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 25
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 25
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259
HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
was organized February 28, 1869, by Rev. Henry James, with a membership of thirty- two. Present local elder, David Polly; dea- con, John S. Emmons. A Sunday-school is maintained during the summer.
TEMPERANCE. -
The first barrel of whisky in Camden, to be retailed, was brought by a man who was systematically " boycotted " out; and long before the crusade of 1874, namely, in 1855, the women of the place turned out and de- molished one drinking place. There is no licensed retail liquor dealer now in Camden.
As early as 1848 the Sons of Temperance organized a society in Camden, and flourished greatly, for a time, but in 1867 they sur- rendered their charter. The Good Templars have kept up their organization since 1855. The crusade of 1874 did not strike Camden.
PENN TOWNSHIP.
Samuel Grisell named this township in honor of the noted founder of Pennsylvania, and also in allusion to the large Quaker ele- ment among the settlers.
John Gain, referred to on preceding pages, built in 1823 the first cabin in this township, but occupied it only a short time. John Brooks, of whom much is said elsewhere, came next, the same year, and remained longer; but Moses Hamilton, the third im- migrant, in 1834, has the distinction of be- ing the first permanent settler. He, however, did not remain here all his life. Then fol- lowed, the same year, Samuel Grisell, the founder of Camden, and John McCoy; who, after many years moved to Missouri, where he was living at last accounts, entirely blind; then within a few months, came Elias Porter, the father of Mrs. Nancy Cartwright, now of Camden; lie died here; also, Jonathan C. Hiatt, nicknamed " Dick, " to distinguish
him from Jonathan Hiatt, a younger and smaller man, dubbed " Simon; " also Job Carr, an enterprising dry-goods merchant here for many years, whose son Vincent built the first steam saw-mill in this part of the country; Elihu Hamilton, who finally died in Nebraska; Joseph Wilson, locating next to Samuel Grisell, adjoining Camden on the east, made the addition to the village just referred to, and finally died in Kansas; William Samuels, the first to begin a cabin in Camden, but the second to complete it, who died on his farın east of town; Willian Swallow, who remained here the rest of his life; and Joshua Bond.
Mr. Bond was a Quaker from North Caro- lina who had the foresight to bring with him a pair of millstones, which he made into a hand grist-mill, in the spring of 1836, the first grist-mill in Jay County that did much substantial work. It was constantly thronged, each man grinding his own grist, no toll being charged; but as it was soon found insufficient to supply the demand, Mr. Bond added horse power, and even then it failed to keep up. Therefore, in 1837, he built a good mill, which was run by four to eight horses. This was in the basement of a log barn a mile and a half east and a little north of Camden. He subsequently attached to it the first thresh- ing machine (" chaff-piler ") ever brought into the county, so that customers would bring their grain to the mill in sheaves and take it away in flour,-which cannot be said of any modern mill. Mr. Bond was an exemplary man, and died many years ago.
Isaac Underwood, a resident of Camden and one of the best historians of Jay County, from whom we gathered so many particulars in this chapter, brought the first improved thresher and separator into this part of the State. He has in his possession the manuscript of an historical address, concerning Penn Township, Camden and Jay County, which he
259
PENNVILLE.
delivered some years ago at an old settlers' meeting in a grove near town.
Charles Simmons located in Penn Town- ship prior to 1835, and after a number of years removed West. Ellis Davis, wlio settled in this township in 1835, remained a resident here until his deatlı, which took place many years ago. David V. Canada came into this neighborhood about the same time, and finally moved to Three Rivers, Michigan, where he was living when last heard from. Eliza Dug.lale, at the age of twenty-five, came here in 1836. Henry Z. Jenkins, one of the earliest settlers of Camden, and post- master here for seventeen years, resided here until his death. Thomas Shaylor was also one of the early settlers. Mrs. Nancy Cart- wriglit, of Camden, liis niece, spent a portion of her girlhood at his lionse southeast of Portland, when the howling wilderness was in its primitive condition. George Por- ter, one of the pioneers of Jay County, was her brother. Goldsmith Chandler, who came in 1838 or '39, was an enterprising man of considerable means, built several honses, and erected the first tannery, where the present woolen factory now stands. It was suffered to go down between 1845 and 1848. Mr. Chandler died here, and his son John estab- lished the present tannery, conducted by Rudolph Snyder. Enos Lewis, now aged eighty-seven years, settled where he now resides, east of Balbec, prior to 1840.
Penn Township was the first organized in thic county, by order of the commissioners at the first session, November 8, 1836. The election was held the next month, at tlie house of Jonathan Hiatt, when Ellis Davis was elected the first justice of the peace, and David V. Canada, constable.
The first school in the township was tanght in 1837 or '38, in the log house where the Friends held their meetings, on the site
of the present cemetery east of town, by Levi Johnson, who was justice of the peace for twelve years in Jackson Township.
The first religious meetings and churches are mentioned on a preceding page.
Balbec (by error for Baalbec) is a hamlet near the center of the township, three miles north of Camden. It has a fine dry-goods store, kept by Benjamin L. Dewees, and a smaller one, by the Eberly Bros., and a shop or two and a postoffice.
Winona is a similar hamlet a mile or two farther north, where the name of the post- office is Fiat.
The United Brethren have a neat little church building about a half mile east of Balbec, built in 1864.
The Spiritualists, for a rarity, in 1871, erected a meeting-honse, or " hall, " 32 x 40 feet, about a mile and a half east of Balbec, where they have met for circles, seances, lect- ures, socials, etc., having a flourishing organ- ization. At one time it is said they liad as miany as 150 resident believers.
Penn Township contains more good land, and is better improved, than any other in the county. The principal stream is tlie Sala- monie, in the southwestern part. The south- ern portion is gravelly and rolling, while the northern portion contains some of the finest, and richest prairie lands in the State.
A great geological curiosity exists two to three miles northeast of Camden. It is a range of gravel hills, the two higliest being probably a hundred feet above the general level of the country. They are known among the residents as "Gardner's Hills," but geologists regard them as " terminal moraines." It is very nearly the water-slied between the Erie basin and the Ohio River Valley; possibly in some geological age it was precisely the water-shed. This singular
260
HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
deposit of gravel is accounted for by the hypothesis that floating masses of ice, con- taining gravel and earth from their primitive moorings, and driven upon the water-shed by northwestern winds, lodged here, melted
and dropped their eartlily freight in a heap. This, continued for ages, would make a hill as large as we find these.
Springs of water, with traces of iron ore, occur about Gardner's Hills.
DUNKIRK.
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DUNKIRK;
HIS village, which was at first known as Quin- cy, is located on section 8, in the northwest- ern corner of Richland Township (fractional), on the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St Louis Railroad, on a beautiful elevation, and has a population of a little over 800. It was laid out Decem- ber 10, 1853, by Isaialı Sutton. W. G. Sutton, his son, platted the Northi Addition July 12, 1867, and July 6, 1868, and W. G. Sutton's Addition Feb- ruary 5, 1876, -- acting first as commis- sioner appointed by the Court of Common Pleas and afterward as proprietor. It is the only village on the railroad whose streets are parallel or at right angles with the road, being twenty-seven and a half or twenty- eiglit degrees north of cast. Of the original plat, Mr. Isaiah Sntton donated two acres to the railroad.
Dunkirk was incorporated in June, 1869. The commissioners appointed as the first trustees, Samuel Thomas, William Manning and Daniel Williams. The last named re- signing, William W. Goodrich was appointed in his place. May 2, 1870, William Milli- gan, Daniel Williams and John W. Nixon were elected the first trustees. The first named was elected president, Israel Allman, clerk; Samuel Thomas, treasurer; and James A. Keesure, marshal. The first ordinance was dated September 30, that year. Elections of officers are hield annually, the citizens all voting at one place, although the town has three wards. Under the administration of the trustees, tlie streets have been thoroughly graveled and sidewalks made. The present board comprises William Milligan, President; J. J. Steward and John B. Mendenhall.
The public school building at Dunkirk is a fine two-story brick structure situated in the southwestern portion of the village. It has four rooms. Three teachers are employed, the school is graded, and kept seven montlis in the year. The school-house was built in
18
262
HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
1874, at a cost of about $7,000, including in- terest on bonds. The proceeds of the sale of the old school building were devoted to the erection of the new building.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has a membership of 230, including probationers, about fifty of whom were received during the revival in the winter of 1886-'87, under the ministration of Rev. A. J. Llewellyn, who has been pastor since April, 1886. The present class-leaders are L. M. Robinson, J. M. Bowen, P. W. Bishop and Silas Place, besides Mrs. J. M. Bowen who is the leader of the " chil- dren's class," organized during the revival of last winter. Stewards-W. W. Payton, L. M. Fudge, J. B. Mendenhall, Racer Bittles and Frank Littler. Sunday-school is kept up the year round, with an average attendance of about 150, and W. W. Payton superintend- ent. The church building is a frame, 40 x 50 feet, dedicated in 1871, by Rev. E. F. Hasty ; but the needs of the society have outgrown the capacity of the building, as well as of the parsonage, which they have had for a number of years. The Methodist society at Dunkirk has varied much in its periods of prosperity and decline: the present is a period of pros- perity.
Mr. Llewellyn has also the care of two other classes, one at Kingsley's, an account of which will appear in the history of Black- ford County, toward the conclusion of this volume, and the other is the one at Sugar Grove, in this township. In the latter the mem- bership is about forty, besides probationers. Class-leader, Joseph Hickman. Stewards Joseph Hickman and John Bell. Sunday- school during the summer; Mr. Hickman, superintendent. The house of worship is a well finished building, erected two or three years ago, at a cost of $1,200, and located about two miles southeast of Dunkirk.
The Methodists were organized in this vicinity, of course, in a very early day; and in 1869, on the completion of the railroad and the rising of Dunkirk as a town, the society, which had mainly centered around Kingsley's, divided, a large portion forming the nucleus of the Dunkirk church. There is also a Woman's Missionary Society at Dun- kirk, auxiliary to the Methodist Episcopal church.
The Methodist Protestant Church .- The first services of this denomination were held in the Baptist church building in May, 1885, when Rev. Joseph Langley, of Mun- cie, preached, and from that time on dur- ing the summer, he preached occasionally on week-day nights, at the Baptist church. In August, 1885, a meeting was held in the Baptist church, and the Dunkirk Methodist Protestant church was organized with seven members; as follows: J. J. Stewart, Rachel A. Stewart, his wife, and daughter Sadie Stewart; A. C. Holly, his wife Amanda, and his mother, Sophronia Holly; and Ruth Mckinney. The officers elected were: A. C. Holly, class- leader; J. J. Stewart, class-steward. Services were held in the Baptist church until April, 1886, when they removed to a hall, by the railroad, where a protracted meeting was held by Rev. Joseph Langley, and Rev. William H. Green, and the membership was increased to twenty-four. Then proceeded to elect trus- tees, as follows: J. C. Wickersham, N. G., Weaver, J. W. Racer, J. A. Sullivan and Richard Webster, who formed a building committee. Subscriptions were taken up for a church building, and work on the building commenced in August, 1886, by L. C. Shaw, contractor, and it was dedicated January 2, 1887, by Rev. Stevens, of Adrian, Michigan, College. The cost of the building was nearly $2,000, and the building is 50 x 32 feet in ground area, with a vestibule 9 x 9
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DUNKIRK.
in front. The seating capacity is over 300. Rev. S. S. Stanton has filled the pulpit since September, 1886. He is secretary of the annual conference. The officers are the same as those mentioned. A Sabbath-school was organized in March, 1887, which now has a membership of some 175 enrolled. The officers are: George N. Weaver, superintend- ent; Mrs. O. N. Cook, secretary; J C. Wick- ersham, treasurer; L. C. Shaw, librarian ; Miss Blanche Sharrett, organist; Miss Blanche Shaw, chorister; Moderators-A. C. Holly and Miss Sadie Stewart. There are nine teachers in the school.
The Baptist Church at Dunkirk was or- ganized with abont thirteen members, by Rev. A. Pavey, a resident. Joseph Parker and E. Huffman were the first deacons. Min- isters serving since have been Revs. Kendall, Johnson, Robinson, Bicknell, Rupe, Fritts and B. R. Ward, the present pastor who resides at Miami, Indiana. The present membership is about 100. Deacons-Joseph Parker, W. B. Wilson and R. J. Sutton. Sunday-school is maintained all the year, with average attendance of about a hundred: W. B. Wilson, superintendent. Their church is the first story, 45 x 60 feet, of a building whose second story is occupied as lodge rooms, referred to more at length in a subsequent paragraph. It was dedicated by Rev. Joseph Brown, of Indianapolis, in No- vember, 1871.
SOCIETIES.
Dunkirk Lodge, No. 275, F. & A. M., was organized May 29, 1861, with the fol- lowing officers: Isaiah Sutton, Worshipful Master; Joseph J. Mckinney, Senior Warden; George W. Current, Junior Warden. The books show a total membership from the first to date (April, 1887) of 155. The present membership is fifty-three, and the officers:
Peter W. Bishop, Worshipful Master; C. P. Cole, Senior Warden; Racer Bittles, Junior Warden; W. G. Sutton, Treasurer; M. D. Wood, Secretary; D. S. Wilson, Senior Deacon; J. A. Wilson, Junior Deacon; and Beale Banifold, Tyler.
Dunkirk Chapter, No. 43, R. A. M., was organized October 20, 1870, with the fol- lowing officers: George H. Moore, High Priest; Joseph J. Mckinney, King; John A. Henning, Scribe. In January, 1886, the membership was thirty. Present officers: David S. Wilson, High Priest; William D. Garr, King; W. G. Sutton, Scribe; P. W. Bishop, C. H .; I. W. Wingate, Permanent Secretary ; C. P. Cole, G. A. C .; James B. Mc- Connell, G. M. 3d V .; W. H. Rush, G. M. 2d V .; Jehu M. Bowen, G. M. 1st V .; B. Mani- fold, Treasurer; William A. Whetsell, Secre- tary; and J. A. Wilson, Guard.
Dunkirk Council, R. & S. M., No. 42, was organized October 21, 1874, with James A. Keesure, T. I. M .; William Garland, D. I. M .; and William N. Current, P. D. of W .; Present membership of the Council, nineteen. Officers: C. P. Cole, T. I. M .; W. D. Garr, D. I. M .; Peter W. Bishop, P. D. of W .; James B. McConnell, C. of G .; W. G. Sutton, Treas- nrer; and Beale Manifold, Rec.
Dunkirk Lodge, No. 306, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 5, 1868, by following grand officers: E. H. Barry, Grand Master; Phillip Barger, Deputy Grand Master; Will- iam Burrows, Grand Warden; C. A. Read, Grand Secretary; J. J. R. Jones, Grand Treasurer; J. T. Brotherton, Grand Guardian. The first officers were: W. W. Goodrich, Noble Grand; Daniel Williams, Vice Grand; N. W. Cronch, Recording Secretary; Har- man Connaday, Treasurer; J. A. Sulllivan, Secretary. Appointed: B. Manifold, Warden ; J. J. Stewart, Conductor; HI. C. Bates, Inner Guard; D. P. Todd, Outer Guard; Thomas
264
HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY ..
McKee, Right Supporter to Noble Grand; S. A. Kyle, Left Supporter to Noble Grand; H. H. Hannah, R. S. S .; Jacob Troop, L. S. S .; J. G. Ridge, Right Supporter to Vice Grand; G. H. Parker, Left Supporter to Vice Grand.
Present Officers: Theodore Bishop, Noble Grand; A. J. Llewellyn, Vice Grand; Richard Allen, Recording Secretary; B. Manifold, Corresponding Secretary; M. S. Cunningham, Treasurer; John Rees, Sitting Past Grand; J. J. Stewart, Chaplain. The present mem- bership is forty-two. Lodge in prosper- ons condition, and on April 26. 1887, the lodge purchased ground for a cemetery in the northwest corner of William G. Sutton's farm in Blackford County, about thirty rods north of old cemetery. Contains ten acres of ground.
The Odd Fellows' Hall over the Baptist church is 20 x60 feet, and the Masonic Hall, along side, is 22 x 60 feet in area. The entire expense of the building was abont $3,000, and the greater part of the expense of the building was defrayed by the two lodges.
The Odd Fellows Lodge has very handsome new regalia, costing $175.
Many years ago the Good Templars had a society at Dunkirk, which went down in 1875. A strong temperance sentiment, how- ever, still prevails here, checking the en- croacliments of the saloon. Two or three saloonists had to abandon their business here on account of a special temperance movement.
Benjamin Shields Post, G. A. R., No. 289, was organized February 7, 1884, with twenty- five members, and J. W. Racer, Commander; J. A. Sullivan, Senior Vice Commander; J. B. Mendenhall, Senior Vice Commander; James Hubbard, Adjutant; B. F. Simmons, Officer of the Day; Joseph Nunn, Onter Guard; W. W. Payton, Quartermaster; Will- iam Frank, Chaplain. The Post leased a room over Keague & Carl's blacksmith shop,
and held meetings there for about two and a half years, at which time they had thirty- three members. Benjamin Shields was the first volunteer from Richland Township who was killed during the last war.
BUSINESS.
The D-Handle Works, for the manufac- ture of D-handles for spades, shovels and scoops, was originated by O. D. Gray, in the year 1880, and operated by him until 1882, when he failed in business. In that year Mr. C. P. Cole bought the works, and at once went to work and put up new buildings, with a ground area of 50 x 80 feet for the factory, and two store rooms, 16 x 24 feet, and 18 x 80, respectively, and an office in the front part of the last inentioned store-room. He also put in new machinery throughont. The works are operated by an engine of fifty-horse power. The factory employs an average of twenty men. He lias a branch establishment at Camden which gets out timber in the rongh, employing five to six men, and one at Fairview of thesame nature, and employing about the same number of men. The prodnets of this factory find a market principally at Philadelphia and Pitts- burg, though they ship to all parts of the world, Birmingham, England, and several points in Canada being among their purchasers. They manufacture about onetenth of the D-handles that are inade in the United States and Can- ada. The business is exclusively wholesale. Mr. Cole has built the business up entirely himself since coming to Dunkirk.
The Dunkirk Elevator and Exchange was commenced by the present proprietors, Reese & Starbuck, October 25, 1886. The business is principally in grain. Their building is 40x60 feet in ground area, and three stories in height. Besides the ordinary elevator fixtures, they have two burrs for the manu- facture of shorts and meal. Their business is
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DUNKIRK.
at the rate of about 100 car loads of grain in a year. The sheller and cleaner have a capacity of 500 bushels an hour. Elevator has a capacity of 800 bushels an hour. They have a loading capacity of about 600 bushels per hour, and aim to elevate, shell, clean and car 650 bushels an hour. The machinery is operated by an engine of twenty-four horse- power. They ship to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, bnt principally to Pittsburg.
Bishop Bros. and P. H. Albright, built a saw-mill at Dunkirk in the fall of 1868, which has been running ever since, but now by Bishop Bros. only. In 1870 a grist-mill was erected by Bishop, Beatty & Co. (P. H. Albright); in 1874 this partnership was dis- solved, since which time Bishop Bros. have managed the saw-mill, while the old grist- mill, in the fall of- 1886, was turned into a grain elevator. It had two run of burrs, for wheat, and toward the last a run for corn. The saw-mill lias a capacity of about 5,000 feet per day, generally giving employment to five hands.
There are also a planing-mill and lay-press at Dunkirk.
The Milligan House is kept by William Milligan, the oldest hotel-keeper in Jay county. In 1855-67 he was the proprietor of the Pitman House at Camden. He built his present hotel in 1867, and it has a capacity for about thirty guests.
Ellis Ullom has kept the Ullom House (formerly the Holly) since April, 1885, at which time he came from Greenville, Ohio, and purchased of Hial J. Evans. The hotel has sixteen furnished rooms.
In March, 1887, the Dunkirk Gas and Oil
Company was formed, consisting of C. P. Cole, president, Walker Monroe, secretary, Edward Hoover, Joseph Zehner, William Foorman, H. J. Evans, A. L. Gerton, William Manning, Kennedy & Macy, and Weaver & Son. The company commenced drilling about the 20tl of April.
The Dunkirk Banner is discontinned.
The physicians of the place are Drs. G. W. Fertich, S. S. Selvey and John W. France, all regular, and James M. Anderson and Na- thaniel Cronch, independent.
Among the physicians of the past have been, John M. Crogan, regular, who practiced here about eighteen years, dying in the spring of 1887: was also an efficient Sunday-school worker, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Charles Sherwood, eclec- tic, after practicing here a number of years, died in the spring of 1886.
Those practicing law at present in Dunkirk, are, J. J. Stewart and Joseph L. Carl, though the latter, on account of declining health, does but little in this line. He is a native of New Jersey, coming to Jay County in 1861, to Dunkirk in the fall of 1869, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. Has held sev- eral offices. A sketch of Mr. Stewart is given in the biographical department of this work.
John M. Smith, now at Portland, and David H. Fouts, now at Redkey, once prac- ticed law at Dunkirk.
James S. Wilson was the first postmaster at Dunkirk, the office being established February 28, 1856.
We are under special obligations to Messrs. W. G. Sutton, J. J. Stewart and W. W. Pay- ton for many of the foregoing items of history.
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
SMALLER TOWNS.
EDKEY, witli a population of over 800, is an enter- prising village located mainly on the northeast corner of section 23, Richland Township, and on the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis and the Lake Erie & Western railroads. The succession of names for this point is about as follows: Half- way Creek was so named from being " lralf way" between Port- land and Muncie, and from this thie first postoffice in this community, at the present Redkey, was named Half-way. It was established September 19, 1853, when Samuel J. Current was appointed postmaster. The original town plat of the present Redkey was laid out by W. H. Wade, surveyed by John C. Bailey, and named Mount Vernon. On the approach of the Pan Handle railroad, November 13, 1867, James Redkey laid out a much larger plat, on the east and north sides, and the place was named after
him. Andrews' Addition was laid out Sep- tember 26, 1872; Evans' Addition April 4, 1875; and Redkey's Second Addition January 1,1877.
The village was incorporated in September, 1883, and the first board of trustees com- prised S. A. D. Whipple, P. I. Paxson, James Lyon, Jacob Crowell and Joseph Crisler. On the 29th of that month the board elected Mr. Whipple, president, L. H. Zeigler, clerk, D. S. Hopkins, treasurer, and A. C. Horner, mar- shal. James Lyon was appointed president in 1885, and J. O. Pierce in 1886, who is at present serving in that capacity. Since 1885, Thomas Bader has been clerk. The present trustees are, J. O. Pierce, president, John W. Redkey, C. W. Watson, John M. Buck and P. I. Paxson. Aaron Fouts is the marshal, and Anthony W. Mckinney the treasurer.
The town, since the incorporation, has been greatly improved, especially in respect to the streets and sidewalks. Hard, flat stone from near Bluffton, Ohio, is used extensively for side-walks, and in this regard the village of Redkey excels all others in the county. A
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