USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 26
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but the gain to summer schools, and the encouragement offered to become pro- fessional teachers doubtless largely compensated, by continuous and intelli- gent work for the year, for the apparent loss. Hiring for the year did away with discrimination in wages, left the field largely to young women and equalized the importance and compensation of the two periods of the year.
"I have faith and vigilance in the courage of Indiana teachers. As her volunteer soldiers reckoned not of limb or life in the fight for national in- tegrity, so her great army of teachers will not prove recreant to the cause of education, and the schools of DeKalb will continue under her teachers to improve and progress in the line with the foremost and the best."
EDUCATION IN GARRETT.
(By J. R. Skilling.)
In the spring of 1876 the town board appointed the first school trustees for the town of Garrett as follows: Dr. S. M. Sherman, Dr. A. S. Parker and N. W. Lancaster. As soon as these gentlemen were qualified and or- ganized they at once commenced preparing for the construction of a school house. Two architects at Toledo, Ohio, were employed to draw plans and specifications for the proposed building. These were promptly executed and furnished for a building to cost sixteen thousand dollars.
Objections were raised by the town trustees and many of the citizens, who protested against involving the young town with such an enormous and unnecessary bonded debt, claiming that a six thousand dollar school house would be sufficient. Public meetings were called, and many objections ex- pressed against this move, as this was in the time of the panic of 1873, and the tidal wave of the boom of the new town was about to recede to low ebb, as many of the citizens were in debt for their homes. So, after much parley- ing and contention, the school trustees let the contract to build the school as per plans and specifications to J. W. Harvey, a Chicago contractor who had just finished the Baltimore & Ohio shops. The construction of the school house was commenced in the latter part of 1876, and, it being in a heavy wood, the first work was to cut down the large oak trees.
During the time of the construction of the new building there were two schools opened. The first was a select school, which was opened about the first of September, 1876, in the new Catholic church, with Josephine Bisset as teacher. Mr. Frank Moody was trustee of Butler township and he had furnished new seats and desks for a district school, so he turned the old seats and desks over to Garrett school trustees. They put them in the News
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printing office building on the corner north of the Baptist church. About the time that the district schools were opening in the fall of 1876 for the winter term, there was a school opened in this building with Mrs. A. S. Parker as teacher. Work was rushed on the new building so that the first public school was opened in January, 1877, to fill out the unexpired term of that year. There were one hundred and twenty pupils enrolled in September, 1876. In September, 1880, there were two hundred and twenty-eight pupils enrolled, and in 1882 two hundred and fifty-four.
The first graduating class of the Garrett public school was composed of Charles Sembower, William Ward, Lulu Milbourne and Maud Tarney. The graduating exercises were held at the Methodist Episcopal church on Friday evening, May 27, 1885.
Since 1885 Garrett has taken the lead in this county in the progress and development of education. There was a new school house built on the north side in 1900 at a cost of five thousand dollars, and in 1906 our promoters of education and public improvements had a magnificent and modern high school building constructed at a cost of twenty thousand dollars.
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SCHOOL STATISTICS.
At present there is a total enrollment of two thousand and twenty- seven pupils in the schools of DeKalb county. There are one hundred and three school houses in the county. The average daily attendance for the last year has been one thousand two hundred and seventeen. There has been a total of one hundred and forty-three thousand three hundred eighty-nine dollars and sixty-four cents spent in the last year for the support of the schools.
TEACHERS AND OFFICERS.
The following list comprises all of the teachers and officers of DeKalb county in 1912 and 1913: County superintendent, Dr. Lida Leasure, of Auburn ; township trustees, Butler, G. W. Burtzner; Concord, Samuel Mu- maw; Fairfield, Clark Hemstreet; Franklin, Oliver Oberlin; Grant, Harry Reed ; Jackson, S. H. Nugen ; Keyser, S. H. Downend; Newville, John White- hurst; Richland, George Shaffer; Smithfield, J. W. Mortorff; Stafford, C. W. Webster; Spencer, W. G. Erick; Troy, Daniel Burkhart; Union, Frank Pyles ; Wilmington, F. W. Nimmons ; truant officer, Ed. Van Fleit, of Garrett.
The city and town school boards are as follows: Auburn, M. Boland,
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president ; J. A. McIntyre, secretary ; Fred Knott, treasurer. Butler, Sam G. Stone, president ; George W. Geddes, L. C. Bewhrer. Garrett, J. F. Thomp- son, D. B. Van Fleit, Warren McNabb; Altona, F. L. Rodenbaugh, G. W. Fretz, Theo. Houser; Ashley, I. N. Cox, Daniel Rhinesmith, A. W. Gonser ; Corunna, O. C. Smith, Eugene Treesh, W. A. Kennedy; Waterloo, D. L. Leas, J. E. Showalter, Harry Beidler.
The city and town teachers are as follows: Auburn, J. A. Langston, superintendent ; high school, P. W. Kiser, C. E. York, Mary E. Mulvey, Maud S. Armstrong, Lulu M. Bateman, Blanche E. O'Brien, Agnes U. Jeffrey ; Harrison building, Clarence Wyant, principal, Myrtle Clark, Roy C. Nugen, Pearl Mason, Myrtle Hornberger, Belle Cooper, Nellie Wilderson, Bonnie Seiler, Bertha Maegerlein; DeSota building, I. M. Cosper, principal, Martha Rupley, Grace Hines, Gertrude Renner; Riley building, Lydia Teet- ers, principal, Della Maginnis, Sadie Houston, Josephine Bryant. In Gar- rett F. M. Merica is superintendent ; James H. Green is principal of the high school, and the teachers are Geraldine Sembower, Maude Camp, Vera Van Auken, Bessie Berry ; South Side building, Will Franks, O. V. Franks, Gladys Halter, Benjamin Miller, Lottie Miles, Marie Warren, Martha Dick, Pauline McFann, Georgia Sembower, Jessie Brown, Beatrice Bowers, Pauline Kings- bury and Ada Chew; North Side building, John Reinoehl and Maybelle Sny- der. In Butler H. E. Coe is superintendent; Geneva Kimmel is principal of the high school, and the teachers are Carrie B. Lipe, B. L. Baily, Hazel Har- rison and Ethel Weick; other teachers in grades are Nellie Cary, Coral Scho- ville, Muriel Baker, Myra Scott, Grace Maginnis, P. D. Hamman, B. L. Bailey. A. L. Moudy is superintendent at Waterloo, G. E. Roop is principal. Teachers are Edith Masters, Mary Chapman, Blanch Betz, Etta Wittmer, Cora Stanley, Scott H. Rhoads, Bess Showalter, Anna Snader. Ashley has A. N. Faulkerson as superintendent, and Marie Thrush as principal. The teachers are as follows: Alma Husselman, Dora Baird, Charles Parsell, Clara DeCamp. In Spencerville, J. F. Slaybaugh is superintendent, Sylvia Yager is principal. Teachers are Zona Horn, Melvin Howey and Jennie Steward. St. Joe is represented by L. A. Thatcher, superintendent, Frank Baltz, Roy Maxwell and Ethel Leighty. M. T. Markley and Cordice Hal- lett are teachers at Corunna. Robert Ulm and Myrtle Griffin serve at Altona.
The following are the district teachers, preceded by the number of their school : Butler, one, Anna Bevier; two, Lulu Heitz; three, Lovina Pfaff ; five, Carl Shull; six, Claude Miller. Concord, two, Glen Freeborn; four, Ida Widney; five, Ralph Sechler; seven, Mary Scholes. Fairfield, three, Grace
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Widdicombe; four Louise Kuckuck; six, Lena Stomm; seven, William Mc- Intyre; nine, Isaiah Wert; ten, Grace Seery. Franklin, one, L. C. Wyncoop; two, Letha Enzor; three, Orla Fee; four, Elva Albright; five, Grace Water- man; six, Lena Cameron ; seven, Blanche Smith; eight, Grace Whetsel; nine, Blanche Whetsel. Grant, one, Mae McIntosh; four, Ethelyn Rowe; five, J. A. Husselman; six, Ethel Hallett. Jackson, one, Florence Berry; two, Ida Reed; three, A. C. Maurer ; four, John Nugen; five, Elsie Farver; six, Jesse Provines; eight, Mabel Lochner; nine, Nellie Berry. Keyser, one, Naomi Brady; two, Jennie Lasch; three, Jay Olinger; four, Grace Zerkle; five, Cora Miller ; six, Ruth Smurr ; seven, Bess Kinsey ; eight, Lulu Kinsey. Newville, five, Ray Davis; seven, Clyde Hart, Merritt Maxwell, Grace Kain. Rich- land, F. M. Wiltrout; three, Alma Leins; five, Carl Becker; seven, Alida Walter; eight, Perry Foote; nine, Mabel Brecbill. Smithville, Ward Par- sell; one, Clyde Betz; four, Ada Bair: five, Austin Benjamin; six, Helen Shull; seven, Harriett Seery; eight, Gladys Kain; nine, Edna Bickel; ten, Perth Crays. Spencer. Clara Shull. Stafford, one, Hilda Whitman; two, Clara Apt : five, Ross Abel. Troy, one, Bernice Clark; two, Hazel Gunsen- houser ; three, Leeta Eddy; five, Garnet Brink. Union, five, Zora Martin; six, George Wilson; seven, Lida Pfaff. Wilmington, two, Pearl Brink; three, Sura Shumaker; four, Grace Murch; five, George Beams; six, Maude Kennedy ; seven, Walter Carper ; eight, Winnie Smurr; nine, C. O. Krise.
CHAPTER XIV.
AGRICULTURE.
Upon the agriculture of a county are based the prosperity and welfare of the people. Other sources of revenue, such as railroads, manufactures, public institutions or mines, are valuable, but not so greatly as the yield of the native soil. It was the search for productive soil that brought the first settlers to DeKalb county, and led them to banish the native Indian to the westward. History does not grow fluent with the description of the early crops; methods were primitive and implements crude, and the sowing and harvesting had not reached the scientific point that they now occupy. The hoe, hand rake, scythe and small sickle were the tools, and sheer force of labor was responsible for a good crop, if such were had. The task of clear- ing the land precluded any attempt at systematic farming during the early days, but the stanchness and courage of the first tillers made possible the versatile farmer of today, who understands crop rotation and farm science as an engineer knows his machine.
On the average, the soil of DeKalb county is the equal of any of the Northwest, being very fertile and tillable. John Houlton is remembered as the first pioneer, and as he planted potatoes in 1834, he might be said to have been the first farmer. The early forests dropped their leaves in the autumn, and these, decaying, left a heavy loam upon the ground that has provided this excellent soil for the farmer of today. The pioneer found this extreme fertility when he was enabled, from a small bit of land, to raise sufficient grain to keep his home well stocked. It is related in another portion of this book how an early settler planted five bushels of potatoes, and in the fall of the year dug eighty-six bushels from the earth. The grain which the pioneer could not use was transported by wagon and ox-team to Fort Wayne, Toledo and Hillsdale, and we already have a few accounts of the hardships under- gone upon a journey of that kind.
FARM LANDS.
It is interesting to note the statistics in relation to the present DeKalb county. First, it might be well to say that the population of the county is
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twenty-five thousand and fifty-four people, according to the last census. The number of farms in the county is two thousand five hundred and eighteen, sixty less than there were ten years ago. Of native white farmers there are twenty-four hundred and twenty-nine, and of foreign born white, eighty-nine.
There are four farms in the county of an area under three acres; from three to nine acres, there are one hundred and ten; of ten to nineteen, eighty-eight; of twenty to forty-nine, four hundred and twelve; of fifty to ninety-nine, one thousand and twenty-eight ; of one hundred to one hundred . seventy-four acres, seven hundred and thirty-five; of one hundred seventy- five to two hundred fifty-nine, there are ninety-nine; of two hundred and sixty to four ninety-nine, there are forty-two farms.
The approximate land area of DeKalb county is two hundred and thirty- six thousand eight hundred acres. Of this amount, there are two hundred and twenty-one thousand nine hundred and three acres in farm lands. The improved land in farms amounts to one hundred and seventy-eight thousand six hundred and forty-nine acres, an increase of over ten thousand acres in the last ten years. Woodland in farms totals thirty-five thousand five hun- dred and eighty-four acres; and all unimproved land in farms is seven thou- sand six hundred and seventy acres in farms. Thus the per cent. of land area in farms is ninety-three and seven-tenths; of farm land improved, eighty and five-tenths; average acres per farm, eighty-eight and one-tenth; average improved acres per farm, seventy and nine-tenths.
VALUE OF FARM LANDS.
The value of all farm property in DeKalb county, irrespective of kind and quality, is nineteen million seven hundred twenty-two thousand five hun- dred and eighty-five dollars, being an increase of over eight million during the last ten years, a per cent. of increase of seventy-six and nine-tenths. The value of the lands is twelve million six hundred and thirty thousand four hundred and sixty-eight dollars ; of buildings, four million three hundred and forty-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-one; implements and ma- chinery, seven hundred and four thousand five hundred and sixty-one dol- lars ; domestic animals, poultry and bees, two million thirty-seven thousand eight hundred and eighty dollars.
The per cent. of value of all property is: In land, sixty-four per cent. ; in buildings, twenty-one and one-tenth; in implements and machinery, three and six-tenths ; in domestic animals, etc., ten and three-tenths.
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The average value of the land per farm is seven thousand eight hundred and thirty-three dollars; the average value of the land per acre is fifty-six dollars and ninety-two cents.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
There are twenty-four hundred and seventy-nine farms reporting do- mestic animals. In DeKalb county there are sixteen thousand two hundred and fifty-six head of cattle, the value being four hundred and sixty-seven thousand seven hundred and forty-nine dollars. There are eighty-five hun- dred and ten horses, representing a value of one million ten thousand three hundred and ninety-eight. There are one hundred and fourteen mules, value fifteen thousand nine hundred and twenty-five dollars. There are thirty-six thousand three hundred and thirty-five head of swine, with a value of two hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and sixty-five dollars. There are forty-two thousand sixty-three sheep, valued at one hundred and eighty-six thousand eight hundred twenty-three dollars. Of goats, there are thirty-one, valued at sixty-three dollars. There are one hundred and eighty-nine thou- sand nine hundred and ten pieces of poultry, worth one hundred and four thousand one hundred and four dollars. There are eight hundred and nine- teen bees in the county, valued at two thousand one hundred and fifty-three dollars.
PRINCIPAL CROPS.
The principal crop in DeKalb county is corn. There are thirty-three thousand four hundred and ninety-six acres devoted to this grain, and the yield is one million two hundred and forty-five thousand five hundred and ninety-two bushels. Twenty-five thousand five hundred and one acres are devoted to oats, which area yields nine hundred and sixty-six thousand one hundred and thirteen bushels. Twenty-one thousand four hundred and ninety- eight acres are sown in wheat, producing three hundred and ninety-one thou- sand and eighty-four bushels. There are eight hundred and forty-six acres of barley, producing twenty-one thousand four hundred and thirty-two bushels. There are fourteen hundred and eighteen acres of rye, producing twenty- three thousand eight hundred and fifteen bushels. Twelve hundred and fifty- one bushels of clover seed comprises this crop. Potatoes cover ground to the extent of two thousand one hundred and ninety-one acres, and make two hundred and twenty-four thousand two hundred and five bushels. Hay and forage is gathered from thirty-six thousand six hundred and thirty-four acres, weighing forty-eight thousand and thirty-nine tons.
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PROPRIETORSHIP OF FARMS.
There are one thousand seven hundred and twenty-two farms in DeKalb county operated by owners, and representing a value of eleven million one hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred and sixty-four dollars. There are seven hundred and eighty-two farms operated by tenants, value, five million five hundred sixty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-five dol- lars. Farms operated by managers number fourteen, valued at two hundred and seventeen thousand five hundred dollars.
COUNTY FAIRS.
It is said that the first attempt to hold a fair was a small exhibit made on the old Baker farm, then owned by Thomas Ford. Leonard Hoodlemire built the fence enclosing, and during the fair the main attraction was a foot race. In the fall of 1855 a fair was held on the court house grounds, at which a horse race was a sensation. The next fair was held in the same place in the fall of 1858.
Realizing the advantages to farmers of association and the benefits naturally to be enjoyed at Auburn of a fair ground and an annual fair at which competitive exhibits could be held and improvement in stock, ma- chinery and handiwork encouraged, Wesley Park, on April 2, 1859, leased to the directors of the DeKalb County Agricultural Society about seven acres of ground lying north of Park's addition to the town plat, or just west of the public road running from Auburn to Waterloo. The lease was for a term of eight years, and was made in consideration that the society should within sixty days build a substantial board fence seven feet high along the north and east sides of the grounds and the remainder within one year. Shade trees were to have been planted and a track laid out. At the expiration of the lease the ground and fence were to be given up, the society reserving lum- ber. sheds and such fixtures. At this time J. N. Chamberlain was president of the society, and M. F. Pierce, secretary. The president before Chamberlain was S. W. Sprott, and succeeding the former was W. W. Griswold. The open- ing of the Civil war in 1861 obviated any attempt to hold a fair and conse- quently for a time it was abandoned.
In 1871 leading citizens of Waterloo and elsewhere, prominent among them being J. N. Chamberlain, John and A. S. Leas, R. J. Lent, S. J. Locke, C. A. O. McClellan, R. M. Lockhart, B. B. Long and R. W. McBride,
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organized the Northeastern Indiana Agricultural Association on the stock plan. A tract of land comprising thirty-one and one-quarter acres, adjoining Waterloo, was bought and fitted up for holding fairs. The fair was held annually in October, and the stock of the association was fixed at ten thou- sand dollars.
The first fair.here was held on October 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1872, and was a big success. Prizes were given for exhibits, racing was held, and large attendance was had. The county fairs continued during the years until the early nineties, when they were abandoned for various reasons. The DeKalb County Free Fall Fair has taken the place of these exhibitions, and is quite as successful, if not more so.
THE DEKALB COUNTY FREE FALL FAIR.
The DeKalb County Free Fall Fair is promoted by Auburn business men, merchants and manufacturers, and maintained and supported by the Commercial Club.
It is held each autumn in Auburn, and is similar to the county fairs in other counties, but is held about the court house square and in the main streets of Auburn. It is absolutely free.
A large list of premiums is annually donated by the merchants and business men. The farmers, manufacturers and others exhibit their best products, and it is claimed that the fair by its exhibitions has brought about a raise of ten to fifteen per cent. in farm values in this county.
It is not merely a street carnival, but is a real county fair. It has been held in Auburn each year except 1911, when it was held at Garrett. Many amusements are provided in the way of shows, brass bands, etc., and on the closing day a Mardi Gras parade is held. The fair is attended usually by a crowd of fifteen to twenty-five thousand people daily. The Purdue Agricul- tural Experiment Station and School of Agriculture sends an exhibit, and Prof. G. I. Christie, or another from the faculty, assists in judging the ex- hibits. The premiums range in value up to one hundred dollars. Every year some noted man of the state attends and delivers a lecture.
The officers of the fair are: H. G. Judson, chairman; Miles Baxter, secretary ; U. S. Rant, treasurer; H. R. Culbertson, C. M. Brown, George Bishop, Pres. Wilcox, H. H. Strole, J. R. McDowell, board of directors. Culbertson and M. Boland are members of the committee on judges.
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GRANGES.
In the early part of 1874 the farmers began to organize what has since been known as the Grange movement. The growth was wonderful and en- thusiasm unbounded. The movement spread like wildfire. Granges were formed in every township, councils in each county, and were given direction and force by state and national Granges. Interest was increased by gather- ings, where oratory and food abounded; and entire families gave the day to enjoyment with the object of consolidating their power. Middlemen were deemed superfluous, and steps were taken by appointing of purchasing agents and stcoking of Grange stores, to buy supplies at approximately wholesale prices.
Along in February, 1874, the impulse made itself known in DeKalb county. On the 17th a Grange was constituted at the Husselman school house with R. N. Crooks, master; S. Kutzner, secretary; W. Lessing, overseer; C. W. Scattergood, lecturer; J. C. St. Clair, treasurer ; R. S. Reed, steward, and Mrs. Reed as his assistant.
Smithfield farmers organized on the 10th, electing F. Kelley, E. R. Shoemaker, S. B. Mottinger, J. Hemstreet and Henry Hood as officers.
Four days later Jackson Grange was formed with John Cool, James McClellan, J. G. Lawhead and M. Owens as officers. In rapid succession others followed, until the territory was fully occupied.
A county council of Patrons of Husbandry was organized on May 8, 1874, in Grangers' hall, Waterloo, by delegates from subordinate Granges. At this council R. N. Crooks was chosen president; Ephraim Boyle, vice- president; M. Waterman, secretary; F. Kelley, treasurer; and J. G. Law- head, doorkeeper. The board of trustees was composed of A. D. Moore, John Lowe and Hugh Nelson. A committee was appointed to elect a purchasing agent, and the objects of the order were stated to be the welfare of the far- mer and to "bring producer and consumer together to the exclusion of the middleman."
However, the Granges in this county soon stranded, went out of exist- ence after a brief but brilliant and suggestive career. It taught farmers their strength and encouraged them to persevere, and trust in co-operation. and believe that "in union there is strength."
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HORTICULTURE IN DEKALB COUNTY.
(By H. M. Widney.)
In the early history of our county apples, pears, peaches and all other tree fruits adapted to temperate climes grew when planted and produced abundant crops of the finest fruits. Little care was observed by the planter. Little did our pioneers know about the coddling moth, San Jose scale, or any of the many fungus diseases at that time; the only purpose in those days when planting a tree was to produce a home supply of the much needed fruits for the betterment of health conditions in the home, and the giving to the youth the food demanded by nature. So, all of the earliest orchards of our county were planted from the home-supply standpoint, and those who thought of the commercial side of the question were but few. However, these orchards grew beyond the expectation of those who planted, and it has not been many years since the apple-buyer was expected each year to gather the surplus and pack the same in barrels, then ship to some distant city market. The peach was never so fortunate in those days, and many who are yet with us can tell stories of wagon loads of big, luscious, yellow peaches lying on the ground, rotting for want of a near market, a market close enough to warrant the owner caring for them and marketing them. Pears and plums grew well, but were never planted in such quantities as the peach and the apple. A more natural climate for the production of tree fruits than our county in pioneer days would be hard to find. But for the fact that cities were but villages, towns but country cross-roads and the present villages unknown, the demand would have been vastly beyond the resources of the time. Horticul- ture remained to a great degree undeveloped. If demand at that time had been as it now, Hood River would have blushed with envy at the product of old DeKalb.
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