History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 72

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272

USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 72

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Two men stand out prominently in the history of the New Palestine school. During the seventies the school had a very bad reputation for dis- cipline, etc. A number of teachers had been unsuccessful, when William . 1. Wood appeared upon the scene. lle was a small man physically, yet he possessed the disciplinary ability necessary to "straighten out" the school.

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Mr. Wood remained in the school for twelve years or more, and during the latter seventies and eighties stood as one of the first teachers in the county. Elmer Andrews took charge of the high school in 1903, and remained prin- cipal of the school for a period of nine successive years. During his services the school was certified and was placed upon a firm foundation. from which, in all probability, it will never be shaken.

It is also worthy of record that Charles Ballard has been the janitor of this school for just about a quarter of a century.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sugar Creek township has a population of 1.673, as shown by the United States census report of 1910. In the spring of 1915. 425 children between the ages of six and twenty-one years were enumerated in the township. Two hundred and ninety-three pupils were enrolled in the schools during the winter of 1914-15. Of these, 40 were in the high school and 253 in the elementary grades. The total cost of maintaining the elementary schools for the year 1914-15 was $6.940; the high school, $2.396. The teachers were paid for the year. $6.170. The estimated value of all school property is $25.000, as reported by the township trustee on August 1. 1915. The total assessment of taxables in the township, including New Palestine, as reported by the assessor in the spring of 1914 was $2,011.010. Sixty children were transported to school at a cost of $1.694 to the township.

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.

Following are the names of the men who have served the township in the capacity of trustee since the office was created in 1859: Robert P. Brown. 1859: Ernst H. Faut, 1865: Edward P. Scott. 1872; David Ulrey, 1876: William C. Barnard, 1878-1880: Sylvester Wagner, 1882-1884: John E. Dye. 1886; Albert Helms. 1888; Ezra Eaton, 1890; John Manche, 1890: Henry Fralich, 1894; Van B. Cones, 1000; Velasco Snodgrass, 1904: John Burkhart, 1908, and Scott Brandenburg, 1914.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Following are the names of the men who have presided over the local courts of the township, with the dates of their appointment or election : Charles Atherton; George Leachman. 1834-1870; G. W. Robinson, 1844; George O'Brien, 1846; Adam Hawk, 1851-1860: George Barnett. 1856; W. H. Dye. 1868; E. S. Bottsford, 1872; Henry .A. Schreiber. 1874: George W. Kingery, 1878: John M. MeKelvey. 1880-1888: Daniel W. Place, 1882:

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John G. Jacobi, 1884-1888; Andrew J. Downing, 1888; Adam P. Hogle. 1894-1914; George E. Lamb, 1898: Levi McCormick, 1900; Homer Leon- ard, 1906-1910.

Among the earlier justices of the peace the name of George Leachman appears more often probably than the name of any other justice in the county. From the date of the organization of the county until the early seventies his name appears upon practically all of the deeds and mortgages from the southern half of Sugar Creek township. Of late years the name of Adam P. Hogle has been prominent as a justice.

Jones township for a number of years included a part of Sugar Creek and also a part of Buck Creek township. During its existence the follow- ing men served as justice of the peace for that township: Charles Atherton, 1843; Daniel Skinner, 1840-45-50; Isaac Travis, 1846; Joseph Marshall, 1849: Abraham Stutsman. 1851 : John H. Hazen, 1852; Allen Caylor, 1852.

COUNTY OFFICERS.

A number of the humble servants of the people have been chosen from Sugar Creek township, among whom are Samuel Shockley. commissioner and representative ; William McCance, Enos O'Brien, John O'Brien, Willian H. Dye, John E. Dye, Edward P. Scott and John Manche. county com- missioners; R. P. Brown, treasurer and sheriff; E. H. Faut and W. C. Barnard, treasurers; John V. Coyner, county surveyor ; Charles J. Richman. auditor; George J. Richman, county superintendent of schools : Edward Eik- man, joint senator; Mack Warrum, sheriff.

RAILROADS AND INTERURBANS.

Sugar Creek township has two railroads and two interurban lines. the history of which is given elsewhere.

GERMAN SETTLEMENT.

The nucleus of what has since become generally known as the "German Settlement" was formed in 1828. In that year Carl Julius Leopold Albert von Bonge was banished from the Fatherland because of participating in a political revolution. Bonge was a nobleman and had received a classical education in Prussia, his native state. He came to Sugar Creek township and entered the southeast quarter of section 12. township 15, range 5. . 1 companion, Albert Lange, who was also banished by Prussia came with Bonge and entered the northeast quarter of section 14. township 15, range 5. the land upon which school No. 3 is now located. Bonge's land was just north

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and west of this school. Bonge remained in Sugar Creek township until about 1840, when he removed to Marion county. Lange had moved to Terre Haute a few years before and had taken up the profession of law. He was later elected mayor of Terre Haute and served twice as auditor of Vigo county. During the Civil War he served two terms as auditor of the state of Indiana.

About 1833 Anton Wishmeier came from Minden-on-the-Weser, in East Prussia, and settled in the north central part of section 24, township 15, range 5. His buildings stood about eighty rods southwest of the present German Lutheran church. A tree or two of the old orchard may still be . standing. When Wishmeier came he brought his wagon, harness and farm- ing implements from Germany. He bought horses in Baltimore and drove from that city to the home just mentioned.

In 1834 Dr. Rosenberg, who had gone from Germany to the state of Illi- nois, wrote some articles for the Sunday school journals of East Prussia. He described the beauties of Illinois, dwelling especially upon its broad prai- ries, its beautiful flowers, etc. Through reading this literature a group of about sixteen young people at the town and in the vicinity of Minden-on-the Weser were inspired to seek their fortunes in the state of Illinois. They left home on Easter Sunday, in 1835, and set sail from Bremen, reaching Balti- more after a stormy passage. Several of the group remained at Baltimore and at other points in the East; others came by wagon from Baltimore to Wheeling, West Va. Their goods were stored in large, heavy oak boxes, some of which may still be found among their descendants. One wagon was sufficient to carry their effects. A few of the company rode. while others walked. At nights sleeping apartments were made, both in the wagon and under the wagon. They were all in good health and, from their own reminiscences it seems that they had quite a jolly trip crossing the mountains of Pennsylvania and western Virginia. From Wheeling they came by boat to Cincinnati, and there at the wharf stood Dr. Rosenberg. To their bitter disappointment, if not to their utter consternation. he told them that the state of Illinois was the unhealthiest spot on the face of the earth; that milk sickness was so prevalent that people were dying everywhere. Several of the company wept. Others, including Ludwig Richmann, were acquainted with Anton Wishmeier, who had settled in Sugar Creek township, and in their extremity they decided to find him.

A wagon was procured and the company started northwest from Cin- cinnati, reaching the National road probably at Cambridge City. They then came on to Greenfield. where it seems that the taverns were filled. The

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driver finally rented a blacksmith shop for the night. Here the company stayed, and the next morning went on west to the point now known as Brier's switch. Arthur Carr lived on the west half of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 1, township 15, range 5, and their first night in Sugar Creek township was spent at his residence. From this point they found Wishmeier, and the remaining members of the company made other homes in Sugar Creek town- ship. Among them were Christian Spilker. William ( Luke) Rosener, Chris- tian Steinmeier, Sr., and his three children: Christian Steinmeier, Jr., and his two daughters. Louise and Sophia: Lewis Richmann and Louisa Bolme. and probably one or two others. Louise Bohne was married to Lewis Rich- mann soon after they reached their destination. She is familiarly remem- bered as "Grandma" Richmann throughout the western and southern parts of Sugar Creek township. It was she who became the author's foster- mother in his infancy : who spoke the sweet gentle words and who gave him the kindly care that his own mother was not here to give.

.Among other Germans who came and whose descendants may still be found in the township, are Jacob Schramm, France Landwehr, Christian Schildmeier. Christian Miller, Anton Eickman. C. Henry Rosener. F. I .. Christian Rosener, Anton Fink. Gottlieb Ostermeier, Christian F. Hoff, Anthony Kirkhoff. Charles Klopper, Wilhelm Langenberger. Christian Knoop. William Borman, Carl Oswald, Adam Merlau, Benjamin Rothe. Carl Breuer, Wilhelm Ruschaupt. Anton Meier, John Greim, Conrad Gundrum. George Lantz, Ernest H. and Ernst W. Faut.

Jacob Schramm sent an agent named Havemeier from Germany to select some land for him. Havemeier selected the southeast quarter of section 12. township 15. range 5, in Sugar Creek township. He also had a house built. part of the ground cleared. and in 1835 Mr. Schramm came. He soon became one of the most enterprising farmers and citizens of the county. He erected the first frame barn in Sugar Creek township, which is still standing. While the National road was being planked he also constructed a plank road from his home on the south side of section 12 to the National road. He charged toll for the use of this road, and the people from that vicinity and those located south and east of his residence commonly took the plank road to Indianapolis to do their marketing. He also established the first tile factory in Sugar Creek township, making first the "horseshoe" tile, and later the flat-bottomed tile. This factory was established about 1863. soon after Isaac Beeson began manufacturing tile in Blue River township. Dur- ing the fifties, and before the manufacture of tile in the county, he had a carload of stone shipped which he used to put in blind ditches. He accumu-

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lated a great deal of wealth during his lifetime and used portions of it in traveling. He made several trips to Germany, and at least one to Jerusalem and other points in the Holy Land. Before his death he was instrumental in having a free gravel road constructed in the German Settlement, and by virtue of a clause in his will he left two thousand dollars, the income of which was to be used for the maintenance of the road.

William Borman, though of very humble station, lived to be just about one hundred years of age. Ile died in the early eighties. As a young man he had been in the Napoleonic wars, and was one of Napoleon's soldiers taken from Prussia in his famous campaign against Moscow.

Germans kept coming into the neighborhood of the settlement until about twenty-five years ago, since which time there probably have been no accessions at all by immigration. Some of the older families hive entirely disappeared, but the descendants of most of them may still be found in the community. They have been a frugal, industrious people, and have made their portion of Sugar Creek township a garden spot in the county. The land has been drained, roads have been constructed and the best of buildings may be seen upon their farms.

Ernst II. Faut located at New Palestine and took up the trade of a blacksmith. He was shrewd and intellectual, and soon came to be an influen- tial man, not only among the Germans, but as a man of the county. He served both as assessor and township trustee of Sugar Creek township, and later as county treasurer of Hancock county. He used to say that he car- ried the vote of the old German Settlement in his vest pocket, and this came near being a literal truth. They laid before him all their troubles, foreign and domestic, and counseled with him upon all matters. He wrote the wills of the living and the obituaries of those who had passed through the veil of eternity.

GERMAN CHURCHES.

The first German church is said to have been established in 1836 by a number of Germans who came from Hamburg, Germany. They built a little log house on the west line of section 24, township 15, range 5. just south of the railroad. The first minister was a man named Kiebler. He was followed by the Rev. Muth. a United Brethren minister, who is mentioned in connection with other churches in the county. It seems always to have been denominated an Evangelical AAssociation.

The Germans who settled to the north and cast of this locality came principally from East Prussia. They held tenaciously to their old form of worship and in 18441 called the Rev. J. G. Kunz, of Indianapolis, to preach

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for them. Rev. Kunz preached every fourth Sunday for several years and laid the foundation of the present

GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCHI.

This congregation at first worshipped in the little log church located on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 15, range 5. It stood on the east side of the road, immediately south of the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton railway and just across the highway from the present Schildmeier cemetery. The congregation worshipped in this little log church until 1851, when the present frame church was built. On March 28, 1845. Christian Schildmeier and Maria, his wife, sold and conveyed to the "Church of Zion," in consideration of two dollars and fifty cents, one-fourth acre upon the following express conditions : "That said land is to be used for no other purpose but for a burying ground and that there shall never be a dwell- ing house built on said land, and further, that the members of the Church of Zion shall fence said ground with a good fence and keep said fence in good repair. and should the meeting house that is adjoining the above described burying ground be discontinued at any time hereafter, the said Christian Schildmeier and his heirs or assigns are to have the burying ground back for the sum of two dollars and fifty cents." The burying ground above described is the ground now known as the Schildmeier cemetery.

The ten acres of ground now owned by the congregation, upon which the church, school, parsonage and teacher's residence are located, was first bought from Anton Frederich Wishmeier and Maria Wishmeier, his wife, on September 24, 1848, for one hundred and fifty dollars. It is located near the middle of the north line of section 24, township 15, range 5. The grantees named in the deed from the Wishmeiers are .Anthony Reasoner. Charles Henry Reasoner, Christian Rethmeier, William Lewis Reasoner, Christian Spilker, Charles Rethmeier, William Brier, Anthony F. Wishmeiei. AAnthony F. Rabe, Charles Miller, Gottlieb Ostermeier. Anthony Eikmann and Christian Schildmeier. The deed recites that the real estate is conveyed "as a site for a school house and parsonage, and it is stipulated between the parties respectively that if any other person of the neighborhood shall join in the association or company and pay their proportion for the land, and have their names recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose, then in that case those persons so joining shall be joint sharers in the real estate."

The first parsonage and a little log school were built on this real estate i11 1848; the church, as stated above, was not built until 1859. The Rev. A. Brandt was the first resident pastor, who came about 1848 or 1849. The

REV. J. G. KUNZ, For almost 30 years pastor of the German Lutheran Church

GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, PARSONAGE, TEACHER'S RESIDENCE SCHOOL, SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP AND

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relation between Brandt and the congregation seems to have been rather unpleasant ; for some cause he brought suit against Christian Schildmeier, one of his members, and was twice defeated before George Leachman, a justice of the peace. The congregation did not support Brandt in his con- tentions, and a split occurred which came near causing the dissolution of the church. A number of members living to the north and west withdrew permanently and organized the German Evangelical church, which now stands just west of Cumberland. Others in the immediate neighborhood withdrew and never returned. Brandt was followed by Revs. Hermann and Scheurmann. It developed that Hermann was a free thinker. His congrega- tion came to feel that his sermons did not ring true, and finally one of the brethren asked him whether he believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. "Certainly," replied Rev. Herman, "we are all sous of God." This lacked a great deal of satisfying the orthodox German, and the congregation had another crisis to pass through. Rev. Kunz was then recalled and remained as pastor of the church from 1853 until 1882.

The land above referred to was held in the name of the entire member- ship of the congregation, as shown by the deed, until October 13, 1857, when it was deeded to Christian Frederich Reasoner. The following members are named as grantors in this deed ; Charles Rethmeier, Elinore Rethmeier. Will- iam Brier, Christina Brier, Anthony Wishmeier, Elinore Wishmeier. . Anton Rabe, Louise Rabe, Charles Miller, Christina Miller, Gottlieb Ostermeier, Sophia Ostermeier, Anton L. Reman, Sophia Reman, Christian Schildmeier, Maria Schildmeier, Anton Frederick Reasoner. Louisa Roesner, Charles Henry Rosener, Sophia Rosener, Christian Hoff, Christina Hoff, Ernest Cre- ger. Sophia Creger, Christian Miller, Christina Miller, Henry Meier. Louise Meier, Christian Rethmeier, Elinore Rethmeier, William Rosener, Christian Spilker, and Sophia Spilker.

On November 10, 1857. Christian Frederich Reasoner and Elinore Rea- soner, his wife, conveyed the church lands back to Henry Meier. Charles Meier, Anton Henry Reasoner and C. Henry Reasoner, trustees of the German Evangelical Zion's church of Doe creek. The deed recites that this convey- ance is made "with the express condition that said land shall be used for religious and school purposes of said denomination, and further, should a split occur in the congregation. then the right of the property in said land shall go exclusively to that portion which shall adhere, without reservation, to the full and true confession of the above named Evangelical Lutheran church, whether such portion shall be the majority of the entire congregation or not." The congregation still holds the land by virtue of this deed.

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The original frame church was built by a man named Kaiser, in 1859. at a cost of eight hundred dollars, and was dedicated on September 26 of , that year. It was remodeled in 1892 by Charles F. Richman. A pipe organ was installed and dedicated on June 18, 1899. The services in the church were conducted in German until 1902. when English services were held in the afternoon on one Sunday of each month. On October 12. 1903. a res- olution was adopted to have English and German services every third Sun- clay. On January 2, 1905, a resolution was adopted to have English services only on the morning of every third Sunday: all other services were to be conducted in German. This resolution still stands.

A Ladies' .Vid Society was organized in the church in 1903; it now con- tains thirty-two members and meets once each month at the home of one of the members. Its purpose is to help poor students who are preparing for the ministry, and to keep up the interior of the church. The Ladies' Society bought a new altar for the church in 1903. It has papered the church twice. and in 1914 paid for revarnishing the benches. During the pastorate of Rev. Ilenkel the society and the entire congregation contributed generously toward the education of his sons for the ministry.

The old log school house which stood between the present parsonage and the church was used until 1878. At that time the present school house was built. A new parsonage was built in 1885 by Charles F. Richman, and the parsonage was enlarged by the addition of several rooms in 1893. Fol- lowing is the list of pastors who have served since the organization of the present congregation : J. G. Kunz. 1853-1882; Frederick Zagel. 1882-84: William K. Kaiser. 1884-92: H. Henkel. 1892-1903: F. Markworth, 1903 to the present time. G. Markworth, the father of the present pastor. has acted as assistant pastor of the church since 1905. For many years, in the absence of the pastor. Henry Meier, whose name appears so prominently in the history of this church, read sermons from the books of Dr. Walter or Dr. Luther. Several of the above named pastors also taught in the church school. Rev. Kunz taught in the old log building and also in the present building for a period of almost thirty years. He had a large family of girls and at differ- ent times they assisted him, especially his daughters. Maria and Bertha.

During the sixties a teacher, named Lahusen, was employed by the congregation. He was to receive a salary of possibly one hundred and eighty or two hundred dollars per year, and was to "board around" with the people. staying one week at each house. He stayed part of the year on this plan, but one night, while he was boarding at Noelting's, he disappeared and never returned, nor was anything ever heard of him afterward.

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Following is also a list of teachers who afterward served the congrega- tion: Schoenhart, 1870-81; Wagner, 1881-83: M. Kunzelman came about 1883 or 1884 and stayed until 1897: Oscar Gotch, 1897-1602, after which Mr. Kunzehman and the Rev. Markworth each taught a few months. Will- inm Binder was called in October. 1903, and remained until March, 1905: Theodore Markworth taught from September, 1907. to December, 1900: Carl Buuck, February 10, 1910, to October, 1912: Rev. Markworth then taught again for several months. The present teacher. Gustav Scheiderer. was called in September. 1913.

To the German Lutherans the house that has been dedicated to the wor- ship of God is a sacred place. For this reason they will permit no meetings 10 be held within the church except regular services and business meetings for the administration of the affairs of the church. Nothing of a secular nature is permitted to come in. Even the Christmas entertainments for years and years have consisted of exercises by the children in telling the story of Christ's birth and reciting the prophecies, etc .. pointing to Christ. The children are taught the Bible and Bible history in the parochial school, and they are able to recite verses of Scripture with ease. They have a beautiful custom of responding to the questions of the pastor on Christmas eve within the hallowed precincts of the church. The following little statement con- cerning these Christmas entertainments appeared in the Hancock Democrat on December 30, 1880: "At the German Lutheran church, under the super- intendency of Rev. J. G. Kunz, the Christmas tree and the appropriate declamations and the Christmas songs, and the extra large amount of pres- ents on the occasion, was surely the greatest affair ever exhibited in Han- cock county. This congregation is the most numerous in membership and wealth, and the members are very liberal in their donations for church and school purposes and have celebrated Christmas in the greatest manner imaginable, which would have been a credit to a metropolitan city, as it is much credit to the church and its worthy minister and will bear imitation."

The writer of the above article, who listened to the "declamations." probably did not understand German, and did not know that these "declama- tions" consisted of portions of the Scripture. The Christmas tree, with the angel at its top and its burning candles, has always been a feature of the Christmas entertainment. Any departure from the simple Christ story that has always been so beautifully and joyfully told by the children must detract from the beauty of their Christmas celebration. The children are always young-the story never grows oll and never becomes tiresome.

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THE GERMAN CORNET BAND.

Rev. Henkel had some knowledge of brass instruments and band music. and organized a band among the boys of the congregation, when he came to the Settlement in 1892. Several scon dropped out, but the following mem- bers played for several years: Fred Wampner, Christian Hoff. Will Knoop. Henry Knoop, Fred Bruns, George Sander. Otto Schramm, George J. Rich- man, Fred Harmening. Lewis H. Merlau, Lewis Richman, Henry Brier and Ed Knoop.

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History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions, Part 72

Author: Richman, George J Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc. Number of Pages: 1272

Author: Richman, George J
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Federal publishing co., inc.
Number of Pages: 1272