USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 57
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 57
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"The history of the Methodist Episcopal class in Indian Creek, if well written up, would make an interesting chapter not unlike romance. It was organized very early in the history of that community. A Rev. Mr. Munson was preaching at John Reeder's, and had organized a class as early as May, 1839. After Washburn's Schoolhouse was built, the meeting place was located there until the town of Pulaski began building, when it was permanently located there. Its history furnishes ample proof that the church is in the world if not of it. Some of the best men and women who have ever lived in that township were members of that class. Two very able ministers, leading men in their sections, one of them in Kan- sas and the other in Iowa, were brought up as members of that class. Two men who were pastors of the class, after going to other points, were sent
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to the penitentiary, one for horse-stealing and the other for adultery. Another's wife, after they had moved to Illinois, shot a neighbor woman dead, because she suspected her of criminal relations with her husband. The meetings were often interrupted by rowdies. It was nothing unusual to have horses turned loose, harness and saddles cut, etc., etc. One time, during protracted meeting at Washburn's Schoolhouse, some rowdies got into the loft with a fiddle, and when the congregation sang, they sawed on the fiddle. Some of the early preachers were famous for lung power. One in particular could be heard distinctly in his ordinary preaching over a quar- ter of a mile. The people also, if occasion required, did not hesitate to make a little noise. At their protracted and camp-meetings, they were often heard praying and shouting a distance of more than a mile."
CHAPTER VII.
BY ED A. MOSSMAN.
WHITE POST TOWNSHIP-CORRECTION REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME-FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT SETTLERS-EARLY ELECTIONS-A DEER STORY-OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST-AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY -MEDARYVILLE-INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-CRIME AND ACCIDENT.
T THIS township bears a very peculiar name, and it would be natura to infer that there had been a certain white post, or some natural object resembling one, found standing somewhere in the township, con- cerning which there was some peculiarity, or mystery, from which the name of the township derived its origin. In fact, the belief that the name owes its origin to some such circumstance seems to be quite preva- lent among the citizens of the township. However much of a pet theory this may be with many, it is the stern duty of the historian to record nothing but the facts as he finds them ; and the statement is here made, therefore, upon the authority of divers good men, whose testimony cannot be impeached, that all statements to the effect that the name originated from any such circumstance, are utterly unfounded. Some time prior to the organization of the township-probably about the year 1837 or 1838 -a stage line was established between La Fayette and Michigan City, the proprietors of which were Reynolds & Chittenden. It was only just established, however, when the enterprise was abandoned, owing to a dis- agreement of some kind between the proprietors. There was a station established on this stage line in the south part of what is now White Post
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
Township, midway, as was supposed, between the termini, which station was named White Post. It was from this station that the township took its name. Many maintain that this station was so named in consequence of the fact that there was a certain high stump near by, from which the bark had been peeled, which was quite a conspicuous object, and which, when seen from a distance, very much resembled a white post. There are scores of men to be found in the township who say they have seen the identical stump many a time, and who variously estimate the height of it at from seven feet up to twenty feet. Some say that it was forked, others that it had but a single stem ; whilst some affirm that it had been cut down with an ax, and others that it had been blown down by the wind. Let not this be understood as a charge against those who have made these incongruous statements, of willfully misrepresenting the facts; nor, even as an insinuation of such a charge. The fact is, probably, that there have been, at various times, several peeled stumps standing in the vicinity of the old station, of various heights and sizes, some of which may have been cut down, and others that may have been blown down, any of which any one who had heard the story of the stump might very naturally sup - pose to be the stump. Michael N. Stump and George H. Stump, both of whom are still residents of the township, and very estimable citizens, say that they distinctly remember when White Post Station was estab- lished and named. They also remember, they say. when Lewis Dawson, a few months afterward, peeled the bark of the stump which is popularly believed to have given rise to the name of White Post. They say that after Dawson had finished taking the bark off, he remarked, "Now we have a White Post for sure." They say that the station was established in the spring, and that the tree, the stump of which Dawson peeled, blew down during the following summer. Michael N. Stump says he has fre- quently heard his father, who moved to this township in 1835, and who was originally a Virginian, speak of a place of the name of White Post in Virginia, which proves that this was not the first White Post, and raises a presumption that comes near being conclusive, that this was named either for the Virginia White Post or for some other.
Thus much has been said in regard to the origin of the name of the township, for the reason that, as it is in conflict with the almost univer- sally accepted opinion upon the subject, it was deemed necessary to state pretty fully the evidence upon which an opinion so currently received was declared to be a fallacy. As the strict truthfulness of the Stumps is proverbial, and as they are as universally and as favorably known as any men in the county, perhaps, it is believed that the fact that they are authority for the statements herein made will put the question forever at rest.
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Settlement .- George S. Phillips was the first white settler in the township of White Post. He moved into the township in the month of October, in the year 1834, with his family, and settled about three miles east of where the town of Medarysville now stands. Silas Philips, Jr., settled in the township in the month of February, 1835, and was the second to brave the hardships of pioneer life in the then unbroken wilder- ness of White Post Township. George Stump, Sr., settled in the town- ship in the month of March, 1835, with his family, and was the third white settler in the township. He settled about one mile southwest of the town of Medarysville, on the farm that Michael Stump now owns and lives upon. Both families came from Tippecanoe County. In a subse- quent part of this chapter, the names of the voters at the early elections (beginning with August, 1839) are given, and these are the names of all, probably, who had settled in the township up to that time. At least, if there were others, they did not vote. The exact date of their settlement in the township has not been ascertained, but it is certain that it must have been some time prior to the election at which they voted. George S. Philips, whose name has previously been mentioned, as the first settler in the township, removed to California many years ago.
Early Elections .- At the time the county was organized in May, 1839, White Post Township was created to include the present townships of Salem, White Post and Cass ; but the latter were finally given a sep- arate organization, the dates and circumstances being given in the appro- priate chapters. While the three townships were one under the name White Post, and prior to the year 1843, not a single election, so far as known, was held within the limits of the township. The polls were not opened in the township, and they who wished to exercise the right of elective franchise traveled across the county to Winamac for that pur- pose. The names of such persons are found among the old election re- turns, credited to Monroe Township. A few of these names at the August election, 1839, were: John Dowel, Michael Stump, James Stump, George Stump and Lewis Dawson. In August, 1840, the following set- tlers of old White Post voted at Winamac : Michael Stump, John Stump, George H. Stump, James Stump, Ilenry Long and George Stump, Sr. At the November election, 1840, for Presidential electors, the Stumps voted ; also George Phillips, John Rees and Daniel McBride. Thus the names of all the settlers in the western tier of townships in the county continue to be found during the years 1841 and 1842 upon the election returns for Monroe Township.
At an election held at the house of George Stump, Sr., on the 7th of August, 1843, the following men polled their votes: Michael N. Stump, Daniel McBride, James P. Stump, William J. Stump, Silas Phillips, Jr.,
V
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
John Crook, John L. Stump, George Stump, George H. Stump, Hamil- ton McCay, George S. Phillips, James Mitchell, Richard Noggle, Henry, Long, John M. Cowan, William Rees, Lewis Dawson, Silas Phillips, Sr., and Julius Huff; total, nineteen. Fourteen votes were cast for James Whitcomb for Governor, and five votes for Samuel Bigger for the same office. The county ticket at this election was very much "scratched," no attention being paid, apparently, to political opinions. So far as can be learned, this was the first election held in old White Post Township. It must be borne in mind that White Post, as first created in 1839, com- prised the present townships Salem, White Post and Cass, and thus re- mained until September, 1843, when Salem was named and organized, leaving the present White Post and Cass together under the former name. Finally, in March, 1850, Cass was named and organized, leaving White Post as it now is. At the August election, 1844, held at the house of George Stump, Sr., as all the early elections in the township were, six- teen votes were polled; the names of the voters cannot be given. At the Presidential election, November, 1844, twenty-two votes were polled as follows : George Stump, Michael Stump, John C. Stump, Elisha Clark, William Stump, Thomas H. Keep, James P. Stump, George H. Stump, George S. Phillips, Silas Phillips, John McCay, Daniel McBride, An- drew Moore, Abner McCay (a name here that cannot be made out), Julius Huff, Richard Noggle, Henry Long, Silas Phillips, Jr., Lewis Dawson, Josiah Brant and John McCowan. The Whig electors received five votes, and the Democratic electors seventeen votes." At the August election, 1845, twenty-four votes were polled, six by members of the Stump family. New names were : B. M. Morgan, James McCarty, Isaac Miles and Henry Petro. In June, 1846, William Trulinger re- ceived eleven votes for Justice of the Peace, and George H. Stump twelve votes for Constable, both being elected unanimously. At the August election, 1846, of the twenty-eight votes polled at Phillips' Schoolhouse, twenty-four were Democratic and four Whig. In April, 1847, the ques- tion of granting license for the retail of spirituous liquors was submitted to the citizens, and carried unanimously in favor of license, only eleven votes being cast.
Physical Description .- The Big Monon Creek runs through White Post Township, cutting off the southeast corner, leaving about one fourth of the township on the east side and three-fourths on the west side. This township, for several miles on each side of the Monon, contains a great many sloughs or marshes, which are, as yet, utterly worthless for any kind of farming or stock-raising purposes. These sloughs are favorite places of resort for lovers of pteriplegistic sports, who come from long distances and stay several weeks, frequently some of whom bring tents
N. S Stud dus An
DECEASED.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
TILDEN FUNDATIA! P
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with them, and camp out in the vicinity of the sloughs, whilst others board at hotels in towns nearest to the sloughs in which they wish to hunt. Large numbers of ducks, snipe, quails and geese, besides other kinds of wild fowl and game, are killed and shipped from here every season. But let the hunter beware and make good use of his time, for the ditcher is at work and will soon convert his best sporting-grounds into fertile fields. Considering the present condition of these sloughs, the prediction just made may seem somewhat over-sanguine. But no extravagance will be seen in it by the early settler, who has been a witness of the marvelous changes that have already been wrought by muscle and brawn. It is true that it will require the expenditure of much capital and a great deal of labor, but it will be an investment that will pay richly. The soil is rich, and when once brought into a perfeet state of cultivation, will be inex- haustible. It is a herculean task that lies before you, farmers of White Post Township, but-
"Though troubles perplex you, Dishearten and vex you,
Retarding your progress in somber array ; To shrink with terror, Is surely an error, For, where there's a will there's a way.
" The task may be teasing, Tho duty unpleasing, But he who confronts it will soon win the day ; Half the battle is over When once we discover
That where there's a will there's a way.
" Misfortunes encountered Are often surmounted, If only we quit not the field in dismay ; Then, one more endeavor, Remembering ever That where there's a will there's a way."
Incidents-The early settlers of White Post Township had to go to La Fayette to get their breadstuff ground for several years, and it took them about a weck to go and return, as none of them had horses, and oxen are, as a general thing, a very slow team. There was one thing, however, that they could get an abundance of without going very far, and which they could get "without money and without price ; " and, not only could it be obtained in abundance, free of cost, but, in procur- ing it the early settler found his chief delight. The "one thing" alluded to, was meat, fresh meat in endless variety, being at all times easily and readily procured. Some of the survivors of the early pioneers say that they have frequently seen droves of from fifty to one hundred
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
deer. Among the most successful hunters of those times were the Stum p boys. It is said that James P. Stump and George S. Phillips together killed twelve deer in about thirty minutes time, on one occasion. It seems that there was a very deep snow on the ground, and a hard crust on top of the snow, which was not quite strong enough, however, to bear up the weight of a deer. There was a clump of bushes or small trees, covering, perhaps, a few acres, where the snow had not crusted so hard, owing to the protection afforded by the trees, and the deer resorted to this spot for shelter. Whilst the whole ground within the clump of trees had probably been trodden over by the deer, yet they had but one path leading to it on one side, and one leading from it on the other. So great was their dread of this hard crust, that it was almost impossible to force them to leave the beaten path and go upon it. These hunters knowing this, and knowing that there was a drove of deer sheltering in this grove, stationed themselves on each side, at the places of ingress and egress, and then sent their dogs in to start them. When they would approach the side on which one of the hunters was stationed, he would shoot one of them, and the others would turn and run to the other side, when the other hunter would shoot one, and they would run back to the other side again, and so kept running to and fro, until the last one in the drove was killed. One of the number that James P. Stump killed, ran some distance, so that he did not find it that night, owing to the darkness, and when he returned in the morning, he could find nothing of it but the bones, the wolves having devoured it during the night. Seven was the number that James P. Stump killed on that occasion.
The first white child born in the township was Elizabeth Phillips, who is now the wife of Peter McCarty, and resides in Rich Grove Township. She is the daughter of George S. Phillips, the first settler in the town- ship.
The first marriage in the township was that of Michael N. Stump and Sophia Long, which was solemnized June 24, 1841. They are still living, and reside on the farm on which George Stump, Sr., settled in the year 1835, about one mile southwest of Medarysville.
The first white person who died in the township was Catharine Stump, wife of George Stump, Sr., who died June 24, 1846.
Post Office .- The first post office in the township was at old White Post Station, of which mention has already been made. The exact date when the office was established cannot be ascertained, but it was probably about the year 1837. The first Postmaster was Lewis Dawson, who was succeeded in about a year by John Cowan. The last-named gentleman was among the first Representatives from Pulaski County in the State
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Legislature. He moved to Kansas a number of years ago, remained there a few years, when he returned to this State, and died at Valparaiso, in Porter County.
Schools .- The first schoolhouse in the township was built in the spring of 1845, and about three miles due east of Medarysville. It was com- monly known as Phillips' Schoolhouse. The first teacher in this school- house was Solomon W. Parker. The second schoolhouse was built on the farm of George Stump, Sr. (now owned by Michael N. Stump), about. one mile southwest of Medarysville, in the spring of 1847, and the first teacher therein was Lewis Dawson.
Drainage .- About the year 1855, a large area of land in this township was donated to the State by an act of Congress, known as the "Swamp Land Act," and the State, by its properly constituted officers, let contraets for the construction of ditches, for the drainage of this land, which ditches were to be cut according to certain specifications. If those ditches had been dug in accordance with the specifications, as they well might have been, with large profits to the contractors, the innumerable sloughs in ยท this section of the country, which are productive of nothing but chills, fogs, frogs, ducks and jack snipes, might to-day have been yielding boun- tiful crops of grain. Under the act of the Legislature, there was a Swamp Land Commissioner appointed by the Governor, in each county in which there were swamp lands, whose duty it was to locate the ditches, deter- mine their capacity, let the contracts for digging them and inspect and accept the work when it was completed. A large per cent of the proceeds of the sales of these lands was to be expended, according to the provisions of this act, in the construction of these ditches; and, if competent and honest men had, in all cases, been selected for Commissioners, the fund would have been amply sufficient to have drained the swamps thoroughly. But, unfortunately for the country, such selections were not always made. It is certain that ample opportunity was afforded the Swamp Land Com- missioner of colluding with the contractor, and agreeing to accept work that was imperfectly done, for a share of the profits. Whether this was ever done, however, is, of course, mere matter of conjecture, and must ever remain so, for
"Nature has made man's breast no windows, To publish what he does within doors; Nor what dark secrets there inhabit, Unless his own rash folly blab it."
Whatever may be the fact in regard to there having been collusions between the Commissioners and the contractors, it is an indubitable fact that very many of the most important ditches were accepted and paid for, on which not one-half the work was done that the specifications required.
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
This statement is made upon the authority of scores of men, whose ver- acity cannot be questioned. Several years elapsed between the time when this work was begun and the completion of it, and during that time some very good men held the office of Swamp Land Commissioner, men who, no doubt, faithfully and honestly discharged the duties of the office, and it is not the intention, of course, to impute any wrong to such. In fact, none of them may have been guilty of anything worse than mere dereliction of duty.
A Mystery .- About the year 1857, early in the spring, probably in the month of April, a boy, named Rees, was herding some cattle on the banks of Monon Creek, near or at a place called Hickory Grove, and his attention being attracted by the lowing and strange actions of his cattle about a certain spot, he repaired thither, and found there an object that certainly must have filled his young heart with terror and affright, and almost congealed his blood with horror. It was the dead body of a woman. He lost no time, as may be supposed, in giving notice of what he had seen. The body was removed to Francesville, where Moses E. Davison, a Justice of the Peace, summoned a Coroner's jury, and held an inquest over the remains. The body was clad in rich vestments, and everything about her person seemed to proclaim her a lady that had moved in the highest social circles. No one could be found who could identify the body as being that of any one whom they knew, or had ever seen. It was sup- posed, from the appearance of the body, that it had lain for some time, yet it was not badly decomposed, though considerably discolored, and the features were badly swollen and distorted. Iler age was supposed to be about thirty-five years. There were no marks of violence on her person, nor anything whatever to indicate in what manner she had met her death. The prevailing opinion secmed to be that she had either been drowned, or had been murdered and thrown into the creek some distance above where her body was found, and that her body had floated down to that place, and had lodged there, against the clump of willows where it was found. An account of the circumstance was at the time published in the newspapers in all the surrounding counties ; yet, with all the publicity that this gave to the matter, no inquiry has ever yet been made in the neighborhood for a woman of her description, or of any description, and her identity still remains a profound mystery. She had in her mouth a full set of false teeth, said to be very finely set, which, together with a few other small articles that were found on her person, are deposited in the Treasurer's office, at the county seat, and may yet be the means of her identification, and of bringing the guilty one to justice, if, as is generally supposed, her life was taken by the hand of another.
Medarysville .- The town of Medarysville is situated near the north line
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of the township, and is a flourishing little town of about 400 inhabitants. It was surveyed and platted February 25, 1853, William O. Clark and Josiah Walden being the owners of the land-that portion on the east side of the railroad having belonged to Walden, and that on the west to Clark. The surveyor, Carter D. Hathaway, being an ardent admirer of Joseph Medary, whilom Governor of Ohio, suggested the name of Medarysville, to which the proprietors assented, and the town was accord- ingly so named, in honor of that distinguished statesman. The location of the land upon which the town was laid out is not given. James C. Farris' Addition to the town of Medarysville was laid out on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 4, in December, 1868. Twenty-four lots were laid out, Nos. 23 and 24 becoming the property of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Theodocia Elston's Addition to Medarysville-nine lots-was laid out in January, 1877. The first house built on the ground on which the town of Medarysville now stands, was built by Josiah Waldron, about the year 1842. The second was built by Joseph B. Schultz, in the spring of 1853, and is the building now occu- pied by Augustus Ewert as a hotel. Mr. Schultz occupied the house for some time as a dwelling-house, and kept boarders whilst the railroad was being built. It was quite an insignificent building, when first built, as compared with the present commodious and comfortable hotel that now occupies the site, subsequent valuable additions and repairs having been made at different times, and by different parties. The front part of it had been occupied for several years as a drug store, up to the fall of 1882, by various parties, among whom were Dr. Elston, Homer Calvert, Tunis Stout and L. E. Mckenzie. The first hotel, however, in Medarys- ville was built in 1855, by John S. Shown, and is the second house cast of the railroad, on the north side of the street, occupied at present by J. E. Lane as a dwelling. The third house was built in the summer of 1853, by Silas Phillips, and is the first house west of the railroad, on the north side of the street. William S. Petro kept boarders there during the time when the L., N. A. & C. Railroad was in process of construction. This building was occupied for several years by Nicholas Krier, as a boot and shoe store. He subsequently quit the boot and shoe business, and carried on the saloon business there for a few years. It has been occupied by various persons as a dwelling house for several years, and is so occupied at the present time.
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