Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 69

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 69
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 69

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 schoolhouses were also the first churches. In quite early times

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

religious denominations were organized in various parts of the township. These continued, until the erection of the first churches, when the shifting of meet- ings from house to house ceased. In 1873, a talented young man-Rev. E. D. Einsel-a professor of the Albright faith, began holding a series of meet- ings in Avilla, and was warmly assisted by Jacob Beckley, Samuel Hoke and others. A small society was soon organized, which, within the next year, attained a membership of about thirty. This little society went to work in earnest, and erected a neat frame church at a cost of about $1,400, locating it on a lot which cost $200. A Sunday school was organized about the same time. The membership of the church is now about thirty-five. The Lutheran Church in the western part was built quite a number of years ago. The Whit- fords, in the northeastern part, were instrumental in organizing a Methodist society in their neighborhood at a very early day. They and the Adamses, the Isbells, the Roberts, the Warners and others used the old schoolhouse for many years, until at last their church was built. A Disciple church was partly built at Lisbon many years ago, but was then removed to Kendallville, where it now stands. "The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin " (Catholic) was first organized about the year 1854, and was attended by Father Faller, of Fort Wayne, about eight families belonging. The first church, a small frame building, was located about half a mile north of town. The leading members at this time were Thomas Storey, F. Bork, John Morehouse, John Geiser and Albion Myers. The first pastor was Father Henry Schaefer. His succes- sors have been Fathers Deipenbrock, Wenhoffe, Oechtering and Duehmig. The latter is yet pastor." The first church was dedicated in 1855 by Rt. Rev. De St. Palais, Bishop of Vincennes, Ind. On the 22d of February, 1867, Father Duehmig became assistant on the Avilla charge; and on the 12th of May, same year, was installed pastor of it and its various mis- sions. The present church was begun in 1876 ; the corner-stone was laid May 27, 1877, and, on the 19th of May, 1878, it was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, Bishop of Fort Wayne The new church is located in the northern part of town, on the old Weimer farm; and its site, six and one- fourth acres, was donated by Mr. Thomas Storey. The church cost only $9,000, as the brick were made within a few yards of the church. Some eighty families now belong. The present officers of the church are Frederick Bork, President; M. Blust, Vice President; A. Vogeding, Secretary ; George Drerup, Treasurer. The Sunday school has been conducted since the society was organized; D. Duehmig, Superintendent ; 160 children attend it. Too much cannot be said in praise of Father Duehmig, who more than any other man, has built up the charge and its various missions. He is a man of great useful- ness, intelligence and influence.

In 1876, four Sisters (Anastasia, Brigetta, Barbara and Zilla) of the Order of St. Francis came to America to look up a location for a convent. Through the influence of Rev. D. Duehmig, they were induced to locate at

John Pancake

ELKHART TP.

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ELKHART TOWNSHIP.

Avilla. They immediately purchased 200 acres of Thomas Storey for $12,000 ; and, in June of the same year (1876), took charge of the premises, upon which was the residence previously occupied by Mr. Storey. Not long after this, twenty more Sisters came; and, since then, ten others have been added, making a total of thirty-four. These Sisters have estab- ished the following branch missions; one in Swan Township, Noble County ; one at Hesse Cassel, Allen County, Ind .; one at Crown Point, Ind. ; another at Dyer, Ind. ; one at Joliet, Ill., and one at St. Joseph, Mich. In the spring of 1881, the Sisters purchased forty acres of Mr. Weimer for $2,- 600; and are now engaged in building thereon a house to cost not less than $30,000. It is intended as a home for the aged, unfortunate, crippled, etc. There are ten resident Sisters at the convent at present, who have charge of eighteen aged and helpless persons, two being hopelessly insane. Nine orphan children are cared for by these good Sisters. The new building will be called " The Convent of the Sacred Heart of Jesus."

CHAPTER XIII.

BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.

ELKHART TOWNSHIP-LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS-MR. BOURIE AND THE INDI- ANS-ANECDOTES OF THE CHASE-THE EARLY RESIDENTS-TIBBOT AND THE WOUNDED BUCK-PITTSBURG, SPRINGFIELD AND WAWAKA-EDUCATION AND RELIGION-PIONEER PREACHERS AND TEACHERS-INCIDENTS.

T' HERE is some conflict of opinion as to who was the first settler in Elk hart Township. It is quite certain that Samuel Tibbot built his dwelling there as early as 1832, and it is equally certain that the Knights and a Mr. Austin and David P. Bourie were in about the same time. Isaac Tibbot did not reside permanently in the township until 1834. It is certain that Mr. Austin built his log-cabin near the bank of Elkhart River, in the southwestern part, during the year 1832, and immediately thereafter, Mr. Bourie erected a rude log storeroom within a few yards of the Austin mansion (?), and began sell- ing from a stock of goods valued at about $1,000 at first, but subsequently (within three years) increased, until worth $4,000. Mr. Bourie owned the land and gave Mr. Austin permission to build and reside there, as the former, being then single, wanted a place to board. Mr. Bourie did not enter his land at first (1831), but postponed that event until almost too late. In 1832, after his store was established, two men appeared and examined the premises, arousing a sus- picion in Bourie's breast that all was not right. He suspected that the men intended to proceed to Fort Wayne and enter his land, as, after they had exam- ined the premises, they started in the direction of the land office. Mr. Bourie immediately assumed the garb of an Indian, with blanket and feathers and tomahawk and war paint, and mounting his pony, as a true Indian should, he

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

started, hoping to pass the men before they reached Fort Wayne, trusting that his disguise would prevent them from recognizing that he was the owner of the premises, from whom they had just parted. He met several of his old acquaint- ances along the road, none of whom recognized him. He met McIntire Sey- mour and John Hall in Noble Township, to whom he revealed himself, much to their astonishment. On he went, like the wind, whooping and swinging his tomahawk and reeling on his pony like a drunken Indian. He came up in this manner with the two men, both of whom thought him to be what he pre- tended-a drunken Indian. He reached Fort Wayne long before they did, entered his land and had the pleasure of seeing the land hunters discomfited when they discovered that they had been outwitted. The following is a portion of one of the bills of goods bought by Mr. Bourie in 1833:

FORT WAYNE, August 15, 1833.

Bought of Merriam & Bourie :

4 pair calf-skin boots, fine, @ 28 shillings $14 00

8 pair thick boots, @ 19 shillings 19 00

4 50

4 pair calf-skin shoes, @ 10 shillings. 5 00

5 morocco pumps, , 9 shillings. 5 63

4 seal-skin pumps, @ 9 shillings 4 50

6 Prunell boots, @ 12 shillings. 9 00

7 pair thick shoes, @ 8 shillings

7 00

3 fine hats, @ 32 shillings

12 00

1 piece white list blue cloth, 192 yards.

1 piece yellow list blue cloth, 24 yards 27 50

66 69

1 piece scarlet list blue cloth, 13 yards 22 75

1 piece super-blue list cloth, 6 yards. 31 50

3 pieces fancy calico, 84 yards 24 36

8 pieces Merrimac calico, 160 yards.

27 20

Etc., Etc., Etc.,

Etc.

And so the bill continued until nearly $800 was reached, all sorts of good being purchased at enormous prices. To the amount of one of Mr. Bourie's bills, the merchants of Fort Wayne added 25 per cent for transportation. The greater portion of these goods went to the Indians, who were inordinately proud of display, and clothed themselves, at whatever cost, in the gaudiest and most costly apparel. The three silk hats mentioned above were sold to chiefs, who, when they had on a breech-clout, a blanket of fancy colors, and one of those hats, were enrobed in the height of Indian fashion, and would strut before the dusky maidens of their acquaintance like turkey-cocks before Christmas. After the Indians had had their selection from these goods, the white settlers took the remainder. Bourie's brother was one of the partnership from whom he bought. Bourie failed in business in 1835, and then went to Good Hope, in northern Sparta Township, where he opened a small grocery with one of the Knights as a partner ; but the latter fleeced him in a short time of all he had, and he has been a comparatively poor man since.

Mr. Bourie had a favorite dog that had been trained to do almost any- thing. It would bring the cows from the woods, go across the river and bring

3 pair calf-skin shoes, @ 12 shillings.

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ELKHART TOWNSHIP.

back a canoe, and carry articles here and there. It was so trained that, if anything was taken from the store, the animal would soon discover it, and would trace by its keen scent the spot where the article had been hidden. One day a number of Indians were at the store, and one of them, not thinking his rifle was loaded (or at least declaring that he did not, afterward), placed the ramrod in the barrel, and playfully snapped the gun at the dog's head ; this he did several times, until an old hen belonging to Mrs. Austin ran by him, when he turned and snapped the gun at it ; a sharp report followed, and the unfortunate fowl went squawking away, transfixed by the ramrod; out came Mrs. Austin, with fire in her eye, and a rolling pin in her hand (possibly), and demanded who had treated her fowls foully. Seeing the trouble, she immediately went to Bourie, and told him that he must take care of his Indians, and not let them trouble her fowls again. Bourie, when he learned the truth, was so incensed at the Indian for snapping at his dog (which had narrowly escaped being shot), that he seized the unfortunate redskin and butted his head again and again against a log until his face and scalp were covered with bruises and blood. He also seized the gun (a fine silver-mounted rifle) and bent it almost double across a log, utterly ruining it. The Indian came back the next day, demanding amends for the loss; but Bourie shrewdly stated that he (Bourie) had been drunk the day before, was sorry if the Indian was, and there the matter was dropped, as the Indians forgave wrongs done while under the influence' of liquor.

The following is as complete a list of the early settlers as could be obtained. The names are taken from the records at Albion, and indicate those who owned land in 1844. The names of the earliest, who lived in the township before 1844, but sold out before that date, cannot be given : Isaac Arnold, William Albert, William Bradford, John F. Brothwell, Abraham Brown, James Boyd, Daniel P. Boner, Francis Brown, Moses Ball, John Bird, William Caldwell, Andrew Curry, George Domer, Moses Domer, Samuel Domer, Jacob Domer, Perry Dempsey, Jacob Gerber, David Gibson, W. K. Gibson, John Gibson, Hosea Gage, Fred Hartsock, W. H. Herriman, Luther Herriman, Jonathan Hoak, Jacob Holden, W. H. Holden, Jacob Hoff, Abraham Hoff, Nathaniel Hamilton, W. H. Hall, Thomas Inks, Ralph Hardenbrook, Daniel Lower, William Maywhorter, Lewis Mills, George Moore, David Ream, William Stienberger, John Smith, Fred Schlieff, D. M. Shoup, Joseph Stewart, James Scrivener, Isaac Tibbot, David Tuttle, James Thayer, William Waldron, Lewis Waldron, Hiram Waldron, Wesley Waldron, Wilson L. Wells, Henry Walker, David Woodward, Nathaniel Woodward, George Woodward, John Zimmerman and others.

But little need be said regarding the general growth and improvement. The earliest settlers in any new country are a courageous class of men known as "squatters," whose occupation is hunting and trapping, upon which they almost wholly depend for subsistence. As soon as the game begins to disap-

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

pear, they likewise disappear, following the retreating animals out into the wil- derness. In their places came the vanguard of the grand army of settlement and progress. It is always the case that the enterprising, the energetic and ambitious, are the ones who first brave the hardships of a new country ; and who thereby write their names on the most prominent page of the history of their locality. It is always the venturesome, the daring spirit, that swings off from the great army, and battles desperately and singly in new fields of achievement. Such men are not imitators ; they are imitated. They do not follow ; they lead. They do not wait, like Micawber, for something to turn up ; they turn something up. They are the initiators of genuine progress, the sons. of genius, and the founders of civilization. The faces of these men are yet seen in the county, though their traps and rifles have been exchanged long ago for plows and reapers. Every stream knew them ; every hill and dale felt the pressure of their feet; every grove re-echoed with their shout, or with the report of their rifle. Their rude dug-out canoes swept silently across the lakes beneath the strength of their sturdy arms. All is changed. Waving seas of grain flood the uplands and the lowlands ; the stealthy footfall of the Indian hunter is no more ; the busy hum of human life has taken the place of silence and shadow.

Mr: Isaac Tibbot, about whom a great deal has been written, has resided permanently in the township since 1834. He is a man of enormous will power, in whom a settled conviction amounts to reality. He tells many inter- esting stories concerning the early settlement of the county. One day in mid- winter he saddled his horse, and started out to hunt deer. He soon ran across the fresh " spoor" of two very large bucks that apparently had gone into a swamp not over five minutes before. He tied his horse and started in with rifle ready ; but a moment later the wary animals, hearing his footsteps on the snow, ran out of the swamp and away at a rapid rate into the forest. He hur- ried back, mounted his horse, and swiftly followed. He saw them far ahead, in open land, turning at right angles to their former course; and, knowing that he could head them off, he ran across (leaving his horse), and, stopping behind a tree, shot the leading buck dead, knowing that by so doing he could get the other, as it would wait for its comrade. The living animal came up to its companion, but was so concealed by brush that the hunter could only suc- ceed in wounding it in the ribs, at which it made off in short bounds, being badly hurt, and stopped a short distance to look back for its mate. Again the brush was so thick that a second shot only wounded it in the jaw, but the animal was brought to the ground. Mr. Tibbot ran forward to cut its throat, but it scrambled to its feet, and, with fiery eyes, and fur erected along its back like a cat, dashed headlong at the hunter, knocking him violently into the snow. He quickly recovered, and, leaping up, with one blow severed the jugular vein of the angry animal standing over him, whereupon it fell and was soon dead. Mr. Tibbot also tells that he one time chased on horseback, on " Ore Prairie," in

John Zimmerman ELKHART TP.

5-7

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ELKHART TOWNSHIP.

York Township, a large bear, and was often within a few feet of it: but, hav- ing no gun, the animal escaped.

The village of Pittsburg was laid out by John and William Knight, proprie- tors, on the east half of the northeast quarter of the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 30, Township 35, Range 9 east, in June, 1837; and was about eighty rods from the juncture of the two forks of the river. Ninety-six lots were laid out in blocks of eight lots each ; and a number of the former were donated for public purposes. An effort was made to sell the lots, and build up the incipient village; but, beyond the partial erection of a single building for Jacob Kessler, nothing was done, and Pittsburg died on paper.

In about 1838, Joseph Steinberger erected a saw-mill at what is now Spring- field. Although the mill was a good one, it ran slowly, like those of the gods, often continuing during the entire night, so great was the demand. In a few years, Mr. Steinberger died, and his son William assumed control; but, after a number of years, the property was destroyed by fire, probably by an incen- diary. William Colwell erected a "corn cracker" on the river, farther west, about the time the county was organized. The event was celebrated with a country dance. Gideon Schlotterback was the fiddler, and, it is said, he ac- quitted himself in the most superb manner. A floor of puncheons had been laid and some seven or eight couples were present to enjoy themselves. The boys filled themselves with the proper quantity of the "extract of corn," and then the way they came down on the "double shuffle," the " Virginia reel" and the "French four" was a sight to behold. If you want any further par- ticulars, dear reader, you must question Isaac Tibbot, who swung himself on that occasion. Ask him about those pies. The mill, in addition to cracking corn, also tried to crack wheat into flour, but the specimen turned out, unbolted and unclean, was not regarded as the best that could be done. even in the back- woods. The mill ran about two years. About this time, the Stumps, father and son, erected a saw-mill on the same site. It did not amount to much and soon ceased running. Mr. Steinberger also built a grist-mill at Springfield and operated it from the same water power that ran his saw-mill. It had two run of stone and was an excellent mill for that day. It was destroyed with the saw-mill. John Colwell conducted a distillery in the western part for a short time, at a very early day. The first bridge in the township, across Elkhart, was constructed, in about 1838, by six or eight of the old settlers. It was nearly a month before it was finished. John Zimmerman erected a tannery a short distance north of Wawaka in 1842, and conducted it until 1869, making large quantities of excellent leather, which found a ready sale. Mr Zimmer- man is now a merchant in Wawaka.

If the plat of the village of Springfield was ever recorded, such fact is not known to the writer. Lots were laid out, probably by William Pierson, who built the first dwelling at quite an early day. David Chapole started the first store, having a small stock of dry goods, groceries and whisky. A Mr.

226

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

Farver opened the first store of any consequence. He sold from a large, fine stock of goods. Mr. Smith probably came next with goods. Then came John Knepper, William Stienberger and others. The village reached the pinnacle of its fame in 1845, at which period it was considered a promising town, having two stores, a saloon, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a church, a schoolhouse and about fifteen or more families. A post office was established early, being a station on a mail route extending from Good Hope to Lima (probably). The lots were first laid out not far from 1838, very probably by Mr. Pierson. After 1845. the town began to decay, new buildings failed to appear, old ones became dingy and dilapidated, the streets became almost deserted and Springfield remained but the ghost of its former fame. The ghost yet lingers, reluctant to leave the old place, so fraught with dim but cheerful memories.

Wawaka owes its life and existence to the Lake Shore Railway. Eighty lots (a portion on each side of the railroad) were laid out in February, 1857, by Isaac Tibbot, proprietor. Tibbot's residence was the first at the village, having been erected in 1834. William Knepper built the next house, early in 1857. George Stienberger (the miller) erected one about the same time. The growth was slow but sure, as still waters run deep. Mr. Tibbot erected the first store-building, into which Mr. Miles placed an average stock of dry goods and notions. After a few years, David Hale succeeded him, and finally, Elias Strous, of Ligonier, obtained possession of the building. John Knepper was the second to begin merchandising dry goods and groceries. John Thomson soon appeared and began labor at the same pursuit. Since then, many changes have been made. Dr. Goodson went into the Strous building with a stock of drugs. Carpenters, blacksmiths and business men of all kinds appeared, and the outlook of the village was bright. In about 1867, Ellis & Mummert (the latter owning a one-fourth interest) erected a large, frame, three-storied grist- mill, placing therein four run of stone, the whole structure completed costing $15,000. This was an excellent thing for the village, and the mill soon re- ceived an excellent patronage. Farmers from all quarters came to mill and, of course, traded more or less with all the business men. All this had the effect to infuse life into industrial pursuits in the village. The mill manufact- ured as high as 100 barrels of flour daily, much of which was shipped East. The plan of the owners was to buy their wheat at the board of trade in Chi- cago at times when the markets were very low, shipping the grain to Wawaka, where it was made into flour, then re-shipping it, in the latter form, to the Eastern market. The railroad company permitted them to do this, charging them for freightage as if the grain had not been unloaded at Wawaka. This enabled the owners to make handsome profits from their sales. By an unfort- unate accident, the mill and all it contained were destroyed by fire in 1874, and has not since been rebuilt, greatly to the misfortune of the village and surrounding country. At the same time, a shingle factory and saw-mill were also burned. It is said, that the erection of the mill enhanced the value of

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ELKHART TOWNSHIP.

real estate for several miles around, and that when the property was destroyed by fire, town and country values slightly depreciated. If this is true, it would be profitable to the citizens to offer some man a bonus to build another mill of the same kind. Immediately after the destruction of the grist-mill, Mr. Mummert built his present saw-mill, placing therein a fifty-horse power engine and a double circular saw. This is an excellent mill. Mr. Mummert is manu- facturing handles of all sorts, and large quantities of "shims." Quite a number of years ago, Mr. Dodge built his saw-mill, which, in its time, has done good work. He has added to this a planing-mill, and is now manufacturing wooden handles, "shims" and staves. Solomon Mier, Strous Brothers, Sheets & Wertheimer and Welt, Beck & Co. are buying grain. They shipped about 50,000 bushels of wheat from the village in 1880. In 1872, a conflagration swept away the depot and a number of other buildings; loss, several thousand dollars. A few years ago, another fire destroyed several buildings on the east side, north of the railroad. The present population of the village is nearly four hundred. Dr. W. H. Simmon was probably the first resident physician. After him, among others, have been Drs. Martin, Ward and Bartley.

Isaac Tibbot says, the first schoolhouse in the township was built by him- self, his brother Samuel, John and William Knight, Thomas Pierson, John Coder, and two or three others, as early as the summer of 1834, or prior to his marriage, which occurred late in the autumn of 1834. The house was built of round logs, was 16x16 feet, was located in the southwestern part, and was used until a larger and better one was erected in about 1837, at Springfield. The house was intended only as a temporary affair, to last a year or two, or until a better one could be built. It was probably the first building in the county erected wholly as a schoolhouse. Thomas Pierson taught a term of school in this building during the winter of 1834-35, having some twelve scholars, who came to him from three miles around. He did it more as a matter of accom- modation than as an expectation of pecuniary return. The house at Springfield was built of logs, and was located on the land of Mr. Pierson, the founder of the village, who donated the lot for the purpose. After being used about eight years, a frame, combined church and schoolhouse, was built near it, and this building was used many years. The third schoolhouse was erected about a mile and a half east of Wawaka, but was not finished nor occupied. The fourth was built in the Jones neighborhood, in the extreme northeastern part, but the date of its erection could not be learned by the writer. The fifth was a log structure erected in Wawaka, on the west side of Main street, north of the railroad ; this house was built not far from 1847. It is thought that Enoch Kent was the first teacher. The large b(h)oys did not like Mr. Kent ; Mr. Kent did not like the large boys-mutual antagonism ! Mr. Kent was afraid of the large boys ; the large boys were not afraid of Mr. Kent-fear not mut- ual ! Large boys told Mr. Kent to " git " out; Mr. Kent wisely and rapidly obeyed. The school ceased then and there. (Is brevity the soul of wit ?)

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 69

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