USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns and biographies of representative citizens : Also a condensed history of Indiana > Part 24
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Shrikes or Butcher Birds .- The great Northern shrike is rare; the logger-head shrike, two varieties, is common. These form a small but interesting family of bold and spirited birds, quarrel- some among themselves. They form a kind of connecting link be- tween insect-eating birds and birds of prey. Their food con- sists of large insects, mice and small birds and snakes. They are noted for impaling their prey on thorns or sharp twigs and leaving it there-for what purpose is not yet known.
Finch and Sparrow Family .- Numerous; pine grosbeak, an oc- casional winter visitor; purple finch, a common migrant; white- winged and red cross-bills, rare winter visitors; red-poll linnet, an irregular winter visitor; pine linnet, a rare winter visitor.from the North; goldfinch, or yellow bird, common and well-known; has the appearance of a canary; snow-bunting, a common but irregular winter visitor; Lapland long-spur, a common winter visitor; Savan- nah sparrow, a common migrant; bay-winged bunting, very com- mon from spring to fall; yellow-winged, Henslow's and Lincoln's sparrows, are summer residents; swamp and song sparrows, common, the latter abundant all the warm season; snow-bird, common in winter; mountain sparrow, common in winter; chip- ping and field sparrows, common in summer; white-throated and white-crowned sparrows, common migrants; English sparrow, abundant in the towns, driving out our native song-birds; fox sparrow, a very common spring and fall visitor; black-throated bunting, growing common; rose-breasted grosbeak, a common sum- mer resident; breeds along the' water-courses in low trees and shrubs; indigo bird, abundant in summer, frequenting low wood- lands overrun with briers; towhee bunting or chewink, abundant.
Birds of this family feed entirely upon seeds except during the
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breeding season. Those which are residents all the year and those which are summer residents only subsist during the breeding sea- son and feed their young almost exclusively upon insects. At other times their food consists of the seeds of grass and weeds. The rose-breasted grosbeak is the only bird known to feed on the po- tato bug and the white-crowned sparrow feeds on the grape-vine flea- . beetle. The common yellow bird, or goldfinch, prefers the seeds of the thistle and lettuce. The fox sparrow and chewink scratch the ground for hibernating insects and snails. The crossbills feed on the seeds in pine cones, and the English sparrow feeds on the seeds contained in the droppings of animals.
Blackbird Family .- Bobolink, common and well-known; a fine and cheerful songster; cow-bird, or cow blackbird, a summer visitor, frequenting old pasture land and the edge of woods; like the Euro- pean cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of smaller birds, such as warblers, vireos and sparrows. Red-winged blackbird, abundant in summer; meadow lark, well known; orchard and Baltimore orioles are very common; rusty blackbird, or grackle, is common for a week or two in spring; crow blackbird, common and well known.
With the exception of one or two species, this family is decidedly gregarious. Insects and grains constitute their food. The cow- bird destroys the eggs and young of other birds. The orioles feed largely on hairy caterpillars and also on some of the small fruits, green peas, etc.
Crow Family .- The raven was common, but is now rare. The common crow, well-known, emigrates southward during the cold- est weather. Blue jay is the gayest plumaged and harshest-voiced bird of the American forests. Birds of this family are omnivorous.
Fly-catcher Family .- The king-bird is abundant in summer, fre- quenting orchards and the edge of the woods; great crested fly- catcher, abundant in the forest; uses snake skins as a part of its nest material; pewee, or Phœbe bird, common; wood pewee, a common bird of the orchard and woodland; least fly-catcher, com- mon in summer; yellow-bellied fly-catcher, a common migrant, but rare summer resident. The king-bird and pewee frequent open places; the others of this family dwell in the forest. They all subsist upon winged insects.
Goatsucker Family .- Whippoorwill and night-hawk, well-known and common. These birds are nocturnal in their habits and feed upon insects.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The Chimney Swallow is the only member of the family Cypse- lidæ that is found in this latitude. It is sometimes seen in large flocks, roosting in unused chimneys, barns and hollow trees.
Humming-bird Family .- The ruby-throated is the only species found here. It feeds upon insects, which it captures within flowers.
King-fisher Family .- The belted king-fisher is a common sum- mer resident in suitable localities. It feeds upon small fish.
Cuckoo Family .- The black-billed species is common; has been called "rain crow." The yellow-billed cuckoo is not common. Omnivorous.
Woodpecker Family .- There are half a dozen species of wood- pecker found in this locality, all common, viz .: The hairy, downy, yellow-bellied, red-bellied, red-headed and golden-winged. Om- nivorous.
Owl Family .- The great horned, the mottled, the screech, the long-eared and the short-eared are abundant. The barn owl is a rare straggler from the South. Possibly one or two other species may occasionally be found here.
Hawk Family .- The marsh hawk, the sharp shinned, Cooper's, the sparrow, the red-tailed, the red-shouldered, the broad-winged, the rough-legged or black, and the fish hawks are all common. The white-tailed kite, the goshawk, the pigeon hawk, Swainson's hawk and the bald eagle are more rare.
The Turkey Buzzard, belonging to a distinct family, is rare.
Pigeon Family .- The wild pigeon, an abundant migrant, some- times breeds here. The Carolina dove, a resident here most of the year, is common.
The Wild Turkey, once abundant, but now rare, is the only member of its family native to this region.
Grouse Family .- Prairie chicken, once occasional, none now; ruffed grouse, or partridge, occasional; quail, common.
Plover Family .- The golden plover, the killdeer and the semi- palmated are common about unfrequented ponds. The black-bel- lied plover is rare, if ever seen at all.
Sandpiper Family .- The most common species of this family are the semi-palmated, least, pectoral, red-breasted, Willst, solitary, spotted and upland sandpipers, the snipe and the woodcock. Less common are the buff-breasted and red-backed sandpipers, long- billed curlew and perhaps occasionally two or three other unim- portant species.
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Heron Family .- The green and night herons, the bittern and the least bittern are common residents. The great blue heron is a common migrant and the great white heron a rare summer visitor.
Cranes .- The whooping and sand-hill cranes are sometimes seen in migration.
Rail Family .- The Virginia and Carolina rails and the coot are often seen in the vicinity of the streams and in the margin of ponds; the clapper, king, yellow and black rails, very rarely; the Florida gallinule, occasional.
Duck Family .- The common species are the mallard, black, big black-head, little black-head, ring-necked, red-head (or pochard) golden-eye, butter ball, ruddy and fish (gosander) ducks, the brant and Canada geese, widgeon, golden-winged and blue-winged teal and the hooded merganser. Rarely are seen the pintail, gadwall, shoveler, wood duck, canvas-back duck, long-tailed duck and red. breasted merganser. All the duck family are migratory.
Gull Family .- About ten species may rarely be seen in passing.
Loon .- One species sometimes strays into this locality from the North.
Grebes .- The horned and the pied-bill grebes are occasional. One or two other species very rare.
FISHES.
As there are no large lakes or streams in De Kalb County, the number and variety of fishes are limited, especially in these days of mill-dams and city sewage.
Stickleback Family .- This furnishes the chief game fish, as bass and sun fish. The local names of these fish are so various that we scarcely know how to refer to them; but wo inay venture to name the black bass, the green or Osage bass, the big black sun-fish or rock bass, goggle-eye and the two common sun-fish, all of which have materially diminished within the last five years.
Perch Family .- There are no perch, or "jack salmon," in the county. They were once common throughout the State, but now are only to be found occasionally in some of the most favored places. They are among the finest fishes, and ought to be culti- vated. The salmon sometimes attains a weight of forty pounds.
Pike Family .- The larger pike, sometimes called " grass pike," used to be mnet with, especially in draining off the marshes. The pickerel was also native here, but none are to be found at the pres-
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ent day. Nor have gar pike ("gars") existed here since the ad- vent of mill-dams.
Sucker Family .- To this family belong the buffalo (rare), red- horse (occasional) and the white sucker (also occasional). Black suckers and mullets still thrive in some parts of Indiana, but not here.
Catfish Family .- Fish of this family are still common, but are small, weighing only a pound or two. We can scarcely name the species in English. Perhaps we may say the channel, or mud cat- fish, the blue and the yellow, the bull-head and one or two other small species are found here. The yellow are the most common.
Minor Sorts .- Besides the above, there are several varieties of chubs, silver sides, and large numbers of other species denomi- nated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches as well as the larger streams.
Fish planting has not yet been introduced into this county.
REPTILES.
Of the twenty-three species of Snakes that have existed in this State, and probably in this county, several of the largest have been abont exterminated. Only two of them are venomous, namely, the copperhead and the massanger. Very few of these are to be found at the present day. The smaller species are useful animals, like toads, in destroying mice, moles and other vermin, and are preserved by intelligent farmers on this account.
Of Lizards there are very few in this section. Those creatures which resemble them are innocent salamanders, and are really as useful as toads in the destruction of flies and other insects. There are eigliteen species of these animals in Indiana. The largest at- tains a length of eight inches, and is black, with large, irregular yellow spots. Another large species is entirely yellow; another of a brilliant vermilion haunts cold springs. The second in size is the "mud alligator," or "water dog," a frequent annoyance to fishermen. Still another species has external gills, for respiration in water, thus resembling pollywogs.
Of Frogs there are five species, and of toads five. Four are tree toads. One species of frog is subterranean, excavating its burrows backward with its hind feet, which are shovel formed. It comes to the surface early to breed, after thunder showers in April, in the evening, when it is easily recognized by its loud, discordant notes.
CHAPTER III.
PIONEER HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES.
EARLY SETTLEMENT. - PIONEERS BEFORE 1836. - LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT .- EARLY COMMISSIONERS' MEETINGS. - EARLY IN- CIDENTS .- INDIAN SCARES. - THE NEAREST MILL. - PROVISIONS SCARCE .- THE LOG CABIN .- HAND LABOR .-- HANDSPIKE FARM- ING .- " WINDROW" PLANTING .- FIRST PREACHER. - FIRST RELI- GIOUS MEETINGS .- EARLY PREACHERS AND RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. -FIRST EVENTS. - A BACKWOODS JUDGE. - MORE OF THE PIO- NEERS .- THE FLOOD .- NAVIGATING THE DESERT WITH A POCKET COMPASS .- GUNPOWDER TEA .- A BRIDAL TOUR .- ALL WELL BUT FOURTEEN ! - SUFFERINGS OF MR. OSBURN. - FAMILY MILLS .- PRIMITIVE SCHOOL-HOUSES .- A RASCALLY PARODY.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The early history of this county, like that of many other counties, has not been handed down to us with that degree of minuteness that would prove interesting to the readers of the present day. Authentic records of its early settlement do not appear, and the few who participated in the scenes of that period have long since been gathered to their fathers. Yet there is a lively interest still manifested in the narration of the severe battles fought and vic- tories won over the huge obstacles presented by rude nature, and if there is nothing new to offer the oft-repeated tale has a charm abont it that never wearies, and the thrilling adventure and humor- ous incident are sources of enjoyment that captivate and enchain the most indifferent.
When we look over the beautiful fields and fertile valleys of the present day and see the evidences of improvement and enterprise on every haud, we are prone to ignore the terrible sufferings and privations that fell to the lot of those who struck the first blows and inaugurated the plans that brought those great achievements.
No cultivated fields nor happy homes greeted the eye; no civil- ized voices fell upon the ear to cheer the heart with joy; but all
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was desolation in the midst of nature's luxuriousness. It is a matter worthy of remark that indomitable will and perseverance must have entered more largely into the composition of these early settlers than is observable in the various classes that now populate our country. Be this as it may, it was their great stock in hand, and to this we are indebted to-day for the pleasant homes they now leave for the more glorious and peaceful one that shall last during the ceaseless ages of eternity.
Far removed from the influence and association of home and friends, with nothing but the deep silence of the mighty forest as their companion, they struck the first blows for civilization and improvement, and by Herculean efforts carved out in the depth of the wilderness the rude but comfortable homes as the first fruits of their labor.
PIONEERS BEFORE 1836.
Very few settlers were within the bounds now embraced by De Kalb County in the early part of the year 1836. The following list is believed to be complete : Homer Blake, who settled on the tract of land for a long time afterward occupied by his son, Henry Blake, below Spencerville; David Butler, one of the last of the pioneers to "bid farewell to scenes of earth;" John Mathews, on a tract of land afterward forming a part of the home farm of Hon. R. J. Dawson; Mr. Yates, on another portion of said farm, and the present site of Spencerville; old Mr. Rhodes and sons, on the farm joining Spencerville on the west; Jeremiah Rhodes, on the farm afterward owned by Mr. Melton, on Bear Creek; Daniel Rhodes, on the farm occupied by his widow; Mr. Brandt and Crannel Rood, on the farm in the bend of the river east of Spencer- ville ; William Mathews, on the farm where Jacob Dills afterward resided; George and David Mathews, on a tract on the opposite side of the river from William; Mr. Lytle and Jared Ball, on the farm afterward owned by Gavin Hamilton, one mile below Orange- ville; Washington Robinson, on the present site of Newville; and William Rodgers and Jacob Platter, on the farm belonging to Samuel Wyatt, near Newville.
De Kalb County was as yet unorganized, a portion of its terri- tory being attached to Lagrange, and a portion to Allen. Early in the year 1836, John Blair, Esq., settled on the farm where he died; Charles Wilber, on the farm owned later by old Mr. Hall, near Orangeville; William Burley, at the present site of the last
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
named village; Joseph Ludwig, on the farm where he lived till his death: Judge Walden, a little farther up the river, and Ariel Rood, still further up. A little later in the season Judge Samuel Widney settled on the farm where he died, and John P. Widney on the farm owned afterward by Gardner Melendy, at Newville; Benjamin Alton, on the farm since owned by Dr. Herrington; Dr. Babcock, a little below, on the farm afterward occupied by Mr. Scoles; and Asher Coburn and relatives, in the Coburn settlement.
During the same season Wesley Park settled on the site of An- burn, and laid out the town. Settlers began to push through the woods into various parts of the county, and the latter was given a civil organization.
LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.
In the winter of 1836-'7 the act organizing De Kalb County was passed by the Legislature, and there seemed an active competition for the county seat between Messrs. Rogers and Hamilton, and Messrs. Park and Howe. The former parties bought land, laid out a town plat, staked off lots and gave their site the name of Centerville. The eligible site laid out by Park, in conjunction with Judge John Howe (of Lima, Lagrange County), on the west bank of Cedar Creek, two miles south and three miles west of the center of the new county, was a formidable competitor for public favor, and when Messrs. Littlefield, of Lagrange, Gilmore, of Steuben, and Robert Work, of Allen, were appointed Commissioners to locate a county seat, Anburn was duly selected. Centerville, like many another such site, was never built up, and it now makes good farm- ing land.
EARLY COMMISSIONERS' MEETINGS.
The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners of De Kalb County was held July 25, 1837, and the two members of that board were Peter Fair and Samuel Widney. At this meeting, which was in the house of Wesley Park, at Auburn, as also were the succeeding sessions for a number of years, the first step taken was to appoint Wesley Park their Clerk pro tem. The same man was appointed County Treasurer for a year; Byron Bunnel was named as County Agent; John Blair was given the office of Assessor; and Lanslot Ingman was made Collector of Taxes. The first legislative act was then passed, prescribing the boundaries of Franklin Township as follows: "Commencing at the northeast
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
corner of said county (De Kalb); thence west to the corners of ranges 13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north; then south six miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east; thence east on the town line to the east line of said county; thence north to the place of beginning; the above shall constitute the first township in De Kalb County." Provision was made for organizing this township by an election to be held the first Monday in August fol- lowing, and Peter Boyer was appointed Inspector of Elections, Isaac T. Aldrich, Constable, and John Holton, Supervisor.
The "second session but first regular" was held at the same place, Sept. 4, 1837. There was present a full board : Peter Fair, Samuel Widney and Isaac F. Beecher. John F. Coburn was Clerk, and Wesley Park, Sheriff. "Being detained by unavoidable cir- cumstances from transacting business," they adjourned until the following day. On reassembling according to appointment, Samuel Eakright was chosen Road Commissioner for the county ; after which an order was passed " that the congressional township 34 north, range 13 east, be organized as a township for judicial (civil) purposes, to be known by the name of Union Township, and that townships 34 and 35 north, range 12 east, and townships 33 and 35 north, range 13 east, be attached thereto." It was also " ordered that Wesley Park be appointed Supervisor for the road district No. 1, comprising the whole of Union Township, and all the lands lying within said township are allotted to said district."
Further, it was "ordered that the congressional township 34 north, range 14 east, be, and it is hereby, organized as a civil town- ship, to be known by the name of Wilmington Township." Byron Bunnel was appointed Supervisor.
And again, it was "ordered that the congressional township 33 north, range 12 east, be, and it is hereby, organized as a civil town- ship, to be known by the name of Butler Township." Andrew Surface was appointed Supervisor.
It was at this meeting that money was first appropriated for current expenses of the county. The first order drawn was for $50.84, in favor of Wesley Park, and was to pay for these items : $8.00 for services as Sheriff previons to the first session of the board, and as Clerk during that session; $16.69 for services as Commissioner in laying out the Fort Wayne and Coldwater State Road and $26.15 for services as Commissioner in laying out the Goshen and Defiance State Road." Wesley McCan was allowed $2.96 for services as axman in laying out road;
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Martin Van Fleet, $2.96 for acting as chainman at the same time; Lanslot Ingman, 31} cents for similar work ; William Park, 31} cents as chainman, and $4.75 for laying out the Goshen and Defiance State Road ; Seth W. Murray, $7.23 for services as Com- missioner in laying out the Fort Wayne and Coldwater State Road; and Joseph Miller, $26.21} for surveying both the above mentioned roads. Joseph Miller was appointed the first County Surveyor.
The only other business transacted at this first regular meeting was the allowance of the commissioners' per diem, an item which comes up as regularly as the board's meetings, several times each year. While the present system seems to cost quite a sum in the course of a year, it is nevertheless much less expensive than that in practice in Michigan, Illinois and other States, where, instead of three commissioners, there are from fifteen to twenty-five super- visors to draw mileage and pay.
The second regular session of the board was held in November, and, the governmental machinery of the county being now fairly set in motion, was pretty much like the sessions that have since been held at the appointed times for the transaction of routine busi- ness. At this second meeting Wesley Park was appointed School Commissioner for the county.
At the January session, 1838, Jackson Township was erected out of township 33 north, range 13 east, and John Watson was named as Inspector of Elections. An unique scale of licenses was adopted, fixing a " tavern license at $20; each license to vend wooden clocks, $60 ; each license to exhibit a caravan, menagerie or other collec - tion of animals, or show of wax figures, or circus, for each day, $40." The license of $60 for selling wooden clocks seems strangely large to us, who can go to any jewelry store and buy a clock for $1.50, as far superior in value as inferior in price to the sort dis- tributed by the shrewd Yankee peddler of a half a century ago.
During the latter part of 1837 De Kalb 'Township was organized, including the present township of Concord, and the fractional town- ships of Stafford and Newville. In March, 1838, the fractional township 34 north, range 15 east (now Stafford), was detached from De Kalb and annexed to Wilmington for civil purposes, and the name of De Kalb was changed to Concord, which application it has now borne for nearly forty-seven years.
In those days nearly all business men were obliged to pay licenses, of various amounts, in addition to their ordinary taxes.
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Grocers, even, were laid under contribution, for March 7, 1838, in the commissioners' record, an order was entered "that the tax assessed to Thomas J. Freeman for a license to vend foreign mer- chandise and foreign and domestic groceries for the current year be 85 cents, it appearing that the amount of his capital employed therein is $170."
Wesley Park resigning the office of School Commissioner, Robert Work was appointed his successor.
At the May session, 1838, the amount of bond for each constable in the county was fixed at $500. The sum of $2,000 was also appropriated from the three per cent. fund for roads, as follows: $800 for the Goshen and Defiance State Road; $800 for the Fort Wayne and Coldwater State Road; and $400 for the State road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph River. Several bridges were also ordered built. At the same session the commissioners fixed the poll tax for 1838 at 75 cents, and the property tax at $1.35 on each $100 valuation. Of this $1.35, 85 cents was for county revenue, and 50 cents for road purposes.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
On the following pages we give a collection of early incidents and anecdotes, and reminiscences of old settlers, obtained from various sources, but to a large extent extracted from a pamphlet published twenty-five years ago by Rev. S. W. Widney, entitled " Pioneer Sketches."
Many difficulties had to be encountered in getting into the country in an early day. If the emigrant came with wagons, he had to cut and make his own road. If he came by the river he some- times met with a shipwreck, an instance of which we will now relate:
Judge Widney was from Central Pennsylvania, and came by canal to the Allegheny Mountains; over the mountains by steam, ascending and descending those inclined planes; then again by canal to Dayton, Ohio; thence by wagons through (not over) that horrible, horrible black swamp to Fort Wayne. From thence he and his wife passed up the Indian trail on horseback along the St. Joseph River, while the family, in the care of John P. Widney and wife, embarked in the pirogne of Judge Walden and Thomas Gorrell, who were down for some provisions. The craft was " poled" safely (though the load was heavy) until they reached a ripple in the river, near David Butler's place, when the bow of the boat
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