USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > Biographical and historical record of Vermillion County, 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 Vermillion county, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the county and its villages > Part 28
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General Harrison, Henry Clay, Daniel Web- ster, etc., besides many Georgia " colonels." Prominent men of Indiana were often his guests. Ile was the leading spirit in all pub- lic mass meetings in his neighborhood as- sembled for deliberation on measures of public welfare. Was president of the Logansport convention, which gave initial direction to the construction of the Wabash Valley Rail- road.
As an agriculturist he was scientific and in advance of all his neighbors,-so far indeed as often to excite their ridicule. He led in the rearing of fine-wooled sheep, and in the cultivation of Switzer lucerne, ruta-bagas, sugar beets, moris multicaulis, Baden corn and hemp. Although these rare things never were remunerative in cash, they paid well in pleasure.
Judge Porter's children were Jolin W., de- ceased, Isaac, Dewey and Abba. Jolin W. married Henrietta, daughter of Andrew Tipton, a neighbor, and their family con- sisted of two sons and four daughters. The widow is still living, on the old homestead. Isaac is a successful business man of Dan- ville, Illinois. Dewey is a farmer on the old homestead. Abba married Dr. Davidson, of California, who afterward returned to this county and died on his farm near the old homestead.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Eugene Township, as will be seen from several pages of this work, is noted for an- tiquities. Besides those related in the intro- ductory chapters of this history, we specify two or three more in this connection, for want of a better classification.
In 1869 Prof. John Collett discovered in a mound near Eugene a small coin upon which was an untranslatable inscription, in char-
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EUGENE TOWNSHIP.
acters closely resembling Arabic. The mound was covered with full-grown forest trees.
Early settlers near Engene found an ax growing in the heart of an oak with 125 rings of growth outside of it, thus indicating that the implement was left there as carly as 1712, probably by a French missionary. While it is generally understood, and is gen- erally trne, that a ring of wood growth indi- eates a year's time, the question has recently been mooted by botanists whether it is always exactly true, as some of them seem to have evidence that there is variation both ways,- that is, that some unfavorable seasons pro- duce no distinct ring, while other and more favorable years sometimes produce two rings. Different kinds of trees, different stages of development and different situations also pro- duce variations.
In zoology, the following incident illus- trates a rare trait of animal nature: One evening about sundown, in April, 1868, as "Eel" Vickers, who lived about four miles northwest of Eugene, was returning home from a house-raising, he was suddenly alarmed by the scream of a lynx, which he soon dis- covered was in pursuit of him. Being un- armed, he dared not give battle, and began to run homeward with all his might. Of course the beast could easily enough have overtaken Vickers at a bound or two, when- ever it desired, but such is feline nature that it occasionally rested a moment and screamed most terrifically. When Viekers approached his house the animal jumped around in front of him, to intercept his passage to the house; bnt at this critical moment the dogs arrived and chased it away. Its previous yelling had alarmed them and brought them out just in time, but with not a second to lose !
November 7, 1874, George Barbour, a cooper from Browntown, went to Eugene, with five or six other hands, and he, with two
or three others, became very drunk. On their way home Barbour was murdered, in this township, and his body so concealed that it was not found until January 18 following, when a man named Smith was passing along the road and chanced to notice a dog at some distance, devouring a suspicions-looking mass! The victim was a man about twenty-four years of age. In his pockets were found several photographs, two or three letters, and a re- ceipt from the Coopers' Union, of Terre HIante, for quarterly dues as a member of that organization.
EUGENE.
This village was laid out by S. S. Collett, in 1827, about the "Big Vermillion" mill of James Groenendyke, on a most eligible site. Samuel W. Malone, the present hotel-keeper, who located here in 1827, is the oldest living resident, and is still an active man. James P. Naylor, father of William L., came the next year.
As previously remarked, Engene is another example of those numerous towns that were killed by the railroad passing just at killing distance; but it is a beautiful place for a quiet residenee. The present population is estimated at about 500. Two or three con- spicnous features strike the stranger who visits the place. One is, a most magnificent row of sugar-maple shade trees for a distance of two squares on the west side of the main business street. Each tree, with a perfectly symmetrical lead, covers an area of forty fect in diameter. In the western part of the village is the most beautiful, perfect, large white elm the writer ever saw.
The ground upon which Eugene is situated is just sandy enough to be good for garden- ing, and at the same time prevent being muddy in rainy seasons. Wells are sunk only eighteen or twenty feet to find the purest
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
water, in a bed of gravel. Several large springs are in the vicinity. The river here, especially below the mill-dam, affords the best fishing of all points probably within a radius of fifty miles or more. Fish weighing sixty pounds or more are sometimes caught, and German carp, one of the planted fish, weighing eight pounds, are occasionally cap- tured.
The country here is all underlaid with coal. There is one vein of nine feet, with only a seam of ten or twelve inches di- viding it.
Among the modern enterprises of Eugene is the organization of the Joint Stock Fair Association, who held their first fair last fall, beginning September 28, 1886. James Ma- lone, President; II. D. Sprague, Vice-Presi- dent; John S. Grondyke, Secretary; M. G. IIosford, Assistant Secretary; H. O. Peters, Treasurer; J. E. Whipple, Assistant Treasurer: J. E. Bennett, Superintendent; G. L. Watson, Assistant Superintendent. Directors J. II. Iles, Samuel Grondyke, N. M. Tutt, Eli Me Daniel, Dr. E. A. Flaugher, Fred IIiberly, William Collett, Henry Dicka- son, Milton Wright, John Lane and James Arrasmith,-a formidable list of the best names in the northern part of the county. Their exhibition last fall was greatly cur- tailed by rainy weather.
On the bank of the river here was erected by James Groenendyke, some time previous to 1824, a water, saw and grist-mill, which, with its successors, has enjoyed the greatest notoriety of all in the county. While Mr. Coleman owned it many years ago, the dam was washed away, and the present mill, erected in 1885, is the third building on the site, two others having been burned down. It is a large roller mill, owned and managed by Samuel Bowers, recently from Danville, Illinois.
There is no newspaper at Engene. The Eugene News Letter was started by Dr. R. M. Waterman at Eugene in 1837, the first newspaper in Vermillion County. It lived but six months. Robert B. Dickason, now of Perrysville, was a compositor in the office. Thus Eugene Township has been the seat of the first and of the last newspapers of the county.
CAYUGA,
or Eugene Station, is the name of the depot at the railroad crossing a mile and a quarter southeast of Engene. An ambitious little village is springing up about the station. A fine grist-mill, several stores, a newspaper, etc., are in full blast. The place was at first called Osonimon, after an Indian chief of that name.
The "Cayuga Mills" were built in 1885 by the Cayuga Milling Company, consisting of Samnel K. Todd, Monroe G. Hosford and . Eli HI. MeDaniel. It is a frame building, 36 x 42 feet, four stories high, and has the full roller process, with a capacity of 100 barrels a day. The engine is the Ide auto- matic, sixty-four-horse power. All the modern improved processes for purifying the wheat and manufacturing first-class flonr are placed in the mill, including the recently invented Case's automatic wheat weigher. Mr. Todd is the experienced miller who runs the works. The mill was built in a wheat-field, and was the first at the station.
May 14, 1887, is the date of the first issue of the Cayuga Journal, by James E. Whipple. It is a six-column folio, "independent in all things and neutral in nothing." The pro- prietor and editor was born at Vinton, Iowa, September 3, 1857, the son of Lucien R. Whipple, who has been a resident of Eugene from 1840 to the present, except a few years in Iowa. Mr. Whipple was brought up in
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EUGENE TOWNSHIP.
Eugene, where he was bookkeeper for Mr. Peters a few years, and was also insurance agent. IIe has been justice of the peace, and is now deputy prosecuting attorney, and secretary of the Cayuga Building and Loan Association. He married Ellen Thompson, daughter of John Thompson, deceased. They have one child, named Blaine.
Among the physicians of Eugene we may mention Dr. R. M. Waterman, who came here previous to 1837 and lived here until his death, about 1867 or '68, except a short time at Lodi, Indiana, whence he entered the army. He was a " regular " physician, from Rhode Island, and started the first newspaper in Vermillion County, as elsewhere noticed. Dr. James McMeen practiced here many years, and in 1886 removed to Danville, Illinois. Dr. William C. Eichelberger is another physician of Eugene.
Previous to 1871 the village of Eugene had but three and a half months' school per annum, the only fund for maintaining it being that which was drawn from the State, and the school-house was an incompetent frame. In 1872-'73, Anthony Fable, the trustec, levied the first tax for the support of schools, and also for the erection of a brick school-house worthy of the place. IIc met with some opposition, a few individuals think- ing he transcended his authority. They obtained an injunction restraining the collec- tion of the tax, but, through the intervention of Messrs. Jump & Eggleston, attorneys at Newport, the injunction was dissolved, and the work went on. The people also were generally convinced that if a new school-house were not built then it would be many years before one would be built. Accordingly the structure was completed in 1873, at a cost of $6,000. It has four rooms; the school is graded, and kept six months in the year; and everything now seems to be proceeding
smoothly. James Malone is the present trustee. Mr. Fable was trustee 1869-'81, and for a time sustained school nine months to the year.
SOCIETIES.
A Masonic lodge was organized at Eugene in 1847, with forty-six or forty-seven mem- bers. Among the first officers were C. M. Comages, Worshipful Master; Harvey Skel- ton, Senior Warden; Dr. R. M. Waterman, Junior Deacon; George Sears, Secretary; Anthony Fable, Treasurer; Mr. Elsley, Tyler. Mr. Fable is the only one of the original official board who is now living. The mem- bership in the course of time reached sixty in number, comprising men from almost all parts of the county. The lodge, however, ran down about thirty years ago, as other lodges were organized at neighboring points and drew away the membership. Newport, Lodi and Perrysville obtained their nuclei from the Eugene lodge. Harvey Skelton was the last master.
Setting Sun Lodge, No. 583, I. 0. 0. F., was organized April 27, 1881, with seventeen members, and the following officers: Will- iam II. Hood, Noble Grand; E. B. Johnson, Vice Grand; H. O. Peters, Treasurer; D. W. Bell, Secretary. The present membership is twenty-seven, and the officers arc: D. L. Pc- ters, Noble Grand; James Thomas, Vice- Grand; J. T. Higgins, Secretary; D. W. Bell, Treasurer.
Eugene Post, No. 22, G. A. R., was or- ganized in 1876, with about twenty-two members, afterward increased to thirty-five, but now there are only ten. The first officers were: William C. Eichelberger, Post Com- mander; E. B. Johnson, Senior Vice-Com- mander; Thomas Thompson, Junior Vice- Commander; William Johnson, Adjutant; L. R. Whipple, Officer of the Day; John C.
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
Pierce. Chaplain, and Van Buren Armour, Present officers: R. M. Sturms, Post Commander; E. B. Johnson, Vice-Com- mander: L. R. Whipple, Adjutant; William J. Ladd. Officer of the Day; William Morris, Officer of the Gnard; Homer Lunger, Chap- lain; Thomas Patrick. Quartermaster; David Cummins, Surgeon.
The Sons of Veterans once organized here and held a few meetings.
Eugene Council, No. 4, Sovereigns of In- dustry. was organized in August, 1874, but surrendered its charter a few months after- ward. It had some thirty-five members. John Grondyke was President. Joseph Mfc- Clellan, Vice-President, and Jesse Wallace, Secretary. The work of the society was mainly of an intellectual and social nature.
Eugene Lodge, No. 351, I. O. G. T., was organized January 24, 1873, and ran until abont 1884, since which time meetings have been suspended. At one time it had as many as seventy members. W. H. Hood was the last elected chief, and H. H. IIosford, lodge deputy. The Good Templars had or- ganized once or twice previously, and "ran down."
The "red-ribbon " movement was intro- duced here by Tyler Mason, and the " blne- ribbon" organization by George Mc Donald. Samnel Chambers, known as "Silvertop," a famous temperance organizer, reorganized the blue-ribbon society, and James Dunn. an old-time rouser, reorganized it again. In February, 1886. a total abstinence society, composed mainly of reformed drunkards, was organized, with Captain W. S. Jewell as President; L. R. Whipple, Vice-President; J. E. Whipple, Secretary; Ben Lang, Treas- urer, and David Higgins, Sergeant-at-Arms. From some canse, but no reason, the society was dubbed the " Reformed Roosters."
The "woman's crusade" never struck Eu-
gene, but a Woman's Christian Temperance Union was established here, of which Mrs. Whitlock was president. The organization was effected by Mrs. Dr. Spotswood and Mrs. Johnson, of Perrysville, but it was snffered to go down.
There is no living temperance organization now in Engene.
THE CHURCHES.
The Eugene Presbyterian Church was first organized in 1826, when the first meetings were held at the house of William Thomp- son, a log cabin a little west of the depot, on the Big Vermillion. The name at first was the " River and County Vermillion Church," and comprised, April 29, 1826, Asa Palmer, William Thompson. William Wilson, Ann Wilson, William Armonr, Ruhama Armour, Eliza Rodman. Hannah Langhlin, Margaret Caldwell, Mary West, Mary Thompson, Lucy Thompson (who afterward became the wife of Samnel Grondyke, Sr.), and Susan Wilson.
The first minister was Rev. James Hnm- mer, and other ministers who have since served have been Revs. Baldridge, Kings- berry, Cozad, Conklin. C. K. Thompson, Venable, Crosby, Henry M. Bacon and W. Y. Allen, of Rockville. During Rev. Ba- con's time, 1856-'59, the church grew to the number of forty communicants. but from that time to 1866 they were without a regu- lar supply. In 1867 Rev. Allen began preaching for them once a month, and the church has sustained services until the pres- ent date. The present pastor is Rev. T. D. Fyffe, of Roseville, who preaches here every four weeks. The ruling elders have been Asa Palmer, William T. Kelly, David Wills, James Steele, Robert Kelly, A. J. Richard- son. R. H. Ellis and Anthony Fable. Mr.
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EUGENE TOWNSHIP.
Fable is the only incumbent of that office at present.
The present membership is about fifty. Sunday-school is maintained all the year, with George L. Watson as superintendent.
The second place of meeting was a brick dwelling, and the third is the present neat frame church, 36 x 60 feet, erected in 1859, in partnership with the Methodists, at a cost of $3,000, and economically built. It is located centrally in the village of Eugene.
The Mount Olivet Cumberland Presby- terian Church is three and a half miles southwest of Eugene.
Eugene we cannot give so complete a history, on account of its more changeful nature, the old records not being kept and the old mem- bers dead or moved away. Of course the Methodists were early organized at this point, as they generally are on the frontier. The members number about fifty: twenty-seven joined last winter. At this writing (June, 1887), there are no class-leaders: the steward is E. McClellan. The society worships in the church which it built in union with the Presbyterians, just described.
At Cayuga the Methodists are about to build a church, although they are not yet
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church at | organized at that point.
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.
PIONEERS.
HE time of arrival or birth in this county of the pioneers is indicated by the years at the head of the respective para- graphs.
1822 .- G. S. Hansicker, born in Virginia in 1792, died about ten or twelve years ago. Ilis son, H. C., was born in this county in 1832. George Ilicks, a soldier of the " Revo- lutionary war " (one says), was a pioncer here; but possibly this is a mistake for George W. HTieks, born in Massachusetts in 1795, and died in 1878. His wife, nee Mary Cur- tis, was born in 1803 and died in 1868. Jacob IIain, born in Pennsylvania in 1799, is dead; his wife is still living.
1823 .- David Goff, born in Connecticut
in 1799, remained a resident here until his death, September 7, 1881. His brother Al- mond died here about twenty years ago, and his brother Brainard moved to La Porte County, this State, where he died. His son Philander, born in 1834, in this township, is still a resident. Lemon Chenowith, who is still living near Perrysville.
1824 .- John Chienowith, settling on the Waba-h. died in 1857. IIe was the father of Lemon, just referred to, and also of Hiram, an older son. Thomas Chenowith was a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1850, and Isaae Chenowith was State Senator 1844-'45. Isaae was born in Kentucky, in 1794, arrived here in March, 1825, and died in April, 1856. William Chenowith, born in Ohio in 1823, was brought here in 1832, and is still a resident here. Solomon M. Jones, born in East Tennessee, April 3, 1812, died Mareh 15, 1887, leaving a family of ten
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HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.
children. He was a soldier in the Black IIawk war. John N. Jones, Sr., was born September 10, 1809, came here in 18-, was a partner of J. F. Smith in milling and mer- chandising for many years, and died June 25, 1874. William Skinner, from Ohio, came this year or previously, and died a few years afterward. His son Norman was born in Ohio in 1816, and died about six years ago, and his son Henry was born in this eounty in 1825, and is still a resident. Thomas Wright, who is said to have brought the first hogs into Vermillion County. One of his oxen dying, he cultivated his first erop of corn with a single ox. Milton Wright, born here in 1832, is living in this township, and Stephen Wright is dead. Both these were sons of Thomas.
1825 .- John Fultz, above Perrysville, died many years ago. His sons were John, An- drew and William V., all deceased. Allen Rodgers, from New Hampshire, died in Iowa or Wisconsin many years ago. J. M. Rodg- ers, his son, born in New Hampshire in 1815, died in the spring of 1887.
1826 .- James Blair, who had settled before this in Engene Township, under which head see a sketch of him. He died at Perrysville, May 11, 1861, aged seventy-nine years, and Sarah C., his wife, October 16, 1872, at the age of seventy-three years. Robert D. Mof- fatt, born in New Jersey in 1812, for many years a merchant at Perrysville, at which place he still resides, retired since 1874. David Beauchamp, in range 10, had a large family, and died about 1870-'75. John W. Beanchamp, born in Ohio in 1821; Andrew, his brother, born in 1828, in this county, is living in Illinois. ITiram Shaw, born in Ohio in 1805; E. G. Shaw, born in this county in 1830, an old resident.
1827 .- Benjamin Whittenmyer, born in Pennsylvania in 1799, died in 1879. His
son Henry is a resident. Parents of Harvey IIunt, who was born in this State in 1820 and is a citizen here still. William Flesh- man, deceased: his son Amos, still living here, was born in Indiana in 1822.
1828 .- Jonas Metzger, a soldier of the war of 1812, from Ohio, died February 9, 1872, aged seventy-eight years. Hle settled first in Eugene Township, and in Highland Township in 1833. Constantine Hughs, from Virginia, deceased; his son Elind, born in that State in 1817, is still living here, as is also Calvin, born in the same State in 1826. Israel, William and John Hughes were pioneers on Coal Branch.
1829 .- William Nicholas, born in Virginia in 1809, still living here. Moses, Daniel and Charles Bowman, from Virginia. Daniel remained here until his death, and Charles died in the West. J. S. Stutler, born in Ohio in 1820, now deceased. Ezekiel San- ders, born in Virginia in 1827, died July 10, 1875. IIe first settled in Eugene or Ver- million Township, it is said.
1830 .- Richard Shute, father of Daniel, John, Epraim, ete. Elisha N. Reynolds, born in Maryland in 1804, died some years ago. G. II. Reynolds, born in 1835, is a resident here. John Tate, born in Ohio in 1807, still living here. Thomas J. Mitchell, born in Ohio in 1808, living in Perrysville. James A. Prather, born in Kentucky in 1814, died here within the last two years. Joseph Briner, now living in Perrysville.
1831 .- Herbert Ferguson, born in Virginia September 15, 1799, died January 26, 1877; Elizabeth B., his wife, was born Jannary 17, 1813, and died May 27, 1884. William T., born in 1832, is their son. Ephraim Betzer, from Ohio, came previous to 1831. Jacob Betzer, born in Ohio in 1805, died four or five years ago. Aaron Betzer went West.
1832 .- Captain Andrew Dennis, a boatman,
1
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
born in New Jersey in 1801, died in Danville a few years ago. John Hoobler, a United Brethren minister, born in Pennsylvania in 1801, died in Illinois. William Trosper, born in Kentucky in 1808, died in this town- ship December 9, 1886. Neliemiah Cossey, from Maryland, first to Parke County and in 1832 to this county; died long ago. His son Peter, born in that State in 1812, is also deceased. Fielding Rabourn, born in Ken- tucky in 1815, died here a few years ago. William H. Carithers from Ohio, long since deceased, was the father of Jonathan, Frank and Henry, all of whom are living. William Callihan, a potter by trade, from Ohio, moved on to Danville; was father of Emanuel and Simeon. M. B. Carter, present county recorder, was born in this county in 1832.
1833 .- J. F., Will P., Thomas H., G. H. and David Smith, from Virginia, born 1812 -'20. G. H. died in 1879; the rest are still living here. Thomas Gonty, this year or previously, died June 10, 1863, aged sixty- one years. Elias, his son, was born here in 1833. Henry Gouty may have settled in this township a year or two later; he died in 1864, and his wife Rebecca died in 1874, at the age of seventy-five years. David Gouty is their son. John S. Kirkpatrick, a miller, born in Kentucky in 1812, lived at Gessie awhile, and moved to Danville, Illinois, where he died. Norman Cade, died soon after arrival. His son David has left the county, and Henry still lives here. Jacob Givens, born in Virginia in 1815, died here. James Hanson, father of Smith Hanson.
1834 .- Jacob Rudy, born in Switzerland in 1818, died within a few years. Martin Rudy, his father, died some years ago. James Rudy is still a resident. Peter Switzer, deceased. His son Wesley, born in Ohio in 1821, is living.
was the father of Joseph and Washington. T. H. Harrison, born in Virginia in 1810, still living in this township.
1836 .- John R. and George II. McNeill, from Maryland. the former born in 1811 and the latter in 1818. Lewis and John Butler, from Ohio, the former born in 1813 and the latter in 1816; Lewis is deceased and John is living in Vermillion Township. Elijah Roseberry, who died May 25, 1857, aged fifty-one and a half years, and Catharine, his wife, who died August 5, 1879, at the age of sixty-nine and a half years. Thomas Cush- man, born in New York in 1814, now a resident of Newport. Has been auditor.
1837 .- James J. Lewis, born in Maryland in 1805; still living here. His son J. A., born in this State in 1835, died several years ago; Joshua, another son, lives at Cayuga; and Meredith resides in this township. Robert J. Gessie, born in Cumberland County, Penn- sylvania, in 1809, is still a resident here (see sketch). Elhanan Stevens, born in Maryland in 1816, is a resident. Price Chezem, long since deceased. Charles Chezem, born in Indiana in 1827 has been long a resident.
1838 .- Walter B. Moffatt born in this State October 4, 1822, died Angust 14, 1882. Iloratio Talbert, long since deceased; his son IIenry, born in Pennsylvania in 1816, died a few years ago. Samuel Harris, born in Virginia in 1819, moved to another section of the country.
1839 .- Jolın Dunlap, deceased, born in Ireland in 1809. Samuel Swingley and Samuel Watt, from Ohio.
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