USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 12
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 12
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
114
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
from year to year, is to see the county prosper. The roads of the town and township are, however, like those of the county, in a miserable condition, and the cry of the wayfaring man still goes up to Heaven, " How long, O Lord, how long !" This state of affairs has come about, not by a misapplication of the road funds, nor by inattention ; but it is the result of the peculiar charac- teristics of this soil. The major portion of it is a grayish clay that you would, upon cursory examination, assume to be unfit for the sprouting of black beans. But upon more thorough research you would find it to be one of the richest of soils. One of its peculiar features, and probably the reason why it is so fertile is, that by burning you can set free quite a quantity of lime.
The sidewalks of the town are in a deplorable condition at present ; and yet there is hope for better things. In the last few years the erection of fine business blocks has attracted the attention of its citizens, and the indications are that in a few years Columbia City will be as neat and trim and as pros- perous a town as can be found within the borders of our ever-blessed common- wealth. We make this statement with a belief in its absolute verity. Man is a dissatisfied being, and, since Babel, has been a wanderer. Eutopia is just beyond, and Eldorado is the last land found. To us the benefits of good climate, good soil, good government and good people, are not fully known. Before Christ, it was advised, let the shoemaker stick to his last. To-day let me give this gratuitious advice : Let the Hoosier hang to his inheritance. Let us thank God for these forty years of progress, and, fervently invoke His blessing for the hundreds that are yet to come, we hope.
I have found very great difficulty in being able to glean any facts what- ever as to the schools of this town and township. Prior to the year 1852, when the present magnificent school fund of this State was begun, learning was dispensed, either by local taxation or by private schools, or entirely dispensed with. No records whatever have been kept. Therefore, prior to that time, all the facts in relation thereto rest in the uncertain memory of mankind. James Smith and Warren Mason both taught school here in the year 1844. John H. Alexander also taught here shortly after.
Just west of the court house square, and upon the corner where now stands the mammoth dry goods house of Clugston, Adams & Co., had been built two small houses for the county officials. These offices had been vacated when the new rooms were built upon the court house square. In April, May and June of 1846, Jacob Wunderlich taught select school in one of those offices. He had at that time about 30 scholars, and charged them $2 each. Among his scholars were Adam Swihart, his sister, now Mrs. W. C. Scantling, Curtis W. Jones, Dewit C. Jones, their sister, now Mary Sherwood, and Matthias Sless- man. The course of study then pursued embraced McGuffey's readers, Ray's arithmetic and Webster's spelling book. Grammar was not taught, nor was geography. In fact it might be doubted by Richard Grant White, whether grammar is yet taught in our schools. Mental arithmetic was the elabor-
115
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
ation of a later period. Slates were however in vogue, and the gay and festive spit-ball, then as now, attracted the attention of the future Presidents of the United States. The Scriptures were used in those days, and the solemn warning of Solomon to spare the rod and spoil the child was duly heeded, for instructions were imparted at both ends of the human anatomy. The first schoolhouse built in the township was of logs, the prime mover in the erection of which was Asa Shoemaker. It was there that his son Samuel F. Shoe- maker obtained the major portion of his education. The first brick school- house in the township, as well as in the county, was erected in the year 1847, upon Lot 3, Block 25, in the original plat of the town of Columbia, and is now owned by the Slessman estate. The brick used in the construction of said building were burned upon the Kinderman property.
In the year 1852, under the new law, Isaiah B. McDonald was elected School Examiner, and held the office until 1854. From 1854 to 1864, I am unable to give the several periods of the different incumbents. The officials- were, however, all residents of Columbia City, and their names were A. J. Douglas, A. W. Meyers, Philip Hardesty, Isaac Vanhouten and H. D. Wilson. In 1864, I. B. McDonald was re elected upon his return from the army, and held the office until 1871. From 1871 to 1881, Rev. A. J. Douglas was the incumbent, when he removed to Florence, Ky. The Hon. J. W. Adair was elected as his successor, and now holds the position to the entire satisfaction of all classes of people.
The wise and beneficent legislation of 1852 has enabled the officers of this town and township to dot its hills and valleys with schoolhouses, whither the tribes go up to the preparation for future citizenship. From 1861 to 1881, there was raised for special school revenue in this township, $18,095.38, and for tuition purposes $30,932.88. In the town of Columbia City, during the same period, there was raised for special school revenues $26,192.16, and for tuition purposes $32,605.67. From the above given figures it will be seen that the current rumor that the West End Schoolhouse cost $20,000,000 is incorrect to the extent of a dollar or two. The school facilities of the town of Columbia City are embraced at present by a three-story brick in the west end and a two- story brick on the south side, with a cupola and a lightning rod, but no mort- gage on it. It is the intention of the present Board of Trustees to erect a new building in the east end. There is some talk that the same will be built near the old cemetery. The subject of the proposed site has met with very grave discussion.
The present Board of School Trustees is composed of J. G. Leininger, President ; Dr. N. I. Kithcart, Secretary, and E. L. McLallen, of the Farmers' Bank, Treasurer. The schools are under the very able management of Prof. W. C. Barnhart, who might be termed a school god, in that he has brought order out of chaos. Under him are the following instructors : Francis B. Moe, High School; Walter Irvin, Eighth and Ninth Grades ; Ida M. Lore,
116
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
Sixth and Seventh Grades ; Lizzie F. Irwin, Fourth and Fifth Grades; Min- nie M. Markwood, Second and Third Grades; Lottie Earl, Infant and First Grades ; Robert J. Emerson, Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades, South Ward - Mabel West, Infant, First and Second Grades, South Ward. For the year 1881, there were enumerated for school purposes 769 children. Of that number, 565 were enrolled as scholars. The per cent of attendance was 93. Scholars to the number herewith given pursued the following branches : Spelling, 521; writing, 521; language lessons and grammar, 225; drawing, 521; United States history, 20; English analysis, 15; higher arithmetic, 21; higher algebra, 6; physics, 7; civil government, 6; Latin 29; reading, 521; arithmetic, 521; geography, 161; oral science and literature, 521; phy- sical geography, 22; physiology, 15; elementary algebra, 13; book-keeping, 7; geometry, 6; botany, 8; English and American literature, astronomy, chemistry, rhetoric and general history, each, 2.
From the above it will be seen that the schools of this town are in a flourishing condition, thanks to the hearty co-operation of the citizens, Trustees and Instructors.
The first private high school taught in the town was over the old Baptist Church, what is now the McDonald House, and was taught by Isaiah B. Mc- Donald. In 1873, the late Hon. A. Y. Hooper built what has since been known as Green Hill Academy, and placed the same in charge of Misses Lovisa C. Kinney and Sara A. Nichols. They conducted the same with signal ability until the year 1880, when they went West, since which time the academy bas not been used for school purposes, but has been converted by its present owner, Mrs. A. Y. Hooper, into a dwelling house.
In the year 1846, the first Sunday school was organized in the township. It embraced the following members, as shown by the Constitution, now in the possession of the family of the late Levi Myers, deceased, to wit: Henry Swihart, Benjamin Grable, Sr., James B. Simcoke, John Gillespie, Joel Gregory, Benjamin Grable, Jr., Richard Collins, J. B. Edwards, D. E. Long, Jacob Wunderlich, James S. Collins, S. H. Wunderlich, Levi Myers, Jacob Taylor, Jacob Keefer, Martin Schrader, Samuel Brown, S. S. Soules, Z. Brown, James Myers, Franklin Templin, Lorenzo Havens, Isaac Whiteman, Jacob Whiteman. It was known as the Union Sabbath School at Columbia, and had a formidable Constitution with all its provisos and whereases.
Upon the 15th day of April, A. D. 1847, its name was changed to the American Sabbath School Union at Columbia, Whitley Co., Ind. This organization continued to exist until the various church organizations of the town established schools of their own. It was under the general management of Levi Myers, who was an indefatigable laborer in the Sunday school vine- yard to the day of his death. To Mr. Myers perhaps more than to any other man the present high state of the Sunday school cause in the county is attribut- able.
117
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
On the 4th day of April, 1853, pursuant to the invitation of a number of brethren and sisters, an ecclesiastical council convened at Columbia and was organized by the choice of Elder E. Barnes as Moderator, and Elder Ira Grat- ton as Clerk. Thereupon, in conformity with the laws of the Baptist Church, the following persons presented themselves, wishing to be recognized as a Reg- ular Baptist Church : James Gruesbeck, Simon Trumbull, George W. Harley, Samuel Whiteman, John Worth, Henry Harley, Rachel Shinneman, Phobe Whiteman, Polly Trumbull, Permelia Harley, Sarah Harley, Mary Grues- beck. According to their petition they were all duly recognized as a church. They organized as a church, and elected George W. Harley as Clerk, and James Gruesbeck, Deacon. Sunday evening, May 15, 1853, they resolved to make application for admission into Elkhart Association, by sending a letter and delegates. James Gruesbeck, John Worth, Henry Harley and George W. Harley were accordingly chosen delegates.
On May 31, 1855, the church gave Elder Wilder a call as its pastor, which was at once accepted. A strange thing appears, or rather fails to ap- pear, in the records of this meeting, in the light of the latter-day way of call- ing pastors, in this that no reference was made as to the salary. I now desire to withdraw the above remarks, for upon the next page, under date of June 1, 1855, it was resolved to apply to the Home Mission Board for an allowance of $100 to aid in the support of Elder Wilder. April 7, 1857, the church began the discussion of the advisability of disbanding; but in God's providence they failed to agree to it. On Saturday, July 11, 1857, Daniel Hartsock, now de- ceased, joined the church by letter. On October 3, 1857, the church was organized as a corporation under the laws of the State. I. B. McDonald, K. B. Miller and James Gruesbeck were elected Trustees. On December 26, 1857, I. B. McDonald presented a proposition to the church that if they would erect a building on his lot west of the court house, to cost $400, he would give $40 thereof, and build the same so that the church should have a room 36x52, and not less than thirteen feet in height, all painted and comfortably seated, and they should have. the use of the same for ten years. This was at once unanimously agreed to. The building was built, and is now the McDonald House. It was used by the church until the erection of their new church
edifice. On December 11, 1858, Rev. J. L. McLeod was elected the second pastor. April 2, 1859, the Sabbath school was established. March 1, 1862, Rev. R. H. Cook was elected pastor. It seems that the church had its periods of warfare also. Without giving names, the record of March 19, 1864, shows that some of the brethren could not dwell together in unity. C. B. Kendall was the fourth pastor of the church. Adam Snyder was the fifth pastor.
In the year 1872, this church erected its new, commodious and elegant place of worship, and first met there on December 27, 1873. The pastor at that period was the Rev. John Reider, who was a schoolmate of the writer. Of his incorruptible manhood and sterling piety, I have never had a moment of
118
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
doubt. It is, therefore, with pleasure that I record the fact that to-day the cause of the Lord prospers in his hands at Bluffton. In January, 1874, John H. Reider was ordained to the ministry by the Ecclesiastical Council convened for that purpose in Columbia City.
W. W. Robinson accepted the call of the church to be its pastor February 3, 1877, and so continued until October, 1880, when the Rev. V. O. Fritts, the present pastor, assumed charge. At the present time the church consists of sixty-nine members. And if an outsider might be permitted to judge, there has been a great deal in the past to encourage this church. It is not only now the possessor of a fine church edifice, but it is also the mother of the flourish- ing church in the Sheckler settlement, known as the Mission Chapel.
Grace Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. J. B. Oliver April 19, 1847, with six members. His successor was Rev. Franklin Templin, who served the church, in connection with one in North Manchester, for the space of four years. During his incumbency the first church building was erected, prior to which time they worshiped in the Methodist Church. The next pastor was Rev. H. Wells, who began his labors October 1, 1852, and contin- ued sixteen years. In the summer of 1868, Rev. S. Ritz took charge of the church. He remained a short time longer than one year. He was succeeded in 1870 by Rev. A. J. Douglas. Rev. A. H. Studebaker was called in 1871, and remained until 1876, when Rev. J. B. Baltzly, D. D., took charge of the church for two years. October 5, 1879, Rev. J. N. Barnett, the present pas- tor, assumed control. The church is the largest and finest edifice in the town ; and is capable of seating 1,500 persons.
I have been unable to learn the facts in relation to the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is at the present in a very flourishing condi- tion, with the Rev. Albert Cone as its pastor. They now worship in the most elegant church edifice in the city.
The Roman Catholic Church, under the charge of the Rev. H. A. Hell- hake, is pursuing the even tenor of its way, as all such churches have done since the days of Christ. They own a very fine church edifice, and, they keep up a school for the education of their children.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in an early day, and has kept on organizing ever since. It seems to have been foreordained from all eternity to be a failure. They are the possessors of a small church edifice and a bell. They are without a pastor, but the ladies are full of hope, and, doubtless, God will in time work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of joy and glory than they now possess.
The United Brethren in Christ, the German Lutheran and the German Presbyterian have each edifices and pastors, and are doing their share of the work for the upbuilding of the cause of Christ on earth. The Revs. Thomas, Hess and Zimmerman are their pastors. The Universalists are now the owners of the old Methodist Church edifice, but are without pastor at present.
0
Complemento of
ETNA TP.
121
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows have elegant quarters in the third story of Central Building, and are in a flourishing condition. The members are active, zealous, wide-awake, full of charity, and are from the best of our citizens. Their charter was granted to J. M. Barnes, J. Z. Gower, C. C. Romig, J. S. North, C. T. Barber, David Hammond and James Briggs on the 22d day of May, 1856, from the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana. Their first officers were: James M. Barnes, N. G .; J. Z. Gower, V. G .; J. S. North, Treasurer ; D. M. Hammond, Recording Secretary ; G. Hook, Perma- nent Secretary ; G. Hook, Inside Guardian ; J. G. Williams, Outside Guar- dian ; C. C. Romig, Warden ; C. H. Pond, Conductor ; C. Kinderman, R. Supporter N. G .; James Briggs, L. Supporter N. G.
The present officers of the lodge are:
C. D. Waidlich, N. G. ; Jacob Ramp, V. G .; J. W. Baker, Recording Secretary ; H. Snyder, Treasurer ; Robert Hood, Permanent Secretary ; D. R. Hemmick, Warden ; J. F. Johnson, Conductor ; Lewis Baker, Inside Guar- dian ; Zeno Wood, Outside Guardian ; Daniel Myers, R. Supporter N. G .; John Brand, L. Supporter N. G. ; Fred Schinbechtel, R. Supporter V. G .; David Baker, L. Supporter V. G.
The number of members at the present time is eighty. This lodge is the mother of the two flourishing lodges at Churubusco and Forest.
Upon the 29th day of January, 1856, A. C. Downey, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana, issued a dispensation to James Briggs and others, empowering them to work as a lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. They worked under this dispensation until the 27th day of May, 1856, when the Grand Lodge granted to them a charter under the name of Columbia City Lodge, No. 189, A., F. & A. M. The first officers were James Briggs, W. M .; William Larwill, S. W. ; John B. Firestone, J. W. ; James B. Edwards, T .; P. W. Hardesty, S .; Charles H. Pond, S. D .; Peter Simonson, J. D .; H. Rankin, T. J. W. Bradshaw and H. Duffin were also charter members. The present officers of this lodge are : William Carr, W. M .; Chauncey B. Mattoon, S. W .; M. Ireland, J. W .; Charles S. Edwards, T .; Charles H. Pond, S .; Thomas R. Marshall, S. D .; John M. Ireland, J. D. The membership at present consists of 101 members. The lodge is in a flourishing condition and occupies elegant quarters over the business room of William Meitzler.
Columbia City Chapter of Royal Arch Masons began its labors under a dispensation from Thomas Patterson, Grand High Priest of the State of Indiana, under date of May 11, 1865, to companions Charles H. Pond, H. P .; Henry Vanarsdoll, K .; and John A. Taupert, S .; and worked thereunder until May 24, 1866, when a charter was granted them from the Grand Chap- ter. The other officers in addition to the above were : I. B. McDonald, S. and R. A. C .; M. E. Click, C. of the Host ; J. H. Hutchinson, G. M. 3d V .; William Carr, G. M. 2d V .; H. H. Beeson, G. M. 1st V. and G .; Adam Zumbaugh, P. S.
122
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The present officers of the Chapter are as follows: Joseph W. Adair, H. P .; W. H. Liggett, K .; James Worden, S .; E. L. McLallen, P. S .; Will- iam Carr, C. of the H .; C. B. Mattoon, R. A. C .; Silas Deardorff, G. M. 3d V .; Joseph Clark, G. M. 2d V .; A. R. Clugston, G. M. 1st V .; C. H. Pond, S .; John Brand, T .; Joseph Yontz, G. Companions in good standing, forty-seven.
The Improved Order of Red Men was organized under a charter from the Great Council of Indiana, bearing date the 21st Sun of the Traveling Moon, G. S. D., 383, to be called Blue River Tribe No. 47, and to bear date as of the 4th Sun of the Hot Moon G. S. D. 383, which corresponds to the 4th day of June, 1874. Its charter members were William Wolff, Philip Anthes, Daniel Wagner, Fred Heitzfield, Fred Grund, John Wagner, A. L. Sandmyer, Jacob Hose, Jacob Steinfield, Nathan Kramer, Daniel Daniel, Simon Kraus, Adolph Schiffermyer, Martin Schnetzler, Leopold Daniel, Theodore Garty, Wil- liam Meiser, Herman Theile, Michael Slessman, I. B. McDonald and George Bechtold. The present officers of the tribe are : I. B. McDonald, S .; Adolph Shiffermyer, S. S .; John Shulthieis, J. S .; George Bechtold, C. of R .; Daniel Daniel, K. of W. The Tribe at present consist of twenty-two members and has its wigwam in the third story over W. H. Smith's drug store.
And thus, in an imperfect manner, I have gleaned from the rich harvest of the past a few sheaves that may, perhaps, furnish food for future contem- plation. I had not that leisure without which, Lord Macaulay says, no man should write history. By "the oldest inhabitant" it may be said, "I could have done better." Grant it. No man yet ever made so perfect his plans but that his fellow-men could improve on them. To him, and to all such, I say, "The field is open, and the public, which bade these lines be written, will, with equal cordiality, receive and acknowledge, for what it is worth, anything that may be penned upon the prehistoric era of Columbia Township." Close we, therefore, this sketch with the hope that peace may long prevail and pros- perity abide within the palaces of this people.
CHAPTER VI.
BY PROF. W. L. MATTHEWS.
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP-EARLY EVENTS-SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH-ANEC- DOTES-LAND ENTRIES-PRIVATIONS OF THE PIONEERS-STORIES OF THE CHASE-MILLS, FACTORIES, ETC., ETC .- VILLAGES-EARLY TEACHERS AND PREACHERS.
C' YLEVELAND TOWNSHIP, named in honor of Benjamin Cleveland, enjoys the honor of having been the site of the second white settlement of Whitley County. Its history carries us through many scenes of pioneer life to the present. The building of the log cabin, the moving of the family
123
CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP.
from the familiar scenes of its youth and civilization, to the then wilderness, the toils and hardships of the father and mother rearing their family with nought but their own hands to administer to all their wants, come with them a sympathy felt and realized by the present generation. Many years of toil and danger, forests fading away, fertile fields coming into existence as if by magic, comfortable homes instead of the log cabin, the schoolhouse, the church, and, in short, the various changing scenes from the wilderness to the metropolis, from barbarism to civilization, from uncertainty to success, all combine to make a history worthy of perusal by the present generation.
Cleveland Township, as was Whitley County, was originally a part of Huntington County, and was organized May 1, 1838, at the first session of the Board of County Commissioners, which was held at the house of Joseph Par- rett, Jr., near the present site of South Whitley, Springfield, and an election was ordered for Justice of the Peace ; subsequently, Henry Swihart and Aaron M. Collins were chosen. It was at one time a Congressional Township, but since its organization, a few sections have been added to it from Richland Township. It is now eight by six miles in area, and contains about 30,720 acres of land in a fair state of cultivation. The population in 1840, the first census, was about sixty-five, in 1880, the last census, it was 2,295. In 1838, at the first election, there were eight votes polled ; in August of the same year, there were twenty votes polled ; at the time mentioned, there were twenty-one polls ; the personal property was valued at $2,198, and the assessment for all purposes was $55.25; the taxables of Cleveland Township for the last year were $8,709.50, and 415 polls, which shows a decided gain and a great com- parison to those who survive the great change that time has wrought. Among the first settlers to whom honorable mention is due, is James Chaplin, who settled near Collamer (Millersburg) with his family in the fall of 1835; the farm is now known as the Joseph Myers farm. He built a rude log cabin near where a stately farm dwelling now stands, surrounded by all the comforts of modern civilization. Mr. Chaplin cut the first road from his humble cabin intersecting an Indian trail which led to Monoquet and Oswego on Turkey Prairie in Kosciusko, to which he made frequent pilgrimages in order to purchase meager supplies for his family. John Collins came in the latter part of the year 1835, and settled on the farm now owned by Isaiah Pence. Scarcely a tree had been felled; no roads, no bridges; wild game, together with a company of Indian hunters now and then, were about the only elements to disturb the mo- notony of the pioneer's home. His journey was a tedious one ; at night he slept in his wagon, while the horses, either hobbled or tied in order to prevent escape, grazed on the grass or browsed upon the trees around them. The cabin is built, the trees are felled, the ground is planted, the family is reared, and after a lifetime of toil and success, he passed to his rest. He left seven sons-Richard, who has served as County Clerk, Auditor, Recorder and in va- rious other positions, while Judge Collins is a lawyer of good ability, now prac-
124
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
ticing in Columbia City. Benjamin Cleveland and family came in 1836, set- tling two miles southeast of South Whitley ; his remains repose in the grave- yard which bears his name, and perhaps he was among the early dead to be deposited there, about the year 1845. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, sagacious, honest, frugal and industrious. About the same time came Samuel Obenchain, who settled near the Cleveland family ; Joseph Creager and Joseph Parrett, settling on the present site of South Whitley. Joseph Parrett was a man of great enterprise and business capacity ; he actively en- gaged in cutting out roads, building bridges, mills, holding religious meetings, and, in fact, was just such a man as pioneers love to welcome among them. David Cuppy, afterward County Clerk, John Arnold, noted for his enterprise, Dr. Edwards, Dr. Merriman, the Stewart family, the Myers family, the Pence family, the Miller family, the Butler family, the Swihart family, the Kinsey family and a few others came at an early day, and were among the first settlers of this vicinity, the majority of whom came between the years 1837 and 1844.
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.