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 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
Sundry Events .- The first white child born in Jackson Town- ship was Lemuel S. Salts, son of Paul H. Salts, whose birth oc- curred in 1839. The union of Joseph Satel and Sarah Darrow, daughter of Jared Darrow, in 1838, was the first marriage cele- brated in the township. Joseph Blount and Elesta Boggs were united in marriage about the year 1841, and the year following Harvey Friend and Jane Hallowell were united in the holy bonds of wedlock. Other early marriages were those of Frank Dupuy to Sarah Chading, about 1841, and Emanuel Yahne to Emily, daughter of Edward Gettys, December 7, 1843.
Early in the forties occurred the first death in the township,
641
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
that of Francis Dupuy. Nicholas. son of Samuel and Harriet Gettys, died about the year 1842 or 1843, and Susan, daughter of the same parents, departed this life a little later. They were both laid to rest in the old burying-ground, two miles west of Roan- oke, where were also buried in an early day many of the first residents of the township, among whom may be mentioned: Sarah, the wife of Edward Gettys, Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Boggs, David Hallowell, Mrs. Margaret Hallowell, Edward Gettys, Samuel Gettys, Mr. Morrison and Hiram Wade. The cemetery at Wesley Chapel was consecrated to the burial of the dead sometime in the forties, and the grave yard south of Roanoke was used for burial purposes about the same time. There are, in addition to the above, two other cemeteries in the township, viz .: Odd Fellows and Catholic grave yards, near the town of Roanoke.
While Jackson has always sustained the reputation of a peaceable and law-abiding community, there was at an early day, a cruel and unprovoked murder committed on the canal, near the little place called Mahon. It appears that one Mr. Ster- man, a man of a very quarrelsome disposition, had a little mis- understanding with a boatman, and in the altercation the latter was shot down without any provocation whatever. The mur- derer was arrested, tried and sentenced for a term of years in the State's Prison, from which he was subsequently released to enter the army. At the close of the war he went to Kansas, where, with two other men as wicked as himself, he was afterward im- plicated in the murder of an innocent settler, for which all three were hanged by a mob of indignant citizens. The names of his accomplices were Ross and Miller, both at one time residents of this township. About the year 1852, or 1853, a man by the name Lloyd Nelson. while looking after his fishing nets, was drowned in the Little Wabash River, one mile from Roanoke. When dis- covered, his body was partly on the shore, and being a dissipated man, the supposition was that he was under the influence of whisky when he fell into the water. One Lewis Ross, was acci- dentally drowned in the canal basin at Roanoke early in the fifties, and a little later a boatman, name unknown, met death in the same way by falling into the lock while a boat was passing. Another accidental death was that of William Mahon, who shot himself while hunting on the Little Wabash. He was in a canoe at the time, and in attempting to row under a log, the hammer of his gun was caught by a twig and the contents discharged in his leg and body. When discovered he was lying in the water quite dead.
The death of Mrs. Horace Rockwell at Roanoke, a number of years ago, was an event that cast a shadow of gloom over the entire community. The death of her husband a short time pre- vious, occasioned her such intense grief that for a period of over one week she absolutely refused all food and nourishment of any kind, and when at length she was prevailed upon to take some
642
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
nourishment, the weakened conditioned of her stomach was such, that the reaction proved almost immediately fatal. Sam- uel Gettys was accidently drowned in the canal many years ago, and the recent death of Dr. A. B. Chaffee, in 1886, by an overdose of morphine, supposed by some to have been taken for the pur- pose of committing suicide, is still fresh in the minds of the people.
Town of Roanoke. - The Town of Roanoke is situated in Sec- tions 14, 15 and 28, Township 29 north, Range 10 east, and dates its history from about the year 1847 or '48. The town was an out- growth of the Wabash & Erie Canal, and early became not only a prominent shipping point, but also the chief source of supplies for a large area of territory in Huntington, Allen and Whitley Counties, being at that time the principal trading place between Fort Wayne and the town of Wabash. The construction of the Dickey Lock was the immediate cause that led to the birth of the village, and within a short time thereafter the first building was erected on the town site by Capt. Columbia, said to have been the first residence of the town. Among the earliest comers to the place were a number of canal employes, and about the year 1847 a man by the name of Bilby opened a small store in a little frame building that stood near the lock on the east bank of the canal. Lemuel G. Jones, in 1848, purchased the building, and for about three years thereafter, carried on a fairly successful mercantile business, his principal customers being those who ran boats on the canal. Prior to engaging in merchandiz- ing, Mr. Jones erected a saw-mill at the lock, and a couple of years later, built a large flouring-mill on the same spot, which began operations in the fall of 1848. The mill received its motive power from the waters of the canal, and for a number of years was the largest and most successful enterprise of the kind in Huntington County. It was operated from time to time by different parties, and did an extensive business until destroyed by fire a few years ago. This mill and the store early formed the nucleus of quite a flourishing settlement, and within a couple of years the influx of population was such that the owner of the land, George A. Chap-, man, determined to lay out a town, which was accordingly done in September, 1850. The original plat recorded September 11, of the above year, shows forty lots, the first four of which, border- ing on the canal are fractional, the others being of standard, varying from 100x225 feet to 933x225 feet in size. To this plat several additions have been made from time to time, the first of which, Chapman & Horton's sixty-four standard and several out- lots bears date of November, 1851. Chapman's second addition, twenty-two lots was platted June, 1852, and in 1853, additions were made by Messrs Viberg and Dinius, the former's consisting of twenty-one and the latter of eight lots. Corkin's addition, twenty-four standard and several outlots were made August, 1855. T. V. Horton's addition, June, 1856, and William Wilker- son's addition of twelve lots in December, 1868. Since the latter year no additions have been made.
645
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Early Residents and Business Men .- Among the first resi- dents of the town were George A. Chapman, and T. V. Horton, both of whom came late in the forties. A Mr. Chading, an early blacksmith, bought lots and built one of the first residences in the northeast part of the town; and George Clingle purchased and improved a lot in the locality about the same time. Chading, after operating a shop a short time, sold out and engaged in boating. Clingle was a painter and followed his trade in the village during the early years of its history. S. H. Grim, Benjamin Nave, A. P. Koontz and William Vannerder were early cabinet makers. Hank Row, Samuel Taylor, shoemakers, and Samuel Wertsbaugh, still a resident of the town, was the first tailor, all of whom moved to the place when it was a mere country hamlet. William Bilby, after a short absence, returned to the town and erected a new building east of the lock, where he sold goods for a couple of years, closing out at the end of that time to William Peyton, who carried on business until about 1852. Horton and Chapman were among the early merchants of the place. They were succeeded by Jacob Peyton, after whom came, in an early day, Martin Henry and Solomon Bash. The follow- ing men and firms were in business at different times, viz .: Bash & Grim, Bash & Windle, Bash & Son, Hall & Windle, Peter Grim, R. C. Ebersole, C. B. Richart, Blount & Bro., Jacob Brown, J. G. Price, Dr. H. S. Heath, Tarrance & McCombs, John Fulton, F. M. Searles, W. Holmes, R. D. Olds, E. C. Olds, J. S. Grim, D. N. Grim, D. M. Bye, H. J. Shulty, William Smith, W. W. Walton, Henry Price, Albert Hatfield, Morton Murray, John D. Myers, George W. Mvers, George Triplett, S. C. Putnam, John Greek, R. G. Morrison, J. E. Kelley, James L. Mitchell, F. C. Bross and J. P. Young.
Manufacturers. - As already stated, the saw and grist mills of Lemuel G. Jones was the first manufacturing industry of Roanoke. The next was a steam saw mill erected about the year 1852, by T. V. Horton. It has been remodeled at differ. ent times, and is now owned and operated by John Swaidner. Prominent among the industries of the town was a large woolen factory, built early in the sixties by Mr. Horton who operated upon quite an extensive scale during the days of the canal. It brought a great deal of trade to the place and for a number of years was one of the largest and most successful manufacturing establishments of Huntington County. It ceased operations about the year 1869 or 1870. Messrs. Keefer and Minnich about 1868, erected a large flouring mill which was destroyed by fire in 1871. It was first operated by Mr. Minnich and later by Minnich and Barger. The present grist mill was built about the year 1879 by James Ward and Josiah King, who still run it. It has four run of buhrs and is doing a fairly successful business. A saw mill and spoke factory was in successful operation a num- ber of years ago by Messrs. Slusser & Richard, and after its de- struction by fire a saw mill and wagon gearing factory was
20
646
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
erected on the same spot by Messrs. Richard & Bryson. The lat- ter was burned about the year 1883. A stair factory was started about 1868 by Colton & Jones, to which machinery for the manu- facture of shingles was subsequently attached. Like several of the mills mentioned, it was destroyed by fire, having met its doom about the year 1872. All the above mills and factories were operated quite extensively and proved the source of con- siderable revenue to the town. The first hotel in Roanoke was built in 1852, by William Peyton, who dispensed his hospitalities to the traveiing public for a period of about one year. D. H. Rose was the next landlord, and after him the house was kept for some time by Dr. Irwin. The building stands on the corner of Third and Commercial Streets, and is now occupied as a dwelling by C. Bross. C. H. Viberg, prior to 1852, kept a hotel near the town, and his house was a favorite stopping place for several years. The St. James Hotel was erected by Messrs. Thorp & Ream, and first used as a store building. It was afterward purchased and re- fitted by Samuel Dougherty, who kept a public house for some time. It has passed through a number of hands, and is now conducted by Mrs. Welch. The Kahn House was erected in 1886, by Mrs. Kahn, who is at present proprietor. It is exten- sively patronized and has already become one of the best hotels in the county.
Physicians .- The first man to practice the healing art in Roanoke was Dr. C. B. Richart, who moved to the town about the time the survey was made. The following medical men have practiced here from time to time, to wit: J. S. Brown, Dr. Irwin, J. R. Miller, James Jones, W. C. Chaffee, J. H. Jones, E. N. Brown, J. R. Howes, J. H. Harris, W. F. Carson, A. B. Chaffee and the present M. D's., E. Wright and Henry Gregg.
Incorporation .- In the year 1873, a petition gotten up by John H. Barr was circulated at Roanoke and largely signed, addressed to the County Commissioners, praying that an elec- tion might be held to decide whether the town might have the privilege of a municipal government. In response to this petition the Board ordered that the polls be opened on the 4th of May, 1874, at which time the election was duly held, resulting in a majority of votes for the corporation. An election of officers was then ordered held, at which the following gentlemen were chosen to fill the various positions, viz .: William H. Meech, William B. Thorp, and Samuel Stump, Trustees; E. C. Olds, Clerk; C. B. Richart, Treasurer; N. P. Mowry, Assessor, and Samuel Wertsbaugher, Marshal. The officers at this time are: G. L. Miner, N. B. Mowry and E. Wright, Trustees; D. N. Grim, Clerk; E. C. Olds, Treasurer, and Henry Atwood, Marshal.
Churches .- The early religious history of Roanoke is involved in considerable obscurity, owing to the fact that no definite records of the different church organizations have been kept. The United Brethren organized the first society, and some time in the fifties a frame house of worship was erected. Among
647
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
the pastors of the church were: Revs. Bash, Light, Wood, John- son, Todd, Fisher, Brown, Lee, Morrison and Long. The present pastor is Rev. D. N. Howe. Early in the seventies the church exchanged the house of worship with the Methodists, for the hall in the Seminary building, where meetings have since been held. The organization is in a prosperous condition and at this time has an active membership of over one hundred.
Roanoke Methodist Episcopal Church, an outgrowth of a class that formerly met in the Center School House, about two miles west of the town, was established sometime in the fifties, and among the early members were: Thomas Hackett and wife, D Yahne and wife, William Peyton, David Sibert and wife, avid Roberts and wife, J. P. Christie and wife, and others. Meetings were held for five or six years in the school house, at the end of which time the upper part of the Seminary building was finished and furnished for church purposes. Here the con- gregation met until the change above mentioned was effected, since which time worship has been held in the house belonging to the society in the northern part of the town. The church has been a potent factor for good, and numbers at this time about 110 members. The present officers are: William Hackett, J. A. Erwin, and Wesley Van Arsdol, Class Leaders; J. A. Ervin, N. P. Mowry and J. P. Slusser, Stewards. Rev. F. A. Robinson is pastor. The Presbyterians at one time had a congregation in the town and the beautiful brick temple of worship now used by the Catholic Church was built by them about the year 1869. The erection of this building overtaxed the finances of the congregation, the effect of which subsequently led to the dissolution of the society. The house was purchased by the Catholics in 1874.
The Christians or Disciples organized a church in the village a number of years ago, but its growth never came up to the ex- pectations of the founders. A building on Main Street, near the central part of town was used for public worship for several years, but the society, owing to deaths and removals was subse- quently disbanded.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1860, by Rev. Father Fox, of Huntington, who succeeded in gathering together a membership of about ten or twelve families in the town and adjacent country. Worship was conducted in the house formerly used by the Disciples until 1874, at which time the Presbyterian Church was purchased. The following pastors have had charge of the society since its organization, to-wit: Fathers Fox, Walters, Vanderpool, Segelac, Moeste, Miller and the present incumbent, Father Guithoff. The church is in pros- perous condition, and has at this time a membership of about thirty families.
Roanoke Register. - The only newspaper venture was estab- lished in 1871, by H. D. Carroll, assisted by the citizens, who pur- chased the press and other office fixtures. Mr. Carroll ran the paper about one year, disposing of it at the end of that time to
648
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
A. J. Salts, who was editor and proprietor for the same length of time. His successor was Prof. P. D. Lee, who in turn sold out to Mr. Makepeace, by whom the office was moved to Illinois. The Register was a small folio, devoted to the interests of the town, and had for its motto the trite sentence, " Independent in all things, and neutral in nothing." It was a sprightly sheet, quite ably edited, and at one time had a circulation of over 500.
Lodges .- Roanoke Lodge, No. 195, F. &A. M., was organized un- der a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. on the 27th of May, 1856. The first officers were: Caleb Edwards, W. M .; Sam- uel Daugherty, S. W., and William Hendry, J. W. The growth of this lodge during the early years of its history was rapid and substantial, and in 1870 there was an active membership of over 100. The organization of new lodges within its former territory drew away members from time to time, and number at this writ- ing (1887) about fifty-two. In 1874 the lodge room and its con- tents were completely destroyed by fire, entailing quite a heavy loss upon the organization. The present hall owned by the lodge was erected in 1883, and is a very commodious and comfortable meeting place. The officers at this time are: Samuel H. Grim, W. M .; William F. Bryson, S. W .; Samuel Liggett, J. W :; L. D. Fash, Sec .; A. P. Koontz, Treas .; A. P. Grim, S. D .; J. A. Bash, J. D., and D. N. Grim, Tyler.
Little River Lodge, No. 275, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 9, 1867, by D. G. M., John Morgan, with the following charter mem- bers: J. S. Grim, David Clippinger, Jehu Swaidner, Albertus Bowen and William Blair. The charter was signed by J. A. Funk, G. M., and C. H. Barry, G. Sec. The lodge room erected in 1870 is one of the neatest and most tastefully furnished halls in northern Indiana, being handsomely carpeted and supplied with all the modern improvements. Glenwood Cemetery, consisting of ten acres of ground one-half mile east of the town, was pur- chased and consecrated for the burial of the dead of the order, in 1883. The lodge is in a prosperous condition, and has upon the records the names of sixty members. Officers: William Hackett, N. G .; John W. Moore, V. G .; D. N. Grim, Recording Sec .; J. W. Hart, Per. Sec., and Augustus Wasmuth, Treasurer.
Ridgely Lodge, No. 246, Daughters of Rebecca, was insti- tuted April 14, 1885, with the following charter members: W. K. Windle, Edwin Sewell. James Highland, Mary Highland, A. Wasmuth, J. S. Grim, Elizabeth Grim, R. W. Jamison, Daniel N. Grim, Melissa E. Grim, Elizabeth Grim, W. L. Zent, E. E. Richards, Mary B. Windle, Ion B. Windle, Georgie Ebersole, Margaret Rob- erts, Ellen Wasmuth, Margaret Chippinger, Sylvester Dinius, Mrs. M. E. Dinius, George N. Wilkerson and Jennie E. Wilkerson. The lodge has enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity, and at the present time numbers about fifty active members. The officers for 1887, are as follows: M. E. Grim, N. G .; Ida Zent, V. G .; M. E. Wasmuth, Recording Secretary; R. E. Reigh, Financial Secretary, and J. Shroyer, Treasurer.
--
649
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
William McGinnis Post, No. 167, G. A. R., was organized May 11, 1883. The following is a list of the charter members, viz .: J. B. Slusser, John Hackett, A. Wasmuth, Frank Rose, E. C. Olds, J. B. Bryson, W. F. Bryson, F. M. Searles, William Barrett, Kyle Gaskill, Deroy Welch, Samuel Liggett, Thomas Thrasher, Frederick Shock, C. W. E. Payne, W. N. Goff, James Highland, E. O. Smith, J. W. Hart, J. W. John, J. A. Bash, George Knowlton, John M. Wohlford, W. H. Robbins, James Morrison, William J. Fultz, W. Bump, James O. Ward, and John Keefer. The following have been the Post Commanders since the organization, to-wit: W. F. Bryson, A. Wasmuth, J. B. Hyser, and the present incumbent, James Coe. The other offi- cers at this time are J. M. Kemp, S. V. C .; J. M. Wohlford, J. V. C .; J. W. John, Adjutant; J. B. Slusser, Quartermaster; James Morrison, Surgeon; Rev. F .A. Robinson, Chaplain; W. F. Bryson, Officer of the Day; R. Gaddis, O. G., and Thomas Morris, Sargeant Major. Present membership, thirty-four.
Roanoke Lodge, No. 5, I. O. G. T .- The first Lodge of Good Templars, in Roanoke was organized in 1883, but continued only a few months. On the first of July, 1885, a re- re-organization was effected with the following charter members, to-wit: C. R. Slusser, Henry Atwood, J. A. Lewellen, W. H. Hines, Lottie Mitchell, Katie Cressinger, Clara Truax, C. L. Hackett and Cora Mowry. The first officers were Henry Atwood, W. C. T .; Kate Cressinger, W. V. T .; W. H. Hines, Sec- retary; C. R. Slusser, Treasurer, and J. A. Lewellen, Chaplain and Lodge Deputy. The organization has been the means of accomplishing much good in the cause of temperance reform, and its growth has been all that its most sanguine friends could reasonably desire. There are at this time the names of sixty- seven members on the roll, and the number is constantly increas- ing. Present officers: E. M. Wasmuth, W. C. T .; F. L. Brock, W. V. T .; Robert Mitchell, Secretary; Lottie Mitchell, Financial Secretary; W. T. Peigh, Treasurer; H. A. Atwood, Lodge Deputy; W. W. Van Arsdol, Marshal, Drusie Christie, Deputy Marshal; Millie Hamilton, I. G., and J. H. Peigh, O. G.
Present Business .- Roanoke, while still a place of consider- able business importance, is not so flourishing as it was in former years, when the canal was in operation. The interim between the years 1865 and 1873, was perhaps the most prosperous period of the town's history, during which time it sustained the repu- tation of the best trading and shipping point on the canal be- tween the cities of Fort Wayne and Peru. Business of all kinds was in a very prosperous condition, the mills and factories were kept running at their full capacities, while the shipment of agri- cultural products and live stock exceeded that of any other town of its size in Northern Indiana. It was emphatically a canal town, and when that water way was abandoned, the fortunes of the place at once began to decline, and since the completion of the railroad, and the consequent springing up of numerous small
-
650
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
towns in the country, it has never been enabled to regain its for- mer prosperity. It is still one of the best towns in the county, and as a business centre will, perhaps, always remain the lead- ing place outside the city of Huntington. Its business interests at this time may be summarized as follows: Richard & Zent, dry goods and groceries; M. Ragadanz, dry goods; E. M. Taylor, dry goods; Windle & Wasmuth, hardware; M. E. Grim, groceries; J. B. Slusser, watches, clocks, books and notions; R. W. Jami- son, jeweler; John Hackett & Son, druggists; C. F. Karn, drugs; Mrs. C. F. Ebersole, clothing; Grim & Van Arsdal, clothing; C. E. Koontz, restaurant; Hendry & Walton, boots and shoes; C. C. Ebersole, boots and shoes: I. Gephert, boots and shoes; Mrs. Jamison and Mrs. M. Watsbaugher, milliners, Windle & Was- muth, bankers; S. B. Dinius, manufacturer of harness and car- riages; William Hackett, trunk factory; Dinius & Son, and D. Welch, livery stables; William Van Arsdal, John Meyers and Henry Christie, blacksmiths; C. H. McPherson, wagon maker; E. C. Olds, shoeshop; Keefer & Class and S. H. Grim, meat- markets; I. Hackett, cigarmaker; A. P. Koontz, cabinet maker and undertaker; J. S. Grim, attorney-at-law; W. F. Bryson, no- tary public; W. G Overdeer, postmaster: S. H. Zent, railroad agent; Windle & Wasmuth, grain dealers; J. Swaidner and Miner Bros., saw mills; T. H. Pickle and C. L. Ragadanz, saloons.
Mahon .- The village of Mahon, on the old Wabash & Erie Canal, of which it was an outgrowth, situated a short distance west of Roanoke, was laid out June, 1853, by Archibald Mahon. The plat of the town shows ninety-four lots, a public square, and six streets, to-wit: Hannah, State, Durbin, Mill, Wilt and Main, the first four running north and south and the other two east and west. The early residents of the place were composed principally of workmen on the canal, and among the first busi- ness houses were a few small stores, kept by different parties, whose chief stock in trade were boat supplies. Among these merchants are remembered Messrs. Yahne, Smith and Neff. A distillery was erected in the village in an early day by Monroe Mahon and a Mr. Thurston, who, in addition to manufacturing a cheap article of "Jacksonian simplicity " by an "improved process," bought and shipped quite a large number of hogs - the latter business proving very remunerative. A Mr. Savage built a saw mill near the village for the purpose of sawing railroad timber, and shortly after the completion of the road a large ware-house was erected by the company and operated for some time by Samuel Mahon. This building was subsequently de- stroyed by fire. At one time Mahon was a fair local trading point, but its location so near Roanoke, and the low flat land immediately surrounding, soon militated against it, conse- quently the town began to go down. At this time there are a few old houses on the town site, occupied principally by section hands employed on the Wabash Railroad.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.