USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory, 1873-4 > Part 20
USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory, 1873-4 > Part 20
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MAPLES, a small post office village of about 200 inhabitants, situated on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway, about ten miles from Fort Wayne, boasts one dry goods store, one grocery and saloon, one stave
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factory, Fitch & Maples, proprietors, which is doing a very prosperous business. It has also a prosperous I. O. G. T. lodge. Two doctorsreside in the village. The township contains one church (Catholic) comprising a charge of 103 families, eleven schools and a township library in good condition. The population of the township is rated as follows: Males, 615; females, 512; total, 1, 127.
LAFAYETTE
Township, which receives its name from the Marquis de Lafayette, so celebrated for the part he bore in our Revolutionary history, the south- west corner township of Allen county, is bounded on the north by Aboite and on the east by Pleasant townships, on the south by Wells and on the west by Huntington counties. It was laid out by sections in 1840 and was first settled in the following year by James Wilson, William Jobs and Samuel Fogwell. Rebecca Fogwell was the first white child born. The first death was that of Samuel Fogwell. The township is well watered -in the southern part by Eight Mile creek, in the northern part by Little river and in other parts by smaller streams. The Indianapolis and Hunt- ington roads cross the township in a southwesterly direction and are the principal means of transportation. In the northwestern part the surface is very rolling, but becomes more level toward the opposite cor- ner. The soil is very fertile and is well timbered, principally with maple, hickory, oak and walnut, but in some parts of the township considerable quantities of poplar is found. As a proof of the quality of the soil and the industry of the inhabitants, one need only to look at the finely im- proved farms whose bountiful harvests of grains and fruits, and substantial buildings and surroundings that now gladden the eye of the old pioneer as well as the passer-by, where thirty years ago the silence of an almost impenetrable forest reigned supreme. The principal products are wheat, corn, oats and flax. The township contains eleven school houses, two churches (one German Methodist and one Evangelical Association), three saw mills and three post offices-Aboite, in the northwestern part of the township, nine miles from Fort Wayne ; the Nine Mile post office, which, as its name implies, is nine miles from Fort Wayne, is in the eastern part, and
ZANESVILLE, a small postal village of about 250 inhabitants, in the southern part, on the line of division between Wells and Allen counties, fifteen miles from Fort Wayne. It contains one church, one general store, one shoe shop, one blacksmith shop, one wagon shop, and one saw mill.
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The Toledo, Wabash & Western railway passes through the northwestern part of the township, along the northern bank of Little river, but has no station. The population of the township ranks : Males, 657 ; females, 622 ; total, 1,279.
LAKE
Township, in the western part of the county, is bounded on the north by Whitley county and Eel River township, on the east by Washington and on the south by Aboite townships, and on the west by Whitley county. It was first settled in 1835 by Andrew Forsythe, who was followed in the fall of the same year by William Luckey, Samuel Caffrey and James Pringle. John McClure, Francis Sweet and Samuel Pierson settled here in 1837, and the first election was held in April of the same year. There are three churches (one Methodist Episcopal, one Free Will Baptist and one United Brethren), one church organization of the Catholic faith, with a membership of seventy families, mostly of foreign birth; a Good Templar's lodge and a township library. The soil is fertile, but in some parts rather low, all of this, however, is capable of being improved under a system of thorough drainage. Wheat and corn are the principal pro- ducts. Sorghum is also raised in considerable quantities in some parts of the township. The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway traverses the southern portion of the township. It is well watered by Aboite creek in the southern part and a fine lake and its tributary in the northern part. There are eleven school districts, with an attendance of 473 scholars. The township (Arcola included) has a population of 629 males and 537 females ; total 1, 166.
ARCOLA is a post office village in the southwestern part of the town- ship, and a station on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway, eight miles from Fort Wayne. It contains one grocery and dry goods store, one saw mill, one shingle and lath factory, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, one boot and shoe shop, one saloon and two physicians. Population: Males, 66 ; females, 35; total, 101.
MADISON
Township is located in the southeastern part of Allen county, and is bounded on the north by Jefferson township, on the south by Wells county, on the east by Monroe and on the west by Marion township. The Pitts- burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway passes through the northeast corner
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of the township and is the only means of transportation. Monroeville, in Monroe township, is the nearest shipping point, being about five miles from the center of this township. The first settlement was made in 1838 by Messrs. - - Browning, William Hill, George Eagy, Andrew Meek, John Edwards and Milton Holmes. The oldest man in the township is Adam Emeneheiser, age 92. The township contains several saw mills, carpenters, two blacksmith shops, three churches (one Presbyterian,' erected in 1848; one Evangelical Lutheran, erected in 1866; one Lutheran, erected in 1846), ten district schools, with an average attendance of thirty- five scholars each, one Vigilant Committee, or society, organized ten or fifteen years ago, owing to the depredations of horse-thieves. The surface is flat and heavily timbered with oak, ash, walnut, poplar, etc. The soil good and well adapted to the raising of all kinds of grain, fruit and grass -grazing being especially good.
This township was traversed by old General Wayne in his route to Fort Wayne from Piqua. There is no post office in the township, the mails being received at Monroeville. There are no running streams in the township, but it is well watered by springs, &c. Population : Males, 483 ; females, 425; total, 908.
MARION
Township, the keystone in the southern tier of Allen county townships, is bounded on the north by Adams, on the east by Madison, on the west by Pleasant townships and on the south by Adams county. The surface is slightly rolling, heavily timbered and well watered. The soil is rich, sandy loam and universally good, there being no waste land in the town- ship. Wheat, oats and corn are the principal product. The township was first settled in 1835 by Jesse Heaton, sen., David Spitler, C. Lipes, Garret Norton, Thomas Thompson and . - Marion, from whom the township derived its name at its organization in 1836. These were soon followed by Judge McLain, David McLain, John M. Sorg and others, who settled on the east bank of the St. Mary's river, along the present location of the Piqua road.
The oldest inhabitant now living in the township is Jesse Heaton, 80 years of age. Himself and wife still live on the farm located by him 34 years ago.
The principal roads traversing the township are the Piqua road, or old plank road from Fort Wayne to Decatur, the Winchester road, running along the western ridge, the Flat Rock road from Williamsport to Van
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Wert, Ohio, and the old Piqua road, or what is generally known as the Wayne trace, the route Gen. Wayne and his army traversed on their way to Fort Wayne.
WILLIAMSPORT, a small post office town, is situated in the southwestern part of the township, on the west bank of the St. Mary's river. It con- tains one store, one saw mill, one flouring mill, M. Cody, of Fort Wayne, proprietor, one shoe shop, one wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, two churches (one Presbyterian and one Methodist Episcopal), one school house and a post office.
MIDDLETOWN, another modest hamlet, is situated about a mile and a half from the center of the township, on the Piqua road, eleven miles from Fort Wayne. It contains one store, one blacksmith shop, one saw mill, Messrs. Moneysmith and Morton, proprietors, one post office, two cooper shops, one hotel, one church (Methodist Episcopal, erected in 1854), one school house and a Masonic lodge, organized in 1854, and now in a very flourishing condition.
The township is well supplied with religious and educational advantages. There are seven church organizations-one Roman Catholic, one Baptist, one Presbyterian, two Methodist Episcopal and two German Lutheran. There are fourteen schools in the township-two Roman Catholic (one a Sisters' school, situated near the church, on the Piqua road, eight miles from Fort Wayne), two German Lutheran, and ten district schools, with a population of 656 males and 607 females ; total, 1, 263.
MAUMEE
Township, located in the eastern part of the county, is bounded on the north by Springfield and Scipio, on the south by Jackson, on the west by Milan townships and on the east by Paulding county, Ohio. It was first settled by Ulrich Saylor, sr., Ulrich Saylor, jr., and Solomon Swisher, in 1837. The township was organized in 1843. The first marriage was that of Betsey E. Saylor and Charles Harding, in 1841. The oldest set- tlers now living are Ulrich Saylor, sr., Ulrich. Saylor jr., and William Johnson. The township is traversed by the Maumee river, the Wabash & Erie canal and the Toledo, Wabash & Western railway. The surface is flat and in many places swampy. There are three school houses, a township library, a grocery at Bull Rapids and a station and post office called Woodburn, on the Toledo, Wabash & Western railway, sixteen miles from Fort Wayne. Population : Males, 179; females, 150 ; total, 329.
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MILAN
Township, lying on the eastern part of the county, is bounded on the north by Cedar Creek and Springfield, on the east by Maumee, on the south by Jefferson and on the west by St. Joseph townships. The first settlements were made from 1838 to 1840 inclusive, near the Maumee river, by Alvin Hall, George Forstater, Charles Schreiner, Nathan Lake, John Nuttle, Wilkes Gillet, Andrew Wakefield, Richard Barrow and others. The oldest inhabitants now living are R. D. Nuttle, Charles Schreiner and Alvin Hall, who came respectively in the years 1835, 1837 and 1838. The township contains eight school houses, valued at $3,500, a Lutheran society, holding its services in a school house, a township library and a post office on the Ridge road. The principal streams are Maumee river, Six Mile, Nine Mile and Ten Mile creeks. The Wabash & Erie canal and the Toledo, Wabash & Western railway pass through the township. The northwest part (about one-third of the township), con- tains some of the finest farming lands in the county. The balance, however, is rather low and swampy, but, if properly drained, would make a good grazing country. Population : Males, 604; females, 596 ; total, 1, 100.
MONROE
Township is located in the southeast corner of Allen county, midway between the St. Mary's and Maumee river, a distance of sixteen miles from Fort Wayne and bordering on the Ohio State line fourteen miles from Van Wert. This township has the facilities afforded by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad running direct through its center, thus rendering an easy access to the city of Fort Wayne, or the village of Van Wert, by rail, and affording a good market for the immense amount of · choice timber for which it is noted. The land is of an undulating sur- face, composed of rich, black sandy loam well adapted to the raising of corn, whcat, oats, rye, barley, potatoes and grass, with all the cereals requisite for table use. The principal commerce consists of the large quantity of staves, spokes, lumber and hub timber, together with the hoop poles and live stock which are being constantly shipped from Mon- roeville, the principal market place, situated in the center of the township. It was first settled in 1838 or 1839 by a few hardy pioneers who had the courage and fortitude so essential to the early settlers to induce them to forego the comforts and societies of older States for the new and most
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bitter trials of manhood which have to be endured in settling up a new country, in the midst of a dense wilderness, far from markets of any kind, with nothing to cheer them but the prospects of the future. Among them there are none more worthy of note than Peter Slemmer and Hugh Anderson, the two first settlers of this township, or of those who imme- diately followed them, Noah Clem, Samuel Clem, William Rabbit, Moses Ratledge, William Ratledge, Elijah Redenhouse, John Fredline, John Stephenson, Thomas Meeks and Asa Dillon, many of whom are still living upon their now old and improved farms, and are capable yet of telling of the self-trying times they have endured that they might reap the benefits in their old days.
The first white male child born in the township was John Ratlege. The oldest man now living in the township is Hugh Anderson, who, though very old, is still able to look to the interests of his farm and household. This, unlike most other townships, can boast of a smart, thriving village situated about the center of it, wherein are constantly in operation a number of factories, steam saw and grist mills, together with all the other branches of mechanism usually carried on in inland towns or vil- lages, while as for churches, schools and societies in general it is unsur- passed by any township in the county except Wayne. It can boast of every convenience calculated to make life pleasant in a society where benevolence and energy are necessary for public improvements as will be seen readily by observing the various churches, schools and benevolent societies, such as Masonic, Odd Fellows, Good Templars, together with the Ladies' Sociable, wherein the mite is given freely for such charitable purposes as the society think most needy. For a more full description of the township, we would refer the reader to the history of Monroeville, herewith connected.
MONROEVILLE, the center of Monroe township, was first laid out as a town by John Barnhart, Esq., in 1854, and is located sixteen miles east- ward from Fort Wayne, on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago rail- way, and is sixteen miles from Van Wert, Ohio, and twelve miles from Decatur, the county seat of Adams county, Indiana ; thus rendering it a thriving inland business point with a population of about 1,300 inhabit- ants, has four extensive stave manufactories, two steam saw mills, one large flouring mill, five dry goods stores, three grocery and provision stores, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, with various others, such as carpenter, cabinet, boot, shoe and harness shops. This town, for many * years after it was laid out, was nothing but a mail station upon the rail-
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road, and its entire growth as seen at present, has been accomplished in the past five or six years, and so rapid has been its prosperity that within one year's time it has surpassed every village in the county for business facilities derived from manufactories and merchandise.
The citizens of Monroeville are, in general, enterprising and indus- trious, and seem to possess a public pride worthy of commendation, as will be readily observed from their fine churches that have been lately erected, with other fine buildings already completed and in progress of erection, such as school houses, town halls, &c. The streets are kept in good repair, and few towns having double the age of Monroeville, can boast of better sidewalks. The inhabitants take a high stand in favor of education, and contributed largely for the erection of a graded school suitable for the town and surrounding country. Churches are well attended, and all seem to vie with each other in helping to preserve order and friendly feeling throughout the town. Of religious denominations there are three (Catholic, Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran), each denomina- tion having a fine church and a large congregation. The benevolent institutions of Monroeville are as follows: The Monroeville Masonic Lodge, No. 293, the Independent Order of Good Templars and the Brotherhood of Odd Fellows, each order having a large number of mem- bers, and are in a thriving condition, possessing good halls and meet regularly.
The principal business of the town is derived from the timber that surrounds it and from the immense amount of staves, lumber, spokes and hubs that are bought at this place, giving employment to numerous hands in the manufacture of the same, and distributing weekly from ten to fifteen thousand dollars for those articles of trade. While at the same time Monroeville is the principal market place for Decatur, the county seat of Adams county, thus helping to contribute occupation for teaming to and fro between the two towns and affording plenty of business for livery and horse dealers, together with the advantages derived therefrom for two hotels of the place, where accommodations can be obtained well worthy of the landlords, who endeavor to render the comfort and happi- nesss of their guests their chief satisfaction.
Population of Monroeville ; Males, 463 ; females, 412 ; total, 875. Population of Monroe township (including Monroeville) : Males, 784 ; females, 730 ; total, 1,514.
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PERRY
Township is bounded on the north by DeKalb county, on the south by Washington and St. Soseph, on the east by Cedar Creek and on the west by Eel River townships. The surface of the country is rolling and heavily timbered. The soil is well adapted to raising all kinds of grain and fruits, the principal products being wheat and corn.
The first settlement was made in 1830 by Mr. Weeks (who felled the first tree), W. S. Hunter, Joseph Hunter and Mr. Hatch. The country, previous to this time, had been an umbroken wilderness, and the sleep of the little settlement was only disturbed by the fierce howl of the wolf and other animals. The incidents following the first settlement for a great many years were not unlike other new settlements. „ This being a heavily timbered country, with a rich soil, the production of corn, wheat, oats, &c., were the first things thought of, and, to accomplish this end, the timber was soon hewn away, and where the giant forest. then stood we now see extensive fields of the common products of Northern Indiana. The first white child born was Harriet Weeks and the first death was Mr. Jason Hatch. This township contains one hotel, three groceries, two boot and shoe stores, three blacksmith shop, one steam and two water power saw mills, five churches (one Presbyterian, two Methodist, one United Brethren, one Lutheran and one Universalist); one cemetery, situated in the center of the township, and eight district schools, with an average attendance of 495 scholars ; one township library, one Masonic lodge, which meets once a month, and one lodge of Good Templars who meet weekly.
HUNTERTOWN (Perry Post Office), is an incorporated town, situated in the northwestern part of the township, about ten miles from Fort Wayne, on the Lima plank road. The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw and the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroads run on the same grade to this place, where they form a junction-one taking an easterly and the other a west- erly course. The village contains 110 inhabitants (60 males and 50 females), one dry goods and grocery store, with post office, two grocery stores, three blacksmith shops, two boot and shoe stores, one fur glove factory, one hotel and one physician. Thus it may be seen that with the rich fertile soil, adapted to all kinds of fruit raising and agriculture, to- gether with the easy mode of transportation, to say nothing of the mineral
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resources, this is destined to be one of the leading places of the county, if not of northern Indiana. Population of the township, 1,091 (611 males and 480 females).
PLEASANT
Township, situated in the southern or southwestern part of the county, is bounded on the north by Wayne, on the east by Marion and on the west by Lafayette townships, and on the south by Wells county. The surface of the township is level, the soil fertile, well watered and timbered, and particularly adapted to the growth of corn and wheat, which are its prin- cipal products.
The St. Mary's river runs through the northeast corner and the Little river, in a very winding course, traverses the whole length of the town- ship. The most direct route to and through the township is the Bluffton road, which runs north and south along the center of it. There are two other roads, running parallel with the Bluffton road-the Murray road, two miles to the west, and the County road, one and a half miles east- which also afford ample means of communication with all parts of the township.
There are four churches, nine school houses, one township library of 333 volumes, kept at the house of the librarian, A. F. Unger, and one post office (called Nine Mile post office), but Fort Wayne is the post office address of a majority of the inhabitants. Population : Males, 638; females, 668; total, 1, 306.
SCIPIO
Township is situated in the northeastern part of the county, twenty miles from Fort Wayne. The southern part is somewhat low, but well adapted to the raising of corn, hay and stock. The northern part contains some of the most fertile soil in the State. Finer farms than are seen here can scarcely be found in any country. In passing up the Ridge road, the eye of the traveler will be delighted in a high degree with the well-tilled fields, the carefully-tended flocks, the substantial barns and out-houses, the neat and tasteful dwellings, surrounded by trees and shrubbery, and well- kept lawns, all showing, in addition to a high state of thrift and industry,
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a degree of intelligence and refinement too seldom found in farming communities. Too much can scarcely be sasd of the beauty of this locality.
The township was first settled by Platt Squire, Benjamin Borden, Jehiel and Marvin Parks, Lucius, Nathan and William Parmer, George and Robert Dorsey, Philip J. Schell and John Wentworth. The first birth was that of Lafayette Squire and Laura Squire was the first death, caused by burning.
The early settlers, like all other pioneers, had to endure severe hard- ships during the first years of their settlement. At Fort Wayne-then only a trading post-they were compelled to buy their provisions and clothing and float them down the Manmee river in pirogues to the State line, and from there carry them on their backs six miles through an un- broken wilderness, infested with wolves, bears, wildcats, and the no less savage Indians, to whose mercy their wives and children were exposed in their absence.
This township (which is a small one, being only about one-third the size of a full township) has three school houses, valued at $1,000, and a Methodist church, valued at $1,200. It has a population of 414 (249 males and 165 females).
SPRINGFIELD
Township, lying in the northeastern part of the county, is bounded on the north by DeKalb county, on the east by Scipio, on the south by Milan and Maumee and on the west by Cedar Creek townships.
It was first settled in 1836 by Henry Gruber, William Ringwalt, Mr. King, Isaac Hall, Ezra May, William Sweet and William Glaze, who built the first house in the township west of the present site of the village of Maysville. The township was organized in 1837. It was named by Isaac Hall after a township of the same name in Summit county, Ohio, Mr. Hall's former home. The first marriage was celebrated between Isaac Hall and Jane S. Burdee. Ezra May was the first Justice of the Peace. The first school house was built near where Maysville now stands, and Miss Anna S. Bracy was the first to wield the birch and give direction to the shooting of the young idea in the new township. The oldest
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settler now living is Samuel Orno, aged about 85 years, who served as a soldier in the campaigns of the First Napoleon.
There are two post offices (Hall's Corners, in the northeast part of the township, and Harlan, in the village of Maysville). It contains twelve school houses, valued at $6,000, and eight churches, worth about $5,000. They are of the following denominations : Two Methodist Episcopal, two Methodist Protestant, two Lutheran, one Dutch Reform and one United Brethren.
MAYSVILLE (Harlan Post Office), a village of 260 inhabitants, lies one mile west and two miles south from the center of the township and is fourteen miles northeast of Fort Wayne, on the Ridge road. It contains one steam flouring mill, two steam saw mills, a shingle mill, four stores, one grocery, one cabinet shop, a butcher shop, two blacksmith shops, a boot and shoe shop, two wagon shops, a harness shop, a manufactory of window shades, a post office, an Ætna insurance agency, a Masonic and a good Templars lodge, a two-story school house, containing three rooms, three churches, a photograph gallery, a veterinary surgeon and three physicians.
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