USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement to the present time; with Biographical Sketches and Reference to Biographies, Volume I > Part 61
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The Perrysburg road extending from Logansport, opened in the later thirties, ran diagonally through the eastern part of the township. This was also a road of more than local interest, over which a great deal of travel passed. This road has been changed from time to time as the country was improved until today, instead of passing diagonally through the country, it passes on two sides of every man's farm along the route. In early times there was an Indian trail from Old Town Indian village on Eel river above Adamsboro, northwest through Bethlehem township to Kewana and North. This became a wagon road, but as the farms were improved it was changed to section lines and no trace of the original Indian trail road can be found.
In the onward march of progress, roads have been changed to section lines and new roads opened until roads cross each other on nearly every section line. Bethlehem has about twelve miles of stone road extending from Metea north to the county line and west to the township line. Also the entire division road along the west line of the township and other stone roads are in process of construction. All the main roads have been graveled in marked contrast to the old Indian trail, along which J. R. Hinton traveled in 1830 to reach the first cabin ever constructed by a white man within the boundaries of Bethlehem. The Michigan road was never graveled and scarcely graded and was almost unpassable in wet weather until about 1852, when a company built a plank road from Logansport through Bethlehem to Fulton. This was a toll road and was easy to travel for a year or two, but the boards began to rot, turn up and had to be abandoned in a few years. About 1867 the road was graveled as far north as Metea, being the first gravel road in the township.
MOUNT PLEASANT
This is a paper town laid out in June, 1836, by J. Troutman, Josiah Powell and Jos. Dunham and is situated on both sides of the Michigan road in section 20, township 28, range 2 east, seven miles north of Logansport. The Michigan road was Main street, with three streets crossing it at right angles, the names of which were North, Jefferson and Harrison streets. Each of the proprietors of the town had land adjoining the town site and lived there. One lot was sold to Benjamin Powell and his son Lycurgus kept a grocery in Mt. Pleasant for a time about 1838. The Indians were his chief customers and one of the prin- cipal articles purchased by the redmen was what they called "fire water." The business, however, did not prosper after the removal of the Indians to the west in the fall of 1838 and the town ceased to grow and the rosy visions of wealth and the proprietors of a great metropolis were only dreams of the projectors of this town site.
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James Troutman, however, kept a tavern on the east side of Main street, known as the Seven Mile House, until his death in September, 1847. In early times tavern keepers were required to take out a license and the commissioners' record shows that J. Troutman paid $10.00 for a tavern license on January 2, 1837. Later Mr. Lumbert and others kept this popular hostelry until about 1855-56 when the old Troutman tavern and the adjoining farm was purchased by his son-in-law, Jacob Powell, and the tavern was converted into a farm house. Metea post- office was kept here during the Civil war.
About this time, however, Wilson Booth purchased the property on the west side of Main street in Mt. Pleasant and operated the Seven Mile House for a number of years until railroads to the north destroyed the traffic on the Michigan road, when the tavern in Mt. Pleasant was for- ever closed and only a farm house now belonging to Mr. Shoup marks the place. A quarter of a mile to the north of Mt. Pleasant, J. Z. Smith, about 1856, opened a pump and wagon factory and Wm. Bennett ran a blacksmith shop. In recent years M. O'Donnell ran a blacksmith shop across the road but all have ceased operations. The euphonious name of Hardscrabble was often applied to this place.
NEW HAMILTON
This is another town that never became a metropolis. It was laid out in 1853 by Geo. Allen and is situated eight miles north on the Michigan road in section 17. A few lots were sold, and six or eight houses erected. The name was changed to Metea, an Indian chief. Metea postoffice was established over sixty years ago and kept by vari- ous parties until the establishment of the free rural delivery system, when it was abandoned. Shoe shop, blacksmith shop, a store and other small mercantile business have been maintained at Metea, but rail- roads to the east, west and north and with stone and gravel roads to the other towns, Metea's trade has been reduced to a minimum. G. Fargus is the present merchant. At one time this town was known far and wide by the sobriquet of "Lick-Skillet." The name originated from an anecdote about a dog licking a skillet of Hiram Kingry, a good but eccentric individual who lived here for many years. He had a peculiar grunt with which he terminated his sentences and everybody knew Uncle Hiram and the boys used to have a good deal of fun at his expense, but he has long since gone to his reward and taken his grunt with him.
About a mile north of Metea on the Michigan road the De Mosses ran a hotel or tavern during the forties. About 1848-50 Jos. Penrose purchased the farm and ran the hotel for a time. It was known as the Ten Mile House. There was a blacksmith shop just south of the Ten Mile House operated by Christian Kreider in very early times. The early religious meetings were held at this shop before churches were built.
John Guy, who settled on the farm just south of the Seven Mile House about 1832, kept a tavern for many years thereafter. He sold out to J. G. Cox and moved to Washington township, where he died about 1856. He had a large family of boys whose descendants are honored citizens of the county at this time. Before the days of rail- roads Logansport drew trade from Rochester and Plymouth and a great deal of traffic passed over the Michigan road and taverns along this road were necessary to accommodate the traveling public and the hotels did a lively business for many years, but their usefulness has passed with the coming of the railroads.
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The first industry in Bethlehem township was a saw mill established in the later thirties by J. R. Hinton on Twelve Mile creek in section 25. This was operated with fair success for over twenty years by Mr. Hin- ton and others. Aside from this there have been no other industries of any importance in the township, except portable steam sawmills have been operated in different parts of the township while the timber was being cut off in clearing the land. But little native timber is left and the saw mills have disappeared. It is reported that John Conn started a chair and spinning factory on the Michigan road about 1834.
INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS
The first marriage celebrated in Bethlehem township was that of Jacob R. Hall and Miss Rachael Martin in 1834 or '35. .
Bethlehem has a law-abiding and peaceful class of citizens as a rule and but few infractions of the law to chronicle. It has also been remarkably free from serious accidents or violent deaths.
In 1885, while Wheeler Leffel and a neighbor boy by the name of Albert Abshire were out hunting, the latter was accidentally shot and killed by Mr. Leffel.
Maurice J. Winfield, son of Judge M. Winfield, was killed in an automobile accident on the Michigan pike in the south part of Bethle- hem township, May, 13, 1911. The gearing failed to act when he was running at a rapid speed and his machine upset and his neck was broken, causing instant death.
An accident of pioneer life occurred to Coleman Perry, who fell from a tree while out coon hunting and was killed in 1842.
SCHOOLS
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The people of Bethlehem township from its first settlement to the present day, have ever been awake to the value and desirability of education. As soon as a few settlers had located in a neighborhood they began to provide means to educate their children and the first schoolhouse was erected on the southwest quarter of section 24, near the Methodist church, and its first teacher was Nathaniel Nichols in 1835. This was a very primitive building, however. It was constructed of round logs. For a window, one log was cut out and oiled paper pasted over the opening. A fireplace was built in one end of nigger- heads with a stick and mud chimney. It had a puncheon floor, the seats and door made of the same material with a clapboard roof. The house was completed without the use of a nail. This was the first school- house in the northern part of the county and scholars came from Pottawattomie Mills, now Rochester, Fulton county. Mr. Bozarth, afterwards an attorney at Rochester, attended this primitive school. I. W. Kreider, still living, gives interesting stories of these early schools, which he attended. The Indians often passed this school on their way from "Old Town" village to the Indian villages south of Fletchers lake. The scholars would run from the Indians and the latter ยท would purposely frighten them by making gestures and grimaces.
In 1836 a school was taught in a log cabin forty rods south of the present church. The second school was taught by Caroline Conkling and the third by Angeline Vandever, in a cabin located on the north- east corner of section 36.
In 1838 J. Calif taught school in a log cabin situated on the south- east quarter of section 23. During the year 1839 the Hinton hewed log schoolhouse was built on the southeast quarter of section 23 and
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Geo. Conkling was the first teacher in this new building, which was heated with a stove, and the three "R's," "reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic," were taught. As early as 1837 or '38 a hewed log building known as the Guy schoolhouse, so named from John Guy, its nearest patron, was built on the east side of the Michigan road, on the north- east quarter of section 29, just south of the Presbyterian church, and its first teacher was Jeptha Powell, followed by G. Sperry. In the later fifties, Esther Cornwell, now Mrs. Jonathan Grable, and B. F. Yantis wielded the birch in this temple of learning, from whom the writer received his preliminary education. This schoolhouse was a substan- tial hewed log structure and religious meetings were held here until the nearby church was erected. It served its purpose until 1862, when it was torn down and a frame house built a mile to the northwest on the southwest quarter of section 20 and Simon Patterson taught the first term, in this, the first frame schoolhouse in this district. This house was replaced in 1889, but the location was removed a mile north, on the northwest quarter of section 20, where the present No. 3 school is located.
HARMONY SCHOOL NO. 2
Thomas McMillen taught the first school in this neighborhood in his cabin home early in the forties, followed by Mr. Brislein. Harmony hewed log schoolhouse was built near the center of section 8 by S. McMahon in 1847 and Elmira Stevenson taught the first school in the new building. This continued to be occupied for school purposes until about 1868, when it was abandoned and a frame house built on the north line of section 8. This was abandoned about 1877 and a frame schoolhouse erected on the northeast corner of section 7 and a joint school building on the northeast corner of section 5. This latter house was moved in 1888 to the northeast corner of section 8 and known as Hazel Patch or No. 10. In 1907 both these schoolhouses were aban- doned and their scholars hauled to Metea.
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In early times, before our system of public schools was established, many private schools were opened in different parts of the township. Sarah Redd taught a private school in a cabin on the east side of the Michigan road on the Ellis farm in 1844. Katharine Grable opened a private school in the Penrose house on the Michigan road about 1846. Robt. Yantis taught a private school in the Kreider blacksmith shop on the Michigan road a mile north of Metea in 1849 and A. J. Sutton taught a singing geography school in Harmony schoolhouse in 1849. This was a popular method of teaching geography in early days by pronouncing the various geographical places and giving their location and setting the names to music.
The first schoolhouse in the northeast part was erected about 1845. It was a hewed log structure and located on the northeast corner of section 11 and the first teacher was Elijah Moore. This building was abandoned in 1864 and the present frame schoolhouse, No. 1, was built on the Michigan road and commonly known as Union school, and about this time R. Yantis, as trustee, built No. 8 on the northwest quarter of section 12.
About 1862 an old building was moved to a point east of the Michi- gan road in section 32 and from that fact was called the "Floating Palace" school. About twenty years later this was abandoned and a new frame building erected on the Michigan road, in the same section, known as No. 7.
In the later seventies the old Hinton schoolhouse was abandoned and Walnut Grove schoolhouse erected a half mile to the north. This burned
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down and the present frame school building was erected a half mile to the north. on the southeast corner of section 14.
"Baals Temple" school, No. 5, was erected about 1860 and Osage, No. 4, about 1880 and are still occupied. The first schoolhouse at Metea was built in the early fifties.
In the early settlement of the country, schools were established where convenient to the settlements, with no thought of future develop- ment. In fact, the patrons had entire control of the early schools, built the houses and employed the teachers, which were subscription schools. It was not until after the adoption of the new constitution in 1852 that any effort was made to systematize the schools and even theu the old order prevailed until in the sixties and it was not until 1876 that the patrons relinquished their power to control the schools. At this time the township trustee took full charge of the schools and en- deavored to erect schoolhouses systematically throughout the township and at one time ten different schools were in operation, but in 1907 the two schools in the northwest sections of the township were aban- doned and the scholars hauled to Metea. School No. 8 in the northeast section is also closed and its pupils hauled to Union school or trans- ferred. The township employs one wagon at a daily expense of $2.74 and one wagon at $1.00 per day. The consolidated schools give .entire satisfaction to patrons and is said to be cheaper and better. It is the purpose of the authorities to establish one school in each corner of the township, with the central school at Metea, and abandon all others. The Metea high school was erected in 1911. It is a handsome brick structure, containing four assembly rooms, and cost about $15,000. A commissioned high school has since been established with a regular four years' course. The principal of the high school receives $4.00 per day, other teachers from $2.75 to $2.25, according to the grade of license. Ten teachers are employed in the township, four at the Metea building and six in the districts.
Forty high school students were enrolled in 1912 and the total enumeration in the township was 264. A complete graded system has been established, requiring eight years in the common branches and four years in the high school-quite a contrast with the first round log schoolhouse with its puncheon floor, where only the three "R's" were taught for a term of forty to sixty days. Bethlehem may well feel proud of her schools.
The following persons have served as trustees, with the date of service : Abraham McDonald, 1863-4; Jonathan Grable, 1865-7; B. F. Yantis, 1868-70; R. C. Yantis, 1871-2; D. C. Conrad, 1873-4; B. F. Yantis, 1875-8; Orlando Powell, 1878-82; D. M. Kingry, 1882-86; M. W. Collett, 1886; Byron Powell, 1890; A. A. Cover, 1894; D. C. Reder, 1900; I. B. Maudlin, 1904; Lyman Yantis, 1908-14.
CHURCHES
"Prominent among the influences necessary to the highest civilization of any country are the church and school. Whatever success the individ- uals lacking these influences may achieve, a community can never pros- per without them." The early settlements were scattered miles apart, and it was very difficult to get more than two or three families together for religious services. The pioneer preacher visited from cabin to cabin, with self-denying earnestness, traveling through the unbroken forest, either on foot or on horseback, exhorting, counseling, reproving, as occa- sion demanded, and was generally welcomed to these pioneer cabins.
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The first religious society in the township, and the oldest in the county outside of Logansport was
THE BETHLEHEM METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The history of this church dates back to 1831 when the Rev. Samuel Cooper held religious meetings at the residence of Joel Martin, who resided in the southeast quarter section 24. Among the charter and early members were Joel Martin and wife, Gen. Richard Crooks and wife, John Eurit and wife, Stephen Eurit, Edward and Mary Gilliland, Anthony Martin and wife, Henry L. Thomas and wife, Lucy Dalzelle, David H. Conrad and wife.
Services were held at irregular intervals in the cabins of Joel Mar- tin, General Crooks and John Eurit, until 1844, when a hewed log church was erected in the southeast quarter section 24 on land donated by John Eurit. This was a plain but comfortable building and was occupied as a house of worship for sixteen years. During the year 1860 the old log church was replaced by a new frame building 35x50 feet, which was built a few rods west of the old church. The contract price of the new church was $1,200. This building was remodeled, enlarged and improved and a bell tower erected in 1888-89 at an addi- tional cost of $1,300. During the fall of 1912 the church edifice was again improved, by raising, putting in a new foundation, basement, furnace, side wings and kitchen, making an ideal country church, at an expendi- ture of over $3,000.
In 1909 the congregation erected a comfortable parsonage in the village of Twelve Mile, two miles to the northeast of the church, for the pastor, who also serves Bethel church in Clay township.
A Sunday school was organized in 1845 with John Eurit superin- tendent. From 1845 to 1868 the Sunday school went into "winter quarters" but since the latter date it has been "evergreen." The present superintendent is Edmond A. Leffel.
The following list of ministers have served as pastors or as supply prior to 1853:
Rev. Samuel Cooper, 1831; Rev. Amassa Johnson, Rev. Burrows Westlake, Rev. Miles Huffaker, Rev. Enoch Holdstock, Rev. Richard Newton, Rev. David F. Strite, Rev. Jacob Colclazer, Rev. J. C. Metsker. Since 1853 the following : Rev. Wm. Martindale, 1862, Rev. J. S. Het- field, Rev. B. Webster, Rev. P. Stevens, Rev. Calvert, Rev. J. C. White, Rev. H. J. Lacey, Rev. L. Roberts, Rev. W. J. Vigus, Rev. Samuel Lamb, Rev. Larkin, Rev. Wm. Comstock, Rev. C. E. Disbro, Rev. V. M. Beamer, Rev. R. J. Parrot, Rev. J. B. Best, Rev. W. R. Jordan, Rev. P. Carland, Rev. F. A. Robinson, Rev. James Leonard, Rev. J. Johnson, Rev. J. H. Ford, Rev. G. H. Hill, Rev. I. J. Smith, Rev. Geo. Work, 1886, Rev. C. Cattingham, 1908, Rev. L. G. Jacobs, 1909-12, Rev. C. Byrt, 1912-13.
BETHLEHEM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The first Sunday school in the township was the Presbyterian, or- ganized at the Hinton schoolhouse, then situated in section 23, during the summer of 1840, and Thomas McMillen became its first superintend- ent. The following year (1841), through the efforts of Rev. James Buchanan, the church was organized with the following charter mem- bers: James M. Buchanan and wife, Thomas McMillen and wife, John Dalzell and wife, Thomas Dalzell and wife, Isaac Young and wife, Sea- born Dudgeon and wife and probably others, but the records have been lost and can not be consulted. Meetings were held at the Hinton school-
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house, the Guy log schoolhouse on the Michigan road and in Christian Kreider's blacksmith shop, north of Metea, until the year 1853. On May 3rd of that year James G. Cox conveyed a tract of land, on the east side of the Michigan road in the northwest quarter section 29, to James M. Buchanan, Thomas Dalzell and E. B. Buchanan, trustees of the church. Measures were at once taken to build a house of worship and the contract was let to Andrew Stoughton and Harvey Hinton in the fall of 1853 but the church was not ready for occupancy until the spring of 1854. This was a plain substantial frame building 30x40 feet and capable of seating nearly 300. The old pulpit from Father Post's church was procured and set up in this church and used for many years. Rev. Hughes of Logansport was the first minister to occupy the pulpit in the spring of 1854. This church edifice continued to be occupied regularly until 1899, when it was replaced by the present handsome temple of worship, which was dedicated in the fall of that year.
BETHLEHEM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The following pastors have administered to the congregation: Rev. Henry Bacon, Rev. James Buchanan, 1839-40, who died in 1843; Rev. John M. Wright, died 1854; Rev. M. M. Post, died 1877; Rev. J. S. Cranmer, 1847; Rev. Lemon, 1845-46; Rev. P. R. Vannatta, 1848; Rev. Fred T. Brown, 1849-50; Rev. Adam Clark, 1851; Rev. S. H. Hazzard, 1844-50; Rev. Moorehouse, 1844-50; Rev. Hugh T. Brown, 1844-50; Rev. Levi Hughes, 1851-59; Rev. Robt. Irvin, 1861; Rev. John Huston, 1849; Rev. David Todd; Rev. John Branch, Rev .. Lee; Rev. Geo.
Long; Rev. R. L. Adams; Rev. L. G. McNutt; Rev. A. Y. Moore, 1885;
Rev. W. S. Peters, 1892; Rev. Wright; Rev. Mcknight Wil-
liamson; Rev. James T. Patterson, 1865; Rev. Josiah Garrett; Rev. Dickey ; Rev. Joseph Todd; Rev. Simpson ; Rev. Hughes; Rev. Harry Thompson; Rev. John Bolton, 1909- 10; Rev. H. D. Trickey, 1911-13.
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The present officers are : Elders, D. C. Reder, L. B. Horn, N. Tilton; trustees, Robert Williamson, Harry Knouff, Edward Thomas.
The church is prosperous and has an active membership of seventy- two.
SPRING CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
This church was organized in 1855 or 1856 by a committee from the Crooked Creek Baptist church, under the leadership of Revs. Dunham and Babcock, at the Froat or McKee log schoolhouse that stood on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter section 34, Bethlehem town- ship.
The original members were: Elder Dunham and wife, Wm. Craven and wife, Noah and Benjamin Craven, John Sedam and wife and their daughter Elizabeth, Susan Grove and Elizabeth Hartman.
The final organization was perfected November, 1856, moderated by Elder J. R. Ash with John Dunham as clerk. The society held meet- ings in the above named schoolhouse until 1859. In that year measures were taken to erect a house of worship more in keeping with the grow- ing congregation. A site was selected on the Michigan road, just north of Metea, Joseph Penrose donating the ground. Here a substantial frame church was erected in 1859, Stephen Bishop, at that time living two miles to the northwest, was the contractor. This church edifice is still standing, but a few years ago it was remodeled and modernized and is now a handsome structure. The church holds regular services and is a power for good in the community.
FAIR VIEW UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
This society was brought about by the efforts of Rev. John W. Haut, who held a series of meetings in the Louderback schoolhouse over in the edge of Fulton county during the year 1869 and perfected the organiza- tion in that year with the following list of charter members:
V. C. Conn, Angeline and G. M. Conn, N. A. and Mary L. Louder- back, Amelia J. Pownall, Thomas McDougle, Catherine, John and Mary McDougle.
The name of this class was at first "South Liberty" and its success was largely due to Rev. T. M. Reed, who aided in its organization and continued to administer to its spiritual wants for some time. The class was wide awake and grew rapidly, held regular meetings in the school- house until 1880, when they secured a church site on the west side of the Michigan road, on the county line in section 43, Michigan road lands. A plain but neat frame church was erected, 32x44 feet, in the same year, at a cost of $1,333, the land being donated by Patrick Carlin.
A Sunday school was organized in 1870 with John Redd as superin- tendent. The church officers were: Trustees, N. A. Louderback, W. S. Louderback, David Studebaker, Joshua McDougle and Andrew Black; class leader, John Martin.
The church continued to prosper, requiring a larger building, and in 1892 the old church was rebuilt and enlarged at an expenditure of $2,500. The present membership is 104, and officered as follows: Trus- tees, Wm. Troutman, John W. Redd, Thos. H. McDougle, David Stude- baker and Wm. Nichol. Sunday school superintendent, Joseph Conn.
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