USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 72
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William Atkinson, October 6. 1820: John Bozarth. October 6, 1830: Robert Dunlap. October 7. 1830.
Section 35 Samuel Williamson. December 21. 1834: John Knus, March 6. 1826 : George Kuns. April 27. 1830: Johu Farneman, April 27. 1830: Jacob Knns. October 19. 1830: Isham Atkinson, January 20, 1831.
Section 36 Samnel Williamson. December 22. 1824: Aaron Merriman, December 22. 1824: Henry Miser, Jannary 3. 1525: Sammel Jonas, Jannary 17, 1525: Samuel Vlery, February 16. 1825:
ORGANIZATION.
As previously stated, Rock Creek became a civil township by an order of the County Commissioners in May. 1825. It was one of the fonr townships which formed the original coumy of C'ar- roll, Deer Creek. Township comprising all'that part of Carroll Connty lying south of the north line of Section 16. Town 25 north: Tippecanoe Township comprising all that part of Carroll County lying northwest of the Wabash River, and south of the line dividing Townships 26 and 27 north, while Rock Creek was included within the following bounds: "Commencing where the north line of Section 16 crosses the Wabash River. thence cast with said section line to the eartern boundary of the Great Mi- anni Reservation, thonce north with said reservation line to the center of Town 26 north. thence west eight nules to the southeast corner of Section 16, Town 26 north. Range 1'west. thence north until said line strikes the River Wabash. thence down said river to the place of beginning." The fourth township organized at that session of the board was Eel Township, which lay entirely in what is now Cass County.
By an order of the board. Aaron Merriman's house became the place where the elections were held; and. although the date of the first township election is not now known. it must have fol- lowed soon after the official act of the Commissioners, as the bonds of officers elected under the new organization were tiled in the early summer of 1828. Isham Atkinson was the first Justice of the Peace, and served four years. His successors from then until now have been as follows: 1834-36. John Grantham: 1837-40, Matt Bonesteel. Alexander M. Townsend and Reuben G. Mundy; 1840 -- 44: John Ashfield: 1841 -45. Alex M. Townsend and John Ashfield; 1845-49, John Guthrie: 1847-51, James Lamb; 1849-66. George Siers: 1854-59. John Guthrie: 1855-59. Enoch Stansell: 1856 -60. Nathaniel Leonard; 1560-64. Henry Seibert; 1861-65, Isaac Farneman; 1807 71, James C. Penn; 1869-73. Ronben's, minn and Elias Howitt: 1870-74, Thomas L. Clark; 1872 76. William H. Sinton and John Briggs: 1876 81. John Briggs: 1877-81. John J. McGreevy: 1878, M. J. Mc- Greevy; 1880-81, John Briggs.
1574. W. H. Duncan: 1875. Thomas Kendall: 1876, Henry F. ' Briggs: 1877 78. George Burch: 1878, Abraham Mulleidores ISSO. Ira L. Bridge?
SCHOOLS.
Among the earliest evidences of a progressive spirit on the part of the settlers was the establishment of schools for the bene- fit of their children.' The method of maintaining these schools was like that usually employed in pioneer communities. A. teacher was engaged. and his compensation was made up by con- tributions from the'often seanty purses of the parents whose chil. dron attended the school usually. $1.25 for each scholar, Im. perfect as were the " subscription school's " of that 'period, they were yet the institutions in which some of the most substantial citizens of this county received their early impressions and ac- quired the elements of their education. The first was taught by a Mr. Thompson. during the wifiter of 1830-31. in a little log cabin on the farm of Isham Atkinson. This building was proba-, bly the one in which Mr. Atkinson made his temporary abode when he first came to the township. At any rate, it was of the roughest order of pioneer architecture, and utterly devoid of anything to promote the comfort of the scholars. High. stiff benches, made of puncheons, formed the seats, without even a desk in front of them npon which the little ones might rost their elbows. A strip of greased paper to'achuit the light, and a fire place half the width of the house, completes the description of this, the first temple of learning in Rock Creek Township. The severe demeanor of the teacher. added to the general cheerless- ness of the place, made it anything but homelike for the little ones imder Ins care; for at that time it was thought necessary that the "master" should do an absolute monarch, and a thorough knowledge of the use of the rod was thought to be as indispensa- ble as the knowledge of reading, writing and " ciphering.", " No liekin', no larnin'," seemed to be as much the prevailing maxim in our pioneer community as in the Hoop-Pole Township of the " Hoosier Schoolmaster." What is trie of one of the carly schools of this township is equally true of all its successors. nutil the law of 1851-52 established the present system of free schools. supported by a direct tax.
About a year after the school was taught in the old cabin pre- vionsly referred to. the citizens of the township erected a howed- log building on the farm of John Farneman, and devoted it to ... school purposes, for which it was used until it began to decay. George Siers taught school. during the winter of 1832-33. in a cabin on the farm of his brother Alex. In 1837. a howed-log house was erected near the present site of Woodville, and was used for school purposes until it went to deeay and was aban- doned.
At the same election, William Olinger was elected Constable. In this building, too. the early religions meetings were held, whenever a minister visited that part of the township. On the land of Thomas Millard a hewed-log schoolhouse was erected in the winter of 1839-40. and a similar building was erected on the John Guthrie farm at an early day. The building on the This office has since been filled by the following gentlemen: 1832, William Atkinson: 1833, Matt Bonesteel; 1834. James Clark; 1835, Jaines C. Hooper and James Clark: 1836. William Olinger: 1836-37, Alex M. Townsend: 1838, Elijah Isaacs: 1838-40. Thomas Cloud; 1841, C. Freeman; 1842. George W. [Millard farm was succeeded. in a year or two, by a plain frame Williamson; 1843-45, Elijah Isaacs: 1846. Sammel Kepner: ' honse, which was probably the first frame building ever erected 1847-48, Cornelius Berkshire : 1849 50, Jacob "Mnllendore: in the township for school purposes. A schoolhouse of round logs was erected on the farm of Henry Bingaman in 1839 or 1840. and a Mr. McBride taught school there during that winter. Several years later. this cabin was succeeded by a hewed-log building, and subsequently by the frame building now known as Schoolhouse No. 6. In the winter of 1813-44. school was tanght in a cabin on the farm of Duvid Williamson, and similar build- 1850. Abner Huntsinger; 1851-52, John T. Hornback: 1853-54, James Ryan: 1855-56, Alfred C. Quinn; 1857, Henry Kendall: 1857-59, Sainel Hildebrand; 1860, John Scott: 1861, Thaddeus Guthrie; 1862-63, Alfred"C. Quinn: 1864-65, John Can'tner: 1866, A. J. Reynolds; 1867-69, W. M. Selleck: 1870. J. D. Sterling; 1871-72, Thomas Kendall; 1873, J. B. Humbrickhouse;
330
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ings appeared in various localities of the township afterward, as the convenience of the several neighborhoods required.
The introduction of the present system of free schools marked an important era in the educational history of the township, and if the tax for their maintenance at first met some opposition at the polls, all objections were soon removed as the advantages of improved educational facilities and better teachers began to man- ifost themselves. The schools are very justly a matter of pride to the citizens of the township, and no tax is more cheerfully paid than that by which they are suppported. There are nine districts in the township, each supplied with a substantial school build- ing. At Roekfield, a two-story brick building was erected in 1873, at a cost of about $4,000, and, in the following year, school | was taught in the lower story of the building, the grades being a primary and an advanced department. During the next year. the upper story was completed, since which time the school has been divided into three departments or grades. Bailey Martin was the Principal at the last term (closing in April. 1881), and Misses Bettie Kempfler and Addie Williamson were the assistant teach- ers. The following abstract from the annual report of the Trustee exhibits the condition of the schools in the township:
Number of pupils admitted within the year, 536: average daily attendance, 249; number of districts in which school is taught, 9; average compensation of teachers per day. malos. $2.23: females, $1.80; estimated valne of schoolhouses, grounds, etc., $9.820; estimated value of school apparatus, $300.
CHURCHES.
Religions meetings were held at an early day in various por- . which they conducted services for a period of eighteen years. In tions of the township, but it was some years before the religious element assumed the form of organization. Isham Atkinson was a preacher of the New-Light Christian denomination, and held public service at his own house and at the houses of other mem- bers of that denomination, and thus, for a number of years, the private houses and schools were made to serve in lieu of churches. As early as 1836. a class was organized by the Methodists at the house of Alex Siers; but, though they maintained their organi zation for a member of years, they never erected a church, and finally nuited with other classes organized in localities more con- venient to the homes of the respective members. In later years. as the population of the township increased, the various denomina- tions found members among the settlers who arrived, and were organized, one by one.
The Christian Church. As early, perhaps, as 1836. this de- nomination was organized, and were holding meetings at private houses. About 1837 or 1838, they began to hold meetings in the schoolhouse at the present site of Woodville, where they con- tinued to worship for a number of years. They erected a little log church at the village of Burrows, in which they worshiped until 1851 or 1852. At that time, they completed. the present neat brick church, at the site of the old building, where regular meetings have ever since been conducted. Rov. Webster was the pastor prior to the meeting of the conference, in Angust. ISS1.
The Rockfield Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1972, the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a frame house of wor- ship at Rockfield. Several years anterior to this date. a class was organized in the village by Bov. Mr. Rule, and until the society was strong enough to erect a house, they worshiped in the church building now owned by the Cumberland Presbyterian Society.
In the year above named, a lot was purchased and donated by
Absalom Parks, upon which the present house of worship was erected in the same year. during the pastorate of Rev. T. F. Baker. The building is 36x50 feet, and was completed at a cost of $2.150. During the intervening years, the congregation has continued to grow and the church to strengthen. Meetings are held every Sunday, with preaching once every two weeks by Rev. A. J. Clifton, the minister in charge of the circuit to which this church belongs.
The Rockfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church. - In 1858 or 1859, the Cumberland Presbyterian society was organized at Rockfield, under Rov. A. Jones. The village schoolhouse was used as the place for holding religious services for a period of eight years after organization, when a lot was seeured in the ! southeast part of the village, upon which their present house of worship was erected in 1867 or 1868. They manifested a very proper spirit by throwing their doors open to other denominations who were unable to erect churches for themselves. In the mean- time the church has prospered, and the membership has increased until it munbers 175 sonls at the present time. The church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Bronson.
The Rock Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church. - Some time in the year 1839. the first society of this denomination in the township was organized in the barn of Samuel Williamson, by his son. Rev. Alexander Williamson. James Montgomery and wife. John MeNulty and wife. Joseph A. Williamson and wife. William Martin and wife, Mrs. Nancy Williamson and six chil- dren, and J. W. Wharton and wife, were among the constituent. members of the society. In 1840, they erected a log church, in 1858. they erected their present house of worship, a plain, sub- stantial frame building. Services have been held almost contin. nonsly siner the organization of the church. and the congregation has steadily increased. This church has now a membership of about one hundred and fifty souls, and is under the pastoral care of Rov. Mr. Bronson.
Rockland Cumberland Presbyterian Church. -- About the year 1850. a subscription was started among the citizens of the eastern part of the township for the purpose of raising money with which to erect a churel: for the use of all denominations. The plan was successful, and with the money thus collected, a house of worship was built at the village of Woodville. Two or three years later. a society of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was or- ganized under the labors of Rev. W. O. Smith, and the honse be. came the property of this congregation. Among the members at the date of organization were John Scott and wife, William P. Martin and wife, Thomas E. Wasson, and two sons, Mary E. Yer- kes, Thomas Kendall, James Woodward, Sammel Thompson and wife. Elizabeth Thompson, John C. Aldridge and wife, John L. Thomas and wife, Mrs. Mary Huntsinger. John Brawford and wife, and others whose names are not at hand. The church at one time had as many as sixty members, but, owing to a variety of canses. the organization has been greatly weakened, and for nearly a year there has been no preaching in this house.
The pastoral office has been filled by the following gentlemen: Revs. W. O. Smith. A. F. Randolph. John P. Hay, S. C. Stewart. Albert Odell. Mitchell. - - McClure, H. W. Bryant, .A. F. Fuller, J. W. Hanna, G. H. Taylor and - - Stephens.
The Woodrille Universalist Church .--- In 1857 or 1858, a so- ciety of this denomination was organized at Woodville, and shortly afterward, purchased a house that had previously been occupied as a store. This building was remodeled and converted
33]
ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
into a house of worship, and the society grow and prospered. In Jacob M. Anderson. After the decease of Mr. Anderson. it was later years, however, 't began to decline, and for two years past no services have been held. purchased from his heirs by Daugherty & Mertz. In 1871. Alfred J. Anderson purchased the interest of Mr. Mertz, since SOCIETIES. which time the firm name has been Dangherty & Anderson. This mill is supplied with water-power from Rock Creek, and also witht boiler and engine, and steam-power is resorted to in case of a failure of the water supply.
Rockfield Lodge, No. 301, 1. O. O. F. This lodge was organ- ized on the 20th of November, 1867. with eleven charter members. viz .: H. K. Stanffer, A. S. McCormick. John Gregg, W. I. Huntsinger, Absalom Parks, William H. Stansell. H A. Bailey, A. M. Roop. M. B. Thompson. A. J. Williamson and Frederick Kromm. The first officers of the lodge were: A. J. Williamson. N. G .: H. K. Stanffer. V. G .: John Grogg. R. S .: W. I. Hunt- singer, P. S .; A. S. McCormick, Treasurer. The lodge meetings were originally held in a little frame cottage at Rockfield, and later, the second story of Huntsinger & MeDonald's brick build ing was rented for that purpose. In 1976, the lodge erected a substantial brick building opposite the depot, at au expense of $4,300. in the second story of which they have a beautiful lodge room. The lodge is in good working order, while its finances are in a satisfactory condition the resources aggregating $5,057. 40. The present officers are: F. M. Logan, N. G. : James M. Hilde brand. V. G. : J. S. Steel, Secretary: J. N. Cline, Treasurer.
Leah Lodge, No. 18, D. of R., is in good working order, with ! forty-five active members. Its officers are: G. W. Beal. N. G .: Miss Ida Penn, Secretary; Mrs. Amanda Gregg, Treasurer.
Burrows Lodge. No. 495, 1. 0. 0. F., was organized at Bur- rows on the 13th of November, 1875. Its charter members were: O. N. Glasscock, John W. West, Thomas Kendall, Enoch Noble. R. S. Noble, E. A. Fowler and John A. Quinn. The officers elected for the first term were: O. N. Glasscock, N. G .: R. S. Miller, V. G .: . John W. West, Secretary; Enoch Noble, Treasurer.
The lodge room is situated in the second story of the Kerlin building, on the principal street of the village. The lodge is in good working order, and comfortable financially. The present officers are: J. W. Been. N. G .: S. H. Linton, V. G .: J. W. Stewart, R. S .; O. N. Glasscock, P. S .: John Hynes, Treasurer.
Rockfield Lodge, No. 511, 1 .. F. d. A. M., was organized in the spring of 1978. with seven charter members, viz: Lewis Van Gundy, Charles Stansell, Dr. Powell, William Stansell, S. T. Barnes, E. W. Lake and Dr. W. F. Sharrer. The first elec- tion for officers resulted in the choice of the following gentle. men: William Stansell, W. M .; S. T. Barnes. S. W .: Dr. Pow ell, J. W. ; Dr. W. F. Sharrer, Secretary; Charles Stansell. Treasurer. The lodge is now in prosperons circumstances and good working order. The lodge room is in the second story of the McDonald & Huntsinger building, at Rockfield.
INDUSTRIAL PERSUITS.
The saw-mill erected by Sammel Williamson, in the spring of 1830, was the first industrial establishment in the township. and the grist-mill erected on the same site is believed to have been the first grist-mill in the township. In IS31 or 1532, a saw mill was erected by Emannel Flora, at his farm on Rock Creek. At. tached to this he had a carding machine, and operated a woolen- mill on a small scale. In 1840, Mr. Flora removed to Cass Conty. Ind, and the mill property was bought by Jolm Mullen. ; are the practicing physicians: F. Kromm is a blacksmith and dore, who operated the saw-mill until it was worn out. In ISIS. Mr. Mullendore erected on this site a tine flouring-mill, 36x 40) feet, three stories high, exclusive of the basement. After operat- ing it snecessfully for a munber of years, he sold it to Solthy K. Timmons, and it subsequently passed, at various times, to the hands of David Parks, Sr., Absalom Parks, Spencer Biddle and
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Numerous saw-mills have from time to time been operated in the township, but many of this number were of the portable order. and conld scarcely be counted among the institutions of the town- ship, as they were subject to freqnent removals. The saw -will at Rockfield was erected in 1855 or 1856, by Genter Brothers, who sold it to Isaac Farneman in 1860 or 1861. In 1866. McCormick & Stauffer bought the mill. and have continued to operate it ever since. In February, 1874, it was destroyed by fire, but was im mediately rebuilt and furnished with improved machinery, con sisting of three cirenlar saws, edging and cross-ent saws, etc. They employ twenty-two men, and saw an average of 7,000 fort of huuber daily. Other manufacturing enterprises have been represented in the township, but only on a small scale. As early as 1833, there was a brick kiln constructed on the farm of Eman nel Flora, but this never grew to be an enterprise of great impor. tance. A tammery was erected by Joseph Rickard in 1542 or 1543. at the farm of Thomas Millard, on Rock Creek. and operated until it outlived its nsofolness and was abandoned. Besides the sawmills previously mentioned. there were two others erected at an early day-one near the month of Rock Creek, erved by a Mr. Laish in 1934 or 1835, and the other was created on Rock Crock by Valentine Brown, in 1837 or 1838. The last-named never attained its completion, as a winter freshet in the creek washed away the dam before the building was finished.
Agricultural pursuits form the chief industry of the township. and in the amount and quality of its products, Rock Creek com pares favorably with other townships of the county. The official returns tor 1550 give the following figures: There were 1. 159 acres of wheat in that year, yielding 89, 160 bushels: 2.091 acres in comn, yielding 65, 130 bushels: 586 acres in oats, yielding 11. 6.50 bushels: 021 acres of meadow, yielding 1.219 tons of hay; 30 acres of Irish potatoes, yielding 750 bushels.
Fruit culture has never been a leading feature in the indus. trial pursuits of the township. if we except the cultivation of ap. ples, which are raised quite successfully.
VILLAGES.
Rockfield. This is the largest and most enterprising village in the township. It is situated on the line of the Wabash, St. Lonis & Pacific Railway, and was founded after that road was constructed. It contains three general merchandise stores, of which D. Harmon & Co .. A. M. Rankin and A. W. Powell are there. spective proprietors: two meat markets, conducted by Lovi Turuer and James Penn, respectively; one restaurant and bakery, of which E. A. MeKennon is the proprietor; one drug store, conducted by Van Gundy & Gregg: one hotel, of which John Nowell is the proprietor. Drs. J. Newell, W. F. Sharrer, and Powell & Newell. dealer in agricultural implements: J. H. Cullen is the village wagon-maker; William H. Thompson, cabinet-maker and under. taker: James Newell. blacksmith: Mrs. W. Ray. milliner: and Mrs. A. Thompson deals in millinery, boots and shoes. N. W. Van Gundy deals in grain, and Van Gundy & Stansell in live stock, while McCormick & Stanffer operate the saw-mill.
332
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Burrows. This is a station on the Wabash, St. Lonis & Pa- cific] Railroad. It has two general stores, kept by Scholl & Mc. Greevy and Edwin Lowe, respectively; one drug store, by Mc- Cormick & Orrahood: one photographic gallery, of which J. H. Smith is proprietor: one saw-mill, owned and operated by W. J. McGreevy. Dr. C. L. Souder and Dr. J. W. Stewart are the practicing physicians; J. J. Stanley and W. H. Linton are the practicing attorneys: John Fielder, blacksmith; Daniel Johnson- baugh, wagon-maker; and Joseph Albert, boot and shoe maker, are the representative mechanics of the village, and H. A. Grant is a contractor and builder.
On the north line of the township, a town was platted and laid out by Lawrence Genter, to which was given the, name of Burrows. This was when the Wabash Railway was first con- structed. and for awhile there was a fair prospect that Burrows would become a town of some importance. Mr. Genter erected a saw-mill, and made good use of the timber ou his land. Subse- quently, he sold the entire tract to Dr. G. W. Jerolman. of Lo- gausport. He transferred it to Steele & Co .. who erected a stave factory and used up more of the timber. Later. Dr. Jeroloman instituted legal proceedings against Steele & Co .. and finally re- gained possession of the land. in default of the payment of his claim. The town lots were subsequently vacated. and the post office was removed to the present village of Biurows.
Tiptonsport was the name of a village established in the township in the days of the first settlement. It had a store, kept by Philip Pollard. who was afterward a prominent citizen of Logansport: and blacksmiths, wagon-makers and other mechanics settled there, and added their industry to the interest of the town. It was believed that the Wabash & Erie Canal (then re- cently projected) would pass through the town: but when it was known that the canal would be constructed on the opposite side of the river, the prosperity of Tiptonsport began to wane; its merchants and mechanics sought other localities, and within a few years the village ceased to be. Its public square is obscured by well-tilled fields. and but few landmarks remain to indicate its site.
Woodville is scarcely less a relic of the past than Tiptonsport. and was founded with the same high hopes: About the year 1852. a tract of land was purchased near the center of Section 35. by Mr. Earhart, one of the surveyors engaged in running the line of the old Logansport Railroad. A store was opened by Clem Wood, while blacksmiths and other mechanics came to pur- sue their vocations and share the prosperity of thetown. But the change"for the worse. To-day it is a dreary-looking hamlet. There are two church buildings, a schoolhouse and a few cot- tages, but no stores.
railroad company failed, and the prospects of the town suffered a . deficiencies in that direction, he is more than ever solicitous that
HIRAM GREGG. COMMISSIONER.
The subject of this review has just completed his second term as Commissioner of Carroll County. having been chosen to act in that official capacity from District No. 1. and as a candidate of the Republican party. first, in the October election. 1874, and again in the fall of 1877. The verdict of the people is that he has made a satisfactory Commissioner. In the discharge of his duties he has been firm but courteous, supplying the needs of the county with impartial hand. and having at heart always the best interests of the whole people. May the party in the future be as
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