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 81
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 81
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membership of ninety. The Sabbath-school numbers a hundred and fifty, with an average attendance of a hundred and twenty.
The following are the officers at the present time-pastor, Rev. J. Q. McKeehan; elders, George Gable, James McEldowney, Lewis Willman, Jolın Templin, James M. Reasoner, and Noah H. Reasoner; deacons, John P. Willman, Stephen C. Runyon, and Chas. A. Elton; trustees, Dr. P. Drayer and Samuel J. Emshwiller; superintendent of Sabbath- school, S. J. Emshwiller.
Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Congrega- tion in Hartford City, dates back to the year 1848, when Rev. I. Hursch, of East German- town, Indiana, visited the scattered Lutherans in this vicinity and preached for them on the 19th of March. Here the matter rested until the year 1860, when the same minister again made a visit to Hartford City on the 11th of November. During the next two summers Rev. Mr. Hursch preached here regularly every four weeks, in the German and English languages. As yet there was no formal organization. It was only in the year 1866 that an organization was effect- ed by Rev. J. D. Nunemacher, June 9. The officers first elected were-Michael Willman and John Peter Schmidt, elders; Peter Will- man and Lewis Cale, deacons; Joli Freder- ick, Nicholas Willman and John Schwartzkopf, trustees. At this time the house of worship was built, now occupied by the present congregation.
Rev. Mr. Nnnemacher served the congre- gation four years. For two years the congre- gation was vacant. The next pastor was Rev. B. F. Schillinger, who served two years, and was followed by Rev. J. B. Schuman, who remained but one year, and was followed by C. H. Mayer, who was pastor four years. The present pastor, Rev. W. J. Schroyer, has been in charge for nearly seven years.
751
HARTFORD CITY.
This congregation is in connection with the " Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other States," which Synod holds to the confessions of the regular Evangelical Lutheran church as adopted in 1580. The membership is 225 souls; 115 members en- titled to communion; forty-nine male mem- bers entitled to vote. Services are held in the German and English languages alternate- ly. There are forty Sunday-school children. The present officers of the congregation (in 1887) are-elders, Lewis Cale and John Orth; deacons, Eli Hughes and P. L. Schmidt; trustees, Simon Long, Michael Schmidt and Henry J. Schmidt.
The Seventh-Day Adventists were organ- ized in Hartford City December 26, 1883, by Elder J. P. Henderson, with twenty-three members. Local officers-Frederick Ford, elder; and John Sebring, deacon; trustees- Simon Licklider, Theodore Clapper and Henry Clapper. The present number of members is twenty-six, and the officers-Theodore Clapper, elder; and Zebedee Steele, deacon. Sabbatlı-school is maintained all the year, with an average attendance of twenty; Tlieo- dore Clapper, superintendent. There have been no resident pastors.
A frame church was built in April, 1884, 26 x 36 feeet in size, but was burned on the 18th of that month. Another building,
frame, 26 x 40 feet in dimensions, was com- pleted within a year, at a cost of about $900, and dedicated January 18, 1887, by Elder J. P. Henderson.
The Methodist Protestants have an or- ganization in Hartford City, their house of worship being located on West Franklin street. Sunday services at 10:30 A. M. and 7:30 p. M. Rev. Green, pastor.
The United Brethren Church is also lo- cated on West Franklin street, where the society has services at 10:30 A. M. and 7:30 P. M. Sundays. Prayer-meeting every Tuesday niglıt. Rev. Jolın Utzler, pastor.
St. James' Church, Catholic, is on the corner of Water and Ann streets. Services the second and third Sundays of each month. Father Drogan, pastor.
EDUCATIONAL.
In Hartford City there are 518 children of school age, for whom is furnished a brick school-house, with seven teachers, besides the superintendent, William Reed, who has been so popular as to maintain his present position eight years. The School Board comprises C. H. Hubbard, President; S. R. Patterson, Secretary and E. M. Stalıl, Treasurer.
Outside of IIartford City, in Licking Township, there are 497 children of school age, three brick and nine frame school-houses.
752
NAAA
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
MONTPELIER.
EAUTIFUL for situation is Montpelier. It ison the south bluff of Salamonia River, the highest point of land within many miles. The ground slopes away in every direction from the business center of the place, in a manner that attracts attention for its loveliness. This de- lightful spot was once owned by Abel Baldwin, from Vermont, who in 1839 laid out the town and named it after the Capital of his native State; and it is far more appro- priately named than many of the " Monts " and " Mounts " we find elsewhere, located on low ground. The first settlers here were mainly from Vermont, and gave a " Green Mountain" character to the place for intel- ligence and enterprise.
It is about nine miles north by northeast from Hartford City. The original plat con- tained forty acres, but several additions have since been made. The population is now about 900.
The vicinity of Montpelier has been famous from earliest times for its many quarries of good lime and building stone along the river.
Montpelier was first incorporated under the law as a town, many years ago. The corporation was re-organized September 24, 1870, since which time the presidents and clerks have been: Presidents-W. T. Shull, 1870-'71; Frank Spease, 1871-'72; (records are missing from this to the next date); J. T. Arnold, 1880-'81; Frank Spease, 1881-'82; George Saunders, 1883-'84; O. F. Hall, 1884-'85; I. G. Arnold, 1886-'87. Clerks -- Eli Arnold, 1870-'71; H. H. Ben- nett, 1871-'72; C. Q. Shull (also treasurer), 1880-'81; H. H. Bennett, 1881-'82; J. P. McGeath, 1883; George Rollf, 1884-'85; Daniel Arnold, 1886-'87,
-
753
MONTPELIER.
The first marshal was Lyman Bonham; treasurer, C. Q. Shull; and trustees, W. T. Shull, C. F. Arnold, J. I. McGrew, John A. Griffith and Thomas Slater.
Under the administration of the trustees, the streets and sidewalks have been macadam- ized.
The school trustees are Dr. C. Q. Shull, Thomas Shull and L. S. Nail. The school- house, brick, two stories high, with four rooms, besides a hall and a recitation room, cost $3,500. Children of school age, 252; enrolled, 245; school generally about seven and a half months per year. C. C. Shierrard has been principal for the last three years.
For the physicians and lawyers of Mont- pelier, see chapter entitled " Professional." Dr. C. Q. Shull is the oldest physician in the place, the second to commence practice here, in the neighborhood of 1852. J. C. Mad- dox has been a practicing attorney here ever since 1857. G. A. Mason, now in partner- ship with him, was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in April, 1886, and to that of this county in May following. Thomas Slater was admitted to the bar about 1870, and is still practicing some. He has been justice of the peace for a time. Full sketches of some of these gentlemen may be found elsewhere in this work by the index.
SOCIETIES.
The Freemasons once liad a lodge at Mont- pelier, numbering at one time as many as forty members, but surrendered their charter February 6, 1883.
Montpelier Lodge, No. 410, 1. 0. 0. F., was organized February 1, 1873, Grand Mas- ter John W. McQuiddy and Grand Secretary B. F. Foster signing the charter. The pres- ent membership is forty-seven. Officers- George B. Rollf, Noble Grand; L. L. How- 44
ard, Vice Grand; John Twibell, Secretary; William Jarrett, Treasurer; E. W. Gale, Financial Secretary; T. B. Warden, Warden; J. V. Geary, Conductor; Calvin Shields, Outer Guard; John A. G. Miller, Inner Guard; Thomas Shull, District Deputy.
Social Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, No. 129, was organized September 21, 1874. Richard Orrin, Grand Master, and B. F. Fos- ter, Grand Secretary, signed the charter. The lodge is still alive and in a flourishing con- dition.
Lu Loo Sa Tribe, No. 71, Improved Or- der of Red Men, was organized December 19, 1884, by M. G. Mock, of Muncie, Dis- trict Deputy Grand Sachem, with seventeen members. The first officers were George Frish, Sachiem; George B. Rollf, Senior Sag- amore; Jacob V. Geary, Junior Sagamore; Daniel Arnold, Prophet; S. L. Vanhorn, Chief of the Records; George Saunders, Keeper of the Wampum.
The membership has increased to fifty, and the officers for 1887 are, S. L. Vanhorn, Sachem; O. F. Hall, Senior Sagamore; F. G. Miller, Junior Sagamore; J. H. Twibell, Prophet; Henry C. Geary, Chief of the Re- cords; William Twibell, Keeper of Wam- pum. The tribe meets every Monday night, in their well equipped wigwam, where they have a nice initial collection of Indian relics, stuffed birds and animals, etc.
Johnson Post, No. 368, G. A. R., is named from two brothers, fine young men, who were killed early in 1863 in a little skir- mish in Mississippi. The post was instituted in July, 1885, by Mustering Officer Ezra M. Stahl, of Hartford City, with about fifteen members, and the following officers: George B. Rollf, Post Commander; Eli Arnold, Senior Vice-Commander; E. K. Corey, Jun- ior Vice Commander; and Daniel Arnold, Adjutant. The post declined, and in the
754
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
spring of 1887 was reorganized, having now a membership of nineteen. Present officers: George B. Rollf, Post Commander; J. C. Sommerville, Senior Vice-Commander; Hi- ranı Fogle, Junior Vice-Commander; C. C. Remington, Chaplain; Daniel Arnold, Ad- jutant; Daniel Kritz, Quartermaster. The post meets every Saturday night, in the Red Men's " wigwam."
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has a present membership of 155. Trustees-E. H. Hinshaw, George B. Rollf, O. F. Hall, J. T. Coud, Peter Shewalter; class-leaders-E. H. Hinshaw and George B. Rollf; stewards -Dr. H. H. Bennett, E. H. Hinshaw and Jacob Carr; trustees of parsonage-Dr. H. H. Bennett, Dr. C. Q. Shull, S. S. Neil, Thomas Dodds, Jacob Miller, T. S. Shinn, Charles Chaney and E. A. Shook; pastor - Rev. C. Il. Beechgood, a young man, now in his second year in the Northern Indiana Con- ference.
The Salamonia Baptist Church, at Mont- pelier, was organized April 21, 1881, by Rev. B. Howard, with eleven members, and S. Goodin, clerk, and James R. and Clinton Smith, deacons; Ella Spaulding, treasurer. The present membership is seventy-five. Deacons-Thomas Shull, Jonas Hoover and E. P. Henderson; treasurer, Frankin Spease. Sunday-school is maintained all the year, with an average attendance of seventy; superintendent, Thomas Shull. Pastor, Rev. J. W. Stark, a resident, Pastors of the past, Rev. J. E. Lakey, V. O. Fritz and B. How- ard. The house of worship, 36 x 54, brick, and splendidly finished, was erected in 1886, at a cost of $3,000.
The Disciples' Church was organized the last time in 1878, the minister serving at the
time being John A. Mavity, who moved to this place, remained about a year, and then moved to Franklin, this State. The number of members at the time of organization was about thirty. Lewis Crozier was the local elder, and M. C. Wood and Job Gale the deacons. The present membership is twenty- five. Mr. Crozier is still elder, and the deacons are Nathan Henderson and J. I. Mc- Grew. This church has had a union Sunday- school. Other preachers here have been Dr. Hammond, who resided here at the time, Enos W. Polly, of Camden, etc. Preaching, once a month. Met for a time in Shull's Hall, and afterward in a school-house near Matamoras.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Montpelier has always been weak, and the preaching of a missionary character. Some sort of union with the Reformed element has been maintained, but some differences of opinion, especially on secret society relations, have had a disintegrating effect. The church building, a frame 25 x 30 feet, was erected about 1857 or '58, and deeded both to the Lutherans and the Reformed, but both the trustees turned out to be Reformed. John Gruber and William Schmidt are deacons, but the former is a Reformed. The society was first organized as Presbyterian, about thirty years ago, disbanded about 1877, and was re-organized about three years ago. There are now only six families holding their membership here. Rev. W. J. Schroyer, of Hartford City, was the last pastor; preaching once a month during the summer seasons of 1884 and 1885.
The Catholic Church, after religious ser- vices had been held for some time previously, was established here in 1866. or '67, and about the same time their church building, a frame 30 x 45 feet in size, was erected, the material for it being hauled from Fort Wayne.
755
MONTPELIER.
Tlie congregation at present comprises about a dozen families, who attend mass once a month. Fathers Benaway, Moore, Blackman, Seedslach and Von Schwiedler have served as pastors here. The present priest is Father William Schmidt, of Muncie.
TEMPERANCE.
The citizens of Montpelier and vicinity are very temperate, and saloons have been few and far between. The usual temperance movements have been initiated here, but the mnost conspicuous temperance revivals of late have been the " crusade " of 1874-'75, when several heroines took to the street, prayed, sang and argned with certain saloonists, bought the liquor of one of them and emptied it ont upon the street; and the Murphy or " blue ribbon " movement, when something over a hundred donned the badge. O. B. Boone and William Twibell deserve credit for their energy in leading on the temperance elements.
The Montpelier Gas and Oil Mining Com- pany was organized early in the spring of 1887, comprising R. C. Bell, President; W. W. Worthington (Superintendent of the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad), Secretary and Treasurer, and Mr. Ferguson, of Fort Wayne, and Dr. C. Q. Shull and T. C. Neil, of Montpelier. They were organized as a stock company, with a capital of $50,000, which is divided in shares of $25 each. Drilling was commenced during the latter part of March, just west of the railroad, but was attended witlı ill luck, as a strange alternation of hard rock and clay prevented the drill from going down straight, during the first two or three attempts, within the first hundred feet from the surface. During the montli of June, however, they succeeded in striking a magnificent flow of gas.
The Montpelier Herald was started during
the month of July, 1877, by E. D. Moffett, formerly of the Decatur Journal. He is an old-timer at the newspaper business, is a genial gentleman, and one of the kind that make friends wherever they go.
CURIOSITIES.
Dr. C. Q. Shull has an interesting variety of these, in the form of Indian and other relics, anatomical and geological specimens, etc., most of which were found in Blackford and adjoining counties.
Arrow-points, spear-heads, stone hatchets and axes, pestles and mortars, pipes of Min- nesota pipestone clay and pipes of stone, stone implements, a sliuttle-like piece, per- forated with small, smooth holes as if for drawing cords through theni, a double Cath- olic cross, a copper tomahawk in the form of a grabbing ax, a steel spear with socket, etc., are among his collection of Indian and Mound-Bnilders' relics.
The upper jaw-bone and top cranium of a quadruped found fifteen feet below the sur- face of the glacial drift, mastodon bones, mammoth bones, etc., are in the anatomical department. A mammoth skull from the Godfrey place presents the space of three feet between the eyes. A large portion of that mammoth's skeleton remains in the mud there yet. One Mound-Builder's skull, from subject only twelve years old,-as is evident from the stage of development which the teeth exhibit, is as large as the skull of a full-grown man of modern type. This was found in a mnound, accompanied with cup- shaped vessels. With such mounds and rel- ics the Salamonia River abounds.
Among the palæontological specimens are chain coral from the Salamonia near by, a beautiful fossil plant, the fragment of a tree which was eight feet long when found, and a portion of which now stands in the front
756
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
yard of the doctor's residence, ammonite im- pressions, trilobites from the drift, etc., be- sides geodes and other specimens of rock and mineral.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
Shinn's Chapel, or Blackford Church, Methodist Episcopal, in the northeastern corner of the township, and northwestern cor- ner of Jay County, is the place where a flour- ishing society of eighty members worship. The building will seat 200. The trustees are Darius Shinn, E. A. Shook, Jacob Miller,
Peter Miller and S. Kirkwood. Class-leader' John J. Hanna; Stewards, Darius Shinn and E. A. Shook.
Matamoras, a mile or two up the river, was started as a village even before Montpe- lier; but " there's nothing there now."
Slocum postoffice is on the southeast cor- ner of section 27.
In Harrison Township, outside of Mont- pelier, are 591 children of school age, four brick school-houses and six frame. Popula- tion in 1880, 1,545, besides 618 in Montpe- lier.
6
KGW
757
AROUND THE COUNTY.
AROUND THE
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
HE town of Mill- grove, about seven miles southeast of Hartford City, has about thirty families. It was laid out about 1867 or '68, on land owned by Robert Sawyer, and named by J. C. Robbins.
William Henry Robbins is station and express agent. A small triangular lot in front of the station building is kept as a beautiful park under the care of the Messrs. Robbins. Robert Lanning and William Davis kecp general stores.
Mrs. M. D. Ream has been postmistress since 1883, and also keeps a grocery.
B. F. Caldwell's residence is a good place for travelers to stop.
Samuel Dowden is the blacksmith.
Harrison & Tharp, since February, 1886, have run a saw-mill here, employing about five hands most of the year, with a twenty-
five horse power engine. Mill was built in 1866 by Knight & Reeves.
Ludy & Lanning, since 1880, liave owned and conducted a tile-mill, manufacturing now about 10,000 rods of tile annually. They also make brick. Dr. J. E. McFarland is the physician.
A fine brick school-house, two stories high, is to be erected this season. Eighty-one pupils are enrolled in the public school here.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Mill- grove was organized in the spring of 1874, by Rev. Robert Ransom. He and Rev. George W. Bowers preached here alternately. They were followed by Revs. Smith, John Pierce (who died while on the work), Brew- ington, J. Albright, B. Sawyer, A. J. Lewel- len, and A. A. Pittenger, the present pastor, assisted by Rev. Eaton, the " junior " preach- er. The present membership is seventy-two; class-leader, J. C. Kegerries; stewards-S. P. Dowden, M. Orondorff and Henry Barr. Josephus Everett has been a local preacher, and Lewis Reeves was formerly a local preacher at this place, but is now in the itin-
758
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
eracy. Sunday-school is maintained the year round, with an attendance of forty-five, superintended by H. J. Kline.
The church edifice, 32 x 45, costing over $1,100, was dedicated January 10, 1885. The exact costcan not be given, as much work was done upon it not charged for. Located north of the village.
The United Brethren Church at Millgrove was organized in 1877, with only seven mnemn- bers, by Rev. Kettner, living west of Mont- pelier. The first class-leader was Newton S. Gothup, or Thomas Ferman. Steward, Theodore Fuqua. The membership has in- creased to about sixty. Present class-leader, Newton S. Gothup. The Sunday-school is union. The house of worship was erected in 1879, is 30 x 40 feet in dimensions, and cost about $1,200. It is located in the southern part of the village. Dedicated by Bishop Weaver, of Dayton, Ohio.
Trenton is a hamlet of about twenty-five residences in the northern portion of Jackson Township, not blessed with a railroad. The name of the postoffice here is Priam, there being another Trenton in the State.
The place was laid out January 20, 1845, by Robert H. Lanning, Ezekiel Lanning, Basel Anderson and William Cortriglit.
The present postmaster is Ezra Armstrong. Armstrong & Son and George Cortright keep general merchandise; William Keiger and Peter F. Diehl, drug-stores; Zopher Evans
runs a saw-mill, and Marion Creek a tile-mill. Dr. L. C. Landon is the physician. Dr. H. C. Davisson, who practiced here many years, lias removed to Hartford City. Dr. Landon, who has been a resident here all his life, lias been a physician for the last fifteen years. John T. Fair and one other man have black- smith shops. A tannery was formerly in operation at this point.
Converse (or Kingsley) is a flag station about two miles southeast of Millgrove, and was named after Dr. Converse, an early rail- road president of Union City. There is neither store, mill nor postoffice at this point, the principal institution being-
The Methodist Church, a large, nice frame building, erected in 1867, estimated value $1,000. In 1870 the society was geographi- cally divided, a portion going to Dunkirk, leaving there at present sixty full members and thirty probationers. The large number of the latter is due to a revival enjoyed there last winter. The present class-leaders are- D. P. Wilson and William Schrack; stewards, S. M. Barnes, W. L. Fulkerson and Aaron Clouse. Sunday-school is maintained all the year, with an average attendance of sixty pupils and twelve officers and teachers, super- intended by S. M. Barnes.
In Jackson Township are 710 children of school age, five brick school-houses and nine frame.
759
MISCELLANEOUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
FORT WAYNE, CINCINNATI & LOUISVILLE
RAILROAD.
ALTHOUGH this was the first railroad proposed through this county, it was not the first one com- pleted. January 15, 1849, is the date of the first act of the Legislature, incorporating the Fort Wayne & Southern Rail- road Company, and authorizing them to build a road from Fort Wayne, through Bluffton and Hartford City, to Muncie, there to connect with a link running to Louisville, Kentucky. The capital stock was fixed at $500,000, to be raised, if thought the emergency shouldrequire it, to $750,000; shares $25 each. The in- corporators named, who were resident in Blackford County, were: George S. How- ell, Lewis Bailey, Jacob Brugh, William T. Shull, William F. Jones and Josiah Twibell.
The first company sold out to the "Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Company," who were to build the road from Fort Wayne to Jeffersonville. The first directors in this county were Joseph C. Maddox, of Mont- pelier, and David M. Mercer, of Hartford City. Other leading men in the county to aid the enterprise, were S. R. Shelton, Elias Craw, etc. Public meetings were held throughout the county, and both publicly and privately, donations were solicited and sub- scribed.
The first president of the road was Dr. S. P. Anthony; secretary, W. F. Jones, and treasurer, J. S. Buckles. Subsequently, William Rockhill, of Fort Wayne, was elected president; W. F. Jones, of Hartford City, clerk, and Dr. S. P. Anthony (of Mnn- cie?), treasurer.
In the spring of 1852, a survey was or- dered to be made by W. J. Holman, who completed the task that year, and estimated
.
760
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
the cost of constructing the road from Fort Wayne to Muncie, at nearly $600,000.
Some grading was done along the route, in irregular sections, but the company, not being familiar with the immense cost of rail- road construction, soon found that they had undertaken more than they could perform, and failed. The consequence was that the subscribers lost about all they had put in. Mr. Mercer, of Hartford City, the heaviest subscriber in this county, lost about $5,000. Stock in the road ran down, and was bought up at a low figure by speculators, who util- ized it for their own benefit.
The enterprise was afterward picked up by the present company, when the county do- nated $25,000, and Harrison Township $5,000, the company obliging themselves to run a train of cars through from Fort Wayne to Muncie by the first of August, 1870. They did not, however, get their first train through until September 12, that year, and thereupon the board of commissioners rc- fused to pay them the money. The company sucd the board, and after a tedious suit iu the courts, finally obtained judgment, and the county had both principal and costs (about $9,000, to pay.
PITTSBURG, CINCINNATI & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD.
The principal man in Blackford County to aid this road was William Frash, one of the directors, while many other citizens " took stock." Some of these lost to some extent, as they sold their stock when it was running at a low figure.
The road on this line was proposed as early as 1862, and the various companies that have had it, either by possession, mortgage or lease, are named in the history of Jay Conn- ty, on a preceding page. The line was com- pleted to Hartford in 1867.
To give some idea of the amount of busi- ness done by this road at Hartford City sta- tion, we give the figures for December for tlie last two years, which is a month for a comparatively small proportion of the traffic. In December, 1885, freight forwarded, 2,172,540 pounds; revenue, $2,337.54; freiglit received, 1,206,672 pounds; revenue, $339,- 63. In December, 1886, freight forwarded, 3,291,760 pounds; revenue, $3,222.02; freight received, 1,282,134 pounds; revenue, $604.52.
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