USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 66
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 66
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WEST CREEK TOWNSHIP.
horse flesh. It also claims the " blue ribbon," or temperance banner. It has never had a saloon or whisky shop of any kind. About 1856, Aaron Root came to the township, bringing with him 100 head of Dur- ham cattle and settling where Joseph Hayden now lives. Before the war, he built a steam saw-mill, which he ran for a few years, when it was sold and he moved away. Mr. Root was a very enterprising citizen. There have been portable saw-mills in the township at times, but the mill above mentioned is the only stationary mill that has ever been built here. Wel- lington Clarke had a cheese factory on the State road, within half a mile of the State line for a time. The only store that the township has had besides the one already mentioned under the head of "First Events," was established just over the line from Cedar Creek Post Office about four years ago by E. M. Taylor. This is spoken of under the head of Cres- ton, in the chapter on Cedar Creek Township.
Churches .- The Methodists seem to have been the pioneers of the township in establishing religious services. As early as 1840, services were held at private houses. Rev. Halstead, from an Illinois conference, was the first minister. The first services were held at the house of John Kitchel, on the place where J. B. Bailey now lives. The second services were held at the West Creek Schoolhouse. The first church was built in 1844. It was a frame, and stood until 1869, when it was sold and moved away. At the same time one acre was deeded to the Methodist Church for a cemetery. This is situated forty rods north of the point where the State road crosses West Creek. Josiah Bryant, who lived at that time in La Porte County, gave the lumber for building the above- mentioned church. Among the first members of the Methodist society here were John and Esther Kitchel, Silas D. Hathaway and Sarah his wife, Peter D. Hathaway and wife, Paul Hathaway and wife, who lived in Illinois, Mrs. Sanger, Harriet Hayden and Nancy Spaulding. Later, the following were added : Bethuel Hathaway, Abraham Hathaway and wife, George L. Foster and wife, Lucinda Hayden (now Mrs. Bethuel Hathaway), Sarah E. Foster, Alfred D. Foster, Temperance R. Hatha- way, Walter Cleveland and Elizabeth Hathaway. Many came from a distance to attend services here. In 1869, the present frame church was erected at a cost of $1,100. The principal contributors to the building fund were Bethuel Hathaway, Jacob Hayden, Lewis Hayden, J. B. Baily, Hugh Moore, Hiram Stoers, Mary Ann Taylor, Edward Parley, Emnery Brooks, Mr. Plummer, Edgar Hayden, Joseph Hayden, Reuben Chap- man and others. At present there are only about twelve members. The present minister is Rev. Merritt Strite. The present officers are Hiram Stoers, Jacob Hayden, Hugh W. Moor and Bethuel Hathaway, Trustees. In 1857, Lake Prairie Presbyterian Church was organized, with the Rev.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
H. Wason for pastor. Rev. Wason occupied the pulpit until 1864, when Rev. B. Wells took charge and served until 1868; the church was then without a pastor for a time. E. H. Post became pastor in 1870, and remained until 1872. Rev. Homer Sheerley, of Ohio, was pastor for three or four years. At present there is no settled minister. Rev. Harris, from Beecher, Ill., has been preaching here every Sabbath after- noon since August of this year. The society met in the schoolhouse until in July, 1872, when the present church was dedicated. The building is a frame, and cost about $1,500. The present membership of the church is about forty. This church is located in what is called the " Hampshire " or " Yankee " settlement, from the fact that a large colony of New England people settled here at one time. A considerable portion of the people of this neighborhood are Congregationalists, and they assisted in the build- ing of the church, but from the fact that the Presbyterians were in the majority, it has always been known as a Presbyterian Church. The Ger- man Methodists have a church in the northeastern part of the township, two and a half miles northwest of the site of Creston. This was built in 1855, at an expense of $1,500. Here there has since been a strong society and regular services have been maintained. Andrew and George C. Krimbill were the prime movers in the organization of the society. Mr. Beckley, Lewis Lockyer, John Mauntenaugh and Jacob have been among its strong supporters. James Henry Durenger is the present minister.
Schools .- The first school in the township was taught in a small log schoolhouse that was built in 1838, upon the east bank of West Creek, on the south side of the County road, at a point near where Torry Bridge now stands. The house was built of unhewn logs, and was about 14x16 feet in size. The seats were made of slabs, and a rough board was placed on pegs across one end of the room to serve as a writing-desk. The ma- terials and labor used in constructing the house were contributed by the people who lived in the vicinity. The " English Reader " and the Testa- ment were used as text books. Miss Orsula Jackson taught the first term here. The patrons of the school were the Spauldings, Jacksons, Farleys, Brooks, Kitchels, Spragues, Greens and Wilkinsons. Some of the other teachers in this house were O. W. Graves, Miss Jones, now Mrs. Will- iam Belshaw, and Edward P. Farley. The house stood about ten years. After this, school was held in dwellings for a time. In 1854, a frame house about 18x30 feet was built on the present site of the Michael's Schoolhouse. In 1839, a school was held in a log house built by John Kyle, for a dwelling. This house stood on the east bank of West Creek, near the State road. It was used for two years as a school and church. Elizabeth Hurly was the first teacher ; after her, Miss Hughes taught
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WEST CREEK TOWNSHIP.
here. Among the patrons of this school were the Sangers, Haydens, Kitchels, Hathaways and Pulvers. Sometime before the war, a house was built half a mile east of West Creek, on the State road ; this was a small frame, and was not used long. During the summer of 1842, a school was taught by Julia Sanders on Section 8, in a log house built by John Lynch's father. This was the first school taught in this vicinity. Pulver, Ferguson, Wood, Hathaway, Sanders and Bealle were patrons of the school. The school was small, and only one term was taught in the house above mentioned. Miss Sanders was paid the extravagant sum of $1 a week for her services and enjoyed the inestimable privilege of " boarding around." The first schoolhouse in this neighborhood was built in 1842. William San- ders furnished the materials and bore all the expense of its erection, with the exception of $1. The neighbors turned out and helped to build it. It was raised and then the logs were " scored " and hewed on the interior of the house. This was used about thirteen years. It stood just south of the Sanders Graveyard. Some of the teachers here were Richard Parsons, Ruth Ann Graves, Jonathan Wheeler and three of his daugh- ters, Harriet Jones, Miss Lamb and Mariah Brundridge. In 1844, a log schoolhouse was built about half a mile from West Creek on the State road, on land owned by W. A. Clarke. It was built by voluntary con- tributions. Libbie Church, Miss M. A. Sigler, Washington Allen, Wor- cester Cleaver and Mariah Bryant taught in this house. In 1857, a frame house was built about sixty rods west of West Creek, on the north side of the State road. In 1877, this was moved a mile farther south and used as a dwelling. In 1855, a house was erected on the site of the old log house at Sanders' Graveyard, but before it was under cover the people concluded to change its location, and it was accordingly moved to a point half a mile farther north. The house was a good-sized frame, and about $200 was raised by subscription for the purpose of paying for it. This house was used for school purposes about twelve years, when it was sold to William Belshaw, and is now occupied as a dwelling by Edward Bel- shaw. Several additions have since been made to it.
The following are the teachers in the several districts of this town- ship for the years named : In 1875-No. 1, H. J. Rickenbrode ; No. 2, Vienna Dodge ; No. 3, Jurilla J. Rickenbrode and William Love ; No. 4, Emma Denney ; No. 5, Minnie L. Trevert and George J. Laux; No. 6, Mary Livingston and David D. Mee; No. 7, Jennie Belshaw and Elmore Devoe; No. 8, Jennie Maxwell and F. E. Nelson ; No. 9, James Audubon Burhans ; No. 11, Ella Ashton and M. M. Langfeld ; No. 12, Nicholas Daum ; No. 13, N. F. Daum : No. 14, Maggie J. Sutton. The following taught in the township during the year, but the
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
numbers of the districts are not given : Edith J. Burhans, Marilla Allen, E. P. Ames and R. W. Bacon.
In 1876-No. 1, Sophia Gromann ; No. 2, Vienna Dodge and A. M. Melville; No. 3, Jane Maxwell and Ella Weatherman ; No. 4, Charls A. Burhans ; No. 5, Minnie Trevert and H. J. Rickenbrode ; No. 6, Sophia Gromann and William Love; No. 7, Jurilla J. Ricken- brode and W. U. Northrup ; No. 8, F. E. Nelson and Charles A. Bur- hans ; No. 9, Emma Denney and Edith J. Burhans ; No. 10, Emma Den- ney ; No. 11, Maggie J. Sutton and A. L. Thompson ; No. 12, Edith J. Burhans and Maggie J. Sutton ; No. 13, Clara Weakly and G. W. Lawrence; To. 14, Jane Maxwell and Marilla Allen ; no numbers given, Emma Denney and Libbie Kenney.
In 1877-No. 1, Sophie Gromann ; No. 2, Agnes M. Melville and Maria L. Wason ; No. 3, Alice Hayden and Albert L. Thompson ; No. 4, Libbie Kenney and M. Morrison ; No. 5, Jessie L. Hill; No. 6, Victor Geer, Anna Hoffman and R. C. Wood; No. 7, Ada Burhans and R. W. Bacon ; No. 8, Jennie Maxwell and H. J. Rickenbrode; No. 9, Edith J. Burhans and Emma Denney ; No. 11, Addie Storrs and Marilla Allen ; No. 13, G. W. Lawrence, Jr., and Ida Burhans ; No. 14, Alice Hayden and C. F. Templeton.
In 1878-N. 1, Sohia Gromann and Gesira Beckman ; No. 2, Emma Denney and Agnes M. Dyer ; No. 3, Jennie Maxwell and Charles Strong ; No. 4, William F. Kile and F. J. Taylor; No. 5, Belle Livingston and Jesse L. Hill; No. 6, Helen A. Cleveland ; No. 7, Charles Strong and Edwin Michael; No. 8, Almeda Brannon and Alice Hayden ; No. 9, Edith J. Burhans and Meda Brannon; No. 11, Thirza Stone and Martha Sigler ; No. 13, Ida Brannon ; No. 14, C. F. Templeton and Julia C. Lawrence.
In 1879-No. 1, Addie Storrs; No. 2, Agnes M. Dyer; No. 3, Jennie Maxwell ; No. 4, Meda Brannon and Helena Wood ; No. 5, Mrs. Jane L. Hill; No. 6, Jessie L. Hill ; No. 7, Alice M. Bates and My- ron M. Mee; No. 8, Lo Evans and John J. Daum ; No. 9, Ida Bur- hans; No. 11, Martha Sigler and Charles Strong ; No. 13, Ida Bran- non ; No. 14, Thirza Storrs ; no number given, W. O. Shriner.
In 1880-No. 1, Albert Maac; No. 2, Agnes M. Dyer ; No. 3, Nellie Hayden, Ida Brannon and Jennie Maxwell ; No. 4, Meda Bran- non and H. H. Ragon ; No. 5, Mrs. J. L. Hill and M. A. Palmer ; No. 6, Marcus A. Palmer and Mrs. J. L. Hill; No. 7, Jennie Max- well and W. U. Northrup; No. 8, Bertha Bryant and J. J. Daum ; No. 9, Ida Brannon and Emma S. Peach; No. 11, Eliza Livingston and Linda Maxwell ; No. 13, Ida Brannon ; No. 14, Thirza Storrs.
In 1881-No. 1, Louise Gromann ; No. 2, Agnes M. Dyer and .
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WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Nellie Green ; No. 3, Thirza Storrs and Emma Dumond ; No. 4, Ida Brannon and Ida B. Hayden ; No. 5, K. Haan and Belle Livingston ; No. 6, Fannie Roman and Marcus Palmer ; No. 7, Jennie Maxwell and G. W. Taylor; No. 8, J. J. Daum and Schuyler J. Robinson ; No. 9, Emma S. Peach ; No. 11, Lulu Bryant and Charles Strong; No. 13, Ella Ashton ; No. 14, Thirza Storrs ; no number, Albert Maac.
In 1882-No. 1, Louise Gromann ; No. 2, Nellie Green ; No. 3, Thirza Storrs; No. 4, Eunice Daum ; No. 5, Belle Livingston ; No. 7, M. Ella Ashton ; No. 8, Jennie Maxwell; No. 9, Hattie L. Pattee ; No. 11, Ella Rollins ; No. 13, Hattie Austin ; no number given, Emma Dumond.
There are now twelve houses in the township, all of which are frame. At one time there were fourteen districts and houses. A frame house is now being built in No. 7, which is to cost $450.
CHAPTER XIII.
BY G. A. GARARD.
WINFIELD TOWNSHIP-SURFACE AND SOIL-LIST OF OLD SETTLERS-PIO- NEER HARDSHIPS-CURIOUS AND INTERESTING ANECDOTES-FIRST SCHOOL AND HOUSE-EARLY RELIGIOUS MEETINGS-TEMPERANCE-MIS- CELLANY.
THIS township has an undulating surface, which was originally cov- ered with wild grass and native trees. About one-sixth of the area was prairie and the remainder woods. The timber was in patches with- out much reference to the streams. The amount of timber at present is as great, if not greater, than at an early day. There has always been an abundance for fuel and much material for fences and buildings has been cut from the primeval forests. Most of the first growth has been used, and for many years a second growth has been furnishing fuel and fencing. There are no streams of great size in the township. Eagle Creek crosses the southeastern part, and Deep River rises just northeast of Leroy, and circles to the northwest, trending in and out of the township in different places. There is some swamp land but no large bodies. What there is, is being drained and thus made the most valuable hay land. Blackber- ries and nuts are abundant. The soil is strong, except at a few points, mostly southern exposures, along the timber. These points are good for wheat and grazing.
Hay, corn, oats, and wheat are the leading products. Hay is per- haps the most valuable and abundant crop.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Creation of Township .- The township was formed, in 1843, from Centre. The following is a copy of the order : "That all that part of Centre Township, east of a line running from the north line of Town 34 north, Range 8 west, to the south line of Centre Township, due south, on a line running between Sections 2 and 3 of Town 34 north, of Range 8 west, be set off as a separate township, to be known by the name of Win- field Township, and that elections in said township be held at the house of George A. Woodbridge."
In 1844, the west tier of sections was cut off and put back into Centre. Later still the three southwest corner sections were put into Eagle Creek. On the first Monday in April, 1844, an election of two Justices of the Peace took place at the time and place above mentioned. George A. Woodbridge was appointed Inspector of the election. In March, 1844, . it was ordered " That Winfield Township be and is hereby divided into two road districts, by an east and west line drawn through the centers of Sections 19, 20 and 21, of Town 34 north, Range 8 west. All that part of said township which lies north of said line, shall be known and desig- nated as Road District No. 9, and all that part lying south of said line to be known as Road District No. 24." The township was named by Jeremy Hixon from Gen. Winfield Scott. The first permanent settler in the township was Jeremy Hixon. He located a claim about April 1, 1835, near the center of the territory that is now included in Winfield, but which was at that time embraced in Centre Township. For some time, there were no houses nearer than five miles of his. He and family camped in a wagon while building a log hut for a home. Like most early settlers, he took land in the edge of the timber, so as to be sheltered from the piercing winter winds and convenient to fuel and building material.
The Settlement .- According to the best living authorities, the follow- ing are the earliest settlers of this territory : the very first are Jeremy Hixon, William A. Nichols, William Roe and Jesse Roby. The latter was a pioneer carpenter and hunter. His skill in log-house building was equaled only by his wonderful accuracy as a marksman. His eye followed his "skuller " rifle barrel with even greater ease than it did the straight- edge. It is said that he was known to have shot as many as twenty deer before he stopped to skin one. A little later than the above came Maj. Jack Downing, John Lindsey, James Corbin and Miles Mattox ; these were followed somewhat later by William Clark, Morris Carman, Joseph Gordon, Asahel Gregg, Josephus Gregg, Charles Gregg, Anson Gregg, Silas Gregg, Washington Gregg, Simeon Gordon, John Gillman, Augustine Humphreys, Benjamin F. Little, James D. McNabb, Alfred Nichols, William Welch, Thomas Watts, Sr., William Young, James Young and John Young. Quite a large number of settlers came in soon
.
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WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.
after these, and the log huts grew among the groves, and in a still morn- ing the smoke from many stick and mortar stacks curled up from among the thinned-out trees.
Of later years, the growth has been gradual but continuous, until it now ranks second, perhaps, to no township in the county as an agricult- ural region. The early settlers of the township were from Ohio, Penn- sylvania, New York and several other States. At the present time, many other States are represented, as are Canada and several of the countries of Europe, as for instance England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France. Ireland is most fully represented. On the whole, the people are about as much mixed as they could well be incidentally. At the same time, a more peaceful community is hard to find. So far as known there is now nothing but Caucassian blood in the township, no negroes ever having lived here, so far as we can learn.
The Pottawatomie Indians remained here, some of them, for several years after the first settlement, and Loren, a son of Jeremy Hixon, a son of Mr. Nichols of Hickory Point, and a number of other boys, and, it is supposed, girls, too, used to play with the little Pottawatomie papooses, and learn the Indian lingo from the lips of the little red-skins. Mr. Lo- ren Hixon, who has passed forty-seven years of his life in the county, and most of that in Winfield Township, is still quite proficient in the language of the people who have gone themselves, but left their language behind them in the minds of those who at that time had the receptive and reten- tive minds of childhood and youth, and who have grown old and gray, but have kept this knowledge of early times stowed away, to be preserved and handed down to generations yet unborn. Years before, the Sioux had roamed over this same ground, but they went away carly, leaving nothing but a trail from northeast to southwest through the center of the township by which to track them.
Indian Relics .- In 1835, near the house of Jeremy Hixon, was found a curious mortar in which the Indians used to grind their corn. It consisted of the stump of a tree of good size, hollowed out, in which the corn was placed and pounded. There were then some seven mounds on his place, but the plow, aided by the weather, has almost obliterated them. Although it is true that a sod-covered mound will stand the ravages of time better than any other structure, even though it be of the hardest stone, yet when the sod is broken it is soon washed down. Numerous arrow heads, stone axes and other Indian implements have been found. Also some trinkets that indicate the presence of pre-historic races.
Pioneer Hardships .- Michigan City was the nearest trading point in 1835, and for some years thereafter. The nearest mill was Scott's, five
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
miles farther. Trips to these were usually made by ox team, and it was not unusual to have to unload several times in a trip-one man speaks of having unloaded and reloaded five times in a trip. Oxen were used for almost all teaming and plowing. One man usually made his trip to mill or trading point serve all his neighbors. Thus they took it turn about for fair play. The general health was not so good in those days as now, for the reason that the great amount of breaking caused so great an amount of vegetable matter to decay as to poison the atmosphere ; then, too, the drainage was not as good as now, and as there were no wells, the water used was often very poor. But from the fact that only one doctor has ever attempted to start in the township, we may infer that it is a very healthy section. It used to be quite aguish, but, as usual with drainage and cultivation, the " shakes " have sought the new ground.
First Death .- The first death was that of a child of Mr. Higby, in 1836 ; it was buried in the forks of a fallen tree near by.
Incidents of Early Days .- Only one bear has ever been seen in the township, and that was seen by a boy. It was followed and killed near Crown Point. Wolves were so numerous that sheep could not be raised until after the country was well filled up. One man heard 1,000 wolves barking at one time in one pack ; he was sure that there were 1,000 of them ; so sure was he that he took the pains to get up a tree where he could see to count them ! They did not hold out by count. There were six of them ! This is a true story, for the man who told it is still living. It is said that a boy named Sam Barder caught two enormous gray rats that died the easiest of anything in the game line he had ever butchered, but when he came to skin them they opened their eyes, looked surprised that any one should attempt to skin them, then opened the mouth and closed it suddenly on Sam's pant leg. This inno- cent animal was the Didelphys Virginiana, more commonly known as the opossum, or plain " possum."
Another story better authenticated in detail than the above is, that, in 1848, which was a very hard winter, George Wise caught a deer by the hind leg and held it until his brother came up and cut its throat ; not that he- could run as fast as a deer, but the snow was deep and covered with a tough crust, through which the small feet of the deer would cut, and throw them. At about the same time, John McNabb killed one with his boot. The deer would often jump upon the ice of streams and ponds when. chased, and skate across them. Again, they would fall on the side acci- dentally or intentionally, and slide across the ice in that way. One otter has been killed, and a few turkeys as late as 1852. Bee trees were found in larger timber. Prairie chickens and squirrels abounded, and game was taken to market to exchange for groceries. Sand-hill cranes were
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WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.
numerous, and very troublesome, often taking almost entire fields of wheat and patches of corn. These long, lean, lank two-footed creatures used to flock together in great numbers. Although ungraceful, and apparently raised on stilts, they seemed to enjoy themselves greatly, and indulge in a great deal of hilarity. One of the old residents has described for us a " crane dance." They get together on some high knoll or sand bank ; one of the number of musical proclivities steps aside and begins to pipe, while the others begin to hop and circle about, in and out, up and down, as though in the mazes of the most fascinating dance. They seem to move with order and precision, under the direction of the "caller," and occasionally all join in the chorus. They seem to have caught the idea from the Indians, for the performance is not unlike an Indian war dance. Thousands of these tall creatures used often to alight in the township, and looked at from a distance resembled a flock of sheep walking on stilts. Log-rollings and house-raisings were among the merry gatherings of early days.
Occupations .- The township has never had an inn, mill, tannery, foundry, distillery, or other manufactory of any kind. It has always been a strictly farming community, and is likely to so continue, but there is no telling what the future may have in store, as railroads and proximity to a great city may bring wonders.
The Villages .- There are only two villages in the township, and they are both small. Up to 1875, there was no town in the township. The plat of the town of Leroy was recorded December 11, 1875. It was laid out by Thomas McClarn. It is located on the west half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and twenty rods off the north end of the west half of the southeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 31, Town 34 north, Range 7 west. There are eighty-two lots, and "lots " of room around those parts for more. It was formerly called Cassville, after Dr. Levi Cass, who then owned and still owns land near. Amos Edgington, now of Crown Point, built the first store, which was, in fact, the first building, except the grain house, in which he and family lived for some six weeks. He sold to H. J. Nichols, who, in turn, sold to A. Z. Green, who now occupies the old stand with a general store. Samuel Love also carries a general stock of goods. There has never been a sa- loon or drug store in town. There are now thirteen houses and three large hay barns in town. Large quantities of hay are baled here for the Chicago market. For some cause or causes, the town has not grown as might be expected, from the location and country. It is said that the fact that the post office was fenced in and access was refused unless dam- ages, that some thought to be too heavy, were paid had much to do with retarding the growth of the place. Some trouble arose ; the matter was
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