USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 19
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 19
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In May of 1836, a license was granted to Andrew Ault to keep a tavern and to sell foreign and domestic groceries ; he also sold liquor, paying for the license $10 per annum. This store was kept in a double log house, that cost about $25. As near as can be remembered, the store was opened in 1836 or 1837. The first stock of goods was obtained from Michigan City, and cost in the neighborhood of $50. This store was kept open for a number of years, and was situated about three-fourths of a mile west of Prattville. The tavern furnished accommodations to the many wagon trains passing through this section, and was no unimportant item in the remunerative part of the business. In 1834 or 1835, a stock of goods was kept in the double log house belonging to Isaac Morgan. The stock was light, and was composed of such things as would best meet the wants of the early settlers. The store was conducted by Mr. Hol- land, who obtained his supplies from La Porte, and served as a mail car- rier for the settlement. Jeremiah Hamell and Mr. Henning opened a store in George B. Cline's double log house ; this was in 1836 or 1837.
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Their stock was composed of dry goods and groceries, the value of which did not exceed $50. They traded extensively with the Indians, exchang- . ing arms, ammunition and whisky for furs. They obtained their goods from Michigan City and South Bend. In 1837, Jeremiah Hamell (now deceased) moved to Valparaiso, where he is said to have been one of the first merchants. Stores of any importance must necessarily be located in villages or towns. For this reason, store-keeping has ceased to be a lucra- tive business in Washington Township, as there are no villages or towns of any note in the township.
Schools .- The first school taught in the township was conducted by Mary Hammond in a log house, erected by A. V. Bartholomew, the teacher being paid by subscription. Four families were represented. The school was in session three months, during the winter of 1835 or 1836. The next school, as near as can be remembered, was taught by Thomas Campbell, in a log house on a farm owned by Mr. Kimmerer. This school was in session one term. The common branches were taught here, including arithmetic, reading, spelling and writing. These schools were taught in houses originally intended for dwellings. They were small, about 18x20 feet in size. The houses were warmed by huge fire-places, in which logs of considerable dimensions could be rolled without much difficulty, such being the advantages of the young seeker after knowledge in 1835 and 1836. The first schoolhouse built in Washington Township was prob- ably the Morgan Schoolhouse, several old settlers to the contrary. This schoolhouse was built in 1836 or 1837 ; the Luther Schoolhouse was built about the same time; it is not known positively which one was built first. It is sufficient to say that among the first teachers are to be found the names of George Partial, Mr. Wakeman, Nancy Trim, Judge Talcott, Mr. Pepinger (as near as the name can be spelled), Mr. Van Hozzen, Lowring Hall and Dr. Pagan. The first schoolhouse was built of round logs at a probable cost of $25; the accommodations throughout were of the plainest quality. The wages paid to the earliest teachers were about $2 per scholar, or $10 or $12 per month; this sum was considered suffi- cient pay to the teacher who was required to wield the birch with suffi- cient force to overcome the unruly young man of twenty summers. It was one of the principal parts of school life to have spellings, and to bar out the teacher at Christmas ; this was often difficult to do, as the roof was usually covered with shakes, with poles laid on to keep them down, so that it did not require a very great effort on the part of the teacher to find an ingress at almost any part of the house. In 1838, George Par- tial was barred out in this manner; being unable to effect an entrance for three or four days, he was finally compelled to treat. The treat con- sisted of "doughnuts " and such things as the kitchens of the neigh-
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
borhood could furnish. The treat was brought to the schoolhouse in a two bushel sack, and was made up of contributions from the parents of the children. The birch was used pretty freely in those days, as a gentle reminder of the duties and responsibilities resting upon the young aspi- rant.
The small log schoolhouse of 1836 has given place to the neat and com- modious house of to-day. While at that time the township could boast of but one or two, now we find seven well-conducted schools in the town- ship.
Churches .- No churches have ever been built in the township, but the people used the schoolhouses for purposes of worship at an early date. As early as 1837, Lewis Comer preached in the Morgan Schoolhouse. It is said that a Baptist minister (name not remembered) preached in George Cline's double log house as early as 1835. The members of the Chris- tian Church held regular meetings in the Morgan Schoolhouse. There were about thirty or forty members in attendance, but no regularly or- ganized church. Among the earliest members of this congregation were Reason Bell, Mr. and Mrs. Rinker, White B. Smith and others whose names could not be obtained. There was no fixed salary for the minister, but the congregation paid him whatever they could give that would be of use to him or his family. It was customary for the members to gather together and give what was called a donation surprise party, in which the minister was often surprised by receiving many things that were of benefit to him. This township being situated near Valparaiso, the church-going people have found it more convenient to attend church in town than to build and maintain a church of their own, and for this reason no churches have ever been erected in Washington Township. The first Sabbath school in the township, as near as can be ascertained, was organized by D. C. White in 1856; the school was taught in the Morgan Schoolhouse. The school was small, and the Sabbath school library was limited to a. few books such as would meet the wants of the children.
Washington Township is strictly an agricultural township, and is one- of the richest in the county. It is difficult to realize the number and value of the improvements that have been made within forty years. The round-log cabin of the early settler has given place to the comfortable home and beautiful farms of to-day, while the advantages of the people- are in no way inferior to those of any other portion of the State.
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MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER VIII.
BY G. A. GARARD.
MORGAN TOWNSHIP-LIST OF FIRST AND EARLY SETTLERS-GAME-INCI- DENTS AND ANECDOTES-A TRADITION-EARLY ELECTIONS-AN OLD TOWN -- MANUFACTURES -- CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-CEMETERY -- FIRST BURIAL-RESUME.
M ORGAN TOWNSHIP derives its name from Morgan Prairie, which was named for Isaac Morgan, who was one of the first set- tlers upon this beautiful plain, in what is now Washington Township.
List of First and Early Settlers .- The following is a list of the first and early settlers so far as obtainable: Joseph Bartholomew, 1834; Henry Adams and family, 1834; Benjamin Spencer and family, 1834; John Baum, 1835; George Shultz, Jacob Shultz and John Shultz, in 1834 ; N. S. Fairchild, Archie De Munn and Charles Allen, in 1835; Josiah Allen and Josiah Allen's wife, in 1835. Among the first were Rinier Blachley, Charles De Wolf, Morris Witham, William Billings, Mr. Kinsey, Thomas Wilkins, Mr. Dillingham, John Berry, and William Minton, an Indian trader. Lewis Comer and family came in 1835; Thomas Adams and family came during the spring of 1835. Among those who came early are Samuel Van Dalsen, Abraham Van Dalsen, Lyman Adkins, Elisha Adkins, Mr. Stoner, Enoch Billings, Elias Cain, John E. Harris, Ezra Wilcox, Eason Wilcox and Hank Blanchard. John G. Keller came in 1837 ; Enos Arnold in 1840 ; William Unrugh in 1842, and William Benton in 1838. Henry S. Adams, of Jefferson County, Ohio, came to this region on the 27th of April, 1833, and in May erected a cabin and laid a claim of 160 acres on Section 9, Township 34, Range 5. He brought with him his wife, mother and three daughters. His was the first house erected in the township. In 1835, G. W. Patten, of Ohio, settled here. Miller Parker came among the very first, but stopped for a time in Pleasant Township. John and Stephen Bartholo- mew came in 1834, but settled in Pleasant, where they lived for a time before they moved to Morgan.
Morgan Township originated in August, 1843, when it was set apart from Pleasant. The eastern part of it was formerly Essex Township, which was formed in February, 1850, and named in honor of the ship commanded by Commodore Porter, the man for whom the county was named. The two were consolidated a short time since.
Early Incidents .- An old settler remarks : " When I came to Mor-
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
gan Prairie, there was nothing but snakes, wolves and Indians." Game of all kinds native to the region was abundant. H. S. Adams, Rollston Adams, Asa Cobb and G. W. Patton, in 1851, during a hunt of five days, hilled sixteen deer. In 1843, G. W. Patton and his brother shot two from a herd. Supposing that both were dead, Mr. Patton went up to where they lay. When he reached the place, one of them that had been more stunned than wounded started to rise, but Mr. Patton seized it by the antlers and called to his brother to come and cut its throat. Before his brother came up and succeeded in doing so, it had cut G. W.'s hands and struck him on the head a number of times with its hind feet. Bees abounded, and barrels of honeyed sweets were stored away in the hollows of trees. It is a singular fact that bees seldom go far from the habitations of the white man. As the buffalo retreats, the bee advances. Prairie fires were a terror to the natives at an early day, and often swept the country with a sea of flame that traveled with the speed of the wind, laying in ashes and raising in smoke everything before it.
A certain Assessor of Essex Township presented a bill of $21 for assessing twenty-one families. He said that he would have that or nothing. He got the latter. Old Cuttanaw, who used to trade in this region with the Indians, once told them that the needle-makers were all dead, and that he would have to charge them $1 apiece for needles, which he did. He is the one who took the contract for moving the Indians to their new home in the West. This occurred in 1837. Once, at Tassinong Grove, two Indians came to trade. One of them got drunk. The other, upbraiding him for so doing said, " Mo-a-net Che- moke-man " (mean as a white man). Although all the Indians seemed fond of good-ne-tos (liquor), one of the party always stayed sober and could not be induced to drink enough to become intoxicated. It seemed to be the business of this one to stand guard and take care of those who were too drunk to care for themselves. He took charge of the guns and other weapons to keep those who were drinking from killing each other or some one else. The squaws did not drink, the reason for which fact is not stated. Enos Arnold speaks of having driven twelve yoke of oxen to a breaking-plow on one Fourth of July, which day he cele- brated by turning to the sun three acres of prairie sod.
There was a tradition among the Indians found here that in the then distant past the Pottawatomies had a dispute with a tribe west of them about the boundary line between the two nations. They agreed to decide the question by fighting three battles. The tribe that was victorious in two or three of these battles was to have the boundary placed where they claimed that it should be. It is supposed that these battles occurred somewhere on Morgan Prairie, but just where
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cannot now be determined. It is possible that the old fort on the Kan- kakee in Pleasant Township was erected at that time as a place of refuge in case of defeat in the field. It is further stated that the Pottawatomies were to drive this Western tribe to the end of the lake, but no farther. This point they called " Bish Chi-ca-go " or "water all gone." This some claim to be the origin of the word Chicago. If so, it is probable that the name was applied to the place by the Indians while the whites called it Fort Dearborn, and that the Indian name was in some way re- stored.
January 4, 1836, a license was granted by the County Commission - ers to Hamell & Heming for one year, for the sum of $10, to vend mer- chandise. Morgan Township was then very large and a part of La Porte County.
The principal Indian trail that crossed the township entered at the northeastern part and reached the Kankakee near the southwestern corner.
Early Officers .- At an election of Morgan Township, held April 4, 1853, James White, Jesse Spencer and Joseph McConnell were elected Trustees, David W. White. Clerk, and John Brumbaugh, Treasurer. The bond of the Treasurer was $200. May 7, 1853, notice was given of an election to be held June 11, 1853, for the purpose of voting for or against levying a tax for the purpose of purchasing sites for and building schoolhouses. The election was held at the time appointed. Francis Marshall, James White, Jesse Spencer, Joseph McConnell, David W. White, Lewis Comer, H. S. Adams and Asa Marine voted for the tax, and no votes were cast against it. Accordingly, a tax of 50 cents on $100 was levied. In 1854, the total receipts for road purposes were $82.20, and the expenditures $76.50. The charges of the road superintendents for the same year were, in Districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3, $2 each ; in No. 4, $1.50; No. 5, $3; No. 6, 75 cents. In 1854, the Treasurer's bond was raised to $1,000, and was signed by John Brumbaugh and William Stod- dard. In this year, John W. Wright was elected Justice, and Franklin Adkins and Aaron Stoner, Constables. Hiram Diblee, James Bundy and Enos Arnold were elected Trustees. William Stoddard was Clerk, John Brumbaugh, Treasurer. The following were the Supervisors for the different districts : In No. 1, John Brunson ; No. 2, Lorenzo Mor- toe ; No. 3, Joseph Holles ; No. 4, Elias Cane; No. 5, John McCurdy ; No. 6, John Schultz.
Tassinong .- The town of Tassinong, or Tassinnong Grove, as it was formerly called, is indeed an ancient place. Its origin seems to be shrouded in obscurity. The whites trace the locality back to 1830, but the Indians spoke of it as an old place even then. Not that there was any town, but simply a locality bearing the name. It is probable that
K
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
there was a French trading post here at a very early day. Col. Jesse Harpar, the noted Greenback orator, started the first store here, about the year 1846. He continued to sell goods here for a few years, and then took his wares and left. He had a stock worth, perhaps, $800. He kept his goods in an old log building that was used before by William Stoddard as a barn. The second store was started by William Stoddard in a hewed-log cabin, about 1849. Here he kept goods for a year or a year and a half, when one night almost the entire stock was stolen. The third store was started in 1850 by Joseph Unrugh. He ran it about a year alone, when his brother William bought an interest in the stock. They managed the business for two or three years, when they sold out to Eaton, who sold to Francis McCurdy, who sold to Rinker & Wright, who kept the store about two years. In the meantime, about 1852, Abraham Ahart started a store, ran it about two years and closed out the stock. In 1852, besides two stores, there were two blacksmith shops, one kept by Stephen Ales and the other by A. J. Zarn. F. McCurdy had a car- penter shop, John McCurdy a tavern, while William Maxwell and W. Hammond kept shoe shops. Calvin Bowman and Adkins started a store in 1854. Sylvester Pierce bought Adkins out, and has kept store here almost ever since. He has been out of business for a short period at two different times. J. C. Eahart started a store, and sold to Frank Adkins, who sold to Spencer, who kept alone for a time, and then went in with Mr. Pierce. Mr. Pierce is now alone. Bowman & Son run the other store of the town. H. King is the blacksmith. Dr. B. A. Welch is the medical man. Dr. Gray located here in 1881, but stayed only about six months. Before him, Dr. Davis was in town from 1856 to 1861, when he went to the war. The present Postmaster is Sylvester Pierce, who has held the office for over twenty years. Mr. Pierce was preceded by William Stoddard, who kept the office for four or five years. Before him, Frank Adkins had charge for a short time. He was preceded by John W. Wright, who was preceded by William C. Eaton, who was preceded by John Ahart, who was preceded by John Jones, who was the first Post- master. The office was established in 1840. For some years, it was two miles south of its present site, and called Tassinong Grove. Tassi- nong is the only town the township has ever had, and the only post office has been located here since it was established.
Industries, etc .- No factories of great importance have been built within the limits of Morgan Township. A cheese factory was started about 1857 by Charles De Wolf, and run for two years by Edson, when it was closed. Another was started by John Schultz in 1879. He ran it one season, when he sold the machinery to Mr. Woodhull. It is now run by Albert Runnels and Henry Stone. They use about a ton of
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milk a day. At a very early day, there was a small grist-mill in the northwestern part. This was known as the Kinsey Mill. It had only one "run of buhrs," through which all kinds of grain were run. The water was brought through hollow logs to an overshot wheel. This mill was owned and run by Kinsey until 1848.
Churches .- The first religious services were held by Stephen Jones at the house of Thomas Adams. Rev. Colklasier was the second one to conduct religious services in the township. The third was Rev. Holly Baxter Beers.
The Presbyterian Church of Tassinong was built about 1855, at a cost of $800. It was built by the community for all denominations. Joseph Bartholomew and George Biggert each gave $150 toward its erection. Rev. Brown also gave liberally, helped to organize and officiated for a time as minister. Rev. Moore and Rev. Logan each preached here for a year ; this was before the war. Since these the Rev. Kinney and Rev. Robert Williams each in order served a year. Then came Rev. S. R. Baker, who stayed four years, and after him Rev. Henry Cullom stayed two years, then Rev. Frank Ferguson served a year, after whom Rev. Ely came for a short stay of six months. The congregation has now been without a pastor for about a year. The church now has twenty-five communicants. The Old School Baptists held services for a time at Morris Witham's house. Elder French officiated for a time. They have never had a church building in the township. The Methodists have a church and society in the north west part of the township. Among the first members were "Father " White and wife, William White and wife, David White and wife, Ezra White and wife and Mr. Cornish and wife. The Christians have a church near the center of the township. This society was organized in June, 1840, being the first society of the Christians in the county. The church, which is built of brick, cost about $2,000. The principal contributors to the building fund were H. S. Adams, Lewis Comer, Aaron Stoner, Enoch Baum, G. W. Patton, Elias Cain. Many others contributed sums according to their means. Among the very first members were, Lewis Comer and wife, H. S. Adams and wife, Thomas Adams and Mrs. Baum. Among the other early members were George W. Turner and wife, Joseph McConnel and wife, Elias Cain and Mrs. Elizabeth Stoner. Lewis Comer was this first Elder, and H. S. Adams the first Deacon. The present officers are, G. W. Patton, N. S. Fairchild, and Jacob Stoner, Elders; William Cain and Russell Stoner, Deacons. The pres- ent membership is 125. Rev. Lemuel Shortage now preaches occasion- ally. The last regular minister was Rev. M. Goodycoonts ; before him was Rev. W. Lowe, who stayed two years. Rev. L. Shortage commenced
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
preaching here in 1849, and has preached here more or less ever since. Rev. Wheeler preached two years, Rev. Robert Johnson two years. Part of the time there has been no regular minister, but different ones preached occasionally.
Schools .- There is a difference of opinion as to where the first school of the township was taught, but the evidence indicates that it was on Morgan Prairie, near where Jesse Baum now lives. The house was, of course, a log one. In size, it was about 12x14 feet. The first teacher was Miss Orilla Stoddard, a sister of William Stoddard, now Mrs. Jack- son Buel, of Valparaiso, who taught here for a number of terms. The first term was taught in or near the year 1834. This, like the other early schools, was supported by subscription. The following are some of the patrons of the first school : Morris Witham, William Billings, John Kel- ler, Henry Adams and R. Blatsley. The location of this school was changed after a few years to the Enoch Baum farm, where a frame build- ing was erected. This was used for some years, when a house was built on the present site. The second schoolhouse was built about two miles south of the north line of the township, and near the center from east to west. This house was a log cabin, built in 1838 or 1839. The third house was built on the old Spencer farm, about half a mile north of Tas- sinong, in 1834 or 1835. This was a log house, about 18x20 feet. Among the early teachers here were Orilla Stoddard, Mr. Cannaday, Eggleston Smith, David White, Oliver Stoddard, Miss Jones, Miss Hoadley, Chris- topher Clines, Mr. Bloomfield and Miss Webster. The fourth schoolhouse was built in the White settlement about thirty-five years ago. This was a small frame, being the first frame schoolhouse of the township. The present house here is a fine brick, built in 1878, at a cost of $1,000. District No. 2 now has its third house, a brick, built about fifteen years ago, at a cost of $1,200. District No. 3 has its second house, built about ten years ago, at a cost of $800. No. 5 has its second house, a brick, built about nine years ago, at a cost of $800. The first house here was a frame. District No. 6 has its first house still standing ; it is a frame, probably thirty years old, and has been repaired many times. It cost about $500. The other three houses are frame. The Stoddard or Tas- sinong Schoolhouse was built in 1868. Ida Freer taught here during the winter of 1881-82, and the spring of 1882. Some of the teachers before Miss Freer, in about the following order, are: William Harris, Anna Bray, Mr. Hazelett, the Misses Baum, Miss Cary, Mr. Elliot, William Stod- dard, Ruth Marshall, Belle Stephens and William Bartholomew. In the old frame house, Emma Hammond, Alvin Bartholomew, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Bloomfield taught. David White and Eggleston Smith were among the first who taught in the old log house. The second house, a
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frame, was painted red, and stood about one- fourth of a mile south of the present site. The following is a list of the teachers for the years indi- cated : 1880, in District No 1-Priscilla Flake, Myra Hunter and Sylvester Dill ; No 2-Irena Baum and A. Knott; No. 3-Ida Freer and O. C. Tarpenning; No. 4-Mary Evans, Viola Williams and J. H. Platt ; No. 5-W. J. Harris; No. 6-M. F. Bennett and Stuart Mac- kibbin ; No. 7-Carrie A. Ray ; No. 8-Alice Sanborn ; No. 9-Ida Freer. For 1881, in No. 1-C. B. Diltz, R. B. Hubbard and Alice J. Sanborn ; No. 2-Irena Baum ; No. 3-Irena Baum, Myra Hunter and Eva Shepard; No. 4-Ida Freer and J. W. Smith ; No. 5-Anna L. Bray and Ida Freer; No. 6-Carrie A. Ray ; No. 7-Carrie A. Ray, Viola Williams and M. M. Strong; No. 8-Carrie Bond and Anna Bray ; No. 9-Maud Shackelford. For 1882, up to this writing, in No. 1-Mary E. McHugh ; No. 2-Sylvester N. Dill, Carrie Ray, Mary L. Nickelson and Anna Bray ; No. 3-Maud Shackelford and Ida Wins- low ; No. 5-Ida Freer and Joseph M. Williamson; No. 6-Carrie Ray and Dora Rosecrans ; No. 7-Viola Williams and Oreste Sherman ; No. 8-Anna Bray, Oreste Sherman and Viola Williams; No. 9-Maud Shackelford.
Cemeteries .- The Adams Cemetery is the largest in the township. Harriet J. Adams was the first one buried here. First, a small plat of about one-fourth of an aere was set apart as a burying ground. In 1867, an acre was added to the ground. This was purchased with money raised by subscription among the people of the country around. The ground cost about $60. This ground was deeded to the county. Burial here is free except a fee of $2.50 which is charged upon each lot of 8x19 feet for the purpose of keeping the grounds in repair. The neighbors turned out in force and fenced the ground. There is a private or family graveyard at White's Meeting House, or Salem Church, as it is often called.
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