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 41
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PRAIRIE TELEPHONE COMPANY
The Prairie Telephone Company was organized as a corporation in August, 1898, by D. E. Ross, as president, Ira Bordner, as secretary, and John H. Kneale, treasurer and superintendent. There has been no change of management or ownership, although there has been a great expansion of the system. The exchange was opened for business, with the initial line from Brookston to Round Grove Township, in January, 1899, thirty-five subscribers patronizing the line. At first the people were skeptical as to the success of the enterprise, but their confidence gradually was secured and now nothing could shake it. The operations of the Prairie Telephone Company cover 425 subscribers, with toll lines not only into the western sections but to Lafayette, Monticello, Delphi and Chalmers. In other words, Brookston is in close telephonic con- nection with all out-of-doors.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
Methodists, Baptists, Christians, Universalists and Presbyterians have churches. The honor of being the religious pioneers of the place is accorded to the Methodists, who held their first services at the house of J. C. Moore, the farmer and inventor, probably about 1840. The meeting house was near the residence which he built later, after Brookston was platted. Near his cabin, in a hewn-log schoolhouse, which he also built, was organized the first class in the township. In 1844 the Methodists erected their first church building. It was a little frame building, 36 by 42 feet, and was located about two miles south- west of Brookston, near the Tippecanoe county line. The Reverend Mr. Stallard was the first minister to hold services in it. With the founding and growth of the Town of Brookston it became evident that the center of the Methodist activities should be there, and the church of 1866 was therefore erected at that place. The organization has been maintained since, Rev. E. O. Chivington being the pastor both of the Methodist Church at Brookston and that at Chalmers.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptists organized a church in 1866, and for nearly a year there- after held services in the new Methodist building. In the following year they leased the old schoolhouse at Brookston, and in 1870 bought the property for $600, the town school having been moved to the Brookston Academy. The building was remodeled to meet its new requirements, and the house of worship, which replaced the old one, was erected on the original site of the schoolhouse. Among the original members of the Brookston Baptist Church were Mr. and Mrs. William
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Ripley, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. William Stewart, David French, Joseph French, and William Lawrence, and the following may be mentioned as pastors of an early day: B. C. Craig and David S. French, its first and second; Joseph Porter, J. G. Tedford, J. M. Kendall, I. W. Bailey, T. J. Morgan and C. J. Bunnell. S. H. Powell was the first deacon, and both he and C. C. French, the editor of the Brookston Reporter, were connected with church and Sunday school work for many years. The present organization is in charge of Rev. C. C. Curtis, who is also pastor of the Badger Grove Church.
BROOKSTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
There being a number of Presbyterians living in Brookston and vicin- ity, it had long been their desire to have a church of their own faith and order. Occasional sermons had been preached in the town by Presbyte- rian ministers during previous years, but it was not until in the summer of 1888 that steps were taken looking toward an organization.
During that summer and fall Rev. S. C. Dickey of Monticello, Indi- ana, now of Winona Lake, visited the field several times, and it was largely through his influence that the little band was encouraged to go forward. Sermons were also preached by his father Rev. N. S. Dickey, and Rev. E. S. Scott, then of Logansport, and these combined efforts resulted in definite action in the direction of an organization, and a committee was appointed by the friends of the movement, and early in December sufficient money was raised to purchase the building formerly used as a church by the Baptist denomination. It was moved to a lot donated by Dr. John Medaris, and remodeled.
The Home Mission Committee of Logansport Presbytery was asked to organize a Presbyterian Church in Brookston. They sent Rev. H. H. Wells, D. D., a Presbyterian evangelist, to conduct a series of meetings to prepare the way more fully for the proposed organization. Doctor Wells began his work December 30, 1888, preaching morning and evening on that day and continuing each night excepting Saturday for two weeks.
On Wednesday evening, January 2, 1889, a commission of Logans- port Presbytery was present, consisting of Rev. E. S. Scott, chair- man, and Rev. S. C. Dickey. The way appearing to be clear, after a sermon by Doctor Wells, they proceeded to the organization of a Presbyte- rian Church. Upon the call of the chairman the following persons pre- sented themselves as candidates for charter membership, coming by let- ter from other churches: Prof. J. H. Gildersleeve, Mrs. Flora N. Gilder- sleeve, Mr. Henry F. Hagerty, Mrs. Sarah E. Hagerty, Mr. James Wal- lace, Miss Elizabeth Hay, Miss E. Anna Hay, Miss Margaret Hay, and Mrs. Jennie Kent. The following persons presented themselves for ad- mission on confession of faith: Mrs. Elizabeth Medaris, Miss Alta M. Medaris, Mr. Kilburn J. Mills, Mrs. Susanna Ross, and Clara E. Hag- erty. After prayer by Rev. W. S. Peter of Remington, these fourteen persons entered into a covenant and, with their baptized children, were constituted the Brookston Presbyterian Church.
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The following persons were elected ruling elders: Professor Gilder- sleeve and Henry F. Hagerty. They were immediately ordained and installed. J. H. Gildersleeve was the first clerk of the Session, and its first meeting was held in the church at the close of the service January 3, 1889.
The following ministers have served the church: Rev. N. S. Dickey from January 3, 1889, to January, 1892; Rev. C. L. Bevington, April, 1892, to October, 1892; Rev. W. S. Peter, November, 1892, to October, 1896; student supply from McCormick Seminary to September, 1897; Rev. A. G. Work, September, 1897, to April, 1901; Rev. J. W. Findley, April, 1901, to July, 1903; Rev. James Omelvena, September, 1903, to July, 1906; Rev. D. C. Truesdale, May, 1907, to September, 1910; Rev. John E. Wolever, September, 1910, to April, 1911; Rev. A. J. Marbet, April, 1911, to March, 1912, and Rev. J. T. Mordy, April, 1913, to November, 1914. The present pastor, Rev. J. D. Murphy, began his work in June, 1915.
In 1901 the congregation bought the lots on the corner of Second and Wood streets and built the present handsome brick, stone-trimmed structure, which they dedicated, free of debt, in May, 1902.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
This body was organized April 10, 1881, and among its ministers 0 have been Ira B. Grandy, J. B. Fosher, James Houghton, W. W. Slaughter and Maurice Linton. The Universalist Church has a present membership of about 100.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES
Brookston has several firmly organized lodges, representing the secret and benevolent work of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Masons and Modern Woodmen of America. The oldest body is Brooks- ton Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., which was first organized at Pittsburg, Carroll County, in 1848, and was moved to Brookston in 1857.
Among the leading members of the Masonic Lodge was Spencer Hart, who came from Ohio in 1863 and settled on a farm of 250 acres near Brookston, where he lived for nearly half a century, engaged dur- ing his active life in agricultural and livestock pursuits. At attaining his majority in Ohio, he had joined the Masonic fraternity and con- tinued to be identified with it until his death at Monticello, April 23, 1915. About four years previous to his decease, he had moved from the old homestead to the county seat, where one of his married daughters resided. At the time of his death Mr. Hart was in his ninety-sixth year and was said to have been the oldest Mason in the United States, having been carried on its rolls as a member in good standing for sixty-five years. His remains were taken to the Battleground cemetery, where the burial was conducted under Masonic rites.
CHAPTER XXIX
CHALMERS AND IDAVILLE
CHALMERS, ORIGINALLY MUDGE'S STATION-JACOB RAUB, FOUNDER OF CHALMERS-J. & W. W. RAUB-ADDITIONS TO THE TOWN-GROWTH SINCE INCORPORATION-THE BANK OF CHALMERS-THE CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES-EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES-IDAVILLE-FIRST MER- CHANT AND POSTMASTER-ANDREW HANNA-JOHN B. TOWNSLEY- CAPT. JOSEPH HENDERSON-CAPT. PATRICK HAYS-PROGRESS DESPITE FIRE-BANK OF IDAVILLE-TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL- THE CHURCH OF GOD (NEW DUNKARDS)-GEORGE PATTON-URIAH PATTON-ROBERT F. MILLION-THE CHURCH OF GOD (INCORPORATED) -UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-THE M. E. CHURCH-SOCIETIES.
Chalmers, a town of about 600 people, is the grain, banking and trading center for Big Creek Township and for a considerable surround- ing district, especially toward the west. Situated on the Monon line (Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville) about three and a half miles north of Brookston and five miles south of Reynolds, it is far enough from any village to have a distinct territory for support, and is the natural market town for West Point Township and country nearer in that direction.
ORIGINALLY MUDGE'S STATION
The town is located on a beautiful slope of ground on the east side of the railroad. Its site was originally owned by Gardner Mudge, who donated a piece of land to the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Com- pany when its line was being built through the township and county in 1854. Upon that tract the railroad company erected a little depot which stood for Mudge's Station.
Mr. Mudge and his brother-in-law, William S. Shaw, also put up a building and stocked it with the general merchandise required by the neighboring farmers. Shaw & Mudge, as the firm was called, are said to have lived in their store, which was therefore dwelling and business house combined.
Clark Johnston also opened a store-some say before Shaw & Mudge -while the railroad was yet building. R. P. Blizzard followed closely as the first blacksmith of the place; and then there was a cessation of the incoming tide for some time. In fact, a carpenter shop and a few dwellings were about all the structural additions to Mudge's Station for nearly twenty years.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY JACOB RAUB, FOUNDER OF CHALMERS
The hamlet did not seem to have the promise of a village until July 24, 1873, when Jacob Raub, who for over twenty years had been largely engaged in the grain business and farming, both in Tippecanoe County and at Mudge's Station, platted the Town of Chalmers on a part of the old Ross farm, which he had purchased in 1872.
The original town was in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, town 26 north, range 4 west. It consisted of 103 lots and the following streets : Main, 70 feet wide; Earl, 66 feet; First, Second and Third, each 66 feet; Chestnut, 56, and Walnut, 50 feet wide.
Mr. Raub's father had been a wealthy farmer of Tippecanoe County, was a public-spirited man and took an active part in the promotion and final construction of the Crawfordsville & Lafayette Railroad, which afterward became a section of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago. Two years after his father's death, Jacob Raub began the grain busi- ness at South Raub, Tippecanoe County, in partnership with his brothers, the firm shipping the first carload of grain over the New Albany line between Crawfordsville and Lafayette. In connection with their business the brothers also extensively engaged in farming, but in 1864 the firm was dissolved and its lands divided. It happened that the tract which fell to Jacob Raub was in Big Creek Township near Mudge's Station, and, after improving it for farming and livestock purposes, he turned his attention to his former business in grain. After being thus engaged for about five years, during which he had been elected president of the White County Agricultural Society, he bought the Ross farm and, as noted, laid out the Town of Chalmers. Jacob Raub's wife, whom he married in 1871, was a daughter of Benjamin Reynolds, founder of the town by that name.
J. & W. W. RAUB
During the year 1872 Mr. Raub commenced business with his young- est brother, William W., and the firm of J. & W. W. Raub for years conducted an extensive business in the handling of grain, livestock and coal. At one time their annual shipments of grain reached a total of more than 150,000 bushels annually, and their dealings in livestock were in proportion. In the conduct of these interests they built large cribs and warehouses, equipped with a big corn sheller and steam engine. In 1879 they erected a steam elevator and were the mainstays of the town during a long after-period.
Among the works which they accomplished and which had a strong influence on the founding and stability of Chalmers was the creation of a practical public sentiment which resulted in building one of the first gravel roads ever constructed in White County. It passed through the town and enabled the farmers for miles around to get their produce to Chalmers easily and safely.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
ADDITIONS TO THE TOWN
In January, 1887, the founder of the town platted its first addition, as Jacob and Sarah C. Raub's addition to the Town of Chalmers, and in 1891 William W. Raub laid out his first addition; his third in Sep- tember, 1895, and his fourth in December of that year. In February, 1896, Jacob Raub and wife made their second addition to the townsite, and in March, 1897, Levi Reynolds, his brother-in-law, platted another addition, and several small tracts have been added since.
GROWTH SINCE INCORPORATION
In 1900 Chalmers contained a population of 462, which represents its first separate enumeration from the township by reason of its incor- poration as a town. Since then its improvements have been more sub- stantial than formerly and its population has increased about 100. Its streets are broad and well kept, its business houses creditable and its residences neat and homelike. Its streets and buildings are lighted by electricity supplied from Monticello.
As to the institutions which give Chalmers a good standing among the town incorporations of White County a few are mentioned hereafter.
THE BANK OF CHALMERS
In 1891 Jacob Raub established a private bank, of which he was president, and Albert Goslee (now of Lafayette) cashier. The present officers are the founder, Jacob Raub, president, and Charles J. Raub, his son, cashier. The institution became a state bank under the name The Bank of Chalmers (Incorporated) in 1904. It has a capital stock of $25,000; deposits, $120,000; surplus, $6,250.
INDUSTRIES
There are two substantial elevators at Chalmers, owned and con- ducted, respectively, by Ross & Barr and the Chalmers Grain Company (co-operative; C. O. Hawkins, manager). The Chalmers Lumber Com- pany also has a large yard for dealings in lumber, lime, brick and sewer tile, and tile works are in operation.
THE CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
The town maintains three religious organizations. Soon after the town was platted the Methodists commenced to hold services in various houses, and in 1881 erected a small frame church. They have since maintained an organization, and in 1900 built a modern house of worship. Rev. E. O. Chivington, the pastor, has also the charge at Brookston.
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In October, 1897, the Baptist Church of Chalmers was organized, with Rev. I. W. Bailey as pastor. Following him, in succession, were Revs. Charles Bunnell, A. H. Kay, W. A. Kleckner, A. J. Unthank, R. W. Thorne, C. L. Merriman and C. B. Stephens. Mr. Stephens assumed the pastorate in October, 1913, and the present membership of his church is about 130.
The Presbyterians also have an organization about eighty strong, but have no settled pastor.
The secret and benevolent orders are represented by the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men and Modern Woodmen of America.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
The Commissioned High School for Big Creek Township is at Chal- mers. There are also three district schools outside of town, all under the superintendency of John C. Downey. Daisy M. Downey is prin- cipal of the high school, the pupils of which come from every part of the township. Including the district schools, there is an enrollment of 270 in the township, of which the greater number are residents of Chalmers. The total value of school property is in excess of $1,280,000.
IDAVILLE
Six years after the Town of Burnettsville was platted, on July 27, 1860, Andrew Hanna, John B. Townsley and John McCully laid out the Town of Hanna, now called Idaville, three miles west of the former village. It was platted on the northwest quarter of the southeast quar- ter and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 28, township 27 north, range 2 west.
FIRST MERCHANT AND POSTMASTER
The first building on the site of the town was erected in the summer of 1859, before it was platted, and Alexander Rodgers, the builder, opened a store therein in November of that year. When Idaville was laid out, however, it was found that the store stood on portions of two lots, and it was subsequently moved to another site and used as a dwell- ing. Mr. Rodgers sold goods in this first building from November, 1859, to November, 1860, when he erected another and larger store and con- tinued in business for a quarter of a century. As Idaville's first post- master he served from 1860 to 1865.
The third building erected in Idaville was a dwelling put up by S. D. McCully on lot 1 of the original plat. Andrew Hanna then built a warehouse and in it John T. Barnes and John McCully opened a second store in town. It is needless to say that both the stores carried
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a miscellaneous stock of goods-were what were known as general stores, tiny types of the modern department stores.
ANDREW HANNA
Mr. Hanna had come to what is now Jackson Township with his parents in 1833, the year before the county and the township were organ- ized. He was present at the first town meeting, where he cast the first whig vote. In 1841 he settled in the locality of the town, of which he was the chief proprietor and business man, and eventually became the owner of some 900 acres of valuable farming lands in the township. He served as county commissioner, but was too independent in his expressed views and his actions to be a successful politician. He was also deeply religious, and in 1875 founded a society of Reformed Presbyterians, erecting a church edifice for them out of his own funds and contributing chiefly to its support for many years.
JOHN B. TOWNSLEY
John B. Townsley, another proprietor of the town, was a carpenter, builder and sawmill proprietor in Carroll County, before coming to the township in 1855 and investing in land adjoining Idaville and cover- ing a portion of its site. In 1865 he laid out two additions to the orig- inal town, known as Townsley's west and south additions, the two com- prising twenty lots. In the same year Robert Criswell platted an addi- tion of six lots.
CAPT. JOSEPH HENDERSON
Among the pioneer settlers of Idaville were George H. Mitchell, who at his death in November, 1914, was the oldest resident in the county, and Capt. Joseph Henderson, the latter dying about eight years ago. Captain Henderson lived with Andrew Hanna when the Civil war broke out, enlisted in the Forty-sixth Indiana, and was promoted through the successive grades to a captaincy. He afterward served one term as sheriff of White County, and later engaged in the lumber busi- ness in Idaville.
CAPT. PATRICK HAYS
Capt. Patrick Hays, another Civil war veteran, is living at Idaville. He enlisted as a resident of Medarysville, in the Twenty-ninth Indiana, but had been advanced to a captaincy when in December, 1865, he was . honorably discharged from the Union service and settled at Idaville, then an infant of five years. As shoemaker, merchant and public official, farmer and good citizen, Captain Hays has earned the enduring respect of the community.
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PROGRESS DESPITE FIRE
Idaville became quite a shipping point for lumber and wood, espe- cially of fence posts. W. E. Myers set up a portable steam sawmill in Idaville in 1882, and there was a permanent plant three miles south.
Idaville is not incorporated, but it has an elevator, a creamery, some good stores and a bank, a substantial new school, several churches, and presents other evidences of a growing little town. This is surely credit- able, in view of the fire of April, 1902, which wiped out the business portion of the place. Among the additions to the original site, besides those mentioned as having been made by John B. Townsley and Robert Criswell, are the following: By Perry Gates, in December, 1872; William Corder and Irvin Greer, June, 1873; Samuel A. McCully and
IDAVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
others, September, 1875; James M. Townsley, August, 1896, and Perry Patton, March, 1897.
BANK OF IDAVILLE
The Bank of Idaville was organized in 1898, with Robert Parker as president, and J. M. Townsley, cashier. The present management-John B. Wright, president, and Milton Timmons, cashier-has been in charge of its transactions since the fall of 1909. Its financial status is indicated by the following items: Capital, $10,000; surplus and undivided profits, $6,000; deposits, $100,000.
TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL
The first schools in the township were established nearer Burnetts- ville than Idaville, but a few years after the former was platted Andrew Hanna and others started a subscription school within the town limits.
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The Township Commissioned High School is at Idaville, and a fine build- ing costing $25,000 was erected in 1914, its dedication occurring in November of that year. It replaced a handsome building destroyed by fire in November, 1912. About 235 pupils are enrolled, of which num- ber thirty-five are in the high school department, under the instruction of Fred Francis, superintendent, and six teachers. The curriculum includes manual training, domestic science and an agricultural course.
THE FIRST CHURCH OF GOD (NEW DUNKARDS)
The Dunkards are very strong at Idaville, both as religious denomi- nations and industrious, progressive, upright citizens. Without going into the differences of their belief, they have divided into the Church of God (New Dunkards) and the Church of God (Incorporated).
GEORGE PATTON
George Patton, the founder of the Church of God, commonly called New Dunkards, was born in Fredrick County, Maryland, in 1812; in early childhood moved with his parents to Ohio, and later to Henry County, Indiana. After his marriage in 1836 he settled in Carroll County and became identified with the German Baptist Church. In 1848, with Peter Iman and others, he withdrew from that denomination, in which he had been advanced to the ministry, and formed the Church of God. Mr. Patton was the leading elder of the new brotherhood. He died in Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1892.
URIAH PATTON
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Rev. Uriah Patton, brother of the founder, settled in Carroll County, from which the organization spread northward into White County in 1835, and in 1847 moved to a farm five and a half miles northwest of Idaville. He moved to the village in 1898 and died there in 1903, having preached the gospel in the Church of God for forty-three years.
ROBERT F. MILLION
Another elder of the church, Rev. Robert F. Million, was a native of White County. He died at Burnettsville in 1912, at an advanced age, having preached for many years.
The present pastor, Rev. Marion A. Hughes, is a native of Liberty Township, and united with the church at Sitka in 1886.
The New Dunkards became so strong in 1872 that they built a large house of worship at Idaville on land donated by William F. and Rebecca J. Timmons. George Patton preached the dedicatory sermon. The trus- tees were Hezekiah Patton, Perry Gates and Aaron Price. The present officers of the church are: John W. Shull, elder; Jonathan Irelan and
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John W. Davis, deacons; A. L. Read, Albert Godlove and William H. Bryan, trustees; Edna Bunger, secretary; Mrs. Kate Stober, treasurer.
THE CHURCH OF GOD (INCORPORATED)
The Church of God (Incorporated) has a flourishing society at Ida- ville. On December 27, 1907, its attractive house of worship was dedi- cated, the chief address being delivered by Dr. C. I. Brown, president of Findlay (Ohio) College. The building, which cost over $9,000, is of white brick. The members of the construction board were Elder Love, D. W. Heiney, J. H. Hanna, N. C. Gibson, J. W. Shafer and Emery Godlove, and their adviser was Perry Godlove. Rev. Matthew W. Johnson is the present pastor.
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