held, as all the early elections were, at the residence of Andrew
Compton, a township organization was formed. Otto M. Webb was chosen
Township Trustee ; Ezra Thomson, Township Treasurer ; Andrew Compton,
Township Clerk; David Payne, Fence Viewer, each receiving fifteen votes. At
the first election in Troy Township (after its organization on March 19, 1839),
held July 4, 1839, appear the names of Jesse S. Perin, Price Goodrich, Tim-
othy F. Devinny and Bela Goodrich, who were residents of what is now a part
of Richland ; and at that first election Price Goodrich and Jesse S. Perin were
Inspectors of Election. Twelve votes were cast. Nathan Chapman was at that
time elected Justice of the Peace by seven votes, Price Goodrich receiving five
votes.
The first Presidential election held at Andrew Compton's house, November
2, was that of 1840-41. The Harrison campaign — the log-cabin and hard-cider
campaign — now only remembered by elderly persons. The candidates were
Harrison and Tyler for the Whigs, and Van Buren and Johnson for the Dem-
ocrats. Twenty-five votes were cast, of which fourteen were for Harrison and
eleven for Van Buren. Those twenty-five voters were Daniel Cone, John
Wright, Daniel Cullomore, Andrew Compton, Edwin Cone, Joshua Helms, John
Jones, William Rice, John Anderson, Elijah Scott, Zebulon Burch, David
Hayden, John Thomson, Reason Hueston, Levi Curtis, Charles Ditton, Samuel
L. Andrews, Anderson D. Parrett, William D. Parrett, Joab McPherson, David
Payne, George Ditton, David Payne, Jr., Ezra Thomson, Jacob Kistler, Jr.
Judges, W. D. Parrett, Ezra Thomson, Zebulon Burch ; Clerks, Andrew
Compton, Edwin Cone.
Surviving these now are William Rice, J. R. Anderson, Elijah Scott, Levi
Curtis, A. D. Parrett, David Payne, Jr. — six only. Jesse S. Perin, John
^yf- ^/^ ,^^-Tyi^t^U^^^'^
TROY TR
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
141
Buck, James Buck, William Guy, James Grant, Bela, James and Price Good-
rich, of the Troy Addition to Richland, voted November 2, 1840, at the shop
of Joseph Tinkham, in Troy, for the same candidates, of whom James Grant
and Price Goodrich only survive.
Presidential elections in the township have resulted as follows :
YEAR.
Whig.
Republican
Democrat.
Total.
1840
14
13
35
40
'"^6
128
152
185
198
217
216
11
12
53
75
72
116
120
140
171
240
227
25
1844
25
1848
88
1852
115
1856
168
1860
244
1864
272
1868
325
1872
364
1876
457
1880
443
Township Trustees since 1865 : James Cordill, qualified April 8, 1865 ;
Charles G. Ferry, April 5, 1866; Albert Webster, April 3, 1867; Albert
Webster, April 8, 1868; Alexander McNagny, April 10, 1869; Alexander
McNagny, October 15, 1870; Thomas Stradly, October 15, 1872; Thomas
Stradly, October 15, 1874; William H. Lancaster, October 16, 1876; Joseph
Essig, May 18, 1878; L. B. Snyder, April 14, 1880; John Halderman, April
11, 1882.
Justices of the Peace since the organization of the township : Edwin Cone
was elected June 11, 1838 ; Nathan Chapman, July 24, 1839 ; James Grant,
May 7, 1841; Reason Hueston, June 23, 1841; Zebulon Burch, April 10,
1842; Edwin Cone, April 25, 1845; Thomas Cleveland, May 7, 1846; Rea-
son Hueston, June 5, 1846 ; James Grant, February 5, 1847 ; Henry McLallen,
Sr., April 25, 1850 ; Reason Hueston, June 23, 1851 ; James Grant, April 21,
1852; Henry McLallen, Sr., May 9, 1855; William Finley, April 22, 1856;
Truman Hunt, October 21, 1857; R. W. Dodge, May 1, 1860; Luke McAl-
lister, April 19, 1862; R. W. Dodge, April 15, 1864; Jackson Sadler, No-
vember 1, 1864 ; A. H. King, April 14, 1866 ; Jackson Sadler, November
11, 1868; Jackson Sadler, May 27, 1873; 0. L. Cone, May 27, 1877 ; Jack-
son Sadler, May 27, 1877 ; David Bonar, April 22, 1880 ; John J. Alms,
April 3, 1882; Warren W. Martin, April 3, 1882.
There may be seen in the County Auditor's office the first tax duplicate ;
it is for the year 1838. It is of primitive character, and, as the patent nostrum
venders say of man, it is "fearfully and wonderfully made," consisting, as it
does, of four pages of foolscap paper, bound in the cover of Smiley's school
atlas, cut down to the proper size. From this ancient document, we learn that
in that year there were found within the limits of Richland the following per-
sona upon whom to lay the following taxes, as by statute provided ;
142
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
TOWN 31, RANGE 8.
JbtpropeX^"-^^'^-- '^'''"'^-
Anderson, John....
Burch, Zebulon
Burns, John
Cordill, William...
Cone, Edwin ,
Cone, Daniel
Curtis, Levi
Compton, Andrew.
Hayden, David
Jones, John
Kistler, Jacob, Sr.
Kistler, Jacob, Jr..
Perin, Jesse S
Payne, David
Rice, William
Thomson, Ezra
Thomson, John
$97 00
18 00
50 00
75 00
88 00
18 00
94 00
iVsoo
250 00
"50" 00
10 75
1 72
75
75
75
18
1 25
1 50
1 63
93
94
75
2 50
3 25
75
50
75
10 50
65
50
50
50
02J
57J
61i-
63f
52f
15
50
91^
87J
50
07J
50
1 25
2 37
1 25
1 25
1 25
20^
1 82J
2 11^
2 26|
1 45f
1 09
1 25
3 41J
4 12|
1 25
57^
1 25
Totals $915 00
|19 65
$8 541
$28 19|r
And every one of those pioneers paid up-
mankind has deteriorated since 1838.
-not one delinquent. Alas, how
EXHIBIT OF TAXES LEVIED IN INTERVALS OF FIVE YEARS.
TEAB.
No.of Tax-
payers.
Value of Per-
sonals
Assessed Value
of Real Estate.
Total V„lue of
Taxables.
Acres of Land.
Total of Taxes.
No. of
Dogs.
1838....
16
$ 915
1 915
23160
$ 28 20
1840....
23160
1845....
150
4119
$ 61690
65809
23160
803 94
1850....
225
5766
64523
64G98
23160
1250 00
1855....
247
45668
74526
120130
23160
1548 21
I860....
416
46086
157905
203991
23160
2333 42
1865....
381
87802
272125
359927
23160
14441 72
1870....
470
139136
369635
508771
23160
12905 76
186
1875....
537
249045
449755
718800
23160
11519 05
154
1880....
633
271380
363455
635235
23160
8165 77
203
Price Goodrich was Probate Judge August, 1848, to November, 1851, and
is entitled to be called Judge Goodrich. He was County Commissioner from
1856 to 1859, and was re-elected. H. McLallen, Jr., was County Treasurer,
1870 to 1872, and was re-elected 1872 to 1874. J. W. Miller was Sheriff of
Whitley County during the same period. F. P. AUwein was elected Sheriff
in 1880, and is renominated now for the same oflfice. Benjamin F. Thomson
has been County Commissioner the four years last past.
May 7, 1838, Ezra Thomson was the first Grand Juror from Richland ;
May 7, 1838, Edwin Cone, David Hayden, John Jones, first Petit Jurors, and
the Commissioners appointed Edwin Cone and Ezra Thomson Overseers of
Poor for the township, and Zebulon P. Burch, Road Supervisor, with the whole
township for his road district.
The first road petition after organization of county was presented May 7,
1838, and Zebulon Burch, David Payne and Stedman Chaplin were appointed
Viewers. Its line was south from David Hayden's.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 143
June 25, 1838, Edwin Cone was allowed $2 by the Commissioners for
making returns of the first election held in the township, and, as the writer be-
lieves, the first in the county after its organization. Henry Pence, County
Assessor, first assessed the township in 1888.
September Term, 1839. The Commissioners appointed Zebulon Burch
Three Per Cent Road Fund Commissioner.
January Term, 1840. Allowed the same |15.15| for his services in lay-
ing out Columbia City. In 1839, the Circuit Court fined Nathan Chapman
6^ cents for retailing foreign merchandise without taking out a license.
January 4, 1841. " 'Squire" Nathan Chapman reported the first fine col-
lected, $1.50, of Henry Moon, for assaulting and battering whom the record
sayeth not; but as he was the first person who was "moon-struck" in the
county, 'tis a pity his name has not been handed down.
This is, no doubt the first marriage in the township, and probably in the
county :
Charles Ditton and Eveline, daughter of Zebulon P. Burch, were married
at Z. P. Burch's, December 15, 1836. Mr. Ditton went to Goshen for his
license, and the preacher came from near Elkhart to perform the ceremony.
The records of Whitley show the following first entry in the marriage
department.
State of Indiana, "1
Whitley County. "/
Be it remembered that on the 1st day of September, 1838, a license wag issued by the
Clerk of Whitley Circuit Court, authorizing the marriage of Jacob Kistler and Sophia Payne.
And the following certificate of its solemnization :
State of Indiana, "1
Whitley County. /
To all persons to whom these presents may come — greeting : Know ye, that on the 2d
day of September, 1838, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peice in and for Whitley County,
joined in the holy bonds of matrimony Jacob Kistler and Sophia Payne, both of same county.
Given under my hand this 8th day of September, 1838.
Edwin Cone, J. P.
The above, though not the first marriage in the county nor in Richland
Township, is yet the first in county or town after its organization. On Novem-
ber 11, 1838, Edwin Cone married Isaac H. Collins and Nancy Cuppy. On
January 17, 1838, Edwin Cone married John Thomson and Emily Perin.
July 4, 1839, married William Rice and Harriet U. Jones ; February 11,
1840, Charles Ditton and Sarah A. Calhoun ; March, 1840, Levi Curtis and
Eunice Andrews ; July 30, 1840, H. Swihart, Justice of the Peace, married
A. D. Parrett and Susan Perkins.
In early days, to be expert with the ax, the rifle or some implement of
iron carried more weight than book learning or erudition. Abraham Cuppy,
William Cordill, James Perkins and Andy Compton were accounted by a well
qualified jury expert with the ax, first-class choppers, and at a raising John
144 HISTORY OP WHITLEY COUNTY.
Jones, E. L. Scott and John R. Anderson were accounted number one corner-
men. Be it remembered, that it is no child's play to take up the corner of a
log building in good and workmanlike style. It is to be borne in mind that, in
the early days, it was a prime necessity to have whisky at raisings, loggings and
other gatherings ; at raisings it was customary to toss up a bottle to the corner-
men, who were usually the most expert woodsmen and knew the flavor of the
creature ; having tasted it, they tossed it down again. Black-strap was another
form, and a very seductive form the critter took. Now, black-strap, be it under-
stood, is composed of six parts whisky and one part New Orleans molasses ;
nowadays you have it called rock and rye or some other high-fangled name.
Among riflemen many were good, but it was conceded that E. L. Scott
carried the belt : Abraham Cuppy was an artist in that line ; Christian Souder
was conceded to be the most expert hunter ; George Clapp, most successful
wolf trapper, and E. L. Scott most successful trapper of otter. David Hayden
built the first frame dwelling in the township ; it still stands a monument to
his memory ; David Hayden also built the first frame barn, in 1844. The first
brick house — D. Firestone's residence in Larwill. First dance in township at
Otto M. Webb's, April, 1841, Grover Webb, fiddler. First log-rolling at Abra-
ham Cuppy's — present, John Cuppy, Thomas Webb, E. L. Scott and others, ,
1837. First shoemaker, William Cordill, 1837. First blacksmith-shop, Sam-
uel Barnhouse, near Richland Center, Section 16, 1888. First lawsuit was
between Andy Compton and George Clapp, about a settlement, about 1840.
The first quilting frolic was at David Hayden's barn,, in the spring of 1845.
Andrew Compton killed the first bear in the township, in company with Zebu-
Ion Burch, Charles and George Ditton and John Anderson. Zebulon Burch
killed two wolves, the first killed of which we have any account. E. L. Scott
was returning from mill in 1839, with six miles in front and eight miles behind
him to the nearest house, when five Indians suddenly appeared upon the scene ;
two of them held the horses and the other three searched for fire-water. It is
thought they found it, though 'Lige would never own it ; he owned, however,
that he was a " leetle " bit nervous. They made him haul them three miles,
when they struck three other native Americans, who had a supply, and, " very
much against his will, insisted on his taking a nip," in fact, several nips, and
it was 2 o'clock in the morning before he could tear himself away from his
new found friends.
It is not known that any murder has been done within the township.
After the building of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, the
bones of an unknown man were found in the woods north of Trembley's ;
whether a dark crime was connected with his taking oiF none can tell. A lit-
tle daughter of George Huston died in the spring of 1844 from the bite of a
rattlesnake. John Rodebaugh shot himself, about 1852, at his store in Sum-
mit — was deranged. Alexander Norris was killed by a limb of a tree falling
on him when chopping in the woods, in 1860. Henry Souder was instantly
RICHLAND TOWNSHtP. 145
killed at Van Liew's Mill, Larwill, by the bursting of a grindstone in
1863. John Buck got his death from being struck by an express train
at Larwill station. Marcellus Thomson blew out his brains in a temporary
fit of insanity, in John Steele's woods, in 1870. Mrs. Essinger hanged herself
with a pillow-slip to the third rail from the ground of the fence of her own
door-yard. Samuel Aker hanged himself to the ladder in hia barn. Jacob
Long, Section Foreman, was run over and killed by an express train on the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, in the spring of 1881.
There seems to be no doubt that C. W. Hayden, son of David and Alma
Hayden, was the first white child born in the township ; the date of this, to
him, memorable event was August 12, 1837. Having passed through the
stages of childhood, youth and young manhood, and made the most of the
meager advantages that surrounded him, he united his fortunes with those of
a daughter of Alfred Hoover, Esq., of Kosciusko County, and became a farmer
on his own account. A few years of this begat a spirit of adventure, and he
sold his place to B. F. Thomson, who now lives there, and removed to Missouri,
where he spent several years with varying success, and, his health failing, re-
turned to the land of his fathers. He is now engaged in mercantile pursuits at
Collamer, in this county, and whoso knows him knows a man whose word is as
good as his bond.
The second person born in the township, and the first female, was Eveline,
daughter of Charles and Eveline Ditton, born in September, 1837, the mother
surviving but two weeks. John Thomson and other neighbors made for her a
coffin from the boards of a wagon box, and the few neighbors there were in a
range of half a dozen miles gathered to lay her at rest. Mrs. Ditton was a
daughter of Zebulon P. Burch, a very early settler, whose old place is now
occupied by Henry Norris. Mr. Burch was a prominent character in those
early days, and filled several stations of honor and trust. One of the first
courts held in the county was held at his house, Judge Ewing presiding. The
daughter of Charles Ditton, now Mrs. Todd, resides at Lagro, Indiana, where
also, her father, Charles Ditton, resides, and is highly regarded.
The third birth of which authentic information has been produced was
that of Orilla, daughter of Edwin and Salima Cone, who was born 30th Jan-
uary, 1839, married to Frank Inlow, April 28, 1857 ; removed to Missouri in
the spring of 1864, and there died November 21, 1881.
Chauncey, son of Price and Martha Goodrich, was born October 7, 1839 ;
is a prosperous and very successful builder. Most of the good brick buildings in
the county can bear witness for the honest manner his work is done.
In February, 1837, Samuel Jones, first-born of John Jones, died at the
house of Ezra Thomson (where the family were stopping whilst the rude cabin
was being made ready to receive them) from exposure, having caught the
mumps while moving to the country. This was the first death among the early
settlers of Richland. The death of Mrs. Eveline Ditton, in September
146 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
following, elsewhere referred to, was the second ; and later Mr. Jones himself
made the coffin of Mrs. Andrews, his sister. Mr. Andrews settled where John
Steele now lives, and Mr. Jones where Alexander McNagney now lives. Older
citizens will remember going to the post office, first kept in the cabin he built,
a few rods south of Mr. McN.'s present residence. Messrs. Jones and Andrews
came in the fall of 1836, and were among the very early settlers. W. N. An-
drews, Postmaster at Larwill, is the eldest son of Mr. Samuel Andrews. An-
other brother resides in Iowa.
The Eel River Baptist Church was organized in 1840, at the house of John
Collins, in Cleveland Township. Among its first members were John Col-
lins, William Cordill, John Cordill, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton and S. A. Chaplin.
To these were afterward added, by baptism and letter, Edwin Rambo and wife,
Margaret Rambo, John Cuppy and wife, Mary Cuppy, Jane Collins (wife of
John Collins), Mrs. Martin Collins, Isaac Collins and wife, Nancy Collins,
Mrs. Chaplin (wife of S. A. Chaplin), William Norris, James Chaplin (father
of S. H. Chaplin, and Mores P. Chaplin (brother of S. A. Chaplin). James
Martin was the first Pastor of this little flock. February 19, 1842, S. A.
Chaplin, now editor of the Restitution, at Plymouth, was licensed to preach,
and on August 20, 1842, he was ordained, and for some time preached for
them. A change of views in regard to the future destiny of the earth as well
as of man's nature, whether immortal by nature or redemption — the view of
earth restored being the future home of the redeemed — in plain English, Mil-
lerism or Second Adventism — was embraced by Elder Chaplin and a number of
other members of the church, who dissolved their connection with it, and it
languished for several years. Reorganized December, 1845, William Norris,
John Cordill, Esther Cordill, Norah Hand, Elizabeth Cuppy, Michael B.
Kelly, Rebecca Riesson, K. C. Hamilton, Caroline Hamilton, Caroline Collins,
George Gunter, John Cuppy and Nancy Cuppy were members. The present
church was built in 1861, at a cost of $1,200. Number of members now, sev-
enty-six. Present Pastor, Elder V. 0. Fritz. This is the best account the
meager facts in hand make possible of this society.
A Methodist society was organized near Lorain in 1840. The first preacher
was Rev. Samuel Smith. Of the early members are the names of Henry Rob-
erts, Joseph Tinkham, Elizabeth Tinkham, Michael and Fanny Blanchard,
Price and Julia A. Goodrich, Isaac and Elizabeth Kern and Harlow Barber,
As time and convenience dictated, they met at the houses of settlers. When
the chapel near Cedar Lake, in Troy Township, was built, this society was
merged with it, and now constitutes a part of that vigorous branch of the church.
In the early days, there was a Methodist class near John R. Anderson's,
called the Union Class, which, as usual, met from house to house. With vari-
ous other societies they united, in 1855, in building the Union Church. Among
the earlier members were Henry Rupely and wife, John Jones and wife, A. D.
Parrett and wife, Eliakim Mosher and wife, Edmond Parrish and wife and
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
147
John Graham. There they prospered until 1880, when they built the neat and
commodious Oak Grove Church, a brick edifice costing about $2,000, and are
comfortably settled therein, with a membership of somewhat over thirty. If
this account be faulty or meager, it is because the information sought for failed
to come to hand.
A society of the Christian denomination has long been maintained at
Booneville, with a comfortable church building and a strong society. Data
sought for failed to come to hand, and this brief notice must suflSce.
The history of education in Richland would be a repetition of that of
other towns round about. The first school, taught by Zillah Adams at Summit,
was a subscription school. Indiana's munificent school funds and judicious
provision for schoolhouses and school appliances were then unthought of.
Instead of the comfortable school desks, slab benches, with the legs inserted in
auger-holes, were the seats ; the desk was of boards laid on arms inserted in the
side walls of the building in the same way. Samuel Andrews and Jesse S.
Perin were wont to grumble because, each having large families, they together
had to pay over half the teacher's salary. Divers and numerous were the bar-
rings-out of teachers, etc., etc., but Eggleston has so graphically described it in
his " Hoosier Schoolmaster," that details would be superfluous. Miss Sarah
Thomson (now Mrs. Jesse Arnold) taught a select school in an old log
house on John Thomson's farm in the early days. Periodicals and books were
scarce, and blessed was the home whose heads had not forgotten to bring a store
of books when they plunged into the wilderness, for in the hand-to-hand struggle
no money was to be expended for superfluities when the bare necessities of life were
hard to come at. As time passed, and after the State made provision for public
education, schoolhouses were built of logs (similar to the one at Summit, else-
where described), at suitable distances all over the township. These were after-
ward replaced with frame schoolhouses, and these latter, as they become old and
are condemned, are being replaced with good substantial brick structures. It is
thought that the new law taking the road work off" the Trustees' hands, will
tend to better oversight and general improvement of schools. The following is
the present school accommodation in the township :
DISTRICTS.
Section.
Kind of House.
When Built.
Value.
No. of
Pupils.
District No.
1
25
34
28
32
30
"s
9
11
14
22
18
Brick
1869
1873
1873
. 1875
1871
1868
1881
No record...
No record...
1870
No record-
aiooo 00
1000 00
1000 00
9000 00
500 00
30
2
Brick
21
3
Brick
30
4
Brick
175
District No.
5
Frame
32
District No.
6
Vacant
Frame
District No
7
300 00
900 00
300 00
400 00
500 00
300 00
28
District No
8
Brick
30
District No
9. ,
Frame
35
District No
10
Frame
35
District No
11
Frame
25
District No
12
Frame
30
Total
115200 00
471
148
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The following table shows the amounts and growth of the tuition and
special school funds since the adoption of the new Constitution in 1852. It
will be remembered that the special school fund is applied only for the pur-
poses of building and furnishing schoolhouses, supplying them with wood, stoves,
brooms and other necessaries. In 1875, in accordance with statute in that
case made and provided, Township Trustees were authorized to supplement
the regular tuition fund, which is the interest on funds permanently invested,
by levying a tax which is termed the local tuition fund, and is shown in the
subjoined table :
YEAES.
Tuition Fund.
Special
School Fund.
YEARS.
Tuition Fund.
Special
School Fund.
Local
Tuition Fund.
1853
1854
$ 85 31
288 00
431 22
508 30
411 20
475 00
435 56
755 25
687 75
992 85
936 75
1205 97
1032 03
1216 78
1297 47
1182 "72
174 25
194 91
606 93
640 66
644 79
649 59
690 60
667 92
1018 55
1031 35
1868
1869
$1353 64
1430 09
1571 82
1587 02
1577 86
1216 58
1544 25
2081 90
2333 03
2086 32
1864 95
1898 34
2164 81
2005 49
$1039 68
575 25
1581 43
901 48
1640 23
1660 64
1622 65
1185 89
3602 76
3832 67
2877 93
3463 23
2476 74
918 52
1855
1870
1871
1872 .
1856
1857
1858
1873
1859
1874
1875
1860
$762 62
421 78
1861
1876
1862
1877
10 98
1863
1878
1864
1879
1865
1880
333 10
1866
1881
636 03
1867
The following table shows the original entries of land by actual settlers
down to 1840, as per original entry in land oflBce:
NAMES.
Andrew Compton
Charles Ditlon
Zebulon P. Burch
David Hayden
Mores P. Chaplin
John Jones
Elijah L. Scott
Ezra Thomson
Jesse S. Perin
Jacob Kistler, Sr
John Buntain
James Compton
William Rice
John Burns
Levi Curtis
Price Goodrich
James Goodrich
Harlow Barber
Alfred Jordan
John R. Anderson ,
David Payne
Nathan Chapman
James Grant
Christian Souder
Christopher Souder....
Moses Hand
Samuel L. McPherson
21
22
22
6
5
4
19
4-9
30-32
10-12
30
7-16
5-8
29
10
25
25
28
25
14
15
25
26
11
11
Month and Day.
December 17..
March 7
March 7
March 19
March 19
April 27..:....
May 10
July 15
August 31
October 8
October 21....
October 24
March 20
May 29
.June 10
September 20
September 20
October 1
October 30....
November 13.
November 27.
April 17
May 2
October 16....
March 16
May 12
May 12
1835
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1836
1837
1837
1837
1837
1837
1837
1837
1837
1837
1838
1838
1838
1840
1840
1840
320
160
160
318
142
242
120
480
546
240
240
333
120
120
200
120
160
160
200
80
80
40
80
40
^^-^-di^yUHJ ^n>c^>^.^Lyle^
WASHINGTON TP.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 151
Larwill, formerly Huntsville, was laid out on the line of the Pittsburgh,
Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, November 13, 1854. It was located on the
corners of the four farms of H. McLallen, Sr., Truman Hunt, Jesse S. Perin
and Thomas J. Hammontree. At that time the site of the village was unbroken
forest west of Center and north of Main streets. Mr. Perin had a fine sugar
camp, with the boiling-place where the depot now stands. Hammontree bought
his place December 15, 1851, built a log cabin where Thomas Stradly's house
now stands in the the spring of 1852, and had cleared a few acres ; this was all
that was amiss of the forest.
It was in August, 1856, that the Pennsylvania & Ohio, the Ohio & Indi-
ana and the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroads consolidated, forming the Pitts-
burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. Up to that date, Columbia City was
the terminus. The work of construction was pushed forward rapidly by the
new management, and before the close of that year trains were running through
as far as Plymouth, and Huntsville began to come out of the wilderness. This
was the era of luxuries. We had a daily mail ; lumbering hacks, whose tri-
weekly visits had before been our sole dependence, were abandoned ; the post
oflBce, which had for years been at Summit, one mile west, was moved to Hunts-
ville, and H. McLallen, Sr., was first Postmaster, and so continued until the
Lincoln administration, when E. L. Barber was appointed; afterward H. B.
Whittenberger succeeded him, and last season W. N. Andrews succeeded him.
The first Station Agent was H. McLallen, Sr., succeeded by E. L. Mc-
Lallen, he by H. McLallen, Jr., until 1874, when W. F. McNagney succeeded
to it, and held it until he determined to adopt the legal profession, and was
succeeded by W. E. Young, the present incumbent.
In 1854, Hugh McClarren built a log house on the corner where John
Bruner's shop stands, and opened a traffic in " wet goods," not to very great
advantage ; nor, indeed, has there ever been a prosperous business done there
in that line. J. F. Smith was the first doctor ; his office was where Scott
Smith's residence now is ; he came here in the spring of 1854. We had also
Dr. F. M. Tumbleson, and later, Drs. Firestone, 1859, and Kirkpatrick, 1860,
have enjoyed long and extensive practice. Still later. Dr. Souder, Dr. Lan-
caster and Dr. Webster. In the early days, Dr. McHugh, of Columbia City,
did a good practice hereabouts, though his methods were rather heroic ; and it
was thought by many that Dr. Boss, of Warsaw, could almost raise the dead.
David King was one of the vanguard ; he built a shanty and started the first
shoe-shop, where Hilliard's family now live. It was there the young bloods,
and old ones, too, used to repair and waste their means in riotous living
on hard-boiled eggs at 4 cents a dozen, seasoned with pepper-sauce. There
were a few who could make way with two dozen, several could do eighteen, and
plenty who took a dozen. Isaac Broad came and built about 1856 ; Jerry
Welker about the same time, and put up a furniture store where Dr. Kirkpat-
rick lives now.
152 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The first store was opened by Dodge & McLallen, R. W. Dodge and H .
McLallen, Sr., in a building since burned, which stood on the site of the old
Washington House. The stock was varied and assorted to suit the times, with
a little of everything. Barter was the rule ; credit was generally asked and
expected, and ready pay the exception. Dodge went out after one season, and
John M. Thomson took his place. He, used to Eastern life and California
excitement, found it too slow for him, and went. Mr. McLallen then went to
work in earnest, and built on the corner where D. B. Clugston, Bro. & Co.'s store
now is ; the building has since been removed across the street, and is now
Bowman's hardware store. This edifice was 22x44, two stories, with cellar
walled up with hewn timber. Stone was then out of the question. This build-
ing his neighbors thought entirely beyond the needs of the place. Here he
continued and prospered until July 9, 1858, when he sold out to E. L. McLallen
and D. B. Clugston, who carried on the business very successfully, until March,
1, 1874, when McLallen sold his interest to D. B. Clugston, who then organized
the firm of D. B. Clugston, Bro. & Co., which still keeps the field with excel-
lent success. In 1869, McLallen & Clugston built the fine brick store, 24x100,
two stories and cellar, as it now stands. The Masonic Fraternity took and paid
for seventy-five feet of the second floor for lodge-rooms, giving them 24x
75 feet for hall, ante-rooms, etc. About 1861, Edwin L. Barber built and
opened a store just north of the store now owned by H. B. Whittenberger,
where he flourished as merchant. Postmaster and general trader, until about
1865, when he sold store and stock to Whittenberger & Bro., and soon after
built the fine store where H. B. Whittenberger now is, which he occupied until
1881, when he removed the stock and sold the store to H. B. Whittenberger,
who is comfortably growing fat, wealthy and old, and not a wave of trouble
rolls across his peaceful breast.
Halderman & Co. built their present store-room and commenced trade in
1867, and have steadily kept step to the music, and done their share of the
business, and may be called successful merchants. A burglary and safe-blow-
ing last winter is the only notable counter-current they have met, and that was
not of sufficient importance to disturb Lewis' equilibrium, or cause John to lie
awake nights. A. F. Martin and McLallen & Clugston, under the style of A.
F. Martin & Co., started a hardware store. May 1, 1865. Mr. Martin went
out and McLallen & Clugston continued awhile, then sold out to Jerry Franklin,
who in turn sold out to S. B. Clevinger, who engaged in hardware trade in his
present rooms in 1869. About that time, L. B. Snyder and McLallen & Clug-
ston formed a partnership, and opened a new hardware store where John Bruner
now is ; afterward removed to where Bowman now keeps, and continued until
the fall of 1881, when Bowman bought out the concern, and still continues at
the old stand. L. B. Snyder, or Bolivar, as he is generally known, is widely
and favorably known, and has the good-will of the entire community. Having
no boys to succeed to his business, he concluded to go out of trade and take a
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 153
rest; he is also noted for his^^rm reliance. S. B. Clevinger kept on the even
tenor of his way until disabled by ill-health, and has recently transferred his
hardware business to his son Henry, who continues it at the old place. Dr.
Kirkpatrick came in the spring of 1860; in 1864, he started a drug-
store. In 1865, D. L. Whiteleather bought one-half interest, and they built a
new store ; the firm was Kirkpatrick & Whiteleather until 1881, Avhen White-
leather bought the entire concern. W. N. Andrews opened a drug store oppo-
site Halderman's in 1878, which concern continues to prosper.
Truman Hunt built the first grist-mill, the steam one now owned by Jos.
Essig, thereby conferring an inestimable boon on the community, as otherwise
they had to go ten miles to mill. This mill was built about 1860 or 1862, In
1853, Truman Hunt — " The 'Squire " as he was generally called — tore down
his hewed log dwelling, a half mile west of Larwill, and moved the timbers to
the village and rebuilt it on the spot where Dr. Firestone's fine mansion now is,
and opened a tavern (tavern is a good word crowded out by the new fangled
term hotel). This was a tavern. On a post in front was a plain oval sign,
with a fish rampant depicted upon it, and below three letters — INN — only this
and nothing more. The guests, however, at the inn, found good beds and
good cheer. James Young afterward opened a hotel, and for the past twenty
years has done most of the entertaining of strangers. In 1880, he rebuilt his
house, and now keeps quite a pretentious hostelry. He also knows " black
walnut from cofieenut," and is a pretty good judge of lumber, in which he has
done a successful business for many years.
George Klinehance has long been a heavy lumber-dealer in this region,
and has handled- a great many millions of feet. " Old Business " is his pet
name among the boys. Capt. Steele, now Commissioner of Roads for Rich-
land Township, was long his factotum in the stock trade, the buying and ship-
ping of which has long been a part of his business.
Truman Hunt, Esq., was an important character in those early days. He
held his own opinions, liked to have his will, was very tenacious of his rights,
and was of hasty temper, spoke with a New England twang, and looked out
sharply for number one, but was a good neighbor and citizen. In 1869, he
sold his farm to Dr. Firestone, and removed to Michigan, where it is believed
he is still living.
Uncle Jesse S. Perin, was born in Berkshire County, Mass., July 28,
1792; moved to Michigan in 1821; came to Indiana in 1837; entered 546
acres of land in the immediate vicinity of Larwill ; died August 19, 1862, aged
seventy years ; his wife, Laura Bird, was born on the Green Mountains, in Ver-
mont, February 14, 1798. The children of these surviving are Betsy, Laura,
Jesse, Achsa, Diantha. Mr. Perin was a man of mark, intelligent, with much
force of character ; of portly figure, quite deaf in his later years ; a good story-
teller, could sing a song and was socially inclined. Had been so long in the
backwoods that his reminiscences of early life took one back to the early part
154 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
of the century. He was of quick, fiery temper, and very positive in his way.
Troy Township, Whitley County, Ind., was named at his suggestion in honor
of the Township of Troy, Oakland County, Mich., from which he came to
Whitley.
Thomas J. Hammontree was born in Maryland ; came here from Cuyahoga
Falls, Ohio, December, 1851 ; carpenter by trade and an excellent one ; a large-
framed, large-hearted man ; he was a fair specimen of the early settlers, always
ready to do a good turn. In 1864, he sold his place at the village and bought
the farm of the late Harper Mack, where he continued to live until his decease,
and his remains lie in Lakeview Cemetery.
Henry McLallen, Sr., was born at Trumansburg, N. Y., August 3, 1808 ;
grew up to manhood there. Was married, August 31, 1831, to Frances M.
Lyman, of Northfield, Mass. Went into business on his own account about the
time of his majority, and was fairly successful. The great panic of 1843, fol-
lowed by the failure of a number of persons indebted to him, so embarrassed
him that he could not hope to re-establish himself for a long while ; beside that,
he was attracted to the Great West, which was then first brought prominently
before the people. All who are familiar with the history of our Western coun-
try know of, and many elderly persons will remember, the wonderful impetus
given to emigration to Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, by the building of the
Wabash & Erie Canal, the Ohio Canals, the National roads and other schemes of
internal improvement that were, alas ! many of them, destined to be nipped in
the bud by the revulsion which followed the overthrow of the National Bank and
the Jacksonian era. It was under the inspiration of high expectation as to
rapid development Mr. McLallen, with many others, plunged into the fastnesses
of Indiana as it was in 1845. In the spring of 1845, accompanied by his
brother, DeWitt McLallen, deceased, and the late Harper Mack, he came to
Richland and cleared an acre and built the rude cabin which was to be the fam-
ily home for many a long year, and, in the September following, coming via
New York & Erie Canal from Cayuga Bridge to Buffalo ; by the schooner Sarah
Bugbee from Buffalo to Toledo, and with a tempestuous passage over Lake
Erie ; from Toledo to Fort Wayne via the Wabash & Erie Canal, and from
Fort Wayne in wagons to the old homestead in Section 3, adjoining Larwill,
the family took up their abiding place. Of slender build and not inured to
the severe labors of the backwoodsman, yet with courage and self-sacrifice wor-
thy of a martyr, he began and continued the tremendous task of carving a farm
out of the heavily timbered and unbroken forest. Isolation, dearth of intel-
lectual food, malaria, all conspired to make the position hard to bear. Cheer-
ful and peace-loving, easily adapting himself to surroundings, he soon found
friends, and, but for his retiring disposition, might easily have held positions
of trust and honor. When the railroad was built, he joined neighbors Perin,
Hunt and Hammontree in laying out the village, as elsewhere noted. In 1858,
he sold the homestead to David Kerr, Esq., who now occupies it. Of his bus-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 155
iness experience, mention'has been made. The evening of his days was quietly
spent among his children, his books, garden and orchard, to which he had all
his life been devoted, and on October 30, 1875, he passed from earth and was
laid at rest in Lake View Cemetery, originally a part of his own farm, and re-
deemed from its primeval wilderness by his own hand. Mrs. McLallen still
survives, though feeble and frail. The children of these are E. L. McLallen,
Mrs. D. B. Clugston and H. McLallen, Jr.
The first saw-mill was built by Charles Swindell, and stood east of the
village, near Sterling's brick house. It was burned during the war. H. C.
and D. Van Liew afterward built a fine mill where Robinson's now stands, add-
ing planers and much other machinery, and doing a heavy business for several
years ; it, too, was burned and was succeeded by the mill now owned by Rob-
inson & Co.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1854, and stood south of the Methodist
parsonage; it still stands and is converted into a dwelling. The second was a
more pretentious and roomy affair, in the northeast corner of the town, but it
was so ill planned and badly constructed that it did not live out half its days
as a schoolhouse, and has been condemned, though not yet executed. In 1876,
the citizens determined to have good and suitable school facilities, and the
present grounds were purchased and handsome school buildings erected
under the Trusteeship of Thomas Stradly, Esq. The schools are graded, good
teachers are selected, and educational interests are fostered by a public spirit
among the people that will admit of no nonsense when school interests are at
stake.
The earliest church edifice in the village was that of the United Brethren.
It stood where now stands the Wesleyan Chapel. The United Brethren's
Church was built in 1858, and Jerry Welker and B. B. Salmon were foremost
in the work. The house was poorly built and the congregation poorly preached
to, and both society and building gradually faded away.
To write the history of almost any Methodist Church hereabouts is to
write a history of the section where it is established. From the earliest settle-
ment to the present time of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Larwill, the
following brief summary of facts must suffice : Previous to 1848, itinerant
preachers, at more or less irregular intervals, kept alive the vital spark. The
members met from house to house, most frequently at Edwin Cone's and John
Buck's. The first class was formed, in 1839, in Edwin Cone's log cabin. The
pioneers of the church and its first members were John Buck, Class Leader;
Edwin Cone and wife, David Hayden and wife, William Guy and wife, John
Erwin and wife, John Burns and wife. Edwin Cone was local preacher — "An
Israelite indeed in whom there was no guile." The itinerant preachers, at
the formation of the class in 1839, were Revs. Ackerman and Owen. Their
visits were few and far between ; the circuit was very large. Succeeding them.
Lemon and Young, Green and Anthony, Holstock and Miller, Speer and
156 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Davis, Jesse Sparks, Barnhart. By 1848, the class had become too large to
meet in the narrow cabins of the pioneers. They took title from Alex Mc-
Nagny of the site of the "old log schoolhouse," by their trustees, David
Hayden, Andrew Dodge and John Burns, who, aided by William Mitchell, a
carpenter, built a frame meeting-house, 26x34, ten feet in the clear. The
Revs. Barnhart and Metz held meetings in it, and great success followed, and
the society prospered and grew strong. Following those preachers came Sny-
der and Cooper ; Streight and Armstrong ; Bradshaw and Rupeley ; Payton and
Payton ; C. W. Miller ; J. H. McMahon ; E. M. Baker, three years and built
the parsonage at Larwill ; H. J. Lacy, three years ; R. J. Smith, three years,
who commenced the new brick church at Larwill in 1866, completed during
the first year of E. P. Church's term, at a cost of about $9,000, and procured
for it a bell, which they still take pride in saying is the best bell in the county.
John Burns, Abner Prugh, C. W. Hayden, Dr. Kirkpatrick and E. L. Mc-
Lallen were the building committee. The edifice is 42x60, twenty feet in the
clear, with basement. The old Summit Church was sold to J. J. Alms, who
removed it to Lot 1, Block 10, McLallen street, Larwill, where it is now doing
duty as a carpenter shop. Following were the E, P. Church, Pastors : J. H.
Slade, two years ; S. J. McElwee, three years ; James Greer, three years ;
I. J. Smith, one and a half years, when difi'erences grew up and a part of the
members withdrew and formed the " Wesleyan Church," the parent society,
however, still flourishing and building up. Pastor W. H. Smith came and
stayed two years. Pastor R. Reed is now the second year in charge. The
Trustees now are Abner Prugh, Dr. Kirkpatrick, John Burns, Jacob Sapping-
ton, H. B. Whittenberger ; Stewards, H. B. Whittenberger, E. S. Johns and
Emily Thomson; Class Leaders, 0. C. Adams, Thomas Davis. Membership,
about eighty; probationers, seventeen. Space will not permit more detail, else
much more might be said.
The Baptist society organized first in 1855, with a membership of fifteen,
under the ministrations of Elder JVIcLeod. Their place of meeting was the
old First Schoolhouse. After 1860, it languished and became dormant, and
was re-organized in April, 1880, under the pastoral charge of Rev. D. W.
Sanders, with A. F. Martin and wife, Henry Bailey and wife. Fielding Barnes
and wife, Mrs. D. B. Clugston, Mrs. Mary Barney, Rev. Sanders and wife,
members. In 1881, they built their neat little brick church, at a cost of
$2,500, and are prospering fairly well. Elder Sanders, Pastor ; membership
now about twenty-five. Failing to receive any information from persons ap-
plied to, makes this account meager and scanty, but it is believed to be cor-
rect as far as it goes.
The Presbyterian society was organized and flourished for several years,
under Rev. Mr. Harker and others. It has, however, for several years been
dormant.
The Wesleyan Church society is young here. It originated a few years
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 157
ago, in consequence of differences of opinion in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The seceders organized and have a neat wooden church, costing
ahout $1,500, and seem to be prospering fairly well under the pastoral charge
of Rev. M. Hutchins.
Rev. John Brukert is pastor of the young Albright society. It has not
yet attained the dignity of a church edifice, but meets at the houses of its
members, and is believed to have elements of success in its general make-up.
Due Guard Lodge, No. 278, A., F. & A. Masons, was organized under
dispensation, July 2, 1861 ; charter granted May 27, 1862 ; organized under
charter June 7, 1862; by-laws approved by Grand Lodge May 29, 1872.
The charter members were John B. Firestone, E. L. McLallen, A. M. Trum-
bull, J. Cunningham, J. J. Shorb, William Thompson, Jacob W. Miller, David
James, Virgil Barber, E. L. Barber, H. C. Van Liew, G. F. Miller, John Q.
Adams, and the first ofiicers under charter were John B. Firestone, W. M. ;
E. L. McLallen, S. W.; A. M. Trumbull, J. W.; D. B. Clugston, Treasurer;
H. C. Van Liew, Secretary; Virgil Barber, S. D. ; J. G. Miller, J. D. ; E. L.
Barber and J. Cunningham, Stewards ; John Maynard, Tiler. Officers in
1882: E. L. McLallen, W. M. ; W. S. Barber, S. W. ; A. L. Compton, J. W. ;
W. N. Andrews, Treasurer; George F. Miller, Secretary; Henry Souder, S.
D. ; George James, J. D. ; E. S. Johns, S. S. ; Leander Lower, J. S. ; John
Smalley, Tiler. Trustees, 1882 : L. B. Snyder, J. B. Firestone, W. S. Barber, D.
B. Clugston, E. L. Barber. The lodge owns the premises where it meets, has them
handsomely furnished and has money in its treasury. Including thirteen charter
members, it has had upon its roll of membership 150 members, of whom 120 were
made Masons within its walls and seventeen were admitted upon dirait from
other lodges. Of these 150, eighty-four are now members, fifty have dimitted
and gone to other places and other lodges, seven have died, eight have been
suspended, one has been expelled, and of those who have dimitted six have
since died. It is no flattery to say that its membership comprises a large
number of the best men in the community. The body is prosperous, harmo-
nious and an element of usefulness in the community.
In the absence of data asked for and not forthcoming, only a very general
account can be given of Larwill Lodge, No. 238, I. 0. 0. F. It was organized
between 1860 and 1865, and has apparently prospered. It owns its own lodge
room, which is comfortably furnished, and has a membership of thirty or forty,
and is said to be in a prosperous condition at this time. It is to be regretted
that the facts and dates upon which to give a fuller account were not at hand.
From the first, there was confusion because the names of town and post office
were different, and there being a Huntsville Post Office in the State, the office
could not take the name of the town. The evil was borne until the increasing
traffic made it unbearable. The citizens began to canvass for a change in 1866,
and two names were selected, of which Larwill seemed to be first and Haider-
man second choice. They accordingly petitioned the Commissioners to change
158 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
the name to Larwill. The board promptly granted the petition, and the same
was officially promulgated March 8, 1866. See' Commissioners' Record D,
page 89. The railroad authorities, on notice, promptly changed the name of
the station to conform, and a petition to the Post Office Department, setting
forth the above facts, produced a like result.
The name selected is the family name of two of the resident engineers, Will-
iam and Joseph H. Larwill, who had charge, during the construction of the Pitts-
burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, of a division extending from Colum-
bia City to Warsaw, and who had done much to promote the interests of the
place. William is a prominent railroad man in Ohio, and Joseph H., having
graduated in the finest mining schools of the Old World, became a practical
assayer and located in Montana, where he is believed to be highly pros-
perous.
Previous to 1868, the denizens of the village of Larwill were living on
each side of the line between Richland and Troy Townships, Main street being
the old township line, the voters on the one side had to go nearly four miles
south, and on the other side nearly four miles northeast to reach the spot where
the ballot-boxing was periodically done. This became very irksome, indeed,
as the town increased, and some of them resolved to wait no longer. They
petitioned the County Commissioners for a voting precinct ; the Commission-
ers' Court granted the prayer by annexing two miles oif the south side of the
township to Cleveland, and annexing a like two miles oif the south side of Troy to
Richland, and making Larwill the voting place for Richland Township. This
action was taken December 11, 1868. For full account see Commissioners' Rec-
ord D, page 384, in Auditor's office, Whitley County.
The village has always been noted as a first-rate business place, attract-
ing and holding a large amount of general trade, and its lumber market has
been the leading one in the county. As a grain market, it has stood at the
front. Enterprise and vim have marked the character of its business men, and
substantial success has been their reward. No mercantile failure has ever oc-
curred among them. Its young men have gone forth east, west, north and
south, to wage the battle of life, and success has followed them. Its social life
is refined, and to build up instead of tear down seems to be the theory of its
citizens.
Lorain lies in part in Richland, and has had quite a struggle to maintain
itself In early days, Chauncey Blanchard gave it the nickname of" Buzzard's
Glory," which was enough to damn any town ; however, it still survives as a
pretty good cross-road town. Gruesbeck is now carrying on a very good gen-
eral mercantile business there ; Grant's Mill, one of the earliest steam saw-
mills, was located there, and James Grant, one of the old stand-bys of this
county, has been store-keeper, Postmaster, saw-mill man, farmer and Justice of
the Peace. A long and useful life he has spent there, and is not yet past the
verge of active life.
, ZL . (;ytii e^^^^.^c/'
WASHINGTON TP.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 161
One mile west of Larwill, where the Huntington & Goshen road intersects
the Fort Wayne & Warsaw road, once stood Summit —
"How often have I loitered o'er thy green,
Where humble happiness endeared each scene ;
How often have I paused on every charm,
The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm ;
Sunk are thy bowers, in shapeless ruin all,
And long grass o'ertops the moldering wall — "
with stores, groceries, smith-shops, doctor's oflBces, churches, schools and all the
nuclei of a young Western city. Now, scarcely one stone stands upon another
to mark the spot. Here was built, in the spring of 1840, the first schoolhouse
in the township, probably in the county, located on the northwest corner of A.
S. McNagny's farm, of round logs, puncheon floor, clapboard roof, unhewn
joists overhead, and a loose covering over them. Zillah Adams, since Mrs.
Tinkham, and now Mrs. Davis, taught the first school.
Henry Smith, who built the first saw-mill (a water-mill on Spring Creek,
on Mrs. Howard's farm, between Columbia and Larwill), and who was after-
ward County Commissioner, was one of the early and favorite teachers, and he it
was who flogged the writer most " sacrilegiously," and, worse than all, died before
the aforesaid writer got big enough to whale him. Peace to his ashes. Here,
in 1849, on the site of the schoolhouse above mentioned, was built the first church
in the township — the M. E. Church. This edifice was a frame one, 26x34 ; the
style of architecture was primitive and partaking somewhat of the " out-doric"
order ; but well it served its purpose for preachment, prayer and praise, and
Sunday school purposes. Here was established in 1847, the first post office in
the township, with Alex S. McNagny as Postmaster ; commission dated March
10, 1847. John Erwin, an old settler, who used to own the Klinehance farm
north of William Guy, was the contractor, and his son Andrew, was mail-car-
rier. We were happy ; we had a mail once a week each way. Andrew took
it through on horseback ; he is a brother of James Erwin, of Union Township;
now lives in Iowa. Previous to this time, the citizens had always gone to Colum-
bia for mail accommodations, from eight to twelve miles. Here, on the southwest
corner of the X-roads, was the first store in the township, built and stocked in
1850 by John and Alonzo Rodebaugh, father and son, and who did a very good
business. John Rodebaugh passed away in 1852, and Alonzo having since be-
come Dr. A. Rodebaugh, who was a prosperous physician at Indian Village, Noble
County, drowned himself while insane, April 17, 1882. Here Chittenden and
others had blacksmith-shops, followed in the same line by the famous T. L.
O'Brien. " Alas, poor Tom, I knew him well ; he was a fellow of infinite ca-
pacity for absorbing whisky," and, like most dissipated men in the trades and
professions had the reputation of being a tip-topper in his line of business, if
only he wouldn't drink. Here it was that " Old Mies," built a hotel, and
kept it for awhile, after the manner often alluded to by the boys. Here Dr.
162 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Wiggins for awhile abode, and "practiced medicine on the people." Here,
away back in the early days, and annually thereafter. Uncle Add Steele, " a
prince among his equals," would raise a liberty-pole on Fourth of July morn-
ing ; the place was the hill west of Boyce's house. A plentiful supply of the
" 0-be-joyful " was dispensed, and the occasion had strong attractions, and was
memorable. Alas ! patriotism and love of country are nearly extinct in our
day. Uncle Add's liberty-poles were always hickory.
Here, in 1853, Joshua Carder and Jacob Phillips built the first steam
saw-mill in the township, and what a field of operation was theirs. For scores
of miles on every side the stately trunks of black walnut, poplar, ash, oak, etc.,
had been, for hundreds of years, maturing in the frost and in the sunshine, and
competition was not. It was what they called a "muley" saw, that is, it ran
up and down in a frame and made more noise than a dozen modern mills. W.
J. Carder succeeded to the business, and, by bad management and lack of busi-
ness training, suffered opportunities to make fortunes to slip away, and finally
went to Iowa under a cloud, and the mill has long since been removed. Of W.
J. Carder a story is told, that one morning, passing a neighbor's, on his way to
Pierceton, he saw a young lad at work in the garden. Said garden was over-
supplied with vigorous burdock plants. Intending to be facetious, W. J. rec-
ommended the lad to hoe his pie plants. The boy took him literally, and told
his fellows, confidentially, that "Wes Carder is a d d fool. He don't know
burdock from pie plant."
On the northwest corner of the cross-roads, a spring of pure water bubbled
forth. Uncle Abe Stoler inserted a sycamore gum for curbing, and this served
to supply a generation of lads and lasses, as well as men and beasts, with good
pure water. The spring has disappeared from the face of the earth ; the dry,
dusty road passes over the spot, fit memento of the shifting, changing life we
bear.
Alexander S. McNagny and Abram Stoler, the owners of the town site,
still survive. Both are highly regarded by all who know them, are passing
their declining years in peace and prosperity on the farms they reclaimed from
the forest. A. S. McNagny came to the township in 1844 ; bought out John
Jones; was first Postmaster in township — 1847 to 1854; was Township
Trustee two terms; greatly devoted to home and its enjoyments, with a fund of
dry humor; hospitable and cheerful. Long may he remain among us.
When the railroad was built and the station located at Larwill, the post oflSce
transferred there and improvements were made, the new center became more
attractive, and "Ichabod" was inscribed above the door of Summit's aspiring
greatness. During the struggle for the station, feeling ran high and much
strife was generated; raw heads and bloody bones were not infrequent. No
Summitite young lady would accept the escort of a detested Huntsvillian and
vice versa. But Time, with healing on his wings, has long smoothed over those
differences, and the best of relations now exist between the denizens of Sum-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 163
mit and those of Huntsville, now Larwill, and during the year 1880 the plat
of Summit was formally vacated.
It is not creditable to Richland Township nor to Whitley County that
after nearly twenty years have elapsed since the close of the greatest war of
this century, if not in the world's history, and in which many hundreds of their
citizens participated, no correct and reliable list or record of such volunteers
has been made or kept, or even attempted. The admirable report of the Ad-
jutant General for the State of Indiana is very complete, considering the vastness
of the field it covers, but it is necessarily faulty and incomplete. Large numbers
of men are there recorded without any indication of where they enlisted from ;
hundreds of organizations of infantry, cavalry and artillery are there accounted
for, and more than 250,000 men accounted for, but a large number are not
distinguishable as to place of enlistment; 5,000 pages of closely printed sta-
tistical matter in eight large volumes is the only record the enquirer can go to,
else he must depend upon the fallible recollection of people in the com-
munity. Bearing the above facts in mind, it is hoped that the following list
(which is known to be very incomplete) of Richland boys who enlisted in their
country's service will not provoke too severe criticism. Acknowledgments
are due to Aaron Compton, G. W. Prugh, D. L. Whiteleather and A. H. King
for assistance in making this list.
Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers — Anthony Seymour, John Rice, Isaac
Kimes, Homer N. King, N. P. GuiFy, Joseph H. Nelson, David Kimes.
Twenty-Ninth Indiana Volunteers — Jeremiah Welker.
Thirty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers — Charles Compton, Charles Seymour,
Brayton Ricard, Walter Ricard, Joseph Parrett, Wesley Parrett, Solomon
Payne, Carter Hendricks.
Forty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers — S. J. Compton, J. W. Compton, I.
N. Compton, Alonzo King, James Samuels, J. W. Briggs, Henry Croy,
George W. Webster, Barret Ricard, J. P. Anderson, George W. HoUoway,
Henry Rupely, Amos Rhodarmel, George S. Cowgil, James Cowgil, Martin V.
Hatheway, W. R. Holloway, Nelson Parrett, Jacob Shofi", Randolph Dimick,
William A. Prugh, William Holderbaum, Jacob Ream, William Gobal, Ralph
Goodrich, Peter Huffman, Amos Bechtel.
Seventy-Fourth Indiana Volunteers— Henry Bishop, William Beard.
Eighty-Eighth Indiana Volunteers — William Croy, Seymour Whitman,
Alexander Bayman, Asher D. Hathaway, David Gillis, Jonathan Roberts, A.
Nichols, G. W. Holderbaum, G. W. Prugh, Elijah Sears, Orange L. Jones,
Stephen Donley, Archibald Carder, Andrew Cunningham, 0. H. Alley,
William Marshall, Hiram Harpster, Eli Pletcher, Alexander Randall, Frank
Simpkins.
One Hundredth Indiana Volunteers— David L. Whiteleather, Jacob
Stoler, William Sterling, C. L. Heaton, Charles Swindell, James Cleland,
Henry Mack, H. R. Kistler.
164 HISTORY OP WHITLEY COUNTY.
One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Indiana Volunteers — James Garner,
Edward Busby, Seth T. Hunt, Alfred Curtis, Samuel Curtis, Jacob Crumb,
Horace Hammontree, John R. Buntain, David dinger, Adam Kerns, Samuel
Kerns.
One Hundred and Thirty -Ninth Indiana Volunteers ^Chester Salmon,
David C. Stillwell.
One Hundred and Forty-Second Indiana Volunteers — Warren W. Martin,
Samuel Parish, Jacob Essinger, Elisha K. Cady, Warren Rollins, J. B. Jones,
Joseph Klingaman, William Klingaman, William Banning, W. L. Lambert-
son, George D. Trembly.
One Hundred and Fifty-Second Indiana Volunteers — Henry Norris, B.
F. Seymour, I. N. Pritchard, Leander Smith, S. P. CuUamore, James Harsh-
man, Thomas Nichols, Milton Bayman, John Craig, James Crumb, Samuel
Crumb, Jacob Fox, John H. Mann.
Fifth Indiana Battery — John Welker, Michael Alms, Squire Mack, W.
J. Rollins.
Eleventh Indiana Battery — Henry W. Caldwell. James Webster.
Twelfth Indiana Cavalry — S. D. Hathaway, James M. Kerr, R. J.
Parret, Allen Sears.
Regiment Unknown — Solomon Garringer, Henry Wager, John Beard,
Harvey Beard, Thomas A. Steele, Appleton W. Cone. In all, 126.
Among the early settlers was Ezra Thomson, who was born at Peru, Berk-
shire County, Mass., 1786 ; his wife was Sarah McNaughton, born at West
Pawlet, Rutland County, Vt., 1796. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson came to Rich-
land from Washington County, N. Y., and located on the old Thomson
homestead, Section 9, October, 1836, Mr. Thomson was a quiet, unassuming
man, fond of social converse, and became quite deaf in his later days. Mrs.
Thomson was a very bright, intelligent woman, high-spirited, and the dearth of
social life, and the absence of school facilities for her children was a great cross
to her. Of their children, there are now living Mrs. Phebe Cleveland, Mrs.
Alma Rambo, B. F. Thomson, Mrs. Elmira Arnold, Mrs. Sarah Arnold, Electa
Thomson, Augusta Wallace and Finley Thomson. Ezra Thomson died in
July, 1857, aged seventy-one years. Mrs. Thomson died in June, 1854, aged
fifty-eight years. They lie in the home burial-lot near the scene of their cares
and joys in the early settlement of this township.
William Norris was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, May 3, 1797 ;
thence removed to Coshocton County, Ohio ; came to Richland Township Sep-
tember 13, 1848. His wife's maiden name was Margaret McCoy, and was
born in the same place. Mr. Norris died at the age of seventy-five on the
16th of June, 1872, The children of these, living, are Marcus, Susan, Mar-
tha, Henry, William J,, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret Ann, Hospitable,
just. God-fearing, a good neighbor, a good citizen, his works do follow him.
His ashes rest in the cemetery at Richland Center.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 165
Nathan Chapman was born March 28, 1804, at Hebron, Washington
County, N. Y. He was married to Miss Laura A. Spencer, sister of M. F.
Spencer, of Troy Township ; lived for awhile in Seneca County, Ohio ; came
to Richland in 1838, July 3 ; died February 7, 1876 ; buried in Masonic cem-
etery, Columbia City. Mrs. Chapman was born at Owasco, Cayuga County,
N. Y., March 25, 1812, and survives him. The children of these are W. H.
Chapman and Mrs. Permelia Hart. Mr. Chapman was a wide-awake, intelli-
gent man, enterprising and useful in the community ; one of the first men to
begin merchandising, and kept up enterprises of that kind until old age forbade
it. He kept a store at Fairview, a forgotten city near Ryerson's, in Kosciusko
County, long before the railroad was built ; was always active in local affairs,
particularly roads, and had several severe contests to get them as he thought
they ought to be. There was said to be a certain beech tree at which all the
roads in which he was interested began or terminated.
Bela Goodrich was born in February, 1776 ; settled in Delaware County,
Ohio ; then came to Richland Township, June 16, 1838. Mrs. Goodrich's
maiden name was Sally Church. The children of these living are Price, Abi-
gail and Eunice. A modest, unpretending man, who loved peace and sought
the duty of the hour to perform ; a soldier of the war of 1812. His ashes
repose in the cemetery near Levi Adams.'
Edwin Cone was born April 30, 1805, at Middletown, Middlesex Co.,
Conn. His father and family removed to Madison County, Ohio, and where
he was married to Salima Wilson, who was a native of Pike County, Ohio. In
the summer of 1836, he determined to cast his lot in the wilds of Indiana, and
arrived at his new home in Section 5, September 30, 1836. Mr. Cone was
early a professor of religion, and became a local preacher in the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Plain and unassuming in his manner, upright and down-
right in his words and actions, never favored by fortune, yet he held a high
place in the regard of all who knew him. First Justice of the Peace in the
Township, constant in season and out of season in the discharge of duty. The
funerals and marriages of the neighborhood were generally solemnized by him
in the early days. The grave of an Indian excavated in the trunk of an im-
mense log and covered with a slab near his residence, was a point of attraction
to the youngsters. The children of Edwin and Salima Cone, surviving, are
Margaret Adams, Appleton W., Chester L. and Gilbert J. Cone. Mr. Cone
died, aged forty-nine, February 12, 1854. Mrs. Cone died at the age of sixty-
one. Their ashes rest in Lakeview Cemetery.
Daniel Cone, father of Edwin, was born at Haddam, Conn., March, 1769 ;
Ruth Rich, his wife, at Middletown, Conn. They removed to Madison County,
Ohio, thence following Mr. Cone and Mrs. Hayden. Their children removed
to Richland in the fall of 1837, and settled in Section 5. Daniel Cone passed
away December 11, 1847, aged seventy-eight. Ruth Cone died May 26, 1849,
aged seventy-seven. They are at rest in Lakeview Cemetery.
166 * HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Harlow Barber was born at Simsbury, Conn., May 8, 1798 ; was married
to Alcey Case in 1824. She died at Sheldon, N. Y., February, 1833 ; children
of these, living, are Virgil, Scott, Frederick and Edwin. Mr. Barber was mar-
ried a second time, about 1837, to Sophrona Case, who was born at Simsbury,
Conn., and was an elder sister of the first Mrs. Barber ; so that she has almost
completed the century, being ninety-six years old, and quite active, physically
and mentally. She survives her husband, and is the oldest person in the
county, with a good prospect of rounding the century ; long may she continue.
Mr. Barber died July 11, 1881, at Larwill, and was buried at Lakeview
Cemetery. Thus terminated a long and useful life. He was for fifty years a
member of the Methodist Church, in politics a Democrat until 1856, since then
a Republican, zealous for the right, ready to declare his opinions, straightfor-
ward and helpful to friend and neighbor.
Jacob Halderman was born July 31, 1801, in Virginia ; leaving home, he
first located in Preble County, Ohio ; was married to Miss E. Swihart, at
Eaton, Ohio, in 1822. The children of these are Mrs. S. B. Clevinger, Daniel,
Lewis and John Halderman, and Mrs. Sarah Read, of Richmond, Ind. Mr.
Halderman began coming to Whitley County in 1836, bringing woolen goods,
flannels, jeans and other merchandise, which he sold and traded to the settlers
round about. He afterward settled near Richmond, Ind., farmed awhile, then
entered into the lumber business, buying mostly black walnut, and came to do
a very large business therein. From 1850-70, he was very largely engaged
in buying flaxseed in addition to his lumber business ; removed to Whitley
County (Larwill), in 1862, and continued his business operations from this
point ; was married to Miss Elizabeth Dimick, 1867. The children of this
marriage are one son and two daughters. For many years a member of the
Dunker or German Baptist Church ; a Whig, and afterward a Republican ;
upright and just in all his dealings ; his word his bond, kindly and social,
generous to the poor and unfortunate. Such was the character of Jacob Hal-
derman ; his life was useful and beneficial to his fellow man ; he died 29th of
June, 1875, and was buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, near Liberty Mills,
Ind.
Elijah L. Scott was born in Greene County, Tenn., May 6, 1818 ; thence
came to Union County, Ind., in 1829; came to Richland October 12, 1837,
and located on Section 20. His wife's maiden name was Livonia DeWitt ;
born in Muskingum County, Ohio ; deceased, February 5, 1869. The chil-
dren of these, living, are Ellen, Emily, William, Elizabeth, Lucinda, Walter
and Henry. Mr. S. still survives, and is this year, as he has often been before,
Assessor of Richland Township. In the early days, when game and peltries
were to be found, he was a Nimrod and a successful one. Woodcraft he un-
derstood, and is a more active man to-day than most men of his age. Long
may he wave !
Andrew Compton was born in New Jersey February 22, 1808; thence he
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 167
removed to Coshocton County, Ohio. His wife, Mary A. Stafford, was born
in Maryland in 1808. They came to Richland October, 1837, and settled on
Section 21. He died October 29, 1852, aged forty-four years eight months.
Mrs. C. still survives. The children of these, living, are Rhua M., Isaac N.,
Stephen J., Jennie, Phebe, Matilda E., Aaron L., Cettatta D. and Francis W.
Mr. Compton was a rough and ready man, prompt, energetic, level-headed in
business affairs. A good lover and a good hater. It was at his house that the
earlier elections were held. A Whig of the "Whigs, whatever he was he was
known to be. He gave no uncertain sound.
John Burns was born, January 14, 1814, at Utica, N. Y. His wife, Mary
E. Letson, was born, September 29, 1820, in Orleans County, N. Y. Early
in the thirties, they removed to Oakland County, Mich. In the spring of
1837, John came to Indiana, entered his farm in Section 29, built a cabin, and
the following year brought his family. No remarkable events or wonderful
occurrences have marked his life. It has been the hard and laborious life of
one whose best days were surrounded by privation and care, whose house was
full of children; but it has been the life of the "noblest work of God — an
honest man," and his life has been useful to his fellow-man. In the church and
in the community, John Burns was never an unknown quantity. Mrs. B.
deceased September 17, 1875. The children of these are Julia, Ann, Justus,
Lovina, Abram, Maria, Rufus, Hannah, Ellen, Jane. Mr. Burns survives,
hale and hearty for a man of his years.
William Guy was born in Allegheny County, Penn., December 28, 1802.
His wife, Elizabeth Steele, was born in 1812, a native of Summit County, Ohio.
They removed to Richland May 8, 1838. A social, talkative man, with ideas
of his own on all ordinary topics, Mr. Guy was just short of being a money-
maker. He was a Democrat in politics and held to the Methodist Episcopal
Church ; was well regarded among his fellow-men. He died October 22, 1880.
His widow still survives. The children of these, living, are Mrs. Louisa Kelsey,
Henry and Francis Guy. William Guy was buried in the cemetery at Summit.
Price Goodrich was born December 17, 1799, in the State of Connecticut.
His wife, Julia Ann Black, was born in the State of New York in 1806. They
first settled in Delaware County, Ohio; came to Richland June 16, 1838, and
located on Section 25. The children of these, living, are Fanny, Silas,
Minerva, Chauncey, Martha, Jane and Fletcher. Mr. Goodrich is a mason by
trade, and built the court house at Columbia City, and many other buildings
years agone. He was one of the Inspectors of the first election held in Troy
Township at Mr. Tinkham's shop ; has been repeatedly County Commissioner ;
for many years a professor and " practicer " of religion ; for some time a local
preacher of the Methodist Church ; Democratic in politics ; has lived a long and
useful life, and he and his consort are descending the last steps of it in peace
and comfort, with the high regard of all who know them. There are a number
of other pioneers of whom it has not been possible to get data sufficient to base
168
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
even the briefest sketch : Zebulon P. Burch, David Payne, Jacob Kistler, Sr.,
Jacob Kistler, Jr., John Buck and Lorin Loomis are of this character.
Response failed to applications for data concerning J. R. Anderson, John
Jones, Samuel Andrews, Levi Curtis, William Rice, early settlers all, and well
worthy of a niche in the history of this township ; and many others who have
lived that this generation in this vicinity might enjoy their pleasant ease and
state, and, be it said with due reverence, have emigrated to a land where the
hardships of a frontier life will never obtrude themselves.
-^-t^jn '* ^
'^^H^i^lrxly Pyyrz/ -^^rVCi^
SMITH TP.
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 171
CHAPTER YIII.
by sdwabd a. mobsman.
Smith Township— An Interesting Description of the First White Settle-
ment IN THE County— Andrew Mack and John B. Godfrey— Who was
THE First White Settler in the County?— The Hard Times of Pio-
neer Life— Distressing Accidents— Mills and Other Industries—
Incidents— Growth of the Village of Churubusco— Schools and
Churches— Secret Societies.
" Men married women then
Who kept their healthful bloom,
By working at the churn,
And at the wheel and loom ;
And women married men
Who did not shrink from toil.
But wrung with sweat their bread
From out the stubborn soil,"
—R. H. Stoddard.
SMITH TOWNSHIP was so named in honor of Samuel Smith, a very
worthy gentleman, who became a resident of the township in the autumn
of the year 1834, and settled on the farm on which William Van Meter now
resides, where he lived until his death, which occurred April 27, 1863, in the
seventy- eighth year of his age. The first white settler in the township (in the
county, in fact), was Andrew Mack, who settled in the township prior to the
year 1827.* It seems to be the' prevailing opinion that John B. Godfrey was
the first white settler ; but, evidence to the contrary is too strong to admit of a
reasonable doubt. Alpheus B. Gaif, a gentleman whose veracity none can
question, says that Jacob Baker and Jehu Skinner, both reliable gentlemen,
have frequently told him that they traveled from Fort Wayne to Elkhart, the
former in 1827, and the latter in 1831, and that Andrew Mack lived there
*The evidence that such a man as Andrew Mack ever lived within the borders of Smith Township is cer-
tainly very unsatisfactory. Mr. Gaff remembers that two other gentlemen told him on divers occasions that they had
seen Mack in Smith Township at an early day. Here, then, is doubly-distant hearsay evidence. The liability
and the probability of the treachery of memory, are multiplied by the lapse of time, and by the transmission of the
evidence from mouth to moulh. No reflection should be cast upon the honest intention of Baker, Skinner, GHff, or
Mossman, the writer of this chapter. The question is, can the obscure and meager evidence (if such it can be called),
be relied upon as given ? The fact is, that Mr. Mack's residence in Smith Township prior to (say) 1830, or even at all',
is extremely doubtful and unreliable, and should so be considered by the reader.
Adam Hull told the writer of this note that, when he came to where he now lives, in 1830, John B. Godfrey
was then living just north of Blue River Lake. Mr. Hull says he remained days at a time at the log cabin of God-
frey, and during the winter of 1830-31, roamed frequently throughout the surrounding woods in search of game. He
became well acquainted with Godfrey, who had for a wife a fine-looking French woman. Godfrey sold goods from a
small stock, to the Indians. The dispute as to whether Godfrey was an tndian, a half-breed or a full-bl'ioded French-
man, aiose from the fact that each of a few of the earliest settlers desired the distinction of being the first white set-
tler in the township, and, of course, in the county. They could, therefore, question with perfect consisten -y, whether
Godfrey was an l*dian or a Frenchman ; as his habits, mode of life and seclusion or avoidance of white society gave
color to such questioning. Adam Hull is satisfied that Godfrey was a Frenchman, and that not a drop of Indian
blood ran in his veins. Handsome French women, such as Godfrey's wife, did not marry Indians in those days;
neither did they marry half-breeds. Indians rarely, or never, kept a store ol goods to tiade with Indians. It was
unusual to find even a half-breed trader. French traders, however, were numerous. An Indian or a half-breed (the
latter being considered in all respects an Indian in the cession treaties at that time) could, at the treaties, reserve por-
tions of land from the tracts ceded the Government. If Godfrey was an Indian or a half-breed why did ho not re-
serve as much land as he wanted? No, he waited until 1835 or 1836, and then entered two small tracts of land on
Section 9, as can be seen elsewhere in this volume, or can be seen in the patent book at Columbia City. Neither
Indians nor half-bretds entered land in those days. They were not citizens. All these facis lead to the conclusion
that Mr. Mack should be regarded as a traditionary settler, and that John B. Godfrey, a Frenchman, should he ac-
corded the honor of being the first white settler in Smith Township and in Whitley County, Absalom Hyre would
then be second ; Jesse Long third, and Francis Tnlley fourth. — Ed.
I
172 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
then. His, they say, was the only house on the Goshen road, between Fort
Wayne and Elkhart. Jehu Skinner told Mr. GafF that the finest and largest
potatoes he had ever seen, either before or since that time, he saw at Andrew
Mack's, when he stayed all night with him in 1831. He said the bill of fare
consisted of corn bread, venison, potatoes and stewed pumpkin, Jehu Skinner
died in 1864. Jacob Baker was still living in the summer of 1879, and possi-
bly may be yet. Mack's cabin stood very nearly, if not exactly, on the same
spot that Thomas Whitney's dwelling now stands. John B. Godfrey subse-
quently built a log cabin on the opposite side of the road, but a few rods from
where Thomas Whitney's barn now stands. Godfrey possibly lived in the
house that Mack built, for a time, before he built the house across the road.
Just when Mack went, or whither, or when Godfrey came, or whence, the
writer has not been able to ascertain. It is pretty certain, however, that Mack
was the first settler and Godfrey the second. As stated, Godfrey built a cabin
near where Whitney's barn now stands ; and a few years later, he built the log
house in which James S. Craig now lives, on the east side of the river, and
there lived until his death, which occurred about the year 1845. Those who
have seen Godfrey frequently and were well acquainted with him, differ in
opinion somewhat, as to whether he was a purely white man ; but the better
opinion seems to be that he was, notwithstanding he was rather dark-complex-
ioned. He was a Frenchman. It is said that he sold " heap much fire-water"
to the Indians. He is said to have been very eccentric in his actions, and to
have lived in almost utter seclusion for several years before his death. The
third white settler in the township was Absalom Hyre, who located on the farm
on which David W. Nickey now lives, in the fall of 1833. Jesse Long came
in the spring of 1834, and Francis Tulley, Richard Baughan and Samuel Nickey
came during the same year. Samuel Smith came during the fall of 1834.
Wyatt Jeffries, Benjamin Jones and Jacob Van Houten came in the year 1835,
and Otho Gandy came in the same year, or the year following. George C.
Pence, Janus Gordon, James Zolman, William Cleland, David Wolf and Jesse
Speer came in the year 1836. Talcot Perry and Enoch Magrate came some-
time prior to the year 1836, though the exact date is not ascertainable. Daniel
Miller does not recollect in what year he came, but, as William Miller, his old-
est child, was born in the township forty -four years ago, it is certain that he
must have come into the township as early as the year 1837. Zachariah Gar-
rison came in 1837, Jacob Nickey in 1839, George W. Slagle and Appleton
Rich in 1840, and Uriah Slagle in 1847. It is not known just ^hen the fol-
lowing-named persons settled in the township, but they were all early settlers, some
of them having been here over forty years, perhaps, and none of them, probably,
under thirty years : Addison McGuire, Alpheus B. Gaff, George Gaff, Henry
Pence, Abraham Pence, John Pence, Joseph Pence, Brinton Jones, Benjamin
C. Jones, Peterson Jones, Feilding Pompey, Nathan Jeffries, David Jeffries,
Marcus L. Jeffries, Augustus W. Jeffries, Wells Smith, Lemuel Devault, Joseph
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 173
Waugh, James Crow, Alexander Craig, Jacob Sine, Jacob Coverstone, Harri-
son Grable, Martin D. Grable, Festus Grable, Martin D. Garrison, James Gar-
rison, Zachariah Garrison, Jr., David W. Nickey, William Miller, David V.
Miller, Thomas McGuire, William McGuire, Philip McNear, Josiah P. McNear,
Isaac Van Houten, Samuel HoUenbeck, Joseph W. Pompey, Otis J. Gandy, Jere-
miah Krider, Abraham Krider, David Waugh, Harrison Speer,James S. Craig,
Thomas Whitney, John Coulter, George Coulter, Joseph 0. Long, John Jones,
Hiram Jones, William Krider, George Krider, James Maloney, Patrick H.
Maloney and, perhaps, others, whose names are not at present recollected. No
attempt has been made to arrange the foregoing list of names in the order of
the priority of their arrival in the township. A few of them were heads of
families at the time when they came, but most of them were either small boys
or young men under twenty-one years of age, and came with their parents,
and some of them were born in the township.
The township was organized in the year 1838, and the first election was
held at the residence of John Moore, who then lived on the farm on which
John Jones now resides. The first Trustees of the township were Jesse Long,
George Harter and Zachariah Garrison. John Moore was the first Justice of
the Peace. The names of the other officers who were elected at the first election
could not be ascertained. Those who came first had difficulties to overcome
that would have discouraged and disheartened any except the most resolute.
Then there were no bridges across the streams or the swamps, as there are
now. The streams were frequently greatly swollen by the heavy rains, and
when the emigrant came to them he must cross at once. For him to wait for
the waters to subside, was out of the question, for the reason that there was no
sustenance to be had for his family or his animals. It was frequently impossi-
ble for the teams to draw the loaded wagons through the swollen streams, and
then it was necessary to fell a tree across the stream at some point where it was-
narrow enough for the tree to reach well across, and then unload their
wagons, and carry everything across, after which they would drive their teams
through with the empty wagon; or, if the stream was too deep, and too miry,,
as was frequently the case, they would swim their teams through, then push
their wagons into the stream as far as they could by hand, fasten long ropes or
chains to the end of the tongue or pole, hitch the teams to it on the other side^
pull it through, reload, and resume their journey. Thus, it took some of the
early settlers three days to travel the distance from Fort Wayne to the neigh-
borhood of Concord, which can easily be done at the present day in three
hours. And, after reaching their destination, their hardships, trials, tribula-
tions and privations were unabated, until they had been here long enough to
clear a few acres of ground and raise some produce. Provisions and proven-
der could not be obtained except at prices that would seem to us at the present
day almost fabulous ; and then they frequently were compelled to haul it from
such great distances that it would take them a week to go after it and return.
174 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
A gentleman residing in the western part of the township, who was then a boy,
says he distinctly remembers the circumstance of a man coming to his father's
house for the purpose of borrowing some breadstuff. He says that when his
father, who had a very large family, showed the man all the flour that he had
(about eighteen pounds), and told him that that was all the breadstuff he had
in the world, and that he did not see how he could spare any of it, the man
burst into tears, and said he had not one bite of any kind of breadstuff in his
house for his wife and children, and that he did not know where he could get
any, for that he had already gone to every place he knew of where it was likely
to be had. He started home crying, and the narrator says that his father
called to him, and told him to come back — that he would give him the half of
what he had, and that they would starve together. When he had received it,
the narrator says he seemed to be the most grateful and the happiest man he ever
saw. Verily, time works wondrous changes. The gentleman who gave the nine
pounds of flour lived to see the day when he could much more easily have
spared nine barrels of flour than he then could those nine pounds. The Indians
were quite numerous for several years after the first settlers came, and were
very annoying to the settlers, although they committed no depredations in or
near this township. Their annoyances consisted in begging provisions of the
settlers, many of whom had no more than was barely sufficient for the support
(and in many cases it was a very scanty one at that) of their own families.
Also the Indians greatly annoyed the early settlers by killing their hogs. They
killed so many for George C. Pence, and thereby exasperated him to such a
degree that, upon hearing the report of a gun on one occasion, and hearing
the barking of dogs and the squealing of hogs, he hastily took up his gun and
started in the direction whence the sounds proceeded. When he reached the
spot, which was not more than a quarter of a mile distant from the house, he
discovered an Indian in the act of drawing one of his hogs, which he had
killed, up on his pony. Mr. Pence fired at the Indian, but missed him. The
Indian abandoned his booty, and, giving a loud whoop, galloped away as fast
as his pony could carry him. Mr. Pence loaded his gun and killed both of
the Indian's dogs, which were still pursuing the hogs. It is possible that it
was fortunate for Mr. Pence and for all the white settlers in the vicinity, that
his aim was no better ; for, as the Indians were at that time far more numer-
erous than the whites, it is not improbable that, had he killed the Indian, there
would have been a general massacre of the whites in retaliation. The early
settlers had to haul all their produce to Fort Wayne, over roads that were
almost impassable. Fort Wayne was then a mere Indian trading-post. The
variety of articles, as well as the supply kept by the traders, was very lim-
ited. For nails or anything in the hardware line, the settlers had to go to
Piqua, Ohio, a distance of 100 miles or over. Game was very abundant
when this county was first settled, although it is said to have been far more
so withm a few years after the Indians left the country. The early settlers
SMITH TOWNSHIP. • ' 175
say (and no doubt it will seem very surprising to those who are unacquainted
with the Indian's mode of hunting) that the Indians were very poor hunt-
ers. A good white hunter, it is said, can kill more game than the best of the
Indian hunters. The Indians, it is said, keep the game always wild and un-
approachable by their mode of hunting, which is, to pursue them upon their
ponies with a pack of dogs (the Indians whooping, and the dogs barking all
the while, creating a very pandemonium) until the game is overcome by sheer
exhaustion.
The first child born in the township was Rosanna Tuiley, who is now
the wife of John Krider. She was born September 15, 1834. The first
marriage that was solemnized within the township was probably Henry Pence's,,
who was married in the yearlSSi'. The lady's name has not been ascertained.
The first death that occurred in the township was that of a child of Wyatt
Jeffries, which died in the fall of the year 1834.
In the year 1836, Enoch Magrate and Talcott Perry were starting out one-
Sunday morning to gather cranberries, and as they were going along a path,
Magrate on foot and Perry on horseback behind him, the hammer of Perry's
gun caught on a limb and drew it back far enough to discharge the gun, the
ball taking effect in Magrate's back and coming out in front. Perry, with the
assistance of Brinton Jones and one or two others, who soon arrived on the
spot, conveyed Magrate to his home, where he lingered in great agony until
the next day, when death released him from his suffering. Talcott Perry died
N'Dvember 11, 1845, and his remains are interred in the cemetery at Concord
Church, the place of his interment being marked by a neat marble tombstone.
The first schoolhouse in the township was erected on the north part of
the eighty-acre tract that Lemuel Devault now lives on, about the year 1840,
and the teacher who taught the first term of school therein was a man by the
name of Wizner. There had, however, been several terms of school taught in
the township in private and vacant houses, before the schoolhouse was built.
The first school in the township was taught by John Strain, about the year
1838, in a log house, owned by him (then vacant), on the farm now owned by
Hiram Jones. The second school was taught by Isaac Claxton, on the farm
now owned by William Krider, then owned by Eli McClure ; and the third
was taught by the aforementioned Wizner in Francis Tuiley 's kitchen, on
the farm now owned by Wesley Tuiley. The second schoolhouse was built
very near the spot where the railroad crosses the Goshen road, and in the
vicinity of the Larimore House, in the town of Churubusco, about the year
1844. The first teacher in the house was Isaac Claxton. About the year
1848, a schoolhouse was built on George C. Pence's farm, about a quarter of a
mile east of where Joseph Pence now lives, in which the first teacher was
either James Davis or Harrison Grable. All the schoolhouses that were erected
for many years after this country was first settled, were erected by the citizens
of the neighborhood, each contributing as much labor or material as his cir-
176 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
cumstances would permit ; and the schools taught in them were what were
denominated subscription schools. There were, perhaps, no schoolhouses
built in the township at public expense prior to 1850, or, perhaps, a year or
two later. The first schoolhouses built in this township were built in just
about the same fashion that the early schoolhouses throughout the country were
built in, and as that has probably been described in the history of each of the
other townships, the readers of this history will lose nothing by its being
omitted here.
About the year 1838, a man whose name was John Bowls, who lived near
-the west bank of Blue River Lake, was arrested upon the charge of killing hia
wife. His little girl, who was about twelve or thirteen years of age, said that
her father and mother quarreled, and that her father struck her mother on the
head with a large potato, and knocked her down, after which he stamped upon
her breast with the heel of his boot, until he killed her, all of which was wit-
nessed by her. Whitley County not having been organized at that time, the
territory which it at present comprises being then embraced within the
bounds of Huntington County, there were no courts nearer than Hunting-
tion in which to try him ; and, in consequence of the lack of means for the
administration of justice, this man, whom every one believed to be guilty ^
escaped the punishment which he doubtless merited. After holding him in
custody for a short time, and after a few of the good citizens had visited Hunt-
ington several times, making futile efforts to set the machinery of the law in
motion against him, he was set at liberty. In a short time afterward he went
away, no one knew whither, and his children were sent back to Ohio, whence
they had come.
When the tide of immigration was steadily flowing westward, as it did from
about 1835 to 1850, or a little later, it was not an uncommon thing for
farmers to convert their farm houses into a kind of tavern, with some such
rudely lettered sign as " Entertainment," or " Traveler's Rest," prominently
displayed in front of it. The house in which Nathaniel Metsker now resides
was once such an asylum of rest for the toil-worn traveler, the proprietor of
which was David Wolf The first saw-mill in the township was a water mill,
erected about the year 1850, on a small stream about seven miles northwest of
Churubusco, by Jacob Brumbaugh. The stream has plenty of fall, but as the
water is too low a good part of the year to run the mill, the water privilege is of
comparatively little value. There has, however, been a great deal of sawing
done there, and, judging from the amount of timber that still remains standing
in the woods, in the vicinity of it, it will probably do a great deal yet, not-
withstanding the dam is now washed out, and the whole property seems to
have rather a dilapidated appearance.
About the year 1840, two men came to the house of John B. Godfrey,
purchased some small article of him, and gave him, in payment, a bank bill,
which Godfrey thought was counterfeit ; but upon their assuring him that it
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 177
was genuine, he took it. Godfrey very soon had the bill examined by an ex-
pert, who unhesitatingly pronounced it a base counterfeit. Something in the
conduct of the men caused Godfrey to believe that they knew the bill to be
counterfeit at the time when they passed it, and he hastened to a Justice of the
Peace, procured a warrant, and soon had an officer in pursuit of them. They
were pursued with such promptness and celerity that they were overtaken and
arrested that same evening, where they had turned off and traveled some dis-
trnce from the main road and encamped for the night by a fire that they had
built by a large log. They were taken to Columbia City, where the grand
jury, which was then in session, found an indictment against the one who passed
the bill, and he was put upon trial for publishing, passing, and uttering coun-
terfeit money, knowing it to be such, with the intent to defraud John B. God-
frey. In the trial of the cause, the comrade of the man who passed the bill,
swore that the bill exhibited at the trial, was not the bill that the defendant had
passed to Godfrey ; but, the testimony showing the identity of the bill was so
overwhelming that he was immediately arrested on a bench warrant, on a charge
of perjury. He was at once reported to the grand jury, who found a true bill
against him, and at the next term of the court he was convicted and sentenced
to a term of penal servitude in the penitentiary. The one who was charged
with uttering counterfeit money was also convicted, and sent to the penitentiary
for a term of years.
The first post office established in this township was on the farm now
owned by Jacob Sine, and was kept in a log house which stood near where
Jacob Sine's brick dwelling now stands. The mail was carried on an ox when
the roads were bad, for the reason that the roads were so miry at that time
that a horse could not get through many places which an ox could pass through,
without much difficulty, for the reason that, owing to the conformation of his
hoof, he could much more easily withdraw it from the mire. The post office
was called Churubusco, and the name of the Postmaster was Joseph Scott.
Scott kept a small stock of goods, which was the first stock of goods kept in the
township (except that John B. Godfrey kept powder, lead, blankets, and a few
other articles) and, perhaps, in the county. The second saw-mill erected in the
township was also a water-mill, and was erected by Alpheus B. and George
GaflP, in the year 1854, on a small stream, which is the outlet of three small
lakes, in the southern part of Noble County. The mill, which has been dis-
used since about 1864, stands about half a mile north of A. B. Gaff's house.
The first jail erected at the county seat (a log jail which stood in the public
square until after the year 1852) was built by a man named William Blair,
who lived in Smith Township where Jacob Dull now lives.
About the year 1867, an aged colored woman, named Fanny Pompey, met
death under the following most tragic and horrifying circumstances : She was
very decrepit, being about one hundred years of age, and was living alone.
Relatives, living near by, attended to her wants during the day, but at night
178 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
she always stayed alone. One night, some of the neighbors discovered that her
house was on fire, and, although they repaired to the spot with all possible
speed, yet they were too late to save the old lady from the most horrible fate of
perishing in the flames. The flames were issuing from the roof when the fire
was first discovered, and it is not probable that her life could have been saved
had those who discovered the fire been there on the spot. It is supposed that
she had been smoking in bed, after she had retired for the night, and that some
sparks of fire had fallen from her pipe upon the bed and set it on fire ; that her
clothing caught fire from the burning bed and that she, being so very feeble
with age, was soon strangled and overcome by the smoke and the flames, and
had fallen in the middle of the floor, where she was seen to be lying by those
who first arrived on the spot.
Smith Township contains the second largest town in the county — Churu-
busco. About the year 1845, William B. Walker and David Craig settled on
the land that was subsequently laid out and platted as the towns of Union and
Franklin, that part south of the railroad being called Union and that north of
it Franklin. Those towns were laid out about the year 1853, when the first
work was done on what is now the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad.
Subsequently the towns were consolidated, under the name of Churubusco.
The firsi building erected in the town was the hewed-log house of William B.
Walker, erected about 1845, on very nearly the same spot that William Shifler's
dwelling-house now stands on, and the second was the building now occupied
by Jacob Kichler as a grocery and bakery. It was occupied and used as a
hotel until about 1878, when Jacob Kichler, the present proprietor, purchased
it and converted it into a provision store, bakery and eating-house. He discon-
tinued the restaurant in the fall of 1881, and continues only the grocery and
bakery. Whilst it was conducted as a hotel, it passed through numerous hands,
among whom were Andrew Farmer, Western Ackley, Henry C. Pressler, Jo-
seph R. Sunderland, and so on, ad infinitum. The next building erected in
the town was the old frame building east of Kichler's bakery, built by John G.
Croy for a grocery. About the year 1856, George Howe erected a frame build-
ing on the corner, where Lewis' saloon now stands, for a grocery. About the
same time, or a little later, a man named Harding erected the building in which
Charles Patterson now has his harness shop, for a furniture shop. The next
building erected in the town was a dwelling-house, west of and opposite to the
Larimore House, erected by Joseph Brown. The first dry goods store in the
town was kept by Joseph Richards, in a building erected by him for the pur-
pose, being the same building in which G. W. Ott now has his stock of groce-
ries. Richards sold goods there for several years and then sold out to Harvey
McCullough. John L. Isherwood also kept a dry goods store there for several
years prior to 1877, when he moved his stock to where it now is. About the
year 1868, Joseph Richards erected the building in which he is now doing
business, for a dry goods store. He has been doing business in the same build-
JEFFERSOM TP.
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 181
ing ever since, up to the present time. In the same year, the building in
which J, L. Isherwood now has his hardware store was built by Henry C.
Pressler, for a hardware store. About the year 1877, Pressler sold out his
hardware store to John R. Ross and George W. Fair, partners under the firm
name of Ross & Fair. About the year 1870, the building in which G. W.
Maxwell is now keeping a dry goods store was erected by William Ross and
Francis M. Magers for dry goods and drugs. Then, the building in which
Thomas A. Rhodes has his grocery and dry goods store was begun by a man
named Newell and completed by John Deck, for a drug store. In the
year 1872, John Deck builtthe hotel near the railroad depot, which is now the
Larimore House. Very soon after its completion, Alexander M. Long became
the owner of the property and continued to be the owner of it until the year
1881, when the present proprietor, Thomas Larimore, became the owner of it.
Mr. Larimore expended about $5,000 in rebuilding it, and it is now one of the
neatest, best kept and best furnished hotels in the country, a credit to the enter-
prising proprietor and to the town. Before Mr. Larimore bought it, it had
been leased by several different persons and run by each a short time, very few
of them as long as a year. A few of those who kept hotel there were William
Waterson, John W. Hutsel, Jr., Joseph Parks, Isaac N. Keller, Frederick S.
ShoaflF, John Gerdinck and several others. In the same year that the hotel was
built, Robert Hood erected the building in which G. Kinzy's gun shop now is,
for a wagon shop. The next building was the one in which Isay's meat shop
now is, which was built on the rear part of the lot, and was subsequently
moved to the front, where it now is. It was built for a gun shop.
About the year 1873, or perhaps 1874, Hosack's wagon shop was built.
About the same time, or a little earlier perhaps, James E. Witham built his
blacksmith and wagon shop on the south side of the railroad, in what was for-
merly the town of Union. The building at present occupied by John Diller as
a saloon was built by James M. Harrison, just north of Oscar Gandy's resi-
dence, for a furniture store, with schoolroom above. A few years later, the
building was sold to Levi Butterbaugh and Solomon B. Leckrone, who kept
saloon in it for a short time at that place ; then moved it to the northwest
corner of what is commonly known as the mill lot, just south of the railroad.
William A. Geiger subsequently purchased the building, and moved it to where
it now stands. When it will be again moved or to what place the writer is
unable to state.
About the year 1873, the building now occupied by Henry Wyatt, as a
saloon and restaurant, was built by Henry C. Pressler for a saloon. It has
been occupied by various parties, sometimes as a saloon and sometimes as a
grocery and bakery. Among those who have done business there are the
following: Henry C. Pressler, Oscar Gandy, Samuel Haller, Edward Snyder,
James Marker, Andrew Farmer, Jacob Kichler, Samuel Eby, Henry Wyatt
and James Mason. The building occupied by Samuel F. Barr as a furniture
182 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Store was built by the present owner, Mr. Barr, about the year 1873, for a
furniture store, and has been occupied by him for that purpose ever since.
In the year 1874, Harvey McCullough erected the building now owned
and occupied by John A. Rich as a drug store. Isaac N. Whittenberger, Har-
vey McCullough and Alpheus B. Gaff sold dry goods there. About the year
1878, the building was purchased by John F. Shoaff and John Deck, who very
soon afterward sold it to the present owner. The building in which Snyder &
McGuire are keeping saloon was built, about the year 1873, by William G.
Hughes for a dwelling, on the west side of the lot on which W. A. Geiger's
hardware store is situated. It was subsequently moved to the place where it
now stands, and used for a time as a meat shop, until about the year 1880,
when George F. Walburn became the owner of it and opened a saloon there ;
since which time it has been occupied by various persons for that purpose. The
present post office building was erected about the year 1875.
About the year 1877, the building in which Craig & Richey sell hardware
was erected by H. C. Pressler for a hardware store. The building was occu-
pied for a few years by Henry C. Pressler and William A. Geiger for a hard-
ware store, and then for about two years as a dry goods store, by Joseph
Hyman, Mayer & Ney and Mayer & Eichhold in succession. Since the fall
of 1881, it has been occupied by Craig & Richey as a hardware store. The
present owner is Lemuel Richey. The building in which Samuel Eby's saloon
is kept was built, about the year 1874, by Morris Madricker as a dwelling
house. For a time after Madricker ceased to occupy it as a dwelling house, it
was used by Charles Brown as an agricultural store ; after which it was used
by various parties as a meat shop, until it was finally purchased by Adam Avry,
and converted into a saloon.
C. C. Walkley's grocery was erected about 1877. About the same time,
or a little later, the building occupied by William A. Geiger as a hardware
store was erected by William G. Hughes & Co. for the purpose of renting it
to Joseph Hyman for a dry goods store. William A. Geiger now owns the
building. The next building erected in the town was the building now occu-
pied by Brand & Bro. as a drug store, built, in 1878 or 1879, by Dr. John F.
Criswell and John W. Goodrich for a drug store.
In the year 1881, the brick building owned and occupied by Mayer &
Eichhold as a dry goods store was erected by the present proprietors, at a cost
of about $10,000. The building occupied by John R. Young, as a meat shop,
was built about the same time, perhaps a little later, and was the last business
house built in the town.
About the year 1855, Joseph Brown built a saw-mill about on the same
ground that Randolph & Brown's mill now stands. The mill now owned by
Randolph & Brown was built by S. J. Clark about the year 1872. It was
subsequently owned by Theodore F. Gilleland, William G. Hughes & Co. and
Randolph & Brown, the present owners. It has two large boilers, and con-
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 183
tains, besides the saw-mill, a planer, turning-lathe, machinery for manufactur-
ing almost all the parts of a wagon (except the hub), saws for lath, table-legs,
shingles, heading, handles, etc. The grist-mill now owned by Joseph Kichler
& Bro. was built by Jacob Hose and Alexander Hall in the year 1870. David
Shilling and William Waterson purchased the property of Hose & Hall, but
did not own it long until they sold it to the present owners.
The following professional men have, at various times, been located in the
place: Physicians — Drs. Kelly, Birney, Madricker, Aldrich, Keller, Magers,
Criswell, Kester and Squires, the last four of whom are still here. Attorneys
— Edward A. Mossman and Frank A. Brink. Dentists — F. F. Cook and L.
D. Palmer. The tailors of the town have been McKinnon, John Thu-
vis, Henry Finkbender and Joseph Simon ; and the jewelers George B. Chase,
John Stratton, Thomas Hanson and William Shifler.
The schoolhouse in the town of Churubusco was built in 1875, whilst
George Gaff was Township Trustee, at a cost of about $4,000. It is a large
two-story brick building, about forty by seventy-five feet, with two rooms
below and two above. It is sufficiently commodious for the present, but it
might have been made to look much better had a good architect been employed
to furnish a design, which might have been done for a small sum, perhaps
for $25.
The Churubusco Neivs was established, in 1876, by William E. Grose.
The paper subsequently passed into the hands of Chase Milice, and the name
was changed by him to the Herald. He conducted it but a short time, when
it passed into the control of Daniel M. Eveland. Before it came into Mr.
Eveland's hands, it had been neutral in politics; but he soon avowed himself
an out-and-out Republican, and made some very severe strictures upon the
opposite party, whereat many of his Democratic subscribers withdrew their
patronage, and he was soon compelled to dispose of the office and seek another
field. I. B. McDonald then became the proprietor, with William Haw & Son
as editors and publishers. Under their management, the paper was as strongly
Democratic as it had been Republican under Mr. Eveland's management. At
the end of about a year after William Haw & Son assumed control of the
paper, they retired, and were succeeded by C. T. & F. M. Hollis. The paper
not proving satisfactorily remunerative, Mr. McDonald removed it to Columbia
City in November, 1871, where it has since been published under his own per-
sonal control. The Sunbeam^ Charles L. Kinzy and Lizzie A. Eveland, edi-
tors and proprietors, folio, was established in 1878 ; subscription, 50 cents per
annum. Its existence terminated with Mr. Eveland's connection with the
Herald. The White Elephant, bi-weekly, 75 cents per annum, was established
in 1878, Anes Yocum, editor and proprietor.
The first church society in the county was organized at the house of Samuel
Nickey in 1838, by Rev. R. S. Ball, of the Methodist denomination, with a
membership of about twelve. The first church erected in the township was a
184 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
log building by the name of Concord, and stood where Concord Church now
stands. It was erected about the year 1848,. The present membership of Con-
cord Church is about thirty. Present minister, Rev. Church. Salem Church, the
church at Fuller's Corners, Lake Chapel, in Lake Township, Allen County,
and Pleasant Hill, are all offshoots of Concord Church. The United Brethren,
the Baptist and the Methodist denominations have good churches in the town of
Churubusco, the United Brethren Church being erected in 1872, the Baptist in
1875, and the Methodist in 1878. The Methodist Church is a brick building,
the others frame. The United Brethren and the Methodist denominations
are prospering well, but the Baptist does not seem to be doing so well for some
reason. They have no pastor at present. The Seventh-Day Adventists held
a series of meetings in Churubusco in the fall of 1881, and at the close organ-
ized a church with seven or eight members. They have no regular services.
Pleasant Hill Church was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Robinson in December, 1865,
with about twenty-five communicants. Present membership, about fourteen.
Sunday school is kept up summer and winter. There is a very neat cemetery
near the church.
The first meeting of Churubusco Lodge, A., F. & A. M., under dispensa-
tion, was held March 11, 1875, with the following officers : Edward A. Moss-
man, W. M.; Andrew Anderson, S. W.; George W. Fair, J. W.; Isaac N.
Whittenberger, S. D.; Henry M. Wyatt, J. D.; Samuel F. Barr, Treas.; and
John R. Ross, Sec. Number of members, fourteen. On the 29th of July,
1876, the lodge was instituted by William Carr, Special D. G. M., as Chur-
ubusco Lodge, No. 515, A., F. & A. M., with officers the same as under dis-
pensation. Present officers — John W. Brand, W. M.; Abraham V. Gordon,
S. W.; Charles Errickson, J. W.; Frederick S. Shoaf, Treas.; Henry C. Press-
ler. Sec; John Slofer, S. D.; Charles Rapp, J. D.; Horace McDuffey, Albert
Eichhold and George H. Johnston, Trustees. Present membership, sixty-five.
Time of meeting, first Thursday and third Saturday in each month. Churubusco
Lodge, No. 462, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted Aug. 18, 1874, by Oliver P.
Koontz, D. D. G. M., with the following officers: Appleton R. Jackson, N.
G.; Oscar Gandy, V. G.; Winfield S. Gandy, R. S.; John E. Pike, P. S.;
John A. Rich, Treas. Number of charter members, eleven. Present officers —
William A. Geiger, N. G.; John N. Fowler, V. G.; Daniel Beaber, R. S.; John
W. Orndorf, P. S. Present membership, fifty-four. Time of meeting, Friday
evening of each week. Churubusco Lodge, No. 2,109, K. of H., was instituted
March 11, 1880, by Charles G. Aichele, D. D. G. D. (of Fidelity Lodge, No.
1,375, K. of H., of Kendallville, Ind.), with the following officers : Winfield S.
Gandy, D. D.; Anes Yocum, D.; George F. Brand, V. D.; Michael Kichler,
A. D.; William H. Carter, R.; John H. Grisamer, F. R.; Frederick S. Shoaff,
Treas. Number of members at date of organization, twenty-one. Present
officers — John N. Fowler, D.; Martin Kocher, V. D.; Frederick S. Shoaff, P.
D.; Ellison T. Campbell, A. D.; Harrison Speer, R.; John H. Grisamer, F.
UNION TOWNSHIP. 185
R.; Frederick S. Shoaff, Leander Slagle and Anes Yocum, Trustees. Present
membership, twenty-five. Time of meeting, Tuesday night of each week.
On the 16th day of December, J879, the most appalling accident that
ever occurred in Smith Township occurred at Lewis Turnbull's saw-mill, about
a quarter of a mile north of Collins Station, whereby five persons were in-
stantly killed. Their names were Lewis Turnbull, the proprietor of the mill ;
his two sons, Robert and Wesley Turnbull ; his nephew, Lorenzo Turnbull,
son of John Turnbull ; and Elzie Glenn — all of whom were employed on the
mill. There was no other person in or about the mill, or the destruction of
life would no doubt have been greater. The explosion of the boiler was the
cause of the disaster. So terrific was the explosion that the concussion of the
air occasioned thereby was felt by persons ten and twelve miles distant.
Some of the unfortunate victims were most horribly mangled and mutilated, so
that it would have been difiicult, if not impossible, to identify them but for the
shreds of clothing that remained on them. Alonzo Turnbull had left the mill
but a few minutes previous to the explosion and gone to the woods a few hun-
dred yards off, with his team, for a log. So great was the force of the explosion
that it knocked him down and caused his nose to bleed profusely. In the opin-
ion of experts in the use and management of steam boilers, the great force of
the explosion attested the fact that the boiler was sound throughout; for, had
there been a weak spot in it, a rent would have occurred at that point, and, in
all probability, there would have been no loss of life or other serious conse-
quences.
CHAPTER IX.
by miss louisa s. gregg.
Union Township— Origin of Name— First Township Election and Officers
—The Earliest Settlers— Old Time Reminiscences— Violent Deaths-
Amusements— The Pierce Saw-mill— The Slagle & Burton Grist-
Mill— The First Store— Coesse— Outline of its Growth— The Reputed
Origin of Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio — Education and
Religion.
IN the early part of the year 1839, several persons then residing within the
territory now constituting Union Township, Whitley County, petitioned
the proper authorities for the organization of their territory into a township.
In answer to the prayer of the petitioners, it was ordered that an election be
held at the residence of Joseph Pierce on the 4th day of July, 1839. Talcott
Perry was appointed Inspector of said election. At this election, Perry was
elected Justice of the Peace in and for said township, which was named Union,
upon an agreement to that effect between the said Perry and George W. Oman.
Perry was the first settler in the township. In the month of June, 1837, Ben-
jamin Gardner, a native of New York, settled with his family in this township,
on the farm now owned by Joseph Baldwin. Dr. Joseph Pierce, a native of
186 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Greene County, N. Y., 'located in thi* township in the spring of 1837 ; was the
first physician in the township, and the only one for many years. At the time
of his first advent into this county^ he brought with him a general stock of
merchandise, consisting of dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., etc. This
stock of goods was owned for a time jointly by Pierce & Starkweather. In
the spring of 1837, Horace Cleveland, a native of Catskill, N. Y., purchased
land in this township (being the same land now owned by the Wigent heirs),
and during the following season built a cabin and made some preparations for
bringing his family, which he did in the winter following. Some time during
the year 1835, George W. Oman purchased a part of the land consituting the
farm on which he now resides, and on September 30, 1837, he and his wife pitched
their tent on this land and commenced the necessary preparations for the erec-
tion of a cabin, which was to be for a time their future domicile. The follow-
ing-named persons assisted him in raising the cabin : William Vanmeter, Will-
iam and Charles Gradeless, Samuel Nickey, Talcott Perry, Jacob Diifendarfer,
Benjamin Gardner and son, Francis Tulley and Wells Smith. The Gradelesses,
Nickey and Diifendarfer were citizens of Allen County. Mrs. Oman had
among other things prepared a quantity of doughnuts, of which William
Gradeless ate very heartily. During the night he had a very severe attack of
cholera morbus. In speaking of the matter afterward, he said he had eaten
too much of Mrs. Oman's "crooked" bread.
Talcott Perry, first Justice of the Peace, was commissioned July 24,
1839, re-elected and commissioned September 4, 1844 ; Daniel B. Rice was
commissioned September 17, 1845 ; Samuel Miner, Sr., January 24, 1846 ;
Asa Anthony, September 4, 1849 ; John Irwin, April 18, 1850 ; James
Welsheimer, January 24, 1857. George W. Foster was elected Justice in
1854 ; Orville Root, in 1855 ; J. A. Kaufiman, in 1857 ; Granderson Pettit,
1858; Robert Speer, 1859; James M. Briggs, 1863; Alexander Clark,
1863 ; G. W. Laurence, 1867, re-elected 1871 ; William Sisson, 1868 ; Joseph
M. Douglas, 1869 ; John 0. Clark, 1877, re-elected 1881 ; Peter Garrison,
1880. No record of other township officers could be found. The following
county officers have been residents of this township : Joseph Pierce, elected
County Commissioner, August, 1846 ; Daniel B. Rice, elected County Com-
missioner, 1852, re-elected 1855-58-61 ; Adam T. McGinly, elected Sheriff,
1878, and James H. Shaw, elected Commissioner, 1876-79.
The growth of this township was not by any means rapid — not that the
soil was not productive ; on the contrary, it was, as a general rule, very rich,
amply rewarding the husbandman, especially after he had gotten it in a meas-
ure subdued. Probably the principal hindrance to a rapid growth was the
amount and character of the labor required to prepare the land for the plow.
These immense forests of oak, hickory, walnut, poplar, ash, beech, etc., were,
in the very nature of things, calculated to deter men from attempting to open
up a farm, and at the same time support a family of small and helpless chil-
UNION TOWNSHIP. 187
dren ; this, especially when the fact was known to them that by going a few days'
drive further west they could find the land already cleared, and ready for the
plow. The north part of the township was the first settled, and it continued
to hold an advanced position for many years. At that early day, it was not
unusual to call on men residing at a distance of five or six miles to assist in
raising a cabin, a log barn, or even to assist in rolling logs. Those residing at
a distance of five or even a greater number of miles were called neighbors, and
made frequent visits back and forth. A friendly feeling was prevalent, and
there were but few misunderstandings among the people. Their pursuits were
almost entirely, agricultural, if felling the forest and preparing the land for
cultivation constitute any part of agriculture. The citizens of this township
have, from the' earliest settlement, devoted their energies almost exclusively to
this pursuit, a few individuals, and only a few, having sought to gain a liveli-
hood by other enterprises.
G. W. Oman relates that soon after the location of the county seat at the
present site, Henry L. Ellsworth, one of the proprietors, sent his son, H. W.
Ellsworth, in company with F. P. Randall, of Fort Wayne, to visit the city on
paper and look after the interests of his father and partner in that county gen-
erally. They traveled on horseback, and were obliged to follow an old Indian
trail as best they might. Night overtook them when at Eel River, and prob-
ably on lands now owned by the heirs of the late John North, Sr. At this
point they lost their trail, and were compelled to tie their horses and pass the
night as best they could in the wilderness. Morning having come, and not
being able to find a trail that they thought would probably lead them to the
desired destination, they concluded to make an effort to return to Fort Wayne.
After wandering through the wilderness till about noon, they finally brought
up at Oman's. Here they ordered their horses fed and called for dinner. In
the meantime, they proposed to give Oman $1 as compensation for con-
ducting them to Columbia City. He agreed to do so, and, upon their arrival
at their destination, they gave him two half-dollars in payment. Oman says
" these half-dollars looked about the size of a cart-wheel."
Another incident from the storehouse of Oman's memory : Some years
before any settlement was made in this township, John Comstock had purchased
land and laid out the village of Liberty Mills, in Wabash County. Soon after
Oman settled on his present farm (date not positively known), Comstock left
home for Fort Wayne with quite a large amount of silver, which he carried in
an old-fashioned saddle-bag. He traveled on horseback, following an Indian
trail. Night overtook him when on a point on the land now owned by Francis
Mossman, about one mile north of the present site of the village of Coesse.
In the darkness he lost the trail, and was obliged to put up for the night in the
midst of a dense forest, under a tree. He laid his baggage at the root of the
tree, turned his horse loose that he might graze for a time, and then sat down
under the tree, with his saddle-bags by his side. He intended not to go to sleep.
188 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
but to watch his horse for a time and then tie him to a tree until morning.
Being somewhat wearied with his day's travel, he was soon in the embrace of
Morpheus. Waking after a time, he discovered, to his dismay, that his horse had
left him. He found him in a short time, but, to his utter discomfiture, he had lost
the whereabouts of his money, and it was almost noon before he found it. After
finding the trail, he rode on, and arrived at Oman's Justin time for dinner.
At an early day, date not known, William Getting was fatally injured in
the following manner : Himself and son were putting a lot of buckwheat into
the loft of their cabin, ascending by means of a ladder. The son was above,
receiving the sacks as his father passed them up to him. By some accident,
the son let a sack slip from his hands. It struck the father, knocked him from
the ladder, and injured his spine to such an extent that it caused extensive par-
alysis, which terminated in death. This occurred in a house now owned by
Francis Mossman, and known as the " Chorn house."
G. W. Oman says : "I made some money in an early day by showing
land to strangers."
At the time when Mrs. Bonestel taught the first school in the township,
she was a widow, having lost her husband before leaving New York State.
After residing in this township a few years, she married Wilson Travis. They
lived together for a few years, when he was killed, as supposed at the time, by
the kick of a horse, he having been found in such a relation to his team as to
indicate that in all probability such was the case.
James Worden says : " Austin Morgan and myself sawed the first lum-
ber made in the county, at Pierce's Mill,* and sold the first board to Francis
Tulley, to be used in making a cradle in which to rock his son Cyrus B., now
an attorney at Columbia City." He also says: '' Dr. Pierce had a large stock
of goods, and traded extensively with the Indians. He had seen as many as
three hundrfed at and around the store at one time. At one time the Doctor
laid in a supply of pepper-sauce, and placed it in a conspicuous place on the
shelf. Indian Jim, seeing it, said, ' What you call him?' The Doctor took
down a bottle, poured a quantity into a tumbler, put the tumbler to his lips —
simulating the act of drinking ; set the tumbler on the table, and motioned him
to take it. Jim picked up the tumbler, put it to his mouth, and, without wait-
ing to taste the contents, drank it to the dregs. The Doctor said ' For the
next few moments his contortions far exceeded anything I have ever witnessed.'
After recovering sufficiently to speak, Jim said : ' Heap no good.' He did
not want any more ' What you call him.' "
Dr. Pierce and Robert Starkweather came to this township in the spring
of 1837. They built a cabin on land which Pierce had entered, the same land
on which he erected a saw-mill, and where John McCartney now resides. In
this cabin they all lived for about one and a half years ; at which time a son of
, *The question as to who sawed the first lumber in the county is a matter of much dispute. Adam Hull, living
just across the line, in Allen County, and several of the older citizens of Smith Township, who arrived there in 1834,
say that a man named Bond built a saw-mill on Blue Elver, below the lake, in Smith Township, a« early as 1835 or
1836.— Ed.
UNION TR
UNION TOWNSHIP. 191
Starkweather sickened and died. Dr. Pierce had treated this child, and after
its death, they (Pierce and Starkweather) quarreled about the treatment.
Starkweather says to Pierce, " I brought you all the way from New York to
kill my boy." Upon this, they dissolved partnership, Starkweather remov-
ing across the line into Allen County. Soon after this dissolution, James
Worden came from New York to work for Dr. Price, and did the cooking
during the first three months of his stay During the winter of 1838-39, an
English family (named Thompson) came, and Mrs. Thompson did the cook-
ing for a time. During the summer of 1889, Mrs. Worden came from New
York. She then took charge of the kitchen, doing the housework for nearly
one year, after which she and her husband returned to New York. Next in
succession as cook for the Doctor, was Mrs. Cole, mother of Seymour Cole,
and present wife of Peter Bartholomew, late of Columbia City, but now of
Fort Wayne. Worden and wife remained in New York for a short time,
when they returned to this township, and again engaged with the Doctor,
Worden doing the farming, assisting about the saw-mill, etc., and Mrs. Worden
again superintending the culinary department. Worden says that himself and
William Van Meter hauled the first saw-logs in the county — logs four and a
half feet in diameter.
Henry Hull says : " I used to ride down to the village on Sundays and spend
the day playing with the young Indians." They appeared at all times much
pleased to see him, and to play with him. Wrestling was a very common sport
at that time, and they appeared to enjoy it hugely when successful ; but when *
vanquished, they appeared to be greatly mortified. Henry Hull and John
Frye ran the first threshing machine in the township in the fall of 1843. The
machine was a tread-mill and chaff-piler ; could thresh eighty or ninety bushels
per day. The price for threshing was 6 cents per bushel.
Mrs. Oman says : " Soon after our settlement at our present home, an
Indian called one day and asked for a loaf of bread, which he wished to put
into the grave of an Indian who had been stabbed and killed by another In-
dian in a drunken melee at the Indian village on the land now owned by
Robert Speer."
Some time during the year 1850, Mathew P. Walker went to Richland
County, Ohio, married, and with his wife started for his home in this township,
she riding the entire journey on horseback, and driving two cows. She soon
became so homesick that her health was undermined. Her physician advised
that she be taken to her former home, and, after a visit of a few months, she
returned entirely restored.
Mrs. Oman relates that, during one winter, soon after their settlement
here, they lived on bread made from buckwheat ground but not bolted, this,
with venison, constituting their entire stock of provisions. For a year or two
after their settlement here, their salt cost them about $8 per bushel. During
the first two or three years of pioneer life, these people brought a large part of
192 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
their supplies from Elkhart and the prairies thereabout. At this early day, it
was impossible to get the absolute necessities of life, even at Fort Wayne.
These hardy pioneers obtained a very large proportion of their meat supplies
from the forest, drawing largely on the deer, wild turkeys, and, after a few
years, upon the wild hogs. Dr. Pierce kept, at times, a partial supply of flour,
meat, and perhaps some other provisions, but these he sold at such exorbitant
prices that the people could do much better by going to the prairies and laying
in their own provisions. Oman says : " I sold my wedding vest to William
Gradeless to pay for a few potatoes, to help in carrying us through the first
winter. I worked for 50 cents a day, and paid 60 cents a bushel for corn."
During the first year, Mrs. Oman drove the oxen to break fourteen acres of
ground.
Isaac Taylor, who is mentioned elsewhere in these reminiscences, as among
the early settlers, relates the following as one of his early experiences : About
the month of June, 1843, Horace Cleveland and himself gathered all the wool
in the neighborhood, and one morning, with two yoke of oxen, started for a
carding machine, situated on the St. Joe River, about seven miles above Fort
Wayne. Night overtook them when about two miles from their destination.
Just at this time a terrific rainstorm set in, accompanied by vivid flashes of
lightning. They were in the midst of a dense forest. The flashes of
lightning were so incessant, that they were able to follow the road by
their light. After traveling for a short time in this manner, they en-
countered a large beech tree, which had been blown across the road a few
moments before. Taylor cut a way around the top of the tree, and Cleve-
land drove around. Proceeding a short distance, they saw a light. Taylor
went to the house, and there learned that they were within one mile of the mill.
Just before reaching it, they encountered a temporary slab bridge. Taylor
went before, guiding the forward team, while Cleveland brought up the rear.
On reaching their destination, they found it impossible to get their wool carded
on account of high water, and were obliged to return without it. On their
return trip, they encountered obstacles on every hand, and so frequent and
formidable were these, that, at the end of the third day after leaving home, they
had only reached Cary's, three miles west of Fort Wayne, on their return. On
the morning of the fourth day, they left Cary's, and succeeded finely until they
reached the Aboit, at Peabody's saw-mill. Here they found a pole bridge
floating on the surface of the water, but so fastened as to prevent its escape.
The rolling of the logs under the feet of the teams rendered crossing very unsafe.
They landed safely, however, and Cleveland, raising his hands, exclaimed in a
loud voice, "God Almighty." Taylor called to him, "Drive on, Cleveland;
poor place for prayer here." They reached home on the evening of the fourth
day, having spent that time in traveling a distance of twenty-one miles and
return.
These people, as a rule, were expert woodsmen, many of them thinking it
UNION TOWNSHIP. 193
no very extraordinary feat to shoot a deer while on the run at a high rate of
speed, and it was not considered a very great exploit to kill two, three or even
more deer, on the same day. In these days, wheat bread was a luxury, in
which it was not thought best to indulge too frequently, principally from the
fact that it was thought to be rather hard on the purse. In the season of 1842,
John Stevenson broke and sowed to buckwheat three acres of new land. He
had no fence around it, and his wife kept oif the stock by almost constant
watching by day. The product of these three acres was fifty bushels. This
was on land now owned by Robert Speer,
It has been found impossible to ascertain the exact date of the first birth
in the township, the parents having died at a very early period in the settle-
ment of the township and all traces of the children lost; but it is quite posi-
tive that, at some time during the early part of 1836, David, son of Talcott
Perry, was born, and that he was the first child born in the township. Whe-
lock, son of Benjamin Gardner, was born in October, 1837. This, doubtless,
was the second birth. Henry Hull and Jane Gardner were married December
18, 1839. This was the first marriage in the township. The first death was
that of Robert Starkweather, which occurred early in the autumn of 1838.
William Clater came to this township with Isaac Taylor, in July, 1838, and
resided with the family until March 21, 1839, when he was killed at a barn
raising in Lake Township, Allen County.
John Depoy relates that some time during the year 1853, five wolves
came to his place one night, attacked his dog, dragged him fifteen or twenty
rods and mangled his throat in a terrible manner. Mrs. Depoy poulticed it
with catmint and whisky, and in three or four weeks the dog had entirely
recovered.
Dances and amusements of that character were decidedly primitive in
those days. At such times, as they failed to have on hand a musician with a
stringed instrument, some one of the company would be delegated to supply
the deficiency by whistling. The gentlemen were not required to observe
strictly the etiquette of the ball-room in more advanced society. A coon-skin
cap, moccasins and such wearing apparel as was manufactured by their mothers,
sisters or wives was the common outfit of the male part of the assembly. In-
deed, it occasionally happened that the gentlemen appeared on the floor bare-
footed and coatless, while the ladies' toilet consisted of a linsey-woolsey or a
calico dress. The ladies did not make it a sine qua non of a respectable ap-
pearance at these gatherings to reduce the size of their waists as much as pos-
sible by tight lacing.
James Worden, now of Columbia City, says : " I framed the first bridge
in the county. It was built across Eel River, near the place where John
McCartney now resides." G. W. Oman says a caravan of movers built the
first bridge over Eel River at Aker's. This they did by cutting large, heavy
timber, and rolling it into the river, securing it in place, and continuing this
194 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
process until it was made passable. This was probably rendered necessary on
account of the miry condition of the bank on either side. The date of the
building of this bridge is not positively known, but it was probably as early as
1838. These two were the only bridges built across Eel River at an early
period.
G. W. Oman conmenced keeping tavern (Mrs. Oman says "not hotel"),
on the farm where he now resides, in the autumn of 1837, immediately after
getting up a cabin. They had scarcely gotten a roof over them before they
commenced entertaining movers. Mrs. Oman says: "We dreaded to have
people call for accommodations, because we had so little to eat ourselves." In
the autumn of 1838, Isaac Taylor commenced entertaining movers at his resi-
dence, on the farm now owned by J. H. Clark. However, he did not hang out
a sign until about four years after. These were the only taverns in the town-
ship until after the building of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail-
way, when one was opened up in the village of Coesse.
Dr. Joseph Pierce built a saw-mill (water-power), on his place on Eel
River during the season of 1839. This was the first saw-mill in the township,
and probably in the county. Nathaniel Allen built the first steam saw-mill in
rthe township in 1854. These two were the only saw-mills built in an early
day. John Slagle and James Burton built the first and only grist-mill in this
township, in an early day, and indeed the only one ever built in the township,
except one built in Coesse a few years since, by John B. Imrie, and run for a
short time, then sold to the Kelseys and removed to Allen County., The
Slagle & Burton Mill was built on land now owned by William Moore, on
the north bank of Eel River, in the northeast corner of the township. During
the fall of 1853, Kepler ran a distillery on the farm now owned by Henry
Sneider, in the southeast corner of the township. The product of this enter-
prise was peach brandy.
The first stock of goods in the , township was kept by Pierce & Stark-
weather, afterward by Pierce ; the second by Barber A. Cleveland, on the farm
now owned by James Merriman, commencing in 1852 and continuing to trade
at that place for about two years. Some time during 1855, Freeman & Fuller
opened a stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., in a house belonging to G. W.
Oman, on Yellow River road. They remained here about two years, and re-
moved their goods to Tousley's Crossing, one mile east of Coesse. They con-
tinued here about a year, dissolved partnership, and Fuller removed the goods
to the place since known as Fuller's Corners, in Smith Township. These were
the only stocks of merchandise ever kept in this township, outside of Coesse,
and all this before the founding of the village.
The village of Coesse was laid out in the winter of 1854-55, by Peter
Simonson. The east forty belonged to the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago
Railroad, and the west forty to Simonson, he having purchased it from James
Worden. It was surveyed by a brother of the proprietor, and named from an
UNION TOWNSHIP. 195
Indian chief. The first building was a dwelling-house, erected by Joseph^
Root, on the lot now owned by Ed Hammer, and the second a cabin built by
Mr. Love, on the lot now owned by Mrs. Park. Christian Rummel then built
the blacksmith-shop now owned by Aker Bros., in which he carried on business,
and a dwelling-house, now the Methodist Episcopal parsonage. The next-
house was a dwelling, on the lot now owned by Mrs. Rosa Clark. The growth
of the village was very slow until about 1865, when a number of buildings were
erected. The first stock of goods was brought by Simon Herr & Bro. It
consisted of dry goods, groceries, and all other articles commonly found in a
village store. This stock was sold to Barber A. Cleveland, and by him to
Thomas McCune, who sold it to the present proprietor, F. Smith. In 1864,
J. H. Clark brought on a stock of goods, engaged in trade about three years,,
and sold the stock to J. S. Baker, who removed it. The value of this stock
was about $4,000. In 1870, Reuben Drew began merchandising, continued
about four or five years, and abandoned the business. In 1880, Luke Tousley
engaged in the dry goods trade, continued a year, then took as a partner Will- 1
iam Swarts. The firm is still in business.
In 1867, Kaufiinan & Levi brought on a stock of groceries, etc.; in 1872,.
sold to I. Kinsey, and he to Allen Bros., who are still in business. F. Smith
entered the grocery trade in 1866, and, in 1872, sold to W. E. Mossman, who,,
after about two years, sold back to Smith.
The first and only saw-mill in the village was built by Spore, on the ground
occupied by the present mill. Spore sold to Van Houten, and he to Emery &
Stewart. They built a stave factory and then a grist-mill, which were run for
a few years, then sold and removed. Emery & Stewart then sold the mill to
F. Smith and W. E. Mossman ; Smith bought out Mossman, and sold the en-
tire mill to the present proprietors, W. Smith and W. E. Mossman. There are
two drug stores, owned by Drs. Eckman and Wenger.
For some time before the existence of the village, a post oflBce was kept by
Horace Cleveland, on what is now the Wigent farm, on Yellow River road.
In 1856, this was moved to Coesse, and J. H. Root commissioned Post-
master. He kept the office in his dwelling. In 1865, G. B. Bonestel took the
office and kept it one year ; then followed Leonard Aker, Maggie Kauffman
and Frank Dustman, and, in 1868, J. A. Kauffman was appointed Postmaster.
He kept the office for nine years, and was succeeded by I. Kinsey, and he, in
1875, by W. Allen, who kept the office for three years, when it went into the
hands of the present Postmaster, F. Smith.
A Good Templars' Lodge was organized in 1856, and continued, with
some interruptions, till about 1874, when it was abandoned.
The first physician in the village was William Loveland, who came in the
spring of 1861, and remained till the fall of 1862. The next was G. W. Eck-
man, who came in the spring of 1863, and still resides here. William Birney
located here in the spring of 1866, and remained two years. Dr. N. I. Kith--
196 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
cart came in August, 1874, and remained till March, 1876. Dr. N. R. Wen-
ger came in the fall of 1876, and Dr. H. Gregg in the fall of 1880, both of
whom still reside here.
The only saloon in the village was owned by J. Owens, who sold to George
Graves, the present proprietor.
The village has a population of about one hundred and fifty, one church
(the Methodist Episcopal), and one schoolhouse of two rooms. The cost of the
schoolhouse was about $3,000.
r--^' About the year 1854, Rev. Jacob Wolf erected a building on a farm then
owned by himself, but now owned and occupied by Andrew Steele, about two
miles northeast of Coesse. This building he intended at the time as a nucleus
around which to erect more substantial structures, and to be known as " Wart-
burg College." Himself and Rev. A. J. Douglas commenced teaching here
before the entire completion of the building, and continued for about two years,
when it was discontinued. Before his death, Mr. Wolf willed this property to
Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio. The first term of school in this town-
ship was taught by Mrs. Cornelia Bonestel, daughter of Horace Cleveland, in
the summer of 1839 or 1840, in a cabin on the land of G. W. Oman. The
wages were $1.50 per week, and the teacher boarded with her parents. Per-
haps three or four tejms were taught in this house, when, a few families having
located a little farther south and west, it was thought better to have the school
in a more central locality. So a cabin was erected on the north side of Beaver
Run, which was thenceforth known as "the schoolhouse on the hill." After a
few years, this cabin was superseded by a frame house on the same site. This
was sold and removed ten or twelve years since, a new house having been
erected in another part of the district. In the summer of 1845, Mrs. Simon
Sherod taught school in her dwelling, this being the first school in the northwest
corner of the township. In the autumn of 1842, a school cabin was built,
about a quarter of a mile west of the residence of Charles Hess, on Yellow
River road, on land known as the " Carpenter tract." In the spring of 1846,
^ the first school was taught in the Boyd District by Mary Brown. ;' Amanda
j Tousley taught the second term, Eliza Young the third, Mrs. Cornelia Travis
J the fourth, George Lawson the fifth and E. A. Smith the sixth. Riley Merrill
taught the first school in the Hull District, in the winter of 1847-48, Maxie
(Jones) Foust the second, and Miranda (Morse) Root the third. These teachers
"boarded around."
In the autumn of 1838, George Walker and Jacob Wolf came to this
township from Richland County, Ohio. Soon after their settlement here, Mr.
Wolf commenced preaching, sometimes at private residences, then again at the
schoolhouse, near Oman's. After a schoolhouse was built on the hill, near
what is now the Steele farm, he frequently preached there, yet continuing to
preach occasionally at private houses. At this time, and for a few years after,
he was connected with the Presbyterian Church, afterward uniting with the
UNION TOWNSHIP.
^r^?
^v^
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Coesse. Addison Merrill was the first Meth-
odist minister who ever preached in this township. He preached at private
houses, and at the schoolhouses in the vicinity. The salaries of these ministers
were such scanty donations as the poor settlers were able and disposed to make,
a fixed salary being almost unknown. All this was prior to any church organ-
ization.
~" Eel River Presbyterian Church was organized October 15, 1841, Rev.
Jacob Wolf, pastor. At the time of organization, the following persons united :
George Walker and wife, James Pringle and wife, William Park, Mrs. Vance,
Miss Catharine Van Houten. These persons were admitted by certificate, and *¥ <
Jacob A. Van Houten on examination. At this meeting, James Pringle and •*'^"^
Jacob A. Van Houten were elected Ruling Elders. November 27, 1842, David
Wolf and wife and Robert Craig were admitted as members. November 24, h
1844, Ira G. Wisner and wife ; June 26, 1846, Gilbert Shaw and wife, also 'j'^K.
Mrs. Dinsmore and Nancy Wolf June 27, Alexander Boyd and wife were ^ -
pceived by letter. February 13, 1848, Ephraim Smith united with this
■hurch. May 27, 1848, Gilbert Shaw was elected a Ruling Elder. May 28, -^ ^
i848, Martha Smith admitted on certificate. June 2, 1849, Matthew P. V ,r^
Walker was admitted on examination. January 27, 1850, Joseph Douglas -.>^
and wife were received by letter. Early in the year 1850, James Greer was - c xj
installed as pastor; Rev. J. N. Swan, in 1852, and Rev. Luke Dorland in
1861. From the time of the organization of this church until the termination r^ ^
of the pastorate of the Rev. J. N. Swan, its condition was eminently prosper- -s,
ous. After that time, it seemed to be doomed, and ceased to exist as an organ-
ized body several years since.
The organization of Union Center Lutheran Church was eff"ected April 8,
1857, Rev. H. Wells, pastor ; William C. Mowry, Clerk. At this meeting,
Rev. Jacob Wolf and James Worden were elected Elders and Trustees, and
William C. Mowry and Jacob J. Halenbeck as Deacons and Trustees. At the
time of organization, the following persons united with this church : Jacob
Wolf and wife, James Worden and wife, William C. Mowry and wife, Jacob J.
Halenbeck and wife, Samuel Rouch and Samuel L. Rouch. The second pastor
was Rev. Solomon Ritz ; third. Rev. A. J. Douglas ; fourth, Rev. Albert
Studebaker; fifth. Rev. J. B. Baltzly ; sixth and present pastor, Rev. J. N.
Barnett. Their church building, just north of the village of Coesse, was erected
' in 1857. James Worden was the propelling power in this enterprise. The
land for the church and cemetery was donated by Ellas Winter. A child of H
C. and M. A. Rummel was the first buried in this cemetery. ^ , ^
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1849, John R. Davis, ^^ ^
minister. Jesse Sparks completed the organization, remained one year, and - ^
was succeeded by A. C. Barnhart, and he by William Blake. Original mem-
bers : Stephen H. Clark and wife, David Pringle and wife, John R. Chorn and
wife, Francis Mossman and wife, Silas Burt and wife, David Tousley and wife. ,
198 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Nathaniel Allen and wife were Methodists, but did not unite with this society
at its organization. In 1863, Coesse was set apart as a separate charge, and,
during the year 1870, this charge erected a house for worship in the village.
This work was superintended by Rev. McCarter.
The Christian Church, one and a half miles south of Coesse, was organized
October 29, 1854, with the following members : Daniel Holt and wife, Samuel
Whistler and wife, William C. Morse and wife, David S. Morse and wife,
Polly Foster, Eliza Lake, Nancy Tousley. Rev. Peter Weinbrenner was the
first pastor ; he remained five years. Then followed, in the order named,
James Atchinson, Philip Ziegler, William Manville, James Atchinson, C. V.
Strickland, James Atchinson, who officiates at this writing. The first services
were held in a log schoolhouse on the land of Daniel Holt. The church build-
ing was erected in 1872. The cost of the building is not known. The Sun-
day school was organized about the same time as the church. Daniel Holt
was the first Superintendent. The salary of the minister for one-fourth of the
time is about ^100.
OHAPTEE :f .
by prof. w. l. mathews.
Washington Township— Origin of Name— Creation of Township— Early
Officers— The First Settlement— Entry of Land— Pioneer Pursuits
—Industrial Growth— Education and Religion.
TTTASHINGTON TOWNSHIP was named in honor of the Father of our
V V Country, and organized September 8, 1840. The petition was pre-
sented to the Board of County Commissioners by a number of citizens " pray-
ing the organization of a civil township having all the rights and privileges to
transact business as such," which petition the board granted. Subsequently an
election was ordered for one Justice of the Peace, and it was accordingly held
at the house of Abraham Lesley, and Daniel Lesley was appointed Inspector.
Subsequently, for a number of years, the various elections were held at the
house of Abraham Lesley, who was always ready to receive every one in a
hospitable manner. In those days there was not much political antagonism
at elections, but, on the contrary, genuine good feeling and personal regard for
individual opinion prevailed. At an election held at the home of Daniel Lesley,
in April, 1845, there were only eighteen votes polled, and there were scarcely
enough votes to fill the various township offices. Whether there were any
more voters in the township at that time or not, or whether they remained away
for fear of being elected to office, remains in doubt.
The first white settler of which any authentic account can be given was
Joseph N. Ecker, who settled on Section 7, in the northwest part of the town-
ship in the fall of 1836. He was the first man assessed in the township, the
^sv- - " *^^
\
% '^-w\.
■^gs#-'
^^a:UJ r^Ae^^^
WASHINGTON Tp.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
201
amount being twenty-four and a half cents. Soon after came Reuben Long,
John Oliver, Adam Creager, Samuel Broden, Fred Wybright, William Sterling,
Abraham Lesley, Jonas Baker, Henry Emery, John Arnold, John Wise,
William Gates, Michael Sickafoose, Martin Bechtol and Enos Goble. The pop-
ulation in 1840 was probably 40 ; in 1880, 1,480. In 1840, there were 25
polls; in 1881, 241.
In 1838, the assessment of personal property was $21, and the amount
assessed for taxes 25 cents. The tax in 1831 amounted to $4,545.35.
Among the number who entered land at an early date may be mentioned
the following names, although they did not, in many cases, settle upon the lands
until some time after the date of purchase :
Sec.
Town.
Range.
Acres.
Hds.
1
30
9
499
25
1
30
9
99
37
2
30
9
108
61
2
30
9
100
3
30
9
107
82
3
80
9
102
38
3
30
9
320
4
30
9
104
06
4
30
9
101
73
5
30
9
96
84
5
30
9
48
79
5
30
9
48
63
6
80
9
80
5
30
9
80
6
30
9
73
80
6
30
9
17
50
6
30
9
249
6
30
9
80
6
30
9
58
77
6
30
9
35
14
6
30
9
87
14
7
30
9
168
87
7
30
9
326
79
Location Section.
Nathan Jinks
Nathan Jinks
Abraham B, Marsh
Abraham B. Marsh
John Delafield
John Delafield
John B. Beebee
John Delafield
John Delafield
John Townsend
John Townsend
Abraham Studebaker..
Abraham Studebaker..
John Reed
John Reed
John S. Borry
William Arnold
Abraham Studebaker...
W, Arnold,
Abraham Studebaker...
William Arnold
Joseph Ecker
Joseph Mullendore
N. W. fr.
S. W. fr.
N. E. fr.
N. W. fr.
N. E. fr.
N. W. fr.
N. E. fr.
E. ^ N. W. 1
W. i N. W.
W. ^ S. W.
E. ^ S. E.
N. E. fr.
N. E. fr.
S. E. 1 W. i S.E.
E. fS. E.
Lot 4.
No.l.
No. 213.
N. W.
S. |.
July 31,
July 31,
July 23,
.July 23,
Oct. 14,
Oct. 14,
Oct. 19,
Oct. 14,
Oct. 14,
Sept. 30,
Sept. 80,
Sept. 30,
Sept. 30,
July 16,
July 16,
Oct. 17,
Sept. 30,
Sept. 30,
Sept. 30,
Sept. 30,
Sept. 30,
Oct. 10,
Oct. 10.
1836
1836
1836
1836
1835
1835
1835
1836
1835
1835
1835
1835
1835
1836
1836
1835
1835
1835
1835
1835
1835
1835
1835
Adam Creager and Susan Stoner were married December 18, 1839, which
was undoubtedly the first marriage in the township ; Levi Creager to Margaret
Fulke, December 7, 1842, was the second, and David Rittenhouse to Margaret
FuUertone, April 14, 1843, the third. The first birth in the township occurred
about the year 1843, and was that of Joseph Schurck, who died in infancy.
This was probably the first death in the township.
The first election was held at the house of Abraham Lesley, which has
already been mentioned. At that election the following electors were present :
George Reddinghouse, David Reddinghouse, George D. Reddinghouse, Jr.,
Fred Weybright, Adam Creager, John Oliver, Abraham Lesley, Enos Miles,
Jacob Ecker, Joseph Ecker, Samuel Brayton, Reuben Long, William Kales,
Jesse Baugher, William Lesley and Henry Bayler. There are two voting pre-
cincts in this township, and at the April election, 1882, there were 191 votes
polled. At the Presidential election, in 1881, there were 355 votes.
202 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Among those who held the office of Justice of the Peace appear the names
of the following: George D. Reddinghouse, April 14, 1843; Jacob Ecker,
January 12, 1844 ; Adam Oreager, May 15, 1849 ; and Joseph Stults, April
21, 1852 ; the last again commissioned April 22, 1856.
In postal matters, the people of this township were put to great incon-
venience for a number of years, and in many instances months would pass
before hearing from friends at the old home. The first post office was estab-
lished about the year 1848, near the center of the township, and Martin Bechtol
was the Postmaster ; he was succeeded by William Chamberlain, Sr. Previous
to that time, those who lived in the north part of the township went to
Columbia City and South Whitley for their mail, while others went to Hunt-
ington and Liberty Mills, the former located in Huntington County, the latter
in Wabash County. The large sheet of letter paper, folded in various forms,
backed and sealed with a wafer, answered the purpose of our modern envelope.
Who taught the first school in Washington Township is really a matter of
doubt. Jesse Case seems to have been the first teacher. He taught near the cen-
ter of the township, in what is now known as District No. 8, and had about twenty
scholars. This was in the winter of 1842-43. The school was sustained by
subscription, and was continued for about eight or nine weeks. Joseph Stults
followed Mr. Case, and he by Enos Goble. The first order to pay school funds
to teachers was issued April 11, 1853, to John P. Alexander, $26.50. The
order was numbered one. The next was numbered three, and was issued to
Benjamin Mussleman, $42.00, in 1853. In 1858, there were nine districts,
with inferior log schoolhouses ; there are, at present, 1882, four neat brick
houses, costing about $3,600, and fis^e frame, costing about $2,500. Under the
old law, all children between the ages of five and twenty-one years were
enumerated, and in March, 1858, the enumeration of children amounted to
151 males and 157 females, making a total of 308. Under the present law,
all children between the ages of six years and twenty-one are enumerated. The
number, March, 1882, amounts to 267 males and 245 females. In 1858, the
school fund paid to the nine teachers employed aggregated $152 ; in 1881-82,
the school fund for all purposes amounted to $1,863.07. April 3, 1854, Phineas
Tracy, Samuel Young and Joseph Young were elected Township School
Trustees; Martin Bechtol, Treasurer; and W. E. Merriman, Clerk. The
schools of the township are in good condition, and the teachers generally effi-
cient. The apparatus aggregates about the value of $600, and is of a substan-
tial character.
The first physician to visit this part of the county was Dr. F. L. McHugh,
an Irishman of great skill and learning. He located west of wtiere Columbia
City now stands, and he visited all parts of the county. He was kept going in
a lively manner and had good success. Dr. Banta located in the township
about the year 1843, and for some time was the principal physician. In 1841,
there was scarcely a family in which a majority of them were not sick. Not-
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 203
withstanding all this sickness, there were but few deaths. A few of the settlers
became discouraged, and longed for the '' flesh pots of Egypt," or asked them-
selves the question, why were we brought into this "land to perish."
In 1840, there were but few roads in the township, the principal one being
one from Washington Center to South Whitley, and thence north to Columbia
City. Joseph Ecker, Reuben Long, John Oliver, James Baker and Abraham
Lesley were the principal men who cut out the roads for the convenience of
the settlers. These roads were soon after surveyed, and ran on section lines as
far as was convenient. The following is a list of the names that were required
in 1854 to work the roads, as copied from the records : Joseph Weiker, C.
Shafer, D. Akers, S. Akers, W. Akers, J. Davis, J. Long, H. Baker, P.
Huber, J. Wise, R. Long, J. Metz, J. Peadly, J. Shearer, J. Wearce, B. Mus-
sleman, P. Burwell, L. Creager, W. Ligier, A. Lesley, H. Shearer, L. Shearer,
D. Brenneman, M. Waince and A. Fisher. About the best roads in the county
are now found in this section of country ; they are, as a rule, conveniently
located, and kept in good condition. Under the new law, creating the office of
road superintendent, passed by the Legislature of 1881, much is expected of
that officer. The Wabash, St. Louis k Pacific Railroad passes through the
northern part of the township, but as yet there is no station within its limits.
The first church organized in this township seems to have been of the Ro-
man Catholic faith, about the year 1845, with about ten members. Inasmuch
as there is no pastor of the church, it is impossible to give the desired informa-
tion. Soon after a Dunkard Church was organized with a membership of about
twenty. It is now in a flourishing condition, and has a large membership.
April 18, 1846, a Baptist Church was organized near the center of the town-
ship, with seven members — Jeremiah Merriman and wife, Phineas Tracy and
wife, Bazalell Tracy and Elijah Tracy, and J. B. AUyn. The discourse was
delivered by Elder G. Sleeper ; James B. Allyn was the Moderator, and
George Sleeper, Clerk. The present membership is fifty-eight. There are two
Lutheran churches in the western part of the township, and two United
Brethren in addition to those mentioned. The citizens are generally known
for their morality and good character. Revs. Parrett, Smith, Losard and
Chaplin were among the first ministers.
The East Bethel M. E. Church was built in 1869 by Samuel Sickafoose,
at a cost of about $2,000, the building committee being Michael Holm, Fred-
erick Morrell and John Decker. The building is a fram^e structure and has
no bell. It was dedicated in October, 1869, by Rev. Monson. Long before
the erection of the church (in 1857), a Methodist class had been formed, some
of the early members being Michael Holm (deceased ) and wife, John Smith
and wife and Levi Creager. The class at present is small, but not in fervor
nor sincerity. Some of the ministers have been Bradshaw, Millei', Strite,
Smith, McMalin, Baker, Lacy, Waymen, Curtis and Mott. In 1858, a Sun-
day school was organized under the superintendence of Michael Holm. The
\
204 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
school, though small numerically at first, grew and prospered, and its influence
upon the youth of the neighborhood was fully realized as the years passed.
Many went to Sunday school, who could not conscientiously accept the tenets
of the church, of which the school was an adjunct. All could meet there and
worship God upon the broad basis of Christianity ; and thus, though the class
was weak in numbers and in funds, and though it had no building save school-
houses or residences, its power was felt by all, including non-professors, who
gathered to hear the songs, prayers and professions of faith. The school has
ebbed and flowed in succession during the years, until at present it numbers
twenty-five members. The present Superintendent is C. Ward ; and the teach-
ers are John Decker, Thomas Sickafoose and wife, and John Gates.
The Baptist Church near Mr. Bechtol's was erected in 1869, by A. Clark,
and the service of dedication was conducted by Rev. David Scott. The cost
of this frame structure was about $1,400 ; the names of those giving the most
toward its construction being Martin Bechtol and Elias Smith. The class was
organized many years ago in the old cabin of Mr. Bechtol. This cabin is yet
standing ; but the voice of God's minister, the prayers of the faithful and the
joyous songs of little children echo no more within its walls. The old is care-
lessly thrown aside for the new, and no regret crosses the heart of the present
generation ; but the old people, those who cannot forget the warm associations
of earlier years, say with Goldsmith :
"I love everything that's old — old friends,
Old times, old manners, old books, old wine."
Among the ministers of this church have been Revs. Childs, Hitchcock,
Reece, Fuller, Dunon, Collins, Wilder, Price, Worth, Robinson, Gooden and
Ward. Among the early members were Jeremiah Merriman and wife, Baza-
leel Tracy and wife, Thomas Tracy and wife, and Elijah Tracy, besides those
mentioned above and others. The church is not in a flourishing condition at
present. A Sunday school was organized in the Tracy schoolhouse in 1856,
under the care of Rev. Collins, and since then, at times, it has been well at-
tended. The last Superintendent was David Bechtol, and among the teachers
were Lew Richard, Stephen Haley and Rettie B. Alexander. This was dur-
ing the summer of 1881. The present m3mbership of the school is fifty-
four.
The Washington Center Presbyterian Chur,ch was first organized at the
house of W. M. Penn in 1856, Among the early members were Mary A.
Wagner, W. M. Penn, Louisa Penn, Peter R. Goble, Elizabeth Lehman, Adam
Lehman and others. The Sunday school was organized at an early day, and
great interest was manifested to have it successful. It was not long before the
school numbered fifty or sixty, and at present it is very active. Henry Rich-
ard was an early Sunday school Superintendent. The present Superintendent
is E. G. Penn. The present membership of the church is about seventy-five.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 205
The present church was erected in 1873 at a cost of about $2,000. The
Building Committee were Peter Creager, M. B. Emberson, Levi Sickafoose,
John Smith and S. P. Wagner, and the builders were Samuel Wolf and Sam-
uel Sickafoose. The church was dedicated by Rev. Cassel. The building is
frame and has a fine bell. Among the ministers have been Joseph Farmer,
Jonathan Thomas, Rev. Plummer, Rev. Forbs, John Thomas, G. Sickafoose,
Rev. Dennis, Rev. Cevenger, F. Thomas, John Bash, William Simons, S.
Duneck, A. Wood, Rev. Cummons and the present pastor, Rev. F. Thomas.
The first mill was built by Mr. Beckley in the fall of 1847. It was a
saw-mill, and aided the settlers very much in preparing building material.
This mill was running until a few years ago. There is not much manufactur-
ing going on in the township, for the reason that the population is engaged
exclusively in farming and stock raising.
The township is now well cleared up. In many portions of it fine resi-
dences and commodious farms are seen, and those who still survive the changes
of time can scarcely realize that this is the land which they found a wilderness,
and now far advanced in all the stages of civilization.
OHAPTEE XL
by j. 0. denny.
Jefferson Township — Early Settlers — Pioneer Life— Reminiscences-
Organization- Industries— Schools — Early Preachers— Churches-
Post Offices— Secret Societies — Villages.
"A song for the early times out West
And our green old forest home,
Whose pleasant memories freshly yet
Across the bosom come.
A song for the free and gladsome life
In those early days we led,
With a teeming soil beneath our feet
And a smiling heaven o'erhead!
Oh, the waves of life danced merrily,
And had a joyous flow,
In the days when we were pioneers,
Fifty years ago."
JEFFERSON is the youngest township of Whitley County in regard to
both settlement and organization. Forty-seven years ago, the period at
which the history of this township begins, considerable progress had been made
in the settlement of some parts of the county, but still the primeval forest
shadowed here no pioneer's humble cabin, and the settler's ax was yet to begin
the conquest of the broad acres then awaiting the plow. The late appearance
of settlers here was partly owing to the fact that a large portion of the town-
ship, since proven very fertile, then presented a very forbidding appearance.
206 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
and partly because a great deal of the best land was held by speculators. But
the period of early settlement has come and gone, and now we may pause to
retrace some of the steps in the march of improvement and recount a few of
the deeds of the sturdy men who wrought in that early day. The work of
those sterling hearts and generous natures is a part of the country's history,
and the western pioneer will live in song and story when this fair land has seen
the flight of coming centuries. Many have gone to " that bourne from which
no traveler returns," but the joys and the sorrows incident to pioneer life are
still fresh in the memories of a large number of those who will read this record
of the olden time.
The history of the settlement begins with the advent of a Mr. Dunlap, of
whom but little can be learned, but who came from Christianburg, Ohio, about
1835. He settled on that part of the southeast quarter of Section 24 not
included in the reservation, comprising sixty-three and a half acres, erected
thereon a small cabin and cleared four or five acres. If the meager accounts
concerning him may be relied upon, he did not remain over a year, however.
His tastes did not seem to lie in the direction of solitude and cracked corn, and
he began to long for the flesh pots of Egypt. So he forsook the frontier and
started for Ohio, saying that he was going back to get a mess of peach dump-
lings. During his residence here he lost a small child, which was buried in
Allen County. This was the first death in the township. The first permanent
settler was Moses Fairchild, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, July 19,
1811. When a young man, he worked by the month until he had accumulated
$100, and, in 1837, he joined the westward flow of emigration. He entered
the west half of the southeast half of Section 18, in Jefierson Township, and
immediately returned to Ohio, where he remained a year, making money with
which to begin life in the wilderness of Indiana. In the fall of 1838, he came
West with his family, which consisted of his wife and one child, and which he
left at Lot Bayless', who was living in 'Allen County, near the line, until he
could build a cabin for their reception. In order to reach his land, he followed
a road cut by William Plummer, who was located in the southern part of Union
Township, and from Mr. Plummer's he cut his way south to his land. Here,
with the help of three men, he erected a rude cabin 16x18 feet, into which the
light was admitted through one small window made by cutting a section from
one of the logs. Into this shelter, with no floor or fire-place, he moved his
family, and shortly after added a puncheon floor, a fire-place with a stick chim-
ney, and a table made of split boards and fastened to the side of the building.
At this time, two dim Indian trails were the nearest approach to a road in the
township, and soon after his settlement he cut a road about seven miles east-
ward, along the blazed section lines to Lot Bayless', thus giving him a nearly
direct route to Fort Wayne. This took twelve days of hard labor, was the
first permanent road of the township, and has ever since been known as the
Fairchild road. .
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 207
The second on the list of Jefferson Township pioneers is Patrick Clark,
of Irish nativity, who settled on what was afterward the Illinois road, in the
spring of 1839. It is well known that, since St. Patrick's Day, frogs and
snakes have been unknown in Ireland, and a little incident which this fact ex-
plains is related of Mr. Clark. When moving West after his arrival in this
country, he passed by a pond where a chorus of frogs were "singing," and he
stopped to get "some of those young ducks," as he supposed them to be. He
continued his efforts till a man came along who gave him a short lesson in
natural history.
It is to be regretted that the names and experiences of all the old settlers
cannot be given with greater accuracy and detail, but the following list con-
tains the names, so far as obtainable, of those who arrived previous to the or-
ganization of the township in the spring of 1845 : Moses Fairchild, Patrick
Clark, Nathan Decker, Jonathan Chadeayne, Israel Poinset, Anthony Poinset,
William Phelps, James Blee, Thomas Blee, William Blee, Latham Blee, Absa-
lom Bayless, Thomas McGlaughlin, Robert Gage, M. 0. Crowel, L. S. Mar-
ing, Cfement Dearing, H. C. Crowel, Chancey Hadley, Benjamin F. Davis,
John Chandler, John McTaggart, James McDorman, James Kincaid, Daniel
Barcus, Hiram H. Clark. Nathan Decker was a Nimrod, and better known
as Hunter Decker. It is said that he died in the late war, in which he and
one son wore the gray, while two of his sons fought under the stars and stripes
in that struggle. Jonathan Chadeayne was a blacksmith, and erected the first
forge in the township. The township was now growing steadily, many locat-
ing in the western part, at the Maring settlement. There were six families here
in 1845, and in 1847 it had increased to eleven.
Many were the hardships and privations endured by the people of those
early days, but nearly every old settler will assert that they experienced more
true enjoyment and neighborly kindness than in these latter times. Their
intercourse was characterized by a mutual flow of kindly feeling and a gener-
ous spirit of equality, and they were always ready to render any assistance
necessary. When a new settler arrived, word was passed around, and, on the
day appointed, willing hands raised the cabin into which he probably moved
before the floor was laid or the fire-place built. When he was ready for a roll-
ing, the neighbors would gather in, some with their ox-teams, and before night
the logs would be in heaps ready for burning. These were always merry
times, and when the work was done, " sleights of art and feats of strength
went round." Sometimes the women would come, too, ready for a quilting bee,
and often a hard day's work would be succeeded by a night spent in "jest and
youthful jollity." It is said that sometimes, when no fiddler could be procured,
they would " trip the light fantastic toe " to the music of a jewsharp.
" Sports like these,
With sweet succession, taught e'en toil to please."
Money was scarce and many stories could be told of great sacrifices made
to obtain the necessaries of life. Once Mr. Clark killed one of his oxen, and
208 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY,
with the proceeds of the hide and part of the meat bought shoes for his family.
Mr. Henry Crowel at one time sold every animal on the place to make a pay-
ment on his land. The spinning wheel and loom produced most of the cloth-
ing for the family, and the mothers were often alone in the woods for several
days while their husbands were gone to mill. Game of all kinds was very
plenty, and in the spoils of the hunt and chase the pioneers found a large
share of their support, while the wild honey, of which there was an abundance,
added a luxury to their homely fare. Once the people at the Maring settle-
ment were out of meat, and Robert Bell, who was a great hunter, was detailed
to kill a deer. In the evening, he made his way to a pond nearly a mile away,
where the deer often gathered, and soon the report of his rifle told of his suc-
cess. One of the men went to the place, but as it was now quite dark there
was great probability of their getting lost unless they had some guidance. This
was given by Mrs. Philip Maring, who kept blowing a conch shell until the
men came, one carrying the deer and the other the gun. Mr. Bell is the hero
of a wolf story, which, though not very thrilling, is perhaps worth relating,
and runs as follows : He was roaming through the woods with his gun one
day, when he found a hollow log, in which he discovered some young wolves.
They were about forty feet from the end, but in he crawled, at the risk of a
flank attack from the older members of the family, took them out and carried
them home. This brings to mind Gen. Putnam's famous exploit, the only
material difference being in the age of the wolves.
In those days, the roads or trails were so obscure that they were easily lost,
and many a belated traveler has made his bed by the side of a tree while the
savage howls about him made the situation far from pleasant. Latham Blee
started home from Columbia City one evening, in the early days of the settle-
ment, but morning found him in the top of a tree where he had remained all
night, not wishing a closer acquaintance with the wolves below him.
Moses Fairchild and Patrick Clark attended a convention at the county
seat one time, and, starting home as it drew near sunset, found darkness upon
them before they had gone many miles. After they separated to go difi"erent
routes, so happened that they both became lost. Mr. Fairchild finally tied
his horse to a sapling and lay down beside a tree to wait for coming day. When
dawn did arrive and reveal his situation, he found himself not quite a half mile
from home. Among the many similar incidents that might be related is one in
which Mrs. Davis was the principal actor. It was in the fall of 1847, and the
shades of evening found her at a neighbor's house not very far from home. She
started home through the woods, but soon became bewildered, and, after wan-
dering through the swamps and bushes, struck the old Raccoon road. This she
blindly followed northward, and a little before midnight found herself shoeless,
with bleeding feet and torn clothing, at Michael Crowd's, on the Illinois
road, seven miles from home. She was so bewildered and nearly prostrated
with fright and fatigue, that she did not go to the house, but sat on the fence some
^^^^^^^^ck/^yrij^ a^n.-<r^o
O^-'^'^
JEFFERSOM TR
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 211
distance away, screaming for help. It is said that Mr. Crowel thought at first
it was a panther he heard, but in a few minutes he investigated the matter and
took her to the house. Meanwhile, her neighbors had been aroused, and men with
torches were searching in every direction. At last one party found her tracks,
which they followed, finding on the way her lost shoes. When morning came,
she rode home on horseback behind one of the men.
Going to market was no pleasant task, as the roads were but wagon tracks
winding through the woods, and the streams all had to be forded. Most of the
people went to Fort Wayne for their milling, and would often have to wait a
day or two for their turn, and in coming home would, perhaps, camp out two or
three days until the subsidence of a swollen stream would enable them to cross.
Many amusing incidents could be related of trips of this kind, and the times
they often had in fording. Sometimes they would plunge through, with cattle
partly swimming and wagon and grist completely under water. Once, under
such circumstances, a man was crossing a ford with a jug in the bottom of the
wagon, and when he reached the middle of the creek, it rose with the water and
floated oif down stream.
One of the Indian trails passed close to Mr. Fairchild's cabin, and these
dusky denizens of the forest often visited his house to beg a little salt or meal,
or borrow a kettle for their cooking. He always treated them kindly, and in
return they would often bring him fish or a piece of venison, and they some-
times stored their hides at his house until they were sold. John McGrlaughlin
tells an amusing story, to which we will give a place here. When a boy, he
was going along an Indian trail one day, with a man by the name of Ford.
Ford thought he would have a little fun at the expense of a party of redskins,
which he knew would pass soon, so he tied some of the bushes together across
the narrow path, and then they hid to await developments. Soon a party of
half-drunken Indians came along on full gallop, and when they came to the
place mentioned the ponies went under, but the riders did not. The reader
can easily imagine the scene that followed. Some were seriously hurt ; but the
perpetrators offered no assistance, and it was some time before they dared to
leave their hiding-place. The Indians were frequent visitors at the cabins of
nearly all the early settlers, but were rarely known to steal, and soon left the
hunting grounds, where they had roamed so long, to the desecration of the ax
and plow.
Raccoon Village is prominently identified with the history of the township,
and here deserves more than a passing notice. Its history under the Indian
occupation will be found elsewhere, and to the older citizens of that part of the
country it is associated with many pleasing memories. It was located in the
southeast corner of the township, on the north bank of the Wabash Canal, and
originally consisted of a brick house with two rooms and a number of log cabins,
all erected by the Government for the occupation of the Indians. The place
was named after the chief, Raccoon, who occupied the brick house referred to,
212 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
and who, it is said, now quietly sleeps on the top of the neighboring hill, over-
looking the spot where he once held kingly sway. After the advent of the
whites, the land was sold, the hrick house passing into the hands of Jesse Ver-
milvea. By him it was rented to different parties, Thomas McGlaughlin being
an occupant in 1843. It was built squarely on the county line, one room being
in Whitley and the other in Allen County. A legend, having a mythical flavor,
but worthy of note, runs to the effect that once, about forty years ago, a Justice
of the Peace, holding a commission in Allen County, commenced a marriage
ceremony in the west room. During the progress of the ceremony, it was ob-
served that he had no jurisdiction there, so the party adjourned to the east
room, in Allen County, where the matrimonial knot was legally tied. When
the canal was built, this place became a landing, to which the farmers hauled
their produce for shipment, and spring usually found immense piles of logs and
wood here,. ready for transportation. The canal, too, has saved many an em-
igrant from the east a toilsome journey overland; and, in the winter, when the
ice was thick, it was well improved by people wishing to go to Fort Wayne.
This was a favorite resort for idlers, and here, on a pleasant Sunday in summer,
a crowd of men and boys would generally be found, smoking, discussing the
topics of the day, watching the deer on the prairie to the south, or waiting for
a packet boat to glide by. But these are all now among the things that were.
The last canal-boat left the place in 1879, and " sterr ruin's plowshare " has
obliterated every trace of the historic village.
Mention may be made here of the fact that the remains of a huge mas-
todon were exhumed a few years ago, while a marsh was being ditched. Portions
of these now grace the shelves of various museums in the country, and one of
the massive teeth is in the possession of W. M. Gillespie, of Jefferson Town-
ship.
In the spring of 1845, the citizens petitioned the Board of Commissioners
to organize the township for civil purposes. There was some debate as to the
name by which it should be christened, some wanting it called Polk Township,
others favoring 'Jefferson.'" The names Raccoon and Fairfield were also
proposed. There was no name mentioned in the petition, however, and when
it was presented to Chancey Hadley for his signature, he wrote " Jefferson
Township " on the outside. This name the Commissioners adopted, and ordered
"that the citizens of said township meet at the dwelling house of Michael C.
Crowel, in the said township, on the first Monday in April, 1845, then and
there to open and close an election according to law, and elect one Justice
of the Peace, and all township officers that the law requires ; that Michael C.
Crowel be inspector of said election, and that they do their civil business in
the name and style of 'Jefferson Township.' " Pursuant to the above, ten voters
met at Mr. Crowd's April 7, 1845, and set running the political machinery of
the township. For Justice of the Peace, Leonard S. Maring received nine
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 213
votes, and Jonathan Chadeayne, one vote. Latham Blee was elected one of
the Board of Trustees, but the names of the other oflScers could not be learned.
In the earlier days of the township, Lot Bayless' mill in Allen County
supplied most of the settlers with the little lumber required, but as time rolled
on, the great wealth of large timber here gave rise to numerous saw-mills, som
of which have since been moved away. The first saw-mill was built by Daniel
German, on the Illinois road, and was set running in 1852. In its erection the
people of the township assisted largely, taking their pay in sawing. In the
course of a few years, it was moved a short distance eastward, and in 1876 was
purchased by Bobbins & Frantz. In 1881, it was torn down and some of it is
now a part of the Bobbins Mill in the southern part of the township, owned by
the above mentioned firm. The second saw-mill was built by Bayless & Bro., in
1856, on the Liberty Mills road. The next year, a " corn cracker " was added,
which continued in operation until 1860, when the mill was burneJ. It was-
immediately rebuilt, and again burned in 1869. It was again rebuilt, and in
1876 was removed to Michigan. The Dustman Mill was built in 1866, by
Black, Dustman & Co. It was erected at a cost of |5,500, and was the first
circular saw-mill in the township. It has changed hands several times, and is
now owned by Thrasher & Jerome. In 1867, a shingle factory was built at the
present site of Forest, by Miller & Baker. In 1871, a stave machine was
added, which was sold in 1876, and the building considerably enlarged to make
room for planing machinery. It has run as a planing mill and shingle fac-
tory ever since. The Crowel mill was put up, in 1873, by Sowers & Morrolf,
at a cost of about $2,000. In 1875, Oliver Crowel purchased an interest, and
later secured the entire property, which he still owns. In 1876, Young &.
Metzler erected a saw- mill at Forest, at a cost of |3,000. It has changed
hands several times, and is now owned by Young & Co. The next year, a
flouring-mill was put in operation in connection with the saw-mill. It was
built by Young & Richards, at a cost of $2,500. Later the firm became
Young & Long, and in 1882, R. L. Pence purchased Long's interest. It has
two sets of buhrs, and a capacity of 150 bushels per day.
A generation ago, when the people of Indiana were struggling to clear
up their farms and at the same time keep the wolf from the door, the educa-
tional advantages enjoyed by the children were few and meager. The educa-
tion they did secure was principally acquired during a two or three months'
winter term of school in a house which corresponded in every way to the order
of things in that early day, and in the case of the stronger minded youth was
often dug out at home by the hickory bark or tallow candle. Yet these dis-
advantages were largely balanced by the strength of mind and self-reliance
that they tended to impart, and it was under such circumstances that a large
number of the eminent men of to-day acquired their early education.
In 1844, Benjamin F. Davis and John Chandler, his brother-in-law, set-
tled on the southeast quarter Section 23, and erected a double cabin, Davis ■
214 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
occupying one room and Chandler the other. Mr. Davis and his wife were
both well educated, and here (in the spring of 1845), in the one room occupied
by the family, Mrs. Davis taught the first school of Jefferson Township. She
was paid by subscription and had a school of about seventeen small scholars.
In the fall of 1845, the first schoolhouse was erected on the banks of Big
Indian Creek, on the Liberty Mills road, about one-quarter of a mile from the
Broxon Corners. It was a rude log affair, about 18x20 feet, with a large fire-
place and stick chimney, and, like all the country schoolhouses of that day, had
slab benches with no backs ; one long, horizontal window on each side
admitted the light ; and here, the following winter, James T. Bayless swung
the birch over the young ideas of the neighborhod. One of the pupils was a
youth of about seventeen, who had never been to school, and he started the
first day impressed with the idea that he was going to learn "a," but as to the
nature of the mysterious " a" he was entirely in the dark, probably supposing
it to be a matter of considerable importance. When the teacher came around to
investigate the extent of his literary progress, the following dialogue took
place: " Charley, what is that?" "Well, now, you're ahead of me there,
Jim!" "That is 'a.'" " Jewhillikers ! Jim, is that ' a?' " said the astonished
boy. The spring term of the Indian Creek school was taught by Mary Phelps.
Frederick Fulk taught the third term, and Mary Phelps again the next sum-
mer.
In the fall of 1847, a schoolhouse, similar to the above described, was
built at the Maring Corners, in the western part of the township. Here
William Bell was installed master and taught a school of twenty-five pupils the
mysteries of the three R's, having but one scholar who had advanced to the
itudy ot grammar and geography. Jane Miller taught the next spring, and
William Bell again the following winter. Some rousing times were experienced
at the numerous debates, spelling-schools and meetings held here, and to which
the people went on foot or in ox-carts, or often the young gallant and his girl
would ride one horse, which custom has been superseded by the new-fangled
ways of to-day. In 1847, the first division of the township was made, it being
divided equally into four districts.
Immediately in the wake of the tide of immigration followed those early
circuit riders and ministers of nearly every denomination, who held services at
the log schoolhouses, or at the cabins of the settlers, or often assembled their
congregations in one of "God's first temples," and who sought out and united
in spirit the scattered members of their churches wherever they could be found.
The first preaching of which any definite knowledge can be obtained was in
1846, by Zachary Garrison, who held services at Zephaniah Bell's and also at
William Davenport's. Part of the time, he was assisted in his labors by Mr.
Worth. Zephaniah Bell also preached some about this time, and others, of
whose work nothing can be learned. Methodism here as elsewhere has been
A little mercurial in its progress, there having been three organizations at dif-
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 215
ferent times, and at present but one. The first Methodist minister who held
services in the township was probably Milton Haun, who commenced preaching
at the Indian Creek schoolhouse in the spring of 1849. The next summer, a
class was organized, which was the first religious organization in the township.
Daniel Barry was appointed class leader, which office he has filled to the
present day. In the fall of 1849, Haun was succeeded by James Elrod, who
held services here monthly for one year. He also preached at the Maring
schoolhouse, where a class was organized about this time, and probably by
Elrod, but which broke down after a few years. For obvious reasons he called
this place Sodom, by which name Forest is known unto this day. One Sunday,
some of the boys took their fiddles to church, with which they entertained the
congregation till the preacher came, and after meeting indulged in a game of
jumping, at which it is said the minister himself tried his skill. Elrod was
followed by Rev. Perkins, J. Dean, S. W. Camp, A. Nichols, H. Woolpert, B.
F. Armstrong, E, M. Baker, W. E. Curtis, T. J. Shackelford and others. In
the earlier days of the Indian Creek Church, it belonged to the Huntington
Circuit, but was shortly after changed to the Roanoke Circuit, to which it
belonged until 1870, when it became a part of the Areola Circuit, of which J.
C. Maclin had charge. In 1870, Maclin organized a class in the northern
part of the township, which was kept up for five or six years, and then consoli-
dated with the older church. The Methodists have never built a house of wor-
ship, but for a good many years have held bi-monthly services at the Town
House. In 1879, this church enrolled fifty members, and now has but
eighteen. In 1882, it was united with the Kelseyville Circuit. The first
Catholic services were held at Mr. Hine's by Father Fowler, of Fort Wayne,
at quite an early day. Chapel exercises have been held monthly at Mr. Blee's
for a number of years. Of those who succeeded Fowler, were Fathers Fox,
Shaflfey and Harkman.
For a number of years before the organization of the Church of God in
this township, David Keplinger, of that denomination, preached irregularly at
the Maring Schoolhouse, and, in 1857, he organized a church of twenty mem-
bers, at the Brandenburg Schoolhouse. He was followed by Rev. Slyter. F.
Comp and John Andrews. In 1869, this church completed the Evergreen
Bethel house of worship, which is still in use, and was the first church building
in the township. It was built at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated by R. H.
Bolton. The Christian or Disciples denomination at present has two prosperous
organizations in the township, with good buildings. The first preaching was
by G. B. Mullis, of Logansport, on the first Sunday in June, 1855. August
2, 1858, a church of twenty-two members was organized at the Indian Creek
Schoolhouse, by William Dowling. The first officers were Elders, Samuel Bra-
den and James Broxon ; Deacons, William Jeffries and Daniel Swisher. In
1874, the building in present use was built at a cost of $1,500, and dedicated
by L. L. Carpenter, of Wabash. Since its organization, the church has enrolled
216 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
164 members, and now has a membership of forty-four. Following is a list of
the preachers who have ministered to the spiritual wants of this congregation :
O. W. Chapman, James Hadsel, William Dowling, Z. W. Shepherd, B. W.
Hendryx, A. Walker, C. B. Austin, F. H. McCormack, T. M. Burnau, P.
Hasty and 0. A. Newton. In 1858, William Dowling preached at the Maring
Schoolhouse, and during the same year organized a church of twenty members
at that place. He was followed by George Chapman, B. W. Hendryx, Z. W.
Shepherd and others. In 1879, the frame building in present use at Forest was
completed at a cost of |3,000, and dedicated by M. P. Galleher.
Several secret societies have flourished at different times in this township,
the first being a Know-Nothing Council, one of the political organizations of
that day. It was organized in October, 1854, with about forty members, and
continued in operation for about four years, its membership at one time reach-
ing nearly one hundred. In January, 1874, the following granges were organ-
ized in the township : Fair Oaks Grange, No. 991, with twenty-four charter
members; J. C. F. Crowel, W. M. Its most prosperous period was the winter
of 1877, and the last meeting was held in the spring of 1881. Sugar Grove
Grange, No. 1,075, organized the same day with twenty members. It has
since disbanded. Jefferson Grange, No. 1,256, started with fifteen members
and continued in operation three years. Forest Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 546,
organized May 5, 1877, with the following charter members: Marshall Wright,
Francis M. McDonald, Edward B. North, Moses T. Simon, James F. Johnson.
During the first three years of its existence, it occupied the room above a drug
store, and in the summer of 1880 the present hall was fitted up. Its member-
ship is now nineteen.
The postal facilities enjoyed by the people here thirty years ago were in
general keeping with the existing order of things, the nearest post offices being
Fort Wayne and Roanoke and postage from 15 cents to 25 cents a letter. At
last the people began to want some improvement in this respect, and an agi-
tation followed which resulted in two post offices being established on the Lib-
erty Mills road, and at about the same time. As near as can be learned, this
was in 1856. A weekly mail followed for several years, and later became tri-
weekly. William T. Jeffries was the first Postmaster at Saturn, and held the
position three years. He was succeeded by James T. Bayless and Eli Hatfield,
who were followed by James Broxon, who gave the office its name and who
held the office since December, 1867. The first Postmaster at Laud was
Thomas Neal. He was succeeded by Christian Bechtel, who handled the mail
for about twenty years. In 1880, it was removed to Forest, where M. G.
Wright took charge, and was succeeded by Edward Phelps, the present in-
cumbent.
The history of the little village of Forest begins with the erection of the
Livenspargar saw-mill in 1854. It was built by the Miller Brothers and Allan
Quick, and is still in lively operation. This mill and one residence lie in
THORN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 217
Washington Township, while the balance of the town is built across the road
in Jefferson. The site of the village was originally owned by William Bell,
who afterward sold out to Calvin Maring. While Mr. Bell owned the land,
Allan Quick secured one-quarter of an acre, on which he built a residence in
1854. He afterward built a house on the corner now occupied by Mr. Brock.
Meanwhile, Calvin Maring laid out several large lots, and the next improve-
ment followed in 1866. During this year, the Myers brothers built a black-
smith-shop on the corner, and Henry Myers erected a house on the same lot.
In the spring of 1867, Blwood Nichols erected a large building, probably in-
tended for a shop, but the same summer lot and building were sold to James
Baker, who put in a stock of dry goods and groceries, valued at $1,000. Other
improvements followed slowly, and in the fall of 1870, Dr. Richards built the
room now occupied by the drug store. During these years, the place had been
known by different names, such as Sodom and Lickskillet, and now some of
the citizens began to think of a change in this respect. Accordingly, when
the building mentioned was completed, a convention was held for the purpose
of naming the little place. An oyster supper was one feature of the gathering,
and the question before the meeting was settled by ballot. Several names
were proposed, but Forest won the day, and as Forest it has since been known.
In 1878, Mr. Bobbins built a business room in which Mr. Bainbridge, of
Columbia City, has since had a stock of dry goods and groceries. The build-
ing occupied by the hardware store was erected in 1880, by Vincent White.
The first stock of goods was put in by Edwards & Anderson, of Columbia City,
who in 1881 sold to James Burwell. Since 1863, Dr. Richards has been
practicing here, and later, Drs. Koontz and Putts located at this place. The
town has now a population of a little over one hundred, and has a good church,
and a brick schoolhouse, four stores, a grist-mill, two saw-mills and a hoop
factory. It is growing steadily, and is patiently waiting for that blessing so
greatly desired by all inland towns, a railroad.
CHAPTER XII.
by e. a. mossman.
Thorn Creek Township— Physical Features— The First and Subsequent
Settlers— Life in the Woods— First Birth, Marriage and Death-
Milling Interests— Blue River Water-Power— The Only Villiage ( ?)
— Uld-Time Customs— Agricultural Eesources— Religious and Edu-
cational Training.
"And many strokes, though with a little ax,
Hew down and fell the hardest-timbered oaks." — Shakespeare.
THORN CREEK TOWNSHIP derives its name from a small stream
which is the outlet of Round Lake. Throughout the greater part of the
township the soil is remarkably fertile. Originally the township was very
218 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
heavily timbered and owing to the fact that there was at that time no con-
venient market for lumber, the early settlers burned, in log-heaps, walnut and
other valuable timber which, if standing, would to-day be more valuable than
the land on which it grew. There are several very fine lakes in the township,
the principal of which are Crooked, Cedar, Shriner and Round Lakes, in
which there is an abundance of excellent fish. The last three of the above-
named lakes are connected, their common outlet being Thorn Creek. The civil
township of Thorn Creek and Congressional Township No. 32 north, of Range
9 east, coincide throughout. Owing to the fallibility of man's recollection, it
is difficult to ascertain to an absolute certainty who was the first settler of
Thorn Creek Township ; yet it scarcely admits of a doubt that John H. Alex-
ander and his family were justly entitled to claim the honor of being the first
white persons to locate within the limits of the township. It is certain that
they came into the township prior to the immigration of the families of John
and Joseph Egolf and Martin Overly, which was in 1836. John and Joseph
Egolf started from Fairfield County, Ohio, on the 4th day of July, 1836, and
arrived in Thorn Creek Township the latter part of the same month. Martin
Overly came to the township in the fall of the same year. The family of John
H. Alexander is said to have moved to Michigan many years ago, and there is
now no one living in the township who can give the exact date when he moved
into it. There is a circumstance, however, which Mrs. Margaret Egolf (widow
of Joseph Egolf) distinctly remembers, which almost, if not altogether, con-
clusively proves that he settled in the township eight or nine months prior to
the time when John and Joseph Egolf came, which would have been in the fall
of 1835. The circumstance related by Mrs. Egolf was as follows : Mr. Joseph
Egolf, soon after he settled in the township, being out one morning hunting his
cows, heard voices, which he confidently believed to be the voices of white
people. An intervening lake and the want of time prevented him from going
just then to see who his neighbors were. In a few days, however, he and his
wife started out in search of them. After a long and toilsome walk, they
found the object of their search, which proved to be the residence of John H.
Alexander. The distance between the two families was not, on a direct line,
more than two miles. By the circuitous route they were obliged to travel,
however, which meandered around the margin of the lake, it was, probably,
fully twice that distance. Mr. Alexander's folks told Mrs. Egolf that she was
the first white woman but one they had seen for nine months. The first that
they had seen within the preceding nine months was, they said, the wife of an
emigrant who passed by their house on his way farther West. Mrs. Egolf
does not now remember whether they placed the time at nine months, for the
reason that it was that length of time since they had moved into the State
or not, but thinks it more than probable that such was the case, for the reason
that the general aspect of things about their dwelling seemed to indicate that
they had not probably been there for a greater length of time. As would be
THORN CREEK TOWNSHIP 221
natural, both families were overjoyed of course to find that they had so much
nearer neighbors than they had supposed. Families residing within two, three,
or four miles of each other, were in those days considered near neighbors.
But marvelous changes have been wrought here, as elsewhere, during the half
century of time that has intervened between those days and the present. When
we view Thorn Creek Township as she is to-day, with her large and intelligent
population ; her good schools and churches at almost every cross-road ; her
complete network of excellent highways; and with her hundreds of well-im-
proved and well-tilled farms, many of them with superb and costly buildings
upon them ; and when we contrast her in her present condition with what she
was in those early days, we are impelled to exclaim, in the language of the im-
mortal bard :
" Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Without our special wonder ?"
During the next year after John and Joseph Egolf and Martin Overly
settled in the township, six other families moved in, all from Ohio. They were
the families of Adam Egolf, Henry Egolf, Jacob Shearer, Peter Shriner, Jacob
Hively and Daniel Hively. There came, also, at the same time, Mrs. Mary
Egolf, mother of Adam, Henry and John. She died within a very few days
after h-er arrival (in June, 1837), and was, probably, the first white person who
died in the township. John Egolf, Adam Egolf, Henry Egolf and Daniel
Hively are still living on the same land that they entered and located upon
when they first came to the State, and will continue, in all probability, to re-
side there until they shall close the volume of life's pilgrimage.
William R. Martin was born September 1, 1837, and was, probably, the
the first white child born in the township. His father, Benjamin F. Martin,
settled in the township in 1837, and died February 10, 1842.
The first election in the township was held at the residence of Benjamin
F. Martin, and the voters thereat were Adam Egolf, Joseph Egolf, Henry
Egolf, John Egolf, John H. Alexander, Nathaniel Gradeless, Benjamin F.
Martin, Martin Overly, Peter Shriner, Daniel Hively, Jacob Hively, Jacob
Shearer and Jacob Brumbaugh. One of the first (perhaps the very first) sur-
veyors of the county was John H. Alexander, a son of John H. Alexander?
the first settler in the township, of whom mention has been made, Adam
Egolf was the first Justice of the Peace elected in the township. He served
one term, but declined a re-election. The emoluments of the office of Justice
of the Peace were not so great, in those days, as to prompt men to make use of
every means that they could command, fair and unfair, to secure their election
to that office, as is sometimes the case at the present day.
The statements of the surviving pioneers are somewhat discrepant as to
the location of the first schoolhouse that was built in the township, some affirm-
ing that it was built on very nearly the same ground that Thorn Creek Bethel
222 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
now stands on, and others, that it was on Jacob Humbarger's farm, now owned
by a man named Hoops. The probability is, however, that there was one
erected at each place and about the same time. The time was about the year
1841. The first teacher at the schoolhouse that stood where Thorn Creek
Bethel now stands was Charles Hughes. He received $13 per month and
boarded himself. William Widup taught school in a private house, in what
was known as the Egolf neighborhood, as early as the year 1841, and it is
probable that he taught the first school that was taught in the township. The
first schoolhouses were built of logs, with puncheon floors, chimneys composed
of sticks and mortar, a wide "fireplace" at one end, or side, and a clapboard
roof. The walls were chinked with mortar made of clay, and the " furniture "
consisted of a sufficient number of indestructible, backless benches, more con-
ducive to backache than to comfort. The writing was done on broad slabs,
hewn as smoothly as they could conveniently be, and, supported by stout pegs,
or pins, driven into auger-holes in the walls. The branches studied were
reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and grammar ; geography and grammar,
however (especially the latter) were studied by but a very few. The methods of
instruction were quite different from the methods of to-day. The pupils were
not organized in classes, in any of the branches except reading and spelling.
If a pupil wanted any difficult point in any other branch explained, he -had to
wait until the teacher was at leisure, and then go to him. Although it is ob-
viously true that this method was greatly inferior to those that are in vogue at
■ the present day, yet it is also true that those who obtained their education
under the old regime compare favorably, in point of intelligence, with those
who have been educated under the new. Thorn Creek Township has at 'pres-
ent some first-class brick schoolhouses, and she is probably able to make as
good a showing, in all matters pertaining to educational affairs, as any of her
sister townships.
The early settlers, although they were, as a rule, men in very moderate cir-
cumstances, yet, as they bought their lands very cheaply, which rapidly grew
into value, and as they were almost universally enterprising, industrious and
frugal (being compelled, by force of circumstances, to practice economy, even
had it not been their natural inclination to do so), they rapidly rose to easy, and
many of them affluent, circumstances. True, they were compelled, at first, to
pay exorbitant prices for such commodities as they were under the necessity of
purchasing, but after they had been here a year or two, and had an opportunity
of clearing up a few acres of ground, they were able to produce and manufact-
ure very nearly everything that their necessities required, be it food, raiment,
implement, vehicle, or whatsoever it might be. Very many, and perhaps most,
if not all, of the very early settlers made their own and their families' shoes,
spun the flax, and carded and spun the wool for the clothing for their entire
families, besides being their own carpenter, wagonmaker, blacksmith, brick
mason, etc., etc. In short, each man was, of necessity, a jack of all trades.
THORN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 223
Log-rollings (not of the disreputable kind, however, that the present-day poli-
tician is eminently noted for) and raisings were everyday occurrences. Some
of the early settlers say that they have attended rollings for as many as twenty-
three consecutive days, Sunday only excepted. Notwithstanding the hardships
and privations they were compelled to endure in those times, however, the pioneers
generally say that life was infinitely more enjoyable then than at the present
time, for the reason that every person of respectable antecedents was then
regarded and treated as the peer of any man, even though he were as poor as
the grandfather of poverty ; or, otherwise, that the social position of an indi-
vidual in nowise depended upon wealth or the lack of it. Whereas, to-day, it
is, they say, lamentably otherwise, and that the world seems to think that
" Dimes and dollars ! dollars and dimes !
An empty pocket is the worst of crimes !"
His eye brightens and his countenance is all aglow with heartfelt pleasure as
the aged pioneer relates how families went en masse in sleds to visit other
families four or five miles distant, to spend the long winter evenings, and how
greatly they enjoyed themselves in those primitive times, when an unblemished
character 'was a free passport to the best society in the land.
Thorn Creek is one of the few townships in the county (perhaps the only
one) that has not somewhere within its limits a platted town or village. There
is, however, a collection of houses in the northeast corner of the township, to
which the name of Bloomfield is applied, although it has never been platted as
a town. There is a small stock of " dry goods and groceries" kept there by
Abraham Friend, and this is the only place in the township where any kind
of merchandise is sold.
The manufacturing interests of the township, like the mercantile, are quite
limited, and will occupy but little space in this history. About the year 1841,
Richard Baughan built a water-mill, with one run of buhrs for grinding corn,
on the Blue River, in the southwest part of the township. There was also a
saw-mill in connection with it, and subsequently a bolter was put in, so that
wheat and buckwheat were ground, although it is said that the flour made was
very inferior in quality. About the year 1855, the dam was carried away by
a freshet, and there was no grinding done after that time, although the dam
was partially repaired, and some sawing was done afterward. Some portions
of the substructure are still to be seen, although the upper portion of the build-
ing was long since carried away. About the year 1846, a saw-mill and carding
machine were erected on Thorn Creek, just on the bank of Round Lake, by
Solomon Auspaugh, who operated it until the year 1849, when he sold it to
Wesley Hyre, who rebuilt it, discarding the carding machine and digging a
new race, about a quarter of a mile in length. The water-power is excellent
the greater part of the year ; the fall is ample (about ten feet), and the mill did
a great deal of work for many years, but on account of the scarcity of timber,
224 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
it is not, and has not been for the past few years, running much more than half
the time. It has proven a very valuable piece of property to all who have
owned it, and is yet a good mill, and would be valuable still, if there was plenty
of timber in the neighborhood. About the year 1860, Wesley Hyre sold the
mill to his son, Joseph Hyre, who owned it until about the year 1865, when
he sold it to his brother, Leonard Hyre. Frederick Magley purchased the mill
of Leonard Hyre, about the year 1867, and still owns it. Mr. Magley came
to the township from Licking County, Ohio. About the year 1850, a man by
the name of Knaga built a saw-mill on Thorn Creek, about one and a half
miles from Round Lake. In a very short time after he built it, he died. After
the death of Mr. Knaga, Frederick Humburger rented the mill of the Knaga
heirs, and ran it for about five years, when Cyrus Knaga, a son of the original
builder, took possession, and ran it for about nine years, when Samuel Cover-
stone bought it, and still owns it. This, like the one just mentioned, was very
profitable for a long time, but, being located but a very short distance from it,
the scarcity of timber in the vicinity renders the property of less value year by
year for the purpose for which it was erected. The water-power, however, as
has been previously observed, is excellent, and when the time shall come, as it un-
doubtedly will, when they can no longer be profitably run as saw-mills, they can
be converted into flouring- mills, woolen-mills, or something of the sort. The
depth of water in the lake, and consequently the amount of fall at the mills, is
liable to fluctuations of several feet, as the weather changes from very wet to
very dry. During high water, there is a fall at the upper mill of about ten
feet ; and in very dry weather, the water is so low that the mill cannot run.
In consequence of this fluctuation, it manifestly would not be prudent in con-
verting those saw-mills into other kinds of mills, to put into them the full amount
of machinery that could be run when the water is highest, for the reason that
such a large portion of it would necessarily have to stand idle for such a great
length of time each year.
About the year 1873, a steam saw-mill was erected by Thomas N. Hughes
& Co. about three miles north of the southwest corner of the township, and
just across the line from Smith Township. The mill was run there until the
fall of 1881, when it was removed to near Taylor's Station, on the Eel River
Division of the W., St. L. & P. R. R., about four miles west of Columbia City.
It is somewhat involved in doubt as to who were the first couple married in the
township ; but the probability is that it was either Mr. Solomon Auspaugh and
Mary Hively, or Peter Egolf, son of Adam Egolf, and the lady whom he mar-
ried, whose name could not be ascertained. It is tolerably certain the first
mentioned couple were married in the fall of 1843, but whether the latter
were married before that time or after cannot be definitely ascertained, although
it is quite certain that there was but a very short interval of time between the
two marriages, whichever may have been first.
What is now Whitley County constituted a portion of Huntington County
THORN CREEK TOWNSHIP. 225
up to about the year 1839, and it is said that after the county of Whitley was
struck off, and was organized as a separate county, the first term of the Whit-
ley Circuit Court was held at the house of Richard Baughan in Thorn Creek
Township and that Charles Ewing was the Presiding Judge, and John H.
Alexander one of the Associate Judges at the court.
About the winter of 1872-73, Thomas Hildinger was killed in the town-
ship whilst loading a saw log, by the log rolling back upon him in consequence
of the chain breaking. About the winter of 1880-81, David Bowers was
killed by a limb falling on him while cutting down trees in the woods. About
twenty or twenty-five years ago, Rudolph Brock was drowned in Shriner's
Lake. At a very early day, probably in 1838 or 1839, a man by the name of
Michael Divibiss died at the house of Joseph Egolf under such circumstances
as to make it very doubtful whether he intended to commit suicide, or whether
he took the poison which killed him without knowing that it was a poison, and
believing that it possessed medicinal properties that would cure his ailment.
He had entered a piece of land near where Joseph Egolf lived, and was
improving it, and boarding at Joseph Egolf's, his family still continuing to
reside in Ohio. He had been complaining for several days of not feeling well,
and one day he took his tobacco pipe, which he had been using for a long time,
and, scraping off the gummy substance that was adhering to the inside, took it.
In a short time he became deathly sick, and died in the course of a few hours.
Before he died he seemed exceedingly anxious to tell to those who were present
something that seemed to weigh upon his mind, but his tongue seemed to be
paralyzed so that he could not. These are all the fatal casualties that could
be learned of upon diligent inquiry.
The first religious meetings that were held in the township were held in
the old log schoolhouse that formerly stood on the spot on which Thorn Creek
Bethel now stands, just north of Adam Egolf's residence. This was about the
year 1843. A very short time afterward, Adam Egolf organized a Sunday
school at the same schoolhouse, and the same has been kept up during the
summer season ever since. The minister who established the first church was
Zachariah Garrison. He was, at that time, a Methodist minister, and the
church that he organized was a Methodist church ; but he afterward severed
his connection with the Methodist Church and became a minister in the Church
of God, and the entire congregation, or the major part of them at least, went
with their pastor to the Church of God. They now have a membership of
about thirty, and their pastor is Benjamin Ober. They also have a very nice
cemetery, that has the appearance of having been well kept, and in which
there are a number of very neat and pretty and some quite expensive appearing
tombstones. Just three miles north of the church just spoken of is a church
that was erected, about the year 1867, by the Lutherans and German Reform-
ers conjointly. It is commonly known as the Hively Church. Thomas Hil-
dinger, who met with an accidental death, as before stated, was the builder.
226 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The probable cost of the building was about $500. There is a very pretty and
neat cemetery adjacent. Neither society has any regular pastor at present, nor
are there any meetings held there. Rev. John Miller is the last Lutheran
minister who has occupied the pulpit. Who was the last of the German Re-
formers the writer is unable to state.
The finest church edifice in the township, probably, was erected by the
Free Methodist denomination, on the northeast corner of Section 25, in the
year 1875. The first pastor was Rev. A. F. Gadwin. The society, at the
time of the erection of the church, was but four. The building cost, probably,
$1,400. It is beautifully situated on the north bank of Blue River, within a
few rods of the confluence of Blue River and Thorn Creek. A very neat
graveyard lies just across the highway from the church. . They have a present
membership of about twenty. They have a Sunday school during the sum-
mer season, which is generally well attended. The present pastor is Rev.
Thompson.
The surface of the greater portion of the township is slightly undulating.
There are portions of it, however, which might, not inappropriately perhaps,
be termed hilly, and there are also portions, although the area is quite small as
compared with some of the other townships in the county, that are swampy or
marshy. There being no facilities for transportation within the township (not a
mile of railroad, canal nor navigable river), it is essentially an agricultural and
stock-growing district. All the agricultural products that are usually culti-
vated in this latitude yield well here. The central and northern portions are
rather remote from any good market for grain and other agricultural products ;
yet, notwithstanding this fact, real estate commands a good price. Stock rais-
ing is engaged in quite extensively by several of the more wealthy farmers of
the township, and it seems to be very remunerative. In passing through the
township one will see a great many very fine herds of stock. Much attention
is given to the breeding and importation of thoroughbred stock, and Thorn
Creek never fails to secure her full quota of red ribbons at our county fairs, on
account of her fine stock, as well as on account of the excellence of her farm
products.
CHAPTER XIII.
by colonel isaiah b. mo donald.
Troy Township Forty-five Years Ago— Customs of the Early Times-
Valuable Statistics— FiRiT Birth, Marriage anb Death— Catalogue
OF Old Settlers— Industries— Villages, Schools and Churches— Edu-
cational Eeunion— Old Settlers' Meeting — E. L. Barber's Address,
"Respect for Old Age."
THIS TOWNSHIP was organized by the Board of Commissioners in May,
1839. This was originally organized as Township 32 north. Range 8 east,
and contained the usual 36 Sections. The township was named Troy by Jesse S.
Perin, who had formerly lived at Troy, N. Y. The first election was held on the
TROY TOWNSHIP. 227
4th of July, 1839, at the house of Joseph Tinkham, The judges of that election
were Jesse S. Perin, Samuel Hartsock ; Inspector, Price Goodrich ; Clerks,
Thomas Estlick and Timothy Devinny. The number of votes cast was twelve, to
wit: Bela Goodrich, Jesse S. Perin, James Sytel, William Doney, James Keirsey ,
Joseph Tinkham, Jacob Scott, Stephen Martin, Sr., Henry Moore, Sr., Jona-
than Smith, James Joslin and Samuel Hartsock- At this election, Nathan
Chapman received seven votes for Justice of the Peace, and Price Goodrich
five votes and no more. The second election was held at the same place, Jo-
seph Tinkhan's house, on the 1st Monday in August, 1839, by the following offi-
cers, to wit : Price Goodrich, Inspector ; Joseph Tinkham and Samuel Hart-
sock, Judges ; Timothy F. Devinny and James Keirsey, Clerks. Ten votes
were cast, to wit : Bela Goodrich, Stephen Martin, Sr., Timothy F. Devinny,
Samuel Hartsock, Price Goodrich, Joseph Tinkham, Nathan Chapman, Joel
Rine, James Keirsey and Asa Shoemaker. This was the first general election
held in the township, for township, county and State offices.
It is pretty well settled that Samuel Hartsock, from Tiffin, Ohio, was the
first settler in what is now known as Troy Township, and that he located on
Section 13, north of the now village of Loraine. This was in 1836. Thomas
Estlick came next. Soon after the following named persons came with their
families : Stephen Martin, Sr., John Snodgrass, Price Goodrich, George W.
Elder, Joel Rine, Nathan Chapman, James Keirsey, Joseph Tinkham, Bela
Goodrich, T. F. Devinny and Jacob Scott. The settlement of the township
was quite slow till about 1840, when the settlers began to come in pretty fast.
Robert Adams, Lewis Adams, Jacob Stackhouse, Henry Harpster, James
Grant (who was the second Justice of the Peace and was commissioned in 1841),
Samuel Marrs, Samuel Palmer, Henry Roberts, Levi Adams, Pearson R. Wal-
ton, James Latoon, John J. English, Almond Palmer, Hiram Lampkins and
Harlow Barber came in during the year 1838-9. William Jameson came in
1841 ; Alexander Blain came in 1840 ; Thomas A. Elliott came soon after ;
Richard Vanderford came in 1842 ; William James came in 1838, and is still
living ; was born in 1798 ; David and Mary James came at the same time,
and with Samuel Hartsock's girls and boys constituted the young folks of the
township. Carter McDonald came in 1841, and bought his land on Section 21,
and moved his family in October, 1842, to the farm where William McDonald
now resides. John Harrison came in 1841 ; Fielding Barnes came in 1843 ; Luke
McAlister came about the same time ; Jonathan Sattison came in 1842 ; Lorin
Loomis came in 1841, and settled at Grant's Corners ; Ambrose M. Trumbull
came in 1842 ; had lived several years in Noble County, near Cold Springs, where
his father settled in 1834 or 1835 ; was married to Rebecca Hisely, in Thorn
Creek Township, in March, 1842 ; had seven children ; two of the sons died
in the army — Preston and Dwight Trumbull — and were members of Company
A, Thirtieth Indiana Volunteers. Robert J. Elliott came in 1843, and is
now the oldest Justice of the Peace in the township. There is no township in
the county which has advanced in improvements more rapidly than Troy.
228 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
In 1838, the first taxes were assessed and collected as follows : John
Burns paid $1.25 ; Thomas Estlick, $1.85 ; Samuel Hartsock, $3.06 ; Stephen
Martin, Sr., $1.30 ; Jesse S. Perin, $3.40 ; Joel Rine, $2.51 ; John Snod-
grass, $3.17, and Joseph Tinkham, $2.75. Total taxes for 1838, $19.31. This
was for the whole township. The taxes were collected by Richard Collins,
then Collector. The taxes for 1881 amounted to $6,394.
When the first pioneers came, the township was one vast wilderness of
very heavy timber. There is no township in the county which has produced more
walnut timber for manufacture and shipment than Troy ; and no township has
had a better set of honest, industrious and enterprising settlers. Improvements
have very steadily advanced, and, to-day, it is one of the best improved and
wealthiest townships in the county, and no township in the county has better
society.
The first child born in the township was Thomas Estlick ; the next was a
daughter of Joel Rine, and the first death is said to have been a child of the
latter. Among the first marriages were those of Rev. Samuel Smith to a Miss
Blanchard and David James to Eunice Goodrich. There were not many
weddings during those days, as most every settler brought a wife with him.
The three oldest ladies living in the township at present are Mrs. Mary
Myers, aged 86 ; Miss Margaret Rhodes, 80, and Mrs. Carter McDonald, 78.
The township had but very few roads up to 1842. From that time, as
the settlements increased, roads were opened and improved. There were some
few Indian trails. The old " Squaw Buck" trail was an important one. The first
saw-mill and " corn cracker" was built by Robert Adams north of the center
of the township, on the outlet of Cedar Lake. The first steam saw-mill was
built by James Grant and Henry Swihart, at Grant's Corner (now the village of
Loraine Post Office). There are now two saw-mills in the township, one owned
by Mosher & Co., and one by Sipps & Smuthers. Each of these mills makes
about 500,000 feet of lumber per year.
The first school in the township was taught by Stephen Martin, Jr., in
his own house in 1838-39. The first schoolhouse was built at Grant's Corners,
and Miss Clarissa Blanchard taught the first school in that house — a summer
school. George Colby taught the first winter term in the same house, and
boarded with James Grant ; had eighteen scholars, at $2 a scholar, for three
months. The next schoolhouse was built on the land of A. M. Trumbull,
and was called the " Old North Schoolhouse, " it being north of Troy Center.
The next schoolhouse was built at " Black Rock," near one Casey's land ; it
was called "Black Rock" on account of Casey, who was a colored man and
the only one ever residing in the township. The first frame schoolhouse was
built on the Joseph Tinkham farm, near Allen Adam's place. Every school
district in the township, except the Snodgrass district, has a nice brick school-
house. No township in the county has better schools, nor better people to
maintain them.
TROY TOWNSHIP.
229
The land in the township is quite rolling, interspersed with some of the
fines L lakes in the county, to-wit : Cedar Lake, Robinson's Lake, Rine's
Lake and other smaller ones. The water, both from springs and wells, is the
best in the county. The health of the township has always been good. This
township has never had a murder committed within its borders, as known of.
There has never been a saloon in the township ; it has neither a lawyer nor
doctor. Since the early settlement it has been a quiet, peaceable and respect-
able community.
The following are some of the energetic men of the township : Levi
Belch, David James, A. M. Trumbull, James Blain, George H. Grant, Jona-
than Sattison, Polk Lipps, William McDonald, S. J. W. Elliott, Jacob R.
Elder, Chancey Goodrich, C. F. Marchand, Jacob Smith, Henry Snyder,
Zachariah Barnes and others. Troy will always hold her own in good schools
and laudable enterprises of all kinds.
There are two churches in the township — Presbyterian and Methodist —
and most of the people are church-going and sincere. The following is proba-
bly the first church subscription in the township :
We, the undersigned, hereby agree to pledge ourselves to pay the amount set opposite our
names for the purpose of erecting a building for public worship at the following place in Troy
Township, Whitley County, Ind., to wit: On the land now owned by Robert Tinkham, on the
Columbia and Oswego Road, at the point where said road makes a right angle to the west, said
building to be a frame of the following dimensions : Thirty-four feet wide and forty feet long, the
same to belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church of said township ; Provided, however, that
all evangelical denominations which may desire the use of the same for public worship shall
have it when not occupied by said Methodist Episcopal Church. The subscriptions in materials
are to be delivered and labor paid as shall be desired by the contractor, cash subscriptions to
be paid by the first of October, 1849.
SUBSCRIBERS.
i
1
1
SUBSCRIBERS.
1
1
1
$11 00
5 00
6 00
15 00
5 00
16 00
25 00
7 00
5 00
10 00
10 00
5 00
10 00
$13 00
W Y B Pierce
11 00
1 00
1 00
A M Trumbull
7 00
10 00
10 00
10 00
10 00
10 00
5 00
|1 00
5 00
$8 00
5 00
5 00
6 66
5 00
Uri Tinkham
Beniamin Wooden
Jonathan Shoemaker
5 00
Carter McDonald
5 00
10 00
Isaac Hartsock
5 00
Thomas A Elliott
5 00
10 00
5 00
2 00
2 00
6 00
*
C W Hughes
5 00
3 00
3 00
3 00
J. S. Collins
P R Walton
Richard Collins
8 00
2 00
1 00
2 00
Joseph H.Pratt
2 00
Francis L. McHugh
J W Baker
5 66
1 00
1 00
2 00
2 00
5 00
2 00
2 00
1 00
B M Marrs
Jane Martin
John McKeehan
10 00
2 00
Ralph Goodrich
■"3 00
Peter Snider
* Lumher.
t Mater
lals.
I
230 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
As early as 1840, the Methodist class had been organized by Samuel
Smith, pastor, and Burris Westlick, Presiding Elder, the following persons con-
stituting such class : Price Goodrich and wife, Henry Roberts and wife, Joseph
Tinkham and wife, Michael Blanchard and wife, Salmon Agard and wife, Rufus
King, Samuel Hartsock and wife and Robert Tinkham. Among the pastors
have been Revs. Miller, Blue, Eaton, Bradley, Forbes, Sparks, Blake, Cooper,
Strite, Bradshaw, McCarty, Paton, Camp, McMahon, Baker, Lacy, Smith,
Church, Slade, McElwe, Green, Smith and Reed. In 1877, a new brick
church was built, at a cost of $2,504.90 ; it was dedicated on the 2d of De-
cember, same year. The present membership is sixty-nine. Sunday school is
conducted in summer.
The Presbyterian Church society was organized in 1846 by J. U. Sadd,
and at the start had nine members. A frame church was built three years
later, the cost being about $500. The present frame structure cost about
$1,400, and was erected in 1880. Since the society was first organized, 116
persons have been members, 44 have been dismissed by letter, 32 have died, 3
have been expelled, and the present membership is 37.
On the 15th of June, 1878, an educational reunion was held in Troy Town-
ship, at Cedar Lake Grove. Two thousand persons were in attendance. A
large procession marched from the Methodist Episcopal Church to the grove.
Martial and cornet bands were present. The object was to bring together the
old and the new teachers, to have a good social time in talking of the past and
the present school interests. Mrs. Harlow Barber was the oldest teacher
present. She was given the wreath of honor by Miss Jennie Hartsock, in a
beautiful and eloquent speech. Mrs. Barber's biography was read by her grand-
son. After the picnic dinner, Rev. A. J. Douglas, then County Superin-
tendent, spoke at length to the large assemblage. Among those who labored
to make it pleasant on that day were 0. L. Cummins, H. A. Hartsock, Miss
Jennie R. Hartsock, Mrs. J. D. Jameson, Mrs. David James, James Blain,
and Dr. S. S. Austin, of Etna Township, who read one of the psalms with
splendid execution.
Perhaps the greatest gathering ever in the township was the Old Settlers'
Reunion, held in September, 1881. Several thousand persons were present.
Committee on Programme — Jacob Scott, 0. L. Cummins and Cyrus Keiser ;
Committee to Award Presents — W. A. Marrs, David James, John Smith, C.
F. Marchand and Abram Elder ; Committee to take Care of Old Settlers — J.
Q. Adams, J. R. Elder, Thomas Estlick, Jacob Smith and Rodney James ;
Marshals — F. D. Cummins, S. J. Elliott, Jr., Joseph Snodgrass and J. G.
Stickley. John Snodgrass was President of the Day, and A. M. Trumbull,
Secretary — the latter was Acting President. John Snodgrass, the oldest set-
tler in the township, was presented a fine gold-headed cane. Francis Tulley,
the oldest settler of the county, was presented a beautiful silver-headed cane.
Mrs. Sarah Roberts, the oldest lady settler of the township, was given a nice
TROY TOWNSHIP. 231
rocking-chair. The exercises of the day were closed by the following eloquent
address, entitled "Respect for Old Age," delivered by E. L. Barber, of
Larwill :
address of e. l. barber at the old settlers' re-union in trot township,
september 3, 1881.
Mr. President, Old Pioneers, Friends and Neighbors :
Through the kindness of your committee in charge of affairs on this memorable day, I
have been asked to add something in honor of the occasion and in memory of the pioneers of
Troy, both living and dead, who nearly half a century ago left homes in the older States to
brave the perils incident to the settlement of a new country in the wilderness of the then far
West. I will try and not tire your patience, and while my story will be, to some extent, ramb-
bling and disconnected, in it is embodied what I thought might be appropriate for the occasion.
I see around me to-day familiar faces. Many of them I remember having seen when a
boy, thirty or forty years ago. I see in this company the bronzed faces (wrinkled by time), of
many of the old pioneers, who dared forty years ago the perils of a life in the woods ; who dared
the privations, such as the young men of the present day know nothing of, and with which they
would not care to grapple. Like way-marks of the olden time, a few of them still linger, weak
with age, and bowed with the weight of many toilsome years. These old pilgrims are worthy
of our veneration, and they are worthy of our kindliest care and warmest thanks — for to them
and such as they, we owe the privilege of assembling to-day on the banks of this beautiful lake ;
in the shade of these trees, surrounded with well-tilled farms ; with churches, with school-
houses and the happy homes of an intelligent, moral and cultured people. For had not they and
such as they hewn out the way, you never would have folio wecf. Had they not endured the
privations of the early settlers, you would not have just been reaping a plenteous harvest, for
'twas the old settlers — the pioneers — who bore the burdens, endured the privations and made
your happy homes, surrounded with plenty, a possibility to-day.
They cleared up the forests, cut down the great trees, and with prodigious labor prepared
the untamed soil. We are but reaping the fruits of their labors. These old gray-headed men
and women are the survivors of a once numerous band. They are the few remaining links of
the broken chain which bound the years of the dead past to the living present. Their age and
weakness are appeals to our hearts. With them the very citadel of life seems crumbling from
the eflFects of time. With a full knowledge of " waning strength and increasing weakness,"
they are yet powerless to resist the unequal warfare. Commend to me the young man, the
young lady, or the child who is not afraid, but quick with pleasant smiles, with loving words
and deeds of kindness, and whose hearts commiserate the sufferings and excuse the foibles of
the decrepit and old, the sun of whose lives is near its setting. Weak, often sick ; scarcely
ever well, they are hopeless for anything better on this side of the grave. Weary with a
long and toilsome journey, sensitive to slights and more appreciative of deeds of kindness than
when ilushed with health and prospective years, they live in their hearts. Listen, then, you
who are younger — listen patiently to their oft-told story of suffering. Commiserate with them
in their sorrows, and be glad with them in their tleeting moments of joy, for their hearts are
just as young as they were before their cheeks were wrinkled with care, their eyes dim with
age, or their hair whitened with the frost of years. Remember those stooping shoulders were
bowed, carrying heavy burdens for you ; those shrunken, bony hands, once fair and shapely,
are now stiffened with age ; those stumbling feet and tottering limbs, once swift and sure as
your own, were never tired in doing countless errands of kindness for you. They are fast
nearing the River's bank. Their journey is nearly ended. For them there soon shall be rest
in the quiet of the grave. They have nothing left here but you. Your smiles are the sunshine
of their hearts. Your loving care is to them more precious than gems which cluster and glisten
in royal crowns. Their hopes are centered in your success. You are to them a part of their
very existence. Their few remaining days, or years, by you can be made happy. You can
smooth the few remaining miles of their journey to the sheltering rest of the grave. Kindly and
232 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
considerate treatment of the old and helpless speaks in unmistakable language of a true and
tender heart, and God will not forget any who respect and tenderly care for the old pilgrims
bowed with years of toil and sorrow, no matter what your creed.
There is inspiration in the surroundings of to-day, thoughts of the olden time come gently
drifting back, thronging the halls of memory. The very air seems filled with the lingering
echoes of voices now hushed forever. The soft summer winds seem whispering to the murmur-
ing leaves of the scenes and the friends of long ago. Again we see the pioneers of the olden
times building their log cabins and cutting do^vn the great trees ; we hear their ringing axes
and the thundering of falling timber ; again we see the blazing brush, and the sky is filled with
the glare of burning heaps of logs, and the sun is darkened with blinding smoke ; we see the
stalwart forms of sturdy pioneers and hear them shouting to their patient teams of oxen as they
clear the rich soil of the encumbering logs ; again we hear the sound of mauls as they split out
rails to fence their little fields. Now we see them tilling the soil with hoes and planting corn,
pumpkins and potatoes among the roots and stumps. We help to gather the corn and dig the
potatoes. Now 'tis evening, and we listen for the bells — for the cows are coming home from the
rich peavine pastures of the woods and are standing down by the bars with distended sides
waiting for milking time. The chores are all done, and night has filled the woods with darkness
and gloom, and we hear the long-drawn mournful howl of hungry wolves, and an owl is hooting
down by the swamp. Again we see the hunter, clad in buckskin, with waumous and coon-skin
cap ; now we hear the deep bay of hounds as they chase from swamp to swamp, and from run"
way to runway the panting, frightened deer, and hear the crack of a rifle from where a hunter
is lying in wait for the unsuspecting game.
The scenes change. The crops are gathered, the corn is cribbed, the potatoes are buried,
and the great yellow pumpkins are covered with vines to protect them from frost; the prairie
hay is cut and stacked, and great heaps of logs are hauled into the door-yard for winter wood.
Now the boys and girls have new suits of home-made linsey or the old ones patched, and, with
each a new pair of cowhide shoes (which must last a year), are getting ready for the winter
school in the new log schoolhouse, with a great open fire-place, greased paper for windows and long
benches hewn out of split logs for seats. There are many here to-day who then mastered the
rudiments of an education in keeping with the opportunities of the times. Then the school-
master of those early days — what an important personage he was ! How stately he looked, as,
with whip in hand, he marched up and down the little room, hearing a class in reading, teach-
ing the little ones their ABC, and showing the older ones how to cipher. Occasionally he
would touch up some of the boys who had been caught whispering or making faces at the ^irls.
How they would jump and scratch ! for their pants were thin and the whip was of hickory well
seasoned in the hot embers of the glowing fire. Oh, what spelling-schools ! How can you forget
them ? How we used to stand up in a long row, with folded arms, and spell — yes, until we
could spell every word in the book. And such dinners as we took to school ! Didn't we do justice
to them? Yes, dinners of johnny-cake and venison steak, and sometimes a big piece of pumpkin
pie, and once in a great while a slice of wheat bread with butter, and a little sugar sprinkled
on the butter. Now I see a group at home, gathered around a blazing fire in the fire-place, with
hearth, jambs and back wall made of pounded clay, and chimney of mud and sticks. Oh, what
fires ! how they cracked and roared those cold winter nights ! There, too, sat father smoking
his wooden pipe, and mother with her knitting, while the girls were making the old spinning-
wheel hum as they spun into yarn the rolls, which had been carded by hand ; while the boys
would work at their sums, crack hickory nuts, or whittle out puzzles of little wooden blocks,
while the great fire threw out a cheering heat, and a gleam of comfort pervaded the whole house.
Then the visits from neighbors those long winter evenings ! A loud knock would be heard
at the door, and a welcome " come in ! " was the response, and in the open door would stand
some old neighbor and his wife, who came to spend the evening. Oh, how welcome they were,
how glad we all were to see them ! How they would sit by the fire and talk over the story of
their lives and their future prospects. And such stories of hunting and trapping ! How they
could tell stories of adventure and escape, till in our young imagination we could see all again
enacted before our eyes. Oh, yes, those were the days of hardships on the frontier, and some-
TROY TOWNSHIP. 233
times of short rations, but withal were happy days, and their memory is engraven on the tablets of
our hearts, and cannot, must not be forgotten.
Again the scene changes. 'Tis the fall of the year. The poison of the undrained swamps
has made us all to shiver and shake with the ague, or lay for weeks burning with fever, without
well ones enough to wait on the sick. Then came old Dr. McHugh, picking his way among the
swamps and logs, on horseback, with blazed trees for his guide and an old Indian trail for his road.
Oh, what doses of medicine he gave us — calomel, jalap, ipecac, Dovers powders, with Peruvian
bark and pills as big as peas, with pink and senna and snakeroot. Oh, how they vomited, and
purged, and bled us, and how, after weeks of fever and shakes, we pulled through, mere skel-
etons, and what yellow, bilious-looking wrecks we were !
How discouraged the old settlers used to get, and how they talked of and longed for the
comforts of the old homes they left when starting for the West. Oh, yes, many of them suffered
long and died, and were buried in rough, unpainted coffins, here and there, in the shades of the
great woods, without stone or monument to mark their place of rest. Again, how punctual
were the early settlers in attending meetings, sometimes at a neighbor's house, and often, in the
pleasant days of fall and summer, they gathered in the woods to hear the old-time preachers
expound the Word. Yes, in those days, everybody went to meeting, on foot or on horse-
back. And such preachers ! How they would travel and preach, and preach and travel on
horseback from one neighborhood to another, to fill their oft-recurring appointments, always car-
rying a pair of saddle-bags, in which were stowed a well-worn Bible and hymn book, with occa-
sionally a copy of Pilgrim's Progress or Baxter's Saints' Rest. No preachers in this neck of
woods had in those days fine top carriages and double teams to roll them to their Sunday ap-
pointments ; but a horse, bridle and saddle were considered a complete outfit, and most of their
work was done on week days and evenings, and it was a lucky neighborhood which had preach-
ing on Sunday. Preachers were hard worked and poorly paid. But all seemed happy and con-
tented, and as a class were well fed, honored and respected. Such, old friends and neighbors,
were some of the incidents and surroundings of the olden time, with which many of you are
familiar.
Long years have passed since then. Your ranks have been thinned and your numbers
lessened, until but few are left to tell the story of the first settlement of Troy. Many have
given up the struggle and are now at rest. Some have been sleeping for many years, and now
quite often we hear of one, and then another, who long years ago were your neighbors in Troy,
going to their last home, full of years and honors. Yes, most of the army who started on the
journey with you have dropped out of the ranks. Their lives have been eventful and full of
thrilling experiences. They, with you, have suffered great privations ; their feet have often
trod gently among new-made graves ; they have often shed tears of sorrow with those who
mourned ; their eyes have gazed sadly on many mournful processions ; and now they, too, are
gone. One at a time they were gathered home. The soft winds of summer and pitiless storms
of winter have sighed and howled over some of their windowless homes with the dead for many
years. Their work is done. They now rest from the weary strife. Their warfare with nature
and the great woods of Troy is over. They have cut down their last trees and have made their
last roads. They have built their last cabin, have trapped their last wolf, shot their last deer ;
have sat quietly fishing in the old canoe on this beautiful lake for the last time. They have
plowed their last furrow among the roots ; have hoed their last row of potatoes and corn. They
have gathered at the old Center Schoolhouse on election day for the last time ; have builded
their last log schoolhouse ; have carried the log benches for the last time into the old settler's
cabin to accommodate their neighbors when they assembled to worship their God. They have
set their last example, given their last counsel, endured their last suffering. They have taken
their last medicine, uttered their last prayer and said their last "good-by." They have filled
the full measure of usefulness and have left a record of good deeds, kindness, patience and
endurance. As a class, the old pioneers are almost extinct. Once in a while only, now, we see
them — one here and one there, halting on their statf, with dimming eyes and dull ears. They
are the survivors of a once great band, who, dressed in buckskin, linsey and blue jeans, nearly half
a century ago, laid the foundation on which the fair fabric of our present prosperity is builded.
234 HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Honor is due alike to the living and the dead. On the graves of the dead we can yet
plant flowers, and water them with our tears, and keep alive sentiments of undying remem-
brance in honor of men whose deeds are more deserving of remembrance than were the deeds
of thousands of so-called heroes who have been immortalized on the pages of history and em-
balmed in the hearts of their kind. They warred with the sword and became heroes, with their
weapons stained with blood ; they left devastated fields, ruin, desolation, orphans and broken
hearts in their pathway to victory. The dead we honor in many a quiet spot are sleeping their
last sleep unknown to fame, unsung by bard, with no graven monument to mark the end o^
their journey. Yet they were the true heroes; they were the untitled warriors, whose his-
tory (if written) would glisten all over with countless battles fought and victories won. The
legacy they have left us is a beautiful land, reclaimed from nature ; cultivated fields, reclaimed
from out the wood ; beautiful meadows, which once were swamps full of reptiles and deadly
miasm ; gardens now bloom with fragrant flowers where, forty years ago, the wolf and wild-cat
made their home.
We honor the soldier who fights for the right or the salvation of his country, and the
great names of such as have assisted in breaking from bleeding hands and limbs the shackles
which cruel might had fastened there, or helped unbar the ponderous doors of ignorance, which
for ages excluded the light of progress from darkened human minds. They are not forgotten,
but in every city, hewn in marble, they stand as way-marks in the progressive journey of man,
or look out from the painter's canvas to cheer all who emulate their example, or follow their
teaching. They have left such tracery in the sands of time as the storms of centuries shall not
obliterate, and the influence of their lives is engraven on the progress of their age.
Let us not forget to honor those whose patient toil and unyielding perseverance wrested
from the gloom of a trackless forest, in these solitudes of nature, an empire and dedicated it
forever to pursuits of peace and all that makes of home and country a blessing. Every ripple
on yonder lake reminds us of their smiles ; every rustling leaf, every whisper of the summer
winds, stirs within us memories of their kindly words, and honest deeds ; every shadowy wing,
Bong of bird and scent of fragrant flower but a reminder of the olden times when these fields
and this shore echoed with footsteps and voices which shall echo no more. Let us care tenderly
for the living ; let us not forget the dead. I give you a sentiment which I know will touch a
responsive chord in every heart :
" To the living we will give our smiles and cheers ;
To the dead, our gratitude and tears I''
CHAPTEB XIV.
BT COLONEL ISAIAH B. McDONALD.
Etna Township— A General View of the First Settlement— Organization
AND Officers— Names of Old Settlers— A Summary of the Township's
Industrial Growth— Villages, Schools and Churches.
THIS is a small township lying north of Troy, and was originally a part of
Washington Township, in Noble County (T. 33 R. 8), and was attached
to Whitley County in 1860. It is two miles wide and six miles long, and
contains twelve full sections of the finest lands in Northern Indiana. The
township was settled in 1834 or 1835. The first settler is hard to account for.
We are unable to aay who came first. Some think that one Jacob Grumlich,
a German, was the first ; others think that one Abraham Goble was the first ;
while some contend that Robert Scott was the first. These persons are all
dead or moved away, hence it is almost impossible to find out who was really
ETNA TOWNSHIP. 235
the first settler in what is known as the " Etna Strip." The first settlers were
Robert Scott, Jacob Grumlich, Abraham Goble, John Blain, John Scott.
The first birth in the township was a child of Robert Scott, a male child.
The first death was a child of Robert Scott, named Jacob Scott. The first
female who died in the township was Sarah Elizabeth Long, a daughter of
James W. and Catharine Long, 1838. The first wedding was that of Elisha
Moore, who came from Clark County, Ohio, and married Nancy Scott in 1837,
near what is now Hecla Post Office. The first wedding after the township was
set ofi" to Whitley was Adam C. Johnson and Margaret E. Long, in 1860.
The more prominent old settlers were Jacob Grumlich, Abraham Goble, Robert
Scott, John Scott, John Blain, Alexander Blain, John Scott, James W. Long.
John Blain and his wife, Elizabeth Blain, are the oldest persons in the town-
ship. John Blain was born in Pennsylvania, February 29, 1792, and his wife
was born January 29, 1791 ; they were married in Ohio, near Chillicothe
181(5, and have lived together as husband and wife nearly sixty-six (66) years —
two generations — on the farm where they settled with their little children in
1836 — forty-six years ago. They are truly old pioneers. The Longs and
Blains and Scotts have, from the earliest settlement of that region, constituted
a large and respectable portion of that most excellent community. Nearly all
are Pennsylvania people, and of a very hardy race ; nearly all are tall, well
built, and of great endurance. James W. Long came in 1836, and is yet living,
but his good wife, whose name was Catharine Blain, died in April, 1882.
They were married in 1826, hence had lived together nearly fifty-six years.
The children of this good old couple were John Long, Mary Jane Long, Thomas
A. Long, Margaret E. Long, Sarah E. Long, Agnes Long, Lucinda Long and
William Cowan Long. Three are dead — Thomas, Sarah E. and Agnes. Father
Long was County Commissioner for the period of six years, in Noble County,
before Etna was set ofi" to Whitley County. The prominent old settlers, not
above mentioned, were Washington Jones, Joshua Benton, Mr. Hartup, Benjamin
Boyer, Saruch Benton, Thomas Cunningham, Alanson Tucker, James Blain,
William A. Blain, Wilson Blain, Lewis Trumbull, Joseph Welker, John Ben-
nett, Dr. S. S. Austin, Hugh Allison and others.
Hugh Allison erected the first saw-mill and grist-mill in the township, in
1839-40, at the outlet of the lake near Cold Springs. The first steam saw-mill
was built on the land of Alanson Tucker, west of the village of Etna (Hecla
Post Office), and the next on Thomas Hartup's farm in the west part of the
township. The first tannery in the county was carried on by Abraham Goble,
who is still living near the village of Webster in Kosciusko County, and is a
very old man. The first schoolhouse was built near the Goble place, in 1837
or 1838. The first church was built in 1840 and 1841, by the Presbyterians
and others, on the John Blain farm, near John Snodgrass' farm, and has been
rebuilt once or twice. The first school teacher was Rufus D. Kinney ; he was
also the first Justice of the Peace, and a good man. The village of Cold
236
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Springs is in the east part of the township, and has one church and school-
house.
Etna, the largest village, is a nice little place ; is near the center of the
township. Has two stores, three physicians, Drs. Austin, Coyle and Scott,
all of whom are excellent gentlemen and able physicians. Dr. Stephen
S. Austin is a native of New York ; Dr. William H, Coyle is an Ohio man ;
Dr. Scott is a native Indianian, and a young man of promise. There are two
blacksmith shops, and one wagon-shop. There are four schools in the
township, four churches, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and United
Brethren. There are two steam saw-mills, both of which do a good busi-
ness. This township has a very intelligent population. Hardly ever go to
law to settle their differences. It is pretty certain that the township was first
settled in 1834, and that no portion of Whitley County is better improved, no
people in the county more kind, hospitable and intelligent ; no township has
produced more tall men and no township handsomer women. We wish Etna
and her people long life and a continuance of all that is laudable and worthy of
imitation among brave men and fair women.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
COLUMBIA CITY.
JOSEPH W. ADAIR, County Superintendent of Whitley County, Ind.,
was born in Washington Township, Noble County, Ind., November 29, 1843, and
is one of eleven children, six yet living, born to Joseph E. and Eliza (Windoes)
Adair, the mother being the second wife. The first wife was a Miss Coons,
who left two children at her death, both of whom are living. Joseph E. Adair
was a native of Virginia, born July, 1797. His parents were John and Eliza-
beth (McKnight) Adair, natives respectively of the County of Downs, Ireland
and Scotland. John Adair came to America as a British soldier during the
Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner by the Colonial troops, and held until
the close of the struggle, when he married Miss McKnight in South Carolina,
removed to Virginia, and afterward to Madison County, Ohio, where he died,
aged 74 years. Joseph E. Adair received a liberal education. Was married
in Madison County, Ohio, emigrating, in 1836, to Noble County, Ind., where
he purchased a large tract of land on the south side of the Tippecanoe River,
where he engaged in clearing and farming, until his death, October 29, 1849,
He was an honest and highly respected citizen, and filled the oflSce of Justice of
the Peace for many years. Mrs. Adair was married, in 1854, to C. B. Wood,
who died in 1871, Mrs. Wood dying in September, 1873. Joseph W. Adair
remained on the farm and attended school until the age of sixteen, when he
came to Columbia City and entered Douglas' select school, after which he
began his career as a teacher, teaching in Elkhart, Whitley and Noble Coun-
ties, and Principal of the schools of Ligonier, and of the high schools of Wolf
Lake, making a total of twenty terms. During this time, he attended a year at
the Methodist College at Fort Wayne, and one year at Wabash College at
Crawfordsville, Ind. In March, 1869, he located in Columbia City, and began
the practice of law, having read law for some time under Hon. H. D. Wilson,
of Goshen. In 1873, he became a partner of Hon. J. S. Collins, which con-
tinued until January, 1882. He married, July 25, 1867, Miss Amelia Young,
daughter of John Young, Esq., ex-Auditor of Noble County, and to them
have been born three children— Edward T. (deceased), Jessie and Josephine.
Mr. Adair is a Democrat, a member of the I. 0. 0. F., the 0. F. Encamp-
ment, and of the Masonic Fraternity, being High Priest of Columbia City
Chapter, and also of the Commandery at Fort Wayne. He is emphatically a
self-made man. In September, 1881, he was elected County Superintendent
of Schools of Whitley County, in which capacity he is now serving.
238 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
FRANKLIN P. ALLWEIN was born in Lebanon County, Penn.,
March 26, 1844. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Allwein, were natives of
Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Of a family of nine children, all are
living with the exception of one son, Jonathan, who was killed at the battle of
the Wilderness in the late war. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and
himself and wife are living in Lebanon, Penn. Franklin P. remained with his
parents until he was twelve years of age, attending school, and, in 1859, he
learned coach-smithing. In March, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Fifth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and, after his term expired, re-enlisted in the
One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as Fourth
Sergeant, where he continued until the regiment was mustered out of service,
when he re-enlisted again in Company F, Forty-Eighth Regiment, and
remained with them as First Lieutenant for three months, when he went to
Washington, acting as First Lieutenant in the Quartermaster's Department,
where he continued until February, 1866, when he was finally discharged. Mr.
Allwein saw active service in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
besides many raids, skirmishes, etc. After his discharge, he returned to his old
home, from there to Fort Wayne, and ill health obliging his removal, he
came to Whitley County, where he engaged for two years in saw-milling. He
then went to Larwill and worked at blacksmithing until the fall of 1880, when
he was elected Sheriff of Whitley County on the Democratic ticket. He is an
honored member of the I. 0. 0. F. of Larwill Lodge, No. 238, and was mar-
ried December 6, 1866, to Lydia Atchison. Mrs. Allwein is a member of the
M. E. Church and the mother of six children, three of whom — Cora, Jennie
and Blanche — are living.
PHILIP ANTHES is a native of Prussia. He came to America in 1868,
first locating at Van Wert, Ohio, where he engaged in the bakery trade. After
seven months' residence in Van Wert, he went to Fort Wayne and engaged in the
same business there for nearly eighteen months. He came to Columbia City in
1870, where he has since resided. He embarked in the grocery and saloon
business upon coming here, and is now conducting one of the best places of its
kind in the city. He is an enterprising business man, and liberal in all mat-
ters of public improvement. He is a member of the I. 0. R. M., in which he
has passed all the chairs. Mr. Anthes was married, in 1870, to Miss Kate
Sipe, a native of Stark County, Ohio. Their children are — Philip, Adolph,
Emile, Lavina and Ida.
WILLIAM M. APPLETON is a native of New York, and came with his
parents to the West when quite young. At the age of fourteen, began learn-
ing carriage-body making in Dayton, Ohio, and for a period of fifteen years
was employed at that business at different points throughout the State. In
1860, he came to North Manchester, Wabash County, this State, and conducted
a shop there about two and a half years. In 1863, he sold out and enlisted as
a private in Company E, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer In-
COLUMBIA CITY. 239
fantry, and was immediately elected Second Lieutenant. At Atlanta, he was
wounded in the breast ; returned home on furlough and was laid up four
months. On rejoining his company, he was promoted to be First Lieutenant
and subsequently to the rank of Captain. He served until the close of the war
and was mustered- out at Indianapolis in 1865. He then worked at his trade,
in various localities, until the fall of 1868, when he came to Columbia City and
for five years was employed at the business. In 1873, he opened out on his
own account, steadily increased his trade, and has one of the leading industries
of the town, employing from eight to ten hands constantly, and turning out all
kinds of wagons, buggies, etc., and running a large wareroom in connection
with his factory. He was married, in 1859, to Minerva Brower, a native of
Pennsylvania, and is the father of five children, viz.: Allie Slussman, residing
in town ; Earl, who works in the factory ; Otis, Jessie and Dora. He is a Royal
Arch Mason and an influential citizen.
J. W. BAKER, editor and proprietor of the Columbia City Commercial,
came to Columbia City in January, 1869, and purchased the material of the
Whitley County Republican, then defunct, and upon its ashes has built up the
structure of the Commercial to its present proportions. Mr. Baker's life has
been devoted to newspaper work, and he possesses the true journalistic sense, a
faculty indispensable to the editor. Mr. Baker was born in Hancock County,
Ohio, March 7, 1815, and attended public school until fifteen years of age, when
he removed to Warsaw, Ind., June 7, 1860, and took a higher course of study
at Warren Seminary. He served a thorough apprenticeship in the " art pre-
servative " in the office of the Northern Indianian, then owned by Judge James
H. Carpenter, remaining here two and a half years. He was then engaged
for some time on the Whitley County Republican, then owned by the late Hon.
A. Y. Hooper. Also worked at the Call for a few months, in the office of the
Marshall County Republican, published at Plymouth by J. Mattingly, now
publisher of the Bourbon Mirror. Mr. Baker re-entered the Northern In-
dianian in 1864, as foreman of the office, and served as such under the pro-
prietorship of Messrs. Luse, Rippey & Williams, present proprietors of the
office. Mr. Baker was elected by the Legislature of 1877 as a Director of the
Northern Prison, served two and a half years, but was subsequently defeated
because of the Democratic majority.
G. M. BAINBRIDGE was born in Oneida County, N. Y., March 19,
1832, and is one of twelve children, seven yet living, born to Edmund and Dor-
cas (Wiggins) Bainbridge, who were natives respectively of New Jersey and
New York, and of English descent, his grandfather, Richard Bainbridge, being
a native of England, he having a brother who was a Commodore in the Amer-
ican Navy during the war of 1812. Edmund Bainbridge followed the occupa-
tion of farmer through life. Himself and wife lived together fifty-three years,
his death occurring in New York in 1873. Mrs. Bainbridge is a resident of the
city of Rochester, N. Y. G. M. Bainbridge remained in New York until 1859,
240 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
when he went to Vineland, N. J., but, not being favorably impressed with that
place, came to Columbia City, Ind., where he has since resided. His first ven-
ture vvas in a general boot and shoe business, which he continued until 1865,
when himself and brother purchased the stock of B. & S. Herr, merchants, G.
M. becoming sole proprietor soon afterward. He carries a fine line of goods,
and has one of the best general stores in the city, and has met with continued
success from the start. Mr. Bain bridge was married, February 14, 1865, to
Miss M. J. Hughes, born October 10, 1843, and daughter of Charles W.
Hughes, deceased, who came from Virginia to Whitley County at an early day,
and whose biography and portrait accompany this work. Mr. and Mrs. Bain-
bridge are parents of three children, and are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.
H. N. BEESON is a native of Stark County, Ohio, where he was born
December 11, 1836, and is one of nine children, six yet living, born to William
and Hannah (Hanby) Beeson. The father's occupation was that of scythe
and sickle maker, but in later years he followed farming. In 1842, he removed
from Ohio to Indiana, locating on a farm one and a half miles from Columbia
City, then a small settlement of but six families. Here his death occurred in
1843, after which the family removed to the village, where they all yet reside,
with one exception. The oldest son, Benjamin, took up blacksmithing, which
he has since followed. H. N. attended school until he was thirteen, when he
learned his brother's trade, at which he worked for twenty-nine years in Co-
lumbia City. In 1878, he embarked in the drug business, to which he has
adhered to the present time, with some changes. From 1879 to 1881, the
business was carried on by the firm of Beeson & Co., when the partnership
was dissolved, Mr. B. retaining sole proprietorship. His drug house is first
class in every respect, making a fine success of the undertaking from the start.
Mr. Beeson is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic order, having
ascended in that fraternity to the Royal Arch Degree. He was married,
February 9, 1860, to Miss Nancy Bodley, daughter of Capt. James Bodley,
and lost his wife by death seven years later. In 1869, he married his present
wife, and a family of two children — Charles H. and Mary — is the result of
this union.
D. R. BRENNEMAN is the son of Abram and Elizabeth (Rush) Bren-
neman, who were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania and emigrated
to Clark County, Ohio, and then, five years later, moved to Champaign County,
where they remained until 1850, when they came, with their children, to this
township, where they purchased 160 acres of land. There the mother died in
1866, and the father, subsequently retiring to Columbia City, died here in 1876.
They had a family of twelve children, as follows : John, who was a prominent
politician and who served as Sheriff two yaars, died in 1864 ; Barbara Ster-
ling, deceased; Catharine, wife of I. B. McDonald; D. R., our subject;
Abram, living in Kosciusko County ; Elizabeth Obenchain, deceased ; Mary,
COLUMBIA CITY. 241
deceased ; Henry, died from effect of wounds received while in battle, at Pitts-
burg Landing, with his regiment (Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry),
when he had been in the service about one year ; Fanny Schwartz, living in
Iowa ; Isaac ; Levi, a carpenter in town, and Benjamin F., in the grocery trade.
Our subject was born in Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, in 1829, and came
with his parents to this State in 1850 ; remained with his father one year, and
then went to farming in Washington Township, where he remained till 1880,
when he retired to this city. He still owns 100 acres highly cultivated land in
Washington, the acquisition of his own industry and enterprise. In 1882, he
associated with him his brother Isaac, and engaged in the sale of musical instru-
ments and sewing machines, handling the Patterson, Estey and Shoninger
organs ; the Fisher, Steinway and Decker pianos, and the Queen sewing
machine. He was married, in 1852, to Miss Caroline Plough, a native of
Montgomery County, Ohio. She died in 1873, leaving five children — William,
Sarah A., Isaiah, Henry and Lydia E. In 1874, he married Mary E. McFarren,
of this county, and from this union there is one child living — Florence. Both
Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a highly esteemed
and valued citizen. Isaac Brenneman, brother of our subject, was born in
Champaign County, Ohio, in 1854, and came here with his parents. He
remained on the farm till twenty-one, and, in 1864, enlisted as private in Com-
pany A, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; fought at Fort Fisher, and
served till the war closed. On his return, he engaged in a saw-mill in this
township ; worked five years ; then ran his father's farm two years ; then came
to Columbia City ; engaged in various mercantile pursuits, and is now partner
with his brother, D. R., as dealer in musical instruments, etc. He was mar-
ried, in 1868, to Maggie Schwartz, a native of Stark County, Ohio, and is the
father of one child — Erlo 0.
ELI W. BROWN is a native of Stark County, Ohio, where his birth
occurred in September, 1836. His early educational advantages were limited,
although after he had reached Columbia City, in 1852, he continued to prose-
cute his studies under the tutelage of Rev. A. J. Douglas, a man of fine abil-
ity and unquestionable purity of heart. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Brown
began teaching school, in the meantime continuing his self-imposed mental
culture. In 1858, he had become so well known as to be elected, and twice
re-elected. County Surveyor by the Democracy. In 1864, he resigned the po-
sition, and two years later purchased a half-interest in the Fort Wayne Daily
Sentinel. After a few months, he sold his interest in the Sentinel, but during
November of the same year, bought the Columbia City Post, which he edited
and published until 1881. In 1870, he was elected County Clerk, and for the
past eighteen years has been Chairman of the County Democratic Central Com-
mittee, and also for six years a member of the State Democratic Central Com-
mittee. There is scarcely another man in the county who has been more active
in political work than Mr. Brown. Always a " stalwart Democrat," he has,
242 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
with signal fidelity, upheld the standard of his party, and persistently main-
tained Democratic principles. He has done a great deal for the county — to
build up its institutions — to disseminate truth — to advance public interests —
and to encourage the progress of enlightenment and justice. In 1858, Mr.
Brown was united in marriage with Miss Nancy, sister of Rev. A. J. Douglas,
and has by her three children — Florence, Edith and Carlotta.
VALLOROUS BROWN is a native of Ohio, having been born in Knox
County, May 23, 1846. His parents, William R. and Sarah (Pond) Brown
were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, and had a family of three
children, but two, Hannah E., now Mrs. Yontz, and Vallorus, yet living. The
father was a farmer, and moved to Noble County, Ind., in 1848, locating in
York Township., where they remained about four years, and then removed to
Columbia Township, Whitley County, Ind., and afterward to Thorn Creek
Township, where Mr. Brown died, in 1870, Mrs. Brown afterward became
the wife of William Ream, and at present resides in Columbia Township. Val-
lorous Brown was reared on a farm, receiving the ordinary advantages of the
common schools. At the age of twenty, he began teaching and continued at
that for four years. He was married, March 6, 1871, to Miss Mary Baker,
and followed farming for four years. He then purchased a saw-mill, three miles
north of Columbia City, which he operated for three years. In 1878, he re-
moved to Columbia City, engaging in the manufacture of lumber near the Eel
River Railroad, afterward purchasing another mill near the Wabash depot, and
successfully operating the two until April, 1881, when he transferred his field
of labor to Albion, until January, 1882, when he disposed of all his lumber
interests, and opened a hardware store in Columbia City, at which he is yet
engaged. He carries a first-class stock of goods, valued at over $7,000, and
does a good business. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, a Royal Arch Mason, and
himself and wife are parents of four children — William, Laura, Charles and
Daisy.
WILLIAM CARR is a native of Wentworth, Yorkshire, England, where
he was born March 30, 1834. He received a common school education, and,
at the age of fifteen, served an apprenticeship at the stone-cutter's trade. He
emigrated to America in 1854, stopping at different cities, and working at his
trade. While in the employ of Saulpaugh & Co., in Nashville, Tenn., he met
and married Miss Mary F. Jackson, who was born in Vermont, May 28, 1838.
The marriage took place December 21, 1856. In March, 1861, Mr. Carr re-
turned north, and was engaged in the construction of the stone-work of the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad for nearly ten years. He settled
at his present home in Columbia City in 1864, where his employment has been
that of contractor and builder. His family consists of two daughters — Sarah
J., now Mrs. L. C. Mitten, and Ottley A., now Mrs. Dr. L. M. Linvill. Mr.
Carr is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and of Fort Wayne
Commandery, No. 4. He was elected to represent the people of Whitley County
COLUMBIA CITY. 243
in the State Legislature in 1880, and, although identified with the leaders of
/progression and improvement, has never aspired to political prominence. Mr.
Carr is an honorable, liberal man, of fine feelings and positive opinions, which
can be changed only by convincing arguments. Being social and a true gen-
tleman at all times, he occupies an estimable place among the best men of the
community of Whitley County.
JOSEPH CLARK is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, where he
was born April 14, 1846, and is a son of Otho and Elizabeth (Oaks) Clark,
the former a native of Washington County, Md., and the latter of Franklin
County, Penn, They were married in Pennsylvania, and removed to Dayton,
Ohio, about 1838, where they resided until October, 1846, when they removed
to Huntington Co., Clear Creek Township, Ind., where Mr. C. engaged in
farming and shoemaking, residing on a farm of 200 acres, and by his own
industrious, energetic efforts from the humblest beginnings, raised himself to a
position of ease and comfort in his old age. He now resides in Jefferson Town-
ship, Whitley County, where he moved in April, 1866. His wife died Decem-
ber 23, 1880. Of a family of ten children, seven are yet living. Joseph Clark
is the seventh child, was reared on a farm, and received a good common-school
education. He began teaching at nineteen and taught nine terms. Was mar-
ried, in November, 1875, to Miss Leah Schinbechtel, a native of Ohio — after
his marriage, farming, teaching, assessing and saw-milling until October, 1878,
when he was elected Treasurer of Whitley County, re-elected in 1880. He is
now serving his second term. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and
a Democrat. His family consists of four children — Ida L., Ethan 0., Walter
L., and one unnamed. Mr. Clark owns 150 acres of land in Jefferson Town-
ship, and had three brothers in the late war.
M. E. CLICK was born in Clark County, Ohio, March 19, 1834, and is a
son of Jacob and Catherine (Myers) Click. Mr. Click is of German descent,
and a native of Rockingham County, Va. Their family consisted of nine sons,
all living. The mother died in December, 1852, and Mr. Click afterward
married Susanna Ream, who became the mother of five children, three boys and
two girls, of whom the sons only survive, making a total of twelve living sons
of Jacob Click. He is a wagon-maker and farmer, and himself and second wife
reside in Clark County, Ohio. M. E. Click spent his earlier years on his
parents' farm, but at the age of twenty, took up the study of daguerreotyping,
and has followed it ever since through all the improvements this age of progress
necessitated. He traveled extensively in the interest of his profession, and
located in Chicago, in 1862, for the purpQse of studying photography. In May,
1863, he came to Columbia City, where he located for the practice of his art,
and, being a first-class artist, his location has been permanent and successful.
He is now owner of considerable town property. In December, 1865, he was
married to Mrs. Harriet Nave, and they have one son, Edwin H. Mrs. Click
was the widow of Daniel Nave, and daughter of Henry Smith, an early resident
244 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of the county. Mr. Click is a Republican, and in Masonry has advanced to
the Royal Arch Degree.
CLUGSTON, ADAMS & CO., in April, 1878, with a general assortment
of goods, valued at about $12,000, engaged in mercantile business at the corner
of Chauncy and Van Buren streets, Columbia City, and met with remarkably
good success, and, as trade demanded, they kept adding to the variety and quan-
tity of this stock, till they now carry, without exception, the largest and best
assortment of goods of any house in the town, it being valued at $30,000, and
consisting of dry goods, silks, hats, caps, boots, shoes, ready-made clothing,
carpets, groceries, etc., and they do an average annual trade of $90,000 to
$100,000. The senior partner, Asher R. Clugston, was born in New Castle
County, Del., December 22, 1839, and is one of four children born to Asher
and Catherine (Rittenhouse) Clugston, who were of Scotch descent. He came
to Larwill, this county, in 1861, and in August, 1867, married Mary A. Mat-
toon. To this union have been born three children — Lucia E., Gertrude M.
and Arthur W. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraterity,
being a Knight Templer of Fort Wayne Commandery. John Adams, the
second member of the firm, was born in Thorn Creek Township, November 22,
1856, and is a son of Andrew Adams, an old settler of Whitley County, and
yet living in Thorn Creek. His early education was gained in his native
county ; he graduated at Iron City College, Pittsburgh, Penn., and he acquired
his business knowledge by clerking in Columbia City.
JAMES S. COLLINS is one of a family of eleven children, and was
born in Wayne County, Ind., December 19, 1819. His parents, John and
Jane Collins, were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, were married
in the latter State and emigrated to the Territory of Indiana in 1806, Mr.
Collins finding the air of freedom more congenial to his strong anti-slavery
principles. They settled four miles south of where Richmond now stands, and
remained until 1836, when they removed to Whitley County, locating one-half
mile west of the present site of South Whitley, remaining there until 1846,
when they removed to Columbia City, -where they afterward died. James S.
Collins remained with his parents, assisting them in pioneer labors, until the
spring of 1844, when he went to Fort Wayne, and began the study of law with
L. P. Ferry, an attorney of that city. He remained there until Mr. Ferry's
death, when he came to Columbia City, and began the practice of his chosen
profession. He was admitted to the bar at the fall term of Whitley County
Circuit Court in 1844, and has since devoted his time to practice, with the
exception of three years, in which he was actively employed in the construc-
tion of the Eel River Railroad, of which he was President. Mr. Collins was
married, in 1849, at Richmond, Ind., to Eliza J. Fleming, and a family of six
children was the result of this union — Jane H., Reginald H., Dorothy, How-
ard, Sophia Du P. and William James, all living except Howard, who died at
the age of six years. Mr. Collins was formerly a Whig in politics, but is now
COLUMBIA CITY. 245
Republican — was elected to the State Legislature in 1860, and served in the
regular and special sessions of 1861.
RICHARD COLLINS was born in Wayne County, Ind., May 8, 1815,
and is a son of John and Jane (Holman) Collins. His early life was spent in
Wayne County, where he received all the advantages the schools of that earlv
day had to offer. He came to Whitley County with his parents, September
25, 1836, locating in Cleveland Township, which has since been his home. He
was married, May 8, 1844, to Mary Rhodes, who became the mother of two
children — Walter S. and Mary E., both deceased — the mother dying August,
1847. In the month of April, 1850, Mr. Collins married his present wife,
Catherine Hildebrand, who is the mother of eight children, but four surviving.
At the time of his marriage, Mr. Collins was County Clerk as well as Recorder,
and served as such until November, 1855. He was the first Sheriff elected in
Whitley County; in addition to these, he has filled various local offices of honor
and trust. He was engaged in milling and merchandising in Columbia City
for some time, until recently he changed his occupation for that of a lumber
dealer, which business he still follows. He is one of the first and most highly
honored citizens of Whitley County ; he is a Republican, but previous to the
organization of that party was identified with the Whigs. He is a man possess-
ing the confidence of all who know him.
T. J. CUPPY was born in Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Ind.,
August 3, 1844, and is one of six children, three yet living, of the family of
Abraham and Sarah (Collins) Cuppy. The father, Abraham Cuppy, was a
native of Ohio, born in Clermont County, May 25. 1810, and his parents were
among the first settlers of Ohio and Indiana. He was a man of much natural
ability and fine powers of mind. He was married in Wayne County, Decem-
ber 30, 1830, to Miss Sarah Collins, a native of Indiana. Mr. Cuppy was the
first County Auditor, Clerk and Recorder of Whitley County, and also served
as Legislator and State Senator. He died at Indianapolis, Ind., January 15,
1847, while holding the last office. Mr. Cuppy was a prominent Democrat, a
large land owner, and a member of the Masonic order. One son, William H.,
was Captain of Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the
late war. He was wounded at Fort Donelson, and, after months of suffering,
died at his home in South Whitley, July 15, 1862, universally regretted. He
had been highly educated, was of superior promise, and was sacrificed on the altar
of his country. T. J. Cuppy early assumed life's responsibilities. During the
war he was employed by the Government in various positions, and in 1870
began work on the Eel River Division of the Wabash Railroad, then called the
Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad ; here he remained eight years, when
he embarked in the grain trade along the line of the Eel River Railroad, with
headquarters at Auburn, DeKalb County, Ind., at the same time establishing
himself, as dealer in agricultural implements, in Columbia City and South
Whitley, which business he is now exclusively engaged in in Columbia City,
246 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
carrying the largest stock in Whitley County. Mr. Cuppy was married, Jan-
uary 9, 1881, to Miss Frances Stahl, a daughter of George W. and Nancy
(Carr) Stahl, a native of Indiana, and of the Presbyterian faith. Mr.
Cuppy is a stanch Republican, and a Sir Knight of the Apollo Commandery,
No. 19, of Kendallville. He is also a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and of the
0, F. Encampment.
EDWARDS & ANDERSON, hardware dealers. This partnership was
formed December 7, 1874, and the firm began operations with a stock of hard-
ware valued at $3,500, meeting with assured success from the start. Their
stock is now valued at $8,000, and they do a yearly business of from $40,000
to $50,000. In addition to this the firm established a lumber yard in 1878,
which business they still follow, and in January, 1882, with their characteris-
tic enterprise, and at considerable expense, they started their present hub factory,
which is steadily assuming larger proportions, and in time promises to be one
of the leading manufactories of the place. They are introducing the latest
and most improved machinery, and furnish employment for fifteen men, only
first-class workmen being employed.
Millard F. Anderson is a native of Richland Township, where he was
born January 25, 1848. After acquiring a good practical education, he left
home at the age of 20, learned telegraphy, and was employed as a station agent
for nearly five years in Iowa and Columbia City. Iri 1874, the partnership of
Edwards & Anderson was formed, which has continued to the present time.
In June of the previous year, he was married to Miss Jennie H. Morrison,
daughter of Andrew Morrison (deceased), an early settler of Allen County, Ind.
They have two children — Fred S. and Georgie J. Mr. Anderson has relied
entirely on his own industry and business ability, and by persistent effort,
combined with unfailing courtesy, has established a fine paying business, reflect-
ing credit on himself and of benefit to the community. Mr. Anderson is a
Republican and a member of the I. 0. 0. F., also the 0. F. Encampment.
C. S. Edwards, the senior member of the firm of Edwards & Anderson,
was born in Franklin County, Penn., December 14, 1835, and is one of a family
of ten children, five yet living, of James and Elizabeth (Beaver) Edwards, who
were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish and German descent re-
spectively. They moved to Fort Wayne in 1841, where Mr. Edwards carried
on the shoe business for some years. He died in Allen County in 1860, his
widow following in 1861, and both are buried in Lindenwood Cemetery. C.
S. Edwards spent his early years in Fort Wayne, and in 1861 enlisted in the
Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as Drum Major. He was in the battle
of Shiloh and other engagements ; received his discharge in 1863, when he went
to Montana, where he engaged in mining, teaming and merchandising, until
1867, when he returned to Columbia City, and formed a partnership with Dr.
D. G. Linvillin the hardware business. In 1869, having disposed of his inter-
est in that line, he opened a livery business, which he followed for five years,
COLUMBIA CITY. - 247
when the present partnership was formed. Mr. Edwards was married in Co-
lumbia City, in 1870, to Miss Elizabeth White, and they have one daughter,
Anna M. Mr. Edwards is a Republican and a member of the A., F. & A. M.,
of Columbia City, a man of fine business ability, and highly esteemed by all.
CHARLES J. EYANSON was born September 20, 1839, in Versailles,
Ripley Co., Ind. A year or more after his birth, his parents returned to Phil-
adelphia, Penn., from which place they had previously removed. Here Charles
J. acquired his education, and, in 1853, engaged in the dry goods trade, which
he continued for three years, after which he learned the tailor's trade, which he
has since followed, with the exception of an engagement as general agent for a
sewing machine company, when he traveled over the South, establishing local
agencies. In 1860, he formed a partnership with his brother, Thomas E., in
Huntington, Ind., in merchant tailoring, where he remained until 1862, when
he went to Roanoke, to carry on the same business. In 1865, his partnership
was resumed with his brother, at Columbia City, on an extended scale, under
the firm name of Eyanson Brothers, at the same time carrying on the man-
ufacture of woolen goods in the woolen mills at the same place. The partner-
ship with his brother was continued until January, 1874, when it was dissolved,
Charles J. continuing the business alone. Besides his tailoring establishment
with its dozen employes, he carries a large and general assortment of ready-
made clothing, cloths, hats, caps and gents' furnishing goods, doing a successful
business. November 20, 1866, he contracted marriage with Miss Magdaline
Zimmerman, a native of Blumenfeld, Baden, Germany, and they are parents of
six children — Charles J., Stephen T., Walburgh M., Frank E., Lewis and John
N. Mr. and Mrs. Eyanson are of the Catholic faith. Mr. E. is a Democrat ;
has held the office of Township Trustee, and is the present Town Treasurer.
Mr. Eyanson's great-grandparents, on the father's side, came from the
vicinity of Dublin, Ireland, to America, with Lord Baltimore, and John Eyan-
son, our subject's grandfather, was born in Cecil County, Md., in 1753, and
served eight years in the Revolutionary war. A brother of John, our subject's
grand-uncle, William, also served in the Revolution, and was taken prisoner at
New York ; was afterward exchanged, but died from the effects of starvation.
F. H. FOUST is one of the early settlers of this place, and came from
Delaware Co., Ohio, to Whitley Co., Ind., in the fall of 1849, locating in Co-
lumbia City, and, in partnership with Adam Wolfe (formerly of Morrow Co.,
Ohio, now of Muncie, Ind.), engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills. In
1853, they established a partnership in the dry goods business, which was most
successfully continued for ten years — Mr. Foust taking entire charge, as Mr.
Wolfe never resided here. After the settlement of the aff"airs of this firm, they
established, in November, 1867, a banking firm, under the name of F. H.
Foust & Co., and known as the Columbia City Bank. This institution is one
of the permanent features of the city, as the individual members are known to
be men of undoubted honor and integrity, and solid financially. For the past
248 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES;
two years, Mr. James G. Williams has been a partner in the bank. They
erected their present three-story brick in 1873, and own a two-fifths interest
in the new brick adjoining on the east, known as Foust's Block. The partner-
ship existing between Messrs. Wolfe & Foust is one of the most harmonious
on record, having existed since 1849. Mr. Foust was married, December 12,
1850, in Columbia City, to Miss Moxie A. Jones. His birthplace was Dela-
ware County, Ohio, where, on January 10, 1825, he entered this existence. His
parents — Henry and Mary (Olds) Foust — were among the early settlers, dating
back to 1807, and were of German descent. Mr. Foust is owner of the old
homestead. He is a strong Republican, but has no aspirations for political
prominence.
THEODORE GARTY, dealer in black walnut and hard-wood lumber and
furniture manufacturer, was born in Lorraine, France, and was the son of John
and Catharine Garty. The father died in Lorraine, and the mother afterward
married Victor Crouser. They emigrated to America in 1856, and located in
Stark County, Ohio, and three years later removed to Columbia City. Here our
subject began to learn cabinet-making with Henry Snyder, working three years ;
then went to Fort Wayne and worked three years; thence to Cincinnati, St. Louis,
Quincy, 111., Hannibal, Mo., Verona, Mo., and various other points, engaging
in sundry branches of his trade, and embracing a period of about eleven years.
In 1872, he returned to Columbia City, and became associated with Henry
Snyder in the furniture business. In 1876, he formed a copartnership with
George Steerhof, which was continued about two years, when he again formed a
partnership with Mr. Snyder. In 1880, he became sole proprietor, and is now
engaged largely in manufacturing, and employs about twelve men on the aver-
age. He was married, in Hannibal, Mo., in 1871, to Miss Christina Blume, a
native of Missouri, and five children are now living born to their union, viz.:
Nettie, Edward E., Celeste, Robert and Menna. In 1880, Mr. Garty was
elected City Clerk, and is now serving his second term. He has proven him-
self a shrewd business man and consequently a successful one, and is favorably
known for his upright dealings and business integrity.
JAMES M. HARRISON was born in Beaver County, Penn., August 8,
1837, and is a son of Samuel and Polly (McDowell) Harrison, who were
farmers, and the parents of eight children, James M. being the youngest. The
father was a native of County Down, Ireland, near Belfast, emigrated to the
United States about 1812. Married and located in Virginia, where they lived
until their removal to Gallipolis, Ohio, and afterward to Pennsylvania, where
Mrs. Harrison died, about 1859. Mr. Harrison came to Allen County, Ind.,
where our subject was living, in 1864, and died in Noble County, Ind., in 1872,
aged 81. James M. Harrison was reared in Mechanicsburg, Penn., where he
acquired a good common-school education. Leaving Pennsylvania in 1855, he
went to Noble County, Greene Township, Ind., remaining until 1862, teaching
winters and being variously employed summers. He was married March 15,
COLUMBIA CITY. 249
1860, to Mary J. Richards, daughter of Joseph Richards, who was then a resi-
dent of Swan Township, Noble County. In the meantime he had acquired
forty acres of land, which he sold in 1862, removing to Allen County, Ind.,
where he engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits until the fall of 1864,
when he farmed exclusively until 1868, the spring of that year removing to
Churubusco, Smith Township, Whitley County, engaging in mercantile pur-
suits until 1878, when he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Whitley
County, and removed to Columbia City, where he is now filling that position.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were parents of the following family — Joseph R., Will-
iam A., George F., living, and Mary C, James N., Emma J., deceased. Mrs.
Harrison died in 1872, and the year following Mr. Harrison married his present
wife, Janetta De Poy, who has borne him two children — Mary I. and Jessie W.
In politics he is a Democrat ; owns a farm of 132 acres in Noble County, Swan
Township, and town property in Churubusco, this county. He is a member of
the I. 0. 0. F., and Mrs. H. is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. H.
is of English-Irish stock, and through his energy and industry has materially
assisted in building up the town of Churubusco, from the smallest beginnings
to its present size of nearly one thousand inhabitants ; esteemed by all, he is in
every respect a self-made man.
HEACOCK & RUCH are the leading firm in the livery business in
Columbia City. The partnership was formed in August, 1879, by the associa-
tion of Alfred Heacock and Jacob A. Ruch. Mr. Heacock is a native of
Columbiana County, Ohio, where he continued a resident until 1877. He is by
trade a machinist, and was employed in that calling, together with traveling as
a salesman until 1877, when he came to Columbia City, and, in connection
with W. H. Liggett, built the "City" Flouring Mill; the partnership lasted
for two years, at the expiration of which period Mr. Heacock formed his present
business connection. J. A. Ruch is a son of Charles Ruch, one of the old
settlers of Whitley County. He has been connected with the livery business all
of his life, for several years in association with his father. Messrs. Heacock and
Ruch are courteous and obliging business men ; have a fine business establish-
ment, and are worthy of the large trade, which by fair and honest dealing they
have secured.
D. R. HBMMICK first saw the light in Greene County, Ohio, October
29, 1836, and is a son of David and Catherine (Johnson) Hemmick, who were
natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively, and parents of eight children, three
of whom are living. David Hemmick was possessed of an ordinary education,
a farmer and shoemaker, and was married in Ohio. In the fall of 1859, he
emigrated to Columbia City, Ind., having two sons at that place. His death
occurred August 1, 1866, at the age of seventy-six years, seven months and
seven days. He was a non-commissioned officer in the war of 1812 under
Gen. Harrison, a most unassuming and honorable man. His widow yet lives
in Columbia City at the advanced age of ninety-one years. D. R. Hemmick is
250 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
of German-English descent, and received the usual advantages of the day for
■education. Coming to Columbia City, Ind., in 1857, he worked at cabinet-
making and plastering until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he enlisted
an Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to
the Army of the Cumberland, under Gens. Thomas, Rosecrans, et al. He par-
ticipated in the battles of Greenbrier, Chickamauga, Shiloh and others ; was
'Commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1865, and soon after promoted to First
Lieutenant, serving through the war ; he was discharged in September, 1865 ;
succeeding that, Mr. Hemmick returned to Columbia City, where he engaged
successively in plastering, livery, dry goods and hardware business. In 1874,
a partnership was formed to carry on the dry goods and grocery trade under
the firm name of Neely & Hemmick. In 1877, this firm assisted in establish-
ing the City Mills, and have retained their interest ever since. Mr. Hemmick
was married, April 26, 1866, to Miss Lucy A. Watson, a native of Ohio, and
to this union were born two children — only one, Rena, yet living. The mother
died in the spring of 1870, and Mr. Hemmick married his second wife, Mar-
garet Daniels, a native of Richland County, Ohio, in 1872, she dying the same
year. Mr. H.'s present wife was Mrs. Sarah Ellen (Jones) Parrett, whose
former husband was killed at the battle of Fort Donelson in 1862. Two
children have blessed his last marriage ; but one, Cora Ruth, surviving. Mr.
Hemmick is a stanch Republican, a member of the I. 0. 0. F., No. 176,
Columbia Lodge, and himself and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
HON. ADAMS Y. HOOPER (deceased) was born at Athens, Ohio,
in January, 1825. His father was a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and he was an only child. The youth of the lad was largely passed
on the farm of his father in Perry County, Ohio, but, at the age of eighteen
or twenty years, he attended the Somerset Academy, though he afterward
finished his academical course at Westerville Academy, Franklin County, Ohio.
He afterward read law with H. H. Hunter, Esq., of Lancaster, Ohio, and,
soon after his admission to the bar, was married to Edith B., daughter of Amos
T. Swayze, the nuptials being solemnized in February, 1848. During the
following year, he went to Huntington, Iijd., but, in the autumn, came to Co-
lumbia City, where he lived and labored until his death. He became a prom-
inent lawyer, and during his life was a practitioner for some twenty-five years.
Soon after his arrival in the county he taught school, and fi'om the first won
the hearts of all who knew him. He was appointed Postmaster of Columbia
City by President Fillmore, and was an ardent Whig and Republican during
his life. He occupied many minor positions of trust, always serving with
scrupulous fidelity. In 1852, he was elected to the Lower House of the State
Legislature, representing the counties of Whitley and Noble. In 1854, he was
elected County Auditor, and about this time became connected with the Repub-
lican,, through which paper his rare elements of mind and heart first became
known to his fellow-citizens. In 1868, he represented Whitley and Kosciusko
COLUMBIA CITY. 251
Counties in the State Senate with great credit to himself. After many years
of faithful service in the county, he died of consumption, in March, 1875.
His widow is yet living in Columbia City, as are also two of his children —
Emma B. and Amos L. The other children, Almeda M., Webster, Emily
G., Orvilla, Cassius B. and Kate R., are with their father. Perhaps no death
ever occurring in the county was so widely and sincerely mourned as that of
Adams Y. Hooper. He was so admired, so respected and so loved that his
early death was regarded as a public calamity. This was due to the noble char-
acteristics of the man, to his purity of heart, to his " unfaltering faith in the
all-conquering power of a principle," to the devotion of his active mind in
the diffusion of public faith and honor, and to those warm elements of mind
and heart that kindled the respect and love of those who met him in business
or in social life. The county will not forget the name of Adams Y. Hooper.
MARTIN IRELAND, M. D., is a native of Ross County, Ohio, where
he was born November 29, 1821 ; son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Carmean)
Ireland, both natives of Maryland, and the parents of twelve children, eight of
whom are yet living. They came to Ross County, Ohio, about 1805 ; were
identified with the early settlement of the county. Mr. Ireland followed the
occupation of farming during life. The mother passed away in Ross County,
and the father, in 1848, moved to McLean County, 111., and from there went
to Missouri to look after some property in 1857, where he died April 3 of that
year. Martin remained on the home farm until twenty-one years of age,
receiving such education as the schools of that day aflforded. After leaving
home, he engaged in teaching winters, and was variously employed during the
summer months. He was married, September 23, 1847, to Sarah Fellers, a
native of Virginia. She came to Ohio at the age of four years, and to Whitley
County when thirteen. Dr. Ireland came to Whitley County, Ind,, the fall of
1846, and taught the first school in the first school building erected in Colum-
bia City. The next year he decided to perfect himself in the study of medicine,
to which he had paid some attention previously ; and, in 1849, attended medical
lectures in Cincinnati. He located for the practice of his profession in Fayette
County, Ohio, remaining six years, after which he returned to Columbia City,
practicing here for over seventeen years, when he removed to Nokomis, 111.,
remaining there seven years ; but, in April, 1880, Dr. Ireland and family
returned to Columbia City, where they have since resided. Their family con-
sists of nine children — Augusta V., Arabella A., Clara V., Wooster M., Franklin
S., John M., Sarah J., Merritta W. and Homer A. Dr. I. is a Republican ;
a member of the A., F. & A. M., of Columbia City, and a graduate of the
Wooster Medical University of Cleveland.
WILLIAM W. KEPNER, one of Columbia City's successful business
men, and a retired merchant, is a native of Juniata County, Penn., and was
born in 1811. He was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (McCullough) Kep-
ner, natives of Pennsylvania, where they died, members respectively of the
252 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches. The father was a respected and trusted
citizen ; was a farmer and merchant, quite successful in the accumulation of
property. Our subject was the second child in a family of eight, and the
eldest son. He was reared upon a farm, and at his majority went to boating
on the canal, owning and running a boat for four years. He then ran a hotel
in Ohio about six years ; then came to Columbia City, in 1846, and engaged in
merchandising and dealing in furs, there being but a few families in the town.
This he continued about twenty-two years, farming in the meantime upon his
land in the township. In 1868, he withdrew from trade, and made investments
in Kansas lands, and country and town property. He also, for several years,
kept a hotel in town, and has made a success of life, having now retired from
active business. He is owner of 350 acres of land in the county ; eighty-six
in Stark County, and 400 in Kansas, and also considerable town property,
which he is improving. In 1836, he married Miss Ann Pfoutzs, a native of
Perry County, Penn., who has proved a faithful helpmate, in every way forward-
ing the interests of her husband. They have had seven children, of whom
three are now living, viz. : John H., grocer; Charles A., one of the proprie-
tors of the Main House, and Jennie Chambers, residing in Delphos, Ohio.
Mr. Kepler and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and since his
coming has always been identified with the progress of the town, and has aided
liberally, with time and money, in all laudable, public movements.
DR. N. I. KITHCART was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 16,
1857, and is one of ten children, five yet living, born to Thomas and Anna
(Ernst) Kithcart, who were natives respectively of Ashland County, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania. The parents are farmers, and yet live in Ashland County, and
are of Scotch-Irish descent. N. I. Kithcart remained on the farm until he was
sixteen years of age, receiving all the advantages of the schools of that day, and
attending the Greentown Academy, at Perrysville, Ohio, until twenty-one, in
connection with the study of medicine under Dr. J. W. Griffith, since deceased.
In 1872, he attended medical lectures at the Cincinnati Medical College, Ohio,
for two years. While visiting a cousin. Dr. J. F. Gard, at Wawaka, Noble
Co., Ind., he was induced to locate for the practice of medicine at Coesse,
Whitley County, where he remained until the spring of 1876, when he returned
to Cincinnati, and on March 28, of that year, was united in marriage to Miss
Emma C. Busey, who was born in Covington, Ky., October 20, 1852. They
located in Columbia City, where Dr. Kithcart has since enjoyed a large and
successful practice. The Doctor, like the majority of Ohio, is Republican.
RICHARD KNISELY, deceased, was a native of Bedford County, Penn.,
where he was born March 15, 1803. With his father's family, he came to
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1804, where his grandfather founded the town of
New Philadelphia. Here Richard Knisely was reared, educated, and learned
the carpenter's trade, and June, 1841, came to Whitley County, Ind., working
for Judge Henry Swihart, who yet resides here. In 1845, Messrs. Knisely
COLUMBIA CITY. 253
and Swihart were elected Associate Judges, serving in that capacity acceptably
until the office was abolished. He was married, June 7, 1846, to Miss Amy
Norris, of Richland Township, after which he purchased a farm one and a half
miles west of Columbia City, where he made a home and passed the remainder
of his life. He divided his time in making improvements on his farm, and
served as County Surveyor for several years. He was formerly a Whig, but
identified himself with the Republicans, after the organization of that party,
and was a zealous supporter of Lincoln's administration. Judge Knisely was
well known by all old citizens of the county as a man of ability, honesty, and
sterling integrity. He passed away from earth January 24, 1882, leaving a
precious memory. Mrs. Knisely died in May, 1871, and was the mother of
seven children who mourned her loss — William H., Emanuel, Alexander, Ga-
briel, James C, Mary E. and George. The oldest, William H., was born May
20, 1848, spent his early years on his father's farm, teaching winters and work-
ing summers. He was married, October 19, 1869, to Ruth McNear, and they
remained on the farm until 1880, when they removed to Columbia City, where
they have since resided. Mr. Knisely has been engaged in the trade of agri-
cultural implement for ten years ; in connection with William Reed for four
years, afterward with his brother, under the firm name of William H. Knisely
& Bro. In April, 1879, he became a partner in the firm of Knisely, Krider
& Liggett, since changed to Knisely, Reider & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Knisely are
parents of four children — Laura D., Frank, Walter and Eddie L. Mrs. Knisely
is connected with the U. B. Church. Mr. Knisely is a Republican, and a man
universally esteemed and honored by all,
WRIGHT LANCASTER was born in Wayne County, N. C, June 27,
1819, and is a son of Rex Lancaster, and grandson of Wright Lancaster, of
English descent. Rex Lancaster was, by trade, a wagon-maker. He married
Pharaba Henby, and in 1820 removed to Wayne County, Ind., in a wagon of
his own manufacture. The country, at that time, was new, and a log cabin in
the wilderness, with the attendant hard work of clearing was the best to be
had. Here they spent their days, rearing a family of seven children, four of
whom are yet living. Wright Lancaster, the eldest, assisted in the support of
his father's family until his marriage with Margaret Grimes, in 1844, they
living on a rented farm in Wayne County for seven years, when they removed
to Cleveland Township, this county, locating on a partly improved farm, which
he had previously purchased. On this place Mrs. Lancaster died from cerebro-
spinal meningitis, having been the mother of eight children — Indiana, John H.,
George G., Alexander G., Frank Rex, Ralph P., Mary V. and William S., all
of whom are living except John. Mr. Lancaster married his present wife,
Mrs. Sarah A. Grimes Mitchell, a half sister of his former wife, June 24, 1869,
and two children are the result of this union — Nora, deceased, and Walter.
Mr. Lancaster has been a constant resident of Cleveland Township since his
arrival, and followed farming for an occupation, dependent entirely upon his
254 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
own resources for success, and has always commanded the respected and esteem
of all who knew him. He has always been identified with the Republican
party, occupying, at different times, nearly all the township offices of Cleveland
Township, and is the present honorable incumbent of the office of County Re-
corder, to which he was elected in 1878.
J, G. LEININGER came to Columbia City in 1866, as stock dealer, and,
being favorably impressed with the country, the following year moved his family
here, where they have since resided, with the exception of one year spent in
Missouri, where Mr. L. was engaged in farming and buying stock in that State.
He is, at present, owner of seventy acres of land in Union Township, one and
a half miles east of Columbia City, and for several years operated a meat market in
town, but now devotes his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising.
He takes an active interest in the welfare of the county, and all laudable enter-
prises find in him a warm supporter. His political bias is Democratic, and he
is, at present, President of the City School Board, and has filled the office of
Township Trustee for three years. Mr. Leininger was born in Stark County,
Ohio, February 7, 1826, and is one of six sons, all yet living, of John and Mar-
garet (Goss) Leininger, who were of Franco-German descent. John Leininger
was a blacksmith, but engaged in farming in later years. He died in 1870.
Mrs. L. is yet living in Mercer County, Ohio. When they came West, in
1833, and later, to Jay County, Ind., in 1887, the country was wild and un-
broken, and they endured all the inconveniences and dangers attendant upon
pioneer life. Game must have been abundant, for J. G., when a boy of four-
teen, shot and killed seventy-two deer in twelve months. Here he was reared,
educated and married. January 13, 1848, Miss Elizabeth Broom became
his wife; she died June 2, 1863, having been the mother of six children, three
surviving her. To Mr. Leininger's second marriage with Sarah Hough, De-
cember 1, 1864, have been added five children, four yet living — Effie S., David
A., Margaret E. and Silas E.; Sarah E., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Leininger
are both members of the Lutheran Church,
LIGGETT & CRIDER. This partnership was formed between John
H. Liggett and N. W. Crider in July, 1881, and was but the culmination of
previous business moves by John H. Liggett. In September, 1»77, he pur-
chased the stock of Warren Mason, consisting of books and stationery, which
was kept in the post office. This stock he removed to the room now occupied
by Beeson's drug store, continuing the business alone, and making additions
for nearly two years, when he purchased the stock of W. H. Smith, and re-
moved all to the room now occupied by the present firm. Here they do a first-
class business, and besides a general stock of books and stationery, they are
agents for the Domestic Sewing Machine and for the Mason & Hamlin Organ.
Mr. Liggett is also agent for the Pacific Express Company. N. W. Crider,
the junior partner in this firm, was born in Smith Township, Whitley Co.,
Ind., May 27, 1838, and is a son of John and Rosanna (TuUey) Crider. Mrs.
COLUMBIA CITY. 255
Crider was the first female white child born in the county. N. W. received a
good practical education in youth, and began teaching at the age of twenty.
After teaching three terms, he concluded to change his occupation. In the fall
of 1872, he removed with his parents to Columbia City, where he has since
resided, and has assisted materially in the business and social prosperity of the
city. Mr. Crider is a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, and votes the
Republican ticket.
W. H. Liggett is a son of Alexander D. and Delithe Liggett, born in High-
land Co., Ohio, August 4, 1838, one of a family of twelve children, A. D.
Liggett was a farmer — an honest, industrious man — and himself and family
emigrated to Wabash County, Ind., in 1854, where he died July 12, 1870,
highly respected by all. His wife resides in Columbia City. W. H. Liggett
grew up on the farm, until, at the age of sixteen, he came with his parents to
Indiana, where he taught school winters and worked on the farm in the summer
months. November 29, 1860, he married Rebecca Jane Mills, a native of
Preble County, Ohio. In April, 1863, Mr. Liggett moved to Cleveland Town-
ship, Whitley Co., and continued farming and teaching until October, 1874,
when he was elected SheriflF of the county on the Independent ticket, serving
two terms in succession. In the fall of 1877, he, in connection with Thomas
and Alonzo Sharp and Messrs. Meely & Hemmick, of the dry goods firm of Mee-
ley & Hemmick, began the erection of what is now known as the " City Mills,"
under the firm name of W. H. Liggett & Co. The mill was completed in Feb-
ruary, 1878, and is a two and a half story and basement, 35x50, with engine-
room attached, 35x20. It has a manufacturing capacity of seventy-five barrels
per day, with the latest improvements for first-class work. In 1878, Mr. Lig-
gett formed a partnership for the sale of agricultural implements, under the
firm name of Knisely, Krider & Liggett, which has since been changed to
Knisely, Reider & Co., Mr. L. still retaining an interest, although devoting
himself to milling since his term of oflBce expired. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and a Republican in politics, which accounts for his defeat
as Legislator in a county having a Democratic majority of from four hundred
to five hundred. His family consists of five children — Emma, Edith, Eliza-
beth, Mabel and John A. — and are highly esteemed by neigbors and friends.
DR. DAVID G. LINVILL is of Welsh descent, his ancestors coming
to this country about the time of William Penn's advent. Three brothers,
William, Benjamin and Solomon, settled in Pennsylvania. Benjamin was the
great-grandfather of the subject of our sketch. Himself and brothers were
hunters by occupation, and, in 1730, they discovered a creek in Virginia, which
has since been called Linvill Creek in their honor. Here Benjamin settled in
1756, and reared a family. One son, the grandfather of Dr. Linvill, was
named Benjamin, after his father. He married a Miss Matthews, who bore
him a family, and lived and died at his home on Linvill Creek, a large
plantation and slave owner. Of a family of nine children, Benjamin, the
256 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
third son, was the father of Dr. Linvill. After his father's death, the home-
stead was sold and Benjamin, taking the proceeds, went into Ohio, and pur-
chased a section of land on Rush Creek, in Fairfield County, to which place
the family removed previous to the war of 1812. Here Benjamin married Sarah
Swayze, a daughter of Judge David Swayze. He was a miller by occupation ;
served in the war of 1812, and is yet living in New Salem, Ohio, at the ad-
vanced age of ninety. His wife died in 1872. They were parents of four
sons and one daughter, all living except one son, who died from disease con-
tracted while in the army. Dr. D. G. Linvill was born on the banks of Rush
Creek, Fairfield County, Ohio, February 1, 1821. Until he became of age, his
time was variously occupied as miller, clerk and in perfecting his education.
At this time he began the study of medicine with his uncle. Dr. Swayze, and
graduated at the Western Reserve College, at Cleveland, in 1819, and the same
year formed a partnership with his uncle for the practice of medicine at Colum-
bia City, Ind. This partnership continued until 1855. Dr. Linvill has been
eminently successful in his practice, both as surgeon and physician. He be-
came a member of the American Medical Association in 1874, and is also a
member of three local societies. He holds liveral views on politics and relig-
ion, and is a member of the M. B. Church, and also belongs to the mystic
brotherhood of Royal Arch Masons of Columbia City. He was married June
24, 1854, to Martha J. Myers, daughter of Abram Myers, and fifteen children
have been born to them ; but eight now living, viz.: Lewis, David, Frank,
Eddie, Hayes, Benjamin, Elbertine and Josephine. Dr. Linvill has been more
than ordinarily successful in life, and is one of the most prominent and highly
respected citizens of Whitley County.
CHAUNCEY B. MATTOON is a native of the " Old Bay State," and
was born in Northfield November 2, 1839. He is one of five children, all yet
living, of Hezekiah and Mary (Maynard) Mattoon, grandson of Hezekiah and
Penelope (Lyman) Mattoon, great-grandson of Philip Mattoon, the family
having been in America since 1676, and has identified itself with the political,
military and general history of our country. C. B. Mattoon remained in his
native town, and engaged in house-painting, until April, 1861, when he en-
listed in the Fifteenth Regimental Massachusetts Band, and, together
with his regiment, went immediately to the front, where he participated in
the battles of Ball's Bluff, Fair Oaks and all through the Peninsular cam-
paign. By special act of Congress, discharging bands, he received his
discharge in 1862. He then went to Boston and worked in the sewing-machine
shops of Grover & Baker until March, 1864, when he came West, and located
in Larwill, Whitley County, Ind., where he was employed in the manufacture
of staves. In 1869, he came to Columbia City, and, for a time, was in the
employ of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, when he went to
Fort Wayne in the employ of the Adams Express Company, returning to
Columbia City upon the completion of the Eel River Railroad, where he has
COLUMBIA CITY. 257
since remained, with the exception of two years spent in Logansport, He is
now station agent at Columbia City, and his varied experience has peculiarly
fitted him for the position. Mr. Mattoon was married June 10, 1871, to Miss
Mary S. Keefer, who died September 1, 1880, leaving three children — Grover,
John and Harry. Mrs. Mattoon was a daughter of Peter Keefer, a native of
Pennsylvania, and of German descent.
COL. ISAIAH B. McDonald is a native of the Old Dominion, his
birth occurring at Woodville, Rappahannock Co., September 18, 1826. His
parents — Carter and Elizabeth (Carder) McDonald — were natives of the same
State, and both were of Scotch descent. Nine sons and three daughters were
born to these parents. Col. McDonald being the second son and second child.
In 1836, the family moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and, in 1842, to Whitley
Co., Ind. For some years in early life, Col. McDonald worked as carpenter and
joiner, but after he had attended two terms of the Edinburg Academy, Wayne
County, Ohio, he became a successful school teacher, extending his services as
such over Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In May, 1852, he returned to Whit-
ley County, and soon after began the practice of law. During the same year,
he secured the election as Prosecuting Attorney for the counties of Whitley
and Noble, continuing to serve as such until 1855, when he was elected Clerk
of Whitley County. From 1864 to 1870, he served as School Examiner of
Whitley County, but resigned during December of the latter year, to accept
the responsibilities of Representative in the State Legislature. He took a front
rank in legislative debate, and was appointed Chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee. 1876, he was Presidential Elector, and represented the Twelfth
Congressional District in the National Democratic Convention, on which occa-
sion he cast his vote for Tilden and Hendricks. He has filled many minor
positions in county affairs, but always with that inflexible fidelity which has
ever been a characteristic of the man. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a
Sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men. No man has done more for
Columbia City and Whitley County than Col. McDonald. His success in life
is mainly due to his extraordinary energy and in his determination to succeed.
He is a strong Democrat, and has long been connected with the newspapers of
the county, through the columns of which his individuality and influence have
been widely felt. Col. McDonald has an excellent military record. During
the entire rebellion, he was an earnest War Democrat. The wing of his party
which declared the war a failure received no sympathy from him. He enlisted
as a private at the first call to arms, but was chosen Second Lieutenant of
Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers, going out as such to the field.
He served his country until the autumn of 1864, when he resigned and came
home, when, greatly to his pleasure and astonishment, he was presented with
an elegant sword by the members of his command, who had sent the sword to
Columbia City from the field, to be publicly presented to him on his arrival.
Upon the sword were written, as follows, the battles in which he had fought :
258 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Elk Water, Va.; Greenbrier, Va.; Camp Alleghany ; McDowell, Va.; Cross
Keys ; Cedar Mountain ; Catlett's Station ; Waterloo ; Second Bull Run ; and
Winchester. In July, 1861, Lieut. McDonald was appointed Senior Aid-de-
Camp and Chief of StaflF to Gen. J. J. Reynolds, in Western Virginia. In
Headley's History of the Rebellion, honorable mention is made of Lieut. Mc-
Donald, who at Camp Alleghany began the attack with a charge upon the rebels
by moonlight. Gen. Milroy, in his report of the battle, had this to say of Col.
McDonald : "I owe the warmest thanks to Lieut. McDonald, of your staflF,
for the able and eflScient service which he rendered on the march and in the
action by his activity, bravery and coolness in leading and rallying the troops."
In January, 1862, he was transferred to the staff of Gen. Milroy, and served
with him through the Virginia campaigns of 1862-63, as Captain and Com-
missary of Subsistence. In August, 1862, when Gen. Pope's trains were
captured at Catlett's Station, a correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer
wrote as follows : " During the onset of the rebels, after the wagons of Pope's
train had been fired, they started from the road to where Gen. Milroy 's trains
lay, intending to pay their attention to them, but they were promptly met by a
guard of about one hundred men, headed by the gallant Capt. I. B. McDon-
ald, Commissary of Milroy's brigade. His bravery and determination saved
the train." Gen. Milroy said of the Second Bull Run fight: " I avail myself
of this opportunity to return my thanks to the members of my staff — Capts.
Baird, Flesher and McDonald and Lieut. Cravens." The following is the dis-
patch which led to Capt. McDonald's promotion :
Bloody Run, Bedford Co., Penn., June 20, 1863.
Oovernor of West Virginia, Wheeling, Va:
I am at this place with nearly half my command, including most of the Twelfth Virginia.
Capt. I. B. McDonald, my Commissary, is with me, and is the only staflF oflScer of my command
who saved all his papers and money. His conduct in the battles of Sunday and Monday last was
most gallant and praiseworthy, and any promotion you can give him would be well deserved and
most gratifying to me. He would make a splendid Colonel for my gallant old Third Virginia.
[Signed] R. H. Milroy, Major General.
He was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel some months later ;
but, as above stated, returned home in autumn, 1864, after an active military
career of three years and four months. He handled millions of dollars of govern-
ment property and large sums of money, and has numerous private letters from
his superior ofiicers, to whom his accounts were rendered when he resigned,
attesting his honesty and fidelity. Col. McDonald takes no greater pride
than in exhibiting his many letters from the parents or other relatives of boys
whom he cared for during his leisure hours, while they were burning with fever
in the hospitals or tortured with agony while lying wounded and helpless on
the battle-field. The following letters are two of many. In 1864, a young
soldier at Cumberland, Md., by the name of Burton Reynolds, of the Fifteenth
New York Cavalry, took sick, and requested Col. McDonald to send for his
mother. She came on, but the boy grew worse, and was taken home to New
COLUMBIA CITY. 259
York. Mrs. Reynolds was without friends or means, but Col. McDonald gave
her money and assisted her in getting her boy home to die. The following is
a letter from the mother of the dying young soldier :
Camillds, N. Y., June — , 1864.
Lieut. Col. McDonald:
Dear Sir — We have delayed writing to you this long, hoping that we might be able to say
our son is getting well; but, alas! we fear this is not to be. He is very sick with typhoid
fever — seems rapidly passing away. He has spoken of you often ; says tie stiali ever love you
for your kindness to him. To-day he wished that he had a picture of you, that he might never
forget your looks. I will not attempt to express our gratitude to you for all that you did for us
in that dark and trying hour. If you ever visit New York, don't fail of letting us see you.
Yours, with respect, Mrs. G. D. Reynolds.
Another letter was received from the same lady, announcing and deploring
the death of her boy soldier and repeating her expressions of gratitude and
friendship. The following letter, written by the brother of another poor sol-
dier boy, who had been kindly cared for by Col. McDonald, explains itself. It
will be observed that the writer was once Secretary of the United States Navy :
Clarksburg, W. Va., September 8, 1863.
Capt. McDonald:
Mt Dear Sir — I desire to return to you my lasting regards and the sincerest and lasting
thanks of my mother, for your unceasing attentions to her during the illness of my brother, and
for your many acts of kindness and friendship at his death. I met my mother and Clay's corpse
at Grafton, on Sunday, the 6th inst. Owing to your sympathy, kindness and energy, all the
necessary arrangements had been ma'de, and much of the grief natural to a fond mother over
the death of a son was assuaged by your attentions, gentlemanly deportment and management.
We reached home Sunday evening at 5 o'clock P. M. Matters were immediately taken in
hand by the military of the place, and Clay was buried by them on Monday morning at 10
o'clock. My father and mother desire to be kindly remembered.
Believe me, Captain, truly your friend, N. Goff.
These and other letters similar in nature show the sympathy which CoL
McDonald had for his suifering and unfortunate fellow-soldiers. Notwithstand-
ing the pressure of his duties, he found time to visit the hospitals of pain and
cheer the hearts of many poor soldiers with the thought of life and the dear
ones at home. He made friends wherever he moved by the sterling qualities
of his character. While Commissary of Subsistence, he did all in his power
to have an abundance of stores on hand. The following is interesting in this
conpection :
Headquarters Milroy's Independent Brigade, Woodville, Va., July 31, 1862.
To all Whom it may Concern :
Having, from time to time, ever since we have been connected with Gen. R. H. Milroy'&
Brigade, in Western as well as Eastern Virginia, noticed the constant and untiring efforts, as
well as the proper deportment of Capt. Isaiah B. McDonald, C. S., in endeavoring to obtain the
necessary supplies for his brigade, we, the Chaplains of the Second and Third Regiments of
Virginia Volunteer Infantry, most cheerfully acknowledge the kind appreciation of his success
in supplying the wants of both men and ofl5cers of the said regiments, of which we have the honor
of being Chaplains. Therefore, we feel safe in recommending him to the confidence of all true
and loyal men wherever his lot may be cast.
James W. Curry, Chaplain Third Regiment Virginia Volunteers.
James W. W. Bolton, Chaplain Second Regiment Virginia Volunteers.
260 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Mrs. Catharine (Brenneman) McDonald, wife of Col. McDonald, is the
second daughter and third child of Abraham and Elizabeth Brenneman, and was
born near Lancaster, Penn., July 6, 1827. She went to Champaign County,
Ohio, in 1836, but came to Whitley County in 1851. Her mai-riage with Col.
McDonald occurred November 28, 1854, since which time she has resided in
Columbia City. She is the mother of four children, all boys, as follows :
James Eli McDonald, late teacher of the Columbia City High School, and now
half-owner and business manager of the Ligonier Banner. He was clerk of
Columbia City, and is now about twenty-seven years of age. Charles Emmett
McDonald, second son, is a school teacher, and is at present local editor of the
Columbia City Herald. His age is twenty-five. Abraham Carter McDonald,
third son, aged seventeen, is now attending the Columbia City High School,
and stands well in his classes. Frank Warren McDonald, the fourth and
youngest son, is fifteen years of age, is a bright little fellow, and is now learn-
ing the printing business. Col. McDonald may justly attribute much of his
success in life to the worthy and amiable lady who for so many years has
"doubled his pleasures and his cares divided."
E. L. McLALLEN, son of Henry and Frances M. (Lyman) McLallen, was
born February 2, 1836, in Tompkins Co., N. Y. His father was of Scotch
and his mother of English descent ; parents of twelve children, only three of
whom survive — Margaret A., the wife of David B. Clugston, of Larwill, and
the two sons, E. L. and Henry. From New York the family emigrated to
Whitley County, Ind., in 1844. The father was engaged in the grain and
commission trade on Cayuga Lake, N. Y., but, after coming to Indiana, turned
his attention to farming, and afterward merchandising in Tompkins County,
N. Y. He was born August 3, 1808, and died October 30, 1875. Mrs. Mc-
Lallen was born in Franklin County, Mass., May 7, 1807, and is yet living in
Columbia City. They were married about 1831. During the building of the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, E. L. McLallen was one of the
corps of civil engineers for that company ; he was engaged in various business
affairs in Whitley County until 1874, when, with his brother, he removed to
Columbia City and engaged in banking under the firm name of E. L. McLallen
& Co. They are among the leading business houses of this city, and have met
with deserved success. E. L. McLallen is a prominent member of the Masonic
Fraternity, having taken the highest degrees of that order possible in this
country.
HENRY McLALLEN was born August 2, 1841, in Trumansburg, N. Y.,
and came with his parents to Indiana in 1844, where he has since resided. His
literary education, like that of his brother E. L., was derived from the schools
of that day, combined with home instruction. He took a thorough course in
the Indianapolis Business College, and, from 1860 to 1870, was engaged at
Larwill by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & C. R. R. Company. He was then
elected Treasurer of Whitley County, and re-elected upon the expiration of his
COLUMBIA CITY. 261
term of two years. In 1874. he became a member of the banking firm of E.
L. McLallen & Co., in which business he has since been engaged. His wife
was Miss Lavinia C. Clugston, to whom he was married June 7, 1866. She
was born in New Castle County, Del., June 7, 1842, and died April 14, 1880,
leaving a family of four children — Elisha L., Walter F., Henry D.eWitt and
Marshall Carr. Both Mr. McLallen and wife were members of the M. E.
Church. Mr. McLallen is an esteemed brother of the Masonic Order, and a
member of the Commandery at Fort Wayne. He also belongs to the I. 0. 0.
F., and has passed through both subordinate lodge and Encampment.
AVILLIAM E. MERRIMAN came to Whitley County, Ind., from
Wayne County, Ohio, in October, 1847, and purchased eighty acres of land
in Washington Township. The winter following, he taught school in La
Grange County, returning to Whitley County the next spring with the inten-
tion of making a permanent home. He was there united in marriage, April 6,
1851, to Miss Marguerite Shavey, a native of France, who was born August 4,
1824. He worked on his place, improving and clearing, until 1859, when he
was elected County Clerk of Whitley County by the Democratic party, in
which capacity he served for four years, in the meantime selling his property
in Washington Township and purchasing land, of which he now owns 315
acres in Union Township, where he removed with his family in April, 1864,
and where he still resides. Served as Township Trustee from April 4, 1867,
to October 19, 1874. He was elected Representative of Whitley County in
October, 1876, and served one term. In April, 1881, he was appointed
County Auditor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William H. Rutter,
in which capacity he is now acting. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio,
September 19, 1822, and is a son of Elisha and Penelope (Emerson) Merriman,
who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and parents of
eight children, six yet living. Soon after the marriage of the parents, they
emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, for the purpose of making a home, and
located on a farm, while the country" was in a very unsettled condition. Here
the mother died in May, 1861, at the advanced age of sixty-eight years. Mr.
Merriman, after the death of his wife, removed from Wayne County, Ohio, with
his children and settled with them in Washington Township, Whitley County,
where he passed away at the home of his son James, in October, 1869, aged
seventy-eight years. William E. and wife have a family of five children —
Origen (deceased), Catherine, Penelope (deceased), James S. and Frank-
lin. Two of the children — Catherine and James — are married, and
reside in Whitley County. Mr. Merriman is a Democrat, and an honored
member of the A., F. & A. M.
ALF MILLER is a native of Stark County, Ohio, and the son of George
F. and Elizabeth (Snyder) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
They came to this State in 1845, settling in Wells County, and four years
later moved to Huntington County. In 1856, they went to Iowa ; in 1857,
262 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
returned to La Porte County, thia State, and in 1858 came to Whitley, where
the father died. There were nine children in the family, six of whom are still
living, viz., Jeremiah, Jacob, Alexander, our subject, Martha Mc Henry and
Louisa D. Prickett. Our subject learned blacksmithing in this county, which
trade he followed for sixteen years, but is now proprietor of the "Occidental
Billiard Hall and Saloon," his chief business being the running of his billiard
tables, of which he has four, and with which he is doing a fine trade. In 1865,
he married Miss Isabelle Cleland, a native of Whitley County, and born March
23, 1848. They have five children, viz.: Willmetta, born in Larwill, Decem-
ber 28, 1868; Jacob W., January 12, 1874; Etheline, March 2, 1876;
Charles, October 13, 1877, all three in Columbia City ; Jeremiah, April 27,
1879, in Huntington County. Mr. Miller is a Mason, and his establishment
is carried on with the strictest regard to propriety.
DR. A. P. MITTEN is a native of Knox County, Ohio, where he was
born January 19, 1845. His father, James Mitten, was a native of West-
minster, Md., a carpenter by trade. He married Sarah A. Price, in Rich-
land County, Ohio, after which he moved to Knox County, and in 1845 emi-
grated to, Huntington County, Ind., and in 1852 removed to Huntington,
where he afterward died in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and where his widow
yet resides. Their family consisted of nine children. Dr. A. P. Mitten being
the fourth child and first son. He came to Indiana with his parents and re-
mained with them until manhood, receiving a good education in the public and
select schools of Huntington. In the fall of 1862, he began the study of med-
icine with Dr. D. S. Leyman, continuing with him four years. The winter of
1865-66, he attended lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and again
in 1866-67, graduating at the close of the term. He then came to Columbia
City and formed a partnership with Dr. D. G. Linvill, remaining until the
winter of 1872-73, when he went to Bellevue Medical College, New York,
taking both a regular and special course ; devoting himself particularly to sur-
gery and diseases of women and children, he graduated at that institution, and
returned to Columbia City, where has since been successfully engaged in the
practice of his profession, in which he is an indefatigable worker. He was
married, August 31, 1876, to Sarah E. Linvill, oldest daughter of Dr. D. G.
Linvill, his former partner. This lady was born in Columbia City April 11,
1859 ; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother of one
son, Frank Linvill. Dr. Mitten is a Republican, a member of the I. 0. 0. F.,
and also of the 0. F. Encampment, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and
a most excellent and honorable man.
GEORGE W. NORTH was born in Pennsylvania February 22, 1844,
and is a son of John and Rachel (Sensebaugh) North, who are natives of Penn-
sylvania, and parents of eight children, five yet living. They were married in
Pennsylvania March 18, 1824, and removed from that State to Stark Co.,
Ohio, in the spring of 1850. The father, next winter, removed to Indiana,
COLUMBIA CITY. 263
and located in Columbia Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land, that
that he might give his children better opportunities for beginning life. He was
a man of broad and decided views, and confined to no party or creed — a man of
honor, and possessed the unbounded confidence and esteem of all who knew
him. He filled various offices in the gift of the people of his township satis-
factorily, and died November 21, 1879, aged eighty-one years. His widow yet
survives, and is a resident of Whitley County. G. W. North came with his
parents to Whitley County in 1850, and was reared and educated on the farm,
two miles east of Columbia City. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company
K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as private; \vent to the front
with his regiment, and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, McLimore's
Cove and Resaca ; received a wound in the hand at Resaca, and was severely
wounded in the side at Chickamauga, from which he is yet a sufferer. His
brother Edward, who enlisted in Company F, One Hundredth I. V. I., died
in the service. After he returned from the army, he attended school, taught
school and worked on the farm until 1874, when he opened a first-class hard-
ware store in Columbia City, which business he has since successfully followed.
He was married, in 1869, to Miss A. T. Harley, who died the year following.
In January, 1882, Mr. North married his present wife, Miss Anna Rice. He
is a Republican and a member of the A., F. & A. M. Like his father, he began
life dependent on his own resources, and by his own unaided efforts has attained
a position of prosperity and success.
WALTER OLDS was born in Delaware (now Morrow) County, Ohio,
August 11, 1846. He is the youngest of eleven children, five of whom are yet
living, born to Benjamin and Abigail (Washburne) Olds, natives respectively of
Pennsylvania and New York. They came to Ohio at an early day, where the
father died in November, 1862 ; the mother is yet living. Walter Olds availed
himself of the advantages of the public and union schools of Mt. Gilead. In
July, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. Participating in several severe skirmishes and engagments,
he was discharged at the close of the war. After the war, he attended for some
time the schools of Columbus, Ohio, and, in 1867, began reading law in the
office of Olds & Dickey, of Mt. Gilead. In January, 1869, he was admitted
to the bar in the Supreme Court, and, in April, 1869, came to Columbia City
and formed a partnership with Hon. A. Y. Hooper (since deceased) in the
practice of law. Since coming here, Mr. Olds has devoted himself to the prac-
tice of his profession. He is a Republican in politics, and, in 1876, was elected
a member of the State Senate, to represent the counties of Whitley and Kos-
ciusko. In July, 1873, he was married to Marie J. Merritt, daughter of Zenas
L. and Martha L. (Patterson) Merritt, and to them has been born one son —
Lee M. Mrs. Olds is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, where she was born
December 4, 1850.
S. J. PEABODY was born in Noble County, Ind,, September 29, 1851,
264 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and was one of eleven children, two yet living, born to John L. and Hannah
(Ayers) Peabody ; the former born in Pompton, N. J., January 12, 1812, and
dying at Areola, Allen County Ind., September 13, 1865; and the latter born
in Pompton December 28, 1818. After their marriage, they lived in New
York City till May, 1841, when they moved to Huron County, Ohio, and
thence to Noble County, Ind., in 1843, where Mr. Peabody engaged in farm-
ing till 1851, when he moved to Areola, Allen County, and entered the lumber
trade. S. J. Peabody was reared in Allen County, where he received a good
practical education. At the age of fifteen, he began doing for himself, running
an engine, acting as head sawyer, etc., thus acquiring sufficient means to estab-
lish a shingle factory at Areola, in 1869, which he ran for two years. In 1871,
he moved to Taylor, this county, where he established a saw-mill ; leaving this
in charge of a nephew, George Peabody, he came to Columbia City and engaged
in a general lumber trade, which he has since continued with success, his last
year's shipments amounting to 1,200 car loads, or a total of 7,000,000 feet.
Beginning life with nothing, he now owns, besides his lumber interests, over
1,100 acres of land. When he came to Columbia City in 1879, his brother,
J. B., came with him, and together they purchased two saw-mills, but
have since disposed of one. May 22, 1875, our subject married Miss
Hannah S. Swift, who was born in Wareham, Mass., and a lineal descendant of
Peregrine White, the first child born in this country of the Mayflower Pil-
grims. Mrs. Peabody bore her husband one child, Lina Genevieve, who was
born April 8, 1876, and who died February 20, 1879, the mother following a
month later.
C. H. POND, architect and builder, was born in Connecticut, the son of
Charles and Florilla (Preston) Pond, who both died when our subject was quite
young. He began his young life, on his own resources, by working on a farm
at the age of fifteen ; a year later he tried clockmaking ; then went to learn
carpentering, serving two years. He followed this trade several years in Wis-
consin, Wayne County, Ohio, etc., and in 1855 came to Columbia City, where
he has since remained, with the exception of three years passed in Chicago.
During his residence in Columbia City he was engaged for five years clerking
in a drug store, but the balance of the time has been passed at his present busi-
ness. He has planned and erected some of the leading and many of the best
buildings in the town. He married, in 1844, Miss Jane Hartsock, a native of
Ohio, and to their union were born four children, viz.: Rodney D. (deceased),
Sumner (who died at the age of twelve), Florilla and Olen J. Both he and
wife are members of the Baptist Church ; he is a Mason in the ninth degree,
and has filled various offices in that fraternity — as Master of his lodge and as
High Priest in his Chapter — and is now filling the office of Secretary of both
lodge and chapter. As an architect, Mr. Pond has fine natural talents, and the
many plans, drawings, etc., in his possession, all designed and executed by
himself, evidence the highest degree of merit.
COLUMBIA CITY. 265
I. W. PRICKETT was born in Clark County, Ohio, the son of John
and Sarah (Wood) Prickett, natives respectively of Ohio and New Jersey.
They were married in Ohio and followed farming there until 1836, when they
came to Indiana, and the father entered largely into wild lands in Kosciusko
County, and in Sparta and Washington Townships, Noble County, taking up
their residence in the last-named township, where the remainder of their lives
was passed, both dying in the Free-Will Baptist faith, the first church of which
denomination in Noble County was located by Mr. Prickett. Their deaths
occurred respectively in 1854 and 1855, and they had a family of eleven chil-
dren, seven of whom reached maturity, viz.: Jane Voris, Isaac W., Jacob P.,
William, Mary Metz, Thomas and Ann Beezley. Our subject was only three
years old when he came to the county with his parents, with whom he remained
till nineteen, and then went to Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, and learned
the saddler's trade. He next took up his residence in Wabash County, Ind.,
for one year; then went to South Whitley and engaged in trade, and in 1874
came to Columbia City, where he has built up a fine trade. He has a large
salesroom, a brick block, and carries an extensive assortment of harness, sad-
dlery, trunks, robes, etc. He was married, in 1855, to Miss Lois Martin, a
native of Troy Township, and they have had four children, viz.: Herschel,
Estelle Peabody, Walter and Stephena.
JACOB RAMP, dealer in lumber and manufacturer of barrel hoops, was
born in Cumberland County, Penn., and was the son of Philip and Elizabeth
(Markward) Ramp, early settlers in this county. He resided on his father's
farm in Pennsylvania till eighteen years of age, and then went to learn the
coachmakers' trade, at which he served four years, and afterward worked at
carpentering for five years. The next seven years he followed farming,
and in 1864 came to Indiana and engaged in the lumber business, which he has
ever since followed, with the exception of two and a half years passed on his
farm in Richland Township, this county, which he still owns and which com-
prises 160 acres of well-improved land. In the spring of 1882, he added to
his lumber trade the manufacture of barrel hoops and is now steadily pushing
that department. He has served in the Corporation Council two years, as
School Trustee three years, and was once elected Justice of the Peace, but did
not serve. In 1852, he married Miss Rebecca Grawbaugh, a native of Cum-
berland County, Penn. They have five children living, viz. : Margaret M.
Bodley, George W., Martha E., Laura F. and Philip G. One son, Joseph
E., twenty-one years of age, in August, 1881, was killed in his father's mill.
Mr. Ramp is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and, with his wife, a member of the
Lutheran Church, and is regarded as one of Columbia's most enterprising
citizens.
PHILIP RAMP is a wholesale and retail dealer in lumber, and runs a
saw-mill and planing mill in Columbia City. His parents, Philip and Eliza-
beth (Markward) Ramp, were natives of Cumberland County, Penn., and came
266 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to Troy (now Richland) Township, this county, and settled on a farm in 1853,
where the mother died in 1869. The father died while on a visit to Pennsyl-
vania in 1863. Both were members of the German Reformed Church. They
had seven children, as follows : Isaac, now in Southern Indiana ; Philip ;
Jacob ; William ; Margaret Dennis, of Huntington County ; Abram, in Illinois,
and Samuel. Our subject was born in 1828, in Cumberland County, Penn. ;
worked on the farm till 1850, when he started for himself and came to this
State, where, for three years, he hired out as a farmer. Then he farmed for
himself awhile in Union Township ; went to Iowa, remained six years, and
then came to Columbia City in 1861. In 1862, he commenced his present
business, and has energetically pursued it, so that he now constantly employs
ten or twelve assistants. He does quite a shipping business, and his mills are
always busy. In February, 1851, he married Rachel iTorth, a native of West-
moreland, Penn., and of their offspring five are living, viz. : Frank, Elizabeth, .
Al. H., Edward and George W. He and wife are members of the Lutheran
Church, and the family are regarded with respect and esteem by their neigh-
bors and the citizens generally.
BENJAMIN RAUPFER was born in Baden, Germany, November 3,
1838, was reared and received a good education in his native town. His father,
Peter Raupfer, died in 1851, and that fall our subject went to Switzerland and
engaged in teaming and selling silks and other goods, continuing thereat until
1865, when he embarked at Havre de Grace on the English ship " Belonia,"
bound for New York. After a stormy voyage of twenty-two days, he arrived
in safety at his destination and soon after came to Columbia City, and took
charge of an engine, which he ran for three years. He then opened a saloon,
which he managed until 1879, when, in partnership with Fred Walter, he
purchased the " Eagle" beer brewery, which the new firm enlarged and re-
modeled, and converted into one of the finest in the country, giving it a capa-
city of 6,000 barrels per annum, and the product is pronounced to be the best
in Northern Indiana. In 1869, November 9, he married Mary Myers, who has
borne him two children, Joseph and William, and the family are highly
respected.
JAMES REIDER was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 19, 1841,
and is a son of Christian and Martha Reider, who were natives respectively of
Pennsylvania and Ohio, and were the parents of a family of eight children, all
living. The father was a farmer and stock-dealer by occupation through life.
He removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, from Dauphin County,
Penn., when twelve years of age, and subsequently married there, and came
with his family to Columbia City, Ind., in 1865, where he died June 10, 1873.
His widow yet lives in Columbia City. James was reared on a farm, receiving
a good education, and was married February 25, 1861, to Mary M. Kister, of
Wayne County, and in May of the same year enlisted in Company A, One Hundred
and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; was assigned to the Army of the
COLUMBIA CITi^. 267
Potomac, stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Va., and discharged September 10,
1864, after which he removed to Whitley County, Ind., where he has since
resided, farming in Columbia Township until 1869. He then removed to Thorn
Creek Township, remaining until 1872, when he returned to his former farm,
remaining until the fall of 1874, when he was elected County Clerk, and after
his term of four years had expired, engaged in the hardware trade, and is now a
member of the firm of Knisely, Reider & Co., doing good business in hardware
and agricultural implements. Mr. Reider is Democratic in politics. Himself
and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and have a family of four children,
viz. : Eddie W. and Otto F., twins ; Harry W. and Lula M.
JOHN RHODES is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, where he was
born,' November 9, 1814, and is one of eight children (four yet living) born to
Peter and Catherine (Hoffman) Rhodes, who were both natives of Pennsylvania,
and of German descent. Peter Rhodes followed distilling and weaving in
earlier life, but after his marriage, moved to Franklin County, and engaged in
farming. He served in the war of 1812, moved to Putnam County, Ohio,
where he died in 1838, and his widow the year following. John Rhodes re-
mained on the farm until 1837, receiving but a limited education. At the age
of twenty-three, he began learning the mill-wright trade, and at the age of
twenty-five had thoroughly mastered the business. In March, 1839, he con-
tracted marriage with Mary Ann Clevinger, who died in 1840. In July, 1841,
he came to Columbia City, purchased the lot he now owns, cleared up the trees,
and erected a frame building, 18x36 feet, one story. He then returned to
Ohio, and in December, 1841, was married to Ann Enslen, returning in August,
1842, to Columbia City, which, at that time, was a comparatively new country.
Since then, by industry, economy and energy, he has become one of the most
substantial citizens. Himself and wife were parents of four children — Francis
L., Sarah E., Alfaretta A. and Edith A. Of these, only two are living —
Francis, who married Lillie Cunningham, and Edith A., now Mrs. Ruch. The
mother died November 22, 1874.
CHARLES RUCH is the son of Jacob and Hannah (Walter) Ruch, and
was born in Augusta Township, Northumberland Co., Penn., November 1,
1808. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and English
descent respectively. Their family consisted of eight children, five of whom
are yet living. The occupation of the father was that of stone-mason, but in
later years he engaged in farming, which he followed until his death. Charles
Ruch was reared on the farm until eighteen years of age, receiving the ordinary
common-school advantages. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade, working at
that several years. He then read medicine for two years, but discontinued
that, finding the occupation of house-painting and paper-hanging more lucra-
tive. In 1838, December 4, he was married to Sarah N. Fertig, and engaged
for some years afterward in mercantile pursuits. In 1845 (October), he came
to Fort Wayne, where he followed cabinet-making. In March, 1849, he re-
268 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
moved to Smith Township to settle his father's estate, where he remained until
November 1854, when he moved to Columbia City, which has since been his
home. Here he engaged respectively in painting, livery business, merchandis-
ing, etc. Mr. Ruch began life on the bottom round of the ladder, and, by
strict integrity and perseverance, has acquired a competence, and a character
fully in sympathy with all laudable and progressive enterprises. Democratic in
politics, he served as Postmaster in Columbia City for two years under Pierce's
administration. Of a family of thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ruch,
only the following survive, viz. : Albert F. ; Margaret L., now Mrs. Lowden-
slager ; Mary K., now Mrs. Heitzfeld; Joseph H. ; George W. ; Jacob A., and
Ann E., now Mrs. Heacock. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruch are members of the
Lutheran faith. The two sons, Joseph H. and George W., own and operate
one of the leading drug stores in Columbia City. They are also proprietors of
a new grocery-house, where everything pertaining to a first-class business is
found. Their success is no doubt due to their unvarying fair dealing, liberality
and enterprise — characteristics of the family.
I. B. RUSH came with his parents to Grant County, Ind., in early life,,
where he remained on the farm until twenty-five years of age. He then went
West, but returned in 1859, and in response to President Lincoln's first call
for troops in 1861, volunteered, went to Indianapolis, was sworn into service,
but the volunteers exceeding the number required, many were debarred from
active service, and Mr. Rush returned home, re-enlisted in August, 1861,
in Company F, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as private ; was
immediately sent to the front, commissioned Sergeant Major, and entered
active service. In June, 1862, was promoted to Second Lieutenancy. In
August, 1863, was made First Lieutenant and Adjutant of his regiment, and
soon after was placed on detached service on staff duty, serving as Assistant
Adjutant General to Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown, of St. Louis. Mr. Rush par-
ticipated in all the important engagements from Cairo to New Orleans, includ-
ing the siege of Vicksburg. He was also at Fort Donelson, Port Hudson,.
Champion Hills, and the capture of Jackson, Miss. At Champion Hills he
was severely wounded in the right knee, from the effects of which he yet
suffers. While at Vicksburg, Mr. Rush was detailed on "Flag of Truce
Duty," and sent into the interior by Gen. Grant's orders. Mr. R. still pre-
serves these orders in the General's own handwriting. He participated in the
very last battle of the war, on the grounds of Palo Alto, where Gen. Taylor
fought his celebrated battle in 1847, and was mustered out of service in 1866,
when he returned home, remaining until 1869, when he came to Columbia
City and accepted the position he now holds in the Columbia City Bank, where
he has since remained. Mr. Rush was born in Randolph County, N. C,
June 11, 1833, and is the oldest child of Nixon and Demaris (Byrne) Rush,
who were natives of North Carolina, and of English and German-Irish descent
respectively, and both families of Revolutionary war memory, both great-
COLUMBIA CITY. 269
grandfathers, Rush and Byrne, serving in the struggle between the Colonies
and Great Britain, and both grandfathers serving in the war of 1812. Nixon
Rush was reared in the South, on his grandfather's large plantation, where he
held ownership in sixty-eight slaves, to all of whom he gave their freedom in
1835. Thirty-eight of these were sent to Indiana with Nixon Rush, their
expenses being paid by his father. They were left in Orange County. All
took their old master's name, and many have attained considerable prominence
among the colored people. Nixon Rush and wife are both living in Grant
County. Mr. I. B. Rush was married in June, 1870, to Nancy Elliott, of
Beaver, Penn., and their family consists of two daughters, Demaris and Mar-
garet. Mr. Rush is a Republican, and Mrs. Rush is a member of the Presby-
terian Church.
WILLIAM SELL was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 2, 1837,
one of ten children (five of whom only are now living), born to Henry B. and
Nancy (Eberhart) Sell, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and of German
descent. Henry B. Sell was a farmer by occupation, and at the age of seven-
teen moved to Stark County, Ohio, and at nineteen was married. On his
arrival in Ohio, he had only 25 cents, and at the time of his marriage had
earned enough to buy a pair of young steers. He worked at clearing, etc.,
till 1844, when he came to Indiana, stopping at Fort Wayne, Liberty Mills,
and finally in Columbia Township, where he purchased some land and went
through all the hardships incident to pioneer life, and by persistent labor
acquired 845 acres of good land. His wife, who ably assisted him in all his
undertakings, died about the year 1872, Mr. Sell surviving her about four
years and dying in 1876. They were members respectively of the Lutheran
and Presbyterian Churches, and had the respect of all who knew them. Our
subject, William Sell, was reared in Whitley County, from the age of six years,
and obtained his education at the common schools. September 2, 1860, he
married Miss Martha Jane Riteneour, and to their union were born seven chil-
dren, viz. : Benjamin F., Henry J., William J., Catharine, Charley (deceased),
Milledore and Theodore, twins, the last now dead. The mother died in August,
1871, and Mr. Sell married his present wife, Miss Anna Riteneour, sister of
his deceased wife, who has borne him four children — Cora A., Irvin (deceased),
Fanny (deceased) and Oscar. Mr. Sell owns and works 160 acres of land in
the township, and is doing a. good business in town, in handling all the latest
and best improved agricultural machinery known to the trade. He is a Demo-
crat, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
CAPT. PETER SIMONSON (deceased) was a native of New Jersey, and
studied civil engineering at Providence, R. I. At the age of fourteen, he had
become so proficient that, with an odometer, he traversed and measured " Little
Rhody," and drew a very accurate map of the State. At the age of eighteen,
he was a man in form, and could scarcely be surpassed in his occupation as
civil engineer. He went to Ohio, and was given charge of a division of construe-
270 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
tion on what is now the Pennsylvania Railroad. Shortly after this, in com-
pany with William P. Shinn, who is now one of the wealthy manufacturers of
St. Louis, and several other young engineers, he came to Indiana (1855), and
■was given charge of a division on the then Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad.
He remained with this road until it was finished, and then engaged for a short
time in the lumber and saw-mill business, and was placed about $5,000 in debt.
After this he was again in the employ of the railroad last mentioned, furnish-
ing fencing, telegraph poles, and wood for repair work, from Crestline to Chi-
cago. He thus not only paid his debts, but had some money besides. At this
time the rebellion burst forth, and he began raising the Fifth Indiana Light
Artillery. One hundred and forty-eight men were enlisted in Whitley, Noble,
Kosciusko and Allen Counties, and, under the command of Capt. Simonson,
marched to the field. The movements of this battery will be found narrated in
the military chapter of this volume. After three years' service, he was ap-
pointed Chief of Artillery of the Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps,
the highest possible promotion in the artillery service. This gave him com-
mand of thirty-six guns. It was under his express orders that the shot was
fired which instantly killed the rebel Gen. Polk. He was a natural leader,
brave, honest and intensely loyal ; but at last, at Marietta, Ga., while placing
his battery in an exposed but excellent position, he was killed instantly by a
musket ball which pierced his forehead. He died lamented by all his associates
in arms and at home, and especially by his devoted family. He had lived at
Columbia City for a number of years, having married, in July, 1857, Miss
Annie Swihart, of that place, by whom he had one child — Mary. He was a
noble-hearted man, a Mason, and came of good family, his father having been
a prominent Baptist clergyman in the East.
HENRY SNYDER, like many others, began life a poor boy, dependent
entirely upon his own business ability and industry. He inherited much me-
chanical skill from his father, and at the age of seventeen learned the furniture
and cabinet-maker's trade, which in his hands has led on to success. He came
to Columbia City in 1853, and from small beginnings his business has attained
its present proportions. It is conducted on Van Buren street, in a two-story
brick building, owned by himself, 25x147 feet. Here he has a large and finely
assorted stock of goods, and, in addition, does a general manufacturing busi-
ness. In his workshops he has an engine, planing mill and all modern ma-
chinery. In connection with this is a first-class undertaking establishment;
and his annual sales are from $12,000 to $15,000. His son, William D., is
associated with him, under the firm name of H. Snyder & Son. Henry Sny-
der was born in Cumberland County, Penn., February 23, 1828. His parents
were natives of the "Keystone State" and of German descent. Of their fam-
ily of nine children, eight are yet living. The father's trade was that of a
carpenter, but in later years he preferred farming. He moved, with his family,
to Richland County, Ohio, about 1884, and to Kosciusko County, Ind., in
COLUMBIA CITY. 271
1852, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1873.
Henry Snyder was married in Ohio, January 1, 1850, to Elizabeth K. Stough,
and they have a family of two children — Sarah J., now Mrs. Waidlich, and
William D. Mr. S. is a Republican, a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and himself
and wife are members of the Lutheran Church,
A. J. STOUFFS was born, June 10, 1831, in Belgium, Province of
Brabant, son of Anthony J. and Josephine (De Corte) Stouffs, natives of Bel-
gium and the parents of seven children, six of whom are yet living. Anthony
Stouffs was Treasurer under the Belgium Government, but resigned in 1880,
and himself and wife are yet living in their native country. A. J. Stouffs
received a good education in Europe, and was engaged in importation of silks
from Eastern countries and wholesaling in Belgium and France ; was married,
December 27, 1852, to Miss Zelia Steyls, and, on December 21, 1859, took
passage, with his family, on board the steamer "Kangaroo," bound from Lon-
don to New York, arriving in this country January 11, 1860, since which time
the West has been his home. He came to Illinois, engaged in farming and
buying wheat, and was for a time in Chicago, selling goods. In 1864, he came
to Hobart, Ind., where he was engaged, in the capacity of freight clerk, by
the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co., and in 1865 came to Columbia City in the
same capacity, where he has ever since remained. In 1867, he assisted in the
establishment of a flax mill, which was burned in 1868. He is now retired
from active labor, but assists his son, Arthur, who owns and runs a first-class
grocery store near the depot, and "lends a hand" on the home farm of 175
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Stouffs are parents of five children — Anna, Arthur,
Mary, George and Blanche. Mr. Stouffs is a Democrat and himself and wife
are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
EPHRAIM STRONG first saw the light in Chenango County, N. Y.,
May 6, 1816, and is one of a family of seven children, three yet living, born
to David and Sarah (Slater) Strong, who were natives respectively of New
York and Rhode Island. David Strong was a carpenter by trade, and died in
1826, leaving a widow and six children in limited circumstances. The widow
remained in that vicinity until her death, which occurred at the age of sixty-
seven years. Ephraim Strong's educational advantages in youth were slight,
and he was early thrown on his own resources. He remained in his native
State until 1837, when he started West and arrived in Fort Wayne October 7,
1837, where he remained until 1839, working at job work and saw-milling,
when he went to Adams County, Ind. ; on July 2, 1840, married Miss Angeline
Hill, daughter of George Hill, then living in Adams County, Ind. He re-
mained there, engaged in farming, until 1844, when he removed to Whitley
County, locating in Thorn Creek Township. In the fall of 1845, he removed
to Columbia Township, and purchased the property now comprising the County
Poor Farm, at that time entirely devoid of any improvement. Here he built a
cabin and began clearing and improving the place for a future home. He sold
272 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
this property in 1850 and removed to Columbia City, engaging in the meat
and grocery business until the death of his wife, which occurred in 1856. He
afterward purchased a farm in Thorn Creek Township, to which he removed after
his marriage, May 3, 1857, to his present Avife, Eleanor Kyler, of Kosciosko
County, and the disposal of his town property. He farmed for two years and
sold again, only to purchase on a larger scale, and in 1863 added 145 acres
more adjoining, to which he had previously added eighty acres. In 1871, he
removed to Columbia City, and in 1874 engaged in mercantile business, which
he has since followed, and by his own persistent and unaided efforts has ac-
quired a competence. He is the father of ten children, five by each wife,
seven yet living. One son (Aaron) served through the war in the Seventeenth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are both members of the
Universalist Church.
HON. H. SWIHART has for nearly half a century been identified with
the progress and development of Whitley County. He is a native of Mont-
gomery County, Ohio, where he was born in 1807. His parents, Adam and
Catherine (Shidler) Swihart, were natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of
Montgomery County, Ohio, where they settled in 1804 ; in 1828, they removed
to Preble County, Ohio, where the remainder of their days was passed. Our
subject is the fourth child of a family of eight, and in his youth and early man-
hood was familiar with the pioneer life of Ohio. In 1831, he was united in
marriage with Dorothy Ulrich, a native of Pennsylvania; this marriage occurred
in the same house where our subject was born, being at the time the property
of his wife's father. From this period until 1835, Mr. Swihart engaged at
farming and conducting a saw-mill. He then emigrated to Indiana, settling,
in 1836, upon eighty acres of land which he entered in Cleveland Township in
1835, his family consisting of wife and two children — Catherine and Anna.
For five years following, he was employed in clearing up land, etc., to earn a
livelihood. In the spring of 1841, he removed to Columbia City and engaged
for about four years in erecting saw and grist mills. He then embarked in
the mercantile business, at which he continued over ten years, during the latter
portion in association with John M. Willett, and again with Daniel Halteman.
About this time he was elected a Director of the railroad then in course of con-
struction between Fort Wayne and Chicago, and for about five years engaged
at contracting upon its construction. In 1859, he was elected County Recorder,
serving four years. He also, in 1859, embarked in the lumber business, which
he followed until 1876, when he retired from active labors. From 1845 until
1848, Mr. Swihart was an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court, resigning
before the expiration of his term. In 1848, he was elected upon the Repub-
lican ticket to represent his district in the State Legislature, the district at this
period usually giving about five hundred Democratic majority; he served in
this office two terms. Mr. Swihart has served in several minor offices of trust,
among which we mention as Justice of the Peace three years, and as the agent
COLUMBIA CITY. 273
for the county and Elihu ChauDcey for the sale of lots in Columbia City. He
has always advanced, as far as able, measures of enterprise and progress ; has
aided liberally all good works, and has aided materially in furnishing historical
matter for this work. His wife died in 1855; four children are now living —
Mrs. Catherine Scantling, Anna M. Thiele, Elizabeth Tharp, and Isaac, a
farmer of Etna Township; the last was a member of the Fifth Indiana Battery,
and served over three years. Two sons died in the service — Adam, a Lieu-
tenant in the One Hundreth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in service over two
years, died at home from eifects of service, and Gabriel of the Fifth Indiana
Battery. The latter enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
spent six months in service, and six months in Southern prisons, then joined
the Fifth Indiana Battery and was killed in 1864 near New Hope Church,
Georgia.
FRANCIS TULLEY, one of the oldest settlers of Whitley County, Ind.,
and a present resident of Columbia City, was born April 3, 1810, in Ross
County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. He was of a family of eight chil-
dren, but two yet living, born to Francis and Elizabeth (Wayland) Tulley, who
were natives of Virginia, and were of English and German descent. Francis
Tulley's early years were spent on his parents' farm, his educational advan-
tages being necessarily limited. He was married, February 26, 1838, to Miss
Mary E. Nickey, who was born in Augusta County, Va., July 12, 1812, and
was one of eleven children, five yet living. Her parents were Samuel and
Catharine (Bolsley) Nickey, and were of German descent. After the death of
the father in Virginia, the mother, with the remainder of the family, removed
to Ross County, Ohio, in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Tulley emigrated to Indiana
in 1834, locating in Smith Township, Whitley County, which, at that time was
an almost unbroken wilderness. Here they built a log cabin, set up their house-
hold gods and began to battle with the rude forces of nature around them, un-
dergoing all the privations and toil incident to pioneer life. Here their chil-
dren were born, four in number — Rosanna (now Mrs. John Krider), William
A., a gunsmith ; Cyrus B., an attorney, all residents of Columbia City, and
Wesley C, of Smith Township. In June, 1872, the parents left the old home,
in which they had encountered life's joys and sorrows and had amassed an am-
ple competence by their labors, and came to Columbia City, where they have
since lived quiet, retired lives, loved and esteemed by all. Mr. Tulley is a
Democrat, and himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church.
WILLIAM A. TULLEY was born on the old Tulley homestead, in Smith
Township, November 24, 1836, receiving the advantages of the common schools
of that day. He engaged in teaching and working on the home farm until his
marriage with Miss Eliza J. Reed, which took place February 12, 1859. Mrs.
Tulley died June 10, 1863, leaving one daughter — Elnora E. Previous to the
death of his wife, Mr. Tulley began learning ambrotyping and photography,
but relinquished that project and returned to the farm, where he remained until
274 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
his marriage with his present wife, Mrs. Allie (Bodley) Spear, daughter of Capt.
J. Bodley and widow of James Spear. This occurred October 18, 1870, and
one child was born to this union — William B. In 1873, Mr. Tulley went to
Clark County, Wis., where he learned the gunsmith's trade, which he has since
followed. In April, 1877, he located in Columbia City, where he does a good
business, carrying a fine stock of everything in his line, and making a success
of the undertaking. He owns town property in Churubusco, besides eighty
acres in Smith Township. Mr, Tulley is a Democrat, and Mrs. Tulley is a
member of the Methodist persuasion.
CYRUS B. TULLEY was born in Smith Township, Whitley County,
Ind., August 18, 1839. Spent his youth on the old homestead, availing him-
self of the best advantages the schools of that day oifered. He was married,
October 25, 1859, to Fannie W. Krider, and afterward engaged in farming
and teaching until he came to Columbia City in 1865 and began the study of
law, and engaged in surveying. In the spring of 1866, he was elected Town
Clerk, and the year following was elected one of the Town Trustees. In the
fall of 1867, he was elected County Surveyor, in 1871, City Marshal, and, in
the fall of 1872, was elected to the State Legislature, serving in the regular
and special sessions of 1872-73. In 1875, he was again elected Town
Trustee, and in 1878 was re-elected to the Legislature, serving in the regular
and special sessions of 1879. Mr. Tulley was admitted to the bar of Whitley
County in 1869, and has made the practice of law his profession. He is at
present acting Justice of the Peace and strictly Democratic in politics, while
Mrs. Tulley is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. T. owns twenty
acres of land in Union Township, besides a large number of town lots in Colum-
bia City, and one-fourth of the Central Building block in which his office
is located. Himself and wife are the parents of two daughters — Abie and
Rose.
R. TUTTLE, one of the old settlers of Whitley County, was born in New
York in 1816, and was the son of Wolcott and Polly (Sanford) Tuttle, also na-
tives of that State. The mother died in New York, and in 1830 the father
came West, locating on a farm in Sandusky County, Ohio. On this farm our
subject was reared till 1837, when he came with his brother Horace to La
Grange County, this State, and two years later removed to this county and
erected a cabin on some wild land in this township, which they cleared up and
worked for ten years. They then came to Columbia City and engaged in mer-
cantile business and in running a hotel, which latter they continued till 1860,
when they were burned out ; and the mercantile firm was continued till 1863,
when Horace died. Since then our subject has been engaged in the boot and
shoe trade — now in connection with a nephew, C. W. Tuttle. In 1881, our
subject bought the Columbia City Flouring Mill, which he operates also in con-
nection with C. W. Tuttle. Mr. R. Tuttle has served as Township Trustee,
and also several terms in the City Council ; he has done much toward the ad-
COLUMBIA CITY. 275'
vancement of the county and town, has always been identified with every move-
ment looking toward public improvement, and is one of Columbia's most res-
pected citizens.
C. W. TUTTLE is a son of Horace and Letitia (Caldwell) Tuttle, of New-
York. The father was an early settler in Whitley County, coming here in
1839 with his brother Ranson, and assisting in promoting the farming and
mercantile interests of Columbia City and township. He died in 1863, and
his wife in November, 1862. They were the parents of six children, five of
whom are still living, viz.: Randolph, in the West; our subject; Margaret E.
Lavey, of Huntington ; Franklin P., in Colorado, and Laura M. The sixth,
William S., died in Texas, aged twenty-seven years. Our subject is a native
of Columbia Township, and has been engaged in mercantile pursuits all his life.
He is now connected with his uncle, Ranson, in the boot and shoe trade, and
in managing the Columbia City Flouring Mills. The mill has a capacity of
five run of stone, and is well and favorably known throughout the country. Mr.
Tuttle enlisted August, 1862, in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and took part in the battle at Perry ville, Ky. He married Miss Allie
B. Nesler in December, 1869, and is the father of two children — Ranson E.
and Laura B. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and is looked upon as one of the
most promising young business men of Whitley County.
CHRISTIAN D. WAIDLICH was born in Wurtemberg, Germany,
December 12, 1824, and is one of twelve children born to John D. and Mary
Waidlich, who lived and died in Germany. The father was a very prominent
and highly educated man, for many years in the employ of the German gov-
ernment as professor in educational matters, respected and esteemed by all.
He died in 1854 or 1855, and his widow died in 1862. Both were devoted
members of the Lutheran Church. Christian D. is the third son of his par-
ents ; was educated and learned the cabinet-maker's trade in his native coun-
try. His eldest brother, a blacksmith, came to America in 1840, and wrote
home such glowing descriptions of the country that Christian and his brother
were induced to emigrate in the spring of 1842, being thirty-six days on the
ocean. They landed in New York, and from there went to Franklin County,
Penn., where Christian engaged in carpentering until 1845, when he decided to
go West, and located in Columbia City, where he worked at his trade until
1856, when he entered into a partnership in the dry goods and grocery busi-
ness; he has since his arrival been actively identified with the business interests
of the city, and from a penniless boy has raised himself to a position of influ-
ence and wealth ; at present he is a stock-owner of the Eel River Woolen
Mills, of which corporation he is Vice President. Since the war, Mr. Waid-
lich has been a Republican, and has filled the oflfice of Town Trustee at differ-
ent times. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., also the 0. F. Encampment.
He was married in 1847 to Ann Moore. In the summer of 1852, she passed
away, leaving two children — William H. (deceased) and Mary E., now Mrs.
276 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Harley. Mr. Waidlich was again married, in 1854, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Myers)
Bixby, who is yet living. Both Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Luther-
an Church.
DR. WILLIAM WEBER, son of Michael and Anna (Falter) Weber, was
born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, June 16, 1839. Together with his parents,
he emigrated to America in 1840, and, after a voyage of sixty days, arrived in
New York, and from there proceeded to Seneca County, Ohio, where Mrs.
Weber's relatives lived, removing from there to Huntington County, Ind., where
the parents engaged in farming, and where Mr. Weber yet lives. Mrs. Weber
died of cholera in 1853. Mr. W. has since married Barbara Smith, a widow
lady, who is yet living. Dr. William Weber is one of eleven children, seven of
whom are living ; was reared on a farm, and received a good common school
and seminary education, graduating from Bryant & Stratton's Mercantile Col-
lege in November, 1865. He engaged in teaching until 1867, when he began
the study of medicine under Dr. W. B. Lyons, of Huntington, where he remained
three years. He attended a course of medical lectures at the Winona Medical
College at Cincinnati in 1867-68. He graduated from the Detroit Medical
College in 1869, and from Winona Medical College in 1871. He then located
in Columbia City, where he has since been a successful practitioner in his pro-
fession. In May, 1875, he was married to Mary E. Myers, who is the mother
of four children — Flora E. (deceased), Edward A., Floyd W. and Levi R. The
parents are members of the Lutheran faith, and the Doctor is Democratic in pol-
itics, and a member of the Town Board of Trustees, and an eminently success-
ful and highly respected citizen.
J. C.^WIGENT was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., March 21, 1840.
His father, Urial Wigent, a farmer, married Ruhannah Clark in New York,
and moved to DeKalb County, Ind., in 1845, and from there to Union Town-
ship, Whitley County, where he was killed by an accident in 1874. His widow
is yet a resident of Union Township. They were parents of nine children, five
of whom are still living, the subject of our sketch being the third child. He
lived on the farm of his parents until twenty-one years of age. In October,
1861, he enlisted in the Fifth Battery, Indiana Volunteers, commanded by
Capt. Simonson. He was mustered into service some time after, and soon
went to the front, participating in the battles of Champion Hill, Murfreesboro,
Stone River, Chickamauga, and in all the engagements and skirmishes of the
Atlanta campaign, including Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, etc. Mr.
Wigent was honorably discharged at the close of the war as a non-commissioned
officer. He returned to Whitley County after the war, and engaged in farming
for more than a year. He then spent a few months in the West ; returned to
Indiana and engaged in the grocery business at Fort Wayne. In 1873, he
moved to Coesse and, while there, was elected County Recorder of Whitley
County, on the "People's Ticket," serving until 1878; then engaged in the
abstract business. Mr. Wigent possesses the only set of abstract books in the
COLUMBIA CITY. 277
county, and, besides looking up titles to property, practices law when it con-
nects with his business. He is a Republican, and a member of the A., F.
& A. M. He was married, October 22, 1868, to Miss Ida M. Spore, at Nor-
walk, Ohio. Of four children born to them, there are now living Roy W.,
Warren R. and Claud U.
J. G. WILLIAMS, banker, is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, his
birth occurring May- 17, 1832. He is one of four children born to Elijah and
Margery (Place) Williams, who were natives, respectively, of Virginia and New
York, and of Irish and Welsh descent. Elijah Williams was a tanner by
trade, but in connection with that followed farming. He died in 1857, pre-
ceded by his wife in 1852. Both were honored and esteemed members of the
Baptist Church. J. G. Williams was raised and educated in his native county,
and for two years preceding his removal to Indiana was engaged in clerking
for Adam Wolfe. In December, 1854, he came to Columbia City, and entered
the employ of Wolfe & Foust, both of whom are his present partners. The
greater part of the following fifteen years he was in the employ of Mr. Wolfe,
in different parts of Ohio and Indiana, engaged in banking and merchandising.
A part of this time, he, on his own responsibility, was a member of a banking
firm in Muncie, Ind., and for six years was engaged in the produce trade at
Blufi"ton, Wells Co. The fall of 1875, he removed to Columbia City, and
became a partner in the Columbia City Bank, under the firm name of F. H.
Foust & Co., and he has remained here engaged in banking ever since. While
a partner in the bank of Muncie in 1867, Mr. Williams was called to Columbia
City in the interests of his old employers, and during his absence, his partner,
like many others before and since, engaged in grain speculation to such an
extent as to compromise the honor of the bank and cause its failure. Mr.
Williams could, in all honor to himself, have taken advantage of the bankrupt
law then in force, and thus have saved a great many hundred dollars. Instead,
however, he assumed his share of the debts, besides losing his capital, and,
with honor to himself and fidelity to his creditors, has since been gradually
paying ofi" the obligations. By shrewd business management and hard labor,
he has done this, besides securing a solid financial position in the bank of which
he is now a member. Mr. Williams was married in December, 1854, in Eaton,
Preble Co., Ohio, to Miss Josephine Bruce. He is a Republican in political
principle, and a member of the I. 0. 0. F., also the 0. F. Encampment.
278 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP.
EDWARD B. BEESON was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Octo-
ber 28, 1837, and was the eldest of four children born to Henry B. and Cath-
arine Beeson, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Germany, and both
died when our subject was but seven years of age, who was then bound out till
he was fourteen. He came to Columbia City in 1856, and here learned the
blacksmith trade under B. F. Beeson. After serving his apprenticeship, he
read law for two years under Myers & Cotton, and afterward with James S.
Collins. April 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, then called the Whitley County Volunteers. He was in
the battles of Chickamauga, Shiloh, and many others, and was mustered out
August 28, 1865. February 22, 1866, he married Miss Miranda Compton,
of Muskingum County, Ohio, but a resident of Whitley. They are members
of the Church of God, and also of the Patrons of Husbandry, of which latter
Mr. Beeson is the Deputy for this county.
HERMAN H. BEESON, son of William and Hannah (Hamby) Beeson, was
born in Stark County, Ohio, September 25, 1831. In 1843, his parents came
to Columbia City, then a town of but five houses, and here his father engaged
in farming until 1845, when he was taken ill and died. Our subject was then
apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, at which he served three years, and then
he went into the employ of the New York & Erie Railway Company, and on
this and other roads was engaged for twenty-eight years, and then retired to his
faf m in this township in 1877. He was married, February 20, 1855, to Lucinda
Foight, and has had a family of eleven children, as follows: Samuel, Elizabeth
E., Benjamin F., Eliza B., Frances M., Lucinda B., Satiah P., Henry H.,
John W., Heber A. and Lydia L., of whom six are still living.
JOHN BRAND was born March 13, 1822, in the village of Steinbach,
Bavaria, and is one of four children born to Peter and Jacobina (Roderstein)
Brand. The father was a shepherd in Germany, and the mother of good fam-
ily, many of her relatives holding high offices under the empire, and she was
disinherited for marrying Mr. Brand. They came to America in 1831, lived
five years at various points in Pennsylvania, and then settled in Ohio. In
early life, our subject worked on a canal, and later on a farm for several years.
He then turned to brick-making in summers and brewery work in winter, and
so continued till 1851, when he married Mary A. Loudensleger. In October,
1858, he came to Columbia City, and now owns the largest brick-kiln in the
county, and in 1881 made 1,200,000 brick, all of which were disposed of in
the county. He has a family of eight children, viz.: Catharine, John W.,
George F., Laura A., Clara L., Alma E., Charles C. and Maud Q. John and
George are engaged in the drug business at Churubusco. Mr. Brand is a Free-
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP. 279
mason and an Odd Fellow, and has held several offices in each fraternity, and
Mrs. Brand is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DAVID BROWN was born near Canton, Stark County, Ohio, March 27,
1817, the son of David and Sarah (Brothers) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania.
Our subject moved to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1839, where he resided three
years, and then came to this township, and for a number of years worked at
wood-chopping, rail-splitting and land- clearing, and thinks he has cleared at
least 300 acres. Previous to moving in, he had bought forty acres, a part of
what is now the Poor House Farm. About 1852, he disposed of this and
bought the 100-acre farm he now occupies. His early neighbors were red men,
of whom there were about 700 in the county. May 28, 1839, he was married
to May Cook, of Stark County, Ohio, and to their union have been born nine
children, viz.: Andrew J., John C, Joseph, William H., David, Catharine,
Harriet, Melinda and Hannah. The second son, John C, enlisted in the
Seventy-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infa ntry ; was in a number of
engagements, and was killed at the battle of Mission Ridge, while trying to
capture a confederate flag.
DANIEL D. BROWN, born in Stark County, Ohio, February 12, 1824,
is one of twenty-one children born to Daniel and Elizabeth (Houser) Brown,
nine of whom are still living. At the age of nineteen, our subject began life
for himself He had lived in Hancock and Williams Counties, Ohio, prior to
1853, when he came to this township and purchased a farm northwest of Co-
lumbia City, which he improved to a considerable extent, disposed of and then
bought 195 acres south of the town, where he is engaged in farming and in
conducting a dairy. In 1848, he married Rebecca Brenner, who came from
Germany at the age of three years, and resided in Hancock County, Ohio.
They have a family of eight children, as follows : Levi, Harriet (married and
living in Sumner County, Kan.), Alvin (married and living in Whitley
County), Peter, Emma J., Ellen, John and Louis.
JOSEPH COOK, son of Henry and Catharine Cook, was born in Canton,
Stark Co., Ohio, April 18, 1819. Mr. Cook came to Whitley County in the
spring of 1845, and arrived here with only $5 in cash, and that unpassable. He
began as a day-laborer, working for his neighbors at clearing land, chopping wood
and splitting rails. He thinks, " without a doubt," he has " cleared at least
one hundred acres of land." His best day's wood-chopping was six cords, for
which he received 75 cents ; best day's rail-splitting, 730. Previous to his
moving here permanently, he had entered forty acres Government land, and
in 1850, purchased the farm on which he now lives, which he has all cleared
and put under cultivation. In 1844, he married Harriet Bronson, and they
have five children — Winfield S., Victor E., Eliza I., Anna and Clara. The
eldest, Winfield S., is also a farmer. ' '
C. H. CREAGER, one of the first settlers of Whitley County, was bS'^'-
in Montgomery County, Ohio, August 16, 1821. His parents came to the
280 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
county in 1836, when the roads were mere Indian trails and almost impassable
from mud. On their way to this point, the Creagers were obliged to abandon
one wagon in the north part of Huntington County, and our subject, in seek-
ing for help, lost his way in the woods and spent his first night in this county in
the open air, without even a fire, and with two inches of snow on the ground.
Mr. Creager first settled in Cleveland Township, and for fifteen years worked
out, and then bought a farm for himself which he worked, and ran a saw-mill
at the same time. In 1860, he was elected County Commissioner, and re-
elected in 1863, being the only candidate elected on the Democratic ticket. In
1840, he married Susanna Obenchain, who bore him seven children, and
died in 1862. In 1863, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Melter, and to this union
have been born four children, viz.: Joseph I., Oscar B., Angeline and
Armenta.
LEWIS C. DO WELL was born in Holmes County, Ohio, July 3, 1838,
and is one of a family of ten children born to Lewis and Christina (Long)
Dowell, eight of whom are still living. His father was born in Virginia, and
his mother in Maryland. Our subject received a medium common school edu-
cation, and remained with his parents till he reached his majority, when he
turned his attention to the carpenter's trade, which he soon abandoned and
went to farming. His parents came to this township December 25, 1850, and
purchased a farm of 120 acres, of which his father cleared about 100 acres and
then disposed of it, and, in 1861, he and his father purchased the farm on
which he now resides. He was married August 4, 1863, to Miss Mary Brown,
of Noble County, and to their union have been born six children, named as fol-
lows — Phoebe J., Jacob L., Martha I., Elzadie, Chai'les A. and Warren E.
Mr. Dowell is a member of the Church of God, northwest of Columbia City.
W. H. DUNFEE was born in Adams County., Penn., April 10, 1822.
He is a cabinet-maker, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1831, and with
them lived till 1845, when he came to Fort Wayne, and worked at his trade
till the spring of 1847, when he came to and settled in Columbia City. In
1854, he was elected Sheriff" of Whitley County as a Democrat, and re-elected
in 1856. He had previously been chosen County Assessor, and afterward
served two terms as Township Assessor, when he retired to private life. When
Mr. Dunfee came to the county Columbia City was little else than a cross-road
settlement, and the surrounding country a vast body of woods. March 5, 1848,
he married Catherine Jones, of Columbia City, and to them have been born
eight children, four of whom are living. They were respectively named as fol-
lows : Laura V., Sophia E., Henrietta R., William J., Albert E., Harry H.
and Flora C.
GEORGE EBERARD, Sr., a Whitley County pioneer, was born in
Huntingdon County, Penn., September 15, 1806. His father, a farmer, emi-
grated to Stark County, Ohio, in 1820, and our subject worked on the home
farm until twenty-four years old. April 14, 1829, he married Catharine Sny-
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP. 281
der, of Stark, who died February 22, 1870, in the sixty-fourth year of her age,
and of her marriage life the forty-second. July 23, 1872, he married Mary C.
Killian, his present wife. After his first marriage he carried on a distillery for
sixteen years. In 1852, he came to Whitley, and at that time and subse-
quently purchased 2,300 acres of land, 1,500 of which he has divided among
his children. He was always an industrious man, and accumulated his wealth
by hard work, stock-raising and good management, and is now retired to enjoy
the fruits of his labor. By his first wife he was the father of eight children,
six still living and married, viz, : Annie, Harry, John, George, Elizabeth and
Catharine. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and has, in his time,
built two church edifices, one in Ohio and one in Whitley, contributing one-
seventh of the money for the same, and has also donated the land for what is
known as the Eberhard Graveyard.
JOHN EBERHARD, son of George Eberhard, Sr., was born in Stark
County, Ohio, November 7, 1832. He has a farm of 440 acres, and is engaged
also in rearing, buying and selling live stock. He is very fairly educated,
though a considerable part of his schooling was obtained at the log schoolhouses
of his early days. He came with his parents to Whitley County in 1852, and
the greater part of his life has been spent in hard work, clearing land, etc.
He was married September 22, 1857, to Catharine Markel, a native of Ger-
many, who died January 26, 1867, leaving four children, named Josiah, Henry,
John J. and Lavinia. He was married to his present wife, Elizabeth Brown,
of Whitley County, August 16, 1838, and by this union has had born to him
a family of three children, viz. : Minnie L., Sarah A. and Mandila. Mr.
Eberhard, like the other members of his father's family, belongs to the Reformed
Church.
GEORGE EBERHARD, Jr., was born in Lake Township, Stark County,
Ohio, September 7, 1834, and is a son of George Eberhard, Sr. ; is a farmer
and stock-raiser, as was his father, and came to this township with his parents
in 1852, where he now owns three farms, comprising 384 acres. He has also
been engaged in steam threshing, and in 1863 had the misfortune to lose an
arm while occupied at that business, but still keeps a machine and does his
own threshing and that of some of his neighbors, yet does not make it a busi-
ness. He was married, October 7, 1855, to Barbara Nible, and to this union
have been born eleven children, viz. : Eli, Catharine, Franklin, George,
Fanny, Daniel, Ellen, Mary A., Melissa A., Laura and Barbara. Of these,
Eli and Catharine are married and reside in Whitley County. Our subject and
wife are members of the Reformed Church.
CHRISTIAN KOURT was born in Switzerland January 13, 1829.
His parents. Christian and Susanna Kourt, came to America and settled in
Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1833, where they died in 1855. Our subject's
education was quite limited, his whole schooling consisting of twenty-one and
a half days. He began working for himself at the age of twenty-four, and fol-
282 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
lowed farming. In 1836, he came to W^hitley County, and now has a farm of
115 acres in this township. He was married to Mary A. Fridiger, of Licking
County, Ohio, March 24, 1854, and has had a family of nine children, named
as follows : Elizabeth, John, Christian, Mary and Sarah (twins), Caroline,
Henry, Ida and Julia A. The eldest of these, Elizabeth, is married and resides
in Whitley County. Our subject and wife are members of the German Re-
formed Church.
WILLIAM M. HUGHES, youngest child of Charles W. and Mary
(Rivers) Hughes, was born in Columbia City February 10, 1850. His
parents were natives of Virginia and came to this county in 1842. His
father was a farmer by occupation, but in 1844 was appointed Auditor of
Whitley County, and served nine months in that office. A short time after, he
was chosen Probate Judge, and held that office for three years. In 1847, he
was elected Treasurer of Whitley County, and held the office for three years.
After a short retirement he was again called to the office, and in 1856 was
elected Recorder. After the expiration of his office, he withdrew from public
life, and engaged for a short time in dealing in stock. He was competent to
fill any office and always ready to assist the needy. He died January 26,
1864, after a long and useful life. William M. Hughes, our subject, is a
farmer and is owner of 248 acres of finely cultivated land. He was married,
March 23, 1871, to Jennie C. Yountz, and has a family of three children,
viz.: Charles W., Virginia and Mary.
ELIAKIM MOSHER, one of the earliest settlers of Whitley County,
was born in Oswego County, N. Y., August 29, 1830, and was one of a family
of six children born to Benona and Cynthia (Pierce) Mosher, who came here
in 1841, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides. The father
hewed into the forest, erected a log house and moved in March 3, 1841, and
began clearing the farm. The nearest neighbors were Indians, but they proved
themselves friendly and were a great help to the family. Our subject well
remembers the removal of the Indians from the county and many incidents
connected with them prior to that time. His father died when he was fourteen
years of age, and in consequence he did not receive a very good educa-
tion, and yet, although a farmer, he can turn his hand to various employments.
His farm comprises 160 acres, of which 100 are under cultivation. December
25, 1852, he married Catharine Mowrey, who died January 19, 1870, leaving
a family of eight children, viz., Adam B., Francis S., Charlie F., Michael H.,
Clara J., Abram H., Julia A. and Clarinda. November 21, 1871, our subject
married his present wife, Mrs. Rhua Grimes. He is a member of the Method-
ist Church of Columbia City.
SANFORD T. MOSHER was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Novem-
ber 5, 1827, and was one of eight children born to Peter and Mary (Birch)
Mosher, five of whom are still living. Our subject was fairly educated, and
came with his parents to this county in October, 1840, and settled on forty
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP. 283
acres in the northwest corner of this township, then one vast forest, and set to
work to clear a farm. The father traded this land for the farm on which our
subject now resides, taking possession in 1846, and they have succeeded in
bringing it all under cultivation. In those days, our subject was a great
hunter, and numberless deer have fallen before his rifle, and even now he is
not averse to a hunt. In November, 1847, he married Lucy A. Helms, and by
her had a family of ten children, nine of whom are yet living, and named as
follows: Aurelia E., Mary A., Lyman C, Hiram L., Charles B., Alzada M.
(deceased), William J., Eugene E., Rosanna D. and Phoebe L. Of these six
are married, and all live in Columbia Township.
WILLIAM PLUMMER was born in Rutherford County, N. C, April
5, 1805, one of six children born to Joseph and Sarah Plummer. At the age
of twenty-one, our subject came West and went to boating, running between
Terre Haute and New Orleans. He came to Whitley County in 1832, entered
eighty acres Government land, made Union Township his home from 1838 to
1850, and then sold out and purchased his present farm in this township, now
all under cultivation. In January, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifth Indiana
Battery of Light Artillery, and took part in the battle of Perry ville, Ky.,
Stone River, Tenn., and many other engagements. In the Stone River fight,
he was wounded ; was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, sent to Wash-
ington, and served there until his discharge, January 31, 1865. When Mr.
Plummer came to Indiana, Columbia City was unthought of; there was not a
white inhabitant in Jefferson Township, and the country was filled with Indians.
October 15, 1835, he married Miss Sarah Crowel, of Preble County, Ohio, by
whom he had seven children, five of whom are now living. They were named '
as follows: Michael C, Joseph E., Mary E., Jacob W., Sarah J., William C.
and David L. Michael, Joseph and Jacob were soldiers in the late war. Jacob,
with whom our subject now lives, served from 1862 to 1865, and was at Chick-
amauga — where he was wounded — at Mission Ridge, and with Sherman on
his march to the sea. He was also wounded while on a guerrilla expedition.
After the war, he spent six years in the West and then returned to his home.
September 26, 1879, he married Caroline Londt, and he has been a resident of
the county for nearly forty years.
GEORGE ROBERTS was born in Holmes County, Ohio, February 12,
1823, and is the youngest of five children, four living, born to William and
Ruth (Tribey) Roberts, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Ohio at an early
day. Our subject is a tanner and worked at that business until he came to
Whitley County in 1854, when he located on what is now the Poor House
Farm, in this township, and resided there two years and then spent the seven
years following in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, when he returned to Whitley
and purchased the 160-acre farm he now resides upon. In 1845, he married
Elizabeth Poulson, of Holmes County, Ohio, and they have now a family of
four children, namely, Nathan, Mary E., Amanda and Sarah J. Mr. Roberts,
284 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
by hard work and the exercise of sound judgment, has acquired a good farm
and a fine brick house. He and wife have been members of the Methodist
Church forty-two years, and their children are married, excepting the youngest,
and all reside in Whitley County.
WILLIAM KOUCH, son of Samuel and Louisa (Hamer) Rouch, was born
in Wayne County, Ohio, January 25, 1840. His father is a native of Penn-
sylvania, and his mother of Germany, and they came to this township in 1854,
and settled on the farm the father still occupies. Our subject is also a farmer,
and owns a fine farm on the banks of Eel River. March 5, 1863, he married
Jerusha Page, and they had three children, as follows : William E., born April
8, 1864 ; Howard G., born August 12, 1868 ; Louisa M., born December 12^
1869. Mrs. Rouch died in 1872, and in 1880 he married Martha Churchill,
and to this union has been born one child — Samuel Merritt.
J. M. SHERWOOD was born in Wythe County, Va., May 29, 1829, the
second child of Benjamin and Catharine (Williams) Sherwood, and was taken
by his parents to Morrow County, Ohio, in 1831, where his father died in 1834.
Our subject, James M. Sherwood, came to Columbia City in 1850, and worked
for F. H, Foust for three years, and then went to farming and butchering till
1859, when he moved to the farm he now occupies, on which there was only a
small clearing west of his house for a garden patch, the balance being unbroken
forest ; but by industry, he has succeeded in clearing nearly all, and has now
a splendid farm. He was married, April 21, 1853, to Mary E. Jones, of Colum-
bia City, and they have a family of four children, viz., Jane V., Hugh M.,
Florence M. A. and Josephine M.
JOHN B. STERLING was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 23, 1828,
and was one of seven children born to James and Mary (Battey) Sterling, four
of whom are yet living. The father was a farmer, and also ran a saw-mill.
Our subject had no advantages for an early education, his boyhood being occu-
pied at work at home. In 1849, he began life for himself, and arrived at this
point with but 65 cents in his pocket. He began work with a brother in a saw-
mill on Eel River; remained there over a year, and then, in 1852, moved to
the place he now occupies, and has lived here ever since. In February, 1851,
he married Sarah J. Wantz, of this county, who died in May, 1853, leaving two
children — John and Mary J., both now dead. In 1857, he married Barbara
Brenneman, who died September 22, 1862, leaving one son — Abraham F.,
now in California. He was married to his present wife (Eliza Stoner) in 1867^
and by her has had two children — Ida E. and Cora B. Mr. Sterling is an Odd
Fellow, and also a granger.
WILLIAM TANNEHILL was born in Knox County, Ohio, Feb. 25,
1825, the son of William and Eleanor (McMullen) Tannehill, natives respectively
of Scotland and Ireland. They came to Knox County in 1820, and settled on
a farm in Brown Township, remaining there till 1838. They had eleven chil-
dren, five boys and six girls, of whom two girls and one boy have died. The
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP. 285
mother also died in 1846, and the father February 16, 1878. The latter had
been Constable for a number of years, was of a jovial disposition, and was well
liked throughout his township. William, Jr., lived with his father till of age,
1846, and then sought work about the county, on his own account, till about
1848, when he came to Whitley County, Union Township, and remained here
till 1852, then went to Fulton County, Ohio, for one year, thence to Williams
County, where he remained till 1861, clearing and farming. In 1850, he
there married Miss Mary Jane SmoUey, who bore him eight children, but who
died October 14, 1874. May 9, 1876, Mr. Tannehill married Miss Annie
Sherick, whose parents were natives of Germany. May 10, 1876, he returned
to Columbia Township, this county. He redeemed sixty- two acres of land
from what was then a wilderness, and put it in good farming order. He was
elected County Commissioner in 1878, and re-elected in 1880, and still fills the
position to the satisfaction of his constituents. By his present wife he is the
father of three sons, all living. He is a thriving farmer, prominent in his
township, and, in politics, is a Democrat.
TOBIAS WAGNER, a pioneer of Whitley County, was born in Penn-
sylvania April 28, 1816, and is one of a family of eight children born to Peter
and Margaret (Betts) Wagner. His parents moved to Seneca County, Ohio, when
he was about twelve years of age, and there he remained till October, 1841,
when he came to Whitley. He received a good common-school education,
which he has improved by his own efforts. He settled first in Richland Town-
ship, and farmed four years ; then bought a farm east of Columbia City, where
he resided, with the exception of a few months in Wisconsin, till 1879. He
now lives in Columbia, and still does some farming, owning about 315 acres of
land. He married during his residence in Ohio, Elizabeth Bosler, January 14,
1838. She died in October, 1860, leaving six children — Mary A., Milton D.,
Laura, John P. (deceased), Julia and Elizabeth ; all married except the
youngest. In September, 1861, he married Rachel Beeson, and to this union
were born seven children, three of whom still survive — Jesse Tobias, Sadie B.
and Heber B.
JOHN WOLFE was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 1, 1834, and is
one of a family of ten children born to Daniel and Catharine Wolfe, five of
whom are still living. Mr. Wolfe has a good common-school education. He
came to Whitley County in 1858, and settled in this township, where he is
engaged in stock-raising as well as farming his tract of 308 acres. Previous to
coming to this township, he had worked at his trade of carpenter. August 11,
1858, he was married to Catharine Eberhart, also of Stark County, Ohio, but
at the time of her marriage a resident of Whitley. To their union have been
born a family of seven children, named as follows : Andrew J., Catharine A.,
Henry, John, Eli, Benjamin F. and Elizabeth. Mr. Wolfe and wife are con-
sistent members of the Reformed Church.
J. W. WYNKOOP was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 23, 1826,
286 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and was the second of a family of five children born to Garrett and Elizabeth
(Ryerson) Wynkoop. His father by trade was a cabinet-maker, at which
business our subject has worked also and has, besides, learned painting. He
received a good common-school education, and worked at home with his father,
at painting, till he was twenty-six years of age, when, in 1861, he was married
to Nancy A. Prichard, of Stark County, Ohio, but at the time of her marriage
a resident of Whitley County, Ind. He came to this township in 1852, and
settled on his present farm. Here his wife died in 1862. His farm consists
of eighty acres, which he still continues to work. He joined the Masonic
order just after reaching his majority, and is still a member in good standing.
He has an only son, named Cassius E.
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP.
ARNOLD FAMILY.— This well known family is of English descent,
and settled in North Carolina during the last century, but some time later
moved to South Carolina and, early in the present century, to Ohio. The head
of the family was Moses Arnold, who located in Warren County, Ohio. His
family was large, one of the sons being William, who, in the course of his life,
had a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom reached maturity. William,
at the close of the war of 1812, and while yet a young, though married, man,
settled near Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio. Here he followed farming and stock-
raising, and by industry made himself a good home. George, John, William,
Jesse, Henry H., Isaac N. and a sister, Maria (Arnold) Hopkins, were children
of William. George came to this county in 1842, settling four miles east of
South Whitley. Four years later, John came and settled near his^ brother
George. Jesse came in 1852, and the other members of the family followed
him. arriving at intervals. James lives in Blackford County, and is a prom-
inent citizen there. John and William are dead. George lives at Bluffton,
Ind., is a capitalist and is Postmaster of that town. Isaac and Henry H. live
at Huntington, Ind., and are prominent citizens. Jesse lives in North Man-
chester, Wabash Co., Ind., as does also his sister Maria, whose husband, S. V.
Hopkins, is editor of the North Manchester Journal.
John Arnold was born near Greenville, Ohio, in November, 1820,
and was a school-teacher in early life, but soon after reaching his miajority was
given $500 in land in Cleveland Township by his father. He lived for some
time on this farm, but then removed to South Whitley. His first wife, Ann-
janette Folger, bore him three children — Augusta, John and Wilson. His
second wife, Mrs. Elmira Thomson, to whom he was married in 1857, bore
him four children — Eva, James, William and Ruskin. In 1851, a subscription
was started to obtain means to induce some one to build a flouring-mill at South
Whitley. The Arnold brothers took the matter in hand, built the saw-mill in
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 287
1852 and the grist-mill in 1853 ; and, about the same time, John and several
of his brothers began merchandising in South Whitley. Their various inter-
ests there became so extensive that it was found necessary eventually to com-
mence a banking business, which was done in 1871 by John and Jesse, who
founded the bank at North Manchester, and in 1878 the one at South Whit-
ley. John was thus engaged at the time of his death in 1880. But few men
who ever lived in the county deserve greater merit for actual worth than John
Arnold. He was uniformly kind-hearted and charitable, and his excellent busi-
ness qualifications were impressed upon all his associates. Men who were in
his employ think of him as their benefactor, and hundreds mourn his loss. He
united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1840, and was, during the
remainder of his life, a consistent member. Save the little given him by his
father, all his property (quite a fortune) was accumulated by his own industry
and management. At the time of the death of John Arnold, James, his son,
who was attending college at Asbury University, came home to assist in
settling his father's estate, since which time he has not returned to school.
He is in business at South Whitley, and in all his associations with the world
shows those sterling qualifications which have characterized the Arnold family.
He is cashier of the bank, buys large quantities of grain for the grist-mill,
and, with other members of the family, has general oversight of the extensive
business interests left by his father.
Jesse Arnold was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 24, 1831.
His youth was spent on his father's farm, and, in early manhood, he received an
academic education. After coming to Whitley County, in 1852, he joined his
brothers in milling, merchandising, and, finally, in banking pursuits. The
large grist-mill is yet owned by the Arnold family. Jesse engaged in banking
at North Manchester in 1872, and thus continues at present. His wife, Sarah
(Thomson) Arnold, to whom he was married in 1858, was born in Rutland
County, Vt., and has borne her husband three children — Thomson, Fanny and
Narcissa. She is a graduate of Fort Wayne College, delivered the valedictory
of her class at the commencement exercises, and graduated at the head of her
class. She is a lady of fine mind and culture. Her son, Thomson, graduated
at Asbury University in 1882. He was one of the brightest students in the
University, and in the school election in 1881, for speaker to represent the
University in the State oratorical contest, he came within a fraction of one
vote of securing the position. This is all the stronger from the fact that the
successful candidate not only gained the prize at the State oratorical contest,
but also at the Inter-State oratorical contest. Jesse Arnold was elected to the
Lower House of the State Legislature in 1878, and was the author of several
important bills, which are now the laws of the State. At the time of his elec-
tion, unknown to him, his brother James, of Blackford County, was also elected
to the same session in the same House. Each did not know of the other's
election until a short time after the honor had been secured. All the Arnolds
288 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
have been of unusual natural ability. This, combined with their unfaltering
honor, freely-oflfered charity and excellent management, has made them invalu-
able servants to the society in which they have moved.
ABRAHAM COLLETT was born in Baltimore County, Md., October
3, 1815, the son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Dorsey) Collett, natives of the same
State. The mother died in 1833, and the father, for a second wife, married
Chloe Miller. To the first marriage there were born eight children, and
to the second there was one. In 1835, the father and family moved to
Montgomery County, Ohio, and four years later to Wabash County, Ind.,
where the father died in 1873 and the mother in 1879. The father had
served in the .war of 1812, and he and family were highly respected. Our
subject was reared on the home farm till twenty-two, when he went to work
for himself, by the day, month or job, carefully saving his earnings. Septem-
ber 17, 1840, he married Miss Catherine Ramsey, who was born in Washing-
ton County, Md., February 10, 1819, and to this union were born three chil-
dren — James, Aaron and Angeline. James, the only one now living, was born
in Wabash County, Ind., November 12, 1841, and, December 25, 1865, mar-
ried Miss Susan Moore, who was born in this county November 16, 1843, and
to this couple five children have been born, viz. : Lizzie B., Ada C. and Lulu,
living ; and Charley and an infant, deceased. James Collett enlisted in the
fall of 1861 in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; served
till the close of the war, and saw much active service ; he now resides on a
farm in the township, an honored and respected citizen. In 1842, our subject
settled on Section 18, this township, and engaged in farming and stock-raising
till 1865, when he removed just over the county line into Jackson Township,
Kosciusko County, where he still resides. At the time of his marriage he had
saved enough of his earnings to purchase 160 acres unimproved land, which he
has increased to 300 acres, and, besides this, has given his son a good farm. He
is a self-made man, but has been ably assisted by his good wife, who is a woman
of ability and good sense. He has always followed farming, with the exception
of eight years passed in Collamer in mercantile pursuits. He is a Republican
in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
REGINALD H. COLLINS was born February 28, 1853, in this county,
the son of Judge James S. Collins, of Columbia City, a prominent lawyer and
citizen. Our subject received his earlier education in the schools at Columbia
City, then attended school at Ann Arbor, Mich., three years, and then began
reading law with his father. He was duly admitted to the bar, but his practice
has been chiefly confined to ofiice work, of which he has done a great deal.
He at last formed a partnership with Clugston & McLallen in mercantile busi-
ness at South Whitley, where he now resides and has charge of the business, and
runs a complete line of dry goods, boots, shoes, hats, caps, groceries, carpets,
and all goods sold in a general store. They have a large and steadily increas-
ing trade, brought about chiefly by the shrewd and careful business talent of
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 289
Mr. Collins. He married Miss Josephine H. Fleming, April 15, 1878. She
was born near Wilmington, Del., September 6, 1853. To this union have
been born three children, viz.: James W., Samuel and Helen. He is a
stanch Republican, is a member of the Masonic order, and is recognized in the
township as a business man of sound integrity.
CYRUS S. COTTON was born in Holmes County, Ohio, August 10,
1826, the son of James and Rachel (Gooden) Cotton, both natives of Beaver
County, Penn., where they were married, and whence they moved in an early
day to Holmes County, Ohio. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812,
and died when our subject was six years of age. In 1844, the mother and
family moved to this township ; they were poor, but the mother was a good
manager and hard-working woman, and reared her family with credit, one of
her sons, John S., being twice elected to the Legislature as well as holding
other public positions of trust. Our subject helped in caring for the family
up to the time of his marriage, in 1851, to Miss Sarah Wantz, who was born in
Montgomery County, Ohio, May 13, 1836, and who has borne her husband
twelve children, viz. : Clarinda, Franklin P., Frederick, Wellington, Barton,
Augusta, John, Mary C, and four others that died in infancy. Mrs. Cotton
died April 22, 1874, and September 3, 1874, our subject married Christina
Schultz, a native of Huntington County, Ind., and born September 1, 1851.
To this union there have been born three children, viz. : Charles, James
and George. Mr. Cotton is self-made ; the eighty acres of well-improved land
he now owns came from his own hard work and thrifty habits. In politics he
is a Democrat, and is a useful citizen of the county.
ELI L. EBERHARD, M. D., was born in Columbia Township, this county,
June 23, 1857, and is the son of George and Barbara (Neible) Eberhard,
respectively natives of Stark County, Ohio, and Wurtemberg, Germany. They
were married in this county, to which they both came at an early day, and to
them were born a family of five sons and seven daughters. They now reside
in Columbia Township and rank among the county's best citizens. Our sub-
ject was reared on a farm, but received a good academic education and began
the study of medicine with Dr. Lawrence, of Columbia City, when about nine-
teen, remaining with him and attending lectures till he graduated from the
Medical College of Ohio, in the spring of 1880. He then located in South
Whitley, and has built up a practice second to none. February 21, 1882, he
married Miss Mollie C. Casner, of Wooster, Ohio. The Doctor is a well-in-
formed gentleman, is well posted in his profession, and is a good citizen. He
owns a very pretty home, and his prospects in life are indeed bright.
MILTON B. EMERSON was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 23,
1830, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Merriman) Emerson, natives of Virginia
and Pennsylvania respectively. They were married in Wayne County, Ohio,
to which the parents of the mother had come in a early day, and the father
when a young man. They were both leading members of the M. E. Church,
290 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and to them were born eight children. Our subject was reared on a farm and
received a fair education. In the fall of 1851, he came to Whitley County,
taught school that winter, returned to Ohio in the spring and harvested his
wheat, and soon after came back to this county, and for some time worked at
carpentering and shingle-making. February 27, 1854, he married Miss Eliza-
beth Scott, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 3, 1835. In 1855, he
located on a farm in Washington Township, and engaged in saw-milling, stock-
raising and farming till 1877, when he purchased his present farm in this town-
ship. He held the office of County Commissioner six years, and during his
incumbency the new jail was built and other county improvements were made.
He also held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, to the satisfaction
of all parties. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is liberal,
voting for principles and not party. He is owner of 205 acres of well-improved
land, and is the father of the following family : Robert J., Franklin P., Noah
W., William E., Leander F., Celesta E. and Sarah E., to all of whom he has
given good educations.
GEORGE. H. FOSLER was born in Wayne County, Ind., June 29,
1842, the son of George and Catharine (Heagy) Fosler, natives of Cumberland
County, and there married in 1835. In 1838, they moved to Dayton, Ohio,
and three years later removed to Wayne County, and in 1863 came to this
township. The father is a farmer and miller, and built and operated, in connec-
tion with his sons, one of the first steam saw-mills in the township. Our sub-
ject was reared on the farm and in the saw-mill, and at the age of twenty-three
assumed charge of his father's farm, and later he and a brother ran the saw-
mill about four years. December 25, 1868, he married Miss Sarah A. Dun-
lap, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn,, June 20, 1844, and died
March 25, 1880, and to this union were born two children — Euda M. and Clemie
D. February 5, 1882, he married Miss Emma Meyers, who was born in this
township July 3, 1860. In connection with his father-in-law, W. P. Dunlap,
he built the "Franklin House," the first hotel of any consequence in South
Whitley, and also a large livery stable, which he still operates. He has always
been a great lover of horses, and has done much to improve the quality of the
stock in the county. He has usually twenty or twenty-five head on hand, and
buys and ships a nnmber of car loads each season. He is a Republican in pol-
itics, and has the reputation of being a thorough business man.
JOHN GLASSLEY was born in Lancaster County, Penn., July 1, 1830,
one of nine children born to John and Elizabeth (Motter) Glassley, natives of
same place. He began life for himself at the age of eighteen, learning fancy
weaving, such as coverlets, counterpanes, etc. ; worked at the trade some years,
and then engaged in brick-making. In 1862, he came to South Whitley, and
entered the store of Arnold Bros., as clerk, remained with them several years,
then returned to his native State, where, for three years, he had charge of a
woolen-mill. He then returned to South Whitley and erected a coverlet and
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 291
counterpane factory, which he operated three years, then started a grocery,
which he ran alone or in partnership till the spring of 1882, when he sold out.
In 1880, he and Samuel Pritchard put up a two-story brick business building,
half of which Mr. Glassley now owns, as well as fine home property in the
village. September 14, 1856, he married Miss Sarah Winters, who was born
in Lancaster County, Penn., March 26, 1838, and there have been born to
them five sons and one daughter, viz. : William W., Elias, David, Jesse A.
and Harry. The daughter died in infancy. Mr. Glassley is a self-made man ;
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an Odd Fellow, and in politics
a Republican.
ANDERSON GRIMES was born in Wayne County, Ind., June 18,
1810, the son of James and Sarah (Scears) Grimes, natives of Kentucky. The
father first came to Indiana in 1806 ; he was a soldier under Harrison in 1812,
and of his two sons and one daughter, Anderson alone is living. September 4,
1829, our subject married Miss Susanna Beeson, who was born in Wayne
County, Ind., June 19, 1810. He followed farming in Wayne till 1853, when
he came to this township and settled on the farm he now owns, which then con-
sisted of 320 unimproved acres ; he has now 162 well-cultivated acres, having
deeded the balance to his children. Mrs. Grimes died January 19, 1869, the
mother of ten children, viz. : Mahlon, James, Sarah J., Pamelia, William,
Jesse B., John, Isaac, Ford and Mary C. Of these, four sons enlisted in the
late war, as follows : William, April 1861, in Company E, Seventeenth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, wounded at Hoover's Gap, and died at Stone River from
effects of wound; James, August, 1861, Company C, Thirty-fourth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, served till close of war ; Jesse, August, 1 862, Company
K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served till the close ; Isaac
February, 1864, Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry, served till close of the war. They all made good records. Most
of our subject's children are living in Whitley, and are public-spirited citizens.
Mr. Grimes has always followed farming and stock-raising, and in politics was
first a Whig and then a Republican,
JEREMIAH GRIMES was born in Wayne County, Ind., October 15,
1820, the son of Alexander and Pamelia (McHenry) Grimes, both reared and
married near Lexington, Ky. They moved to Wayne County about 1806, and
there died. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served his time
out, and then that of another man. He was twice married, and was father of
ten children, five by each wife. Our subject, issue of the first marriage, was
reared on a farm, and was married in Wayne County, October 17, 1844, to
Miss Mary A. Haines, born in Clark County, Ohio, August 18, 1823, and to
this union there have been born six children, viz. : Charles A., William B.^
Walter, Clem R., Harry, and a daughter that died in infancy. He continued
at farming in Wayne County till 1850, when he came to this township and
located on unimproved land. He has now eighty acres of finely improved
292 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
property, and has also disposed of considerable. He is a Democrat, liberal in
his views, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DANIEL HALDERMAN was born in Preble County, Ohio, May 17,
1830, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Swihart) Halderman, natives respective-
ly of Virginia and Pennsylvania, married in Preble County, Ohio, and parents
of eight children. The mother died in this county July 6, 1861, while on a
visit to our subject ; the father took for his second wife Elizabeth Demmick ; to
this union were born three children. He followed farming till 1815, and then
became a dealer in flaxseed and lumber, which trade he followed till his ddath,
June 28, 1875. Our subject was reared on the home farm, and when twenty-
two years of age came to this county, and purchased an interest in the Swihart
grist-mill, of Columbia City, in which business he remained about four years,
and then for seven years engaged in mercantile pursuits in Collamer and Liber-
ty Mills. In 1865, he embarked in the mercantile and lumber business at
Larwill, and in 1873 moved on his farm of 160 acres near Collamer. About
this time, also, he purchased the Collamer grist-mill, which he has since suc-
cessfully operated. September 9, 1860, he married Miss Nancy Moore, who
was born in Wayne County, Ind., April 11, 1841. They became the parents
of five children, viz.: Sarah E. and Albert E., living, and Mary E., Nellie and
Kittie, deceased. Mr. Halderman is an energetic business man. a good citizen,
a Republican, and a member of the Christian Church.
MICHAEL B. HARE was born in Baltimore County, Md., September
18, 1818, the son of Michael and Catharine (Baublits) Hare, who were also
born, reared and married in the county and State named above, and were the
parents of five children. Our subject, up to the age of eighteen, lived on his
father's farm, and then went to work out on his own account, at which he con-
tinued two years, at the rate of $7 per month. In 1839, he came West and
stopped in Darke County, Ohio, for about two years, and worked for |10 per
month. He then came to Wabash County, this State, and there worked by
the month or job. In the latter county he married, December 31, 1846, Miss
Susannah Eby, who was born in Baltimore County, Md., June 15, 1826, and
to their union were born six children, viz., Sarah, Thomas, Mary J., John
M., Martha E. and Susan A. In January, 1847, our subject and wife moved
to this township and settled on the 120-acre farm they now own. They had no
means to speak of, and the land was unimproved, but they worked hard, and
have accumulated considerable property, now owning 475 acres in Cleveland
Township, and 180 acres in Kosciusko County. They are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Hare is a Democrat, though
liberal in his views.
CHARLES W. HAYDEN was born in Richland Township, this county,
August 12, 1837, the son of David and Alma (Cone) Hayden — full mention of
whom will be found in the biographical sketches of Richland Township, this
volume. Our subject was reared on a farm, and in his younger days received
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 293
a good common school education, subsequently himself teaching school several
terms. January 29, 1859, he married Miss Anne Hoover, who was born in
Wayne County, Ind., January 1, 1838. After his marriage, our subject chiefly
engaged in farming. In 1870, he moved to Jasper County, Mo., where he re-
mained four years, and then went to Clay County, 111., where he passed two
years, and then returned to this county, where he has since resided, engaged in
farming till 1878, and since then in mercantile trade at Collamer. He is owner
of thirty-five acres of highly-improved land, and is engaged in a lucrative busi-
ness. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; in politics is a
Republican, and is a progressive, intelligent citizen.
THOMAS KELLER was born in Ohio County (now West) Virginia,
August 20, 1810, the son of Martin and Margaret (McCreary) Keller, who
moved to Licking County, Ohio, in 1817, and there ended their days, leaving a
family of five children, two of whom are now dead. Our subject was brought
up on his father's farm, receiving but a limited education. In 1837, he mar-
ried Miss Matilda Judge, who was born in Ohio, May 10, 1816, and who died
in Licking County, Ohio, May 18, 1843. July 26, 1848, our subject married
Eliza A. Smith, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, January 8, 1826. By
his first marriage, there were born to our subject two children — Lewis H. and
Margaret E.; by his second marriage, five children — Harriet M., Cornelius,
Martin S., Jasper L. and Hiram N. Our subject for a number of years after
marriage had charge of his father's farm ; he purchased a small one adjoining,
and worked them both together till 1854, when he came to this township, locat-
ing on the Goshen road, where he lived till he purchased his present farm, in
1864. This now comprises 160 acres, and is nicely improved, all gained by his
industry as a farmer, and skill as a stock-raiser. He is a Democrat in politics,
and is an intelligent and useful citizen.
JONAS KINSEY was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, June 7, 1817,
and was the son of John and Elizabeth (Mullendore) Kinsey, who were natives
of Virginia, there married, and came to this State, previous to the war of 1812,
and engaged in farming, the father dying when Jonas was but three years old.
Our subject remained at home till twenty-one, assisting on the farm and attend-
ing the rude schools of that early day. In 1842, he married Miss Isabel
McQuisten, of Westmoreland County, Penn., and the following year moved to
this township, purchasing the 240 acres of unimproved land where he still
resides. His family consists of seven children, as follows : Susanna, Jane,
David W., Jacob H., Sidney A., Francelia A. and Emro J. Mr. Kinsey has
always followed farming and stock-raising, and his farm now comprises 265
acres well-improved land, which he and wife have secured by hard work and
good management. He is a Republican in politics and a useful citizen.
THOMAS J. LA FOLLETTE, M. D., was born in Warren County,
Ohio, January 13, 1836, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Patterson)
La Follette, both natives of Rockingham County, Va., where they were reared
294 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and married. They moved from there to Kentucky, then to Ohio, and in 1840
to Jay County, Ind. The father held a Colonel's commission in the Ohio mili-
tia. He was a farmer by occupation, and was the father of fifteen children,
eleven of whom are now living. He accumulated much property and died in
1860, his wife following eight years later. Our subject was reared on a farm,
received an academic education, and when quite youug began teaching school,
which he followed for three years, then took up the study of medicine, and
went through a course of lectures at the " Miami Medical College " of Cincin-
nati. A short time after, he started the Democratic Meview, a weekly news-
paper at Portland, Ind., which he ran three years. In 1873, he graduated at
his medical college, and engaged in practice in Wells County, Ind., and in
Huntington County. In 1876, he located at South Whitley. He was mar-
ried to Miss Margaret J. Peterson, June 16, 1861. She was born in Jay
County, Ind., January 19, 1841, and died August 4, 1878, and was the mother
of three children, one of whom is yet living — Olive R. August 14, 1880,
the Doctor married Miss Martha Orr, who was born in Washington County,
Ohio, February, 17, 1844. The Doctor is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, is a Democrat, and has built up a good practice.
DR. ELIJAH MERRIMAN, whose portrait appears in this work, was
born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 5, 1827. He is the son of Elijah and
Mary (McCoy) Merriman. both of whom were natives of Fayette County, Penn.,
where they were reared and married. In 1817, they moved to Ohio and set-
tled in Wayne County, where the father died in 4834. In the family were
nine children, all of whom are yet living, our subject being the youngest. After
the father's death the family kept together, and by the skill and good judgment
of the mother, were reared and educated in a very creditable manner, and to
her help and good advice our subject owes much of his success in life. Our sub-
ject lived at home and assisted on the farm till fifteen years of age ; then served
an apprenticeship of two years at the carpenter's trade. In 1843, he came to
Whitley County, and took a job of clearing land in Washington Township.
After about a year he retured to Wayne County, Ohio, and soon began teach-
ing and attending school. He attended the Edinburg Academy in his native
county, and then the Muskingum College near Zanesville, Ohio. He was a
close and diligent student, and became quite proficient. In the fall of 1850,
he began the study of medicine with Dr. Alexander Adams, of Apple Creek,
Wayne Co., Ohio. Then attended the Medical College of Ann Arbor, Mich.,
and on September 29, 1853, he came to South Whitley and began the practice
of his profession. Here he has since resided. He was united in marriage with
Miss Rebecca Parrett, March 20, 1856. This lady was born in Fayette County
Ohio, February 7, 1836. She is the daughter of John D. and Nancy (Kern)
Parrett, both natives of Fayette County, her father having been born March 9»
1806, and his wife January 20, 1814. They were married December 31, 1829'
and to them were born the following family of children — Mary, Catharine,
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 295
Rebecca, Benjamin, Phillip, Cynthia A., Joshua, and three that died in infancy
In the fall of 1836, John D. Parrett and his family, his father Joseph Parrett,
Jr., and family, came to Cleveland Township and purchased the land on which
South Whitley is now located. They got land of three brothers named Goben,
about the 1st of May, 1837. Joseph Parrett, Jr., laid out the town of South
Whitley. His son, John D., built the first house in the place, and the survey
of the town was made by William Delvin. John D. Parrett died March 20,
1855. His wife survives him and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Merri-
man. Few of the Parret family are now residing in Whitley County. From
Dr. Merriman's marriage with Miss Parrett there are five children, viz. : Willa-
mette, John E., Mary, Nelly and Lowell M. In his profession, Dr. Merriman
has been eminently successful. Always a close and careful student of patholo-
gy, as he found it in his practice, he became a leader in the use of new and
rational remedies. His watchfulness over the interests and welfare of his pa-
tients, his devotion to his profession, his sound sense and good judgment com-
bined to complete his fitness for his calling. His adaptability for the position
of family physician is excelled by none and equaled by few. He has held
numerous positions of honor and trust, among which are those of Justice of the
Peace and Township Trustee. He was elected to the latter ofiice twice, when
the township was heavily in debt, but, through his careful management, it was
all paid off, and the financial condition of Cleveland Township to-day, through
his exertions, stands at the head of any township in the county. He has done
much to build up the schools and elevate the standard of teachers, among whom
he is very popular. In politics Dr. Merriman is a decided Republican, is
active in his party, and always acts from principle and not from aspiration for
office. He is a kind-hearted Christian man, and one of the county's best and
most worthy citizens. He liberally contributes to all laudable enterprises,
owns a good home in South Whitley, and one-half interest in the brick business
building and drug store of Merriman & Robbins, and also 160 acres of land in
Cleveland Township.
FREDERICK MORELL was born near the eastern borders of France,
November 8, 1822, and was the son of Peter and Susan (Hermelet) Morell,
parents of thirteen children, seven of whom reached maturity. In 1833, the
parents came to the United States, and engaged in farming in Wayne County,
Ohio. Our subject, in addition to his early tuition in his mother country,
acquired a very fair English education, and from the age of sixteen to twenty-
seven operated the home farm. When about nineteen, he came to Whitley
County and entered 160 acres of land in Washington Township, with money
furnished by his father, and came from time to time, in winter, to clear up his
farm, returning in the spring to manage the home place. In 1849, he came
to live on his land in Washington Township, and in the same year married
Miss Catharine Druhot, a native of France, born in 1827. This lady died in
1874, and in 1882 our subject married Mrs. Margaret Ashcraft. Although
296 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the father of no children, Mr. Morell has reared three of his brother's, to
whom he has given liberally on their marrying or becoming of age. He farmed
in Washington Township until 1871, when he came to Cleveland, where he
owns 240 acres, together with 280 in Washington. He has one of the finest
residences in the county, dnd has gained all his wealth by thrift and good man-
agement. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics
was a Democrat till the breaking-out of the recent war, since when he has
voted with the Republicans.
CHRISTIAN MYERS was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, January
24, 1819. He is grandson of Christian Myers, who moved from Virginia to
Montgomery County, Ohio, during the first settlement of that county. His
son Henry, father of our subject, came with his parents to Ohio, and there mar-
ried Mary Wirick, whose people moved from North Carolina to Preble County
at a very early day. Henry Myers was teamster in the war of 1812, and also
in the Indiana campaign against the Indians. In 1838, he brought his family
to this township, bought ninety acres of land from James Chaplin and 120
acres from William Parrett, near where the village of Collamer now stands,
and also entered lands in Cass and Kosciusko Counties. He brought with him
a four-horse wagon, a two-horse wagon, some cows and sheep, household furni-
ture and considerable cash, but for all that he and family underwent many of
the hardships of pioneer life. Of his nine children seven were living when he
came to Indiana ; there are now alive only two sons and one daughter. The
parents were very intelligent people, and were most favorably known among
the earlier settler^. In 1849, the father took his farewell of earth, his widow
surviving till November 23, 1873. Our subject was reared to hard work and
became a thorough farmer. January 1, 1843, he married Miss Catharine
Abbott, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, February 11, 1824. Her
father, James Abbott, came to Kosciusko County in 1834, and located one
mile west of where Mrs. Myers now lives. Two days after marriage, our sub-
ject and wife moved into a log cabin within a few feet of their present resi-
dence, and since then have never been absent from the farm for a longer period
than ten days. They now own 250 acres of land, and have, besides, given to
each of their married children a good farm. Their children number five, viz. :
Nathan, Emeline J., William F., Nora A. and Annie M. Nathan enlisted in
Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the spring of 1862,
and died while in the army of tvphoid fever. Our subject and wife are mem-
bers of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a Republican, and is looked
upon as one of the county's best citizens.
JOSEPH MYERS was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 10,
1829, the son of Henry and Mary (Wirick) Myers, of whom full mention is
made in the sketch of Christian Myers. Our subject was reared on his father's
farm, receiving a common-school education, and still resides on the homestead,
which, at his father's death in 1849, consisted of 147 acres, but which now
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 297
comprises 227, having been thus increased by our subject, who has also highly
improved the place, as well as caring for his mother, who made her home with
him till her death. November 27, 1851, he married Malinda Banta, who was
born in Cass County, Ind., January 7, 1831, and to their union have been
born seven children, viz. : Frances E., Winifred S., Mary I., Eldora, Emma,
Warren H. and Jennie. Our subject is a thoroughly practical farmer and a
successful stock-raiser and business man ; he is a Republican in politics, a
member of the Christian Church, and a liberal giver to all church, school and
other laudable enterprises, and is one of the county's best citizens.
JOSEPH and RILEY OBENCHAIN are two of a family of six chil-
dren born to Samuel and Catharine (Flora) Obenchain, both of whom were
born and reared in Virginia. They were married in their native State, and
removed to Ohio in 1835, and in the fall of 1836, came with their family to
Cleveland Township, this county, and entered 160 acres of land on Section 11.
Their nearest neighbor was James Abbott, who lived five miles west, in what
is now Kosciusko County. They brought no stock except the horses that drew
the wagon, and they got a start by going to Elkhart County. They also had
to go to that county to mill, the trip sometimes occupying ten days. They are
said to be the first actual and permanent settlers of Cleveland Township, and,
as they were in straitened circumstances, they went through many hardships
and privations in making for themselves and family a comfortable home. They
were intelligent and among the most respected and highly spoken of of the old
settlers. Joseph Obenchain was born in Botetourt County, Va., October 8, 1828,
reared upon his father's farm and to hard work, receiving but a limited educa-
tion. He was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Long in 1849. She
was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, near Dayton, in 1830. From this
union ten children were born, viz. : Albert, Sarah E., William, Rueben I.,
Mary J., Samuel E., Ida A., Harley, Charles and Meda. Joseph has always
resided upon the old homestead. He had but a small tract of unimproved land
at the time of his marriage, but has always worked hard and carefully saved
his earnings. He now owns 540 acres. He is a Democrat, a member of the
Dunkard Church, and an enterprising and useful citizen. He is the present
Township Trustee of Cleveland Township. Riley Obenchain was born in
Botetourt County, Va., October 4, 1830. His youth and early manhood were
spent at hard work upon his father's farm. He received such education as the
schools of that early day afi'orded. Was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth
Brenneman June 9, 1853. She was born in Lancaster County, Penn.,
August 24, 1833. From this union there were eight children, viz. : Franklin
I., John W., Frances A., Barbara A., Abraham L., Idelia, Mary C. and
Leonard R. Mrs. Obenchain departed this life May 19, 1881. She was a
true wife, a faithful companion, and affectionate and loving mother, and an in-
telligent Christian lady. Riley Obenchain began life as a poor man, and for
the most part has made what he now possesses. He owns 155 acres of land
298 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and a nice comfortable home in South Whitley, where he resides. He was
reared a Democrat, but on the breaking-out of the war he left that party's
ranks and has since been a stanch and zealous Republican. He was an un-
compromising union man during the late strife, and did much to help at home
and encourage the boys in the field. The county would be much better off had
it more such men as Riley Obenchain. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and liberally contributes toward its support, and that of
schools and all laudable enterprises.
MARTIN, FREDERICK and HAMILTON PENCE are the children
of John and Mary F. (HoflPman) Pence, natives of the " Old Dominion,-'
where they were reared and married. They moved from Virginia to Champaign
County, Ohio, in 1822. There were five children born to them, and some
years after their removal to the Buckeye State the mother died. The father
married for his second wife, Barbara Loudenback, and by this marriage there
were nine children. The father had been a soldier of the war of 1812, and
always followed farming and was a hard-working, industrious man, and
respected and useful citizen. Martin Pence, son by the first wife, was born
in Page County, Va., July 9, 1818. Frederick, his brother, in the same
county and State, April 4, 1820 ; and Hamilton, in Champaign County, Ohio,
January 26, 1822. These sons received but little or no education, and after
the death of their mother fared very poorly at the hands of the step-mother.
Long before they were able, they were compelled to perform the same and as
much work as that of full-grown men. Martin left home when about seven-
teen, and for some years worked by the day or month, and at anything he
could turn an honest penny at. His wages were small, and it was only by the
hardest work and strictest economy that he succeeded in saving a little money.
He was married to Miss Barbara Loudenback August 6, 1843. She was born
in Champaign County, Ohio, May 8, 1820. From this union were born six
children, viz., Noah, John, David, Susanah, Melissa and Josephine. Noah
served his country in the late war, in the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry. He died at Nashville, Tenn., while in his country's service. Mar-
tin lived in Champaign County, Ohio, following farming till 1850, when he
came to this county and located on the farm he now owns. The place was all
woods and had no improvements. He now owns 160 acres. He is a Demo-
crat and a member of the Baptist Church. Frederick Pence also went through
many hardships and privations in youth and for years after he came to this
county, which was in 1850. He was fifteen when he left his parental roof and
began the battle of life. Having no education, there was no opening but
hard, physical labor. He went to work with a will and labored at whatever he
could find to do. He married Miss Susan Jenkins April 26, 1840. She was
born in Champaign County, Ohio, September 12, 1819. From this union ten
children were born, viz., Philander R., Rose A., Mary F., Nancy J., Amanda,
John W., Bell, Sabra, Tamson and Martha. Five of these children are
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 299
deceased. In 1847, Frederick and his brother Hamilton came to this county
and purchased some land, paying $3.50 per acre for it. They then went back
to Ohio, and in 1850 both came to this county and located on their land. At
the time of marriage, Frederick had no property. He has always worked
hard and has accumulated considerable wealth. He now owns 120 acres o^
land and a nice and comfortable home in South Whitley. He has given
liberally to his children. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the
E. B. Church. Hamilton Pence left home when thirteen years of age, and up
to the time of marriage had little or no means ahead. He worked by day,
month and job. He and brother Frederick would chop cord wood at 25 cents
per cord and make rails at 25 cents per hundred, taking in pay wheat, corn
whisky or anything they could convert into money. In 1850, Hamilton came
to this county and located on what is now the Goble farm, in Cleveland Town-
ship. He was married in Champaign County, Ohio, July 24, 1844, to Miss
Sarah Harbour. She was born in Champaign County, Ohio, August 8, 1819.
From this union there were six children, two of whom are now living, viz.,
Allen and Joseph. Those deceased were, Lovina, Tamson, Richard and Jason.
Allen served his country in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry during the late war. Hamilton Pence, after his marriage,
lived with his father-in-law some time, then moved on a small place belonging
to him, where he remained until 1845, when he moved to Jefferson County,
Iowa, but after living there about a year, and in Illinois, near Springfield,
some months, returned to Ohio, where he remained till he came to this county
in 1850. After living some years in Cleveland Township and clearing ninety
acres of land, he sold it and went to Champaign County, Ohio, and purchased
his father-in-law's farm, but after a year sold that, and again came to this
county, where he has since resided. He owned 320 acres of land, but has
given 160 of it to his sons. He is a Republican, and a member of the U. B.
Church. In taking a retrospective view of the life, success and acquirements
of the Pence brothers, it can be truly said of them that they were self-made
men. They began life as very poor boys, but by hard work and economy,
coupled with strict honesty and straight dealings, have made for themselves
and families comfortable homes and secured an enviable reputation among the
people with whom they have lived, and in the county which they have helped
to improve. They were stanch Union men during the late war, contributing
over $1,500 for sanitary and other purposes. They are ever ready to help the
weak and oppressed, and have liberally contributed to all religious, educational
and other worthy enterprises. ;
SAMUEL "PRITC HARD was born in Stark County, Ohio, June 12,
1840, one of a family of seven sons and six daughters born to Noah and Mar-
garet (Rhinehart) Pritchard, natives respectively of Virginia and Maryland.
They were married in Stark County, and moved from there to this township
in 1848. The father died January 7, 1881, and the mother now resides in Rich-
300 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
land Township. Of the seven sons, three served in the Union army during
the late war. When about twenty years old, our subject entered a grist-mill at
Collamer, and two years later engaged in Arnold Bros.' mill, at South Whit-
ley. In 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and served through the war. For two years after his return, he
worked in a mill, and then went to Arnold Bros.' again, and remained with
them about ten years. Then he started in the grocery trade at South Whitley,
and in 1880 he and John Glassley built a two-story brick store, one-half of
which he now occupies, and also owns a comfortable home in the village. De-
cember 29, 1869, he married Miss Mary Ramsey, born in BlufFton, Ind., Sep-
tember 18, 1848, and to them have been born three children, viz.: Orphia L.,
Myrtle B. and Lodie M. Mr. Pritchard is a member of the M. E. Church ; is
a useful and enterprising citizen, and is a Republican.
FRANCIS S. REMINGTON was born in Hartford County, Conn.,
August 31, 1836, the son of Jonathan and Elethia fSikes) Remington, natives
of said State, who moved to Ohio in 1842, and settled in Akron, Summit
County, where they have ever since resided. The father was a farmer, as well
as wagon and carriage maker, and was the parent of eight children, three of
whom are yet living. Our subject was reared in the city of Akron, where he
received a good common-school education, and learned to be a printer in the
Beacon office, beginning when about fifteen years old, and following the busi-
ness until 1868. He came to Wayne County, Ind,, in 1861, and for some
time conducted a newspaper there, but has not done much in the newspaper
line since 1865, competent and practical though he was. He was engaged in
the insurance business for some time, and in the fall of 1871 came to South
Whitley and entered into the hardware trade, which he still continues. In
November, 1864, he married Miss Clara A, Snow, who was born in Franklin
County, Ind., in 1845, and to their union have been born five children — Ella,
Mary D., Cora S., Nora S. and James E. Mr. Remington is a member of the
M. E, Church, is an Odd Fellow, and in politics a Republican, He is a good
scholar and an enterprising business man, and is liberal in his contributions in
aid of schools, churches and other laudable undertakings.
RICHARD RITTER was born in Champaign County, Ohio, February
2, 1819, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Harbour) Ritter, The father was
born in Kentucky, but moved, when a boy, with his parents to Ross County,
Ohio, and was here reared ; but, while still a young man, went to Champaign
County, and there enlisted and served in the war of 1812, He married in Cham-
paign County, held there numerous official positions, was Captain in the State
Militia and a leading and influential citizen, and father of nine children. At
an early day, he came to Whitley County and entered 320 acres of land in this
township and 160 in Washington Township. In 1840, he gave 160 acres of
the Cleveland Township land to our subject, who that year came out to see the
property and get the deed recorded, and make some improvements. Our sub-
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. 301
ject then returned to Ohio, and, until 1844, alternated between the two States
till he was fully prepared to move here permanently. September 15, 1842, he
married Sarah Kiser, who was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1821. In 1844,
he came to live on the land alluded to above, which he has since made his home,
and has well improved. In 1862, Mrs. Ritter died, the mother of nine chil-
dren, four of whom are yet living — James, Elijah, Catherine and Emeline ;
those deceased were Perry, Jane, Landora, Eldora and John. Of the sons,
James served during the late war in the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer In-
fantry, and Elijah in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, and were both good
soldiers. Mr. Ritter has always followed farming and stock-raising ; is a Dem-
ocrat; has held several township offices, and is a good and useful citizen.
SAMUEL ROBBINS was born in St. Joseph County, Ind., April 30,
1841, the son of John and Precious (Jenkins) Robbins, natives of Miami
County, where they were married, and whence they moved in an early day to
St. Joseph County, where the father entered a tract of land, on which he still
resides. He was twice married, his second wife being Rachel Jackson, and
there were born to him twelve children, six by each wife. He is a man of
more than ordinary intelligence, and has held several positions of honor and
trust. Our subject was reared a farmer and received an academic education.
In the spring of 1861, he went to Kankakee County, 111., and in the following
August enlisted in Company D, Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and
was almost immediately sent to the front. He was at Farmington and Stone
River. At the latter fight he was captured, and was held prisoner twenty-
eight days, fifteen of these being spent in Libby Prison ; he was then paroled-,
subsequently exchanged, and then he returned to his regiment, at that time at
Murfreesboro. He took part in the battles of Chickamauga, in and around
Atlanta, and at Mission Ridge, at the last receiving a wound from a minie
ball, which struck him just above the heart, shattering several ribs and the left
shoulder joint. This disqualified him for further service, and, after thirteen
months' treatment in the hospital, he returned to his father's in St. Joseph
County, where he remained a year ; then served as clerk in a drug store in
South Bend a year, then came to South Whitley for awhile, thence he went to
Elwood, Will County, 111., where he remained for two years in the drug trade,
and then returned to South Whitley ; acted as station agent for the Eel River
Railroad County two years, and then entered the drug business again. In
1879, he erected a two-story brick business building in South Whitley, and a
year later sold one-half interest to Dr. E. Merriman, and together they now
conduct a drug trade. In 1872, Mr. Robbins was appointed Postmaster at
South Whitley, and he still fills the position. April 16, 1874, he married
Miss Ellen M. Hower, born in this county August 8, 1855, and to their union
have been born two children — Maud E. and Charles W. Mr. Robbins is a
reading man, a Republican, and one of the county's useful citizens.
JAMES M. RUNKLE was born in Mad River Township, Champaign
302 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
County, Ohio, January 22, 1837, the son of David and Margaret (Frisinger)
Runkle, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, and married in Cham-
paign County, Ohio, of which portion of the State Peter Runkle, our subject's
grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers. David Runkle, our subject's
father, was born in 1800 ; died January 22, 1878, having served as a Baptist
minister over fifty-six years. His mother, Margaret Runkle, was born in 1810,
and is still living in Ohio. They were the parents of five children, of whom
our subject is the youngest. Reared a farmer, our subject while yet a young
man took charge of his father's farm, which he operated till 1861, when he
came to this township and purchased the farm he now occupies. January 12,
1860, he married Miss Mahala Pence, who was born in Champaign County?
Ohio, September 1, 1842, and to their union have been born six children —
Laura C, Charles F., Wiley A., Viletia M., Avilla B. and one that died in in-
fancy. About five years after coming to this county, Mr. Runkle engaged in
the saw-mill and lumber business, which he successfully carried on, and has
been more or less engaged in ever since ; he has also handled real estate and
live stock, and has been fortunate in all his transactions, although, being a man
of generous impulses, he has lost heavily by going security for others, but still
owns a nicely improved farm and other property. He is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity ; is a Democrat, and has held a number of township offices, and
is altogether a valuable citizen.
ANDREW SHORB was born in York County, Penn., September 20,
1809, the son of Adam and Mary (Miller) Shorb, both born, reared and mar-
ried in the county named, and the parents of twelve children, ten of whom lived
to reach their majority. Our subject lived on his father's farm till twenty-two
years old, and August 7, 1831, married Miss Mary Phillips, who was also born
in York County February 11, 1813. In 1832, they moved to Stark County,
Ohio, and engaged in farming some ten years. In 1842, they came to this
county ; spent the winter with Henry Myers in this township, and then settled
in the southeastern part of Richland. On coming to this county, they brought
with them a two-horse team, some household goods, and 150 head of sheep.
The last Mr. Shorb disposed of, and two years later (1844), he went to Wayne
County, Ind., and purchased 300 head, which he also disposed of in this coun-
ty. These were probably the first large flocks of sheep brought to the county.
In 1869, being tired of farming, Mr. Shorb moved to Larwill, where he lived
in quiet about six years ; he then moved to his present home near Collamer.
Beginning life with nothing, he has, by untiring industry and sagacious man-
agement, secured a competency. He has given his children over five hundred
acres of land, and still owns 215 acres, and has, in addition, had his children
well educated. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and are
among the most respected citizens of the community. Their children are named
as follows : Lavinia, Henry J., Nathaniel G., Matilda, Justus A., Melinda,
Andrew J., Jeremiah, Thomas J., Eliza A., Miranda M., Sarah J. and Mary E.
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. ' . 303
CHARLES SHUH was born in Clark County, Ohio, March 11, 1841.
His father, John Shuh, was born in Bavaria, came to this country in 1888,
was married in Ohio to Miss Margaret Shaffner, also a native of Germany,
and came to this county in 1856, settling in Troy (now a part of Richland)
Township. Our subject was reared on a farm, and soon after reaching his
majority visited Illinois, where he was at the breaking-out of the late war.
He enlisted in Company C, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with
his regiment was in the battles at Perryville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain,
Mission Ridge, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, and in all the battles in which the
Seventy-fifth, of which he was color-bearer, was engaged, except Stone River.
After the war, he came to this county and for some time operated a saw-mill
for his father, and subsequently bought it, ran it in Richland Township till
1871, moved it to South Whitley and added planing-mill, and now deals in all
kinds of hard and soft lumber. January 1, 1867, he married Miss Martha
Huston, who was born in this county, January 30, 1841, and to their union
have been born four children, viz. : Charles L., Margaret F., Albert R. and
Wallace M. Until 1872, Mr. Shuh was Democratic in his political faith, but
since that year has voted with the Republicans. He is a member of the Bap-
tist Church and a good citizen.
ANDREW W. SICKAFOOSE was born in Stark County, Ohio, Feb-
ruary 13, 1821, the son of George and Margaret (Wagner) Sickafoose, natives
of Pennsylvania, and married in that State, whence they emigrated to Stark
County in about 1817, and settled in Pike Township. The father, who had
served in the war of 1812, died July 7, 1840, and his wife followed in 1850.
Our subject was reared on the farm, but on reaching his majority learned the
blacksmith's trade, and assisted in caring for the family after his mother's
death. January 24, 1847, in Stark County, he married Miss Mary McDonald,
born in Canton, Ohio, August 13, 1825, and to their union were born four
children, viz. : Marion, Ellie, Laura and Electa. In 1851, he brought his
family to this county, and a year later began working at his trade in South
Whitley, where he has since remained, and now owns a pretty home in the
village and 160 acres of good land in the township. In politics, he formerly
affiliated with the Whig party, but joined the standard of the Republicans at
an early day. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
SAMUEL H. SICKAFOOSE was born in Stark County, Ohio, April
19, 1836, one of twelve children born to John and Margaret (Swartwood)
Sickafoose, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New England, and mar-
ried in Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Stark County in 1817, and in
1838 to this township, where the father entered 320 acres of land on Section
35, coming in a three-horse wagon and bringing his wife and ten children, of
whom our subject was the youngest. They were among the first to settle in
that part of the county, and were compelled to endure all the privations and
304 ' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
hardships of pioneer life. The father had been Justice of the Peace in Ohio,
and also filled the same office in this township a number of years. He and
wife were industrious people and members of the church, and reared to sobriety
and virtue their large family, many of whom still reside in this county and
are recognized as among its best citizens. The father died in 1875, and was
followed by the mother two years later. Our subject, who was reared on the
farm, married Miss Catharine A. Holm, November 12, 1858. She was born
in Stark County, Ohio, June 30, 1837. To this union have been born four
children, viz. : Mary M., David H., Harriet H. and an infant son. Subject
followed carpentering for ten years, lumbering and saw-milling six years, man-
ufactured wagons and carriages at South Whitley for some time, and has also
been engaged in mercantile business and hotel keeping in South Whitley,
where he now owns a good business house and a nice home, and other valuable
property. He served in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, from the spring of 1865 till the close of the late war ; he
is a stanch Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.
LEWIS M. STEWARD was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September
20, 1816, the son of Zadok and Mary (Miller) Steward, natives respectively of
Wales and Germany. They were married in Virginia, and moved to Cincin-
nati in early times, and there the father conducted a mill and distillery. He
was a soldier of the war of 1812, and served under Harrison at Tippecanoe and
in other fights, and died at his home about 1824, when our subject was eight
years old. The orphaned boy, by working at odd jobs, saving his money,
attending school at times and studying hard, acquired a good education, and
began teaching school while still young. In 1848, he came to this county,
bought eighty acres of land, where he now lives, and moved upon it in 1849.
In 1838, he married Miss Hannah Harbour, born in Virginia in 1820, and they
became the parents of seven children, viz., Robert J., Theodore, Catharine,
Joseph, Oliver P. and two that died in infancy. Mrs. Steward died in 1854,
and in 1856 our subject married Mrs. Hannah Parrett, who was born in Lick-
ing County, Ohio, in 1822, the daughter of Abraham Grable, one of the pio-
neers of Whitley County, and its first Treasurer. To this marriage were born
six children, viz., Roseltha M., Franklin D., Ettie, Clara, Claud Maud and
Jennie B. During the late war, Robert J. and Theodore were both in the Union
army. Our subject now owns over two hundred acres of well-improved land
adjoining South Whitley, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for six-
teen years. He is a Democrat, and a member of the M. E. Church,
OLIVER P. STEWART was born in Champaign County, Ohio, October
13, 1848, the son of Lewis M. and Hannah (Harbour) Stewart, natives of Ohio.
They came to this county in 1849, and settled on their present farm adjoining
the village of South Whitley. Our subject, Oliver P., was reared on a farm,
but at the age of seventeen began teaching school. In 1871, he entered the
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP. ■ 305
" Ohio Wesleyan University of Delaware," Ohio, was suflSciently advanced to
enter the Sophomore class, and graduated in 1874. Soon after, he took up the
study of law, and in a few years was admitted to the bar, since when he has
practiced in all the courts of the county ; is well posted in his profession, and is
located at South Whitley. September 29, 1881, he married Miss Bell Bechtol,
who was born in this county May 7, 1856. He is a Democrat, and, in the
spring of 1882, was nominated for the office of County Treasurer. He is a
Notary Public, and is regarded as a young man of ability and progressive ideas.
JEREMIAH STIVER was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, August
8, 1832, the son of William and Harriet (Sterling) Stiver, who were born,
reared and married near Harrisburg, Penn., and who, in 1830, moved to
Montgomery County, Ohio, and thence, in 1818, to this township, where they
located on the farm now owned by Stephen Gleason, and where they ended
their days, the parents of five sons and three daughters. The father was a
carpenter, which trade he followed the greater part of his time, although he
owned a farm. He built many of the dwellings and barns in this and adjoin-
ing townships, which stand to-day monuments of his skill and industry. In
1860, he died, his wife having preceded him ten years. Our subject was reared
on his father's farm, receiving his education in the log schoolhouses of that
day, and he and his brothers cultivating the land while the father was away
working at his trade. March 18, 1856, he married Miss Catharine Obenchain,
who was born in this township March 31, 1836, and by this union became the
father of seven children — George W., Samantha J., Charles S., Mary, Flora
C, Emro J. C. and Joseph R. Mrs. Stiver died January 24, 1869, and Mr.
Stiver, July 4, 1869, married Miss Sarah E. Young, who was born in Summit
County, Ohio, October 6, 1846. To this union were born nine children —
Minerva, Dora E., William H., Chloe M., Jessie B., Sarah A., Franklin I. and
Harry I. (twin brothers) and a daughter that died in infancy. Mr. Stiver has
always followed farming, and owns 105 acres of well-improved land. He is a
member of the Masonic order, and of the A. 0. U. W., and, in politics, is a
Democrat.
JOHN N. STULTS was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 7, 1838,
and is one of five children born to Samuel and Margaret (Failor) Stults,
natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Stark County, where the
father followed farming till his death in 1849, and where the mother still
resides a widow. Our subject helped care for the family till of age, in the
meantime attending school at Canton, Ohio, and also Mount Union College.
In 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, and served two years in the late war, being present at Chancel-
lorsville, Gettysburg, Fort Wagner and several lesser engagements, and the last
year serving as Regimental Quartermaster. In 1865, he came to this town-
ship and engaged in lumbering and milling. In 1879, he engaged in mercan-
tile business in South Whitley, and now carries $10,000 worth of general
306 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
store goods. He has a large two-story brick business house, and other valuable
property. August 24, 1866, he married Miss Nancy J. Pence, who was born
in Champaign County, Ohio, February 3, 1849, and to their union have been
born four children — Stella, Minnie M., Winifred and Nellie. Mr. Stults is a
Republican and a Mason, and is, in the usual sense of the word, a self-made
man, an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and has built up his still
increasing trade by fair dealing and strict attention to business.
BENJAMIN W, TODD was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, the son
of Samuel and Sarah Todd. His father came from Maryland and his mother
from Germany, and they were married in the county of our subject's birth, and
died in Van Wert, leaving twelve children. Benjamin W. worked on his father's
farm till his majority was reached, and then began life on his own account.
In 1843, he married Miss Rachel Goodin, a native of Pennsylvania, born in
1817, and to their union were born nine children — Samuel G., Sarah, Josiah
B., Orpedill, Matilda A., Truman B., Stilman C, Mary A. and Frances. He
farmed in Ohio till 1845, when he came to this township with his family and
located on the farm he now owns, and experienced all the cares, toil and suffer-
ings of pioneer life, he and wife at one time being ill two days and nights and
receiving only the attention their little ones could give. Fortunately they were
discovered by a hunter, who procured a doctor and other assistance. His farm
now comprises 120 acres good land, well improved. Mrs. Todd died May 29,
1874, regretted by all who knew her. Our subject is a Democrat, is a member
of the M. E. Church, and is one of the county's oldest and most respected
citizens.
PETER TRESSLER was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 25, 1824,
the son of Michael and Louisa (Foreman) Tressler, who came to the United
States in 1827 and located in Sandy Township, Stark County, Ohio, where
the father died a year later, leaving his wife and ten children in somewhat des-
titute circumstances. The mother, however, succeeded in rearing her large
family in a creditable manner, and then departed this life in 1848, Our sub-
ject remained with and lent his aid to the support of the family and his mother
till her death. November 12, 1848, he married Miss Eliza Reed, who was
born in Berks County, Penn., February 27, 1825, and to their union have been
born five children — Lavina, Emma, Adaline, Simon and Abraham. Mr.
Tressler remained on a farm in Ohio till 1853, when he brought his family to
this county, located three miles southwest of South Whitley, farmed there till
1865, and then purchased the present well-improved farm of eighty acres near
the village. Mr. and Mrs. Tressler began married life with no means, but
through their united industry and economy have secured a comfortable home.
Mr. Tressler is a man of broad views, is a liberal subscriber to periodical litera-
ture, is a well-informed and useful citizen and a stanch Republican.
MICHAEL WAUTZ, deceased, was born in Adams County, Penn., De-
cember 1, 1809, and when a boy came with his parents to Preble County^
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 307
Ohio, and was there reared to manhood, receiving only a limited education. In
December, 1832, he married Miss Mary Smyres, who was born April 13, 1814,
in Adams County, Penn. In 1836, Mr. Wautz came to this county and
entered 240 acres of land on Section 31, in what is now Cleveland Township,
and then returned to Ohio, and that fall he sent out his brother-in-law, David
Smyres, to make some improvements, deaden trees, etc. In 1837, Mr. Wautz
received his land patent, signed by President Van Buren, and in 1838 came
with his family to his possessions in this county. There were three children
in his family at that time, and seven were born to him in this State — ten in
all — viz. : Sarah, Abraham, Ann R., Amanda, William J., Nelson, Martin,
Albert P., Peter E. and Callista E. He brought with him a blind horse and
a yoke of oxen — no money — and he saw many hardships and privations, and
there are few of the old settlers who were better or more favorably known than
Mr. Wautz. He was a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church.
He accumulated much property and was liberal in his donations to religious,
educational and other worthy objects. He died April 22, 1881, his wife hav-
ing departed some years before. Frederick Wautz, brother of the above gen-
tleman, came to Cleveland Township with his wife, who was Catharine Wysung,
and family, in 1845. They were industrious and well-to-do people, and had a
family of seven children. Frederick died September 19, 1879, and was a good
man and useful citizen. Albert P. Wautz, son of Michael, was born in Cleve-
land Township, February 20, 1853. He was reared on his father's farm,
receiving a good common-school education. He married Miss Sarah A. Ward,
October 14, 1878. She was born in this township September 12, 1861.
Albert P. owns 180 acres of the old homestead, and is well posted on farming,
stock raising and the affairs of the day, and is a young man of prominence and
ability.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
JOHN R. ANDERSON was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, October
7, 1816, the son of Samuel and Rebecca (Rose) Anderson, natives of Ireland
and New Jersey, respectively, and of Scotch and German extraction. Our
subject was left an orphan at an early age, and went to school and worked
on a farm in his native county till twenty years old, when he came West, arriv-
ing in this county, with Andrew Compton and family, in 1837. He soon after
entered the land, where he now lives, and engaged to work one year for $90,
with which he made another entry. The winter of 1838 he returned to Mus-
kingum County, Ohio, and attended school, and the winter of 1839 attended
school in Kosciusko County, and the spring following built a cabin on his farm.
October 21, 1841, he married Lucinda Witt, daughter of David and Deborah
Witt, and by this union had ten children, six of whom are living. Our sub-
308 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ject was present at the organization of Richland Township, and there cast his
first vote ; and has been called since to fill all the ofiices in the early history
of the township. Subject's son, Joseph E., served as Sergeant in Company
E, Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded at the battle
of Pittsburg Landing ; was honorably discharged and re-enlisted as a recruit
for the 100-day call. Our subject and Mr. William Rice are the only two
living of those who voted at the first election in the township.
W. N. ANDREWS, druggist, was born in Portage County, Ohio,
October 13, 1828, the son of Samuel L. and Harriet (Shurtleft) Andrews,
natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively, and of Welsh and
Scotch descent. They were early settlers in the State where our subject was
born. In May, 1839, they moved to La Grange County, this State, where
they purchased a farm ; but, being all attacked with the ague, except the
father, they sold out and came to this township the October following. For
the second time a farm was entered in the forest, a cabin erected, and six chil-
dren reared, and the farm is now a pleasant home. Our subject assisted in
the building of the first schoolhouse in this township, and was one of its stu-
dents under the tuition of Miss Zella Adams. When nearly twenty, he began
to learn the carpenter's trade, and worked thereat for seven or eight years ;
then taught school, at intervals, for four years. In 1862, he entered the
drug store of Mason & Greg, at Columbia ; in 1864, started and conducted a
store at Auburn for Mr. Greg ; and a year later, engaged with Meyer Brothers,
Fort Wayne, with whom he remained till 1877, when he and W. J. Tyree
opened the store he is now conducting. Our subject has been twice married —
in 1850 to Rebecca Hoover, and in 1852 to Rebecca A. Richey, daughter of
George Richey, a native of Ireland. By his last union he has had born to
him six daughters, five of whom are living. Mr. Andrews is an active business
man and is Postmaster of Larwill.
HENRY BAILEY is a native of the " Buckeye " State, his birth occur-
ring in Coshocton County in 1836. His parents, James and Elizabeth Bailey,
were natives of Delaware and Pennsylvania respectively, and of English and
Dutch descent. Henry Bailey remained on the home farm, working and at-
tending school until he was twenty-one years of age, when he began for himself,
and in 1861 removed to Van Wert County, Ohio, and purchased a half-interest in
a saw-mill, to which he gave his attention for three years, removing in 1865 to
Coshocton County, where he purchased a farm, but in 1868 he sold out and
came to Richland Township, locating on a fine farm of 160 acres, where he still
remains. Mr. Bailey was married in June, 1863, to Miss Ruth A. Richey,
daughter of M. F. and Sarah Richey, both natives of Ohio, and of English and
Irish descent. They have but one child — Homer Bailey. Mr. and Mrs. Bai-
ley are of the Baptist faith, Mr. Bailey contributing largely toward the support
of that denomination in Larwill. Mr. Bailey is one of the most energetic and
enterprising of men, being influential in the establishment of the first tile-mill in
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 309
the county, shipping the first tile and laying the first tile ditch in the township.
He does not aspire to political eminence, but devotes his time to stock-raising
and home improvements, and all objects devoted to the public good, we find
in him an able coadjutor.
HARLOW BARBER (deceased) was born in Goshen, Litchfield Town-
ship, Conn., May 8, 1798, and was the son of Jared and Eunice (Holcomb)
Barber, natives of New England. He was a mason by trade, and his wife aided
him in the support of his family by weaving. In his childhood, he had been
removed by his parents to a farm in Genesee County, N. Y., which he assisted
in clearing up, and near by which was a mound, known as Barber Hill. When
grown, he went to (xeorgia for a year and assisted an uncle, an extensive cattle
dealer. Returning home, he married, October 14, 1824, Elsie Case, daughter
of Truman Case, and born in Berkshire County, Mass., October 22, 1803.
He then located on the south side of Barber Hill and farmed until 1838, when
he came to Troy Township, this county, and located on Section 14, where
he built a round-log cabin, which is still standing as one of the pioneer land-
marks, and has been occupied as a residence the better part of the time since.
He cleared up this land, and in 1852 sold out and bought the farm now owned
by his son, F. B., and this he, a few years later, sold, and located near Larwill,
where he farmed a number of years, and as age crept on, he moved into town,
and spent the remainder of his days in retirement. His wife, Elsie, died in
1832, from consumption, the mother of five sons, four now living. He took his
second wife about 1834, his first wife's sister and his uncle's widow, who bore
him two children. After establishing for himself a good record, he died July
11, 1881, from dyspepsia, at the age of eighty-three. His wife survives him
at the age of ninety-six, and is living, hale and hearty, with her step-son, W.
E. Barber.
E. L. BARBER was born in Genesee County, N. Y., August 28, 1831,
and came with his parents to this county at the age of eight. Being not over-
strong, his early days were spent in catching small game and keeping depreda-
tory birds and animals away from the crops on his flither's farm. After a visit
to a step-sister for a couple of years, he went to Miami County, Ohio, to live
with Dr. B. H. Sutton, as a student of medicine, and worked for his board, and
did odd jobs to supply himself with clothing. Here be stopped three years, and
the last winter taught school. In the spring, he passed some time in the dis-
secting-room, and then attended a private school at Fort Wayne the rest of the
summer. On his return home, he taught geography from outline maps ; then
made a trip to New York, taught geography again on his return, and then took
a third interest in a dry goods store in Larwill. In 1852, he organized a com-
pany and started overland for California, and there remained seven years, en-
gaged in mining most of the time. In 1859, he returned home to take care of
a brother very low with consumption. The following spring, he began selling
goods from a wagon, and in 1861 started as a general dealer in the town then
Q
310 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
known as Huntsville. He did business for some time in Etna, and then sold his
store-building and removed his stock to present place, where he is continuing the
same trade. During his residence in Larwill, he served as Postmaster seven
years. He was married, in 1868, to Rachel Jameson, and became the father of
five children — one daughter and three sons of whom are now living.
JAMES BAYMAN was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1811, and was
the son of John and Mary Bayman, both natives of Virginia, and of French de-
scent. When the subject was three years old his mother died, and a few years
later his mother was married to David Whitman, of Darke County, Ohio, in
which county our subject spent his boyhood in working on a farm. In the fall
of 1836, he married Hannah Hole, daughter of William and Elizabeth Hole,
natives of Virginia. The same year, he entered eighty acres in Wells County,
and the following year moved upon it, brought it out of the woods transformed
to a perfect farm, and in 1852 sold and removed to this township ; located on
wild land, which he thoroughly improved, increased to 320 acres, gave a por-
tion of it to his sons, and now has a comfortable home of 117 acres. He is the
father of eleven children, of whom six sons and three daughters are now living.
His son Alexander was with Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea,
having enlisted, in the fall of 1862, in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Vol-
unteer Infantry. His second son enlisted February 11, 1865, and was out till
the close of the war.
S. BENTON was born in Pasquotank County, N. C, in 1822, and at the
age of eight years was brought by his parents to Wayne County, this State.
He was married in August, 1843, to Anna Guard, and the October following
moved to Etna Township, this county now, but then a part of Noble County.
His forest farm consisted of eighty acres, and he had $50 in cash with which to
start life in a new country without roads or home markets. He stopped with
Mr. James Long until he had time to erect a cabin, into which he moved the
thirteenth day after his arrival. It had a paper window, but no door nor fire-
place. Nevertheless, by industry, he has created for himself a comfortable home,
and therein has reared his family. He has vivid recollections of the Indians of
that day, and of the plenitude of deer, turkeys and other game. His nearest
market was Fort Wayne, and to that point he carried his produce and bought
his groceries, and the trip took from three to four days. By trapping and wild
animals, he was enabled to pay his taxes through the sale of their pelts. His
energy was rewarded subsequently by his fellow citizens calling upon him to
fill several minor offices of the township, including that of Viewer of Roads.
He has been twice married, and is the father of eight children, six of whom are
still living. His first wife died in 1873, at the age of fifty-two. August 20,
1875, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, widow of Henry Smith, and they are
the parents of six children. Mr. Benton is a Freemason, and an honored citi-
zen of Larwill, at which place he now resides.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. - 311
D J. BOWMAN, hardware merchant, was born in Wayne County, Ohio,
in 1833, and is the son of David and Margaret Bowman, natives of Pennsylva-
nia, an(i of German descent. He was reared on a farm, and came with his
parents to Washington Township, Noble Co., Ind., in 1846. He assisted his
parents in clearing from the forest a farm, and at the age of twenty started for
himself, making a purchase for $200, on one year's time, of some wild land,
which, through hard work and saving habits, he succeeded in paying for. In
1858, he married Miss Helen E. Jones, daughter of Eli Jones, and then sold
his farm and bought eighty acres in Section 32, Etna Township, this county,
which he redeemed from the forest and converted into a pleasant home. He
worked for a number of years at the carpenter's trade, and in August, 1862,
enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was
honorably discharged in June, 1865, having been under Gen. Sherman's com-
mand nearly the whole time. He is quite active as a politician, and has filled
the position of Township Assessor one term. He and his wife have one child,
and are members of the Baptist Church, he also being a member of Masonic
Lodge, No. 377. Subject moved to Piercetonin 1871 or 1872, served a few years
as clerk in a hardware store, then eighteen months in a dry goods store, and in
1881 came to Larwill, and started his present large hardware establishment.
ALEXANDER BUNTAIN, deceased, when but an infant child accom-
panied his parents from Virginia — his native State — to Highland County,
Ohio. He was born in 1813, and resided in Ohio until about the year 1841,
when he came to this township and began improving land, owned by his father.
He married, in September, 1841, Miss Mary T. Buck, and shortly afterward
settled on the farm he had cleared, and for many years lived happily. At his
death, which occurred in September, 1870, the community mourned the loss of
an old and valued citizen. Mr. Buntain served in the capacity of Township
Trustee two terms, and was the father of six children, all of whom are living
but one. Mrs. Buntain is the daughter of John and Catharine Buck, who
came from Madison County, Ohio, to this township, and located in 1839, on the
farm now owned by Henry Bailey. Mrs. Buntain is yet living on the home-
stead farm.
JOHN BUNTAIN, deceased, was born in Highland County, Ohio, in
1817, and was a son of John and Elizabeth Buntain, natives of Virginia, of
Irish descent. The subject was reared on a farm, and in 1842 came to this
township, and began improving some land previously purchased by his father.
He built a cabin, and in 1843 married Lydia A. Trimble, daughter of Abner
and Mary Trimble, natives of Madison County, Ohio. Here they experienced
the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and reared their family, four children having re-
sulted from their union, three boys and one girl. Mr. Buntain was a highly
respected and industrious man, owning a well-improved farm of 160 acres at
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1878. Mrs. Buntain came to
this county with her mother three years prior to her marriage with Mr. Bun-
312 ' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
tain. Their eldest son John R. enlisted in 1864 in Company G, One Hundred
and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battles of Resaca
and Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Franklin, Tenn., Nashville, and Gum Swamp,
N. C. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865.
JOHN BURNS was born in Utica, N, Y., January 18, 1814, the son of
Abraham and Hannah Burns, natives of New York and Vermont. He was
taken while yet a child by his parents to Monroe County, N. Y., then to Oak-
land County, Mich., where, from fourteen years upward, was reared to the use
of the ax, maul and wedge. When twenty-one, he started out for himself,
working by the job, and in the winter of 1835 erected for himself a cabin on a
small forest farm. August 28, 1836, he married Mary E. Letson, born in
Orleans County, N. Y., September 29, 1820, and removed with her parents,
William and Lovina (Howe) Letson, to Oakland County, Mich., in 1835. The
spring following his marriage, he sold his farm, and came to this township and
entered land on Section 29. In 1837, he moved in, having but 25 cents in his
pocket, which soon went for postage on a letter from home. He went through
all the privations of pioneer life, but has cleared his land and reared a family of
eleven children, nine of whom are still living. He assisted in laying out the
main roads in the township, and was on the first jury impaneled in the county.
His wife became a member of the M. E. Church in 1844, and died in that
faith in September, 1875, aged fifty-five years. Our subject also joined the
same church with wife, and at the same time.
S. B. CLEVENGER was born in Warren County, Ohio, December 18,
1818 and was one of ten children born to Samuel and Sarah (Bunnel) Cleven-
ger, who were natives of New York and of English and French extraction.
They moved to Butler County, Ohio, when our subject was but a child, and
thence to Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1833, and three years later our subject went
to Cincinnati to learn stone-cutting ; after three years., he went to Eaton, Ohio,
where he worked twenty-two years ; thence to Wabash County, Ind., where he
engaged in farming till 1868, when he came to Larwill and began in the hard-
ware trade, which he continued till two years ago, when he retired from busi-
ness. He was married, in 1844, to Susan A. Halderman, daughter of Jacob
and Elizabeth Halderman, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and of Ger-
man descent, and to this union were born four sons and two daughters. His
eldest son, John H., at the age of eighteen, enlisted, in the fall of 1862, at
Wabash, in Company D, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the age of four, our
subject gave his parents a pledge that he would never touch a drop of liquor or
taste an onion, and this vow has never been violated. His recollections of the
privations suffered by the pioneers of the State are very vivid, and his reminis-
cences of its early history copious and entertaining. He has been a prosperous
business man and a conscientious one, and he and wife are members of the
Universalist Church.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 313
D. B. CLUGST0:N', merchant, was born in New York in 1832, and is the
son of Asher and Catharine (Rittenhouse) Clugston, natives of New Jersey, and
of Scotch and German descent. They came to Larwill, this township, in 1865»
and about six months later Mr. Clugston died of consumption, aged sixty-three.
Mrs. C. is yet enjoying good health at the age of seventy-one, and is residing
with her son, our subject, in Larwill. D. B. Clugston went to school till he was
thirteen years old, and then entered a dry goods store, where he remained three
years, and then returned to his father's farm in Delaware County, Ohio, on
which his parents had located about 1845, and were then living, and there
remained until twenty-four years of age. He then took a trip to the West,
seeking a future home, but returned eastwardly and settled in Larwill in 1857,
and entered upon mercantile pursuits— for the first five years in company with
E. L. McLallen, now of Columbia City. At present, he is at the head of three
mercantile establishments — at South Whitley, Columbia City and at Larwill —
and carries a stock valued at $50,000 or over, although he began with quite
limited means. In 1858, he married Miss Margaret McLallen, daughter of
Henry McLallen, and to this union were born three sons and three daughters.
He is an advanced Mason, being a Knight Templar, and never fails to assist in
the advancement of laudable enterprises for the advancement of home industries.
S. J. COMPTON was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, July 5, 1835,
the son of Andrew and Mary A. Compton, natives of New Jersey and Ohio
respectively, and of English descent. They came to this township in the fall
of 1837, entered 320 acres, and reared a family of ten children, five sons and
five daughters. The father died in October, 1852, but the mother is still living
on the homestead farm, in good' health, at seventy-five years of age. At the
age of seventeen our subject began life on his own account as farmer. Octo-
ber, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volun-
teer Infantry, was mustered in as Sergeant, and was honorably discharged
January, 1864, as Second Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and others. In 1858, he mar-
ried Rachael Bishop, daughter of Robert and Phoebe Bishop, natives of
Indiana and Ohio respectively, and of English extraction, and to this union
were born four children, of whom two daughters are living. Through industry
and energy he has built himself a fine home. He is a Freemason, and in
politics a Republican.
A. L. COMPTON was born in this township June 16, 1843, the son of
Andrew and Mary A. Compton, natives of New Jersey and Massachusetts.
They came to this township in the fall of 1837, and located in the forest on
Section 21, which they have converted into a delightful home of 332 acres.
The father died in 1852, aged forty-four years, and the mother is still living
on the old homestead at the advanced age of seventy-five years. Their children
were ten in number. Our subject was but nine years old at his father's death,
and until a grown man he remained with his mother, going to school in winter
314 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
and working on the farm in summer. In 1872, he married Ellen Griffith, the
daughter of John and Margaret Griffith, and to their union have been born
one son and two daughters. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and
by industry and economy has secured for himself a tidy and productive farm
of 129 acres.
JOSEPH W. COMPTON was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in May,
1843, the son of C. H. and Jemima Compton, natives of New York and Vir-
ginia and of English descent. In the sixth year of his age our subject was
brought by his parents to this township, where from the woods they have
cleared up a pleasant home of eighty acres. In his eighteenth year our sub-
ject enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, going
out as a private ; early in 1863, he was promoted to Sergeant, and the year
following to Fourth Sergeant. He took part in the battles of Fort Donelson,
Shiloh, Stone River, etc. At Shiloh he was slightly wounded, and in going
from Chattanooga to Athens, Tenn., had his arm broken by the cars running
off the track. He was honorably discharged September 14, 1865, as a veteran.
In 1871, he purchased his present home of eighty acres, which he has brought
to a line state of cultivation. He was married, March 29, 1867, to Elvena
Croy, daughter of Daniel and Ann Croy, and to him have been born one son
and three daughters. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of the
Masonic order.
JESSEE CORDILL was born in Monroe County, Tenn., July 13, 1822,
son of John and Esther (Beck) Cordill, natives respectively of Virginia and
North Carolina. At the age of six, he was taken by his parents to Alabama,
thence to Wayne County, Ind., and then to Cleveland Township, this county,
in 1838, where they settled in the forest. Our subject remained with his par-
ents until 1849, when he started in life with $350. April, 1850, he married
Sarah Norris, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, September, 1829, daughter of
William Norris, who came to this township in September, 1843. To their union
five children were born, of whom two sons and one daughter are still living.
Soon after the marriage he purchased 120 acres of land in Richland, on which
he has ever since resided. He now owns 160 acres, with good improvements.
Their first log cabin was replaced by a good frame house in 1856, and in May,
1877, it and contents were destroyed by fire, and on its site now stands a sub-
stantial brick mansion, erected at a cost of $2,000. Our subject's first vote
was cast for James K. Polk, but he now votes for principles and not for party.
He passed through all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and what he now has was
gained through honest industry and commendable prudence.
DANIEL CROY was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, December, 1822,
the son of Jacob and Catherine Croy, and there lived until of age. He s|;arted
in life empty-handed, and worked at jobs and by the month for nine years, and
then began farming. He entered eighty acres of his present farm in this town-
ship in 1845, and in 1850, with his family, moved in. He built a round-log
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 315
cabin, which was his first habitation in the township, . but by industry has suc-
ceeded in bringing out of the wilderness a pleasant home of 160 acres, with good
improvements and excellent cultivation. He was married, in 1837, to Ann
Warburton, and began housekeeping with home-made furniture, such as stools
for chairs and a packing-box for a table, but these things have been replaced by
the furniture of the present day. He became the father of eleven children, of
whom only one son and four daughters are now living. His two eldest sons
enlisted in the winter of 1861 and 1862 in the Forty-fourth and Eighty-eighth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after being out about a year, both died of fever
contracted in the army, and are now at rest in the home cemetery.
JOSEPH ESSIG was born in Medina County, Ohio, September 28, 1836,
son of George and Catharine Essig, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German
descent, and came to this county with his parents when but seven years old,
and with them settled on a farm, which he assisted in clearing. In 1856, he
married Sarah A. Stamm, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, and by this
union became the father of eleven children, of whom three sons and six daugh-
ters are still living. He followed farming until the spring of 1867, and then
began lumbering in this township ; eight years later, he sold out and purchased
a flouring mill, which he is still operating. In politics, he is a Democrat, and
has served as Trustee, and filled several minor offices in the township, and is a
member of the I. 0. 0. F. He came here without capital, but his industry and
enterprise have realized for him a comfortable fortune. His father, after build-
ing up a substantial home from the forest, and rearing a family of twelve chil-
dren, died in 1866, aged seventy-three years, his wife following him in 1872, aged
seventy-four.
J. B. FIRESTONE, M. D., was born March 30, 1828, in Wayne County,
Ohio, son of John and Rachael Firestone, natives of Maryland and Pennsylva-
nia, and of German descent. He was reared on a farm, but had an opportuni-
ty of attending school, and, at the age of nineteen, began reading medicine at
Congress with Prof. L. Firestone, now of Wooster University; he then attended
lectures at Cleveland Medical College, concluded his course at the Wooster (Ohio)
University, graduating in 1874. He began practice in 1850 at Cannonsburg,
Ohio, and, in 1855, moved to Columbia City, this county ; thence he came to
Larwill in about 1859, and has secured a practice extending through a circuit
of ten miles. Dr. Firestone has been an active Democrat, and, in 1858, was
called to the State Legislature, in which he served two sessions to the entire sat-
isfaction of his constituents. In 1876, he was nominated for State Senator,
jointly for Whitley and Kosciusko, and in this Republican district was defeated
by only twenty-six votes. The Doctor stands very high in the Masonic frater-
nity, having attained the 32d degree — next to the highest conferred by the rites.
In 1848, he was married to Sarah A. Orr, and four children were the result of
the union. Mrs. Firestone died in 1855, and in 1856 the Doctor took his sec-
ond partner, Rebecca McHenry, of Van Wert, Ohio, by whom he has had one
child.
316 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
PRICE GOODRICH was born in Hartford, Conn., December 17, 1799,
the son of Bela and Sally (Church) Goodrich, both natives of Connecticut. He
was brought at eight years of age to Franklin County, Ohio, by his parents,
with whom he remained, assisting on their farm, till nineteen years old, when he
went as an apprentice at brick-laying and plastering, which trade he followed a
number of years North and South ; then returned home, and, February 2, 1831,
married Julia A. Black, daughter of Isaac and Mehitable (Brown) Black, who
bore him seven children, six of whom are yet living. In 1838, he quit his trade
and settled on the farm he now occupies, which he has converted from a wilder-
ness to one of the pleasant homes in the township. In 1842, he resumed his
trade and went to work in Fort Wayne for a season, and after that, employed
himself in his own neighborhood at the same business till age warned him to
cease in 1875, since when he has been living in retirement on his farm. He
was Inspector at the first election held in Troy Township, at which there were
but thirteen votes polled, and has always been a leader in movements for home
progress. He has served as Probate Judge, County Commissioner and Town-
ship Trustee. He was licensed as an exhorter in the M. E. Church in 1841,
and officiated nine years, and then as local preacher for twenty-five years, and
was then ordained as minister of the Gospel in the Free Methodist Church.
He and wife have been active members in this society since 1828 and 1819
respectively,
JAMES GRANT was born in Seneca County, N. Y., May 10, 1806,
the son of Abraham and Sarah Grant, natives of New Jersey. The parents
moved to Canada in 1809, but returned to New York, Genesee County, shortly
after, where three of the sons went into the war of 1812, two returning and
one, Thomas, being killed in the battle of Black Rock. In 1818, they removed
to Ontario County, N. Y., and thence to Dearborn County, Ind., where our
subject resided till twenty-two years old, when he began roaming and working
for six years. In 1833, he married Eliza Beard, a native of Maryland, but a
resident of Seneca County, Ohio, and continued working as carpenter and ship-
builder till the fall of 1839, when he brought his family to this (then Troy)
township, locating on land he had entered in 1837. In 1851, he erected the
first steam saw-mill the county ever had, and ran it successfully for sixteen
years. He became the father of eleven children, nine of whom are yet living.
Three times he has been elected Justice of the Peace in his township, served as
Trustee under the old law, and filled various minor offices. His first vote was
cast for Gen. Jackson for President, and he has ever since adhered to the
Democratic party. He has retained a garden spot of 40 acres of his farm, and
now lives in retirement, enjoying the harvest of his early enterprise and
industry.
DAVID HAYDEN (deceased) was born in Fayette County, Penn.,
January 5, 1807. He was the son of John and Hannah Hayden, who in
1815 moved with their family to Hamilton County, Ohio, and thence to
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 317
Franklin. In 1830, he married Alma Cole, who was born in Lewis County,
N. Y., August 5, 1810, and was the daughter of Daniel and Ruth Cole, na-
tives of Connecticut and of English and Welsh extraction. After farming
awhile in Franklin County, he moved to this State March 9, 1836, and located
on Section 6, this township, his neighbors at that time being ten miles distant.
At the organization of the township, our subject was present, and it was
through his recommendation that it received its name. From out the then
wilderness, he succeeded in bringing to a high state of cultivation a farm of
320 acres. He was an active worker in politics and an energetic promoter of
home industries up to the day of his death, which occurred October 22, 1878,
through which event his venerable partner and six children (five sons and one
daughter) lost a kind and loving husband and father. In 1881, the widow and
daughter removed to Larwill, where they now reside. The privations suifered
by subject and wife during their early days in the forest were too numerous to
be detailed here, but before the second summer the demand for game was larger
than the supply, and it was only by refusing to divide with the Indians what
little meal could be procured that, on one occasion, the family were saved
from starvation.
JOHN JONES was born in Cumberland County, Penn., in 1810, and
is the oldest of seven children born to Joseph and Barbara Jones, natives of
Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Welsh and German extraction. His educational
advantages were very limited, and the death of his father threw the responsibility
of pi'oviding for the wants of the family upon him, which he cheerfully assumed.
The mother and children removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1828,
where he made a home for them, and where his mother died in 1867. He came
to Richland Township in 1852, located on a farm of 160 acres, built a cabin,
and set to work to redeem a home from the wilderness, which in time, by energy
and application, was accomplished. Mr. Jones was married in 1832, to Sarah
L. Barber, a native of New York, and of their eight children, five are yet living.
Mrs. Jones passed away in 1868 ; since that time Mr. Jones has found a home
with his children. Mr. Jones is a strong Republican and has always felt a
warm interests in political events, and is a public spirited enterprising citizen;
he has acted in an official capacity in the M. E. Church for over thirty-five
years, and it was through his influence the first church and Sunday school was
established in this vicinity, and despite his years is still and active worker, and
in the enjoyment of health. Our subject's eldest son, John B. Jones, enlisted
in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
was mustered into service at Camp Carrington, near Indianapolis, November 3,
1864, and rated Corporal. While on duty near Nashville, Corporal Jones sick-
ened and died March 9, 1865; his remains were brought home, and now rest
in Richland Cemetery.
DAVID KERR, was born in Beaver County, Penn., in 1814, son of
David and Rachael Kerr, natives of the same State, and of Scotch descent.
318 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Our subject came with his parents to Richland County, Ohio, in 1822, and
there went to school, subsequently "teaching himself to become a teacher,"
which pursuit he engaged in for two winters. He started in life at tlie age of
sixteen, working at jobs and learning the carpenter's trade. During Jackson's
term as President, he entered forty acres of land in Richland . County, paying
for it by cutting wood at 20 cents per cord, and splitting rails at 40 cents
per hundred. This land he cleared and increased by adding eighty acres
adjoining. In the spring of 1858, he came to this township, purchased land
and moved on it the October following, and now has an excellently improved
farm of 120 acres. His first vote was cast for Harrison, for President, but as
a rule has kept aloof from politics. He was first married March 7, 1838, to
Rosanna Bremer, of Ohio, who became the mother of ten children, five of whom
are now living. The second marriage was in 1867, August 27, to Mrs. R. T.
Speelman, of Crestline, Ohio, daughter of Allen and Mary R. Talbott, and
mother, by her first husband, of five children, three now living. Subject's
eldest son, James M., served during the late war in Company I, Indiana Volun-
teer Cavalry, attached to Gen. Thomas' command, and received two flesh
wounds, not, however, of a serious character. Our subject is a member of the
Society of Friends, and he now lives retired upon the accumulations of his in-
dustry and perseverance.
A. H. KING was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in January, 1815,
the son of Luther and Lucinda King, both natives of Massachusetts. When
seven years of age, subject removed with his parents to Medina County, Ohio,
where he went to school, worked on the home farm and remained until 1842,
when he was united in marriage to Mary A. Dimick, and began farming on his
own account. In 1851, he removed with his family to this township, and
located the farm of 14'.' acres where he now lives. It was then in a state of
nature, but his industry has redeemed it. Mrs. King died in 1855, the mother
of four children. January, 1857, our subject married Sarah Taylor, daughter
of Edward Taylor, who has borne him one child. His son Homer, in 1861,
enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three
years, but returned after being out eighteen months and re-enlisted in the
regular service for three years. His son, Alonzo, enlisted in the fall of 1861,
in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after being out a
short time was discharged on account of disability ; but, on recovering, re-en-
listed, serving four or more years, and in 18<i7, enlisted in the regular army
for three years and came through without a scratch. Our subject cast his first
vote with the Whig party in 1836, but, when the Republican party was formed,
followed its standard.
DANIEL KIRKPATRICK, M. D., was born in Wayne County. Ohio,
in 1836, son of Daniel and Mary (Johnson) Kirkpatrick, natives of Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio. He moved with the family to Wells County, Ind., in 1853.
He was reared on a farm, going to school at intervals till he began the study of
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 319
medicine, in 1856, at Ossian, with Dr. Metts ; he also followed teaching. He
attended medical courses, first, at Columbus ; secondly, at Rush Medical Col-
lege, Chicago ; thirdly, at Cincinnati, and graduated at Rush College, Chicago,
in 1860. He soon after located at Larwill, where he has won for himself a
lucrative practice and secured a comfortable home, though for the first few
years his limited means for paying his way made times rather anything than
pleasant. He has always stood aloof from politics, preferring to devote his
time to the study and practice of his profession and the promotion of social
interests. He was married, in 1858, to Miss S. A. Allen, daughter of Stephen
Allen, and to their union were born four children — Lida, Charles, LoroefSe
and Lizzie. Both he and wife are active church members.
WILLIAM H. LANCxiSTER was born in Wayne County, Ind., Sep-
tember 22, 1824, and was left an orphan at the age of nine years. His boy-
hood days were passed on an uncle's farm and in going to school. When he
reached his majority, he turned his attention to carpentering and followed that
trade a few years, and then chose the occupation of farming and stock-raising.
March 2, 1848, he married Mary A. Scarce, daughter of David and Rebecca
(Edwards) Scarce, both natives of this State, and in 1849 moved to this town-
ship and located on his present farm, which was then in a state of nature ;
and the log cabin he then erected has been replaced by a modern structure
and the wooded land turned into cultivated fields. Beginning with ^800, he
has increased his possessions to 810 acres in this vicinity and one-quarter sec-
tion in Kansas. He was never an active politician, yet has served two terms
as Township Trustee. His first political proclivities led him to join the old
Whig party, but after the formation of the Republican organization he became
one of its strongest supporters. The subject's parents were Rex and Phariba
(Henby) Lancaster, both natives of North Carolina and of English extraction.
His own children number six — five sons and one daughter.
MARCUS NORRIS was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1820, and
was there reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. When
twenty-one years old, he visited De Kalb and a number of other coun-
ties, then returned home, and, in 1843, came to this township, stopped one year
on his father's farm, and the following spring located on the farm he still occu-
pies, which he redeemed from the wilderness, and has now a well-improved
farm of 160 acres. He found his wheat market at Fort Wayne, making a
three days' trip, selling at 46 cents per bushel, and bringing back a supply of
salt, boots, clothing, etc. He has been thrice married — first, in 1843, to El-
mira Oder; second, in 1847, to Martha Webb; third, in 1849, to his present
wife, Maria Webb, daughter of George Hower. He is the father of eight chil-
dren, five of whom are living. Our subject is the son of William and Marga-
ret Norris, natives respectively of Virginia and England and of Dutch and
Irish extraction, and who came to this township in 1843. He has been an
active member of the Baptist Church for thirty years.
320 BIOaRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
HENRY NORRIS was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in February,
1837, son of William and Margaret Norris, who came to this township in 1843
and located in Section 22, on the farm our subject at present occupies, now
consisting of 225 acres, and on which they reared eleven children, nine of
whom are still living. They respectively departed this life in 1872 and 1879, in
their seventy-fifth year. In this new country, school privileges were rare, and our
subject suffered somewhat in consequence. January 29, 1857, he was married
to Derinda Wolford, born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1830, and daughter
of Matthias and Lucinda Wolford, natives of Ohio and of German extraction,
and to their union seven children were born, of whom four daughters and two
sons are living. Our subject and his brother William purchased the home-
stead farm in 1862, and, in 1868, subject bought his brother's interest, and has
now a fine farm of 285 acres. February 11, 1865, he enlisted in Company I,
One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was out seven
months. He is a large shipper of live stock to Eastern markets, and has fol-
lowed that business for six years. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a firm
member of the Baptist Church.
GEORGE W. NORRIS was born in this township September 1, 1852,
the son of Alexander and Susan Norris, natives of Ohio and of German
descent. They came to this township in 1843, and located on Section 16.
Here our subject and an elder brother, George W., were born. The father
was killed in March, 1855, by a falling tree while out chopping, our subject
then being but three years of age, and about six years later the mother mar-
ried John Hower. October 4, 1871, our subject married Caroline Shirtliff,
daughter of John and Hancy Shirtliff, natives of Massachusetts. To this
union one son and one daughter were born, Mr. Norris started in the world
with $75 in cash and sixty acres of land, but by hard work and economy has
secured 132 acres, which are under a good state of cultivation, and well
improved. He votes with the Republican party, and he and wife are members
of the Baptist Church.
REV. A. D. PARRETT was born in Fayette County, Ohio, August 1,
1816. His parents, Joseph and Mary Barrett, were natives of Virginia, of Ger-
man descent. They removed to Ohio in 1803, and thence to this county, with
family, in the fall of 1836, locating on the present site of South Whitley.
Here they passed their lives and reared a family of nine children, three of whom
are now living. Joseph Barrett helped organize this county and Cleveland
Township, and also assisted in laying out the first roads. He died in 1850, at
the age of sixty-seven years. Mrs. Barrett passed away in 1847, aged sixty-
five. The subject received poor school advantages and assisted his father until
he became of age, when he began working for himself, and with his brother,
Abington, rented his father's farm, until in July, 1840, when he was married
by Judge Swihart to Mrs. Susan Berkins, daughter of Joseph McCoy. Twelve
children were born to this union, five of whom are living. Mr. Barrett soon
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 321
after his marriage removed to this township. He joined the church in 1835,
and began preaching soon after, first as an exhorter, and afterward was licensed
as a local minister. During his ministerial labors, he has performed 196 mar-
riage ceremonies, and officiated at a large number of funerals. Mr. Parrett has
held several township offices, and four of his sons served in the late war, two
enlisting in the fall of 1861, in Company C, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, one in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and his
fourth son as a cavalryman during the latter part of the war. Wesley never
returned, and now lies buried at Memphis. Nelson, after he died, was brought
home and buried at South Whitley. Joseph A. served three years, then re-
enlisted, and served in the Western Division, under Gen. Hovey, for a period
of four years and twenty-six days.
ABNER PRUGH was born in Preble County, Ohio, in November, 1816,
and is the son of Peter and Elizabeth Prugh, natives of Maryland and Ohio,
and of German descent. He began life by doing job work and farming, saved
his earnings, came to Wells County, this State, in 1837, and bought some land.
This, in 1849, he traded for a part of his farm in this township, but did not en-
ter upon it until 1853, in the meanwhile living upon rented land, in Kosciusko
County, but giving attention to the clearing of his 160 acres of forest home here,
which he has since developed into one of the finest farms in the neighborhood.
October 15, 1840, Mr. Prugh was married to Nancy Matthews, daughter of
Benjamin D. and Eliza Matthews, natives of Maryland, and the union resulted
in the birth of fourteen children, nine sons and three daughters of whom are
still living. Two of the sons, William A. and George W., enlisted in the
Union army during the late war ; William, October, 1861, and George, Aug-
ust, 1862, and were out three and two years respectively. William was honor-
ably discharged in January, 1864, on account of failure of eyesight, caused by
exposure at Shiloh and Stone River. George W. accompanied Sherman on his
march to the sea. Mr. Prugh has always been considered one of Richland's
leading citizens, and, although not a very active politician, has been elected to
serve as Township Treasurer several terms, and also to fill a number of minor
offices. Himself and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for the last forty-two years.
G. W. PRUGH, son of A^er and Nancy Prugh, was born in Preble Coun-
ty, Ohio, in 1843. When quite young, his parents removed to this township,
where he lived until the age of eighteen. At that time, he enlisted in Company
K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, August 11, 1862, and was hon-
orably discharged in June, 1865. He participated in the battle of Chickamauga,
and for three days after that subsisted on one cracker while marching at the rate
of eleven miles per day, and, under Gens. Carlan and Sherman, marched to
Atlanta. After returning from the war, Mr. Prugh engaged in farming, rent-
ing land, until he located on his present farm. He was married to Nancy Sou-
der in 1867. Her father, Conrad Souder, came to this county in 1846.
322 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Mr. and Mrs. Prugh have had born to them five children, one son and four
daughters. Mr. Prugh is a member of the Republican party, and cast his tirst
vote for Gen. Grant. He has worked diligently, and always helped in the ad-
vancement of his people. His mother-in-law, who is past the age of sixty, is
making her home with them.
WILLIAM RICE, a retired farmer, was born in Washington County, N.
Y., December 30, 1812. In September, 1836, he started for this State to
secure a home ; first located in Kosciusko County, but in March, 1837, came
to this township and entered the land on which he still resides, which he has
converted from a wilderness to a desirable homestead of eighty acres. July 4,
1839, he married Harriet M. Jones, daughter of John and Myra Jones. This
lady died September 19, 18-11, leaving one son, who died in the spring of 1881.
May 16, 1844, our subject married Miss Lydia Mitchell, daughter of William
and Mary Mitchell. Mr. Rice was the tenth person to settle in this township,
and is now the last survivor of that early ten. He was present at the organi-
zation of the township, acting as Inspector, and carrying the returns to Hunt-
ington (of which this county was then a part), giving three days' time to the
township in making the trip. He has filled the ofl&ce of Township Trustee and
minor ofiices, which were thrust upon him rather than sought by him. He re-
tains a vivid recollection of the game which filled the surrounding woods when
he first located here, and has counted as many as eleven deer in one day wan-
dering near his clearing. The first two acres of corn he planted went as prov-
ender to the squirrels and raccoons, whose depredations were altogether beyond
control. Our subject's only son, John J., enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served through the better part of the recent war.
S. F. ROBINSON is a native of Massachusetts, born in that State in
1826, removing with his parents, when two years of age, to Wayne County, N.
Y., and from there to Medina County, Ohio, in 1835, where his earlier ye^ars
were spent in acquiring an education and working on his father's farm. In
1852, he located in Pulaski, Ohio, in the manufacture and sale of boots and
shoes, which business he continued for fifteen years — the last two years adding
to his stock Eastern-made goods, and groceries. During this time, he was Post-
master for seven years. He came to Larwill in 1869, with his family, where
they have since resided. His first purchase was a saw-mill, which he exchanged
for a farm, and that in turn for the mill he now owns. Mr. Robinson was
united in marriage in November, 1850, to Miss Mary L. Wells, a daughter of
Jared and Louisa Wells, both natives of Connecticut, and of English and Scotch
descent. Their family consists of two daughters. Mr. Robinson is a son of
Seth and Mehi table (Randall) Robinson, both natives of Massachusetts, and of
English and Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the
Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mr. Robinson is, in every sense of the word, a
self-made man, and, through industry and good business ability, has acquired
a competence for himself and family. He has never aspired to political emi-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 323
nence, but always lends a helping hand to all laudable enterprises for the ad-
vancement of home interests, but is not a member of any secret societies.
BENJAMIN B. SALMON was born in 1823 in Washington County,
Ohio, and reared in Delaware County, same State, en a farm. He came West
with two companions, arriving in this county in September, 1843. He was
variously employed for some time, and for clearing land received forty acres of
his present home, in 1844 ; here he began clearing and built a cabin. The
following spring he was married to Betsey R. Havens, daughter of Thomas C.
and Roxanna Havens, natives of Connecticut and of English descent. To them
were born fouY sons and five daughters. Mr. Salmon when he came here had
but 25 cents and eight head of sheep, and for many years endured hardships
and poverty. Soon after marrying, he returned to Franklin County, Ohio, and
until fall worked out by the month. After returning in the fall, he moved
into his log house, which at that time had no floor. He went twenty-one
miles to mil], and hauled his produce to Fort Wayne. Mr. Salmon now owns
a farm of eighty acres, besides property in Larwill. He is a Republican, and
first voted for Henry Clay. In 1861, Mrs. Betsey Salmon died, aged thirty-
seven years, and he was subsequently married to Susanna Sickafoose, a native
of Ohio. They had two sons and one daughter, and the mother died in 1878.
That same year, Mr. Salmon was married to his third and present wife, Mary
Metz, daughter of John Ray. They are both members members of the U. B.
Church.
C. SOUDER, M. D., son of Conrad and Mary Souder, natives respec-
tively of Germany and Pennsylvania, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in
1842. In the fall of 1846, Conrad Souder, with his family, located in this
township on Section 9. Here he cleared a farm of 160 acres, and provided a
home for his family, which consisted of two sons and two daughters. In 1852,
he died, beloved and respected by all. His widow is yet living and is sixty-
two years old. The subject's youth was passed at home, and in the fall of 1861
he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving
in the war until he was honorably discharged in November, 1864. He received
wounds in the battle of Chickamauga, and was in the battles of Fort Donelson
and Pittsburg Landing. Upon his return, he became a scholar in the schools
at Columbia City, and afterward at Roanoke, Ind., thence to Mendota Col-
lege, Illinois, teaching at intervals. In 1867, he began his medical studies
with Dr. Firestone; attended lectures at Cleveland and Cincinnati in 1870,
graduating from the latter in the same year, since which time he has been en-
gaged actively in the practice of his profession at Larwill, with the exception
of eighteen months at South Whitley. He was married, in 1870, to Sabina
Trembley, daughter of John S. Trembley; is a member of the Masonic order,^
and has two children living, one having died.
HENRY SOUDER is a native of Richland County, Ind., born in 1840,
and son of Conrad and Mary Souder. He was six years old when his parents
324 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
came to this township and located, and when eighteen years of age assumed
the management of the home farm. March 4, 1861, he was united in marriage
to Miss Sarah E. Easly. Her parents, Joseph and Mary Easly, the former a
native of Germany and the latter of Ohio, were early settlers of Indiana. Mr.
Souder, in the fall of 1862, enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana
Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at Perryville ; was in the battles of
Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain, and was
honorably discharged in June, 1865. The following four years he was engaged
in lumbering in this county ; then continued in the same business at Nobles-
ville. Noble County, for a period of two years, locating permanently on his
present farm of 160 acres in the spring of 1874, since which time he has given
his attention to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Souder have a family of six — four
sons and two daughters. He is a Republican and member of the Masonic fra-
ternity.
WILLIAM STERLING was born in Lebanon County, Penn., in Decem-
ber, 1818, the son of John and Elizabeth Sterling, natives of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, who moved to Berks County when our subject was but a
small boy. There he went to school, and at eighteen went to the carpenter's
trade, which he followed a few years. June 4, 1839, he married Margaret
Ulrich, of Lebanon County, and daughter of Adam and Ann Ulrich. In 1840,
he came to this county and located on Eel River, near South Whitley, where
he lived fourteen years, redeeming from the wilderness a farm. This he sold
in 1854, and bought one of 240 acres near Coesse. In 1859, he removed to
this township, where he now owns a well-cultivated homestead of 173 acres.
He became the father of nine children, of whom four sons and four daughters
are now living. He has never been ambitious, politically, but has held minor
offices in his township. In August, 1862, he answered his country's call for
troops, and enlisted in Company F, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infan-
try, and served out his year, taking part in the battle of Mission Ridge,
and skirmishing the rest of the time. His reminiscences of early days in the
wilderness, with Indians, wolves, wild cats, etc., are of an interesting character.
All he possesses has come from his own industry and determination to achieve
independence.
THOMAS STRADLEY, merchant, was born in Delaware, October 27,
1837, the son of Stephen S. and Mary (Bolton) Stradley, who were natives of
the same State. His early days were passed on a farm and in attending
school, and in 1858, at his father's death, he began farming on his own respon-
sibility, and continued thereat until 1865, when he came with his family to
Larwill, and entered a store as clerk, which business he followed for eleven
years, when he united in partnership with D. B. Clugston, and is still in busi-
ness with him. Beginning here with but $3, he has by economy and industry
secured for himself a fine trade and a good home for his family, and also an
interest in a large dry goods establishment at Columbia City. He was mar-
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 325
ried, in 1860, to Miss Gertrude Clugston, also a native of Delaware, and the
fruit of their union has been four daughters. Subject is an active politician,
and votes with the Democratic party. He has served four years as Township
Trustee to the entire satisfaction of the people ; he is a Knight Templar, as
well as member of an I. 0. 0. F. lodge, and always lends a hand toward the
advancement of home enterprises and the improvement of the home social
circle.
B. THOMSON was born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1825, and
was the son of Ezra and Sarah (McNorton) Thomson, natives of New York
and Vermont, and of English and Scotch descent, respectively. The family
came to this township, and located on Section 9, in 1836, and succeeded in
bringing out of the forest a well-cultivated farm, and in rearing a family of
ten children. They were among the earliest pioneers, and departed this life in
1857 and 1855, aged seventy-two and fifty years. Our subject lent his parents his
assistance on the farm till he was twenty-two years old, and then, in 1847,
started out on his own account, to clear a farm he had located in the forest. By
hard work and economy, he has acquired 730 acres of land in this township, and
150 in Cleveland Township, all well improved. He had his experience of
pioneer life in his early days, and remembers the time of the removal of the In-
dians to the West. At that time, he was compelled to travel to Fort Wayne for
a market, a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles. He has always proved a
worthy citizen and was elected County Commissioner in 1876, and re-elected in
1880. In January, 185^, he was married to Matilda Rodebaugh, daughter
of John and Phoebe Rodebaugh, of German and English descent, and
through this union became the father of three sons and one daughter.
E. THOMSON was born in this township in 1849, the son of John and
Emily Thomson, natives of New York, and of English extraction. Mr. J.
Thomson came to this township with his parents in 1836, and, being of age,
soon opened up a farm for himself, on land entered by his father the year of
his arrival, redeemed from the wilderness a tract of 282 acres, and reared five
children, four now living. He died in 1876, his wife following in 1878, aged,
respectively, sixty-one and fifty-eight years. Our subject remained on his
father's farm till twenty-one. In 1871, he married Mary E. Prugh, daughter
of Abner Prugh, and to this union were born three children, of whom only one
is living. In 1878, his wife died, and, some time after, he married Florence
Prugh, also a daughter of Abner Prugh, and to this union has been born one
son — Albert. He has a well-improved farm of eighty acres, and a pleasant
home. As a rule, he takes but little interest in politics, but is firm in his faith
in Democratic principles.
JOHN S. TREMBLEY was born in Somerset County, N. J., October
20, 1813, the son of Isaac S. and Aryann (Vossler) Trembley, both natives of
New Jersey, and of French and German descent. He came with his parents
to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1816, and went to school and worked on the
326 BIOGRA.PHICAL SKETCHES :
farm till twenty-one, when he became a carpenter, and worked at that trade
thirty years, or more, at intervals. In 1842, he married Ellen D. Witt,
daucrhter of David and Deborah Witt, and in 1845, came to this township, and
located on his present farm, then a wilderness, and for twelve years lived in
a cabin which has since been replaced by a good frame dwelling; he now
owns a well cultivated farm of 224 acres. His wife died in April, 1870,
and was the mother of seven children, four of whom are living. In September,
1871, he married Mrs. Mary A. Compton, daughter of Samuel Frazier, and to
this union three children have been born. Mr. Trembley is a Republican in
politics, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Chui'ch, and highly
respected by their neighbors.
WILLIAM WATSON is a native of Wayne County, Ind., born Decem-
ber 25, 1824, and son of William and Nancy Watson. His parents, both na-
tives of Kentucky, removed to Wayne County, Ind., in 1805 ; they had thir-
teen children, and died in the years of 1859 and 1849 respectively. William
Watson, our subject, was married in 1851, to Elizabeth J. Wolf, daughter of
William and Mary Wolf, natives of Virginia, and descendants of the Irish and
German. Mr. Watson was brought up on a farm, and followed that occupation
six years after his marriage. He then took a trip to Kansas with the intention
to locate, but abandoned this project and returned home, removing with his fam-
ily, in the fall of 1859, to this township and locating on eighty acres of his pres-
ent farm, which is now double that size. Mr. Watson is a Republican, and has
served two years as Road Supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are parents of
seven children, four sons and three daughters. The maternal grandfather of
Mr. Watson, while serving in the Revolutionary war in February, 1777, was
captured by the Indians, but succeeded in making his escape after three and a
half years.
DAVID L. WHITELEATHER, druggist, in Larwill, was born in Colum-
biana County, Ohio, in 1827, the son of George and Elizabeth Whiteleather,
natives of Maryland, and of German descent. He remained on his parents'
farm till eighteen years of age, when he began working at carpentering for $5
per month the first year, and this trade he followed for eight years, and then
worked at job work on the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R., in this county, where he
remained till the fall of 1855, when he married Frances Mack, daughter of
Harper and Alice Mack, of New York. He then returned to Columbiana County,
Ohio, engaged in farming till 1859; came to this township in the spring, and
farmed till 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, One Hundredth Indiana Vol-
unteer Infantry; participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Jackson,
Mission Ridge and Atlanta ; followed Sherman to the sea, during the last
eighteen months acting as color-bearer, having be.en color-guard for some time
previously, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. During the skirmish at
New Hope Church, the flagstaff was shot away and twenty-one holes put through
the flag, but he escaped unhurt. The spring following his departure for the war,
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 327
his wife died, leaving three small children. On his return, in the fall of 1865, he
entered the drug trade in company with Dr. Kirkpatrick, and in May, 1881,
he assumed whole charge of the business. In the spring of 1866, he married
his present wife, Julia Temple, daughter of David Patterson. He is a Free-
mason, and in politics a Republican, and he and wife are members of the M. E.
Church. He came here empty-handed, but, by attention to business and honest
dealing, has provided himself with a good home, and established a lucrative trade.
REV. T. WHITMAN was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 4, 1822,
son of David and Sarah Whitman, natives of Virginia. The parents emigrated
with our subject to Wells County, Ind., in February, 1835, and entered land
before the county was organized. Our subject attended the log schoolhouses in
his youth, and, at the age of nineteen, began life on his own account, farming
at intervals ; and in 1840 commenced studying for the ministry. In 1844, he
entered upon active work, locating in Cass County, Ind., and rode a circuit
through Cass, Miami, White and Pulaski Counties for three years, each trip
taking two weeks. He preached each day and night, preparing his sermons
while riding from point to point, receiving the first year $65. He moved to
Pulaski in 1849 ; thence to this township in 1852, locating on his present farm.
In 1840, he married Eliza J. Craig, born in Darke County, Ohio, in August,
1822, the daughter of Rev. Seymore and Sarah Craig. To this union three
children were born, one son now living. After the death of this lady, he mar-
ried Elizabeth Atchison, by whom he had one daughter, now the wife of Dr.
D. E. Webster. He was married to his present wife, Charlotte Circle, August
5, 1855 ; she is a native of Kosciusko County, Ind., and to this union three
children were born, all now living. Through his eiforts six large charges have
been built up, and he has assisted in organizing a number of home societies.
S. C. WHITMAN was born in Wells County, Ind., in June, 1842, the
son of Rev. T. Whitman. He moved with his parents to Cass County, thence
to Pulaski, and thence to this township in 1852, where he assisted his father in
clearing up a forest farm. In his twentieth year, in August, 1862, he enlisted
in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was out until
the close of the war, receiving his discharge in June, 1865. He participated
in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, when he was stricken with small-
pox and measles. Recovering, he joined his company at Atlanta, going
through to Washington, and in the battle of Bentonville Avas slightly wounded.
On his return home he went to farming, and in the fall of 1867 married Nancy
Louis, daughter of David and Isabel Louis, natives of Pennsylvania. To this
union there were born three children. He has brought out of the forest, by
industry and economy, a delightful home, and is now in quite comfortable
circumstances. In politics, he is a Republican.
H. B. WHITTENBERGER, merchant, was born in Ohio, in 1835, and
is the son of William and Joanna Whittenberger, who are natives of Penn-
sylvania. At the age of one year, he was brought by his parents to this State,
328 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
where they settled on a piece of forest land in Fulton County, where he was
reared to manhood. In December, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Forty-
gixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the three-year call, under Col. Fitch, of
Logansport, and went with his regiment as far as Memphis, where he was
taken sick and left at the hospital, where he was subsequently detailed for duty
as nurse, which position he filled until honorably discharged in December,
1864. He then returned to his home, and was shortly after married to Sevilla
H. Southerland, of Logansport. She is the daughter of Zera Southerland,
native of New York. To this union there were six children born,
of whom three have died. Our subject here employed himself in farm-
ing till 1865, when he removed to Larwill and joined his brother, A. J., in
mercantile business, which was carried on for three years as a copartnership,
and was thenceforward conducted solely by our subject. His purse at starting
contained $60 only, but by energy and close attention to business he
has established for himself a good trade and a comfortable home. He served
as Postmaster of his town for ten years, and has won for himself the general
good-will of his townsmen.
JEREMIAH WILLIAMS was born in Ross County, Ohio, in April,
1812. His parents, Benjamin and Jane Williams, were of English descent
and natives of North Carolina. The subject obtained his education in a log
echoolhouse with puncheon floor and greased paper for windows. Soon after
commencing life for himself, he bought a yoke of oxen and rented land which
lie farmed until 1852, when he removed with family to this township, locating
where he is yet living. He owns a farm of eighty acres, that he himself
cleared and has otherwise improved. Mr. Williams first marriage occurred
February 15, 1835, to Mary Zornes. They had ten children, five now living.
She died, and he afterward married Margaret Siberts, who lived only two
years. He was united to his present wife November, 1879. She was Mrs.
Maria Parker, daughter of William and Sarah Thomson, and by her first hus-
band had seven children, two now living. Mrs. Williams is a native of Dutchess
County, N. Y., where she was born in 1810. Mr. Williams is a Democrat and
an enterprising citizen.
SMITH TOWNSHIP.
ALFRED W. BRIGGS was born in this township, January 28, 1852,
one of eleven children born to Jesse and Rebecca Briggs, natives respectively
of Ohio and Virginia. Jesse Briggs came to what is now Smith Township, in
1837, and entered 320 acres (on which our subject now resides), built a cabin
and commenced clearing. He afterward increased his land to 600 acres, and
died in November, 1862, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
widow, also a member of the Methodist Church, still resides on the old home-
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 329
stead. Alfred Briggs, our subject, received a fair common-school education in
his youth, and has spent his life on the home farm, and is still unmarried. He
is a member of Churubusco Lodge, No. 515, A., F. & A. M. In politics is a
Republican, and is one of the rising young farmers of the township.
ASA H. CARTER was born in Hampshire County (now West)
Virginia, December 6, 1823, and is one of seven children born to Asahel
and Catharine (Horn) Carter, natives of said State. Asahel Carter moved
with his family to Franklin County, Ohio. About 1836, he removed
to Logan County, and thence, in 1843, he came to this township, pur-
chased eighty acres of unimproved land, cleared up a farm, and here
died in September, 1851 ; his wife following him in November, 1877. Mr.
Carter was Justice of the Peace for Smith Township under the old constitution.
Mrs. Carter died a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Asa H.
Carter received a very fair common-school education in his younger days, and
remained on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, when he bought
fifty acres of land from his father, which he improved in the summer^
teaching school in the winter. His salary for the first term, in the latter voca-
tion, was $8.33|^ per month. June 16, 1853, he married Ellen Smith, a na-
tive of Fayette County, Ohio, and born July 31, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Carter's-
living children are seven in number, viz.: Sylvania L., now Mrs. J. W. Pence ;
Austin W.; Alice A., now Mrs. R. C. Hemmick ; Mary E.; Ida E.; Lillie J.;
and Minnie A. Mr. Carter now owns 190 acres of farm land. In politics, he
is a Republican, and has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Township
Clerk, Trustee and Assessor.
THE CHURUBUSCO FLOURING MILLS were erected in 1870 by
John Deck and Jacob Hose, at a cost of $7,000. The structure was a two-
story frame, with two run of buhrs — one for wheat and one for corn. In April,
1871, Joseph Kichler purchased Mr. Deck's half-interest, and, being a practi-
cal miller, took charge. The other half-interest was sold in turn to Jackson
& Rich, David Shilling, William Watterson, Joseph Kichler, and finally to
Michael Kichler, the whole being now owned by Joseph and Michael, and oper-
ated under the firm name of J. Kichler & Bro. This firm have made a number
of improvements ; have placed in some of the latest improved machinery, and
are turning out a quality of flour not excelled by any in the county. They
have four buhrs (three wheat and one corn and chop-feed), which are driven by
a thirty-six horse-power engine. The senior partner, Joseph Kichler, was borit
in Rhine-Bayere, Germany, February 10, 1841. He is one of ten children,,
born to Michael and Johanna (Bishoff) Kichler — the former deceased. Joseph,
learned his trade in his native country, and came to the United States in Feb-
ruary, 1861, and worked as a miller at various points before he came to Churu-
busco. In 1870, he married Catharine Bishoff, who died February 10, 1881,
leaving three children — Joseph, Nettie and Anna. Michael Kichler, junior
member of the firm, was born March 14, 1849 (at the same place where his.
330 ■ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
brother was born), and came to the United States in May, 1870, worked at stone
masonry at various points, and then joined his brother in 1874. In May.
1874, he married Mary Rupert , and to them has been born one child — Rosa.
Both brothers are members of the K. of H., and both are Democrats.
NICODEMUS COLEMAN was born March 16, 1837, in Ashland
County, Ohio, one of the twelve children of John and Nancy Coleman, natives
of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. John Coleman was a millwright?
and when young went to Pennsylvania, was married there and worked at his
trade till about 1885, when he moved to Ohio and bought a farm, but still con-
tinued working at his trade, leaving the management of the farm to his chil"
dren. In 1865, he moved to Thorn Creek Township, this county, and bought
a farm, on which he resided till his death, December 24, 1869, his wife follow"
ing in November, 1878, a member of the Church of God. Nicodemus Cole"
man received a fair education, and was taught the millwright's trade by his
father, subsequently serving a three years' apprenticeship to a carriage and
wagon maker. He worked at his trade in Ashland and Wayne Counties, Ohio,
until the spring of 1858, when he came to Troy Township, this county, and
worked at Larwill and Steam Corners for two years. He afterward engaged
in the saw-mill and lumbering business and has been so employed ever since at
various times in Whitley and Noble Counties. For the last four years, he has
owned and operated a saw-mill in Collins. January 21, 1861, he married
Sarah A. Grant, a daughter of James and Eliza (Beard) Grant, and born in
Troy Township, April 28, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are the parents of
seven children — Artemisia, Lyman M., James E., Emma I., lona, Grace G«
and Eliza B. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman and two of their children are members
of the United Brethren Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM COULTER (deceased) was born in Hamilton County, Ohio,
in 1809, and was one of eight children born to John and Margaret Coulter,
natives of Ireland. Mr. Coulter, when but a child, was removed by his par-
ents to Clinton County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, and received an
ordinary common-school education. He remained on the home farm till 1847,
when he came to this county. In 1844, he married Elizabeth Jenkins, born
in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1826, and the daughter of Evan and Catharine
Jenkins, natives of Virginia and Maryland. Mr. Coulter arrived here in the
early part of October, and moved into a cabin already prepared for him, by
Mr. John Egolf, on land entered by his father some years previously, and suc-
ceeded in wresting from the forest a well-improved farm, which he increased
to 660 acres, 560 of which are in one body. He was a man of great enter-
prise, and of unswerving purpose. He avoided politics and was a consistent
member of the Christian Church. He was the father of eleven children, of
whom five sons and two daughters are now living. After a useful and success-
ful life, he died in 1876, aged sixty-seven years. His widow still survives and
resides on the home farm.
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 331
GEORGE W. COULTER was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 11,
1846, one of eleven children (five sons and two daughters of whom are living)
born to William and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Coulter, natives respectively of Ham-
ilton and Belmont Counties, Ohio. William Coulter was born November 2,
1810, the son of John and Margaret (Gibson) Coulter, natives of Ireland. He
married in Clinton County, December 26, 1814, engaged there in farming till
1848, when he moved to this township, where his father had previously entered
land. He was a hard-working man and did more to build up the live-stock
interests of the county than any one other person ; here he died in 1876. He
was a Democrat ; also a member of the Christian Church, to which his widow,
now living on the old homestead at the age of fifty-six, also belongs. George
W. Coulter was reared a farmer, educated in the common schools, and this
township has always been his home. February 14, 1869, he married Miss
Caroline E. Werick, and to their union have been born two daughters — Elnora
and Cora. Mr. Coulter takes great pride in his live stock, in which he deals
extensively, besides farming his 152 acres of land. He is a Democrat and an
Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JACOB COVERSTONE was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1815,
and was one of the ten children of Jacob and Elizabeth (Clem) Coverstone, na-
tives of Virginia, and of German extraction. He removed with his parents to
Licking County, Ohio, in 1825, and thence to Champaign County, where they
cleared up a new farm, at which our subject assisted, attending school at inter-
vals. At his majority, he began to work for himself — the first two years for his
father, and then at jobbing generally. In 1840, he married Margaret Windsor,
who died in 1849, leaving four small children; and, March 28, 1850, Mr.
Coverstone married Jane Halderman, daughter of George and Elizabeth Hal-
derman, natives of Virginia, and of German ancestry. To this union were born
ten children, nine of whom are yet living. Our subject moved to this township
in the spring of 1852, and the year following purchased his present farm, then
in the wilderness. He put up a double log cabin, and with the usual hard work
and frugality has succeeded in replacing the log with comfortable frame build-
ings, and, instead of the forest groves, broad acres of cultivated soil to the
number of 160. He is a man of enterprise, and in politics is a Democrat. His
eldest son, Lewis J., enlisted in 1862, while visiting friends in Ohio, and, after
being out one year, died of typhoid fever, and now sleeps in a soldier's grave in
Tennessee.
HARRISON F. CRABILL was born in Shenandoah County, Va., Octo-
ber 9, 1822, one of fourteen children of William and Catharine (Funk) Crabill,
natives of Virginia. The father was a blacksmith, who followed his trade in
his native State till 1837, when he moved with his family to Champaign County,
Ohio, where he farmed on shares till the spring of 1841, when he removed to
this township and settled upon 160 acres he had entered in 1838, and here he
resided until his death in August, 1845, aged fifty years. Ho had served as
332 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Trustee of Smith Township one term, and was a member of the U. B. Church.
Mrs. Crabill died in 1859, and was also a member of the U, B. Church. Our
subject received a very fair common-school education, and from the time he was
twenty-one till the year 1852, he taught school, worked out and on his father's
farm. In the spring of the year named, he took a trip to California, arriving
at the Sacramento River in the fall ; engaged in mining and farming ; and, in
1854, returned home via Panama and New York, and taught school the follow-
ing winter. In the spring of 1855, he engaged in mercantile trade at Fuller's
Corners, and also filled the oflBce of Postmaster at that point for two and one
half years. He then resumed farming, at which he has been employed ever
since, with the exception of three years passed in saw-milling and merchandis-
ing at Collins. He married, in March, 1868, Catharine Fair, a native of Stark
County, Ohio. To their union have been born five children, viz., Harrison,
Cassius M., Alpha D., Lester D. L. and Lemuel D. In politics, Mr. Crabill is
a Democrat ; has been Township Trustee two terms, and has held the appoint-
ment of Postmaster at Collins for five years.
ALEXANDER CRAIG was born in Madison County, N. Y., October 22,
1836, and is one of the five children born to David and Mary (Wolcott) Craig,
natives respectively of Scotland and New York State. David Craig came to
this country when a boy, and made farming his occupation. He was married
in New York, and, in 1845, came to this township, where he then had a brother
living ; bought forty acres of partly improved land on Section 24 ; underwent all
the hardships of pioneer life, and died in the Baptist faith September 20, 1854,
followed by his wife in May, 1856. Our subject, Alexander Craig, was reared
on the farm, and received the ordinary education of his boyhood days. Septem-
ber 22, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Fifth Indiana Battery, commanded
by Capt. Simonson, and participated in the engagements at Perryville, Chicka-
mauga. Stone River, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, the Atlanta campaign, etc.
He received his discharge as Sergeant November 26, 1864, since when he has
been actively engaged in farming, dealing in stock, etc. In July, 1881, he
bought out the interest of John Crider in the firm of Crider & Richey, hard-
ware, in Churubusco, and the firm now stands as Richey & Craig. They carry
a stock, valued at $3,500, of all kinds of hardware, stoves, agricultural imple-
ments, doors, sash, etc. April 14, 1867, Mr. Craig married Miss Emeline
Gandy, a native of Smith Township, and to them have been born four children
— Charles S. and Frances M. (living), and David A. and Otho W. (deceased).
Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the Church of God, and, in politics, he is
a Republican.
JOHN F. CRISWELL, M. D., son of William and Barbara (Bittin-
ger) Criswell, was born August 23, 1845, in Ashland County, Ohio, one of
ten children, seven of whom are still living. The father was a wagon- maker
and blacksmith, but of late years has engaged himself in farming. In 1850,
he came to Cedar Creek Township, Allen County, this State, where he and
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 333
wife still reside. Dr. Criswell was reared principally in Allen County, attend-
ing school ; attended the Methodist College at Fort Wayne one year, and at
twenty-two began the study of medicine under Dr. W. H. Myers, of that city.
The winter of 1869-70, he attended lectures at JeflFerson Medical College,
Philadelphia, and the winter of 1870-71, graduated from the medical depart-
ment of the University of Wooster, Cleveland, Ohio. He then commenced
practice in Churubusco. The winter of 1878-79, he returned to, and gradu-
ated from, Jefferson College. The Doctor is a man of decided ability, and has
a large and lucrative practice. In politics, he is Republican, and he and wife
are members of the United Brethren Church. January 16, 1873, he married
Miss Ellen G. Potter, of Swan Township, Noble County, Ind., and to their
union have been born two children — Lilah E. and Annie.
JOHN DECK, Se., is a native of Parks County, Penn., and was born
September 18, 1829, the son of Samuel and Mary E. (Butler) Deck. Samuel
Deck was a shoemaker, and moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 1830, and thence
to Whitley County in the fall of 1864, our subject having come the previous
spring. He and his wife died respectively in December, 1871, and November,
1873, members of the Lutheran Church. John Deck, Sr,, was reared on a farm
in Stark County, Ohio, and May 15, 1851, there married Lucy A. Smith, and
farmed there till 1864, when he purchased 124 acres of land, near Churu-
busco, and resumed farming, but in the fall of 1865 moved to the village,
where he has since remained, taking an active part in public affairs. He has
been engaged in the grain trade, has dealt in real estate, and built the Churu-
busco Flouring Mills, which he sold at completion. He began with nothing,
but by hard work, economy and judicicious investments, has secured a com-
fortable fortune. He is now engaged in buying grain and in running his farm.
He is independent in politics, voting for principles and not for party. He and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to their union have
been born seven children, viz. : Mary E. (now Mrs Thomas Fisher), John F.,
Sarah F. (now Mrs. G. W. Maxwell), Benjamin F., Alice, Charles and
Clement (the last deceased).
LEMUEL DEVAULT was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 15, 1828,
and is one of eleven children born to Nicholas and Frances (Brown) Devault,
the former a native of Pennsylvania, but of French descent, and the latter of
Ohio and of English extraction. Nicholas Devault emigrated to Ross County,
Ohio, when a young man, and when that country was an unbroken wilderness.
Here he married and bought a farm, resided on it till 1858, sold out, bought
another farm, near Whitehall, III., moved upon it, and there passed his remain-
ing days. Mr. Devault served as soldier in the war of 1812, and died a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Lemuel Devault, our subject, received
a very fair common-school education in his youth, and worked on his father's
farm till about twenty years of age ; then worked by the job two years ; then
farmed for his father and others on shares. In the fall of 1851, he came to
334 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
this township, bought forty acres wild land, and was obliged to borrow money
to make the first payment thereon, but by industry, economy and integrity
has acquired 634 acres of well-improved land, beside valuable property in
Columbia City and Churubusco. He was married in Columbia City, in Novem-
ber, 1851, to Frances Tulley, of Ross County, Ohio, daughter of Francis and
Elizabeth (Wayland) Tulley. Mrs. Devault died Sebtember 28, 1855, a mem-
ber of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Devault, November 30, 1856,
married Nancy Wells, daughter of Rev. Hugh Wells ; but there have no chil-
dren been born to him. For fifteen years, Mr. Devault has filled the office of
Justice of the Peace, and has just been re-elected, which will make his term
twenty years, and he has also served as Trustee of the township. He is a
member of Columbia City Lodge, No. 189, A., F. & A. M., is a Democrat, and
he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and rank among the lead-
ing citizens of the township.
ADAM FLECK was born in Crawford County, Ohio, in December, 1824,
one of twelve children of George and Elizabeth (House) Fleck, both natives of
Pennsylvania and of German descent. Our subject went to the pioneer schools
of his boyhood, but his time was chiefly occupied in assisting his father to
retrieve his farm from the forests of Ohio, till about his eleventh year, when
his father died, and his mother removed to Seneca County, same State. Here
oui* subject remained till he reached manhood, when he went to work on a rail-
road, hewing timber, etc., and in three years had saved $350, all of which he
lost by the contractor's decamping. He then worked at job work for several
years, and in 1848, in company with three brothers, moved to La Grange
County, this State, and the year following married Mary Ritter, the daughter
of Samuel and Nancy (Wingard) Ritter, of Pennsylvania. He farmed on
rented land for two years thereafter, then moved to Noble Township, Noble
County, and cleared up a farm ; this he sold in 1873, and purchased his pres-
ent pleasant home of sixty acres in this township. He and wife are members
of the Christian Church and are the parents of five sons and three daughters.
ALPHEUS B. GAFF was born in Stark County, Ohio, October 9, 1829,
the son of Robert and Mary Gaff, natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch and
German descent. In 1839, the parents removed to this township and located
on Section 6, then an unbroken forest ; two years later, they moved one mile
north into Green Township, Noble County, bought eighty acres, which they
redeemed from the wilderness, and on which they resided till their deaths in
1861 and 1864, aged respectively sixty-nine and sixty-three years, having
reared a family of nine sons and one daughter. Our subject was reared to
endure all the hard work incident to pioneer life, and his schooling was limited
to forty-two days. He was, however, gifted with mechanical talent, and at
manhood began work as a carpenter, which trade he followed a number of
years, and by industry and attention to business earned a sum with which he
and his brother, George, purchased eighty acres of land, on which Alpheus
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 335
has since lived. They erected a water-power saw-mill in the fall of 1854,
which they ran at intervals for ten years. Our subject now owns 128 acres
of well-improved land, and is quite comfortably situated. He has been an
active home politician in the Republican ranks, was elected Justice of the
Peace in 1857, and re-elected each successive term, till the present, the seventh,
which he is now serving. In 1858, he married Rebecca Mohn, daughter of
Daniel Mohn, and to this union have been born five sons and three daughters.
OTIS J. GANDY was born in Preston County, now West Virginia, Sep-
tember 18, 1831, one of eight children of Otho and Mary (Weaver) Gandy,
natives of the same place and born respectively September 27, 1793, and
December 26, 1802, and married November 2, 1820. The father, in 1834,
started West with his family and stopped one year in Miami County, Ohio, and
then came to Decatur County, this State. The same fall, he entered eighty
acres of land in this township and moved upon it the following spring, 1836,
and there ended his days. May 21, 1879. He had received an excellent edu-
cation for the time in which he lived, and in West Virginia taught school sev-
eral terms. His wife's death had occurred at the same place, January 12,
1870. Mr. Gandy was elected one of the Commissioners of Whitley County
in 1838, was also a Township Trustee under the old constitution, and for a
number of years was Justice of the Peace. Otis J. Gandy, our subject,
received a common-school education in his youth, and worked on his father's
farm till of age. He then worked with his brother as a carpenter in summer
and taught school in winter' till 1856, then visited Minnesota, Missouri and
Mississippi, working at his trade, till 1861, when he returned to this county
and enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which
regiment was afterward mounted and known as the Seventeenth Indiana
Mounted Infantry. He waff mustered out at Macon, Ga., August 8, 1865,
having participated in all the marches and engagements of his regiment, not
having lost a single day. On his return, he worked at his trade in Plymouth,
Ind., till 1872, then came to Churubusco, worked there until his father's
death, and since has resided on the home farm. At Plymouth he was married,
September 2, 1868, to Sarah Madison, of Marshall County, Ind. To their
union was born one child — Lillie A. Mrs. Gandy died in Plymouth, Septem-
ber 1, 1870. Mr. Gandy is a member of Churubusco Lodge, No. 462, I. 0.
0. F., and in politics is a Republican.
OSCAR GANDY was born September 12, 1847, and is the son of Owen
Gandy, a native of what is now Preston County, West Virginia. Owen
learned to be a carpenter and millwright when a young man, and married Miss
Drusilla Jeffries at his majority. He then began the study of medicine, at-
tending the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he graduated.
Shortly after this, he came to Indiana and settled at Heller's Corners, Eel
River Township, Allen County, where he began practicing, and acquired an
extensive patronage. Subsequently he removed to about three-quarters of a
336 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
mile east of the present site of Churubusco, then made a trip to Missouri, re-
turned to Indiana, located near Noblesville, and there practiced till within a
short time of his death. He was the father of seven children, four of whom are
still living. Our subject, Oscar Gandy, was reared on a farm, received a good
education, and April 1, 1874, married Miss Emma Cleveland, and to them
have been born three children — William 0., Elmer E. and Orpha. In 1870,
he came to Churubusco, and engaged in dealing in stock, grain and lumber.
In 1876, he formed a partnership in the lumber business with A. D. Nickey,
which still continues. The firm buy, sell and manufacture hard wood lumber,
and their annual average business amounts to about $200,000. Mr, Gandy is
a self-made man, is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities,
and is a Democrat.
W. A. GEIGER was born in this township October 25, 1842, one of
nine children, eight yet living, of Daniel and Julia (Darnel) Geiger, natives of
Pennsylvania. The father, a farmer, moved to Licking County, Ohio, with his
parents, and there married. In 1834, he emigrated with his family to Allen
County, Ind., locating in Eel River Township, farmed for two years, and moved
thence to this township, in 1836, where he bought eighty acres of land on Sec-
tion 29 (now owned by H. F. Crabill). It was a wild country, filled with
deer, wolves, lynxes, wild cats and Indians, and malaria charged the air. Here
Mr. Geiger died in 1869, his widow yet surviving him, and residing in Churu-
busco. Our subject, W. A. Geiger, was reared on the farm till sixteen, when
he began to work out at clearing, farming, etc., an4 so continued till January
4, 1864, when he enlisted in Company F, Seventeenth Indiana Mounted In-
fantry, from which he was honorably discharged August 27, 1865. He was at
the battles of Rome, Ga.; Noon Day Creek, Big Shanty, Atlanta, Montgomery,
Columbus, Atlanta and Selma. On his return, he worked by the month two
years, and then engaged in saw-milling for eighteen months ; he then went to
Noblesville and engaged in the grocery trade seven years ; in 1875, he sold out
and went into the drug trade; in 1876, into the livery business; in 1877, into
the hardware trade, at which he is still employed. He has had generally good
success, and now carries a stock valued at $5,000. July 11, 1867, he mar-
ried Miss Catharine Brumbaugh, who has borne him two children — Virgil and
Nettie A. Mr. Geiger is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I.
0. 0. F.
MOSES T. GRADELESS was born September 4, 1820, in Fayette
County, Ohio, and was one of seven children born to Nathaniel and Elizabeth
(Waugh) Gradeless, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Ohio.
Nathaniel Gradeless moved to Fayette County, Ohio, when a young man, was
there married and there remained until the fall of 1836, when he sold his farm
of 160 acres and came with his family to Thorn Creek Township, this county,
entered 160 acres, and ended his days thereon May 28, 1862, his wife having
died but nine days before. Mr. Gradeless was a soldier in the war of 1812,
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 337
and was under Gen. Hull at the time of that officer's surrender, but he, with
five others, refused to yield, and concealed himself for two days in the swamps.
He afterward served under Gens. St. Clair and Wayne ; was stationed at Fort
Wayne, was in the battle of Spy Run, in Allen County, and took part in an
expedition which destroyed Little Turtle's village in Union Township, this
county, and was in several other Indian tights. Oar subject, Moses T. Grade-
less, worked on the home farm till nineteen years of age, and then for five
years hired out by the month. In 18J:1, he married Mary Smith, who was
born in Fayette County, Ohio, August 16, 1818, the daughter of Samuel and
Rebecca (Jones) Smith, and to their union have been born five children, viz.:
Josiah, who was a member of Company B, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and died in hospital at Gallatin, Tenn., December 23, 1862 ; Mrs.
Mary E. Vanderment; Clarissa, now Mrs. J. W. Smith ; Martha E., now Mrs.
William Coverstone ; and Rebecca J., now Mrs. Benjamin Fisher. Mrs.
Gradeless died January 27, 1875, and September 9, 1877, our subject married
Mrs. Mary E. (Morse) Foster, who was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Sep-
tember 5, 1817, the daughter of Jotham and Dorcas (Ferris) Morse, and mother
of three children by her first husband. In 1841, Mr. Gradeless bought eighty-
four acres of land in this township, where he now lives. He is a member of
the Masonic order, and in politics is a Republican, and his wife is a member of
the Christian Church.
FREDERICK G. GRISIER, M. D, was born in Williams County,
Ohio, June 28, 1853, one of eleven children born to Frederick and Susan (Ver-
nier) Grisier, natives of France, but now located on their farm in Williams
County, to which they immigrated about 1814. Our subject in youth was
fairly educated, and at seventeen commenced the study of medicine at Stryker,
Ohio, with Drs. Stubbs and Aldrich, with whom he remained one year ; was
then employed at the Cleveland City Hospital one year ; attended one course
of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College ; returned to his former precep-
tors for two years, but attended lectures at the college in the winter, and grad-
uated with the class of 1874-75. He then commenced practice in Noble
County, this State, remaining till the fall of 1876, when he moved to Collins,
this township. In December, 1880, he bought a half-interest in the general
mercantile business of R. C. Hemmick, since when the firm has been Hemmick
& Grisier. March 24, 1880, he married Mary E. Hemmick, a native of Col-
umbia Township, this county, and daughter of George W. and Jane (Winget)
Hemmick, of Greene County, Ohio, and to their union one child has been born
— Orpha E. Dr. Grisier is a member of Churubusco Lodge, No. 515, A., F.
& A. M., of Churubusco Lodge No. 462, I. 0. 0. F., and of Churubusco
Lodge, No. 2109, K. of H. In politics, he is a Republican, and as a profes-
sional man has established a fine reputation and secured a large and lucrative
practice.
338 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
WILLIAM HEDGES was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1812, the
son of James and Nancy Hedges, natives of Virginia, and of English origin.
At the age of seven, our subject was taken by his parents to Richland County,
Ohio, where he lived till 1836, when he came West to inspect some land his
father had bought in this township, at a land sale at Fort Wayne ; but being
seized with the ague, returned home, came back in the spring of 1837 on
horseback, and began to clear up the forest and make some improvement on his
farm of 160 acres, which he has succeeded in literally redeeming from the wil-
derness. In 1859, he married the widow of Evan Davis, and daughter of Cal-
vin and Mary Nott, and by her became the father of nine children, of whom
four sons and three daughters are still living. Mrs. Hedges is also the mother
of four children by her first husband, two of whom are deceased. Mr. Hedges
underwent all the privatio ns and hardships of pioneer life, and was one of the
first settlers of the township, being present at its organization, and has ever
been forward in all enterprises tending toward its advancement. His wife and
himself are members of the Church of God.
ROBERT C. HEMMICK was born in Greene County, Ohio, November
27, 1849, the eldest of seven children born to George W. and Jane (Winget)
Hemmick, both natives of Greene. George W. Hemmick is a plasterer, and
followed that trade in Ohio till the fall of 1851, when he moved with his family
to Columbia City, this county. Mrs. Jane Hemmick died at Columbia June
22, 1863. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is George
W. Hemmick, who is also an Odd Fellow. Robert C. Hemmick, our subject,
received the ordinary common-school education, and commenced learning the
plasterer's trade with his father when eighteen years old, following the same
and teaching school till June, 1875, when he came to Collins, this township,
where he has since been engaged as a merchant. The same year he was ap-
pointed Deputy Postmaster, and in January, 1876, was appointed agent of the
W., St. L. & P. R. R., both of which positions he still retains. November 6,
1871, he married Catharine Crabill, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio,
and daughter of Daniel and Anna H. (Hyre) Crabill. This lady died at Col-
lins in July, 1875, a member of the German Baptist Church. April 6, 1879,
our subject married Alice A. Carter, born in this township October 8, 1857,
the daughter of Asa H. and Ellen (Smith) Carter, natives of Ohio and Virginia,
and to this union was born one child, Heber C Mr. Hemmick is an Odd
Fellow, in politics a Republican, and is one of the enterprising business men
of the township.
AMOS HORNER was born October 2, 1816, in Union County, Penn.,
the eldest of eight children of Nicholas and Cathorine (Kutz) Horner, natives
of the same State. Nicholas Horner was a shot-maker, but engaged chiefly in
farming, and died in his native State. After his death, his widow married
William Strup, and now lives in Columbiana County, Ohio. Our subject re-
ceived an ordinary education in his youth, and at the age of eighteen was ap-
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 339
prenticed to a saddle and harness maker, an uncle named John M. Burges, at
Beaver Dam, Penn., but who moved to Columbiana County, Ohio. Mr. Hor-
ner worked as a journeyman some six years in Pennsylvania and Ohio, after
his time had expired, and then started a shop at North Georgetown, Ohio. In
1855, he bought and moved to a farm in Ripley County, Ind.; in the fall of
1859, removed to Jennings County ; in the following spring, returned to Colum-
biana County, Ohio, and started a woolen factory : in 1863, sold out and
bought a farm in Thorn Creek, this county, and in the spring of 1878 came to
Collins, bought a farm of fifty-five acres, on which he now lives, still owning
the farm in Thorn Creek, proprietor of 190 acres in all. Mr. Horner, in Feb-
ruary, 1840, married Mary A. McKown, who was born in Ne w Jersey, May
26, 1823, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Gibbs) McKown, and to their
union were born three children, none of whom are living. Mr. Horner is an
Odd Fellow, and in politics is a Republican.
WILLIAM G. HUGHES was born in Greene Co., Penn., November 10,
1829, son of Nathan and Isabel (Grimes) Hughes, also natives of said State.
Nathan Hughes was a stone-mason, and moved to Knox Co., Ohio, in 1832,
and there died in 1837. His widow married James Simpson, in 1854, moved
to Iowa, where he died, when she came to Whitley County, and made her home
with our subject until her death, in 1870. William G. Hughes was left fatherless
at the age of eight, went to live with an uncle two years, and since the age of
ten has supported himself. At nineteen, he began to learn blacksraithing, and
in 1849 started out to seek a permanent home. He hired as a blacksmith to
a cousin in the northern part of this township, worked one year, then was em-
ployed in Allen County and in Columbia City for a time. He married Miss
Margery A. Gregory, of Noble County, and in 1852 commenced working for
himself in Green Township, Noble County; in 1870, he engaged in the manu-
facture of lumber east of Columbia City ; in 1875, he removed the Churu-
busco, and with his partners, Thomas N. Hughes and Harrison Spear^
purchased their present stave factory, saw-mill, etc. It was originally built in
1871, at a cost of $20,000, and since has been greatly improved and contains
the most approved machinery. The past year, the firm turned felloes for 5,000
wagons, 50,000 neckyokes and singletrees, and have sawn upward of 1,500,000
feet of lumber. They also own another saw-mill, near South Whitley. Mr.
Hughes is a Republican and a Mason. His children numbered thirteen, as
follows: Mary I., Millard F., Marshall T., William H., Elnora, Clara M.,
George E., living, and Nathan, Emma, Sherman, Bertha, Charles and Jennie,
deceased.
MORTIMER JEFFRIES was born in Greenville County, Va., August
22, 1820, and was the son of Herbert and Ridley Jeffries. In 1842 or 1843,
Herbert Jeffries moved to Greene County, Ohio, and the following year
came to this township, where he bought 160 acres of wild land and cleared
up a farm, cutting the lumber for his cabin with a cross-cut handsaw. Our
340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
subject was altogether deprived of school privileges, but acquired a fair
education by his own exertions at study. December 6, 1850, he married
Elizabeth Keen, who was born in Hertford Co., N. C, February 25, 1835j
being the daughter of Miles H. and Mary (Holmes) Keen, natives of the said
State. To their union have been born the following-named children : Levi ;
Priscilla, now Mrs. Crone; Herbert, Lizzie and Mary. After his marriage,
Mr. Jeffries settled on forty acres of land in this township, which he had
bought and partially cleared some years before. In 1864, he sold out, and
bought 320 acres in the same township, which he occupied till Ijis death, Sep-
tember 17, 1879. Levi Jeffries was born in this township, June 10, 1855, and
lives on the home farm. He married, June 9, 1881, Adella S. Vaughn, who
was born in Cass Co., Mich., July 23, 1873, the daughter of Henry and May
Vaughn. In politics he is a Republican, and is looked upon aa an enterprising
farmer.
MARCUS L. JEFFRIES was born in Greenville Co., Va., May 15, 1825,
one of the seven children born to Herbert and Ridley (Pruit) Jeffries, natives
of Greenville Co., Va., and Halifax Co., N. C. Herbert Jeffries was married
in North Carolina, but owned a farm and lived in Greenville Co., Va., until
about 1832, when he moved with his family to Greene Co., Ohio, remained the
spring of 1843, removed to this township, bought a farm of 160 acres, and
resided thereon until his death, November 16, 1849, Mrs. Ridley Jones following
him April 10, 1855, and dying in the Methodist faith. Marcus L. Jeffries,
our subject, assisted on his father's farm till he reached thirty years of age,
going to school three days only during that period. He was married February
14, 1855, to Martha A. Keen, a native of Hertford County, N. C. This lady,
a member of the M. E, Church, died at her home in Smith Township, October
2, 1878. Mr. Jeffries bought his land at different times, and now owns a well-
cultivated farm of 160 acres, and is an enterprising farmer. In politics, he is
a Republican.
AUGUSTUS W. JEFFRIES was born in this township October 20,
1843, and is one of the four living children born to Wyatt and Eliza J. (Jones)
Jeffries, natives of Greenville County, Va. While still young, Wyatt Jeffries
went to Greene Co., Ohio, was married there, and until 1835 farmed on shares,
and then moved with his family to this township, where he entered eighty acres
of land, to which he added until he became the owner of 340 acres of well-im-
proved land. Here he died February 14, 1869, his widow following Octo-
ber 20, of the same year. They were both members of the M. B. Church,
and among the earlier settlers of the township, they and Benjamin Jones
having located on adjoining farms before the township was organized, with their
nearest neighbor three miles away. Augustus W. Jeffries, our subject, received
the ordinary common-school education of his day, and worked on the home
farm till twenty-one years old. November 19, 1862, he married Mary J.
Akers, who was born in Wilson County, Tenn., October 29, 1842, the daugh-
SMITH TOWxNSHIP. 341
ter of Richard and Ann E. (Scott) Akers. Mr. and Mrs. JeflFries are the
parents of six children, viz.: Milton J., Walker W., Albert A., Georgia L.,
Fredie R. and Anna M. Mr. Jeffries now owns 300 acres first-class land,
including the old homestead, on which he has lived all his life, two years
excepted, and for the past twelve years has been extensively engaged in the
live stock trade. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, and in
politics he is a Republican.
BRINTON JONES was born in Greenville County, Va., December 27,
1813, one of nine children of Benjamin and Winifred (Shehorn) Jones, natives
of said county. Benjamin Jones moved with his family to Greene County,
Ohio, in 1825, where he farmed on shares till February, 1835, when he
removed to this township, then unorganized, where he entered eighty acres of
land, cleared a farm, and resided until his death, February 17, 1854, his
widow surviving till December 16, 1873. They were both members of the
M. E. Church, and wera among the first pioneers of the county. Our subject,
Brinton Jones, received a very fair education, and remained on the home farm
till thirty years of age, and for a time taught a subscription school. April 20,
1843, he married Susan Thomas, born in Mecklenburg County, Va., in Sep-
tember, 1825, the daughter of Stephen and Lucy (King) Thompson. To their
union were born Harriet M., now Mrs. William Pampy; Ceney A., now Mrs.
John Smith; Johanna, now Mrs. Fielding Pampy, and Sarah A. D., now Mrs.
Marshall Winburn. Mr. Jones still owns and lives en the land he entered
when a young man — forty acres in 1837 and forty in 1840. He and his wife
are both members of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a Republican.
The grandfather of Mr. Jones, Brinton Jones, Sr., was a soldier in the Revo-
lutionary war.
JEREMIAH KRIDER was born in Franklin County, Penn., November
1, 1812, the son of George and Fanny Krider. George Krider was a
farmer, and moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 1820. His wife died there in
about 1872, and he followed in 1874. Jeremiah Krider moved with his
parents to Stark County, when but eight years old, and was there reared to
manhood. September 12, 1833, he married Miss S. Zent, and for the
following five years did job work for their support. He then moved to Rich-
land County, Ohio, and farmed nine j'ears. In 1847, he came to Smith
Township, bought 160 acres wooded land, and went through all the hardships
of a frontier life. He resided on this land until 1874, when he placed it in
charge of his children, and moved to Churubusco, where he and his wife are
living a quiet and retired life. He began a poor boy, but by industry acquired
a farm of 252 acres, and some valuable property in the city. His children
were twelve in number: John, Samuel, Sarah, William, Fanny, George W.,
Eliza, Melinda, Mary, Huldah, Benjamin and Jeremiah, of whom Samuel,
Sarah and Huldah are dead. The living all reside in Whitley County, ex-
cepting a married daughter in Missouri and one in Denver, Colo. The
342 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
mother was born in Franklin County, Penn., March 9, 1815, and is a member
of the U. B. Church. Mr. Krider is Republican in politics, and an old and
esteemed citizen of the county.
A. H. KRIDER was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1823, one of seven
children born to George and Fanny Krider, both natives of Pennsylvania,
and of German descent. Our subject was reared a farmer, and passed
his winters principally in threshing grain, so that his opportunities for school-
ing were but scant. In October, 1846, he married Eleanor Monroe, who
was born in Stark County, in 1829, and was the daughter of Moses
and Sarah Monroe, of Scotland and New York respectively. In the fall of
1847, our subject started empty-handed, with his family, in search of a home.
He first located in Defiance County, Ohio, then an unbroken wilderness, re-
mained five years, then came to Thorn Creek Township, this county ; located on
the shore of Round Lake ; sold out at the expiration of two years, on account
of ill health, and purchased his present home in this township in 1856. The
improvements then consisted of a cabin and a clearing of two acres, but he has,
by his perseverance, brought out of it 115 acres of well-cultivated land, with
substantial improvements. Our subject has held aloof from politics, but has
lent his aid to other public pursuits. He organized the first Sunday school in
Churubusco, beginning with ten scholars and closing with thirty, and has been
an active worker in that field for forty-one years, ably assisted by his wife.
He and wife are strict members of the United Brethren Church, and are the
parents of seven children, of whom four sons and two daughtars are now
living.
GEORGE W. KRIDER was born in Stark County, Ohio, July 2, 1842,
one of twelve children, nine yet living, of Jeremiah and Mrs. S. Krider, natives
of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Our subject came with his parents
to this county when but two years old, and when old enough, assisted his fath-
er in carving from the forest a comfortable home. At the age of nineteen he
enlisted in Company E, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he
served nine months, and was then honorably discharged, on account of disabili-
ty. After recruiting his health at home a year, he re-enlisted, this time in
Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, in November, 1863, and was honorably discharged in August, 1865,
but, unable to get transportation home, joined Sherman at Goldsboro, and was
with him as far as Atlanta ; afterward joined Gen. Thomas, and went with him
down the Tennessee River to its mouth. He was in eight hard-fought battles,
but escaped uninjured, but with a number of holes through his clothing. On
his return home, he resumed farming, and March 22, 1866, married Susanna
Bear, daughter of George and Susan Bear, and became the father of one son
and two daughters. Mrs. Krider died in 1874, at the age of twenty-eight, and
our subject married, July 14, 1875, Eliza Deem, daughter of Lewis and Cath-
arine Deem, and to this union have been born two sons. He and wife are
SMITH TOWNSHIP, 343
members of the United Brethren Church, and he also belongs to the Knio-hts
of Honor.
THOMAS LARIMORE, one of eight children, four living, born to
Thomas and Hannah (Young) Larimore was born in Licking County, Ohio, June
12, 1827. His father was a farmer and a native of and was married in Penn-
sylvania, and moved thence to Licking County, where he was killed by a fall-
ing tree, in March, 1832. The widow and youngest son moved to Sparta
Township, Noble County, Ind., in 1849, and eight years latpr removed to
Lake Township, Allen County, where Mrs. Larimore died in March, 1866.
Our subject was bound out shortly after his father's death, but the master's
wife dying a few months later, the family broke up, and young Larimore was
left among strangers. From the age of eight upward he led a life of hardship,
and was self-supporting. In October, 1848, he married Mahala Evans, and in
the fall of 1850 he moved to Lake Township, Allen County, bought eighty acres
of land, and with his wife, child and a bound boy, began life in this State with-
out a cent in his pocket, or a cabin on his land wherein to take shelter, and a
winter before him. But he was possessed of determination and industrious
habits, and succeeded in surrounding his family with most of the comforts of
life. In November, 1881, he moved to Churubusco, and took charge of what
is now known as the Larimore House, having purchased the property the pre-
vious May. Besides this, Mr. Larimore owns 360 acres of land in Allen
County, and Blocks 3 and 4 in Churubusco. Mr. and Mrs. Larimore
are the parents of twelve children — Lydia, Cynthia, Thomas J., Hannah M.,
Levi B., Eli, Mary, Howard, Charley, all living; Alexander, William F. and
Norris, deceased. Mr. L. is a Democrat, a Mason, and a K. of H., and he and
wife are members of the Baptist Church. He he held the office of Justice of
the Peace four years, and has filled a number of minor offices ; has been a Sab-
bath school worker since 1851, and keeps a much better hotel than is usually
found in villages the size of Churubusco.
JAMES LEECH (deceased) was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1824,
and was the son of John and Fanny Leech, the former a native of Ireland and
the latter of Irish descent. Mr. Leech was reared on a farm, and in 1846
came to this township to occupy land entered by his father some years previ-
ously, which he made his permanent home. August 2, 1849, he married
Elizabeth Strean, daughter of John and Maria Strean, the former a native of
Ireland and the latter of Irish and German extraction, and to their union were
born seven children, of whom three sons and two daughters are living. Mr.
Leech was an active Democrat in politics, and much interested in home enter-
prises. He brought out from the forest a fertile and productive farm, and
built up for himself a pleasant home after much toil and enduring manv priva-
tions, and February 28, 1879, departed this life at the age of fifty-five years.
His widow survives him and is now a resident upon the old homestead. Mr.
Leech was one of eleven children, and in June, 1873, attended a re-union of
344 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
his father's family at his youngest brother's residence, near Marshfield, Ohio,
there being present the father, five sons, six daughters, six sons-in-law, three
daughters-in-law and twenty-seven grandchildren — the family circle being
complete, with the exception of the mother, who had been called to her last
home but a few years previously.
JOSEPH ORR LONG was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 14,
1834, one of nine children born to Jesse W. and Hannah (Heglar) Long,
seven of whom are still living. The father was born in Virginia, May 13,
1799, and the mother September 7, 1809, in the same State. The father was
taken by his parents to Ohio while he was but a small boy. He was married
in Greene County, where he owned a small farm, and in May, 1834, moved
with his family to what is now Smith Township, where he had pre-empted 320
acres the previous fall. His first cabin was of the most primitive character,
not a nail being used in its construction. He was probably the first white
settler within the limits of Smith Township, and here died January 26, 1863.
Joseph 0. Long, our subject, remained with his father till he reached his
majority, receiving a common-school education. Afterward he assisted in
building Whartburg College, in Union Township, taking private lessons during
the time from Rev. Jacob Woolf, Principal, also attending the first term taught
at that school. Mr. Long began teaching at the age of nineteen, and gave in-
struction in Allen and Whitley Counties three terms. January 24, 1866, he
married Ruhannah Nickey, born in Ross County, Ohio, October 1, 1838,
daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Briggs) Nickey. The issue of this marriage
was seven children, viz. : Charles 0., J. L., Frank E., Ora E., Bertie and
Ruah E. (twins), and Addie R. Immediately after his marriage he removed
to La Fayette Township, Keokuk County, Iowa, remained two and a half years,
then moved to De Kalb County, Mo., and in 1860 returned to this township,
rented a part of his father's farm, and at the latter's death bought the shares of the
other heirs and now owns the old homestead of 320 acres. His surviving brothers
and sisters are located as follows : Mrs. Mary E. Cleveland, Keokuk County,
Iowa; Mrs. Elder J. Nicholls, Woodbury County, Iowa; Anderson H., Keo-
kuk County, Iowa; Alexander Mc, Woodbury County, Iowa; Nelson C, at
the Dalles, Oregon, and Noah S., Beatrice, Neb.
P. MALONEY (deceased) was born in Limerick, Ireland, about the
year 1812, and emigrated to America in 1832, locating in Vermont, and two
years later removed to Fort Wayne, this State. He was left an orphan when
but a small child, landed in this country in destitute circumstances, and had
always to take care of himself. At Fort Wayne he followed teaming for a
livelihood, and was there married to Mary Cushion, of that city, who shortly
after died. In 1840, he married Katherine Welsh, a native of County Mayo,
Ireland, who was born in 1812, emigrated with her parents to this country in
1837, and located the first year in Fort Wayne. Mr. Maloney came to this
township in 1839, located on Section 12, and began farming in the unbroken
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 345
wilderness. By hard work, thrift and perseverance, he succeeded in providing
for his family a comfortable home of 400 acres, the better part well improved.
In his latter days, he dealt extensively in live stock, raising a great many head.
He was the father of seven children, of whom three sons and three daughters
are still living. After a well-spent life and a useful one, he died February 24,
1862. His widow still survives, and resides with her youngest son on the
home farm at the age of seventy years, a member, as was her husband, of the
Catholic Church.
DR. F. M. MAGERS was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 28,
1838, the youngest of eight sons born to Nathan and Winifred (Logsdon)
Magers, of Cumberland County, Md., and of English and French descent.
The advent of their ancestors in this country was in Lord Baltimore's time.
The father of Dr. Magers was a farmer, and one of the very early settlers of
Knox County, Ohio. He died September 10, 1842. At the age of thirteen,
our subject left his mother to attend St. Mary's Seminary, St. Louis, at which
institution and at St. Thomas' College, Ky., he pursued his studies till seven-
teen years old, and then returned home. In 1855, he came to Avilla, Noble
County, this State, and engaged in teaching, which he continued till 1857, and
then returned home to manage the farm. The fall of 1862, he came to Allen
County, this State, taught school that winter, returned home in the spring of
1863, when his mother died. He settled up the estate and for two years read
medicine with Dr. Bryant, of Mt. Vernon, attended lectures at the Michigan
University at Ann Arbor, and in May, 1865, located in Churubusco, and began
practice, at which he has been very successful. Dr. Magers is a Democrat, and
a member of the Catholic Church. November 24, 1865, he married Mary E.
Metzger, daughter of Judge A. Metzger, of Fort Wayne, and to their union
have been born six children, viz.: Cassimer B., Mary F., Edmund L., Eliza-
beth W., Ursula J. and Francis A.
GEORGE W. MAXWELL was born in Eel River Township, Allen County,
Ind., February 23, 1853, and his father, Abraham Maxwell, in Sumner
County, Penn., in 1809. The latter, at the age of fifteen, came to Knox
County, Ohio, and in 1835 to Indiana. November 24, 1836, he married
Mary Ann (Geiger) Parks, born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1811, and an
immigrant to Allen County, in 1833. Mr. Maxwell first located in Indiana
on Haw Patch, Noble County; then moved to Eel River Township, Allen
County, where he married, purchased a piece of land, and ended his days
March 27, 1863. His widow survives him, and resides on the old homestead.
They had a family of seven children, five of whom are yet living, the mother
also having two children living, of three born to her first husband, John Parks.
Our subject was reared a farmer, but was well educated, and taught two terms
of school. In 1873, he came to Churubusco, engaged in clerking and as part-
ner, and for a number of years sold organs and sewing machines. September 9,
1875, he married Miss Sarah F. Deck, and 1876, he and John Deck (his father-
346 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
in-law), joined as partners in a general store. This partnership lasted five years
and a half; Mr. Maxwell now continues the business alone, has been very suc-
cessful, and carries a stock valued at $17,000, comprising dry goods, clothing,
groceries, etc. He and his wife are the parents of two children — Iva A. and
Myrta M. In politics, he is a Democrat, and he is a member of the I. 0.
O. F.
J. F. McNEAR was born in Morrow County, Ohio, January 10, 1838,
the son of Philip and Rebecca (Williams) McNear, of Pennsylvania, and of
Scotch descent. Philip McNear was a farmer, and visited Noble County, Ind.,
about 1850, but finally settled in Smith Township, this county, in October,
1851, on forty-one acres in Section 24, and passed through all the hardships
incident to pioneer life. Mrs. McNear died December 25, 1878, aged seventy
years, since when Mr. McNear has married Mrs. Emillie Strong, and still re-
sides in Smith Township. J. F. McNear was reared on the farm, and received
the ordinary common -school education; he then attended one or two terms at
Columbia City, after which he entered Otterbein University, near Columbus,
Ohio; came home in 1860, and cast his first vote for Lincoln; attended school
a term, and then taught until 1862, when he enlisted, August 5, in Company
B, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to the front. He
was in the fights at Perryville, Chickamauga, all through the Atlanta cam-
paign, with Sherman in his mem orable march to the sea, and through the
Carolinas. During the last year of his service, he was Provost Marshal of the
brigade part of the time, and aid-de-camp to Gen. Green. He was honorably
discharged June 21, 1865. He enlisted as a private; was appointed Corporal
and then Orderly Sergeant; after the battle of Chickamauga, was sent home
on a recruiting expedition, and there received a commission, in January, 1864,
as First Lieutenant. After the war he engaged in school teaching in Colum-
bia City and elsewhere, and in 1869 went to Kansas and engaged in farming
and dealing in real estate. He returned to W hitley County in 1874, and has
since remained here. September 5, 1867, he married Antoinette A. Tucker,
who died June 2, 1875, leaving two children, Aggie I. and Burdette. Mr.
McNear is a Republican, and a member of the U. B. Church. He is owner
of sixty acres of land in Smith Township, besides other real estate.
JACOB NICKEY was born in Augusta Co., Va., July 1, 1814, one of ten
children of Samuel and Catherine (Balsley) Nickey. Samuel Nickey's parents
came from Germany when he was but three years old, in 1769, and settled in
Pennsylvania, but removed to Virginia, where he married and resided till his
death, February 17, 1832. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and was
a member of the Lutheran Church. In the fall of 1832, Mrs. Catherine Nickey
moved with her family to Ross Co., Ohio, and in the fall of 1834 removed to
Lake Township, Allen Co., Ind., and then to Union Township, this county,
where she bought sixty acres of land and lived for many years, but died in
1852 at the home of her son David, in this township. She was a member of
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 347
the M. E. Church. Jacob Nickey, our subject, has acquired a very good edu-
cation by self-teaching, his early opportunities having been meager. February
19, 1834, he married, in Ross Co., Ohio, Elizabeth Briggs, native of the place,
and daughter of Samuel and Agnes (Sheppard) Briggs. By this marriage he
became the father of six children, viz. : Elizabeth J., now Mrs. Alex.
More; Rose A., now Mrs. George Perry; Ruhannah, now Mrs. J. 0.
Long; Sarah A., now Mrs. William Krider; Clarissa, now Mrs. Metsker,
and Allen S., now practicing medicine in Boone County, Ind. After
marriage, Mr. Nickey farmed on shares, in Ross County, till the fall of
1839, when he came to this township and bought 120 acres unimproved land
the following spring, and here erected probably the first frame dwelling built
in the county. He has increased his farm to 307 acres of well-improved land
by adding to it from time to time. Mrs. Elizabeth Nickey died here Septem-
ber 19, 1844, and January 18, 1849, he married Mrs. Catherine (Crabill)
Fredericks, born in Shenandoah County, Va., October 29, 1821, daughter of
William and Catherine (Funk) Crabill, natives of that State, and from this second
marriage three children are living, viz.: William S., Mary N. (now Mrs. N.
Metsker), and Jacob W. Mr. Nickey has served many years as Township
Trustee under both the old and new constitutions, and six years as one of the
County Commissioners; he was on the first grand jury ever held in Columbia
City, and has always been a Democrat. He and wife are members of the U.
B. Church, and are among the leading citizens of the township.
D. W. NICKEY was born in this township July 6, 1837, the son of
Samuel and Elizabeth (Gradeless) Nickey, who were parents of the following-
named children: Rebecca, now Mr. Silas Briggs, of Union Township; David
W. ; Mary A., now Mrs. Samuel Pierce, of Kendall ville. Noble County ; Martha
E., deceased; William A., deceased; and Addison B., who married Orpha
Mossman, and lives in Allen County. Samuel Nickey was born in Augusta
County, Va., in 1809, and came to Ross County, Ohio, with his widowed
mother; taught school there, and there married Miss Gradeless in 1832.
In 1833, he and his father-in-law, William Gradeless, and Absalom Hyre
came to Indiana, and Messrs. Nickey and Hyre settled in this township,
and Mr. Gradeless in Lake Township, iVllen County, taking permanent
possession in 1834. After many years, Mr. Nickey moved across Eel
River to his father-in-law's place in Allen County, and there died August 29,
1864. Mrs. Nickey died April 17, 1861. D. W. Nickey was reared on the
farm in this township, which has always been his home. January 4, 1860, he
married Miss Alcinda J. Mossman, daughter of Francis Mossman, one of the
old citizens of Whitley County. To their union have been born two children
— Rhua E. and Alfred J. Mr. Nickey is a farmer, and also deals largely in
live stock. He owns 360 acres of good land in Smith Township, and 180
acres in Allen County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a Re-
publican, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
348 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
GEORGE W. ORNDORF was born in Franklin County, Penn., June
9, 1824, the son of John and Barbara (Stewart) Orndorf, and is one of the
two living of their family of three children. The father moved with his family
to Richland County, Ohio, in 1836, where he engaged in his vocation of farm-
ing. There our subject was reared, and there he married, January 14, 1845,
Eve Spinks, and thence emigrated, in 1848, to Eel River Township, Allen
Co., Ind. A year later he moved to Lake Township, and in 1877 came to
Churubusco. He had learned the carpenter and joiner's trade in 1842, began
married life with little or no means at his command, and had but $12 in cash
after paying his expenses of removal to this State, had a wife and two children,
and no household goods. By thrift and industry, however, he has acquired a
good farm of 104 acres in Allen County, as well as valuable town property in
Churubusco. He and wife are the parents of eight children, viz.: Priscilla,
Mary, Barbara, John, Talitha, Ellen (deceased), George (deceased), and Ida.
Of the above, John W. is a leading young man of Churubusco. He has re-
ceived a good education, has taught school, is married to Jennie Hyatt, is now
studying law, and is a Justice of the Peace of Smith Township. The parents
of George W. Orndorf moved to Allen County in 1854, where his mother
died in 1873. His father moved to Churubusco in 1877, where he died in
March, 1880. The family is an old and respected one of Churubusco and
vicinity.
ABRAHAM PENCE was born in Fayette County, Ohio, December 19,
1818, and was one of the eleven children born to George C. and Sarah (Windel)
Pence, the former a native of Highland County, Ohio, and the latter of Shen-
andoah County, Va. Our subject came with his parents to this township in 1836,
and has since resided on Section 19, where he was employed on his father's farm
until twenty-two years of age,when (in August, 1840), he married Nancy Buckley,
a native of Holmes County, Ohio. To their union were born eight children, of
whom four are living. Mrs. Pence died in Smith Township in June, 1866,
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. May 7, 1867, Mr. Pence mar-
ried Mrs. Sarah (Hyre) Humbarger, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio,
and daughter of Wesley and Susan (Van Schaick) Hyre. Mr. Pence farmed
on seventy-six acres of the home farm which his father had deeded to him, and
by degrees has added to it until at present he owns a farm of 400 acres of well-
improved land in Smith and Thorn Creek Townships, and has, besides, deeded
to his sons 185 acres. Mr. Pence is a Republican, and has filled the ofiice of
Township Trustee under the old constitution, and has always been regarded as
one of the leading farmers and citizens of the township.
JOHN PENCE was born in Fayette County, Ohio, April 28, 1823, the
son of George C. and Sarah Pence, and came with his parents to this township
in the fall of 1836, and worked for his father till he reached the age of twenty-
three, when his father deeded him eighty acres of the old home place. For the
next five years, he improved his own farm, and worked out for others at inter-
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 349
vals ; in October, 1851, he married Sarah Strein, a native of Allen County,
Ind., and daughter of John and Maria Strein. The father of this lady was
born on the Atlantic Ocean when his parents were on their passage to this coun-
try from Ireland, and her mother was probably a native of Pennsylvania. By
his marriage, Mr. Pence became the father of three children, viz.: Joseph M.,
Sarah C. (now Mrs. Swigert), and Ellen (now Mrs. J. J. Baker). Mrs. Pence
died in October, 1864, and March 12, 1865, Mr. Pence married Mary J.
Hazen, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Lafaver) Hazen.
To this second union were born four children — Mary A., Nettie J., Virgil J.
and Laura A. In the fall of 1852, Mr. Pence sold his farm and moved to
Jones County, Iowa, and thence to Hardin County, stopping one year in each,
then returned to this township, and bought back his old farm, which he has in-
creased to 320 acres of well-improved land. For twenty years he and wife
have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he holds
to Republican opinions.
JOSEPH J. PENCE was born November 20, 1831, in Fayette County,
Ohio, one of eleven children born to George C. and Sarah (Windel) Pence,
natives respectively of Highland County, Ohio, and Shenandoah County, Va.
George C. Pence moved to this township in the fall of 1836, and bought on
Section 19, 640 acres, built a cabin and commenced clearing up. Here Mrs.
Sarah Pence died August 18, 1853, in the Methodist Episcopal faith. In the
fall of 1855, Mr. Pence traded 120 acres of his original farm to his son, our
subject, for 240 acres in Hardin County, Iowa, to which he moved, and x>n
which he resided till his death in 1865, having before his removal deeded the
remainder of the Smith Township farm to his children. Our subject at the
age of twenty-three, left the home farm and went to Iowa, where he bought
the land he subsequently traded to his father. July 28, 1855, he married Su-
sanna Waugh, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and daughter of Joseph and
Nancy (Harper) Waugh, natives of the same State. To their union were born
six children, five of whom are still living, viz.: Mary E., now Mrs. J. J-
Smith; James A. L., David E. M,, Florence A. and William J. Mrs. Pence
died June 6, 1871, and November 14, 1873, our subject married Alice C.
Henny, a native of Jefferson Township, this county, and born September 17,
1850. She is the daughter of Phillip and Charlotta (Richard) Henny, natives
of Ohio. Mr. Pence and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and in politics he is a Republican.
HENRY C. PRESSLER was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March
5, 1837, one of sixteen children born to John and Maria (Egolf ) Pressler,
natives of Pennsylvania. John Pressler immigrated into Whitley County,
locating in Thorn Creek Township in 1846, and moved to Columbia City in
1875, where he now resides with his second wife, Lydia (King) Pressler, whom
he married in 1864, our subject's mother having died in 1857. At the age of
twenty, our subject began teaching school, taught three terms, and then
350 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
entered Heidelberg College, but was soon compelled to withdrew on account of
ill health. April, 1861, the military organization to which he belonged was
mustered in with Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and
Mr. P. went to the front, remained a year, and was then discharged on account
of his ill health. In 1861, he re-enlisted in the same company, and remained
till the close of the war. In December, 1866, he married Margaret M. Richey.
Since 1872, he has chiefly been engaged in mercantile pursuits. In politics, he
is a Democrat, and has held the position of Township Assessor and Township
Trustee for Smith very nearly twelve consecutive years, and served as Census
Enumerator in 1880. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fra-
ternities, and the father of five children — Wilkis W. (deceased), Willard E.,
Viola M., Henry C. and Maud.
MILES RITCHE was born in Northumberland County, Penn., in 1809,
one of eight children born to Moses and Rebecca Ritche, natives of Pennsyl-
vania and of German extraction. The boyhood of our subject was passed in
attending a country school some two or three miles away from his home, and
in assisting his father on the farm. At the age of twenty-five, he rented the
homestead for seven years, then moved to Clarion County, Penn,, and farmed
there for seven years, and then, to better his circumstances, came to this town-
ship in the fall of 1848, and here he has since remained. He found his eighty-
acre lot in Smith a wilderness, but by perseverance and hard work converted
it into a comfortable home, and added to it till it reached 312 acres of product-
ive land, a portion of which he has given to his children. November 2, 1833, .
he married Marinda Woodrow, daughter of John and Mary A. Woodrow, both
natives of Pennsylvania and of English extraction, and to this marriage were
born seven children, of whom three sons and two daughters are still living.
At his country's call, during the late war, our subject, his three sons and two
sons-in-law, were prompt to respond, were sent to the front, and all in safety
returned. Mr. Ritche and wife have been members of the M. E. Church for
forty years, and he has always been active in the building-up of churches and
schoolhouses.
LEMUEL RICHEY was born in Northumberland County, Penn.,
January 11, 1817, and is one of seven children, five yet living, born to Miles
ann Marinda Richey of the said State. Miles was a farmer, was married in
his native State, then moved to Indiana, located near the center of this town-
ship and purchased eighty acres ; has since added to it, and now owns 200
acres of good land, all gained by his own exertions. Our subject, Lemuel
Richey, came here with his parents at about four years of age, and was here
reared to manhood, receiving a fair common-school education. In the fall of
1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth I. V. I., as
private. The next spring he was sent to the front and participated in the bat-
tles of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, Jones-
boro, Franklin, Nashville, etc., and was then transferred to the Eastern Army,
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 351
Twenty-third Army Corps. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant October
23, 1863, and Captain of Company D in August, 1865, and discharged in
September, 1865, at Charlotte, N. C, when he returned home and engaged in
farming. He has since been employed in railroading, merchandising, etc. In
1876, settled in Churubusco, where he has since been engaged in the hardware
trade, and at present is a member of the firm of Richey & Craig, owning, also,
eighty acres of land in the township. In April, 1869, he married Miss
Lavinia Pence, both being members of the M. E. Church. He is also a mem-
ber of the I. 0. 0. F., and in politics is a Republican.
J. F. SHOAFF was born in Miami County, Ohio, September 15, 1831,
one of eleven children born to John P. and Priscilla (Freeman) Shoaff, natives
of Pennsylvania and Ohio. John P. Shoaff was a farmer by occupation, but
a miller by trade. He married Miss Freeman in Miami County, and when the
third of their eleven children was born, emigrated, in 1836, to Eel River
Township, Allen County, Ind. (five miles from the line of this township and
county), and located in the woods. At that time there were only three white
families in the township, and the country was overrun with Indians, deer,
wolves, wild cats and lynxes. After a couple of years' experience in the wil-
derness, Mr. Shoaff relinquished farming and began dealing in stocks, which
have since engaged his attention. He has accumulated property, valued at
$75,000, all by his own exertions. His wife died May 1, 1881, and he still
lives on his homestead at che advanced age of seventy-eight. Our subject, J.
F. Shoaff, was reared a farmer, and in November, 1857, married Martha Work,
who died March 18, 1868. He married his present wife, Annie E. Johnston,
September 11, 1872, and to their union have been born two children — Priscilla
J. and Eliza J. He employed himself in farming and stock-raising until he
came to Churubusco, in July, 1874, where he is doing business as a broker and
dealer in real estate. He owns 466 acres of land in Allen County, besides some
good property in town. In politics, he is a Democrat, and he and wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
GEORGE W. SLAGLE was born in Kanawha County, W. Va., December
9, 1811, the eldest of fourteen children of John and Margaret L. (Erwin)
Slagle. The parents brought our subject, when a child, to Ross County, Ohio,
and later to Greene County, where he received a common-school education and
worked for his father and others till 1831, when he married, September 8,
Martha Long, born in Augusta County, Va., April 13, 1814, one of eight
children of Peter and Margaret (Ewing) Long, and to this union were born ten
children, viz. : Leander, Peter L., Margaret (now Mrs. Jere. Heffelfinger), John
H., Aaron P. (who died in 1880, leaving a wife and two children), Martha J.
(now Mrs. Horace Hoxia), Mary A. (now Mrs. William Whery), George B.,
William W. and Emma J. (now Mrs. Henry Jerken). After his marriage,
our subject took a lease of part of his father's farm, clearing it up in summer
and working as a carpenter in the winter. In 1840, he moved to Lake Town-
352 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ship, Allen County, this State, and one year later came to this township,
bought fifty acres of wild land, built a hewn-log house and cleared up a farm.
He now owns seventy-six well-improved acres. Soon after his coming he began
working as a brick and stone-mason, which trade he has since followed in con-
nection with farming. He was a charter member and the first Worshipful Master
of Churubusco Lodge, No. 515, A., F. & A. M., is a Republican, and he and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
George B. Slagle, farmer, was born in this township, December 8, 1849,
received the ordinary common-school education, and worked for his father till
of age. December 4, 1870, he married Mary E. Donaldson, born in Wood
County, Ohio, February 22, 1852, the only child of Hiram and Margaret
(Kennedy) Donaldson, natives of Ohio. From this union two children remain
— Charles W. and Walter M. After his marriage, Mr. Slagle operated his
father's farm for one year, and then moved in March, 1872, to Wood County,
Ohio, where he owned a farm, which he sold and returned to this township the
same year, and bought a farm of eighty acres, but has resided on his father's
farm ever since. He is a Republican in politics, and is a rising young farmer-
JACOB STOCKERT was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1832,
the son of John J. and Margaret Stockert, and in his native land learned the
blacksmith's trade from his father and worked at intervals on the farm. He
received a good German education, and when twenty-two years of age emigrated
to this country, locating in Stark County, Ohio, where a brother had preceded
him three years previously. On his arrival, he found himself $15 in debt, and
so began his new life worse than empty-handed. He worked at first at jobs,
and soon recovered himself. In the spring of 1858, he married Mary Bear,
daughter of George and Susan Bear, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and
to their union were born five children, of whom two sons and two daughters
are now living. Our subject farmed on rented land in Ohio till the spring of
1865, when he moved to this township and purchased eighty acres from Jerry
Krider, on which was a small log cabin, which has long since been replaced by
a substantial frame residence and other good buildings, and the land increased
to 185 acres, all well improved. He is recognized as an enterprising citizen
and one of the most foremost in the advancement of home industries. He and
wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM VAN METER, Jr., was born in Pendleton County (now West
Virginia), May 15, 1807, the youngest of five children born to William and
Phebe (Wece) Van Meter, natives of Augusta and Hardy Counties, Va. The
father died when our subject was quite young, and the latter remained with his
mother till nineteen years old, and then hired out by the day or year till 1828,
when he married Mary Harmon, a native of Pendleton County, and to their union
were born six children, viz.: Mrs. Christina Myers ; Phebe, now Mrs. John
DiflfendafFer ; Adam, who died in this township in his twenty-seventh year ;
Rebecca, now Mrs. W. Sterling ; John and Julia A. (afterward Mrs. David
SMITH TOWNSHIP. 353
Hurd), who died in 1866, leaving three children. About 1835, Mr. Van Meter
moved to Ross County, Ohio, where he farmed on shares ; in 1837, he brought
his family to this township, where he bought 160 acres of wild land, to which
he has added from time to time, and now owns 636 acres, well-improved. Mrs.
Van Meter died at her home in this township in 1841, and January 15, 1859,
our subject married Melinda Cratzer, born in Stark County, Ohio, February
17, 1839, the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Brightbill) Cratzer, of Penn-
sylvania, and to this union six children have been born, as follows : America,
now Mrs. B. Gradeless ; Scott, Almeda, Melinda M., William and Alpha.
Mrs. Van Meter is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a Re-
publican, and one of the oldest pioneers of this township.
OBADIAH J. WADE was born in Virginia March 25, 1814, one of
nine children born to Richard and Rhoda (Harler) Wade. Richard Wade was
a farmer by occupation, a reed maker by trade and a soldier in the war of 1812.
Our subject learned to read at Sabbath school, walking five miles every Sunday
to attend the same. He worked on his father's farm till twenty-one years of
age, and then went to Augusta County, W. Va., and worked out by the day,
month or year. January 28, 1837, he married Caroline Holt, who was born
in Augusta County, September 26, 1814. Their children number nine, as
follows: Mary J., now Mrs. Chockley ; John S.; Elizabeth A., now Mrs.
Crockston ; William I., James A., Francis A., Richard W., Augusta V. (now
Mrs. Leigh), and Charles W. In the fall of 1841, Mr. Wade moved with his
wife and family to Thorn Creek Township, this county, where he remained till
the spring of 1848, when he moved to this township. Here he bought forty
acres of unimproved land, built a log house, and cleared up his farm, which he
has since increased to 293 acres. Mr. Wade served as Township Trustee under
the old constitution, and he and wife have for many years been members of the
M. E. Church.
C. C. WALKLEY was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, December 17,
1810, one of fouif sons, two of whom are living, of David and Prudence (Foot)
Walkley, natives of Connecticut. David Walkley was a farmer, and moved to
Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1805, and was among the oldest settlers. Our
subject received a common-school education, and passed his early years in as-
sisting his father in his work as a pioneer. November 26, 1829, he married
Miss Ruth L. Richmond, daughter of Elder Edmund Richmond, of Otsego
County, N. Y. Mr. Walkley became infatuated with frontier life, and the
winters of 1833-34 found him alone near the head-waters of the Blue River,
in Noble County, this State, where the abundance of game satisfied his pas-
sion for the chase. In 1835, he purchased some land and brought out his
family, and the succeeding summers were passed in clearing and farming and
the winters in hunting and trapping. He took great interest in the affairs of
Green Township ; for seventeen years was Justice of the Peace, and was held
in general esteem. About 1875, he moved to Churubusco, and has since lived
354 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
here, engaged in the grocery trade. He and wife have shared the trials and
hardships of frontier life for fift^'-three years, and have had born to them ten
children, five of whom have died. The survivors are as follows : Charles R.;
Flavia A., now Mrs. Boner ; Parmelia, now Mrs. Hutchin ; Harriet, now Mrs.
Gillett; Ruth L., now Mrs. Greer. Mr. Walkley is an old-time Democrat,
and Mrs. Walkley is a member of the Baptist Chui'ch.
DAVID M. WAUGH, was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 15,
1840, and is one of eleven children of Joseph and Nancy (Harper) Waugh,
natives of said State. Our subject came with his parents to this township in
1850 ; here attended the public schools, and worked on his father's farm till
1864, when he enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry,
with which he served through all its marches and engagements till mustered
out at Macon, Ga., in August, 1865, having taken part in the battles of
Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Selma. On his return, he settled on an
eighty-acre farm his father had bought for him during his absence. September
16, 1866, he married Mary Kinsey, who was born in Montgomery County,
Ohio, in January, 1847, the daughter of Levi and Caroline Kinsey, natives
respectively of Ohio and Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Waugh are the parents of
six children, viz. : Ida M., Lillia C, Susie M., Harvey, Edna and Harrie
G. In politics he is a Republican, and he is considered one of the rising young
farmers of the township.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM A. ALLEN, general merchant, was born in this township
December 5, 1842, and is the eldest of six living children born to Nathaniel
and Eliza (Force) Allen, who were respectively born in Summit County,
Ohio, February 7, 1816, and Pennsylvania, December 25, 1818. Nathaniel
Allen was a carpenter, and, in 1842, came to this township and bought 160
acres of land, built a cabin, and commenced clearing. Our subject assisted
his father till March 22, 1864, when he enlisted in Company E, Seventeenth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, then a part of Gen. Wilder's brigade, and served
until mustered out at Macon, August 12, 1865, having fought at Selma, Ala.>
Macon and Columbus, Ga., and in many skirmishes. On his return, he worked
on the home farm till 1873, when he and his brother, Wesley W. Allen, en-
gaged in mercantile pursuits at Coesse, which are still being conducted under
the firm name of Allen Bros. October 9, 1873, he married Maria Yagel, who
was born in Thorn Creek Township, this county, November 27, 1853. She is
the youngest of five children living born to Adam and Eve M. (Cotsamyre)
Yagel, both natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born three
children — Victor, Charles and Leroy. Mr. Allen is one of the rising young
men of the township, and in politics is a Democrat.
UNION TOWNSHIP. 355
ALEXANDER BOYD was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., Feb-
ruary 8, 1811, one of twelve children born to Hugh and Elizabeth (George)
Boyd, natives of the Soujth, but married in Pennsylvania, where Hugh followed
his trade of tailoring till his death. When fourteen years of age, our subject
left his home and went to work by the month on a farm, also on the Erie Canal,
and the National pike ; also on the first waterworks in Pittsburgh, and for a
while on a steamboat on the Ohio River. He was married, April 29, 1830, to
Elizabeth Dinsmore, born in Westmoreland County January 7, 1810, of
Robert and Esther (McCoy) Dinsmore. Mr. Boyd then farmed on shares till
1835, when he moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he worked on shares till
1844, and then came to this township and bought eighty acres of wild land,
and settled in a log cabin among the Indians and wolves, both of which were
sometimes unwelcome visitors. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are the parents of eight
children, viz. : Hester, who married H. Graves, and who died in 1862 ;
Catherine, who died in her tenth year ; James ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. W. S.
Keiser; Nancy J., now Mrs. Curtis Keiser ; Martha, A., now Mrs. James
Graves ; John E. and George. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the Pres-
byterian Church, and in politics Mr. Boyd is a Democrat.
JAMES S. BRIGGS was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 25,
1819, and was one of twelve children born to Samuel and Agnes (Shepard)
Briggs, who respectively were born in Pendleton County, Va., January 15,
1776, and Greenbrier County, Va., July 15, 1785. Samuel Briggs was mar-
ried in Virginia, but soon after came to Ross County, Ohio, bought a farm,
and there passed his days. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for
many years Overseer of the Poor in Ross County. Mrs. Briggs died Novem-
ber 12, 1839, and her husband January 27, 1841. Our subject received a
common-school education, and worked for his father till twenty-three years old,
and then worked by the month or farmed on shares for several years. He
married, December 26, 1847, in Fayette County, Reedy Shobe, who was born
in Ross County, July 6, 1826, the younger of two children born to Samuel
and Clara (Stingley) Shobe, the former born in Ross County July 15, 1802,
and the latter in Hardy County, Va., October 18, 1801. In 1850, Mr. Briggs
came to this township with his wife and child, and bought the farm of 130
acres on which he still resides. They are the parents of six children, viz.:
Samuel S., Darius B., Silas L., John M., Lois M. and Thomas B. Mr. and
Mrs. Briggs are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in
politics Mr. Briggs is a Democrat.
SILAS BRIGGS was born in Ross County, Ohio, August 30, 1826.
Samuel, his father, died when Silas was in his fifteenth year, when the latter
went out to work by the month for about three years. He then engaged in
driving cattle to Eastern markets for about seven years. In 1851, he came to
Union Township, where three years previously he had bought 160 acres unim-
proved land. Here he built a log house and began clearing, and has continued
356 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to add to his farm till he now is possessor of 464 highly cultivated acres. He
was married, September 16, 1852, to Rebecca Nickey, daughter of Samuel
and Elizabeth (Grradeless) Nickey, and born in Smith Township, this county.
To their union have been born nine children, viz.: Desdie J., Elizabeth (now
Mrs. Albert Mossman), Delia (now Mrs. D. Welshimer), Silas E., Stephen 0.,
Charles N., Frank, Frederick and Jesse H. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are both
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and in politics he is a Democrat.
He is an extensive live-stock dealer, a leading farmer and a prominent citizen
of the township.
ANDREW J. BRIGGS was born in Ross County, Ohio., April 5, 1829,
and is the youngest of twelve children born to Samuel and Agnes Briggs.
Our subject received the ordinary common-school education of his day, and at
the age of eleven years was brought to Smith Township, this county, by Jacob
Nickey, for whom he worked till sixteen years old, after which he lived with
his brother, Jesse, till he reached his majority. He then set to work clearing
a 169-acre lot, his guardian, Jacob Nickey, had bought for him, and has re-
sided thereon ever since, having added to it from time to time, till he now has
205 acres of well improved land. August 28, 1852, he married Sarah A.
More, who was born in Ohio February 12, 1832. She is a daughter of John
W. and Mary (Spear) More, both natives of Ohio. To their marriage were
born five children, viz. : Mary A., now Mrs. A. T. Hull ; Huldah J., now Mrs.
William Gregg; Anna C, now Mrs. Charles Rese; Sarah M. and Florence
A. Mr. Briggs, in politics, is a Democrat, and is one of the prominent citizens
of his township.
JEHU H. CLARK was born in Chester County, Penn., April 17, 1825,
one of eight children born to Jehu and Keziah (Edwards) Clark, natives of
Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Jehu was married in Chester County, and
there resided the remainder of his days. Jehu H. Clark, our subject, resided
with his father till twenty-seven years old. He began teaching when twenty-
one. He taught for several years in Pennsylvania, and one term in this town-
ship, in a schoolhouse in which there were no nails used in its construction,
which was built of logs, had a puncheon floor, and a door hung on wooden
hinges. He was married, February 15, 1851, to Jane A. Packer, a daughter
of Hugh and Elizabeth (Thomas) Packer, and born in Columbiana County,
Ohio, August 8, 1833. To their union were born six children, four of whom
are living, viz.: Byron T., Joe H., Albert W. and Grace A. After his mar-
riage, Mr. Clark returned to Chester County, Penn., remained there a year,
and then moved to a farm of 137 acres unimproved land he had bought in
this township, built a log house, and cleared from the wilderness a home. At
that time his means were quite limited, but by industry and unswerving integ-
rity, he has won a handsome property, now aggregating 340 acres. Mrs. Clark
died March 16, 1863, and December 27, 1864, Mr. Clark married S. Amelia
Spore, born in Albany County, N. Y., May 22, 1842. They have six chil-
UNION TOWNSHIP. 357
dren — Jennie A., Jettie P., Lulu G., I. Belle, Thaddeus L. and Zella M.
From the spring of 1865 to the fall of 1868, Mr. Clark conducted a general
mercantile business at Coesse, and he then returned to his farm, where he has
since resided. He is a Republican, and for two years was Assessor of the
township.
STEPHEN H. CLARK was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., March
5, 1821, one of the nine children of John G. and Julia (Goodrich) Clark,
natives of Hudson City, N. Y., and Connecticut, respectively. They were mar-
ried at Auburn, N. Y. John G. was a shoemaker and farmer. He was a
soldier in the war of 1812, and lived and owned land at different times in
Cayuga, Lewis, Schoharie and Onondaga Counties, N. Y. In 1839, he moved
with his family to De Kalb County, Ind., bought 200 acres of land, and died
there in March, 1853, his wife following fifteen days later. Our subject was
fairly educated in his youth, and at fourteen years of age went as an appren-
tice to blacksmithing for three years. He left the trade, however, and came
with his parents to Indiana, and remained with them till twenty-two years old,
when he commenced clearing a place of his own in Allen County. He was
married September 5, 1845, to Jane R. Moody, born in Greene County, Penn.,
December 3, 1820, the daughter of Daniel and Mary A. (Davis) Moody,
natives of Maryland and New Jersey respectively. They are parents of four
children — Mollie A. (now Mrs. George S. Mossman), Isaac G., George S. and
Hattie E. George S. is a minister of the M. E. Church. In January, 1849,
our subject moved to this township, entered 160 acres and bought eighty acres
of land, and now has a model establishment. He was ordained Deacon in the
M. E. Church, in 1857, and Elder in 1871, and has labored as local preacher
and circuit rider thirty-one years. He has read medicine and practiced to
some extent; was special agent for the Home Life Insurance Company of New
York, for two years; was special traveling and collecting agent for the Con-
necticut Mutual, and general agent of the Union Central Life of Cincinnati.
He is a Republican, and a member of the A,, F. & A. M.
ELIJAH De PEW was born in Luzerne County, Penn., May 10, 1818,
one of fifteen children of Levi and Rachel (Walker) De Pew, born in New Jer-
sey in 1777, in April and May respectively, and there married. Levi settled
on 234 acres in Luzerne, Penn., in 1800, following his trade of blacksmith in
connection with farming till his death in 1868. Elijah, our subject, received a
very fair common-school education, and worked on the home farm until twenty-
five years old. He began teaching school at the age of seventeen, and taught
for thirteen winters — eight of them in one house. November 1, 1841, he mar-
ried Jeannette E. Paige, born in Franklin County, N. Y., September 21, 1821,
and the daughter of Rufus A. and Jane (Middaugh) Paige, natives of that
State. Her grandfather, Solomon Middaugh, was a Captain in the Continental
army during the Revolution, and part of the time Aid-de-camp on Washing-
ton's staff. Mrs. De Pew died in Columbia Township, this county, April 5,
358 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
1852, in the Methodist faith, and leaving one child — -Mary M. (now Mrs. A.
J. Steele). In 1849, Mr. De Pew entered eighty acres in Columbia Township,
built a house and cleared up the land, and then traded for 160 acres in this
township, in 1855. The same year he moved to Columbia City and worked at
his trade, carpentering, till 1859, then moved on his farm. December 6, 1853,
he married Rebecca Winget, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, August
11, 1821, the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Rinerson) Winget, natives of
Pennsylvania, and by this marriage became the father of three children — Fran-
ces E., Rachel A. and Isa B. In politics, he is a Democrat, and served as As-
sessor of Columbia Township two years.
JOHN F. DEPOY was born in Fayette County, Ohio, December 21,
1821, the eldest of three children born to Nicholas and Esther (Furnow) De-
poy, natives respectively of Rockingham County, Va., and Ross County, Ohio,
Mrs. Depoy's father having been a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Nich-
olas Depoy came to Ross County when fourteen years old, and in that county
was married. In 1820, he moved to Fayette, where he owned 100 acres of land,
and cleared up a farm. Here Mrs. Depoy died October 19, 1825. In March,
1829, Mr. Depoy was married to Henrietta Taylor, a native of Virginia. In
1845, he came with his family to this township and bought 170 acres of wild land,
cleared up a farm, and added to it until he had increased it, at the time of his
death, November 9, 1865, to 370 acres. John F. Depoy, our subject, remained
on his father's farm in Ohio till he was twenty-three years of age, and January
23, 1845, married Delilah Bainter, born in Fayette County, and the daughter
of George and Elizabeth (Howard) Bainter, the former born in Pennsylvania
March 2, 1795, and the latter in Virginia January 8, 1796. In 1845, Mr.
Depoy came with his wife and his father's family to this township, and re-
mained on his father's farm four years. He then bought, in 1849, eighty acres
of the land where he now lives, then all woods, which he has increased to 110
acres of well-improved land. He has had born to him five children — Jeannette
A. (now Mrs. J. M. Harrison), Esther E. (now Mrs. Albert Douglas), Louisa
F., Reuben J. and Augusta L. Mr. Depoy is a Republican, and has been
Township Assessor for eight years. He is a Freemason, and he and wife are
members of the M. E. Church.
NICHOLAS S. DEPOY was born in this township December 3, 1851.
He is one of ten children born to Nicholas and Henrietta (Taylor) Depoy, na-
tives of Virginia, the birth of the former having occurred March 7, 1799.
Nicholas S., our subject, received a fair common-school education in his younger
days, and has lived all his life at the homestead, with the exception of th'tee
years passed in Coesse. June 27, 1874, he was married to Harriet F. Sny-
der, also a native of Union Township, where she was born May 27, 1852. She
is a daughter of John G. Snyder and Frederica (Wolf) Snyder, both natives of
Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Depoy have three children, viz.: Samuel, Flavia A.
and Joseph. Mr. Depoy is a member of Columbia City Lodge, No. 189, A.,
UNION TOWNSHIP. 359
F. & A. M., and in politics is a Republican. He is an enterprising young
farmer and progressive in his ideas.
REUBEN DREW was born in Putnam County, N. Y., April 28, 1815,
one often children born to James and Charity (Barrett) Drew, natives of the
same county. James Drew was a farmer, and in 1842 moved to Monroe, Fair-
field County, Conn., where he died. Our subject worked on the farm till
twenty-one, and at his majority offered his vote at the polls, but it was refused,
as he was not an owner of real estate. This incident decided him to come
West, and the same year he reached Calhoun County, Mich., where he worked
three years for a farmer, receiving as pay a deed for eighty acres of land. Sep-
tember 2, 1810, he married Mary B. Hurd, born in Cayuga County, N. Y.,
October 30, 1814, whose maternal grandfather. Rev. Michael Burdge, was a
soldier in the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Drew have had no offspring, but
reared an adopted son, William (Young), who was a soldier in the Seventeenth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died in hospital at Munfordville, Ky., in 1864.
In 1855, Mr. Drew sold his farm in Michigan and came to this township and
bought the 120 acre farm on which he now resides. From 1869 to 1876, he
engaged in mercantile business at Coesse, and then returned to his farm in re-
tirement. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
in politics Mr. Drew is a Republican, and served as Township Assessor during
his residence in Michigan.
THOMAS FOX was born in Ireland November 15, 1847, the elder of
two children born to Patrick and Margaret (Slater) Fox, born respectively in
1812 and 1811. Patrick Fox emigrated to the United States with his family
in 1853, and settled in this township, where he has ever since resided. He at
first bought a small farm, but this he sold aud purchased one of 160 acres, and
on this place he and wife are still living. Thomas, our subject, received the
ordinary common-school education, and has always resided on the home farm,
with the exception of two years, in which he was engaged in railroading. He
was married, June 3, 1881, to Miss Sarah N. Connelly, a native of Ireland.
She is the daughter of Martin and Bridget (Fox) Connelly, also natives of the
Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. Fox, as were their parents, are members of the
Catholic Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.
WELLS T. GRADELESS, born in Smith Township, this county, Sep-
tember 17, 1841, is the elder of two sons of Milo and Hannah (Smith) Grade-
less, natives of Fayette County, Ohio, and born in 1816, April 22, and Novem-
ber 28, respectively. Milo Gradeless came with his parents, Nathaniel and
Elizabeth (Waugh) Gradeless, to what is now Smith Township, this county, in
1835. July 18, 1838, Milo was married, and his was the third wedding in
Smith Township. Mrs. Hannah Gradeless was the daughter of Samuel and
Rebecca (Jones) Smith, and came with her parents from Virginia to Smith
Township, in 1833. Samuel Smith was one of the Commissioners appointed
to organize Whitley County, and for him the township of Smith was named^
360 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
He and Nathaniel Gradeless were early pioneers of Whitley County, and both
died on the farms they had taken from the wilderness of Smith Township.
After his marriage, Milo Gradeless lived in Smith Township till 1847, and then
moved to this township, where he bought a farm, sold it, and, in 1853, bought
the one on which our subject is now living, and, in 1880, moved to Columbia
City, where he now resides. Our subject was fairly educated in youth, and
has lived all his days on the homestead farm. He was married, in Shelby
County, Ohio, January 1, 1865, to Margaret A. Spear, a native of that
county, daughter of John and Nancy (Richards) Spear, and born May 4,
1845. To this union was born one child — Mary A. Mrs. Gradeless died
May 2, 1866, and, November 20, 1879, Mr. Gradeless married Elma E. Kier-
sey, born in Noble County February 11, 1856, the daughter of Nathan 0.
and Esther (Smith) Kiersey, natives of New York. Mr. Gradeless has taught
eight or ten terms of school in Whitley County. In politics, he is a Re-
publican.
GEORGE GRAVES was born in Athens County, Ohio, July 16, 1826,
the eldest of thirteen children born to Elijah Y. and Sarah (Patten) Graves,
natives of Connecticut and Maryland. Elijah Y. Graves came to Marietta,
Ohio, when eighteen years old, and was there afterward married, when he
moved to Athens County, and bought a farm. Irt 1836, he moved to Wells
County, Ohio, where he entered eighty acres arid bought 103 of unimproved
land. A pioneer of the county, he served as Trustee of Jackson Township
for several years, and there died in 1871. Our subject worked with his father
till he was twenty-three, and April 15, 1849, married Elizabeth Gilbert, who
was born in England, May 1, 1825, the daughter of William and Sarah Gil-
bert. Mrs. Graves died at her home in Allen County, this State, April 11,
1862, leaving to our subject four children — Sarah E. (now Mrs. Salathiel
Hiles), Elijah, Eliza (now Mrs, Joseph York) and Elizabeth A. In 1850, Mr.
Graves moved to Lake Township, Allen County, where he bought eighty acres
of forest land, cleared it up, and in 1862 sold out and bought 115 acres in
Aboit Township, same county, and in 1869 sold again and bought the farm
where he now lives in this township. June 11, 1880, he married Lydia
(Wraight) Burt, who was born in New York, May 12, 1851, the daughter of
Edmund and Sarah (Harris) Wraight, natives of England. Mr. Graves is a
Republican and was Town Assessor for several years, and is the owner of 181
acres of well-improved land.
HENRY GREGG, M. D. The subject of this sketch is a native of
Washington County, Penn., and was born July 15, 1816. When he was three
months old, his father, with his family, moved to Greene County, same State,
where they remained till the spring of 1829, when they returned to Washing-
ton County, the mother having died the year previous. In 1836, the father,
with his family, removed to Delaware County, Ohio, where our subject began
the study of medicine with Lyman Totten, M. D., in the spring of 1842. In
UNION TOWNSHIP. 361
the autumn of 1845, he commenced practice in the same county, and continued
until the spring of 1853. He graduated from Starling Medical College at the
session of 1849-50. On the 5th of March, 1846, he married Sarah E. Ran"
dall, and to their union were born four children, three of whom are still living.
In the spring of 1853, he brought his family to this county, and they have
resided here ever since. Mrs. Gregg died April 1, 1861, and the Doctor re-
married February 22. 1862, taking as his second mate Harriet Gaylord Hou-
sel, of Summit County, Ohio. One daughter is the fruit of this marriage.
Our subject's father, William Gregg, was a native of Washington, and his
mother, Susan Withrow, of Franklin County, Penn.
CHARLES F. HESS was born in Baden, Germany, September 14,
1814, and is one of eight children born to Jacob and Julia (Endla) Hess. He
received a very fair German education and remained on his father's farm in
Germany, and worked as a weaver, until 1835, when he emigrated to the
United States and settled at Sandusky City, Ohio, where he worked by the
month till 1838, when he came to Fort Wayne, Ind., and worked on the canal
and in the woods hauling logs till 1841. He then came to this township and
entered 120 acres of land, built a cabin, cleared a home for himself and family,
and kept adding to his land till he now owns 277 acres, highly improved. He
was married in Allen County, Ind., June 15, 1841, to Barbara Wageley, a
native of Germany, where she was born March 2, 1816. She is the daughter
of Michael and Ann M. (Keller) Wageley, also natives of Germany. Mr. and
Mrs. Hess have four children living, viz., John, Philip F., Elizabeth and J.
Michael. In politics, Mr. Hess is a Democrat, and he and Avife are members
of the German Reformed Church.
HENRY HULL was born in Pendleton County, Va., May 19, 1819 ;
one of nine children born to Adam and Elizabeth (Hevner) Hull, both natives
of the same county. About 1823, Adam Hull moved to Sidney, Shelby Co.,
Ohio, where he held the office of Sheriff six years. In 1830, he and family
came to Fort Wayne, Allen County, remained one year, then moved to Eel
River Township, same county, bought forty acres of land and entered 253
more. Shortly after, he entered eighty acres in this township, now occupied
by our subject. Adam was for a time Postmaster at Eel River Post Office,
and also Justice of the Peace. He died in that township September 4, 1838.
Henry Hull, our subject, remained on the old farm till seven years after his
father's death, then bought the interest of the other heirs in the farm in
this township, and in 1846 took possession. He has since added to the place,
until now it consists of 228 acres of well-improved land, parts of which he had
deeded to his children. December 19, 1838, he married Jane Gardner, daugh-
ter of Benjamin and Phebe (Hoage) Gardner, natives of New York, and there
have been born to them the following children— William H., Isaac T., Elizabeth
(now Mrs. Lloyd Siphers), Felix, Phebe and Franklin. William H. and Isaac
T. were members of Company C, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
S62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
having enlisted in the fall of 1862. William H. was seized by measles at
Bowling Green, Ky., and was discharged in February, 1863 ; Isaac T. was
taken ill at Gallatin, Tenn., and was discharged in March, 1863. William H.
was Township Trustee of Union for four years, and was Assessor for two
years. He is a Mason. Our subject is a Democrat, and is quite prominent in
his township.
JAMES W. IRWIN was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 1,
1822, and is the eldest of six children born to John and Mary (Dodge) Irwin,
natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. John Irwin moved to Licking
€ounty, Ohio, when he was a young man, and was there married. In October,
1838, he came with his wife and children to Kosciusko County, this State,
where two years previously he had entered 160 acres of land, and here erected
a cabin and began clearing up a farm. In 1851, he came to this township and
bought a farm of 280 acres. In 1855, he removed to Cass County, Iowa,
where he resided till his death, in 1868; Mrs. Mary Irwin died at the same
place, in 1862. They were both members of the M. E. Church. James W.
Irwin received the ordinary common-school education in his youth, and worked
on the farm till twenty-six years old, when he entered 120 acres in this town-
ship, built a log cabin and began on his own account. December 11, 1847, he
married Mary Souder, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, April 25,
1822. She is the daughter of Christopher and Margaret (Hamon) Souder, the
former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs.
Irwin have one child living, Adaline M., now Mrs. John Metz. In politics,
Mr. Irwin is a Democrat, and for two years was Trustee of Union Township.
HARVEY JONES was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, April 27, 1818,
the elder of two children born to James and Elizabeth (Pine) Jones, natives of
Virginia. James Jones emigrated to Lawrence County, Avhen a young man,
and was one of its early pioneers. Here he married, and died in March, 1820,
and his widow four years later. After the death of his mother, Harvey Jones
lived with his grandmother, Sarah Pine, till sixteen years of age. She died
in Champaign County, August, 1834, and our subject contracted to remain
till of age with Mr. John Hunter, of that county, receiving for his services his
board, clothes, six months' schooling, and, at the expiration of the time a horse,
saddle and suit of clothes, in all of the value of $100. Of the schooling he
received only fifty-seven days, and probably only about nine months' tuition in
his life. November 16, 1840, he married Sarah E. Ritter, of Champaign,
where she was born, April 22, 1822, the daughter of Henr3'- and Elizabeth
(Harber) Ritter, natives of Kentucky and Virginia. To their union five chil-
dren were born: Elizabeth A. (now Mrs. Eavards), John W., Louisa J. (now
Mrs. G. 0. Perrin), William H., and Martha E. (now Mrs. S. Mowrey). In
the fall of 1842, Mr. Jones came to Cleveland Township, this county, and
bought 160 acres of wild land, built a house, commenced clearing and went
back for his family. In 1854, he sold out, and in the fall of 1855 came to
UNION TOWNSHIP. 363
this township and bought a 320-acre farm. He still retains and lives upon 260
acres of the same. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Christian Church,
and in politics he is a Democrat.
HIRAM LANTZ was born in Wayne County, Ohio, September 4, 1843,
the eldest of five children born to Samuel and Mary (Basom) Lantz, born re-
spectively in Lancaster County, Penn., July 31, 1818, and Wayne County,
Ohio, July, 1823. Samuel Lantz was married in Wayne County, where he
followed his trade as carpenter, and farmed on shares till 1861, when he came
with his wife and family to this township, where he bought the farm on which
the subject of our sketch now lives, and where he died November 5, 1872, a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow still is living, and
in resides with her son. Our subject, Hiram Lantz, enlisted in February, 1864,
in Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served till his
regiment was mustered out at Macon, Ga., in September, 1865, excepting two
months he was in the hospital at Columbia, Tenn. After his return from the
army, he worked on his father's farm one year, then went to Peoria, 111., and
worked by the month till 1879, and then returned to the old homestead.
October 2, 1879, he married Sarah E. Royer, who was born in Noble County,
July 1, 1861, the daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Garrison) Royer. Mr. Lantz
is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and in politics is a Republican.
GEORGE W. LAWRENCE was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Septem-
ber 3, 1832, and is one of eleven children born to John A. and Sarah (Rouch)
Lawrence, natives of Pennsylvania, and born January 22, 1801, and June 7,
1807, respectively. John A. Lawrence came to Wayne County at the age of
fourteen, and was married September 28, 1827. He learned to be a black-
smith, but never followed the business ; he is also a civil engineer, and has
been County Surveyor for Wayne for many years. He and wife are members
of the Lutheran Church, and he also is a Mason. Our subject received a very
fair education in his youth, and, in 1853, came to Whitley, and taught school
in a log house the following winter in Jefferson Township. He returned to
Wayne County, Ohio, and was married March 21, 1864, to Eve A. Mowrey,
born in Wayne August 1, 1830. They have three children living — Michael,
John C. and Harvey S. In December, 1855, Mr. Lawrence brought his wife
and child to this township, bought 160 acres of land, and has kept adding to it
till he now owns 550 well-improved acres. He and wife are members of the
Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a Democrat, and served as Justice of
the Peace from 1867 to 1879.
WILLIAM C. MORE was born in Smith Township, this county, May
13, 1839, the youngest of three children born to John W. and Mary (Spear)
More, born respectively in Warren and Miami Counties, Ohio, in 1810, May
27, and July 29. John W. More came to Smith Township in 1836, entered
160 acres of land, built a cabin, cleared up a farm, and added to his land until
he was the owner of 240 acres. In 1856, he sold out and went to Missouri,
S6*4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
but returned the next spring and bought the farm where he now lives, in this
township. Mr. More was the first Justice of the Peace, and also the first
Assessor Smith Township ever had. William 0. More, our subject, was edu-
cated at the common schools, and reared on the farm until twenty-two. In
August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, and was in the battles at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, and
in the Georgia campaign. He was wounded in the right arm at Jonesboro,
Ga., September 1, 1864, and confined in the hospital at Atlanta, and was
unable to join the march to the sea. He recovered suffi ciently, however, to
take part in the Hood campaign, in and about Nashville, and subsequently re-
joined his regiment at Ringgold, Ga., and was with it until mustered out
at Indianapolis, June 9, 1865. January 10, 1867, he married Martha Compton,
the daughter of Nelson and Nancy (Waugh) Compton, and born in Smith Town-
ship October 7, 1817. To this union six children were born, viz., Huldah E.,
Frank E., Irving N., Hallie F., Charles H. and Alpha C. Mr. More resided
in Smith Township, after his marriage, until 1868, when he bought the farm
of 166 acres, in this township, where he now lives.
WILLIAM C. MORSE was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Sep-
tember 10, 1825, one of eleven children born to Jotham and Dorcas (Ferris)
Morse, natives of Onondaga County. Jotham Morse was married in his native
county, moved to Orleans County, bought a farm, and died there, September
18, 1878, his wife having died there in 1832, October 1. He was ordained a
minister in the Christian Church in 1824, and served faithfully sixty-four years.
He became entirely blind, and was otherwise greatly afflicted for some time
before his death. Our subject received a fair common-school education in his
youth, and after his mother's death lived with Ira Millard, of Madison County,
N. Y., until twenty-two years old, and then worked as a farmer for about
two years. In 1848, he returned to Orleans County, where he was married,
January 1, 1850, to Catherine Williams, a native of the county, and born Sep-
tember 6, 1830. They became the parents of two children — Eda A. (now Mrs.
Ira Sayler), and Lida B. In 1852, Mr. Morse moved to Union Township,
where he bought forty acres of wild land, and built a house, which he traded in
1857 for a farm of eighty acres, in the same township, where he has since re-
sided. Mr. and Mrs. Morse are members of the Christian Church, and in pol-
itics he is a Republican. The father of Mrs. Morse, Benjamin F. Williams, is
a native of Vermont, and her mother, Dorothea (Freemire) Williams, of New
York.
FRANCIS MOSSMAN was born in Fayette County, Penn., August 28,
1810, one of eleven children born to John and Polly (Lewis) Mossman, natives
of County Down, Ireland, and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was
born in 1769, and was brought to this country by his parents at the age of
fourteen, landing in Baltimore, and removing to Pennsylvania a year later.
Here John Mossman married, and in 1814, he removed to Coshocton County,
UNION TOWNSHIP. 365
Ohio, bought a farm, and resided thereon until his death in August, 1839.
Francis, our subject, received an ordinary common-school education in his
youth, and remained on the homestead farm till 1842, when he came to Rich-
land Township, this county, where he entered 216 acres of land. The spring
following he came to this township, bought 160 acres, and commenced
improving. He added to the farm from time to time, till he now owns 557
acres of well-improved land, January 22, 1835, he was married to Miss R. A.
Connor, who was the daughter of William and Alcinda (Smallwood) Connor,
and was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, June 21, 1817. Her parents were
natives respectively of New Jersey and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Mossman
have had left them nine children, as follows : John F., Mary C, Alcinda J.
(now Mrs. D. W. Nickey), William E., George S., Orpha L. (now Mrs. A. B.
Nickey), Francis M., James A. and Maximilia. Mr. Mossman is a Republican,
and for five or six years filled the office of Township Treasurer.
JOHN F. MOSSMAN was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February
14, 1837, and is one of nine children left to Francis and Mrs. (Connor) Moss-
man, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. In October, 1843,
Francis came to Richland Township and bought 160 acres land, built a cabin,
and the following February leased the place and came to this township, where
he bought 160 acres and entered 160 acres more, making 320 acres, where he
still resides. John F. Mossman worked on the farm till he was married, Jan-
uary 21, 1864, to Susan M. Youngs, a native of Baltimore County, Md.,
where she was born August 28, 1845, the daughter of John I. and Rachel
(Hollenbeck) Youngs. By this union there were six children, viz.: James F.,
Orpha 0., Charlie H., Jessie E., Zella Z. and Mazie R. In 1864, Mr. Moss-
man bought his farm of 200 acres where he now resides, but has purchased,
besides, other tracts, until he now owns 321 acres. In the spring of 1880, he
was elected Township Trustee by the Republicans, of which party he is a
leading local member, as well as a member of the order of A., F. & A. M.
WILLIAM C. MOWREY was born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 10,
1828, and is the eldest of ten children born to Michael, Jr., and Nancy (Rouch)
Mowrey, born, respectively, in Lancaster County, Penn., June 6, 1805, and
Columbia County, Penn., April 8, 1808. Michael Mowrey, Jr., came with his
parents to Wayne when but a small boy, and here his father operated a grist-
mill and distillery, and in these Michael, Jr., worked till twenty-three years of
age, when he bought 160 acres of land in the same county, afterward trading
for another farm in Wayne, on which he resided till his death June 8, 1881.
William C. Mowrey, our subject, worked for his father till twenty-one, and
November 15, 1849, was married to Mary A. Lawrence, who was born in
Wayne County March 7, 1830, the daughter of John A. and Sarah (Rouch)
Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Mowrey are parents of three living children — Syl-
vanus H., Emma J. (now Mrs. John Deem), and John M. Two years after
marriage, our subject farmed his father's place on shares, and in 1851 moved
366 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to this township, arriving November 15, and bought 160 acres unimproved
land, on which he has ever since resided, and has added to it till it now contains
400 acres, in a high state of improvement. He takes great pride in his stock,
and was the first to introduce blooded grades in the township. Mr. Mowrey is
a Democrat, and has served as Assessor of his township ; he and wife are also
members of the Lutheran Church, Michael Mowrey and William Rouch, our
subject's grandfathers, were both soldiers in the war of 1812, and were under
Wayne at Auglaise and Maumee, and with Harrison at Tippecanoe, where Mr.
Mowrey was wounded.
RICHARD M. PAIGE was born in Chemung County, N. Y., May 4,
1823, and is one of twelve children born to Rufus W. A. and Jane (Middaugh)
Paige, born, respectively, in Massachusetts in 1790, and in New Jersey June
20, 1803. The father was a physician, and heated in New York State when a
young man, and there was married. In 1837, he moved to Holmes County,
Ohio, and practiced his profession till February, 1843, when he removed to
Columbia Township, this county, entered 320 acres of land, built a log house
and commenced clearing ; he died there in August, 1863, Mrs. Paige having
preceded him in April of the same year. Richard M. Paige remained on the
farm till twenty-five years of age, when he bought 144 unimproved acres in this
township, where he now lives, having increased his farm to 507 acres. Septem-
ber 6, 1855, he married Phylura A. Leighttizer, born in Wayne County, Ohio,
May 24, 1834, and the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Morehead) Leighttizer,
natives, respectively, of Virginia and Ohio. To their union have been born
seven children — Catherine E. (now Mrs. H. Schrader), Almira A., Richard A.,
John S., Simeon J., Phebe E. and Phylura E. Mr. Paige is a Democrat, and
was Commissioner of the county for six years. He is a member of Spring
Run Grange, No. 1892, and he and wife are members of the Church of God, as
are also two of their children.
JACOB PENTZ was born in Franklin County, Penn., September 28,
1821, the son of John and Elizabeth Pentz, natives of the same county, where
they were married and where John Pentz followed his trade, as brick and stone
mason, till 1823, when he moved to Bedford County, and thence, in 1833, to
Columbiana County, Ohio, workijig at his trade three years, and then buying a
farm there, on which he still lives. His wife died there September 11, 1877,
and was, as he is, a member of the Lutheran Church. Jacob Pentz, our sub-
ject, was educated in the common schools, and at twenty years of age com-
menced learning his trade as a mason, and he has followed that business for
about twenty years. He was married, March 3, 1860, to Elizabeth L. Cris-
inger, born in Columbiana County, March 29, 1830, the daughter of
John and Salome (Seindersmith) Crisinger. In 1866, he came to this town-
ship and bought 160 acres of land, which are now among the best improved in
the township. There were three children born to his marriage, the eldest of
whom, John C, alone is living. George L. died September 3, 1872, in his
UNION TOWNSHIP. 367
ninth year, and Allen P. died September 24, in his sixth year. Mrs. Pentz is
a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Pentz is a Dem-
ocrat.
SAMUEL ROUGH was born in Franklin County, Penn., January 31,
1813, and was one of nine children born to Philip and Elizabeth (Harshberger)
Rouch, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1820, Philip Rouch
moved to Wayne County, Ohio, bought a farm of 160 acres, and there resided
till his death, February 16, 1846. Mrs. Elizabeth Rouch died in the same
county December 13, 1867. Samuel Rouch left his father's farm at the age
of twenty-six, and was married, March 28, 1839, to Louisa Hammer, a native
of Germany, where she was born September 16, 1818, the daughter of George
L. and Phebe (Baum) Hammer. Mr. and Mrs. Rouch are the parents of nine
living children, viz. : William, Barbara (now Mrs. J. S. Hartsock), George L.,
Philip, Samuel, Lavina (now Mrs. Christian Snyder), David, Jacob and Cor-
nelius. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Rouch bought a farm of seventy-
four acres in Wayne County, Ohio, where he resided till August, 1854, when
he came to this township and bought 320 acres, on which he has since lived.
Mr. Rouch is a Democrat in politics, and for two years was Trustee of Union
Township. He is a member of the Whitley County Bee Keepers' Association
and also a member of the Lutheran Church.
CHRISTIAN RUMMEL was born in Portage County, Ohio, May 20,
1832, and one of eight children born to John and Sarah (Brown) Rummel, na-
tives of Pennsylvania. John Rummel moved to Ohio at an early day, where
he was married, and owned and operated a farm until his death in the fall of
1842 ; his widow died in Portage County in the fall of 1874. Christian Rum-
mel received but an ordinary common school education, and at the death of his
father went to live with relatives till he reached the age of eighteen, when he
commenced an apprenticeship at blacksmithing, which trade he has followed for
twenty-two years. In 1856, he came to Bluifton, Ind., worked a few months,
and then came to Coesse, this township, where he built a shop, the second
building in the place. He also built the Methodist Episcopal parsonage and
other buildings in the town. In 1863, he laid out an addition to Coesse; in
1869, he bought a tract of timbered land and engaged in the manufacture of
staves ; in 1872, he bought a saw-mill at Coesse, which he operated till 1879,
and then went to farming, and now owns 505 improved acres. In 1858, June
17, he married Martha A. Acker, born in Bedford County, Penn., June 4, 1838,
and daughter of Simon and Catherine (Gunnett) Acker, natives of the same
State. They have two children living— Hugh W. and Dexter E. Mrs. Rum-
mel is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Rummel is a
Republican.
SOLOMON SAYLER was born in Preble County, Ohio, August 26,
1825, one of seven children born to John and Elizabeth (Ray) Sayler, natives
of Maryland and Virginia, and born August 23, 1779, and March 24, 1795,
368 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
respectively. In 1807, John Sayler moved to Preble County, and as a mill-
wright, assisted in the erection of some of its earliest mills. He served under
Gen. Wayne in the war of 1812, at Fort Wayne and in Northwestern Ohio.
He was married in Preble County, bought 160 acres of land, and led a farmer's
life till his decease in January, 1856. Solomon Sayler, our subject, was fairly
educated in his youth, and among his early teachers, about 1832, was Albert
Sherman, father of Gen. W. T. Sherman. November 50, 1845, Mr. Sayler
married Ann C. Brandenbury, who was born in Maryland February 20, 1827,
and was a daughter of John and Ann M. (Berry) Brandenbury, natives of the
same State, and born respectively March 19, 1799, and December 29, 1808.
For a short time Mr. Sayler farmed on shares, but in 1857 bought a farm of
eighty acres in Preble County, which he worked till 1860, when he moved to
this township and bought 160 acres. Here Mrs. Sayler died March 7, 1882,
leaving six children — Joseph, Ira, Parthenia (now Mrs, G. W. Adams), John,
Aaron and Martha. She was a member of the Christian Church, to which
Mr. Sayler also belongs, and she was an aflfectionate wife and loving mother.
ISAAC SCHRADER was born in Lancaster County, Penn., March 14,
1840, one of sixteen children born to Martin and Fannie (Kootz) Schrader,
natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania. Martin Schrader was a
carpenter, and came to Columbia City in 1845, where he worked at his trade
about three years, and then bought a farm in Columbia Township, and resided
there till his death, September, 1863. Isaac Schrader, our subject, worked
on his father's farm till twenty-two years old, and in August, 1862, enlisted in
Company F, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with his
regiment in all its engagements except the battle at Jackson, Miss., which
occurred while he was in convalescent camp at Memphis. He was mustered
out at Indianapolis, in July, 1865, and September 21, the same year, mariied
Mary A. Compton, who was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, March 1, 1841,
the daughter of James and Orpha (Mossman) Compton, natives of that State.
Mr. Schrader owns a well-improved farm of 232 acres in this township, where
he has resided ever since his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Schrader are members
of the Church of God, and of Spring Run Grange, No. 1892. In politics, he
is a Republican.
WILLIAM SHAW was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, September 7,
1825, the eldest of ten children born to Gilbert and Matilda (McCain) Shaw,
the former born in Ireland, December 12, 1794, and the latter in New Jersey,
September 17, 1801. Gilbert Shaw came to this country in 1819, and settled
in Muskingum County, then a wilderness. Here he married December 23,
1824. In 1845, he and family came to this county, and bought 160 acres of
land in this township, and died here July 30, 1872, and his wife died August 5,
the same year. They were Presbyterians, and Mr. Shaw had been an Elder
in the church for many years, and was, besides, an Orangeman. William Shaw,
our subject, received the ordinary education, and at the age of twenty-one, his
UNION TOAVNSHiP. 369
father deeded him half the homestead farm, and after the death of his parents
he received the other half. He still lives on the farm, and owns 185 acres
highly-improved land. September 13, 1855, he married Adaline McClure,
born in Shelby County, Ohio, August 9, 1829, and daughter of John and
Paley McClure. She died December 29, 1858, leaving her husband two chil-
dren — Mary E. (now Mrs. J. S. Wheeler) and John N. January 31, 1861,
Mr. Shaw married Mary S. Mayo, who was born in Mercer County, Ohio,
November 15, 1837, the daughter of John R. and Nancy J. (Smith) Mayo,
both natives of Virginia. Three children were born to this marriage, two of
whom are living — Charles R. and Matilda J. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Shaw is a Demo-
crat.
JAMES H. SHAW was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, August 16,
1829, and is one of ten children born to Gilbert and Matilda (McCain) Shaw.
Gilbert settled in Muskingum County in 1819, then an unbroken wilderness.
Here he married December 23, 1824, and emigrated with his wife and nine
children to this county in 1845, settled on 160 acres of unimproved land,
built a cabin and cleared his farm. He was a member of the order of Orange-
men, and he and wife members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was
also, for many years, an Elder. He died on his farm July 30, 1872, and his
wife followed him the fifteenth of the succeeding August. James H. Shaw
worked on the old farm till he was twenty-one, and then for about two years
worked out at $10 per month. October 14, 1852, he married Prudence
P. Jolley, daughter of Absalom and Phebe Jolley, and a native of Mansfield,
Ohio. They have had three children — Phebe C, Nancy M. (now Mrs. H.
Briggs) and Mary J. After his marriage, Mr. Shaw settled on 120 acres
unimproved land, deeded to him by his father, in this townsliip. To this he
has added till he now owns 260 acres of well-improved land. Mrs. Shaw was
a Presbyterian, and died August 14, 1859. ' Mr. Shaw again married, taking
to wife, December 23, 1861, Catharine A. Jerome, born in Greene County,
N. Y., May 7, 1842, and daughter of William and Alida (Hallenbeck) Jerome,
natives of the same State. Mr. Shaw is the father of five children — Ida J.,
Stephen D., Myrta E., Fred H. and May A. Mr. Shaw is a Democrat, and
was Assessor and Real Estate Appraiser of the township five or six years, and
is now serving as County Commissioner.
ISAAC SHEAFER was born in Cumberland County, Penn., November
17, 1831, and is one of nine children born to Samuel and Susan (Keigley)
Sheafer, natives of the same county, where they were married, and where he
died in 1850, a member of the Lutheran Church. Isaac Sheafer, our subject,
received a fair common-school education, and at the age of seventeen com-
menced learning the carpenter's trade with his father. In 1851, he came to
Fort Wayne, and for six years worked at his trade with his brother, William
G. March 16, 1853, he married Rosanna Wilcox, born in Fort Wayne June
370 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
17, 1835, the daughter of Garner and Theodosia (Filley) Wilcox, natives of
New York. Mr. and Mrs. Sheafer are the parents of nine living children,
viz.: Charles H., George T., John W., William J., Sarah E., Altha L., Mary
and Martha (twins) and Burgh. In 1857, Mr. Sheafer came to Columbia City,
followed his trade till 1860, moved to what is now Etna Township, then moved
to Troy Township in 1862, thence to Jefferson Township, and finally, in 1865,
to this township. In 1867, he bought his present farm. He and "his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is also a member of Columbia
City Lodge, No. 189, A., F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Republican, and in
1859 was elected Treasurer of Columbia City.
WILLIAM SMITH was born in Kaiserslautern, Germany, May 4, 1837,
one of eight children born to Henry and Catharine (Leppla) Smith, respective-
ly born in Germany January 1, 1801, and September, 1815. About 1839 or
1840, Henry Smith emigrated to the United States, and settled in Tuscarawas
County, Ohio, where he worked for James Patterson seven years, for $100 per
year. After two years' residence here, he sent to Germany for his wife and
family. Mr. Smith subsequently bought eighty acres of unimproved land in
Tuscarawas County, and cleared a farm which, in 1852, he sold for $1,200. He
then moved to the Reservoir Farm near Massillon, owned by Martial D. Well-
man, for whom he worked two years, receiving for the services of himself and
our subject, his son, $300 per year. The fall of 1854, he moved to Smith
Township, this county, and bought eighty acres of wild land of Louis Bose, for
whom he cleared adjoining lands in part payment. Here he has ever since re-
sided, and is hale and hearty in his eighty-second year. William Smith re-
ceived about eight months' schooling, but has now a fair education, being self-
taught. He worked on his father's farm till twenty-one, and then for two and
a half years worked out by the month. June 4, 1861, he married Mary E.
Van Houten, born in Smith Township, September 17, 1839, daughter of Jacob
and Catharine (Ashley) Van Houten, natives of Ashland County, Ohio. To
this union there were no children. The lady died at her home in Coesse June
4, 1871, and is buried near her parents in the cemetery close by that town.
October 14, 1872, Mr. Smith married Catharine Wolfangle, born in Richland
County, Ohio, in November, 1851, daughter of Frederick and Catharine H.
Wolfangle, from Germany. By this union our subject has two living children,
Nettie and Martha. After his first marriage, he rented a farm for two years ;
in 1863, he moved to Coesse, and worked eighteen months in a saw-mill ; then
got out wood for the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, under con-
tract for three years ; then worked for Olds & Son, of Fort Wayne, buying
spokes, for two years ; then engaged in shipping hoop-poles to Chicago on his
own account for about three years ; in 1872, engaged in the lumber business
under the firm name of Smith & Colten ; in the spring of 1876, engaged in the
same trade under the firm name of Smith & Mossman. This firm now
