USA > Indiana > White County > A standard history of White County Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. I > Part 40
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As to the pastors, Lewis McCreary occupied the pulpit at the organi- zation of the church and again in 1880. J. H. Dunlap, D. S. French, B. B. Craig and D. J. Huston followed, the last two serving two pastor- ates each. B. A. Nelson succeeded Mr. Huston, whose second pastorate was from 1878 to 1884; C. A. Rice assumed the charge in 1885; J. M. Kendall, 1886; J. T. Green, 1888; W. H. Van Cleave, 1890; L. F. Galey, 1892; L. O. Stiening, 1894; I. B. Morgan, 1896; J. A. Haynes, 1899 ; C. J. Bunnell, 1903; G. H. O'Donnell, 1905; A. J. Unthank, 1906; E. B. De Vault, 1908; R. B. Wright, 1912, and C. F. Dame, 1914.
SOCIETIES
Monon, as an intelligent and progressive town, has a number of well-patronized societies, both benevolent and industrial. Being quite a railroad center, the trainmen and other employees have several strong organizations, while the standard benevolent and secret orders, such as the Odd Fellows, Masons, the Pythian order, Maccabees and Independent Order of Red Men have lodges, some of which are supported by members of both sexes. Perhaps the strongest and the oldest is Monon Lodge No. 524, I. O. O. F., which was instituted in February, 1876.
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CHAPTER XXVII
TOWN OF WOLCOTT
MUNICIPAL WATERWORKS-FOUNDING OF THE TOWN-COMING OF ANSON WOLCOTT-TOWN PLATTED-COMPETITORS-THE WOLCOTT INTERESTS -FIRST ADDITION-DEATH OF THE FOUNDER-EBEN H. WOLCOTT- THE DIBELL FAMILY-VARIOUS ADDITIONS-THE TOWN COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL-STATE. BANK OF WOLCOTT-CITIZENS STATE BANK- CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES-THE METHODIST CHURCH-CHRISTIAN CHURCH-BAPTIST CHURCH-THE MASONS-I. O. O. F. BODIES- OTHER LODGES.
The Town of Wolcott is the only place of any considerable size and commercial importance in the western part of the county. It is nine miles west of Reynolds, and there is nothing worthy to be called a settle- ment, either north or south of it within the limits of White County. As the surrounding districts are also productive and settled by a substantial class of farmers, while the townsmen themselves are energetic and enter- prising, Wolcott has naturally grown and is growing. It has three elevators, operated by the Rich Brothers, the Wolcott Grain Company and the Farmers Co-operative Company; two good banks, several large and well-stocked stores, and quite an extensive plant, embracing metal works, sales depot for agricultural implements, barbed wire and other farmers' accessories and hardware supplies.
MUNICIPAL WATERWORKS
Further, Wolcott has three church organizations, several flourishing societies, a town commissioned high school of substantial standing, and a pneumatic water system, owned by the municipality. The power house is about half a mile west of town, the supply of water being first filtered through a gravel pit and then through an artificial filter attached to the pressure tank. Water was turned into the mains in April, 1915, and the people feel justly proud of their new waterworks, which furnishes them good water and provides them with adequate fire protection. The latter has seemed the most pressing need of the community since the recent destructive fire.
FOUNDING OF THE TOWN
Princeton Township never increased so rapidly in population as from 1856 to 1860, it having become virtually an assured fact that the Logans-
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
port, Peoria and Burlington Railroad would pass through its territory from east to west. As the farmers and settlers had long rebelled at the hardship and inconvenience of hauling their products to Reynolds and buying their provisions there, it was also a foregone conclusion that some station would be established on the line easier of access than that place, which, over the abominable and winding roads of those days, often meant tiresome journeys of from ten to fifteen miles.
COMING OF ANSON WOLCOTT
In 1858 the savior of the situation appeared in the southern part of the township in the person of Anson Wolcott. He was then in his fortieth year. A native of Oneida County, New York, he was educated and taught in the Empire State, and when twenty-one years of age went to Louisiana and studied law in the office of Judge Petts, in Claiborne Parish. He remained in the South about a year and a half, when he returned to New York, continued his law studies and in 1847 was admitted to the State Supreme Court at Buffalo, and in 1852 to the United States Supreme Court.
TOWN PLATTED
After practicing his profession for six years, Mr. Wolcott started for the Wabash country of Indiana, as he had purchased a large body of land on the line of the Pan Handle Road which had been surveyed through Princeton Township. Some place his purchases as high as 2,000 acres. He commenced at once to improve his land and also to buy grain of neighbor- ing farmers for shipment to eastern markets. When the railroad was completed in the fall of 1860 he prepared to plat a town and arrange for a station under his own name. On the 15th of May, 1861, Mr. Wolcott platted his town on land described as follows: The commencing point of the survey is at the southeast corner of lot 8, block F, and is 180 feet distant at right angles from the center line of the Pittsburgh, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, and thirty feet west of the range line which runs north and south in the center of Range Street north, eighty degrees west, and the town is laid out parallel and at right angles to the railroad. An- other description of the original town site is the eastern part of section 25 and the western part of section 30. The plat consisted of ninety-six lots, and the streets were laid out sixty feet wide. The east and west streets were named North, Jackson, Market, Scott, Anderson and South; those running north and south, Range, Second, Third and Fourth.
COMPETITORS
About the time that Wolcott was platted, two towns were laid out on the line of the railroad to the east-Clermont, a mile and a half away, and Seafield, double that distance. At one time Clermont was the leader of the trio, but subsided quite; while Seafield, at least, retired from active rivalry.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
THE WOLCOTT INTERESTS
From first to last, for nearly forty-six years, Mr. Wolcott was the inspiration of the place. Soon after the town was platted he built sheds along the railroad track and commenced to buy and ship corn in large quantities. Later he erected a large grain elevator and promoted other enterprises, directly by investment and indirectly by encouragement. The corn crib which he erected was said to be the largest in the world, having a capacity of 45,000 bushels of ear-corn. Eben H. Wolcott, his son, had also come to the front in business, and his hay warehouse was one of the largest in the state. He operated two presses, each of which had a capacity of 36,000 bales for the season.
FIRST ADDITION
In 1865 Anson Wolcott made the first addition to the original town, consisting of forty-seven lots. Although he was highly and broadly educated, the founder of Wolcott confined his activities largely to busi- ness, but his few deviations from that path indicated mental resources of a high order. In 1868 he was elected on the republican ticket to the State Senate, where he did valuable service as chairman of the finance committee during the sessions of 1869 and 1871. He was afterward prominently mentioned as a candidate for Congress. Later, questions arose upon which he could not agree with his party and for years he was a leader in the national or greenback party, at one time being their candidate for governor.
DEATH OF THE FOUNDER
Mr. Wolcott died at his home in the town he had founded on January 10, 1907, and his deep conscientiousness and broad ability, his public spirit and courtesy, his friendship and abiding affection, will ever be remem- bered by those who were influenced for so many years by those traits of his sterling manhood.
EBEN H. WOLCOTT
During the later portion of his life, which stretched into his eighty- eighth year, the deceased had transferred many of his business cares to the strong shoulders of his son, Eben H. Wolcott. The latter has suc- ceeded to the good graces so long entertained toward his father, but has attained much prominence in public affairs. He is a member of the state board of tax commissioners, has been a state senator and has been mentioned for secretary of state and for governor.
THE DIBELL FAMILY
After the Wolcott Addition of 1865, the area of the town site was not increased until January 2, 1893, when Messrs. Fox and Dibell added
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
fifty-five lots. The Dibell family has been identified with the agricul- tural, business and public affairs of the township and the town since 1875, when E. L. Dibell, a prosperous Ohio farmer, came from Kendall County, Illinois, and bought a quarter section in Princeton Township. He developed a magnificent farm and one of his sons, Edwin J., has become one of the leading business men of Wolcott, a township trustee and otherwise prominent in local affairs. Elihu B., the eldest son, was largely identified with banking matters until his death about 1912.
VARIOUS ADDITIONS
Less than two weeks after the Fox and Dibell Addition was made, Eben H. Wolcott platted an addition of twenty-seven lots; in November, also of 1893, Fox and Dibbell added twenty-two lots; on April 6, 1895, Anson Wolcott, twelve lots, and on the 28th of October, of that year, J. B. Pierce made an addition to the town of twenty-seven lots. Other small tracts have since been added, so that Wolcott is not cramped in its growth. Its expansion has taken place mainly within the past twenty- five years-since 1890, when its population was only 256. For two years, from May, 1873, Wolcott was an incorporated village but was not then in a position to sustain such a form of government.
THE TOWN COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL
Wolcott has a thoroughly organized union school, classified as a town commissioned high school, of which Lewis E. Wheeler is superintendent and Earl Burget, principal. The force under the superintendent con- sists of ten teachers. The high school proper comprises more than eighty pupils and the attendance in the grammar and primary grades averages 220. The building is comparatively new, having been completed in 1901, and is equipped with the modern conveniences and educational appliances to carry out its curriculum and the requirements of a progressive community.
STATE BANK OF WOLCOTT
The business and industries of the town is financed through two substantial banks. The State Bank of Wolcott was established as a private institution in 1886, with Robert Parker as president and Elihu B. Dibell as cashier. It continued as such until 1904, when it was incorporated as a state bank with Mr. Dibell as president, W. F. Brucker as vice president and Louis Hinchman as cashier. In 1912 E. B. Dibell was succeeded by W. E. Fox as president, Frank G. Garvin became vion president and Mr. Hinchman remained as cashier. The present capital of the bank is $25.000 ; surplus, $12,500; average deposits, $160,000.
CITIZENS STATE BANK
The Citizens State Bank of Wolcott was established in 1911, its officers, then elected, James Blake, president, who was succeeded by
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
James C. Jones, who is still serving; David J. Pettit, vice president, who was succeeded by James Blake, still serving, and Charles H. Kleist, cashier. Its capital stock is $25,000 ; surplus, $2,000 ; deposits, $85,000.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
Both churches and 'societies are in an active state at Wolcott, and indicate that its people fully realize the necessity of promoting the social, intellectual and moral interests of the place, as well as its material life.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
The Methodist Church, the oldest religious body, was organized at Seafield soon after that town was platted, in 1861, but the class soon
WOLCOTT TOWN COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL
commenced to meet at Wolcott, as Mrs. Anson Wolcott donated ground for a building and it became evident that the latter town was destined to have a substantial growth. The Methodists completed their house of worship at Wolcott in 1873, and it was the second church built in the township-a neat frame, 36 by 40 feet. Rev. T. J. Reder is the prese' } pastor of the growing society.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The Christian Church of Wolcott completed its building in 1873, soon after the Methodists had occupied their meeting-house. It was also a frame structure, somewhat larger and more costly than that erected by their fellow-religionists. The first trustees of the Christian society were J. B. Bunnell, Noble Nordyke, A. W. Dyke, Dr. M. T. Didlake (afterward of Monticello) and J. M. Brown. Rev. William Irelan, the widely known Vol. 1-23
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
educator, was pastor of the church for some time in the '80s. A new and modern church was built in 1896, and the present society is in charge of Rev. Harry Huber.
BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptist Church of Wolcott, of which Rev. G. W. Livingstone is pastor, was organized in July, 1889, by about twenty members who met at the Methodist meeting-house. In the following year Mrs. Solomon Rader gave the society two building lots and a substantial house of worship was completed in the fall of 1891. A parsonage was built in 1894. Rev. W. H. VanCleve was the first pastor of the church and the following were its first officers: Richard Pugh, Sr., and Solomon Rader, deacons ; J. W. McDuffie, clerk, and J. L. Pitts, treasurer.
STATE BANK OF WOLCOTT, 1886
Following Mr. Van Cleve as pastor were I. W. Bailey, W. R. Puckett, J. A. Haynes, C. S. Davisson, C. L. Merriam, J. M. Cauldwell, R. W. Thorne, J. I. Slater, C. M. Pattee, L. O Egnew ; R W. Thorne and C. L. Merriam (second pastorates) and G. W. Livingstone.
THE MASONS
Of the secret and benevolent societies, the Masonic fraternity has the longest record in Wolcott. The local body, which is known as Wolcott Lodge, No. 180, F. & A. M., was chartered May 30, 1866. Among the original members were John B. Bunnell, John B. Hemphill, William H. H. Rader and James O. Johnson. Mr. Johnson is the only living charter member. The first officers were J. B. Bunnell, W. W. M .; J. B. Hemphill, J. W .; William H. H. Rader, S. W. The present officers of the lodge, which numbers about seventy members, are : Frank G. Garvin,
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
W. M .; A. J. Reames, S. W .; R. T. Holley, J. W .; George D. Dye, Treas- urer; William H. Gerberich, Secretary. Mr. Gerberich has held the secre- taryship since 1895, and so far as his fellow Masons are concerned it is a life office for him. The order owns the temple in which its members meet, the building having been erected in 1894.
Wolcott Chapter, No. 171, O. E. S., which also meets in the Temple, was organized April 25, 1895, with Maude Dye as Worthy Matron, and Elihu B. Dibell as Worthy Patron. Its present Matron is Maude Hol- dridge, and its Patron, E. W. Irwin.
I. O. O. F. BODIES
The Odd Fellows have a strong lodge (Orion, No. 598), its member- ship being about 130. Its officers are as follows: Julius Evans, N. G .; Stanley Cramer, V. G .; Charles Gilbert, R. S .; A. J. Reams, F. S .; Eldon Ford, Treasurer. Orion Lodge, No. 598, was organized January 24, 1883, and, after the Masons, is the oldest fraternal body in Wolcott. The Daughters of Rebekah are also well organized and meet regularly in Odd Fellows Hall.
OTHER LODGES
The Modern Woodmen of America organized Wolcott Camp, No. 4675, in April, 1897, with R. C. Thompson as Venerable Consul; Guy Clary holds that office at the present time.
Besides these bodies are the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 409, and Tribe No. 463, Improved Order of Red Men, each with about ninety members. The foregoing list fully bears out the statement that Wolcott is an active lodge town.
CHAPTER XXVIII TOWN OF BROOKSTON
THE TOWN PLATTED-EXTENSION OF THE SITE-FIRST STORES AND IN- DUSTRIES-MOMENTOUS YEARS, 1866-67-INCORPORATION OF TOWN- MARKED STEPS IN PROGRESS-INDUSTRIES OF THE PRESENT-BANK OF BROOKSTON-TOWN COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL-PRAIRIE TELE- PHONE COMPANY-THE METHODIST CHURCH-THE BAPTIST CHURCH -THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES -PROBABLY THE OLDEST MASON IN THE UNITED STATES.
Brookston, which is among the largest of the incorporated towns of the county, is on the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) main line, and is the commercial and banking center of a large and productive area which extends into adjacent counties to the east and south. It is beautifully located near the center of Prairie Township, in the edge of the timber bordering on Grand Prairie, and Moots Creek, a pretty tributary of the Tippecanoe, flows along its southern and western bor- ders, adding to the natural attractiveness of its position and affording ample facilities for drainage and sewerage. With a fine grain, fruit and stock-raising country all around it, the town has provided elevators, canning factories and other industries, as well as good shipping facili- ties, for the benefit of the agriculturists and citizens who co-operate in the progress of their section of the county.
THE TOWN PLATTED
Brookston was named in honor of James Brooks, who was president of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad at the time it was constructed through the county and the place laid out. It was platted by Benjamin Gonzales, Isaac Reynolds and Dr. Joel B. McFarland, on the 26th of April, 1853. Mr. Gonzales was the chief engineer of the railroad company, Mr. Reynolds the honored citizen of Monticello, and Doctor McFarland a leading physician of Lafayette; so, in a way, the projectors of Brookston were "foreigners," but very honorable and enterprising ones.
EXTENSION OF THE SITE
Originally all of Brookston was included in section 22, and the bulk of its site is still thus confined. Subsequent additions have so extended its area that the site now not only covers about a half of the western
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
and northern portion of that section, but smaller tracts in the southwest quarter of section 15 to the north, and in the northeast quarter of sec- ion 21 to the west.
As laid out in the original plat, the north and south streets were Prairie (bounding the town on the west) ; Railroad, South and Wood (eastern boundary). Railroad Street was 130 feet wide, and other thor- oughfares 70 feet each. The east and west streets were numbered from First to Seventh, inclusive, fixing the northern and southern limits of the plat.
The main additions made, by which the town has spread over so large a portion of section 22 and into sections 15 and 21, have been as follows: By Solomon Hayes, December 29, 1853; James C. Moore, January 28, 1857; J. W. Robinson, August 26, 1868; Obed Barnard and Edward H. Brown, August 10, 1868; William T. Alkire, December 25, 1897 ; Mrs. Emeline M. Russell, April 10, 1899.
FIRST STORES AND INDUSTRIES
Eli Meyers built the first house erected within the town plat, and a man named Kane opened the pioneer store, before Brookston was laid out; but they both knew the town was on the way, hence their fore- handedness. But Kane was too sanguine, and suspended about the time the town went on paper. Soon after John Bross opened another store, and John Best built a blacksmith shop. Other merchants and mechanics followed, and in 1860-61 the Farmers' Warehouse was built by a joint stock company. The latter was a building 40 by 80 feet and was in use for many years. It was used for the storage of grain and other agricultural products and was a great convenience to the farmers and merchants of the town and neighborhood. In 1864 another enterprise was established which added to the good standing of Brookston; that is, a grist mill with three runs of burrs; John Allen operated the mill for five years and it was subsequently run by Parish & Godman. The old Farmers' Warehouse was bought by T. G. Chilton and Adam Vincell in 1868, who had purchased the interests of the late Edward Mendenhall and Alexander Patterson. The later proprietors were John Allen, John Parrish and Richard Godman.
The years 1866-67 were really momentous to not a few important interests of the town. Both religious and educational matters took an upward turn. The Methodists erected a church building, and the new Baptist organization arranged to meet therein in the advancement of its own cause. That was also the period when the Brookston Academy was built and the labors of that able and good citizen, Dr. John Medaris, commenced to bear fruit. Such various establishments as have been mentioned made Brookston quite a marked center of commerce, trade and learning, and its increase in population and general standing in- duced its citizens to adopt a village form of government.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
INCORPORATION OF TOWN
The first election for corporation officers in the Town of Brookston was held at the schoolhouse March 23, 1867, and resulted in the choice of the following : Trustees, A. L. Patterson, first district (president of the board) ; S. H. Powell, second district; C. D. Staton, third district; Moses L. French, fourth district, and D. U. Rice, fifth district. Mr. French was chosen clerk and treasurer, and Mr. Staton marshal and assessor.
MARKED STEPS IN PROGRESS
Since the incorporation of the town, especially, Brookston has made substantial advances. Within six years the local newspaper field was invaded, and by the early '80s a tile factory and two elevators were in
BROOKSTON IN 1880
operation. The latter were owned and operated by T. S. Hayes and Parish & Godman, proprietors of the mill. The Christian Church was also added to the other good influences. To a somewhat later period belongs the founding of the canning industry and the establishment of the local banks; and, in line with the railroad, the construction of sub- stantial roads and the extension of mail facilities, was the organization of a telephone company, with Brookston as its headquarters, which has brought the town into advantageous connections with every section of the country.
INDUSTRIES OF THE PRESENT
At the present time the two elevators which demonstrate Brookston's claim as a growing grain center are operated by Halsted Brothers and Bell & House; also in the line of industries are the novelty works of Thomas Bostick and the canning factories, owned by E. P. Mason and
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
Dr. D. M. Kelley and by James F. French and the widow of the late William French. The former plant is known as the Brookston Canning Factory, and the latter as the Eagle Canning Works.
The Eagle Canning Company was organized in 1889 to place toma- toes and corn upon the market. The business went into the hands of a receiver in 1904, and was bought by James F. and William French, brothers, who devoted their plant to the canning of corn. William French was accidentally killed in 1911, and the ownership has since been divided between the surviving brother and the widow. The busi- ness is conducted in connection with the farming interests owned by the firm, which cover 1,400 acres of land. All the corn which is canned at the factory is raised on the company farms, the combined enterprise also embracing a silo industry.
BANK OF BROOKSTON
The Bank of Brookston was organized as a private institution April 14, 1894, by John C. Vanatta. In January, 1896, it became a state bank under the foregoing name, with a capital of $25,000, and the fol- lowing officers: William E. Morris, president; William T. Wagner, vice president, and John C. Vanatta, cashier. In July, 1904, the capital of the bank was increased to $35,000, with the same officers and the addi- tion of John J. Nagle as a second vice president. Mr. Norris resigned as president January 1, 1910, and was succeeded by Mr. Nagle. There has been no change in the officers since. The statement of the bank, issued March 4, 1915, showed the following financial condition: De- posits, $206,666.98 ; loans, $187,688.46; cash on hand, $60,823.90; assets above liabilities, $45,300.
THE FARMERS BANK
Brookston has another financial institution-the Farmers Bank, whose president, Joseph H. Kious, is of an old family. His grandfather, Adam Kious, was of Pennsylvania nativity and came West to Dayton, in 1843. In the following year he settled in White County and held several public offices.
TOWN COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL
The old Brookston Academy, built in 1866, in a remodeled and modern form, and the property of the township since 1873, is now occu- pied by the Town Commissioned High School, of which W. F. Neel is superintendent, and Lida Moody, principal. Ten teachers altogether . comprise the force. Manual training for the boys and sewing for the girls are included in the curriculum, which embraces all the branches usually taught as related parts of the public school system. The high school has an average attendance of seventy-seven and the other depart- ments of 180. Outside of the Town Commissioned High School, there
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
are nine schools in the township, all of which send their representatives to the central institution at Brookston.
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