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 71
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Reverend Odell was united in marriage to Eliza Cline of Carroll county, in 1847, and was blessed with six children.
CEMETERIES
Fouts, now known as the U. B. Church cemetery, is the oldest bur- ial ground in the township, and was used for burial purposes long before any deeds were executed. November 4, 1856, Solomon Fouts deeded one acre of land in section 19 to the trustee of Deer Creek town- ship, as a burial ground, but the land was donated and laid out by Noah Fouts many years before.
On July 20, 1886, H. N. Miller, as trustee of Deer Creek township, conveyed the above described grounds to the trustees of the United Brethren church. July 6, 1901, Jasper Fouts deeded to the trustees of the United Brethren church 27 feet by 39 rods adjoining the old Fouts burial ground, for a consideration of $100. July 16, 1901, Lewis Hyman deeded to the trustees of the Center United Brethren church a strip of ground 27 feet by 39 rods, adjoining the above, for a consideration of $75.
October 18, 1904, Noah Fouts, of the Indian Territory, conveyed a piece of land 80x344 feet, adjoining the old Fouts cemetery, in section 19, to the trustees of the United Brethren church, viz .: Wm. Hubler, Chas. H. Butts, W. R. Wills, John Burrows and C. L. Logan.
September 20, 1886, John Burrows, A. Ridenour, I. G. Gish, O. L. Logan and Lewis Hyman, as trustees, made a plat of the new part of this cemetery, and recorded the same. About this time a church was erected adjoining this burial ground. This is a large cemetery. The new part is well laid out and fairly well kept. The first interment in the old Fouts graveyard was Zadock Reagan, November 15, 1840, aged fifty-one. John Grist and his wife. Other early burials were Nancy Reagan, 1842; Noah Fouts, March 1, 1845, and his wife, 1846.
Soldiers-Benj. F. Carmin, Company B, 46th Indiana, died July 4, 1863; Samuel R. Coin, Company K, 128th Indiana, d. February 2, 1894; Christian Kries, Company H, 59th Indiana, d. September 19. 1906.
HOOVER CEMETERY
On April 11, 1868, Benjamin Hoover deeded one acre of land in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter, section 20, to Deer Creek township, for a public burial ground, and to build a union meet- ing house. The meeting house, however, was never built. This burial ground is still in the name of Deer Creek township, but joins the Dunkard cemetery, and is controlled by that church. This is an old burial ground, finely located on the north bank of Deer creek, and in- terments were made here many years before deeds were executed. We copy some of the earliest burials from the grave markers: Samuel Miller, died October 11, 1845; Jacob, son of B. and M. Hoover, 1846.
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It is reported earlier burials were made, but if so the graves are un- marked.
Enoch Brumbaugh, murdered by Bill Green in 1885, is buried here, also Daniel and George Studebaker, who committed suicide some years ago.
Soldiers : Ephraim M. Parkins, died 1880; Elihu See, Company B, 46th Indiana, d. at Lexington, Kentucky, 1865; Jacob See, d. 1895; John K. Hoover, Company K, 9th Indiana, d. 1862; Levi Hoover, 46th Indiana, d. 1862; Daniel Tolen, Company D, 46th Indiana, d. 1906.
GERMAN BAPTIST OR DUNKARD CEMETERY
William Snyder, Sr., on March 26, 1886, deeded one acre of land in the northwest quarter of section 20, to Deer Creek township, for a burial ground and when it ceases to be used for that purpose it reverts to the adjoining farm. May 11, 1889, H. N. Miller, as trustee, deeded the above tract of land to the German Baptist cemetery of Cass county. This burial ground is located on the west side of the Hoover cemetery and only separated from it by a driveway and hitch rack. It is beautifully situated, and nicely laid out, with lot markers.
The first burials as indicated by dates on the markers are: Franklin, son of A. and J. Smith, August 11, 1875; William Burrows, April 15, 1866; Amos Smith, February 28, 1879.
No soldiers are buried here at this date. The Hoover cemetery join- ing this on the east is also controlled by the German Baptist church, which is about two miles to the southeast on the south side of Deer creek.
MILLER CEMETERY
John E. Miller, father of H. N. Miller, laid out a burial ground on his farm in the southwest quarter, section 5, Deer creek, township about 1853. It was managed by Mr. Miller until his death, and since by his son, H. N. Miller. In 1862 the ground was platted and managed as a private cemetery, but on January 10, 1905, H. N. Miller deeded 2.25 acres, including the cemetery, to three trustees, viz: D. C. Kitchell, L. F. Bird and Irwin Gard, for cemetery purposes. This cemetery is well located, on a beautiful knoll or elevation that rises out of the level farm land by which it is surrounded, and is an ideal burial place. It rises out of the level field like a New Mexico mesa, or like an elevation of the Mound Builders. It is surrounded by a row of trees with just enough evergreen trees within to make it attractive. It is quite a large cemetery, with some handsome monuments. It is about forty rods west of the wagon road, running south through Deacon, with a driveway leading to it. There is a chapel house surrounded by a large hitch rack to accommodate friends.
The first burial was Catherine, daughter of D. and N. Miller, April 3, 1853; Margaret, wife of George Boyer, 1854; Samuel Dickey, 1854; Alfred Guy, 1815-1892.
Soldiers : Charles B. Faucett, 46th Indiana; J. M. Armstrong Com- pany E, 155th Indiana; Josiah Dickey, Company D, 46th Indiana; R. R. Davidson, lieutenant, Company C, 35th Ohio; William M. Vernon, lieutenant, Company K, 118th Indiana; Wesley Cornell, Company D, 39th Indiana; D. D. Lennon, Company B, 46th Indiana; Daniel Hale, War of 1812, died age 83; William H. Campbell, 128th Indiana; J. N. Munson, Company C, 36th Ohio; Lewis Addington, Company B, 9th Indiana.
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HARNESS CEMETERY
This is a neat little burial ground, enclosed with a wire fence and fairly well kept, with a few good monuments. George W. Harness, Sr., donated the ground more than fifty years ago but never executed a deed of record until May 2, 1906, when George W. Harness, Sr., of Howard county, Indiana, deeded a piece of ground 108x147 feet on the north line of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter, section 34, Deer Creek township, and west of the schoolhouse lot, to his sons, George W. Harness, Jr., and Russel Harness and their heirs, to be maintained as a burial place for the dead now interred or to be here- after interred therein. This conveyance was made with the restriction that no part of it shall be used for any other purpose than a burial ground.
First interment was Harriat Harness, April 3, 1855; Ida Florence Harness, 1859; infant of George W. Habne, 1853.
JOHN DAVIS PRIVATE BURIAL PLACE
This burial ground is located on the old John Davis farm in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, section 4, just east of Deacon. On this ground was buried a number of persons in the forties and fifties, some of whom were afterwards removed, others were left in their original resting places and the ground is now farmed over and all vestiges of a burial ground has disappeared, but the occupants of those unmarked graves rest as peacefully as though they had flaming monu- ments at their head or lay within the sound of great cathedral church bells.
Among those buried here were: Benjamin Moon, about 1850; Jane Davis, daughter of John Davis, about 1850; Hamilton Dorn, about 1851; Matilda Cornell, about 1852; infant of Mr. Etter, about 1853.
SALEM LOG CHURCH CEMETERY
Salem Log church was the first meeting house built in the town- ship, about 1852, on the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 10. Beside this primitive church a number of burials were made. The church was removed nearly forty years ago, but here in the corner of a field the writer, in 1907, found two marble slabs; one had the following inscription: Ada, wife of D. Hale, died December 7, 1851, age 48. On the other stone only the word "Infant" could be deciphered, the remainder of the inscription was defaced by the ravages of time and the elements. The spirits, however, the eternal and indestructible, that once inhabited these shells of clay, are shining brighter and brighter as time progresses, unconscious, unmindful and not disturbed by the smoldering shell or the crumbling marker of their secluded and for- gotten graves, covered over with weeds and rubbish. There were also a few other unmarked graves at this place.
Daniel Dale sold this tract of land to James Campbell and the latter on October 5, 1859, deeded the same to John D. De Haven and excepted or reserved a lot 8x15 rods, including the site of this burial ground and the old log Salem church, as long as used for such purposes, otherwise to revert to the adjoining farm.
Many a pioneer's grave's unmarked, as you can plainly see, But little he cares for worldly show, when out on the unknown sea. To the brave pioneer of long ago, we bow with reverent head, All hail to you that were so true, while living but now are dead.
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MASONIC CEMETERY AT YOUNG AMERICA
March 19, 1887, the Masonic Lodge of Young America, for the sum of $200, purchased 2.67 acres of land from Samuel J. Beck, situated about a quarter of a mile south of Young America, in the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, section 31. August 2, 1888, Samuel Beck and W. E. Lybrook, as trustees, file a plat of the above grounds. This cemetery is finely located on raised ground and well laid out. It is a new cemetery, and has but few interments, but is neatly kept.
First burials were: Charles D. Parker, 1889, and Metella V. Rice, 1889; William H., son of J. G. and M. P. Johnson, May 7, 1864, was evidently a removal; James Becker, suicidal, 1907. Soldiers buried here are: Calvin McCracken, Company I, 118th Indiana, died 1903; James Becker, 1907.
PHYSICIANS
Doctors are, as a rule, better and more widely known than any class of our people, and have helped to make history, at least they have to do with the beginning and end of man here below, and history would not be complete without reference to the physicians, and we will make brief mention of them in alphabetical order:
Dr. Albright lived and practiced medicine in Young America during the sixties, and in 1869 moved to Galveston and entered into a partner- ship with Dr. J. C. Loop, but in the following year left, and has been lost to our informant.
Dr. N. Brown was located in practice at Young America for some time, about 1885-6. He moved to Flora, Indiana, where it is reported he still lives.
Dr. Z. W. Bryant was a resident of Young America for a few years in times past, but his whereabouts is now unknown.
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Dr. John Cooper was the first physician to locate in Young America in 1867. He erected a business house on Main street and opened the first drugstore. He was a licentiate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Institute, 1867. In 1872 or 1873 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and later to Da- kota. He married Laodiska Daggett, of Galveston, Indiana, and had one son, Butler.
Dr. I. A. Cooper practiced in Young America for a time prior to 1878. He moved to Kokomo and died there. He was married to Mary Jane Dunkin of Cass county, and had two children, Asa and Albert.
Dr. Wm. Cooper was a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, 1867, practiced medicine in Young America, during the sev- enties, and moved to Kokomo, where it is reported he still lives (1910).
Dr. Andrew J. Gray, born in Cass county, in 1854, educated at Val- paraiso Normal School, and graduated from the Indiana Medical Col- lege, 1897. Practiced at North Grove, Indiana, and in 1890 located in Young America, where he is now engaged in active practice. He served as trustee of Deer Creek township, 1900-04, and as county commissioner, 1909-12. He has been twice married.
Dr. Wm. Johnson lived and practiced medicine in Young America from about 1873 to 1876. He moved to Missouri, and died there some years ago.
Dr. Wm. E. Lybrook, born in Union county, Indiana, February 15, 1850, came with his parents to Cass county in 1854, where he has con- tinued to reside to the present time. He graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine in 1879 and at once began the practice of his chosen profession at Young America, where he is still in active practice, having recently formed a partnership with his son.
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Dr. Daniel E. Lybrook was born in Young America in 1885, grad- uated from the Indiana Medical College in 1910, and at once engaged in practice with his father. Dr. Wm. E. Lybrook served as township trustee, and was postmaster under Cleveland's first administration, 1885.
Dr. Geo. D. Marshall is a native of Cass county, where he was born, 1872. He graduated from the Central College of Physicians and Sur- geons, Indianapolis, 1904, and at once located in Young America, but in 1908, desiring a wider field, he moved to Kokomo, where he is now engaged in practice.
Dr. Wm. Newlin practiced in Young America for a time during the 'seventies, then moved, and it is reported that he is now at New London, Indiana.
Dr. Charles D. Parks was born in Carroll county, Indiana, Decem- ber 28, 1856, attended Hall's Business College in Logansport, and the Northern Indiana Normal School, read medicine with Dr. Powell, of Rockfield, Indiana, graduated from Rush Medical College, 1880, and practiced at Young America for many years. He is now dead. He was married to Sarah A. Henry, of Cass county, and left several children.
Dr. Eli Rice was engaged in practice at Young America for a time, many years ago. He moved to Chenoa, Kansas, where he now resides.
Dr. Wm. Scholes was engaged in practice in Young America for several years during the 'eighties. He moved to Canada, where he is still engaged in professional work.
Dr. T. C. Tucker was located in Young America from about 1880 to 1885. He moved to Douglass, Kansas, where he died many years ago. He was married and had several children.
The following physicians have practiced at different times in Young America, showing that that town has great attractions for the doctors: Drs. Cyrus Pickett, John J. Pickett, Mac Burns, D. C. Barnett, Allen B. Strode and a Dr. Price.
SCHOOLS
Deer Creek was not opened up for settlement for ten years after some of the townships, and the schools were correspondingly late in being established. The first school house in this township was a primi- tive affair that stood in section 19, on what was known as the Hyman farm. This was the usual type of round log house, the cracks filled up with chinks and mud, clapboard roof, puncheon floor, and heated with a fireplace, with stick and mud chimney. This pioneer temple of learn- ing was erected in the fall of 1840, and the first teacher therein was Josiah Brown, but of his characteristics we are unable to give any in- formation, but no doubt he was master of the three Rs, "Reading," "Riting" and "Rithmetic,." which constituted the curriculum of the primitive schools in all the townships. The second teacher was Milton Jarrett.
The second school building was more pretentious. It was made of hewed logs and stood in section 23, or near the edge of section 22, on the Holland place. This school house was occupied for many years, before it gave way to a modern building. While the schools of this township were late in opening, because the township was not thrown open to set- tlement, yet it very rapidly developed and schools were soon started in different neighborhoods to accommodate the rapidly increasing popu- lation and when the new constitution of 1852 became effective, and under it, the public schools were fully established there were six schools in the township, and in later years there were ten schools, but in 1906
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one school was abandoned. No. 8, situated on the southwest corner of section 28, and its pupils are hauled to No. 7, at a daily cost of $2.20 per day, and the results are reported to be eminently satisfactory, being both better and cheaper. There are now nine school buildings in the township, including the high school at Young America, all built of brick. No. 1, located on the northwest corner of section 11, was erected in 1903; No. 2, built in 1885, at Deacon; No. 3, built in 1876, near Pleasant Valley Universalist church, in section 6; No. 4, sit- uated on the southwest corner of section 18, erected in 1890; No. 5, or Center school, built in 1898 on the northwest corner of section 21; No. 6, erected in 1878, on the southwest corner of section 14; the Harness school house, No. 7, built in 1888, on the northeast corner of section 34, and the Young America school, erected in 1879, consisting of six as- sembly rooms, including the high school, which was established many years ago, where at this time 43 students are taking the high school course, taught by A. E. Bond as principal, with two assistants. The Young America high school building is crowded, and to accommodate the increasing numbers they are arranging to erect a new high school next year to cost $30,000. The present value of school property in Deer Creek township is about $26,000. Number of pupils, 349; num- ber of teachers, fourteen.
Deer Creek is thus provided with a complete system of public schools, including all grades from the primary up to and through the high school. While the high school is not commissioned, yet the character of their work is equal to any commissioned school in the county, is a great convenience to the people, to have a high school near home, and Deer Creek citizens may feel justly proud of their excellent schools of today, in contrast with the first round log school house of seventy-three years ago.
TRUSTEES
The following is a list of township trustees from 1865 to 1913: George W. Lenon, 1865; Poindexter Toney, 1871; W. S. Toney, 1876; Samuel Gray, 1878; Thomas Henry, 1882; Wm. E. Lybrook, 1884; H. N. Miller, 1886; W. E. Lybrook, 1890; Thomas Flynn, 1894; A. J. Gray, 1900; James W. Cree, 1904; Samuel Hursh, 1908 to 1914.
TOWNS AND POSTOFFICES
Before the coming of the white man, there was an Indian village on Deer creek in the eastern part of the township. It was an ideal place for the rendezvous of the red man. The creek affording an abundant water supply; the dense forest, covering the land, gave protection to deer and other game and Deer creek was in reality a happy hunting ground of the Indian. There was also an Indian camping ground near Young America.
CRITTENDEN
was simply a postoffice, established over thirty years ago, at the Chris- tian church in the southeast corner of the township on the Howard county line, but was discontinued many years since.
DEACON
This is a small village, never regularly laid out, consisting of a dozen residences, and a school house, a general store, blacksmith shop, etc., located in the northern part of the township. It received its name
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from William R. Deacon, its oldest and most prominent resident, who was its first postmaster and merchant, but now retired. There was a postoffice here for many years, but the free rural mail service has replaced the country postoffice in recent times.
YOUNG AMERICA
This is an enterprising town, located in the southwest corner of the township, within half a mile of the Howard county line. and thirteen miles nearly due south of Logansport.
It had its beginning about 1855, when Thomas Henry came to this location, then a dense forest, cleared out a space of two acres on which to erect a saw mill. With log wagons and ox-teams, he hauled, from Logansport, an engine and boiler, over mud and corduroy roads, and set up the first steam saw mill south of Deer creek. It was a novelty to see a steam boiler in these dense woods, and some one in a spirit of a joke, with a piece of chalk, wrote on the boiler: "Young America," indicating enterprise, and Mr. Henry named the place "Young America." Around this saw mill grew up a settlement which developed into the present beautiful village. The first settlers on the town site were Thomas Henry, Laben Thomas, Randolph Coin, Robert Hunter, Dr. Johnson and James Roach. A plat of the town was first made by Laben Thomas, December 30, 1863, when he laid out ten lots and made an addition November 9, 1867. Other additions were platted as follows:
Lewis Hyman, June 13, 1873; Solomon Fouts, June 10, 1876; Theodore E. Brumbaugh, September 8, 1888; S. J. Beek, March 15, 1889, and John W. Cost addition in the '90s.
After the platting of the towns, James Ginn was the first to erect a house. on Main street and J. H. Whitesides on the corner.
The first business man was S. R. Coin, who erected a store building on lot 2, original plat, in which he kept a general stock of goods for many years. He was succeeded by Cyrus Neff, who subsequently entered into a partnership with Laben Thomas which lasted for some years, when George W. Hunter bought them out, and continued the business until about 1867. The second business house was erected on lot 3, Main street, by James G. Johnson, about 1865, who continued in business for many years, and is still an honored citizen of the town, but retired from active duties, being now over eighty years of age. When the postoffice was first established at Young America, about 1870, Mr. Johnson was appointed its first postmaster and served in that capacity for many years.
In 1870 Hiram Pickett erected the first hotel, a substantial brick structure, which is still standing.
Thomas Roush erected a two-story building on the corner of Main and Roush streets and J. G. Johnson erected the second two-story brick building on the opposite corner.
The first mechanics in the town were: Robert Hunter, carpenter, John Etter and Edward Marshall, blacksmiths, and Edward Mont- gomery, shoemaker. The first doctor and druggist was John Cooper. The first saw mill was operated by Thomas Henry before the town was laid out. The first steam grist-mill was opened in 1874, by B. F. Rhodes and Leander Bernard.
Today Young America is represented by all kinds of mercantile business, to-wit :
Adis Wirick and David A. Staly, general stores; Robert Hunter, harness and buggies; Jud Wernick, postmaster and deals in notions; Reid Weikle, livery stable; John W. Cost, druggist and notions; Shank-
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lin Brothers, hardware and agricultural implements; Reid Thurman, restaurant; Cell. Williams, hotel keeper; Soren Jacobson, flour mill; John H. Bridge, saw and planing mill; John Zook, meat market; Jacob Heinmiller, undertaker, with barber shops, blacksmith and repair shops and all the necessary business interests of a city.
Drs. Andrew J. Gray, William E. Lybrook and his son, D. E. Lybrook, look after the health of the town. Its educational, spiritual and fraternal interests are conserved by a commodious high school, three churches and several lodges, all of which are noticed elsewhere. Young America has a population of about three hundred and fifty, and is the only town of any size in the county to which a railroad or inter- urban does not extend, and the only town not on a railroad that has a postoffice, all the other offices have been superseded by rural mail delivery, and the mail to this office comes from Galveston, nine miles distant, by the rural mail carrier. It is to be hoped that in the near future, this prosperous little town, with its paved streets, cement side- walks, in the midst of the finest farming district in the county, will be connected with the county seat by an interurban line. It has, however, a telephone exchange instituted about ten years ago, through which it can reach the outside world and by the numerous automobiles, time and space can be annihilated, so to speak.
This enterprising little village is not lagging behind and a company is now organized and arrangements are being made to erect a large canning factory this summer to put up and preserve the prolific crop of vegetables that grow on the fertile fields around the town.
LODGES AND ORDERS
Young America Free Mason Lodge No. 534 was organized March 4, 1876, with ten charter members. The first officers were: John L. Pickett, W. M .; Levi Campbell, S. M .; George W. Cantor, J. W .; Will- iam Kemp, secretary ; E. J. Marshall, treasurer; S. J. Beck, S. D .; Samuel G. Butcher, J. D .; Martin McCrackin, G. The present mem- bership is one hundred and three. The chief officers at this time are:
George Ulerich, W. M .; Edward Lybrook, S. W .; and J. W. Beek, secretary.
Young America Chapter No. 191, Eastern Star, was organized in 1895, with twenty charter members. The chief officers at that time were : S. J. Beek, patron, and Mrs. May Gard, matron. Today the chief officers are: John M. Beek, W. P .; Many Hunter, W. M .; and May Gard, secretary. Present membership seventy-four.
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