USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 74
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CHARLES WHITTERN
is a native of Awling, Gloucestershire, England, where he was born. April 4, 1814. His father was a gardener and nurseryman, and Charles was early edu- ·cated to the same, working thus with his father until eighteen years of age ; he then started out for himself, soon procuring a situation. In January, 1835, he was united in marriage with Miss Esahella L. Beauchamp, also of Gloucester- shire ; in September, 1848, she departed this life, leaving her husband and seven children-five sons and two daughters, in bereavement. Two of the sons, in the fierce battle of Stone River, were killed, one a member of Company E, Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and the other of the Forty Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
By careful economy, he had heen enabled to provide the requisite means to seeure a passage to this country for himself and little family. He sailed for York from Liverpool, in the fall of 1839. Unfortunately, the vessel on they sailed was wreeked on the coast of Long Island, but, fortunately (one excepted), all were saved. Fortunately, too, for Mr. W .. he soon secured ? tion upon the island and went to work. There he remained until Septe 1841 ; then, removing to the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, lic resumed } occupation of gardening. On July 20, 1850, he married a second time, as his bride Miss Malvina Nelson MeBride, of Cuyahoga County, Ohio; si: dren have been the fruits of this marriage. Two sons of this family onl. vive to eomfort them in their declining years.
Mr. Whittern is the owner of 335 acres of excellent land, most of it in vicinity of Monroeville ; it is largely improved and in a fine state of cultiva! From early boyhood, he has been an earnest member of the Episcopal Chi Although of age well advanced, he is still hearty and vigorous, giving pro still, of many years in which to enjoy the blessings and comforts which su him.
164
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY. INDIANA.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
BY L. H. NEWTON.
LOCATION AND BOUNDARY.
Madison is located in the southeastern part of Allen County, and is bounded as follows: North by Jefferson Township, east by Mouroe Township, south by Wells County, west by Marion Township, and includes Congressional Township 29 uorth, of Range 14 east. It was organized by the Connuissioners of Allen County at their March session, 1841).
NATURAL. FEATI'RES.
The surface is flat and heavily timbered, onk, ash and poplar being promi- nent in the latter feature. There are no stremus of any importance in the town- slip. The west branch of Flat Rock Creek, which flows through the central part, is bun a diminutive rivnlet, and at certain seasons of the year runs almost dry. The soil is rich and fertile, and produces an abundance of all the fruits an.] cerinIs common in this latitude.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Ahout the year 1836, a Mr. Browning creeted a cabin on Section 30, where he resided for a brief period, during which time he was engaged chiefly in hunt- ing. He made but little improvement, and left his claim almost as wild as when he first located upon it.
In the Fall of' 1836, John Edwards and Andrew Meck came to the town- ship aud entered forty neres each, returning shortly after to their home in Carroll County, Ohio. Edwards located his claim on the southeast quarter of Section 26, and Merk chose the northeast portion of Section 36 for his home. After entering his land, Mr Meck employed George Eagy to clear it for him. Eagy had then recently settled in Indiana, having located in Adams County in the fall of 1836. In the spring of' 1847, he began the labor of clearing, and in the fall of that year Mr. Mrek came with his family to live on the land. John Edwards came at the san thine with his family to venpy the premises which he had previously Putered. Mr Eary then returned to Monmouth, Anlam. Co., Ind., where he had a small field in cultivation, and where his wife and little ones remained while he was clearing the land for Mr. Meek. He remained at Mon- mouth a year. theu, in 1938, removed tu a forty-aere tract in Madisou Township. which he had entered in the fall of 1836, and began the work of clearing. He "le red aud cultivated the entire tract, with the exception of four acres, and sub- sequently soll'it at a fais advance, and purchased another truet containing eighty w.res This he also cleared, and it is now his home.
[ util ] <39. the three families above mentioned were the only white resi- deble within the boundaries of Madison Township. In the fall of that year, they w .re joined by Charles Peckham and family, who came from Carroll County. Ohio, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 26; John Myers, from the same county, who settled on the southwest quarter of Section 33. and Jesse Todd, from Knox County, Ohio, who settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 24. Later in 1839, Adam Robinson came and cleared a farm, on which he resided until his deccase, and in the same year David Patrick, Williaur Hill, M. Holmes, Williamu Runnolds and Messrs. Dawson, Tate & Clear, settled L. no. Heru part nl' the township. In 1841, Jabez Schaffer, from Carroll County, Ohio, settled, with his l'imnily, on the southwest quarter of Section 23. About the same time, Jacob Marynardt. Philip Neff. Charles Jones and Messrs. Fry & Hobbs, located at various points in the township. Samuel Davis. John Gault and Sauurl Stopher, were also prominent among the early settlers of the township, and joined hands with their neighbors in all efforts tending toward its improvement.
EARLY EVENTS.
George Hagy erectrd the first hewed log house in 1-39, on the tract which he began > dler the preceding year. The first shelter erected on this ground rail-pen. hastily constructed from the trees, as they were fenled in clear- 1 and the new boy house with its crevices well daubed with mud, was a very , as compared with the old abode.
n 1×40. the first social event in the settlement took place-the occasion the union of Jesse Myers with Miss Polly Meek. The ceremony was per- 1 by Adam Robinson, Esq., Justice of the Peace, at the residence of the parents.
Vithin a year thereafter. the same house was the scene of a similar .cerc- On this occasion Martin W. Kemp bestowed his hand and fortune upon Martha. second daughter of Andrew Meek.
The first elcetion was held at the house of David Patrick on the first Mon- in April. 1840. Thr officers chosen were as follows: Trustees, Andrew Mil'on Holmes, Jesse Myrrs ; Clerk, Martin W. Kemp; Treasurer, Jobn Ye ; Justice of the Peace, Adam Robinson; Constable, Elias Hobbs.
' The first road was located in answer to a petition presented to the County issioners in 1841. Ilp to that date, there was no road through the town- id, for the purpose of going to mill or market, the settlers wery compelled i ircuitous runte through the woods to Monmouth, Adams Co., Ind., , Fort Wayne, and sometimes as far as l'iqua, Ohio. When the road
was laid out, every one along the line acted as his own surveyor, and, as a natural consequence, it deviated considerably from the section line. In 1846, A. B. Todd was elected Road Supervisor, and made application to have the road surveyed and properly located. This was done by Mr. Black, then County Surveyor. It is known as the Van Wert road. Other roads were located in later years, as the township became more thickly settled, and it is uow supplied with all the neces- sary highways for access to market.
The first school was.taught in 1840, in a hewed-log house erected for the purpose, and was maintained by private subscription. The school teriu covered a period in the winter, when the farmer lads could he spared from their labors at home. The course of study varied according to the ability of the teacher. Some- times a finely educated man took charge of the school, and, perhaps, the next term it fell into the hands of one who knew no more than the older scholars under his care. Thus, for thirteen or fourteen years, the system of education in this town- ship was at the mercy of any one who might offer his serviecs as teacher, with no other recommendation than his own declaration of ability. About 1854 or 1855, the first district school was established, under the terms of the present school law of this State, and, since that time the schools of this township have experienced a radical change for the better in their management and educational standard. The present ninuher of free schools is ten, with a total enrollment of 514 scholars
The first mill in the township was erected in 1849, hy Samuch Davis, pro- prictor of the town of Massillon. It was a steamu saw-mill, but, shortly after its completion, its proprietor added a run of huhrs for grinding corn and wheat. This proved a great convenience to the residents of the township, by whom it was well patronized.
The first post office was established in 1849, at the house of John Sbaffer, who was appointed Postmaster. Mr. Shaffer kept the office two or three years, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Joseph Snider In 1854, A. B. Todd succeeded Mr. Snider. and kept the office two years. After his resignation. it was removed to East Liberty, in Monroc Township. The mail was tairicu weekly from Van Wert, Ohio, to Middletown ( Root Post Office ), from which place it was forwarded to its destination hy the same conveyance. It was known as Massillon Post Office until it. ceased to exist.
The first store in the township was opened in 1851, by Wilson & Brown, at the village of Massillon. They remained but a short time, finally selling their stock to a Mr. Patterson, by whom it was removed to Monroe Township.
INCIDENTS.
In a conversation with one of the early settlers of the township, a few incidents were mentioned, whieb, in ycars to come, may he of interest, as giving an insight into the pioneer mode of life. He said :
" In the erection of our dwellings, we used ueither lumber, shingles nor nails. The shell was made of round logs, covered with claphoards and weighted with poles. The floors were made of puncheons, and the doors of the same material, fastened together with pins, and hung on wouden hinges, with a wooden latch on the inside, to which was attached a buckskin thong, to open it from without. For window-glass, we used paper, well oiled with tallow or lard; and, in lieu of stoves, we cut out a part of one end of the house, and built a ' crib,' withiu which we erected back walls and jambs of elay, well packed by pounding. Our chimneys were built of mud and sticks, and our houses generally contained but one room, which served the purpose of parlor, bedroom and kitchen.
"Contrary to the usual custom, we used no liquors at our log-rollings or house raisings. Wben there was a building to raise or logs to roll, all the neigh- bors within a radius of five or six miles assembled to assist in its construction. The force was divided by two of their number, who acted as captains, and each side worked with friendly rivalry and hearty good will; and it was a rare thing to hear an angry word uttered on sueb an occasion.
" I have attended wedding-feasts where, instead of pound-cake, we ate corn . bread, and, instead of turkey, we regaled our appetites with venison; at the vows then uttered were just as earnest, and the unions then &. Jou juot ao near and as permanent as those performed amid the porup which characterizes such ceremonies to-day.
". We had hut little money, and but little need of it. Our rifles supplied us with meat in abundance. and we raised our corn, potatoes aud wheat .. Deer- skins, mink and coon skins were the only articles that would, at all times, com- mand money. They almost constituted our currency.
" In the thirteen years during which I served as Justice of the Peace, but two offenders were ever brought before me for assault and battery, and one of that number was a resident of another township.
" We were obliged to work hard, but we enjoyed good health, and were as sociable as brothers and sisters. There were no doctora, and uo attorneys ; and, in fact, we had but little employment for the talent of either profession. Our first physician was Dr. A. Engle, who located in the township about 1856."
The years have wrought changes, and, in the march of improvement, Mudi- son has kept her place with other townships of the county.
165
MAUMEE TOWNSHIP
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal. - In 1841, Rev. Jesse Sparks organized the Massillon elass at the house of Charles Peckham. The class then had twenty members and continued to meet at Mr. Peekham's house until 1842. In that year, John Edwards generously donated a lot upon which to ereet a chureli, and during the same year it was completed. It was a common hewed-log structure, and served the purposes of schoolhouse and church during the winter of that year. Jabez Shaffer, Charles Peckham, John Edwards and Adam Robinson hewed the logs and reared the building, so that it was free from cost. In this building they worshiped until 1856, when the present fraque church was created, at a cost of $800. The membership at one time was seventy-five, hut, from the usual causes, viz., deathis, removals and the organization of other churches, it is now but twenty-four. The Church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Charles FI. Brown.
A union Sunday school is conducted in connection with the Church, and is attended by seholars from the Methodist and Lutheran Churches. It is kept. up during the summer only. At its last session (summer of 1879) it had an attendance of seventy-five scholars.
Evangelical Lutheran .- The Massillon Church was organized in the fall of 1850, with seven members. The meeting for organization was held at the house of V. P. Smith, and conducted by Rev. Solomon Ritz ( now deceased). Suhse- quently, they held their meetings at the schoolhouse near Massillon until 1864. In that year, they secured the use of Massillon Methodist Episcopal Church, where they still continue to meet every alternate Sunday. The Church now has eighteen members, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. D. F. Kane. Church officers : J. M. Smith and Leonidas Scott, Elders ; Daniel Bottenberg, Deacou.
SOCIETIES.
Madison Township Agricultural and Horticultural Society clected its first officers in the summer of 1878, and helds its first fair in September of the same year. The officers were as follows : N. P. Brown, President; John Shaffer, Secretary ; John H. Brown, Treasurer. By an inadvertence they ueglected to file the necessary articles of incoporation in the first year, and in the summer of 1879, the Society was re-organized, with the following officers: Christian Yonce, President ; N. P. Brown, Secretary ; Adam Marquardt, Treasurer. In 1878, they purchased forty acres of ground near the village of Massillon, where it is proposed to hold a meeting every fall. The Society was inaugurated to encourage and stimulate good farming, and liberal premiums are awarded for the hest speei- mens of farm products, as well as live stock.
Its success is more mauifest each year, and its managers feel much encouraged by the interest manifested hy neighboring farmers. In 1878, after paying all premiums, the society had on hand a eash balance of 850. [n 1879, this balance, after discharging all obligations, was $150. The society is yet in its infancy, hut is destined to become an important institution, as its liberal awards have already induced the entry of exhibitions from surrounding counties.
LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
Centennial Flouring- Mills .- This enterprise was inaugurated in 1876, by D. Shopuan, who, at that time, erected the present building. The main building is forty feet square, two stories, with an engine-room 16x40 feet. The motive-power is furnished by a forty-horse-power engine, and the capacity of the mill is from forty to fifty barrels of flour daily. Mr. Shopman does not extend his trade beyond the home market, but the demand from this quarter keeps the mills in constant operation.
Saw-mill and Bending Factory .- Charles and Joseph Houser entered upon this business at Hoagland in the spring of 1877. The quota of machinery is complete, and Inmber is sawed from logs into strips, after which it is bent for car- riage bows, shafts, tongues, wagon-tops, etc. The main building is 30x40 feet, and the hending-roour twenty feet square. The goods here manufactured find a ready market at Fort Wayne.
MASSILLON
was laid out in 1851, by Adam Robinson. A store was soon after opened in the village, and blacksmiths and other tradesmen came to add to its growth, and receive their proportion of the emolmuents to he derived from their labor. But its prosperity was short-lived, and it finally met the fate of so many towns which were platted and located without regard to commercial situation. It gradually retrograded, and now occupies the position of a quiet hamlet.
HOAGLAND
is one of those flourishing little villages which spring up along the railroads. It was established, first, as a station on the Fort Wayne, Richmond & Cincinnati Railroad, shortly after the completion of that road. The advantages offered by its location were speedily improved hy business men, and soon it hegan to wear a commercial air. The following is a list of its business men : Boots and shoes, C. A. Neireiter. General merchandise, L. D. Miller. Drugs and notions, W. F. Devilbiss & Bro. Physicians, Devilbiss & Smith. Postmaster, John Phipps. Blacksmith, U. Malerder.
MAUMEE TOWNSHIP.
BY L. Il. NEWTON.
LOOATION AND BOUNDARY.
Maumee is situated in the eastern part of Allen County, and is hounded on the north by Springfield and Scipio Townships, on the east by Paulding County, Ohio, on the south by Jackson Township, and on the west by Milan Township.
NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface is flat, and in many places swampy ; but such of the land as has been improved is very fine.
The Maumee River flows through the northern part of the township, and Black Creek, from the north, joins the Maumee at a point on Section 8.
Among the timber which originally covered its surface was oak, ash, poplar, linn, beecli, walnut, ete., some of which still remains, although the market demand for valuable timher is rapidly depleting these varieties.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In 1833, Gregory Jackson erected a large log house near Bull Rapids, where he opened a tavern for the accommodation of parties who came to examine and enter land in this vicinity, preparatory to settlement. The Maumee River was theu navigated by keel-boats and pirogues, which brought a number of land seek- ers to this eounty, aud Bull Rapids was a very convenient landing. From this fact, Mr. Jackson enjoyed an extensive custom, and derived a fair revenue. He paid hut little attention to elearing his land, and moved to another locality a few years later.
The next settler was a Mr. Barnes, who enme in the year 1834 and settled near the State line ; and later in the same year Wiu. Johnson and Lloyd Lequart settled near the center of the township. Mr. Lemart subsequently removed to another locality. Mr. Johnson remained in the township until his deceasc.
In the fall of 1835, Ulrich Saylor, Sr., with his family, settled on Knagg's Reserve, and in June, 1836, removed to a traet of land on the State line. There he ereeted a house, a part of which was in Ohio, and a part iu this township. In 1841, he removed to the northeastern part of the township, and settled uear the lock on the canal, which was ever after known as " Saylor's Lock." Here he remained until his deeease, which occurred in 1860.
Ulriel Saylor, Jr., eame with his father in 1835, and purchased a large traet of land on the same reserve, from which he developed a fine farm. Subsequently, he removed to Noble County, Ind., where he resided uutil death.
Solomon Swisber, a son-in-law of Ulrich Saylor, Sr., came in the fall of 1835, and purchased 320 acres in Knagg's Reserve, which he cleared and improved, making it his home until his deeease.
John Ashley and his son George came in 1836, and cleared a tract of land, upon which they resided for a number of years. The father hegan the erection of a mill, but. abandoned it in view of the difficulties which confronted hius in constructing the damu across the river. He finally returned to Catskill, N. Y., his former home. Prominent among other early settlers of the township were the following : Jabez Phillips, James Johnson, Charles Harding, Benjamin Johuson, - Flint, - Craypo, Washington Corpse, J. N. Sweet, George Platter, James Shirley.
EARLY EVENTS.
Ulrich Saylor, Sr., planted the first orchard on his farm in 1836. In this step he was followed by his son and Solomon Swisher, who planted orehards on their respective farms in the same year. The first marriage was celebrated in 1837, at the home of Ulrich Saylor, Sr. On this occasion his son, Matthias, was uuited iu marriage with Miss Ann Maneary. The second marriage took place in 1841, the contraeting parties heing Charles Harding and Miss Betsy E. Saylor.
The first death was that of John D. Saylor, son of Ulrich Saylor, Sr. He died in 1836, and was buried near the State line, on land set apart hy Solomon Swisher for cemetery purposes.
The first road was surveyed through this townsbip in 1835 or 1836, from Fort Wayne to Defiance, Ohio. It was known as the river road. About 1843 or 1844, a line of stages was put in operation ou this road, and coaches ran regularly hetween Fort Wayne and Defiance. The United States mail was also carried over this route.
The first school was taught in 1842, in a log house built for the purpose, on Section 10. Miss Eliza J. Curtis was the first teacher. The school was sus- tained by subscriptions from those whose children were among its pupils, and was thus condueted during the winter of each year until 1853. In that year. it was converted into a free school, and under the provisions of the school law of 1851, six shuilar sehools were established within the next ten years. There are now seven in the township, with a total enrollment.of 181 scholars.
The first store was opened in 1853, by Ulrich Saylor, Sr., at his farm. His stoek comprised a full line of the staple articles then in demand, and he carried on a successful trade His house was also the place where the first post office was estuhlished. This was known as Saylor's Post Office, but only existed for a
166
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
few years. The receipts did not compensate the Postmaster for his trouble, con- sequently he resigned, and. as no one else had a disposition to accept the respon- sibility without a commensurate reward, the office was abandoned after two or three years .*
ORGANIZATION.
In response to a petition presented hy Ulrich Saylor, Sr., George' Platter, Solomou Swisher and Ulrich Saylor, Jr., it was ordered hy tho Board of Commis- sioners, at the March session, 1836, that Township 31 north, of Range 15 east, comprise a separate township, to he known as Maumee Township.
George Platter was appointed Inspector, and his house designated as the place for holding elections.
The first election was held at this house in April, 1836, and resulted in the choice of Lloyd Lemart for Justice of the Peace, and Jahez Phillips for Con- stahle.
BULL RAPIDS.
This is the name which was given to a collection of houses on the east hank of the Maumee. Its ellief attraction was a groggery, which ealled together a bad element from ali the country within a radius of many miles. A detailed and faithful history would involve the narration of a great deal of lawlessness ; and for the sake of the future good of the township, it is deemed best to omit this. James Shirley owned a large tract of land adjoining this hamlet, and in 1836, divided it into town lots, and gave the place the name of Indiana City, hoping that in time, even the name of " Bull Rapids" might he lost in the more refined title of " Indiana City ; " but the latter name now exists only as a thing of the past, while " Bull Rapids " is the name hy which this particular spot is known to-day. Its name commemorates a feat said to have he achieved by one of the early settlers in that locality, viz., the slaying of a large buffalo hull.
Edwardsburg, a small hamlet on Sec. 18, contains one store ard post office ; and Woodburn, a station on the Wahash Railway, also has a post office.
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
BY L. H. NEWTON.
LOCATION AND BOUNDARY.
Milan is located east of the center of Allen County, and is hounded as follows : North by Springfield and Cedar Creek, east hy Maumee, south hy Jefferson, west hy St. Joseph, and contains 37.54 square miles.
NATURAL FEATURES.
Maumee River flows through the township in a northeast course, and Twelve Mile and Ten Mile Creeks flow through the central part, joining the Maumee. Six Mile Creek waters the southwestern part of the township. In the northwestern portion of the township the land is very fine, but the halance is low and swampy, and a thorough system of artificial drainage alone makes it fit for farming.
ORGANIZATION.
Milan was first organized by the County Commissioners in March, 1838, and the name was given it hy Stephen Heath in honor of Milan Township, Huron Co, Ohio, his former home. He was a resident of this township, and presented the petition for its organization. The boundaries, as first described, were as follows : Commeneing on the east line of Seetion 30, Town 31 north, of Range 14 east, where the same strikes the Maumee River, thenee due north to the line of Township 31. thence west to the line between Ranges 13 and 14. thence south to the southeast corner of Seetion 13, Town 31, Range 13, thence east to the Maumee River, thence east along Maumee River to the place of beginning.
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