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

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962


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


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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



Go 977.201 W59g 1143267


GENEAL: COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00827 9108


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


COUNTIES


OF


WHITLEY AND NOBLE,


INDIANA.


HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


ILLUSTRATED.


WESTON A. GOODSPEED, Historical Editor


CHARLES BLANCHARD, Biographical Editor.


-


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


Pulverfrage. Moyne PRINTERS 18 &120 MONROE ST CHICAGO O


1


PREFACE.


1143267


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 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.


CONTENTS.


PART I.


HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.


CHAPTER I. PAGE.


Abstract of Assessors' Report .. 32


Blooded Stock 26


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


Volunteers, Roll of First .... 78 Peat and Iron 22


War Meetings 76 Railroads .... 31 15 Sanitary Condition


State Ditches, Table of. 17 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. 51


Indian Trails and Villages 42 Indians of Whitley. 35 Marriage, First. 105


Little Turtle and Coesse. 38 Merchant, First. 106


Mound-Builders. 33


Seek's Village ..


38


Treaties of Cession.


43, 45, 47


Treaties with the Miamis.


36


Railroads.


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 Birth, First .. 125


Jury, First Petit .. 62 Land Entries, First .. 55 Murder, The First. 63


Presidential Vote. 71 Probate Court, The First .. 64


Public Buildings, First. 64


State Roads .. 72


Surveys, Table of .. 54


Trial For Forgery.


62


CHAPTER IV.


PAGE.


Bounty and Relief Funds ..


91


Deserters, Arrest of.


87


Boundaries.


12


Drafts, The ..


85


Fall of Sumter, Excitement over ... 76


Field Work, Record of. 91


Newspaper Animosities. 78


"Pap Shoemaker's Fort " 78 Public Sentiment in 1861. 75


Quotas, Condition of. 88


Roll of Honor. 95


Soldiers' Aid Society. 83


Soldiers of the Earlier Wars. 74 Soldiers of the Mexican War 75


Township Histories. CHAPTER V.


COLUMBIA CITY AND TOWNSHIP ...... 98


Birth, The First ..


105


Business Firms, List of ...


.108


Larwill Village.


City of Columbia, Platting of .. 101 Churches. 117


Court, First ..


105


Election, First ..


102


Mill, First ..


153, 155


Mill. First Steam Saw 162 Name, Origin of. 136 General Industries ....... .107,111


Grain Traffic


112


Hotel, First ...


105


Mill, First ...


107


Organization of Columbia City .. 113 Organization of Township ... .. 102


113


Secret Societies. .121


School Officers .. 115


School Revenues ..


115


Schools and Teachers.


Settler, First ....


105


114


Settlers, Early.


164


Settler, First.


137


Summit Village


161


Tax Exhibits


142


142


Tax List, 1838.


Township Officers


141


Voters, The First .. 138


CHAPTER VIII.


SMITH TOWNSHIP


171


Birth, First.


175


Churubusco 178 Churubusco County Press 183


Conviction for Passing Coun-


terfeit Bill ..


177


Conviction for Perjury 177 Fatal Accident ... 175 Marriage, First,. 175


Mercantile and Industrial. 178


Settlements, First .. 56 Organization .. 123 Mill, First ... 176


Origin of Name ..


122


Mill, Second.


.177


Roads ...


124


Schools, Early


128


PAGE.


Schoolhouses and Districts ....


131


Secret Orders.


133


Settlers, First ..


123


South Whitley


132


CHAPTER VII.


RICHLAND TOWNSHIP


135


Biographical.


153


Birth, First ..


.145


Church Organizations.


146,155


County Officers, Early.


142


Crimes and Casualities 144


Death, First ...


145


Election, First


.137


Elections, Presidential


.138


Educational


Indian Trails.


136


161


Individual Reminiscences.


153


Jurors, Grand and Petit.


136


Lakes and Streams ..


151, 157


158


Lorane Village ...


143


Marriages, Early


Mercantile Enterprises.


152


Organization


Land Entries, Original. 148


138


Officers, First.


Physicians, Early


151


.161


Post Office, First.


143


Pioneers as Experts ..


Railroads


151


Richland's Volunteers. 163 School and Church Buildings,


First ...


155


Secret Orders.


157


Sunday Schools.


116


Whirligig of Politics 104


CHAPTER VI.


CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP


122


Area and Population ...


123


Ashery, First.


127


Business Men


133


Cemeteries


125


Churches and Ministers. 131


Collamer Village. 134


Naturalization, The First 64 Origin of Name. 56 Death, First .... .125 Church, First .. 183


Perjury, First Case of ... 62 Early Elections 132


Pioneer Life 73 Political Caucus, First .. 68


Indians, The.


125


Land Entries, First .. 124


Marriages, First .. 128


Merchants, Early. 126 Mills, Early .. 126


Murder, First


176


Organization ..


173


147


Inn, The First.


.142


136


Election Laws from 1838-52 .. .103


vi


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


Origin of Name. 171


Pioneer Tribulations .. 173


Poat Office, First. .177 Forest Adventures, 208


Secret Societies. 184


Schoolhouse, First. 175


Settlers, First.


171


Taverns, 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 Village.


194


Death, First. 193


Experiences, Early.


191


Fatal Fall ...


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.


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP .. 205 Adoption of Name ... .212


Settlers, First


227


Taxes, First ..


228


PAGE. CHAPTER XIV. PAGE.


Blacksmith, Firat. 207 ETNA TOWNSHIP. 234


Clergy and Churches ... 214


Forest Village ...


216


Mastodontic Remains 212


Milla, First.


213


Organization


212


Postal Facilities


216


Raccoon Village.


211


Road, First 206


Schools and Schoolhouses. 213


Secret Societies 216


Settlement, The Early .. 206


Settlers, Early


207


CHAPTER XII.


THORN CREEK TOWNSHIP 217


Birth, First ..


.221


Bloomfield Village ... 223


Circuit Court, First. 225


Election, First ..


221


Fatalities .225


Lakes.


218


Matrimonial 224


Mille and Manufacturea


.223


Name, Derivation of ....


217


Physical Features ...


218


Religions Societies.


225


Schools and Teachers 221


Settlement, Early 218 Creager, Peter. 199


Social Life ..


222


Foust, F. H.


89


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


Roads and Mille. 228 Tulley, Francis. 29


Trumbull, A. M.


139


Wenger, N. R 189


Views.


Court House. Whitley County ... 19 Infirmary, Whitley Connty ..... 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


CHAPTER II.


A Child'a Mysteriona Disappearance 38 Birth, The First. 54


Churches, The Early .. 54


County Buildings 42


County Census


39


County Officers ..


State Canal 32


Suffering in 1838 .. 31


Thieves and Counterfeiters 33


Valuatiou and Taxes. 40


CHAPTER III.


Agricultural and Historical Society 62


Early Roads and Routes 57


44 | Execution of McDougal. 72


27 | Journals and Journalists 74


41 | Newspaper, The First .. 74


47 | Outlawa and Criminals. 63


Judicial Execution ... 34 | Railroads. 60


Land Entries, The Early


Marriage, The First


54


Career of Regimenta .107


Death of Lincoln 106


Physicians, The First .. 53 Draft Statistics .. 99


Poor, The County 43


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 .I15


Township Histories. CHAPTER V.


CITY OF KENDALLVILLE .. 116


Bank& 123


Business Development. 120


Church Organizations .... 130


Conflagrationa ..


123


Election, The First.


.122


Characteristics of Population ... 236 Cold Springs Village 235


Death, First


.. 235


Etna Village 236


Mills and Tanneriea. .235


Pioneer Customs. 207 Schools and Churches. 235


Settlers, First ...


.234


Wedding, First


.235


Biographical 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


Harrison, James M.


CHAPTER XIII.


TROY TOWNSHIP ..


.226


Address of E. L. Barber. 231 Birth, First 228


Churches .


229


Educational Reunion ..


230


Election, First.


226


Old Settlers' Reunion 230


Organization. 226


Origin of Name


226


Physical Featurea.


229


Prominent Citizene.


229


Roll of Settlers


227


Schools and Teachers 228


28 : Regulators, The. 69


PAOE.


CHAPTER IV.


PAGE.


Members of the Bar 48


Post Office, The First 57


9 ; Settlement, The First. 27


County Organization.


County Seats ...


Judiciary, The ..


Surface Features .... 226


Birth, First. 235


vii


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


Incorporation ... 122


Origin of Name .. 120 Railroad Subscription 124 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


Schoolnouses ..


141


Settlers, The First.


135


CHAPTER VII.


TOWN OF LIGONIER ..


145


Building and Loan Association .. 148


Church Organizations ..


153


Destructive Fire. 148


Early Development ..


146


High School.


150


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


Rochester Village ...


163


Roll of Settlers.


161


Saw-Mills, The First.


163


Schools and . hurches


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.


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP


.183


Agricultural Features


192


Burial Grounds.


193


Death, The First.


193


Indian Mounds.


191


Mills and Milling.


186


Pioneer Life


184


Population .. 191


Schools and Teachers.


187


Sermons and Churches.


187


Township Organization .......


.186


Township Pioneers


183


CHAPTER XI.


ORANGE TOWNSHIP 194 Brimfield Village. .203 Church Organizations. 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 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


Green Township ..


478


Jefferson Township.


Settlers, the First.


221


.381


Kendallville, City of.


297


Noble Township ..


457


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


Earnhart, 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


65


Kiser, Jacob. 234


Kiser, William S 173


Augusta Village


258


Catalogue of Settlers ..


255


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


Singrey, John A.


Stanley, H. C ....


269


Stewart, James C .. 244


Teal, Norman


125


Tousley, Hiram S.


25


Vanderford, Joel ..


95


Vanderford, Mrs. Joel 101


Settlers, First ..


266


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


209


ERRATA.


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


Ligonier, Town of.


332


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 .....


235


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


Election, First ... 256


Life 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


Fatal Casualty.


271


Hunting Experiences


267


1 Mills and Trade


272


Religious Societies.


276


Schools and Tutors.


273


CHAPTER XVIII.


Shifaly, John ..


.327


189


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, 1858. In last paragraph on page 280, Part I, instead of George Eberard, Sr., read George Eberhard, Sr.


Springfield Village.


225


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 - NAMES 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.


P ATHOLOGICAL 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 sandy 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, Jefferson, 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,


13


HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.


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 south west, 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




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