USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 15
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Randolph street block, four on each side. The territory extends from the Baltimore & Ohio to Houston street on Randolph, and from Franklin to Cowen on King street. The three lamp posts are in the first square north of the railroad. The iron post is of the Cutter Commonwealth type. The com- pany maintains fifty-five fire hydrants, located at advantageous points in the city.
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS.
In Garrett there are three full miles of street paving. One mile of this is in brick, and the remaining two are constructed of asphalt. There are five miles of excellent sewerage laid under the main streets. The outlet of the city is into Cedar creek, which is the most accessible stream to Garrett, at a dis- tance of four miles, with a thirty foot fall. The gas for the city is supplied by the Indiana Light and Fuel Company of Fort Wayne. This corporation also supplies Auburn and Kendallville.
CITY HALL.
In October, 1912, Mayor Schulthess and the city council purchased two vacant lots at the corner of Randolph and Keyser streets, with a fifty foot frontage and a depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet, upon which it was proposed to erect a building costing twenty-five thousand dollars that would house the city clerk's office, an office for the mayor, council chamber, fire de- partment, jail, city scales and public lavatory. The lots were bought at public auction for forty-five hundred dollars.
In November, 1913, the handsome building nears completion. It is of Tudor style architecture and is very attractive. The structure is of brick. A private telephone system connects every office within the building, and the heat is supplied by the City Water and Light Company, who force the steam through pipes underground into the building. This is the first heating sys- tem of this type in the county. The total cost when completed will approach thirty-one thousand dollars.
LIBRARY.
The present library in the city of Garrett is of little consequence, con- taining less than a thousand books. However, a magnificent building is pro- posed, and will, in all probability be a realization within a few months. The plans have been drawn, and the work of organization is being hurried. An- drew Carnegie has expressed his willingness to subscribe ten thousand dollars
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toward the construction of the new library, if the citizens comply with their part of the contract.
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL.
For quite a time the erection of a hospital in Garrett was considered by the people of Garrett, particularly the members of the Catholic church. There was talk at one time of the removal of the railroad shops to Defiance, and consequently the building of an expensive hospital was delayed until definite knowledge was forthcoming. This procured, and to the effect that Garrett would retain the Baltimore and Ohio shops, plans were put on foot for the hospital. The Catholic church bought the ground in 1901 and the hospital was constructed in 1902, at a cost of sixty-two thousand dollars. The insti- tution is conducted under the management of the Franciscan Sisters. The equipment and furnishings of this hospital are modern and sanitary; the highest principles of hygiene have been observed in every detail of the work, and the record of the work done is truly one to be proud of. The hospital is managed by the Catholic church.
BUTLER TOWNSHIP.
Butler township lies in the extreme southwestern corner of DeKalb county. It was six miles square at the beginning, and was organized as a civil township on the 5th of September, 1837. In 1876, however, twelve sec- tions were taken from the northern side for the new township of Keyser, and the township was reduced to the dimensions of four miles by six. It is bounded on the north by Keyser township, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Perry township, Allen county, and on the west by Swan township, Noble county. Cedar creek, running across the northeast corner down through the center, and Black creek, running through the western part, supply water to the locality. The soil is very rich for agricultural purposes, although certain small localities are below the standard.
ORGANIZATION.
The first regular meeting of the county board of commissioners was held on September 4, 5 and 6, 1837, and was attended by a full board. The sec- ond day of the session it was "ordered that the congressional township 33 north, range 12 east, be and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be known by the name of Butler township." It was also resolved "that Andrew
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Surface be appointed supervisor for the road district No. I, comprising the whole of Butler township, and all the lands in said township shall be assigned to the same district." The first election was appointed to be held on the first Monday in April, 1838, at the home of Robert Work.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Among the early pioneers of Butler township were Peter Fair and his two sons, Abram and Charles; Charles F. C. Crouse, George DeLong, and Andrew, Jacob and John Surface. These settlers first came into the township in October, 1834, with a four-horse team and wagon. From Squire Caswell's they were obliged to hew their path; Caswell's place was in Allen county, be- yond Huntertown. Much of the way was too narrow to allow their four- horse team to pass. In the same year Lewis Holbrook, Lyman Holbrook. Joseph Stroup, Henry and Michael Miller emigrated into the township; and in the spring of 1836 came William Surface, John Gregg and James Bell. Sanford Bassett came in 1838, and John Noel, John C. Clark, John Embry and Henry Fair in '39. In 1841 George Ensley, of Auburn, moved into the township. The Moodys, Works and Hoffmans were also identified with the early growth of the township.
FIRST OFFICERS.
The first justice of the peace was William Day, and he was elected in April, 1838; George Ensley was the second man to hold this office, which was a very important one in those days. Prior to 1860 other justices were: Silas Hand, George Munroe, William McAnnally, Job C. Smith, G. R. Hoffman, O. C. Clark and E. S. Hanson. Early constables were Stephen Clark, Abram Brown, William Young, Peter Simons, Uriah Wigent, David Trussell, James Forbes, Jehu Bricker, James McAnnally, R. B. Showers, John Noel and Mar- tin Bigler. The trustees for the first years were: Jacob Shull, C. Probst, Henry Clark, I. N. Young, P. Simons, John Grube, J. V. Keran, George Munroe, George Ensley, Uriah Wigent, S. Hutchins, J. Clark, G. R. Hoffman, Daniel Hoffman, George Gordon and James Goetchius.
In 1913 Butler township is accounted a progressive and rich township and is well up in the scale with the other fourteen townships of DeKalb county. Discussion of the agricultural, religious, education and other phases of hr history is written in the respective chapters on those subjects.
(II)
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FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Fairfield township, owing to its location in the extreme northwestern corner of the county, was the last of the first townships to become settled. Fairfield is bounded on the north by Salem township, Steuben county; on the east by Smithfield township; on the south by Richland, and on the west by Wayne township, Noble county. Indian Lake, on section 29, and Story lake, on section 4, besides several small creeks, supply the water for the land, and act as drainage. The nearest communication with a railroad of this county is with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, along the southern border in Rich- land township. The surface of the township is somewhat broken, there being a great niany hills dotted over the surface. The beauty of the country was unnoticed by the early settlers, as the locality was the last in the line of emi- gration. Also, much of the land was purchased by speculators in an early day, and this fact served to retard the natural growth. A man by the name of Dedrick entered eleven hundred acres; a Pennsylvania bank held a tract; and other agencies held ground, all of which were sold through the aid of Wesley Park.
ORGANIZATION.
On the date of March 7, 1844, the board of commissioners of the county received a petition reading : "We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the unor- ganized township of DeKalb county, in consequence of the distance we have to go to elections and the inconvenience of having to go into another town- ship to do township business, do most humbly pray your Honorable Body that you would organize said township at your March session, and order an elec- tion for a justice of peace, and other officers for the said township; and your petitioners will ever pray." This was dated February 27, 1844, and signed by Rufus R. Lounsberry, George W. Story, A. Ball, Oran B. Story, Miles Allen, C. Allen, George Powell, Benjamin Hunt and Nathan W. Powell, who were all voters in the township.
This petition received a favorable reception, and the board of commis- sioners ordered that township 35 north, range 12 east, be organized for civil purposes as a separate township, to be known by the name of Fairfield; and the first election was ordered held on the first Monday in April, 1844, at the house of Rufus R. Lounsberry, to choose one justice of the peace. An elec- tion was held on the last Saturday in August for three trustees.
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The Story family, five in numbers, were the pioneer settlers of Fair- field township, and they settled along the northern border. There were Au- gustus, Frederick, Willard, George and Samuel Story.
Willard Childs, one of the prominent early settlers, started on foot from his home in Onondaga county, New York, and walked through to Fort Wayne, thence to Kendallville, where there were but two cabins, and taking a guide came into DeKalb county, March 4, 1837, the day Martin Van Buren was inaugurated President of the United States. He selected one hundred and twenty acres on section 27, paid for it, and then set to work at Fort Wayne to earn enough to take him home. When the land was entered the Storys were the sole occupants of the territory of Fairfield township. Mr. Childs returned in October, 1844, to pay taxes, and to review his purchase, to decide on making the place his home. Settlers had moved in, and in the southeast was David McNabb and family. Farther east was Wilbur Powell, and on the north adjoining was the cabin and clearing of George Powell, the first justice of the peace in the township afterward. In 1846 Childs moved in, and made his home temporarily with Benjamin Chaffee, who sold his place to Childs and made another settlement in the north part of the town- ship. He afterward became postmaster at Corunna. Rufus R. Lounsberry, of Wilmington, William and Isaac Wilsey, D. Rager, Hiram Thomas, Phillip Gushwa, John Shook, Henry and Leonard Hartman, and Miles Allen were also early settlers in Fairfield township.
After this came a lull in the settlement, which extended until 1850, at which time a new influx of settlers came, and building and clearing started with a rush. Log rolling and raising took up much of the time.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Prior to 1860 the justices of peace in Fairfield were: D. Rager, R. Worrell, Jesse Brumback, Job C. Smith, S. Greenamyer, George Powell and William Harper. The constables for the same period were: Samuel Story, J. Hatch, George Rowe, D. D. Powless, J. Gushwa, D. C. Shipe, W. Short, John Gonser and Daniel Gonser. Trustees in this early time were: R. Wor- rell, D. Rager, W. Childs, S. Miser, J. C. Smith, G. W. Smith, D. Gonser, D. N. Nidick, B. Hunt, John Long, E. Wright, J. Short, W. H. Wilsey, Moses Gonser, D. Kimbell, B. A. Chaffee, H. Thomas.
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NOTES.
Perhaps the first marriage performed within the limits of Fairfield town- ship was that of David Gonser and Miss Gushwa.
The census of 1880 gave Fairfield township a population of one thousand five hundred and fifty-eight people; in 1890, there were one thousand three hundred and sixty-one people ; in 1900, the same; and in 1910, one thousand one hundred and ninety-four.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
Franklin township is located in the northeastern portion of DeKalb county, in the northern tier. It is bounded on the north by Otsego town- ship, Steuben county; on the east by Troy township; on the south by Wil- mington township, and on the west by Smithfield township. It is watered and drained by the tributaries, headwaters, of Cedar creek and Fish creek, and along the northern border are two small lakes. There are no railroads in Franklin township, consequently no town of great size. Butler, on the Michi- gan Southern, just below the southern border, is the nearest trading point. The highways of this township, however, are excellent, and provide swift intercourse with distributing centers. The land is good and well suited for agriculture.
ORGANIZATION.
The first act of the first board of commissioners of DeKalb county, on July 25. 1837, was, after appointing necessary officers, to provide for the or- ganization of Franklin township, with the following boundaries: "Com- mencing at the northeast corner of said county (DeKalb), thence west to the corners of ranges 13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north, thence south six miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east, thence east on the town line to the east line of the said county, thence north to the place of beginning ; the above shall constitute the first township in DeKalb county."
The board, Peter Fair and Samuel Widney, then appointed "Peter Boyer for Inspector of Elections for township No. I in said county of DeKalb, and do order a writ of election for one justice of the peace for said township on the first Monday of August next (1837), and do also appoint Isaac T. Aldrich for Constable of said township, to serve until his successor is chosen and qualified, and do also appoint John Houlton for Supervisor of said town-
FIRST HOUSE BUILT IN DEKALB COUNTY
John Houlton's House, in Franklin Township, Built Sept. 4, 1833
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ship No. I, and district No. I, in said county of DeKalb." The limits thus provided made Franklin to include what is now Troy township, in addition to its present territory ; but some years afterward Troy was organized, leaving Franklin six miles square.
At the first election in August, 1837, Abram F. Beecher was chosen com- missioner, and Luther Buck as justice of the peace. At the next election, held at the house of George Firestone, on the first Monday in April, 1838, Judge Linsey was made justice of the peace. Irregularity in making the returns pre- vented the receipt of commissions, and it was not until the spring of 1839 that first legal election was held, at the house of M. L. Wheeler, he being chosen justice of the peace, and George Firestone, constable.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In point of settlement, the same as organization, Franklin township was the first. John Houlton, the first man in DeKalb county to build a home, constructed his rude log house on the bank of Fish creek, in the northeastern part of the township, in the year 1833. For quite a time he was the lone resi- dent in the forest, but after a period of two years he was joined by John Smith, who settled on section 4.
In 1836 many pioneers came in, among them being: Abner Smith of section 9, Abram Beecher on 4, Luther Keep on 8, Charles Crain, Willis O. Hyde, Peter Boyer, Jacob Myers, Michael Boyer and Mr. Deming and Cor- wright. George Firestone moved in in October, 1836, hauling his goods by ox-team, and settled on section 23, a part of which he cleared. While build- ing his cabin he lived at the cabin of Michael Boyer.
Supplies of wheat and corn were obtained by the pioneers from Jackson prairie. The wild meats of the forest were used extensively by the pioneer, his trusty rifle being the earner of much of his provender. The Pottawatomies were also ever anxious to trade meats for such trifles as the settlers could procure for them. The heavy timber of the land was speedily cleared away and the planting of corn, potatoes and buckwheat begun. In the spring of 1837 grists were taken to the Union mills in Lagrange, a distance of thirty miles, several days were required to make the journey, and it was fraught with many hardships. The first roads laid out in Franklin township were the Defiance and Lima state road and the Fort Wayne and Lima state road. forming a junction a half mile east of Hamilton.
Of those who came to the township in 1837 were: Daniel Kepler, Sam- uel Kepler, Arial Rood, Cranel Rood, Grant Bowers, M. L. Wheeler, John
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Matson, Elisha Waterman and John Farley. Later came Jason Hunnell, Daniel McEntarfer, William Letz, Levi Nelson, John and Edward Jackman, Preston Bowman, Cyrus Bowman and James Bowman.
John Houlton wrote the following concerning his entrance into Franklin township :
"When I first moved into Franklin my nearest neighbor was at Den- mark, ten miles off. My next neighbor on the west was on Jackson Prairie, twenty-two miles away. I had to buy my grain on the prairies, and take it to White Pigeon prairies to get it ground; and with the many mire holes I had to struggle through, and with the vast number of times I had to unload and pry up the wagon, and take a bag at a time on my shoulder through creeks and sloughis often breast deep in water, and frequently ice to break at that, it generally took me from two to four days to make the trip. Often while away from home, I had fears lest some blackleg might murder my wife and child, and little sister-in-law, ten years old, and rob the house. But they were never disturbed.
"I came in with the very best of constitution, but I am now very much broken, and afflicted with rheumatism, so that I have to get help to put on my clothes. Of the four of us robbed by the Indians, I suppose I am the only one alive. Avery died in Fort Wayne; Samuel Houlton died at the mill on Fish creek in May, 1839; Hughes left Wayne in 1839 for the West.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Early justices of the peace were: M. Wheeler, L. Buck, J. Kink, John McCurdy, George Beard, George Firestone, T. M. Mitchell. Early constables were: G. W. Jeffords, Miles Waterman, Cyrus Jackman, David Clark, John Shock, Abner Slentz, John R. Ball, George Firestone, William Oberlin; and the trustees prior to 1860 were: G. Beard, B. Smith, Jabez Hubbell, Miles Waterman, G. Shultz, H. Slentz, A. Baxter, J. T. Aldrich, J. Jackman, H. Smith, Joseph Boyer. A. Baxter and E. H. Taylor were early assessors.
In 1890, there were 1.246 people in the township; in 1900, 1, 171 ; and in 1910, 1,065.
JACKSON TOWNSIIIP.
Jackson township is in the southern tier of townships of DeKalb county, centrally located; bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by Concord and Spencer townships, on the south by Cedar Creek township, Allen county, and on the west by Butler and Keyser townships. Cedar creek
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crosses the northwestern portion of the township, two branches of Bear creek enter, or leave, the southeastern corner, and Duncan lake and tributaries is located in the southwestern corner. The land is now fairly well suited for agriculture, although at one time it was inferior to the other townships, there being too much swamp land, and a considerable amount of heavy, clayey soil, the latter being still present in large quantities. The land has been ditched and tiled, and has been developed greatly considering the early character. Three railroads-the Vandalia, Baltimore & Ohio, and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern meet in the northwestern corner, at Auburn Junction ; the Baltimore & Ohio traverses the entire northern quarter of the township.
ORGANIZATION.
On January 1, 1838, the board of commissioners of the county "ordered that township 33 north, range 13 east, be organized as a civil township to be known by the name of Jackson township, and that John Watson be appointed inspector of elections for said township." The first election was afterward appointed for the first Monday in April, 1838, at the house of John Watson.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in the township was William Miller, who moved in during the spring of 1836. He and his son, Joseph Miller, cut the first wagon track from the river settlements through to Cedar creek, below Auburn. The road crossed Jackson township from its east line, very nearly to the west one. Joseph Miller was afterward the first county surveyor. Another son, Thomas, was killed by the overturning of a wagon load of cross ties for the Eel river railroad. Another settler who became noted in the county was Thomas L. Yates, the eccentric judge, whom Wesley Park once threatened to put "up the ladder." He sold his land on the river, and settled three miles down the creek from Auburn, on the land which afterward belonged to Alonzo Lockwood. Others in that part of the township were: Leonard Boice, Adam P. Hartle, the Phillips family, and Benjamin Miller. In the southeast there were to be found; James Steward; Samuel Henderson, who came in fall of 1836; John and David Moody, John and William Watson, Srs., and their families ; Nathan Wyatt and his sons, then forming three families ; Jacob Maurer, once justice of the peace, and Willis Bishop. Northward of these on the east side of the township were : William Means, the first justice of the
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peace in Jackson township; Samuel Farney, Henry Dove, Abraham Johnson, Amariah Johnson, William R. Moore, William McClure, William Squiers, Henry Brown, Matthew George, William George, Samuel Geisinger and Nel- son Griffith. In the center of the township the first settlers were: Joseph Walters, Mr. Essig and William McNabb.
DEATH OF THE MEANS BROTHERS.
The untimely death of two young men-brothers-the sons of Esquire Means, was a distressing incident in the early settlement of the township. They were at work together in the clearing, and one of them came to the well at the house for a drink, and accidentally losing the bucket in the well, he went down to get it. There were damps in the well, and he fell senseless into the water. The women raised the alarm, and the other young man hastened to the well, and perhaps not understanding the matter, went down also, to rescue his brother, and fell senseless with him. Before either could be drawn out, life was entirely extinct.
HURRICANE OF 1841.
In the summer or fall of 1841, a dark cloud arose, seeming to threaten a heavy shower, but soon the rapid motion and wild confusion of the lowering clouds proclaimed the approach of a wind storm. It struck the forest and leveled the timber. William and Mathew George, Henry Brown, Nelson Griffith, and some other men were working on the road west of where Karper lived. Karper's cabin had been raised, but he had not yet moved in. The men, startled by the rumbling of the nearing storm, and seeing the air darkened with tree limbs and other debris, ran with all their speed to the home of Henry Brown, about eighty rods distant, where Brown's children and a daughter of William Munroe were, and rushing in, seized the children, and carried them into the open field. Immediately the storni was upon them. They grasped the wiry grass and held on to stumps to keep from being blown away. In the hurry of the moment, one child and the young woman had been left in the house, but fortunately, by some means, fell through the floor. The wind lifted the door from its hinges and threw it over them, and then the logs of the house came tumbling in upon them, until the house was leveled, and even the foundation logs turned over, yet the occupants were uninjured. The weight poles were blown a distance of forty rods. One of the knees from the roof of this cabin struck Leander Brown in the head, making a fear-
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ful gash. This wound affected the boy's eyesight in later life. The storm swept on over the township, rushing and swirling, and ripping everything to pieces which lay in its path. Fences were scattered, dwellings demolished in the clearing, and striking the forest, the giant trees wilted before the impact. Upon reaching the tract of land owned by William Draggoo, the ominous clouds lifted, and the work of destruction ceased. Articles of bed clothing front Brown's house were found at this point. The width of the path was half a mile and the length three miles.
Mrs. William George, after the fury of the storm, started to the home of Mr. Brown, but was so bewildered by the confusion of fallen timber, that she lost her way, and after exerting herself to the utmost, finally arrived at the home of George Moore, where she swooned from her excitement.
FIRST OFFICERS.
Prior to 1860, the justices of the peace were: William Means, John C. Hursh, A. D. Goetschius, Henry Brown and Jacob Mowrer. The constables were: William R. Moore, William McNabb, Benjamin Bailey, Frank Bailey, David Mathews, S. Geisinger, Thomas Wyatt, Willis Bishop, William Beatty, A. H. Flutter, John Carper, Burton Brown and John McClelland. Trustees were: Oliver Shroeder, Aaron Osborn, A. D. Goetschius, James Moore, Israel Shearer, Christian Sheets, Samuel Tarney, Joseph Walters, Isaac Fiandt, Peter Shafer, James Woolsey, David Henderson, Elias Zimmerman, Abraham Johnson and James McClelland. The assessors were John G. Dancer, Joseph Walters and Alexander Provines.
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