USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
ORGANIZATION.
Originally, the territory now comprised within the limits of Democrat was a part of the township of Burlington. This con- . early settlers " worked ont." their road tax. For the first few tinned to be the case until May. 1835, when the Commissioners of . year's after organization. the Township Board was closely occupied Carroll County ordered that a new township be organized from that in considering and disposing of these road petitions, several of which were before them at every meeting. In nearly every in- . stance. the Viewers appointed returned a report to the board in which they expressed the belief that the road would be a public convenience, and thus fow petitions for public highways wero an- swered in the negative. As years rolled on. new roads were opened, as the convenience of certain neighborhoods demanded. and to-day nearly every section of land in the township is sup- plied with one or more of them. part of Burlington Township contained within the following bounds: " Commencing at the sonthwest corner of Section IS. Town 23 north, Range 1 west, thence east six miles. thence north six miles. thence west six miles, thence sonth six miles to the place of begin- ning." Five years later, the north tier of sections wore assigned to Monroe, at the organization of that township. leaving Democrat in its present form, six miles wide by five miles long. The name was bestowed in consideration of the political complexion of the town- ship. At the time it was organized, and for several years snbse- quently, there was only one Whig within its boundaries. The Democratic nominees were always sure of election. and throngh- out the intervening years the same rnle has prevailed. The town- ship has ever since given a large Democratic majority at elec- tions, thereby sustaining the significance and appropriateness of its name.
It was ordered, at the time of the organization, that William Dawson be appointed Inspector of Elections, and that the elec- tions be held at the house of James McNeal. By a majority of the votes cast at the first election (we may say almost unanimons-
to examine the site for the road. and, upon their recommendation. the petition was granted. The road was then surveyed, and the Supervisors, assisted by the men of the township, cleared away : the timber from the region through which it passed, and the road was made ready for travel. This was the manner in which the
The Trustees were intrusted with the management of the public schools, as well as the civil affairs of the township. and at an early day established school districts, and disbursed the public money accruing in partial support of the schools. There were sundry changes in the laws regarding the administration of town- ship affairs, the last one of which was brought about by the act of 1858-59, abolishing the board of three Trustees. Clerk and Treasurer, and investing one Trustee with the power over the financial and educational interests of the township formerly exer- cised by the board. The latter is still in force, and, whether any more efficient or judicious than the old law, is certainly less com-
291
DEMOCRAT TOWNSHIP.
plicated. The office of Trustee is occupied at the present time by James St. John.
SCHOOLS.
- ----
Prior to the year 1833. it is believed, there were no attempts made to instruct the children of the community, unkess some one of the settlers taught a select class at home. Of such, however, there is no record, and it is not probable that any such classes existed, since the time of the settlers was fully occupied with the labor essential to their success in developing furms from the wil- derness. It is stated by Isaac Watson that the first school in the township was a building of round logs, erected in 1833, on the corner of his father's farm. This house, although erected for a Presbyterian Church, was used for school purposes during the week days of the winter. The first house erected especially for a school was built at the village of Prince William, in 1838. and the first term was taught there in the winter of that year. Within a year or two afterward. a similar building was erected in the casteru part of the township, at or near the village of Lexington. Another schoolhouse was erected ut un early duy, on the land of David Weidner, and Samuel Weaver tanght the first term in this house. After the township was divided into districts by the Trustees. in 1836 or 1837, schoolhouses were erected at varions times. according to the mumber of school children residing within the limits of certain districts. They were all supported by private contributions antil the sale of lunds in the section ro- served as school property created a public fund. This was ap- plied in payment of the school expenses until exhausted. when the parents of children attending the schools cheerfully contributed the balance necessary to snstuin the school for the remainder of the term. By the law of 1851 52. it became admissible to levy a general tax for the maintenance of public schools, which were thereafter free to all who would attend them. In this town- ship, the provisions of that law wore readily adopted. and the school tax met with little opposition. From the first, a great improvement was apparent, and in the intervening years the his- tory of the schools has been one of progress, while the moral and intellectual standing of the community attest the good results of this system, and redonnd to the credit of its originators. There are now nine districts in the township, in each of which there is a substantial schoolhouse. Of this number. eight are brick houses. and the ninth a frame building. During the school year of 1880-81. the average attendance of scholars in all the schools was 220, out of a total enrollment of 354 scholars.
The average length of the school term during that period was 105 days, and the average daily compensation of teachers was $2.23. The estimated value of schoolhouses, groands, apparatus, etc .. within the township. is $6,600. The financial condition of the schools is shown in the following report by the Trustee:
ACCOUNT OF REVENTE FOR TUITION.
Amount on hand September 1, 1880 .. $1,173 M2
Amount received in February, 1881. 1.030 06
Amount received in June, 1881. 968 05
Miscellaneous receipts. 12 61
Total. . $3.184 54
Amount expended since September 1. 1881 2.10, 50
Amoum now on hand. $ 987 04
ACCOUNT OF SPECIAL SCHOOL REVENCE.
Amount on hand September 1, 1880. $ 797 82
Amount since received. 1,365 57
Total. .
2.163 39
Amount expended since September 1, 1880. 397 48
Amoin now on hand. $1,765 ut
CHURCHES.
During the early days of the settlement, and for a number of years subsequently, religious meetings were hold at the houses of various residents in the community, by ministers sent out from the headquarters of the denominations they represented. The Presbyterians were the first to erect a house of worship, although the Baptists and Methodists both held services at an early day. Each denominatiou had adherents among the citizens, und each, in time, gained new accessions to their numbers. The various denominations were organized one by one, as their numbers grew to such proportions as to make organization practicable, aud throughout the intervening years they have grown and prospered. Following is a condensed history of their organization and de- velopment.
Ball Will Methodist Episcopal Church .- As early as the your 1836. u class of the Mothodist Episcopal denomination was or- ganized at the house of Archibald Clark. The families of Mr. Clark and George Loman were, perhaps, all who were really cou- stituent members of the society. though several others united with it immediately after its organization. For a period of more than a dozen years, the house of Mr. Clark was the place at which the meetings of the class were held. During those years, many new members were added to the congregation, and a house of worship became a matter of necessity. . A lot was donated by Charles Thomas, upon which was oreeted a frame church. named Ball Hill Church, in honor of a former pastor. Rov. Mr. Ball. In the winter of 1870. this building was destroyed by fire, aml. in the following summer. it was replaced by the present edifice. which is also a frame structure. The latter was completed at a cost of $1.900, and dedicated by Rov. Thomas Bowman, in No- vember. ISTI. The church now has a membership of about sixty- five persons, and is undor the pastoral care of Rov. Mr. Mason.
Thomas Christian Chapel. This is a neat brick building. located in the southwest corner of Section 6. The society was organized in the spring of 1554. by Elder Hazael Thoums. The constituent members were Hazael and Mahala Thomas. Hostor Rigel. Charles Wagner, Jolm McGuire. Sarah McGuire, Ahneda Thomas, James MeCracken, Jacob Cochran and Nancy Cochran. The meeting for organization was held in the Gee Schoolhouse, and. from that time until 1873. the Gee and Winter School- houses were the places in which the regular services were con- dncted. In the year above named, u lot was purchased of Peter Altie, upon which the present building was erected. Eller Thomas officiated as pastor for a number of years, and was suc- ceeded by Elders James Atwood, Joseph Hazlett and Kendall West. The latter is the present pastor. and is now in the fourth year of his pastorate in this charge.
Lexington Presbyterian Church .*- The Presbyterian Charch in Democrat Towaship was organized August 1, 1535, by Rev. L. G. Bell, nuder authority of Crawfordsville Presbytery. The meet- ing for this purpose was held in a log schoolhouse neur the present sito of the village of Geetingsville, a short distance sonth of the Middle Fork of Wild Cat Creek. The designation givou to it at its organization was "Bethesda," in honor of the pool of that nume in Jerusalem, whose waters hud miraculous healing powers imparted to them, ut stated seasons, by the troubling of an angel.
The persons who entered into the organization at the first were Archibald Chittick, Richard Wilson. John Smith, Johu Fisher and wife, Audrew Robinson und wife. Mary Robinson.
*Prepared by lev. W. P. Koutz.
292
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Samuel Gwinn and Samuel MeCrary. The first Elders were John Fisher, Andrew Robinson and Samuel Gwinn. The church through its carlier years prospered reasonably well in gathering members -- first, under the ministry of Mr. Bell and then under the temporary supplyship of different visiting ministers, among whom Rev. James A. Carnahan, Rev. Mr. Taylor, Rev. A. Will- iamson, Rev. E. W. Wright, Rev. John Dale and Rev. J. T. Pat- terson are conspicuous.
In 1844, the name of the church was changed to Lexington, a house of worship having meanwhile been built in the village bearing the same name. In the same year. Anthony Wilson, John S. Shanklin and J. W. Glasscock were added to the session, and the Rev. Thomas M. Chestnut was called to the pastorate, and was installed early in the following year (1845). Mr. Chest- nut continued as pastor until 1849 or 1850. After him came the Rev. Joseph Platt. who supplied the church during the years 1851, 1852 and 1853. Then the Rev. J. W. McClusky succeeded as stated supply, from 1-54 to 1864. Next came Rev. William G. Thomas, who preached until July, 1865. and immediately after him came Rev. C. R. Van Erman, who remained until 1867. In the fall of 1867, Rev. William P. Koutz, formerly Chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volun- teers, became stated supply. and. in the following year, was called as pastor and installed. It is a fact worthy of remark that he and the Rev. Mr. Chestnut were the only installed pastors the church ever had. He continned as pastor until 1874. when he was released by Presbytery at his own request. The Rev. R. C. Colmary preached for part of a year: then came Rev. William M. Stryker. who preached until December. 1876. On the 6th of February. 1877, Rev. John Hawk became stuted supply, and continued until the close of 1879. During the years 1850 and 1881, the Rev. W. P. Koutz again supplied the church. after an absence from it of six years spent abroad.
Besides the members of session already named. there were added to it at various times, the following persons. viz., Robert O. Young, M. D., John Cook. Robert Griffin, Thomas P. Robin- son, John Young. Warren Adams and George W. Shanklin. The board of Deacons embraced. in addition to the original ones. such names as Edward Quinn, James W. Ayers. James M. Whar- ton. William Benton Adams, William Brown Wilson, John Ste- phenson, Bilton J. Wilson and William Beck.
During the period of nearly a half century, not far from four hundred names have been added to the roll of this church, and it now numbers about 140 members. The elnuch since 1856 erected two new houses of worship, four miles apart-one two miles north and the other two miles south of the village of Lexington. The old house first built has entirely disappeared, having been de- stroved by fire. The congregation also erected a substantial par- sonage for the pastor.
The periods of greatest success. in the addition of members. were during the labors of Rev. W. P. Kontz and Rev. John Hawk, the former adding 150 during his service of nine years, and the latter 80 during his service of three years. What a quickening influence must not the preaching of the Gospel have exerted upon the hearts and minds of the multitudes. as they have come and gone through all these years! The full results will only be known at the last day. May Lexington Church be blessed to do as noble a work in the future as she has done in the past.
Salem Church-Regular Baptist .- On the 13th day of July, 1833, a council of members convened at the house of William
Wyutt. and there organized Salem Church. John Denman, John Shanks. A. F. Coin. Peter Dunkin, Samuel Arthur, N. Stockton, William Nice and Elijah Rogers were among the constituent members, and took part in the services of the occasion, and Samuel Daniels, David Ewing and John and Sarah Logan were received into fellowship. Samuel Arthur was called to the pas- toral office. For a period of twelve years the meetings were held at the houses of members of the church, and at the house of Will- iam Wyatt, who was not a member. Subsequently, Alston Wyatt became a member, and his house was thereafter the place where meetings were held until his death, which occurred in 1869. In 1873, the society erected its present house of worship, a neat frame editice, in which meetings have since been regularly con- dneted. The church now has a membership of twenty-six, and is under the pastoral care of Rov. Hiram P. Hays.
SOCIETIES.
Wild Cat Lodge, No. 311, A., F. & A. M .- This lodge was or- ganized in 1864 at the flouring-mill of John Adams. G. W. Loug. W. L. Mabbitt, Charles N. Burns, Richard Loman, R. D. Herron, Warren Adams, I. T. Tinkle and others were the churter members. The first officers were: G. W. Long. W. M .; W. L. Mubbitt, S. W .: Charles N. Burns, J. W. For three or four years after organization. the meetings were held in the mill, and, at the end of that time, the order erected a lodge-room over the store occupied by J. W. Penn, at Wild Cat Post Office. Here they have met regularly twice a month ever since. The lodge has prospered from its inception to the present time. Its roll of mem- bers has contained more than a hundred names, at various times, but from among this number many have withdrawn to unite with and help to organize other lodges, thus reducing the membership, but not impairing the efficiency of the lodge. Its financial con- dition is very encouraging. and it is in good working order. The officers for the present term (1881) are: W. H. Greathouse, W. M .: L. B. Bowie, S. W .: W. E. Hinkle, J. W .; I. T. Tinkle, Treas- urer: Warren Adams, Secretary; J. M. Shaffer, S. D .; M. B. Wil- son. J. D .: H. Milburn, Tiler.
Cutler Lodge. No. 511, 1. O. O. F .- This lodge was organized at the village of Cutler on the 18th of April, 1879, and instituted by Enoch Cox, of Delphi, Grand Master. The charter members were John H. Woodrum, Jolm J. Weida, Moses Plank. James Walker. Dr. Andrews and W. M. Shanklin. John H. Woodrum was the first Noble Grand of the lodge; J. J. Weida, Vice Grand; F. S. Wray, Secretary, and Moses Plank, Treasurer. The hall of the Patrons of Husbandry at Cutler became the lodge-room of this society, and was used as such until the night of Angust 15, 1SS1, when it was destroyed by fire. All the property of the lodge wus destroyed, including its records and account books. hence the meager outline of its history here presented. After the fire. the next regular meeting was held in the Odd Fellows Hall, at Bringhurst, where all the meetings have since been con- ducted. The hall at Cntler is being rebuilt and will soon be ready for occupation. The lodge is in good working order, and its financial condition is sound, notwithstanding the loss entailed by the fire. Its officers at present are as follows: Andrew Jack- son, N. G .: William M. Shanklin, V. G .; T. C. Bonebrake, Secre- tary; George R. Quinn, Treasurer.
INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Notwithstanding the fact that Democrat is essentially an agricultural township, other enterprises have been established
293
DEMOCRAT TOWNSHIP.
within her borders and conducted successfully. The oldest, and " toll." His tannery continned in operation until he sold the land upon which it was situated. after which it was abandoned and left to go to decay. the one doserving the first notice, is the mill of John Adams. As stated in another part of this chapter, Mr. Adams erected a saw- mill on Wild Cat Creek in 1831. In 1835, he began the erection From early years up to the present time there have been a number of saw-mills in operation within the township. Many of these were " portable " mills, and were moved away after using the available timber from the several localities in which they were situated, and it would be next to impossible to trace their history here. of a flouring-mill on the same race, and completed it and put it into operation early in 1836. This was a frame building, 20x34 feet, two stories high. . It contained only one run of buhrs, upon which both corn and wheat were ground. It has been said of the Adams Mill that it was always overcrowded with work, and often ground day and night for several weeks in succession. The manufacture of brick has never been an important feature in the industrial history of the township. although an establish- ment of this kind has been conducted very snecessfully since 1ST1. In that yeur the Tingley brothers began the manufature of brick about a mile and a half north of the village of Prince William. They conducted the business as partners until 1577. when S. M. Tingley purchased the interest of his brother, since which time he has been sole proprietor. He manufactures an average of 220,- 000 brick per annum, selling them in the home market. during which time its machinery was never stopped. At the saine time there was plenty of work for the saw-mill, and it was kept in active operation until 1842 or 1843. when its machinery was removed. After operating his mill successfully for about nine years. Mr. Adams began the erection of another, in 1845, better adapted to the wants of his large and increasing trade. Late in the fall of 1846. the new building was completed and its machinery set in motion: but owing to necessary additions, the new mill did not reach completion until abont two years after- About the year 1569, Mr. Davidson erected a flonring-mill in the west part of the township, and shortly afterward associated Benjamin Ger with him as a partner. Subsequently. Mr. Gee pur- chased Mr. Davidson's interest and John Chittick became a part- Her. Mr. Gee died, and his share of the mill is now owned by ward. In the meantime the old mill was used to assist in grind- ing the grain brought there for that purpose, nutil the new one was entirely completed. The Adams Mill is known as one of the best on Wild Cat, and enjoys an extensive trades The build- ing erected in 1845 is the present mill. It is a frame honse, fox , his heirs, who condnet the business with Mr. Chittick. The mill 50 feet. four stories high. It has four runs of buhrs, and two is a frame building, three stories high, and has three ruus of bnlirs. It is supplied with all the modern improvements, and is in ull respects a first-class mill. turbine wheels. It is conducted as a merchant and custom mill. and has a capacity of forty barrels of flour daily. In 1860 or 1861, the property was purchased by Warren Adams, son of the original proprietor, by whom the business is still condneted. At- tached to the flouring-mill is a saw mill. which was created in 1865, by the present proprietor. This mill is operated by a tir- bine wheel, separate from those of the flouring-mill and working independently.
Among the early industrial enterprises was the carding-mill of Samuel Weaver. Mr. Weaver came to the township in 1835. and in the same year, or early in 1836. he inaugurated the first curding-mill in the township. For the first year his machinery was operated at the tlonring-mill of John Adams. In the next year, he removed to the farm now owned and occupied by John A. Cook, near Cutler, and added the manufacture of linseed oil to his other work, finding a ready market for this product at Lo- gansport, Delphi and La Fayette. He brought the machinery for this mill from Ohio, and, after operating it for a period of about twenty- five years, sold his establishment to John Arm- strong, who removed the machinery to another poiut. Mr. Weaver wus afterward proprietor of a woolen-mill at the village of Prince William, and at various times was identified with the manufacturing and mercantile interests of the township. He is now engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The first tannery in the township was located north of the present site of Cutler, near where the railroad mukes the great. enrve. It was founded by a Mr. Campbell, some time between 1835 and 1840. There seems to be none among the old citizens who can remember precisely the date of its inception, and indeed it was so small und insignificant as to appeur nimportant, even in the early days. Nearly all the settlers possessed the knowl- edge of tanning, and it is probable that Mr. Campbell's outer- prise did not amount to much as a source of profit. It is said that he conducted his business ou a plan similar to that employed in the grist mills, that is, when a beef was killed. and the hide brought to him to be tanned, he retained half of the latter as his
As an agricultural community, Democrat compares very favor. ably with other townships of equal size and facilities. During the year ISSO. there were 3,922 acres of wheat in the township. from which the yield was 62,752 bushels-an average of 16 bushels per acre. During the same period. there were 2.950 acres of corn, yielding 41, 115 bushels: 292 acres of oats yielding 2,920 bushels, From 686 acres of meadow. 2.029 tons of hay were gathered: 51 acres planted in Irish potatoes yielded 510 bushels, while from 1 acre planted in sweet potatoes. 22 bushels were gathered.
The principal care of the farmers in this locality is for such staple products as cau bo successfully raised in this climate, and but little attention is given to the enlture of fruit. excepting. perhaps. the hardier varieties of apples. plams. cherries, etc.
VILLAGES.
Lexington .- In October, 1535, Eli Patty entered land in the northeast purt of Section 11. upon which, soon after. he founded the town of Lexington. Josiah Milner opened a stock of general merchandise, and there were the usual innber of blacksmiths. carpenters and other tradesmen. Casper Orb established a tan- nery, and. in time, built up a good trade. J. A. Coffinan. E. P. Witt, Elders. Sellers and others were associated with the earlier history of the town us merchants, and shared its prosperity while it lasted. Trade cumne to Lexington from a cirenit of many miles, but in later years other towns wore founded, some of them being situated on railroads, and this one suffered the inevitable doom of u greut many towns plutted in pioneer days. The trade it had enjoyed was diverted into new channels, and the merchants ho- cume discouraged, and songht other locations. It is a very quiet hulet to-duy, quite devoid of the bustle und excitement of traffic. It has bnt one general store, of which Henry Coble is proprietor.
Prince William .- This village is situated in the northern part of Section IS. It was founded at un early duy, and enjoyed
294
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
a fair share of the trade. Its prosperity was largely increased by the construction of a plank road from Delphi to Frankfort, inasmuch as this superior road offered a premimin to travel. It never aspired to metropolitan greatness, and when the plank road was suffered to go to decay in later years, aud railroads super- ceded the old method of travel, the village naturally relapsed into a quiet rural hamlet. It now contains one general merchan- dise store kept by William Nipper & Son.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.