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 37
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COUNTY TREASURER DR. TO COUNTY.
For permits and license to taverns and grocerics, 29 10
.. " " venders of merchandise. 28 95
Amount on duplicate and collected.
of jury fees collected.
22 75
assessed and 66
12 75
of delinquent tax.
55 65
of collector's fees.
22 92
66
collected and paid into treasury. 462 90
64
of balance after collector's fees. 439 57
treasurer's percentage 13 87
after percentage. . 426 102
AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE OF 1832.
Amount for wolf scalps $101 00
grand jurors. 78 75
66
66 petit 108 75
66
paid commissioners for locating State road from Fort Wayne to South Bend, through Elkhart county 23 00
20 00
hands employed on State road
36 00
assessor's services.
20 00
66
66 bailiffs to the courts 'and juries.
17 00
$6
sheriff for extra services.
70 00
clerk
70 00
postage and stationery. 5 623
16 50
66
46 returning judges of elections. 3 50
66 commissioners' services. . . 38 00
Total amount expended.
$789 123
Total amount received. 426 10}
Leaving a deficiency of .
$363 20
Deficiency of 1831. 264 53
Total amount of deficiency.
$627 55
viewing and laying out roads. 39 00
for Geo. Crawford for surveying State road
40 00
associate judges for holding courts.
66 house rent for county purposes
22 00
sheriff's election returns.
425 00
424
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
In this account there were so many erasures, so many incongrnous entries, and yet such a beautiful blending of everything that could tend to revolutionize all modern ideas of bookkeeping, that there is no existing intention on the part of the writer to vary from the style laid down in the original record. Notwithstanding the con- fusion of items and figures, it must be taken for granted that the resulting figures are correct, since the report was duly received and adopted.
There is one thing assured as certain, and that is, that the early settlers were determined to have roads and schools and officials, no matter where or when the revenue to meet expenditures entailed by such enterprise was to be raised. They were undoubtedly a most progressive people, and the early exercise of their liberties led to these great results, which many of them live to see in opera- tion. The attention of the commissioners was given to the open- ing up of the county by the erection of highways and schools, until March, 1834, when it became their duty to organize another town- ship, to be known as Middlebury. Their ordinance in this connec- tion was in the following form: "Ordered that all that part of Concord township lying in ranges 6 and 7 be set apart and known by the name of Middlebury township, and that Willis G. Wright be and is hereby appointed Inspector of Elections in said township, and that one justice of the peace be elected on the first Monday of April next, and that the election be holden at the house of Geo. Buffems, and that the sheriff advertise the same.
In January, 1833, the commissioners granted a tavern license to Horace Root for the town of Elkhart, for which he paid $2.50; and in May of the same year the township of Turkey Creek, south of the county of Elkhart, was organized. The order of the commis- sioners in this connection takes this form, viz .: "Ordered that all the territory lying south of Elkhart and attached thereto be desig- nated and set apart and known by the name of Turkey Creek township, and that the annual election be holden at the house of Charles Irwin, and that Hyram Summy be appointed Inspector of Eleetions for said township, and that one justice of the peace be elected in said township at the annual election, and that the sheriff advertise the same." It now became evident that the strange adjunet of civilization known as a prison, then commonly termed a "coop," was necessary, and accordingly the commissioners ordered that the contract for building a jail be entered into and
425
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
given to the lowest bidder who would receive town lots in Goshen as pay for his work when reported complete.
The November session of 1834 began on Monday, the 3d, and concluded on the 5th. During these three days a vast amount of business was transacted, and only concluded by a lengthy statement of county finances. This document shows that at that time the revenne account amounted to $797.233, and the expenditures for the year to $840.81, leaving a deficiency of $43.67§ to be added to the collective deficiency of 1832-'3 of $829.952, aggregating a total deficiency to date of $870.63 1-6.
The January session of 1835 was principally devoted to the con- sideration of accounts, many of which were ordered to be paid. The commissioners held a long and very important session in March, and issned an ordinance, among others, for the organization of Cleveland township. This order is conched thus: "Ordered that all that part of Concord township lying north of the St. Joseph river to form one township, and to be known by the name of Cleve- land township; and that Samuel Simmington be appointed Inspector of Elections in and for said township, and that an election be holden in and for said township on the first Monday of April next, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace in and for said town- ship, said election to be holden at the house of Hiram Ormsby, and that the sheriff advertise the same."
On Tuesday, May 5, 1835, the Commissioners ordered that that portion of the recently organized township of Middlebury, in range 6, be constituted a township, to be called Washington, and that the election of inspector and justices be held at the house of E. Denison on the first Saturday in June.
Joseph HI. Defrees was appointed County Agent during the same session, vice Oliver Crane, but resigned subsequently, and the posi- tion was given to R. P. Randall. Randall made a full report of moneys received from purchasers of town lots since the first sale, and supplied to the commissioners in session during November, 1835, a statement regarding lots sold by him since he entered upon the duties of county agent. This statement, in conjunction with former references to the town lots of Goshen, will almost complete the list of early settlements in and about the county seat.
426
HISTORY OF ELKAART COUNTY.
Lot No.
Purchased by
Price.
Lots
Purchased by
Price.
197
Robert Frame
$20
45
William Waugh
$90
186
Johnston Latta
20
184
Shubal M. Pease
35
158
Henry Beane
20
123
Oliver Crane
25
69
Johnston Latta
20
55
John W. Harris
20
246-183
S. M. Pease sold a 2d time
289
L. S. Gording
20
220
Flemming Right
25
50
Daniel Shoemaker
20
272
T. Morison & II. Stutsman70
51
Josiah Shoemaker
20
73
John G. Nagle
20
Isaac Hagle
20
38
William Irwin
20
Hubbard Ilenderson
20
54
II. W. Wilkinson
20
20
David McCollum
20
28
Willis G. Wright
20
218
Banks Inll
20
214
Dominique Rosseau
50
56
Trustees M. E. Church
20
10-22
David B. Carpenter
45
29
Bennet II. Z. Haden
20
21
David McCollum,
25
1 & 2
Josias Hockert
80
9
George MeCollum
20
63
James F. Young
20
167
William Felkner
25
192
Matthew D. Springer John Gilmore
20
239
R. L. Britton
25
269
John Gilmore
20
261
Henry Davis, fraction
10
198
Robert Frame
20
75
Peter L. Runyan
20
182
Richard II. Lansdale
40
74
John F. Wilson
20
25%
John Wincland
20
240
James E. Randall
25
206
Benjamin Crary
20
168
William Felkner
20
207
Matthew D. Springer
20
The sales effeeted by County Agent Defrees during his term of office comprised the following lots referred to iu County Agent Randall's report:
Lots
Purchased by
Price.
Lots
Purchased by
Pricc.
33
William Clark
$25
34-234
J. Fellows and G. V. Denneston .. .. 66
45
219
J. Fellows and G. V. Denneston.
20
240
Jos. II. Defrees
95
250 251
50
98
Jeremiah Banning
20
268-238
40
16
392-226
=
40
23
Moses Bails 20
243
John A. Craig
20
35-41
40
166
Jeremiah Hyser
30
210
Azel Sparlin
20
147
Robert Frame
20
James Irwin
20
47
John G. Hagle
20
Peter L. Runyan
25
164
Jolin F. Wilson
20
25
The county agent, in continuation of his report, stated the sum realized on account of all these sales up to date to be 83,374.563. The county treasurer, Peter L. Runyan, reported the receipt of $936.68, and the disbursement of $905.84, with amount of treasurer's com- mission 828.10 additional, leaving 82.72 to credit of county. The sum actually paid into the treasury on account of lots in the town of Goshen up to that date was $1,126.163.
The Commissioners, at their meeting Nov. 2, 1835, ordered that "All that part of Jackson township in congressional township No.35, in range 7, be known by the name of Benton township; that on the third Saturday of December, A. D. 1835, an election be held in the town of Benton, at the store of F. W. Taylor in said town, for the purpose of electing a justice of the peace for the township of Benton, and that Joseph Cowan be appointed inspector." The treasurer
427
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
furnished a detailed report to the Board of Commissioners, sum- ming up the financial state of the county to the 7th of that month, showing the net revenue to be $1,248.23, and the expenses of the previous year to be $1,119.882, and the deficiency carried down from former years to equal $750.283.
The work of organization made great progress during this period. In March, 1836, the commissioners issued an ordinance for the formation of a new township in the ordinary legal form then in use, viz .: " Ordered that all that part of Elkhart county west of range 5 east, and south of the Elkhart river, be set apart aud known by the name of Baugo township, and that Wilcey S. Jones be ap- pointed Inspector of Elections of said township, and that the elec- tions of said township be holden at the house of James Town." Toward the close of the same session Jefferson township was organ- ized ont of that part of Washington township, known as town- ship No. 37 north, range 5 east. Isaac Decamp was appointed In- spector of Elections, and the people ordered to meet for selection of a justice of the peace, on the first Monday in April, 1836, at the house of Isaac Hagle. The following school lands were reported sold during the previous month by Deputy Recorder John Gilmore, viz:
No.
No.
Lot. Acres.
Purchased by
Price.
No. No. Lot. Acres.
Price
1
51 George Crawford
$ 770.61
5 66.39
Purchased by Azel Sparklin Oliver Crane
232.36
96 Geo. Crawford
1,166.40
6 80.12
408.61
3 43.52 Daniel Weybright
283.64
7 103.53
..
487.10
4
54.25 Daniel Cripe
271.25
8 121.42
607.10
County Agent Randall's report of a further sale of town lots followed thus:
Lots No.
Purchased by
Price.
Lots No.
Purchased by.
Price,
200-201
Lewis L. Gording
$ 40
49
Jas. Hilliard
20
255-256
Ben Crary
40
36
Jas. Hilliard and R. 20 McReynolds Jas, McReynolds 20
252
Samuel Yarnell Jacob Stutsman
20
212-235-236
57
Daniel Stutsman
20
239
Wm. Vail 110
225
Richard Hathaway
20
179
James Cook
40
174-224
Richard Hathaway Abner Stillson
80
25
L. D. Hovey
20
223-197-169 Jos. S. Jernigan
65
26-31
J. R. McC'ord and Leon- ard Harris
40
16-17-18
Thomas Thomas
60
248
Milton Mercer
20
43-44-45-165James Cook
85
121
Geo. Rumsey
50
1 Luke Hulett
20
19
James Gilmore
20
30
James Blair
20
83
Abram B. Lyons 20
62
Sam. J. Young
20
25
37
40
24-60-61
Geo. Howell
60
7-8-11-48
175-196-233 James S. Stilson
90
42 Emanuel Bell
20
4
428
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Randall pointed out in his statement of results, that the sum of $3,880.36 had accrued from the sale of those lots up to the present, and he also expressed in very prophetic terms, that many years would not elapse before the very lots which he was then selling would be disposed of at a premium of 1,000 per cent.
In May, 1836, the following order issued from the Board for the organization of still another township, to be called Clinton. It directs " that a portion of Elkhart township in range 7 be set apart and be known by the name of Clinton." William Denny was appointed Inspector, and a meeting was called at the house of Isaac Smith, for the purpose of electing a justice of peace to represent the township on the Board of Commissioners. During the month of September, 1836, the commissioners ordered the erection of that part of Elkhart county in township 36 north, and of range 5 east, into Harrison township, appointed William Stewart, Inspector, and directed the election of a justice of the peace to be held at the house of Daniel Bowser, on the first Monday of October following. Henry H. Fowler, who laid out the town of Bristol, was ordered to vacate the same, on condition " that he shall proceed to survey and record the new plat as a part of the said town in some different manner within six months."
In January, 1837, an ordinance was issued by the Board of Com- missioners for the erection of a district north of the St. Joseph river, in township 38, of range 5 east, into Osolo township. Henry John- son received the appointment of Inspector of the Election, of justice of the peace, to be held at his house on the last Saturday of that month. It was likewise ordered by the Board that township 37, range 5 east, of Elkhart county be included in Concord township. The organization of Union township was ordered by the commis- sioners in March, 1837. They directed its erection out of that part of Elkhart county in township No. 35 north, range 5 east; and having appointed Josiah Elston Inspector. instructed the sheriff to advertise the date of election of a justice of the peace for the first Monday in April, to be held at the house of Samuel Drake. York township was erected in March, 1837, out of township No. 38 north, range 7 east, in Elkhart county. A. Brown was appointed Inspec- tor, and an election of a justice of the peace ordered to be held at the house of F. Curtis on the first Monday in April.
The county treasurer presented a statement of receipts and dis- bursements for 1836, to the commissioners, at their January ses- sion. This statement is as follows:
429
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
RECEIPTS.
Tavern and grocery license. 220 30
Foreign merchandise license. 165 89
Jury fees. 18 00
Duplicate in the hands of the collector
1,156 121%
Amount of delinquents. 27 897%
Balance after delinquents deducted. 1,128 2234
The sum of. 1,420 7814
The peculiarly arranged exhibition of revenue is followed by another from the collector, setting forth a total receipt of $2,092; a total disbursement of $1,959.443, and balance in favor of the connty of $132.56}.
The township of Olive was organized under an order of the commissioners dated Nov. 5, 1839, directing that the fractional township 36 north and of range + east be detached from Baugo township and named Olive. Cornelius Terwilliger was appointed Inspector of the election of justice of the peace, to be held Dec. 7 ensuing.
Ten years after the organization of the county the amount dne for county taxes was $2,798.19. The number of polls, 1,116. The value of land, $429, 433; personal property, $114,972; town lots, $96,221; total amount, $640,226. Number of acres of land, 77,401. In the June session of 1841 the commissioners issued the follow- ing ordinance: " That the Congressional fractional township No. 35 north, range 4 east, in the county of Elkhart, and State of Indiana, be, and the same is hereby, set off as a civil township to itself, for the purposes of transacting township business; and it is further ordered that said township be known by the name of Locke town- ship; and it is further ordered that the election be held in said township on Saturday, 24th day of July, A. D. 1841, for the pur- pose of electing a justice of the peace for said township; and it is further ordered that the sheriff of Elkhart county give notice of said election by putting np three written notices in three of the most public places at least 20 days before said election."
· Such a close attention to the old record of the county has been made indispensable, on account of the slow but sure progress in the organization of the townships, the changes in the administra- tion from the old Board of Justices to the Board of Commissioners, and the various and sometimes quaint reports of the first county officers. To deal with such important items in the ordinary style wonld be to transmute the interesting language of ancient lawyers,
430
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
statesmen and public officials from its original purity to modern form, and thereby destroy these peculiar characteristics, which endear it to the surviving pioneers, and attract even the attention of their children and new settlers. That the chapter will interest and instruet is to be hoped. It is a record singularly gratifying, and one of which all who ennoble themselves by cherishing the memories of honest men may be proud.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BUILDING OF TIIE FORT.
The skill that conquers space and time, That graces life, that lightens toil, May spring from courage more sublime Than that which makes a realm its spoil.
Whatever is found beautiful in nature commends itself at once to nature's capitalman. Nothing but the beanties of nature could lead him over oceans, and through the solitudes of continents. In his travels westward he always met some object to attract his attention, and beyond, toward the setting sun, was still some open- ing in the forest or some grove npon the prairie to Iure him onward from one spot of beauty to another more lovely, until, wearied with the extent and variety of landscape, he lay down to repose upon the bosom of a land which next day he would call his own. Here willing toil brought to his hearth that primitive happi- ness which men in other walks of life have often wished for. The prairie, grove and river opened up a vista before him, pointing out the site of a beautiful home, where no dissonance promised to inter- fere with the prevailing harmony; free alike from the marvelous struggles of people inhabiting the old Eastern settlements, and from their politieal and military aspirations, he could exhaust a term of comparative ease before the time of immigration floated toward him new neighbors; so that, when they came, the first set- tler welcomed them, and often under his guidance and following his advice they selected the neighborhood as their home. Soon a busy stream of life swept over and peopled the land; the tempo- rary shanty or log cabin began to give way to more pretentious structures, and the echoes of happy human voices rolled over forest and prairie and lake and river, until the little world which centered in their midst was one of peace and joy. Then, as is often the case in worldly affairs, whisperings of anticipated disturbance seemed to travel on the genial breeze, and at a moment's notice the happy people were roused to arms by another Paul Revere, and their dream of continued rest was temporarily broken. The Sac
(431)
439
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
war excitement took possession of the settlements, but happily its results were beneficial, since they only proved what gallant hearts are prepared to do and suffer in defense of themselves, their neighbors and their land. That period in the history of Elkhart county is well remembered by many of the old pioneers. The Hon. Joseph H. Defrees was then among them, and though he exerted all his powers of mind and body to allay the intense excitement of the people, his sound rensoning passed by unheeded by the greater number, and thus entailed upon the brave people a term of mental and physical trouble, unexampled in the history ot the Republic. The action of the settlers, however, was most commendable. When it is remembered that they mustered into service under the veteran Col. Jackson, prepared to march to the defense of Niles in the neighboring State, a point then reported to be threatened by the savage Saes, their order of courage and fra- ternity become heroic, and their actions such as the ancients would deem worthy of their gods.
When the savage character of the Saes and the equally barbarous nature of the Pottawotamies aro considered, the settlers were justi- fied in their anxiety, Tho terrible white sog feast, or thirst dance was being carried out in the villages of the aborigines. Bands of Indians had oneamped there for several weeks, making preparations for the festival, which is partly of a penitential and partly of a propitiatory, character, the peculiarity of the cere- monial being that the dancers must not eat, drink or sleep until it is over-a length of time varying from two to four days. On this occasion it was only for two days.
In order to fully carry out the festival it was necessary to ereet a temple, and this was effected with the ceremonies usual to savage sprees of this description. As the first duty was to procure a center- pole, between 40 and 50 warriors, each on horseback, with his squaw behind him, set out for the woods in search of one. Preceding them was the medicine man, in a ragged United States military coat, probably brought from one of the posts south of the line, his head ornamented with a mass of porcupine skin and swan feathers. lle carried in his hand a tin pan, which he bent with a stick, while he and the chief who followed him, made hideous noises to drive away the evil spirits. A tree snitable to their purpose was at last chosen, and was approached with whoops and the tiring of guns. In a very short time it was felled, and the warriors ranging them- selves on each side of the trunk, attached their lariats to it, and
433
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
drew it into camp, amid the yells of the savages. A select few appointed by the medicine man then raised it in position, and the proceedings being accompanied by incantations and much noise the one for invoking blessings and the other for driving away evil spirits. The temple, or tent, was then erected around the pole. It was circular in form, 50 feet in diameter, with walls six feet high, the apex of the roof being 30 feet from the ground. The sides and roof were composed of buffalo skins. Inside four pews were con- structed with walls about three feet high, two for the male and two for the feinale dancers, who are usually young people, who had, when in imminent danger of their lives, vowed to perform this service out of gratitude to the Great Spirit. The dance is merely a jerk of the body and a series of contortions, without any motion of the feet.
The medicine man announces everything ready, and the dancers, to the number of about 40, male and female, took positions in the pews. The bucks wore feathers in the sealplocks, and displayed a style of costume not yet adopted in civilized society. They had nothing on but a coat of paint. Some of them were frescocd gorgeously and tastefully, but others, probably the married men, had put on their color carelessly and hideously, as if they eared not whether the girls smiled upon them or spurned them. The squaws, however, had completed their toilets with munch care, and appeared on the scene with their finery displayed to the best advan- tage. They moved about among the painted braves with perfect indifference, and gave no sign that the airiness of their lover's dress offended them in the least. The orchestra, composed of half a dozen chiefs armed with drums made of deer skin, took its place at 10 o'clock Thursday night, and, to the grunting of the medicine man, chief musicians and head men, and a wild song from the dancers, the ball opened. Each dancer was provided with a whistle made from the wing-bone of a goose, ornamonted with feathers and colors. As they jumped about they sounded shrill notes upon their instruments, which, blended with the whoops, yells and mo- notonons drumming, fell upon the civilized ear with startling effect. Hour after hour the dance was kept up, the only intermission being at the will of the drummers, who were relieved at intervals. At times the surging and noise subsided, and a wiso man in a sce-saw tone recited tales of heroism for the edification and emulation of the young.
431
HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
During Friday and Saturday the warriors gave many exhibitions of their powers of endurance. A muscular warrior stood uncon- cerned while a couple of chiefs stuck long skewers through the flesh of his shoulders. The lines of a horse were attached to the skewers, and the warrior was told to lead the animal around until the flesh gave way. With blood streaming down his back and breast, and mingling with the paint upon his dusky body, the enduring savage walked around for a couple of hours without a murmur. Though the flesh upon his shoulders tore in the direc- tion of the neck, yet it did not give way, and the medicine man, with much ceremony, unloosed the hero, who sauntered off with a grunt of satisfaction.
The next act on the programme was more startling than the last. A young buck was introduced and allowed two skewers to be thrust through the flesh of his breast withont wincing; two lariats suspended from the roof-pole of the tent were fastened to the skewers. He then began to swing around the tent as far as the lines would allow him, throwing his whole weight upon the lines in his endeavor to break loose. The dancers danced and the drummers drummed with renewed vigor while the exhibition was in progress. After several hours' exercise he demonstrated to the satisfaction of all that he was a tough young man, and was loosed amid grunts of approval. Another heroic scalper had three pegs driven into him-two in his back and two in the back part of his arms. Four guns were hung upon the pegs, and he walked around and flirted with the girls as if nothing bothered him. A party of Assiniboines, painted to the eyes and armed to the teeth, appeared, and gave an exhibition of how they killed their enemies. They threw their knives and guns about so carelessly and attacked each other so fiercely that the few white spectators began to think that the fight might spread, and felt uneasy for their scalps. The cock- of-the-walk was a young Miami chief. Over his shoulders he wore the skin of an American lion killed single-handed by himself. Pendant from the skin were ten lariats, showing that he had cap- tured or stolen the horses. He strutted proudly around with his ten tails dragging behind him, and received with composure the admiration of his companions. Horses, blankets, knives, fire-arms, fancy lariats, skins and other articles were given as offerings to propitiate the Great Spirit, many giving all they possessed, that their children might be brought into the tent and blessed. The dance
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