USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 28
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Connecticut-Qui transtulit sustinet, " He who brought ns over sustains us," is her motto. It was named from the Indian Quon- ch-ta-Cnt, signifying " Long River." It is called the "Nutmeg State." Area 4,674 square miles. Population 1860, 460,147; in 1870, 537,454. Gave to the Union army 55,755 soldiers. Hart- ford is the capital. Has 4 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 6 Presidential electors. Salary of Governor $2,000; term, 2 years.
Delaware .- " Liberty and Independence," is the motto of this State. It was named after Lord De La Ware, an English states- man, and is ealled, "The Blue Hen," and the "Diamond State." It was first settled by the Swedes in 1638. It was one of the original thirteen States. Has an area of 2,120 square miles. Population in 1860, 112,216; in 1870, 125,015. She sent to the front to defend the Union, 12,265 soldiers. Dover is the capital. Has but 1 mem- ber in Congress; entitled to 3 Presidential electors. John W. Hall, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $2,000; term, 2 years.
Florida-Was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512, on Easter Sunday, called by the Spaniards, Pasena Florida, which, with the variety and beauty of the flowers at this early season caused him to name it Florida-which means in Spanish, flowery. Its motto is, " In God we trust." It was admitted into the Union in 1845. It has an area of 59,268 square miles. Population in 1860, 140,424; in
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1870, 187,756. Its capital is Tallahassee. Has 2 members in Con- gress. Has 4 Presidential electors. George F. Drew, Democrat, Governor; term, 4 years; salary, $3,500.
Georgia-Owes its name to George II., of England, who first established a colony there in 1732. Its motto is, " Wisdom, justice and moderation." It was one of the original States. Population in 1860, 1,057,286; 1870, 1,184,109. Capital, Atlanta. Area 58,. Ov0 square miles. Has 9 Representatives in Congress, and 11 Presidential electors. IIer Governor is A. H. Colquitt, Demoerat; term, 4 years; salary, $4,000.
Illinois-Motto, "State Sovereignty, National Union." Name derived from the Indian word, Illini, meaning, superior men. It is called the "Prairie State," and its inhabitants, "Suckers." Was first explored by the French in 1673, and admitted into the Union in 1818. Area 55,410 square miles. Population, in 1860, 1,711,951; in 1870, 2,539,871. She sent to the front to defend the Union, 258,162 soldiers. Capital, Springfield IIas 19 members in Congress, and 21 Presidential electors. Shelby M. Cullom, Repub_ liean, is Governor; elected for 4 years; salary, $6,000.
Indiana-Is called " Hoosier State." Was explored in 1682, and admitted as a State in 1816. Its name was suggested by its numerous Indian population. Area 33,809 square miles. Popu-' lation in 1860, 1,350,428; in 1870, 1,680,637. She put into the Federal army, 194,363 men. Capital, Indianapolis. IIas 13 mnem- bers in Congress, and 15 Presidential electors. J. D. Williams, Governor, Democrat; salary, $3,000; term, 4 year.
Iowa-Is an Indian name and means "This is the land." Its motto is, "Our liberties we prize, our rights we will maintain." It is called the "Hawk Eye State." It was first visited by Marquette and Joliet in 1673; settled by New Englanders in 1833, and admitted into the Union in 1846. Des Moines is the capital. It has an area of 55,045, and a population in 1860 of 674,913, and in 1870 of 1,191,802. She sent to defend the Government, 75,793 soldiers. HIas 9 members in Congress; 11 Presidential, electors. John HI. Gear, Republican, is Governor; salary, $2,500 ;. term, 2years.
Kansas-Was admitted into the Union in 1861, making thei thirty-fourth State. Its inotto is Ad astra per aspera, "To the. stars through difficulties." Its name means, "Smoky water," and
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is derived from one of her rivers. Area 78,841 square miles. Population in 1860, 107,209; in 1870 was 362,812. She furnished 20,095 soldiers. Capital is Topeka. Has 3 Representatives in Con- gress, and 5 Presidential eleetors. Jolın P. St. John, Governor; polities, Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years.
Kentucky-Is the Indian name for " At the head of the rivers." Its motto is, " United we stand, divided we fall." The sobriquet of "dark and bloody ground " is applied to this State. It was first settled in 1769, and admitted in 1792 as the fifteenth State. Area 37,680. Population in 1860, 1,155,684; in 1870, 1,321,000. She put into the Federal army 75,285 soldiers. Capital, Frankfort. Has 10 members in Congress ; 12 Electors. J. B. McCreary, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years.
Louisiana-Was called after Louis XIV., who at one time owned that section of the country. Its motto is "Union and Con- fidenee." It is called "The Creole State." It was visited by La Salle in 1684, and admitted into the Union in 1812, making the eighteenth State. Population in 1860, 708,002; in 1870, 732,731. Area 46,431 square miles. She put into the Federal army 5,224 soldiers. Capital, New Orleans. Has 6 Representatives and 8 Eleetors. F. T. Nichols, Governor, Democrat; salary, $8,000; term, 4 years.
Muine .- This State was called after the province of Maine in France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. Its motto is Dirigo, meaning " I direct." It is called "The Pine Tree State." It was settled by the English in 1625. It was admitted as a State in 1820. Area 31,766 square miles. Population in 1860, 628,279; in 1870, 626,463; 69,738 sol- diers went from this State. Has 5 members in Congress, and 7 Electors. Selden Conner, Republican, Governor; term, 1 year; salary, $2,500.
Maryland-Was named after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. of England. It has a Latin motto, Crescite et multiplica- mini, meaning "Increase and Multiply." It was settled in 1634, and was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 11,- 124 square miles. Population in 1860 was 687,049; in 1870, 780,- 806. This State furnished 46,053 soldiers. Capital, Annapolis. Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. J. H. Carroll, Democrat, Governor; salary, $4,500; term, 4 years.
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Massachusetts-Is the Indian for " The country around the great hills." It is called the " Bay State," from its numerous bays. Its motto is Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem, " By the sword she seeks placid rest in liberty." It was settled in 1620 at Plymoutlı by English Puritans. It was one of the original thirteen States, and was the first to take up arms against the English during the Revolution. Area 7,800 square miles. Population in 1860, 1,231,- 066; in 1870, 1,457,351. She gave to the Union army 146,467 sol- diers. Boston is the capital. Has 11 Representatives in Con- gress, and 13 Presidential electors. Thomas Talbot, Republiean, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 1 year.
Michigan-Latin motto, Tuebor, and Si quæris peninsulani amænam circumspice, "I will defend "-" If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you." The name is a contraction of two Indian words meaning "Great Lake." It was early explored by Jesuit missionaries, and in 1837 was admitted into the Union. It is known as the " Wolverine State." It contains 56,243 square miles. In 1860 it had a population of 749,173; in 1870, 1,184,059. She furnished 88,111 soldiers. Capital, Lansing. Has 9 Repre- sentatives and 11 Presidential eleetors. C. M. Croswell is Gov- ernor; polities, Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 2 years.
Minnesota-Is an Indian name, meaning " Clondy Water." It
- has a French motto, L'Etoile du Nord-" The Star of the North." It was visited in 1680 by La Salle, settled in 1846, and admitted into the Union in 1858. It contains 83,531 square miles. In 1860 had a population of 172,023; in 1870, 439,511. She gave to the Union army 24;002 soldiers. St. Paul is the capital. Has 3 mem- bers in Congress, 5 Presidential eleetors. Governor, J. S. Pills- bury, Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years.
Mississippi-Is an Indian name, meaning "Long River," and the State is named from the " Father of Waters." The State was first explored by De Sota in 1541; settled by the French at Natchez in 1716, and was admitted into the Union in 1817. It has an area of 47,156 square miles. Population in 1860, 791,305; in 1870, 827,- 922. She gave to suppress the Rebellion 545 soldiers. Jackson is the capital. Has 6 representatives in Congress, and 8 Presidential eleetors. J. M. Stone is Governor, Demoerat; salary, $4,000; term, 4 years.
Missouri-Is derived from the Indian word "muddy," which
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more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Its motto is Salus populi suprema lex esto, " Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law." The State was first settled by the French near Jefferson City in 1719, and in 1821 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of 67,380 square miles, equal to 43,123,200 , acres. It had a population in 1860 of 1,182.012; in 1870, 1,721,- 000. She gave to defend the Union 108,162 soldiers. Capital, Jefferson City. Its inhabitants are known by the offensive cogno- men of "Pukes." Has 13 representatives in Congress, and 15 Presidential electors. J. S. Phelps is Governor; politics, Demo- cratic; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years.
Nebraska-Has for its motto, "Equality before the law." Its name is derived from one of its rivers, meaning " broad and shal- low, or low." It was admitted into the Union in 1367. Its capital is Lincoln. It had a population in 1860 of 28,841, and in 1870, 123,993, and in 1875, 246,280. It has an area of 75,995 square miles. She furnished to defend the Union 3,157 soldiers. Has but 1 Representative and 3 Presidential electors. A. Nance, Repub- lican, is Governor; salary, $2,500; term, 2 years.
Nevada-"The Snowy Land" derived its name from the Span- ish. Its motto is Latin, Volens et potens, and means "willing and able." It was settled in 1850, and admitted into the Union in 1864. Capital, Carson City. Its population in 1860 was 6,857; in 1870 it was 42,491. It has an area of 112,090 square miles. She furnished 1,080 soldiers to suppress the Rebellion. Has 1 Rep- resentative and 3 Electors. Governor, J. H. Kinkhead, Republican; salary, $6,000; term, 4 years.
New Hampshire-Was first settled at Dover by the English in 1623. Was one of the original States. Has no motto. It is named from Hampshire county in England. It also bears the name of "The Old Granite State." It has an area of 9,280 miles, which equals 9,239,200 acres. It had a population in 1860 of 326,- 073, and in 1870 of 318,300. She increased the Union army with 33,913 soldiers. Concord is the capital. Has 3 Representatives and 5 Presidential electors. N. Head, Republican, Governor; salary, $1,000; term, 1 year.
New Jersey-Was named in honor of the Island of Jersey in the British channel. Its motto is " Liberty and Independence." It was first settled at Bergen by the Swedes in 1624. It is one of the orig-
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inal thirteen States. It has an area of 8,320 square miles, or 5,324,- 800 acres. Population in 1860 was 672,035; in 1870 it was 906,096. She put into the Federal ariny 75,315 soldiers. Capital, Trenton. Has 7 Representatives and 9 Presidential electors. Governor, George B. McClelland, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 3 years.
New York .- The " Empire State " was named by the Duke of York, afterward King James II. of England. It has a Latin motto, Excelsior, which means " Still Higher." It was first settled by the Dutch in 1614 at Manhattan. It has an area of 47,000 square miles, or 30,080,000 acres. The population in 1860 was 3,880,735; in 1870 it was 4,332,759. It is one of the original thirteen States. Capital is Albany. It gave to defend our Government 445,959 men. Has 33 members in Congress, and 35 Presidential electors. Governor, L. Robinson, Democrat; salary, $10,000; term, 3 years.
North Carolina-Was named after Charles IX., King of France. It is called " The Old North," or "The Turpentine State." It was first visited in 1524 by a Florentine navigator, sent ont by Francis I., King of France. It was settled at Albemarle in 1663. It was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 50,704 square miles, equal to 32,450,560 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 992,622, and in 1870, 1,071,361. Raleigh is the capital. She furnished 3,156 soldiers to put down the Rebellion. Has 8 mem- bers in Congress, and is entitled to 10 Presidential electors. Z. B. Vance, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years.
Ohio-Took its name from the river on its Southern boundary, and means " Beautiful." Its motto is Imperium in Imperio- " An Empire in an Empire." It was first permanently settled in 1788 at Marietta by New Englanders. It was admitted as a State in 1803. Its capital is Columbus. It contains 39,964 square miles, or 25,576, 960 acres. Population in 1860, 2,339,511; in 1870 it had 2.665,260. She sent to the front during the Rebellion 310,- 654 soldiers. Has 20 Representatives, and 22 Presidential electors. Governor, R. M. Bishop, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years.
Oregon-Owes its Indian name to its principal river. Its mnotto is Alis volat propriis-" She flics with her own wings." It was first visited by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. It was set- tled by the English in 1813, and admitted into the Union in 1859. Its capital is Salem. It has an area of 95.274 square miles, equal to 60,975,360 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 52,465; in
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1870, 90,922. She furnished 1,810 soldiers. She is entitled to 1 member in Congress, and 3 Presidential electors. W. W. Thayer, Republican, is Governor; salary, $1,500; term, 4 years.
Pennsylvania .- This is the "Keystone State," and means "Penn's Woods," and was so called after William Penn, its original owner. Its motto is, " Virtne, liberty and independence." A colony was established by Penn in 1682. The State was one of the original thirteen. It has an area of 46,000 square miles, equaling 29,440,- 000 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 2,906,215; and in 1870, 3,515,993. She gave to suppress the Rebellion, 338,155. Harris- burg is the capital. Has 27 Representatives and 29 electors. H. M. Hoyt, is Governor; salary, $10,000; politics, Republican; term of office, 3 years.
Rhode Island .- This, the smallest of the States, owes its name to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble. Its motto is " Hope," and it is familiarly called; " Little Rhody." It was settled by Roger Williams in 1636. It was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 1,306 square miles, or 835,840 acres. Its population in 1860 numbered 174,620; in 1870, 217,356. She gave to defend the Union, 23,248. Its capitals are Providence and Newport. Has 2 Representatives, and 4 Presidential electors. C. Vanzandt is Governor; politics, Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 1 year.
South Carolina .- The Palmetto State wears the Latin name of Charles IX., of France (Carolus). Its motto is Latin, Animis opibusque parati, " Ready in will and deed." The first permanent settlement was made at Port Royal in 1670, where the French Huguenots had failed three-quarters of a century before to found a settlement. It is one of the original thirteen States. Its capital is Columbia. It has an area of 29,385 square miles, or 18,806,400 acres, with a population in 1860 of 703,708; in 1870, 728,000. Has 5 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 7 Presidential electors. Salary of Governor, $3,500; term, 2 years.
Tennessee-Is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e. the Mississippi, which forms its western boundary. She is called "The Big Bend State." Her motto is, " Agriculture, Commerce." It was settled in 1757, and admitted into the Union in 1796, mak- ing the sixteenth State, or the third admitted after the Revolution- ary War-Vermont being the first, and Kentucky the second. It
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has an area of 45,600 square miles, or 29,184,000 acres. In 1860 its population numbered 1,109,801, and in 1870, 1,257,983 She furnished 31,092 soldiers to suppress the Rebellion. Nashville is the capital. Has 10 Representatives, and 12 Presidential electors. Governor, A. S. Marks, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years.
Texas-Is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was known before it was ceded to the United States. It is known as "The Lone Star State." The first set- tlement was made by LaSalle in 1685. After the independence of Mexico in 1822, it remained a Mexican Province until 1836, when it gained its independence, and in 1845 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of 237,504 square miles, equal to 152,002,- 560 acres. Its population in 1860 was 604,215; in 1870, 818,579. She gave to put down the Rebelion 1,965 soldiers. Capital, Austin. Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. Governor, O. M. Roberts, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years.
Vermont-Bears the French name of her mountains Verde Mont, "Green Mountains." Its motto is " Freedom and Unity." It was settled in 1731, and admitted into the Union in 1791. Area 10,212 square miles. Population in 1860, 315,098; in 1870, 330,551. She gave to defend the Government, 33,272 soldiers. Capital, Mont- pelier. Has 3 Representatives, and 5 electors. Governor, H. Fair- banks, Republican; term, 2 years; salary, $1,000.
Virginia .- The Old Dominion, as this State is called, is the oldest of the States. It was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region. Its motto is Sic semper tyrannis, " So always with tyrants." It was first settled at James- town, in 1607, by the English, being the first settlement in the United States. It is one of original thirteen States, and had before its division in 1862, 61,352 square miles, but at present contains but 38,352 square miles, equal to 24,545,280 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 1,596,318, and in 1870 it was 1,224,830. Rich- mond is the capital. Has 9 Representatives, and 11 electors. Gov- ernor, F. W. M. Halliday, Democrat; salary, $5,500; term, 4 years.
West Virginia .- Motto, Montani semper liberi, " Mountaineers are always free." This is the only State ever formed, under the Constitution, by the division of an organized State. This was done in 1862, and in 1863 was admitted into the Union. It has an area of
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23,000 square miles, or 14,720,000 acres. The population in 1860 was 376,000; in 1870 it numbered 445,616. She furnished 32,003. Capital, Wheeling. Has 3 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 5 Presidential electors. The Governor is H. M. Mathews, Democrat; term, 4 years; salary, $2,700.
Wisconsin-Is an Indian name, and means "Wild-rushing channel." Its motto, Civitatus successit barbarum, " The civilized man succeeds the barbarous." It is called " The Badger State." The State was visited by the French explorers in 1665, and a settle- ment was made in 1669 at Green Bay. It was admitted into the Union in 1848. It has an area of 52,924 square miles, equal to 34,511,360 acres. In 1860 its population numbered 775,881; in 1870, 1,055,167. Madison is the capital. She furnished for the Union army 91,021 soldiers. Has 8 members in Congress, and is entitled to 10 Presidential electors. The Governor is W. E. Smith; politics, Republican; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years.
HOHE
ELKHART COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
-
INTRODUCTORY.
What's hallowed ground ? Has earth a clod Its maker meant not should be trod By man, the image of his God, Erect and free, Unscourged by Tyranny's rod To bow the knee ?
The present will live in the future; the good works of man do not die with him or sink into oblivion, but grow brighter with age, and aid in carrying down precedents and principles which will be advanced and observed, when the memory and acts of soulless men will lie forever with them in their graves. History entwines itself with the names of the illustrious as well as with those of the notorious. Wherever the former is held up for the admiration of men, and the latter for their scorn, the pen of impar- tiality may be traced; for never yet was the historian true to his conscience and to his people, who wandered from the path of justice by devoting a space in historical works to the names of bad men without accompanying such names with qualifying paragraphs. In the pages of this work the true and good will have that prominence to which their purity of morals and phys- ical courage entitle them. It is a necessity that their unstained names be transmitted; because, though many of these men who made subject for history have passed into eternity, their posterity live to be reminded of their fidelity, and to profit by the noble example which was given them by the unconquerable pioneers,-the fathers of this county. Looking back over the period of half a century which has transpired since the true old settlers turned this 22
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beautiful desert into an inhabited garden, one is forcibly reminded of all the sacrifices, all the dangers, all the labors the new colonists had made in the interest of their children. Paternal solicitude alone urged the greater number to move forward toward the Western woods and prairies in search of some beautiful tract upon which to locate a home, and acquire an indestructible heritage for their chil- dren. The intuitive love of liberty which characterized them, the Heaven-bestowed desire to move toward new homes which possessed them and the unflinching energy which overcapped all difficul- ties and led them to prosperity and peace, are all evidences of the workings of that Divine economy which opened up, as it were, a new world where industry should, at least, possess liberty of con- science, and win ample reward from its genial climate and fertile soil,-another Eden for trne men, where right would reign supreme.
Before entering upon the history of men and events connected with this county during the last half century, we will inquire into its aboriginal or prehistoric period,-prehistoric because the Indi- ans inhabiting this portion of Indiana in 1828 knew nothing what- ever of their predecessors in occupation of the beautiful valleys of the St. Joseph country. From a period coeval with the Columbian era, the Indian as we know him now made his presence known to the decaying remnants of the mound-building race, who sought a refuge in this territory from the periodical assaults of their bar- baric brethren. It is conjectured, that about the beginning of the fifteenth century the last representative of that race, seeing the hour of their annihilation approaching, covered in their sacred circles with clay, and, fleeing northward still from the valley of the Wabash, made temporary settlements throughont Northern Indi- ana, which were ultimately occupied by the Miamis and Potta- watomies, who gave the ancient people up to the tomahawk and scalping-knife, and thus became joint proprietors of the land. The ignorance of those savages may be said to excel itself in the massacre of that little colony. Its members, though very far removed in manners and customs from the early monnd-builders, still claimed to form the chieftaincy of the tribes, and entertained a hope that the wandering savages would join with them in inter- ests and win back their heritage, which the New Tartar had taken from their fathers long years before. The idea was impracticable; their Aztec enemies were destined to rule, their savage brethren were doomed to perpetual barbarism, and themselves to be offered in sacrifice by the hands of ferocions fratricides. Thus perished
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the last of the mound-builders. That within Northern Indiana, perhaps within the present boundary of Elkhart county, the sacri- ficial altar was set up, is a matter removed from speculation, since the mounds of the Wabash valley may be considered the monuments of their latest organized villages, and the shores of the lakes and rivers, which once occupied a vast area of this county and country, their latest temporary fishing posts. That the Miamis were the actors in this tragedy is almost conceded, because modern testi- mony points them ont as the first invaders of Indiana, and their own legendary records sustain such a conclusion.
Western Ohio, Sonthern Michigan and the country now com- prised in the State of Indiana were once in possession of the Miamis, one of the branches of the powerful Algonquin tribe, who inter- posed between the tribes of the six nations of the shores of the Northern lakes, and the Mobilian tribes of the Atlantic slopes. Their claim to this territory was proven in the great conclave of the tribes at Greenville, Ohio, in 1795, immediately prior to entering into the treaty. On that occasion Machikinaqua, a chief and . orator of the Miamis, addressing Gen. Wayne, said: "My fore- father kindled the first fire at Detroit; from thence he extended his lines to the head waters of the Scioto river; from thence to its month; from thence down the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash; from thence to Chicago on Lake Michigan. These are the bound- aries wherein the prints of my ancestors' houses are everywhere to be seen." Historians have acknowledged the truth and claim of the Miami chief, confirming many of his statements regarding the other peoples inhabiting his territory, the Delaware Indians from the East, driven before the incoming European colonists; the Shaw- onoes from the South, forced to move northward by the Aztecs of the southwest or the Mobilians of the southeast, and the Chippewas or Pottawatomies from the Northern regions. Lagio, an Indian chief, referring to the immigration of the latter, maintained that "a very long time since, the Great Spirit sent upon the Pottawatomies a severe winter, and they came over the hard water ( ice-covered Lake Michigan ) and asked the privilege of hunting nntil spring; that the Miamis granted it; that they returned home in the spring, and the next winter came back and would never return to Lake Superior again." At the treaty of Greenville, when General Wayne pressed the Miami chieftains to cede a township of land at Kekeogue and a few sections west at the head waters of Little river Machikinaqua spoke to him thus: " Elder brother, I now give you
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