History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 69

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Kingman Brothers
Number of Pages: 366

USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 69

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At this election, Aretas Powers was chosen Justice of the Peace and Alau- son Whitney Constable.

SOCIETIES.

Flat Rock Lodge, No. 444, 1. O. O. F., was instituted Marcb 5, 1874, by P. G. M. Platt J. Wise, assisted by L. M. Rogers, of New Haven, and several members of the Lodges of Fort Wayne. The petition for dispensation was made February 4. 1874, and signed by Melanethon Cary, Jobn C. Wilson, James E. Whitney, Eli Todd, J. R. Parker, Fred L. Gable, Fred Fry, H. D. Stoneman and A. C. Crawford.

The dispensation was granted February 6, 1874, and signed by Grand Mas- ster Richard Owen; and the ebarter was granted at the next communication of the Grand Lodge.

The first officers installed were M. Carey, N. G .; Eli Todd, V. G .; A. C. Crawford, Secretary ; J. R. Parker, Treasurer ; J. E. Whitney, Warden ; H. D. Stoneman, Condueter; Fred L. Gable, Inside Guardian; John C. Wilson, R. S. N. G .: Fred L. Fry, L. S. N. G.

The Lodge is now in good working order, with twenty-one members. It is free from debt, and has property valued at $612.89. The present officers are as follows : A. F. McIntosh, N. G .; D. B. Snider, V. G .; A. Grodrian, R. S .; Upton Null, P. S .; William Dawkins, Treasurer. Following is a list of the Noble Grands sines the organization of the Lodge: M. Cary, Eli Todd, J. C. Wilson, A. Grodrian, A. C. Crawford, J. D. Mellenry, J. E. Whitney, William Dawkins, F. L. Gable, F. Fry, W. B. Wilson.

MAPLES.

The village of Maples was laid out by O. Bird November 17, 1853. It is a station on the P., F. W. & C. R. R. M. Carey & Co., dealers in general merchandise, are the only werehants in the village.

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Strive Factory .- In 1865, N. H. & A. H. Fitch, began the manufacture of

consisted of a barrel of whisky and a keg of tobacco, but within a short time he . staves and heading at this place, and erected a building 50x70 feet, with a full

set of machinery. Several months later, L. S. Maples purchased an interest in the establishment, continuing until January 1, 1872, when he retired from the firm. In the fall of the same year, the building and stoek were destroyed by fire, enusing a loss of about $18,000. It was rebuilt in the following winter, but on a smaller seale. The old boiler and engine were repaired, and are now iu use. Five thousand eords of wood are annually manufactured into staves and heading, which find a market at St. Louis, Baltimore and New York. In busy seasons, Messrs. Fitch & Co. employ about forty men, and have paid as mueb as $1,000 per month for tiniber.

SAW-MILL AND HOOP-FACTORY.

This establishnient was built in 1874, by Williams, Olds & Roberts, and eundueted exclusively as a saw mill. Mr. Olds subsequently sold his interest, and the firm name was changed to Williams, Roberts & Co. Philip Bohyer then entered the firm as a partner, and the business was continued under the firm name of C. I. Williams & Co., uutil 1877. In that year, J. E. Shober purchased the interest of C. I. Williams, and the firm name then became Roberts & Co. In the fall of 1877, M. Cary & Co. purchased the interest of Philip Bohyer, and added the necessary machinery for the manufacture of wagon-felloes and hoops.

About 1 o'clock, on the morning of May 29, 1879, a fire broke out in the building, destroying all the stock on hand, excepting two ear loads of hoops, ready for shipment to Chattanooga, Tenn. M. Cary & Co. then purchased Mr. Shober's interest and erected a new building, using the old boiler and engine. They employ fifteen men, and find a ready market for their goods at New York and other Eastern ports.

The present building is frame, 40x45 feet, with iron roof. The machinery is driven by a forty-horse-power engine.

HUBS.

In the summer of 1879, L. S. Maples purchased the building formerly occupied as a sawmill, and fitted it up with the necessary machinery for the manufacture of bubs. The business is yet in its infaney, but already be has built up a good trade.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

BY L. II. NEWTON.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARY.

Jackson is situated on the east line of Allen County, and is bounded as fol- lows: North, hy Maumee Township; east, by Paulding County, Ohio ; south, by Monroe Township ; west, by Jefferson Townsbip.

NATURAL FEATURES.

A large marsh, known as the " Bear's Nest," covers the northern part of the township. While the advance of civilization in other portions. of Allen County resulted in the extermination of all the creatures of the forest from their aeens- tomed haunts, this spot alone was left to them as a peculiar possession. As recently as four years ago, bears were seen and killed within the recesses of this +wamp by residents of the township, who still live to bear testimony to this fact ; and every year sportsmen seek it for the decr. which are not yet extinct. Small same abounds here, and the search of the hunter is rarely without some reward. The east and west branches of Flat Rock Creek flow through the southern part ul the township, the two streams uniting at a point on Section 27.

The soil is a rich loam, and produces fine specimuens of all varieties of farm produce common in this latitude.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The early settlement of this township is not an interesting topic, and is almost barren of events. It was not an attractive spot to the seeker for a Western

home, and its lands were passed by as worthless. In fact, a large portion of the township was entered on the Government books as "condemned swamp lands." In view of the hopeless appearance of this locality, immigration was discouraged ; and, for years after other portions of Allen County had witnessed the establishment of prosperous settlements, Jackson Township remained a howl- ing wilderness. Its first white resident was George Hollinger, who came in 1838, and erected a cabin near the center of the township. IIe was fond of hunting, and gave a large share of his time to this sport; but he.was also a good worker, and cleared and improved the land upon which he had settled.

David, John and Satuuel Neff came from Dayton, Ohio, and entered large tracts of land in the southern part of the township, on which they " deadened " the timber, preparatory to clearing. Their object was speculation, and they were never numbered among the residents of the township. Finally, the brothers all died. and Alanson Whitney was appointed as their agent for the sale of the land. Jacob and Robert Moquey settled in the township in 1840, and both cleared farms ou Flat Rock Creek. Jacob still resides on his faru, near the 'eenter of the township ; but Robert subsequently sold out and removed to Jefferson Town- ship.

John Kline, Joshua Dickinson and Douglas Whitaker came in 1848 and began the labor of clearing farms. Messrs Dickinson and Whitaker subsequently moved away, but Mr. Kline still lives in the township on a good farm cleared by his own hands.

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RES OF WILLIAM MILLER. LAKE. TP. ALLEN CO. IND.

REV. H. THEO, WILKEN

ST PATRICK'S

& PARSONAGE.

CHURCH. ARCOLA,ALLEN CO.IND.

155

LAKE TOWNSHIP.

In 1850, Mr. Meads purchased a part of the Neff land, in the southern part of the township, where he made a good farm. Peter Boody settled on Flat Rock Creek in 1859, and cleared a farm, upon which he now resides.

This is believed to be a full list of settlers up to the time of the great rebel- lion. The major portion of the township is now owned hy private capitalists, and the entire population at the present time will not exceed 300 souls.

THE FIRST ROAD.

The Sugar Ridge or Van Wert road was surveyed prior to the first settle- ment of the township, but was not opened until several years later. The second was the Paulding road, which was surveyed by S. M. Black, assisted by Alanson Whitney and others.

THE FIRST SCHOOL.

Public education was first inaugurated in J.wkson Township, after the pas- sage of the free sehoul law, and its first schoolhouse was erected in 1854, under the provisions of that act. It was a log structure, and stood on the farin of Mr. Moyer, in the southern part of the township.

ORGANIZATION.

At the June session, 1851, a petition praying for the organization of this " township was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, by whom it was ordered that Township 30 north, of Range 15 east, be a separate township. and that the same be known and called by the name of Jackson Township. P. Mooney was appointed Inspector ; and the first election was held at his house, as soon as possible after organization, and Douglas Whitaker was elected Justice of the Peace.

LAKE TOWNSHIP.

BY L. H. NEWTON.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARY.

Lake Township is situated in the western part of Allen County, and com- prises Congressional Township 31 north, of Range 11 east. It has an area of 35.49 square miles, or 22,554.20 acres. It was organized by the Board of County Commissioners, at their May sessiou in 1837. Lake is bounded on the north by Ecl River Township; east by Washington Township; south by Ahoit Town- ship; west by Whitley County.

NATURAL FEATURES.

Ahoit River has its source in the northeastern part of the township, and flows south. This is the only stream in the township. The surface is very level, and an extensive system of underdraining has been rendered necessary in eonse- quenee of this fact. The soil is composed chiefly of clay and is very productive.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

James Hinton, John Ross, William Grayless, George Slagle, Samuel Caf- frey. James Pringle, Jacob Pearson and Clement Ryan, all came during the year 1834, with their families. James Hinton came from Ohio, and selected a tract of land on the Goshen road. Here he cleared and improved a farm which he sold about one month prior to his decease. John Ross settled in the same neighborhood, and lived on his farm until his death, which occurred but a few years ago. William Grayless and George Slagle settled on Section 5. Samuel Caffrey settled on the Goshen road, where he remained about twenty-five years. He then sold his farm aud removed to the State of Iowa, where he now lives. James Pringle settled on Section 3. where he resided until 1839. He removed from here to Whitley County, Ind., and, a few years later, returned to Ohio, where he now lives. Jacob Pearson remained on his farm, on Section 13 until 1845, when he removea to Iowa.

John McClure, a native of South Carolina, emine early in 1835 and located on Section 17. He cleared a farm, which he cultivated until 1855 ; in that year he removed to De Kalb County, Mo., where he died at the age of eighty-seven years.

Later in 1835, Samson Pearson came from Ohio, and settled near Mr. McClure-his father-in-law. He remained in the township a number of years, and finally removed to the State of Iowa, where he still resides.

Francis Sweet is a native of Washington County, Tenn. He moved with his parents to Miami County, Ohio, at the age of two years, and there remained until 1834 ; in that year he came to Fort Wayne, and about a year later returned to Ohio. In the sprice of 1836, he brought his family to Fort Wayne, and, on the 24th day of May, entered a forty-acre tract of land ou Section 17. Three months later, he removed to Fort Wayne, where he was engaged as a car- penter until 1844. Returning then to this township, he resumed the work of elearing his farm. IIe has always been a prominent citizen of the township, and has filled all the local offices. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1846, and served continuonsly for fifteen years.

John Anderson came in 1836 ; he was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio with his parents when a boy. Hc located in this township in the prime of tuanbood, and cleared a farm, which he cultivated until 1855, when he died.

James W. Watson came in the fall of 1836 ; he was also a native of Vir- ginia, but a resident of Ohio from early boyhood. He settled on Section 36, where be developed a fine fiarm. He remained in the township a number of years, and finally removed to his present residence in Whitley County, Ind.

Joshua Gohcene came in the same year (1836), and, several months later, was joined by his family, from Pennsylvania. During their absence, he was engaged in making preparations for their reception ; and, when they arrived, he had made a small clearing and erected a enhin. He was a man of great energy, and was prominently associated with the development of his township. He died in 1874. His wife survived him four years, and died in 1878, at the age of eighty-two years. Their son, William, now occupies the old homestead.

John Savage came carly in the winter of 1836, and settled on Section 11, where he developed : gool farm. He finally sold it, and removed to De Kalb County, Mo.

Joseph Taylor came in the spring of 1837, and settled on Section 17. He resided on his farmu until 1855, when he removed to Daviess County, Mo.

William Caster, John F. Gerding and Frederick Reed were among the early settlers of the township, and bore well their part in its development and improvement.

EARLY' EVENTS.

The first religious meeting was held at the honse of William Grayless in 1834, by Rev. Black, of the M. E. Church. Meetings were held here at intervals for many years thereafter. The first orchard was set out by William Caster in the fall of 1836. The seeds were bought at the nursery of John Chapman, in Washington Township. The first road was surveyed in 1830, and known as the Goshen road. The Yellow River road-the second in the town- ship-was surveyed by R. J. Dawson in 1836. The first county road was that leading from Raccoon Village to Cracow. It was surveyed in October, 1836, by S. M. Black. The first wedding was celebrated at the home of John MeClure in the winter of 1837. The contraeting parties were his step-danghter, Miss Mary Mangan, and John Savage. The first election was held at the house of John McClure on the last Saturday in May, 1837. Samuel Caffrey and James Pringle were elected Justices of the Peace, and William Caster, C'onstable. John McClure was Inspector, by appointment, and his son, Eli, was elected Township Clerk and Treasurer. The first post office was established in 1840, at the house of Jobu Crawford, a mile and a half north of Arcola. It was known as Tab-Tah Post Office, in honor of an old Indi.in chief. Mr. Crawford was appointed Postmaster, and served about two years, when he resigned. Francis Sweet succeeded him. He removed the office to his house, one mile further north ; and after the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad was com- pleted, he carried the mail to and from the station until 1863. In that year, be resigned, and the office was removed to Arcola, when Andrew Forsythe was appointed Postmaster. He was succeeded, three years later, by Eli Arnold, who remained in charge one year. John R. Ross was the next Postmaster, and kept the office until succeeded by William Rockhill, the pre ent incumtunt. The first mill was the steam saw-mill erected in 1849 by the Plank Road Company, on the site now occupied hy the saw and planing-quill of Holt Brothers. In 1850, J L. Peabody crccted a steam saw-mill on the Yellow River Road, half' a mile east of Arcola. This mill. is still in operation, and is now owned by Jacob Coulter and Philip Smith. The first stock of merchandise was opened for sale by William Thorpe in 1850. He had then recently purchased the steam saw-mill of the Plank Road Company, and kept his store at the mill. J. L. Peabody adopted the same plan in 1866, and opened a stock ol' goods at bis mill.

CHURCHIES.

Baptist .- The Baptists effected the first religious organization in the town- ship. They organized in 1835, at the house of Joshua Gohcene. uuder the ministration of Rev. Gildersleeve. Meetings were held alternately at the houses of Mr. Gohecne and John Ross, until 1850, when the Baptists of Eel Riv .r Township erected a church. The majority of those constituting the society in this township lived in Eul River, and Quited with that Church, which soon absorbed the organization in Lake.

Methodist Episcopal .- In 1819, Rev. Palmer organized a class of this denomination with nine members. The meeting was held at the house of Will- iam Grayless, and subsequently the class met at the homes of its several mem- bers until the following year ( 1850 ). They then ereet d " Lake Chapel." five north of Arcola, where they went to worship until 1571. In the spring of that year, the members of the Areola class (which was organized four years previously ), began the ercetion of their church at that village, during the pastoral charge of Rev. C. Maclin. The church is a neat frame building, 38x55 feet, and cost $1,600. It was dedicated in September of the same year, by Rev. A. Marine. The Church then received the accession of' some who had formerly been identified with Lake Chapel. The Arcola class had eight original members. The Church has now a membership of forty-nine, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. A. G. McCarter, as is also Lake Chapel.

In 1849, the first Sunday school was organized iu an old deserted cabin in the woods, on the land of Azariah Julin. It had twenty-five original scholars, and

156

HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.

was not a denominational school. It was maintained until the various denomina- tions organized schools in connection with their churches, when it ceased to exist. Free- Will Baptist .- This denomination organized in 1852, under Rev. Forcey. In the same ycar, Mr. Sellers donated a lot upon which to erect the church, stipulating that it aiways should be used for that purpose. The church was erected late in 1852, but some of the principal members died soon after, others moved away, and, within a- few years, the congregation became disorgan- ized, and sold the building to the -Methodist. Episcopal denomination, by whom it it now occupied.

Catholic .- St. Patrick's Church, half a mile cast of Areola, was erected in 1862, by Rev. Dr. Mathen. It was attended by Rev. H. Schoeffer, of Columbia City, Ind., nutil 1867, when it was placed in charge of Rev. Theodore Vandepohl, its first resident Pastor. Rev. Vandepohl remained in charge until 1872, and was then succceded by Rev. H. Theodore Wilken, the present Pastor. The Church now has a membership of seventy families. A spacious and comfortable parsonage was erceted during the pastorate of Rev. Vandepohl, and is now oceu- pied by the Pastor in charge.

ARCOLA.

The village of Areola was laid out on Section 28, in 1866. The following ix a list of its principal business men at present : Dry goods, groceries, etc., William Rockhill ; physicians, Dr. H. C. McDowell, Dr. C. V. Gorrell; black- smiths. Aug. Huguenard, C. W. Shaff; Postmaster, William Rockhill ; wagon- maker, Oliver Blystone; painter. Aug. Hare; boot and shoe maker, J. W. Her- rold; agent P., Ft. W. & C. R. R., J. H. Bonnell.

H. C. McDOWELL, M. D.

Hiram Chester MeDowell. was born at Light Street, Columbia Co., Penn., on the 7th of December, 1841. In the autumn of 1853, he removed to Pieker- ington, Columbiana Co., Ohio, where,at the age of twelve years, he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Valentine.

His sojourn at this point, however, was of two years' duration only. Moved again in 1855 to Hancock County, Ohio, where he renewed the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. D. W. Cap. Continuing his medical studies here till 1861, he enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Serving but a short time, he was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and, still holding the same rank, at the battle of Shiloh had command of his company, at the extreme left of his regiment. Gen. A. V. Rice, late Democratie eandi- date for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, was then Lieutenant Colonel, commanding the regiment. In 1863, he settled at Commerce, Scott Co., Mo., where he aeted as scout under Capt. James Campbell, of the Missouri State Militia. Here, too, he again pursued the study of medicine with Dr. H. P. Lynch. From here he went to Philadelphia, Penn., where, on the 27th of' April, 1866, he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

He then returned to Hancock County, Ohio, there to remain with his old medical preceptor until the following October. -

Then entering the Cleveland Medical College, he continued there until the close of the session, in March, 1867. Now followed a tour through the Western States, returning again to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1868.

During the same year, on the 19th of November, at the place last mentioned, he married Miss Annie Stratton, and, on April 1, 1870, they removed to Indiana, taking up their residence at Arcola, of this county, where he has sinee practiced his ehosen profession. .

REV. H. THEO. WILKEN

was born October 19, 1844, at the village of Soegel, in the former Kingdom of Hanover, Germany. Coming with his parents to America, in November, 1860, they located their home at Cincinnati, Ohio. The late civil war being well advanced, he engaged for a time as Government carpenter, at Nashville, Tenn. But turning his attention to study, he entered upon a course at St. Xavier's Col- lege, Cincinnati, in 1864, completing the same in 1872, at Mount St. Mary's Seminary. He came then to Fort Wayne, where he was assigned as Pastor of St. Patrick's Church, at Arcola, and where he has since resided.

LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.

SITUATION, SOIL, ETC.

LA Fayette is situated in the southwest corner of Allen County, and is bounde las follows. North hy Aboit Township, cast by Pleasant Township, south by Wells County, west hy Iluntington County. It has an area of 33.97 square tuiles, and is of irregular shape, wing to several small Indian reserves in the north. The. soil is chiefly chy, and very productive. It is watered by Little River-a tributary of the Wabash-which flows through the northwest corner, where it forms a junction with the Ahoit River. Eight Mile Creek flows through the southwest part of the township, thence into Huntington County. The sur- face was originally covered by a heavy body of timber, cuibracing, in ius variety. vak. berch, poplar, ash, hickory, elm, ete. In the process of elearing lands, much of this tisaber was destroyed, as there were then no means at hand for realizing the v: lue it represented. Mills were remote from the settlement, and the high- ways of trade were not yet opened ; so that its transportation to market was im practicable. This difficulty is now obviated, and the timber of the township finds a profitable market, and the saw mills form an item in its commercial history.

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History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 69

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Kingman Brothers Number of Pages: 366

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Kingman Brothers
Number of Pages: 366