USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
It may not be amiss, however, to give to the public, through this medium, a general idea of the manner in which township business was conducted prior to the passage of the new constitution in 1852. On the 17th day of February, 1838, the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, passed an act, which provided as follows :
First. Township elections were to be held annually on the first Monday in April.
Second. The officers to be elected were three Township Trustees; a Township Treasurer; a Township Clerk; two Fence Viewers; two Overseers of the Poor, and as many Constables as there were Justices of the Peace.
Third. The Township Trustees were to meet on the first Mondays in March, June, September and November. At their first meeting they were to divide townships into road districts and appoint Supervisors.
Fourth. The Township Trustees were to assess the township taxes and they were to appoint one of the Constables collector thereof.
Fifth. They were to have power upon the petition of twelve householders to establish, vacate or change highways.
Sixth. This was a local act and applied only to the counties of Carroll, Delaware, Clay, Madison, Warren, Clinton, Adams, Jay, Wells, Huntington, Whitley, Allen and Hancock.
At that date this county was in the Tenth Congressional District. It was joined with Elkhart and Kosciusko for senatorial and representative pur- poses. So stood the law until in 1843, Samuel Bigger, by authority of the Legislature of this State, revised the statutes of the State. In that year the officers created were one Inspector of Elections ; as many Constables as might be required ; a Supervisor for each road district ; two Fence Viewers, and two Overseers of the Poor. This act was in force until the year 1852, when the new constitution and revised statutes made a change. On Monday, April 4, 1853, was held the first election under our present constitution, with the fol- lowing result : Jacob Wunderlich, A. A. Bainbridge, Samuel Brown, Trustees ; David M. Hammond, Township Clerk; William H. Dunfee, Township Treas-
104
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
urer. For license, 47 votes. Against license, 80 votes were cast. And so it seems that in the mythologic years of the fifties, Columbia Township would have been prohibitory in its vote. At this election 145 votes were cast.
May 28th, 1853, an election was held for the purpose of determining whether a tax for school purposes should be levied. There were only nine- teen votes polled-eleven for and eight against the proposed taxation. The residue of the electors did not vote aye. It has been suggested that the reason why was because they did not know of it.
The whirligig of politics shows strange things to the looker-on, for upon the 11th of October, 1853, the present incumbent of our guberna- torial chair, Albert G. Porter, as a Democrat, received in this township sixty- eight votes for Reporter of the Supreme Court, as against seventy votes cast for his Whig opponent, Jonathan W. Gordon, now Clerk of the Supreme Court. From out the crucible of life, how doth the alchemist of the ages melt into a common mass the divers elements. At this same election, James L. Worden was elected Prosecuting Attorney. If nothing more could be said of Columbia Township, the fact that in her borders first grew and strengthened the mind of Judge James L. Worden, now of the Supreme Bench of this commonwealth, would be sufficient to show that there were indeed giants in those days.
It is not within the scope of this sketch to record the war period. As an instance however of how strong a hold a military title had upon the minds of the people, it may not be out of place to clip from the Township Records the following portion of the entry made in relation to the election in October, 1864 :
"For Lieutenant Governor, Col. Conrad Baker received 178 votes and no more. For Clerk of the Supreme Court, Gen. Laz. Nobles received 178 votes and no more. For Reporter of the Supreme Court, Col .- Gen. Benj. Harrison received 178 votes and no more."
There is at the present time in the county of Whitley a large and very respectable number of people who are surprised that we still continue to vote the Democratic ticket. Nay more, by way of joke, they intimate that we are still casting our ballots for Andrew Jackson. Let me for the moment enter the arena as a politician, and deny the soft impeachment. Let me say that I have carefully examined the records, and I find that the last votes cast for Andrew Jackson were in 1860, when he received 247 votes in this township as Elector for the 11th Congressional District upon the Douglas ticket.
This is neither proper time nor place to speak of the struggles and triumphs of the local politician. He is a race and a law unto himself. Nor is this the place to detail the life and fortunes of those who in humble as well as in exalted situations of public trust served this people faithfully and well. Be it for other pens to glide in Lydian measures softly and sweetly over the stories of their lives. The mere mention of their names suffices here to call up all the amen- ities and asperities of this township's political life. The calling to remembrance
105
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
of the names of the Hon. Adams Y. Hooper, Thomas Washburn, nunc ad astra, of I. B. McDonald, Cyrus B. Tulley, Joseph W. Adair, Walter Olds, James S. Collins, Michael Sickafoose and others, in and of itself sheds a light upon that past which is the future in that what hath been in politics shall be again. Suffice it to say that the present officers of this township are : George Snyder, Trustee; George Eberhard, Jr., Road Superintendent; Cyrus B. Tulley and W. F. McNagny, Justices of the Peace; William Meiser and Joseph Yontz, Constables ; John Perry, Assessor; Daniel M. Marshall and John G. Leininger, Inspectors of Elections.
In the year 1837, Asa Shoemaker came into the confines of what subse- quently became Columbia Township, and settled upon Big Spring Creek, in the northeast corner of Section 6, and resided there until his death. His son, Samuel F. Shoemaker, was the first white child born in the township. He was born upon his father's farm October 18, 1838, and still resides there. Joseph M. Baker was the second settler, and was also the grand architect and builder of the first court house. He then lived upon what is now known as the Cornell farm, just north of town, in Section 3. Raymond J. German moved into the township shortly afterward. The court house which Joseph W. Baker built was erected in 1841, and was used until 1849. It is still in existence, and used and owned by Joseph Zimmerman as a dwelling-house, and is situated upon Lot 1, Block 12, in the original plat of the town of Columbia.
Elijah Scott and Livonia Witt were the first people married in the town- ship. Their marriage was solemnized April 8, 1841, by Henry Swihart, Justice of the Peace. David E. Long built the first house in what is now the town of Columbia City. He built at first a one-story back, and subsequently
added a two-story front. It was erected upon the spot where now stands the drug store of Ruch & Bro., to wit, upon Lot 8, Block 7, of the original plat of the town of Columbia. At that spot David E. Long opened up a hotel ; and, in front of it hung a huge, creaking wooden sign, upon which was emblazoned in large characters, " David E. Long, Entertainment for Man and Beast." And here for many years, beside the ruddy glow of that hearth, gathered the prime factors of progress, and laughed, and joked, and talked of home and friends and native land. When will the time come again when such good cheer shall be found as this which threw itself at the weary traveler as he approached the tavern of those bygone days ? As the world has enlarged, has not man contracted ? And do not some among us even now sigh for the departed glory of other days, and mourn for the wassail and good cheer of the old-time bar- room ?
It was in what is now the residence of Henry McLallen that the first court was held in Columbia City. The house at that time consisted of two rooms, and in one of them the grand jury held its sessions. John Wright, of Logansport, was then Judge. On the spot where nuw stands Grace Lutheran Church was an uprooted tree, on which the petit jury deliberated. A reform
106
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
among juries might even now be accomplished by sitting them on a log until they agreed.
The first stock of goods ever opened up in this town was by John Rhodes, on the lot he now owns, upon the corner of Van Buren and Chauncey streets. His stock consisted of a few calicoes, groceries and like articles, as are usually kept in the ordinary frontier store. It was not conducted upon an extensive scale, and yet it was of very great convenience to the few settlers in and around Columbia, enabling them to purchase the necessaries of life without a trip on horseback to Wayne, "twenty miles away," and to dispose of the scanty prod- uce they might have for sale.
In the year 1844, James B. Edwards came to Columbia with a general assortment of dry goods, groceries, etc., and opened up his store beside the then tavern of David E. Long. Mr. Edwards, in the years following, became actively engaged in molding the political history of the county, and discharged at different times the onerous duties of Clerk and Sheriff of the county. Mr. Edwards was and is, in popular parlance, "a hail fellow well met," and his store soon became the popular resort of the settlers, where the tide of conversa- tion ebbed and flowed from politics to potatoes.
Among the early settlers of this township, and men who afterward became prominent in the affairs of the county, were Jacob and Simon Wunderlich. They came from Pennsylvania, and arrived here in February, 1844. It grew dark before they were enabled to reach town. In the darkness they inquired of a man how far it was to Columbia. He replied, a short mile. Carefully pursuing their way, they suddenly saw fire flashing from the fire-place. They then observed that they were in front of a building of some kind. They stopped and made known their arrival by the usual backwoods salutation of " Halloo !" David E. Long came to the door. Jacob Wunderlich inquired how far it was to Columbia. The reply came back, " You are in town." The sarcasm of the answer so completely disarmed them that, without further parley, they dismounted and slept beneath the roof of Long's Tavern, the first night of many passed in Columbia.
In the same year, 1844, Thomas Washburn brought the third stock of goods to Columbia, and opened up where the Columbia City Woolen Mills now are. Mr. Washburn was, perhaps, the most successful business man that ever came to the town. He was a man of sterling character, of irreproachable honesty and of kindly ways. He was charitable and well dis- posed to all mankind, and had he not been so generous, might have left to his estate a princely fortune.
In the year 1845, Thomas Ellis came from Wayne County, in this State, and built the house which is now the residence of Hon. William Carr. In it he also opened up a general stock of goods and seemed upon the highway to success, when, in 1847, he died. His widow disposed of the stock of goods, and returned to Wayne County.
107
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The approaching march of civilization soon made itself apparent, for before 1845 Christian Hower started a saloon where enthusiasm was sold in quantities to suit. William W. Kepner came in shortly after, and bought him out. Among the strange things of those days was the fact that the law did not per- mit the sale of intoxicants to the Indians. From that it seems that the noble red man of the forest was not thoroughly reliable when under the potent in- fluence of the flowing bowl, and therecords of the criminal courts of the county are full of incidents showing the evasion of that law, and the records of any people will be so filled as long as humanity hopes force will do what argument cannot do. Surely, it cannot be long until the world shall find out that that law is only strong and good which meets the hearty approval of the citizens.
In the year 1842, Jacob Thompson started an opposition tavern, near where now stands the brick business block belonging to Henry Snyder. James B. Simcoke was the first physician and Sheriff of the county. How many there have since been, let yawning gallows and graveyards tell. I dare to make this cut direct, upon the assurance of the publishers that if a second and revised edition of this volume is ever issued, I shall have the honor of re-writing this chapter.
In the year 1844, Henry Swihart, as the agent of Henry Ellsworth, erected upon the banks of Blue River, near where now stands the steam grist- mill of R. Tuttle & Co., a saw and grist mill which was run by water. Traces of the old race are still observable in the contour of the land just northeast thereof. Col. [. B. McDonald, who was then a boy, helped to score the timber therefor. One of his friends has observed to me that he is still scoring. The erection of this mill was a God-send to the young and growing community, as it gave an opportunity for the grinding of wheat and corn without going many miles to mill. The mill now standing upon the site of that one is a grist-mill in fine running order, doing a large and extensive business, and owned and operated by R. Tuttle & Co.
William M. Cafferty was the first shoemaker in the town of Columbia, and had his shop where is now the home of Benjamin F. Beeson, on the banks of Blue River. A. K. Goodrich started the first tannery in Columbia, just east of where the county jail now stands, upon the lot owned by Frank Supple. John A. Taupert erected the first foundry near what is now the depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and operated the same until it was consumed by the flames.
Pause we here upon the early history of the business interests of this town, and with such a step as only a Colossus, or an historian could take, begin again at the year of grace, 1882. And since the dog law has come into force, and the season of the year is already at hand when the man with the tin box is once again around, it has become almost an impossibility to glean the necessary facts to make a full and accurate statement of the now business of the town. As a pointer in that direction to all uninformed brethren, let me here
108
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
insert under the captions of their several businesses a list of those engaged therein :
Agricultural Implements-Thomas J. Cuppy, William Sell.
Attorneys-Joseph W. Adair, Curtis W. Jones; Thomas R. Marshall, W. F. McNagny, Michael Sickafoose, Cyrus B. Tulley, James S. Collins, Ros- coe A. Kaufman, I. B. McDonald, Walter Olds, John C. Wigent.
Bankers-F. H. Foust & Co., Columbia City Bank ; E. L. McLallen & Co., Farmer's Bank.
Barbers-John Feist, R. T. Weibe, Henry Noxall.
Blacksmiths-B. F. Beeson, John W. Lynch, Horth & Cutter.
Booksellers-Liggett & Crider.
Boots and Shoes-David Garver, W. W. Kesler, R. Tuttle & Co., Fred- erick Grund, Charles Saunders, Adam Weick.
Brick-John Brand.
Brooms-Christian Shaffer.
Brewery-Raupfer & Walter.
Butchers-Carver & Circle, Simon Levy, Daniel & Brother, Charles Ulerick.
Clothing-Charles J. Eyanson, L. M. Meiser.
Dentists-W. W. Makenson, H. R. Rouse, B. F. Slessman.
Druggists-H. N. Beeson, Ruch & Brother, John W. Hunter, W. H. Smith, two stores.
Dry Goods-Milton Bainbridge, Meeley & Hemmick, James Washburn, Clugston, Adams & Co., Ephraim Strong.
Feed Yard-Ramp & Brother.
Foundry-Thomas Washburn estate.
Furniture-Andrew Miller, H. Snyder & Son, L. C. Mitten, George Steerhoff.
Groceries-Haas & Brenneman, Kepner & Hunter, Kraus & Brother, A. A. Ricker, Arthur Stouffs, S. F. Winegardner, John E. Harris, Abraham Kramer, F. C. Reese, Ruch & Brother, W. C. Wallace.
Hardware-Vallorous Brown, Knisely, Reider & Co., Edwards & Ander- son, George W. North.
Harness-Moses Metz, I. W. Prickett, J. E. Sergeant.
Hotels-Maine Hotel, McDonald House, Huffman House.
Hoop Factory-Ernest Schwartz.
Jewelry-L. C. Show, A. H. Woodworth, two stores.
Livery-Mrs. O. J. Dempsey, Samuel Lore, Heacock & Ruch, D. & F. T. Ruch.
Lumber-S. J. Peabody, E. A. Randolph.
Marble Works-Ferguson & Elliott, O. E. Line.
Milliners-Mrs. M. J. Mason, Mrs. A. T. McGinley, Mrs. S. J. North, Mrs. W. C. Wallace, Mrs. S. A. Washburn, Mrs. J. G. Williams.
Francis UMSDonald WASHINGTON TP.
111
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Music-D. R. Benneman & Bro.
Physicians-N. J. Kithcart, I. E. Lawrence, D. G. Linville, D. M. Mar- shall, A. P. Mitten, William Weber, C. S. Williams.
Photographers-M. E. Click, Jones & Study.
Planing Mill-Philip Ramp.
Produce-H. McCray & Sons.
Printing Office-Commercial, J. W. Baker, Editor; Herald, I. B. McDonald, Editor ; Post, J. W. Adams, Editor.
Pumps-Albert Hilbert.
Restaurants-H. E. Brandenburg, Daniel Meyers.
Saw Mills-Jacob Ramp, Philip Ramp, Peabody & Bro.
Spoke and Hub Factory-Edwards & Anderson.
Stave Factory-James E. Clark.
Saloons-Philip Anthes, Arthur A. Busch, Anton Meyer, Miller & Brahm, William Meitzler, Alfred Miller, F. C. Reese, Herman Schaiper, A. J. Stouffs, Henry Strauss, Julius Saunders, William Walter.
Table Leg Factory-Theodore Garty.
Tiling-J. S. Hartsock.
Tinware-S. M. Zent, Zeno Wood.
Tobaccos-George Bechtoldt, George W. Cribbs, J. C. Miller & Bro.
Undertakers-Ferguson & Elliott, H. Snyder & Son.
Wagon Makers, Carriages, etc .- W. M. Appleton, Robert Hood, Horth & Cutter, North & Thrush.
Woolen Mills-R. S. Glass, Eel River Company.
The woolen mills now owned by R. S. Glass were first fitted up to their present capacity for Thomas E. Eyanson. They are now in good running order and are worked to their full capacity. Mr. Glass manufactures about $20,000 worth of goods each year, for which he finds a ready market.
In April, 1881, a joint-stock company was established in Columbia City for the purpose of erecting a new woolen mill. The stockholders were the Hon. Thomas Washburn, since deceased, Dr. M. Ireland, Christian D. Waid- . lich, John W. Hunter and Thomas E. Eyanson. This company erected a two story brick structure, 36x126 feet, completing the same in September, 1881. They placed in it the best and latest improved machinery, making a total cost of about $16,000. By December, 1881, they were ready for work, and since that time have been doing a large and rapidly increasing business. They make a specialty of the manufacture of flannels, but also to some extent manu- facture blankets and yarns. The present officers are: President, Dr. M. Ireland; Vice President, C. D. Waidlich ; Treasurer, John W. Hunter ; Sec- retary and Superintendent, Thomas E. Eyanson.
In the same year, Hon. Thomas Washburn erected a large foundry on his lots, east and southeast of the court house. Just as he was preparing to put the same in operation, death ended his labors and closed in peace a life full of
F
112
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
good will and charity toward all mankind. The brewery property of Messrs. Raupfer and Walter, on the banks of Blue River, is probably one of the most extensive of its kind in Northern Indiana. It is now in the very best of shape, ably managed and is turning out kegs of foaming beer that is said by the followers of Gambrinus to be of the very best quality. The planing and saw mill of Mr. Philip Ramp is of about the usual capacity of such mills in towns of this size. The saw-mill of Mr. Jacob Ramp is in good condition and is doing a good business. S. J. Peabody, as well as Peabody & Bro., of which firm he is the senior member, is one of the few extensive dealers in lumber in Northern Indiana. Energy, ability and integrity have enabled him to amass a good sized fortune; and, in his large and continually increasing business he is doing his best to double his ducats. Mr. Theo. Garty has a neat little factory, and he struck quite a lead on the mountain of wealth when he conceived the idea of using up the walnut butts of the country by manu- facturing them into table legs, chair arms, etc. J. E. Clark erected in 1881 a very large stave mill south of the Pittsburgh Railway, with a capacity of 7,000,000 per annum. It will require a capital of $25,000 to run this busi- ness. Messrs. Edwards & Anderson, the hardware men, in the year 1881 also erected a spoke and hub factory at the Wabash Railway depot, where they are giving employment to about twenty men and doing a good thing for themselves and the county.
The flouring-mills of R. Tuttle & Co., on the banks of Blue River, cost at least $20,000. They have five run of buhrs and are capable of grinding out 100 barrels of flour per day. The new flouring-mills of W. H. Liggitt & Co. are also in fine shape, with four run of buhrs and all the latest improve- ments. They can do about as good work in their special line of business as can be done in any town in the country. Their capacity is about eighty barrels per day.
Messrs. H. Snyder & Son have also attached to their large furniture es- tablishment a neat little factory, where they manufacture anything a man may want in their special line of trade.
Enterprise and competition between the two great railways passing through Columbia City, have made it the leading grain market of Northern Indiana. At any season of the year, wheat is from 3 to 7 cents higher upon the bushel than at any of our neighboring towns and cities. Let us give some figures upon this point :
During the year 1881, Mr. A. Kramer shipped as follows: Wheat, 33,426 bushels ; oats, 8,000; clover seed, 3,500; flax, 1,950; wool, 9,200 pounds. Messrs. Daniel & Brother: Cattle, 1,000 head; sheep, 1,500; hogs, 1,000; horses, 100; wool, 10,000 pounds.
In addition to this business, which aggregated about $75,000, they purchased $10,000 worth of hides, pelts, tallow and furs. Messrs. Kraus & Brother, of the Central Building Grocery, are also very large purchasers of grain,
113
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
wool, pelts, etc. Messrs Meeley & Hemmick also deal largely in grains. I am informed that during the year 1881, about 150,000 bushels of wheat were bought and sold in Columbia City.
It was in the year 1853 that the present incorporated town of Columbia City was organized as an incorporated town under the laws of the State of Indiana. Prior to that time, the name of the town had been Columbia and the post office had been Whitley Court House. There was then as now a post office in Fayette County, this State, called Columbia. By a majority of three, the name of the town and post office was changed to Columbia City, as against the proposition to change it to Beaver. The town as a corporation has little worthy of mention, having pursued the even tenor of its way from that time to this, except that twice an effort has been made to incorporate it as a city. These efforts have both failed. It would be an unending and a useless job to give the various officers of the town from its inception to the present. In fact it would be an impossibility, as the early records of the town have been misplaced so that no data can be obtained. The present officers of the town are : Henry McLallen, William Weber, Vallorous Brown, Chauncy B. Mattoon, Abram Meyers and W. A. Beall', Trustees ; Charles J. Eyanson, Treasurer ; Theodore Garty, Clerk, and John Hildebrand, Marshal.
In the year 1877, the town recognized the necessity of making some provision in case of fires devastating it. Upon a petition signed by the prop- erty owners, the board finally contracted an indebtedness in the sum of $10,000, for which they issued the bonds of the town, payable at their option inside of twenty years, with 8 per cent interest, payable in advance. From the proceeds of this fund the town first proceeded to purchase the old jail property of the county, being the lot just west of the court house. Upon this lot, after removing the old jail, they erected a two-story brick, the lower story of which is utilized for the apparatus of the fire department, and the upper story is divided into a Council chamber, a fireman's hall, and an office for the chief of the fire department. Then arose, perhaps, the most spirited contest the town ever knew, over the purchase of an engine, the principal contestants for corporate favor being the Silsby and the Clapp & Jones Company. At last the board purchased a Clapp & Jones steamer. The same is now under the management of Mr. Frederick Schinbechtel, as engineer ; and, in the few instances in which it has been necessary to use the same, it has always been ready. The residue of the firemen, besides those who run with the engine, are divided into two hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The town is well supplied with cisterns, and all due precaution is taken that in case of necessity no citizen shall suffer by the negligence or inattention of the fire department. The present chief of the department is Henry N. Beeson.
The two great railroads, the Pennsylvania Company and the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Company, pass through the town. The outlying lands are fertile, and are inhabited by a race of hardy yeomanry, whose chief delight,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.