USA > Indiana > Huntington County > Historical sketch of Huntington County, Indiana > Part 2
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Historical Sketch of
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Jackson Township was organized at the September term, 1841, of the Board of County Commissioners. The first election was at the house of Samuel Gettis. Andrew Boggs was the Inspec- tor of the election. The township was first settled by Jared Darrow, who emigrated west with his family, consisting of four persons, from Rochester, New York, in the year 1837. He set- tled one mile south of the town of Roanoke. His nationality was American.
Within the next year Messrs. Thompson, Southwick, Decker, R. I. Eskridge and Paul H. Salts settled in the township. Paul H. Salts is the only one of these pioneers left surviving.
Captain Columbia built the first house in the township, which was built at Roanoke, and the first log-rolling was on the land of Lemuel G. Jones, near the lock at Roanoke. Lemuel J. Salts was the first white child born in the township. He was born in 1839. His parents were Paul H. and Lucy J. Salts.
The first marriage was in 1838, Joseph Satel and Sarah Dar- row being the contracting parties.
The first death in the township was that of Francis Dupee, which occurred in 1841.
In 1845, L. G. Jones built the first saw-mill in the township at Roanoke. He also, in 1847, built the first flouring mill, near the Lock, then known as Dickey's Lock. At this time there are eight saw-mills and one flouring mill in the township.
The first school was kept at Wesley Chapel, two miles north of Roanoke, by William Allen. The first school-house was built at Wesley Chapel. Wesley Chapel was built in 1850 by the Methodist church. It was the first church built in the town- ship.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
Other denominations built churches in the following order : United Brethren, at Roanoke ; Lutheran Church ; United Breth- ren, at Brandenburg's ; Zion United Brethren Church, on Bull Creek ; New Lutheran and Catholic. The leading denomina- tions are the United Brethren and Methodist.
Roanoke is a considerable town, representing many of the industries, and improving. It has a population of about 1,000.
CLEARCREEK TOWNSHIP'.
Clearcreek Township was organized on the 24th day of Febru- ary, 1838. It was six miles wide, north and south, and sixteen miles long. The first election was held on the first Monday in April. 1838, at the house of John R. Emley. Thomas Delvin was the first township clerk.
The township was reduced in September, 1841, by the organ- ization of Jackson township. It was again reduced, and to its present limits, in June, 1843, by the organization of Warren township.
The township was first settled by Michael Doyle, who located on the southeast quarter of section thirty-three, in the fall of 1834. He built the first log cabin in the township, a portion of the back wall of which still marks its site. The present owner of the premises, Dumniel Kitch. has planted this year a Centen- nial tree where the " old house " stood, to preserve the identity of its location.
Michael Doyle had five persons in his family. His nationality was Irish. Within the next year John R. Emley, with his wife and nine children, settled on the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine. Right of his children still survive.
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Historical Sketch of
James McCambridge and his brother also settled in the town- ship late in 1834.
The first log-rolling was on the farm of Thomas Delvin, in section thirty-three, in 1835.
Elizabeth Miller was the first white child born in the town- ship. She was the daughter of Henry Miller, and was born in May, 1836.
The first wedding occurred in November, 1841, Samuel Ream; and Louisa Dial being the principal parties in the cere- mony.
The first death was that of Wesley Emley, which occurred in October, 1836.
In 1836, John R. Emley erected a corn mill, the first in " all that region." In 1843, Samuel C. Emley built the first saw- mill on section twenty-eight. At this time there are five saw- mills in operation in the township.
Abraham Binkley " kept " the first school in the township, at Emley's school-house, which stood near the present site of Clear- creek Church, but which has long since disappeared.
The first school-honse was built in 1838, on the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, and was known as the Emley school-house.
The first church was built in the centre of the township by the United Brethren. Denominations followed and organized in the following order : Christian, Evangelists, Methodist and German Baptist.
The German Baptist, United Brethren and Methodist are the leading denominations.
Anthony Emley, in 1835, carried the second lot of flour ever used in the township on his shoulder from Huntington, in two loads of one hundred pounds each.
The venerable Jacob Kitt, 96 years old, resides in this town- ship. He is probably the oldest man in the county.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
WARRENN TOWNSHIP.
Warren Township was organized at the June Term, 1843, of the Board of County Commissioners. The first election was held at the school-house near John Altman's. Jacob Shull was the inspector of the election.
The township was first settled in 1835 by George Zellers, who moved with his family, consisting of eight persons, from Wayne County, Ohio, to section eleven. His nationality was German.
Within the next year, Thomas Staley and George Schlosser settled in the township. George Schlosser sowed the first wheat ever sowed in the township.
The first log-rolling was on the farm of George Zellers.
M- Staley, the child of Thomas and Amanda Staley, was the first white child born in the township, which birth oc- curred in 1836.
The first marriage was that of William Delvin and Susan Zellers in 1837.
The first death was that of a man named Noyer, who was killed by the falling of a tree in 1841.
Joseph Miller built the first saw-mill in the township in 1856, on section twenty-two, and two years afterwards, on the same section, he erected the first flouring-mill. There are now four saw-mills and one shingle-mill in operation.
In 1841, John W. Funk taught the first school on section eleven. The first school-house was built in 1841, on section eleven, at " Altman's Corners."
In 1855 the Intherans built the first church in the township. It was erected on section twenty-one. Following the Lutherans, the Methodist, United Brethren, German Baptist, Second Ad- ventist and Disciple denominations organized in the order of
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Historical Sketch of
time as above set out. The Lutherans and United Brethren are the leading denominations in the township.
Christian Daily, George France and John T. Cook were the first Trustees. William T. Guffin was the first Township Clerk. James White was the first Township Treasurer. John Altman was the first Justice of the Peace, and John W. Funk was the first Constable.
DALLAS TOWNSHIP.
Dalla; Township was organized at the March Term, 1847, of the Board of County Commissioners. It was settled about the middle of August, 1828, by Artemus D. Woodworth, who with his family, consisting of five persons, settled on the northwest quarter of section fourteen. His nationality was American.
Capt. Elias Murray settled near by Woodworth's not long afterwards, certainly as early as the winter of 1829-30.
The first house was built, and the first log-rolling occurred on the farm of Artemus H. Woodworth.
Marcia Murray, a daughter of Capt. Elias and Henrietta Murray was the first white child born in the township. The exact date of her birth is unknown, but it was early in 1830.
On the 18th day of November, 1835, Joseph Cheesebro and Susan C. Woodworth were married. This was the first marriage in the township.
Artemus D. Woodworth and William G. Campbell erected the first saw-mill. It was built in 1833, on the west branch of Silver Creek, about one and a half miles from its junction with Wabash River. There are now five saw-mills in the township.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
'The first flouring-mill was built by Elijah Snowden, in 1862, in the town of Antioch.
The first school was " kept" in 1844 and 1845. Elizabeth H. Edwards was the first teacher. The school was taught in the house erected in 1844 as a " Meeting-house " and school- house, on the southeast quarter of section two, on a lot donated by John Moore to the Society of Friends for " Meeting-house and burial purposes." The house was used as a " Meeting- house " by the " Friends," and was the first house erected for church purposes in the township. Other churches were built in the following order : United Brethren, German Lutheran, Methodists, Christians and German Baptists.
Antioch is the only town in the township. It was laid out in 1853, and contains a population of about five hundred. The original proprietor was Abraham Leedy. Additions thereto have been platted by Jacob Wintrode, Doctor Campbell and Elijah Snowden. It has three churches, one fine brick school house, and various manufacturing and mercantile establishments, all indicating a prosperous and energetic population.
John Moore, the founder of the " Friends' Meeting" in the township, was one of the early pioneers, and was principally in- strumental in securing the settlement of a considerable portion of the township by members of that Society at an early day. He was a native of North Carolina, and moved to Wayne coun- ty, Indiana, in 1825, and from thence to this township in 1837. He died in 1872, aged nearly eighty-four years.
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IS
Historical Sketch of
HUNTINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Huntington Township was first reduced by the organization of Salamony Township on the 24th day of February, 1835 ; next by by the organization of Lancaster Township on the 15th day of May, 1837 ; and next by the organization of Clearcreek Town- ship on the 24th day of February, 1838. These four townships were then each six miles wide, north and south, and sixteen miles long. Huntington Township was again reduced by the or- ganization of Monroe Township, (now called Union,) at the September term, 1842, of the Board of County Commissioners, and finally to its present limits by the organization of Dallas Township at the March term, 1847, of the Board of County Commissioners.
The first settlers of the present limits of the township were Joel Helvey and Champion Helvey, who came in 1831, and set- tled on a part of the present plat of the City of Huntington. They moved here from the Wabash River, opposite the mouth of the Salamony River. They were natives of Tennessee.
The first house was built by the Helveys on the bank of Little River, near the mouth of Flint Creek, which was used as a tav- ern, and was known as Flint Springs Hotel. The first log-roll- ing was on what is known as the Chief's farm, at the forks of the Wabash River.
Bridget Kennedy, a daughter of Michael and Mary Kennedy, was the first white child born in the township. She was born on the 11th day of March, 1834.
The first marriage was that of Champion Helvey to Mary Barrett, which occurred in May, 1834, and was solemnized by Judge Everetts. John E. George and Ann M. Murray were married in the fall of 1834. - Johnson and Sarah Keller, a
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Huntington County, Indiana.
dauhgter of Judge Keller, were married in 1835. In the spring of 1837 Samuel Moore and Mary A. Foxtater were married. This is the first marriage in the county of which any public re- cord is found.
The first death was that of the wife of William Delvin. She died in 1832 or 1833.
The first saw-mill was built in 1834 by Daniel Johnson, one mile east of the City of Huntington. There are now seven saw- mills in operation in the township.
In 1837 William G. Johnson built the first flouring-mill. It was erected on the south bank of Flint Creek, on Cherry street, in the City of Huntington. There are now four flouring-mills in the township.
The first school was kept in the house of Jonathan Keller, a few feet west of the present site of the American House, in the City of Huntington, in the winter of 1834 and 1835, and was taught by William Delvin. The first school-house was built on the south side of Market street, on a lot three lots west of the American House, and school was kept in the house in the win- ter of 1835 and 1836. The teacher's name was MeClure. The house was also used as a Court House.
The first Church was built by the Roman Catholic denomina- tion on out-lot No. 1. Other denominations organized in the following order: Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Christian, German Reformed and United Brethren. The lead- ing denomination is the Roman Catholic.
The only town in the township is the City of Huntington. The original proprietor was Gen. John Tipton, of Logansport. The original lots were sold by Capt. Elias Murray, the attorney of Gen. Tipton. A more extended notice of the city will be given at a subsequent page.
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Historical Sketch of
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Union Township was first organized at the September term, 1842, of the Board of County Commissioners, and named " Monroe Township." At the June term, 1845, the township was re-organized, and called Union Township.
It was first settled in 1836, by John McEwen, who settled on section thirty-two. There were three persons in his family. John A. Freel and John Lewis settled in the township within the next year.
The first house was built and the first log-rolling took place on the farm of John McEwen.
The first white child born in the township was John Barnes.
The first death was that of Christian Wolf.
Andrew Brandstrater, in 1847, built the first saw-mill. It was built on Flat Creek. There are three saw-mills now in operation in the township.
Jacob.Good kept the first school in the township, It was kept on section thirty.
The first school-house was built on section thirty-two.
The first church was built in 1870, all denominations joining in its erection. The only other church building in the town- ship is the Allbright.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
ROCKCREEK TOWNSHIP.
Rockcreek Township was organized at the September term, 1842, of the Board of County Commissioners.
The first election was held at the house of George Poff. Wil- liam Clark was the Inspector. The ballot-box was a hat, and the whole number of votes cast was twelve.
The first settler was Albert Draper, a single man from Ver- mont, who came in 1832, and settled at the Indian Mills, on the Richardville Reserve. His nationality is American.
Mr. J. Tracy came 1833, and Moses Sparks in 1834.
Albert Draper still survives, and resides in Upper Alton, Illinois. He built the Indian Mills for the United States for the use of the Miami Indians. This was the first house built in the Township.
The first log-rolling was on the farm of Moses Sparks, in sec- tion twenty-four.
Riley Draper, a son of Albert and Rachel Draper, was born in 1836. He was the first white child born in the township, and the marriage of his parents, which occurred in 1835, was the first marriage.
The death of Mrs. Adams in August, 1838, was the first death in the township. Eliza First, the wife of Israel First, died in the same month.
The first saw-mill and flouring-mill were the Indian Mills, above referred to. There are in the township at the present time ten saw-mills and three flouring-mills.
The first school taught by Thomas O"Thigh, in 1839, on sec- tion three, on the farm now owned by Jonas Kelsey ; and the next year the first school-house was built on section thirty-one.
The first church was built in 1861 by the Missionary Baptists
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Historical Sketch of
at Markle. Other denominations built churches in the follow- ing order : Presbyterians, Disciples and Methodists.
The town of Markle was laid out by J. Tracy, where he built a house in 1833, and kept a grocery store in the woods three miles from the nearest settler. It has a population of about 300.
At the first election Albert Draper was elected Justice of the Peace, John Sheets, Jacob F. Sours and N. Polson were elected Township Trustees, and William Clark was elected Township Clerk.
The Township was first divided into School Districts in 1842.
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LANCASTER TOWNSHIP.
Lancaster Township was organized on the 15th day of May, 1837. Its territory was reduced by the organization of Rock- creek Township in September, 1842, and was again reduced, and to its present limits, by the organization of Polk Township in March, 1846.
The township was first settled in May, 1834, by Joseph Sprowl, who, with his family, consisting of ten persons, moved from Preble county, Ohio, and settled on section thirty-four. His nationality was American.
Joseph P. Anthony and Abram Nordyke came in February, 1835, and Solomon Shideler with his family, consisting of five persons, came in the fall of the same years. Joseph P. Anthony, Jacob Shideler, and James, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Robert, W. M. and Davidson Sprowl still survive.
The first road district embraced Lancaster, Jefferson and Wayne Townships, and Abram Nordyke was the first Supervisor.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
The first house was built and the first log-rolling occurred on Joseph Sprowl's farm, in section thirty-four.
The first marriage in the township was solemnized in Novem- ber, 1837, Charles Morgan and Elizabeth Fisher being the contracting parties.
The first death was that of Mrs. Wolgarmoth, which occurred in April, 1837.
William Markes built the first saw-mill. It was built on Richland Creek, on section thirty-one, in 1843. The first flouring-mill was built in 1838, on the Salamony River, on section thirty, by Henry Hildebrand, S :. At this time there are six saw-mills and two flouring-mills in the township.
The first school was kept in 1838, on the Charleston section, by Nancy Hildebrand. The first school-house was built in 1840, at Mt. Etna.
The first church was built in 1840, at Mt. Etna, by the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Other denominations organized in the following order : Christians, German Baptists, Wesleyan Methodists, United Brethren, Lutherans, Disciples and Church of God. The leading denominations are the German Baptist and Methodist Episcopal.
John Hefner was the original proprietor of Mt. Etna, a town of about 300 inhabitants. Solomon Shideler was the original proprietor of New Lancaster, a town of about 130 inhabitants, and James Crosby was the original proprietor of Kelso, a town of about 70 inhabitants. .
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Historical Sketch of
POLK TOWNSHIP.
Polk Township was organized at the March Term, 1846, of the Board of County Commissioners. It was first settled on the 23d day of September, 1836, by Jacob Fisher, who, with his family, consisting of nine persons, moved from Clinton County, Ohio, and located on the northwest quarter of section twenty- four. He is a native of North Carolina.
Within the next year, Nathan Fisher, Willis Jeffrey, John Campbell, Leonard Parrott, Greenbury Martin, Daniel James and Daniel Webb settled in the township. All these pioneers still survive except Leonard Parrott.
The first house was built and the first log-rolling occurred on Willis Jeffrey's farm.
Silas B. Fisher, a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Fisher, who was born on the 11th day of December, 1836, was the first white child born in the township.
The first marriage took place in 1838, Charles Morgan and Elizabeth Fisher being the parties.
On the 3d day of November, 1842, Susannah Fisher died. She was a daughter of Jacob Fisher. This was the first death in the township.
The first saw-mill was built in the Spring of 1837, on Little Majenica, by John Campbell. He attached a " corn cracker " to the saw-mill. There are five saw-mills in operation at the present time. The first flouring-mill was built on the Salamonie River by Henry Hildebrand, Sr.
The first school was kept in a log cabin on the northeast corner of section twenty-five by Dr. Anderson. The first school-house was built in 1838, on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section twenty-five.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
The first church was built in 1856, on the school section, by the Wesleyan Methodists. The Christians built the next church. The leading denomination is the Methodist Episcopal.
In the spring of 1874, Jacob Leedy and John Pilcher laid out the town of Monument City-so called because of a very elegant marble monument erected at that point by the people of the township in memory of the soldiers who entered the army in the late war from the township, who were killed or died of disease during the term of their enlistment.
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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
Wayne Township was organized at the June term, 1844, of the Board of County Commissioners. The name was suggested by Thomas Fisher, in honor of Wayne County, Indiana.
The first election was held at the house of Joseph Weavers. Henry Kline was the Inspector.
The township was first settled on the 8th day of March, 1835, by John Ruggles and his family, consisting of six persons, and John Buzzard and his family, consisting of nine persons. They moved from Ohio together. John Ruggles settled on the northeast quarter of section thirteen, and John Buzzard settled on the southeast quarter of section twelve. Their nationality was American. Within the next year, Anderson Leverton, Asher Fisher, Thomas Fisher, Thomas Hollowell and Jacob Snider settled in the township. John Ruggles, Asher Fisher and Thomas Fisher still survive.
The first house was built and the first log-rolling occurred on John Ruggles' farm.
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Historical Sketch of
The first white child born in the township was Wesley Buzzard, who was born on the 15th day of April, 1835. He was a son of John and Rachel Buzzard.
In 1837, Oliver W. Sanger married Catherine A. Snider. This was the first marriage in the township.
The first death was that of Ary Cecil, which occurred on the 8th day of April, 1839.
The first saw-mill was built by John Sparks. There are two saw-mills in operation in the township.
The first school was taught in John Buzzard's cabin by Nancy Hildebrand. The first school-house was built in 1839, on section twelve.
The first church was built by the Baptists in 1860, on section thirty-four. The leading denomination is the Baptist.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Jefferson Township was organized at the March term, 1843. of the Board of County Commissioners. The first election was held at the house of William Purviance, of which election he was Inspector.
The township was first settled by George W. Helms in February, 1834, who, with his family, consisting of four persons. moved from Preble County, Ohio, and located on section twelve. His nationality was American. Peter Wire, with his family, consisting of four persons, moved into the township in October, 1834. Of these pioneers, Peter Wire, Newton Wire and M. F. Wire still survive.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
The first house was built by George W. Helins on section twelve. The first log-rolling took place on Peter Wire's farm.
The first white child born in the township was Lavina Wire. She was the daughter of Peter and Nancy Wire, and was born on the 4th day of March, 1836.
In 1839, Frederick Hefner married Nancy Cook. This was the first marriage in the township.
The first death was that of Mr. Stewart, which occurred in August, 1838.
In 1839 or 1840, Aaron Bond and John Hefner built the first saw-mill. It was built on Richland Creek, on section six. At the same time and place the same persons built the first fouring- mill. At this time there are two saw-mills and one flouring-mil! in the township.
In 1838 the first school-house was built. It was erected on section three. The first school was taught during the same year in the " new school-house " by David C. Little.
The first church was built in 1870 by the Christians, in section nine, and is known as Purviance Chapel. The Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren and Friends also have organizations in the township.
Samuel E. Satterthwaite is the proprietor of the town of Pleasant Plain, a village of about forty inhabitants.
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Historical Sketch of
SALAMONY TOWNSHIP.
Salamony Township was organized on the 24th day of Feb- rnary, 1835. Its original territorial extent was six miles wide, north and south, and sixteen miles east and west. It was the first division of the present limits of the county into townships.
An election for the choice of a Justice of the Peace was held on the 6th day of April, 1835. Samuel Jones was appointed Inspector of the election.
The township was reduced to its present limits at the March terin, 1843, of the Board of County Commissioners.
The first settlement was made on the 27th day of September. 1833, by Samuel Jones, a soldier in the war of 1812. He settled on the present site of the town of Warren. He, with his family, consisting of eight persons, moved from Highland County, Ohio. His nationality was American. Within the next year Fleming Mitchell, Lewis Richards, James Morrison, Leander Morrison, Andrew Beard, Noah McGrew, Ezra C. Thompson (who was one of the garrison of Fort Nisbit, Ohio), John McGrew, L. W. Purviance, Ezekiel Fleming, David Wire (a survivor of Sinclair's defeat ) and Michael Revael settled within the present limits of the township. Of all this goodly company of pioneers, Mrs. Samuel Jones, Fleming Mitchell, Leander Morrison, Andrew Beard and John McGrew alone survive.
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