USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 78
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 78
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After this the township was settled rapidly, and log cabins sprang into existence in all directions, almost like Aladdin's palace. Rollings and raisings
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.
were every-day occurrences, and some of the old settlers state that for weeks at a time they were gone from home, assisting new settlers in getting a home and a start. Settlers usually brought an abundance of clothing with them, and a few necessary household goods, and perhaps a small quantity of money ; so that the first thing to think of after the erection of the cabin, and possibly some rude stable in which to shelter the horses or cow or sheep or swine, was how to provide for the appetite. At first swine were scarce, but soon the woods were full of them, as they ran like wild animals without molestation, save as they were shot for pork. They were often very fierce and dangerous, the tusks of the males attaining a length of six or more inches. Armed with such weap- ons, an enraged Sus scrofa was a formidable enemy. A small clearing was made as soon as possible, upon which to raise potatoes, corn, pump- kins and wheat. The men found an abundance of hard labor in clearing and improving their land, and very often the services of the women were employed to accomplish the same result. Acres of heavy trees of the finest woods were leveled with the ground, and soon the fires, often continued far into the night, completed the process of denudation. Flax was raised, from which linen clothing of all sorts was rudely manufactured by the women. At a very early day it was noised abroad that a drove of sheep was to be driven along the Goshen road, and offered for sale here and there to the settlers. Jonas Strouse went over to Wolf Lake to buy a small flock, but found that he had missed the drove, and hearing that Joseph Adair, of Wash- ington, had some to spare, he went over and bought eight, which, so far as known, were the first brought into Swan Township. The flock multiplied and did well, notwithstanding that every now and then one was killed by the wolves. Mr. Strouse says that on more than one occasion some of his sheep were killed at mid-day, near the house by large, fierce wolves. He set a steel trap. for a big wolf that had proved very troublesome, and caught it, but the wolf dragged the trap into a neighboring swamp, where it was followed the next day by Mr. Strouse, who shot it, and afterward received as he said " $5 for its sculp." Peo- ple soon learned to make their own linen and woolen cloth, either each material by itself, or in the form of " linsey-woolsey," beautifully colored with leaves or bark from the woods. Deer were very numerous, and every old settler's recol- lection is filled with stories of them. Once in awhile a bear was seen or killed to relieve the monotony. At a very early day, the Indians started a bear in the northern part with their dogs, and having chased it to the vicinity of Cra- mer's Lake, succeeded in killing it, after it had knocked a few of their dogs higher than Gilderoy's kite. This occurred not far from the year 1837. In about the year 1838, a large bear came one night to Timmerman's cabin, and, being very hungry, seized an unfortunate swine, weighing some one hundred and fifty pounds, by the back of the neck, and dragged it off, despite its squeals and struggles, into the woods, where its mangled and half-consumed carcass was found the next morning by the irate owner. While the hog was being
NOBLE CO., INFIRMARY
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dragged off, the family heard its piercing squeals, but were unable to effect a rescue, on account of the intense darkness and the boldness of the bear. The hog had been dragged into an almost impassable wind-fall, where it was found. Surmising that Mr. Bruin would return for another feast within the next night or two, Mr. Timmerman and a few others contrived a trap from a log about a foot in diameter, which was so arranged that when the bear approached the hog, the log must fall directly upon its back. The first night no bear appeared, but on the second it came, and, as expected, was pinned to the ground by the log. But the trappers had miscalculated, for upon reaching the spot the next morning it was found that the bear had scratched and clawed up the ground where the log lay, and had thrown the latter to one side, scattering the other contrivances of the trap in all directions. The trap had been so contrived that, when the log fell, the bear would be inclosed between two rows of sharp, wooden pins. These were found covered with the hair and blood of the bear. The animal, probably, after recovering from its shock had eaten heartily of the pork, and had taken its final departure, for it was not seen in the neighborhood afterward.
The Mongoquinong road had been laid out on an old Indian trail before the settlers appeared, and this proved a vast convenience, serving as a large artery to float the products raised in the township, and affording a compara- tively easy communication with Fort Wayne, the great mart of all Northern Indiana. The earliest settlers located along this road, or near it, while those arriving later were compelled, as it were, to take back seats. Goods from stores were very high, and the settlers' pocket-books were either " full of empti- ness," as a son of the Emerald Isle represented them, or they had been left in the East, being looked upon as a needless burden in the backwoods. The most of the settlers brought in a little money, but this was soon paid out for much-needed articles, and as the markets brought no return of money, the set- tlers were obliged to carry on commerce through a devised medium of ex- changes. This soon created a cash price and a trade price, which were often widely apart, and sometimes wrought enduring hardships. Time slowly changed the tide of events for the better.
The first township election was held in 1837, at the residence of George Rickard, who had been appointed Inspector by the County Commissioners. There were present but eight or ten persons, and only six of them were enti- tled to vote. These six were George Rickard, Hiram Parker, Alexander Gif- ford, James Shelner, Charles Shelner and David Tousley. Jonas and John Strous were present, but were not entitled to vote, not having been a year in the township. Two or three officers were elected, but as no returns were made, the election remained invalid. The same is true of the election held in the spring of 1838, although John Fulk, who had been elected Road Supervisor, consented to serve, and did. At the election of 1839, which was held at the cabin of Mr. Badger, several officers were elected, the Justice of the Peace
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.
being Jonas Strous. At this election, many of the "canalers " came over from Green and voted, regardless of law and right. Mr. Strous recollects trying many cases of assault and battery, brought before him by the " canal- ers." The first marriage in the township was contracted by Joseph Exler and Ann Cramer. This couple had considerable trouble before they were made man and wife. They at first went to Fort Wayne, but found they could not get united there, so they returned and went up north somewhere, and found a Squire, who tied them fast in Hymen's knot. The first death was that of the mother of Hiram Parker, her death occurring in 1837. A few of the neigh- bors made a rough coffin from puncheons and a few boards, in which the earthly remains of the kind old lady were placed, and all consigned to the grave.
The pioneers of Swan were at first compelled to go to Fort Wayne for flour and meal, although two "corn-crackers " were west of them, distant some eight or ten miles, one being at Port Mitchell and the other on the Goshen road, about two miles southeast of Wolf Lake. These were found very con- venient in bad weather, when the roads were almost bottomless, for the settler would mount his horse and take a couple of bushels of corn or wheat to one of the above mills ; but when the weather was good, Fort Wayne was the most desirable place to go for flour and meal. It was not long before saw-mills sprang into activity, as the settlers demanded native lumber for their buildings. An early water saw-mill was built near the center of the township, on Black Creek, by Mr. Mendenhall, which is said to have been the first inill of the kind in the township. About the same time, or perhaps a little later, Hiram King built another of the same kind in the northern part, on an outlet to Cramer's Lake. These were both water-mills, with up-and-down saws, flutter wheels, and were furnished with water from a dam by means of a race. Both were slow-running, yet in time they did good service, and assisted greatly in providing the township with buildings a step in advance of those made of rough logs. An early saw-mill was started by Mr. Bruce, but it did not sur- vive longer than about a year. In about the year 1850, the Plank Road Com- pany erected a fine steam saw-mill, near the village of Swan, but immediately sold it to Mr. Barnes, who contracted to saw large quantities of three-inch plank for the road. After a few years, the mill was purchased by Ephraim Cramer, who sold it a few years later to others. Since then, it has passed through several hands until the present owner, Samuel Broughton, obtained possession. It has been a good mill from the start, and under Mr. Brough- ton's management is doing well at present. These were the only early saw- mills. There was no early grist-mill.
In about the year 1844, Hiram King opened the first store at his residence in the northern part of the township. He kept a few groceries and notions, and perhaps a few yards of prints and calicoes. After a few years he was appointed Postmaster, although the office was not at his house, as he lived a
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considerable distance from the State road. The office was at the residence of Mr. Clapp. Within a few years, Hiram Cramer purchased King's stock of goods, and began selling about a mile and a half east. He was soon joined in business by his brother Ephraim, who, after a short period, bought his brother's interest, and continued alone for a series of years. A year or two after King had secured the post office, Samuel Broughton, living where Swan now is, was appointed in his stead, but after a few years, Ephraim Cramer received the appointment as Uncle Sam's agent, and, with the exception of six months, has been Postmaster since-a period of over thirty years. A Mr. Ogden opened a country store quite early on the State road in the northern part; but after a few years he quit the mercantile pursuit for something more tangible and profitable.
In the month of July, 1870, Samuel Broughton, Orville Broughton and Franklin Hilkert secured the services of a surveyor, and laid out seventy-eight lots between the railroad and plank road, and named the village thus begun Swan, after the township. The railroad was a new enterprise, and the pro- prietors of the village saw a chance to improve their worldly affairs by the sale of village lots. But Swan was not destined to fly very high during the first stages of its existence at least, and it is not impossible that it may be called upon before long to sing the song of the dying Swan. That is sad and touch- ing. But the village had an origin much earlier than the laying-out of the lots, and the platting and recording of the same. Ephraim Cramer, who had been selling goods in the northern part, appeared upon the site of what is now Swan in about the year 1856, being induced to change his location from the fact that the old plank road saw-mill at the place was quite extensively frequented by workmen and settlers, and the location promised a harvest to the merchant who dared open there with a stock of goods. A small frame building was erected on the lot south of the one occupied by Mr. Cramer at present, in which was placed a small stock of a general assortment of goods. Here Mr. Cramer continued to measure tape and calico behind the counter until 1861, when his store was burned to the ground, and a portion of the goods destroyed. Another frame build- ing was erected three years later on the same lot, and this was occupied contin- uously until about four years ago, when, following the example set by a Script- ural character some thousands of years ago, he tore down his old building in order to build a greater. His present fine brick storeroom cost between $3,000 and $4,000, and affords relief to the general monotony of the village. The second store was opened in about 1872 by Robert Taylor, who soon afterward took as a partner Allen Willets, and thus the firm continued until about two years ago, when the goods were bought by Samuel Broughton, who shortly afterward sold to Jehu Bricker and William Worman, and the last two are yet in business with a general stock, including drugs. Daniel S. Simon sold goods for a short time in Swan.
Robert Taylor and Allen Willets built the grist-mill at Swan in 1874 at
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.
a cost of about $7,000. Two run of stone were placed in the mill, which im- mediately entered upon a season of great prosperity. This has continued unabated until the present, with an annual shipment of a considerable quantity of excellent flour. Mr. Cramer bought fifty car loads of grain of the harvest of 1871, and has continued at the same business since, shipping by rail to the best markets. There is a small warehouse at the depot. A stave factory for oil barrels was built at the village, soon after the completion of the railroad, by F. S. Surick, of Fort Wayne, who, during the short time at the business, man- ufactured over 200,000 staves. Mr. Cramer, who was induced to buy staves for the factory, paying for the same with money advanced by himself, and receiving in return checks on Mr. Surick, lost nearly. a $1,000, as the checks proved worthless when Mr. Surick failed in business. The building now stands vacant and lifeless, a memento of hopes that perished long ago. A few other minor industries have flourished at Swan, and when that is said the history is told.
La Otto did not have as early an origin as Swan, but it has made up that deficiency by increased activity. Standing, as it does, at the junction of two railroads, there is no reason why, with time, it may not become five times as large and prosperous as it is. Probably the first building in the village was a steam saw-mill, built during the winter of 1871-72 by David Simon, and operated until about 1873. In the spring of 1872, a blacksmith-shop was erected at the village by Martin Belger, into which John Miller and his family moved on the 5th of April of the same year. On the same day, Abraham Zern moved into a shoe-shop that had been built there a short time before. These two families were the first in the village. In the preceding October, David Vorhees, Martin Belger, David Simon, Solomon Simon and Jonathan Simon had laid out 101 lots at the junction of the two railroads, and had christened the village, thus begun, "Simonville." The railroad company did not admire this name, and soon began calling the station Grand Rapids Cross- ing. But this was cumbersome, and, in September, 1875, the following peti- tion to change the name to La Otto (a name suggested by the Rev. B. F. Stultz) was presented to the County Commissioners ; or, rather, the following is the Auditor's record of the proceedings of the board, who had duly con- sidered the petition to change the name of the village, the petition having been signed by eighteen freeholders in the village and vicinity :
Now came the above-named citizens of Simonville, Noble County, Ind., to be heard upon their petition to change the name of said village; when it appearing to the satisfaction of the board that said petition herein filed with the County Auditor, praying that the name of Simon- ville be changed to that of La Otto, is genuine, and that good cause is shown for such change, and that the same has been duly signed by a large majority of the legal voters of said town from the testimony of Benjamin F. Stultz, a witness in the case, it is therefore ordered by the board that such change be made, and the name of Simonville be hereby changed to La Otto. It is further ordered, that three weeks' notice of such change be published in the New Era, & newspaper published in Noble County, Ind., that a certified copy of this order be made and recorded in the Recorder's office of said County, and that all the costs of this petition be paid by the petitioners.
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SWAN TOWNSHIP.
Mr. Zern, immediately after his appearance in the village, began making and mending shoes, while Mr. Miller, who had been engaged in the cabinet business in the township since 1855, began the erection of his present planing- mill and bedstead factory, completing the same late in the summer of 1872, at a cost of over $7,000. The manufacture of bedsteads did not begin until the following February, and as there was already a saw-mill in operation in the village, from which could be obtained the necessary quantity of sawed lumber for the planing-mill, Mr. Miller did not start his present saw-mill for some time after the one operated by Mr. Simon was discontinued in 1873. Since this time, the factory, with its attendant adjuncts, has been the industrial center of the village. It gives constant employment to from six to ten assist- ants, and has steadily increased in capacity until at present the gross annual earnings probably exceed $5,000. Mr. Miller had previously carried on the cabinet manufacture about half a mile south of the village, his motor for ope- rating the machinery being horse-power. He had also been Postmaster there for five years, the office being known as Simon's Corners. Kinzie & Bonbrake opened the first store in the village in about September, 1872, with some $800 worth of dry goods and groceries, which were placed in a building that had been erected by Jonathan and Solomon Simon. Other merchants have been George W. Sowers, Mrs. Ford, Samuel Aker, Seymour Cole, Robert Taylor, Henry Holbrook, Manning Brothers, J. B. Ross, Wellington Martin, Zach- ariah Young, Mr. Cary, Mr. Hogue and others, some of whom were milliners, bakers, etc. Mr. Kinzie was appointed Postmaster in the autumn of 1872. He has been succeeded by Robert Taylor and the present official, Mr. Hol- brook. The first physician, Dr. Lebker, was at the village but a few months. Since then there have been Drs. Strouse, Bowker, Ogle, Shepard, Ober, Cary and the present follower of Esculapius, Dr. Solomon. Andrew Durkus was the first Vulcan. Mr. Garrison burned brick at the village in 1873. David Simon did likewise in 1879, and in 1881 burned two kilns, besides a few thou- sand tile. Efforts have been made by various parties to open saloons at this temperate little village, but all have been stubbornly met by the united and earnest remonstrances of the citizens. It is the intention, if possible, and if earnest endeavor will succeed, to fight the direful appearance of liquor to the last ditch. The citizens are not trifling, as some apostle of Bacchus will prob- ably learn to his sorrow. A few years ago, at a barn-raising in the village, David Whonsetler was struck by a falling beam and killed. Mr. Preston built a wagon-shop quite early. Mrs. Upton began entertaining the public in 1873. Several have followed the same occupation since, the present "mine host" being Thomas Ritchie. The village has a population of about seventy-five, and is destined to grow.
Some time during the winter of 1837, the Rev. Mr. Ball, of Fort Wayne, came to the cabin of John Strous and preached the first sermon in the town- ship to a few of the earliest settlers who assembled there. A year later a log
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.
schoolhouse was erected a short distance north of Swan, which was used as a church for a series of years, and until the first church was constructed in 1854. The old log schoolhouse was a rude affair, but it answered the purpose. After Ball's first sermon, he came to the neighborhood regularly, preaching usually at the cabins of the Shelners ; and, at last, in about the fall of 1338, formed a class of Methodists, and effected the permanent organization of the first relig- ious society in the township, and one of the very first in the county. Among the members were the Shelners, the Tousleys, the Cramers and others. The society continued to flourish in the old schoolhouse, which was about twenty-five feet square, and when the new church was built, in 1854, there was quite a respectable membership. The building was frame, and was about 32x45 feet. This house was used until 1880, when the present fine church was erected in Swan at a cost of about $2,000. The Lutheran Church on the farm of Peter Bricker has been standing many years ; but the society was really organized be- fore its erection. Among the early members were Messrs. Warner, Miller, Worman, Amos, DeHoff, Bricker, and others. The Catholic Church on Sec- tion 29 was first built some twenty-five years ago, and was used continuously by the steadily growing congregation until three years ago, when the present fine building was erected. This is probably the finest church in the township. The present pastor or priest in charge is Rev. F. X. Ege. The Presbyterian Church on Section 8 has been standing many years, as has also the one on Sec- tion 2, on the plank road. Both are in a fairly prosperous condition, especially the one on the plank road. The English Lutheran Church at La Otto was built in 1875, and cost $1,530. It is about 30x45 feet. The church was built largely by outside subscription, and B. F. Stultz was chosen first minister. Among the early members were Martin Belger and wife, John Miller and wife, Jacob Simon and wife, Joseph Simon, and Eva Bricker. The society was first organized in April, 1875, and meetings were held in the Preston Wagon-Shop Hall and in residences, until finally, as stated above, the church was built. The Sunday school was first started in the hall. The present membership is about twenty-five. The Wesleyan Methodist Church at La Otto was first built half a mile north of the village in 1859 ; but about six years ago was moved to its present location. This society was first organized in about 1850, and, at that time, met to worship in a schoolhouse in De Kalb County. Among the mem- bers are individuals from the following families : Hogue, Parish, Holbrook, Simon, Reed, Potter, Atwell, Sowers, Ogden, Smith, Correll, Bassett, Warner, and others. The United Brethren Church, in the southwest corner, was built during the last war, and the society though small is doing well. No township in the county is better supplied with facilities for church going than Swan. The citizens are temperate and moral.
As above stated, the first schoolhouse was built in 1838. Prior to that, in 1837, Miss Eliza Parker, a cousin to Hiram Parker, taught a term of six months in a building that had been built and deserted by Samuel Barkwell.
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She received $28 for the term, and taught the children of Conrad Cramer, Mr. Timmerman, John Strous and others, this term being the first in the township. The first teacher in the old schoolhouse, which was built near by, was Cordelia Broughton. This lady taught for three consecutive summers in the same house, and was then succeeded by her sister, Lucy Broughton. Miss Jane Bailey was the next teacher in this house. She was a wee woman, but had enough courage for a half-dozen of ordinary females. A young man who went to her school was one day whittling a stick unconcernedly in school, when he was approached by his teacher, who took the knife away from him, and informed the culprit that if he was again caught in such mischief, he would get his jacket tanned. This old schoolhouse was used until 1855, when a frame was erected, which was used until six years ago, at which time the present fine, two-storied brick schoolhouse was constructed. The school is graded, and is one of the best in the county. The second schoolhouse was built about 1842, near Hiram King's residence ; and the third was erected a year or two later on Section 7. The next was in the Fulk neighborhood in the southwestern part. In 1872, B. F. Simon taught a select school in La Otto, in what was known as Simon's Hall. School was taught there until 1876, when the present fine brick schoolhouse was built at a cost of over $1,000. The first teacher in the new house was Joseph Ketchum, a young man of fine ability.
CHAPTER XIX.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP-ROOP THE FIRST SETTLER-A PIONEER POT-PIE- CATALOGUE OF EARLY SETTLERS - FIRST TOWNSHIP ELECTION - MR. EAGLES AND THE BEAR-SAW-MILLS, GRIST-MILLS, TANNERIES, ETC .- PIONEER SCHOOLS AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES-A FISH STORY.
TN about the year 1833, a tall, broad-shouldered, dark-complexioned man named Roop built a small log cabin, not more than twelve feet square, in Washington Township. In this small and unpretentious building were domi- ciled his sallow-looking wife and some half dozen children, who habitually went clothed in nothing but nature's somber garment. In other words, they went naked all summer, and at the appearance of real cold weather, clothing of some kind was sewed upon them, and not removed until entirely worn off the next spring. How they managed to live is one of the mysteries more profound than those of Eleusis. It is stated that the children became so dark from exposure, that, when sitting on the rail fence surrounding their cabin, they looked like turkey buzzards. Others have said that this is not doing the buzzards proper justice. All agree, however, in saying that the children were dark. After Mr. Roop had lived there a few years, he called a few of his nearest neighbors to his assistance in raising a log stable, on which occasion Mrs. Roop set before
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