Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 68

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976

USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 68
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 68

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).

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

the sale or rent of the lands of Section 16 in those townships ; and, if the writer is correctly informed, the right to a portion of such fund was denied Al- bion Township.

During the last few months of the year 1875, the old schoolhouse having become dilapidated and dangerous, the citizens began discussing the propriety of constructing a new and better one. Nearly all the citizens were at this time in favor of the project, or at least were neutral. The School Trustees se- lected a site for the building on the land of Owen Block ; but, owing either to some alterations in the price of the land, or some alleged imperfections in the deed of transfer, or both, they withdrew from the partially-formed contract, and purchased for $1,100 the lots where the school building now stands. As soon as this purchase became known, and it became apparent that the School Trust- ees expected town bonds to be issued whereby to pay the expense of construct- ing a costly brick schoolhouse, a decided division in public opinion became man- ifest. A number of prominent and wealthy citizens, upon whom much of the burden of taxation would fall, stubbornly opposed the project, possibly from partly private, personal or pecuniary motives. Their real reasons remain to this day a matter of speculation. A little later, they brought suit in the Cir- cuit Court to enjoin the collection of a certain school fund which might be ap- plied toward the construction of the proposed house, but they were defeated. Just before the contract for building the house was let, a meeting of those op- posed to the scheme was called at the court house, and numerous dis- couraging speeches were delivered to a room full of citizens. A paper was circulated and signed by nearly twenty opposers ; but the list was afterward increased to more than forty. Still, the majority were not shaken in their de- termination to build the house. The Town Board at this time were William Trump, J. J. Fischer and Owen Black. The School Trustees were Dr. W. Y. Leonard, William S. Kiser and C. A. Howard. The contract for building the house was let to John Lichtenberger, of Fort Wayne, and T. J. Tolan & Son, also of Fort Wayne, were the architects. The contract price was $15,300. Work was immediately begun on the house, and the Town Board was asked to sell $17,000 worth of the corporation's bonds to defray the entire expense. At this stage the opposition sued out an injunction to restrain the Town Trustees from issuing the bonds ; but, although the question of the right of the Town Trust- ees to pass an ordinance authorizing the negotiation and sale of bonds of the corporation to defray the expense of constructing a school building was taken first to the Circuit Court and thence to the Supreme Court, the case, in both instances, was decided adversely to the plaintiff. This was about the last stand made by the opposition. Town bonds to the amount of $17,000 were ordered printed and sold, that sum being considered necessary to cover the cost of the house, the cost of the land, and some miscellaneous expense. The bonds were issued in sums of $250 and $500, bearing 8 per cent interest payable semi-an- nually, and were strictly 5-20 bonds. They were sold in various localities,

James Kash

COUNTY

RECORDER

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TOWN OF ALBION.

some in New York City, some in Ohio, and some to persons in different por- tions of Indiana. None of the bonds have been taken up, although the inter- est is promptly paid when due. Owing to the opposition to the sale of the bonds, and the distrust thereby incited, those first issued were sold at a slight discount. This caused a loss of several hundred dollars to the town.

The several law-suits growing out of the schoolhouse question cost the town nearly $1,500 ; this expense was covered by the bonds. The terms of the contract were not complied with by the contractor, who fraudulently reduced the height of the upper story about nine inches, cut down the size of the upper windows, and failed to put the plaster on in the required manner. The fraud was discovered almost by accident by Dr. Leonard almost at the last moment. The work was permitted to go on until completed, and then the School Trustees at first refused to accept the building. This they were advised to do by the architect, who had himself failed to discover the error during the work of construction. The contractor became a beggar and importuned the Trustees to have mercy, and finally the building was accepted at a reduction of about $900.

TOWN ORDINANCE NO. 23.

WHEREAS, The town of Albion has a voting population of less than sixteen thousand, as shown by the votes cast for Governor at the last regular election, and, whereas, the said town has an indebtedness of $17,000, evidenced by bonds to that amount issued for the purpose of purchasing ground and erecting thereon and completion of a schoolhouse owned by said town, and said indebtedness being now due at the option of said town, and all bearing interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually.

Now, therefore, for the purpose of funding said indebtedness of said town, and for the purpose of reducing the present rate of interest on said indebtedness, the following ordinance be enacted :

SECTION 1. Be it ordained by the Board of Trustees of the town of Albion, in special ses- sion assembled, that for the purpose aforesaid, the said town do issue its bonds, with coupons attached, to the amount of $17,000, said bonds to be of the denomination of $500 each, num- bered from one to thirty-four, inclusive, payable twenty years after the date thereof, bearing in- terest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, interest payable at the First National Bank of the city of New York, in the State of New York, on presentation and delivery of coupons, said bonds to be redeemable and payable at the pleasure of said town after the ex- piration of five years from the date thereof, and further that all of the several bonds authorized by this ordinance bear date of January 1, A. D. 1882, and the interest coupons be due and payable on the 1st day of January and July of each year.

SECTION 2. That said bonds and coupons shall be in the following form to wit :

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STATE OF INDIANA,

TOWN OF ALBION.

NUMBER.

DOLLARS.

$500.

FUNDING BOND.

Twenty years after date, the town of Albion, in the county of Noble, in the State of Indi- ana, promises to pay to the bearer at the First National Bank of the city of New York, in the State of New York, $500, with interest thereon at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually at the same place, upon presentation and delivery of the proper coupons herewith attached, without any relief from valuation or appraisement laws of the State of Indiana. This bond is redeemable at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees of said town after five years from

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

the date hereof, by said Board of Trustees giving notice to said bank, at the time of payment of any coupon, of their intention to do so at the maturity of the next succeeding coupon.

This bond is one of a series of $17,000 in denomination of $500 each, authorized by the said town by an ordinance passed and approved by the Board of Trustees thereof, on the 8th day of December, 1881, entitled "Town Ordinance No. 23, in relation to the issuing of bonds of the incorporated town of Albion, Noble County, for the purpose of funding the outstanding bonds of said town."

In witness whereof the said Board of Trustees of the town of Albion, Indiana, have caused this bond and coupons thereof to be signed by its President and attested by its Clerk, and the seal of said town hereto attached, at the town of Albion, this the day of 1881.

President.

Clerk.

ATTEST.

It may not be improper to state at this point that the growth of Albion has been very much retarded by the lack of public spirit shown by some of its leading men. Capital from abroad has often sought investment, but has been prevented by the peculiar conduct of these men. Land upon which to erect business blocks could not be purchased at any price, and at Albion could be seen represented the sad, though familiar, spectacle of the dog in the manger. Better things are expected in the future.

The present Presbyterian society at Albion was organized on the 16th of December, 1848, by Revs. E. Bascom and A. H. Kerr. The first members were Erastus Spencer, Amanda M. Spencer, Adaline Wade, William Crispell, Sarah Crispell, Catharine Coon, Andrew Woodward, Polly A. Basset, Lucia Basset, E. M. Wright, Abigail Wright and Isaac Arnold. William Crispell became Ruling Elder. Of the above first members, Lucia Basset is the only one now living. The accessions to the society have been gradual, the greatest membership being seventy, about three years ago. The present membership is sixty-three, and the average, since 1848, about forty. Services were first held in the court house, but, later, in the Lutheran Church, toward the construction of which the Presbyterians contributed several hundred dollars. The present Presbyterian Church was constructed during portions of the years 1875 and 1876. The total cost, including the furnishings and the land, was about $7,100. The work was begun in August, 1875, and the house was dedicated November 12, 1876, by Rev. James Pollock, of Tiffin, Ohio. The ministers in charge of the society have been E. Bascom, Mr. Snyder, William Boner (about eight years, beginning in 1851), Charles A. Munn, S. V. McKee, J. P. Moore (from near the close of the war until about five years ago), Preston Mckinney (four years), and G. W. Barr, a young man of fine ability and promise, at present. This is the strongest society in town.

The Evangelical Lutheran society was organized in April, 1848, by Rev. J. Siedle, the first members being Phillip Bowman and wife, David Bucher and wife, Henry Bowman and wife, Stephen Pratt and wife, James Pepple and wife, and Abraham Hosler and wife. The pastors have been Revs. G. A. Exline, J. Siedle, G. Walker, R. L. Delo, J. H. Hoffman, J. N. Barnett, J. Boon, Sink, William Waltman, W. H. Keller, B. F. Stultz, O. W. Bowen

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TOWN OF ALBION.

and J. Shaffer. For many years, during the early history of the society, it was the strongest in membership in town. The first church was built by them in 1855. From that on, for a number of years, four different denominations met regularly in this house. The church is said to have cost $1,200. Considerable assistance was furnished by the other societies, with the understanding that they were to have the use of the house at stated periods. This building is yet occu- pied by the Lutherans. The above facts of the Lutheran society were furnished the writer by Mr. James Pepple. Elder Blanchard, of Wolcottville, established a Baptist society in about the year 1849, but the doctrine of salvation by the water route was accepted by only a few, who, after a few years, dispersed and joined other societies. Mr. Pepple says the Methodists organized the first class at Albion very early in the year 1848. Unfortunately, the writer was unable to learn the early history of this society. Mr. Spencer thinks the class was formed during the autumn of 1847, and that the parsonage was begun that year, but is not certain. Rev. Stout is said to have been the first pastor, and Rev. Hall the second. The class started out with a small membership, and at first met in the court-room, but finally used the Lutheran Church. The follow- ing have been the ministers since 1861, from records furnished by Mr. Wood- ruff: Rev. Nash (before 1861), Revs. Sell, Ayers, Barnard, J. M. Mann, J. S. Sellers, H. L. Nickerson, J. W. Smith, William Comstock, W. B. Graham, C. H. Wilkinson, James Greer, and J. W. Smith. In 1861, the membership did not exceed twenty, and has never been more than fifty. Probably the average is not far from thirty. The society has paid its minister from $100.to $260 per year, Albion being one of four points (formerly six) attended by him. The Methodist Church was built in 1875, at a cost of $3,000, about one-third of the amount being furnished by members of other churches and outsiders. The last of this was paid off two years ago. In 1874. when the new railroad was opened, the Methodists ran an excursion to Chicago, and cleared over $700 cash. This helped them out with their church wonderfully. Some two years later, they also, by the same means, cleared about $300.

The United Brethren organized a society, probably in 1867, among whom were the following members: Samuel Woodruff, Emma (Woodruff) Black, Dr. C. Woodruff, Jane Woodruff, John Decamp, Deborah Decamp, Samuel De- camp and Elizabeth Decamp. There were five or six others. This society was really formed from the class of the Wesleyan Methodists. It was organized by Rev. George Wansbrow. Among the ministers have been Revs. Prouty, Jacob Albright, E. Johnson, Joseph Bechtel, J. V. Terflinger, L. Morrison, D. D. Bowman, J. G. Knotts and E. Seithman. The lot for the parsonage was fur- nished by Emma Black and that for the church by Charles Woodruff. The present church was built, and $600 was raised by subscription on the day of dedication. The average membership is about thirty and probably has not exceeded fifty.

In 1874, Father Duehmig, of Avilla, began raising money to build a Cath-

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

olic Church at Albion. In 1875, the building was erected at a cost of about $2,000. The leading contributors were William Storey and John Morehouse, Sr. The congregation numbers some fifteen families. Father Duehmig was pastor until 1878, when he was succeeded by Father Franzen, who remained for one year. Father Ege, of Girondot Settlement, has had charge of the society since. Fathers Duehmig and Ege are both prominent and able men. Perhaps Father Duehmig has done more than any other living man to build up the Cath- olic cause in Northern Indiana.

In about the year 1854, Rev. Bell organized a class of Wesleyan Method- ists, east of town, at the Harvey Schoolhouse. This class, at first, consisted of George Harvey, Mary Harvey, Thomas Beyner, Jane Beyner, John Bailey and Susan Bailey. Others were afterward added. The class met in the old schoolhouse and occasionally in the court room at Albion, and at last, for about two years preceding the erection of their church, in the U. B. Church at Al- bion. In 1877, their brick church was constructed, the cost amounting to about $2,300. The Harvey family paid of this about $600. Among the min- isters of this society have been Revs. Bell, Charles Wiggins, Paxton, Bassett, Henry Stoney, Armstrong, Teeter, Jesse Hyatt, - Hyatt, Aaron Worth, and the present pastor, Mr. Northam. The average membership has been about twenty ; present membership, about thirty.

Albion has been visited by many disastrous fires. The following is an approximation of the losses :

Sidle House, 1857 $500

Court House, 1859. Indefinite.

Barns owned by Knox & Edwards, after the war 300

Owen Black, S. M. Foster, Leonard & Denny, Nelson Prentiss, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Munn, Dick Spencer, Mr. Haas, William Baughman and others, in the spring of 1867 20,000

W. R. Knox, Fogleson & Stoops, Scott & Shessler and others, December 11, 1877. 2,500

W. M. Clapp, R. L. Stone, Marquardt & Smith, Moltz & Hadley, Dr. W. B. Olds, Ma- sonic Lodge, J. D. Black, John McMeans, Denny & Kiblinger, W. L. Hoff, Denlar & Frazure, J. C.Wolf, Nelson Prentiss, Fulton & Easterday, Samuel Freeman and others, Sunday morning, April 11, 1878.

B. & O. Elevator, June 4, 1878. 2,500

23,000

Owen Black, J. D. Black, S. S. Fitch, C. B. Phillips, S. J. Hadley, B. F. Frazure, J. M. Denny, John McMeans and others, July 20, 1879 24,000

Adam Kimmel, W. W. White, J. B. Prouty, Mr. Franks, Alexander Fulton and others, September 24, 1879 2,500 2,400

Post office, etc., July 17, 1880.

W. M. Clapp, C. B. Phillips, Charles H. Moltz, Bank of Albion, Adelphian Dramatic Company, P. A. Sunday and others, October 7, 1880

21,000

Dr. Lemmon, summer of 1881. 9,000

Grand total, excluding court house $107,700 Owen Black's loss, about ... 32,000

CHAPTER X.

BY JAMES M. DENNY.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP-FIRST FAMILIES-JOURNEY TO THE WEST-INDIANS-PIO- NEER INDUSTRIES-ORGANIZATION-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-INCIDENTS-AG- RICULTURE-ANTIQUITIES-MANNERS AND CUSTOMS-CEMETERIES-STOCK- RAISING.

TN this brief sketch, the writer acknowledges his indebtedness for many facts therein contained to Jehu Foster, Mitchell Potts, Alfred Skinner, Abram Carey, Mrs. John Ely, Frederick Acres, Luther Spencer, D. E. A. Spencer, James Sweet, John W. Moorhouse and others, who were all among the early settlers of the township. Much is necessarily omitted here which will appear in the biographical sketches and general history of the county, now being writ- ten.

The first land entered in the township was the northeast quarter of Sec- tion 5, by a man named Miller, and now constitutes a part of the large farm owned by William Huston. The first white settler was David Herriman, who, with his family, came from Richland County, Ohio, early in the year 1836, and entered and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 12. He lived thereon about one year, and sold it to Samuel C. Spencer, who came from Huron County, Ohio, in 1838, and took possession of the same. Mr. Herri- man left the State immediately. Mr. Spencer resided there for many years, and sold it to George Harvey, the present owner. Mr. Spencer then pur- chased land one and a half miles southeast of Albion, upon which he resided until his death. It is now owned and occupied by his son, Luther Spencer. In October, 1836, Lewis Potts, Benjamin Potts, Jehu Foster, James Thomp- son and Manassa Thompson, from Richland County, Ohio, and James Skinner, from Huron County, Ohio, came with their families, purchased and settled upon Sections 10 and 11, and made fine improvements upon the same. Of the above settlers, Lewis, Potts, Benjamin Potts, Manassa Thompson and James Skinner died several years ago, on their respective farms, much lamented by all. Jehu Foster and James Thompson still reside on their first-made homes, surrounded in their declining years with peace and plenty. John Peabody, in the spring of 1839, purchased and settled on land in Section 15, where he resided until 1848, when he sold it to Joseph B. Riddle, the present owner, and removed to Allen County, Indiana. Stephen Barhan came in 1837, and, being destitute of the means necessary to purchase land, he labored for James Skinner and others until the requisite amount was obtained, when he purchased the land upon which he now resides, which, by his unremitting industry, is at present one of the best-improved farms in the township. In 1838, John Call entered and settled upon the land now owned by John A. Singrey, at present

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

one of the County Commissioners, sold the same and moved to Albion when the town was first laid out, and where he died about twenty-five years ago. Between the years of 1836 and 1838 (exact date not known), Alfred Martin, Martin Smith, John Grubb, Smith Ashley and Henry Carothers settled in the township, near the settlement above mentioned. The aforementioned James Skinner, Jehu Foster, Benjamin Potts and Lewis Potts first landed in the county at the cabin of Jackson Sawyer, in Wayne Township, adjoining the present site of the city of Kendallville, and about six miles northeast of their place of destination .. Mr. Sawyer received them hospitably, and, in common with the rest of his few scattering neighbors, rendered them all the assistance possible. Here they left their families, goods and teams for about a week, while they were cutting roads to their land. For the first month they camped together on the land of Mr. Skinner, under shelter of a large oak, sleeping in their wagons and cooking by a log fire, during the time they were building their cabins and making the necessary preparations for housekeeping. At the rais- ing of these cabins there were present those living about eight or ten miles dis- tant. The cabins were built of small round logs, the cracks between them being " chinked and daubed " with clay, while the floor was of puncheons. They were furnished with bedsteads, tables, stools and other necessary articles of furniture, made from split puncheons and small saplings. They each cut down a few acres of timber "eighteen inches and under," girdling all over that size ; trimmed, piled and burned the brush, and cut the logs ready for rolling. From these "little patches " they raised enough corn, potatoes, buckwheat and "other truck " for their families the next year, depending mainly upon wild game for their meat ; and for their horses and cattle, chiefly on pastures in the summer and marsh hay and browse in the winter. Each family, we understand, brought but one wagon, and that loaded with only such articles of furniture, provisions, etc., that they deemed absolutely indispensable. The roads during most of their journey were new, rough and muddy, and they made slow progress, being from four to six weeks on their way. Most of the way the families walked, and drove the few cattle and sheep they brought with them, preferring this to riding over the rough roads. They generally stopped one day each week to rest and do their washing. Between the years of 1838 and 1845, the following persons emigrated to this township, with their families : James Halfeerty, William Inscho, John Moorhouse, Benjamin Melvin, Amos Black, Joseph B. Riddle, William Skeels, John Barhan, Abram Carey, Jerome B. Sweet-who represented this county one term in the State Legislature- Abel Barnum, Henry Brewer, Joseph Ogle, John Cromer, Adam Sheffer, Adam Shafer, Lewis Cravens, Leonard Myres, J. Follett, Samuel Rayner and Jacob Lamb. Among these early settlers, Joseph Ogle was counted a great hunter, and as one of his neighbors once expressed it, " When Joe Ogle looked through the sights and pulled trigger, something generally drapped." And according to the testimony of other of his old neighbors, a good many deer,

JEFFERSON TP.

185

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

turkeys and squirrels, killed by him, " drapped " into the larders of his neigh- bors who were not so successful in procuring these necessaries. But although Joseph's vision was by no means defective, in one instance his eyesight proved at fault. On account of the pressure of home duties his faithful old rifle had been permitted to hang upon the wooden hooks, nailed against the inner wall of his cabin, and consequently the supply of meat was not as plentiful as usual. So, late one afternoon, telling his wife that he would go to the woods and bring some venison, he started out, and, after traveling until twilight overtook him, he saw before him, partly hidden by the brush, what he supposed to be a fawn, and the longer he looked the more he became convinced he was not deceived. He even saw the young deer cropping the tender blades of grass, and admired its beautiful spots. Feeling sure of some nice tender venison for breakfast, he raised his unerring rifle and fired, and to his great astonishment and consternation he heard a hideous piercing cry, and at the same time a huge lynx bounded about ten feet up a butternut tree, and sinking its long sharp claws into one of the limbs of the tree, hung there until it died, which, from the description of the wound, was in about a minute, but to the terror-stricken hunter seemed much longer. According to his best recollection, he then and there made the lengthiest and most fervent prayer of his life, besides consider- ing the probability of being called upon to exchange his rifle for a harp. But at last, to his great relief, the huge, savage animal relaxed its hold, and its lifeless body fell to the ground. Immediately the green fields "over there " faded from his vision, and all idea of becoming a harpist was abandoned, and he summoned the assistance of his neighbors in taking home his substitute for the " beautiful fawn." By honest, persevering industry, these early settlers managed to procure a competency of this world's goods. As the plan of the history forbids a more extended notice here, the reader is referred to the bio- graphical department; and as the privations and hardships above enumerated, together with the brief allusions to the manners and customs already given of the few first settlers, are undoubtedly very similar to the experiences of those who followed them, their repetition here would be useless. We would remark, however, that from the best information obtainable, the pathway of the latter was in some respects smoothed by those who preceded them. In the expressive lan- guage of an early settler, " those who came first had gotten hold of the ropes, and could give them to those who came after."

But the early settlers claim that these privations were largely compensato- ry. They point back to the sociability that existed in those days, when every man they met was a friend who stood ready to help them in time of need. They refer with evident pride and satisfaction to the spirit of equality existing in their little society; they tell us that their wants were less numerous then than now, and more easily satisfied. That broadcloths, silks and satins and costly diamonds were not then as now considered indispensable prerequisites to an en- trance into respectable society, and that consequently the labor in procuring

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 68

Author: F.A. Battey & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 976

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976