USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 2
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14
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
wet for satisfactory cultivation, should adopt that system of drainage which will lower the level of stagnant water. This can be done by open side ditches. or, what is far better, by tile drains which run across the land. It may be said that all land should be under-drained. That wet lands should be so, needs no proof, nor does it require a mathematical demonstration to show that rolling land would be' benefited by the same treatment. It is clear that, in times of heavy rains, the rolling lands are washed of a large portion of their richest material ; and also, as the rain itself contains many necessary elements of fertility, if it be permitted to run off without having first passed through the soil, such elements are lost, or conveyed to the low lands. Here, then, are two causes which combine to impoverish the rolling lands. Judicious under- drainage will, in a large measure, prevent both. The following may be con- sidered a general summary of the benefits of drainage :
1. The surplus water which greatly damages the growth of crops is removed.
2. The depth of the soil increased, thus allowing the roots of plants to descend to greater and better depth for the necessary food, and beyond the action of continued droughts.
3. Air, containing vital elements of life for the plant, is admitted to the roots.
4. The soil is enabled to absorb fertilizing substances, from the lower depths of the ground, that otherwise could not be used.
5. The decayed vegetation in the soil, and the nitrogenous food absorbed from the air during a considerable time of fair weather, are prevented from being washed away by sudden freshets.
6. Such rainfalls are passed through the surface soil, which absorbs the ammonia, nitrogen, and other plant-foods contained therein.
7. The surplus water, after passing through the surface soil, is carried off rapidly through the drains, thus preventing the severe cooling process of the evaporation of such water, and rendering the soil warm and porous.
8. The warmth and moderate moisture promote the germination of seed.
9. The cheerless labor of replanting is avoided.
10. The packing and baking of the soil is prevented ; it is left open, porous and easily pulverized.
11. Winter crops are prevented from being frozen out.
12. The damages of long-continued wet weather are avoided.
13. The surface soil from its porosity can, in times of drought, absorb moisture from the air, and draw drafts of water from the lower depths of the ground, a most desirable state of affairs.
14. The uniformity and yield of crops are satisfactory.
15. The quality of crops is greatly improved.
16. Years of useless labor are saved and enjoyed.
15
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
17. The source of half the diseases incident to humanity is destroyed, and all the attendant blessings follow.
Perhaps the strongest reason for a thorough system of drainage, especially about dwellings, is the certain means thus adopted for the total avoidance of the various malarial disorders resulting from the poison spread broadcast in the atmosphere by large quantities of decaying vegetation. That many of the fevers, such as typhoid, typho-malarial, intermittent, remittent, bilious, ague, etc., with their attendants, neuralgia, pneumonia, bronchitis, diphtheria and consumption, are largely due to malarial poison, is no longer a question of doubt. Neither is it longer a matter of doubt that, in order to avoid these distressing disorders, the cause must be removed ; this can only be done by judicious drainage. While people generally understand that many of the dis- eases enumerated are due to a lack of proper drainage, the real magnitude of the cause and its intimate relation to health and happiness are not fully realized .. Families will continue to drink from wells that are the silt-basins of barn- yards or back-yards, implanting seeds in the blood of children that, in after- years, make their appearance in the full and sorrowful fruitage of permanent blood or epidermic disorders. Doctors, as a rule, are not employed to point out the cause of human ills ; they are required to correct the disorder in the sys- tem, and to strengthen human organisms to resist malarial influence. They would probably be regarded as jesters on the important subject of human life, were they to announce ostentatiously that the cause of family sickness was due to the proximity of some neighboring swamp, and then sit down, fold their hands and make no effort to remedy the evil. At least, such a remark would be regarded as extraneous, and would be dropped forthwith from the mind, while the services of the follower of Esculapius would be expected to be- directed to the immediate correction of the trouble ; and, if failure attended his efforts from the violence or permanence of the affliction, he would be- branded without compunction as an ignoramus and a quack. Thus the af- flicted in their inexcusable ignorance are led to believe that the lamentable results are due to a criminal lack of skill on the part of the family physician, whereas. the burden rests upon their own stupidity and mistaken judgment. It should always be born in mind that " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," or, in other words, " a stitch in time saves nine." People should study the laws relating to health. They should become familiar with the causes of human ills, and being thus forewarned and, therefore, forearmed, they could escape many hours of suffering and, perhaps, in the end, total family extinc- tion. It is impossible to detail all the splendid results of proper drainage. Every family should understand the relation between health and happiness and the conditions of climate, and natural surroundings. This can easily be done, as there thousands of books explaining the whole subject.
While Whitley County may be said to be quite a healthy locality gener- ally, still there is not a farm which could not be improved by drainage. Every-
16
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
where, throughout the warmer months, may be seen stagnant ponds and damp, heavy lowlands, from which emanate, under the heat of the sun, all the malarial ills. Although it may be regarded as a cold, fiendish cruelty to thus deprive physicians of their sources of employment, still, as man is a selfish being, caring apparantly much more for himself than for his fellows, they can hardly be authorized to require people to get sick for their amusement. However, in view of the fact that people are, to say the least, certainly careless of avoiding the results which common sense tells them will be sickness, they appear, to take an altogether different view of the matter. Hence the doctors, with their pills and poultices, continue to thrive and multiply, and people as usual con- tinue to squirm and agonize with baffling disorders. Of course the doctor is always to blame, and ought to be pulverized ! The severest lash of censure and criticism should be mercilessly used upon him, for is he not paid to cure, not kill ? Ah ! there is a serious-a criminal-fault somewhere. Seriously, there should be less curing and more preventing ; less medicine and malaria, and more decision and drainage.
It should be noticed here that as the southern part of the county is quite level, and contains a large percentage of decaying vegetation, malarial troubles are more prevalent there than in the central and northern portions, where the country is more rolling, and where a certain degree of necessary drainage is natural. This is the judgment of old and experienced physicians in the county. It is stated by them that, whereas, prior to some ten years ago, all the malarial disorders were alarmingly prevalent throughout the county (though perhaps cases of typhoid fever were less numerous than in surrounding coun - ties),* the general improvement in health, since about 1870, is nearly 50 per cent. Especially during the last few years has the public health undergone a marked amelioration. Why is this ? In 1869, the first noteworthy law was enacted by the State Legislature concerning the subject of drainage. For some reason the law proved largely inert, although about $10,000 was ex- pended in those localities where drainage was imperatively necessary. In 1875, another and a much better enactment came into effect. This law made it incumbent upon the County Commissioners to hear all petitions of the citizens for the location of ditches ; to weigh and accept or reject remonstrances or objections to the construction of such ditches; to appoint the necessary viewers and engineers; to assess the citizens unquestionably benefited along the route of the ditch in proportion to the advantage each received, and to audit all claims presented by those entitled to remuneration for services. The imperative requirements and expected advantages of this law have been realized in a marked degree within the last five years, although in 1881 an additional provision was enacted, whereby the jurisdiction of the County Commissioners, in matters of drainage, was curtailed, and the greater portion of their duties in this regard was transferred to the action of the Circuit Court. Whether,
*Dr. Linvill, Columbia City.
17
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
under the new order of things, the same results will be accomplished, remains for the future to reveal. When it is known that some ten petitions for ditches are now being favorably considered by this court, and that others will follow rapidly in their wake as the years proceed, those who have made the question of public health a matter of earnest solicitude will have no reason to feel dejected. The following unparalleled results have been accomplished since 1875 (about five and one-half years), although the figures must not be regarded as exact :
NAME OF DITCH.
Location.
Length in Feet.
Date of Construc'n.
Total Cost.
Sugar
Washington Township.
45200
1876
$4950
Richard's .
Washington Township ..
16600
1876
1200
Capp & Luicke's
Washington Township.
7700
1876
825
Humbarger's
Thorn Creek Township.
8400
1876
612
Taylor's
Jefferson Township ..
4930
1876
990
Krumbarger's
Washington Township ..
20740
1877
1050
Jeffrey's
Smith Township.
8600
1877
600
Mowrey's
Jefferson Township.
56827
1877
3440
Emerick's
Union and Jefferson Townships.
32726
1877
1374
Schonauer's
Jefferson Township
4100
1878
308
Pachniche's.
Columbia Township.
5600
1878
291
Lawrence's
Union and Columbia Townships ...
34200
1878
2373
Wade's
Smith and Thorn Creek Townships
18180
1878
1103
Sell's
Washington Township
33402
1879
2971
Funk's
Cleveland Township
10400
1879
1488
Long's
Washington Township.
10780
1879
707
Lehman & Decker's
Washington Township.
15445
1879
1007
Boggs & Hull's
Smith Township ..
16120
1879
1532
Huffman's
Washington Township.
33186
1879
2248
Winter's
Union Township.
11432
1880
1080
Smith's
Jefferson Township.
24875
1880
2022
Mossman's
Union Township.
8100
1880
572
Schrader's.
Union Township.
24267
1880
2153
Alexander's
Washington Township.
20904
1880
1968
Meredith's
Cleveland Township
8700
1880
401
Clark's
Union Township.
27474
1881
5609
Smith & Heneley's.
Columbia Township
15959
1881
1930
Ackley's
Smith Township.
16442
1881
3083
Maynard's ..
Richland Township.
13426
1881
1952
Jehu Clark's
Union Township.
16314
1881
1900
Miller's.
Smith Township
16600
1882
2000
S. H. Clark's
Union Township.
16860
1879
1585
Smith & Braden's
Jefferson Township.
19595
1880
1550
Stumpff & Huffman's.
Columbia Township ..
13426
1880
1726
The above making a total of 34 ditches, 8 townships, 627,420 feet or 118.83 miles, 6 years, time and a total cost of $58,610.
From this remarkable exhibit, it will be seen that within a period of about six years the enormous amount of nearly $60,000 has been expended in con- structing ditches, whose aggregate lengths exceed one hundred and eighteen miles. It is safe to say that within the next six or eight years as much more will be done. The people of the county have at last awakened from their Rip Van Winkle sleep, have rolled up their sleeves, and now mean business. It is no trouble for them to see the really excellent results, not merely of the increase in the value of lands, but also of the more important improvement in the public health. The vast decrease in malarial disorders in the county within
18
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
the last few years is undoubtedly mainly due to the extensive systems of drain- age adopted. Prior to 1870, and more particularly in early years, the malarial fevers raged with unabated fury, shaking whole families most pitilessly, carry- ing away to the silent graveyard the young and the old, and defying the utmost energy and skill of the pioneer physician. A removal of the cause is steadily accomplishing what the physicians could not. The removal of the forests, where large quantities of leaves and twigs were constantly decaying, and the cultivation of the soil where the heat and light of the sun have been permitted to destroy the malaria, have contributed largely to the improvement in health. From reasons appearing in this chapter, it will be seen that of the two systems of drainage-open ditch and underground ditch-the latter is far preferable. This has been recognized by the citizens of the county for many years, and the $60,000 spent for open ditches is only a portion of the amount spent for drain- age. The manufacture of tile was begun at quite an early day, but did not begin to assume excellent proportions until soon after the war. Then several good factories sprang into existence, but were unable to supply the demand, and others were started. Since about 1867, there has been a constantly increasing demand for tile, and mill after mill has been built, until at present some eleven or twelve are in the county, manufacturing in the aggregate about 45,000 rods of tiling annually. the greater portion of which finds a ready sale in the county. When the reader learns that some twenty-five miles of tiling are laid annually, and that this seems to be constantly increasing, it will be observed that the land owners know what they are about. They notice the great improvement in the land, and they also notice the excellent effects upon the general health. A number of brick kilns have started up to supply such work as is in their line. The quantity manufactured in the county annually could not, at this writing. be ascertained.
Whitley County has had good physicians-men who could go beyond the mere technical performance of their duties and trace results to their causes- men who could sweep out into the vast depths of consistent theory and skill- fully unite their ideas and their practices. In accordance with the wishes of the leading medical men of the county, who had often before favorably consid- ered the matter, an organization called the " Whitley County Medical Associa- tion," was effected during the spring of 1868, at which time the following well- known physicians became (so to speak) charter members: S. S. Austin, Martin Ireland, D. G. Linvill, A. P. Mitten, Mr. Pierce, W. H. Coyle, Mr. Kirkpat- rick, J. B. Firestone, Elijah Merriman, David Strouse, W. S. Ferguson and J. W. Miller. Dr. Stephen S. Austin was chosen President, Dr. A. P. Mitten, Secretary, and Dr. Martin Ireland, Treasurer. There was also appointed a board of three censors, Dr. D. G. Linvill being one of them. A constitution and by-laws was adopted, detailing the duties of the individual members, and outlining the results to be accomplished by the Association. The object was similar to that of all organizations of the kind. Theses on the theory and
WHITLEY COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
21
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
practice of medicine, written by the members in rotation, were to be read at every meeting. As far as possible, the examination of interesting clinics before the association was conducted. During the brief period of the existence of the association (about two years) there was so much sickness in the county that the members had but little spare time to devote to the requirements of their organization, and as a necessary result the proceedings became sickly, probably to correspond with the times, until at last the whole thing was abandoned. This was very unfortunate to the citizens of the county, as intelligent consul- tation among physicians on questions of health is sure to develop all the latest and best methods of practice. The association should be revived. Several physicians in the county are members of the American Medical Association. The following is as complete a list as could be obtained of medical practitioners who have lived in Columbia City, with approximate dates of their coming :
Francis L. McHugh, 1840 ; James B. Sincoke, 1842 ; J. T. Beebe, 1845 ; A. H. Tyler, 1846 ; Samuel Marshall, 1846; William W. Martin, 1848; Peter L. Cole, 1846; Francis A. Rogers, 1848 ; William M. Swayze, 1849 ; David G. Linvill, 1849; S. G. A. Reed, 1851 ; Doctor Myers, 1852; William Morris, 1852; Henry Gregg, 1853 ; Charles Kinderman, 1853; Joseph Harper, 1854 ; Doctor Knouse, 1854; J. B. Firestone, 1854; Martin Ireland, 1855; Dr. Parkey, 1856; Stephen Majors, 1856; James Z. Gower, 1856 ; James Toler- ton, 1860 ; A. L. Sandmire, 1863 ; William T. Ferguson, 1864 ; Henry Safford, 1864; Franklin McCoy, 1865; John Foster, 1865; C. C. Sutton, 1864 ; A. P. Mitten, 1867 ; William Weber, 1870; J. E. Lawrence, 1870; W. W. Walkup, 1872; D. M. Marshall, 1873; Charles S. Williams, 1873; N. I. Kechcart, 1876; John Maine, 1876, and C. L. Cass. 1880.
So much has been said in Part II of this volume regarding the geology of Northern Indiana, that but little more need be added. The entire county is deeply covered with what is known as "the drift." Owing to certain changes, made during long periods of years, in the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit, the poles are alternately locked in ice and intense cold, and, after the lapse of some 21,000 years, are again admitted to the heat and general effects of the sun. These facts are apparent for many reasons, one being the presence of vast coal beds in high latitudes, which could only have been formed under a tropical sun, and another being the presence in this lati- tude of the drift, which could only have come here from northern regions through the agency of melted ice moving southward as the polar region slowly became warmer. That all the surface of Northern Indiana, including Whitley County, is covered to the depth of from one hundred to two hundred feet with soil that has been transported here from Northern latitudes, is no longer doubted or questioned by geologists. Keeping in view what has been said above, the whole theory is that all this heavy surface of drift has been brought here from British America by glaciers and icebergs. While the north pole was turned farther away from the sun, it became bound in vast, icy chains ; then through
22
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
the centuries, as the pole slowly returned toward the sun, the ice of the vast northern glacier began to melt on its southern extremity, and was necessarily forced slowly and surely toward the south. Uplands and hills were planed off, and the shavings (so to speak-meaning the soil scraped off), were transported on their icy scrapers toward the south, until at last, the sun of lower latitudes having melted the ice, the load of the vast scraper was dropped upon the earth. Afterward, when the vast glacier had been broken into innumerable icebergs by the sun's heat, the enormous quantities of soil that had been previously dropped were ground down and made comparatively smooth, as these icebergs steadily and obediently moved southward. They also, no doubt, carried more or less soil with them from the north. The movements of these glaciers and icebergs were not always directly south, though they universally had a general southerly motion. The exact direction of their motion is readily told by "glacial markings " or stric. These are scratchings, and other marks, made by the ice on beds of stone, etc., the directions of the marks being the same as the motion of the ice. This was, of course, thousands of years ago-long prior to the present approved chronology of the antiquity of " Fossil Man." Since then, either the waters have receded, or the land has arisen, or both, and the country we now occupy has, for scores of centuries, been above the surface of the sea, subject to the action of the elements. The difference between the sur- face soil and that down at a depth of a yard or more is due to the disintegrat- ing action of freezing and thawing, rain and shine, through successive centuries. Beside this, the surface soil has been largely mingled with many and minute forms of decaying vegetation.
It must be borne in mind that directly underfoot, just beneath the great mass of drift, are large beds of excellent limestone, and, possibly, sandstone. It is tantalizing to think that within 200 feet of the surface is an abundance of fine and durable building stone, as free as water. yet practically so distant that the effort to reach it is not made. Geologists, who have studied the soil of Northern Indiana, are of the opinion that just underneath the drift are the large beds of Niagara limestone. Scattered throughout the drift in varying quanti- ties is an abundance of granite bowlders ; these, with a few exceptions, furnish the only native available building stone. The bowlders are much used; though, if anything extra in the way of stone is wanted, it is shipped in from abroad. In Thorn Creek Township, quite a quantity of limestone bowlders were un- earthed a number of years ago, but not in paying quantities. Sandstone has been found in Troy and Etna. Peat-beds are found in almost every township. Bog iron ore is also found in considerable quantity in nearly all the larger tracts of low, wet land. Union Township has several excellent beds, as have Columbia, Thorn Creek, Troy, Richland, and, perhaps, others. However, it is not at all probable that the time will come when it will be profitable to work up this ore ; the following table will show in an imperfect way the native prod- ucts of some of the townships :
23
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
PRODUCTS.
Troy.
Etna.
Thorn Creek.
Cleveland.
Richland.
Columbia.
Union.
Smith.
Total.
Cubic feet of sandstone, 1881.
435
30
1
.....
...
..
466
Cubic feet of limestone, 1881.
...
123
123
Bushels of cranberries, 1870 ..
21
9
69
4
5
38
10
16
172
Acres of cranberries. 1880
2
18
20
It is certain that if Whitley would gather all her cranberries and report them to the Assessor, there would be found annually not less than eight hundred bushels of this excellent berry. There are not far from one hundred acres of cranberry swamp in the county. The supply from each acre, on the average, is much smaller, owing largely to the drainage of the marshes. This will con- tinue until cranberries will no longer grow. They will fade away like the In- dian race.
In the month of May, 1856, in pursuance of public notice posted and pub- lished through the county, a large meeting of the public-minded and personally interested was held at the court house for the purpose of effecting the organiza- tion of a county agricultural society .* For several years previous to this event, the more prominent and intelligent men throughout the county had often in- dulged in speculations regarding the propriety of the formation of such a soci- ety. It was thus ascertained and mutually agreed, that the advantages to the material prosperity and wealth of the county demanded a speedy organization of a society that should have for its object the manifest improvement of all those vital pursuits in which the citizens of the county were so materially interested. The conclusion reached was that an agricultural society should be immediately organized. At that day Whitley County had not that development of native resources so perceptible at present. Large portions of its lands were unculti- vated. or, at best, scarcely out of that deplorable condition so familiar in newly settled localities. Yet its farmers at that time were generally aware of the ne- cessity and advantage of keeping pace with all improved methods or systems of cultivating the soil or rearing stock. The advantages resulting from learned consultation on all questions touching the management of farms, were plainly apparent to all the more intelligent citizens. These and other important con- siderations led to the formation, as above stated, of the "Whitley County Ag- ricultural Society." Early in the meeting, it was decided that the payment of $1, by any citizen, into the treasury, should constitute membership. This was done by about one hundred prominent men in all parts of the county ; and the society then began electing its officers, appointing its Directors (one from each township), and drafting and adopting its constitution and by-laws. James L. Collins became President, and Isaiah B. McDonald, Secretary. The names of the other officers and of the Directors cannot be recalled. At this meeting, or soon afterward, it was announced that a fair would be held in Columbia City
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