USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 25
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 25
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HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.
Milford. This was probably the second school building in the township. The Baileys, the Fitches, the Sturgises, the Bassetts and others, sent to this house. Two terms of school were taught before 1840, in a building near the saw-mill owned by Col. Cochran. Immediately afterward, a log schoolhouse was built in the Perkins neighborhood. The Cochran school building was erected about twenty-five years ago. The one near the Kinsman saw-mill was built in about 1843, and the one two miles east of it not far from the same time. In those early days, schoolhouses followed the settlers-no regard being paid to their location-just so far apart. Wherever a sufficient number of children were found, there was the spot for a log schoolhouse. The first school structure in South Milford was a frame building, now used as a dwelling by J. A. Bartlett, and was erected in 1854. Miss Hartsock was one of the first teachers. The house was built wholly at the expense of the townspeople, no assistance being received from the Township Trustees. Good schools were held in this house, which was used until five years ago, when the present brick building was erected. The township is at present provided with good schoolhouses.
A small Baptist society was early organized at the residence of Col. Cochran. Elder Bailey, of Angola, preached for the few families that gath- ered there. The society survived but a few years. As early as 1838, a Methodist Episcopal society was organized at Mud Corners by Rev. Thomas Conley. Among the early members were B. B. Waterhouse and family, John Searl, wife and daughter, Capt. Barry and wife, John Barry and wife, Jacob Butts and wife, the Trowbridges, Hiram Hunt and others. In a short time trouble arose in the society, and a division occurred, one faction going north- west and building the Brushy Chapel, and the other remaining at the old schoolhouse at Mud Corners. After a few years, the latter scattered or died out, but the former has endured until the present. A Church of God society was organized in the southwestern part about thirty-five years ago. It was instituted, it is said, by Elder Martin, who became the first pastor. Subse- quent pastors have been Elders Hickernell, Thomas, Logue, Blickenstaff, Sands and Bumpus. In 1848, the society numbered some thirty members, and soon afterward exceeded that number, reaching about fifty in 1860. In 1864, the frame church was erected under a contract of $1,000 with W. W. Lovett, the building committee being David Lower, Jacob Sturgis and Jacob Adams. The total cost of the building was about $1,200. The society numbers some sixteen members at present. Sunday school was organized at an early day, Alexander Meleny being the first, or one of the first, superintendents. It was an excellent country Sunday school for many years. Quite a strong Methodist society was early organized in the Cochran neighborhood. It flourished for some eight or ten years. The Church of God society in the northeastern corner had its origin many years ago in the old schoolhouse. Here the mem- bers continued to assemble until some questions arose regarding the use of the schoolhouse, when it was thought best to build a church, which was accordingly
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done not many years since. The society is not very strong numerically, though it is doing good work. Some of its best members live in Springfield Township.
CHAPTER XVI.
BY R. H. RERICK.
CLAY TOWNSHIP-SWAMPS AND MARSHES-JOURNEY TO THE WILDERNESS- EARLY HOMES AND LABORS-APPALLING MORTALITY IN 1838-GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
C YLAY TOWNSHIP, though lying near the heart of the county, was one of the latest townships organized and still remains behind other townships in wealth and population. In the earliest days of the settlement, heavy forests and marshes covered the land, with only about five sections out of the thirty-six inviting to the settler. To the north lay the broad prairies and easier cultivated lands of the upper townships, from which Clay was cut off by a long chain of marshes and rivulets and small lakes. At the present time, a large fraction of the land is marsh, and, in 1830, the water was a much more general element than now. At that time the now insignificant Buck Creek would indulge in floods during rainy seasons. The configuration of the township is uninterest- ing, except at the north, where the country is rolling, often approaching the dignity of hills. The only body of water in the township lies near the northern line-Buck Lake-which is yet an attractive little sheet of water, though cul- tivation has destroyed much of the picturesque surroundings it had when it was a favorite " watering-place " of the Pottawatomie braves and belles, when they were out on the Mongoquinong and Goshen trail. This spot is now rich in Indian relics, and a few small mounds or burial places are yet distinguishable. With its disadvantages in character of land, Clay did not rival the richer settle- ments in early years and did not get a start until La Grange came to be the most important town in the county. The first certificate issued for Clay land was No. 4,536 to Nathan Jenks, on June 9, 1835. One of the most interesting of the later entries is that made by the distinguished expounder of the Consti- tution, Daniel Webster, who, it appears, bought of the Government the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 9, and received Land Order 12,656, dated July 20, 1836. The great statesman afterward conveyed it to Senator James A. Bayard, father of the present Democratic leader. In the course of later transfers, the land passed through the hands of the old United States Bank, which was "nullified " by Andrew Jackson. There was but little speculation in Clay lands.
A saw-mill on Buck Creek, at the site of the mills now owned by E. Fleck, was one of the first buildings in the township. Before there were any other white men settled in the township, material was prepared in
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HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.
1835 by a few settlers from the surrounding country for this mill. Samuel Hood was the builder, but it was not completed until after 1837. Levi Knott then ran the mill. A little settlement grew up with this industry, which formed the nucleus of the township growth. In this neighborhood there settled the Spragues, Madison and Michael, Thomas and Anson Clark, the latter the only single man, and Gilbert, a son-in-law of Thomas Clark. Gilbert soon left the country on account of irregularities which the settlers could not tolerate, even in such a distant outpost of civilization. These pioneers were all from Ohio. Some of them had had bitter experiences coming up through the Black Swamp on the Dayton road, in Ohio, and it took brave hearts to go through the hardships and trials of the journey for the sake of opening up the ague-tainted woods and marshes. In 1836, John Ryason came in, having bought lands near the present site of La Grange. After much hard work in improving the township, he moved to La Grange, and afterward died. Two other early comers were Montgomery and Boyles, who were employed at the mill in 1839. The first birth in the township is claimed to be a daughter to John and Charlotte Ryason, born March 17, 1837. But about the same time, Mrs. Montgomery presented the world with triplets, an occurrence which caused quite a sensation, and people came in numbers to see the little pioneers, not forgetting gifts for the parents, who were very poor. About 1837, Richard Salmon and his father and John Ramsey came to the country from New Jersey. Obadiah Lawrence, an early settler in Van Buren, married in that town, and came to Clay in 1836. He was a member of the first election board in 1838, when there were hardly enough voters to act as officers. One of the Thorps served on this board. There were four of this family, well known at that time -Elisha Thorp, the father ; and his sons, William, John and Jacob. Lived near Lapman's Schoolhouse.
Shedrick Carney, one of the most widely known of the men who put muscle into the farms of Clay, came into line on land near La Grange February 28, 1838. He had previously been in the county. He remembers with distinct- ness the bitter weather in which his journey was made, and the deep snow which covered the promised land upon his arrival. Mr. Carney was one of the contractors for furnishing lumber for the first court house, at $6.50 per thousand feet.
Samuel Carnahan, from Ohio, among the earliest, settled in the northeast in 1843, and lived here until his death in 1867. His sons, Alexander, Hiram and Samuel, are still residents of the county.
These pioneers had no easy task before them. The country they had chosen was difficult to open, and there was everything to dishearten all but the boldest. But they were men who could face such work and overcome it. Some of them could chop down a heavy oak before breakfast for an appetizer, and fell an ordinary monarch of the forest for pastime. Many came into the country through mud and pelting snow. For food they must pay 18 cents a pound for
Matthew Strickland
CLAY TP.
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pork, an article that would severely try a modern stomach. Salt was $9 a barrel and flour $14, and this had to be teamed often through the Black Swamp. But the settlers stood up bravely, and were happy in the prospect of farms of two or three acres, until the ague came. The sickly season of 1838 affected Clay so much as to practically put a stop to immigration for several years. Entire families would be shaking with fever and chills, unable to render assist- ance to each other. The ague had its favorite home in the bogs and fens of Clay. Other cheerful companions of those days were the rattlesnakes and wolves and Indians. Of the lot, the Indians were the most harmless. They hunted deer through the township a great deal, but never molested the white men. The last of the red men turned their faces to the setting sun and de- parted in 1843-44. Yet, with all their hardships, the settlers were not alto- gether unhappy. Mark Tapley could be cheerful in the "Eden" of swamp that Dickens tells of, and our pioneers were much better located than Mark was, and just as light-hearted. There were social gatherings once in a while, as the settlement increased-gatherings of the men sometimes-and thereby hangs many a tale of lively "shindies" and high old times in some lonely cabin. As time wore on, there were meetings now and then in the old log schoolhouse, which was put up in 1837, near the present residence of John Shirley, Sr. It was only eighteen feet square, but people would go from all parts of the town- ship and the country around about, on foot or in ox carts, and pack it full and overflowing.
Another log schoolhouse was erected on Henry Wallace's land in the south, a little later. In the spring of 1836, Eppah Robbins built the first blacksmith-shop on the banks of Buck Creek. All of these old buildings have been destroyed. Although this region was not much sought after for some time (the prairies being preferred), people continued to come in slowly. Among the new-comers of 1839-40 were M. P. Sprague, who came from New York, and, in 1845, opened a brick-yard upon his land ; William Wigton, father of James C. and R. F. Wigton, of La Grange, occupied a farm in the same neigh- borhood. Mr. Wigton, in company with Edwin Owen, built a saw-mill on this land in 1853, and operated it for six years. In 1864, Mr. Owen removed to Van Buren Township. Another early family were the Woodwards (Mrs. Mar- garet Woodward and her sons, John, William and Thomas), who are yet prom- inent citizens of the township and vicinity.
About 1843, there were bad seasons in Ohio, and, in consequence, a con- siderable immigration took place, of which Clay received its share. Prominent among those who settled in the northeast of the township were Sylvester Davis, who remained but a few years; his son, Franklin Davis (who in his early days managed the Showalter Mill, at La Grange, married in 1850, and went upon the farm in Section 11 which he now occupies); Lewis Merrifield and James Packer, afterward of Bloomfield ; Jesse Everett, David and Silas Latta (the latter of whom is deceased), Josiah Eaton and Oscar Spaulding.
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HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.
James Boyd, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, generously increased the population by settling north of Sayler's Schoolhouse with a family of seventeen children. Mr. Boyd is still numbered among the living pioneers, but his wife is deceased. A little later than 1840, John Merriman bought land in the neighborhood of Fleck's Mills, and, in 1844, John Robbins, who had been living in the county since February, 1836, at Pretty Prairie and Van Buren, moved into Clay, on to a farm in Section 20. Mr. Robbins was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, moved with his father in 1816 to Ohio, and came to this county with his brothers and sister at the above date. He is still a citizen of the township.
One of the most famous characters of the north of the township during the early times was Richard Thompson, or Dick, as they called him, a whole-souled and pious old man, but withal as jovial as any other son of Erin. He invested his property in Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad stock, which, unfortunately, has since then seldom attained the value of 15 cents on the dollar.
The settlement on the town-line road between Clearspring and Clay was begun in the years 1835 or 1836, when Erastus Clark, one of the earliest Justices of the township, settled on land now occupied by John Roy; Ernestus Schermerhorn came to the neighborhood about the same time as Clark did. John Roy was here in 1838, but did not at that time remain, being compelled by family misfortunes to return to his old home in Wayne County, N. Y. In 1846, he came again to Clay and has since been a resident. Mr. Roy has been honored by his township with the position of Trustee for fourteen years, during which time he has erected nearly all the schoolhouses now in use in the town- ship. The other earliest comers were Elisha Taylor, who lived at the present residence of Milton Bingham ; Hezekiah Beebee; Leiflick Sanburn, of New England ; Widow Dorcas Bailey, of Ohio; and Jacob Mosher, of New York, who was in 1881 the oldest man in the township. The people were mostly from the East, and formed an intelligent and kindly neighborhood. In 1842, Mrs. Caroline G. Bingham, with her son Milton and daughter Laura, came to the home of her father, Elisha Taylor, where the mother and son still reside. Their journey was from Allegany County, N. Y., overland-there were nine in the wagon, and it was an eighteen days' journey. Mrs. Bingham was one of the earliest schoolmistresses, and can also remember, as an incident of that time, when every one turned his hand to everything in the way of work, when she could see specimens of her tailoring on nearly all of the church-goers at the log schoolhouse. Samuel Beatty, who now owns several hundred acres of land and is one of the leading solid men of the township, came in about 1844, . and by skill in coopering paid for a yoke of oxen to begin the work of clear- ing off the nucleus of his present possessions. In 1851, Arad Lapman moved into Clay Township from Newbury, and settled where he now lives.
In 1843, there was a school begun in the Taylor Schoolhouse, just over in Clearspring, which was taught by Elizabeth Sanburn, daughter of Eliphalet Sanburn, and afterward the wife of Andrew Ellison, Esq. In 1844, a school-
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house was built on Taylor's farm, in which Hannah Parker was the first teacher. A school was maintained here until 1858, when the house was de- stroyed. It was in this house that the body of Charles Wolford, who, in a moment of derangement, cut his throat in a wood near by, in early days, was laid out to await the Coroner. A saw-mill in this neighborhood, owned by Davis & Fought, and afterward by William Hudson, was burned during the war. Christian Plank built a saw-mill in Section 33, in 1866.
The early trading of the settlers was done at Lima, and that town and La Grange continue to be the markets of the township, there being no stores or taverns in its limits. The first road to be laid out was the Baubaga road, running directly west from La Grange through the center of the township, and about the same time the Pigeon road, following in part the old trail past Buck Lake. About 1840, the road running north and south past the Fleck Mills was opened. Between 1840 and 1850 the population increased at a good rate, and it is impracticable to give an account of the progress of the settlement. The later history of the township, further than that given in our sketches of the churches and schools, gives but a few points for notice. In 1843, there was a memorably severe winter ; provisions were very scarce in the settlement and no way of getting supplies. The snow lay on the ground continuously from the middle of November until the 3d of April. A great many cattle and horses died for lack of food. This was a discouraging time, and the necessity of eating corn-bread as a regular diet created earnest longings for the wheat fields of the East.
Among the industries of the township years ago was iron mining in a small way. There are considerable deposits of bog-iron ore, or limonite, in Hobbs' Marsh, which were for a time mined and the ore taken to the old forge in Lima Township; but the business soon proved unprofitable and was discon- tinued some time before the war. One of the most important establishments in the county is the Fleck Mills, upon the site of the original saw-mill built in 1837. E. Fleck, in 1881 the sole owner of the mills, was born in 1834, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Upon his coming to age, he went to La Porte County, to learn the trade of carpentering, and then returned to Ohio, where he was married in 1857. In 1865, he came to the township with his father, bought the old mill property, and rebuilt the saw-mill in 1867. In 1871, the flouring-mill was completed, which grinds the grists for a great part of the pop- ulation west of La Grange. The mills have never suffered from fire and no accident has occurred, save an occasional washing away of the dam.
In that long-to-be-remembered year of conflagration, 1871, there were destructive fires in the marshes of Clay. One started in the marsh southwest of Fleck's Mills, and came sweeping up in that direction with the fury of a cyclone. The whole population turned out to meet and keep down the flames, and all other work was neglected. A great many fences were destroyed and a barn belonging to Widow Latta was burned. It was so throughout the town-
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ship, and if it had not been for the heroic efforts of the people, much valuable property would have gone up in smoke. A funeral was being conducted at the Sayler Schoolhouse at the time when the fire came up in that neighborhood. The sense of danger and the demand for help at the fire overcame every other feeling, and in a few moments scarcely enongh were left to attend to the burial. The early settlers have had much experience in fighting fire, but none equal to that in 1871.
A startling deed of violence took place on the evening of December 18, 1861, which resulted in the arrest of Hiram Springer, Daniel Rowan, Whiting Phillips and several other young men on a charge of murder. The party of young fellows and Mr. Jacob Beam and several members of his family became engaged in an unfortunate conflict at Mr. Beam's house, in which he was struck down and his neck broken, resulting in his immediate death. The men above named were indicted for murder, but all were discharged except Springer, who was found guilty of manslaughter, but was ultimately discharged.
On the afternoon of January 20, 1876, an appalling accident occurred in the township, the saddest in the history of the county. A steam saw-mill be- longing to William Price and Joseph Kennedy, and located two miles north- west of La Grange, was blown to pieces on that day, and three men instantly killed. The mill was totally demolished and scattered over an area of ten acres. The proprietors and employes were in the mill at the time of the explosion, and Price was thrown some distance, bruised and stunned. Kennedy was so badly torn and bruised that he breathed his last as soon as picked up. Sebastian Goss, the sawyer, was instantly killed and Henry Corwin, the en- gineer, was terribly mangled. To add to the horror, a little child of Mr. Ken- nedy's was so badly scalded that its life was long despaired of. The proprietors had been residents of Clay for about three years. The terrible event produced a profound sensation. It was one of those mysterious explosions for which no one can be blamed and cannot be explained.
Clay Township is now populous and becoming well developed. The marshes are being drained and cultivated, fine roads traverse the township in every direction, the fertile soil is well tilled and yields abandantly, and many fine residences attest the comfortable circumstances of the farmers who have made Clay what it is, and now have a right to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Brief sketches of the churches and schools of the township will serve to indicate its social development. The first religious meetings in the township were held by a Methodist Episcopal minister, stationed at Lima. The same denomination have at present small classes at Green's and Roy's Schoolhouses, whose pastor is Rev. B. H. Hunt. The Rev. James Latham, a very earnest and fiery circuit preacher of the Protestant Methodist Church, began to preach at Sayler's Schoolhouse about the middle of August, and as the settlers had been without religious services for some time, he met with great success, in spite of the unfavorable season. A regular old-fashioned revival was the result ;
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people crowded to the meetings, and a great many conversions occurred. The Bethel Church, which continues to be the leading society, was organized at this time. Before this time, there had been an organization of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at the Sayler Schoolhouse, near the present home of Milton Bingham, which was ministered to by Revs. Miller, Fairchild and others. The Bethel society, at its formation, had thirty-five members ; there are now sixty- six.
Among the early ministers were S. F. Hale, B. B. Newell, James Mc- Kinlay, H. H. Hulbert, D. B. Clark and Stephen Phillips. The Bethel Church continued its meetings in the Sayler Schoolhouse until 1880, when it was proposed to erect a church. The work was commenced at once with great spirit, the brick was drawn during a busy season from a yard several miles distant, and, in eight months, one of the neatest and most commodious churches in the county was erected, and the debt raised. The church is in dimensions 36x48, is comfortably seated, and accommodates an audience of 400. About one thousand persons attended the dedication services in January, 1881, and the sermon was delivered by President George B. Michelroy, of Adrian College. At this meeting, $1,285 was raised. A pleasant feature of the enterprise was the absence of all discord among the members. Among those who were active in the building of the church were Josiah Eaton, Franklin Davis, Michael Gerrin, Hiram Carnahan, Samuel Carnahan, Samuel Crowl and Ephraim Latta. The Methodist Protestant Church also has societies meeting at Robbins' Schoolhouse (seventeen members), and at Plank's Schoolhouse (twenty-three members). Rev. L. F. Hutt is the present pastor (1881). Josiah Eaton has been for some time Superintendent of the Sabbath school in Bethel Church, and is Vice President of the County Sabbath School Association. A short time before the Latham revival, the Baptist Church had an organization at the Robbins Schoolhouse, but it is not now maintained. At Roy's School- house there is a Lutheran society at present. The Amish and German Baptists have a small following in the western part of the township.
The earliest schoolhouses have already been referred to. All of those first built in the various school districts have been torn down and replaced by new and commodious houses, except Poynter's Schoolhouse, which is of recent erec- tion. The present houses are known as Shirley's, Sayler's, Ford's, Beatty's, Green's, Rowan's, Robbins', Miller's, Walter's, Everett's, Roy's and Poyn- ter's, all of frame, and valued at $6,500. Twelve teachers are at present em- ployed, and receive $1.40 per day on the average, if of the sterner sex, and $1.13, if women, for an average term of 140 days. The average attendance for 1880-81 was 221, out of an enrollment of 384. The first division of the township into school districts was made January 5, 1844. The following is a list of Trustees for the township: First, Michael Sprague, George Hood and Frank Gould; Second, John Merriman, Elisha Thorp and Obadiah Lawrence ; Third, Eliphalet Sanburn, Erastus and Samuel Clark; Fourth, William B.
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