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 67
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Nathan Julian, 1865-6; Alden S. Cook, 1867; Samuel Swigart, 1868; Samuel Gingrich, 1870; Asbury Barnett, 1872; J. J. Julian, 1878; Jos. G. Funk, 1882; J. J. Julian, 1888; Jos. G. Funk, 1892; Robt. M. Bar- nett, 1896; John L. Warner, 1900; H. M. Funk, 1904; W. A. Wells, 1908-14.
SPRING CREEK CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES)
Clay township lying in close proximity to Logansport was settled very early and could be easily reached by the itinerant preachers and we find the gospel was introduced into this township at a very early day, as the pioneers were a God-fearing and church-going people. In fact, the first settler in this township is said to have been Elder John Scott, and he with his brother Alexander Scott, were the first preachers who went about from cabin to cabin holding religious meetings for several years before any religious society was organized. The begin- ning of the Spring Creek Christian church, the oldest religious society in the township had its origin at the residence of Elder John Scott, in 1832 or '33; he, with a Mr. Nelson, being the prime movers in its organi- zation and Elder J. Scott continued to preach for this church at inter- vals, until his death in 1866.
The charter and early members were: Samuel Rogers, Henry Rush and wife, Wm. Nelson, Peter Miller and members of his family, Josiah Butler and wife, Mr. Conrad and wife, John Ward and family, J. R. Hinton and wife, Wm. Smith and family, Geo. Conkling and family, Daniel Flynn, and possibly others. Soon after the organization meas- ures were taken to erect a house of worship but the church was not built until 1836. During this year a frame building was erected in the center of section 3, Clay township, on land donated by Peter Miller. In 1857 this old church became too small for the increasing congregation and it was replaced by a more commodious structure, 40 x 60 feet in size, with an audience room capable of seating four hundred persons. This frame church was again replaced in 1900 by the present handsome Vol. 1-24
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brick structure. This church was not only the first religious organi- zation in Clay township, but also the second in the county outside of Logansport. The congregation rapidly increased through the influence of Elder Scott, who watched over the society with a fatherly interest for so many years, and perhaps no church in Cass county has exerted a wider or greater influence for good than the Spring Creek Christian church. Wm. Smith, father of Job and J. W. Smith, John Wilson, Samuel Carr, Joshua Scott, Fielding Warner and Job Smith were offi- cers and leaders in the church for many years.
The present officers are : Elders-Ego Smith, J. H. Rohrer, Wm. A. Simpson. Deacons-Chas. English, H. M. Funk, J. L. Warner, J. H. Williams, Clark Rohrer, W. A. Funk. Treasurer-Clark Rohrer. Clerk- Samuel Warner. Superintendent of Sunday-school-Wm. A. Simpson. Sabbath-school convenes every Sunday and preaching service every other Sunday. The church is prosperous with an active membership of about one hundred.
The following ministers had pastoral charge of the church at differ- ent times, although the date and order of service may not be correct : Elders John Scott, 1832 to 1866 (at intervals) ; Wm. Shockey, Geo. Campbell, Greenberry Mullis, Wm. Grigsby, Edmondson ; - Wickard, Wm. Ireland, Simon Rohrer, John Rohrer, John Ellis, Warren, -Hannager, W. R. Lowe, M. B. Hopkins, J. O. Kane, L. H. Richards, - Lacy, - White, -Rose, - -Patten, Jos. Sparritt,
Wiles, J. Burkhart, E. E. Rogers, - - Coyle, - Johnson. The present pastor is Rev. - Brickert, of Martinsville, Indiana.
BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The history of Methodism in Clay township dates from 1833, at which time Rev. Amasa Johnson began to hold religious meetings in the cabins of the pioneers which soon culminated in the organization of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church. This was at first a mission with a four weeks' work, and extended north to Laporte. The class was organ- ized in the fall of 1833, at the home of George Julian, Sr., and was com- posed of the following persons: Geo. Julian, Sr., and wife; John, Noble, Nancy and Mary Ann Plummer. The meetings were continued at Mr. Julian's house and the following persons soon identified themselves with the organization: John DeMoss and wife, John Close and wife, Wm. Ackright and wife, Mrs. Nathan Julian. Father John Plummer, as he was called, was born in 1773, came to Cass county in 1833 and died July 4, 1855, and sleeps in Bethel cemetery, after a faithful, Christian life. Mother Plummer, his faithful wife, was born in 1784 and died July 7, 1859, and sleeps beside her husband, near the church she helped to organize. This aged father and mother are today in the bright valley of life, where all the inhabitants are young. Geo. Julian, Sr., was born February 22, 1801. He strayed to the far Sacramento valley, in 1849, and died there in 1876. Rev. Johnson was followed by the Rev. M. Huffaker in the fall of 1833. The district at that time was called the Laporte district and Rev. Armstrong was its first presiding elder.
The first church erected by the congregation was a frame 28 x 36 feet, built in 1844, on the original Bethel cemetery grounds, donated by Nathan Julian and situated in section 16, Clay township. On the com- pletion of the building the society by a vote gave the name of "Bethel" to the new church.
In the missions earlier history and for a number of years following the meetings were held at the residence of Geo. Julian, which was then situated on the creek a short distance northwest of the present church. In 1871 the original church edifice was replaced by a large frame build-
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ing which represented a capital of $1,300, and was dedicated by Rev. Father Gillam, of sacred memory. This building was destroyed by fire in winter of 1899 and in the following year (1900) the present beau- tiful modern edifice was erected at a total cost of $3,500, under the pastorate of Rev. I. Godwin, and was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Parr.
In the early history of Methodism it was the custom for some church to hold a camp meeting and invite all the surrounding congregations to join with them. Bethel church has held four old-fashioned camp meetings; the first was held in the fall of 1835 on the south part of the Douglass farm, not a half mile northwest of the church The second was held on the Chas. Thomas farm in section 17, just west of Shady Nook schoolhouse, in 1840; and the third was held on this same ground in 1842. The fourth camp meeting was held just east and near the church in 1849. These camp meetings caused a great revival of religion and many accessions to the church followed. Under the pastorate of Rev. J. Leach, who served for two years, occurred one of the most won- derful revivals the church ever experienced. Bethel at that time was associated with Zion church in Harrison township, and Pleasant Grove, now Kewana church, forming what was called the Pleasant Grove circuit.
The following pastors have served the congregation : Rev. A. John- son, 1832-3; Miles Huffaker, 1833-4; John A. Blouse; R. Robinson ; Jos. White; J. B. Mershon; - Huffman; Wm. Wilson; J. Coldazer, Isaac Staggs; H. B. Beers; J. Cozat. · The above pastors served prior to 1849 and since this date the . following preachers: John Leach, 1849; H. Bodley; B. Webster; J. S. Hetfield; P. Stevens; - Calvert; J. C. White; H. J. Lacey ; L. Rob- erts; W. J. Vigus; J. C. Metsker; S. Lamb; - Larkin; J. B. Birt; Wm. Comstock; V. M. Beamer; P. Carland; James Leonard; G. H. Hill; C. E. Disbro; R. J. Parrot; W. R. Jordan; F. A. Robinson; J. 1903-4; - Johnson; J. H. Ford; J. J. Smith, 1899; I. Goodwin, 1900; - Lacey, - Kuntz, 1905; A. Jones, 1907; C. A. Byrt, 1912.
The present membership is one hundred and three, and the officers of the church are as follows:
Trustees : F. Homburg, Lafayette Ball, Marian LaRose and Frank P. Jackson.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL
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For several years prior to 1893 the Rev. A. W. Hawkins, of Logans- port, held occasional meetings in the brick schoolhouse, four miles north of Logansport on the Michigan pike, and gathered together a number of believers in the doctrines of this church and in 1893 perfected a formal organization with the following charter members: Silas Mc- Dowell and wife, Paul Gundrum and wife, Jacob Wilt and wife, Chas. Cook and wife, S. D. Shilling and wife, Mrs. Emma Dritt and daugh- ter, Sadie Dritt; Mrs. Martha Shoup, Mrs. Sarah A. Dritt, Minnie Mc- Dowell, Mr. and Mrs. Bloom, Mr. and Mrs. Rodabaugh, Mrs. Amanda McDowell. In the summer of the same year this little congregation erected a comfortable frame church on land donated by Mrs. Emma · Dritt, situated in the northwest quarter section 6, Clay township, at an expenditure of $2,000. The church was completed promptly and dedi- cated to the service of God on November 10, 1893, the Rev. A. W. Hawkins officiating at the dedicatory service. This church is under the management of and is supplied by the pastor of the Logansport church. A Sunday-school and Ladies' Aid Society are maintained in a pros- perous condition by the church. The present active membership is about forty.
The following preachers have served this church : Rev. A. W. Haw-
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kins, 1893-6; Rev. Wilburn, 1896-9; Rev. A. H. McDonald, 1899-02; Rev. Fry, 1902-5; E. A. Arthur, 1905-09; R. Emery, 1910-12.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH (DEFUNCT)
The United Brethren in Clay township under the leadership of Rev. Jos. Terrell, held meetings in schoolhouses and secured a small congre- gation, the names of whom we are unable to secure. About 1853 or '54, this little congregation erected a small frame church on the northwest quarter of section 16, on the south side of the road about three quarters of a mile east of Shady Nook schoolhouse, on the farm then owned by Geo. Julian, Sr. This building continued to be occupied for church purposes by several religious societies for about ten years, when the United Brethren congregation dwindled down instead of increasing, and about 1864 sold the building to John J. and Tobias Julian, and they removed it and converted it into out-buildings. There was a graveyard adjoining the church where quite a number of interments were made; some of these were removed to Bethel, others were left and the land where once stood this church and its sacred burial ground is now farmed over and the present generation knows nothing of this sacred place, as it exists only on paper and in the minds of a very few of the old pio- neers, but the dead occupying those unmarked graves sleep as peacefully as though the little church stood near, as of old, and was filled with sacred music and pious voices.
Rev. Jos. Terrell and Rev .- Peters served this society until it disbanded.
CEMETERIES
SPRING CREEK CHRISTIAN CHURCH CEMETERY
This is the oldest burial ground in the township and is located in the center of section 3, on ground deeded by different parties. April 30, 1845, Peter Miller conveys to the trustees of Spring Creek Christian church, Wm. R. Smith, J. R. Hinton, and John Simpson, a tract of land in above-named section (Rec. M, page 687). Again on September 28, 1857, S. Lowman deeds a piece of ground adjoining the above (Rec. M, page 688). Also G. W. Coons, on March 13, 1882; S. Lowman, April 30, 1887; Otho Conrad, March 5, 1904, and Wm. B. Ball, on January 14, 1904, conveys land to the trustees of the church, all adjoining the other, for burial and church purposes.
Prior to deeding the ground, however, it was used and occupied for a burial ground and a church was built in 1836.
The first interment was David Flynn, in 1836, and Sabrie, wife of Josiah Butler; David Scott, February 12, 1838; the latter was killed by Jeremiah Harrison in Logansport; the latter was condemned to be hung, but hung himself in jail the night before the day appointed for the execution. Elder John Scott also lies at rest here; he died in 1866. The first addition to this cemetery was platted and recorded November 27, 1894, by F. G. Warner, Jos. Rohrer and Job E. Smith, as trustees. This is one of the oldest, largest and best kept cemeteries in the county and many old pioneers lie buried here. The following soldiers are sleep- ing within its limits :
David Scott, killed February 28, 1838, War of 1812; John Long, War of 1812; Henry Conrad, War of 1812; Benj. Jones, died Decem- ber 14, 1852, War of 1812 and in Indian wars; Jos. Sellers, War of 1812; John Hill, War of 1812; Ebenezer Bridge, died in Mexico, War of 1812; Alexander Scott, died May, 1844, Revolutionary war; John
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Ward, Revolutionary war; Samuel Chestnut, Seventy-third Indiana; Ward Bennett, Ninth Indiana; Wm. Spencer, died 1904, One Hundred and fifty-first; Christian Kreider, Second Indiana Cavalry; Robt. Sel- lers, One Hundred and Eighteenth; Samuel Sellers.
BETHEL M. E. CHURCH CEMETERY
Nathan Julian, on November 6, 1848, conveys a part of the south- west quarter of section 16, Clay township, to the trustees of the church, to-wit: Batley White, N. Julian, L. Sutherland, P. D. Mellinger, P. J. DeMoss, John Plummer and Moses Plummer (Rec. H, page 10). The ground was later platted but never recorded. On October 11, 1894, J. W. Wimer deeds to the trustees one acre on the east of above.
The first interments: Julia A. Miller, September 27, 1844; Marga- ret Mellinger, September 30, 1844; Jos. Richardson, September 11, 1845.
The following comprise the list of soldiers:
Joshua LaRose, Mexican war, died 1905; Absolem Hower, Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana; Henry Burns, Company H, Fifteenth Indiana; Martin Fry, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana; Edward Sutherland, lieutenant Company F, Twentieth Indiana, died May 26, 1864; Martin Enyart, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana, died July 27, 1906; Robt. Tilton, Company B, One Hundred and Twenty- eighth Indiana, killed at Dallas, Georgia, May 31, 1864; Wm. Julian, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana, died May 17, 1887; I. J. Julian, Company I, Forty-sixth Indiana, died May 25, 1862; Geo. W. Julian, captain Company K, Ninety-ninth Indiana, died June 7, 1897; Albert Barnett, Company H, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana; Amos Mobley, lieutenant Company H, Fifty-fifth Indiana; Robt. Clary, Com- pany E, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana; John Long; J. J. Mur- phy, Company G, Fifteenth Indiana; Chas. Davidson, Company I, Forty- sixth Indiana, died April, 1893; J. A. Irvin, Battalion F, Second Illi- nois, died December 20, 1866; S. Bennett, Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana; Peter Rainey; Sylvester Etnire, Company H, Fifty-fifth Indiana; Wm. Etnire, Company I, Seventy-third Indi- ana, died of wounds March 23, 1863; A. Johnson, Company G, Seventy- third Indiana, died November 3, 1863; Chas. Michaels, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana; Wm. Laycock, Company F, Twentieth Indiana, burned to death in lime kilns.
Some old pioneers:
Tobias Julian, died 1889; Asbury Barnett, died 1883; Wm. H. Bringhurst, died 1903; Nathan Julian, died 1872; Emanuel Flory, died 1849; Noah S. LaRose, died 1886; Batley White, died 1857; P. J. De- Moss, died 1855; John Tilton, died 1877.
WILSON FAMILY BURIAL GROUND
On the Wilson farm north of Eel river, just outside the city, in the center of a field opposite the north end of Seventeenth street are buried Gen. Walter Wilson, March 18, 1838, age fifty-six; Gen. Walter Wilson's wife, January 6, 1865; Wm. Wilson and son Alex, and other members of his family, but the latter have lately been removed to Mt. Hope.
There is a large monument to mark the grave of General Wilson and the lot is surrounded by a hedge fence and several large trees which can be seen from Seventeenth street.
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This farm belonged to Walter Wilson and he selected a beautiful burial ground overlooking the town. He was born 1782, died 1838. He was a general in the Indian wars and fought at Tippecanoe; was a member of the first Indiana legislature in 1816; came to Cass county in 1828 and again served in the legislature in 1831-32.
CARTER PRIVATE CEMETERY
This little burial ground is in the southwest quarter of section 15 .and now situated in the center of a field about twenty rods east of the road running north from Broad Ripple bridge and twenty rods north of the Eel river railroad. A few trees mark the place and can be plainly seen from the road. A number of grave stones are still stand- ing and the following names are copied :
Wm. Fair, 1839; John Hamilton and wife, 1842; Nancy, wife of Thomas McBean, 1851; Hester, wife of David Flory, 1845; Mem- bers of the McGrew family who owned the farm before Mr. Carter. Ashford Carter, who owned the farm at the time of his death, April 16, 1863, was buried here, but later removed to Bethel. Several broken slabs with unintelligible letters are found lying on the ground. There was once a fence around this sacred place but it has fallen into decay. Like many a pioneer, Mr. Carter, when death appeared in his home he buried his loved ones on a knoll under the forest trees, on his ·farm, as no church yards were then in existence in Cass county, yet the occupants of these secluded graves, then under the forest trees but now in an open field, run over by the stock, sleep as soundly and rest as sweetly as though they occupied a vault in yonder church yard within the sounds of the bells that peal forth their sacred chimes.
MARTIN FAMILY CEMETERY
About a quarter of a mile above Adamsboro on the east side of the Mexico road in the northeast quarter of section 14, Clay township is a little burial place where from 1834 to 1850 members of the Martin, Pfouts, Morgan and Fisher families were buried. The last interment was a Mr. Fisher, about 1850, and since that date it has been abandoned as a burial ground. There are no monuments or markers at this time but a barbed wire fence about forty feet square encloses the ground, but the posts have rotted. The lot is grown up with bushes and small trees at the road side.
SMITH PRIVATE BURIAL PLACE
On what has been known as the Samuel Horn farm, but formerly owned by Judge John Smith, situated in the northwest corner of sec- tion 20, Clay township, was a family burial ground. Judge John Smith, father of Benj. H. Smith, lived here at the time of his death and was buried on his farm, March 18, 1845. Also Charlotte, his wife, and marble slabs marked their graves for many years, but in recent years 'the remains have been removed to the Leroy Fitch lot in Mt. Hope, and the original old marble slab lies upon the grave, from which we 'copy the inscription :
"Judge John Smith, died March 18, 1845, age seventy seven." :
The original graves are abandoned and given over to the plowman.
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JULIAN BURIAL GROUND
This burial place is located about three-fourths of a mile east of Shady Nook schoolhouse (No. 4), and on the south side of the road in the northwest quarter of section 16, Clay township, on land now owned by Ed Douglass, but formerly owned by Geo. Julian. Here were buried from 1831 to 1850 about thirty or forty different persons. Sarah, wife of Geo. Julian; two children of John Murphy; a brother of Noah La- Rose; members of the Rush, Welch and other families.
The United Brethren erected a church here about 1850, but it was sold and removed in 1864 and when Bethel cemetery, a mile to the south, was laid out, a few of the bodies were removed to that place, but the majority were left and there is nothing to mark these sacred places, and they only exist in the minds of a few old pioneers and on this the only recorded page of their history.
BROWN INDIVIDUAL GRAVES
About the year 1840 Mercer Brown owned land north of Logans- port, two miles on the Michigan road and like most pioneers, when the visiting angel claimed a loved one, he interred the remains on a knoll upon his own lands. So Mercer Brown buried his son Israel in an improvised box in a secluded spot on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 18, Clay township, about eighty rods west of the Michigan road opposite the home of Robt. Barnett, where he has slept the sleep that knows no waking for the past seventy-five years!
CASS COUNTY INFIRMARY CEMETERY
On March 6, 1846, Henry H. Helms conveys by deed to Cass county commissioners, ninety acres of land in the southeast quarter of section 17, Clay township, consideration, $1,350. The following year a build- ing was erected in which to care for the poor and unfortunate of the county and from that day to this the poor have been comfortably cared for, but every year many deaths have occurred and when not claimed by friends, are buried on the county farm in a burial ground about forty rods east of the county house on the west side of Flory creek.
The first person buried here, the date or the number since interred, is unknown, as no records are kept. There are no markers of any kind and the only evidence of graves is the raised ground over the fresh grave and the sunken ground over the old graves. It would seem that the county authorities should keep a careful and permanent record of all deaths at the county house and also place some simple marker at the head of each grave as is done at Long Cliff Asylum. It might be a matter of much importance to identify a person who has died here, and for common humanity's sake such records of identity should be preserved.
BIOGRAPHIES
The biographies of the following persons have been written in Helms' History in 1886 and are of permanent record and will not be reproduced, here but simply mention the names that they may be referred to at any time :
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Asberry Barnett, died 1883; Thomas L. Barr, John H. Burnett, B. F. Campbell, Chas. N. Cook, L. B. Custer, Wm. Delaplane; Hezekiah Fair, died 1911; Joseph G. Funk, died 1913; John W. Gerrard, Edward John- son; Tobias Julian, died 1889; Capt. Geo. W. Julian, died 1897; John J. Julian, Reed Julian, Mrs. Susanna Kreider, Chas. T. Leach, John H. Souder, died -; Jacob W. Morehart, died -; Thos. Plummer, died -; Joseph Rohrer, died 19 -; John H. Rohrer, Benjamin D. Scott, . Wm. A. Shackleford, Samuel D. Shilling, John H. Simpson, died -; Thomas Stephen, Jesse M. Swigart; John W. Thomas, died 1908; Dudley . H. Wells, died -; Wm. Wilson, died 1889; John Wingfield; John H. White, died -.
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CHAPTER XLV CLINTON TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-SOIL-FIRST SETTLERS-ORGANIZATION-FIRST MARRIAGE- FIRST BIRTH-FIRST. DEATH-CLYMERS-INCIDENTS-SNAKE STORY- DEAD IN CHURCH-INDIAN CAPTIVE-LAW SUIT-POISONING GOOSE AND PREACHER - SCHOOLS - TRUSTEES - LONGCLIFF ASYLUM - CHURCHES-CEMETERIES-PHYSICIANS-ROADS-EARLY INDUSTRIES AND OLD MILLS BIOGRAPHIES
This township does not comprise a full congressional township, but only about twenty-four and a half square miles, and lies chiefly in town- ship 26, north R. 1 east and 1 west. It is bounded on the north by the Wabash river, south and west by White county and on the east by Washington township. Along the banks of the river the land is quite hilly and in many places the limestone outcrops in precipitous rocky ledges, which is extensively quarried for building purposes. Back from the river, the land, to the southward becomes more level and in the southern part quite flat, with a heavy clay subsoil, and when tiled is the most fertile and productive land in the county. Originally the township was heavily timbered with oak, ash, maple, walnut, hickory, beech and elm, but this has been largely cut away and only here and there a grove of native timber is left standing. Clinton is well drained by numerous creeks that flow north and west into the Wabash river, the largest of which is Keep's creek, that flows for five miles or more through the center of the township in a westerly direction, into the Wabash river. This was quite a large stream and afforded water power for mills in the early settlement of the county.
FIRST SETTLERS
This township, lying in close proximity to Logansport, and on the Wabash river, easy of access, was the first to be occupied, and settle- ments were made here almost simultaneously with those at the mouth of Eel river. Probably James Burch, in 1826 or 1827, squatted, so to speak, in the forest of Clinton, on the top of the hill in the northwest quarter of Section 33, T. 27, R. 1 E. Mr. Burch was simply a squatter and acquired no title to the land, but erected the first log cabin in the township, and chiseled out of the forest a small field upon which to raise a little corn and vegetables to change the monotony of his diet, which consisted chiefly of wild game and fish, which, however, was in great abundance. About two years later Mr. Burch sold his claim to Christian Simons and left, and the future life of this, the first white man to erect a cabin in Clinton township, is shrouded in darkness. About the same time Wm. Newman purchased a part of the northeast quarter of the same section (33). Mr. Newman erected the second cabin and continued to fell the forests around it until January 4, 1831,
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