USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 61
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 61
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Elections .- At the election held in Cass Township on Tuesday the 2d day of November, 1852, the following-named persons cast their votes : James McKinney, James McCarty, George Moore, Andrew E. Moore, Alexander Reddick, Samuel Yeates, William McCay, Martin Noles, A.
MA. Bills
THE NEW YORK FUBLT IRPARY
AND
TILDENY-
ATIOME
611
CASS TOWNSHIP.
Tilton, Watson Morgan. Benjamin Archer, John McCay, William Hes- ser, Leonard Wilson, Harvey Chase, Lewis McCay, John Cox, George Phillips, John Vogt, Christian Drecken, Frederick Drecken, Charles Haukous, John Richtal, John Pingle, Jonathan Cox, Henry Long and Richard Noggle.
The Clerks at that election were Samuel Yeates and James D. McKinney, and the Judges, James McCarty and George Moore. The returns of that election show that for President, Franklin Pierce received 24 votes, and "Gen. Winfield Scott" 3 votes ; and that for Vice President, William R. King received 24 votes, and William A. Graham 3 votes. Each of the Democratic Electors received 24 votes, and each of the Whig Electors 3 votes. It is probable that the names of the Presidential can- didates were placed at the head of the tickets, and that this fact caused the Clerks and Judges of the election to fall into the error of supposing that the votes were cast directly for the candidates for those offices. At the same general election, the same error was committed in White Post and several other townships in the county.
First Settlers .- Owing to the fact that the parties themselves are dead, it is a mooted question whether Louis McCay was the first settler in the township, or whether it was Richard Noggle. They came about the same time, but the probability is that McCay preceded Noggle a short time, and that Noggle was the second to locate in the township. They both came about the year 1840. Louis McCay settled on the farm known as the Vanzant Morgan farm, now owned by Joseph Smith, in the east part of the township. Richard Noggle settled on the farm on which George Swisher now lives, about two miles northwest of Medarysville. Among the early settlers of the township were Benjamin Archer, Joseph Wilson, Andrew E. Moore, Watson Morgan and Vanzant Morgan.
Early Occurrences, etc .- The first child born in the township was probably Charlotte Long, daughter of Henry Long, now wife of Jerry Allred. The exact date of her birth cannot be given, but it was prob- ably about the month of February, in the year 1844.
The first couple married in the township was Solomon W. Parker and Matilda Noggle. The exact date of their marriage could not be ascer- tained. The second marriage was probably that of John Shultz and Theresa Long.
Of the early settlers, there are no others who have resided in the township as long as Silas Long and his mother, widow of Henry Long, who has previously been mentioned as one of the early settlers of the township. Henry Long settled in the southwest corner of the township in the year 1843, and lived there until his death. Silas Long was born
36
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
on the 2d day of January, 1842, in White Post Township, and his par- ents moved over into Cass when he was about one year old.
The east part of the township is settled principally by Germans. John Pingle settled in the east part on Section 25, about 1852, and was the first German who settled in that part of the township.
Wild game was very plentiful here in the early days, and it is said that many of the early settlers not only paid for their lands. but for many years supported their families by selling wild game, furs and hides ; and, whilst many of them did not make hunting their chief occupation, there were but few of them who did not hunt enough to obtain their own meat. Among the most successful hunters may be mentioned Andrew E. More and his sons, Vanzant Morgan, the McCays and John Cox and his sons. In fact, the first settlers were almost compelled by force of circumstances to depend mainly upon hunting for their support, for the reason that the bottom lands were at that time altogether too wet for cul- tivation, and the uplands, which consisted of sand ridges, became so im- poverished in the course of a few years that they did not produce enough to pay for the labor of tilling them. The uplands produce tolerably well for a few years, but unless they are heavily manured they soon lose their strength and become worthless.
Drainage .- Notwithstanding much of the wet lands have been re- claimed and rendered tillable by the numerous ditches that have been cut through various parts of the township, there is yet a very large ex- tent of country, especially in the northeastern and eastern portions of the township, portions of which are too miry to be of any use or value whatever, and other portions of which are of no value except for grazing purposes and for the prairie hay that is cut off the higher portions, much of which is of a very poor quality and of but little value. This section of the country, to which the name of "Blue Sea" is facetiously, though not very inappropriately, applied, is, in fact, a flowing stream (the source of the Monon Creek), although the current of this stream is so slow and so sluggish as to be scarcely discernible. It is several miles in width at some places, whilst in others it is but a few rods. Although the stream is very sluggish, yet there is said to be fall enough to drain it, if a ditch of sufficient amplitude is cut and if it is commenced far enough below the head. This slough commences near the northwest corner of Section 3 and runs thence in a southeasterly direction, passing out of the town- ship near southeast corner of Section 12. The greater portion of the north half of the township, and especially the northeast quarter of it, is almost wholly unoccupied.
Products .- Most of the timber in the township is oak, but a very little of which is suitable for saw-logs, it being principally very scrubby.
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CASS TOWNSHIP.
Even fencing or rail timber is scarce; and, when the country becomes settled up, and when it becomes desirable to have the land fenced off into fields of smaller size, it must be done principally with wire and hedge fences. There is no hay baled for shipment in this township, as there is in many of the surrounding townships ; although, when those wet lands become more thoroughly drained, they will undoubtedly be well adapted to the production of that commodity, and this will probably become one of the chief industries. Cattle-raising has, in past years, been one of the most profitable pursuits in which the people of this sec- tion could engage, and many have acquired considerable wealth in that business ; but, of late years, the non-resident land-owners have been fencing their lands, and consequently the cattle have not now as large an extent of territory to graze upon as they formerly had. The soil in those low, swampy sections is very rich, and, when made dry by thorough ditching, produces good crops of corn. In some instances, as high as eighty bushels of corn have been raised on an acre of this kind of land. In very wet seasons, however, corn is certain to drown out badly, and but a very light crop, if any at all, can be counted upon until the country is better drained. Until within the past few years, farmers have not given much attention to the cultivation of wheat and the tame grasses. Re- cently, however, some of the best farmers have engaged pretty extensive- ly in the cultivation of those crops, and have demonstrated the fact that the soil is in most places well adapted to their production. The soil yields bountiful crops of potatoes, as it does, also, of all kinds of vegeta- bles that are cultivated in this latitude. Apples and other kinds of fruit do well.
There is not a manufacturing establishment of any kind whatever, nor a village, nor a post office, in Cass Township.
Belfast .- About the year 1855, John Sheets and John McCay laid out a town on Section 26, which they named Belfast. They sold a few lots, and there was a saloon and blacksmith shop started there; but, as it was only about two miles from Medarysville, which had been laid out about three years and which had made some advancement and had a pretty fair trade at that time, men who had capital and wished to engage in business were afraid to hazard anything upon the outcome of this new town, which, as they had the sagacity to foresee, must either outstrip her rival or lose her own actual existence and continue to exist on paper only ; for, as the surrounding country is, even at the present time, but very sparsely settled, and was then, of course, much more so, it must have been readily apparent to a discriminating mind that the two towns could not continue to exist and prosper in such close proximity. It is the opinion of some, however, that Belfast had a good opportunity, if those
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
who were engaged in the project of starting the town had taken prompt advantage of it, of getting the lead of Medarysville. This opinion is predicated upon the fact that the railroad company did not, just at that time, entertain a very friendly feeling toward the town of Medarysville, and it is supposed that the company would have done all in its power to aid and build up the rival town. However that may be, though, the town has long since ceased to have an actual existence.
Post Office .- There was once a post office in Cass Township, but that, too, has become a thing of the past. It was established about the same time that the town of Belfast was laid out. The name of the office was Strawberry Ridge, and its location on Section 16. The first Postmaster, and perhaps the only one, was Russell Allen. The country is so thinly inhabited for several miles round, and especially to the north and north- west from that point, that the expense of carrying the mails, and the other expenses incident to maintaining an office at that place, must necessarily have greatly exceeded the profits.
Schools .- There are five schoolhouses in the township. The first schoolhouse in the township was built in 1854, in District No. 1. The sec- ond was in District No. 2, and was built in the following year. The house in District No. 1 was burnt down, and re-built in 1865. This house stood until 1878, when it was removed and the present house built. James Swisher now lives in the house that was removed in 1878. The oldest now standing in the township was built in 1870, in District No. 2, and the newest was built in 1878, in District No. 1. The houses in Districts Nos. 3 and 4 were built in 1874. Average value of schoolhouses in the township (except in District No. 1), $375. The house in District No. 1 cost about $425. Each district has about $100 worth of furniture except District 1, which has about $125 worth. They have about seven months' school each year, and the average wages paid teachers is about $1.50 or $1.75 per day. Number of children in the township between the ages of six and twenty-one years, at date of last enumeration, 285. Number of votes cast in township at the spring election in 1882, 130; at the fall election in same year, 128.
The First Trustees of the township (at least, the first that the records of the Trustee's office give any account of), were Jonathan Cox, Lewis McCay and Albert Thorp. They were the Trustees in the year 1853. A. B. Ellis was elected in April, 1854, resigned September 6th of the same year, and John Stanfield was appointed to fill the vacancy. In April, 1855, John Stanfield, Jonathan Cox and John McCay were elected Trustees.
Churches .- There are two German Churches near the southeast cor- ner of the township, and about two and a half miles northeast of the town
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CASS TOWNSHIP.
of Medarysville. One of them, the one known as the German Lutheran, is located somewhere near the center of Section 27, and was built about the year 1859; and the other, known as the Evangelical Church, otherwise the Albright, or German Methodist Church, is situated about one mile and a half northeast of the former, and was built about the month of November, 1866, and was dedicated about the first of the following April. The latter is an offshoot of the former. The Evangelical Church society was organized about the year 1862, and held their meetings in schoolhouses and at pri- vate residences up to the time when they built their church. The present pastor of the Evangelical Church is August Ivan.
Fatal Accident .- So far as could be ascertained, but one fatal acci- dent ever occurred in Cass Township, and that resulted in the instant death of Abraham T. Hathaway. It occurred on or about the 18th day of February, 1878, in the following manner : He had been husking corn during the day, and, in returning to the house in the evening, saw a pheasant not far off. He told the boys to put the team away, and that he would get the gun and kill the pheasant. He got the gun, went to the woods where he had seen the pheasant, and in a short time a shot was heard. The family supposed, of course, that he had shot at the pheasant ; but as the dusk of evening soon came on, and he still did not return home, they became uneasy, and went to the woods to look for him ; where, to their great consternation, they soon found him weltering in his blood, and entirely lifeless. The entire charge of shot had taken effect in the right temple, and it is supposed that death ensued instantaneously. It was just in the edge of the woods that they found him. The underbrush was quite thick, and it is supposed that he was bending forward and creeping under the low brushes, with the breach of his gun far back, and that the ham- mer caught on something, and that just as he turned his head to look back at it, the hammer came down, causing the cap to explode. He had no financial or domestic troubles, and the idea that he committed suicide is not at all entertained by those who knew him and his circumstances well.
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
BY M. T. MATTHEWS.
RICH GROVE TOWNSHIP-CREATION-FIRST ELECTIONS-PROBABLE FIRST SETTLEMENT-EARLY MILLING INTERESTS-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-GUNDRUM-RICH GROVE-VIG- ILANCE COMMITTEE-CRANBERRIES-MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
T THE creation of Rich Grove Township dates back to the September term of the Commissioners' Court in 1854, when it was ordered that that portion of Congressional Township No. 31, and described as follows, shall be known, and the same is hereby designated as Rich Grove Township : Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 1, and thence extending west to the northwest corner of Section 6, thence south on the section line to the southwest corner of Section 31, thence east to the southeast corner of Section 36, thence north to the place of starting. Geographically, Rich Grove Township is bounded on the north by Starke County, on the east by Franklin Township, on the south by Jefferson Township, on the west by Cass Township. From the organization of Tippecanoe Township in 1839 until 1854, the territory now embraced by the boundary lines of Rich Grove Township remained connected with Tippecanoe Township for election interests. The early history of Rich Grove Township is properly a part of the first history of Franklin and Tippecanoe Townships.
At an election held in Rich Grove Township, October, 1854, the fol- lowing men voted: Thomas McCarty, Thomas Earl, George Reeder, William H. Cilly, David Long, Paul Gundrum, Jacob Cuixley, Christo- pher Hoffman, Thomas Creek, G. Ridgeley, James McDonald, Christo- pher McCarty, Thomas Holman, Daniel Goble, M. Griffin, M. Cofrey, Thomas Duerr, Peter Michael and J. B. Goble. This election was held under a huge white-oak tree that stood in a large grove. The tree be- came famous, and was known for many miles around as the " Old Oak Election Tree."
At an election held at Morgan's Schoolhouse in what is now Rich Grove Township, in November, 1856, the following men deposited their ballots : William H. Kiles, D. H. Howe, Thomas Crook, John Hickey, Joseph Myers, Patrick Welch, Perry Campbell, James Haws, Thomas Obrine, Patrick Smith, Dennis Collins, Michael Boyles, Daniel McLo- ney, Peter Doyle Patrick McTigle, Robert Goble, James D. McKeney, John McAuliff, Moses Lane, Jonathan Ridgeley, William Gundrum,
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RICH GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Michael Conner, M. D. Falvey, Truman Holman, David Long, Will- iam Penny, James McCarty, Peter McCarty, George McCarty, Peter Nichols, Christopher McCarty, James Nichols, Henry McCarty, Julius Huff, Silas Huff, Jesse Esire and Joshua Esire.
Origin of Name .- This township derived its name from a large and beautiful grove, known as Rich's Grove, located in almost the geo- graphical center of the township, and embraces an area of 160 acres. In honor of this extensive grove, the Commissioners named the town- ship Rich Grove.
The grove above mentioned contained at one time all the most val- uable kinds of timber common to Indiana, and even yet contains vast quantities. Rich's Grove is on an island that undoubtedly once lay in the midst of a beautiful lake, but which is now surrounded by an exten- sive marsh known throughout the township and the county as the Blue Sea, a name said to have been applied to it by hunters who traversed the country years before any settlement was commenced in the township. The theory is believed and advocated by some old set- tlers owning land in the "Blue Sea," that it contains extensive coal mines. In several instances coal has been found in this " sea" at a depth of eight feet. Patrick Emmett states, that while digging a well in the " Blue Sea," he discovered several large lumps of coal at a depth of ten feet, which, upon examination, proved to be of the very best quality of stone coal.
Entries of Land .- Not until the fall of 1844 was it that land entries were made in Rich Grove Township, and even at that date the county records show only one entry for that year, and it was made by Julius Huff November 16, and consisted of 160 acres in Section 28. From this time forward transactions of this nature became more frequent. The following is a list of those among the first to purchase land by the entry plan in the township : Nathan Lerris, 160 acres in Section 30, November 14, 1848 ; James McCarty, 160 acres in Section 28, November 19, 1849 ; Newton W. Quinn, forty acres in Section 11, November 27, 1850 ; Eph- raim Pike, 160 acres in Section 18, May 31, 1850; Washington John- ston, eighty acres in Section 1, January 2, 1852; Mr. Lane, forty acres in Section 1, June 23, 1852; David Rea, forty acres in Section 1, July 27, 1852; Henry Van Pelt, eighty acres in Section 2, July 6, 1853 ; Kuhner Booghes, eighty-one acres in Section 2, March 31, 1854 ; Mark Falvey, forty acres in Section 18, and the same number of acres in Section 19, September 4, 1854; John McAuliff, forty acres in Section 19, September 15, 1854 ; William Penny, forty acres in Section 22, March 16, 1854. From 1854 until 1865, land entries in the township were quite numerous. Much of the land, however, was entered by spec- ulators and men who never became residents of the township.
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
Settlements .- The first settlement of Rich Grove Township dates (as best could be ascertained) back to the spring of 1840, when Christo- pher McCarty and his brother James, and their families, emigrated from " Old Kentuck " to what is now Rich Grove Township, Pulaski County, Ind. James commenced settlement in Section 30, and Christopher in Section 31. It is supposed that in these sections, and by these two per- sons, were erected the first cabin homes, and the first strokes toward improvement were made in the township, though these two men were soon followed by several others. The early day cabin homes of the McCarty's, were small, rude structures of equal size and like finish, but here they lived until the next year, when came their brother George, and settled in Section 28, and began for himself a home in the " new " West. In the list of old settlers in Rich Grove Township; occur the following names : William Penny, Truman Holman, Mrs. Gundrum, Perry Campbell, George Huff, John McAuliff (from Virginia), Michael Boyles, Michael O'Conner, Timothy O'Conner, David Bassil, M. D. Falvey (from Virginia), Dennis McLauchlin and William Kyle. In 1843, George Phillips, Silas Phillips, Hamilton McCay, William Trulinger, came into the township. Daniel Goble came from Ohio in 1851, and settled in Section 10. George Lamb came from Scotland in 1858, and purchased land in Section 10. B. W. Goble came in 1855 from Ohio, and settled in Section 10. Patrick Emmett removed from La Porte County, Ind., to the township in November, 1857, and purchased land in Section 3. The first settlers of Rich Grove Township were nearly all of Irish national- ity. Though few in numbers, they held the balance of power in the township, until the grading of the railroad was commenced through the same, when the Germans began purchasing land in the township, with money earned by working on the railroad. At the time of the completion of the road through the township, enough Germans had made settlement therein to place the Irish at length in the minority, and thus the population of Rich Grove Township is to-day nearly three-fourths German. Chris- topher Lawrence is the first German who began settlement in Rich Grove Township, purchasing forty acres in Section 1.
Mills .- The first saw mill erected in the township was built by William Huff, on Section 28, in what was known at that time as Huff's Grove, in the year 1855. This mill was a large one and run by steam ; was erected with great care, and at one time possessed a capacity for cutting 4,000 feet of lumber per day. The saw used was of the upright pattern. The mill did a good business for about two years, when it began changing, at the same time losing its patronage. The property first passed into the hands of Gorge Huff, a son of William Huff, who ran it but a short time; a man at Medarysville purchased it, and held it
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RICH GROVE TOWNSHIP.
until his death, which occurred a short time after he purchased the property. After the death of Mr. Williams, the mill and the entire property passed into the hands of the Williams heirs. After the first three years, the mill did scarcely any business, and was allowed to become in ill repair, and finally it was considered a run- down heap of worthless ruins. Some old timbers yet remain as traces of that which once was, but cannot be again the same. Time has wrought its changes.
There is a difference of opinion as to where the first blacksmith shop was erected in the township. It is the remembrance of some that the first shop of this nature was built in Rich's Grove, and others think that David Myers built the first shop in 1855 on Section 24. Neither of the enterprises existed more than two or three years.
Schools .- The first schoolhouse in the township was one erected in southwestern part, a very rude one, built of round logs, had seats of puncheon, and desks it knew not. This early day intelligence house was 14x16 feet, and built in 1855, at a cost of about $75. The schoolhouse was known by several different names, among which were the Morgan Schoolhouse and the Election Schoolhouse, for in this schoolhouse the second election in the township was held in 1856. About the same year dates the erection of what was known as Holman's Schoolhouse, in Huff's Grove, on Section 28. The building did not differ materially from the one described above. The district wherein this schoolhouse was erected was the first created school district in the township. David Long taught the first school in the new district. The second school taught in the eastern part of the township was in what was known as the " Old Bassil cabin," a 16x18 feet structure, built after the fashion then existing. Daniel Goble was the first teacher who taught in this building. Mr. Goble, unlike the majority of teachers who taught school in the early days of this county, was blessed with the good fortune of not being compelled to board around, but instead, had a home of his own.
The second schoolhouse built in the township was a comfortable hewed- log house, 16x18 feet, and covered with hand made oak shingles, but had puncheon seats. The building was erected in the District No. 2, which had just then been created. This was the first hewed-log schoolhouse in the township. Miss Jane Haws was the first teacher.
The third schoolhouse in the township was built in District No. 1, which took the place of the first schoolhouse in the township-one more step in the line of advancement, for this was a frame house, 18x24 feet, and cost $350. The house was built in 1860, was destroyed by fire in 1872, but in 1873 there was one built to take its place. The location, however, was changed to the west part of the township.
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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.
The fourth schoolhouse in Rich Grove Township was erected in District No. 3, in 1864. This was a frame house, 18x24 feet, destroyed by fire in 1871, rebuilt in 1872. This same year there was a house erected in District No. 4. The houses were similarly built, each costing $650. The house in District No. 5 was erected in 1876, and the one in District No. 6 in 1879.
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