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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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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