USA > Indiana > Newton County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 32
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > A standard history of Jasper and Newton counties, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 32
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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
"One afternoon, late in the fall, five men got off the train at Bradford, made their way to the hotel, called for supper, and engaged passage in the hack for Rensselaer. Two of them were attorneys from La Fayette, going over to Rensselaer to attend to some legal matters; two of the others were citizens of Rensselaer, one an attorney and the other a doctor. These four were well known to each other ; in fact, old acquaintances, and were 'hail fellows well met' with each other. The other was a stranger, and although he ate supper at the same table, he seemed to keep as far away from the others as possible, and it was noticed that he kept a small satchel which he had, on his lap all the time while he was eating his supper ; this and a few remarks to the landlord in regard to the location of Morocco and the manner of getting there, satisfied one of the parties at least that his objective point was the Bank of America, at Morocco, and he communicated his suspicions to the rest of the company. After supper, the hack drove up and all got in; but a mile or two had been traveled, when, by a preconcerted arrange- ment, the two La Fayette gentlemen commenced an attack on the two citizens of Rensselaer for the great and terrible system of out- lawry allowed to exist in their county, in the neighborhood of Morocco, instancing many cases of murder, horse-stealing and the gangs of counterfeiters said to exist in that neighborhood. The Rensselaer gentlemen defended themselves as best they could from these charges, claiming that they were no more responsible for violations of law in their county, than the gentlemen from La Fay- ette were for crimes committed in Tippecanoe County. " These charges and countercharges were kept up until late at night, when
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Rensselaer was reached and all retired to bed. Early the next morning the livery stable keeper was posted by one of the passen- gers of the night previous, and who, on being met by our friend with the black satchel, refused to take him to Morocco for less than $30 and take a guard of four men ; and also, that he would be responsible for all loss or damage to team and wagon. About this time one of his fellow-passengers of the night before called him off privately and told him that he supposed that his business at Morocco must be of the greatest importance, and as a friend would advise him how to go there. In the first place, it would never do for him to go in the clothes he had on, for he would be almost certain to be murdered if he did. And he proposed letting him have an old suit of clothes and a rifle, and, that in the disguise of a hunter, he might on foot make his way to Morocco and back with at least some promise of safety. Our friend thanked him for his kindness, went back to his hotel and in a short time the hack for Bradford drove up, and he secured passage for that point, and the Bank of Morocco was saved, at least, one demand for specie at its counter had it been found."
Under such circumstances, it is not surprising that the "run" on the bank was very light. Mr. Murphy deposited his bag of gold in the bottom of a barrel of potatoes and redeemed an occa- sional note until the amount was gone, and then, having entire confidence in the proprietor, he redeemed other notes as they were presented by his neighbors, out of his own pocket to the extent of another $100. About this time, he happened to be in Rensselaer and proposed to turn over the redeemed notes for $100 that he had expended, but was informed that the bank had changed hands, and there was no one to speak for the further action of the institution. There was no clew to the proprietors, and Mr. Murphy had $200 of the paper of the "Bank of America," without any assurance that he would realize anything for his money expended. It is safe to say he did no further banking business; but when the affair was eventually wound up by the secretary of state, he made a reasonable salary besides the return of his money, as the issue was all redeemed at eighty cents upon the dollar.
STRUGGLES TO BECOME COUNTY SEAT
Although Morocco did not acquire railroad connections until 1888, when a branch of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois was extended from Goodland to Momence, Illinois, the town made two efforts to become the county seat previous to that consummation of her hopes
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-the first time in 1870 and the second, in 1876. In 1900 a third unsuccessful attempt was made, for, although Morocco had the advantage of geographical position, Kentland had become nearer the center of population.
FINAL EXPANSION
In the meantime, Morocco had been growing, despite her com- parative isolation, and the original town plat was increased by Veatch's addition, in 1872, Ash's addition, in 1873, and Ash's sec- ond addition in 1876. This expansion was far more evident when the town became a railroad station, for during the two months of May and June, 1888, four additions were recorded-Kessler's, Hope's, Doty's and Kennedy's. Edmondson's addition was made in January, 1889, and in the March following, Kessler's second addi- tion. The town's area was increased in May, 1890, by Hope's second addition, at which time the population within its limits was 397. Within the succeeding decade it had reached 920, and is now in the neighborhood of 1,100. This growth is largely attributable to the securing of a direct connection south with the county seat and the rich Grand Prairie section of Indiana and Illinois, and north, with the Kankakee and Lake Michigan districts. Morocco secured these advantages through the completion of the Chicago, Indiana & Southern Railroad in December, 1905.
Since 1890 the additions to the town have been: Fair Ground addition, 1893; Hope's third addition, 1895; Peck's first and second additions, and Nichol's addition, 1896; Corbin's addition, 1897; Corbin's second addition, Camblin's addition and Nichol's second addition, 1898; Kennedy's second addition and Chizum & Camb- lin's addition, 1900; Kessler & McConnahey's addition, 1902; Carpenter's addition, 1906; Hammond's addition, 1907.
THE PRESENT MOROCCO
Morocco has a good water supply, with a pumping station, a supply well and tank in the northern part of town; a neat public library and rest room, a new town hall, a large and well organized public school, two state banks, a newspaper and four churches, and several strong lodges and social organizations. Its streets are noticeably well cared for, its main thoroughfare for half a mile being paved with a fine macadam. Morocco is the center of a large grain trade and has two good-sized elevators-those owned by the
1
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Farmers State Bank and by Michael Duffy. It has also a pickle- salting plant, and is the shipping point for large quantities of hogs, sheep, horses and poultry. It is, in fact, the trading and banking center of a large area in the central part of Newton County. The Farmers State and the Citizens State banks are the financial institu- tions of the place. The latter was founded in 1910 by William D. Martin, who is still its president. O. F. Stoner is vice president and A. J. Law, cashier. It has a capital of $26,000, surplus of $14,500 and its average deposits amount to $118,000.
Much of the town's late progress is due to the efforts of the
VIEW ON STATE STREET, MOROCCO
Commercial Club, of which Claud Williamson is president and which includes the solid citizens of the place.
THE MOROCCO COURIER
The Morocco Courier has also contributed its full share to its development. It was established by Dr. M. L. Humston, now of Goodland. It suspended in 1880 and Edward Graham was its editor and proprietor from 1882 to 1888. Fred Davis, Sidney Schanlaub, uncle of the present superintendent of schools, and H. J. Bartoo, now of the Remington Press, were later owners. L. P. Builta owned and edited it from 1809 to April, 1915, when he was succeeded by W. H. Myers, the present proprietor and editor.
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THE M. E. CHURCH OF MOROCCO
After the churches which were built by the United Brethren on Frederick Kenoyer's farm, just north of the Iroquois River, prob- ably the first meeting house to be erected by any organized religious body was that built by the Methodists of Morocco in 1856. Mr. Ade says that "it was a good, comfortable building having two front doors, as all church buildings had in those days-one entrance for the men and the other for the women. At that time it was not thought to be proper for a man and his wife to sit together on the same seat in church." The Methodist Episcopal Church at Morocco was organized previous to 1850 and among its early preachers were Rev. James Farris, father of Congressman George Farris, of Terre Haute, and Rev. Isaac Sayler, who then resided near Rensselaer. They were both local preachers and came to Morocco to conduct services at irregular intervals. At that time the General Conference of the church recognized the Morocco mission as covering all of what is now Newton County. In 1871 Kentland Circuit was organized by A. E. Anderson, presiding elder, and in 1872 both Goodland and Beaver Lake circuits were formed. The present Methodist Church at Morocco is in charge of Rev. J. J. Rankin.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The first Christian Church was organized in January, 1887, with D. M. Johnson as elder, and comprised sixty-five members. Pre- viously, there had been preaching by L. M. McDermott, J. H. Edwards and D. M. Johnson. In February, 1888, a frame church building was dedicated by Elder L. L. Carpenter, of Wabash, Indi- ana. Among the pastors who have served since have been Rev. D. M. Honn, Rev. A. L. Ferguson, Rev. S. Moot, Rev. W. L. Stein, Rev. George W. Watkins, Rev. C. G. Brelas (under whom the present church building was completed, being dedicated in Septem- ber, 1903), Rev. Frank C. Higgins, Rev. George Musson, Rev. E. C. Boynton, Rev. George B. Stewart, Rev. Everett Gates, Rev. E. P. Builta, and Rev. Everett Gates, of the Chicago University, who again occupies the pulpit.
THE UNITED BRETHREN
In 1897 the United Brethren in Christ of Morocco organized a church, and in the following year completed a house of worship.
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The first quarterly meeting of the Morocco Circuit met in the Morocco Church on January 6, 1900. The settled pastors of the local society have been as follows: Rev. J. M. Tuggle, 1899-1903; Rev. O. P. Cooper, 1903-04 ; Rev. M. F. Sherrill, 1904-06; Rev. H. C. McConaughy, 1907-08; Rev. W. B. Taylor, 1909-12; Rev. E. T. Aldrich, since 1915. The present membership is about 130.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1898 and the follow- ing pastors have served it, in succession : Revs. P. H. Faulk, I. W. Bailey, W. T. Carpenter, J. M. Cauldwell, F. A. Morrow, D. A. Cauldwell (another term), and J. M. Kendall. The church build- ing at present in use was completed in 1901. The society numbers nearly one hundred members.
THE MOROCCO WOMAN'S CLUB
The Morocco Woman's Club, which was organized and feder- ated in 1913, has a membership of nearly fifty, and the following officers: President, Mrs. Daisy Kay; vice president, Mrs. Tennis Deardurff ; secretary, Mrs. Bessie Moody; treasurer, Miss Bertha Norris. The objects of the association, as stated in its by-laws, are intellectual and moral development, social enjoyment and united effort for the welfare of the community.
THE LODGES
The Masons, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America are the strongest of the secret orders represented in Morocco. Morocco Lodge No. 372, Free and Accepted Masons, which was instituted in 1865, is the oldest organization in the county. There is also an Order of the Eastern Star Lodge.
Morocco Lodge No. 492, Knights of Pythias, was organized in September, 1901. The first commander was H. E. Gragg, and the present head of the lodge, which numbers 108 members, P. J. Biesicker.
MOUNT AYR
When the Chicago & Great Southern Railroad, now known as the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, was constructed through the eastern
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part of Newton County, in 1882, a number of towns were platted along its route. From the first Mount Ayr, which is now one of the five incorporated towns in the county, seemed to be marked for preference. It was laid out by Lewis Marion, on October 18, 1882, being located on the northeast quarter of section twenty-three, town- ship twenty-nine north, range eight west.
FIRST CALLED MOUNT AIRY
It was originally called Mount Airy, and when very young was thus exploited by the Goodland Herald: "Mt. Airy is situated on the railway about fourteen miles north of Goodland, and near the center north and south, in Jackson Township. It is certainly a beautiful location for a town, being situated on a very elevated tract of land owned by Lewis Marion, one of the most substantial and influential farmers of Jackson Township, who has, we are informed, made liberal donations to the public of a suitable and fine tract of land for a public square, and has also been quite liberal with the C. & G. S. R. R.
"We have been informed by the railway engineer that the loca- tion of Mount Airy is over one hundred feet higher than Goodland. The town is situated three miles south of the timber land on the north, and about one and a half miles west of the east belt of timber, and is in the midst of as beautiful and productive prairie land as any persons could wish to find. Among the largest land owners are Lewis Marion, Henry O. Harris, Dr. Caldwell, Samuel Long, Mr. Crisler, Harris heirs and Joseph Yeoman, and it is perhaps the wealthiest portion of Newton county.
"We found the citizens of the town to be wide awake and ener- getic, attending strictly to their interests. Among them we found J. M. Hufty, who is engaged in general merchandise ; John Brenner, drug store ; S. B. Coen, grain and lumber ; S. Royster, lumber ; Mrs. Ashley, blacksmith; George Hufty, boarding house; Fred Nichols, general hardware; Sayler & Yeoman, groceries and hardware.
"Mr. Alexander Lardner has built quite a fine business building, two stories high, twenty-five feet wide and seventy-five feet deep, which will be occupied next week as a general merchandise store room by Messrs. Willey & Sigler, of Rensselaer, and Mr. Wishard, of Mount Airy. It is a building that would be a credit to any town. There is also a steam grist mill, owned by J. M. Hufty, which has a capacity of about 100 bushels per day, and does good work. The village has also the advantages of a good school, and the Methodist
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Episcopal Church congregation contemplate building a fine church edifice in the near future. Viewing Mounty Airy from all the dif- ferent standpoints, we think it a desirable place for any person seeking a location to engage in business pursuits, and we predict for the town a bright and prosperous future. We have no hesitation in saying that it is our candid opinion that Mount Airy is destined to be the leading town in Newton County at no distant day. Building is now progressing rapidly, and the town has already assumed a position of no mean importance.
"We found the construction train on the railway busily engaged in building a commodious side track at the station, which we pre- sume is completed ere now. The Chicago & Great Southern Rail- way Company has now forty miles of main track in successful operation between Oxford, in Benton County, and Fair Oaks, in Jasper County, and is doing a great deal to improve and develop as fine a country between those points as you could wish to see."
One addition was made to the original town of Mount Ayr- Marion's addition, platted in July, 1884.
The town of today is a village of about 300 people.
OTHER RAILROAD TOWNS
Two more towns were platted along the road when it was first built. They were both in Iroquois Township, almost midway between Goodland and Mount Ayr-Julian, laid out by Martha and J. B. Julian, in sections two and eleven, and Foresman, by J. B. Foresman, in section fourteen.
Rose Lawn and Thayer, in the northeastern part of the county, on the Monon Railroad, were also laid out in 1882, although the line on which they were stations was completed four years pre- viously. Rose Lawn was laid out by Craig & Rose in January, 1882, and three additions were made to it during the following year : Long's, Guilford's and Goodwin's. In December, 1899, Keller, Craig & Company also platted an addition.
Lake Village, in the Kankakee region of the north, Lake Town- ship, was the fifth town to be platted in Newton .County. It was laid out by Richard Malone in January, 1876, but little attempt was made to develop it until 1905, when the Chicago, Indiana & Southern Railroad was put through the western part of the county from Dan- ville, Illinois, to Indiana Harbor, Lake Michigan. In November of that year, the month before trains commenced to run over the line, Bryant's and Hess' additions were made to the original site; in
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March, 1906, Williams' addition was platted and in March, 1908, that of John and Charles Hess.
Also, on the same line of the New York Central System were platted the following : Ade, laid out by Warren T. McCray, in May, 1906; Enos, by R. &. L. Bartlett, in June, 1907, and Conrad, by Jennie M. Conrad, in December, 1908.
John Mohcena
"JOHN MAKEEVER AT HIS EASE"
JOHN MAKEEVER. True worth always commands respect and usually meets with a fuller reward in material prosperity. A con- spicuous example of this truth may be found in the career of the late John Makeever, who was born in Green County, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1819, and died in Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, January 3, 1910. He was a son of Patrick and Isabel (Sweeney) Makeever, and came of good stock on both sides of the family. The father, Patrick Makeever, was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and the younger son of an Irish nobleman. As a younger son he had scant expectations of succeeding to the ancestral estate, and, accord- ingly, with the desire of bettering his prospects and making a home and name for himself, he came when a young man to America, cross- ing the ocean in a sailing vessel. He located first in Pennsylvania, where he married, subsequently, with his wife and family, removing to Morrow County, Ohio. From there he later moved to Jasper County, Indiana, to live with his children, and died here in 1856 at the remarkable age of one hundred and four years.
John Makeever was one of ten children. He accompanied his parents to Morrow County, Ohio, when ten years old and was there reared to man's estate, his boyhood days being passed on the farm, after the manner of the boys of that pioneer period. Later he re- turned to Pennsylvania and in 1842 was there married to Mary Ann Sharp. Taking up his residence again in Morrow County, Ohio, he engaged in agriculture, and was thus occupied in that locality until 1845, in which year he came with his family to Jasper County, locating on government land which he entered three and one-half miles west of Rensselaer, in Newton Township. He cut the logs and built his cabin and there lived until 1856, afterwards erected a frame house, which was his residence until 1881. Prior to the latter date he had built the Makeever Hotel in Rensselaer, and in this he lived for the remainder of his life. A man of enter- prise and far-sighted, he became an extensive holder of Jasper County realty and was also largely engaged in the stock business. Together with his other activities, he also conducted a private bank, or, more properly, a private office, where he transacted banking in a small way. In 1883 he and his son-in-law, Jay W. Williams, estab- lished the Farmers Bank in Rensselaer, and this they conducted until
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1899, when the banking business was discontinued owing to the failing health of Mr. Williams. Mr. Makeever was a charter member of the Masonic fraternity at Rensselaer and in politics was a Jacksonian democrat. He began life's battle on his own re- sponsibility, with no material aid from friends or relations, and became wealthy through his own exertions by reason of indomitable energy and his splendid business foresight. From his seventeenth year he was one of the active leaders of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he served as trustee, class leader and Sunday School superintendent. He and his wife had three children: Almira, who resides in Rensselaer, the widow of William Sims Stockton, and the mother of three children: Clay and May, who died in infancy, and Jay W., who lives on the old Makeever homestead in Newton Town- ship, Jasper County; Cordelia, the widow of Jay W. Williams, appropriate mention of whom is made in this work, her daughter Mary Jane being the wife of Charles H. Porter of Rensselaer ; and John Napoleon, who died in infancy.
Mr. Makeever's second marriage was with Mrs. Lewis Macy and was celebrated February 8, 1886. There were no children of this union. Mrs. Makeever first married Lewis Macy and was the mother of two sons: George Julian Macy, a resident of Columbus and an expert accountant, who married Miss Abbie Patterson ; and John Sherman Macy, a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, and en- gaged in the wholesale millinery business, who married Miss Elma Sowerwine, and they have a daughter named Margaret. Mrs. John Makeever is a resident of Rensselaer, a noble woman of Christian charity, and honored and revered by all who know her. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rensselaer.
WILLIAM SIMS STOCKTON. Men of business acumen and busi- ness foresight are the levers of all commercialism, and the subject of this sketch, William Sims Stockton, was one of the men of Indiana who did not fall short in the scale of business ability.
Mr. Stockton was a native of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, born April 19, 1835, and died January 9, 1911. He received a good practical education, being first a student in the local schools and then at Wabash College. He was an agriculturist and stockman and then engaged in mercantile life and finally in the real estate business in West Lafayette, Indiana. Politically he was a democrat and fraternally he was a Mason, being a member of the chapter at Lafayette. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stockton was a gentleman of pleasing personality and address and of strict business principles. He died in the City of Chicago.
His first marriage was to Miss Nancy Whitsel and was cele- brated in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, October 13, 1859. She died July 26, 1866, and her remains are interred in the Hebron Cemetery in Tippecanoe County. Five children were born to this union, four sons and one daughter, only two of them now living: Edward, a
WILLIAM SIMS STOCKTON
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resident of Chicago and engaged in commercial life, received a good education and was a student at Purdue University ; Frank, a resi- dent of the State of Washington at Greenacre, where he has a fine fruit ranch, is married and has one daughter.
Mr. Stockton married for his second wife Miss Almira Makeever on October 15, 1867. Three children, two sons and one daughter, were born, and the only one now living is the son, Jay William Makeever Stockton, a resident of Newton Township, Jasper County, an agriculturist, and living on the old Makeever homestead. He was educated in the common schools and took a business course in a com- mercial college at Lafayette. He married Miss Stella Perkins, and they have four living children: John Judson, in the seventh grade and taking a short course at Purdue University ; Stella Almira, also in the seventh grade; Julia Cordelia, in the fifth grade; and Jay Perkins, deceased ; and William Sims, the youngest. Jay Makeever Stockton is a democrat politically. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rensselaer, and his chil- dren are also identified with that church. He formerly served as steward on the official board.
Mrs. Stockton is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, born Sep- tember 13, 1843, and is a daughter of the well known citizen John Makeever whose full review is given in this publication. She was only a child when she became a resident of Jasper County, and was educated in the schools of this county and is a graduate of the Methodist College at Valparaiso, Indiana, with the class of 1864. She taught school in Marion, Ohio. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rensselaer and has been president, treasurer and secretary of the Ladies Foreign Missionary Society of the church and was delegate to the branch meeting of this organiza- tion, including representatives from four states, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mrs. Stockton is a lady of pleasing per- sonality and address and comes from one of the old and stanch pioneer families of the county.
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JUDGE CHARLES WALKER HANLEY. As judge of the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit, comprising the counties of Jasper and Newton, Judge Hanley has for the past thirteen years given the people of this circuit the benefit of disinterested service, of long and thorough experience in public life, and a broad knowledge of men and affairs. He is a native son of Jasper County and is an able lawyer. Pos- sessed of scrupulous honesty and a fine sense of justice, his friends and practically all the people of his district unite in declaring him one of the most competent men who has ever sat on the Circuit Court bench in this district.
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