Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 74

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 74
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 74

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).

In 1855, an event occurred which was bitterly lamented. On Saturday, the 16th of June, two men-William Applegate and Franklin Weirich-were engaged in digging a well for George Shambaugh. They had been up for din- ner, and it came Applegate's turn to descend into the well and dig. He descended, and a moment later, when Weirich looked down, Applegate was seen lying at the bottom. Weirich called out immediately to be let down to the assistance of his friend, which was hurriedly done ; but as soon as he reached the bottom, he gasped for breath and called to be pulled up. He was so under the influence of the poisonous atmosphere that, when about half-way up, he fell back to the bottom, breaking his neck. Great excitement prevailed, but after a little time both men were drawn up by means of hooks, though they could not be resuscitated, as both were stone dead. Great was the sorrow of the friends of the dead men. Weirich left a wife and a family of small chil- dren, who saw great suffering after their natural protector was taken from them so unexpectedly. A few years later than this, Samuel and Jacob Kester one day turned up an old stump, and under it found nearly a half-bushel of copper coin that was unstamped, but which had probably been prepared to be subse- quently galvanized with silver, and stamped as half-dollars. How the coin came there is not altogether a mystery, as about that time there lived in the neighborhood several men who minted a large quantity of counterfeit money. There were also found, in a swamp not far from the same place, a buggy, which had been taken in there and hid, and a gun barrel, covered with rust and mud. Foul play was suspected, but no skeleton has been discovered to lead to the conclusion of murder.

Many of the early settlers were Irishmen, who had worked in the town- ship on the "canawl " in 1837 and 1838. They probably thought the country would make a pleasant home, and as soon as the "canawl" scheme had col- lapsed, they went to farming for want of a more suitable occupation. This was a great descent in their fortune, and they remembered with sorrow the old times, the old songs they used to sing, and the faces of companions they had seen for the last time.

" I entered with them for a season My monthly pay for to draw, And being in very good humor, I often sang ' Erin go Braugh ;' Our provisions they were very plenty, To complain I'd no reason at all,

I had money in every pocket, While working upon the canawl. So fare you well father and mother, Success to Old Ireland, too; Fare you well sister and brother, So kindly I'll bid you adieu.

" At night when at rest from our labors We're sure that our rent is all paid, We lay down our pick and our shovel, Likewise our ax and our spade ;

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We all sit joking together, There is nothing our minds to enthrall, If happiness be in this wide world, I'm sure it is on the canawl."

The eastern part of the township was mostly selected by the " canalers,'' and the thrift soon displayed there proved that they had not forgotten how to work. All they now have to remind them of old times are the old songs and mementoes, and the rapidly disappearing remains of the old canal.

Chancey C. Walkley erected a saw-mill at an early day, locating it about two and a half miles south of Green Center, on "Blue Grass Creek," or Blue River, as it is now called. The building was quite large, and soon after its erection one apartment was provided with a rude set of buhrs and the necessary machinery for grinding grain, or "cracking corn," as it is more gen- erally termed. A dam had been built across the stream, and the water which propelled the strong under-shot wheel was conducted to the mill by means of a race. Both departments of the mill were a great accommodation to the neigh- borhood, and were quite well patronized for some eight or ten years, at the expiration of which time both were abandoned. This was the only "grist- mill" ever in the township, and should be especially remembered. About twenty-five years ago, Solomon G. Swigart erected a saw-mill about a mile southwest of the Center, putting in steam and a muley saw. After operating successfully for many years, it was destroyed by fire; but was afterward rebuilt by its present owner, Mr. Levi Diller, who has improved it so it is now one of the best mills in the county, although it at present is in need of repairs. Mr. Diller saws from 6,000 to 10,000 feet per day, and is shipping consider- able native lumber by car to Chicago and other cities. About four years ago, the springs in the vicinity failed of water, and Mr. Diller sank a shaft within his mill. At the depth of about twelve feet, water was struck, which poured up through the opening, and shot up in the air to the height of about ten feet. The stream of water is about two inches thick, and flows rapidly, and the water is hard and excellent. The well alone, on a large stock farm. would, in time, be worth thousands of dollars. Mr. Diller thinks the water contains magnesia.

A few efforts at keeping store have been made in the township. In 1844, Mason M. Merriam had a small store, where he sold groceries, and where " the drink which biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder " could be obtained for the necessary "lucre." The terms of his license may be seen on the records at Albion. Hiram Lindsey, many years ago, opened a small store of dry goods, groceries, notions, etc., on his farm, and for a number of years saved the neighbors journeys to more distant localities for these articles. The stock was closed out but a few years ago. Christian Kinsey kept tavern quite early on the Goshen road, and it may be said that the settlers, in general, in early times, were accustomed to keep travelers. This was rendered necessary by the wants of immigrants, who had just arrived, and were without shelter. The

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old settlers tell us that the latch-string was always left out for everybody, and that all conventionality in respect to caste was utterly avoided. All were com- mon and like brothers, with that free, easy, off-hand way that is admired even at this day. About nine years ago, O. H. Andrews opened a store at the Cen- ter. A small stock of a general assortment has been kept by a change of owners since. Among the merchants have been William Hale, Mr. Ishwood and Edward Matthews. Followers of Esculapius have plied their craft at the Center. A store has also been kept on the eastern line of the township. Silas Moore has been Postmaster at the Center for many years.

Prior to 1842, no school had been taught in the township. In 1841, the children in the southwestern part were sent to school on the Goshen road in Noble township. A small log schoolhouse had been built there, and David Sanford had been employed to teach the children, who came to him from several miles around. The house had been built for a dwelling by Jacob Marker, but after being vacated it was provided with seats and desks and transformed into a schoolhouse. It was located on John Skinner's farm. The first school build- ing in Green was built in about 1843 by the whole neighborhood, and located about half a mile north of the present residence of George Ott. It was a small log structure about 18x22 feet, with a large mud-and-stick chimney on the outside that served as a vent to an enormous fire-place within. Desks and seats were made from rude plank obtained at one of the early saw-mills, either in Green or in neighboring townships, and two small windows supplied all the light that enabled the children to decipher their A B C's. Among the men who helped build this house were Messrs. Gaff, Ott, Gray, Boner, McDaniel and others. They all assembled one morning with axes, teams, etc., and at night the first schoolhouse in Green had been erected. The floor was made of punch- eons, but the door and desks were made of sawed lumber. William Sanford, ar. good scholar, was employed to teach the school, which he did, giving excellent satisfaction. He is said to have applied the term "Oxford School " to the building where he was known as master, but whether derisively or not is uncer- tain. Some say that but one term was taught here, while others think that school was held about two years. The facts are uncertain. The old building" rotted down there, and some of the decaying logs may yet be seen by the- curious.

In about the year 1846, another schoolhouse was erected, and located in the southwestern part on the land of William McDaniel. It was a small frame- building, and considerable trouble was experienced in getting school started there, owing to dissatisfaction regarding the location of the house, the wages tos be paid the teacher, and the lot upon which the house stood, which had been donated by Mr. McDaniel. Angry disputes were freely indulged in by oppos- ing parties, and for many years a lingering bitterness existed in the neighbor- hood. The first teacher had an easy school, and everything went off smoothly .. The second teacher was John Miller, of Whitley County, who possessed a great.

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

deal of determination and force of character. His school began and progressed nicely until Christmas, there being a half-dozen or more young men in attend- ance, among whom were the Gaff boys and William Hughes. At Christmas, the boys resolved that they must have a treat from the teacher, and, therefore, early on that morning, before that functionary had arrived, they took possession of the house, and when the teacher put in an appearance, barred the door against him, at the same time handing him a paper from the window upon which was written their demand. Mr. Miller quietly read the document, and positively refused to accede to their request, at the same time demanding that the door be immediately opened; but this the boys as positively refused to do until the teacher came to terms. This fired the blood of the latter, and he declared that he would break down the door if it was not opened. The boys told him to do his worst, and threatened to throttle him if he forced his way into the room. After trying all sorts of maneuvers for several hours to get in, without success, the teacher went to the Directors, and informed them what had transpired, and asked their interference that the school might go on. The Directors thought, and told him so, that inasmuch as the procedure of the boys was quite customary, and their demand reasonable, the best thing for him to do was to treat, as he would thereby gain their good will, and would be liked all the better by the scholars; but the teacher had made up his mind to do no such thing, and told the Directors so, whereupon he was informed that he must fight the battle out alone. The teacher returned to the schoolhouse, where he remained the balance of the day and far into the night, waiting and watching for an opportunity to enter; but the boys were determined and vigilant, and the teacher was foiled. At last, the latter retired to his home. When the boys were sure he had gone, they immediately held a council of war. It was voted unanimously to either bring the teacher to terms, or prevent him from continu- ing the school. They therefore resolved to leave a few of the strongest to hold the fort until morning, so that in case the teacher returned, he could not gain entrance to the room. This was done, and the other scholars retired to their homes for the night. About daylight the next morning, the teacher put in his appearance, expecting, of course, that the building had been vacated; but such was not the case, as he soon learned to his discomfort. He made desper- ate efforts to get in, but the boys stubbornly and successfully resisted every movement. The foiled master then decided to wear the boys out, hoping by that means to get possession. He remained in that vicinity, occasionally making movements as if he intended to burst in the door, or as if he meditated an attack upon the fort from an unexpected quarter. At night he again went home, but the boys put out their sentinels, and left the schoolhouse ably com- manded. Morning came and with it came the gritty pedagogue; but the boys were found strongly intrenched, and the position proved impregnable, though the enemy still lingered in the vicinity ; but the besieged were becoming desper- ate, and, at last, they resolved upon a sally, hoping to capture the enemy alive.

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GREEN TOWNSHIP.

As the latter was standing in an exposed quarter, the door was suddenly thrown open, and he found himself in the hands of his assailants ere he could offer suc- cessful resistance. He was then informed that unless he capitulated and agreed to forthwith treat, he would be taken to the nearest lake and ducked repeatedly in the icy water ; but he defiantly refused, and the boys, with him in their cus- tody, started for southern Lindsey Lake with the avowed intention of dipping him into the water. The lake was reached, a large hole was chopped in the ice, and the teacher was given a last chance; but he spurned their offers with contempt, and the boys prepared to plunge him in. Their intention, however, was not to carry the matter so far. They desired to scare him into a compli- ance with their demands, but the teacher had resolved never to yield, and after he had been shaken over the yawning hole for a time, he was released and per- mitted to go. By this time, the whole neighborhood was so roused up, and their sympathies were so unanimously with the boys, that the Directors thought best to discharge the teacher, which was accordingly done to his satisfaction as well as theirs.

The old house that had withstood the above described siege was used some twelve or fifteen years, and was then sold to Mr. McDaniel for $7.50, and moved to his residence, where it was used as an outhouse until it was destroyed by fire a few years ago. The present schoolhouse (a frame structure) in that neighborhood was built at the time the old one was sold.

A log schoolhouse was built in the northern part, near Mr. Bowen's, about the year 1845. This house stood well toward the eastern part of the district, and, after being used some ten years, was replaced by a small frame, 24x26 feet, located where the present house stands. In 1873, William Davis, a skillful carpenter and an excellent man living near, was employed to construct the present fine brick country school building, which was done at a cost of $1,036. Mr. Davis has built many of the schoolhouses throughout the county, as well as dwellings.

A schoolhouse was built in District 4 about the year 1849, and Jesse Noe was employed in the capacity of teacher. Another house has been built there since, and is known as the "Green Schoolhouse." A log school building was erected at the Center about 1848, and after being used a few years, a frame building, constructed in the shape of an octagon, and known as the " Round Schoolhouse," was built to take its place. This building served its day, as it soon fell apart, and the present house, a frame, was erected in its place.

The second schoolhouse in the northwestern corner, while it was used for educational purposes, was frequently occupied by a small society of Methodists that assembled there to worship. This was not very satisfactory to those who were not members of the society, as the latter more or less injured the building without any return, but nothing was done in opposition. At last, when the new schoolhouse was built, John Favinger purchased the old building, which thereafter was used exclusively as a church, until a short time ago, when it was

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deserted by the society, which dissolved, and the old house was transferred to Jefferson Township, where its lot of usefulness is very much lowered by its conversion into a barn. Among the membership of this society were the fam- ilies of Jacob Macemore, Christian River, William Steel and others. The min- isters in charge have been Revs. Comstock, Miller, Graham and Smith.

The Free-Will Baptists erected a hewed log church near the schoolhouse in District No. 4 about the year 1854. The society had been organized previously by Rev. Jesse Noe, and had met in the old schoolhouse; but through his influence the church was built, though still the society was feeble and finan- cially poor. Mr. Noe was retained as minister by the society after his terms of school in the old schoolhouse were ended, but he began his work without salary save such as was subscribed and willingly given from time to time by the mem- bers. This amount was exceedingly small, and soon Mr. Noe sadly needed a new suit of clothes. This he publicly announced, and his wants were met with a ready and satisfactory response from the members. The old church was de- serted long ago. During the winter of 1863-64, Elder C. C. Sands, of the Church of God, held a protracted meeting in the schoolhouse at Green Center. A great deal of interest was aroused, and many converted. Henry A. Cory, one of the converts, immediately began to preach, and during the following winter he, assisted by Elder Sands, held well-attended meetings in the school- house, where the church now stands. Here it was that a membership of thir- ty-six was secured. In 1879, when the schoolhouse was burned down, the thought of building a church was considered. William Grawcock, an excellent man, agreed to give the necessary land and brick, and the necessary subscrip- tion was secured after energetic work. The Building Committee were J. M. Applegate, Chairman ; John Harter, Treasurer; William Grawcock, Secreta- ry; and George Fulk and Benjamin Crider. Mr. Grawcock was made chair- man at the death of Mr. Applegate. George Geiger and John Parker were af- terward members of the committee. The brick church was built last year at a cost of $2,400, the most of which was raised by subscription. They have a fine Sunday school, one of the largest in the county, the average attendance be- ing seventy-five. Every three weeks the Rev. Mr. Oliver preaches to the soci- ety, which is in a prosperous condition.

George out

GREEN TP.

CHAPTER XVIII. BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.

SWAN TOWNSHIP-INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE-MR. TIMMERMAN AND THE BEAR-EARLY HUNTING EXPLOITS-THE FIRST SAW-MILL-SWAN AND LA OTTO-THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE-THE EARLY CIRCUIT RIDERS- RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

D URING the early autumn of 1833, George Rickard, a native of the Em- pire State, appeared in what is now Swan Township, where he selected a farm of eighty acres in the northern part, and began the difficult process of preparing his land for cultivation. This man, who is yet well remembered, was the first permanent settler in the township. He built a small beech-log cabin on his small farm, in which were domiciled his wife and children. Travel, at that time, was considerable along the Lima road, and taverns were in great demand. This induced Mr. Rickard, notwithstanding his small cabin, to throw the doors open to the public. He placed for a sign a pair of very large buck horns, which circumstance gave rise to the name his house received from travelers- " The Buck-Horn Tavern." Of course whisky was kept for sale to those who imbibed.

Conrad Cramer came up the Maumee River early in June, 1834, by means of pirogues, pushing them along the shallow stream with long poles, placed one end on the bottom and the other against the shoulder. His family and a few household goods were thus brought up the river to Fort Wayne, and then trans- ferred to Swan Township, where Mr. Cramer entered eighty acres of land adjoining that of Rickard. Mr. Cramer also came from York State (Jefferson County). The next settlers were probably James and Charles Shelner and Daniel Tousley, the three coming about the same time in 1834. Within the next two or three years, there came in Jonas and John Strous, Samuel Barkwell, Charles Salsbury, Mr. Flagg, Hiram King, Alexander Gifford, the Broughtons, Oliver and Stanberry Wright, Hiram Parker, three or four of the Fulks (who settled in the southwestern part), Oliver L. Perry and others. Immediately afterward, and prior to 1844, there came in among others Weston Ackley, J. L. Blowers, Hamilton Badger, John C. Billings, Conrad Bricker, Dexter Brooks, Russell Clapp, Samuel Carothers, Nicholas Cooper, M. P. Dickerson, F. Tilton, Samuel Frances, William Gregg, Samuel Huff, Henry Haskins, William Errickson, Charles Law, John Latta, Joseph Richards, Henry Timmerman, Aaron, Alva and Josiah Wood, James, Luther, Lewis and Erastus Warner, Jared and John Weeks, Edward and Lewis Walburn, and James Willetts.

After this the township was settled rapidly, and log cabins sprang into existence in all directions, almost like Aladdin's palace. Rollings and raisings

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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

were every-day occurrences, and some of the old settlers state that for weeks at a time they were gone from home, assisting new settlers in getting a home and a start. Settlers usually brought an abundance of clothing with them, and a few necessary household goods, and perhaps a small quantity of money ; so that the first thing to think of after the erection of the cabin, and possibly some rude stable in which to shelter the horses or cow or sheep or swine, was how to provide for the appetite. At first swine were scarce, but soon the woods were full of them, as they ran like wild animals without molestation, save as they were shot for pork. They were often very fierce and dangerous, the tusks of the males attaining a length of six or more inches. Armed with such weap- ons, an enraged Sus scrofa was a formidable enemy. A small clearing was made as soon as possible, upon which to raise potatoes, corn, pump- kins and wheat. The men found an abundance of hard labor in clearing and improving their land, and very often the services of the women were employed to accomplish the same result. Acres of heavy trees of the finest woods were leveled with the ground, and soon the fires, often continued far into the night, completed the process of denudation. Flax was raised, from which linen clothing of all sorts was rudely manufactured by the women. At a very early day it was noised abroad that a drove of sheep was to be driven along the Goshen road, and offered for sale here and there to the settlers. Jonas Strouse went over to Wolf Lake to buy a small flock, but found that he had missed the drove, and hearing that Joseph Adair, of Wash- ington, had some to spare, he went over and bought eight, which, so far as known, were the first brought into Swan Township. The flock multiplied and did well, notwithstanding that every now and then one was killed by the wolves. Mr. Strouse says that on more than one occasion some of his sheep were killed at mid-day near the house by large, fierce wolves. He set a steel trap for a big wolf that had proved very troublesome, and caught it, but the wolf dragged the trap into a neighboring swamp, where it was followed the next day by Mr. Strouse, who shot it, and afterward received as he said " $5 for its sculp." Peo- ple soon learned to make their own linen and woolen cloth, either each material by itself, or in the form of "linsey-woolsey," beautifully colored with leaves or bark from the woods. Deer were very numerous, and every old settler's recol- lection is filled with stories of them. Once in awhile a bear was seen or killed to relieve the monotony. At a very early day, the Indians started a bear in the northern part with their dogs, and having chased it to the vicinity of Cra- mer's Lake, succeeded in killing it, after it had knocked a few of their dogs higher than Gilderoy's kite. This occurred not far from the year 1837. In about the year 1888, a large bear came one night to Timmerman's cabin, and, being very hungry, seized an unfortunate swine, weighing some one hundred and fifty pounds, by the back of the neck, and dragged it off, despite its squeals and struggles, into the woods, where its mangled and half-consumed carcass was found the next morning by the irate owner. While the hog was being

NOBLE CO., INFIRMARY

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SWAN TOWNSHIP.

dragged off, the family heard its piercing squeals, but were unable to effect a rescue, on account of the intense darkness and the boldness of the bear. The hog had been dragged into an almost impassable wind-fall, where it was found. Surmising that Mr. Bruin would return for another feast within the next night or two, Mr. Timmerman and a few others contrived a trap from a log about a foot in diameter, which was so arranged that when the bear approached the hog, the log must fall directly upon its back. The first night no bear appeared, but on the second it came, and, as expected, was pinned to the ground by the log. But the trappers had miscalculated, for upon reaching the spot the next morning it was found that the bear had scratched and clawed up the ground where the log lay, and had thrown the latter to one side, scattering the other contrivances of the trap in all directions. The trap had been so contrived that, when the log fell, the bear would be inclosed between two rows of sharp, wooden pins. These were found covered with the hair and blood of the bear. The animal, probably, after recovering from its shock had eaten heartily of the pork, and had taken its final departure, for it was not seen in the neighborhood afterward.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 74

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