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 84
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The first religious service held in the township outside of private houses was conducted in this cabin by Father Post, and the first Sunday school organized by John Adair. This house was replaced by a hewed log structure erected a mile to the south on the southeast quarter of section 19, about 1843, and in 1850 a frame house was erected one hun- dred rods to the southeast. This building was destroyed by fire and a stone schoolhouse was built in 1862 on the northwest quarter of section
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29, which was replaced by a frame building known as "Pleasant Valley," or district No. 3.
The second schoolhouse in the township was built about 1833 or 1834 in the northeast quarter of section 22. Lewis McMillen attended this school in 1838 when Mrs. Bradley was the teacher. Dr. Joseph Thornton, in a well-written article on the first school in Noble township, says this building was erected in 1832, and describes the surroundings as follows: "As the children made their way through the forest, the deer, startled by their approach, would lift their heads, gaze and gallop away. The wolf, too, and bear were not strangers in the vicinity of this schoolhouse, but when the stars came out, they would make night hideous with their blood-curdling howls, at which little children would shrink in- doors and cling to mother's side. Nor did mature men dare to go far from the sheltering roof after dark because of danger of attack from ferocious beasts. My brother once returning after nightfall from a neighbor's home, when passing the spot where the new schoolhouse was in process of erection, stopped to see what progress had been made. Out of the dense forest which lay all around came the sound of snapping and howling of hungry wolves, and looking in the direction of the noise he could see the eyes of the wolves glaring like balls of fire out of the darkness. He must act quickly. Seizing a club that fortune had placed at his feet, he hurled it at the pack of wolves with all his might, at the same time rushing at them with a shout. They turned and ran, and he was not long in reaching home, a quarter of a mile distant."
About 1837-8 a hewed log schoolhouse was built on the Royal Center pike near where the Indian creek road branches off, and Frank Harwood attended in that year, with William Lewis as teacher. This log house was purchased by Thompson Barnett and moved to College hill and used as a stable, and a frame building was erected on the site of Center school- house. This was replaced in 1881 by the present structure, School No. 1.
What is known as "East Sandridge" school near the center of sec- tion 11, was built of round logs in 1836, and a few years later was burned down and a hewed log building erected. In 1858 this was replaced by a frame house, and in 1878 was moved and a brick building erected, and in 1885 it was destroyed by fire. A new house was at once erected in 1910; this was also burned down, when the present brick schoolhouse was erected. Among the early teachers at East Sand- ridge were Joel Elam, William Mitchell, Julia Ellis and Ellen Com- ingore; the latter is still a teacher in Logansport, having continuously taught school for over fifty years.
In 1840 a log schoolhouse was built on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 8 and in the same year a log house was erected on the northeast quarter of section 20, which was destroyed by fire, with all the scholars' books, in 1843. During the year 1847 a frame schoolhouse was built on the southwest quarter of section 21, known as Liberty school, and it was used also for holding singing schools, debates, and other meetings for many years, and "Old Liberty" became famous in the history of the township.
A frame schoolhouse was built in 1861 on the southwest quarter of section 24, just north of Logansport. This building was sold by Trustee I. N. Watts in 1876, and abandoned as a schoolhouse. In 1862 a frame schoolhouse was built on the Watts farm, southwest quarter of section 17. This building was sold in 1881 and replaced by a brick structure. This was known as the "red schoolhouse," as the old house was painted red. A frame building erected in 1868 on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 9 was sold in 1892 and replaced by the present brick house by S. J. Carney, trustee. This school is known as "West Sandridge."
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School No. 2, known as "Walnut Grove," built in 1872, located on the southwest quarter of section 21, was closed in 1908 by Trustee Philip Busard, owing to the paucity of pupils.
Cotner schoolhouse (No. 7), situated on the southeast quarter of section 6, is a frame building erected by Trustee Andrew Cotner in 1887.
In 1854-5 Miner Graham taught a school in an old house located in the southeast quarter of section 7. The Veal schoolhouse, located on west half of section 6, built in 1844, was later moved across the line into Jefferson township.
"Pleasant Grove" schoolhouse (district No. 8), located near the northwest corner of section 24, is a brick building erected in 1896 by Trustee W. W. Moss. There have been a total of twenty-eight different school buildings erected in the township, four of which have been de- stroyed by fire; ten log buildings, ten frame, six brick and one stone. There are at present seven schoolhouses, the estimated value of which is $8,000; number of pupils of school age, 280, and length of school term, 140 days.
The following is the list of trustees with date of election, from 1865 to 1913 :
James H. Thornton, 1865; William S. Stewart, 1866; George Zinn, 1867; E. H. Moss, 1868; James H. Thornton, 1870; George E. Stoughton, 1872; Isaac N. Watts, 1876; Simon Farlow, 1878; J. W. Lee, 1880; J. H. Thornton, 1884; Andrew Cotner, 1886; S. J. Carney, 1888; W. W. Moss, 1894; William C. Thornton, 1900; Philip A. Busard, 1904; William L. McMillen, 1908-14.
CHURCHES
The pioneers brought with them into the wilderness of Noble town- ship the spirit of the Master, and never faltered in the discharge of their .religious duty, although no organization was effected or houses of wor- ship erected for several years after the settlement of the township.
The first religious meeting in the township was conducted by Rev. M. M. Post (Presbyterian), at the cabin of Jane McMillen in 1831, who then lived in section 18. Father Post continued these meetings at regular intervals, and as a result of his labors an organization was effected in 1832, which soon increased to a membership of eighty.
Meetings were held at the residence of Mrs. McMillen until 1836, at which time a hewed log church was erected, Jane McMillen donating the ground for the purpose, situated in section 18. Rev. Post looked after the spiritual interests of this little flock for several years and did much toward placing it on a substantial basis. He was succeeded by Rev. Robert Rankin, whose pastorate extended over a period of four or five years, and at the expiration of his term no other preacher was em- ployed. The members continued to meet from time to time, but the con- gregation was finally disbanded, some of the communicants identifying themselves with the Logansport church and others living in Jefferson township, assisted in the organization of Pisgah church in that township. Deeds were never made for the ground on which the log church stood, and when the adjoining farm was sold the church structure was con- verted into a stable and abandoned for church purposes in the later forties.
A Sunday school was organized at the residence of Jane McMillen in 1831, with John Adair as superintendent, but this was disbanded with the church organization.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY SHILOH CHRISTIAN (NEW LIGHT) CHURCH
Meetings of the Christian denomination were first held in Noble town- ship by Alexander Scott as early as 1832, but an organization was not perfected until 1854 under the leadership of Rev. Nicholas Myers. In 1845 an attempt was made to organize a society at the residence of Wm. P. Watts, but was not successful and it was not until December 1, 1854, that a permanent organization was perfected and measures taken to build a house of worship, on ground donated by John Watts in 1831, for burial and church purposes, situated in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 17, Noble township.
The leading charter members were: Wm. P. Watts and wife, Mrs. : Sarah Watts, John W. Oliver and wife, Lavina Rector, John R. Watts, Peter Cotner, Jacob Neff and wife, and John Cotner. Soon after a sub- scription paper was circulated to raise funds to build a church and was signed by every one in the neighborhood, of all religious beliefs, as the church was to be open to all religious denominations, although nom- inally controlled by the Christian denomination.
The funds were soon raised and the contract for the construction of a frame church was let to Peter Cotner for the sum of $376.78. The work was done in the summer of 1855 under the supervision of Wm. P. Watts, Peter Cotner and Jacob Neff as trustees of the church and building committee. The church was not completed until the fall of 1856. The dedicatory service was conducted by the pastor, Rev. Nicholas Myers, assisted by Revs. William T. Winegardner, E. Tillman and George Abbott. The first service held in the new church before it was plastered was the funeral of Mrs. Sarah H. Watts, wife of Israel Watts, who died May 10, 1856, conducted by Rev. Nicholas Myers. In 1885 the congre- gation had outgrown the capacity of the old church and the present frame church edifice replaced the original one. This is a commodious building 36x46 feet in dimensions and represents a capital of $1,500. The trustees who superintended its construction were Wm. P. Watts,. I. N. Watts, Samuel Ross, C. A. Brandt and E. E. Mckaig. . The new church was completed and dedicated December 20, 1885, by Rev. John E. Puckett, a former pastor, assisted by Rev. Wm. Winegardner. The first children's day ever held by this congregation was in June, 1886, and these exercises have been continued each year to the present time. Memorial day services have also been held each year for more than thirty years at which time the soldiers' graves in the adjoining cemetery are decorated with flowers and flags. For many years preaching has been held once a month with three services, Saturday evening, Sunday morn- ing and evening. In recent years the trustees have purchased three acres of land adjoining the church yard, on which is a beautiful grove of native trees, in which the annual Sunday school picnic is held. A well of pure cold water has been sunk on the lot, making this an ideal picnic ground.
A Sunday school was organized June 3, 1860, with Aaron Dawson as superintendent. For many years the Sunday school was reorganized every spring and only continued during the summer and fall, clos- ing at Christmas with a grand celebration and Christmas tree. Since 1878, however, the Sunday school has been continued through- out the year. The following persons have acted as superin- tendents of the Sunday school : Aaron Dawson, 1860; Isaiah Bickle, Elijah Tillman, George Bussard, P. K. Dill, Martha Bussard, Sol. D. Brandt, Joseph Winegardner, Samuel M. Blew, I. N. Watts, Jacob Cochley, Philip Bussard, W. A. Light, Emanuel Raver, James Lattourette, Mrs. Anna B. Brandt, Frank Hardy, Jacob Myers, A. O.
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Brandt. The following pastors have served the congregation : Nicholas Myers, 1854-6; John S. Winters, Elijah Tillman, Bayless L. Dixon, George Buzard, James Atwood, Wm. Y. Winegardner, B. D. Hayes, 1871-2; James Roberts, 1873; Kendall E. West, 1877-81; Isaac Crago, 1882; S. McNeely, 1883; John L. Puckett, 1884; Geo. Abbott, 1885; C. V. and Mary Strickland, 1886-90; J. A. Sutton, 1891-3, who died June 12, 1893; Abraham L. West, 1894; John L. Rupe, 1897; C. V. Strickland, 1900; Silas Mosteller, 1904; M. M. Wiles, 1907-13.
The present officers are: President of church committee, Philip Bus- sard; clerk, Mrs. Etta Bussard; treasurer, Anna B. Brandt; deacons, W. A. Light and P. A. Bussard; trustees, W. A. Light, Warren Ross, Elijah Leach, Frank A. Hardy, A. O. Brandt.
WEBB CHAPEL ( METHODIST)
The Methodist families who constituted this class formerly belonged to the Logansport church, but in the early fifties, under the manage- ment of Rev. T. S. Webb, presiding elder at Valparaiso, Indiana, and Rev. Wm. Reder, after a series of revival meetings held in the Soward or Liberty schoolhouse in Noble township, an organization was per- fected about 1854. The following are some of the charter members: Wm. McKaig and wife, Wm. Long and wife, Thomas Soward and wife, Thornton Burley and wife, Michael Bachman and wife, Edward Irvin and wife, Philip Ross and wife, Joseph Lattourette and wife, Dixon Mc- Coy and wife.
Wm. McKaig, Wm. Long and Thomas Soward were the first trustees and under their management a church edifice was erected, on land do- nated by Edward Irvin, situated in the southwest quarter of section 16, Noble township, and named after the presiding elder, Rev. Webb. The church was dedicated to the service of the Lord on February 10, 1855. The congregation flourished for many years, but being only three miles from Logansport many of its members affiliated with the city churches and Webb chapel was correspondingly weakened and suspended active work in 1881, but a Sunday school, for all denominations, was main- tained and regular preaching held by different ministers. In 1908 a revival was instituted and a membership of forty-two secured; the old church building that had become dilapidated was remodeled and rebuilt and was rededicated on February 10, 1908, fifty-three years after the first dedication. Rev. W. C. Aye, the pastor, preached the dedicatory sermon from the same text (Song of Solomon 6-10) that had been used fifty-three years before, and Rev. W. S. Stewart read an original poem appropriate to the occasion.
The following ministers, as pastors or supply, have served the con- gregation : Wm. Reder, at organization, 1854-6; W. S. Webb, 1855; Jacob Muscer, 1856-7; R. H. Covert, 1858; Wm. Reder, 1858-1863-4-1880; S. M. Hays, 1860; Moses B. Wood, 1863; T. C. Crawford, 1865; John Hines, 1866; John McDaniel, 1867; Chas. W. Tarr, 1868; Wm. P. Mc- Kinsey, 1870; Aaron Conner, 1871; John M. Chafee, 1872; Henry C. Longley, 1873; Miles H. Wood, 1874; Henry Vincill, 1876; Thos. H. McKee, 1877; W. J. Vigus, D. W. Burnell, Batty, McCoy, R. N. Mckaig, W. C. Mckaig, C. P. Wright, John F. Dodds, Doctor Downy, E. E. Neal, J. A. R. Gehring, H. A. Davis, W. S. Stew- art, 1900-7; W. W. Clouse, 1907; W. C. Aye, 1908; W. M. Creath, Geo. W. Ally, 1910-12.
FORD'S CROSSING EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Ford's Crossing Memorial church, Evangelical Association, dates its history from the year 1880. Through the efforts of Rev. Dustman, who
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gathered together a few of the faithful of this denomination at the resi- dence of Samuel M. Cogley, a half mile east of Ford's Crossing on the Royal Center pike, and perfected an organization with the following charter members: F. B. Lutman and wife, Amos Sweigard and wife, Charles F. Sheets and wife, Samuel M. Cogley and wife, Jane, Ellen and Lizzie Cogley. Meetings were held at the residence of Mr. Cogley and at West Sandridge schoolhouse until 1881 when a commodious temple of worship, 30x40 feet, was erected at Ford's Crossing, being located in the southeast quarter of section 5, Noble township. This was a frame structure and had a seating capacity of two hundred. For sometime after the erection of the church the society took on renewed energy and life and prospered, but deaths, removals and other reasons caused a decrease in membership and a gradual disintegration and in 1901 the organization was disbanded, the church building torn down and moved to Royal Center. The congregation was without a pastor for eight years prior to 1901, but the Sunday school that was organized with the advent of the church was maintained until the final abandonment of the church in 1901.
Pastors serving the congregation were: J. M. Dustman, 1881; Wm. Ackerman, 1882; Schuh, -; Henry Arlen, 1884;
Overmeyer, 1886; Spiecher, 1888; Holderman, 1890; James Wales, 1892.
CEMETERIES
SHILOH CHURCH CEMETERY
John Watts, Sr., donated land for this church and burial ground about 1833, but he executed no deeds, and his son, William P. Watts, on April 21, 1855, deeded one acre, situated in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 17, Noble township, and on June 6, 1885, Peter Cotner deeded one acre of land donated by James Hood, who also failed to make a deed, out of the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 20. Again, on August 15, 1904, William H. Watts deeded a tract of land adjoining the above to the trustees of the church. On August 13, 1904, the trustees made a plat of this ground, but it is not of record. This is a finely located burial ground, with groves of native timber back of it, which belong to the church.
First burials were Jesse J., son of James H. Hodges, August 20, 1833; Martha, wife of John Watts, 1836.
Soldiers-John Watts, Sr., War of 1812; James Hood, War of 1812; Samuel Blew, Company D, Fifteenth Indiana; Thomas Doan, Company D, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana; George W. Busard, Com- pany G, Forty-eighth Indiana; J. G. Hinkle, Company B, Eighty-seventh Indiana; W. H. Hitchens, Company K, Ninth Indiana and Forty-sixth Indiana; David Schrickenhaus, Company F, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry; Andy Stairen, Forty-sixth Indiana.
HARPER CEMETERY
This graveyard lies thirty rods south of the White Post road, on quite an elevated tract, has numerous monuments, but is unkept. A driveway leads from the road, through a gate and lane to the grounds.
On March 18, 1845, James Harper conveys to the commissioners of Cass county twelve rods square of ground near the center of the north- west quarter of section 22, Noble township, as a burial ground, with right of way to the same.
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First Interments-Martha, wife of Joseph Gibson, is said to be the first burial.
The following inscriptions are taken from the markers:
Susan, wife of George McMillen, 1838; Nathan Corey, -, 1839; Mary, daughter of J. and M. Hensley, 1839; Joseph Corbit, 1842. Soldiers-David Hillhouse, War of 1812; Samuel Tippet, Mexican war, died 1898; Joseph Ferguson, Company E, Seventy-third Indiana; Henry Myers, navy; Jefferson McMillen, assistant surgeon, Ninth In- diana.
EAST SANDRIDGE CEMETERY
Israel Graham on February 23, 1853, deeded this ground to James Horney, trustee of Noble township, for a schoolhouse and burial ground. In that day there were three trustees, Joel Elam and James Hensley being the other two. This burial place is situated in the northwest quarter of section 11 and is well located on a sandy knoll west of the schoolhouse, but is poorly kept by the township, to whom it belongs.
First Burials-Ebenezer and Debora Harwood, grandparents of F. M. Harwood of Logansport, died 1836 and 1840; Daniel Harwood, son of above-named, died 1837; Sylvanus Harwood, 1846; wife of John Denbo, 1845; wife of Israel Graham, 1855.
Louderbacks, Crawfords and others are buried here, but none in re- cent years.
HORNEY FAMILY BURIAL GROUND
James Horney established a family burial ground on his farm, two or three miles north of Logansport on the Clifton avenue road, in the northwest quarter of section 13, where Judge James Horney was buried in 1882, and Mrs. Horney in 1898; Solomon Horney, 1895, and several children and grandchildren from 1856 to 1880.
A large granite monument marks this place, which is located on a knoll in an open woodland and surrounded by a fence (1907).
SHIELDS FAMILY CEMETERY
This little burial lot is situated about two miles north of Logansport and twenty rods east of the Kewanna pike on the old Shields farm, in the southwest quarter of section 13, Noble township, and not a half mile west of the Horney burial ground. Joshua Shields entered this land in an early day, and, like many pioneers, entombed his dead on some elevated spot under the boughs of the forest trees that surrounded his lonely cabin home.
This lot is enclosed with a fence and a few evergreen trees decorate the surroundings.
We note the following names and dates on markers:
Rhoda, wife of Joshua Shields, died 1837; Jane, wife of Arnet Shields, died 1872.
There are some unmarked graves.
Soldier-George Smith, Company I, Forty-seventh New York.
Formerly the Pleasant Grove road ran close by this burial ground, but when that road was straightened and graveled in 1878 it left this lot twenty rods to the east.
JOHN CONNER TOMBS
John Watts, Jr., in 1850, built a house and lived on the south slope of the big hill near the mouth of Cottonwood creek and set out an
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orchard. A few years later two children of John Conner, aged seven and five, were buried in this orchard on this hillside, but the house and orchard were destroyed. The little occupants of these graves sleep on regardless of their unmarked and forgotten graves.
BOOKWALTER CEMETERY
This graveyard is situated in the corner of a field one-fourth of a mile north of Henry Seybold's residence and about one-half mile west of Burley hollow. It is fenced but grown up with bushes and briers and sadly neglected. There are probably seventy-five or more graves, half of which are unmarked.
We note the following inscriptions:
Mary Barron, died 1838; Sarah, wife of John N. Adair, died 1842; Ella D. Forbes, died 1848; John L. Fletcher, died 1852.
Members of the Bookwalter, Burley, Wilson and other families lie buried here.
Soldiers-Joseph Barron, Company K, Ninth Indiana; Marshall Burley, Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana; he died in the South in 1864.
Jacob Bookwalter, who owned the adjoining farm in the forties, donated this ground for cemetery and church purposes, but the church was never built.
On February 19, 1848, Mr. Bookwalter deeded a lot 14x21 rods in the southwest quarter of section 19, Noble township, to trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, Christian Rodabaugh, Thornton Burley and John Adair, to be known as the Bookwalter meeting house and burial ground. On March 22, 1881, Thornton Burley and Jacob Book- walter, as trustees of the Bookwalter Methodist Episcopal churchyard, for the election of whom see Deed Record G, page 47, deeded back the above described lot to Jacob Bookwalter. On June 25, 1889, Jacob Bookwalter deeded the same to William P. Louthain, H. Price, G. W. Murphy, J. H. Ramey and Benjamin Gear, trustees of United Brethren church, for a burial ground forever.
They are to keep the ground in order and may erect a church. They have not kept the ground in order, and the place is abandoned as a burial ground. It is the fashion today to abandon and neglect the small pioneer burial grounds and build up large cities of the dead as well as to leave the farm for the cities of the living.
But what is this lifeless clay That we so tenderly lay away ? It's only a hut that I am quitting, It's a garment no more fitting, It's a cage from which at last, Like a bird, my soul has passed, " 'Tis an empty seashell-one Out of which the pearl has gone," The broken shell lies under the sod, The pearl, the soul, has gone to God.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS-ACCIDENTS, ETC.
The first marriage in the township was that of William Neff and Susannah Galbreth, 1832.
First Birth-The first white child born in the township was Asenath, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hood, in 1834, and the same year Eli, son of John and Martha Watts, was born.
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First Death-Probably the first death among the pioneers of Noble was James, the son of Jesse and Margaret Hodges, August 20, 1833.
The first frame house in the township was built by John Adair on the northeast quarter of section 19, about 1833, and the first brick residence was built by Robert Gibson.
The first orchards to be planted were in 1833 by Thomas Hood and Eli Cotner.
The first physician in the township was Dr. James Wilson, who located in the Brandt neighborhood in the thirties.
The first rural free mail route in the county was established in Noble township in 1900, and Joseph Gibson was the first carrier. Since then complete free rural mail service has been established until every resident of the township has a daily mail at his door.
CANAL BOAT WRECKED
Cottonwood creek ran under the canal and during a freshet in June, 1844, the culvert under the canal became clogged with debris and washed out a section of the canal.
A packet boat named "Kentucky," carrying United States mail and passengers from the west, ran into this crevice and was wrecked, killing three passengers. Several others clung to logs and were saved.
Hugh Quinn, while digging a well on the David Corbit farm in 1836, . was killed by the sides caving in and covering him with earth.
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