USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 67
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JOHN H. WHITE, of Clay Township, was born in Frederick County, Va., Jannary 3, 1825. He was the fourth son born to Batley and Hannah (Hair) White, both natives of Frederick County, Va., of English descent. His father was a saddler by trade. Having learned the trade himself at an early age, he worked
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with his father until he was seventeen years old. His father, in the meantime, had immigrated to Washington County, Penn. This was in 1828. In the fall of 1843 they immigrated to this county and located upon a farm in Clay Township. Shortly after locating here our subject went to Logansport, where for eighteen months he worked at his trade. He then returned to his father's in Clay Township, and has ever since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In March, 1861, he removed to a farm in Section 5, Clay Township, where he has since resided. He married Jane H. Davis, a native of Adams Township, this county, born, of English and Scotch-Irish descent, April 4, 1839. She was the youngest daughter of Joel H. and Mary (Harvey ) Davis, both natives of New York. Her parents immigrated to this county from New York in 1837, and located in Logansport. Mr. and Mrs. White have but one child, Horace M., born October 20, 1861, married to Emma C. Puterbaugh October 26, 1882. To this latter union one child has been born, Edith A., April 17, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. White belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican, and does all he can to promote the interests of his party. In the spring of 1882 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace in Clay Township. In the spring of 1886 he was elected assessor of the township and is the present incumbent. He has a good farm of 160 acres of land, five miles northeast of Logansport.
CHAPTER XII.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP-PIONEER SETTLERS AND THEIR LOCATIONS-INCIDENTS -QUALITY OF THE LAND-SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENTS-FIRST MAR- RIAGES, BIRTHS-RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLHOUSES EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS-CLYMER'S STATION; ITS ORIGIN AND PROSPECTS-BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES.
T THIS TOWNSHIP embraces an area of about twenty-four and a half square miles, the lands lying chiefly in Congressional Township 26 north, and in Ranges 1 east aud 1 west, in the south- ern part of the township, while the northern part lies within the same ranges, but in Township 27 north. The Wabash River forms the northern boundary, along the margin of which, on the south, a range of high, bluffy land extends nearly the entire distance, and at several points the out-croppings of limestone of good quality for building purposes are visible. After leaving these bluffs, the land
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to the southward is generally level or descending slightly toward the river, while in the extreme southern part the land is flat, and be- fore it was cleared and opened to the sunlight was rather cold and unproductive. By drainage, however, and judicious cultivation, they have greatly improved in productive quality, and in that par- ticular make a fair average with the lands situated nearer to the river. In the central part of the township the lands possess a rich- ness of soil not surpassed by any in the county, and in their primi- tive state were covered by heavy timber, the principal varieties be- ing blue and gray ash, black and white walnut, with a considerable proportion of sugar-tree, beech and red elm.
The first settlements were made in this township in the fall and winter of 1826-27, by James Burch, who squatted on the land at the top of the bluff, since owned by the Simons family, and by William Newman, who, having purchased the east half of the north- east quarter of Section 33, Town 27 north, Range 1 east, just above the Simons' bluff, on the 10th of December, 1825, settled upon that tract and commenced the laborious task of opening a farm. Mr. Burch, however, having acquired no further right to the land squatted upon than the right of possession and of compensation for the labor bestowed upon, when he had been there less than two years sold his interest in the land to Christian Simons, who, in the fall of 1828, with his family, settled there. Mr. Newman continued his improve- ments on the tract purchased by him until the winter of 1830-31, when he sold the land to William Neff, the deed bearing date Janu- ary 4, 1831, and subsequently moved to Tippecanoe County, and settled in the neighborhood of Lafayette, then a village less than seven years old. But little is now known here concerning the qual- ity of this primitive settler, other than the declarations of those best acquainted with him during his residence here, which were to the effect that lie was a man of generous impulses, possessing habits of industry and energy, which though greatly paralyzed by the " ac- climating process," better known as the "fever and ague experience of early settlers," were sufficiently developed and brought into req- uisition to render him a very acceptable and useful neighbor.
Christian Simons, who succeeded Mr. Burch, immediately after his settlement began to enlarge the area of his improvements and prepare the grounds for cultivation. His family consisted of his wife, Elizabeth, and several children, chiefly boys, who were of an age
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to render him great assistance in clearing away the heavy growth of timber found upon the premises. Thus situated, he succeeded, ere long, in making a comfortable farm, which he continued to oc- cupy and enjoy during the remainder of his life.
On the 3d of October, 1828, a few days prior to the permanent settlement of Mr. Simons, Christian Rodebaugh, with his family, settled on the south side of the Wabash, some five miles below Lo- gansport, on the northeast quarter of Section 31, in Congressional Township 27 north, Range 1 east, upon which he continued to reside until the time of his death, a period of more than forty-five years.
Among those who settled here as early as 1829 the name of William Lewis may be mentioned. At an early day he purchased the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 26 north, Range 1 east, and subsequently erected a cabin upon it, which served as a home for many years. Mr. Hugh Woods is reputed also to have settled on the land now owned by the heirs of the late Will- iam Brown, deceased-the southeast quarter of Section 33, Town- ship 27 north, Range 1 east-some time in the year 1829, and opened a small farm, which, about 1837, he sold to Isaac Wightman, who moved there soon after and made further improvements. Mr. Woods afterward moved with his family and settled most of them on or ad- jacent to Section 16, Township 26 north, Range 1 east, which be- came the family home.
The tide of immigration set in and the settlers began to come in very numerously the following year, 1830. Among the number the names of Joseph Clymer, who settled on what was long known as the George B. Walker farm, in the northeast quarter of Section 32, Township 27 north, Range 1 east; Daniel Neff, on the fractional south half of Section 29, in the same township and range, now owned by his heirs; Jacob Neff, who settled on the fractional west half of the west half of Section 34, now owned by Ernest Homburg's heirs; Jonathan Neff, who settled on the northeast quarter of Sec- tion 3, Town 26, Range 1 east; Andrew Young, on the middle half of the same section, a portion of the same land now occupied by the new Insane Asylum buildings; Elias Shideler, who settled on the farm now owned by David H. Clymer; George Shideler, who settled on the lands now owned and occupied by his son Abraham Shideler; Thomas Chambers, who settled on the northeast quarter of Section in the same township; Robert Wilson, who settled on a part of the
29
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southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 27 north, Range 1 east; John P. Miller, on the northwest quarter of Section 4 in Township 26, of the same range; John Dodds, on the land now owned by his sons, Matthew and Andrew Dodds; John Fitzer, on the southwest quarter of Section 1, Township 26 north, Range 1 west: Joseph Fitzer, on the southwest quarter of Section 7, of the same town- ship, but in Range 1 east; John Hynes, on the lands now owned and occupied by the family and his mother, the Widow Brown, on a part of the same tract-appear upon the roll of that year.
In the year 1831 settlements were made by William Neff on the William Newman place before referred to; John Williams, who settled on the William Atwood farm, where the heirs of the latter still reside; Hiram Calvert, who settled on the east half of the north- west quarter of Section 9, Township 26 north, Range 1 east; James Chambers, on the southeast quarter of Section 4, of the same town- ship. From 1831 to 1834, inclusive, the following other settlers came and found homes in Clinton Township: John Myers, on the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 26, Range 1 east; John Shuey, on the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 5; William Reed, on the southwest quarter of the same section; Joseph Oliver; Henry Klepinger, on the northwest quar- ter of Section 12, Township 26, Range 1 west; David Stumbaugh; William Gable, on the farm owned by William Clymer's heirs; Peter and John Redd with their mother, on the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 32, Township 27, Range 1 east; Robert Edwards, on the fractional east half of the east half of Section 34; Isaac Martin; Levi Stephens, on the northeast quarter of Section 15, Township 26, Range 1 east; Christian Best, on the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section; Daniel Hankee, on the south half of the southwest quarter of the same section; John Mummey, on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 10, and Henry Whipperman, on the east half of the same section.
In 1835 Richard Tyner settled on the land on which he still re- sides, and Henry H. Helm on the land recently owned by Charles Parks. The following year Hewit L. Thomas settled on the farm now owned by Isaac N. Myers. Thomas Dillard came with him and afterward settled on a part of the northeast quarter of Section 4 of the same township and range. About the same time Benjamin Por- ter, William Porter and James Justice, on lands now owned by them
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respectively, or their heirs. James Sax also settled in that neigh- borhood about the same time.
This township was organized, under the name it now bears, March 4, 1834, the territorial boundaries being nearly the same as at present. Under the order designating the boundaries and setting apart this area as a separate jurisdiction, a further order was made fixing the date at which an election would be held for the purpose of chosing the necessary township officers. That election was held accordingly at the house of John P. Miller, at which Mr. Miller was chosen township trustee; William Goble, justice of the peace, and Thomas Chambers, constable.
The first marriage that took place within that jurisdiction was Joseph Oliver and Rachel Neff, some time in the year 1833.
The first death was that of Lydia, wife of William Neff, which occurred about the year 1830, and near the same time Mary, wife of Isaac Martin, who was the first person buried in the Shideler Grave- yard. A year later Hugh Woods, a brother of Joseph, died also.
The, first religious services were held in 1831, by the Methodists, at the house of William Neff. Not long after the Presbyterians held services in the same neighborhood, when Rev. M. M. Post, of Logans- port, administered to the spiritual wants of his congregation with considerable regularity and good effect. These meetings were held first at private houses, but subsequently in the George Shideler Schoolhouse. As early as 1839-40 the Dunkards began to hold quarterly meetings, sometimes near the Klepinger homestead, and again at the house of George Shideler. In 1841 or 1842 the Bap- tists commenced a series of meetings as a branch of the church in Logansport, and later the Christians or "Campbellites" held irregu- lar services also, as did the New Lights in the southern part of the township.
While religions services were held by those several denomina- tions, with more or less regularity, during the earlier periods of the township's history, churches or meeting-houses, designed especially as places of worship, are of comparatively recent date. The first one so erected, so far as our information goes, was at Clymer's Sta- tion, erected about 1857 or 1858 by the Methodists. It is a com- fortable building, though not large, but of sufficient capacity for the purpose intended. At a later date another building for the same purpose was erected on the Josephus Atkinson farm. Still later,
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about the year 1872-73, a third church edifice was built in the vicin- ity of Clymer's Station, under the auspices, I believe, of the Chris- tians or Disciples, but subject to use by other denominations at stated periods.
Probably the first white child born in the township was George A. Shideler, a son of Elias Shideler, in 1831, in a log cabin, on the site now occupied by the residence of David H. Clymer, Esq.
The subject of schools early occupied the attention of the pioneer settlers of the township, and provision began to be made, with end in view, even before provision was made for religious training at the hands of the church. The first effort in that direction was a mis- cellaneous school taught in a small cabin on the Simons' farm, about the year 1830, by John Martin. The next teacher, perhaps in the same building, was a Mr. Fuller, but anything as to the teaching qualities of one or both of these gentlemen can not now be ascer- tained. The presumption is, however, that they belonged to the class who thus labored in the winter season because there was noth- ing else at which they could so well employ their time and exercise their latent talents.
Prior to 1835 there were probably no houses built exclusively for school purposes in the township, and indeed it is uncertain whether in that year there were any such. In 1836 and 1837 there were at least two built in different parts of the township, one on George Shideler's land and another near the residence of Hewit L. Thomas, and, still later, a third in the Justice and Porter neigh- borhood. All these were occupied for school purposes during the winter, and occasionally during the summer seasons. Hewit L. Thomas was the first teacher in the house on his land. He taught the second winter also. In the winter and spring of 1839 and 1840, Charles H. Balch, a Massachusetts man, had charge of the school, and proved to be an excellent teacher; succeeding him came Daniel McCaufil, an excentric Irishman, who, aside from his special eccen- tricities, was a fair teacher; but in the end those freaks of fancy or superstition caused his dismissal in the midst of a term of four months. Daniel Rea was probably the next teacher of the winter school ; but during the summer of 1839, Miss Louisiana Young, after- ward the wife of William Goble, Esq., taught in the same building.
Among the first teachers in the Justice schoolhouse was Thomas P. Miller, who taught there in the winter of 1839-40 and the win-
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ter following. His pedagogic qualities were not of the highest order, yet he succeeded in conducting a very respectable school. About the same time Daniel McNeil was in charge of a school in the Fitzer settlement, which was very well attended, and he had the reputation of a very good instructor though not a superior scholar. The names of the early teachers in the George Shideler schoolhouse are not now remembered.
Clymer's Station, situated at the junction of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific and the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railroads, was laid out in 1856, by George Clymer. It has never been a place of extensive business, but has always enjoyed a fair proportion of the current trade. Its population does not probably exceed 200, but is supplied with all the necessary auxiliaries of the kind and quality of trade demanded by the people there and in the country surrounding. In consequence of its central location it is very likely to command a large share of the trade in the storage and shipment of grain, lumber, etc.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ANDREW DODDS is one of the pioneers of Clinton Township, and was born December 26, 1826, in Butler County, Ohio. His parents were John and Margaret Dodds, both natives of Ireland. At the age of four years his parents immigrated to this county (in 1830) ; here our subject has spent his entire life on a farm. April 1, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Spader, and to this union were born eleven children, viz .: Margaret, Ira, Edna, Benjamin, Carrie, Henry, Willard, Laura, Charles, Minnie and Jo- sephine; all now living, and residing within eight miles of their par- ents. Mr. and Mrs. Dodds are members of the Lutheran Church. He began life a poor boy, and by dint of industry and perseverance he now owns a fine farm of 120 acres in Section 10. He has lived to see a wonderful change in this county. What was once a wilder- ness is transformed into beautiful farms; the little village of Lo- gansport has changed into a beautiful city. Mr. Dodds expects to end his days where he has spent the best part of his life.
HUGH FITZER is one of the pioneers of Cass County, and was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, March 14, 1827. His parents were Joseph and Sarah ( Woods) Fitzer; the former a native of Ken- tucky, the latter was a native of Ohio and of German and Irish descent. They were united in marriage, about 1821, in Lawrence County, Ohio, where they resided on a farm until 1831, when
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they immigrated to this county, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides, in the fall of that year. Prior to this, in the fall of 1830, Mr. Fitzer came out and entered 160 acres, and it was on this that, in December of 1831, they pitched a tent and com- menced to make a home in the wilderness. They soon had a rude log cabin built, in which they spent the winter, and for several years this cabin was their home. Here Hugh spent his boyhood and youth, aiding in the farm work. receiving a fair education for that day. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred August 6, 1861. On that date he was united in wedlock with Nancy J. Hynes, daughter of John and Nancy Hynes. pioneers of this township. She was born March 31, 1842, in this township, where she has always resided. To this union were born two children: Willard C. and Harry J., both of whom are now living and attending school. Willard is taking the scientific course at Purdue University, where he has been about two years. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Fitzer is a Democrat. He began life in fair circumstances and has accumulated considerable property. He now owns 455 acres of fine improved land in Sec- tion 7. His improvements are modern and his is a very pleasant home.
JOHN HYNES is one of the pioneers of Clinton Township. He was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., on the 23d of November, 1811: his parents were John and Barbara (Binkerd) Hynes; the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of Virginia. They began married life together in Pennsylvania. About 1815 Mr. Hynes was called away. In 1816 Mrs. Hynes and her only son, our subject, left Pittsburgh on a flat-boat for Cincinnati, on their way to Montgomery County, Ohio, where Mrs. Hynes had relatives living. Here John spent his boyhood and youth on a farm, attending the schools, receiving as good an education as that day of log school- houses afforded. His mother being a widow, and John her only child, it devolved upon him to do his utmost to support her. When he was seventeen years old he heard of the sale of the Canal lands in this county, and about the last of September, 1830. started for the Wabash country. After entering his land he returned to Montgomery County, Ohio, and returned to work on a farm. On March 29, 1832, he was united in marriage with Nancy Coble, daughter of Emanuel and Rachel (Galahan) Coble. Nancy was born December 17, 1811, in Montgomery County, Ohio. where she spent her life up to the time of her marriage. This union was blessed with fourteen children, namely: Rachel, Henry, Harriet B., Mary A., Frances A., Samuel, Nancy J., Sarah E., Emily, Lavina, John, Rebecca, Margaret and Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Hynes left Ohio on the 5th of September, 1832, and started to find his tract of land in this township. On the 16th of this month they found them-
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selves upon their own soil, and unloaded the wagon under a beech tree. Here they commenced to clear up a home where all was then a wilderness. Mr. Hynes' early recollections of pioneer days is good, and he is one among the few who came here over 50 years ago, that lives to narrate the trials of pioneer life in this county. He is the oldest resident of this township that brought his family when he came. Mr. Hynes has accumulated considerable of property. He now owns 158 acres of finely improved land in Section 11. He also aided his sons in securing homes. Thus, we see a life well and hon- orably spent. Mr. and Mrs. Hynes are members of the Christian Church, and have taken an active part in the church for forty-five years. Death called Mrs. Hines away on the 15th of November, 1883. Mr. Hynes expects to end his days on the old homestead, where he has spent the best part of his life. Politically he is a Democrat, and voted for Andrew Jackson in 1832. He has held the office of conn- ty commissioner and trustee, and justice of the peace in his township, all of which he held with credit to himself.
SAMUEL HYNES, the fifth of a family of fourteen children born to John and Nancy (Coble) Hynes, was born September 2, 1840, on the old homestead in this township. He aided his parents on the farm during his youth, and at twenty-one began life on his own responsibility and spent three winters in chopping cord-wood. At the age of twenty-four he was united in marriage with Mary J. Stewart. She was the daughter of James and Anna E. (Cook) Stewart, natives of Pennsylvania. She was born December 3, 1844. To this union were born two children, namely: Effie A., February 2, 1868; Chloe G., January 22, 1879-both of whom are now resid- ing with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hynes are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hynes is a Democrat and believes in the principles of "Jackson." He began life on his own responsi- bility in fair circumstances, and now owns 314 acres of fine tillable land. Being reared on a farm, he has adopted farming as a life occupation, and can be classed to-day among Clinton's most success- ful farmers.
JOHN H. MARSHALL was born March 4, 1804, in Montgom- ery County, Ky. He was the fourth of a family of ten children born to Hubert and Ruth (Hanks) Marshall. They were natives of Kentucky. In 1811 they immigrated to Orange County, this State; thence to Gibson County; from there to Monroe, and in 1835 they removed to Carroll County. John was reared on a farm and received a fair education for that day. At the age of sixteen he began to do for himself by working at any thing he could get to do to make an honest penny. January 22, 1832, he was united in marriage with Margaret Kendall, daughter of Thomas and Mary Kendall, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, February 6, 1813. When about three years old her parents immigrated to Jackson County,
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this State. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall began life together in Monroe County on a farm. They had born to them eleven children: Mary, John, Ruth, George K., Susannah, Salena, Margaret, Hubert, Sarah, James J., Candace, six of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are members of the Christian Church, and have been active members forty-six years. During this time Mr. Marshall has acted as a minister nearly thirty-five years. Politically Mr. Mar- shall is a Republican, and has always upheld the principles of this party. He voted for Andrew Jackson for President, but when the war broke out he began to vote the Republican ticket. Gov. Noble, of this State, commissioned him a captain of a militia company in Monroe County. He owns a fine farm of forty-seven acres in Section 3. It is a pleasant home close to the city, and where Mr. and Mrs. Marshall expect to end their days.
GEO. K. MARSHALL. Prominent among the citizens of Clinton Township is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Rock Creek Township, Carroll County, this State, January 21. 1840. His parents were John H. and Margaret Marshall (see sketch). Our subject spent his boyhood and youth on a farm in Carroll County, receiving a good common school education. August 14. 1861, he enlisted in Company A. Ninth Regiment Indiana Volun- teers, and participated in all the campaigns for which his regiment is famous. After his return from the war he engaged in farming. and on December 24, 1865, he was united in marriage with Eliza- beth N. Yost, daughter of Adam H. and Naoma Yost, old and re- spected residents of this county. She was born April 17, 1847. To this union were born five children: Cora, Howard A., Leora J., George Arthur and Annie E., two of whom are dead-Howard and Leora. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Marshall is a member of Tipton Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., also of Logansport Post, No. 14, G. A. R. Politically he is a Republican. and firmly believes in the principles of his party. He is at this writing trustee of his township, being elected in April, 1886. His is a comfortable home, situated in Section 3 and near the city.
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