USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial history of Grant County, Indiana, 1812 to 1912 : compiled from records of the Grant county historical society, archives of the county, data of personal interviews, and other authentic sources of local information > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
This one was inhabited until the present year, though its old-time stick chimney went long ago. It has been spoken of as Uncle Tom's Cabin.
| Editor's Note: One time while touring Richland as a farm news- writer after Thomas Campbell and his wife were both very old, the county historian called at their door and was invited to partake of the meal on their table, "Uncle Tom" explaining that his wife was two months his senior, when she corrected his statement, saying that she was only one month and twenty-nine days older than her lord and master. There is an ax-handle in the Octogenarian Museum in Matter Park made by "Unele Tom, " who was present when the cabin was built, and who asked for a piece of the hickory log ent out for the fireplace, and this ax-handle was made from it. ]
Another early cabin had a great fireplace where logs of six and eight inches were brought in by pony power in the morning and a veritable bonfire built in its deep throat, which lasted all day.
288
ZICHLAND-1001
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
When the season proved so wet that corn to make that bread we've heard so much about could not be raised in sufficiency, the men would go to clear ground for settlers along the river in Wabash county, where they took corn for work.
Money wasn't such a common thing then. One pioneer used to tell how ten dollars in money took his large family through a whole year. If the good hard timber that went up in smoke could have been turned into money instead, there would have been plenty.
The wild turkey and deer furnished a big per cent of the meat used in those days.
Abont 1840 Isaac Baldwin built a cabin on the Shaw farm near Pipe creek, soon changing to a location on the Coan farm. He was a sole inhabitant till the next year, when Silas Bratfit settled near Pipe ercek and Willis Steinbarger on the Stephen Harvey farm. In March of 1842, Mason Potter settled on the northeast one-fourth of section 1. The following December occurred the birth of his daughter, Mary E. Potter, who was the first white child born in the township. In October of 1842, Eben and Reason Badger, settlers across in Wabash county, went back to Wayne county with wagon to get apples. It was an apple year like 1911.) On the return trip they guided Edward B. Tucker and family to their new home, which Mr. Tucker had previously located. The cabin had been put together minus door, window and fire- place, and deer had found a shelter inside its walls. The first night carpet closed the openings. They brought with them a window; a door was made next day, also a fireplace and chimney. They brought plenti- ful supplies, including gallons of apple butter, dried apples and barrels of flour, for Marion had the nearest flour mill. Thus they changed from a brick house in town for wilderness around them and just a glimpse of sky straight above.
1
Mr. Theker was a shoemaker by trade. Many still remember wear- ing boots and shoes made by him. He made the finest boots for the Indians, who always wanted the best with red tops. They would bring an interpreter and always paid in goldt.
In the same year came Jacob Malsbury and Joseph Cole. In 1843 came William Cochran. John Bash and sons Michael, Simon, Martin. Philip and Samuel. These are all gone now. Michael Bash, who died last January, still owned the farm he entered. This is the only farm in the township which had never changed ownership.
The years 1844, 1845, 1846 brought Charles Stewart, John Drook, Madison Shackleford, Membrance Blue, Jeremiah Stricler, Joseph Esely, James Highley with his sons, Clark, James and John : George W. Taylor. father of R. R. Taylor, the present trustee. Other familiar names are Lewis Pence and son, Milton, Milton Abbott. Isaac Miller, Gabriel Hayes, George Sharp, Elmis Fleming, Michael Burk, William Reese, Hugh Mayn and Jacob Minnick, who for years kept the Richland Nursery.
Early in 1845 the reserve was surveyed and several township boun- daries changed. Richland was organized with the present lines except on the east where one row of sections now in Pleasant were included. The land was soon on the market and rapidly settled.
In 1847 a company of men went by canal to Fort Wayne to pay for their land. As they carried bags of gold, and the trip was so publicly known, the women and children left behind were terror-stricken. All went well, however, and in due time they returned really possessors of their homes.
No Indians lived in the township, but they sometimes went through on hunting trips or after ponies which had strayed. The women and
-
289
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
children were afraid of them much the same as we fear gypsies. Some flints and axheads have been found, but not to compare with the river hunting grounds.
Fifty or more years ago Wauka Kuhna used to ride across to the Slash to preach. He had a pony which sometimes gave out. Then Wanka would dismount, give the pony a eut with his whip, which revived him enough to get away. As often as he came in reach this mode of revival was repeated until the journey was finished.
As early as 1813 Methodists held meetings at Willis Steinbarger's. Presbyterians held meetings at Mason Potter's in 1845, and Disciples at the same place in 1846. Some of the preachers were Thompson, Shockey and Milton B. Hopkins.
Methodists built the first church in 1845, a log structure known as Richland Chapel, on the northeast corner of section 21, on the John Druck farm. Some ten years later it was moved to the southwest corner of section 10. It was so damaged in the July storm of 1873 that it was torn down and a frame house erected. This was remodeled in 1909 and now Richland Chapel is a beautiful country church with a flourish- ing congregation.
Another church known as Mount Zion was built in the southeast part of the township, but this was long abandoned, moved and used as a Farm building, and later destroyed by fire.
Methodist Protestants built in Mier in 1872 the church where they now worship. Also Universalists built in Mier in 1875. The church is now abandoned though still belonging to the Universal association.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1814. A log building with slab benches and a log left out of one side with greased paper inserted for a window. This was on the Comer farm just north of where No. 2 now stands. Elias Roby was the first teacher. Others were Miller and Shockey. In 1845 the second schoolhouse was built, on the Hugh Mayne farm, known as Taylor's or No. 1. Some of the teachers of fifty years ago were William Coldren, Sim MeCullough, John Tucker, Annie Tucker, John Campbell.
Richland's schools have always stood well and kept pace with the times. When in 1881 Grant county held its first examination for gradna- tion from common schools, Richland headed the list with the first three names; they being Jacob Highley, Carrie E. Newton and F. 11. Stephens. During the thirty years that have followed, the list has grown to 1,101, of whom we claim 225.
A graded school at Mier does first and second year high school work. With Convers just at the west line, Sweetser at the southeast corner, and Somerset at the northwest, each with high schools, it does not seem expedient to equip one in the middle.
Concentration has made its appearance. Last year two schools were varated. This year one of them, No. 4 (known years ago as " Swamp Academy"), has school at home, where the pupils of No. 3 are taken 10 Mier. The school children are growing fewer in number, it seems. The population has not changed much in forty years in number, while the children in school are about half as many as then. This year just clos- mg the enumeration is 255 and enrollment 165, having seven teachers.
When the war time of 1861 came on many were ready to go, though just a few names are available: Frank Cochran and brother. Samuel and Alexander Burk, Isaac Flook, All'red Taylor, John Tucker, Jeremiah Strieler, George Sharp, Marion Wright. Sanford Brumtiel, Gus Love- land, Monroe Drook, Theodore Coan, George Miller, John Eller, and many others. Some of these were school boys, others had families. A few of them did not return.
-
Vol. I-19
290
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Across the southern tier of sections runs the Panhandle Railroad; to the south and parallel with it is the C. & O. Half way from cast to west is the town of Mier, numbering about a hundred people. It was laid out in 1848 and onee did quite a good business, local and as a shipping point. Competition right and left conquered it and now that prestige is losi.
Times have changed; we no longer have chills or ague. Sometimes we have malarial fever. The quinine bottle is smaller and is up on the top shelf. We eat corn-bread if we like it. Likewise we don't eat wild turkey and venison unless we ship it in. The old corduroy is replaced . by splendid gravel roadways. The majority of houses have telephones. The voice of the automobile is heard in the land. On every side are seen broad fields of heavy yielding corn, wheat, oats or potatoes. If you wish to get far from the madding crowd of the city, see fine country and know a generous, hospitable people, go to Richland.
[ Editor's Note .- The Richland historian will acknowledge the source of her information with reference to Elias Burns, who suggested the name of Richland and cirenlated the petition securing signatures, while at the same time an effort was being made by others to have the township called Hamilton. While little was known of him to the historian, he used to come to the annual meetings of the Octogenarian Club and the older citizens all recognized and respected him. The writer visited him at his home in "Tator Row," in Center adjacent to the Center-Mill line (near the county farm, although he was glad he did not live in the "poorhouse"), when he was wasting away with cancer, and he was in most pitiable condition. How he did appreciate a visit from one who had "called the old settlers together to talk of old times," and at the time of this visit he spoke with a feeling of pride of his carly residence in Richland. For many months Mr. Burns knew constant suffering, and one who knew him would understand why he welcomed death and wished to hear his own funeral sermon. ]
XXXIX. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP IN HISTORY
By J. O. Spurgeon
December 18, 1912, was the centennial anniversary of the Battle of the Mississinewa, and the Grant County Historical Society erected a century milestone along the highway of progress by holding a meeting. It had been planned that Pleasant -- the historic township -- should end the series of township papers considered before the society, although the historian claims so many "firsts" for his township that it is clearly a case of the first being Jast. One hundred years from the day the battle was raging there was a quiet "camp fire" in the Marion library, and Mr. Spurgeon's paper follows :
The name, Pleasant township, carries us back in time more than four-score years. What is now Grant county was formerly a part of Knox county, and Jater of Delaware county, but was organized into a separate county in 1831, with but two townships: Pleasant, embracing the present townships of Van Buren, Washington, Pleasant, Richland, the north half of Sims, Franklin and Monroe, and all of Center excepting the south six sections. The other part of the county was named 'Union township, but that name has long since been dropped, and so Pleasant is the oldest township in the county. In 1834 a change was made, leav- ing Pleasant with what is now Van Buren, Washington, Pleasant, and
291
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Rieliland townships. In 1836 another change was made, taking from Pleasant the two congressional townships on the east. In 1845 Richland township was organized by taking from Pleasant a territory six miles north and south by five miles east and west. In the general reorganiza tion of the county into townships, in 1855, Pleasant township gained a one-mile strip from Riebland township on the cast, and lost to Wash- ington township that part of sections 24 and 25 lying cast of the Missis- sinewa river. This change from Pleasant to Washington was made for the convenience of the voters east of the river, as the township elections were then held in the spring of the year, when the river was usually high, and sometimes impassable, since there were no bridges at that date. From that time to the present the boundary fines have remained un- changed, the civil township being a congressional township, except for the small traet east of the Mississinewa, above referred to as now a part of Washington township.
This township is crossed from southeast to northwest by the Mis- sissinewa, sometimes called the "Beautiful River, " and this, together with Pipe creek, C'art creek, Badger ercek, Curtis creek. Metacina Preek, and some other smaller streams, make the township so varied in features as to provide a home for all classes of people. The river in its course across the township has in general a narrow channel, more so than in any other part of the county, and in this township are the highest river banks. The northeastern part of the township is generally varied in surface, affording excellent opportunities for farming, grazing and stock- raising. In a few localities cultivation is hindered somewhat by boulders, deposited in the glacial period. The southwestern part of the township has a rich soil and yields abundant crops. The western part of the township remained almost an unbroken wilderness until as late as I845. About two-thirds of the township lies west of the Cold boundary line." and so was a part of the " Indian Reserve."
The first inhabitants of this township of whom we have any authentic history were the Miami Indians. Here the Indian "roamed at will through the dense forests in search of game. Undisturbed, his birchen canoe parted the plaeid waters of the Mississinewa, and his dripping oars glistened in the sunlight. But a change came. The white man made his appearance upon the scene, How well be has played his part. the present shows." The early settlers found homes near the river, ou account of the natural drainage, abundance of building stone and the nearness to market. The Mississinewa was once a navigable stream, and flat-boats passed up and down the river for commercial purposes. Cor- tain landing places were established, and the blowing of a horn or bugle gave notice of the approach of a boat, when the settlers would gather at the landing and buy, or swap, obtaining such articles as they needed, and frequently something stronger than they needed. In 1828 Samuel Mellare built a mill in section 24, the second mill in the county, and soon the flatboat days on the Mississinewa were numbered with the past. In 1838 a man by the name of Baker was drowned by the wreck of a raft, and on Sunday, May 12, 1844, David Hamaker was drowned here, the mill at the time being owned by a Mr. Dalrymple. In 1815 a boat in attempting to pass the MeClure dam, was completely wrecked, and further traffic by this method was abandoned. County records tell us that in 1823 a man by the name of Gilbert established a trading-post near what is now Sutton's Ford. His business was trading, and he made no attempt at improvement of any kind. On the 19th day of October, 1825, David Conner, purchased the store of Gilbert, and entered the west half of the northeast quarter of section 24. Mr. Conner died in 1844, and lies buried in the field just a short distance west of where
292
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
his store stood. The original tombstone has been replaced by a respect- able monument containing the Following inscription :
David Couner Aug. 9, 18-4-1. Ang. S, 1771.
A Mrs. Ilarter, the youngest child of David Conner, is at present a resident of the town of Sweetser. The Commer farm now belongs to David Cretsinger. I here copy the following from another history : "This farm has been the scene of many wild, barbarous deeds. Here the Indians would assemble from their hunting expeditions, and having disposed of their furs would often spend the last penny of their hard- earned money for whiskey, a custom, a relie of barbarism, which, we regret to say, with all the improvements and boasted intelligence of the nineteenth century has not yet been abolished. The reason of the Indian being dethroned by drink, his eruel barbarous nature knew no bounds. He would, on the slightest provocation, engage with members of his own tribe in the most bloody hand-to-hand encounters. The stronger party, triumphing over his adversary, has been known to place him upon a burning log-heap and keep him there until roasted alive." Captain Dixon, a brother of Meshingomesia, chased a Pot- tawatomie into the James Turner house, shooting at him as he entered, a boy being with him, but the shot did not take effect. Dixon then drew a large knife and killed the "Pottawat" at a blow. The boy in turn stabbed Dixon, killing him instantly, and then escaped.
The pioneer life in this township was that of the other townships of the county. The first dwellings were cabins, one-story, offen on- room only, of round logs unbarked, the chinks daubed with mud, the roof of elapboards, the same being held in place by weights instead of nails, a stick-chimney, a clay or ind hearth, windows few and small, the door home-made, with wooden hinges, catch and latch, and the "latch-string hanging out." The bedstead was a rude frame struc- ture attached to the wall in one corner of the room, with poles or riven boards on which rested the straw bed. No words, coiled or woven- wire springs, no felt, hair or cotton mattress, no feather bed for the early pioneer, but he was content, for he stood on a par with his neighbor. Surely his hardships were many, and to the present gen- eration would seem unsurmountable. Only a short time ago an old lady, one of the pioneers, told how the wolves at night howled around their newly-built cabin, which For the first few days and nights after its occupancy had only a quilt for a door.
Game was plentiful then and the family did not want for meat, and meat at times was about all it had. Sometimes it was more difficult to obtain Teed than food. The writer had this information dircet from an old settler: One spring, before grass or grazing time, his supply of feed became so scant that for several days he ent down bushes or saplings that his kine might browse upon the branches. Such stories as these seem, today, almost incredible.
On the 19th of October, 1825, Martin Boots bought one hundred and eight acres in the southeast quarter of section 24. The next year Henry Rembarger bought the cast fraction of seetion 24, and shortly after three brothers, Jeremiah, deptha and Platt Sutton came and settled just north of the river, at the ford which now bears their family name. David Commer carly built a mill, now known as the Barley mill, which was burned down by incendiaries in December, 1836, but was rebuilt the next season. George Walker was found guilty of arson in burning the mill, and received a six-year sentence at the
293
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
May term of court, 1837. Samuel Bigger was judge; Samuel W. Parker, proseentor; James Rariden, defense.
The following is a list of some of the early landowners: Margaret Honsden, Juliet Ann Hummel, Heury Hummel, James Prickett, Ben- jamin Prickett, Ed Fox, Robert Hurley, Zadok Prickett, Jacob Fhi- mer, Joseph Henshaw, Elizabeth Dunn, Ephraim Badger, William Dawson, Jolm Dann, James Stackhouse, Jomm Stackhouse, Wash. Mellwain, George Renbarger, Edward Renbarger, Shadrach Lawson, John Fees, Ephraim Collins, Jacob Hardaere, Bluford Prickett, S. W. Hackett, John Grow, Russel Fields, Nathan Prickett, William Ray- pholtz, O. W. M. Smith, David Sce, Isaac Raypholtz, Riley Marshall, Elmas Flemming, Joseph Hall, Edmond Housden, John Fox, William Marshall, James Lewis, Doctor Miesse, Abraham Sbank, Stephen Hall, Joseph Cravens, L. D. Jacobs, Nelson Conner, All'red Y. York, Jef- ferson Pugh, Benjamin Purdue, John R. Lewis, Joseph Winger, John P. Campbell, Sr., Nicholas D. Holman, David Bish, William Prickett, Wm. E. Hendricks, George F. Dum, Jonathan Seegar, Perry Sirk, Jesse Leazenby, Benjamin Berry, John Cain, Thomas Burson, John Hubert, Peter Shelley, Jonathan Berry, Abraham Pixler, Mordecai Cross, John Jaqua, John Loring, William Parks, Robert Crane, Wil- liam Hume, John Myers, Thomas Prickett, Dempsey Fields, Peter Bragg, Henry Dawson, Robert Mansfield, Charles Omack, John Spears, William Riley Webster, Charles Mansfield, James Mansfield. Drury White, Eld. Charles Smith, William Sinclair, Joel Inks, John Shannon, William Fields, Conrad Wolf, and many others, later, equally worthy, but too immerous to mention here.
During the settlement of the Miami Reservation, came one Ilulings Miller and took a claim on the northwest quarter of section 21, and made considerable improvement thereon, but for some reason did not become the owner thereof. Ile was the father of Joaquin Miller, "The Poet of the Sierras." Joaquin says that Marion was the first town he remembers, and that some of the happiest days of his life were spent. in Pleasant township. The writer has a letter from Mr. Miller, writ ten a few years ago, in which he expressed an ardent desire to revisit the scenes of his boyhood days, and in which he spoke feelingly of the incidents of the days long gone by. Another letter, of later date, in reply to a request that he write something for the township history, conveyed the information that he was just recovering from a long, severe siege of sickness. and that owing to his weakened condition he was not able to comply with the request.
Joaquin (Cineinnatus Heine) Miller was born near Liberty, Union county, Indiana, in 1834. He removed with his parents to the Far west when he was thirteen years old. Thenceforth his teachers were the great solitudes, the mighty mountains, the wide plains and rushing torrents. He grew up amid and was inspired by picturesque scenes and romantie conditions. His genius was equal to the demands made upon it, and no poet ever filled his mission and dreamed and sung up to its great possibilities more successfully than he has done. lle is one of America's great poets, and it is little to our credit that he was Toreed to "win his spurs" in England before the land of his birth would listen to his song. Miller is one of those rare beings of whom you cannot say that he was educated in this school or yonder college. If he is old and gray it is largely a result of his restless life of adven- ture, exposure and toil. His mountain home, near Oakland, California, overlooking sea and plain, is singularly suited to the character of the man and his genius.
{Editor's Note .- Since the death of the poet -February, after the
294
HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
time limit of this Centennial Ilistory, there has been such an avalanche of interesting matter published that some of it is included in another place without consulting Mr. Spurgeon, since it had been within his province to mention the world-wide character-Joaquin Miller. |
A little log cabin in the southeast one-fourth of section 16 is the only vestige of the one-time Browntown. The so-called Indian village is now no village at all. Fox Station is situated in the northeast part of the township, near the connuon corner of sections 1, 2, IJ and 12. The Big Four Railroad and the Union traction pass through the place. It contains a grocery, owned by William Hendricks, a smithy, a coal yard, and a few dwellings. It formerly had a grain elevator, but none is in operation at present, although some grain and stock are shipped from that point. Jalapa, situated on a hill, across the river From the Mississinewa battleground, was laid out in 1849, by Jacob Sprecher, its first settler. The name is of Mexican origin, (Spanish pronunciation, Da-la-pa.), and was named after a town occupied by General Scott and his army on the way from Vera Cruz to Mexico City. It was formerly the metropolis of Pleasant township, and was a thriving business town, but public enterprise has passed it by. It contains a schoolhouse, two churches, a blacksmith shop, two grocery stores, between fifteen and twenty dwellings, and about fifty inhabi- tants. Near by is the historic Conner mill, now the property of the Shockeys.
Sweetser is situated about six mites west of Marion, and was laid out. September 18, 1871, by Dr. Lanford Prater. It is a thriving town with a population of about six hundred, and has a large trade in grain, live-stock and drain tile. Sweetser is partly in Pleasant and partly in Franklin townships, and therefore this history will be confined to that part of the town within Pleasant township. Among the business enter- prises may be named : Sweetser Grain Company; Baum & Burge; Wil- liamson Brothers, drugs, hardware, coal and drain tile; Malott Lumber Company, sawmill, planing mill, building material and coal; Wm. J. Lanning, general store; Charles W. Snyder, groceries and dry goods; Bonner Brothers, groceries; Robert Vardaman, groceries and meats; Miller & Sons, drugs; M. T. Harrold, butcher shop; Frank Snyder and Fremont Hamilton, restaurants and hinch rooms; JJacob Buroker, hotel; A. J. Berry, stoves, tinware, roofing, ete .; Tom Reece, painting and job printing; Dan Malott, phunbing; Barney Malott, well-drilling; W. G. Surface, harness and vehicles; blacksmiths, Ward & Thomas, Abe Brewer, Eli P. Ward and E. F. Lawson ; barbers, Anderson & Stev- ens, and William Gillenwater ; physicians and surgeons, G. W. Daniels, A. D. Burge, J. P. Buroker and I. S. A. Crumrine; carpenters and contractors, J. E. Flin, A. J. Bragg, M. R. Antrim, Elijah Owings, A. M. Stevens and Burnworth & Patterson; road contractors, Wimmer & Fox; moving picture show, Frank Lawson. Some of the other enter- prises that may be named are: Sweetser Natural Gas Company; Sweetser Light & Fuel Company ; Sweetser Rural Telephone Company ; James W. Jester is postmaster ; Jacob E. Jester, railway mail clerk and Garrison Smith, notary public. A Farmers' Bank has been recently organized with the following directors: W. J. Baum, Alva Williamson, J. O. Spurgeon, R. T. Calender, of Marion, V. R. Spurgeon, of Gas City, with quite a number of substantial farmers in the vicinity of Sweetser as stockholders. President, W. J. Baum; vice president, Alva Williamson ; John O. Spurgeon, cashier. Later, another bank is now, (December, 1912), in process of organization, but it is probable that the two will be consolidated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.