Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 67

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 67
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 67

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).

No distilleries have ever been conducted in the township, although, of course, the early settlers, and some later ones, have managed to consume large quantities of "the drink which inebriates." Temperance societies have sprung up to counteract the influence of the consumption of liquor ; but time alone has partly neutralized its effect. Whisky was looked upon in early years as one of the necessities of life. When people came into the backwoods, if they had no cow, whisky was brought along and was regarded as an excellent sub- stitute for milk. Children learned to cry for it, and tired mothers braced them- selves up on the stalwart arm of King Alcohol. We surely, to a large extent, inherit our appetites, and is it any wonder, then, that the generations of to-day can scarcely resist the tendency to drink ? Kill the appetite and the traffic is ended.

The village of Northport was laid out in December, 1838, by Francis Comparet, owner and proprietor, on Section 9, Township 35 north, Range 10 east. It was surveyed into blocks of twelve lots each, there being a total of 103 lots. Mr. Comparet expected that his village would become a populous place. He offered the lots for sale at reasonable prices and endeavored to induce mechanics and artisans to locate there; but he soon found that it was

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easier to build a town on paper than in reality. In 1839, there were some five families living in the village. Comparet was a Frenchman, who had traded with the Indians for many years. He, immediately after the village was laid out, opened a small store, and began selling whisky and a small amount of cal- ico and groceries to the whites and Indians, the latter going in large numbers to his store for whisky. Or perhaps they went to the hotel of Jacob Heater, as such an institution was opened to the public about the time that Comparet began to sell goods. At least, the bar-room of Heater's Hotel became a noted resort for convivial spirits, who were wont to assemble there to crack jokes, drink whisky, sing songs and tell tales that would test the credulity of those present. It is said, that Mr. Heater had a mysterious jug from which he could sell any kind of liquor desired. The jug required no special preparation, but seemed to possess the singularity of holding any number of mixed or pure drinks; at least, so the story goes. Comparet continued to sell goods until the canal enterprise collapsed. Heater kept an excellent tavern for that day and made considerable money. Goods have been sold in Northport much of the time since, until the last few years. David Law, one of the oldest settlers, opened a store there quite early, and sold goods for many years. A man, whose name is forgotten, sunk three or four vats and began tanning hides as early as 1837. He did not continue long, however, for reasons unknown. Perhaps no more than twelve families have ever lived in Northport at any one time. It bid fair, at one time, to become a large and thriving place; but Rome City came into existence, with its water-power, lake, springs, etc., and soon overshadowed the former village. It is now deserted, and the epitaph of Carthage may be inscribed on its monument.

Rome (or Rome City, as it has since been called) was laid out in June, 1839, about six months after Northport started up. The proprietors were John C. Mather and Ebenezer Pierce, who laid out 216 lots of the usual size and seven out-lots, on the northwest quarter of Section 16. This was the school section, and the men above named, who were Township Trustees at that time, were obliged to get the consent of the School Commissioners before they could lay out the town. The Trustees could derive no profit from the sale of lots, as every cent thus realized properly belonged to the school fund. It was the usual case that Section 16 of each township was the last to be taken up, and, for that reason, the fund with which to support the early schools was missing. Not so. with Orange Township. The land was not only sold early, but was sold as town lots (a portion of it) and the proceeds devoted to the support of the early public schools. The first school taught in the village of Rome City (that sounds paradoxical) was supported by funds from the sale of lots. It is said that Joel Doolittle built the first house. It was a low, long frame structure, and in it were placed a few goods, perhaps $300 or $400 worth. Here he re- mained a few years, selling goods and some whisky, and then erected another building, a short distance east, and opened a hotel. He soon gained a pay-

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ing patronage. Of course, he kept a bar-room and sold all sorts of liquors. A hotel without a bar-room, where liquor could be obtained, was not a success- ful investment, and, for that reason, the man who was sufficiently in advance of his age as to be an abstainer was careful not to open a hotel, as he would receive but little or no patronage. Mitchell & Weston are said to have opened the second store in Rome City. When this was done cannot be definitely ascertained, although Doolittle probably began selling soon after the village was laid out. Mitchell & Weston had a fair stock of goods and were well patronized. They bought some produce, or rather gave goods in exchange. George L. Gale was another early merchant. He was a strong anti-slavery man from principle, and, after the enactment of the fugitive slave law, assisted runaway slaves to the dominion of the British Queen. He is known to have helped off fifteen or twenty slaves. He was intelligent and had great force of character, especially as regards the propriety of human conduct. It is related that on one occasion, just at dark, a travel-worn runaway came into his yard, and in the most abject and servile manner took off his hat and bowed himself into the presence of Mr. Gale, who was probably sitting in the yard. The poor black man called him "Massa," and begged for food and protection. Mr. Gale immediately told him to put on his hat and stand erect, and not call him " Massa " any more, as he was not his master. The runaway was treated like a man and sent on his way rejoicing. Such a man could not help becoming a good merchant. Other merchants have been Edward B. Parkman, Arthur Miller, Andrew J. Cullum (who was in business during the last war), Geisen- dorff & Gower, Kettel Brothers, Hamlin Brothers, Alexander Brothers (who kept the first express office), Adam Rickel, Mr. Adee, John Bigler, H. G. Cobbs, F. N. Miller and others. John Hardy was an early blacksmith. He also kept hotel. A man named Rose manufactured wooden bowls quite early, but only for a few years. O. F. Rogers & Son manufactured clothes' racks quite extensively aud made a great deal of money. Doolittle was the first Postmaster in Rome City. The office was first established in Northport, and David Law was appointed Postmaster; but after Rome City killed Northport, the office was removed to the former place. Dr. Stephens was an early physi- cian at Northport. Dr. Barber was also in early. Both men were good doc- tors, and traveled over extensive sections of country. Early doctors rode twice as far as they do at present. It was no fun to be a good physician in early days, as many an old doctor with a broken-down constitution has declared. Dr. W. W. Martin, an excellent man and an eminent physician, practiced at Rome City over thirty years ago. He finally moved to Kendallville, where, borne down by cares and reverses, he suicided. Dr. Hersheiser is another physician of the township. Dr. E. W. Myers was in quite carly. Soon after- ward came Dr. James Gower. A great many have come in since. The rail- road company, which owns the mineral springs at Rome City, is at present, and has been for the last few years, endeavoring to fit them up, in order that

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

their full value and virtue may be given to invalids. The various springs (about a dozen) are said to contain bicarbonate and protoxide of iron, carbonate of lime, chloride of sodium, bicarbonate of magnesia, phosphate of lime, sul- phur, carbonic acid gas, organic matter, etc. The railroad has established a " Mineral Springs Therapy and Surgical Institute " at the place, and will have suitable buildings erected by next year, all to be in charge of Charles A. Wil- son, M. D., a graduate of Harvard College and an eminent young physician. The railroad company is fitting up Sylvan Lake, intending to make it the "Chautauqua of the West." Some two hundred small boats have been placed upon the lake, as has also a small steamer. Various buildings have been con- structed, and the work is going rapidly forward. There is no reason why Rome City cannot become a widely celebrated watering-place.

When the project for building the canal was abandoned by the State, Mitchell & Weston succeeded in getting a lease of the water-power at Rome City (the reservoir was originally constructed as a feeder to the canal, and is really nothing more than a huge dam), for the term of ninety-nine years at $33.33} per year. It is said that they managed the terms of the lease in such a manner that they succeeded in avoiding making any payment. The lease is equivalent to a title in fee simple, because every time it is transferred, there is also a renewal of the period of the lease-ninety-nine years. These men leased the water-power about the year 1840 or 1841, and kept it until about 1859, when the lease was purchased by William Geisendorff (he bought the grist-mill, the water-power and the necessary land, paying something like $5,000) and his brothers, perhaps; but some time afterward, about the close of the war, William transferred his interest to his brother J. C., in whose name the title remained until two years ago, when, J. C. having died, the title passed to his wife. The writer cannot say whether the title is clouded or not. The dam has broken three different times, and each break has been attended with great destruction of property, not only at Rome City, but for miles down the valley of the Elkhart, together with loss of life. Eleven persons, including several women, have been drowned in the treacherous waters of the reservoir ; but this has often been owing to their own carelessness.

In 1855, Bliss, Poole & Co. erected a large, three-storied, frame wool- en factory, in which were placed " three sets of machines." The building was about 60x110 feet, and soon became the great center of attraction. Stock in the enterprise was subscribed by large numbers of the farmers, who pledged their farms as security for the payment of the subscribed stock. The factory under the management of Mr. Bliss entered upon a season of great prosperity. Some sixty employes, nearly half of whom were women, were hired to operate the different departments, and soon there were turned out large quantities of flannels, yarns, cassimeres, jeans, broadcloths, fulled-cloths, shoddy, satinet, doeskins, etc., etc. Under the stimulus of the presence of this important in- dustry, the village of Rome City began to grow, and soon the population was

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doubled and trebled. The grist-mill first roused the town into activity ; but when the factory was built, the village received an impulse that has been per- manent. An annual business of nearly $70,000 was done for some four years, when, for some reason or other, the enterprise seemed to fail for lack of funds, and a number of the farmers who had pledged their farms as security for the payment of their stock were compelled to sell out in order to get means to set- tle the claims against them. Many of the citizens living at Rome City are bit- ter in their denunciations of the management of the enterprise. The property was finally sold at Sheriff's sale, and was purchased by Mr. Bliss, who soon af- terward traded the factory to Clement & Kennedy for another factory in Charleston, Ill. These men did not accomplish much with the factory, and it soon fell into the hands of William Geisendorff, who ran it successfully for a few years, when the title was transferred to his brother J. C., who owned it until it was destroyed by fire in about 1871. As soon as William Geisendorff sold the factory to his brother, the former immediately erected another woolen factory at the village ; but it was not so large nor extensive as the other. It was a two-storied frame building about sixty feet square, and gave work to some thirty employes. This was operated some two years, when it was vacated, but started up again after the other had burned, under the ownership of Clapp, Fisher & Zimmerman, who continued it until 1877, doing an annual business of from $30,000 to $40,000. Some say it was destroyed by fire generated by spontaneous combustion, while others assert that it was a case of incendiarism. The truth will probably never be known. These factories were the most im- portant industries ever in the township, and were the making of Rome City. The Masons organized a lodge at the village some ten years ago, and the Good Templars started up about twenty years ago.

The village of Brimfield was laid out by William Bliss, owner and propri- etor, on the south part of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 29, in March, 1861. Twenty-three lots were laid off by E. B. Gerber, County Surveyor. The first house was built by Daniel Brumbaugh, who had located there as early as 1840. Soon after this, Jacob Long located in what is now the village, as did also a little later Reason Dye. David and John Seeley opened a store immediately after the laying-out of the village. They owned a small stock, and were soon followed by Kinney & Rhodes, who began selling hard- ware. John Seeley became the first Postmaster. Other merchants have been George Gale, Mr. Wilbur, Huston & Mahood, Jones & Weaver and Andrew McCollum. Judge Seeley built the saw-mill at an early day. It has been an excellent mill in its time. The boiler bursted on one occasion and killed Will- iam Collett, three Cooper boys, and a young fellow named Hewett.

The Odd Fellows at Brimfield were organized August 25, 1881, with the following charter members: A. C. Emahiser, J. W. H. Chamblin, A. J. Niswander, C. P. Hart, T. L. Imes and C. B. Hart. The first and present officers are : A. C. Emahiser, N. G. ; C. B. Hart, V. G. ; J. W. H. Cham-

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blin, Sec. ; A. J. Niswander, Treas. The lodge is doing well. The business of Brimfield is as follows: Hart Bros., general merchandise ; Coldren & Gaby, same ; G. W. Cosper, same; A. J. Niswander, druggist ; W. B. Dunn, groceries ; J. W. H. Chamblin, groceries ; C. W. McMeans, hardware ; Cora D. Reynolds, millinery ; A. C. Emahiser, hotel; H. G. W. Briggs, hotel ; A. Waddel, livery ; Mr. Briggs, same ; W. C. Lane, saw-mill ; J. S. Dusler. wagon-shop ; M. Hart and F. M. Parks, blacksmiths ; J. L. Trader, physician and surgeon. The pride of the town is a literary society which has an admit- tance fee of $5.

In 1839, a combined church and schoolhouse was built at Northport. Every one turned out and helped erect it. The Presbyterians and Methodists were to use the building, which was built of logs, while it was not devoted to school purposes. The name of the first teacher is not remembered. This old house was used until 1843 or 1844, when a log schoolhouse was erected at Rome City. Mr. Babcock and Mr. Barnum were two of the early teachers at Northport. Good teachers were employed at Rome City, as there was considerable money from the sale of town lots to pay them, and to support the school. The bar-room of Hardy's Hotel was fitted up for a school- room, and Miss Aurelia Andrews was employed to teach the first term of school held in Rome City. This was during the summer of 1843, but dur- ing the fall of that year, or perhaps the next spring, she was employed to teach the first term held in the old log schoolhouse. She thus enjoys the distinction of having taught the first two terms in Rome City. Mr. Greenman was one of the first teachers. Miss Marilda White, now the widow of Hon. J. F. Brothwell, remembers of attending spelling-school in this house in 1844. This building was used until 1856 or 1857, when the schoolhouse now used as the town hall was erected. This was used until some ten or twelve years ago, at which time the present commodious structure was built. Prof. Watts Denny, of Albion, is the present Principal. After the erection of the first schoolhouse in Rome City, the school at Northport slowly died out. The best school in the township is at Rome City. The room in which the Principal teaches is said to have the finest apparatus of any in the county. A log schoolhouse was built half a mile north of Brimfield at an early day, probably about 1842. Among the early teachers were James Lake, Joe Warner and Mary Ann Nash. Ten years later, a frame schoolhouse was built just south of the railroad bridge, and was used nearly twenty years, when the present two-storied frame structure was erected. The second house is now used as a dwelling in the village. Brim- field has had good schools from the beginning. It was about 1844 that various log schoolhouses were built throughout the township. The first rough ex- perience of backwoods life had given way before the march of progress, and the youth growing up must have schools. Parents, though at first careless, soon realized the value of schools for their children, and soon ceased to say, " Why, I got along without any ' edication,' and I guess my children can do so,

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if I did." That idea was soon discarded, and the schoolhouses began to dot the forests. The schools were at first taught by subscription, and the teacher was doomed to pass through the terrible ordeal of "boarding around." That is perhaps the most cruel trial to which an inoffensive teacher can be subjected. Each scholar paid from $1 to $2 for the term, and the old log houses with their puncheon floors and desks, their two or four small windows, their large mud chimney and huge fire-place, were filled with tow-headed urchins, eager for fun and frolic. A log school house was built on Dutch street quite early. Another was soon seen two miles northwest of Rome, and still another southwest. The township is well supplied with good schools. The history of the seminary at Wolcottville will be found in another department of this volume.

Probably the first church in the township was the combined church and schoolhouse at Northport. As above stated, it was built in 1839 by the Pres- byterians and Methodists, and was used for a number of years after it was dis- used as a schoolhouse. Rev. Cory, of Lima, quite an able man, was the Pres- byterian minister. The Methodists employed the Rev. Hall. These men were the typical backwoods ministers, possessing great enthusiasm in their calling, and constitutions capable of sustaining any amount of hardship and exposure. They traveled on long circuits, preaching to pioneer assemblies every day of the week, and completed the circuit at the end of the month. In 1841, one of the largest revivals ever had in the township was instituted and conducted by these men. Almost every person in the neighborhood was converted, and the excitement spread to more distant localities. Boys and girls were converted, and prostrated by the "power." Speaking meetings were organized at the private dwellings, and all-old and young-were called upon to tell their relig- ious experience. The society was so strengthened that the influence has endured until the present day. Mr. Shears was one of the early church lead- ers. A log church (Close Communion Baptist) was built at an early day one- half mile south of Wolcottville. Among the early members were the Tay- lors, McQueens, Mungers and Pierces. A Deacon named White was prominent. Members of other denominations met with the Baptists, and all together made a large, fine congregation. This old building was used until a short time before the last war, when a frame structure was built in Wolcottville to take its place. The present church at the last-named village was built a few years ago, and the society which assembles there has the reputation of being the largest and strongest in the township. The German Lutheran (and possibly the German Reformed) Church, on what is called Dutch street, was built at an early day. The old settlers speak of great revivals in early years at this house. It was used to some extent as a schoolhouse, as several terms were taught there, one of the teachers, a very homely German, teaching the mother language to the children in attendance. This old schoolhouse was one of the first frame build- ings in the township, and was regarded as quite a curiosity when first built. The Free-Will Baptists built a church in the northeast part early, and this

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church is yet occupied by a thriving congregation. It was built about the beginning of the last war. The Methodist Church at Rome City was erected not many years ago, the United Brethren assisting in the cost, with the under- standing that they were to have the use of the building. The last-named soci- ety has slowly scattered, and now but a few of the old members remain. The present town hall, erected first for a schoolhouse, was used as a church by a small society of Baptists. A number of years ago the Methodists began hold- ing meetings in the schoolhouse at Brimfield ; but, although the attendance was quite large, no effort was made to build a church until the spring of 1875, at which time a start was made, but the building was not completed until the following year. The building Trustees were William Bliss, William Huston, James H. Fisher, Charles Beidelman and Joseph Bailey. The house cost about $2,700, the society receiving much outside assistance. The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Hartman. The present one is the Rev. Mr. Johnson.

Early in 1878, Mr. W. B. Cory, of Lima, called on Rev. A. H. Gillet, of Sturgis, Mich., to talk of Sunday school matters. In the course of conversa- tion, the many attractions of the lake and island at Rome City, as a place for Sunday school gatherings, was alluded to, and the conclusion reached to invite a number of Christian men, interested in Sunday school work, to meet them at an early day, and consider the propriety of forming an organization for the holding of annual gatherings in the interests of Sunday school work and Chris- tian culture. The meeting was held early in May, an organization formed entitled the " Rome City International Sunday School Congress," and, in the succeeding month, a congress of four days was held, which was largely attended, and gave great satisfaction to all. Finding the plan of organization not adapted to permanent work and to the laws of the State for incorporation, the association met October 15, 1879, and re-organized on a more substantial basis, and with a wider plan, modeled after the great Chautauqua assembly, of New York. The name was also changed to the "Island Park Assembly." The incorporate members were at first limited to fifty, but has now been extended to seventy-five. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, owning the island, at once began extensive improvements, building a large tabernacle capable of seating some three thousand people ; put up a building to cover a model of the land of Palestine, constructed by Rev. W. H. Perine, of Albion, Mich., laid out avenues, built bridges, a boarding-house, docks, etc.

In June, 1880, was held the first assembly, distinctly on the Chautauqua plan. It was in session fourteen days, holding from day to day a Pastors' Institute, a Sunday School Normal, a Secular Teachers' Congress, Musical Convention, Oriental exhibitions, lectures on the models of Palestine, and three platform lectures each day. The men in charge of the several depart- ments of instruction were all of distinguished reputation, and on the platform appeared some of the ablest speakers of the land.

The second session of the assembly was held from June 29 to July 15,

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1881, with improved and still larger programme. Before this session, the Assembly bought some eighteen acres of land of John Kerr, adjoining the lake on the south, and leased a body of woodland of Isaac Barber, cornering on this. These lands have been platted, and a number of lots sold, and it is expected that the year 1882 will witness marked improvements in the way of cottages and suitable arrangements for the accommodation of the people dis- posed to seek rest and recreation, where they may, at the same time, enjoy the most favored opportunities of improvement in all that pertains to the develop- ment of Christian manhood and higher culture. The managers have all worked without fee or compensation for time or labor, and besides have incurred per- sonal liabilities to the extent of thousands of dollars to start this institution- one they fondly believe will eventuate in much public good.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 67

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