Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2, Part 5

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2 > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2 > Part 5

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1884, when he bought and removed to his present home in Wabash Township. Ilis farm consists of eighty aeres of land, forty acres being under fine cultivation, and he is devoting his attention to general farming. Mr. Engle eame to America in limited eir- eminstanees, and by his own industry and persevering energy, assisted by his excellent wife, he has succeeded in securing their present comfortable home, and gaining the respeet and good will of all who know him.

TRA ALLEN BLOSSOM, of Decatur, In- diana, is a native of Adams County, born in Root Township, February 19, 1840, the youngest of two sons of Benjamin F. and Mary (Ilushaw) Blossom. Ilis mother died when he was an infant, and he was taken to the home of an uncle in Fort Wayne, with whom he lived in various places in Indiana, spending the most of his time, however, in Adams County, and is now one of the busi- ness men of Deeatur.

EV. ISAAC TEETERS, of Adams Coun- ty, Indiana, is a native of Ohio, born in Darke County January 21, 1855. When fourteen years old he eame with his parents to Adams County, and here he was reared and edneated. After completing his ednea- tion he began teaching school, which he fol- lowed snecessfully for several terins. At the age of eigliteen years he experienced religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal ehureh, and in 1877 he entered the ministry, which calling he has sinee followed. IIe is now a minister of the Disciple church, having united with that denomination in 1882. He was married January 1, 1880, to Miss Lydia

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

A. Glancy, a daughter of William G. Glaney, of Adams County, and to this union have been born two children-Olive O., born June 12, 1881, and Mary Viola Gracie, born Jan- uary 15, 1883.

OBERT S. PETERSON is the oldest active member of the Adams County bar. Ilis parents, John W. and Ifan- nah (Smith) Peterson, eame to this county in an early day, and were here married in 1840. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are yet living. John W. Peterson lives in St. Mary's Township, three and one- half miles east of Decatur. His wife died in Benton County, Iowa, in February, 1859. Of their living children Robert is the second in age. Ile was born February 1, 1845, on seetion 17, St. Mary's Township, and lived with his parents until eighteen years of age, attending the common district schools and also select schools. March 9, 1864, he en- listed in Company G, Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, with which he served until the regi- inent was discharged, November 18, 1865. Returning home he taught and attended school by turns until the spring of 1867, when he began the study of law with Judge David Studabaker. His study was inter- rupted by teaching school again the following winter. In the spring of 1868 he was ad-

mitted to the bar, though he continued his course of reading until the December follow- ing before beginning the practice of law on his own account. lle has now practiced con- tinnously for nineteen years. Mr. Peterson's long residenee in the county seat, and liis prominent connection with all important publie movements, have made him one of the best known men in Adams County. He is not a politieian, though taking that degree of interest in polities which is the duty of every good citizen. Though a Republican, he was president of the Board of Trustees of the strongly Democratic town of Decatur for the five years preceding the adoption of the eity forin of government, in 1882. To him be- longs the eredit of organizing and perfeeting tlie sewerage system of Decatur. Ile assisted in organizing and pushing the narrow-gauge railroad through this county, and also, though to a less extent, the Chicago & Atlantie. Ile is a Mason, was a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and belongs to the Presbyterian ehureh. Mr. Peterson was married September 25, 1868, at Concord Church, Root Township, to Miss Fannie C. Kumkel, daughter of Samnel Kumkel. To this union have been born the following chil- dren-John S., Dora L., Martha A., Mary G., Kittie C., Lizzie Pearl, Calvin D., Ber- nice, Thomas E. and one which died in infancy. The first two graduated from the Deeatur Iligh School in 1887.

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GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

ELLS COUNTY lies about forty one de- grees north of the ", equator, and therefore to the inhabitants of the county the north star ap- pears forty-one degrees north of the horizon. It is also about eighty-five degrees west of Greenwich (London, L England), and eight degrees west of Washington, D. C. Difference of time, therefore, between standard and local, twenty minutes, the local being that much in advance of the standard. The county belongs to the north- eastern section of the State of Indiana, being bounded on the north by Allen County, on the east by Adams County (the State of Ohio being next east of Adams), on the south by Jay and Blackford counties, and on the west by Grant and Huntington counties. It ex- tends north and south twenty-four miles, and east and west on its south boundary twenty miles, and on its north line fourteen miles, comprising nine municipal townships, or nine whole and three half Congressional townships. Square miles, 372.

Northern Indiana is covered with what is called in geology the drift, consisting of gravel, sand and elay, deposited by water when it lay under that element. The " Jake region" was one great lake, covering North- ern Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, as well as Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, ete. The dip of the underlying strata in Northern In- diana is generally westward, but in Adams and Wells counties it is nearly northward, and about eight fect to the mile.

The recent drilling for natural gas at Bluffton developed the following strata, counting from the surface downward: Drift, 12 feet; water limestone, 16 feet; Niagara limestone, 44 feet; crystal limestone, 23 feet; blue limestone, 15 feet; crystal limestone, 185 feet: Clinton group, 75 feet; shale, 395 feet; slate, 285 feet; Trenton group, 150 feet; a total of 1,200 feet.

Although most of the subsoil in this part of the State is gravelly, good briek clay abonnds in many places, so that briek ean always be made convenient to the place of building. Good limestone for foundations, bridge abntinents, etc., also abounds along the Wabash, Salamonie and St. Mary's

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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.

rivers, near the surface, and even cropping ont in places.

South of the Maumee Valley is a terminal moraine, which is the summit of the water- shed dividing the waters of the Ohio from those of Lake Erie, known as the St. John's Ridge in Ohio, extending westward into Jay County, Indiana, where it is known as the " Lost Mountains." The elevation of this ridge is nearly 350 feet above Lake Erie. The boulder clay is thieker here than in any other part of Northeastern Indiana. In Jay and Wells counties, scattered promiseuously, are found many specimens on top of the drift, of streaked and grooved boulders, the rounded and polished surfaces, often on the upper side, demonstrating that they had been ground and polished at a higher level, and then frozen in ice, transported, and dropped from the melting iee.

Another expansion of the torrid zone drove the ice further north, leaving the great lake basin filled with water, which covered Upper Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the northern portions (about half) of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

Wells and Jay counties have other superfi- cial ridges, knolls, mounds, etc., the origin of which may be easily accounted for by anyone familiar with the effects of winds and cur- reuts. Comparatively, these accumulations of sand and gravel are recent. Underlying them, and above the coarse gravel resting upon the bed-rock, is a thick stratum of fine elay, which is the foundation of the agricult- ural resources of this region.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The surface of Wells and Adams counties varies from level to gently undulating, the level being inclined to have a swampy ap- pearanee; but as the land is generally high above the rapidly running water-courses, it

ean be thoroughly drained, and ditehes and tile drains are in rapid process of construe- tion. The southeastern portion of this see- tion, as before noted, is much the highest, and therefore the streams run in a northwest- erly direction.

The largest stream is the Wabash, which runs northwesterly through Harrison, Lan- caster and Rock Creek townships, Wells County. The second in size is the St. Mary's, draining the most of Adams County. Third, the Salamonie enters Wells County about a mile west of the center of the south line, and leaves the county a mile west of the middle of the north line of Jackson Township. Rock Creek rises in the western portion of Not- tingham Township, flows a little west of north through Liberty and Rock Creek town- ships, emptying into the Wabash in Ilunt. ington County. Six-Mile Creek drains the eastern portion of Nottingham Township, and empties into the Wabash about three miles above Bluffton; and Eight-Mile Creek rises in the eastern part of Jefferson Town- ship, and flowing a little north of west, leaves the county at its northwestern corner.

There are no lakes in Wells County ex- cept two small ones in Jackson Township, and they are growing smaller, the larger one com- prising now only about forty aeres.

THE FOREST.

When the white man first entered this region he found it covered with a dense growth of deciduous trees, consisting prinei- pally of white, burr and black oak, white elm, basswood (lin), ash of two or three varieties, beeel, sugar maple, hiekory, yellow poplar and walnut. The last mentioned, being the most valuable, has been nearly all eut out. Yellow poplar is becoming searce. Two or three specimens of sweet gum were noticed in early days. Most of the other trees men-

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GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

561

tioned above are valuable, and are still abundant, owing to the lateness of the intro- duction of railroads. Hence the business of getting out railroad ties, staves and heading and hard-wood lumber is now in its prime; but for some reason not well understood the oaks are dying out to a limited extent.

The blackberry is the most valuable of the wild fruits in this section. Abont eleven miles south of Bluffton a few years ago there were 320 acres of blackberry in one piece.

Cultivation has introduced weeds from the East to supplant, in a great measure, the na- tive herbs. The first introduced were the dog fennel or mayweed, jimson-weed, coekle- bur and smart-weed; but as no plant ean hold a spot of ground beyond a limited number of seasons, some of these have given way to the ragweed; and this, in turn, will shortly have to yield the situation to the sweet elover, a more welcome visitor than all, as it is a prolifie source of honey, and has no disagree- able feature. The ox-eye daisy, a weed too omnipresent in the East, is beginning to make its appearance here, but as it flourishes only in a gravelly soil, those farmers who have only a elay soil need not fear its approach. Dandelion, white clover and blue-grass car- pet most of the ground, the two latter plants being of great utility to man.

ANIMALS.

The largest and most conspienous animals found here by the early settlers were the tol- lowing: Black bear, in limited numbers, and soon killed off. Rarely, in later years, an individual or two might be seen straying

along here from Michigan. The Virginia deer, in great abundance. The last seen in this region was about twelve years ago. Panthers, a few, and terrible. Wild eats, of two species, occasionaly. Beaver and poreupine, rare, in the very earliest day. Raccoons, onee abundant, are now rare. Opossums eame in between 1840 and 1850, became common, but a severe winter a few years ago killed off what the dogs and hunters had left. Foxes, once common, are now sel- dom seen. Wolves, at first numerous, were all killed off many years ago. Ground-hogs, or " wood-chueks," were never plentiful, and are so searce now that seldom ean one be found. No otters have been seen for many years, though they were frequent in early days. A few muskrats remain. Wild hogs, that is, domestic logs escaped and running at large until they fully attained the savage state, were common in pioneer times. In a few generations these animals became as furious and dangerous as wolves.

In primeval times there sometimes oc- curred a "raid," when squirrels, pigeons, etc., would migrate across the country in ineredi- ble numbers. About the year 1855 there was a squirrel raid here, eastward in its di- reetion.

Wild turkeys, onee plentiful, are now rare.

Some accounts of hunting seenes, and the experiences of early settlers with the wild and savage denizens of the forest, we will give a little further on, under the sub-head of " Reminiseences," in the chapter on " Early Settlement."

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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLEMENT. LIL

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I hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be,- The first low wash of waves which soon Shall roll a human sea.

The rudiments of empire here Are plastic yet and warm ; The chaos of a mighty world Is rounding into form.

Each rude and jostling fragment soon The fitting place shall find,- The raw material of a State, Its muscle and its mind.

-WHITTIER.

R. JOSEPH KNOX was the first white man to make his home in Wells County, being also the first to settle at any point between Fort Recov- ery and Huntington, and that was in the year 1529, on the south- east quarter of section 18, Lan- caster Township, near Murray Postoffice, or the village of Lan- caster. Shortly after his location here he was joined by his two sons-in-law, Vantrees and Warner, who " took up" the tracts since known as the Robert and James Ilarvey farms. Both came with their families and remained until

1832, when they were all frightened out of the country by wild rumors concerning the Black Hawk war.

Allen and Isaac Noreross came in 1831, settling near the river below Bluffton, the former locating on the eastern bank. They also left during the Indian excitement of 1832, returning to New Jersey, their native State. After the Black Hawk war, Allen came again to his chosen location. He was a rather singular character, although intelligent and well educated and sociable. Although he resided here until his death in 1879, except a number of years in Texas, he passed a sort of hermit life, scarcely ever appearing in town or in public except on cirens days, when he was sure to be present, with

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

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a smiling, happy eountenanee. At these shows he would take his seat early, rest his hands and chin on the top of his eane, and take in everything with the utmost eargerness. Indeed, it is said that one of his chief objections to removing further west was the fact that he would in a great measure be deprived of the privilege of attending eir- eus shows. Ile had a wife and five children, the latter of whom are all living in Texas, mostly in a very paltry style. After the loss of his wife Mr. Noreross partially " kept bach," and although affable with visitors, kept him- self singularly dissoeiated from the outside world. Ilis death was the result of injuries received in a runaway, and his remains lie buried in the Murray graveyard.

After his death there were found in his possession Government bonds to the amount of $13,000, concealed in a stack of sugar buekets in the smoke-house. To the differ- ent elasses of these bonds he had a unique system of indexing. IIe was in the habit of keeping his eurreney sealed in fruit-cans, and buried in the ground a hundred yards from the house. In his hermit leisure he con- traeted many peculiar habits.

William Norcross removed to Texas in 1844.

Jacob Miller settled in Rock Creek Town- ship in 1832, and Henry Miller shortly after- ward. They were not so badly frightened by Indian rinnors as were their predecessors, and " held their fort" during the Black Hawk war. IIenry, who settled on the old Knox elearing, lived in this eounty until his death, in Lan- easter Township, June 25, 1882, at the age of eighty years. Jacob, who settled some distance below, is not now living.

Between the above date and 1840 there eame to this county the following: James and Robert llarvey, who remained residents here during their lite; Adam Miller, deceased; 35

David Bennett, who died in Allen County; Charles R. Bennett, also deceased; Thomas W. Van Horn, who died in Des Moines, lowa; Solomon Johnson, who died in Roek Creek Township; Solomon Sparks, Sr., now deceased; Mason Powell, who came from North Carolina, and is not now living; Isaac Covert, who was the first sheriff, and served in that capacity three terms altogether, died many years ago; Win. II. J. Covert, living in Bluffton; Adnah Hall, deceased; Bowen HIale, still living; R. C. Bennett, Sr., de- ceased; James Scott; Wm. P. Davis; Wm. II. Parmalee, who lived on a farm near Bluffton, held many offices in early days, sold the farm mentioned, and removed to Chester Township, where he died; Wm. MeDowell (pronounced MeDole), deceased; Abraham McDowell: Abram W. Johnson, who arrived August 24, 1837, coming by compass from Fort Wayne, and now resides a mile west of Bluffton; Dick MeIntyre, who settled in Jackson Township in 1833, and is still living; Chads Chalfant, who also came to the county in 1838, and died February 10, 1883, aged about eighty-one years; John Swett, or Sweat; Thomas T. Smith, deceased; William Prillaman, deceased, county commissioner for a number of terms, and also member of the Legislature; Solomon Kemp, deceased; James Gerry Smith; Nun MeIntyre, who was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1809, eame to this eonnty in 1836, was in the public affairs of the county, and died January 8, 1881; Benjamin Mendenhall, a fine man, and an excellent hunter, died in this county; David Snyder; William Craig, toll-gate keep- er, died at Ossian, this county; Daniel Miller, killed by a horse thief; Michael Miller, who came in the fall of 1837, was three times sheriff, and is still living in Bluffton; Na- thaniel Batson, afterward county commis- sioner, died in this county; Henry McCulliek,

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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.

from West Virginia, located in Chester Township February 11, 1835, is deecased; Amos Townsend, from Ohio, still living in Bluffton; Thomas Wallace, from North Ire- land, died in Bluffton; William Stobie, a Scotchman; James Guthrie; Almon Case; William Barton; Benjamin Starr and others.

Almon Case, a Yankee of good sense and ready wit, arrived about 1836, first taking up his abode in a hollow sycamore log, which was lying near where George McFadden's clothing store now stands, and lived in it three weeks, having the agne. He was the first hotel keeper in Bluffton, contractor for the present court-lionse, etc., and frequent allusion is therefore made to him in the course of this history. IIe died at Vera Cruz, this county, in 1875.

William Barton, mentioned above, eame also from New England (Vermont), in 1836, and, like Mr. Case, also took up his residence in a hollow sycamore tree, in Rock Creek Township, on a farm since occupied by Sam - nel MeAfee. Mr. Barton, although six feet and three inches tall, managed, on retiring to his eoneh for the night in the hollow tree, to extend himself horizontally at full length, by inserting his feet in the hollow of a root. IIe removed to Allen County in 1839, where he died.

Benjamin Starr located about nine miles southwest of Bluffton in 1838, in the edge of Chester Township, and is still living there.

Some time prior to 1850 there settled here: John A. Deam, who came in 1840, aided in elearing the Deam farm, east of Bluffton, and died in 1867, aged seventy-two years; Ga- briel and John Markley, both deceased; Elam HIooker; Joseph Logan; John M. Hoover, who eame in 1842, and is still living in Bluffton; Lewis Linn, sheriff at one time, who died in Fort Wayne; L. L. Holines, living at Port- land, Indiana; Samuel Ogden, who died in

this county, besides many others, who, on account of their prominence in the public affairs in the county, will be noticed toward the conelnsion of the political chapter, on a subsequent page.

BEGINNINGS.

The first white child born in Wells County was Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Miller, who became the wife of Jacob R. Harvey. She was born in 1835, and now lives at Murray, with her husband.

The first white child born in Bluffton was William Bluffton Miller, son of Michael Miller, the event taking place June 4, 1839. Ile is now living in Fort Wayne.

The first white female child born in Bluff- ton was Elizabeth, daughter of Almon Case. She became the wife of Charles M. Brown, and afterward of Dr. T. Horton. She was born the latter part of September, 1839, and is now deceased.

The first wedding in Wells County was that of Robert Simison to Miss Rebeeea Davis, in February, 1837, at the residence of James Harvey. It was solemnized by Es- quire Hood, of Fort Wayne, who was im- ported for the occasion. At that time there was no minister or justiee of the peace within the borders of Wells County, or any other party having authority to tie the connubial knot. A fine old couple, still living, at Buena Vista, Indiana. Mr. Bowen IIale was married previous to this, but his marriage took place at Fort Wayne.

Mr. Hale was also the first merehant in the county, his store being on the "Ormon Pering " farm, near Murray.

The first inill in the county was built at Murray in 1837, by Jesse Gerhard. After many alterings and remodelings, it is still running.

The first mill at Bluffton was the present

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EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Kenagy Bros. mill, built by Robert B. Tnr- ner some time in the '40s. It was at first a saw-mill, and a pair of burrs were afterward added for grinding grain. Previous to this, in 1836, a rude sort of hand-mill was con- structed out of a " nigger-head " boulder, by George French, up the river in Adams County. It was turned by a crank.

Michael Miller brought the first barrel of flour into the county, in 1837.

The first sermon in the county was preached by Rev. Elijah Sutton, an old- school Baptist, at the house of David Ben- nett, across the river from Bluffton, in 1838. All the neighbors attended. Mr. Sutton died in 1845, at an advanced age, and his remains now slumber in the Murray graveyard.

The first sermon within the limits of Bluff- ton was delivered by Rev. George W. Bow- ers, of the Methodist church, under a spreading oak on the river bank at the foot Johnson street. Mr. Bowers is yet living in an adjoining county.

The first school in the county was tauglit by Jesse B. MeGrew, in 1837, on the farm of Adam Miller, up the river from Bluffton.

The first physician was Dr. William Fel- lows, next John Riddile, and third C. T. Melsheimer, who is still practicing here.

The first marriage license was issued De- cember 7, 1837, to John McCullick and Lu- einda Thompson, who five days afterward were married by J. P. Brown, Esq.

The first minister's license on record was that of Rev. Elijah Sutton, filed in 1838.

The first election was in 1836, when the county east ten or twelve votes.

The first trial before a justice of the peaec was before Benj. Brown, September 2, 1837. The case was The State of Indiana vs. Simon Miller, charged with assault and battery against the person of Elam Hooker. The defendant was found guilty, and fined one

dollar, for the use of the seminary fund of Wells County.

The second lawsuit before a justice oc- curred in 1837, when Thomas W. Van Horn was called upon to decide which of two traps caught the wolf. Particulars given on a subsequent page.

First lawsuit in the eirenit court occurred in 1838, when " Andy " Ferguson was tried for assault and battery upon the person of John Mace. David Bennett prosecuted the ease, vigorously, and Moses Jenkinson, subse- quently of Fort Wayne, defended. To de- fend Ferguson the latter footed it all the way from Geneva, Indiana; but when Ferguson ascertained that he was not licensed to prac- tice law he was ungrateful enough to refuse paying him. So poor Jenkinson went footing it alone through the mud back to his home penniless.

The first meetings of the county commis- sioners were held at R. C. Bennett's cabin, near the present site of the Deam briek man- sion.

The first eireuit court met at the same eabin, October 19, 1837, Hon. Charles W. Ewing presiding. No business being on hand, the court adjourned one day. Ewing finally ended his life by suicide.

First court-honse and jail were built in 183S.

First postoffice was a mile from Murray, and Bowen Hale was the postmaster. The first three or four months yielded him just 25 eents.

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Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948