USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 34
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Miami Township .- The first schoolhouse in this township was erected on the farm of William Rooker, in 1833 or 1834, and Will- iam Kelly was one of the first teachers in the neighborhood. The second house was built on the Reed farm about the year 1837, in which Mr. Sumwall, of previous experience in Clay Township, taught. The record he has left of his teaching qualities gives him a fair rep- utation. Other schoolhouses were erected in the township, and other schools taught with greater or less success, within a few years after those first named. There were four schoolhouses there in 1853, . and a new one was built in 1854; another new one was built in 1857, and one of the earlier ones discarded. In this township, also, the schools were subjected to an over-hauling in the winter of 1863-64, and an improved system inaugurated which produced good results. Now, the township is supplied with a better class of school- houses and furniture, and a class of teachers who, with additional facilities at command, are able to do excellent work in their several districts.
Harrison Township .- In 1834, the first house devoted to school purposes was erected on the Robinson farm, and the first teacher therein was William Mitchell, a gentleman, then and since, of exten- sive and successful experience. Soon after, another house was erected in the Foglesong neighborhood, and a third on Section 16, near the Zion Church, about the year 1838. Within a few years subsequently the number was increased to eight, most of them occu- pied during the winter season. In 1854 but six were reported, while in the following year there were seven, and eight again in 1858-59 and 1860. Schools were taught in nearly all these every winter, with
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occasional summer sessions for those pupils who were too small to attend the winter sessions. As a rule these schools were supplied with efficient teachers. But in this township, especially, as well as in some others, there was an indifferent interest manifested on the part of parents to visit the schools and by their presence encourage both teacher and pupils. This reference applies only to the period when a want of thorough organization precluded the possibility of becoming familiar with those duties and the good results following.
Bethlehem Township .- In this township the first school taught was in a log house erected on the southwest quarter of Section 24, in 1835, and Nathaniel D. Nichols was the first teacher. It is said that this school was the first one in the county north of Logansport. Another house was built in 1840, which superseded the first one and was occupied in its stead. A third house was built in 1841-42, on the McMillen farm, which, with the others, supplied the neighbor- hoods interested. At a later period other houses were built in dif- ferent neighborhoods according to their wants, so that in 1853 there were six, and all of them occupied. Most of them were of hewed- logs, but warm and comfortable, while one or two of them were frame. In 1860 there were seven. Some two or three years later the schools in these several neighborhoods were remodeled and put under more systematic regulations, and thenceforward became more successful and popular.
Noble Township .- In 1835-36, the first schoolhouse was built in the township on Robert McMillen's farm, and a school taught therein soon after its completion, but the teacher's name is not now remem- bered. The second house was built on the Israel Graham farm, and was afterward known as the Sandridge Schoolhouse. In its day, especially during the first few years after its erection, the schools taught there from time to time were classed among the best in the county, because of the thoroughness of instruction and the great proficiency of the pupils. These facts are especially remembered among the early school experiences in Cass County. Indeed, those two schools stood in the front rank of the country schools of those days. In 1853, when the new school law went into effect, there were four schoolhouses in the township, but the number was in- creased to six prior to 1860-of these two were erected during the preceding year at an aggregate cost of $600; and in all of them chools were taught within the year, the whole attendance being
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250 out of a total number of 342 in the township entitled to school privileges. At.this date, as before, the schools there maintain the excellent standing of former years.
Jefferson Township .- The first schoolhouse in this township was built on the Dunham farm in 1836, but the first teacher's name has escaped recollection in these latter days, after the lapse of half a century. As early, however, as 1838 or 1839, a New Englander, named Alanson Crocker came here and offered his services as a teacher, and was employed. He was a man of singularly eccentric character, leading many to suppose that his mind was illy balanced, but later on in his career it became manifest that he was not only a fine scholar but one of the most successful teachers of the day; his control was perfect, and the ingenuity displayed in his efforts to keep up an interest and develop the mental faculties of his pupils was truly astonishing. As long as his services could be engaged it was the common expression that " Crocker " was the man for the place; hence, during a series of years he continued to be the instructor of youth in that vicinity. In 1853, but one schoolhouse was reported, in 1854, four; in 1855, six; which continued to be the number for several years. The schools generally, since that time, have been good, and of late years nothing has tended to detract from their orig- inal standing.
Boone Township .- Here, the first school was taught by Thomas Harvey, in the winter of 1835-36, but the location of the house is now forgotten, and whether it was a building originally constructed for school purposes is equally uncertain and undetermined. An- other schoolhouse was built in the winter of 1838-39, on the present town site of Royal Center, and the school taught by Mary Wash- burn. At this time it is questionable whether that house was primarily designed for school purposes or a vacated residence after- ward appropriated to that use. There were five schoolhouses in 1853, but afterward the number was increased to eight, all of them occupied by schools during the winter. In Royal Center, as early as 1866, a respectable frame schoolhouse was built, and subsequently occupied during the most of each season. A large two-story brick building was erected, calculated for a graded school. Since that time it has been in use during the entire school year.
Adams Township .- A school was first taught in this township, by William Davidson, in the winter of 1836-37, in a building erected
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on the Dalzell farm. The following year a schoolhouse was built on the Joel Black farm, and a school conducted there during the suc- ceeding winter. This was probably the first regular schoolhouse built in the township. About the same time, but a little later, a second schoolhouse was built on the Henry L. Thomas farm, and was occupied immediately after. Under the new school law no schoolhouses were reported from this township in 1853. In 1854 there were four, and later six, and in all of them schools were taught within the year. After the schools were reorganized the growth was more healthy and rapid, and to-day they occupy a fair position among the other schools of the county.
Washington Township .- A portion of this township was settled at a very early date in the history of the county, but the major part of it at a much later period, and the schools, therefore, were con- siderably behind those of the other townships, partly because of the sparse settlement, but chiefly on account of the close proximity to the schools in town and the greater convenience in attending them. The first of which we fiud any mention was taught in a cabin schoolhouse situated on the Andrew Johnson farm, in 1838, by John Lehigh. This school was not large, but, in a measure, suc- cessful. In 1841 a schoolhouse was erected on the same farm, but occupied a different site. It was occupied for school purposes many years afterward. In the mean time other schoolhouses were erected at various points in the township, and in 1853 seven were reported there, and that number continued to represent the town- ship in later years. The school economy being changed about 1863, the work has gone on successfully from that time to the present.
Deer Creek Township .- This was one of the newer townships, and schools did not commence there until the winter of 1840-41, the first schoolhouse being located on the Hyman farm, and the first teacher therein Josiah Brown. The second teacher in that build- ing was Milton Jarrett, who taught there next season. The second schoolhouse was on the Holland farm, and was in use during the winters until within a few years past, when it was superseded by a more substantial structure. There were seven schoolhouses there in 1853, but in 1857 there were eight reported. Of late years the schools have occupied a much higher grade, and the teachers have been more efficient.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Tipton Township .- The first school in this township was in a cabin on the farm of Allen Wilson, in the winter of 1842-43. A schoolhouse was built on Andrew Wilson's farm in 1843-44, and Lewis F. Bowyer was the teacher and succeeded well. The first schoolhouse, however, was erected on Allen Wilson's farm in 1844. In 1853 seven houses were reported as being used for school pur- poses, and in 1857 there were eight. Subsequently schoolhouses were erected in Walton, Onward, and other central points. An in- stitution known as the Cass County Normal School was opened in Walton on the 9th of April, 1878, under the special charge of Harry G. Wilson, county superintendent, and a corps of practical teachers. It opened well and succeeded for some time, but eventually suc- cumbed from want of local patronage. A very good school is still maintained there, however. The schools of this township have al- ways sustained a fair reputation for successful management.
Jackson Township .- A schoolhouse was erected on the farm of William Stanley, in this township, in the fall or winter of 1843-44, and John M. Jackson was the first teacher. "The next schoolhouse was built in the immediate vicinity of Galveston, about 1845, and among the early teachers in that locality were Samuel Lambert and Daniel Kemp. There were three schoolhouses in the township upon the taking effect of the school law in 1852; in 1854 there were four, and in 1855, eight, and they were generally of good quality, for the most part of hewed logs. Afterward, when the school system had become better understood and the people were better able to bear the expense, a better class of buildings was erected, and the houses provided with more modern furniture and facilities adapted to the wants of progressive schools. In the town of Galveston a building was erected about the year 1862, of dimensions sufficient to justify the experiment of a graded school, which was put in operation a few years later. The first effort at establishing a school of that character did not succeed, more, probably, from the inefficiency of the teacher and his inability to fully take in the situation. Subse- quent efforts were more successful, and at this time schools are enti- tled to a higher standard of merit than some others of equal oppor- tunities. Indeed, the school work of the township at large is emi- nently satisfactory and gratifying to teachers, pupils and patrons.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII.
BY T. B. HELM.
LOGANSPORT -PRELIMINARY HISTORY - EARLY SETTLEMENTS-NAME- EARLY IMPROVEMENTS-SETTLERS OF 1828-MADE THE SEAT OF JUSTICE -TOWN CORPORATION-CITY CORPORATION-ADDITIONS TO THE CITY AREA-PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENTS-POPULATION-BRIEF HISTORY OF ITS CHURCHES-SECRET ORDERS-BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS-LEADING BUSINESS INTERESTS, ETC.
U NTIL after the treaties of October 16 and 23, 1826, made with the Pottawattomies and Miamis, the spirit .of advent- ure incident to permanent settlement was scarcely developed in the minds of white people contemplating immigration hither. How- ever, when these treaties had been confirmed, and the Indian titles to the lands ceded thereby had been extinguished-even before the surveys, except of individual reservations, had been made-adven- turons pioneers now and then came forth, moved by a desire to se- cure homes for themselves and families-dropped down, as it were. from the clouds, emerged from adjacent thickets, or floated down the Wabash from the upper settlements at the head of the Maumee. Some who thus came and saw, " squatted," while others, not fully satisfied with the prospect, passed along still farther in search of the "promised land."
Notwithstanding the fact that many of those who contemplated seeking homes in this locality were deterred from so doing by reason of their indisposition to risk the hazard of settling in the " Indian country," yet there were exceptions. As early as August, 1826, be- fore the consummation of the expected treaties, Alexander Chamber- lain, or "Aleck," as he was familiarly called, from Fort Harrison Prairie, anticipating the ultimate success of the treaties, then only in contemplation, and not influenced by the prospect of fancied in- security, emigrated from his former home and became the pioneer in fact of the early settlers of the county. He pitched his tent among the children of the forest, and subsequently erected his primitive cabin, of small dimensions, on the bank of the Wabash,
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opposite the mouth of Eel River, adapted only to the immediate wants of his family. It was soon ascertained that, situated as he was, the only white settler, perhaps, within twenty miles or more, his house room was not sufficient to meet the demands of travelers and home hunters who found it convenient to seek shelter under his hospitable roof. In this contingency, a house of greater dimensions became necessary, when, a little later, by force of circumstan- ces, his own exertions, and the generous assistance of his neigh -- bors at the Deer Creek Settlements, more than twenty miles away, he had the first regular house-raising, a double, two-story, hewed- log building, with a hall-way between, a little to the westward and a short distance inland from his cabin, which, when completed, was opened as a tavern, or place of entertainment for travelers. His personal qualities were such that ere long he received the title of the most popular landlord on the Wabash. Mr. Chamberlain had previously entered the land upon which this settlement was made, the fractional east half of the east half of Section 35, Township 27 north, Range 1 east, on the 25th of May, 1825, for which he re- ceived a certificate of purchase. But prior to that date, on the 23d of December, 1824, he had entered the fractional west half of the same half section. Upon this tract (having sold the one first de- scribed to Gen. John Tipton on the 3d of April, 1829, for the then snug little sum of $725) he subsequently erected another double two-story hewed-log house, the exact counterpart of the first, and established the second tavern in the county. His tavern sign, hung in a large oblong frame, fastened upon the top of a wooden post set firmly in the ground, and bearing the inscription, "Entertainment, by A. Chamberlain," might be seen any day, many years after the property had been purchased and occupied by Francis Murphy, Sr., well known to most of the old settlers, who became the owner on 6th of July, 1833, having paid for the same the sum of $2,000.
Prior to the sale of the property opposite the mouth of Eel River, Gen. Tipton, who had some time before, because of his fa- miliarity with the Indian character and promptness in managing their affairs, induced by his long experience and active service in that field, been appointed Indian agent, with headquarters at Fort Wayne, deeming this a more central point, and every way better adapted to the supervision and wants of his charge, removed the agency from Fort Wayne, and established his headquarters at the Chamberlain
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tavern some time in March, 1828, afterward purchasing the prop- erty, as above noted, and erecting thereon other buildings necessary for and incident to the transaction of business pertaining to the agency. One of these buildings, used and occupied as an office, was a little one-story frame, with a porch in front, standing but a few feet to the westward and a little to the front of the original building. This agency building-the office-continued to occupy its original position until within the past few years, when, like the- race, to the protection of whose interests it was dedicated, it yielded to the inevitable law of change, and was lost to view. As the seat of the agency it was the central point of interest, and continued so for many years, and until it ceased to be used for that purpose. At the time of locating the agency here, the western boundary of the " Great Miami Reserve " was but a few rods east of the buildings just described.
From the best information at hand, William Newman and his wife Vermillia, were, next to Mr. Chamberlain, the first to settle in Cass County. Having entered the east half of the northeast quar- ter of Section 33, Township 27 north, Range 1 east, just two miles west of the site of the Chamberlain mansion, on the 1st of Decem- ber, 1825, at the Crawfordsville land office, Mr. Newman "put up" a cabin on the tract, near the left bank of the Wabash, a few rods east of the bluff, since known as the "Simons' Stone Quarry," not long after the date of Mr. Chamberlain's raising at the mouth of Eel River. He moved in, with his family, early in the spring of 1827, and remained there some three or four years, removing thence to Tippecanoe County, in the vicinity of Lafayette, selling his land, January 4, 1831, to William Neff, who, in turn, made the place his home for a number of years. Of the personal history of Mr. New- man, and his pioneer experience in Cass County, but little is now known beyond the declarations of a few persons then best acquaint- ed with him, all of whom unite in the expression that he was a man of generous impulses, possessing habits of industry, which, though greatly paralyzed by the " acclimating process " known as the pio- neer's " fever and ague " experience, was sufficiently well established to render him a very satisfactory neighbor. The late Adam Porter, of Carroll County, having previously made his acquaintance in Ma- rion County, and administered to his wants during a severe and pro- tracted illness, a strong mutual friendship was contracted, and Mr.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Porter was strongly urged, in his contemplated visit to the Wabash country to buy land, to call at his cabin and partake of his hospital- ity, as a partial return for his kindly help in time of need. Mr. Porter, in giving an account of his trip, says: "On making my trip to this country, scarcely remembering the exact whereabouts of my new acquaintance, who should I come across in my travels but friend Newman, and the last man I was thinking of. I was invited to his house and treated like a prince, Mr. Newman strongly urging me to settle on the Wabash, in this county." Others speak of him in sim- ilar terms of commendation.
About the same time James Burch settled a little lower down on the same Section, on the land since known as the "Simons' farm." He did not remain long in that locality. Having received from Christian Simons, the father of Isaac, Leonard, Peter and Benjamin Simons, a liberal offer for his interest in the land so occupied by him, he sold his certificate of entry to Mr. Simons, who, in the spring of 1828, took possession of the land and thus became one of the very early settlers in the neighborhood. A part of the same tract.now constitutes the homestead of Benjamin Simons, Esq. The settlers above referred to embrace all, or at least all of whom we have now any account, in that portion of the county lying south of the Wabash River, prior to the organization of the township of Eel, in Carroll County, on the 12th of May, 1828.
On the north side of the Wabash, in that part now forming Eel Township, in Cass County, numerous other pioneer men, in the meantime, had made permanent settlement-especially those induced so to do by reason of the excellent opportunities offered as a result of the recent treaty, by the provisions of which individual grants had been reserved to the children of Joseph Barron, immediately west of the mouth of Eel River; to George Cicott, immediately east of and adjoining the first named; and to John B. Richardville, "commenc- ing at the southeast corner of Cicott's Reserve, at the falls of Eel River," and extending eastward on the south side of Eel River and north of the Wabash. The first to avail himself of the opportunity was Maj. Daniel Bell, a brother-in-law of Gen. Tipton, who landed here with his family on the 27th of March, 1827, very soon after the confirmation of the treaty just referred to. He pitched his tent, and subsequently erected his cabin, just east of Berkley Street, and a few rods south of the "old cemetery " grounds. The ruins of this
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
old cabin might have been seen within the past thirty years on this spot.
Next in point of time was Joseph Barron and his family, who came from Fort Wayne some time in the month of June, 1827, and domiciled temporarily in the old "trading house" erected on the bank of the river in front of the Seybold mansion, and until the completion of the family residence-a double, two-story, hewed-log structure of the pattern set by Mr. Chamberlain-a few rods west of the mouth of Eel River, and near the eastern extremity of the Three Sections tract reserved to his children by the treaty of Octo- ber 16, 1826. The building was destroyed by fire in September, 1842.
About the same date, Hugh B. McKeen, a son-in-law of Mr. Barron, and for some time connected with the Indian trade at Fort Wayne, and who early acquired an interest in the reservation granted to George Cicott, came here and established a "trading house " for traffic with the Indians, on the bank of the Wabash River, in front of what was afterward known as McKeen Street, on the western boundary of the original plat of Logansport. His resi- dence was situated on the north side of Eel River, nearly opposite the "Forest Mill," on the tract afterward deeded to him by Chauncey Carter as his interest in the Cicott Reserve. His first residence, however, was situated some fifteen rods east of his trading house, where he remained for about one year. Mr. C. B. Lasselle, in his "Sketch of the Early Settlement of Logansport and Cass County," published in the Democratic Pharos of June 25, 1851, speaking of Mr. McKeen, says: "The next person who came to reside here was Mr. Hugh B. McKeen, of Fort Wayne. He arrived with his family about the 1st of June following (1827), and with the assistance of Maj. Bell erected two log houses, one for his family and another for a store or trading house. The former stood on the bank of the Wabash, near the 'point,' in front of the southeast corner of Lot No. 3, on the original plat of the city, and the latter about twenty yards [fifteen rods ] below. In front of and near to the southeast corner of his dwelling, there stood, and still stands, 'a brave old oak,' under whose lofty and protecting arms McKeen and his friends used to while away many a lonely hour with merry chat and song, for his was a hospitable hearth, and his heart 'knew no guile.' Here he continued to reside and to trade with the Indians and his
John C. Miniani
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
white neighbors for about one year. His day-book relating to his trade with the whites commences with the date of June 24 and ends with October 11, 1827. His customers were not as numerous and extensive as are those of some of his successors. They amounted to something like a dozen, and hailed from Fort Wayne, St. Joseph's and other distant stations, as well as from this vicinity. His was a kind of civilized establishment, in which the familiar articles of plates, pocket-knives, coffee and sugar were to be found, and when the traders, who kept nothing but Indian goods, got out of these articles by accident or otherwise, they had to make for the ‘Mouth of Eel,' as McKeen designated the point of his location, and replenish their stocks. A Mr. William Suttonfield, who prospered at Fort Wayne in the business of a landlord, was also, among others there, a customer of his, and had sometimes to come down-a dis- tance of eighty miles-to replenish his table and revive his guests with a supply of sugar and coffee. Sometimes, too, the more lively and convivial spirits of the latter place would take a kind of 'spree' or trip to the ' Mouth of Eel,' and then the luxuries of pocket-knives, silk handkerchiefs and boots would be in requisition. Maj. Bell and Mr. McKeen were the only persons who came to reside perma- nently within the present limits of the city or on the reserve during the year of 1827. * Antoine Gamelin and Richard Chabert came in the fall, and built a trading house " on the bank of the Wabash, west of the Barron homestead.
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