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Gc 977.201 H92HI
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY , INDIANA
HISTORICAL SKETCH
HUNTINGTON COUNTY,
INDIANA.
HUNTINGTON, IND HERALD PRINTING COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1- 7 7.
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
-
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
205637
PREFACE.
RESOLUTION BY CONGRESS.
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it be, and is hereby, recommended by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives to the people of the several States that they assem- ble in their several counties or towns on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the Clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the First Centennial of their existence.
Approved, March 13, 1876.
.
iv.
Preface.
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
Whereas a Joint Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th day of March, last, which resolution is as follows :
" Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, that it be, and is hereby, recommended by the Senate and House of Representa- tives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the Clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first Centennial of their existence."
And whereas it is deemed proper that such recommendation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States :
Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby declare and make known the same, in the hope that the object of such resolution may meet the approval of the people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect.
Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the twenty- fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand [SE.AL. ] eight hundred and seventy-six, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundredth.
U. S. GRANT.
By the President :
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
V.
Preface.
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF INDIANA.
THE STATE OF INDIANA, 1 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. )
To the People of Indiana :
It having been recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled, by a joint resolution. approved March 13, 1876, that the people of the several States assemble in their several counties on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence and cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county from its formation, and that a copy of the same, in print or manu- script, be filed in the office of the Clerk of said county, and that an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence ; and the President of the United States, by his proclamation of May 25, 1876. having added thereto his further recommendation of the same :
I, Thomas A. Hendricks, Governor of the State of Indiana. . do hereby heartily concur in said recommendation, and com- mend the proper observance of said occasion to the people of our State.
Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at the City of Indianapolis, this ist day of June, A. D. 1876, and of [SEAL .. ] the State the 6oth.
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS, Governor of Indiana.
Be the Governor :
JNO. E. NEFF, Secretary of State.
Pursuant to the above Proclamation, the Board of Commis- sioners of Huntington County, State of Indiana, appointed the following named citizens a Committee to make such preliminary arrangements as may be necessary to comply with the above recommendation, viz. : John Roche, James R. Slack, L. P. Milligan, H. B. Sayler and James Baldwin.
vi.
Preface.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
To the Board of County Commissioners :
Your Committee to prepare an Historical Sketch of Hunting- ton County present to you the result of their labors. They are conscious of its many defects, but express the hope that the facts narrated will be found to be interesting and valuable.
They acknowledge their obligations, for valuable assistance. to the following gentlemen : Capt. Jehu Swaidner, John Hackett and Josiah S. Grim, of Jackson Township; Jacob Stults, Samuel McCaughey and Joseph Wagner, of Clearcreek Township : Nehemiah Brown, J. H. Howenstine and John Stults, of Warren Township ; Samuel Copeland, Henry Kantz and F. M. Cole, of Dillas Township; Thomas Roche, John Kenower and Sexton Emley, of Huntington Township; John J. Anson, William O. Jones and James Thompson, of Union Township; Dr. Joseph Scott, Jonathan Whitelock and John J. Scotten, of Rockcreek Township ; George Buzzard, David Heiney and Enos Boyd, of Lancaster Township ; John C. Hart, M. McFarland and Charles E. Satterthwaite, of Polk Township; George W. Leverton, Thomas Fisher aud John Ruggles, of Wayne Township; Oliver WV. Sänger, Samuel Marshall and Peter Wire, of Jefferson Town- ship ; Samuel H. Swaim, Leander Morrison and Robert Sprowl, of Salamony Township; the Treasurer and Clerk of the City of Huntington ; the County Officers, and particularly William G. Bratton, Deputy Auditor, and Willis A. Jones, Deputy Clerk, whose assistance was peculiarly valuable.
JOHN ROCHE, JAMES R. SLACK, L. P. MILLIGAN, H. B. SAYLER, JAS. BALDWIN, Committee.
INDEX.
PAGE Agricultural Implements, Value of . 40 Agricultural Society . 33
Births, First in the County
2
Building Stone
38
Cattle, Number of . 40
Churches and Church Property
Circuit Court, First Term. 3 City of Huntington 3º Clearcreek Township . 13
Corn, Number of Bushels. . 40
Coroner's Jury, First in the County 4
County Commissioners, First Board . 3
County Officers . 5
Dallas Township. . 16
Deaths, First in the County 2
Election, First in the County . 3
Flouring Mill, First in the County 2
viii.
Index.
PAGE
Grand Jury, First in the County . 1
Hogs, Number of . 10
Horses, Number of. . 10
Huntington Township 18
Improved Lands. .
39
Jackson Township .
1 2
Jefferson Township. 26
Lancaster Township .
22
Lands and Improvements, Value of.
39
Live Stock, Valne of .
40
Manufacturing Interests of City of Huntington 32
Manufacturing Interests of County. 41
Marriage, First in the County . 2
Organization of the County.
3
Petit Jury, First in the County 4
Polk Township 24
Population. 39
Potatoes, Number of Bushels 40
Public Improvements.
39
Rockcreek Township.
21
Salamony Township 28 Saw-mill, First in the County . 2 School, First in the County . 3
Schools, School Children and School Revenue 40
Settlement, First of the County 1 Sheep, Number of . 40
Slaughtered Animals, Value of. 10
Index. ix.
PAGE Taxables, Value of . . 40 Territorial Limits of Huntington County 1
Union Township 20
Warren Township 15 Wayne Township . 25
Wheat, Number of Bushel .; . 40
Woodworth, A. D., First Settler of the County I
HISTORICAL SKETCH
-OF -
HUNTINGTON COUNTY,
INDIANA.
The present territory of Huntington county, Indiana, is em- braced within Townships 26, 27, 28 and 29 north, and four miles of range eight and ranges nine and ten east of the second princi- pal meridian ; it being three hundred and eighty-four square miles in extent.
'It was first settled about the middle of August, 1828, by Ar- temus D. Woodworth, on section fourteen, in Dallas township. Soon afterwards, certainly not later than very early in 1830, Captain Elias Murray settled at the " Bluffs," near Woodworth's. In 1831, Joel Helvey and Champion Helvey settled on a part of the plat of the city of Huntington. In 1832, Albert Draper, a young man from Vermont, settled in Rockcreek township, near the mouth of Rock Creek. In 1833, the first settlement was made on the Salamony River, Samuel Jones being the first set- tler. In 1834, considerable settlements were made in different parts of the county, but emigration was slow until 1841, from which time the substantial development of the county dates.
A
2
Historical Sketch of
Marcia Murray was the first white child born within the pres- ent limits of the county, that event occurring at the " Bluffs," in Dallas township, early in 1830. She was a daughter of Cap- tain Elias and Henrietta Murray. Bridget Kennedy, a daughter of Michael and Mary Kennedy, was born in Huntington on the IIth day of March, 1834. Her mother, now Mrs. Sexton, still survives, and resides in the city of Huntington. Mary Jane McGrew, daughter of Noah and Elizabeth McGrew was born in Salamony township on the 5th day of April, 1834.
The first wedding in the county was that of Champion Hel- vey to Mary Barrett, which occurred in May, 1834, and was solemnized by Judge Everetts. In the fall of 1835, John E. George and Ann M. Murray were married. On the 26th day of February, 1835, Leander Morrison and Matilda Jones were mar- ried in Salamony township. During the same year, Albert Dra- per and Rachael Sparks were married in Rockcreek township ; .Joseph Chesebro and Susan C. Woodworth were married in Dallas township, and - Johnson and Sarah Keller, a daughter of Judge Keller, were married in Huntington town- ship.
The first death of a white settler was that of the wife of William Delvin, of Huntington township, which occurred in 1832 or 1833.
The United States erected, on Rock Creek, in Rockcreek township, in 1832, the first saw-mill in the county, for the use of the Miami Indians ; and in 1835 a grist mill was built near the saw-mill by the Government, for the same purpose. In 1834, Daniel Johnson built a saw-mill one mile east of the city of Huntington. During the year 1835, flour mills were erected by Fleming Mitchell on the Salamony River, near Warren, and by William G. Johnson, on Cherry street, in the then town of Huntington.
3
Huntington County, Indiana.
John McGrew taught the first school in the county, about one mile below the town of Warren, on the Salamony River, in the year 1834. About the same time William Delvin taught a school in the town of Huntington, in a house a little west of the " American House."
Huntington county was organized on the 5th day of May, 1834, and then comprised the territory now embraced in Hunt- ington, Wabash and Whitley counties. John Burke, Stearns Fisher and Lewis Rogers were the first County Commissioners ; Champion Helvey was the first Sheriff ; William S. Edsall was the first Clerk; Captain Elias Murray was the first County Treasurer, and Amos Harris was the first County Assessor. At that time the territory included in the present limits of this county was known as Huntington township.
The first term of the Circuit Court began on the 5th day of May, 1834, and was held by Gustavus A. Everetts, President Judge, and Jonathan Keller and Murdoch McLean, Associate Judges.
The present limits of the county were fixed early in 1835.
The first election was held at the house of Jonathan Keller, on the first Monday in June, 1834, to elect two Justices of the Peace for Huntington township. The next election was held in August of the same year. One hundred and forty-seven votes were polled at that election in the then Huntington township. Of those who voted at that time, Samuel Moore and Patrick Johnson are the only ones who still reside in the present limits of Huntington township.
At the second meeting of the Board of County Commission- ers, on the 23th day of August, 1834, Charles G. Vorhees was appointed County Agent. At the same meeting the letting of a " public jail " was ordered to be advertised ; and Amos Harris was allowed fifteen dollars for assessing the county.
4
Historical Sketch of
The first Coroner's jury was called to sit on the body of Thomas Riley, and was composed of the following persons : Jerry Todhunter, Champion Helvey, Obediah Ward, William Walker, Solomon Stout, Benjamin Sams, A. C. Evans, Paul Burk, Henry Drum, T. J. Lewis, Garrett Buckingham and Rob- ert Wilson.
In 1835, Captain Elias Murray, County Treasurer, was allowed four dollars and fifty-one cents for collecting the taxes for the preceding year.
William Delvin was appointed County Collector for the year 1835-
The first Grand Jury sat in August, 1835, and was composed of the following persons: Elias Murray, Joel Grover, John F. Merrill, John Burk, Paul Burk, Thomas Brackenridge, George A. Fate, Obediah Ward, John Thompson, Channing Madison, Edwin Madison, William Delvin, Richard Adams, John Emley, James Delvin, Obediah Brown, Samuel Jones and Louis Purvi- ance.
The Petit Jury for the same term of Court was composed of the following persons : Jeremiah Barcus, William Walker, Sr., Champion Helvey, Joel Helvey, Jesse Griffith, Henry Miller, Eden Brown, Patrick Johnson, Hugh McCowen, Hugh O'Neal, Daniel Johnson, John E. George, David Kite, Albert Draper, Alexander McLane, Joseph Watson, Levi Turner, Stephen Chap- man, Simon Cochrane, Edward Wall, Harrison Wall, Harrison Warner, James Gilleece, Thomas Delvin, Robert Wilson and George Turner.
On the 5th day of May, 1835, the Board of Commissioners allowed W. G. Johnson seventy dollars in full for his services as Sheriff to that date.
In February, 1838, Isaac N. Harlan was allowed eight dollars for making out the assessment roll of 1837.
5
Huntington County, Indiana.
In 1838, Charles W. Ewing was the President Judge of the Circuit Court, and Jonathan Keller and Murdock McLean were the Associate Judges.
Samuel W. Hawley was County Treasurer in 1836 and a part of 1837.
Joel Helvey was County Treasurer for part of 1837 and 1838, and Henry Bowles was Treasurer in 1839, 1840 and 1841.
John Burk, Paul Burk and John S. Merrill were the County Commissioners in 1834 and 1835.
William S. Edsall was clerk in 1834, 1835 and 1836, and Isaac N. Harlan was Clerk in 1837 and 1838.
Channing Madison, Rufus Adams and Peter Wire were County Commissioners in 1836.
On the 15th day of May, 1837, a Board of Justices was elected, consisting of Jesse Cleveland, John S. Merrill and Leander Morrison, who had charge of the county business. They continued in office until in the next year, when Samuel Moore was elected as the successor of John S. Merrill.
William Shearer was elected Clerk and R. H. Eddy was elected Sheriff. In 1839 and 1840, Henry Chase was Circuit Judge and Joseph Wiley, J. R. Enley and Nathan Fisher were the County Commissioners, which office had been re-established in the place of the Board of Justices.
In 1841 and 1842 John W. Wright was the Circuit Judge : Nathan Fisher, Alward White and John Leyman were the County Commissioners ; Chelsea Crandall was elected Sheriff and Joseph Wiley was elected Clerk, to which office he was re-elected from time to time, until 1854.
In 1843, James W. Borden was the Circuit Judge; Alward White, Samuel H. Purviance and John Leyman were the County Commissioners ; James R. Slack was elected Auditor, Chelsea Crandall, Sheriff, and John Roche, Treasurer. James R. Slack was the first Auditor of the county.
6
Historical Sketch of
In 1844, the same persons were county officers as in 1843, ex- cept James C. Best, who was elected a County Commsssioner as the successor of Alward White.
In 1845. James W. Borden was Circuit Judge ; James C. Best, James Taylor and Samuel H. Purviance were the County Com- missioners, James R. Slack, Auditor, John Buchanan, Sheriff, and Wilson B. Loughridge, Treasurer.
In 1846, the same persons were county officers as in 1845, ex- cept Nathan Fisher, who was elected a County Commissioner, as the successor of Samuel H. Purviance.
In 1847-48-49 and '50, the same persons were county officers as in 1845, except Sheriff, Chelsea Crandall having been elected in 1846 to succeed John Buchanan ; and in 1848 John Buchanan was elected to succeed Chelsea Crandall, and was re-elected in 1850, and the County Commissioners, who were as follows : In 1847 and '48, James Taylor, Nathan Fisher and J. R. Emley ; in 1849 and '50, James Taylor, Albert Draper and Peter Emery.
In 1851, E. A. McMahon was Circuit Judge, and continued until February, 1853. 'Peter Emery, John Heiney and Albert Draper were County Commissioners ; John Alexander, Auditor ; John Buchanan, Sheriff ; and Samuel W. Hawley, Treasurer.
In 1852 the same persons were county officers as in 1851, ex- cept Hugh Montgomery, who was elected County Commissioner as the successor of Albert Draper.
In 1853, John U. Pettit was Circuit Judge, and continued until February, 1855. John Heiney, Hugh Montgomery and Sexton Emley were County Commissioners ; John Alexander, Auditor ; Samuel W. Hawley, Treasurer, and Henry Brown, Sheriff.
In 1854, Hugh Montgomery, Sexton Emley and John Alex- ander, of Salamony township, were County Commissioners ; Marshall J. Purviance was elected Treasurer, and Samuel H.
7
Huntington County, Indiana.
Purviance, Clerk. Martin B. Brandt was elected Recorder ; he was the first Recorder elected by the people.
In 1855, John M. Wallace was Circuit Judge, and continued until March, 1861 ; John Alexander was re-elected Auditor, and John Kenower was elected County Commissioner, as the suc- cessor of Hugh Montgomery.
In 1856, Samuel McCaughey was elected Treasurer ; James Taylor, County Commissioner, as the successor of John Alexan- der ; Jacob Young, Sheriff, and John Roche, County Surveyor.
In 1857 the same persons were county officers as in 1856.
In 1858, Joseph Wiley was elected Clerk ; Samuel McCaughey, Treasurer ; and Samuel Emley, County Commissioner.
In 1859, John Carll was elected Auditor. and Enos Boyd County Commissioner.
In 1860, Oliver W. Sanger was elected Treasurer ; Samuel Dougherty, Sheriff, and John Miller, County Commissioner.
In 1861, Horace P. Biddle was Circuit Judge, and continued until September, 1869. William O. Jones was elected County Commissioner.
In 1862, John Morgan was elected Clerk; John D. Jones, Treasurer ; Frederick P. Lucas, Recorder ; Luther Cummings, Sheriff ; Andrew Wiley and George Keefer, County Commis- sioners ; and Thomas Bolinger, County Surveyor.
In 1863, Martin B. Brandt was elected Auditor, and John Miller, County Commissioner.
In 1864, Jacob Mishler was elected Treasurer ; Luther Cum- mings, Sheriff ; Samuel Emley, County Commissioner ; and William G. Bratton, County Surveyor.
In 1865, Enos Boyd was elected County Commissioner.
In 1866, John Morgan was elected Clerk; Jacob Mishler, Treasurer ; Charles Mayne, Sheriff; Frederick P. Lucas, Re- corder ; and John Brubaker, County Commissioner.
·
8
Historical Sketch of
In 1867, Reuben C. Ebersole was elected Auditor and Samuel Emley, County Commissioner.
In 1868, Joseph W. Purviance was elected Treasurer ; Charles Mayne, Sheriff ; and Martin W. Little, County Commissioner.
In 1870, Thomas L. Lucas was elected Clerk ; Robert Simon- ton, Auditor ; Joseph W. Purviance, Treasurer ; Aaron McKim- mey, Sheriff ; Isaac K. Schlosser, Recorder ; and Daniel Kitch, John W. Baker and Oliver H. Fisher, County Commissioners.
In 1872, Sexton Emley was elected Treasurer ; Aaron McKim- mey, Sheriff ; Daniel Kitch and John W. Baker, County Com- missioners, and James M. Hatfield, County Surveyor.
In 1873, John U. Pettit was Circuit Judge one term, when James R. Slack was appointed, and is Circuit Judge at this date.
In 1874, Thomas L. Lucas was elected Clerk ; Harvey C. Black, Auditor ; Sexton Emley, Treasurer ; Aden J. Wiles, Sheriff ; Lewis J. Day, Recorder ; James W. Gusman, Sur- veyor ; and Oliver H. Fisher, County Commissioner.
In 1876, Daniel Christian was elected Treasurer ; Aden J. Wiles, Sheriff ; James W. Gusman, Suryeyor ; and Joseph Wag- oner, George Buzzard and Henry Heaston, Commissioners.
From 1844 to the present, the following persons have been Coroner of the county in the order named : David Myers, Isaac K. Schlosser, Joachim Fernandez, Luzon Warner, Joachim Fernandez, Tipton Allman and Granville Bocock.
The office of Common Pleas Judge was established in 1852. Wilson B. Loughridge was elected to that office in. 1852, and re-elected in 1856, holding the office until 1860, in which year Joseph Breckenridge was elected, and held the office until 1864. James W. Borden was elected in 1864, and continued in the office until 1867, when he resigned, and Robert S. Taylor was appointed to fill the vacancy and held the office until 1868, when David Studabaker was elected. He resigned in 1869, and Robert S. Taylor was again appointed. In 1870, William W.
9
Huntington County, Indiana.
Carson was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of David Studabaker, and held the office until 1872, when Samuel E. Sinclair was elected, and continued in office until the office was abolished in 1873.
The following named persons were either elected or appointed Prosecuting Attorney in the Circuit Court for the following times, to wit :
Samuel C. Sample, March Term, 1835, to August Term, 1836.
Joseph L. Jernegan, August Term, 1836.
Thomas Johnson, March Term, 1837, to the March Term, 1839.
John W. Wright, March Term, 1839, to the March Term, 1840.
Lucinus P. Ferry, March Term, 1840, to the March Term, 1842.
William H. Coombs, March Term, 1842, to the September Term, 1843.
Lysander C. Jacoby, September Term, 1843, to the March Term, 1845.
Elza A. McMahon, March Term, 1845, to the March Term, 1848.
John S. Hendryx, March Term, 1848, to the September Term, 1849.
John R. Coffroth, September Term, 1849, to the April Term, 1851.
Elza A. McMahon, April Term, 1851.
Isaac DeLong, September Term, 1851.
Charles Case, March Term, 1852.
James L. Worden, September Term, 1852.
John M. Coombs, February Term, 1853.
William Potter, August Term, 1853.
Isaiah M. Harlan, February Term, 1854, to the February Term, 1855.
=
IO
Historical Sketch of
Lambdin P. Milligan, February Term, 1855, to the February Term, 1856.
Isaac DeLong, February Term, 1856.
Oris Blake, Angust Term, 1856, to the August Term, 1857.
Charles H. Parish, August Term, 1857, to the August Term, 1858.
Samuel Mahon, August Term, 1858.
Richard P. DeHart, March Term, 1859, to the September Term, 1860.
Henry B. Sayler, September Term, 1860.
M. H. Kidd, March Term, 1861, to the February Term, 1862. Henry B. Sayler, February Term, 1862.
Thomas C. Whiteside, February Term, 1863, to the August Term, 1864.
Henry B. Sayler, August Term, 1864.
Dudley H. Chase, April Term, 1865, to the April Term, 1866. Thomas Roche, April Term, 1866.
James C. Branyan, October Term, 1866.
George W. Stults, November Term, 1868.
Joseph S. Daily, September Term, 1869, to the March Term, 1873.
Alexander Hess, March Term, 1873.
William H. Carroll, June Term, 1873, to the December Term, 1873.
Alfred Moore, December Term, 1873, to the present time.
The following named persons were either elected or appointed Prosecuting Attorney in the Common Pleas Court for the follow- ing times, to wit :
John R. Coffroth, November Term, 1852.
Benedict Burns, April Term, 1853.
Lambdin P. Milligan, July Term, 1853.
John R. Coffroth, October Term, 1853, to the July Term, 1854.
11
Huntington County, Indiana.
Isaac DeLong, July Term, 1854, to the January Term, 1855.
Lambdin P. Milligan, Jannary Term, 1855, to the October Term, 1855.
William C. Kocher, October Term, 1855, to the June Term, 1856.
John R. Coffroth, June Term, 1856, to the January Term, 1857.
Samuel Mahon, Jannary Term, 1857, to the June Term, 1859. Frederick P. Lucas, June Term, 1859, to March Term, 1860.
Newton Burwell, March Term, 1860, to the January Term, 1861.
David T. Smith, January Term, 1861, to the February 'Term, 1863.
David Colerick, February Term, 1863, to the February 'Term, 1867.
Joseph S. Daily, February Term, 1867, to the February Term, 1869.
Benjamin F. Ibach, February Term, 1869, to the February, Term, 1873.
A. H. Bittenger, February Term, 1873, which was the last Term of said Court, it having been abolished at that time by the Legislature.
The office of County Examiner of Common Schools was created in 1865. Richard A. Curran was appointed to this office in June, 1865, and continued in office until June, 1871, when Morris L. Spencer was appointed. He resigned in March, 1874, and in April following, Francis M. Huff was appointed, and still continues in office. In 1873 the designation of the office was changed, and is now known as " County Superinten- dent."
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