USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 59
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JAMES W. RHODES, blacksmith and wagon maker, of An- drews, is a native of Fayette County, Ind., where he was born, July 4, 1847, being the eighth in a family of ten children born to Ezekiel and Isabel (Williams) Rhodes, who were natives of Vir- ginia and Kentucky, respectively, their marriage occurring in subject's native county. They removed to Wabash County in the year 1848, where they lived until their death, the latter dying in 1853, and the former, 1864. Our subject was reared in Wabash County, receiving a common school education, such as the facil- ities of those days afforded. At the remarkably young age of sixteen years, November 7, 1863, he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Company L, of the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment of Indiana Cavalry, where he served
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until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at In- dianapolis, October, 1865. He was present and participitated in the battle of Nashville, in addition to several minor skirmishes. After his return from the army he engaged to learn his trade, at which he has since worked, and he has been very successful. He has a good shop and enjoys a good, profitable trade. Sep- tember 18, 1870, his marriage with Clara Brewer was solemnized, and to their union three children were born, of which these two are now living: Benjamin and Gertrude. March 19, 1886, Mr. Rhodes suffered the bereavement of losing his beloved wife. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the town school board. October, 1880, he located at Andrews, and is doing a thriving business.
JOHN E. SPENCER, of Huntington County, was born in Wayne County, this State, December 7, 1840. He was third of nine children - six sons and three daughters - born to William L. and Hannah L. (Lancaster) Spencer, both natives of Har- ford County, Md. The former was of Scotch and English, and the latter of English descent. When his parents removed from Wayne to Huntington County, and settled in the woods of Dallas Township, our subject was but four years old. His boy- hood and youth were spent assisting to clear and cultivate his father's farm. In winter he attended the district school, receiv- ing a fair knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning. Later on he taught school, during the winter of 1864 and 1865. In the meantime he had begun to farm for himself, and in July, 1862, he settled on a farm near Lincolnville, Wabash Co. In the spring of 1865 he returned to Dallas Township, and in Sep- tember, 1869, he emigrated to Kansas. There he pursued the vocation of a farmer, until July, 1875, when he again returned to Dallas Township, in which he still resides. He continued in agricultural pursuits until April, 1886, since which time he has superintended the management of the Huntington Creamery Co. He was married July 16, 1862, to Zada A. King, daughter of Thomas W. and Sally (Thompson) King, both natives of Dutch- ess County, N. Y. Mrs. Spencer was born in Henry County, this State, in 1837. She died, February 7, 1876, and on the 7th day of February, 1878, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Olive Spencer, daughter of George W. and Jane (Hall) Spencer, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter a native Ohio. Mrs. Olive Spencer was born in Wabash County, this State, March 27, 1855. By his first wife Mr. Spencer was the father of five children: Harriet K., Allice D., Albert L., Harry K., and Tillie May, of whom the first, second and fourth are deceased. He and his present wife have had born to them four children: Lee W., Linden H., Mary V., and a son that died in infancy, un- named. Our subject is a member of the Quaker Church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and an ardent
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Republican in politics. He has frequently been elected to var- ious township offices, but it was always against his will.
DANIEL WINTRODE, a citizen of Dallas Township, and a member of the family that was one of its first settlers, is a native of Stark County Ohio, born near Canton, November 7, 1824, be- ing the eighth in a family of thirteen children born to Henry and Elizabeth (Shiveley) Wintrode, the former a native of Delaware. They emigrated to Indiana and Huntington County from Ohio in the fall of 1838, locating permanently in Dallas Township, of which they remained residents until their death. Our immediate subject was reared to manhood in this township, receiving a common school education, such as the facilities of those days afforded. He remained at home and assisted his parents on the farm un- til he attained the age of twenty-four years. January 11th, 1849 his marriage with Hannah Beauchamp was solemnized. She was a daughter of Russ and Hannah Beauchamp, and to their union nine children have been born, of whom these six are now living: Henry R., who married Emma Rynearson; Curtis C. whose wife was Martha Jones; Ruth A., now Mrs. John Holdren; Levi Albert, unmarried; Lizzie F., and Samuel P .; Lillie D., who died the wife of Albert Fullheart, and Charles O., Jeanafre A., are the deceased children. He has always made farming his occu- pation and he has been very successful. He now owns about 330 acres of well improved land, which includes considerable town property. He belongs to the Odd Fellows' fraternity Loon Creek Lodge, No. 322. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Wintrode, for the seven years immediately subsequent to his coming to Huntington County, was engaged in work for the Miami Indians. He acquired their language and frequently served as interpreter for traders. He relates many interesting anecdotes, among which was a narrow escape from being shot by an Indian known as Slim Mr. Jimica, while engaged in test- ing their skill as marksmen. Mr. Wintrode had fired and hit centre. The Indian after examining the target reported back to Mr. Wintrode, you have hit centre and I am going to kill you, and would have carried out his threat had it not been for the intervention of a squaw who knocked Slim Mr. Jimica's gun to one side just as he fired. He was frequently present at their war dances. Mr. Wintrode was in those days physically a pow- erful man, and several times worsted several of the tribe who were determined to kill this same Slim Mr. Jimica who had in- curred the enmity of certain ones of the tribe by killing some of their friends.
SAMUEL WINTRODE, a prominent farmer of Dallas Town- ship, and a member of the family, which was its first settlers south of the river, was a native of Preble County, born August 2, 1837, being the youngest of a family of thirteen children, born to Henry and Elizabeth (Shiveley) Wintrode. There our subject
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
was reared on the farm, remaining with his parents until he at- tained the age of twenty-four years, receiving a common school education such as was to be acquired in the primitive log school houses of those days. October 14, 1860, his marriage with Clar- rissa Stephenson was solemnized, and to their union twelve chil- dren have been born, of whom these ten are now living: Daniel O., Sarah L., wife of Simon Beauchamp, David N., Minnie A., Albert and Alonzo (twins), Maude, Jacob, Lodella and Earl; Samuel and Flonala, were the deceased children. February, 1860, he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Com- pany B, One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged September 5, 1865. He has always made farming his occupation and he has been very successful. He now owns 314 acres of improved land. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., a member of Loon Creek Lodge, No. 322, also belongs to the G. A. R. frater- nity. In politics he is a Democrat and was honored with an elec- tion to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1874, while a resi- dent of Polk Township. Mrs. Wintrode is a daughter of Samuel and Phœbe (Buffington) Stephenson, who were among the first settlers of Polk Township.
JACOB M. ZINSMEISTER, a farmer of Dallas Township, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born near Steinwenden, in Can- ton of Lanstuhl, February 5, 1833, being the eldest of a family of eight children born to Jacob and Eve (Schreor) Zinsmeister. He was reared in his native country. He received a common school education, remaining at home with his parents until he attained the age of twenty years, when, in May, 1853, he emi- grated to the United States, and first settled in Stark County, Ohio, where he continued to reside, with the exception of three years, when he lived in Montgomery County, Ohio, until 1867, when he removed to this country, where he has since made his home. April 30, 1867, his marriage with Margaret Urshel was solemnized, and to their union twelve children have been born: Emma, Katie A., Eliza, John P., Amanda, Flora, Phoebe, Will- iam F., Mary, Charles L., Joseph and Benjamin. For ten years, from 1856 to 1866, he worked at the carpenter's trade. Since 1867 he has made farming his occupation, and he has been very suc- cessful. He now owns 120 acres of well improved land, the im- provements, including a fine commodious brick dwelling, and his barns, etc., are in keeping with the house. He and wife are members of the German Evangelical Church. He is a man of pronounced temperance views, and is identified with the Prohi- bition party.
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER X.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP - LOCATION AND NATURAL FEATURES - ERA OF SETTLEMENT - LAND ENTRIES - ORGANIZATION - RELIG- IOUS - IMPROVEMENTS - SUNDRY EVENTS - ROANOKE - BIO- GRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
J ACKSON TOWNSHIP lies in the extreme northeast corner of Huntington County, and includes a geographical area of thirty-six square miles, designated as Congressional Township 29 north, Range 10 east. Little Wabash, the principal water course, flows through the township from northeast to southwest, and receives a number of small tributaries, among which are those having the euphonious names of Bull, Cow and Calf creeks, all of which water and drain considerable areas of rich farming lands. The surface of the township is diversified, being broken along the creeks and gently undulating in the central, western and northern parts. The inhabitants are an agricultural people, and within the borders of the township are some of the best improved farms, fine dwellings and other evidences of pros- perity as are to be seen in any other division of the county.
Era of Settlement .- The completion of the Wabash & Erie Canal through Jackson Township, early in the thirties, offered inducements to settlers, and among the first comers were a num- ber of workmen employed in the construction of that waterway. Several of these were sojourners rather than settlers, and their stay being limited to a very short period. Their names, together with all facts concerning them, have long since faded from the memory of the oldest inhabitants. From the most reliable infor- mation accessible, the first permanent settlement within the present area of the township appears to have been made by Jared Darrow, as early as the year 1837. He moved here from Rochester, New York, and settled a short distance south of the present site of Roanoke, where he made substantial improve- ments, clearing the first land and raising the first crop in the northeastern part of Huntington County. His family, at the time, consisted of four persons, one of whom, a son, Dr. D. C. Darrow, afterward became a leading physician and prominent business man of Peru, Indiana.
The following year, 1838, Frank Dupuy moved to the town- ship and settled where David Roberts now lives, about half a mile west of Roanoke. Others of 1838, were: Nathaniel Decker and father, Mr. South wick, James Thompson and Kennel L. Eskridge, all of whom located in the vicinity of Roanoke Village. In May, 1829, Paul H. Salts joined the settlement, locating near what was then known as the Dickey Lock, on the present site of Roanoke,
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
where he lived a couple of years, working in the meantime on the canal, then in process of construction. He subsequently moved two miles north of the town and located the farm now owned by George Hamilton, upon which he made some of the earliest improve- ments in the township. He was a resident of Jackson for a num- ber of years, and is still living, making his home at this time with his children in Whitley County and the City of Huntington. Sam- uel and Edward Gettis were perhaps the next permament settlers in the township, their arrival antedating the year 1840. They were originally from Ohio, but moved here from Blackford County, the former settling the Daniel Richard farm two miles west of Roan- oke, and the latter improving a farm about one and a half miles south west of the village. Samuel died about 1852, and Edward was drowned in the canal a number of years ago. David Hallowell moved to the township in an early day and settled on land now owned by the Cutter family west of Roanoke, where he lived until his removal to Iowa, in 1852. He was a man of local prominence, took an active interest in the development of the country, and early held the office of Justice of the Peace. An- drew Boggs came as early as 1839 or '40, and settled the Young farm west of Roanoke. He moved to Indiana from Delaware, and remained a resident of Jackson until 1850 or '51, and is remembered as a very intelligent and public spirited citizen. Conspicuous among the early settlers between Roanoke and the Union township line were the Mahon family consisting of Archibald, Samuel, William and Monroe Mahon, all of whom located near the village which still bears their name. Samuel followed boating for a number of years, and at one time gave considerable attention to the practice of law in which he is said to have been quite well versed. Archibald was master of a packet on the canal for some time, and William is remembered as a lawyer and a very skillful hunter.
Horace Rockwell about the year 1840, settled where Jacob John now lives, in the northwestern part of the township, and about the same time Nicholas Friend and son Harvey, made im- provements in the same locality, the former locating the Robertson farm and the latter clearing land in the vicinity. Nicholas Friend was a true type of the backwoods pioneer, a daring hunter, and found his greatest pleasure in pursuing the game, in which the woods at that time abounded.
Between the years 1840 and 1847 the population of the township was increased by the arrival of a number of families, the names of only a few of which were given to the writer. One of the earliest in the forties was John Jester, who made improvements one mile east of Roanoke, and a little later came David Voorhis, who settled first on the "Col." Jones farm, from which he subse- quently moved two miles northwest of the town, to the place now owned by Hiram Dustan. Eli Blount, a trader and fur buyer, was an early settler in the northern part of the township, as were also S. C. Putnam, Elsworth Morrison, Daniel Welker,
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James Wire, Peter Simons, and Abraham Simons, the last two of whom are still living where they made their first improvements.
Peter Erick entered land in Section 3, near the Whitley County line, in 1835, and moved to the same several years later. He was one of the earliest settlers in Northern Jackson, and in addition to farming, carried on the blacksmith trade for a num- ber of years. W. Crakes, in 1836, entered land in Section 1, but did not become a resident of the township until several years after that date. He lived at different places, but finally located where his widow now resides, a short distance west of Roanoke, in Section 16. In 1842. F. A. and Emanuel Yahne, father and son, former residents of Union Township, moved to this part of the county, the former settling where James Young now lives, and the latter making temporary improvements about two and a half miles southwest of Roanoke. F. A. Yahne, the father, moved from the township a number of years ago, and has long since passed from earth to the life beyond. E. Yahne moved to his present farm, two miles west of Roanoke, in 1848, and later moved to the town, where he still resides- the oldest living settler in the township at this time. Prominent among the pioneers in the southern part of Jackson, was James Pur- viance, who about the year 1843 or '44, settled where his son William is now living. He was a successful business man, accumulated a handsome estate, and departed this life a num- ber of years ago. Additional to those enumerated the fol- lowing men came to the township in an early day and participated in the many hardships and dangers incident to a life in the wilderness, namely: Andrew and James Branstater, Artis Campbell, George Shank, Joseph Collins, Andrew Sours, Sours, Charles Haywood, Benjamin and Leonard Bowers, Charles Robbins, Jacob France, Conrad Viberg, Jonah Wire, Aaron Sewell, Thomas Hackett, Stephen Wilson, Conrad Weaver, William Parrott, John Weaver, L. D. VanBecker, William Tate, Thomas F. Chaney, Elias Chaney, Charles Comstock, James Salsbury, William Hall, John Newman, Benjamin Hoover, Ben- jamin Ebersole, John Ager, D. H. Rose, Isaac Ager, William Peyton, Joseph Blount and many others.
Land Entries. - It is a notable fact that nearly all the land within the present limits of Jackson Township was originally entered by speculators, who disposed of it at good prices to the settlers. The first entries were made in 1835, during which year patents were obtained by the following persons, to-wit: J. O. Moore, Levi Beardsley and Peter Erick, in Section 3. William H. Bell, in Sections 4 and 5. Jesse Mendenhall, Vincent Gilpin and John Gilpin, in Sections 6 and 7. William H. Bell and Henry Elsworth in Section 9. J. O. Morse, Levi Beardsley, Charles Walker and Charlotte Walker, Section 10. Jesse Verm- ilyea and Madison Sweetser, in Section 14. Charles Ewing, Lousia Ewing and Latimer R. Shaw, Section 15. Munson Beech, Section 18. Joseph S. Cabot, Peter Olden and Oliver Benton,
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Section 19. Sinclair, Section 21. Peter Odlin, Oliver Banton and Jacob Ricker, Section 28. Valentine Armitage, Section 32. Irrace T. Conley, Section 33. Of the above, Vincent and John Gilpin, William H. Bell, Peter Odlin and Latimer Shaw, pur- chased lands in various parts of the township. Entries during the year 1836, were made as follows by M. L. Barber, S. A. Rus- sell and McTaggett, in Section 1. Lott M. Bayless, Section 3. Allen Barnett, Sections 6 and 7. Brown, Morrison, McDowgall, Witt and Brackenbridge, in Section 8. William Rookhill, Ed- ward Gettis and Eli Blount, Section 10. John S. Bobbs, Section 12. L. G. Thompson, L. A. Morris, Section 17. Theodore Olcott and Allen Barnett, Section 18. S. Hanna and J. S. Hanna, Section 20, and John Stephenson, Section 21. A number of entries were made in the years 1837 and '38, and by the latter part of the forties nearly all the available lands of the township were purchased, and patents for the same obtained from the government; the last recorded entry has date of Janu- ary, 1851, at which time Lots No. 1, 2, 3, and 4, 276 acres in Section 23, were purchased by Jacob Miller.
Organization. - Prior to the year 1841, the territory constitut- ing Jackson, was comprised within the boundaries of Clear Creek Township, but at the September term of the Commissioners' Court that year it was laid off with its present area and organized as a separate jurisdiction. The order of the Board providing for the organization also designates the time and place at which an election for the purpose of choosing the necessary officials for the new township shall be held. This election was held at the resi- dence of Samuel Gettis, April, 1842. The contest was attended with considerable excitement, there being two contending factions, known as the " Mahon " and " People's Party " respectively, each pressing the claims of favorite candidates. "More than sixty votes were cast, and as that exceeded the number of qualified voters in the township, it was generally believed that illegal means had been employed to carry the election." When the votes were counted, the following persons were found to have been elected, viz .: John Johnson, Justice of the Peace; Eli Blount, William Mahon, and Samuel Mahon, Trustees, and Mr. Mahon, Senior Clerk - a decided victory for the "Mahon Party." The following persons held the office of Justice of the Peace in an early day, viz .: E. Hallowell, William Parrott, Thomas Hackett, and Samuel Dougherty. Among the early Trustees were: George Shank, Stephen Wilson, Thomas Hackett, Elsworth Morrison, and Rufus Blount. The first Trustee elected under the present Con- stitution was John Dinius, since the expiration of whose term the following gentlemen have discharged the duties of the office, viz .: Dr. H. S. Heath, R. C. Ebersole, R. G. Morrison, Thomas Eakin, Michael Minnich, Samuel H. Grim, William T. Purviance, James Highland, A. S. Goodin, and the present incumbent, Oliver Johns. The following citizens of Jackson have been called at different times to fill county offices, to-wit: David Christian,
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Commissioner and Treasurer; T. A. Eakin, Commissioner; John H. Barr, Representative; William Hendry, Representative; George Keefer, Henry Dinius, and R. C. Ebersole, Commissioners, and William Windle, County Treasurer.
Religious. - " Until 1849 the cabins of the settlers served as churches, and religious services were conducted by ministers of various denominations, who came by chance to the township." " The first religious meeting was conducted at the cabin of Nicholas Friend, about the year 1810, and subsequently services were held at the residence of Andrew Boggs." These and other early meetings were attended by all the settlers for miles around, and were occasions of bringing the people together in a social as well as religious capacity. Denominational lines were not so strongly drawn as in later years, and the religious services con- ducted by preachers who paid little attention to elaborate prep- aration, were participated in by all, irrespective of church or creed. Ministers of the Methodist Church were the first to preach the gospel among the sparse settlements of Jackson, and at quite an early day a class was organized in the northern part of the township, to which the name Wesley Chapel was subsequently attached. Among the first members of this organization were Peter Erick and family, David Voorhis and family, and Thomas Hackett and family. The first meetings were held at the resi- dences of the different members, and in a neighboring school house, and it was not until about the year 1850 or 1851 that the erection of a house of worship was attempted. The first church edifice - a hewed log structure - was built on the land of Peter Erick, about two miles north of Roanoke, and answered the pur- pose for which it was intended for a period of eight or ten years. It was then torn away and replaced by the present frame build- ing. The church, owing to deaths and removals, is not so strong as formerly, but is still in a healthy condition, and capable of ac- complishing much good in the community. The pastor in charge at this time is Rev. Francis Robinson. Following the Methodists came ministers of the Lutheran Church, and in an early day quite a flourishing society of that denomination was organized in the southern part of the township, where a, neat temple of worship was subsequently erected. The church has an active membership, and is reported in very prosperous condition.
Among the early settlers of Jackson, were a number of per- sons belonging to the United Brethren Church, and ere long they met and organized a society in the southwestern part of the township, which has since grown to be one of the most aggres- sive congregations in the country. A house of worship was erected in 1860, since which time the organization has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. Rev. A. Cummings, of Huntington, is the present pastor.
Pleasant Chapel, United Brethren Church, in the northwest corner of the township, was organized in an early day, and a frame house of worship subsequently erected on the land of
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
Moses Brandenburgh. In 1883-4 the old building was replaced by the present commodious brick structure, which, supplied with all the modern improvements, is one of the finest church edifices outside the city of Huntington, in the county. The congrega- tion is large and the church, under the efficient labors of Rev. M. Parker, the present pastor, is reported in a very prosperous condition. "The denominations above represented in this town- ship, have been very successful in their efforts for the spiritual good of the community, and have been marked by increasing memberships."
Improvements .- The Wabash & Erie Canal, which passes through the eastern part of the township, was an important fac- tor in inducing immigration to this part of the county, and its influ- ence in developing the resources of the country was more marked than any other public enterprise. Along its line were made the first settlements of the township, and until the completion of the Wabash Railroad it was the principal means offered for the transportation of the surplus products of the country. The first legally established highway in Jackson, was the road which tra- verses the township in a north westerly direction, from Hunting- ton to Fort Wayne, known as the Fort Wayne road. It was surveyed and improved in 1838. The township is at this time supplied with a number of good highways, which traverse the country in different directions. They are all well improved and their superior condition speaks well for the public spirit of the citizens. The first mill in the township was built by Lemuel G. Jones, at Roanoke, in 1845, a description of which will be found in the sketch of that village. The first saw mill outside of Roanoke, was built by John Newman, in the southern part of the township. It was in operation a number of years and did quite an extensive business. Thomas Hackett, in 1850, erected a saw mill on Cow Creek, a short distance west of Roanoke, which he operated until about the year 1864. It was a water mill, and did a successful business until the latter year, when the dam was washed out, after which the building fell into decay. There have been other mills in operation throughout the township at differ- ent times, and the lumber business was at one time the leading industry of the country. The other manufacturing interests of the township will be mentioned in the sketch of Roanoke.
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