USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 14
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PUBLIC UTILITIES.
The Butler electric light and water works is a municipal establish- ment, with three hundred patrons in the city. The plant is worth sixty thou- sands dollars. They have one hundred and ten street lights, including twenty- four ornamental posts, with three lights each. Fire plugs to the number of forty-two are placed at advantageous points in the city.
There are three miles of sanitary sewerage in Butler, with the outlet in Big Run creek. Two miles of brick paving add greatly to the appearance of the city.
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THE BUTLER COMPANY.
The Butler Company, manufacturers of wind mills and buggies, is one of the largest concerns of its kind in the county, and in fact, in the state. The company was established in 1888, and has grown rapidly until the present time, and now has prospects of even greater scope of industry and trade. Be- sides a line of buggies, the factory turns out wind mills of all types, cypress tanks, galvanized tanks, pumps, valves, and other accessories. About three hundred men are supplied employment by this establishment. Trade is car- ried on with all parts of the world, quite a brisk business being formed in South Africa. Good railroad connections are afforded by the close proximity to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Wabash and Pennsylvania lines.
CONCORD TOWNSHIP.
In the southeastern portion of DeKalb county is the township of Con- cord. This township is bounded on the north by Wilmington township, on the east by Newville township, on the south by Spencer township, and on the west by Jackson township. The St. Joseph river flows in a meandering direc- tion from the northeast to the southwest, and Bear creek, entering in the northwest corner, flows toward the center. In the early day many good mills were situated along these rivers. A saw mill was constructed near the center of the township on Bear creek many years ago, and also one on the stream known as the "Twenty-six Mile creek." In land, the township is well favored. The river bottom lands are excellent for the production of grain, and at one time extra good timber covered portions of the township. This growth has been largely cleared off at this day. Spencer township has recently been made, on June 7, 1909, from a part of Concord, so that the latter is now the upper half only of the original bounds designated as Concord.
ORGANIZATION.
The first name given to the township was DeKalb, in the fall of 1837. It included at that time the territory embraced in Stafford and Newville town- ships, but in March following Stafford was detached and temporarily added to Wilmington, while the name Concord was substituted for DeKalb. An election was held on the first Monday of April following, at the home of Jared Ball, and Cornelius Woodcox was appointed inspector of elections. At this election Washington Robinson was chosen justice of the peace. New-
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ville was also made a separate township shortly afterward, leaving Concord, which was again divided in halves, making Spencer township of the southern half.
On April 9, 1838, Washington Robinson made the first report to the county that was rendered by any justice, as follows :
"State of Indiana, DeKalb County, Concord Township, March 30, 1838, Plaintiff.
"This day personally appeared before me, Washington Robinson, a jus- tice of the peace in and for the township aforesaid, Lyman Benton and Will- iam Rhodes ; being found guilty of an affray by the information of Thomas L. Yates, Judge of the Circuit Court, and confessed themselves guilty, and the cause being heard and inspected, it is therefore considered that the said Lyman Benton and William Rhodes stand convicted in the sum of one dollar fine for each one, making two dollars and fifty cents their cost.
"Given under my hand this 30th day of March, 1838.
"WASHINGTON ROBINSON, J. P."
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
In the year 1835 nine families out of the ten settled in the county of DeKalb were in the limits of Concord township. The St. Joseph of the Maumee at an early day was a main channel for all commercial traffic, and on the banks of this river were found the earliest settlements of the county. From 1835 to 1839 many settled along the river, namely: Homer Blake, David Butler, John Mathews, Thomas L. Yates, John T. Rhodes, Jerry Rhodes, Daniel Rhodes, Brandt Rood, Cramwell Rood, William Mathews, Mr. Lytle, Jared Ball and several others. In the spring of 1834 Washington Robinson entered a tract of land across the river from the present site of Orangeville, built a small cabin, and settled in January, 1837. In the month of November, 1837, he platted a portion of section 12, and named the tract Orangeville. In the spring of 1837 Platter and others opened the first store in the county. Other early settlers who came later and at this time were: Gavin Hamilton, Lott Herrick, who was the first probate judge of DeKalb county ; George Barney, once treasurer of the county ; James Hadsell, Cornel- ius Woodcox, R. J. Dawson, John Blair and sons, William Burley, Charles Wilbur, Joseph Ludwick, Judge Walden, Samuel Widney, John P. Widney, Rev. Benjamin Alton and Dr. Babcock. James Hadsell became one of the most important of the early pioneers, serving as minister of the Disciples
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church, where he accomplished much in the religious development of his com- munity.
Nelson Ulm, of the band of early settlers, moved here in 1834, and set- tled on the present site of Spencerville. His account of his early experiences tells of how he helped drive from Fort Wayne in the fall of 1834 the first hogs and cows ever brought to Spencerville, eight hogs and one cow for David Butler, and two cows for Dan Rhodes. Dan Yates, then living at Spencerville, was the first white settler there, for whom Mr. Ulm worked during the fall of 1834 and subsequent winter. During the same winter Mr. Yates sent Mr. Ulm to Fort Wayne to mill, a hazardous proceeding in that day. He took two bushels of corn on a hand sled, making the distance in two days, camping on the bank of the river, near where the Feeder dam later was located, drawing the sled on the ice, the river being the only highway at that time.
In the fall of 1835 he had a big tramp after Yates' and Rhodes' horses, which were allowed to roam the woods in search of something to eat. The horses failing to put in an appearance at the usual time, he started to bring them in, striking their trail on Bear Creek, followed them up the river where Newville later stood, crossed the river, left the trail and returned to Daniel Rhodes', where he stayed all night. Early the following morning he struck the trail and followed the same all day without any success, camping that night near the Maumee river. Awakening in the night he found that the horses in their wanderings came up to where he was then camping. He got up, bridled two of the horses and hitched them to some saplings and then retired. The next morning he started home, leading one horse, carrying gun and knap- sack, and striking the St. Joseph river near where Hurch's mills later stood. In consequence of riding bareback, with heavy load, and it raining all the time, the horse's back became sore and in time all the hair came off.
Starting for Houlton's mill on Fish creek in the fall of 1834, after a raft of lumber, Mr. Ulm arrived at the mill, and with the assistance of Mr. Houlton succeeded in getting back without accident. Stopping near the mouth of Buck creek he found the skeletons of two deer, their horns so interlocked that it was impossible to separate them. He supposed that they had been fighting and had become so entangled that separation was impossible, and had so died. From this incident, Mr. Ulm gave the creek the name of Buck creek, and the name still exists.
Following is a list of the early pioneers of Concord township: 1833, Samuel Wasson and David Butler; 1834, Nelson Ulm, Mrs. Polly Rhodes, Jeremiah Rhodes and wife; 1835, Samuel Draggoo, Cynthia Engle, William
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Knight, Aseneth Ricketts, Henry Robertson; 1836, Samuel Henderson and wife and son William and other children, Jane Lawhead, Charles W. Widney, Mrs. Nancy Wyatt, John Widney, Mrs. Nancy Widney, Elvira Ulm, James H. Abel, Abigail L. Abel, Electa Abel, Mary Hadsell; 1837, Abraham John- son, Charles Widney, G. W. Woodcox, Solomon Woodcox, Erastus White, Jacob B. White, Ira Picketts, Hugh Wyatt, Jonathan Boyle, Henry J. Abel, Mrs. Samuel Wasson; 1838, H. H. Fales and wife, George Barney, Mrs. Sophia Moody, Milas Rhodes, E. D. White, Susan White, J. M. Lounsberry, Martha Lawhead, Charles M. Coburn; 1839, Isaac Lawhead, James M. Hamilton, S. L. Widney, Nancy Culbertson, Samuel Lawhead; 1840, Eva Lounsberry, Elizabeth Wineland, Hugh Maxwell, Mary Maxwell, Sarah A. Hull, Maria C. Williams, Harlow Gee, Harmon Gee; 1841, O. H. Widney, William Drag- goo, Amand Meese, Rebecca Smith, George Maxwell, Betsey A. Leighty, John Wyatt, S. E. Parsons; 1842, Daniel Butler, David Butler, Mary A. Widney, Jane Jenkins, Mrs. Erastus White, Elizabeth Widney, Jacob Dermott, Moses Perry ; 1843, Jack Moody, Jonas Emanuel, Benjamin Hursh, Mrs. M. Widney, Robert Culbertson, J. M. Milliman, Mary Milliman ; 1844, Margaret Stewart, John Leighty and wife, Sol. Barney, Henry Jenkins, William Leighty, J. D. Leighty, Levi Sechler, Mary Sechler, Lizzie Chaney; 1845, Catherine Silberg, Robert Johnson, Sep. Hull, John W. Dills, George W. Draggoo, Mary Ann Koch, Adeline Showalter, Catherine Jenkins.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Some of the first justices of the peace were: John Blair, Ebenezer Co- burn, George Barney, Jeremiah Rhodes, John Bates, Asher Coburn, James Draggoo, Moses Perry, Lorenzo Dawson and Robert Culbertson. Among the early constables were: Gardner Mellindy, W. Munroe, Uriah Miller, Henry Fales, Eben Smith, D. Harrington, James Smith, J. Z. Henderson, Samuel Flint, Moses Boyles, John Smith, D. Andrews, Michael Knight, W. R. Drake. Among the first trustees were: Samuel Widney, John Blair, Ebenezer Coburn, Asher Coburn, J. P. Widney, William Henderson, Solo- mon Shilling, Joshua Nichols, James Hadsell, Asa Fletcher, John F. Coburn, William Munroe, Michael Silberg, John Helmick, Moses Perry, Jonathan Boyles, Bushrod Catlin, Romeo Catlin, W. Horner, James Draggoo, John Shutt and Jacob Dills. Jeremiah Rhodes and John A. Chillis were early as- sessors.
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NOTES.
In 1880 Concord township had a population of one thousand six hundred and twenty-three; in 1890, one thousand nine hundred and twelve; in 1900, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one; and in 1910, nine hundred and fifty-seven.
TOWN OF ST. JOE.
Located on the Baltimore & Ohio and Wabash railroads, the little town of St. Joe is enjoying an ever increasing prosperity. There are three hundred and fifty people in this town, and proportionately, the town is equal to any in the middle west in beauty, civic pride, and commercial prosperity. St. Joe was laid out by John and Jacob D. Leighty, on April 20, 187'5, being a part of the southwest quarter of section 15, township 33 north, range 142. Since then several additions have been made to the site.
In December, 1898, St. Joe petitioned for incorporation as a town, and on January II, 1899, the election was held to determine the matter of in- corporation. The result was incorporation, and since, then, by reason of this wise move, the town has sprung into modern existence, and threatens to grow even larger and better. The present trustees of the town are: William Curie, Henry Hathaway, and William Randall; Thomas Rickett is marshal and street commissioner; Dr. B. E. Sheffer is clerk, and Marsh Andrews is treasurer.
KEYSER TOWNSHIP.
Keyser township is bounded on the north by Richland township, on the east by Union and Jackson, on the south by Butler, and on the west by Allen and Swan townships, Noble county. The township is drained by several small creeks, tributary to Cedar creek. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad, the Vandalia, and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern cross the territory.
ORGANIZATION.
Keyser owes its organization to the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, which led up to the founding of the town of Garrett on the line between Richland and Butler townships. To avoid having the new town in two townships, the board of commissioners formed a new township at their June term, 1876, when it was "ordered, directed and decreed by the board that the territory bounded by a line commencing at the northeast cor-
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ner of section 25, township 34 north, range 12 east, and running from thence west on the north line of sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, to the west line of said township of Richland; thence south to the west line of said township 33 north, range 12 east, to the southwest corner of section 7 in Butler township; thence east on the south line of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, to the east line of said township; thence north along the east line of said township to the place of beginning, shall be known by the name and style of Keyser township."
THE CITY OF GARRETT.
By J. R. Skilling.
The town of Garrett was laid out by Beverly L. Randolph, son of James L. Randolph, chief engineer for the Baltimore & Ohio. The original plat of Garrett was recorded at Auburn on April 9, 1875, and named Garrett in honor of John W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The first lot was sold on the 13th day of April, 1875, to Nathan Tarney, which was lot No. I in Block No. 18, although previous to this date O. C. Clark had contracted for lots on the southwest corner of King and Randolph streets, where Reyher's dry goods store and Hershberger's grocery stores are sit- uated. O. C. Clark built the first house in Garrett in April, 1875, now owned and occupied by the Reyher drug store. The building was first occupied in 1875 by the Lancaster brothers as a dry goods store. The first postoffice was also in this building, on the second floor, and A. W. Pratt was the first post- master. He appointed T. G. Baylor assistant to hand out the mail, as he was engaged in engineering the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio shops.
FIRST STRUCTURES.
O. C. Clark resided two miles west of Garrett, on a farm, and he was one of the first settlers of the county. H. M. Bicknell came over from Ken- dallville on April 23, 1875, and erected a one-story frame building which he used as a drug store. This was called the Pioneer Drug Store. John L. Davis, of Auburn, F. C. Davenport, Eli Kuhlman, John Robbins, P. K. David and brother were other merchants of 1875, and they prospered in the rapidly growing community. In 1875 T. A. Smith opened up a bakery, known as the Star bakery; N. B. Rowe also opened a few stores, one a bakery; Mr. Mc- Williams, from Virginia, built some frame buildings; Samuel Lemon con- structed a two-story frame; Washington Cowen had his office in the latter building, on the corner now occupied by Widmer's block, and Dr. L. M. Sher-
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, GARRETT
GARRETTIND
WATER WORKS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT ..
GARRETT'S UP-TO-DATE PUBLIC UTILITY PLANT
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man acted as his clerk. Sherman was the first physician to locate in the town. Isaiah Decker established the first livery and feed stable in the autumn of 1875 on the southwest corner of Peters and Keyser streets, one square north of the Catholic church. The three-story brick store on the west side of Randolph street opposite the Keyser hotel was built in 1875 by John King, at that time first vice-president of the Baltimore & Ohio, and William Key- ser, second vice-president, also built a brick store on the south side of Keyser street, east of the hotel.
The DeKalb House, now the Keyser hotel, a three-story brick structure with twenty-six bedrooms, was built in the autumn of 1875, by the Baltimore Land and Improvement Company. John W. Garvey, a Chicago contractor who constructed the Baltimore & Ohio shops, also constructed this hotel, which was at once fitted up in the best of style and was opened to the public January 1, 1876, by N. & G. Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio, with Christ Connecht in charge and Thomas Taggart as clerk.
On July 4th, 1876, the Baltimore & Ohio depot was opened to the traveling public. The dining and lunch room was opened by N. & G. Ohmer, with Thomas Taggart in charge. Taggart, noted for his gentlemanly and accommodating deportnient to all, continued dealing out the doughnuts, pies and coffee to the railroad boys until 1879, when he bid Garrett farewell. He was afterward county auditor of Marion county, Indiana, mayor of Indian- apolis, and Democratic national committeeman for Indiana.
W. J. Frederick, in 1875, built a two-story dwelling, which was destroyed by fire and replaced with another similar structure. Charles Linkenhelt also bought a small piece of land and erected a one-story building thereon. W. S. Perry, John Paul, P. Behler were other early builders. George Cady built a two-story frame building where the postoffice now is, and in this building the first newspaper of Garrett, "The Garrett News," was printed. Gus Thienel opened one of the first saloons in Garrett. There was a jolly set of railroad boys here then. They were ready for fun, and would get it if they had to get it on credit. So Thienel's conservatory was selected as headquarters for all their "Free and Easys." Thienel bought his beer at Kendallville and the boys would go there and fill up their tanks and then march down street with pieces of paper to represent music, and sing. The early pioneers will remember that Thienel was frequently compelled to have a new front in his Exhibition Hall the next morning after pay day. Tonnesen's furniture store now occupies the site of this memorable resort.
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EARLY PIONEERS.
We will proceed to mention a few of the early pioneers of our city. Lewis Covell was the first attorney. He came from Kendallville in the sum- mer of 1875 and brought some dry goods and clothing which he first placed in Bicknell's pioneer drug store till he had a building ready on Cowen street. Mr. M. Zimmer and family, Peter Loth and family, C. S. Eyer were among the first residents.
GARRETT BABIES.
In the spring of 1875 the land company neglected no means of stimulat- ing the growth of the place and commenced offering prizes for babies born in the town. Quite a furore was created and about the first of September, 1875, the first claimant appeared. A public demonstration was immediately an- nounced. Special trains were run to accommodate visitors from neighboring towns. John K. Cowen, son of Washington Cowen, who was chief attorney for the Baltimore & Ohio, was here from Baltimore as one of the speakers. A social and jolly dance at the Chicago House in which all participated and enjoyed themselves kept up the excitement until after midnight. The young claimant was presented with a beautiful silver mug with the name "Indiana Garrett Quigley" inscribed thereon. Mr. Quigley, a switchman here in the service of the Baltimore & Ohio, was the happy father of the child.
The land company never offered any mor prizes for such enterprises, but the rage for babies continued to increase and even doubled up, as the record of Garrett for the first fifteen years will show more twin babies in that length of time than any other town of the same population in the country.
OTHER PIONEERS.
N. Kovniske was the first merchant tailor in town. A. H. Philips and his brother came here in 1876 and opened a grocery store. M. McNamara was one of the 1875 pioneers. He owned a hardware store on Cowen street. James Atwater built a two-story frame building in 1875 on the lot which is now occupied by the south half of Wagner's opera house. J. W. Wagner ar- rived in Garrett in 1875 from Mansfield, Ohio, and purchased lots in the east side of Cowen street north of Dr. Thompson's residence. He built a two- story frame here, and ran a saloon. H. Levi was one of the first butchers in Garrett. H. H. G. Upmeyer came to Garrett in 1875 with a small stock of boots and shoes. Gus Upmeyer conducted a dry goods store in '76 and '77.
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There were two lumber yards established here in 1875, one by W. G. Pierce from Michigan, and the other by J. P. Spencer. Thomas Hartford was one of the first settlers in Garrett, coming with his wife and fifteen children, from Elkhart.
INCORPORATION.
As soon as the sale of lots was commenced, in April, 1875, there was a rush made here by the enthusiastic people, all over-zealous with the future prosperity of the new town. The rail farm fences were torn down and scat- tered, and in some places trees were cut down to make way for the new frame buildings which were hastily and rudely constructed on wood posts and blocks for foundations.
Excitement was so great that a general cry soon went up calling for in- corporation. This move was so generally approved that Jackson H. Thomp- son, a deputy constable, was appointed to take the census of the proposed town. To arrive at this result required three days. The result was a popula- tion numbering two hundred and fifty-seven. Immediately after this, a peti- tion for incorporation was presented to the county commissioner, which was granted.
As per announcement in notice, at 9 o'clock on December 18, 1875, a number of citizens collected in the front room of the News building, and or- ganized a board of inspectors. The election was held and resulted in favor of incorporation. Accordingly the town was divided into three wards, and the result of the election presented to the board of county commissioners and they ordered another election to be held on the 8th day of January, 1876, for the purpose of electing officers for the town. The election was held and the fol- lowing were the town officers chosen: Hiram M. Hogue, Charles Linkenhelt, William A. Pratt, councilmen ; Thomas Maloney, clerk ; A. H. Putt, assessor ; Joseph Hyman, treasurer. The first meeting of the town board was held in Dr. C. E. Pratt's office, on the corner of Keyser and Cowen streets. At this meeting J. R. Skilling was named as the first marshal of the town of Garrett.
Garrett was managed as a town until April, 1893, when it was incorpor- ated as a city by a vote of the people. The last meeting of the town board convened on the evening of May 18, 1893, and the first mayor, Charles W. Camp, assumed office. The city was redistricted, which made a change in the wards from the original districting of December 18, 1875, as follows: The first ward was changed to imply all the territory within the city lying north of the center of King street ; the second ward all that territory within the city
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lying between the center of King and Houston streets; the third ward all that territory within the city limits lying south of the center of Houston street.
GARRETT IN 1913.
Garrett at present has a population close to five thousand people, being the largest city in DeKalb county. Upon entering the smoky interior of this city one conceives the impression that he is entering a larger city than Gar- rett really is. The large population is spread over a wide extent of territory, and the bustle and rush of the people give the composite air to the place. Garrett is progressive, modern and "alive," always looking for something new, the acquiring of which benefit the city and add to the welfare of the people.
As a city Garrett was incorporated in 1893 and Charles W. Camp was the first mayor. He continued in office until 1902, when E. B. Thumma took the responsibility. In 1910 the third mayor entered his term : this was W. J. Frederick. M. J. Driscoll served as mayor pro tem when Frederick gave up the office, and in 1910 George Schulthess was chosen. His term expires December 31, 1913, and the mayor then to take office is J. A. Clevenger. The present city officers are: George Schulthess, mayor; W. W. Mountz, clerk and collector; A. J. Little, treasurer ; E. M. McKennan, attorney ; Phil Holman, engineer; W. A. Duerk, marshal; A. W. Beehler, fire chief; J. A. Moore, secretary board of health ; G. C. Scott, superintendent water and light plant. The council is composed of C. C. Lindoerfer, M. J. Driscoll, Leslie Stoner, Isaac Whirledge and Will Franks.
CITY WATER AND LIGHT COMPANY.
This important public utility is owned and controlled exclusively by the city of Garrett, and gives fair and impartial service to the many patrons of the system. It was established in the year 1896 and cost, when completed, seventy-five thousand dollars. There are nine miles of water mains in the city, and the water is supplied from a system of eight-inch wells which were driven down into a strata of gravel at a depth of from two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet. The water passes the strictest chemical examination. There are forty street lights in Garrett, and fifty ornamental posts with cluster lights. The boulevard lighting system was installed in the latter part of 1912, and adds a distinct beauty to the streets. There are forty-four five-light posts and six three-light posts. Eight of the posts are placed within each
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