USA > Indiana > Jay County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 22
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At Guntown a disastrous engagement took place on the 10th of June, 1864, but this regiment exhibited marked daring and skill.
In November they left Tennessee and went over into Arkansas, where they pursned General Price, then invading Mis- souri. The pursuit was continued through Southeast Missouri as far as Cape Girardeau. Thence the regiment went by steamer by way of St. Louis and the Missouri River into the interior of the State, and soon to its western
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
border. Next they returned to Memphis. December 21, 1864, they went on an expe- dition commanded by General Grierson, captured one of Forrest's camps at Vernon, Mississippi, with a large quanity of stores, etc.
After this the regiment did guard and provost duty, from their camp near Mem- phis, until the war was over. After that they went to Texas; but General Shanls, on account of disability, was mustered out Oc- tober 10, 1865, and was succeeded by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Brown.
In the above regiment a large portion of Company E was from Jay County. David T. Skinner was Captain, followed by James E. Sloan, of New Corydon. Barton B. Jell- kins, of Camden, was Second Lieutenant. Company B was mainly from Randolph County. James C. Jay, of Briant, was as- sistant surgeon for the regiment.
ELEVENTHI CAVALRY.
Of this regiment Company B was from the faithful county of Jay. Elias Shewalter was the first Captain, and December 19, 1864, he was promoted Major. At the same date John F. Bowden was appointed Captain, and Ralph C. Harper was promoted from Second to First Lieutenant. Of the regiment Rob- ert R. Stewart, of Terre Haute, was Colonel until March 9, 1865, and May 10 following Abram Sharra, of Evansville, was commis- sioned to succeed him.
The Eleventh was recruited under the call of September 14, 1863, during the ensuing winter, and May, 1864, was spent in drilling near Nashville, though but few of them were monnted. Then, until the 16th of October,
it guarded the Memphis & Charleston Rail- road. Next it aided in the defeat of Hood, and pursued him as far as Gravelly Springs, Alabama; remained there from January 7 until February 7, 1865, and then at Eastport until May 12; then through Missouri to Fort Riley, Kansas, and other points along the Santa Fe ronte across the plains; and finally, September 19, 1865, at Leavenworth, Kansas, it was mustered out. On the 28th, at In- dianapolis, the men were paid and discharged.
DRAFTS.
There were two drafts of soldiers made in Jay County during the war-one October 6, 1862, when, under the supervision of James B. Jaqua, Draft Commissioner, eighty-seven men were conscripted, and the other in June, 1864, when a fewer number were drawn. There was no open resistance to either of these drafts. In March, 1865, when drafts were made in some parts of the country, none were made in Jay County.
CONCLUSION.
In all, there were at least 1,500 volunteers from Jay County during the war, some of whose names do not appear on the roster as credited to this county, for they went to other counties in this State and in Ohio, where large bounties were offered for them, either to fill a quota or as substitutes.
Jay County soldiers had as good grit as any others in the army. They suffered as much, endured as much, fought as hard and managed as shrewdly as any to win the cause of the Union, and were as highly compli- mented as any for their gallantry and brav- ery. May they be honored forever!
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AGRICULTURAL.
AY County is one of the " best developed agricultural · connties in the State, and the methods and habits of the farmers are continually improving, under the influence of the agricultural societies and agricultural literature. Wheat, corn and live-stock are the great specialties. Wheat has reached as high as forty bushels to the acre, and averages fifteen, whichi is comparatively high. In respect to this crop, the spring of 1887 presented a worse prospect than had been witnessed before for twenty-five years. Corn averages forty to forty-five bushels to the acre. Indeed, everything in the line of the grass and clover families succeed well. The winter and spring of 1887, however, was peculiarly severe upon the clovers, as dry, freezing weather heaved them a great deal and exposed the roots. Flax, hemp, hops and such other limited specialties do not oc-
cupy thie attention of the people here, as the lines of commerce in those things are not established in this direction. Apples, cherries, grapes and the smaller fruits do well. Abont eighteen years ago, however, the young apple orchards were badly killed. Bee and honey-raising are followed to some extent.
Tile drainage is increasing rapidly every year, thus setting the farmers forward at a greater rate than ever before, and it is abso- Intely certain that this improvement will go on for many years to come. There are sev- eral tile factories in every township.
Plank roads in early day were never ex- tensively built. Prior to 1850 one was built from Camden to Fort Wayne, and kept up, in sections, until the railroads were built. A toll-gate was kept at Reifftown, Wells County. A plank road was proposed from Huntington, through Polingtown and Port- land, to Greenville, Ohio, and another from Fort Wayne to Portland, but were never bnilt.
In Jay County there are now about 165
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
miles of gravel road, only two lines of which are now burdened with toll-gates, namely, that which leads soutlı from Meri- dian street, Portland, and the one that leads southwest from this place. These " pikes " will probably soon be made free. They were commenced to be made in the fall of 1875, and Jonas Votaw was president of the first company, building the road south from Portland four miles, and one mile east, for Liber College.
There are three agricultural societies in this county. Those at Dunkirk and Redkey will be noticed in the sketches of those places.
THE AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND IN-
DUSTRIAL JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF JAY COUNTY
was organized December 21, 1871, with C. H. Clark, president; R. Henry, vice-presi- dent; J. W. Headington and Dr. J. E. Mor- rical, secretaries. The board of directors consisted of Samuel J. Current, Jacob Gaunt, Isaac Underwood, Joseph Nixon, John Schmuck, James E. Gemmell, Elijalı Lyons, Samuel Hanlin, A. G. Lewis, T. Braun, A. Bergman, R. Henry, C. H. Clark, R. T. Hammons and J. W. Headington.
The board was directed to meet at the court-house January 11, 1872, and complete the organization, when Isaac Underwood was elected president; C. H. Clark, vice-presi- dent; Elijalı Lyons, assistant vice-president; Ira Denney, secretary; James P. Reid, cor- responding secretary; and Joseplı L. Banta, treasurer.
John W. Headington, John Schmuck and C. H. Clark were appointed a committee to draft resolutions and plans for the society. January 23 following, at an adjourned meet- ing, a constitution and by-laws were reported
and adopted, and the president announced the standing committees.
The presidents of the company liave been, in succession, C. H. Clark, 1871; Isaac Un- derwood, 1872-'73; Jonas Votaw, 1874-'75; Elijalı Lyons, 1876-'78; Daniel Sherword, 1879; Jacob Gaunt, 1880-'81; Jonas Votaw, 1882-'85; and Elijah Lyons, 1886-'87. The present officers are-Elijalı Lyons, president; Jonas Votaw, first vice-president; Joseph Nixon, second vice-president; Levi L. Gil- pin, secretary; J. G. Crowell, secretary; John Schmuck, superintendent. The board of directors consists of fifteen members- one from each township and three at large. The three at large are residents near the cen- tral part of the county, convenient for the transaction of business.
The fair ground is pleasantly located in the northeast part of Portland, on East Vo- taw street, and is well occupied witlı stalls, buildings, driving track, etc. The fairs have generally been successful, all the premiums being fully paid except one season, when eighty per cent. was paid. There is now (April, 1887) about $1,800 cash in the treasury. The company does not strike dividends, but devote all surplus funds to improvements and increased premiums. Competition has been kept open to the world. In 1884 they began to exclude gambling and games of chance from the fairs, since which time a State law has been passed excluding them.
CENSUS.
The following figures are from the Federal census of 1880, giving further particulars of agricultural interests, along with the increase of population. The agricultural products mentioned are for the amounts raised during the preceding year, 1879.
Corn, 1,068,523 bushels; wheat, 418,674 bushels; oats, 279,744 bushels; Irish potatoes,
AAAAAAAA
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43,713 bushels; sweet potatoes, 885 bushels; hay, 15,827 tons; tobacco, 2,110 pounds. Horses, 7,027; mules and asses, 209; working oxen, 8; milch cows, 5,311; other cattle, 9,451; sheep, 17,812; logs, 36,489; wool, 98,692 pounds; butter, 470,433 pounds; cheese, 390 pounds.
The number of hogs and sheep is far above the average of the counties of Indiana.
Value of real estate, $4,327,099; personal property, $1,361,436; number of farms, 2,357; acres of improved land, 131,242; valued at $6,196,172; farming implements and machinery, $233,780; value of live stock, $764,926; number of manufacturing estab- lishments, 88, with a capital of $164,920; number of hands employed, 210; value of products, $374,695.
POPULATION.
The population of Jay County in 1840 was 3,863; 1850, 7,047; 1860, 11,339; 1870, 15,000; 1880, 19,281.
The population by townships in 1880 was: Bear Creek, 1,637; Greene, 1,444; Jackson, 1,299; Jefferson, 1.757; Knox. 840; Madison, 1,371; Noble, 1,320; Penn, 1,710: Pike, 1,750; Richland, 2,036; Wabash, 1,024; Wayne, including Portland, 3,094; Portland, 1,694; Salamonia Village, 133; Dunkirk Village, 662.
In 1880 there were 155 colored people; there were but twenty-one in both 1860 and 1870. At present there are no Indians or Chinese. Of the total population, 18,724 were native Americans, and only 558 for- eigners, the latter figure being scarcely greater than in 1870, and not much greater than in 1860. The number of children from five to seventeen years old inclusive was 3,278 male and 3,085 female. Of men eight- een to forty-four years of age inclusive there were 3,900, and of men twenty-one and over, 4,664.
RAILROADS.
Grand Rapids & Indiana .- The first line of railroad proposed through Jay County was a north and south line, in 1851, and called the Cincinnati, Union & Fort Wayne Railroad, of which Judge Jeremiah Smith, of Winchester, was president, P. D. Debolt, secretary, and Jonas Votaw, treasurer. The road was to connect at Union City with the Dayton & Union Railroad, crossing the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine (Ohio) line. In the fall and winter of 1851-'52 the route was surveyed. In Jay County the most active inen in the interest of this line were Jonas Votaw, J. P. C. Shanks, J. M. Haynes, Robert Huey, William Brandon, William Vail and Benjamin W. Hawkins. Mr. Haynes was a director and also legal counsel.
Subscriptions to the stock of the company were made both in money and in land, un- conditional, but redeemable within four years. The total amount subscribed by citi- zens in this county was $150,000, a third of which was in cash. Consider what a tremen- dous tax this was, at a time when the voting population of the county did not exceed 1,000, and money was proportionally. much scarcer than now, and land not worth one- fourth as much! For this stock notes were given, payable in installments in six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four months. The value of the lands subscribed was fixed by a committee of three appraisers. Bonds were given for the land, which was sold at twenty per cent. discount, and were receivable upon their face for redemption. L'Homedieu was the receiver of these bonds.
The first section was graded, namely, that between Union City and Portland, and the way was grubbed out to a point four or five miles beyond Decatur. But the company, probably foreseeing by this time that they
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
could not raise means sufficient to complete the road and put on the required rolling stock, failed to proceed further with the con- struction, and the people lost mnost of their contributions; in Jay County these amounted to abont $100,000, connted in cash. This county was the heaviest loser of all on the route. Some of the lands conveyed were not redeemed, and were finally sold by the com- pany at public auction.
Abont the same time a line was projected north and south through the western side of the county, namely, by way of New Mount Pleasant and Camden, with similar results. Subscriptions were absorbed, with but little grading done. Many citizens lost all they had. This route, coming next under the name of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne line, was taken up by Peter P. Bailey, its president, and the subscriptions to it were conditional, and never paid, as the company failed before constructing the road. The route was surveyed in 1853 by way of Bluff- ton, Camden, etc., south to Richmond, there to connect with a road running to Cincinnati.
Then Mr. Worthington became interested in the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville road, briefly known as the " Muncie route," which passed through Bluffton, Montpelier and Hartford City to Muncie, leaving. Jay County entirely to the east. In the mnean- time a new company, the Richmond & Fort Wayne, of which William Parry, of Rich- mond, was president, began operations for a line through the center of the county, via Portland, and, by the help of Decatur throw- ing in $50,000, succeeded in establishing its line. Thus Camden was left out in the cold by both companies, and justly feels sore over hier disappointment to this day. Isaac Un- derwood was a director in the Bailey road, and labored assiduously for its location through Camden. One hundred and fifty
thonsand dollars were subscribed between Fort Wayne and Ridgeville.
Although considerably embarrassed at the time, Jay County contributed for the Parry road, now the Grand Rapids & Indiana, $50,- 000 in cash, the right of way and depot grounds. One serious embarrassment was the interest which the people of the east side of the county. took in the Miami Canal and in a railroad running from Cincinnati north- ward near them, along the State line in Ohio, to the strait of Mackinaw; and the citizens of the west side of the county had been already sorely disappointed in their favorite line, so that the burden of pushing a road through Portland fell naturally upon the central part of the county.
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, previously organized, was made rich with land grants in Michigan from the general Government, and was able to com- plete the track, put on the rolling stock and begin operating. This it did; and it was also leased to the Pennsylvania Central Rail- road Company for ninety-nine years, which relation is of course extant. Although this line is generally called the " Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad," in law it is known only as the " Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad." William Parry is still president.
As an amnsing instance of argument by charm instead of solid business, it may be proper to call to mind in this connection how some of the advocates of building the above road endeavored to persuade the people to contribute for its construction. While on account of the great east and west trunk lines running either north or sonth of Jay County, it was impos- sible to organize Eastern capital for a third similar line through the county, compara- tively so near the others, the projectors of the north and south road exercised their wits
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for arguments; and one was, that by the pro- posed road, connecting the extremne north with the extreme south, the products of the respective climes would be brought to our very doors-copper and iron and pine from Michigan, and tropical fruits from Florida!
The last rail on the link between Rich- mond and Fort Wayne-a distance of ninety iniles-was laid December 8, 1871.
Payments of subscriptions to this road were to be made only after the cars were running, the people having learned a lesson from bitter experience with foriner compa- nies. Of the amount subscribed, $31,000 was raised by a tax upon the three townships -Pike, Wayne and Bear Creek. It was a two per cent. tax upon the valuation of the property.
Lake Erie & Western .- The enterprises preceding or culminating in the establishment of this road have not so long a history as the foregoing.
The first east and west line proposed through Jay County was called the Cleveland & St. Louis Air-Line road, and its route lay through New Corydon, West Liberty and Camden. It was familiarly known as the " Hopkins road." The company was organ- ized about 1853 or '54, some stock was taken in land subscriptions, but was never paid, as tlie company was short-lived. In this county they graded a short section between Bryant and West Liberty. A Inll of a long period then intervened, as another company --- the Toledo & Indianapolis-proposed to build a road thirongli Randolph County, con- necting at Muncie with the Muncie & Bloom- ington road. But this was finally merged into the Lake Erie & Western in 1870-'71. The noted period of stringency set in during 1873, putting a stop to all railroad building throughout the United States for about six years. Then, in the spring of 1879, $33,000
was guaranteed by a number of public- spirited citizens, who petitioned the county commissioners to levy a two per cent. tax upon Wayne Township, which was done, and the road was completed the ensuing fall.
An injunction, however, was served upon the county against the collection of this tax, but was finally dissolved, the Supreme Court holding that complaint should have been made before the board of commissioners at the time they inade their levy. This money, also, was payable only after the trains were running.
Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburg. (" Pan Handle.")-The earliest efforts to build a railroad through this section, as usual, failed. A route was surveyed for a road running from Toledo, Ohio, to Cairo, Illinois, and the enterprise was then dropped. Subsequently, a considerable amount of subscription was raised for another company to build a road extending from Toledo to Indianapolis; but that company failed also. Next, the Marion & Mississinewa Valley Railroad Company proposed to build a " link" from Marion to Union City. This company was reorganized as the Union & Marion, and then as the Union & Logansport Railroad Company, under which name the road was completed, in April, 1867. At Anoka Junction, four miles this side of Logansport, it connected with the Chicago & Great Eastern, and at Union City with the Indianapolis & Belle- fontaine (Ohio) Railroad.
Afterward, the Columbus & Indiana Cen- tral Company, having a point in Miami County, Ohio, called Bradford Junction, made a connection with this link and obtained control of it. Then the Chicago, Columbus & Indiana Central obtained con- trol, forming a through line from Chicago to Columbus, with branches from Anoka Junc- tion to Richmond, from Indianapolis to
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
Columbus and from Logansport west to the Illinois State line. Next, it was leased to thie Pittsburg & St. Louis, and then in April, 1884, sold under mortgage to W. L. Scott and others, and called the Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburg, and finally re-leased to the Pittsburg, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company. It is now one of the " Pan Han- dle " lines, all of which, with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad and the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville road, belong to the great " Pennsylvania (central) System."
The name " Pan Handle " is derived from the narrow projection from West Virginia extending northward, somewhat in the form of a pan-handle, between Ohio and Pennsyl- vania, across which ran the original trunk line.
In this county, Isaiah Lntton and lris son, William G., were the principal men to aid this line. They contributed liberally of their means and time, and solicited subscriptions from Richland and adjoining townships.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The present court-house, a fine building, was erected in 1868, at a cost of about $47,000. George Beale was superintendent of the construction, under the supervision of the county commissioners.
The present jail and sheriff's residence, cost altogether about $6,000. The jail proper, two stories high and four cells in each story, was built in 1862, the contract price for which was $2,237.
The earlier conrt-houses and jails are noticed in a previous chapter.
The infirmary is located a few miles north- east of Portland. For this institution 160 acres of land were purchased February 10, 1864, at a cost of $4,000; and May 10, 1865, 160 acres more were bought, at $2,400. Since then $1,200 have been expended for
additions. In 1885 a dwelling-house was built, costing $3,458 and a little over; barn, built in 1886, at a cost of $2,622. The old building is a large frame, two stories high.
The superintendents have been Samuel Huey, Christian Haviland, Samuel Howard, Oliver B. Brown, and W. H. Harkins, who was superintendent of this institution from 1881 to the spring of 1887, since which time Charles Marquedt has been superintendent. Salary, $800 a year. Average number of imnates, about thirty-three.
JAY COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
This association, organized in the fall of 1885, meets twice a year, and thus far has had five profitable sessions. The times of meeting are during the Christmas vacation and the month of June. Average attendance, about twenty-five.
Other educational interests are noticed in the sketches of the respective towns.
JAY COUNTY SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
This has been running, with great vitality, since about 1874, with a president and a vice president in every township, whose duty it is to make annual reports to the secretary. The first president was John A. Henning, and since the reorganization in 1883 E. C. Thornton has been the president. Mrs. M. J. Weber is the secretary. The mission of this society is to establish Sunday-schools throughout the county, and revive languish- ing ones. In some townships are auxiliary organizations. All Sunday-school workers are considered members. The association meets semi-annually.
ARCHEOLOGY, ETC.
Dr. C. S. Arthur, of Portland, has a mag- nificent collection of Indian relics and other curiosities, besides having lost a number of his choice specimens by the hands of thieves.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
Of arrow points he has a great number, of many varieties, from a half inch to several inches in length. They are made of flint.
Of axes, or " peelers," there are in this collection as many as fifty, mostly found in this county. In weight they vary from two ounces to about ten pounds. They are made of different species of granite. The larger ones are supposed to have been used for cut- ting wood, and the smaller ones for battle- axes. One ax is made of native copper, tempered. The particles of silver in it show it to have been from the Lake Superior re- gion. The mass has never been melted, but simply hammered into its present shape. One ax is curved, like a carpenter's gouge, as if for chopping out the bottom of a dug-out canoe. Others have curved bevels.
In this museum are also a lot of pestles and mortars, some of them very fine and elaborately finished. They were probably used for pulverizing grain, acorns, ete. The mortars vary in size from the capacity of half a pint to two gallons. They are made from granite or limestone, by simply taking a mass and digging out a portion, and polishing it inside and out.
There are a few specimens of stone " roll- ing-pins," one of which is not limestone, is black, and excellent for whetting knives. It can also be used as a touchstone, in connection with acids. These pins were probably used for grinding. They vary in length from twelve to seventeen and a half inclies.
The doctor has also a variety of stone hammers, some of which seem to have been made from worn-out axes.
There is also an interesting variety of pipes for smoking, some of them compound, and some are made from Minnesota pipe- stone, but found in this part of Indiana. Also, balls for slings, and balls and innumer- able other curious and indescribable speci-
mens, made probably for either play or for ornament. Most of these have holes drilled into or through them. Many unfinished specimens, as well as of worn-out implements, characterize the collection. One article shows how the mechanic undertook to drill a straight hole through a block of hard stone by boring first a distance from one end and then from the other, but missing his way. Some polished pieces have been bored near one edge, meeting at an angle, with the de- sign evidently of passing a thong through it, for the suspension or fastening to another ar- ticle. Many of the ornamental pieces are made from soft, striped stone, and are indeed beautiful. Some are in imitation of the forms of birds, frogs or other animals, gen- erally very crude, but some elaborate, al- though not well proportioned. Some of the small balls seem designed for sinkers to nets in fishing, or for entangling the legs of ani- mals in lasso practice. A few flint balls are here, which were probably used in dressing stone in the manufacture of implements and other articles; at least they can be used for such purposes with a considerable degree of efficiency, and no other articles have been found which seem to answer the purpose as well. It is a self-sharpener, by chipping off.
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