USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > A standard history of Kosciusko County, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development. A chronicle of the people with family lineage and memoirs, Volume I > Part 18
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The actual figures, with the items which they cover, are as fol- lows: Average number of cows milked in the county, 10,265, valued at $511,988; milk produced, 4,777,233 gallons, valued at $512,441; cream sold, 1,072,348 pounds, which brought in $272,227; butter produced, 685,725 pounds, for which the farmers received $157,645.
HORSES AND COLTS
In 1915, Kosciusko County was second among the counties of Indiana in the number of horses and colts on hand; Allen was first. The latter retained its lead in 1916, with Elkhart second and Kosciusko third. In the year named Kosciusko County had 12,652 horses and colts on hand valued at $1,382,849. During the preced- ing year, its farmers had sold 2,318 for $323,608.
SHEEP AND WOOL
Kosciusko County has been prominent as a sheep and wool pro- ducer for many years. It stood fourth of the Hoosier state counties in both particulars in 1915 and 1916. The reports showed that on the first of the latter year there were 12,302 sheep on hand valued at $70,976, and that 13,151 had been sold for $70,072. It was sixth of the counties in the loss from disease.
The wool clip for Kosciusko County amounted to 89,571 pounds and was valued at $23,633.
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HOGS
The county is also among the foremost in the raising of hogs. In 1915 it was fourth of the counties in the state, with 57,101 on hand, but in 1916 had dropped to eleventh place, with 42,982. They were valued at $300,803. Again, as in the matter of disease among its cattle, in comparison with the other counties of the state Kosciusko
DUROC HOGS OF THE COUNTY
County presented a remarkable bill of health for its hogs; it was sixty-second of the ninety-two counties.
POULTRY AND EGGS
Indiana as a state, and especially the northern and central parts of it, has developed the production of poultry and eggs until the industry has become one of its leading sources of profit. In that field, which has gradually increased in productiveness, Kosciusko County has reached second place in Hoosierdom. According to the latest accessible reports, there were in the county 18,771 dozens of laying hens valued at $100,796. They produced in 1915, 1,544,657 dozens of eggs with a market value of $319,183. All kinds of poul- try sold amounted to 12,249 dozens annually and brought their keepers $72,476.
Vol. I-13
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HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
CLOVER HAY AND SEED FLOURISH
It follows, in line with common sense, that Kosciusko County farmers have given much attention of late years to the production of clover hay, as unexcelled feed for dairy cattle. In comparison with the other counties, it usually stands among the first half dozen. It was fourth in 1915, with its production of 21,674 tons, and third in its yield of clover seed (4,545 bushels). On the other hand, in the production of the coarser and less nourishing timothy hay, Kos- ciusko County was tenth.
AT THE FRONT AS RYE PRODUCER
Of the cereals Kosciusko County's standard crop is now rye. It averages third or fourth among the Indiana counties in both acreage and yield. There are about 6,500 acres devoted to that grain, pro- ducing 96,212 bushels, or 14.48 bushels per acre.
GOOD ONION AND ONLY FAIR WHEAT COUNTRY
Kosciusko County stands about in the middle ranks of the first ten counties of the state in the production of onions; and there is a material difference between such counties as Jasper, Noble and Starke, with their annual yields of from 150,000 to 250,000 bushels, and Kosciusko, with its production of from 60,000 to 90,000 bushels. Kosciusko County has under cultivation from 300 to 400 acres of onions.
Even in comparison with other sections of Indiana, the county has no high standing as a wheat producer, although naturally many sections of it are well adapted to growing it. Generally speaking, the hard winters of Northern Indiana are a drawback to the raising of wheat. In 1915 an acreage of 39,657 was sown to wheat in Kos- ciusko County and the yield was 848,920 bushels, or an average of 21.41 bushels per acre.
FARMS AND RURAL POPULATION
The last complete figures compiled showing the number and value of the farms in the various counties of the state, with the rural population per square mile as compared with the total popu- lation, were issued in 1915. They indicate that the rural population of Kosciusko County (43.4 per square mile) is nearly equal to the
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general average (51.6). In other words, there is no great dispro- portion between the rural and the urban density. While these are equal in the case of more than twenty of the counties in the state, the comparison is greatly in favor of the general average in the case of the counties which have large centers of population, such as Marion, Vanderburgh, Floyd, Vigo, St. Joseph and Allen.
Kosciusko County is forty-third among the ninety-two counties in the state as to the value per acre of its farm lands-$31.19. There are 3,733 farms within its limits, including 337,336 acres. The total area of the county is estimated at 541 square miles, or 346,240 acres ; so that, obviously, there is very little "waste" land now within the bounds of Kosciusko County.
PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE
Kosciusko County has seen its ups and downs in matters of agri- cultural progress, like all other Indiana counties. It has had to adapt itself to the changing conditions of the country and the tre- mendous demands made upon it, as a whole, to keep its rapidly increasing population in a state of physical vigor and satisfaction. Crops which could not be raised to advantage in competition with other sections of the United States, such as corn and wheat, have been largely displaced by other agricultural industries to which the country and its people were specially adapted.
The County Agricultural Society and the County Fair Associa- tion accomplished much in the early periods of these changes and adaptations to new conditions and demands, and the latter is still active. Of late years, however, modern science and education have taken a hand in the problem, with the result that all the progressive forces and individual farmers are able to co-operate through such organized work as is effected by the agricultural extension depart- ment of Purdue University, the United States Department of Agri- culture and county agents.
THE COUNTY AGENT AND HIS WORK
More than forty counties of the state have appointed agents, who, in the language of one of their number, serve as connecting links "between the experimenter and the farmer," and "many facts are brought to the latter's attention which, when applied to his work, add materially to the income of the farm.
"An especial effort has been made to select lines of work that
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have an economic value in the several counties. The following sub- jeets have received particular attention : Soil acidity drainage; or- ganie matter ; supply legumes ; wheat production ; seed corn selection, storing and testing; oat smut control ; alfalfa production ; pork pro- duction, including cholera control; horse production; beef produc- tion ; dairy production, and boys and girls' clubs.
FARM DEMONSTRATIONS
In most cases the work on a given line was introduced through a series of meetings held in the various parts of the county in which
MODERN TEACHING IN THE FIELD
the county agent was assisted by a specialist from that division of the extension department which was most interested. These meet- ings were followed up by an arrangement with at least one farmer in cach locality whereby he was to try out on his farm the principles involved in the particular subject. Thus we have the farm demonstration involving the liming of the soil, the growing of soy- beans as substitutes for clover when the latter fails, the testing of varieties, the comparison of cultural methods, use of commercial plant foods in varying amounts and combinations, the testing of the dairy herd or the organization of the community cow testing associa- tion, the feeding of the hogs with varying rations, with and without the self-feeder; the ferding of a bunch of steers divided into two or
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more lots, each receiving different rations with accurate accounts as to cost of the gains. We also have the boys' corn growing or pig feeding club, where the members compete with each other on a basis which involves cost of production, as well as excellence of the article produced.
"In instances where conditions warrant it, a meeting is held at the conclusion of the demonstration to which the farmers of the com- munity are invited. Results obtained under farm conditions and under the direction of a farmer, make a more forcible appeal to the farm people than would similar results obtained elsewhere."
Thus, year by year, many farmers are induced to incorporate better methods into their general farm practices.
HOME PROJECT WORK
The home project, or Young People's Club work, is one of the important lines of the county agent's work, as it gives an oppor- tunity to reach the young people in a practical way. The Corn Club, the Pig Club, the Dairy Club, the Garden Club, the Canning Club, the Sewing Club and the Cooking Club-each offers an opportunity to do some part of the work of the home or the farm under competent direction, thus affording an object lesson not only to the boy and girl, but to the parents as well.
"The methods of production and the records of the cost of pro- duction, which are carefully kept, serve as valuable subjects for study when compared with the common farm practices. The club work is generally organized on the township unit plan, with the first prize for each township being a trip to the Farmers' week at Purdue University, with all expenses paid." In every county and in most of the townships, industrial exhibits are arranged whereby each boy and each girl are enabled to compare the best samples of their handiwork with those of their co-workers, thus fixing more clearly in the mind the essential points.
STATE FAIR EXHIBITS AND COUNTY AGENTS' CONFERENCES
Through the courtesy of the State Board of Agriculture, a large building on the fair grounds has been made available for the display of county agent work. The main object of this comparative exhibit has been to demonstrate methods by which the agricultural products of the various counties may be improved, rather than to exhibit prize products. It has not only served as headquarters for the farm folk
MUJAL APPLE SHOW CLASS OF ISM NOV 21
1
WINONA AGRICULTURAL DISPLAY
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HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
of the several counties, which had had the enterprise to appoint agents, but visitors from all parts of the state were enabled to gain a clear conception of the county agent movement.
Agricultural extension workers held several annual conferences at Purdue University, and at other times they have visited various counties to meet the agents for the purpose of discussing local phases of the work with them, or to confer with the leading farmers of counties and the trustees of townships in those sections which had failed to appoint regular agents.
The result of these conferences was to divide the state into dis- triets, and the county agents of each district were invited to meet for a day's discussion of their common and special problems. Each agent was especially asked to discuss his least successful project and give his plan of work. The most successful projects were also out- lined for the benefit of new men who had not attempted work along that particular line.
WORK COMMENCED IN KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
Kosciusko County was one of the later counties to get into the agricultural extension work in all its phases. In March, 1918, W. R. Zechiel, who had been employed by Professor T. A. Coleman, at the head of the extension work in connection with the county agents, as assistant demonstration agent, was shifted to Kosciusko County ยท from Southern Indiana to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Williams, as an emergency agent. In the following May, Mr. Zechiel received the appointment as a regular county agent for Kosciusko, and has since developed the work along the lines in which he has been so well edu- cated and trained.
Mr. Zechiel came into the county at a very inopportune time to accomplish much the first year, and was compelled to spend several months in getting thoroughly acquainted with the people and their special needs. At the time, there was little organized effort to further the agricultural interests of the county, and he set about the formation of a county farm bureau, or better farmers' organiza- tion. The people soon saw the advantages of such co-operation, and various communities organized themselves into buying and ship- ping nnions and equity elevator companies, in order to assist the farmers to get their products to market most advantageously. The Short Horn raisers and the Poland-China men also organized socie- ties for the exchange of views and business co-operation.
The County Fair Association, one of the oldest organizations in
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HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
Kosciusko, has accomplished much in the improvement of live stock, fruit and grain. It is also largely due to that organization that the county agent movement has been finally established.
THE FIRST YEAR'S WORK
The first year of the county agent's work was a busy one. In the spring he secured for each farmer the special seed corn adapted to his needs and conditions. The crop promised a fine yield, but a heavy June frost destroyed at least half the acreage and yield. This misfortune created the problem to secure substitute crops for the frozen districts. The silo men replanted, and others put in buck- wheat, millet, potatoes and beans; which, in part, supplemented the loss of corn. The losses in that line, however, put the county on the market for at least fifty carloads of corn.
The mid-summer programme for 1918 was mainly that of crop inspection, such as locating certified fields of wheat to recommend for fall planting, and the checking over of oat fields, whether they had been treated for smut or not. The average loss in the non- treated fields was 71/2 per cent, while on the treated fields it was less than 1 per cent, or only a trace.
The result of the wheat inspection was that it was found that seven fields in the county, with a total of 144 acres, and a yield of 55,000 bushels, had passed the state and federal requirements for certified seed. Considerable stinking smut was found in the wheat, and much publicity was used asking farmers to guard against it for another year.
FINE WORK OF THE EMERGENCY LABOR BUREAU
In answer to a call by farmers in different localities, the business and commercial men of the towns united themselves into an emerg- ency labor bureau. They pledged themselves to supply the farmer with the necessary labor during haying and harvesting, to the extent of closing their places of business, if needs be. In Mentone, Warsaw and Leesburg many calls were received and filled in this way. This was especially true in the Mentone neighborhood, where it would have been almost impossible to have taken care of the crops had it not been for such an organization.
The emergency labor bureau was a war measure and furnished a forcible illustration of the practical value of the county agent as a Government instrument in that wonderful campaign by which the
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HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
warring forces of democracy were physically sustained and enabled to crush their ruthless enemies.
It was during June and July of 1918 that a vigorous campaign was launched in the county to stimulate the erection of silos for the purpose of taking care of poor and frosted corn that might be grown in the county. This was not entirely successful, but it aroused much interest and many new silos were put in operation.
IMPROVEMENT OF WHEAT AND CLOVER
In the late summer and fall of the year special efforts were made to improve the prospects of wheat and clover. The steps taken to carry out the programme included: (a) More careful preparation of wheat lands by early plowing and systematic and thorough culti- vation; (b) the securing of certified seed wheat; (c) more extensive use of commercial fertilizers, especially phosphoric acid; (d) testing of numerous samples of soil to determine the lime requirement, and the recommendation that lime be generally introduced to the high clay and sandy loam soils; (e) the use of straw and other loose litter for the top dressing of wheat lands; (f) treating seed wheat by wet formaldehyde for the prevention of smut.
RAISING THE RYE GRADES
As the county has normally a large rye acreage, the farmers were asked to use rosen rye for seed purposes, with the result that 2,500 bushels were planted of the variety named. Although most of it was introduced under one shipment, many farmers who did not obtain their quota, or a sufficient quantity to meet their desires, made special trips to Elkhart and St. Joseph counties to obtain the kind recommended by the county agent.
Farmers were encouraged generally to use fertilizers on all spring crops of the following year; rather to increase yield than acreage. They were also recommended to order their fertilizers early, have them shipped early, and get them to their farms as soon as ship- ments could be made after the holidays.
CULTIVATION OF HEMP AND MINT
Kosciusko County has several thousand acres of hemp and mint lands and of late considerable attention has been given to their culti- vation. The difficulties to be overcome in the raising of these crops
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HISTORY OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
is the winter killing of mint and the uneven growth of hemp. Although the growth of hemp represents by no means a large crop in Kos- ciusko County, its development is considered of some consequence, as no other county in the state produces more.
Among the projects mentioned by County Agent Zechiel as being under way are the formation of an organization of the bee keepers of the county, and a survey of all the farms, with a view of classifying the information thus obtained and combining it with the data derived from the county assessor's sheets.
It is evident from the foregoing review of the general and the special work of the county agent that the progress of the agricul- tural interests of any section of the state largely depends upon the close co-operation of the farmers, including their wives, boys and girls, with the educational agencies provided by county, state and general Government.
CHAPTER XII
THE COUNTY IN THREE WARS
THE CIVIL WAR-THE FIRST THREE MONTHS' REGIMENT (THE NINTH) -REORGANIZED FOR THREE YEARS AND AS VETERAN REGIMENT-THE ELEVENTH INFANTRY (THREE YEARS)-THE TWELFTH ( ONE YEAR AND THREE YEARS)-GEN. REUBEN WILLIAMS-THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT (THREE YEARS)-THE SIXTEENTH INFANTRY (ONE YEAR)-THE SEVENTEENTH (THREE YEARS) -THE TWENTIETH (THREE YEARS) INFANTRY-TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT (THREE YEARS) - TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY REGIMENT - TWENTY-SIXTH INDIANA INFANTRY-THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT-THIRTIETH REGIMENT (THREE YEARS) - THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT (FIRST IRISH) REGIMENT-THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY (AFTERWARD EIGHTH CAVALRY)-FORTY-FIRST INFANTRY (SECOND CAVALRY)-FORTY- SECOND REGIMENT OF INFANTRY-FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY- FORTY-SIXTH AND FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENTS - FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT - THE FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT - FIFTY-NINTH AND SIXTY-EIGHTH REGIMENTS-THE SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT- LIEUTENANT RUNYAN AT KENESAW MOUNTAIN-LIEUTENANT KUDER AT JONESBORO-CHARLES W. CHAPMAN, COLONEL OF THE SEVENTY-FOURTH - JOHN N. RUNYAN - SEVENTY-SEVENTH REGI- MENT (FOURTH CAVALRY ) -EIGHTY-THIRD AND EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENTS-NINETIETH REGIMENT (FIFTH CAVALRY ) -ONE HUN- DRED AND EIGHTEENTH' REGIMENT (SIX MONTHS)-ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH (SEVENTH CAVALRY)-ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT (TWELFTH CAVALRY) -ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT-THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIR- TIETH-ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT-ONE HUN- DRED AND FIFTY-FIRST AND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND -- LIGHT ARTILLERY FROM KOSCIUSKO COUNTY-SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL AND THE WORLD'S WARS-GRAND ARMY POSTS-THE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL-IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTIETH REGIMENT-KOSCIUSKO COUNTY IN THE WORLD'S WAR-REALIZING THAT THE WAR EXISTED-VOLUNTEERS GET THE START OF THE DRAFT-OFFICERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN AUGUST, 1917-BARTOL AND SWIHART SAIL FOR FRANCE-FIRST
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EXAMINATION OF REGISTRANTS-FIRST LIBERTY LOAN AND RED CROSS DRIVES-KOSCIUSKO COUNTY MEN OFF FOR CAMP BENJAMIN HARRISON-DR. MILFORD H. LYON LEAVES FOR FRANCE-THIRD INDIANA REORGANIZED AS ARTILLERY-A HOOSIER OPENS THE WAR FOR THE AMERICANS-COUNTY'S PART IN SECOND LIBERTY LOAN DRIVE- JAMER R. FRAZER, COUNTY FOOD ADMINISTRATOR- COUNTY'S FIRST GOLD STAR-HOME GUARD ORGANIZED-OFFICIAL STATE MILITARY BAND-LIEUT. J. F. HORICK, WORLD'S CHAMPION PISTOL SHOT-FIRST PERSONAL BATTLE NEWS-VERY SUCCESSFUL THIRD LIBERTY LOAN CAMPAIGN-SALE OF WAR STAMPS-LIEUTEN- ANT BARTOL AT CHATEAU THIERRY-THREE THOUSAND MEN REGIS- TERED-HIGH SCHOOL BOYS ENROLLED-FOURTH LIBERTY LOAN- FIRST MAN OF THE NEW DRAFT-WINONA LAKE TRAINING CAMP OPENED-BOYS OF BATTERY D ARRIVE IN FRANCE-THE UNITED WAR WORK FUND-THE RIOT OF PEACE-AMONG THE LAST HOME VICTIMS-TOTAL MAN POWER OF THE COUNTY-AT THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.
Although the county had been organized for a decade when the war with Mexico was declared, it is not of record that any of the few who had then become residents of Kosciusko departed for the south- western front. Most of those who afterward became prominent in the Civil war, like Gen. Reuben Williams, Col. C. W. Chapman, and Capt. D. W. Hamlin, were mere youths or very young men in 1846. Gen- eral Williams, however, was a son-in-law of Maj. Henry Hubler of the Twelfth Regiment who had served in the Mexican war while the resi- dent of another county. But at the time of the War of the Rebellion, Kosciusko County had reached so large a population as to be in a posi- tion to materially contribute of men and other resources for the cause in which it believed.
More than sixty years after so much of the strength of the county's manhood had been absorbed by the vampire of one war, a smaller danger of the same breed threatened, but fortunately Kosciusko County was little affected, although its men were eager to do their full share; and they did.
The third test offered by the war-god found the county still prepared, by tradition and American temperament, to "go over the top" in every patriotic movement, whether staged at home or "over there." Its combination of hardy, foreign vigor and youthful enthusiasm for democratic institutions, with a broader and more cultured appreciation of American privileges and ideals, kept Kos- ciusko steadily to the special tasks assigned to her by the higher
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powers of the General Government; and whether in the raising of troops or of money, Red Cross and other Christian relief work, or the detection and punishment of slackers and alien enemies, the men, women and children of the county were tireless and efficient.
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS' REGIMENT (THE NINTH)
Kosciusko shared with other counties and sections of the state and nation, the uncertainty as to the serious nature of the rebellion and the probability of a long period of military service for those who volunteered. In accord with the orders of the War Department and President Lincoln, three months' regiments were first formed, with the understanding that, if necessary, the men of such organi- zations could re-enlist for longer periods.
The Ninth, the first of the three months' regiments to be organ- ized in Kosciusko County, was mustered into service at Indianapolis, on the 25th of April, 1861, with Robert H. Milroy as colonel. This was the first regiment which left Indiana for West Virginia. It arrived at Grafton, in that state, on June 1st; thence marched to Philippi, and participated in the surprise on the Confederate camp at that place two days later. The Ninth afterward was engaged in the skirmishes at Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford, and was dis- charged at Indianapolis in July.
REORGANIZED FOR THREE YEARS AND AS VETERAN REGIMENT
The Ninth became a three years' regiment, and was mustered into the service, as thus reorganized at Laporte, in September, 1861. It was again placed in command of Colonel Milroy, and remained in winter quarters in West Virginia until January, 1862, after hav- ing participated in several minor engagements. In February it was transferred to Buell's army and in the following spring arrived at Pittsburg Landing in time to take part in the second day's battle at Shiloh. It was also with Nelson's division at the evacuation of Corinth, was with the forces which pursued Bragg from Nashville to Louisville, and was identified with the battles at Perryville and Danville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain were added to its major engagements in 1863, and in the last month of the year the entire regiment re-enlisted as a veteran organization for the period of the war, however long it should last. Subsequently it joined Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign, but returned to Tennessee and engaged in the campaign against
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