USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical memoirs of Wells County, Indiana : embracing a comprehensive compendium of local biography, memoirs of representative men and women of the county whose works of merit have made their names imperishable, and special articles by Hugh Dougherty [et al.] > Part 3
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for the sale. It is interesting to record that the "purchasers should have the priv- ilege of cutting all timber that might en- danger themselves or their property." The first lot sold for ninety-two dollars, and others brought proportionate prices, while the occasion was a notable one in the new county. To Mr. Case was issued the first tavern license in the county, and his first caravansery was succeeded by the Exchange Hotel, also conducted by him. It was long a landmark at the southeast corner of Main and Market streets and a place prolific in memories of the old stage-coach days. Ten per cent of the funds derived from the sale of lots was reserved, with rare foresight, for a county library, an institution that has kept pace with the progress of the inter- vening years and which is a distinct credit to the county. An addition of fifty-six lots was made to the original plat in August, 1838, and since that time many additions have been platted to accommodate the con- secutive growth and development of the city. Continuing further mention of the in- ception of our now attractive county capi- tal, we quote from a previous publication as to the nature of early "improvements" and conveniences : "The next month (Sep- tember,' 1838) John Studabaker, the first merchant in Bluffton, obtained from the commissioners license to sell merchandise. He erected a log cabin, with clapboard doors, into which he moved his meager stock. This he bartered, instead of selling for cash, coonskins and furs being the com- mon medium of exchange. Coonskins were practically legal tender. He had no oc- casion for burglar-proof safes. About the same time the clerk's office was built, and these two fabrics then comprised all the im-
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provements on Market street, the view be- tween them being obstructed by timber of various dimensions, so that strangers had generally to be piloted from one to the other." Mr. Studabaker became one of the most prominent and influential citizens and business men of the county, and still con- tinues to be actively concerned in the busi- ness and financial affairs of Bluffton.
The population of Bluffton in 1840 was two hundred and twenty-five, while accord- ing to the census of 1900 it has 4,479 in- habitants, its growth having been consecu- tive and of normal character, while it com- pares more than favorablly with other cities of comparative population in the state .. Its first board of trustees comprised the follow- ing named citizens : Lewis S. Grove, Joseph A. Williams, Engler Starr, William Strode and Nelson Kellogg. The place was in- corporated on the 12th of February, 1851, and David Angle was chosen its first mayor and Theodore Horton clerk, while the mem- bers of the first council' were Thomas L. Wisner, Bowen Hale, John Eby and C. T. Melsheimer; marshal, John' Plessinger ; treasurer, Erastus K. Bascom; street com- missioner, George McDowell. The original council proceeded to transact its business with due decorum and dignity, and its first ordinances had to do with the imposition of a dog tax and a proper tax on real and personal property, with the customary poll tax of fifty cents, returns from this last source being applied to street improve- ment./ Another ordinance imposed a fine for riding or driving faster than a common trot within the corporate limits, save in case of seeking the services of a physician, while regulations were made in regard to shooting for sport, gambling or disorderly conduct and the sale of spirituous liquors.
The city of today has a good representa- tion of manufacturing industries and well equipped mercantile establishments; its business blocks are, in the main, of attract- ive and substantial order, the public im- provements have been made with due con- servatism and yet with a liberality which has provided the best of accessories in the line; the school and church buildings indi- cate the progressive attitude and the ad- vanced moral status of the community, and here are to be found in significant evidence the various social and fraternal organiza- tions which make for the bettering of con- ditions and for the enjoyment of the people of any community. Civic pride is in evi- dence on every hand, and is in no particu- lar more patently exemplified than in the many beautiful homes, the spirit of emula- tion and appreciation being shown in the care given to even the more unpretentious residences, very few neglected properties marring the symmetry and attractiveness o+ the well kept streets. Bluffton is essentially a modern little city, in all the term implies ; it is a prosperous city, both as a municipal- ity and through individual enterprise, and its people are so placed as to have the "gold- en mean" of neither poverty or great riches, so that social intercourse is fixed on the most happy basis. In this article it is not intended to give more than a reminiscent glance at any one topic of the county his- tory of the early days, or more than a word of inference as to present conditions, but it is hoped that this brief review will indicate more than superficially appears and will complement the more significant record ap- pearing in the personal sketches of those who have here lived and labored.
Within the borders of Wells county are found many villages and hamlets of attract-
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ive order, while in the southern portion marked advancement has been made in these minor towns through the development of the oil industry, whose importance is cer- tain to become scarcely second to that of agriculture in this section. Ossian, a beau- tiful little village of about six hundred population, is located about nine miles north of Bluffton and was laid out by the town- ship trustees on the 14th of March, 1850. It is located in Jefferson township and is a progressive town, with the best class of citizenship. The first settlers of Jefferson township were Samuel Ogden and Robert and William Craig, who here located in 1837, while in the following year came Richard Treenary, Thomas and James Fer- guson, Robert Ewell and Adam Hatfield, while among the other early settlers were John Davis, Jacob Bunn, Levi Young, Samuel Weston, John Snyder, Joseph Hat- field, J. R. Lefever, Jacob and Martin King, William Webster, John Ogden, two bear- ing the name of Martin King, Joseph Gor- rell, William Quackenbush and Ellison Covert. The first township election was held April 6, 1840, at the house of William Craig, and the following officers were elect- ed : Trustees, Philip Sower, Richard Tree- nary and Adam Hatfield; clerk, George Weston; treasurer, Jacob Bunn; justice of the peace, Samuel Weston. The Ferguson road, running east and west, a half mile north of Ossian, to Decatur, was the first road opened in the township. Near the center of Liberty township is located the village of Liberty Center, which was laid out November 12, 1878, by John W. Rinear and John Ernst, and which is now a thriving town. The village of Poneto lies partly in Liberty and partly in Harrison
township and has a population of about three hundred, the major portion of the town being in Liberty township. It was laid out by Simeon Tappy, on the 4th of September, 1871. The present name was given to the place in 1880. The first set- tlers in Liberty township were James Jack- son and Henry Mossburg, who came here in the winter of 1836-7, while among those who took up their abode here within the years immediately following were G. H. and Johnson King, James Jackson, David Chapman, Stuart Bolton, Benjamin Men- denhall, John McFarren, David Goings, George Sparks, George P. Mann, James M. Merriman, John Hupp, John Muncie and Jacob First. The organization of the town- ship occurred on the first Monday of April, 1842, at the home of Johnson King, and on this occasion the first election was held, there being nine voters present. The first road through the township was surveyed with a pocket compass, in 1839 or 1840, and ran from Bluffton to Jackson township, passing to the right of Liberty Center. This road was long since abandoned, and its course is now marked by cultivated fields. The next highway was the present north and south road running through Liberty Cen- ter on a section line. Vera Cruz, according to the last federal census, had a population only one individual short of the two hun- dred mark. It is located about seven miles southeast of Bluffton, on the other side of the river, and has retained some prestige as a trading point, though it has declined somewhat in population, being not on a line of railroad. Its founders were James Hig- gins and Christian Sowers and its establish- ment dates back to 1848, the place being known as Newville until about 1870, when
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the present name was adopted. It was in- corporated in 1870.
Rock Creek township has within its confines the little village of Rockford, the postoffice being Barber's Mills, the town dating its inception back to 1849, while it is most picturesquely situated on the little stream which gives title to the township. The first settlers in Rock Creek township were Solomon Johnson, Benjamin Brown, Solomon Sparks and Isaac DeWitt, who here located in 1835, while within the fol- lowing two years came William and Allen Redding, Thomas T. Smith, John Zeke, David Snyder, William Barton, Thomas and Samuel Wallace, Mason Powell, Wil- liam Ellingham and Jacob Miller. The first election in this township, which at that time included the present townships of Union, Liberty, Chester and Jackson, was held on the 8th of May, 1839, at the house of Benjamin Brown, who served as inspect- or and who was also honored with election as the first justice of the peace. Another writer has spoken of this township as fol- lows: "Rock Creek is pre-eminently the most improved township in Wells county, if not in the whole state of Indiana. Nearly every resident appears to be a rich landlord, and scarcely any one a renter. The road running south from the Wabash river three miles, along the middle line of the township, is a royal highway and deserves some fancy name, as the land is high and the scenery beautiful."
In Union township are found the vill- ages of Zanesville (a portion of which lies in 'Allen county ), Uniondale and Prospect, none of which are lacking in attractions. Union township was organized in 1847, im- mediately after the extinguishing of the
Indian title to the same, which had been in the Miami Indian reservation. The settlers in that year were William Rosseau, James Edmundson, John Wandel, Joseph Rich, Joseph Davis, Milton Davis, E. Bagley and Jacob Dewitt. Others who came soon afterward were A. Housel, William Walker, John Felts, William Bell, S. B. Cal- ey, Henry Chrismore, Simon Krewson, Michael Mason, James Cartwright, L. S. Walker and Robert McBride. Joseph Rich was the first incumbent of the office of justice of the peace.
Lancaster township was organized in 1841, as has been previously noted, and within its borders as at present constituted were made some of the earliest settlements in the county. In this township is located the town of Murray, which is the postoffice name of the old town of Lancaster, where was made the first village settlement in the county. Near this place Dr. Joseph Knox took up his abode in 1829, as the first white man to establish a home in the county, as has been previously mentioned in this ar- ticle. In the connection it has also been noted that he and the few other settlers in the vicinity fled from the county at the time of the Indian troubles culminating in the Black Hawk war. The town of Murray was laid out October 17, 1839, by Jesse Gerhard, and two or more additions have been made to the original plat. The town is beautifully situated on the north bank of the Wabash river, but on account of its proximity to the county seat and on the score that it has remained without railroad facilities, its commercial precedence has not kept pace with the advance of years, though it is one of the attractive villages of the state and the home of worthy and progress-
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WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA.
ive citizens. The first justice of the peace in the township of Lancaster was James Dailey, and another who was called to the same office shortly afterward was Benjamin Brown.
Chester township was organized March I, 1841, when the first election occurred at the house of Jonas Jarrett, while among the early settlers within its confines may be mentioned the following: Henry McCul- lick, Newton Putnam, Alpheus T. Stevens, Wilson Brown, Thomas Blunt, John Lan- caster, Benjamin Starr, Jonas Jarrett, Isaac Lancaster, Alexander Walker, John Mc- Cullick, J. Brotherton, Levi Phillips, Frank- lin Spaulding and James Jordan, all of whom came prior to 1840, which year wit- nessed the arrival of Samuel and Nathan Rice, while prior to 1843 came Joseph H. McGrath, Thomas Hulet, Sewell Snow, Daniel and Joseph Sells and James Bell. The little hamlet of Keystone is located near the center of this township, the same having been laid out in April, 1872, by an honored pioneer of the locality, Luther Twibell.
So fully is the history of Harrison town- ship, as at present constituted, coincident with the city of Bluffton, which is located near the center of its northern border, that further data is scarcely demanded in regard to the same. The first settlers within the present limits of the township were Charles Bennett and Thomas W. Van Horn, who took up their abode here in 1834, while others who came prior to 1840 were as fol- lows: Gabriel and John Markley, Robert C. Bennett, Sr., Adam Miller, James Guth- rie, Almon Case, John Burgess, Michael Myers, A. W. Johnson, Daniel Miller, Michael Whitmer, John Studabaker, Amos Townsend, C. Chalfant, Nelson Kellogg,
William Studabaker, John A. Deam and William Concannon. As has been previous- ly noted, this was one of the original two townships into which the county was di- vided, the other having been Rock Creek. When it was erected, in July, 1837, it com- prised its present territory besides that in- cluded in Nottingham township and the east three-fourths of Lancaster and Jefferson townships.
Nottingham township, whose oil fields are under process of effective development, was organized January 4, 1841, in which year its first election was held, in the Hite cabin, on section 14, fifteen votes being polled. The first settler in this township was Joseph Blacklege, in 1837, while in the following year came John Dawson, Abram Stahl, John Nutter, Jacob Warner, Lyman Bass, Hezekiah Grimes, Peter Garner, Isaac and Edward Haynes, Robert Smith and William Nutter. Among the villages and hamlets within this township may be mentioned Nottingham, Ruth, Petroleum, Domestic, Derrick and Phenix. Jackson township, to whose title of the "lost" town- ship we have already made reference, was organized September 4, 1837, and origin- ally included the present township of Ches- ter. The township has three or more small villages and includes some of the finest ag- ricultural land in this section of the state, as well as stone for building purposes, while its oil prospects are also flattering. The first permanent settlers came in 1836, be- ing Nathaniel Batson, Daniel Jones and Le- ander Morrison, while others who located here prior to 1840 were Elijah Y. Graves, Christopher Miller, Philip Roush, Isaac Wright, Andrew Morrison, Richard and N. McIntire, Robert Alexander and Dorsey
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Mason. The first road opened traversed the township in a northeasterly direction from the northeast corner of section 29, and was known as the Bluffton road. Excellent drainage is furnished by the Salamonie river, which traverses the township with good results.
In conclusion we may say that while the work of advancement in Wells county has gone successfully forward from those early days when was essayed the task of initiat- ing the work of reclaiming this now opulent and favored section of the state from the untrammeled wilds, the particular object of this publication is to recite the story of prog- ress, not through the specific recounting of the stages of such advancement, but rather to permit the record to assume symmetry and consistency through a consideration of the individual careers and accomplishments of those worthy men and women through whose efforts the present prosperity and precedence have been attained. Wells
county has sustained within its confines men who have been well able to play their assigned parts as founders and builders, and women of gracious, self-abnegating char- acter. That nation is greatest which pro- duces the greatest and most manly men and faithful women, and the intrinsic safety of a community depends not so much upon methods as upon that normal development from whose deep resources proceeds all that is precious and permanent in life. Such a result may not conscientiously be contem- plated by the actors in the great social drama. Pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, the result comes as a logical sequence. In view of these facts who can doubt as to the permanent value of a publi- cation of this nature? Let future genera- tions learn through its pages the story which tells of the upbuilding of Wells county, while in the conditions which today obtain do we find an earnest of what the future is to bring forth.
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS OF WELLS COUNTY.
BY HON. HUGH DOUGHERTY.
To write on the subject of the industrial progress of Wells county should be a pleas- ant theme and an easy task, for it has been wonderful indeed. In these days of en- lightenment and progress we are apt to for- get what has brought opportunity to us and fail to appreciate the effort it has cost those who stood the hardships of frontier life, that we who follow may enjoy such wonderful opportunity to obtain knowledge, luxury and wealth. We fear that many of the youth whose advantages are now so abundant will not attempt a vigorous struggle to honor their own existence, as well as the patron saints who have put within their reach such great possibilities, yet we must not be pessi- mistic.
The best education, which is the only sure foundation upon which industrial prog- ress can be advanced, is gained while strug- gling for a living, but there must be a de- termined purpose to acquire this knowledge, for we will not only through poverty and
take too much time and space, besides it is lack of means learn industry, frugality and independence of character, but will possess a sense of manliness and a broader useful- ness in our chosen pursuits of life. As a rule those in moderate circumstances will surpass the sons and daughters of the rich in development and more fully enjoy the confidence of the world and will avoid fail- ure and win success in their plans of opera- tion. This, I think, is fully demonstrated in the progress of this county since its organ- ization, for it was not the rich man's sons and daughters who laid the foundation for industrial progress, who were the pioneers and developed and made this one of the greatest counties in the state.
We are sure the reader will pardon the digression if we give a partial list of the men whom we found in Wells county open- ing the way for civilization when we came to adopt this as our future home in 1865. We will not be able to name all, as that would
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not the purpose of this article, but a few of those who compose the roll of honor were Judge Jonathan Garton, Henry Miller, Will- iam Studabaker, John Markley, Gabriel Markley, John G. French, Chads Chalfant, Jacob Warner, James Bryson, Nathaniel Batson, Lemuel Bachelor, Abel Johnson, Chas. Rinear, David H. Drummond, Robert Roberts, Peter Sowerwine, Samuel Cotton, Jacob Haflich, Jacob Miller, John Ogden, John W. Davenport, George Gavin, James Dailey, Hiram Hatfield, Joseph Seaman, Joseph Rich, James Cartwright, Joseph Gar- rett, James Wasson, Martin Gilbert, Jacob Stahl, Bowen Hale and many more we would be pleased to mention if space would permit, all now having gone to their eternal reward.
Of one thing we are sure, no county was ever blessed with a more sturdy and honored citizenship than has been Wells county in the past, and of which the foregoing names were representatives.
The writer's personal knowledge of Wells county dates back only to November 5, 1865, at which time there was not a gravel road, railroad nor any of the important ditches constructed. Bluffton being the county seat, was the largest town, having then less than eight hundred inhabitants. The most important improvements in Bluff- ton at that time were three brick business blocks. The best and most imposing was built by John Studabaker, now occupied by the "Top," which included the east half of Bender & Walmer's store and the building adjoining these on the north, and one brick building where George F. McFarren's store building now stands, which was torn away some years ago to give way to the more spa- cious building which he now occupies ; the 3
third one is now occupied by Cline & Zim- mer's hardware store and was built by Drs. Melsheimer and McCleery. There were scarcely any sidewalks and those were made of plank; there were no crossings, so that pedestrians had but little use for shoe black- ing, as they would not be able to cross the street after their shoes were polished without losing their lustre. The school houses of the town would scarcely accommodate one hun- dred students and the seating capacity of all the churches would not be more than three hundred. The court house, jail and other public improvements were on the same line ; the private homes were no more pretentious, and still the town was ahead of the country at that time.
There were no gravel roads, the farmers doing well during the muddy season if they averaged getting to town twice a month. On this account there was very little read- ing matter found in the country homes. Dr. B. F. Cummins, who had a large country practice, once said to me that he was always prepared with paper in which to do up his powders, as he could not rely on the people to furnish it. For at least three months, and some times as much as five months, in the year it was impossible for farmers to get to town with their wagons, and in order to get over the corduroy roads and through the mud they were frequently to be found with a yoke of oxen or two horses hitched to the front wheels of a wagon, with a load of but two bags of wheat, the toilsome trip being necessary for the purpose of having the lat- ter ground into flour for family use.
The main outlet for trade was Fort Wayne. There had been, several years pre- vious, a plank road built from Fort Wayne to Bluffton, but the planks had become worn
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out and in many places had broken through, which made it impossible for heavy freight to be hauled in a wagon, so when snow came in the winter, with good sleighing, all the teamsters in and about the town were em- ployed to haul the produce and provisions to the market. A hack made the trip one way each day to Fort Wayne and return. It usually had four horses, though in the mud- dy season of the year they were unable to pull the hack and its passengers, so that very · often the latter were compelled to get out and walk a good portion of the way. The writer paid two dollars for his hack fare from Fort Wayne to Bluffton on his first trip here, which reduced his total wealth to less than four dollars. After leaving Fort Wayne and driving about seven miles, we found the road so bad that the passengers found it more comfortable and speedy to walk. We would not have complained of this, if we had not been compelled to assist in prying out the hack on several occasions. This trip was made in April with the pur- pose in view of taking a view of the country, but the writer soon decided not to remain ; later on, however, in the following autumn he returned to stay.
This condition of roads and transpor- tation improved but little until the spring of 1868, when John Studabaker received a letter from D. T. Haines, of Muncie, saying there was a chance to get a railroad from Fort Wayne to Muncie, and thereupon Mr. Studabaker promptly joined Mr. Haines and Louis Worthington, of Cincinnati, at the Rockhill House, Fort Wayne, where a number of gentlemen from that city met them and at the conference it was proposed to construct the road if Wells county would contribute one hundred thousand dollars to
the enterprise and if responsible private citi- zens would guarantee this amount by a bond to be executed by them therefor. Public sentiment was strong enough to have voted a donation to this amount by the county, but there was no statute authorizing the vote or an appropriation for railroad purposes, so there was no other way to do but to create a sentiment strong enough to induce the county commissioners to appropriate the money without regard to existing laws. With that indomitable will and energy which has made John Studabaker's business life such a success, he proposed that the bond should be signed by four hundred citizens, all real estate owners, he first putting his name to the bond. Then a canvass was made of the county, meetings held and speeches made, until the four hundred free- holders' names were secured. Immediately following this Mr. Studabaker was made a director of the railroad. The contract was let to Byrd, Sturgis & Ney, of Fort Wayne, and the work was commenced and prog- ressed for three months. The desire on the part of the people of Bluffton to have the road completed at an early date caused fre- quent inquiries to be made as to the progress, when it was found that the contractors were not paying their hands, nor for the material, but that each member of the firm had re- ceived the pay for the monthly estimate and kept the money. The writer was sent by Mr. Studabaker to see what could be done to hurry the work along, when he accident- ally overheard a conversation that divulged the fact that the Junction Railroad, of which Louis Worthington was the president, and which was supposed to be furnishing the money to build our railroad, was in financial trouble. When
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