USA > Indiana > Randolph County > Lynn > Lynn as it is, Randolph County, Indiana : clippings from a supplement to The Lynn herald > Part 1
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M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02511 5087
LYNN AS IT IS. Randolph County, India
Not Dead, Nor Sleeping, But With the March of Progress Keeping.
Push and Public Spirit Apparent at a Glance. Peopled by a Live and First-Class Set of Citizens, Square- ly up with the Day and Hour. They Dis- play Great Pride in Their Town Homes and Surroundings.
The Country Makes the City-Environed by an Immeasurably Rich Agricultural Region-A Fair Commanding Land Seen Under Bright Spring Skies-Leagues of Golden Grain Fields. Seas of Meadows Green, Fragrant Orchards and Cultivated Gardens, Grand Forests, No- ble Herds, Happy Homes, Pen Pictures of Prosper- ing People.
Clippings from a Supplement to The Lynn Herald, Lynn, Randolph Co., Ind. - undated (c-1900)
Co THE compleet extent of our Per paper dowe land our.
regim, and revent samething of The grandtour which belotte- po- tentially to this charming dis. triet, whowe Ivantitul roads lengthen out, but are never too long. because one never fires of the ever pleasant vistas about. From early dawn to twilight Shadow & one is impressed with the one of the inottable. there is here no bleakness, no feeling of monotony. The eye is lost in delight and the soul sense- quick- ened by a gaze at the scene lov. liness to be seen wherever the glance falls, Nature has dealt out everything here with an un. sparing hand, and the gift of this Garden of Eden we are glad lo state, has been bestowed upon a people worthy of it.
No better type of the purely American citizen can anywhere be found than those who have peopled this section. They are not narrow or opinionated, creed., bound or hide bound. Whether living in the town of cities, or on the farm, it makes no difference, nature and are well up in world matters. What information can not be obtained by observation. they speare by a contemplative perusal of the best works of the world's authors. In every way they keep up with their fellows and the colossal pare of advance. ment. With such a country and such people there is always a bright future up store.
Beyond comparison is this splendid region, a vast garden of bloom and fruition, whose soils are equally as rich and fertile is the lowlands of the Nie, Hap- py. happy farmer of Randolph county ! Just tickle the ground with a hoe and it laughs you a harvest. Well may this be de. nominated an earthly paradise. Every favoring condition exists for the highest average of human health and happiness. The eli- mate is mild and equable, the landscape fair and pleasing. the air is laden with balmy zephyrs. gentle rains feed the clear run- ning creeks that flow through 1
the forests and meadows, wild Howers grow in graceful profu -. ion, and thousands of song land- of variegated plumage carol forth their sweet notes to the Dying -coms to res upon this golden and glorious land.
WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTION.
The variety and profusion of agricultural products that can be ! raused here is marvelons. The yadds and quality are alike won- ; derful. Immense crops of high- est grade corn are raised. The reputation of the wheat raised bundaner. Gats do well, and the soil would produce large vields of tobacco should ont farta. er- care to cultivate it. Small Fruits, the wine, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and all kinds of minden truck are raised in abund are. Timothy, red top aml closer cannot be excelled.
>10Ck GROWING.
This is a royal breeding dis- triet. The mildness of the eli. mate, the abundance of grasses. grain, living springs and creek .. time intural shelter, hearne- to the great markets of the country everything combines to favor stock-growers. Large numbers of pure blood and high grade beef and dairy cattle, richly bred turl. road. general purpose and draft horses, medel types of Poland- China, Jersey Red, Chester White and Berkshire hogs, and tot .. sold. Shropshire and Merino shrepare annually raised. We have several poultry fanciers whose birds have received high, awards. Randolph county is fa? gaining a reputation as a fine stock district, and there are at least a score of these accomplish- ed, level-headed, liberal broeders scattered over the county. While this industry has in the past few years sustained a severe derline vet at present time the sign point to a restoration of values. This must ultimately come.
EARLY HISTORV.
Spare will not permit us dely. ing very much in the past. There are enough live issues here to en- Lnge our attention, and we will! therefore make only slight and ! necessary allusions to the past und early date, We are dealing
with the present rather than un w rapping the vetements vuelos ing the dead pet Washingtonl Town-lop, within which this city lies, was first settled about ISHI. It contains about Forts four square noles, being eight mile- north and south and five and a half miles east and west. By settlers and the activity of their successors, this township has be- come the very garden of Ran- dolph county. The preponder- ating religions element of the, first settlement of the township was Quaker, and a better class of citizens can't be found any-
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Descriptive of the CITY
Lynn way lay out in Washing- ton Tp. abont the year Isti, by Damel Freestone, one of the car- ly pioneers of Randolph county. Jacob E. Hinshaw, who now owns and resides on the Farm entered by his wido ved mother in the yeap INH, was the first to open up a general merchandise store. building a log cabin on the lot how occupied by the Hamvip of- five : be out of the front part for a .5 and ocupied the balance! as a tessence. The capital in- vested was $120, and was pur- chased af firmaati, and hanled through by wagon.
There being no churches or school house here at that time, the few citizens who lived in the community met at the residener et Jantes Freestate, Listed a In. the south of the present school building, where a few Methodist- organized and Rev. O. P. Boyd preached and - held meeting for about two years. The first school was held in a log blacksmith shop which was minns a floor and win- duas, except a small space cover- od with greased paper to let in the light. Such was the exper- lepre of our forefathers in Wash- ington township.
Lynn now has a population of between 1,0001 and 1,200 people.
shore characteristics are Vill. siger and energy, who are always up and doing and never take a back seat when they can just as well go forward and secure a Front Que. And right well me they going forward in life. These people never falter and are never en-couraged. They have plenty of jublie spirit in all adairs that require general co operation tor the town's welfare and improve- next. The man who would be Foolish enough to attempt to block the wheels of progress here would "surely be myited to leave, They don't want that class of citizens
1.00 ATION.
From Winchester, the county wat. this city is located nine miles due south, and is 16 miles north of Richmond. It has the good fortune of being located on two lines of railroad. There are here the Peoria division of the C. C. C. & St. I. R'y. or Big Four route, and the Grand Rapids and Indiana R. R., thus Lynn enjoys excellent connections East and West, North and South.
SPECIAL FEATURES,
The general attractiveness of this little city is commented upon To all who enter it - portals. W. venture the assertion that there is not another town of it- size in the State that can boast of as many pretty home- as lynn can. and the people never fire in their The homes are all of the modern type of archi- tecture, with tine, well kept, am- cate the domestic virtue of this people.
Another "special feature" that ; Lynn can boast of is the total ab- sence of saloons, Several at- tempts have been made to stati -! lish this kind of business here, but they have been in vain, as our people will not stand for any- thing of the kind, and soon find a way of having them removed.
SECRET ORDERS AND SOCIETIES,
This town is surely wide awake on lodge affairs, the Masons, Odd Fellow and K. of P. orders being especially active, and when we think of these fraternal societies! we are touched by the feeling of how much good in all these years ¿has been disseminated and per- petnated by these grand organi- zations; we only wish that our humble pen could write a enlogy of the good work they have done.
The occurrences of every day hte go to establish the grand work of fraternity among men. AH three of the societies enumerated sings these orders there are the' Daughters of Rebekah, G. A. R., Women's Rehef Corps, Christian Endeavor and Epworth League. SHRINES OF WORSHIP.
There are no institutions worth- wer of the appreciation of any copimanny than the churches ex. isting in its midst. identified with it : early growth, throbbing with it- life, participating in its reverses and sharing in its pros perity. They seem to be invest. ed with the personality to be loved and cherished hle these of our own household. They write their pages of history upon the hearts of mithons and bring con. solation and surcease when all else fails. No one can doubt the grand good achieved by the in. Bierce of churches in any com- unity. The three denomina- tions represented here are the Methodist Epreopal, Christian and Counted Brethren, and the «piritual needs of this people are ministered to by zealors pastors.
Public
Schools
FROM THE primary start to a High School complete course 14 here placed within the reach of the rich and poor dlike. P'u- pils graduating are eligible to ex- amination before the County Superintendent for positions it's teachers, or can enter the nor- mal scho ds. There is to ques- tion but what the population of our little city has been measura- bly increased by reason of the excellence of the public school.
We have long since learned that however iznotant a man may be, he invariably expresses the hope or deare that his chil- dren shall be better informed than himself, and to them, in substance if not in words, he says : . A little Irarning is a dangerous thing :
Drink derper touch not the Pitrian Spring." Thanks to enlightened pubie opinion here. the spring is "brim full and running over"-no fear of an educational drought here. abouts. The full course of study
embraces a period of twee years. A few words will not be amiss regarding our efficient corps of teachers. This is the wWeath year at this place in Prof. F. E. Addleman, who came here from Wayne county, and a has been following his showen profession for the past nineteen years, and is e sidered one of the ablest educators in Randolph county. The sixth and seventh Vent grades are in chacon- of- Charles B Ddly, who is well and favorably known by everybody hereabout-, having taught in this county for several years, and has completed his third term in the school of this pace. Miss Boss- en, s ho has completed her third year with the third, fourth and fifth grades, is a graduate of karl- ham college, and is an accom. plished young lady. She resides with her parents on East Church street, and always takes an no. tive interest in church work and Is an acknowledged leader in -0. riety circles, Miss Stewart, who has charge of the first and second grades, is a resident of Winches- ter, but has taught these grades during the past bey years and ' Gegen un' && Autisfaction_ and ja deserving of sure he.
Under the careful methods of Intelage of this cups of teachers the very best that is in a scholar is developed and brought out, and the lehet standard of pro- fi ieney thus secured.
There is a good library of three hundred volumes in the school. building, which is of much value. and assistance to the scholars.
Our School Board is composed of three members, and in which capacity the following gentlemen are now serving: J. B. Cheno- weth, President : Dr. C. R. Cos, Treasurer, and Sylvester Hill.
SOCIAL, AND BUSINESS STATES.
The streets are broad and are lined on either side with shade trees, whose branches just now are rich in foliage. The clean, heat appearance of business and residence thoroughfares, and the superh natural environments and long stretching enceanting vistas lead's nearly every visitor to ex- claim "What a delightful place to live in." Essentially is this a town of well-to-do prople. While there are none here who may be claimed opulent, yet almost es.
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erybody is m independent rir- constances. Almost everybody here is the present of ins own home and others are contemp lat- ing the erection of new ones, There are but few really poor people, in fart none that are suf- lering. as pubhe sympathy and universal aid is always rendered. And there is here a social order that cannot be expelled. These people comming'e as one family. worthy newcomers receive the " right hand of fellowship and strangers are cordialiy treated. The business men are bright, bustling follows who are constant. + by adding to their storks. They hold their own against all com- ? peting points and in every man- ner are siriving to increase the i annual aggregate of the city's trade.
Local government is vested in a Town Brand composed of three members, in which capacity John Hollingsworth, Goo. Fickel and A. B. Mondy are now serving. W. R. Halliday is Treasurer, James M. Light, Clerk, and Frank Rrere Mar-hal.
MENTS OF CRITICISM.
Many will ask. "Is there noth- ing to critiche, nothing to find fault with !" Sime will perhaps think that this fair picture is over-drawn. To the latter wi will way, come and visit Ism and this beautiful outlying di . 1 friet and you can then perceive that we have not toll the half i. its favor. And as to the former. will say yes. There are here : few matters that need adjust- "most. In the first place there is mash room for public improve- ment. During the rapid growth of our little city the residere district bas far ont-g own the business portion of our town-in start & trang'" passing through. the streets where so many hand- some homes are located would come to the conclusion that he was in a town of four or live thousand inhabitants, but he; won'd soon change his mind after getting a glimpse at our business rooms. If some enterprising men would ereet good business houses they would be readily taken for several of our merchants only occupy the roots where they are now located because they can't -Fot hetter. We hope in the near fotine to see some handsome ; blocks ererted here.
Then our streets-well they are very good sommer streets, but they will not stand the test of winter. . "ych money has been sport on & red improvements, but iferend as though a poor quality of gravei has been used. ! It is expected that our new Town Board will make some decided improvements in the matter of streets and side-walks this sum- тег.
An opera house or good lown hall building is also very much needed here, as we now have no sedie place for holding public meetings, entertainments, ete. There are several minor improve. ment- that could be mentioned but spare will not permit.
THE NEWS DISPENSER.
James ['. Roland, son of Wm. Roland of this place, purelins d a small printing outlit and started the first paper published in Is nu in 1883-The Lyun Ob erver, which was published for 2 years. when Mr. Roland moved his of. live to Umon City. The town bad no paper then until the fall of Iss9, when Galen OJeikirk is. sned the Indianian ; this paper was published about one year when he moved the office to To. ledo. On Metober 21, 1892. C. F. Word began the publication of the Lynn Tribune, which he con. tinned until August 50, 1-95. when A. O. and R. C. Hamilton purchased the office and contin- ned the publication of the Tr b. une antil July IMIS, when they moved the plant to New Carlisle.
About seven months ago we tok up our residence in Lynn, since which time we have met and formed the acquaintance of Indreds of Randolph county residents. An almost univ. real courtesy has been visited njom pus Not alone does this favored region produce spontaneously the varied productions of the soil and develop the highest quality of animal life, rejoice in matchless dawn skies and glorious twilight", possess charming landscape and envied natural resources, but has the higher blessing of having within its confines the grandest type of Nineteenth century American citizenship.
The WIRRALD was first issued November 10, 1898, and is now a visitor to nearly all the homes in Lynn and vicinity. We have aimed to make it a modicum of
new - rather than a political or. gan, and it willalways be found an active exponent for the best interests of this community. Our job department is e mplete in every respect, all of machinery tape, etc. bring new and of the latest design, and we guarantee
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the work turned ont to be equal to that of any oflive in this part ní the state. In preparing this, review on Lynn and the sur. rounding country. we have en- de to ed to set forth impartially the general features and resour- ces of this section. Reference to a number is necessarily omitted primari's on account of a lack of .pies, and again, because of our inability in the limited time at our disposal to see all parties and prepare the work for this issue. .
Our Churches
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
The Church of Christ was or- ginized in the present City Hall, by E. W. Hammond Jan. 3, 1880, with twenty-four members, who had held their membership else- where. During the meeting which was held over three Sun- days, others were added being imptized, making a total memt er-
ship of sixty-two at the chre of the meeting. E. W. Hammond was employed to preach semi- monthly for the year. Jning the! year eight more members gore akled, and one death occurred. At the close of the first year the member hip enrolled seventy- thicc. January 14, 1856, a suhi- scription paper was started for! the purpose of erecting a new
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church. There were four one hundred dollar subscribers to start with. viz : B. F. Chenoweth, D. M. Thorn, Ann Robbins and W. H. Platt.
The dedicatorial exercises of the new church were held on the fourth Sunday of July. 15-6, con- Ancted by L. 1 .. Carpenter of Wa- bach. Ind. The new edifice cost a little over allee. On March S. Issti, the following officers were elected : 11. D. Nichols and B. F. Chenoweth. Elders: Dave M. Thorn and J. B. Chenoweth, Dea- cons : J. B. Chenoweth, Treasurer. and J. M. Bowen, Clerk. The fol- lowing trustees were elected to serve one, two and three years : D. M. Thorn, I. D. Nichols and Abraham Platt. ...
The following pastors have served in the order us named : Elder E. W. Hammond, of Spar- tanburg. J. B. Ludwig and A. Moore, both of New Castle. G. C. Wagner of Lexington. Ky., and J. M. Lanl of Harmon, Ohio- the letter having rosigne I a three year's pastorate during the early part of the past winter. At pres. ent the church is without a regu- lar minister.
I. B. CHURCH.
The United Brethren Cherch of Lynn was constructed in the vear Ists, under the pasterate of Rev. Joseph E. Padock and the following Board of Trustees :" W. E. Hollingsworth, Amos Surface and S. E. Martin, at a erst of $15(0), including the lot. The present church organization was ellerted in January 199 and numbers 24 members. The Sun- day School was organized about the same time and has an aver- age attendance of abont 90. The church was dedicated on the 16th of October. 1898, by W. R. Funk, D. D.
THE PRESENT PASTOR.
Rev. W. L. DeMunbrun was born April 30, 1844, in Adair C'o. Ky .. of christian, parents, He he. enme impressed with the Art ity of the life in Christ nt the nge of 8 years, At the age of eleven he lost his mother, nud this was the turning point in his religion.s life-from that time forward he has endeavored to be a christian, 'In the summer of 1861, Mr. De- Munbrun enlisted in the United States army in the three months
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service, and afterward in the 3 (year's service, and was in most of the fighting done by the armies of the Cumberland, and the army of the Ohio, and was wounded three times. His regiment was the Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, recruited by Col. P. B. Hawkins, of Bowling Green, Ky. In the year 157 Mr. DeMunbran enter- ed the ministry of the gospel in the church of the United Breth .. ren in t'brist, and has served con- ! tinnously for thirty-three years- ten years of this time in t'aliforn- 'ia, and has received into church fellowship more than 2,000 per- sons.
M. E. CHURCH.
During the years 1554-5-6, Rev. Silas Stout was pastor in charge when the first M. E. Church was built in Lynn. on the lot now or- enpied by the present building. The dedicatorial sermon was preached by Rev. Cyrus Nutt, P. E. On the morning of the dedication a Mr. Hinshaw was slaving when he saw a deer crowe the road south of the village near where the Big Four R. R. now crosses Main street. Mr. Min- shaw took his dog and gon and soon brought the deer down. He gave one quarter to a young man by the unme of Hamilton, it hap- pened that the presiding elder
wys entertained at the wung man's home, the good elder low. ever would not so much as taste the venison, for it was killed on Sunday.
The ald church with its banis- ters and straight back poplar benches remained natil Ists or Is79, when it was slightly chang- 'ed by closing the cure door in the center and cutting two doors, and reseated with more wooden seat4 which are now used in the gallery and class rooms of the new church.
In the year Isso, the revival spirit seemed to nrouse the little town and the old church building was found to be too small, it was sold, and is now used as a meat market.
As soon as the old building was removed, work was begun for the hew one, which Zas completed, and dedicated in October, of the same year. Since Isso the growth has been steady, with prayer and class meetings and preaching continuons, also Sun- day School.
At this time both Senior and Junior chapters of the Epworth League have been maintained.
This is one of the best churches in the District, and is entirely free from debt, and is in a very prosperoas condition, for which the members are truly grateful.
Some of the preachers base been: Ress, Stout, Lowry, Clark, Newton, Curtis, Thomas, Cain, Harrison, Teknel, Brown, Loring Bowen. Brown, Powell, Rowand and Ewell.
There have been many changes in the membership. at this time there is not a member who was a member in IS-2.
Horace A. Ewell, Parios of the CM. F. Church, was born in C'in. cinnati, and was converted under the ministry of Rev. W. X. Ninde now Bishop of the M. E. Church, united with Morris Chapel. He received his collegiate education at the tthio Wesleyan University. His first work was in the Cincin- nati Conference. He spent n few years in the Kentucky and Nebraska Conferences.
In the fall of 1892 he was trons- ferred to the Central Illinois t'on- ference, where he labored until 1897, when he was transferred to the North Indiana Conference, and appoinetd to Churubusco, in Fr. Wayne District, He has just begun his labors in Lynn.
M. F. PARSONAGE.
The M. E. paramage is n hand- sothe structure, built 1844. gothic style two stories, with a dormer
window and dome, and contain. fing right commodious rooms and line hallway, and modern conveniences and is highly ap- preciated by all who have had the pleasure of its shelter.
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SECRET SOCIETIES
1.0.0.1. LODG ....
Lynn Lodge, No. 294. 1. 0.0. F. was instituted about November 12, 1-67. in an old building that used to stand on the west side of North Main street.
There were only tive charter members to this lodge. uz: Jon- as Frist. Wm. P. Mcon. C. F. Powell, Salvey Middleton and Abraham Brower. Of the live charter members Mr. Frist is the only one who retains membership here, and he is still an active rorker in that grand order whose motto is "Friend hip. Love and Truth." About eighteen mrm. bere were initiated on the night that the lodge wne instituted, and although it met with many re-
serves, the lodge has grown satil now it is in a prosperous condi- tion, and has a membership of abont one hundred.
During the past winter the de. gree staff of this lodge distin. quisbed itself upon several orra- sinns, in the manner in which they conferred the degrees, es eented floor work, cte. They also had a pheac metal growth during the past winter, having went ferred the degrees upon about thirty candid ites, mial are keep- ing up the good work during this warm weather.
They contemplate the erection ¿ of a rew hall in the near future, and we hope to see them push it -te a hasty completion, for they are very much 'o need of a new home-their prosent quarters be- ing entirely too small to acromo- ate their increased membership. Long may Lynn lodge continue to prosper, and the F. L. & T. ban- ner wave. 4
- K. OF P LODGE.
Lynn Lodge, No. 119. K. of T. was instituted May 23d, 1581, by Winchester Lodge, No. 91. with a ehmmiter membership of fifteen, consisting of the following broth- ers : W. A. Nichols, J. S. Blair,
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M. K. CHURCH.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
W. M. Halliday. E. J. Hinshaw, Ean Nye, S. R. Chenoweth, Q. 11. Fickel. Lee Plat:, Wm. Horch. J. B. Chenoweth. R. N. Harrison,' t. M. Kelley, W. R. Porter. J. M. Hamilton and J. M. Bowen.
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