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 55
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In dealing with the history of each township, the schools will have special attention bestowed upon them. This conrse suggests itself as the proper one, since no less than 144 buildings devoted to educational purposes have to be noticed. All of them are worthy of description, and many claim pre-eminence. They are identified with the townships. and so should hold a place in township history. Consequently there is no desire to interfere with the regular order of this work, and in the observance of that order a minute sketch of the schools will hold a place in the succeeding chapters.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
BAUGO TOWNSHIP.
Long before the white man had set foot on "Hoosier soil," the wild Indian had christened the stream Bango creek, which were the "sporting waters" for the Indian boys. It was from this creek that the township derives its name. The word Bango is but an abbreviation of the original which is Banbango, signifying the " devil " or the "devil river." The creek was thus christened because of its terribly swift current during a freshet. On such oc- casions, even the expert Indian dared not venture out in the raging waters' for fear that his little bark would become unmanageable, be hurled against the precipitous banks, and be broken to pieces, and " big Injun " be drowned. The whites used the name " Baubaugo" for some time, and they, thinking that it required too great an amount of " wind " to speak the word, concluded to modify it to their own satisfaction, which they did, omitting the former " bau," and having it simply " Bango."
The dates of the arrival of the early settlers, and of the organ- ization of the township, and other items of history are almost buried in obscurity. The old pioneers that effected the first settle- ments in the midst of hundreds of wild savages of this township have long since passed off the " stage of action," and been lain beneath the sod. According to the evidence of Mr. Daniel Richason, who is the most anthentie source we have, Mr. Win. Mote was the first, he having settled here in 1830. The next was John McNey, who was followed by Messrs. James Davis, John Barnes, Mr. Kel- log, Jacob Rupel and Wm. Richason. Later came Azel and Horace Meads, Jacob Rupel (again), Isaac Morris and some others. The last named person remained in the township for only one year, then went to Olive township. Messrs. Wm. Riehason and James Davis erected a saw-mill on the Baugo at Jamestown (now called Jimtown). This town is situated on the bank of the Baugo, on section 26; it was laid out about the year 1835, by James Davis. The first honse was a frame, built by Samuel Cotterel. He also
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
opened the first store in the place. The town was almost aban- doned. A briek school-house is all the building in the place that is worth mentioning. The first election was held in the school-house at this place in 1836; the township was organized some time pre- vions to this. The first school-house in the township was built of logs in Jamestown. The county chapel is the M. E. denomination, and was built in 1854 by Zenas Belden. It is 30x40 feet in size, and is a very elegant and commodious structure. In 1874 a Baptist society erected a church on seetion 27. at a cost of $1.700. It is surrounded with a cemetery beautifully laid off in wards.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
The history of Baugo township will now be completed by its most interesting subject matter, namely, sketches of its principal citizens, many of whom are pioneers whose gray hairs are monu- ments of the hardships and privations of frontier life.
J. V. Crawford, farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Licking county, O., Oet. 20, 1833, and is a son of James and Mary Crawford, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. In 1830 the family moved to Wyandot county, O., where he grew to manhood, and in 1853 came to Noble county, this State, where he resided till 1864; then came to this county, where he has since been engaged in farming andstock- raising. Sept. 17, 1857, he was married to Lucinda M., daughter of John H. and Barbara Haines, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania. To this union were born 5 children. of whom 3 are living, viz .: Eustatia. John H. and Lnetta. The deceased are Altha B. and Barbara E. Mrs. Crawford died Sept. 9, 1871, and Mr. C. again married Feb. 13, 1873, Harriet Krieg, by whom he had 5 children, viz .: Clowe (Chloe) A., Oliver HI .. Susan R., Ches- ter C. and Ada S. Mr. C's. father was a first cousin of Col. Craw- ford, who was burned by the Indians on Battle Island, Wyandot county, Ohio. Mr. C. owns a farm of 133 acres, in sec. 13, worth $75 per acre.
Leonhard Frank is a native of Germany, and was born Feb. 7, 1830. His parents were George and Margaret Frank, also natives of Germany. In 1854 he came to America, landing in New York city May 17. He first located in Burlington county, N. J., and in 1855 removed to Crawford county, Ohio. Here he remained until 1867, when he came to St. Joseph county, Ind., where he remained until 1879 and then came to this county, where he is engaged in farming and stoek-raising, at which he has been eminently sueeess- ful. He was married Oet. 15, 1855, to Miss Mary Conger, by whom he has had 11 children; the 8 living are: George, Emeline and Caroline (twins), Lewis, Andrew, Theresa, Katie and John. Mr. Frank owns a farm of 146 acres on see. 11, Concord tp.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Abraham B. Holdeman was born in Wayne county, O., April 4, 1×34. His parents, Christian and Christiana Holdeman, were natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. His educational advantages were more extended than those of a great many others of that day, and we see the results: 20 years spent in teaching; May 4, 1856, he mar- ried Elizabeth Weed, and had 2 children, viz: Emma (now Mrs. Frank Gire) and Warren (dec.). Mrs. Holdeman departed this life May 11, 1860, and Mr. H. again married Sept. 15, same year, Mary, daughter of Isaac and Anna Kilmer. They have had 7 chil- dren, 5 of whom are living, viz: Abner, Anna E., Alice M ., Priscilla and Martha M., Sarah E. (dec.) and Menno Simon (dec). Mr. Ilolde- man owns a farm of 185 acres, in sec. 36, worth $75 per acre. Re- ligionsly he is a Mennonite and politically a Republican.
John Holderman, sr., was born in Tuscarawas county, O., June 6, 1812, and is a son of Jacob Holderman, of Pennsylvania. Mr. H. was reared on a farm. He was utterly deprived of the advan- tages of securing an education; from boyhood to manhood he was seen wielding the ax or mattock made by his father. In 1832 he married Charity Cnlp, by whom he had 3 children, 2 now liv- ing, viz .: Jacob, who married Catharine Mills, and Anna, now Mrs. Solomon B. Cnlp. Mrs. Holderman died about the year 1837, and Mr. H. again married in 1838, Anna Seese, by whom he has had 12 children; 9 of these are living, viz : Christopher, who married Miranda Mace; John, who married Nancy Helins; Rachel, now Mrs. Wm. Helms; Abraham, who married Lizzie Moon; David, who married Ella Bishop; Tobias, who married Lovina Crater; Lovina, now Mrs. John Page; James, who married Celestia Stoner; and Sarah, now Mrs. Jefferson Fish. Mr. Holderman owns 170 acres of land worth $50 per acre. Politically he is a Democrat.
Franklin Pontious was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 18, 1845, and is a son of Gabriel and Martha Pontious, who removed with their family to this connty in 1852. They settled on sec. 15, this tp., where the subject of this sketch still resides. engaged in farming. IIe was married May 26, 1870, to Miss Sarah Ann Fort- ney, danghter of John and Anna Fortney. She was born Jan. 25, 1851. They have 2 children, Ida N. and Martha E.
Horace Randolph was among the early pioneers of this county, having settled here in the spring of 1836. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y., Jan. 11, 1815. His parents were Abel and Phebe Randolph, the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. In 1834 Mr. Randolph went with his parents to Lenawee connty, Mich., and in the fall of 1835 went to Illinois, thence to this place. Mr. Randolph passed his youth on a farm, having access only to the common schools. Dec. 19, 1841, he mar- ried Polly A., daughter of John and Flora Faling, of New York. They have had 5 children, of whom + are living: Harriet, now Mrs. Byron Majors; Edwin, married to Mary Brower; Mary A., now Mrs. Daniel Breasecker, and Walter. Seth died Jan. 19, 1872.
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HISTORY OF ELKIIART COUNTY
Mr. Randolph's companion was taken away by death, thus leaving him alone, and March 12, 1874, he joined himself to one Mrs. Jane Belden (MeNey), with whom he still lives. To this union have been born 3 children, of whom 2 are living, viz .: Josephine and Charles. Feb. 14, 1866, Mr. Randolph's father died, aged 70, and now sleeps with many other pioneers in the Elkhart cemetery. IIe was a soldier in the war of 1812. He fled to America, but was impressed by the British, and for five years fought against the " people of his choiee." On one cold winter's morning he deserted his post and took his property, which consisted of a horse and sleigh, and ventured across the St. Lawrence on the ice. When some distance from shore the iee broke and his horse fell through and was drowned, but he merely escaped with his life to the free soil. He immediately enlisted in the American service and served till the war elosed, which lasted only five days after his enlistment. Mr. Randolph, the subject of this sketch, now resides in Bango tp .. where he settled in 1868, and is engaged in farming and rearing stock. In politics he is a Democrat.
We give a portrait of Mr. Randolph in this volume.
Lester Sawyer. farmer, see. 25; P. O., Elkhart; was born in Portage county, Ohio, May 23, 1832, and is a son of Levi and Car- oline (Beer) Sawyer, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. His early life was passed on a farm, receiving his eduea- tion in the common schools, and qualified himself for teaching, which he followed for seven years. In 1854 he came to this county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. Dec. 11, 1856, he was married to Olive V., daughter of Tas. E. and Catharine New- man, of Tioga county, N. Y. They have had 5 children, + of whom are living, viz .: Clara E., Mina Ella, Nora F., Willie E. and IIerbert (dec.). Mr. Sawyer's grandfather, Asa Sawyer, was an officer in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Sawyer's father was an early settler in this county. Mr. S. owns 108 acres of land, valned at $7,500. Politieally he is a Democrat.
Peter Stockbarger, farmer and carpenter, sec. 15; P. O., Oceola, Ind .; was born Feb. 23, 1834, in Perry county, O., and is a sou of John and Sophia Stockbarger, who were also born in Ohio. At the age of 11 years Mr. S. came with his parents to this county and settled in this tp., and here he was reared. His education was much limited. Oet. 29, 1868, he married Sarah Welch, by whom he has had 2 children, viz .: Hattie Bell and Milo Chelius. Mrs. S. was formerly the wife of Amos Meach, now deceased. Mr. S's grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and died at some sub- sequent time at the very advanced age of 102 years and 6 months. Mr. S. owns 1143 acres of land, worth $70 per aere. In politics he is a Demoerat.
Samuel J. Werner, son of John S. and Elizabeth Warner, was born in Stark county, O., July 22, 1836. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of the county. March 4,
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
1860, he wasmarried to Mary A., daughter of Jacob C. and Nancy Pamler, of Maryland. To them were born 5 children, viz .: Charles, Warren, Lloyd, Cora and Mattie. Mrs. Warner was born July 15, 1837. Mr. W. owns a farm of 1043 acres, bordering on the Elkhart river, and is worth $60 per acre. In politics he is a Demo- crat.
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
This is township No. 35 north, of range 7 east, is in the sonth- eastern corner of the county, and comprises one of the finest sec- tions of land in Northern Indiana. The surface is generally level, and the soil is a rich, sandy loam. The forests originally covering the land consisted of oak, maple, beech, poplar, etc. Elkhart river is a considerable stream running through the northern part of the ownship from east to west; Solomon creek, which takes a north westerly course and empties into Elkhart river below Benton; and Stoney creek, which runs a short distance through the northern sec- tion of the township and empties into the Elkhart. The Elkhart affords a good water-power, which was improved at an early day and now gives motion to a flouring mill at Benton village, and also a saw-mill run by Messrs. Scott & Andrews.
The landscape of the township is pleasing to the view. Its thorough improvement, its well-cultivated farms, its comfortable and often elegant homesteads, its smooth roads and substantial bridges, the variety presented to the view by these, and the diversity of forest and cleared land, orchards, abounding fields, churches, school-houses, all constitute a rural picture of rare beauty and pleasing effect as viewed by the visitor.
The township was settled mostly by emigrants from the German settlements of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the original settlers are commonly called Pennsylvania Dutch. They are industrious and economical people, and have compelled prosperity to smile upon them out of the wilderness and the hardships of pioneer life. Nearly all the early settlers speak the Pennsylvania German lan- guage, and it is said that one half of the present inhabitants can talk in that tongue.
Various religious denominations are represented in the commu- nity and several church edifices show the religious zeal of the people. These are constructed substantially, and with good taste. Under the influence of these centers of religious and moral teaching the people of Benton township are remarkable for their high religious and moral character. There are five church buildings within the township,-two Methodist. one Lutheran, one Evangelical and one Baptist church.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Politically the voting population of Benton is nearly equally divided between the two great leading parties. In a total number of 609 voters there is an average majority of 60 Republicans.
The first settler in Benton township was Matthew Boyd, who arrived in 1828 and prospected that year. He removed his family to Benton in 1829, and made a permanent settlement where the village now stands. His pre-emption certificate is dated Ang. 2, 1831, and bears the signature of President Andrew Jackson. Mr. Boyd established a canoe ferry across Elkhart river at Benton, which he maintained for several years. Mrs. Irwin Berkeypile, a danghter of Matthew Boyd, is now the oldest inhabitant of Benton and still resides in the village. Martin Vance, Solomon Hockert, Peter Darr, Z. Butler, Mr. Hire, the Ott family, John Longacre and the Jnday family were among the earlier comers to Benton.
In 1832 the village was laid out, the original town plat being taken from John Longacre's farm, and comprising 10 acres of land. Henry Beane laid it out. Afterward Mr. Boyd made an addition from his farm, and another was made from the farm of Mr. Samuel B. Clymer.
The first business building erected in Benton village was that by James Banta and Jesse D. Vail, about 1830, who kept a general stock of goods for sale to the settlers. The postoffice at Elkhart Prairie was removed to Benton in 1836, and Dr. F. W. Taylor became the first Postmaster. The first birth in Benton township was a danghter to John and Sylvia Longacre. Peter Darr built a saw-mill in Benton in 1836, and a grist-mill in 1844 or '45. Dr. F. W. Taylor was the first physician in the township, settling in 1838. The first school-house was erected in 1836 and Henry Beane was the first teacher. The first church erected in Benton was that by the Baptist denomination in 1838, all the inhabitants contribut- ing to defray the expense.
In 1838 Rev. Geo. Boyd, a Methodist preacher, arrived in Benton and began his labors. In 1839 his efforts resulted in a great revi- val, which strengthened the Methodists; and in 1845 the infant society had grown so large and influential as to be able to erect a church.
Rev. Andrew Henkel, the first Lutheran minister of Benton, came in 1847, and continued to serve the people of his faith until abont 1870, when he returned to Ohio, and was succeeded by Rev. M. M. Bartholomew. During Mr. Henkel's pastorate, and by his efforts, the Lutheran church edifice was erected in 1853.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
The first settlers of the township of Benton found the Pottawat- omie Indians located in the vicinity. They had a village where Hon. John Thompson now resides. They were frequent visitors at Benton village, especially after liquor was sold there. Under the influence of fire water they would often become boisterous, and would annoy the inhabitants considerably. Mr. Thos. Longacre relates an incident,-how on one occasion a number of drunken Indians were in a saloon, and Mr. Longacre, being then a boy, was hanging about the place, when he sauntered up to a gun which one of the copper-skins had left standing against the saloon, and began caressing the weapon. The Indian did not like this familiarity with his favorite gun, and rushing at the boy, he jerked out the ramrod and began to lay it on the devoted back of young Long- acre without mercy. The boy ran for his life, the Indian after him, cutting the boy's back with the cruel ramrod at every leap. The pursuit was kept up for a long way, and the boy nearly died with fright and pain. This was the favorite method with the Indians about Benton; if they could frighten women and children nearly to death they considered that their reputation for valor was complete.
The Fort Wayne road passes through Benton, and this fact was an important one in the early history of the township, as it opened a means of communication east and west,-a great advantage to settlers.
The military record of Benton township is as bright as any of its contemporaries, considering its population. It sent a large number of soldiers to the front during the war of the rebellion. The citizens subject to military duty were obliged to submit to two drafts, but endured the ordeal without complaint.
In the same year (1871) in which the great Chicago fire oc- curred Benton township suffered great loss by forest conflagration. The long-continued dronth had dried the black loam and muck of the lowlands as if in a kiln, and the leaves, brush, weeds and grass were like tinder. The passing locomotives, sending out sparks that dropped upon the combustible material everywhere abonnding, soon kindled fires in numerous places, and the entire surface of the township was soon threatened with sweeping destruc- tion. The fire ran through the woods and arrived in the muck of the lowlands, uprooting trees, and causing them to fall with a suc- cession of crashing noises that sounded dreadfully to the farmers during the livelong night. There was great danger that the town
Jimun Hillich
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
of Millersburg would be destroyed, and large companies of men were constantly on the alert to fight back the fire. It is estimated that during this frightful time over 1,000 acres of timber were de- stroyed, and a large amount of fencing, hay and other property was consumed.
Many of the early settlers vividly remember their early pioneer experiences, and relate to the interested listener stories of life in the woods when they were hewing farms out of the wilderness. The settler usually plunged into the primeval forest, where his claim was located, often with nothing but his ax and a few house- hold utensils to begin with. Sometimes he had an ox team, sometimes a horse and a cow. Sometimes there was nothing with which to support lite but what roamed, bounded or flitted through the forest, or darted in the stream in the shape of flesh of animal or bird. The deer was the favorite source of food supply, and a common manner of making this reprisal from the forest was to hunt the animal in the night along streams by means of the boat and the torch. The deer were sometimes driven into the streams by the swarms of mosquitoes, fifty of the mild-eyed beanties often being seen huddled together in the water at once. This dilemma of the deer was the hunters' opportunity. They would get into their boats, light a flaming torch in the bow, which would, by its brightness, divert the observation of the deer from the hunters who lay low in the boat behind it. Then the eraft would be allowed to float gently down the stream toward the deer that stand in the water blinking at the light, fighting off the mosquitoes, and all un- conseious of the eomning danger. When the boat had floated near enough to be within easy range, the report of the rifle would ring out, the night air would be eleft with singing balls, and one or more deer would be put where the sting of the myriad pests would never more torment them.
Wild turkey also abounded, and they were taken in large num- bers.
The only way of carrying the mail in the early days was on horse- back, and the grist was taken to and from the mill in the same way. Living at long distances from each other, neighbors were more sociable and free-hearted than now, and would often visit each other, the visitors remaining with the entertainers for two days at a time. The early settlers now mourn and lament the decadence of the old- time hospitality and liberality. There was a novel exchange cur- rency in those days, which was neither the "money of the world "
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
nor the money of fiat, but was the currency of the woods, and was based on intrinsic value, namely, " coon-skins." The pelts of these lovers of coon were considered good as gold, and were taken in exchange for all kinds of commodities, and the pioneer was con- sidered a base-born wretch and no patriot if he refused a proffer of this kind of pelt.
As is common in all new timbered countries the early settlers of Benton made sad havoc with the giants of the forest. They were mercilessly laid low with the cleaving ax, and consumed by fire where they lay. Thus an enormous amount of prospective wealth was destroyed. Cleared land the settlers must have, and they could not wait for the demand of growing cities or the coming railroad. To show how valuable this burned timber would now be had it been preserved, this instance is ednced: James A. Roach recently sold a single walnut tree for $100! How many of such valuable trees were reduced to nearly worthless ashes and went up in smoke, we can now only conjecture.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
As an important part of the history of Benton township, we pre- sent biographical sketches of most of the early settlers and promi- nent citizens. The national character of the parties, the dates of their arrival here, the names of the members of their families and their present situation, etc., will be of the greatest interest to the community in which they reside, and constitute matter of the greatest valne to the historian of future times.
Melvin Alford, son of Hiram and Susannah (Adams) Alford, was born in Ohio in 1841; his father was a native of Vermont, and of Scotchi descent, and his mother of Pennsylvania, and of English ancestry. He was educated in the common schools of Ohio, and learned the business of stone and brick laying, in which he has been very successful in a business point of view; has done some of the best work in the city of Goshen. April 23, 1866, he married Loramie Beatty, and they have 1 child, Leland B., born March 4, 1877. In 1861 Mr. Alford enlisted in Co. I, 49th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was discharged at the close of the war in 1865. He started out as Sth Corporal and was mustered out as 2d Corporal; he was in every battle in which the army of the Cumberland engaged, under Col. Gibson, one of Ohio's greatest orators. Mr. A. was never in the hospital during the service. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a resident of Elkhart county most of the time since 1865, and has followed farming for the last nine years, and also kept his other business going most of the time. He owns 104 acres of good land on sec. 1.
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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.
Henry Alwine was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 14, 1836, son of John and Elizabeth (Rean) Alwine, of German ancestry; educated in the common school; came to Indiana with his parents in 1848; in 1856 he married Rebecca Mishler, and they had 2 children. Mr. Alwine's second wite was Miss Minerva Ann Platts, who bore him 3 children. He was married a third time, to Miss Mary Bangher, and by this marriage they had 4 children. Of all the children 7 are now living to cheer Mr. Alwine in his declining years. In 1878 Mr. A. left his farm and went into mercantile business in a ham- let called '. New Cincinnati." In politics Mr. A. is a Republican, and in religion a member of the United Brethren Church.
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