Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 64

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 64
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 64

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As stated elsewhere in this volume, the county seat was located at Albion, in 1846. Much of the land there had been entered by speculators, or after- ward purchased by them, as it was naturally supposed that the county seat would not be far removed from the center of the county. As soon as the cen- ter was selected by the Commissioners appointed to locate the county seat, some important changes were made in the ownership of the land ; and the center, which had previously been a wilderness, was visited by the curious and the speculative. Albion was laid out in November, 1846, by Samuel Hanna, William F. Engle, John L. White (by H. H. Hitchcock, his agent), Warren Chaffee and James L. Worden, County Agent. The land laid out on Sections 13 and 24, York Township, was owned by Samuel Hanna, William F. Engle, and John L White, each of whom owned an undivided one-third interest. Mr. Chaffee owned the land on Section 18, Jefferson Township, and Henry Harvey that on Section 19, same township. A portion of the town was at first laid out on Mr. Harvey's land, but he died about the time the work was in progress, and, owing to the unsettled condition of his estate, that portion of the village

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

plat had to be vacated, and the street which had been projected from the west across the line on his land, was located several rods north to meet the street on the Jefferson side. His land was thus avoided. There was a difference of nearly three rods from where the Jefferson center line met the boundary be- tween the townships Jefferson and York and where the center line of the latter met the same boundary, the former point being north of the latter. This was why the western street was thrown north to meet the eastern Jefferson street. The village plat, then, as corrected, shows fifty lots laid out on Mr. Chaffee's land, and eighty-two lots and the court house square on the west side of the township line, on both Sections 13 and 24. The additions have been Harvey's, Prentiss', Denny's, Black's, Stewart's, Kimmel's, Bowen's, Sallady's, Baker's, Acus', Seneca, Tiffin, Harkins', Clark's, and one or two others.

Not far from the same time, in about February, 1847, two dwellings were built, one by Mrs. Washburn, and the other by Isaac Swarthout. These were probably the first. During the same year (1847), the following citizens, among others, probably located at the center, or Albion : Mr. Reynolds, William F. Engle, who built the American House (the present Worden House); David Monroe, who built quite a large structure in which to board the workmen who were employed on the court house; Judge Worden, who built where Dr. Lem- on now resides; H. H. Hitchcock, who built the Franks House; Dr. Will- iam Clark, Dr. Harkins, James Gillespie and Joshua Wade, a shoemaker. It is said that the Monroe boarding-house was owned by Ephraim Walters. Mrs. Washburn also kept boarders. During the summer and fall of 1847 there was a great rush into Albion, and a great demand was thus created for houses. There also came in, probably prior to January 1, 1848, Henry Bowman, Dan- iel Bowman, Erastus Spencer, William M. Clapp, Simeon Gillespie, Elijah Wright, Henry Barkelew, John McMeans, Jeremiah Low, Mr. Graden, and perhaps others. At the last-mentioned date, there were living in Albion at least seventy persons. In 1850, the population had reached about 250. County officers and lawyers appeared, and the court brought many strangers to the village.

It has been said that the proprietors of Albion gave every third lot to the county in consideration of having the county seat located there. This, it is said, was why James L. Worden, as County Agent, was interested in the laying- out of Albion. The growth of the new county seat was at first very rapid until a population of about 350 was reached, after which period improvements took place only as the surrounding country became more populous. During the summer of 1847, S. T. Clymer, sub-contractor of the court house, brought a few hundred dollars' worth of a general assortment of goods to the village. This was the first stock offered for sale in Albion. Two or three years later, he was succeeded by Dutton & Clymer, and they, in turn, by Clymer & Miller. Spencer & Barkelew, merchants, appeared about this time; also Clapp & Hitchcock. Since that time the following, among others, have been in busi-

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TOWN OF ALBION.

ness in Albion : Dry goods-Day & Culp, Clark & Bronson, Black & Zimmer- man, Owen Black, Black & Son, Phillips & Walters, Black & Foster, Black & Son, Love & Black, J. D. Black, Black Brothers at present, Prentiss & Cosper (about 1861), Nelson Prentiss, Prentiss & Trump, Prentiss, Trump & Mc- Means, Trump & McMeans, Prentiss & Landon, W. M. Clapp, Clapp & Phil- lips, Clapp, Phillips & White, Phillips & White, C. B. Phillips, Moltz & Bayer, D. E. A. Spencer, Charles Moltz, Worden & Son, grocers ; Adams, Palmer & Co., at present; Markey & Walters, Frank Clapp, at present ; Hamlin & Jourdan, grocers ; Moltz & Hadley, S. J. Hadley, Adam Kimmel, Sloan & Tidball, W. K. Knox, agricultural implements ; F. Buetner, clothing ; druggists, Norman & George Teal, Henry Stoney, Alfred Stoney, Leonard & Denny, Dr. Cox, Barnet & Dunshee, Dunshee & Leonard, Leonard & Skinner, Skinner & Mendenhall, Mendenhall & White, Gray & Spencer, F. D. Spencer, Hamlin & Skinner and R. L. Stone, the last two at present. The Kimmels were in with hardware at an early day. Of course Albion has been represented from the first by the usual number of mechanics, artisans, profes- sional and business men and numerous miscellaneous shops and pursuits.

George Powers, at quite an early day, began manufacturing shingles on a small scale. Jacob Bruner opened a cabinet shop as early as 1850. Various specimens of his workmanship may yet be seen in private dwellings in Albion. Elmer Dakan erected a shop in about 1854, and began making wagons. A few years later, Alpheus Jacquays undertook the same pursuit. John McMeans began a general pottery business in 1855, coming from Port Mitchel, where he had followed the same occupation. He continued the business in Albion nearly three years, turning out milk crocks, jugs, pots, pitchers, etc., but the enter- prise proved unprofitable, as no suitable clay could be found near the village. Mr. McMeans and Owen Black burned brick in an early day. Elijah Wright burned brick in Albion in 1848. George Harvey burned the brick for the court house-the one standing at this writing. Mr. Reynolds, in about 1848 or 1849, built a hotel on the south side, where he sold liquor. In about 1851, Joshua Wade erected a hotel on the southeast corner, where the hardware store is now standing. In June, 1867, Singrey & Hass opened a sash, blind and door factory. Some time afterward. Mr. Hass was killed by being caught in the machinery in some manner. His head was hor- ribly crushed, leaving his brain exposed, and permitting a portion to escape. Some time after this sad event, Mr. Eby became the partner of Mr. Singrey. Michael Beck began manufacturing wagons in 1860, and once in awhile turned out a buggy. In 1864, J. E. Huffman became his partner, and after this the business was greatly increased, continuing until about 1872. They manufact- ured as high as forty vehicles in one year. This was one of the most extensive enterprises ever in Albion. In 1876, William Dressel, of Tiffin, Ohio, erected a large brick building, intending it for a sash and door factory ; but his peculiar and untimely death caused the enterprise to collapse at the time of its incep-

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

tion. The building cost about $4,000, and is standing unoccupied. In 1862, Owen Black erected the grist-mill now running in the northern part of town. The building was immediately rented to Fisher Brothers, who placed therein three sets of buhrs, and the other necessary machinery for grinding all kinds of grain. This mill has had a peculiar history. It has been sold and repurchased three times by Mr. Black. Each time Mr. Black would fit it up in excellent shape, and sell it at a good round figure; and then, after the buyers had tried the business and failed, he would buy it back for half he sold it for, and again fit it up to be sold. In this manner he cleared several thousand dollars. Askew & Miller now own it, and from appearances Mr. Black will not have another opportunity to clear several thousand dollars after the old fashion. The mill at present is furnishing excellent flour. In 1863, Mr. Black built a saw- mill close to his grist-mill. The saw-mill was rented, and has passed through a checkered career. Henry . Shirk has been manufacturing carriages quite extensively for the last two years. Mr. Sim Conkle, a first-class workman, has charge of the painting department. Their shop is the old schoolhouse. In 1876, Harvey & Eby built a sash and door factory near the depot. Mr. Eby left the partnership two years ago. Mr. Harvey has been manufacturing staves for butter kegs. He is now making " Hogan's Propeller," a churn, pat- ented by Mr. Hogan. Mr. Harvey has the exclusive right of sale in the United States.' In 1875, Baughman, Hyter & Co. erected a brick foundry in the southeastern part of town. Here they remained until 1878, doing an extensive amount of general repair work, in the meantime manufacturing two fine engines, one of which is now used in the same building. A business of over $3,000 was done annually. In 1878, the partnership was divided, Mr. Baugh- man taking the machinery, and Mr. Hyter, the building, etc. Mr. Baughman is yet in the same business near the depot. He has lately invented an ingenious and valuable safety railroad signal lamp, also a self-extinguishing lamp. After the dissolution of the partnership, Baughman, Hyter & Co., Mr. Hyter began the milling business with Mr. Ludlow, under the name, Ludlow & Hyter. The old foundry building was fitted up with four runs of stone, and the building has since been known as a grist-mill. Charles Boetcher, in August, 1880, purchased Mr. Ludlow's interest. Thus the partnership remains. R. B. Stone and E. J. Thompson, railroad men, are operating one of the finest saw-mills in the county. They are now preparing heavy railroad lumber, mostly for the roads west of Chicago. Some thirty "hands " are at work in the various departments of this mill. Large tracts of land are being stripped of timber. Harron Brothers are at present operating a saw-mill near the depot.

Among the tavern keepers in Albion have been Michael Coon, Mr. Rey- nolds, Isaac Swarthout, Joshua Wade, Jeremiah Low, William F. Engle, Al- fred Jacquays, James Wright, Mr. Trussell, Charles Woodruff, Mr. Russell, Mr. Worden, J. H. Bliss, Eli Dice, John Sloan, Thomas Salsgiver, Samuel

yous.

Emily

COUNTY AUDITOR

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TOWN OF ALBION.

Salladay, Haggarty & Bryant, Austin Jennings, Henry Tuck and Hiram Bradley. Among the physicians have been Drs. Clark, Harkins, Boetcher. Spencer (two), Dunshee, Barnet, D. W. C. Denny, Cox, Nimmons, Wheeler, Leonard, Lemon, Hays, Pickett and Martin. Among the liverymen have been John Sloan, John Bliss, William Coon, Stoops & Greenman, John Walters, Ed. Engle and Stoops & Hart. Among the Postmasters have been William F. Engle (perhaps Clapp or Hitchcock), Abel Warner, Nelson Prentiss, A. J. Kimmel, John Hiskey, James Evans, John De Camp, James Evans, Emma Jane Douglas, William Snyder, A. J. Kimmel and Isaac Mendenhall.

The Sons of Temperance instituted a lodge in Albion not far from the year 1852. The life of the organization was brief and short. The " Wash- ingtonians " were present for a short period. The Good Templars have had one, and perhaps two, organizations in town. Albion, for many years, was one of the pleasantest towns in Northern Indiana, in which to reside. But little drinking was indulged in, scarcely a drunken man being seen on the street. There is more liquor consumed in the town at present than ever before. The fines for drunkenness and the license paid by the liquor dealers are at present an important source of revenue.

In 1875, W. M. Clapp began a general private banking business under the name " The Bank of Albion," continuing until his death in January, 1881. The business was then closed ; but, as soon as the books and the estate could be settled, Charles M. Clapp, in September, 1881, again opened the bank for the transaction of business.

The Masonic Lodge at Albion, known as Albion Lodge No. 97, F. & A. M., was instituted in February, 1853, by S. D. Bayless, Deputy Grand Master of the State of Indiana. The charter members were Leander B. Eagles, Nelson Prentiss, Jacob Stage, Hosea Gage, J. W. Leonard, D. W. C. Teal and William M. Clapp. The first officers were : Nelson Prentiss, W. M. ; Jacob Stage, S. W. ; Leander Eagles, J. W .; Hosea Gage, S. D. ; William M. Clapp, Secretary. The charter is dated the 25th of the following May. The hall rented by the lodge was dedicated by Dr. Collins, on the 27th of June, 1853. At the time " The Pinery " was burned, nearly all the lodge property was destroyed. Considerable money was lost by other misfortunes, until the present financial condition is not as good as might be expected. The present officers are : James Roscoe, W. M. ; J. A. Hamlin, S. W .; Ezekiel Teagarden, J. W .; William Trump, S. D .; A. J. Doular, J. D .; C. B. Phillips, Secreta- ry ; George Hines, Treasurer, and S. M. Foster, Tiler. Out of the territory covered by this lodge have been instituted lodges at Ligonier, Avilla, Wolf Lake, Kendallville and Churubusco.

North Star Lodge, No. 380, I. O. O. F., was instituted September 13, 1871, by District Deputy Grand Master J. B. Kimball, under a dispensation from W. H. De Wolf, G. M. of the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana. The charter members were Eden H. Fisher, Isaac Mendenhall, William Z. Holver-

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'HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

stoll, Hollabert H. Brown and William C. Williams. The first officers were William C. Williams, N. G .; Eden H. Fisher, V. G. ; Isaac Mendenhall, Treas. ; W. Z. Holverstoll, Sec. The total number of members admitted since the institution of the lodge is sixty-four. Of these, three have died, many have moved away and joined other lodges, some have been dropped for non-pay- ment of dues, and some have been expelled. There are now in active member- ship thirty-nine-as many or more than at any one time since the organization of the lodge. The financial condition of the lodge is good. It has invested in hall furniture $425, and in regalia $75. It also has on hand and at interest $345.49 general fund, and $113.02 orphan fund. It is slowly and steadily growing, both financially and in membership, and promises to be soon one of the strong lodges of the State. Its present officers are : D. C. Baughman, N. G. ; Charles Boetcher, V. G .; E. F. Coats, Rec. Sec .; Ed. P. Ray, Per. Sec. ; Platt B. Bassett, Treas. The lodge has expended by way of relief up to De- cember, 1880, $237.80.

At the March term of the County Commissioners, in 1874, a petition, signed by seventy-eight qualified voters of Albion, was presented them, praying as follows that the village of Albion might be incorporated :

The undersigned qualified voters of Albion, Noble County, Indiana, would respectfully petition your honorable body to issue an order declaring that so much territory of Albion Town_ ship, of said county and State, as is embraced within the map and survey hereunto annexed, be organized as the " Incorporated Town of Albion," under the following bounds : The northwest quarter of Section 19, Township 34, Range 10; southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 34, Range 10; west half of northeast quarter of Section 19, Township 34, Range 10; northeast quar- ter of Section 24, Township 34, Range 9 ; southeast quarter of Section 13, Township 34, Range 9 ; and out-lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Section 13, Township 34, Range 9, in Clark's Addition to the town of Albion.

In accordance with the prayer of the petitioners, the Commissioners ordered an election to be held on the 24th of March, 1874, to ascertain the will of the citizens as to the incorporation of the village. At the June term (1874) of the Commissioners, James Greenman, John H. Bliss and Franklin B. Kiblinger, Inspectors of the Election, reported that eighty-five votes had been cast for the incorporation of Albion, and forty-four against the same ; whereupon the Commissioners, on the 8th of June, 1874, ordered the creation of the "Incorporated Town of Albion." Notice was issued that, on the 23d of June, 1874, an election of town officers would be held at the court house. On this occasion, Alexander Fulton, Sherman J. Hadley and Jacob J. Fischer were elected Town Trustees, and Merritt C. Skinner, Clerk, Treasurer and Assessor. At the first regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, Peter A. Sunday was chosen Town Marshal, and at the second meeting Thomas M. Eells was chosen Town Attorney. A town seal was ordered obtained on the 6th of July, and at the same and subsequent called meetings various town ordi- nances were adopted. Sidewalks were petitioned for and built, thus supplying a convenience and want that could not be satisfied by voluntary action on the

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TOWN OF ALBION.

part of property owners. It is proper to add here that a number of prominent citizens stubbornly opposed the incorporation of the village from the start, for reasons best known to themselves. But the friends of the measure were too numerous, and, when the opening of the B., P. & C. Railroad gave Albion a decided "boom," and gave the citizens assurance that the county seat was fixed beyond a doubt (a circumstance in doubt previously), it was thought best to have a municipal government, and Albion was thus incorporated. Subse- quent events have proved the wisdom of the majority. The first sidewalk peti- tioned for was the one on the west side of Orange street, from. Main street to the depot. This was on the 27th of August, 1874.

The first term of school in Albion was taught during the winter of 1847- 48, by Ephraim Walters, in a small log house owned by himself, and located on the west side of South Orange street. He had enrolled about twenty scholars, and taught three months. Miss Kedsie taught a short term during the follow- ing summer. By this time, the rush into Albion had become so great that about sixty scholars were ready to attend during the winter of 1848-49. Abel Barnum and his wife were accordingly employed to direct this large flock of in- nocents. The session was held in a log house owned by Mr. Pepple. During the autumn of 1849, a small frame schoolhouse was built in Albion by Samuel Devenbaugh. A young man named Abel Warner, who had been clerking in the store of Clapp & Hitchcock (?), was employed to teach in this house during the winter of 1849-50. This building, which is yet standing, adjoining the residence of Nelson Prentiss, was used continuously until 1863, when the large, two-storied frame building, now occupied as a carriage factory by Henry Shirk, was constructed by James Prouty, at a cost of about $1,500. Abel Warner was also the first teacher in this house. Here school was held until the pres- ent building was erected in 1876. Two teachers were employed as early as 1848-49 ; but after that, and until about 1858, one teacher, save in a few ex- ceptional cases, was capable of managing the attendance. Assistants have been added from time to time since the last mentioned date, until the instructors at present number six. In 1849, at the time the first schoolhouse was built, a number of the citizens, headed by William F. Engle, wished the house located in the northern part of the village ; while another party, at the head of whom was Isaac Swarthout, insisted on having it built southeast of the court house. Considerable feeling was incited by the opposition of the two factions; but at last the Swarthout party gained the victory, and decided the question of loca- tion. At the time Albion Township was created, another mild outbreak oc- curred regarding the division of the school fund of the Townships York and Jefferson. Albion Township, having been created from those townships, claimed a share of their school fund, and was awarded a portion on the basis of population in the sections stricken off to form the new township as compared with that of the remainder of those townships. The question arose as to whether the new township had any just claim to the school fund arising from

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

the sale or rent of the lands of Section 16 in those townships ; and, if the writer is correctly informed, the right to a portion of such fund was denied Al- bion Township.

During the last few months of the year 1875, the old schoolhouse having become dilapidated and dangerous, the citizens began discussing the propriety of constructing a new and better one. Nearly all the citizens were at this time in favor of the project, or at least were neutral. The School Trustees se- lected a site for the building on the land of Owen Block ; but, owing either to some alterations in the price of the land, or some alleged imperfections in the deed of transfer, or both, they withdrew from the partially-formed contract, and purchased for $1,100 the lots where the school building now stands. As soon as this purchase became known, and it became apparent that the School Trust- ees expected town bonds to be issued whereby to pay the expense of construct- ing a costly brick schoolhouse, a decided division in public opinion became man- ifest. A number of prominent and wealthy citizens, upon whom much of the burden of taxation would fall, stubbornly opposed the project, possibly from partly private, personal or pecuniary motives. Their real reasons remain to this day a matter of speculation. A little later, they brought suit in the Cir- cuit Court to enjoin the collection of a certain school fund which might be ap- plied toward the construction of the proposed house, but they were defeated. Just before the contract for building the house was let, a meeting of those op- posed to the scheme was called at the court house, and numerous dis- couraging speeches were delivered to a room full of citizens. A paper was circulated and signed by nearly twenty opposers ; but the list was afterward increased to more than forty. Still, the majority were not shaken in their de- termination to build the house. The Town Board at this time were William Trump, J. J. Fischer and Owen Black. The School Trustees were Dr. W. Y. Leonard, William S. Kiser and C. A. Howard. The contract for building the house was let to John Lichtenberger, of Fort Wayne, and T. J. Tolan & Son, also of Fort Wayne, were the architects. The contract price was $15,300. Work was immediately begun on the house, and the Town Board was asked to sell $17,000 worth of the corporation's bonds to defray the entire expense. At this stage the opposition sued out an injunction to restrain the Town Trustees from issuing the bonds ; but, although the question of the right of the Town Trust- ees to pass an ordinance authorizing the negotiation and sale of bonds of the corporation to defray the expense of constructing a school building was taken first to the Circuit Court and thence to the Supreme Court, the case, in both instances, was decided adversely to the plaintiff. This was about the last stand made by the opposition. Town bonds to the amount of $17,000 were ordered printed and sold, that sum being considered necessary to cover the cost of the house, the cost of the land, and some miscellaneous expense. The bonds were issued in sums of $250 and $500, bearing 8 per cent interest payable semi-an- nually, and were strictly 5-20 bonds. They were sold in various localities,

Yours Truly

James Rash

COUNTY

RECOROER

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TOWN OF ALBION.

some in New York City, some in Ohio, and some to persons in different por- tions of Indiana. None of the bonds have been taken up, although the inter- est is promptly paid when due. Owing to the opposition to the sale of the bonds, and the distrust thereby incited, those first issued were sold at a slight discount. This caused a loss of several hundred dollars to the town.

The several law-suits growing out of the schoolhouse question cost the town nearly $1,500 ; this expense was covered by the bonds. The terms of the contract were not complied with by the contractor, who fraudulently reduced the height of the upper story about nine inches, cut down the size of the upper windows, and failed to put the plaster on in the required manner. The fraud was discovered almost by accident by Dr. Leonard almost at the last moment. The work was permitted to go on until completed, and then the School Trustees at first refused to accept the building. This they were advised to do by the architect, who had himself failed to discover the error during the work of construction. The contractor became a beggar and importuned the Trustees to have mercy, and finally the building was accepted at a reduction of about $900.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 64

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