Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 1

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976


USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 1
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108



GENEALOGY 977.201 L13C


M. L


REFERENCE


JEN


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01800 7176


GENEALOGY 977.201 L13C


COUNTIES --


OF


LA GRANGE


AND


NOBLE,


INDIANA.


HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL,


ILLUSTRATED.


r 977.279 C 83


CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1882.


ulver age.moyne !!


PRINTERS 18 &120 MONROE ST C


CHICAGO


1427967


PREFACE.


T HIS 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 have been employed-both local and others-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, that becomes a monument more en- during than marble.


MAY, 1882.


THE PUBLISHERS.


1


gim.


ـامــ


CONTENTS.


PART I .- HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.


CHAPTER I.


PAGE.


Agricultural Society. 20


Census Returns .. 21


Fauna .... 17


Geological Formation 14, 25


Indians, Early


17


Lakes 13


Mastodon Remains 15 28


Mound-Builders.


Physical Features. 11


Resources. 16


Rivers and Creeks


12


Statistics.


21


White Men, The First


11


CHAPTER II.


Annual Expenditures. 57 Congressional Representation 57 County Commissioners, First. 32 County Officers, The First. 55


Courts, The First ..


33


Elections, Presidential. 54 Lawyers, Early. 46 Murder Trial, The First. 36 Organization of County. 32


Physicians, Early 47


Public Buildings ...


37


Senators and Representatives


56


Valuation and Taxation 58


CHAPTER III.


Churches, Early. 66 Fourierism 68 Insurance, Home. 80


Newspaper History. 76


Post Offices. 65 Preaching, The First. 66 Wright's Corners. .161 Railroads .. 64 Regulators and Rangers. CHAPTER 1X. 87 Roads and Routes. 62 VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP. 172 Schools and Education 73 School Statistics. 74 Secret Societies 79


CHAPTER IV.


Call for Troops, First ×4 Companies and Campaigns 101 Draft, The ... 95 Roll of Honor. .103 Soldiers, Early 83,110 Soldiers of the Late War. 84


Township Histories. CHAPTER V.


TOWN OF LA GRANGE. 111


Buildings, Progress of. 113 Business Enterprises .. 115, 119


Educational .. 120


Original Grant of Site. 112


Physicians, The First ..


114


Plat of Town


111


Secret Societies.


116


CHAPTER VI. PAGE.


BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP.


126


Boundaries and Features.


126


Bloomfield Village ..


133


Burlington Village


132


Civil Officers, First ..


.132


Church History


.133


Hill's Corners.


133


Industries, Early.


.131


Inhabitants, The First 129


Marriage, First.


132


School Interests


133


CHAPTER VII.


LIMA TOWNSHIP 135


Churches aud Pastors ..


.152


Hotels, Postmasters, Physicians142


Industries.


.142


Indians.


.137


La Grange Bank 145


La Grange Collegiate Institute.150


Land Entries.


139


Merchants of Lima


140


Early Settlers


155


Schools and Teachers.


167


Traders, Early ..


156


Valentine Village.


.161


Wolcottville.


162


Van Buren Village.


183


CHAPTER X.


EDEN TOWNSHIP


185


Birth, First. .191 Civil Officers .. 189 Church Organizations. .192


Haw Patch Center


.195


Presidential Election 191 Regulators, The 191


School Organizations .. 193


Sycamore Literary Society


.194


Settlers, First.


185


Trades and Industries


194


CHAPTER XI.


PAGE.


SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP ..


.196


Church Organizations.


208


First Settler.


.196


Gage and Langdon War.


197


Harrison Campaign ...


202


Industries, Early


.201


Mongoquinong


196,203


Organization of Township .... .. 203


Schoolhouses.


207


Springfield Village ..


204


Settlers, Early


.198


Trade, Early,


196


Union Hall.


209


CHAPTER XII.


CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP. 210


Civil Officere.


214


Churches


219


Mills, Early


212


Organization of Township


.214


Patrons of Husbandry.


217


Removal of Indians ...


213


Ontario Village


145


Roads.


218


Schools ...


218


Settlers, Fint ..


210


CHAPTER XIII.


GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP. 220


Birth, First.


229


Churches.


231


Industries, First ..


225


Lexington Village.


.226


Origin of Name


225


Schools


229


Settlers, First ..


222


Vistula Village


.226


CHAPTER XIV.


NEWBURY TOWNSHIP.


233


Amish Settlement.


240


Civil Officers.


239


Churches


.241


Justices of the l'eace


239


Lakes and Rivers


233


Mill, The First.


.234


Organization of Township. .. 233


Pashan Post Office.


241


Schoolhonses


236


Settlers, The Early.


234


Trading.


236


CHAPTER XV.


MILFORD TOWNSHIP 242


Churches and Pastors.


254


Hunting Experiences.


246


Mills, The Early ..


.252


Mud Corners Village


252


Organization (f Township. .245


Pioneers, The.


242


Regulators, The


248


Schools.


253


South Milford Village.


252


Underground Railroad


.. 248


Pioneers.


135


Schoolhouses, etc ..


148


CHAPTER VIII.


JOHNSON TOWNSHIP.


155


Churches and Pastors 170


Addie Dwight Tragedy.


.180


Burial Grounds


177


Business of Village ..


183


Churches.


179


Early Settlers.


174


Roads.


174


Schools and Teachers .... 179


Surface Features ..


172


Physicians, Early.


191


Churches and Pastors


122


Organization of Township. .188 Physical Features. 185 Ceme eries .125


Creation of Township. 156


vi


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER XVI. PAGE.


CLAY TOWNSHIP


.. 255


Greenfield Township. .. 388


Johnson Township. 326 Holsinger, John. .127


Churches.


264


Lima Township ... 310


Milford Township. 408 Kent, Orvin. 199


Newbury Township. .400 Kent, Mrs. Orvin .205


Springfield Township ... 362 Mills, Jacob. 159


Van Buren Township. 343


Portraits.


Blackmun, A ... 59


Bradford, Samuel P


29


Calahan, Ami


175


Case, Zopher


165


Cochran, Charles.


249


Crane, S. D ... 137


Dancer, Dr. John. 107


Davis, Hezekiah


233 | Jail, La Grange County .. 49


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 Officer -...


44


County Organization .. 27


County Seats. 41


Judiciary, The ..


47


Land Entries, The Early 28


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 High School. .150


State Canal.


32


Suffering in 1838 ... $1


Thieves and Counterfeiters 33


Valuation and Taxes


4(


CHAPTER III.


Agricultural and Historical Society 62 Early Roads and Routes. 57


Execution of McDougal. 72


Journals and Journalists. 74


Rochester Village.


163


Newspaper, The First.


74


Outlaws and Criminals 63


Saw-Mills, The First


163


Railroads.


60


Regulators, The.


69


CHAPTER IV.


Career of Regiments .. 107


Business Men, The Early 170 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 Statistics 115


Township Histories. CHAPTER V.


CITY OF KENDALLVILLE .... .116


Business Development.


.120


Church Organizations. 130


PAGE.


Conflagrations.


.123


Election, The First.


122


Incorporation ...


122


Origin of Name. 120


Railroad Subscription. 124 Sermons and Churches .... 187


Schoolhouses.


129


Settlement, The First .. .119


CHAPTER VI.


WAYNE TOWNSHIP.


134


Birth, The First ..


139


Churches


142


Log Rolling and Whisky


139


Mills, The Early.


140


Scarcity of Cash


141


Schoolhouses.


141


197


Rome City ..


198


Water Power at Rome. 202


CHAPTER XII.


ALLEN TOWNSHIP.


208


Avilla's First House 214


Churches, The Early.


217


Deaths, The Early.


211


Election, The First.


211


Franciscan Convent. 218


Hunting Reminiscences. .. 214 Incorporation of Avilla. 216


Industries and Improvements .. 212


Marriage, The First.


211


Roll of Early Settlers. 208


Schoolhouse, 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


Church Societies.


180


Settlers, the First.


.221


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.


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 183


Agricultural Features .192 Banks. 123 Burial Grounds ... 193 Roll of Settlers ... 231


Death, The First.


193


Schools and Teachers. 237


Indian Mounds ..


.191


Sparta Village ..


235


PAGE.


Mills and Milling.


186


Pioneer Life 184


Population .. 191


Schools and Teachers.


187


Towoship Organization. .186


Township Pioneers .... 183


CHAPTER XI.


ORANGE TOWNSHIP


194


Brimfield Village 203


Church Organizations. 04


Island Park Assembly.


206


Land Owners, The Early 194


Mills, The Early


196


Northport Village ...


Settlers, The First 135 Judicial Execution. 34


CHAPTER VII.


TOWN OF LIGONIER ..


145


Building and Loan Association .. 148


Church Organizations. 153


Destructive Fire 148


Early Development. 146


Interesting Statistics. 157


Reviva's 156


School Buildings.


148


Sons of Temperance ..


147


Town Plat ..


145


CHAPTER VIII.


PERRY TOWNSHIP.


161


Bourie's Reminiscences ... .164


First Election. 162


Roll of Settlers.


161


Schools and Churches.


.167


CHAPTER IX.


TOWN OF ALBION ...


168


PAGE.


Davis, Mrs. Hezekiah. .237


Goodsell, Mynott ...... 243


Appalling Accident


264


Birth, The First.


256


La Grange, Town of.


267


Hooley, Chris ....


215


Destructive Fire ...


.263


Early Schools.


259, 260, 265


Justices of the Peace


Mill, The First. 255


Murder


264


Schoolhouses.


265


Sickly Season.


259


Settlers, The First ..


256, 259


Trade and Industry.


.263


Biographical Sketches.


Bloomfield Township ........ ... 293 Clay Township. .......... 425


Clearspring Township ... .. 379


Peck, Burton ...


69


Rerick, Dr. J. H.


221


Shepardson, Samuel


39


Sidener, Nicholas .. 181.


Strickland, Matthew 257


Taylor, O. B ..


87


Wildman, L. L ...


97


Views.


Court House, La Grauge County .... 19


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


Hopkins, Fleming ..


227


Niman, Dr. J. P


117


.. 266


PAGE.


Eden Township. 355


vii


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER XV. PAGE.


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 ... .256


Lite in the Wilderness. .256


Mills, First. .. 255


Pioneers, The ... 254


Port Mitchell Village. 262 Schools and Teachers. 263


Van Buren Village.


258


CHAPTER XVII.


GREEN TOWNSHIP. .266


" Canalers," The 271 Ligonier, Town of. 332


Fatal Casualty. 271 Noble Township ... .457 Orange Township .399 Voris, W. N .. 289


Hunting Experiences.


267


Mills and Trade.


272


Religious Societies.


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


PAGE.


Marriage, First .. .282


Schools and Teachers. .. 286


Swan Village 283 Fisher, Eden H. 199


Foster, Jehu .. 184


Gerber, E. B 151


Hall, William J. 321


Hall, Lucinda .. 322


WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 287 Bears and Other Beasts .291 Keehn, George. 165 Birth, First. 288 Kimmell, Orlando 65 Election, First. 288 Kiser, Jacob ... 234


Fish Stories. 292 Kiser, William S 173


Marriage and Death, First. 288 Lang, Julius .... 75


Religious Societies.


294


Lash, James J.


178


Roop and Other Pioneers .. .287 Mitchell, John. 117


Schools. .. 293 Ott, Abraham 249


Biographical Sketches.


Albion, Town of 363


Allen Township .. .415


Elkhart Township. .437


Green Township ... 478


Jefferson Township. .381


Kendallville, City of. .. 297 Teal, Norman .. 125


Tousley, Hiram S. 25 Vanderford, Joel. 95 Vanderford, Mrs. Joel. 101


Perry Township .. 354


Sparta Township. .450 Walker, John 259


Swan Township


489


Weston, Thomas B


137


Washington Township. .499 Weston, Catherine 143


Wayne Towuship.


.319


Wolf, Jacob ..


159


York Township. .467


Portraits.


Alvord, Samuel. 35


Bowman, John .. 45


Bowman, Mrs. Mary 55


Infirmary, Noble County ............. 279


Jail, Noble County.


.. 209


Calbeck, Joseph 230


PAGE.


Clapp, William M 16


Earnhart, John ... 239


Trade and Traffic


282


CHAPTER XIX.


Saw-Mill, First .291


Mitchell, William 85


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


Zimmerman, John. 224


Views.


Court House, Noble County ........... 4


ADDENDUM .- Mr. J. M. Weaver, father of Charles E. Weaver, Clay Township, was born in Richland Co., Ohio, in 1827. Mrs. Mary A. (Charles) Weaver was born in Mifflin, Ashland Co., Ohio, in 1831. (See page 441, Part I.)


٠٣٠٠٠


PART I.


HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.


CHAPTER I.


BY J. H. RERICK, M. D.


PHYSICAL FEATURES-ECONOMIC QUESTIONS - GEOLOGY-AGRICULTURE-THE COUNTY LAKES-THE DRIFT DEPOSIT-BONES OF THE MASTODON-THE IN- DIANS AND THE MOUND-BUILDERS-THE COUNTY FAIR-PRINCIPAL AGRI- CULTURAL PRODUCTIONS-COUNTY CENSUS OF 1880.


T THE history of the white man in Northern Indiana opens at an Indian village at the head-waters of the Maumee River, Kekionga, now the city of Fort Wayne, about the year 1676. The Indian tradition is that one of the mission- aries from St. Joseph, on Lake Michigan, came to Kekionga about that time. The route of this Frenchman, in all probability, was up the St. Joseph River to points where are now White Pigeon, or Three Rivers, and thence across the country to Kekionga. If he took this, his most convenient route, he passed through the territory now embraced in La Grange County, and was, in all prob- ability, the first white man to tread its soil. The famous La Salle followed him about four years after going there, over the same route. This theory being true, a messenger of peace and good will was the first herald of American civilization to tread the soil of Northeastern Indiana. A good harbinger, truly, and as true in prophetic significance as good in character ! A French fort was erected at Kekionga in 1705, and the place was occupied as a military post successively by French, English and Americans until 1819, when the settlements had so in- creased and the Indians become so peaceable that the military were moved fur- ther West. It is not improbable that during this interval of over 150 years, white men, either missionary, trader or hunter, wandered through the forests of La Grange.


In the allotment of territory to the counties of the northeast, La Grange County, being on the outside, has been crowded to the Michigan line, and consequently has hardly three full tiers of Congressional Townships. The county might have been much more extensive to the north had the Indiana boundary line been so located as to include territory in the same liberal man-


A


12


HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.


ner in which Ohio arranged its boundaries. But this was not done, and it was a hard fight to keep what there is of La Grange County, when, in 1834, Michigan demanded a " rectification of her frontier." She asked a strip ten miles wide off of Northern Indiana, but was ultimately satisfied by the cession to her of the Northern Peninsula, the Lake Superior Region. The south- ern and middle townships have been organized and named with the boundaries as fixed by the United States survey for Congressional Townships. But the upper tier, being cut down by the State boundary line to a width of only four miles and two-thirds, has been divided into but three townships. Beginning at the northeast, these are Greenfield, Lima and Van Buren, the first and last nine miles in length, and the second, the richest in the county, but six miles in length. The middle tier of townships follow in the usual order of description from west to east, Newbury, Clay, Bloomfield, Springfield ; and the southern tier, Milford, Johnson, Clearspring, and lastly Eden.


Thus the 384 square miles of territory are divided into eleven civil town- ships. The county takes its name from the country residence of the distin- guished Frenchman so dear to Americans, La Fayette; and of the townships, three are given personal names, three borrow a geographical title, four are named appropriately, and Eden belongs to the latter class, according to the best authorities.


Let the reader suppose himself upon an elevation-which, however, is a severe task for the imagination in Northern Indiana-rather let him fancy a position in a comfortable balloon at such a height above La Grange, the center of the county, as to sweep the whole county and obtain a comprehensive view of its 256,000 "broad acres. " The surface is nearly level-for miles on the prai- ries of Lima and in Greenfield it is perfectly so. In Bloomfield, the rolling country reaches enough of an elevation at one place to receive the name of the "Knobs." In western Clay there is a beautiful mingling of lowlands and wooded hills, and away in the northwest a group of blue, white sand-ringed lakes lie among the bluffs, which sink away into the prairies of Michigan.


The prairies have an attractiveness of their own, the broken land has its variety, and altogether there is a diversity and beauty in the landscape.


The only considerable stream is Pigeon River, which flows through the county northwesterly, and receives most of the creeks which arise in its limits. The most important of these are Turkey Creek in Milford and Springfield, Fly Creek in the central part, and in the west Buck Creek and Shipshewana, all of them inconsiderable and threatening not to " flow on forever." The south and southwest are drained into the Elkhart River, the main branch of which has its head-waters in Johnson Township. The Little Elkhart rises in the marshes of the west. But all these streams are tributaries of the St. Joseph, which car- ries their waters to Lake Michigan. In each township of the north another stream, Crooked Creek, runs down into the county and back again into Michi- gan ; in Van Buren Township, forming the " Island."


13


HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.


From this it will be seen that the county lies wholly within the St. Lawrence basin. But a tributary of the Wabash, marking the edge of the Mississippi basin, rises within three miles of the southeast corner of the county, so that it is very near the water-shed of these two great systems. The altitude of the county is on an average over nine hundred feet above the level of the ocean, and four hundred above Lake Erie. The altitude of the Grand Rapids & Indi- ana Railway is 959 feet at Wolcottville ; at Valentine, 973; La Grange, 927 ; Lima, 897 ; State line, 889. The altitude in the southeast is a little over 1,000 feet above the sea. In the northwest, on the low lands, the altitude is 800 feet approximately. As the highest point in the State has an altitude of only 1,233 feet, it will be seen that La Grange is " near the top." There is no higher land in Northern Indiana except the " divides " of Noble and Steuben Counties, which exceed it by but a few feet.


The lakes, of which there are thirty-five, of all areas, from two or three to 500 or 600 acres, are the most attractive natural features of the county. On the prairie land of the north, there are comparatively few, but these are the finest small bodies of water in the region. We refer to Wall, Cedar, Twin and Stone Lakes, which mark the boundary lines of the three northern townships. South of these, to the west, the only lake of any importance is Shipshewana, the largest of those finding an outlet in Pigeon River. No lakes of more than forty acres lie wholly in Clay, Eden and Clearspring. Bloomfield has one grassy sheet of water, Fish Lake. Springfield has three similar bodies, and shares Grass Lake with Greenfield. A large group of lakes in Milford forms the source of Turkey Creek. A portion of Turkey Lake lies in this township, Little Turkey Lake, Pretty Lake, of some 300 acres, and Long Lake, two miles long and one-half mile broad. Lake of the Woods is the other large lake in this group. Blackmun Lake, in Milford, is the first of the large group which makes Johnson emphatically the lake township. These are, except Sloan Lake in the north, drained into the Elkhart River. Oliver Lake, with its appendages Olen Lake, is the most considerable body of water in the county, covering over six hundred acres. Adams Lake has an area of about three hundred and twenty acres. Atwood Lake covers about two hundred and fifty acres, while the long, narrow stretch of water, some three miles long, called Witmer, West- ler, Third and Dallas Lakes, occupies several hundred acres. Still another small lake, Nauvoo, lies east of Wolcottville.


All of these picturesque little lakes, if joined together, would only form & water area of about seven square miles, but scattered about as they are, with beautiful natural surroundings, and filled with fish, such as bass, pickerel, perch, sunfish, catfish, and the resort of innumerable feathered game, they are of great value, and a source of much recreation. Many of the lakes, however, are becoming depopulated of their finny habitants, and every disciple of gentle Isaac Walton should urge some measure to restore their former attractiveness in this respect. The lakes are mainly found in the higher lands and not sur-


14


HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.


rounded with marshy land to a great extent. But a much greater area is occu- pied with swamps and marshes. In the western townships, Van Buren, New- bury, Eden, Clay and Clearspring, are found most of the wet lands. The most extensive of these huge deposits of muck and decaying vegetable matter, are Hobbs' Marsh and Big Marsh, a chain of bogs, swamp, little lakes and rivu- lets, extending through Clay and Van Buren, and lying between the rolling country south and the level lands to the north. But the largest marshes are in south Newbury and Eden, along the branches of the Little Elkhart. One of these is drained by a large ditch some three miles in length. Scores of miles of ditches have been cut, under the State laws, during the last few years, and large tracts of land, seemingly irreclaimable, have been brought under the yoke-of oxen and the plow. Another decade will witness still greater improvements in this respeet.


A more pleasing feature of the landscape are the prairies. Of these, Greenfield rejoices in two, covering about twelve sections-English Prairie in the center, and to the north west of Lexington, Pretty Prairie. On the opposite side of Cedar Lake and its outlet, and extending to Lima, lies the beautiful Mongoquinong Prairie. The name untranslated is more romantic than the English rendering, which is said to be "Big Squaw." In the southern part of Springfield lies Brushy Prairie, embracing about three sections.


In the southwest corner of Clearspring, and the southeast of Eden, is a tract of land of some four thousand acres, known as the Haw Patch. . This, when first settled by the white man, was sparsely covered by oak, hickory and hawthorn, and presenting a most enticing prospect to the pioneer. It is still a beautiful country, and its farms have, for years, commanded the highest prices for lands at a like distance from shipping-points.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.