Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 16

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 16
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 16

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).

The first saw-mill was built by Charles Swindell, and stood east of the village, near Sterling's brick house. It was burned during the war. H. C. and D. Van Liew afterward built a fine mill where Robinson's now stands, add- ing planers and much other machinery, and doing a heavy business for several years ; it, too, was burned and was succeeded by the mill now owned by Rob- inson & Co.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1854, and stood south of the Methodist parsonage; it still stands and is converted into a dwelling. The second was a more pretentious and roomy affair, in the northeast corner of the town, but it was so ill planned and badly constructed that it did not live out half its days as a schoolhouse, and has been condemned, though not yet executed. In 1876, the citizens determined to have good and suitable school facilities, and the present grounds were purchased and handsome school buildings erected under the Trusteeship of Thomas Stradly, Esq. The schools are graded, good teachers are selected, and educational interests are fostered by a public spirit among the people that will admit of no nonsense when school interests are at stake.

The earliest church edifice in the village was that of the United Brethren. It stood where now stands the Wesleyan Chapel. The United Brethren's Church was built in 1858, and Jerry Welker and B. B. Salmon were foremost in the work. The house was poorly built and the congregation poorly preached to, and both society and building gradually faded away.

To write the history of almost any Methodist Church hereabouts is to write a history of the section where it is established. From the earliest settle- ment to the present time of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Larwill, the following brief summary of facts must suffice : Previous to 1848, itinerant preachers, at more or less irregular intervals, kept alive the vital spark. The members met from house to house, most frequently at Edwin Cone's and John Buck's. The first class was formed, in 1839, in Edwin Cone's log cabin. The pioneers of the church and its first members were John Buck, Class Leader; Edwin Cone and wife, David Hayden and wife, William Guy and wife, John Erwin and wife, John Burns and wife. Edwin Cone was local preacher-"An Israelite indeed in whom there was no guile." The itinerant preachers, at the formation of the class in 1839, were Revs. Ackerman and Owen. Their visits were few and far between ; the circuit was very large. Succeeding them, Lemon and Young, Green and Anthony, Holstock and Miller, Speer and

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HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.

Davis, Jesse Sparks, Barnhart. By 1848, the class had become too large to meet in the narrow cabins of the pioneers. They took title from Alex Mc- Nagny of the site of the "old log schoolhouse," by their trustees, David Hayden, Andrew Dodge and John Burns, who, aided by William Mitchell, a carpenter, built a frame meeting-house, 26x34, ten feet in the clear. The Revs. Barnhart and Metz held meetings in it, and great success followed, and the society prospered and grew strong. Following those preachers came Sny- der and Cooper; Streight and Armstrong; Bradshaw and Rupeley; Payton and Payton ; C. W. Miller ; J. H. McMahon ; E. M. Baker, three years and built the parsonage at Larwill ; H. J. Lacy, three years; R. J. Smith, three years, who commenced the new brick church at Larwill in 1866, completed during the first year of E. P. Church's term, at a cost of about $9,000, and procured for it a bell, which they still take pride in saying is the best bell in the county. John Burns, Abner Prugh, C. W. Hayden, Dr. Kirkpatrick and E. L. Mc- Lallen were the building committee. The edifice is 42x60, twenty feet in the clear, with basement. The old Summit Church was sold to J. J. Alms, who removed it to Lot 1, Block 10, McLallen street, Larwill, where it is now doing duty as a carpenter shop. Following were the E. P. Church, Pastors : J. H. Slade, two years; S. J. McElwee, three years; James Greer, three years ; I. J. Smith, one and a half years, when differences grew up and a part of the members withdrew and formed the "Wesleyan Church," the parent society, however, still flourishing and building up. Pastor W. H. Smith came and stayed two years. Pastor R. Reed is now the second year in charge. The Trustees now are Abner Prugh, Dr. Kirkpatrick, John Burns, Jacob Sapping- ton, H. B. Whittenberger ; Stewards, H. B. Whittenberger, E. S. Johns and Emily Thomson ; Class Leaders, O. C. Adams, Thomas Davis. Membership, about eighty; probationers, seventeen. Space will not permit more detail, else much more might be said.

The Baptist society organized first in 1855, with a membership of fifteen, under the ministrations of Elder McLeod. Their place of meeting was the old First Schoolhouse. After 1860, it languished and became dormant, and was re-organized in April, 1880, under the pastoral charge of Rev. D. W. Sanders, with A. F. Martin and wife, Henry Bailey and wife, Fielding Barnes and wife, Mrs. D. B. Clugston, Mrs. Mary Barney, Rev. Sanders and wife, members. In 1881, they built their neat little brick church, at a cost of $2,500, and are prospering fairly well. Elder Sanders, Pastor ; membership now about twenty-five. Failing to receive any information from persons ap- plied to, makes this account meager and scanty, but it is believed to be cor- rect as far as it goes.

The Presbyterian society was organized and flourished for several years, under Rev. Mr. Harker and others. It has, however, for several years been dormant.

The Wesleyan Church society is young here. It originated a few years

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ago, in consequence of differences of opinion in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The seceders organized and have a neat wooden church, costing about $1,500, and seem to be prospering fairly well under the pastoral charge of Rev. M. Hutchins.

Rev. John Brukert is pastor of the young Albright society. It has not yet attained the dignity of a church edifice, but meets at the houses of its members, and is believed to have elements of success in its general make-up.

Due Guard Lodge, No. 278, A., F. & A. Masons, was organized under dispensation, July 2, 1861; charter granted May 27, 1862; organized under charter June 7, 1862; by-laws approved by Grand Lodge May 29, 1872. The charter members were John B. Firestone, E. L. McLallen, A. M. Trum- bull, J. Cunningham, J. J. Shorb, William Thompson, Jacob W. Miller, David James, Virgil Barber, E. L. Barber, H. C. Van Liew, G. F. Miller, John Q. Adams, and the first officers under charter were John B. Firestone, W. M .; E. L. McLallen, S. W .; A. M. Trumbull, J. W .; D. B. Clugston, Treasurer; H. C. Van Liew, Secretary; Virgil Barber, S. D .; J. G. Miller, J. D .; E. L. Barber and J. Cunningham, Stewards; John Maynard, Tiler. Officers in 1882: E. L. McLallen, W. M .; W. S. Barber, S. W .; A. L. Compton, J. W .; W. N. Andrews, Treasurer ; George F. Miller, Secretary ; Henry Souder, S. D .; George James, J. D. ; E. S. Johns, S. S .; Leander Lower, J. S .; John Smalley, Tiler. Trustees, 1882: L. B. Snyder, J. B. Firestone, W. S. Barber, D. B. Clugston, E. L. Barber. The lodge owns the premises where it meets, has them handsomely furnished and has money in its treasury. Including thirteen charter members, it has had upon its roll of membership 150 members, of whom 120 were made Masons within its walls and seventeen were admitted upon dimit from other lodges. Of these 150, eighty-four are now members, fifty have dimitted and gone to other places and other lodges, seven have died, eight have been suspended, one has been expelled, and of those who have dimitted six have since died. It is no flattery to say that its membership comprises a large number of the best men in the community. The body is prosperous, harmo- nious and an element of usefulness in the community.

In the absence of data asked for and not forthcoming, only a very general account can be given of Larwill Lodge, No. 238, I. O. O. F. It was organized between 1860 and 1865, and has apparently prospered. It owns its own lodge room, which is comfortably furnished, and has a membership of thirty or forty, and is said to be in a prosperous condition at this time. It is to be regretted that the facts and dates upon which to give a fuller account were not at hand.

From the first, there was confusion because the names of town and post office were different, and there being a Huntsville Post Office in the State, the office could not take the name of the town. The evil was borne until the increasing traffic made it unbearable. The citizens began to canvass for a change in 1866, and two names were selected, of which Larwill seemed to be first and Halder- man second choice. They accordingly petitioned the Commissioners to change

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HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.

the name to Larwill. The board promptly granted the petition, and the same was officially promulgated March 8, 1866. See" Commissioners' Record D, page 89. The railroad authorities, on notice, promptly changed the name of the station to conform, and a petition to the Post Office Department, setting forth the above facts, produced a like result.

The name selected is the family name of two of the resident engineers, Will- iam and Joseph H. Larwill, who had charge, during the construction of the Pitts- burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, of a division extending from Colum- bia City to Warsaw, and who had done much to promote the interests of the place. William is a prominent railroad man in Ohio, and Joseph H., having graduated in the finest mining schools of the Old World, became a practical assayer and located in Montana, where he is believed to be highly pros- perous.

Previous to 1868, the denizens of the village of Larwill were living on each side of the line between Richland and Troy Townships, Main street being the old township line, the voters on the one side had to go nearly four miles south, and on the other side nearly four miles northeast to reach the spot where the ballot-boxing was periodically done. This became very irksome, indeed, as the town increased, and some of them resolved to wait no longer. They petitioned the County Commissioners for a voting precinct; the Commission- ers' Court granted the prayer by annexing two miles off the south side of the township to Cleveland, and annexing a like two miles off the south side of Troy to Richland, and making Larwill the voting place for Richland Township. This action was taken December 11, 1868. For full account see Commissioners' Rec- ord D, page 384, in Auditor's office, Whitley County.

The village has always been noted as a first-rate business place, attract- ing and holding a large amount of general trade, and its lumber market has been the leading one in the county. As a grain market, it has stood at the front. Enterprise and vim have marked the character of its business men, and substantial success has been their reward. No mercantile failure has ever oc- curred among them. Its young men have gone forth east, west, north and south, to wage the battle of life, and success has followed them. Its social life is refined, and to build up instead of tear down seems to be the theory of its citizens.

Lorain lies in part in Richland, and has had quite a struggle to maintain itself. In early days, Chauncey Blanchard gave it the nickname of " Buzzard's Glory," which was enough to damn any town; however, it still survives as a pretty good cross-road town. Gruesbeck is now carrying on a very good gen- eral mercantile business there; Grant's Mill, one of the earliest steam saw- mills, was located there, and James" Grant, one of the old stand-bys of this county, has been store-keeper, Postmaster, saw-mill man, farmer and Justice of the Peace. A long and useful life he has spent there, and is not yet past the verge of active life.

Buildah . L. Richard WASHINGTON TP.

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RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

One mile west of Larwill, where the Huntington & Goshen road intersects the Fort Wayne & Warsaw road, once stood Summit-

"How often have I loitered o'er thy green, Where humble happiness endeared each scene ; How often have I paused on every charm, The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm ; Sunk are thy bowers, in shapeless ruin all, And long grass o'ertops the moldering wall-"

with stores, groceries, smith-shops, doctor's offices, churches, schools and all the nuclei of a young Western city. Now, scarcely one stone stands upon another to mark the spot. Here was built, in the spring of 1840, the first schoolhouse in the township, probably in the county, located on the northwest corner of A. S. McNagny's farm, of round logs, puncheon floor, clapboard roof, unhewn joists overhead, and a loose covering over them. Zillah Adams, since Mrs. Tinkham, and now Mrs. Davis, taught the first school.

Henry Smith, who built the first saw-mill (a water-mill on Spring Creek, on Mrs. Howard's farm, between Columbia and Larwill), and who was after- ward County Commissioner, was one of the early and favorite teachers, and he it was who flogged the writer most " sacrilegiously," and, worse than all, died before the aforesaid writer got big enough to whale him. Peace to his ashes. Here, in 1849, on the site of the schoolhouse above mentioned, was built the first church in the township-the M. E. Church. This edifice was a frame one, 26x34 ; the style of architecture was primitive and partaking somewhat of the " out-doric" order ; but well it served its purpose for preachment, prayer and praise, and Sunday school purposes. Here was established in 1847, the first post office in the township, with Alex S. McNagny as Postmaster ; commission dated March 10, 1847. John Erwin, an old settler, who used to own the Klinehance farm north of William Guy, was the contractor, and his son Andrew, was mail-car- rier. We were happy ; we had a mail once a week each way. Andrew took it through on horseback ; he is a brother of James Erwin, of Union Township; now lives in Iowa. Previous to this time, the citizens had always gone to Colum- bia for mail accommodations, from eight to twelve miles. Here, on the southwest corner of the X-roads, was the first store in the township, built and stocked in 1850 by John and Alonzo Rodebaugh, father and son, and who did a very good business. John Rodebaugh passed away in 1852, and Alonzo having since be- come Dr. A. Rodebaugh, who was a prosperous physician at Indian Village, Noble County, drowned himself while insane, April 17, 1882. Here Chittenden and others had blacksmith-shops, followed in the same line by the famous T. L. O'Brien. "Alas, poor Tom, I knew him well ; he was a fellow of infinite ca- pacity for absorbing whisky," and, like most dissipated men in the trades and professions had the reputation of being a tip-topper in his line of business, if only he wouldn't drink. Here it was that " Old Mies," built a hotel, and kept it for awhile, after the manner often alluded to by the boys. Here Dr.

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HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.

Wiggins for awhile abode, and "practiced medicine on the people." Here, away back in the early days, and annually thereafter, Uncle Add Steele, " a prince among his equals," would raise a liberty-pole on Fourth of July morn- ing ; the place was the hill west of Boyce's house. A plentiful supply of the " O-be-joyful " was dispensed, and the occasion had strong attractions, and was memorable. Alas ! patriotism and love of country are nearly extinct in our day. Uncle Add's liberty-poles were always hickory.

Here, in 1853, Joshua Carder and Jacob Phillips built the first steam saw-mill in the township, and what a field of operation was theirs. For scores of miles on every side the stately trunks of black walnut, poplar, ash, oak, etc., had been, for hundreds of years, maturing in the frost and in the sunshine, and competition was not. It was what they called a "muley" saw, that is, it ran up and down in a frame and made more noise than a dozen modern mills. W. J. Carder succeeded to the business, and, by bad management and lack of busi- ness training, suffered opportunities to make fortunes to slip away, and finally went to Iowa under a cloud, and the mill has long since been removed. Of W. J. Carder a story is told, that one morning, passing a neighbor's, on his way to Pierceton, he saw a young lad at work in the garden. Said garden was over- supplied with vigorous burdock plants. Intending to be facetious, W. J. rec- ommended the lad to hoe his pie plants. The boy took him literally, and told his fellows, confidentially, that "Wes Carder is a d-d fool. He don't know burdock from pie plant."

On the northwest corner of the cross-roads, a spring of pure water bubbled forth. Uncle Abe Stoler inserted a sycamore gum for curbing, and this served to supply a generation of lads and lasses, as well as men and beasts, with good pure water. The spring has disappeared from the face of the earth; the dry, dusty road passes over the spot, fit memento of the shifting, changing life we bear.

Alexander S. McNagny and Abram Stoler, the owners of the town site, still survive. Both are highly regarded by all who know them, are passing their declining years in peace and prosperity on the farms they reclaimed from the forest. A. S. McNagny came to the township in 1844; bought out John Jones; was first Postmaster in township-1847 to 1854; was Township Trustee two terms; greatly devoted to home and its enjoyments, with a fund of dry humor; hospitable and cheerful. Long may he remain among us.

When the railroad was built and the station located at Larwill, the post office transferred there and improvements were made, the new center became more attractive, and "Ichabod" was inscribed above the door of Summit's aspiring greatness. During the struggle for the station, feeling ran high and much strife was generated; raw heads and bloody bones were not infrequent. No Summitite young lady would accept the escort of a detested Huntsvillian and vice versa. But Time, with healing on his wings, has long smoothed over those differences, and the best of relations now exist between the denizens of Sum-

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mit and those of Huntsville, now Larwill, and during the year 1880 the plat of Summit was formally vacated.

It is not creditable to Richland Township nor to Whitley County that after nearly twenty years have elapsed since the close of the greatest war of this century, if not in the world's history, and in which many hundreds of their citizens participated, no correct and reliable list or record of such volunteers has been made or kept, or even attempted. The admirable report of the Ad- jutant General for the State of Indiana is very complete, considering the vastness of the field it covers, but it is necessarily faulty and incomplete. Large numbers of men are there recorded without any indication of where they enlisted from ; hundreds of organizations of infantry, cavalry and artillery are there accounted for, and more than 250,000 men accounted for, but a large number are not distinguishable as to place of enlistment; 5,000 pages of closely printed sta- tistical matter in eight large volumes is the only record the enquirer can go to, else he must depend upon the fallible recollection of people in the com- munity. Bearing the above facts in mind, it is hoped that the following list (which is known to be very incomplete) of Richland boys who enlisted in their country's service will not provoke too severe criticism. Acknowledgments are due to Aaron Compton, G. W. Prugh, D. L. Whiteleather and A. H. King for assistance in making this list.

Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers-Anthony Seymour, John Rice, Isaac Kimes, Homer N. King, N. P. Guffy, Joseph H. Nelson, David Kimes.

Twenty-Ninth Indiana Volunteers-Jeremiah Welker.

Thirty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers-Charles Compton, Charles Seymour, Brayton Ricard, Walter Ricard, Joseph Parrett, Wesley Parrett, Solomon Payne, Carter Hendricks.

Forty-Fourth Indiana Volunteers-S. J. Compton, J. W. Compton, I. N. Compton, Alonzo King, James Samuels, J. W. Briggs, Henry Croy, George W. Webster, Barret Ricard, J. P. Anderson, George W. Holloway, Henry Rupely, Amos Rhodarmel, George S. Cowgil, James Cowgil, Martin V. Hatheway, W. R. Holloway, Nelson Parrett, Jacob Shoff, Randolph Dimick, William A. Prugh, William Holderbaum, Jacob Ream, William Gobal, Ralph Goodrich, Peter Huffman, Amos Bechtel.

Seventy-Fourth Indiana Volunteers-Henry Bishop, William Beard.

Eighty-Eighth Indiana Volunteers-William Croy, Seymour Whitman, Alexander Bayman, Asher D. Hathaway, David Gillis, Jonathan Roberts, A. Nichols, G. W. Holderbaum, G. W. Prugh, Elijah Sears, Orange L. Jones, Stephen Donley, Archibald Carder, Andrew Cunningham, O. H. Alley, William Marshall, Hiram Harpster, Eli Pletcher, Alexander Randall, Frank Simpkins.

One Hundredth Indiana Volunteers-David L. Whiteleather, Jacob Stoler, William Sterling, C. L. Heaton, Charles Swindell, James Cleland, Henry Mack, H. R. Kistler.

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HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.

One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Indiana Volunteers-James Garner, Edward Busby, Seth T. Hunt, Alfred Curtis, Samuel Curtis, Jacob Crumb, Horace Hammontree, John R. Buntain, David Clinger, Adam Kerns, Samuel Kerns.

One Hundred and Thirty-Ninth Indiana Volunteers-Chester Salmon, David C. Stillwell.

One Hundred and Forty-Second Indiana Volunteers-Warren W. Martin, Samuel Parish, Jacob Essinger, Elisha K. Cady, Warren Rollins, J. B. Jones, Joseph Klingaman, William Klingaman, William Banning, W. L. Lambert- son, George D. Trembly.

One Hundred and Fifty-Second Indiana Volunteers-Henry Norris, B. F. Seymour, I. N. Pritchard, Leander Smith, S. P. Cullamore, James Harsh- man, Thomas Nichols, Milton Bayman, John Craig, James Crumb, Samuel Crumb, Jacob Fox, John H. Mann.

Fifth Indiana Battery-John Welker, Michael Alms, Squire Mack, W. J. Rollins.

Eleventh Indiana Battery-Henry W. Caldwell. James Webster.

Twelfth Indiana Cavalry-S. D. Hathaway, James M. Kerr, R. J. Parret, Allen Sears.

Regiment Unknown-Solomon Garringer, Henry Wager, John Beard, Harvey Beard, Thomas A. Steele, Appleton W. Cone. In all, 126.

Among the early settlers was Ezra Thomson, who was born at Peru, Berk- shire County, Mass., 1786 ; his wife was Sarah McNaughton, born at West Pawlet, Rutland County, Vt., 1796. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson came to Rich- land from Washington County, N. Y., and located on the old Thomson homestead, Section 9, October, 1836. Mr. Thomson was a quiet, unassuming man, fond of social converse, and became quite deaf in his later days. Mrs. Thomson was a very bright, intelligent woman, high-spirited, and the dearth of social life, and the absence of school facilities for her children was a great cross to her. Of their children, there are now living Mrs. Phebe Cleveland, Mrs. Alma Rambo, B. F. Thomson, Mrs. Elmira Arnold, Mrs. Sarah Arnold, Electa Thomson, Augusta Wallace and Finley Thomson. Ezra Thomson died in July, 1857, aged seventy-one years. Mrs. Thomson died in June, 1854, aged fifty-eight years. They lie in the home burial-lot near the scene of their cares and joys in the early settlement of this township.

William Norris was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, May 3, 1797 ; thence removed to Coshocton County, Ohio; came to Richland Township Sep- tember 13, 1843. His wife's maiden name was Margaret McCoy, and was born in the same place. Mr. Norris died at the age of seventy-five on the 16th of June, 1872. The children of these, living, are Marcus, Susan, Mar- tha, Henry, William J., Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret Ann. Hospitable, just, God-fearing, a good neighbor, a good citizen, his works do follow him. His ashes rest in the cemetery at Richland Center.

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RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

Nathan Chapman was born March 28, 1804, at Hebron, Washington County, N. Y. He was married to Miss Laura A. Spencer, sister of M. F. Spencer, of Troy Township; lived for awhile in Seneca County, Ohio; came to Richland in 1838, July 3; died February 7, 1876; buried in Masonic cem- etery, Columbia City. Mrs. Chapman was born at Owasco, Cayuga County, N. Y., March 25, 1812, and survives him. The children of these are W. H. Chapman and Mrs. Permelia Hart. Mr. Chapman was a wide-awake, intelli- gent man, enterprising and useful in the community ; one of the first men to begin merchandising, and kept up enterprises of that kind until old age forbade it. He kept a store at Fairview, a forgotten city near Ryerson's, in Kosciusko County, long before the railroad was built; was always active in local affairs, particularly roads, and had several severe contests to get them as he thought they ought to be. There was said to be a certain beech tree at which all the roads in which he was interested began or terminated.

Bela Goodrich was born in February, 1776 ; settled in Delaware County, Ohio: then came to Richland Township, June 16, 1838. Mrs. Goodrich's maiden name was Sally Church. The children of these living are Price, Abi- gail and Eunice. A modest, unpretending man, who loved peace and sought the duty of the hour to perform; a soldier of the war of 1812. His ashes repose in the cemetery near Levi Adams.'

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 16

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ; Number of Pages: 962

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962