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 71
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Other early settlers were Samuel Wolf, in northern part, near the Wabash River; John Smith, on the Poulson farm; Nathan and Solomon Smith, in Section 33; John Becker, Section 34; Ab- raham Beck, in different parts of the township; A. Miner and father, in Section 33; Caleb Ayers, in southeast corner; Samuel Mills, in same locality; Benjamin Sheets, near where John Sheets settled; Burdine Bonham, in Section 35, where he still lives; Joseph G. Rineas, near central part; Edward Roberts, in northeast corner of the township; Sydney Crandle, same part;
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Hiram Sale, in northern part; Daniel Cupp, northeast part; Dr. Joseph Scott, cn present site of Markle, in which village he still resides; John J. Scotton, on Rock Creek, one and a half miles southwest of Markle; James Cline, northern part; John Detroe, a short distance north of Rock Creek Center, in Section 15; James Johnston, north of the Wabash, near Markle; Moses Alspach, about one mile south of the Wabash; Jonas Kelsey, in northeastern part of the township; Aaron Rittenhouse, as early as 1838, in Section 31; John Brubaker, Samuel Brubaker, Samuel De Hearn, Peter L. Bonewitz, Mr. Shores and others.
As already stated, the township was organized September, 1842, and the following year an election, for the purpose of choos- ing the necessary officials, was held, resulting as follows: John Sheets, Jacob Souers and N. Poulson, Trustees; Albert Draper, Justice of the Peace, and William Clarke, Township Clerk. Dr. Joseph Scott and Mr. Huff were among the early Trustees, and the first person who held the office after the law providing for a single trustee went into effect, was Samuel Mills.
The first mill in the township was built in Rock Creek by Robert Draper, by order of the government, for the use of the Miami Indians. It was erected as early as 1834, stood in the north- east corner of the township, and manufactured lumber and meal for several years, having been patronized quite extensively by the settlers in the vicinity. John J. Scotton built a saw mill on Rock Creek, northeast part of the township, in an early day, which was first operated by water, and later by steam power. A large flouring mill was subsequently erected near the same place, which is still standing. There have been a number of steam saw mills in operation at different times throughout the township, be- sides several tile factories and lime kilns, all of which have proved fairly remunerative to the proprietors.
The first birth in the township is said to have been that of Riley Draper, son of Albert and Rachel Draper, which occurred as long ago as the year 1836. One of the earliest deaths was that of Mrs. Adams, who departed this life in 1838. Mrs. Eliza First, wife of Israel First, died the same year, and a little later William Paulson was summoned away by death.
Catherine Long, daughter of Israel and Eliza First, was born August, 1839, being one of the earliest births in the Township. Among the first frame houses in the township were those erected by Jacob and Reason Souers, and the first orchard was set out by the latter soon after he came to the County. George Souers built the first brick house, and was also one of the first mechanics in the township, having early worked at his trade of wagon making.
Among the early settlers of Rock Creek, were some who never faltered in the discharge of their religious duties although no organizations were effected, or houses of worship erected for several years after the appearance of the first pioneers. Itiner- ant ministers of the Methodist Church visited the eastern part of
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the Township in an early day and preached to the sparse settlers in private dwellings and school houses.
They were pious, patient, laborious men who collected the people into regular congregations and did for them all that their circumstances would allow. Their progress was at first slow but their zeal and perseverance at length overcame every obstacle. It was no disparagement that their first churches were groves and their first pulpits a kind of rude platform constructed of rough slabs and clapboards. Preaching then was somewhat different from what it is now, being generally of the noisy order. Society too was of a different cast and the preacher in order to rivet atten- tion and be effective had to correspond with the times, for unless a speaker can gain the attention of his audience and hold it, his efforts will be unavailing. The singing partook of the same character, and when services were conducted out-doors in the grove, the preaching and singing might easily be heard for a mile. Though the religious exercises partook to a great extent of this noisy character and the preachers were probably less polished in their phraseology then at this time, the people were as sincere in their professions of Christianity as they are now. In proportion to their number there were doubtless fewer hypocrites and fully as much piety as at the present day.
The pioneer preachers were not all of the above type, but some of them possessed talent and learning, used good language and were graceful and dignified in their preaching. These early min- isters contributed largely in their day to the morals of the com- munity, and were mainly instrumental in laying the foundations for the various religious denominations in the township at the present day. They were as a rule, God fearing men, and were not ashamed to be seen traveling on foot or on horseback many miles to their appointments, often encountering hunger and thirst and exposing themselves to the inclemency of the weather. The Baptist denomination was early represented in the township by Rev. Robert Tisdale, who preached in the Souers' School House, where an organization was effected many years ago. There is at this time a Baptist Church south of the river which has an active membership. The Methodists organized a small class in the northeast corner of the township in an early day, out of which subsequently grew the Methodist Church of Markle. Elder George Abbott, of the Christian Church, preached in the timbers in an early day, as did also George Hubbard, but no or- ganization of that order seems to have been formed until a num- ber of years later. The Methodists have several congregations at this time, and near Brown's Corners is a Presbyterian Church, which dates its history from an early day. The churches of the township are all well attended, and have substantial houses of worship, facts which speak well for the moral worth of the citi- zens.
Markle. - The town of Markle is beautifully situated on the Wabash River, in the northeast corner of the Township, and
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dates its history proper from April, 1852. A number of years prior to that time, however, a Mr. Tracy, the original owner of the land, built a small store building and subsequently laid out a few lots, upon which he conferred his own name. This pro- ject did not prove successful, and the land was afterward pur- chased by Oliver A. Morse of New York, who in the year above named, had the village regularly surveyed and recorded. The orig- inal plat of the town embraces 135 lots, traversed by nine streets, four of which, Wabash, Sparks, Wilt and Cherry run east and west, and the other four, Clark, Miller, Draper and Sayler, north and south. Among the first residents of the place was Dr. Joseph Scott, who moved to the locality several years before the survey of the town and engaged in the practice of the medical profession, which he still continues. Robert Allen was an early resident and probably the first mechanic of the village. Among the earliest business men was a man by the name of Haswell, who erected the large frame building now occupied by D. R. Buffington and Obadiah Casper, who built a residence and store building near the public square. Other merchants from time to time were the following: Amos Curry, Smith & Lesh, Jacob Roush, Edward Roush, Jonas Kelsey, Allen Ridding, James Johnson, Martin Miller, H. C. - Dilley, Brown & Lesh, Shively & Sparks, Mygrants & Smith, T. J. Smith, William Smith, Carnes & Son, Sloan & Brother, D. R. Buffington, H. C. Sparks, Reuben Haf- lich, Samuel Earhart, Latimer & Beal, Sales & Brickley, Ditzler & Davenport, and perhaps others whose names were not given the writer.
The early mechanics were: Robert Allen, Samuel Wolf and William Paulson, blacksmiths; John Nave, wagon maker; J. A. Michaels. shoemaker, and John Zimro, carpenter.
Industries .- One of the early industries of Markle, was the large flouring mill, erected some time in the fifties, by William Chapman. It was a three story frame structure, operated by water power, and for a number of years was one of the most suc- cessful mills in the eastern part of Huntington County. It has passed through the hands of different parties, and is now owned by M. King, who is remodeling it throughout and supplying machinery for the manufacture of flour by the roller process. Amos Curry, about the year 1855 or 1856, started a tannery in Markle, which was operated with good success, for several years. The last owner was John Brickley. There have been saw-mills in operation at the village at different times, the largest of which were brought to the place soon after the completion of the C. & A. Railroad. James Redding built a mill in the northeast part of the village, early in the eighties, which he subsequently sold to John Stults, the present proprietor. Mr. Stults, in addition to sawing immense quantities of lumber, operates a large planing mill, and is one of the most successful lumbermen in the county. A saw mill in the northwest part of the town was built a few years ago, by Aaron Zeigler. It is now operated by S. Hinkle, 26
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whose business is in a very prosperous condition. Messrs. Jus- tice and Patterson, about the year 1884, engaged in the business of bailing hay, which is still carried on, the machinery at this time being operated by other parties. A feed mill and crusher was erected on the west side of town in the fall of 1886, by Henry Mygrants, who manufactures corn meal and chop feed. It is operated by steam power and has already proved a remunerative investment. The manufacture of lime has been carried on in Markle and vicinity for several years there being several large kilns in successful operation at this time. A fine quality of building stone is found near the town, much of which has been quarried and shipped to the larger cities of the country. The largest quarry is the one owned by the Brickley family, from which have been taken some of the finest stone ever found in Indiana.
The growth of Markle during the first fifteen or twenty years of its history was not very rapid, but its location in the midst of a rich farming country, early earned for the town the reputation of a good local trading point. The completion of the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad, in 1883, gave new life to the place, and since that time additions have been made, and the population greatly increased. It is still growing, the present population being esti- mated at from 600 to 700, and in a commercial point of view, it ranks among the best country towns of the county. Its pres- ent commercial and industrial interests are represented by the following business men and firms: General stores - William Bender, Henry Rarick, Smuck & Bro., and John Leeper; cloth- ing store, D. R. Buffington; hardware stores, Neff & Fox, and Mr. Culver; drugs, Joshua Dilley and Charles King; millinery, Henry Mygrants; boots and shoes, William Michaels; restaurant and bakery, John Harvey; restaurant and boarding house,
Sowers; livery stables, Eli Maddux and Mr. Ditzler; blacksmiths, Allen & Denman, and Henry Alshouse; wagon maker, William Patterson; furniture and undertaker, Mr. Cupp; hotel, Markle House, John Selvy; photographer, S. Mygrants; barber, Jesse Harvey; saloon, Thomas Jacol; meat market, Duick & Miller.
Churches .- Methodist Episcopal Church of Markle was organ- ized in the spring of 1848, at the residence of Jonas Kelsey, Rev. Anson Beach officiating. Among the early members of the class were many of the first settlers of the country, and for a period of two years meetings continued to be held at regular intervals in Mr. Kelsey's dwelling. Worship was subsequently conducted at the residences of James Johnston and Israel Black. and in 1852 the place of meeting was changed to the Markle School House, which served the wants of the congregation until about 1860. In the latter year the newly erected Baptist Church was tendered to the society, which, with the Baptist denomination used it alter- nately until the erection of a new house of worship in 1874. This building is a beautiful frame structure, well finished and fur- nished, and cost the sum of $2,700. A reorganization of the so-
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ciety was effected in 1874 by Rev. Chester Church, at which time the membership numbered about sixty. Since that year the fol- lowing pastors have had charge of the church, to wit: Revs. Mr. Ramsey, Mr. McCarter, James Woolpert, George Clark, Mr. Murray, Mr. Whitford and the present incumbent, I. W. Singer. The society, although not so strong in numbers as formerly, is still in prosperous condition, with an active membership of sixty- five. The present officers are: Addison Conklin, Class Leader; Franklin Brickley, James Johnston and Hugh Fate, Stewarts; Henry Alshouse, James Johnston, Emanuel Werts, Haman Allen and Harrison M. Sale, Trustees. The Sunday School is large and well attended.
Baptist Church. - This denomination was early represented in Markle, but there was no regular organization in the village prior to 1860. In that year Albert Draper donated a large proportion of the sum necessary to erect a house of worship, and with the gen- erous assistance of members of different denominations, a large frame building on the south side of the river was completed and ready for use in due time. The Baptist Society was organized in 1861, under the ministry of Rev. Abel Johnson, who formally dedicated the house the preceding year. The society, at the time of organization, consisted of only four members, and numbering no more at a later date, is now practically abandoned, there being no regular pastor, services being held at irregular intervals by such traveling ministers as see fit to visit the place. The build- ing, while erected nominally as a Baptist church, has been used by different denominations, among which the Christians, Disci- ples and Dunkards have regular preaching at the present time.
The Lutherans have an organization, numbering twelve or fif- teen members, which meets for worship in the Methodist Church.
Lodges .- Markle Lodge, No. 453, A. F. & A. M., was organ- ized under dispensation, by W. B. Lyons, Special Deputy, in May, 1872. In June, 1873, a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge, and on the 4th of July following, the lodge was organ- ized with the following members: Joseph Scott, Solimon Sparks, H. C. Sparks, Brazilla Messler, I. X. Walker, George Bailey, and Franklin A. Bratton. The first officers were: Dr. Joseph A. Scott, W. M .; George Bailey, S. W .; F. A. Bratton, J. W., and S. Sparks, Tiler. The organization is in good condition, and at this time has an active membership of twenty nine. The officers are as follows: Thornton Brubaker, W. M .; J. B. Cooper, S. W .; T. H. Zehring, J. W .; Emanuel West, Secretary; John Sparks, Treasurer; William Allen, S. D .; George Brubaker, J. D .; Charles Shaffer, Tyler; Joseph Dehaven and C. W. Sparks, Stewards; James Lyons, C. W. Sparks and J. J. Scatton, Trustees.
Markle Lodge, No. 362, I. O. O. F., was instituted April 14, 1871, with seven charter members. The first officers were: Joseph Scott, N. G .; A. A. Bowen, V. G .; W. J. Kilander, Secre- tary; Rufus Bowen, Treasurer. The membership at this time numbers about seventeen. The hall in which meetings are held
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was erected in 1881, and the same year a beautiful cemetery was laid out near the village. The elective officers at this time are: Jefferson Dustman, N. G .; William Raver, V. G .; James A. Miller, Secretary, and M. H. King, Treasurer.
Plum Tree, or Yankee Town, is a small village situated in the extreme southern part of the township, is the site of a very early settlement in Rock Creek and Salamonie, and at this time has a store, postoffice and two churches, viz .: Methodist and Christian. It is surrounded by a rich agricultural district, and although but a mere hamlet has the reputation of being a fair local trading point.
Rock Creek Center, situated in Sections 15 and 22, near the geographical centre of the township, has a couple of general stores, blacksmith shop and postoffice. The country immediately surrounding is a rich farming region and the village being the chief source of supplies for a large neighborhood, has become a place of considerable local importance. Near the northwest corner of the township in Sections 4, 5 and 9, is a small village known as Brown's Corners, which supports a couple of business houses. Like the hamlets already named, it was the immediate outgrowth of the neighborhood's demands for a trading point, and with no prospects of future growth, will probably remain as it has been in the past, one of the flourishing villages of the township.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LEVI ALLEN. The subject of this biography is a native of Stark County, Ohio, and the son of Robert and Mary (Miller) Allen, the father born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ohio. He was born August 20, 1840, and in early youth learned the blacksmith's trade with his father who was a skillful mechanic. When eleven years of age he accompanied his parents to Indiana, and for some time after his father's death contributed to the support of the family, in consequence of which his advan- tages for obtaining an education were somewhat limited. He continued working at his trade until within a few years when he abandoned it for agricultural pursuits in which he is at present engaged. He was married September 27, 1863, to Miss Margaret J. Brown, daughter of Asa Brown, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere. Mrs. Allen was born in Clinton County, Ohio, July 2, 1841, and is the mother of eight children, namely: Laura N., Thomas B., William E., Mary V., deceased, Musie M., Asa R., Virna L. and Laura H. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Christian Church.
JOHN BALEY, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Trum- bull (now Mahoning) County, Ohio, born October 16, 1827. His parents, Jacob and Maria B. (Rupright) Baley, were both na-
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tives of Pennsylvania, the father born April 13, 1796, in Berks County, and the mother born July 30, 1793, in Northampton County. The paternal ancestors were of German descent, and among the early residents of Pennsylvania, the grandparents Peter and Susan (Lime) Baley, having been born and raised in that State. The maternal grandparents, George and Barbara (Scwakin) Rupright, were also natives of Pennsylvania and of German lineage. Jacob Baley, subject's father, was by occupa- tion a farmer and weaver. He was married April 14, 1816, to Mariah Rupright, who departed this life in 1852. The following year in Mahoning County, Ohio, he married his second wife, Catharine Emmons. He emigrated to Ohio in 1818, lived there until 1867, at which time he moved to Indiana and settled in Huntington County. John Baley was reared a farmer and in early youth attended the common schools in which he acquired an education in both German and English languages. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and after becoming proficient in the same, followed it for a period of twenty-four consecutive years, meeting with encouraging suc- cess in the meantime. In the spring of 1852, he came to Hunt- ington County, and subsequently returned to Ohio, and resumed his trade, which he continued for some years in connection with the saw-milling business. At the end of about ten years he re- turned to Huntington County, and purchased 200 acres of land in Section 2, Rock Creek Township, which he subsequently ex- changed for a farm near his native home in Ohio, returning to that State and remaining there about one year, At the end of that time he again came to Huntington County and purchased in Rock Creek Township, 194 acres of valuable land in Section 4, near the village of Brown's Corners. He has a fine property and is justly considered one of the substantial citizens of Rock Creek. In connection with his farming interest he has worked at his trade from time to time, erecting many of the best barns and residences in the township, and a large flouring mill on the Wabash River. He married, August 13, 1848, Hannah Polk, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of John and Mary (Full- wiler) Polk. She was born June 14, 1828, and died September 4, 1883. She was the mother of one child, Mary E. Mr. Baley married his present wife, Ella J. Lesh, on the 12th day of June, 1884. Mrs. Baley was born in Crawford County, Penn., December 10, 1860, and is the daughter of David and Lucretia (Jackson) Lesh. Politically Mr. Baley votes with the Democratic party, and in religion is a Lutheran, having identified himself with that church when but thirteen years of age.
JETHRO M. BOYD was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 10, 1831, the younger of two children born to James and Lydia (McNutt) Boyd. James Boyd was born in New York, in the year 1757, of English parentage, his ancestors having been
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among the early Quaker settlers of that State. He served with distinction in the War of Independence, and in early life married a lady of his native State, who died many years ago, leaving a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. He married his second wife, Lydia McNutt, on the first day of June, 1827, and shortly afterward emigrated to Ohio, where his death occurred July 11, 1848. He was a man of intelligence, a sincere Christian, and for over forty years a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. He had the honor of voting for George Washington for the Presidency, and from that time until his death, took an active interest in political affairs. His wife died July 21, 1872, in Huntington County, Ind., aged eighty-one years. The subject of this sketch was reared near New Middle- town, Ohio, where he received a good English education, under the instruction of his father, who was a successful teacher. Shortly after his fourteenth year he began the cabinet business, at the town of Canfield, Ohio, where he continued until his re- moval to Huntington, Ind., in the spring of 1851. He first located in Rock Creek Township, with an uncle, James Tam, and worked at various kinds of employment until 1853, when he married and settled on a piece of fine land near the present site of Plum Tree Village. He subsequently exchanged this for another farm in the same neighborhood, and still later sold out and located at Rock Creek Center, where until 1863, he was engaged in the manufacture and sale of pearl ash. November 23, 1863, he en- tered the army, enlisting in Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry with which he served until honorably discharged, in 1865. He participated in a number of bloody engagements, the first one being Resacca, Ga., and on the 28th of January, 1865, was promoted Second Lieuten- ant of his company, a position which he held until the expiration of his term of service. On leaving the army, Mr boyd returned home and engaged in farming where he now lives in Rock Creek Township. His military record is one of which he feels deservedly proud, while his standing as an honorable and upright citizen entitles him to the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. He cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce, but since that time has been an earnest supporter of the Republican party, though never seeking or desiring official preferment. Mr. Boyd was married February 13, 1853, to Miss Margaret H. Becker, a native of New York, born in Cayuga County, December 8, 1833, the eldest daughter of Peter V. C., and Lydia (Conger) Becker. Mrs. Boyd came to Huntington County with her parents in 1847, and in the summer of 1848, taught one of the first schools (some say the first) in Rock Creek Township. She subsequently taught the first school in District No. 5, receiving for her compensation the princely salary of $1 per week. She also taught while Mr. Boyd was in the army, and earned the reputation of being a very painstaking and successful teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have two children, to-wit: Lydia A., wife of Charles C. Smith, and Har-
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riet A., wife of Jacob E. Davis, the former born November 22 1855, and the latter July 6, 1859.
ASA BROWN, retired farmer, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January 29, 1818, the son of Asa and Anna (Alexander) Brown, natives of Massachusetts and Kentucky, respectively. He grew to manhood in his native county, enjoyed but limited educational advantages in the indifferent country schools of the period, and was raised amid the rugged scenes of farm life. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for himself on rented land and later purchased a small tract which he disposed of in 1853, and moved to Huntington County, Indiana, settling upon 120 acres of land which he purchased a short time previous. Like the other early settlers in Rock Creek, Mr. Brown encoun- tered his full share of the hardships incident to pioneer life; but being a man of great industry he soon succeeded in bringing a goodly number of acres under successful cultivation. He pur- chased additional tracts at different times, owning at this time about 210 acres, which has been divided among his children, he retaining an interest sufficient for a comfortable support. In early life Mr. Brown was a Democrat, but on moving to this county joined the Republican party, with which he has since been identified. He was prominently connected with the Grange movement, and in religion worships with the Christian Church, of which he has for years been a consistent member. He was married September 20, 1840, to Miss Cinderilla Wilson, who was born in Kentucky, August 29, 1817. She departed this life on the 2d of May, 1870. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, to-wit: Margaret J., wife of Levi Allen; Anna C., wife of George W. Sloam; Sarah E., wife of C. W. Bonham; John W., James H., Asa S. and Oliver M. Brown.
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