USA > Indiana > Huntington County > Historical sketch of Huntington County, Indiana > Part 3
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The first house was built by Samuel Jones, and the first log- rolling occurred on the present site of the town of Warren.
Mary Jane McGrew, a daughter of Noah and Elizabeth McGrew, was the first white child born in the township. She was born on the 5th day of April, 1834.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
The first marriage was that of Leander Morrison and Matilda Jones, which occurred on the 26th day of February, 1835.
Michael Revael died on the 20th of January, 1835. This was the first death in the township.
Fleming Mitchell built the first saw-mill about one mile above Warren. He also built the first fouring-mill in 1835. Bolting was attached in 1837 by John Reid, who came from Massa- chusetts. At this time there are two saw-mills and three flouring-mills in operation in the township.
The first school was taught one mile below Warren by John McGrew, and the first school-house was built near the Mounds, south of Warren.
The first church was built in the town of Warren by the Reformed Presbyterians. Other denominations followed in the following order: Baptist, Methodist, Universalist, Christian and United Brethren. The leading denomination is the Methodist Episcopal.
The town of Warren is the only town in the township. It has a population of about 450.
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Historical Sketch of
THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON.
The town of Huntington was incorporated on the 16th day of February, 1848. Its population in 1850 was 594; in 1860 it was 1,664; in 1870 it was 2,925, and at the present time it is about 4,500. The town organized as a city on the 17th day of September, 1873.
The value of lots and improvements, as returned for taxation, is $677,540. The value of personal property, as returned for taxation, is $436,525 ; making a total of $1, 113,865. The actuil value of the real and personal property of the city is not far from $2,500,000, making the average wealth of the popula- tion about $500 for each of its 4,500 people.
It ha; eight churches, all supporting regular pastors.
Its public schools have reached a very high degree of excel- lence, and are justly the pride of its citizens. The present organiza ion of the public schools has been in operation three years, with the most satisfactory results. The public school- house and grounds are substantial and elegant, and compare very favorably with any in the State. The school revenue of the City Schools for tuition for the year ending June 16th, 1876, amounted to $5,262.99, and for the Special Fund it amounted to $6,300.85. During the last year the school was in session 200 days. There were 1,267 school children in the city limits, and 579 were enrolled in the City Schools. The average attendance was 456. The cost of each pupil for the year was $11.40-a little more than five cents per day. The course of instruction, running through eleven years, is quite extensive, very fully preparing pupils to enter the highest colleges of the land, as well as to discharge the business and enjoy the delights
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Huntington County, Indiana.
of the intellectual pursuits of life. The schools are under the direction of Prof. James Baldwin, who has been Superintendent for three years, assisted by a corps of nine teachers. The fol- lowing articles were prepared for and sent to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia: A geological cabinet, containing nearly four hundred specimens in mineralogy and geology, collected and arranged principally by the pupils of Grade B, Miss E. A. Collins, teacher ; a collection of the native woods of Huntington County ( fifty-seven specimens), the work of the High School, Herman Heinrichs, teacher ; a volume of maps and pen drawings, executed by grades D, C and B, Mrs. M. . 1. McCaslin, Miss Alma Holman, Miss Kate Hunt and Miss E. A. Collins the teachers, respectively ; four volumes of examination papers (prepared at the regular monthly examination in Decem- ber), copies of reports. blanks, course of study, &c. This display attracted the attention and admiration of the public in that vast display of the achievements of the world. William McGrew, William Ewing and AAlexander W. DeLong are the Trustees.
In addition to the public schools, the German Reformed Church, the Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church each supports a school. The number enrolled in the German Reformed School is 50 ; the average attendance is 45. During the last year the school was in session 190 days. The school is taught in the English and German language, and its course of instruction is substantially that of a common English education. The tuition per pupil is fifty cents per month. The value of the school property is about $3,000. The Rev. P. H. Dipple, the pastor of the church, is the teacher.
The number enrolled in the Lutheran School is 70; the average attendance is 60. During the last year the school was in session 120 days, The school is taught in the German lan- guage, and its course of instruction is substantially that of a
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Historical Sketch of
common English education. The Rev. A. Steger, the pastor of the church, is the teacher.
The number enrolled in the Catholic School is 235 ; the average attendance is 213. During the past year the school was in session 210 days. The expenses of the school aggregate $1,200 per annum, which is provided by the members of the church, making an average of about $5.70 per pupil. The school-house is an elegant building, three stories high, erected by members of the church, at a cost of $18,000. The advanced boys' classes are taught by John McCarthy ; the other classes are taught by four "Sisters of Notre Dame." The course of instruction prepares pupils to enter college.
The most prominent manufacturing establishments are Briant & Taylor's Stave Factory, operating 75 hands; Taylor & Grif- fith's Plow-handle Factory, operating 30 hands ; Drover's Spoke Factory, operationg 25 hands ; Moffitt & Roche's Foundry and Machine Shop, operating 15 hands; Niblock's Flax, Tow and Bagging Factory, operating 30 hands ; Townsend & Kenower's Lumber and Planing Mitl, operating \19 hands; Thorne, Slack & Ayres' Planing Mill, operating 14 hands ; A. Q. Kenower's Cabinet Factory, operating 12 hands; Hall & Hendrix's Car- riage Factory, operating 9 hands ; F. Kopp's Cabinet Factory, operating 7 hands ; 6 Boot and Shoe Establishments, operating 35 hands ; 4 Tailoring Establishments, operating 22 hands; S. T. Morgan's Chair-stuff Mill, operating 6 hands ; Huntington Manufacturing Co., Irregular Wood Stuff, operating 4 hands; 2 Newspaper Offices, operating 8 hands ; 2 large Flouring Mills are in operation for merchant and custom work. There are many other establishments, giving constant employment to a large number of artizans. The mercantile portion of the community is large, representing every department of trade. The trade of the city is quite extensive, embracing, as it does in many departments, a territory of more than 400 square miles,
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Huntington County, Indiana.
and a population of more than 30,000. The Lime interest, which is very large and very important, has been referred to on another page. In short, Huntington is one of the most thriving and prosperous cities in the Wabash Valley.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The first Agricultural Fair was held in the Old Court House, on the north-west corner of Jefferson and Franklin streets, in Huntington, in the fall of 1852, under the direction of John Becker, Albert Draper, Robert Fyson, Sr., James B. Custance, Jacob Snyder and others ; but without definite organization. The articles on exhibition were principally Fruit, Vegetable; and Needle Work.
On the 15th of December, 1852, a call was issued and publish- ed in the " Indiana Herald" for a meeting to be held on the first day of January, 1853, for the purpose of organizing an Ag- ricultural Society. The call was signed by Wm. G. Sutton, I). Garlick and Warren Hecox, On the first day of January, 1853, a meeting was held with Jacob Snyder as Chairman, I. P. Mil- ligan, Secretary, and Wm. G. Sutton, Treasurer, pro tem. Af- ter discussion of the subject, it was determined to permanently organize a Society, and the 5th day of February, 1853, was fixed for the election of Officers, at which time Charles H. Lewis was chosen President ; Warren Hecox, Vice-President ; Wm. Norton, Secretary ; Wm. G. Sutton, Treasurer, and Albert Draper, James Purviance, Sexton Emley, Edward Coles, Thomas Moore, Jacob> Snyder, David Chambers, James Miller, Thomas Fisher, Peter Weese, E. Flemming and Robert Fyson, Sr., Directors.
F
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ยท Historical Sketch of
On the 7th of August, following, Charles H. Lewis resigned his office of President, and Warren Hecox became President. James Purviance, Robert Fyson, Sr., and Albert Draper prepar- ed and submitted a list of Premiums, offering in the aggregate the sum of $99. 75, which list was adopted by the Society.
The Society held its first Fair on the 18th and 19th days of October, 1853, on the south side of Little River, just below the old bridge, about where the residence of Samuel Buchanan now stands. The Fair was a success financially, its account showing $180.60 of receipts, and the expenditures, being for premiums, $67.75, miscellaneous $26.48, total $94.12, leaving a balance of $86.48 on hand.
On the 4th of February, 1854, John Becker was elected Presi- dent, Robert Fyson, Sr., Vice-President. Wm. G. Sutton, Treas- urer, and S. W. Hawley, Secretary. A Fair was held on the 17th and 18th days of October, of that year, in the eastern part of Huntington, in what is known as Orrin Brown's meadow.
On the 16th and 17th days of October, 1855, the Society held a Fair on the south side of Little River, just east of what was then known as Bratton's Grove. James M. Bratton was Presi- dent and A. W. DeLong was Secretary. After this Fair the or- ganization was abandoned.
A meeting was held on the 28th day of February, 1857, at which it was determined to re-organize the Society, and on the 7th of April following a temporary organization was effected, with Peter Weese, President ; L. P. Milligan, Vice-President ; A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and Wm. L. Steele, Treasurer.
A permanent organization was completed on the 6th of June, with the same Officers as above set out, except for Treasurer, to which office John Roche was elected, and the following Direct- ors : James Leverton, Jacob Stults, John Becker, Robert Fyson, Sr., Peter Keefer, Thomas Fisher, Wm. B. Morgan, Thomas
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Huntington County, Indiana.
Moore, John Miller, Joseph Miller and Lewis W. Purviance. No Fair was held this year.
On the 12th day of August, 1858, Jacob Stults was elected President ; John Becker, Vice-President; A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and Wm. G. Sutton, Treasurer. At the same meeting a thor- ough canvass of the county, by a number of speakers and a com- pany of singers, under the direction of Wm. L. Steele, was deter- mined upon. Grounds just west of Huntington, on the north side and adjoining the Canal, had been secured by the Society, and a Fair was held on the 26th, 27th and 28th days of October, 1858. The Fair was a success.
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On the 4th day of June, 1859, 1 .. P. Milligan was elected President ; Elijah Snowden, Vice-President ; A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and Wm. G. Sutton, Treasurer.
The Society held its Fair this year on its grounds on the 28th, 29th and 30th days of September.
During the year 1860 Wm. Oden was President and Joseph Chesebro, Vice-President, A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and Jacob Snyder, Treasurer.
The Society held its Fair this year on its grounds on the. 3d, 4th and 5th days of October.
The officers for 1861 were Dr. H. S. Heath, President ; Rob- ert Fyson, Sr., Vice-President ; A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and Wm. Stults, Treasurer, and the Fair was held on the 25th, 26th and 27th days of September.
Dr. H. S. Heath was President in 1862 ; Silas Jones, Vice- President ; A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and John Roche, Treasurer.
In December, 1863, Dr. H. S. Heath was elected President ; 1 .. P. Milligan, Vice-President; A. M. Lewis, Secretary, and Tipton Allman, Treasurer.
The Society struggled along until the 14th day of January, 1865, when the organization was abandoned. No Fairs had been held subsequent to 1861.
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Historical Sketch of
On the 4th day of January, 1868, a meeting was held at the Court House, in Huntington, to reorganize the Society, and Peter W. Zent was elected President; O. W. Sanger, Vice- President ; John Roche, Treasurer, and Robert Simonton, Secretary.
The present grounds of the Society were secured and a Fair held in 1869, the same persons being the officers of the Society, they having been elected for this year.
The Society has held its Fairs regularly every year since that time.
The following were the officers of the Society from 1870 to the present :
For 1870-President, Peter W. Zent ; Vice-President, Frank Mckeever ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch; Secretary, Robert Simonton.
For 1871-President, P. W. Zent ; Vice-President, Robert Fyson, Sr. ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch ; Secretary, Robert Simonton.
For 1872-President, John D. Jones; Vice-President, H. F. Billiter ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch ; Secretary, Robert Simonton.
For 1873-President, P. W. Zent; Vice-President, Frank Mckeever ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch ; Secretary, Alfred Moore.
For 1874-President, P. W. Zent ; Vice-Presid't, Peter Weese ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch ; Secretary, Alfred Moore.
For 1875-President, Luther Cummings; Vice-President, Frank Mckeever ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch ; Secretary, Robert Simonton.
For 1876-President, Frank Mckeever ; Vice-President, Jacob Stults ; Treasurer, Daniel Kitch; Secretary, Robt. Simonton, who afterwards resigned and T. L. Lucas was elected his successor.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
For 1877-President, Frank Mckeever ; Vice-President, Jacob Stults ; 'Treasurer, Peter Weese ; Secretary, Willis A. Jones.
The success of the Society has been very gratifying to its friends, and its influence in developing the resources of the County has been and is very marked. From the small begin- ning, noted above, it has grown to be a powerful corporation, involving in its transactions large and influential interests. Particular attention has been given to the improvement of hogs, and the result is that Huntington County is producing hogs, probably, superior in quality to those produced in any other locality in the United States. Like results would doubtless follow any other special effort of the Society. Its continued prosperity is of public importance.
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Historical Sketch of
HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
Huntington county was covered by a native forest cqual to any, in this latitude, on the continent. Its hard woods are of a long, tough fibre, making them exceedingly valuable for all kinds of manufacture, and particularly so for bent work and ship build- ing. They have, from an early date in the history of the coun- ty, been a very large element in its progress, prosperity and sub- stantial wealth. The saw-mill is met with in every quarter. At this time there are sixty saw-mills in operation.
The county is admirably supplied with water. The Salamonie, Wabash and Little River are the principal streams. There is no considerable portion of the county that is not drained and sup- plied by living streams. Fine qualities of lime and building stone are found along the principal water courses. The lime produced from the quarries at Huntington is justly celebrated throughout a very extensive region of the central northwest. It underlies about six square miles of territory, and is practically inexhaustible. It is exceedingly accessible. At no point is it more than two feet until a merchantable quality of stone is reached. It has been sustaining a very considerable population, engaged in its manufacture, for several years. Its development is being prosecuted with vigor and very satisfactory results.
A superior quality of building stone is found at Markle, on the east line of the county; on Little River, near Huntington, and at Antioch, near the west line of the county.
The soil is adapted to the vigorous production of all the grains, seeds, grasses, vegetables and fruit indigenous in this latitude.
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Huntington County, Indiana.
The construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal to Huntington, in the summer of 1835, brought in a large number of specula- tors, who bought extensive tracts and held them on speculation. For many years this was a serious obstacle to the settlement and development of the county. The first canal-boat arrived at Huntington in the evening of the 3d day of July, 1835.
The next public improvement was the construction of the plank road from Huntington to Liberty Mills, on Eel River, a distance of sixteen miles, which was completed in the summer of 1853. It was an exceedingly valuable improvement to the country along its route. It has, however, been abandoned.
The Toledo, Wabash and Western Railroad was completed to Huntington in the fall of 1855, the first locomotive arriving on Thursday evening, November 13th.
In 1856 a plank road was completed from Huntington to Warren, on the Salamonie River, which was vastly valuable to the country through which it passed. It has been re-placed, for the greater part of its course, by a gravel road, constructed two years ago.
Gravel roads are being constructed from Huntington to Mt. Etna, on the Salamonie River, a distance of ten miles ; from Huntington to Lancaster, on the Salamonie River, a distance of ten miles ; and from Antioch to Monument City, a distance of six miles. Other roads of a like character are being contem- plated in various parts of the county.
The population of the county in 1840 was 1,579: in 1850 it was 7,850 ; in 1860 it was 14,867; in 1870 it was 19,036, and at the present time it is not far from 25,000.
The area of improved lands was as follows: In 1836, 1,465 acres ; in 1850, 26,703 acres ; in 1860, 62,394 acres, and in 1870, 105,453 acres.
The value of lands and improvements and town lots in 1836 was $26,450 ; in 1850, $908,669 ; in 1860, $3,405,861, and in
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Historical Sketch of
1870, $7,573,192. The value of agricultural implements and machinery in 1850 was $48,013; in 1860, $104,255, and in 1870, $219,095.
The number of horses in 1850 was 1,967; in 1860, 3,913 ; in 1870, 5,902, and in 1876, 7,070.
The number of cattle in 1850 was 4,769 ; in 1860, 9,350 ; in 1870, 10,676, and in 1876, 15,542.
The number of sheep in 1850 was 4,316; in 1860, 12,237; in 1870, 21,058, and in 1876, 16,013.
The number of hogs in 1850 was 11, 289 ; in 1860, 25,137, and in 1870, 20,565.
The value of live stock in 1850 was $42,611; in 1860, $443,867, and in 1870, $832,861.
The value of slaughtered animals in 1850 was $30, 147; in 1860, $68,953, and in 1870, $219,508.
The following is the number of bushels of wheat, corn and potatoes produced in the years given :
1850.
1860.
Wheat
76,750
167,225
1870. 367,521
1875. 318,823
Corn. 216,173
539,561
288,840
1,124,498
Potatoes
19,757
6,417
42,655 60,195
Total value of taxables as returned for taxation in 1840 was $109,049, and in 1875, $7,504,470.
The number of churches in 1850 was 6; accommodations, 2,200 ; value of property, $2,300. In 1860 the number was 24; accommodations, 7,850 ; value of property, $18,450, and in 1870 the number was 27; accommodations, 9,750 ; value of property, $130,500.
The whole number of school children enumerated is 7,479. There are 116 schools and 124 teachers in the county. The number of students enrolled in the public schools is 4,Soo. This does not include the parochial, or other than the common schools of the county, in which about 400 are enrolled. The total revenue for tuition for the last year was $25,934.46, making
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Huntington County, Indiana.
the average cost of each pupil about $5.40. Teachers are paid from $1. 70 to $2. 10 per day. During the last year the schools were in session 101 days. The value of school property is $107,600.
The following is an exhibit of the manufacturing interests :
Number of establishments.
1860. 57
1870. 166
Capital invested .
$160,550
$451,710
Number of persons employed.
181
653
Annual cost of labor
$53.592 $132,283
Annual cost of material .
$215,613
$453.941
Annual value of products
$350,858 $813,255
In 1870 there were 18 water-wheels, propelling 286 horse- power, and 51 steam engines, propelling 1,271 horse-power, making 1,557 horse-power in machinery in the county. There are fifteen flouring-mills in operation in the county.
Many other statistics are at hand to show the development of the resources of the county. These, however, are thought to be sufficient to give a good practical knowledge of the subject.
Pauperism and crime have always been at a very low per cent. of the population. General intelligence and morality have always characterized the people of the county.
The population is composed of emigrants from many of the States of the Union and several countries of Europe, who have become identified with each other in all the elements of peace. happiness and prosperity, and now presents a homogeneous mass of people who will do good to the stranger and emigrant in their midst.
CKA BOUND TO MAY 12 942 PLEASE
ESTER.
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