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 64
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ROYAL CENTER SENTINEL
This was a weekly publication, established in the summer of 1890, by Madison Kistler as editor, but the presswork was done at the Reporter office in Logansport. The paper was started in opposition to the Royal Center Record, then managed by Dr. J. J. Burton, in the political cam- paign of 1890, when the temperance cause was the leading local issue. The Sentinel espoused the cause of the saloons and the liquor traffic.
The Sentinel was continued about 18 months and suspended. Madi- son Kistler, the editor, was a native of Ohio, being born in 1835, came to Boone township in 1840, where he was raised and educated and con- tinuously resided until his death, May 12, 1911. He was united in mar- riage September 23, 1860, to Julia A. Goodrich, and they are blessed with five children, four of whom still survive. Mr. Kistler was justice. of the peace in Boone township for over forty years.
MEDICINE AND MEDICAL MEN
The pioneer doctor had many difficulties to contend with. Instead of automobiles he had to travel on horseback, along the trails through
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the forests or over newly cut roads. Medicines and surgical appliances could not be procured and the early doctor had often to content himself with native roots, herbs and barks, possibly with a little calomel, jalap and ipecac. The good pioneer housewife, however, was well supplied with indigenous roots and herbs which could be seen hanging from the loft of every pioneer cabin. She was well versed in their uses, had a remedy for every bodily ailment and was not slow in the use of her herbal decoctions. On the slightest indications of any change from the normal standard of health, which her experienced eye was sure to detect, she would get down her bag of herbs, select the proper one to meet the case in hand and soon the patient would be drinking pints of that good old family decoction and seldom the doctor would be called unless the case persisted, when the family doctor was summoned and would supplement the decoctions with calomel and jalap, or ipecac, to empty the stomach, if necessary.
We will make mention of the medical profession of Boone town- ship with a brief sketch of each, so far as could be ascertained at this late day, which is copied from our medical history of Cass county.
It was nearly ten years after the settlement of Boone before any physician located in the township. We are informed that Wm. N. Townsend, who was a son-in-law of Andrew Veal, was the first doctor to locate in the township, some time in the early forties, and when Royal Center was laid out he moved to that town. He taught school as well as looked after the health of the community. About 1858 he moved to Lease's Corner in Harrison township and two years later to Indianapolis, where he died. He left several children.
Dr. H. H. Cohee was the next physician in Royal Center but of his antecedents we know nothing.
Dr. James B. McConnell, father of D. B. and S. T. McConnell, was born in Ohio in 1813. Like most doctors of his day, he studied in the office of other physicians but never completed a course in a med- ical college. He began to practice in Ohio but came to Cass county in 1848, locating in Royal Center, where he continued in active practice until his death, January, 1852, and was laid to rest in Indian Creek cemetery, Harrison township, but in recent years has been removed to the family lot in Mt. Hope cemetery. He was married about 1831 to Sarah D. Stewart of Ohio, to which union eleven children were born.
Dr. Samuel W. McConnell, son of Dr. J. B. McConnell, was born in Ohio in 1831, came with his father to Royal Center in 1848, studied medicine in the office of Dr. Fitch in Logansport and in 1853 opened an office in Royal Center, but three years later moved to Brown county, Ohio, where he died December, 1856. He was married in Ohio and left one daughter who now resides in Chicago.
Dr. Daniel Rea was born in Virginia, June 6, 1820, and died in .Royal Center March 2, 1891, and sleeps his last sleep in the Kline cemetery. He came to Cass county in 1840 and ten years later located in Royal Center, where he practiced medicine, but in later years con- ducted a drug store. He married Miss Clymer of Clinton township in 1846, by whom he had three children. She died in 1853 and he was united in marriage to Jane Anderson and to this union. three children were born.
Dr. James Thomas was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 4, 1828, moved with his parents to Fayette county, Indiana, and brought up on a farm, educated in Connersville high school, studied medicine with Dr. Kitchers in Franklin county, Indiana, moved to Wabash county, then to Winamac in partnership with his brother, Dr. F. B. Thomas, for four years and in 1858 located in Royal Center, where he -
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continued in active practice until his death, August 21, 1887. He was a member of the legislature of 1882, being elected by the Democratic party, of which he was an influentual member. Dr. Thomas was first married May 24, 1857, to Rachael A. Washburn, near Royal Center. She died May 30, 1858. He married May 14, 1859, Mary A. Kistler, by whom he had one child, James, now deceased. This wife died Feb- ruary 12, 1860. He was again married February 9, 1861, to Elizabeth Lytle, who bore him seven children, of whom Wm. C. Thomas resides in Logansport and Ernest B. and James L. live in Royal Center. Dr. Thomas was an intelligent and energetic citizen, had an extensive prac- tice and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the community in which he lived for over a third of a century.
Dr. H. E. Semelroth practiced medicine in Royal Center for a few years about 1876. He was married and had several children, but of his antecedents or after life we are ignorant.
Dr. David Million is the son of Wm. Million, a pioneer of Jefferson township, this county, where our subject was born December 25, 1847. He attended the Logansport high school and Merom College, studied medicine with Dr. J. B. Schultz of Logansport, graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Institute in 1881, practiced a short time in Logans- port, in Denver, Indiana, for two years, then located in Royal Center, where he resided on his farm near by until his death June 7, 1903. He was injured by a log falling on him when a boy and had a lame leg, was never stout thereafter and traveled south for his health. He had several apoplectic seizures and was partially paralyzed and unable to practice some time before his demise. He was united in marriage Feb- ruary 25, 1875, to Miss Nackey Cotner, daughter of Wm. Cotner, one of the pioneers of Noble township, by whom he had two sons, only one of whom survives. Dr. Million was a sociable and kind hearted man, ever ready to attend the poor as well as the affluent, frank and open in conversation and his integrity was unquestioned.
Dr. D. N. Fouts is a native Buckeye, being born December 9, 1840, educated at Yellow Springs College, Ohio, served as hospital steward in the Forty-eighth Ohio Regiment during the Civil war, discharged December 13, 1862, because of an injury received. The same year he came to Cass county and taught school and studied medicine, attended Ohio Medical College in 1871 and Rush Medical College in 1874 and at once located in Royal Center, where he has been in active practice until in recent years his eyes have failed and other causes compel his retirement. He was united in marriage to Abbie Miller, July 27, 1865, and they have one son and one daughter.
Dr. J. N. Hewitt graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in 1877, located in Royal Center in 1880. He was a member of the Cass County Medical Society in 1880-1. In March, 1881, he moved to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, and has been lost sight of.
Dr. E. M. Hoover was located in Royal Center about 1878 to 1883. He left unheralded and we are unable to further trace his adventures in the rhubarb and ipecac line. He had a family when in Center.
Dr. F. G. Buck, born in Pulaski county, Indiana, January 6, 1849, educated in the public schools, attended lectures at Indiana Medical College and the American Anthropological University of St. Louis in 1883. He was located in Royal Center in 1870 and married Emma Brook of Cass county. She died in 1873 and in 1878 he married Anna M. Jones of Pulaski county. He was located in practice at Rosedale at last accounts. He was a soldier in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana.
Dr. E. P. Gould received the degree of M. D. from Keokuk Med-
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ical College of Iowa in 1891. He was engaged in practice in Royal Center from 1895 to 1899, when he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a member of the Cass County Medical Society. He had a family of several children. .
Dr. L. L. Culp, a graduate of Bellevue College, New York, 1899, and at once located in Royal Center. He was born in Cincinnati in 1872, was an energetic and bright young man and left Royal Center in 1900 for parts unknown to the writer.
Dr. J. E. Pryor is a Cass county production, the son of Horace Pryor, an influential farmer of Jefferson township, where our subject was born April 14, 1861. He was educated in the Logansport high school and taught district school for six years. He graduated from the Detroit Medical College in 1888. located in Ocean City, New Jersey, and in 1890 became its mayor. In 1892 he opened an office in Logansport and was county physician in 1893. In 1894 he returned to Ocean City, New Jersey. In 1897 he was appointed by the Presbyterian board of mis- sions as physician to the Indians at Kausicka, Idaho. In 1903 he located in Royal Center, where he was in practice for several years, but nervous ailments caused his retirement from practice. He was twice married but has no offspring.
Dr. Marcellus Mayfield is a native of Washington county, Indiana, where he was born in 1866. He is a licentiate from the Kentucky School of Medicine in 1897 and began practice in Benton county, Indiana. In 1900 he moved to Royal Center, where he continued in active practice until 1909, when he moved to Marion, Indiana, where he is engaged in an advertising medical business. The doctor was married and had several children.
Dr. Frank M. Kistler is a native of Boone township, where he was born May 19, 1869, and was reared on a farm. He received his pre- liminary education in the public schools, after which he attended Dan- ville College. He graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Insti- tute in 1892 and at once opened an office in Royal Center, where he has built up a lucrative practice in the community where he was reared and is best known. He was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Elsie J. Martin of Logansport and to this union three sons have been born.
Dr. Donnell R. Ivey, the son of a Methodist minister, was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, April 8, 1878, educated in the public schools of the state, attended the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis, from which he graduated in 1904, practiced at Wolcott, Indiana, and in December, 1909, located in Royal Center, where he is still engaged in active practice. Ida E. Blake of Wolcott, Indiana, became his wife in October, 1908. They have no children.
Dr. J. L. Allison, the son of a Christian minister, was born in Madi- son, Wisconsin, September 17, 1861, educated in the public schools, moved to Indiana when fifteen years of age, later taught school for sev- eral terms, attended Northwestern Medical College, Chicago, practiced at Sullivan, Indiana, then in Nebraska, later near Wolcott, Indiana, and in 1910 located in Royal Center, where he is still in active practice. The doctor was married near Brookston, Indiana, in 1881, to Viola Jarrett and they have two daughters aged twenty and twenty-four.
LODGES AND SOCIETIES
MASONIC
Royal Center Lodge, No. 585, was organized about 1900. The char- ter of the Star City Lodge was secured and the lodge has been operating
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under it. The first master Mason was Robt. Estabrook. The present master Mason is J. W. Cline. The present secretary is F. A. Winslow. The present membership is eighty-seven.
I. O. O. F.
Myrtle Lodge, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 9, 1879, with ten members. The organization was brought about by Dr. J. J. Burton. The first officers were: G. W. Clinger, N. G .; H. S. Shrock, V. G .; C. A. Davis, secretary ; T. P. Sweet, treasurer.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
Royal Center Camp, No. 3797, was organized about 1896, with only a small charter membership but have increased their numbers to sixty- five. -
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Elite Lodge, No. 462, K. of P., was instituted about 1890 with twenty- five charter members. The present membership is 143 and officered as follows: Ralph Handschu, C. C .; Wm. Ubelhauser, V. C .; T. J. Kist- ler, Jr., K. S .; N. D. Seward, prelate.
KNIGHTS OF MACCABEES
Royal Center Tent, No. 119, organized several years ago but is not very active.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Royal Center Post, No. 501, was an active organization in years gone by but the ranks of the old soldiers have been so depleted by the hand of the grim destroyer that there are not enough left to keep the order alive and it is in a state of suspended animation.
SCHOOLS
Helms in his history states that the first school taught in the town- ship was in the winter of 1835-36 by Thos. Harvey and the location of the schoolhouse is not stated. The same authority says that the first schoolhouse built in the township was in the northeast corner of the present town of Royal Center in 1838-9, and that Mary Washburn was the first teacher. Other authorities state that Catherine Wooley taught the first school in the cabin of G. W. Washburn in 1838-9; and Geo. Beckley says Mary Beckley was the first teacher to wield the birch in old Boone.
Chas. Berkshire states that he went to school in the winter of 1838-9 to Mary Mahuron in a round log schoolhouse, with a log cut out and greased paper pasted over the crack for a window, with puncheon floors, seats and writing desk and a big fireplace with stick and mud chimney. This round log house was replaced about 1842 by a hewed log building in the south part of Royal Center, which was occupied until about 1850, when the first frame schoolhouse in the township was erected on lot 27, which served its purpose until 1863, when it gave way to a third, which was used for only a few years and in 1865-66 a fourth building, a two- story frame structure, was erected in the northern part of the town. This contained three rooms and stood until 1874, at which time it was burned to the ground and the following year a two-story brick build-
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ing was erected containing four rooms and represented a capital of $6,000. During the year 1906 this old brick schoolhouse was replaced by the present commodious building at a total outlay of $30,000. This is a handsome brick structure containing about twelve school rooms, with other rooms for offices, receptions and a large assembly hall. The building is modern in every respect, containing closets, lavatories, steam heated and is the finest school building in the county outside of Logansport. All the eight grades of the common schools and a full four- year course in a commissioned high school are taught and nine teachers are employed, including the superintendent. Average wages paid teachers, $69.78; length of term, 180 days; total enrollment in the Royal Center schools, 275; total enrollment in the high school, 76; total expended for school purposes in 1912, $6,000.
No greater object lesson can be contemplated to show the great ad- vancement and improvement made in Boone township than to contrast
ROYAL CENTER SCHOOL
the old log schoolhouse, with its narrow oiled paper window, puncheon floor, fireplace and its pioneer teacher who taught only the three R's- "Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic"-compare this with the present high school building with its modern improvements, closets, lavatories, elec- tric lights and steam heated, with a complete course of study running through all the grades up to and through the high school, employing nine or ten educated and experienced teachers who have to pass a rigid examination before they are permitted to enter upon their duties. Then say that Boone is not progressing.
BOONE TOWNSHIP DISTRICT SCHOOLS
In 1838-9 there was but one schoolhouse in the township and that a primitive round log structure near Royal Center and for some years this, or its successor, a hewed log building, accommodated the whole township for school purposes and the following teachers instructed the youth of the new settlement then in the midst of the forest: Catherine Wooley, 1838-9; Mary Washburn; Mr. Allison; Caleb Hendee, 1846; Israel Anderson, 1847; Mr. Coffield, 1848; M. C. Kinney, 1849; H.
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Beckley, 1850, the first school taught in a frame building; Dr. W. N. Townsend, 1851; H. Beckley, 1852; John McDonald, 1853; J. Albright, 1854, being the first teacher who was able to teach all the branches and who was anxious to push his pupils through the arithmetic or to teach grammar.
As the country became settled in the later forties and early fifties, schoolhouses were built in different parts of the township and under the operation of the new school law after the adoption of the new consti- tution in 1853 there were five schoolhouses reported, and in 1913 there are seven, outside of the town of Royal Center, six frame and one brick. No. 1 located on the southwest corner of section 1; No. 2 schoolhouse situated on the northwest corner of section 10; No. 3 on the north- west corner of section 8; No. 4 on the southwest quarter of section 17; No. 5 on the northwest corner of section 32; No. 6 on the northeast corner of section 33, and No. 7 a brick schoolhouse known as Common Center, is located on the northeast corner of section 35. Total enumeration of district schools, 275; length of term of school, 140 days. Seven teachers are employed and the highest wages paid is $2.87 and the lowest $2.18 per day.
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES
The first trustees consisted of a board of three members: Jacob Kistler, Daniel Weyand, John Beckley, 1836. The records do not show the trustees from that date to 1865, when Wm. B. Kistler served from 1865-73; J. J. Bingaman, 1874-78; J. J. Goodrich, 1880-84; Geo. W. Weyand, 1884-88; George Ray, 1888; W. C. Thomas, 1890; G. W. Wey- and, 1892; J. E. Holmes, 1894; W. S. Kistler, 1896; Mark A. Brown, 1900; L. A. Shafer, 1904; Ira A. Kistler, 1908-14.
CHURCHES
As Boone is one of the outlying townships and some distance from Logansport and the rivers, it was later in being settled and when set- tlers began to locate there it was slow in developing on account of its inaccessibility. The early settlers of this township, however, came from Christian communities and were imbued with the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, which they carried with them into the impen- etrable forests of Boone township, and while the settlers were always religiously inclined, yet they were so few and far apart that religious meetings could not be held for some years after the first settlement. There was but little inducement for a preacher to locate in such a sparsely settled country, but we find here, as elsewhere in Cass county, that as soon as a few families had located in the township the itinerant preacher moving out through the dense forests, along Indian trails, either afoot or on horseback, visiting from cabin to cabin, gathering a few pioneers together in one of their cabins and holding religious serv- ices, thus carrying the gospel to the most inaccessible places, displaying a fortitude equaled only by the saints of early Christendom. The set- tlers living so remote from each other and spending their lives in the solitude of the forest, were always delighted to have the preacher call on them or meet a few of their distant neighbors in religious meetings for social greetings as well as religious worship.
The first religious meeting held in the township was at a cabin of Martin Key, conducted by a Baptist minister in 1835. A Methodist preacher soon followed and held public meetings in groves and at private houses. Later representatives of the United Brethren made their ap- pearance and this denomination, it is said, was the first to perfect a
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church organization in Boone township. At present there are four churches in Royal Center and two in the township outside of the town, each of which we will consider separately, also each of the four defunct churches.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH (ROYAL CENTER)
This was the first religious organization in the township and was perfected about 1845 but we are unable to secure the names of the char- ter members or any records of the church. They held meetings in the schoolhouse in Royal Center and at private houses until 1861, when a modest church edifice was erected in Royal Center. For a time the church prospered but owing to various causes the organization gradu- ally declined and on June 12, 1875, they sold the church building to the Methodists and ceased to exist as an organization.
METHODIST CHURCH (ROYAL CENTER)
There was a class of Methodists organized in Royal Center about 1846 or '47, but it did not survive and we are unable to gain any fur- ther knowledge concerning this first class.
The present Methodist church of Royal Center was established in 1874 by Rev. Wood, with the following charter members: Levi Kra- mer and wife, C. W. Hall and wife, Dr. D. N. Fouts, Mrs. C. Davis, R. Torrence and wife, John McCawley and wife. The organization was perfected in the U. B. church and meetings were continued in the same church until June 12, 1875, when the church edifice was purchased of the United Brethren, which the latter had built in 1861. The congrega- tion continued to occupy this old church until 1900, when they remod- eled and enlarged the church and now have a handsome and commodi- ous house of worship, having expended over $1,500 in making the change. A Sunday school was organized with the church and is doing a grand work for the Master, together with the Ladies' Aid Society, and largely through the instrumentality of the auxiliary organizations the church has prospered until it has a membership of over 250. Pas- tors who have served this congregation : Rev. Wood, 1874; S. L. Langly ; T. S. Vincell ; Francis Cox; T. H. McKee; Rev. Brindle; Rev. Johnson, 1886; C. N. Stockbridge, 1888-9; S. Clovis; J. B. Sites, 1889-91; R. N. Simmons, 1891-3; W. G. Vessels, 1893-5; C. H. Lieson, 1895-6; J. W. Schell, 1896-7; . J. C. Neal, 1897-1900; J. J. Thompson, 1900-03; T. B. Machin, 1903-5; P. J. Shields, 1905-6; W. C. Aye, 1906-9; N. M. Cleath, 1909-10; G. W. Alley, 1910-12.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (ROYAL CENTER)
When the Indian Creek and Concord Presbyterian churches in Har- rison township suspended, the former permanently and the latter tempo- rarily, about 1873, their members with a few of the same faith organized a Presbyterian society in Royal Center. They had no regular pastor but Presbyterian ministers from Logansport and other transient preach- ers served the congregation. They held their services in the schoolhouse, halls and other churches and never had a house of worship of their own. They only held together for a few years and when Concord church in Harrison township was reorganized and rejuvenated about 1875 the Royal Center society disbanded.
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ROYAL CENTER BAPTIST CHURCH
On April 7, 1860, a petition to the Crooked Creek Baptist church in Harrison township was presented for the organization of a Baptist church in Royal Center and G. D. and M. L., Elizabeth and Emma E. Washburn and John A. Buskirk were granted letters of withdrawal to become members of the proposed Royal Center church and a commit- tee from the Crooked Creek church consisting of Deacon Robinson, E. M. Wagram, D. Clinger and J. A. Calvin were appointed to complete the organization if the way was clear to do so, but we find no records that this society was perfected at this time, although meetings were held at private houses and schoolhouses, but the organization seems to have disbanded and the present Baptist church of Royal Center was organized December 11, 1887, but this denomination had held occa- sional meetings for many years prior to this time. The Rev. J. B. Bair officiated at the organization which was perfected with a charter mem- bership of the following thirty-six persons: James and Elizabeth
Humes, L. Bingaman, Katie Vernon, Ella Simmons, Lena Burton, W. A. Grant, Mattie Beckley, Caroline, Julia, Dora and Ella Kistler, Ernest and Laura Thomas, Hettie Hopkinson, G. Sweet, E. Jones, Hattie Fultz, C. M. Anderson, Mary Harvey, R. V. Jones, D. Hopple, Elizabeth Thomas, Geo. Gilpin, L. M. and Charlotte Washburn, Angeline Grant, Amanda McCombs, Mrs. W. Martin, Wm. Hattery, Sarah Fultz, A. and Ida Pavy, Wm. Doyle, James, Bess and Emma Grant.
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