History of Jay County, Indiana, Part 8

Author: Montgomery, M. W
Publication date: 1864
Publisher: Chicago, Printed for the author by Church, Goodman & Cushing
Number of Pages: 304


USA > Indiana > Jay County > History of Jay County, Indiana > Part 8


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The town of Camden was laid out August 27th, 1836, by Jeremiah Smith, Samuel Grissell being the proprietor. It was first called New Lisbon. Mr. Grissell made a sale of town lots, Job Carr being the auctioneer, and sold at prices varying from $15 to $30. John D. Jones built the first house in the summer of 1836, (William Samuels had partially raised a house before this,) and be- came the first settler. It took the few hands that could be collected three days to raise it. The


149


CAMDEN.


town site was then partly cleared of underbrush, but Mr. Jones has the honor of having taken out the first " grub." The elections for several years were generally held at his house. William Samuels was the second person to settle in the town.


In 1836 H. Z. Jenkins brought his family from Ohio, and a stock of goods, consigned to him to sell on commission, with which he opened the first store in the town-first occupying Job Carr's house, just west of the town, and afterward one of his own, in the village. Mrs. Jenkins generally waited on the customers. Job Carr, junior, kept the second store; and in April, 1839, Anthony Pitnam, now of Richmond, Indiana, opened the third. The Friends built the first meeting house in the township, situated east of the town. This log house, though still standing, is now superceded by a neat frame structure. At the first meeting held in Camden, by the Methodists, H. Z. Jenkins joined the church. James Coulson and his wife H. Z. Jenkins, Mary Delong and Sarah Gove formed the first class. Mr. Joseph A. Lupton was the first blacksmith, opening a shop in the winter of 1839-'40. Stephen Kees and Joseph J. Paxson were among the earliest pioneers of the north part of the township. The prudent fore- thought of Joshua Bond led him to bring a pair of hand mill stones when he moved from Ohio.


150


THE FIRST MILL.


These he made into a hand grist mill, in the spring of 1836, which was the first mill in Jay Connty. There was much rejoicing in the vicin- ity when this successor to the hominy block was put in operation. It was constantly thronged, each man grinding his own grist, no toll being charged. But it would by no means supply the demand, and Mr. Bond soon fixed it to run by horse-power. This contrivance also failed to sup- ply the wants of the region, and in 1837 Mr. Bond built a good mill, which was run by four to eight horses. That was the most celebrated mill ever erected in Jay County. To it the settlers flocked from far and near, some coming twenty miles. No publie improvement was ever more welcome to the needy settlers. Sometimes so many would be at the mill over night that there was not room on the floor of Mr. Bond's house for all of them to lie down. This mill was in the basement of the log barn, in which he afterward built a thresh- ing machine. That was the first threshing machine in the county. The customers then brought their grain to the mill in sheaves and took it away in flour ! What modern mill can excel this pioneer establishment ?


Abont 1838 Samuel Grissell started a saw mill on the Salimonie by Camden, and in 1844 put in operation a water grist mill. In 1850 Mr. Gris- sell and Lukins Griffith built a steam saw mill,


151


FIRST ELECTION.


and the same year built the steam grist mill now owned by Samuel A. Shoaff.


The first election in Penn Township is involved in much obscurity. The County Commissioners' record shows that the first election appointed was to be held at New Lisbon (Camden) on the second Saturday in December, 1836, Samuel Grissell, In- spector. At the January term, 1837, another election was ordered, to be held at Jonathan Hiatt's, John M. Carr, Inspector, on the last Sat- urday of that month. And again, at the May term, 1837, still another election was appointed for the first Saturday in June-place not given. All these elections were to elect a Justice. Elihu Hamilton says he was elected the first Justice at the election held at Jonathan Hiatt's; that he would not accept the office, and that at a subse- quent election, Ellis Davis was elected. The first township officers were appointed by the Commis- sioners in May, 1837, and were as follows: In- spector, Elihu Hamilton ; Supervisor, Jonathan Hiatt; Overseers of the Poor, Joshua Bond and William Swallow ; Fence Viewers, Moses Ham- ilton and David Canady.


Levi Johnson, Esq., for twelve years Justice of the Peace in Jackson Township, taught the first school in Penn Township in the winter of 1837-'38, in a log house which stood near the present residence of Jesse Gray, jun.


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152


BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.


The Post Office was established in Camden on the 19th of January, 1839, and John D. Jones appointed Postmaster. He held the office just six days, during which time he opened one mail and found one letter for that office. John M. Carr succeeded Mr. Jones as Postmaster. It was first called Penn, then changed to Pennville.


BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP was organized in No- vember, 1836, the first election held on the second Saturday in December, 1836, at the house of John Pingry, Biram A. Pearson being Inspector. The first township officers were as follows : Inspector, James Marquis ; Supervisors, William Vail and James Marquis ; Overseers of the Poor, William Baldwin and Edward Buford; Fence Viewers, Frederick Wible and William Gray.


The first settler was John Pingry, sen. The first store was kept by Lewis N. Byram, at Bloom- field. The first Post Office (Bear Creek) in the township was also at Bloomfield, established on the 7th of February, 1840, L. N. Byram, Post- master. On the 14th of July, 1851, the office ( was removed to West Liberty, in Jackson Town- ship, and W. R. Coldren appointed Postmaster ; but in July the following year it was returned to Bloomfield, and J. L. Grigsby became Postmaster. John H. Smith holds the office at present, and is the only merchant in the place. In 1854 George W. Porter started the first store at West Chester,


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BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.


and in April of that year the Post Office was estab- lished there, and he was appointed the Postmas. ter. Soon after, A. R. McGriff and I. N. Green purchased the store, and they sold it to William H. Montgomery, who still remains there and is the present Postmaster. Monroe Post Office was established on the 24th of November, 1854, and John A. Smith appointed Postmaster, who held the office until July, 1864; when it was discontin- ued on account of a change in the mail route. It was on the Wabash river, near the farm of Wil- liam Siberry, sen.


The first marriage in the township was that of Addison D. May and Miss Lucinda Pingry, Nov. 6, 1834, by William Odle, Esq., of Deerfield. In the fall of 1835, Tandy Dempsey came to John Pingry's, and on the 8th of August, 1836, he died, being the first death in the township. In 1836 a large hickory tree caught fire near Mr. Pingry's. The fire ran up the tree about forty feet, there burned it off, and then slowly and constantly burned downward for nearly one year. It was known as the " burning tree."


James Marquis and family settled on the farm now owned by Rev. Aaron Worth, April 14th, 1836, purchasing the claim of Michael Zimmer- man, who lived in a split log house. The chick- ens roosted on the joists at one corner of the house, while at one end on the outside was a shed,


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FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.


under which the horses were kept, and, at the other, against the chimney, there was a pig pen. In May, of this year, a Methodist Episcopal class was formed at Mr. Marquis' house, being the first religious organization in Jay County. The members were: James Marquis, William Vail, Jesse Gray, senior, David and William Baldwin, and their wives.


In June, 1837, Mr. Marquis commenced build- ing a water grist mill on that place, and, in Janu- ary, 1838, put it in operation-the second mill of the kind in the county. Like all other pioneer mills it was a great blessing to a large section of country. Many persons were waiting at the mill to get some grinding done when it started. Per- sons came to that mill from Adams, Wells and Blackford counties. Most persons came on horse- back, some on ponies, and some brought their grists on their shoulders.


In March, 1839, he started a saw-mill, the first one in Jay County.


The first temperance meeting ever held in the county was also held at Mr. Marquis' house, in 1837. In 1839 the first temperance society was organized in the same neighborhood, and Dr. Jacob Bosworth delivered an address full of sound sense and convincing arguments. The follow- ing seraps are specimen's of its bold, manly utter- ances :


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FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.


" Intemperance is incompatible with genuine patriotism. This virtue Is not to be conceded to the drunkard. This no- ble and generous plant cannot live in a soul so uncultivated so overrun with foul and noxious weeds. Can a man be a patriot who violates every obligation of domestic and social life ? whose example is a moral pestilence in the community, and who, for the sake of a beastly gratification, infliets misery and wrong upon all who have the unhappiness to be connect- ed with him. The good man loves his country because it contains much that is excellent and much that is dear to him. He knows it to be the home of the wise and good, of his kin- dred and friends, whom he venerates; he reveres the liberal and holy institutions it contains; in their prosperity and per- petuity he takes the deepest interest, and his most strenuous efforts are ever ready to remove what is evil and to advance that which is excellent and useful. Nothing of this kind can be attributed to the drunkard. His conduct and example, instead of advancing the welfare of his country, are eminently calculated to destroy its best interests. Do patriots discourage habits of industry and encourage habits of idleness, pauperism and crime ? Intemperance destroys the intelligence and virtue of the people-those pillars of our republican system ! it endangers our civil and religious insti- tutions, with all that is held dear by the true patriot."


Signed to the pledge of that society are nearly one hundred names, embracing persons living in all parts of the county.


The first settler on the Limberlost, between William Gibson and William Chapman, was Ira Towle, who came in the spring of 1837. In three weeks Samuel Towle settled beside him. Within the next year or two a whole settlement of East- ern people joined them. John C. Montgomery,


156


A WHIRLWIND.


Harry Reed, Reuben Montgomery, David Antles, George Axe, M. P. Montgomery, and Aaron and Thomas Brown. Ira Towle burned the top of a large stump in concave shape, which answered for a hominy block, and above it built a frame, in which was a contrivance to pound the corn in the stump. In this way the neighbors made their meal. Samuel Towle kept many travelers the first year. Twenty-five strangers staid in his fourteen-by-twenty-feet cabin one night. They lay upon the floor, commencing under the bed, the last one lying by the door, who had to get up in the morning before it could be opened ! For three years John C. Montgomery's house, which stood just north of Westchester, was most of the time full of westward travelers on the Huntington road. Sometimes they went in caravans ; at one time forty, at another seventy persons were in one company. Once, when Mr. Montgomery was sick, he put his gun out of the window and shot a wild turkey, which with a flock had come into the door-yard. The wolves killed several calves for Samuel Towle, and once caught a deer and tore it in pieces within fifteen rods of his door.


A whirlwind more terrific than any storm that has since visited Jay County occurred on the 28th of March, 1840. It commenced half a mile west of Adam Stolz', near Westchester, taking nearly an eastern direction. A very small cloud first


157


A WHIRLWIND.


appeared, which soon began to whirl, and in a few moments the sky presented a vast mass of confused whirling clouds. It would strike the earth, and follow the ground for perhaps half a mile, then rise above the trees, and soon again descend and renew its devastations. Its disastrous track was not more than forty rods wide. It took half the roof from Mr. Stolz' house, and tore down all the trees in his fields. It appeared to be in the height of its fury when it reached the old farm of Wil- liam H. Montgomery. Darkness came as sud- denly as the tornado ;- the terrible roaring and crashing swallowed up all other sounds. The windows were blown in, and while the family endeavored to hold blankets against them, one side of the floor rose up several inches, the roof was taken off and carried several rods, and a limb fell into the chamber which took two men to lift. A straw bonnet belonging to Miss Jane A. Mont- gomery was torn to pieces, wrapped around a large tree, and the tree lying upon the ground. A dress belonging to Mrs. Harriet Walter was taken four and a half miles, and left in a tree top. All the fences were scattered ; trees were torn down, and nothing fairly in its course withstood its fury. Trees three and four feet in diameter were twisted into splinters or snapped off, as if by the power of Him who holds the winds in the hollow of His hand. When it reached the farm of Eben-


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15S


WABASH TOWNSHIP.


ezer Drake, Mrs. Drake was at home, alone with the children. With commendable forethought she took up a puncheon, put the children into a hole under the floor, and was just going down herself when a piece of flying timber struck her, inflicting severe injury. In a few moments the storm had passed, and she found only a few rounds of logs left of their house. Its noise was heard distinctly a distance of nine miles. A similar whirlwind passed through Madison Township before any families had settled in Jay.


The first settler in Wabash Township was Peter Studabaker (1821); the second was Orman Per- ring, and the third was William Gibson. The first election was held at William Gibson's, on the 23d of September, 1837. John B. Gillespie set- tled on what is now the town site of New Cory- don in 1837, and in 1839 built the old grist mill, having only a brush dam. In 1841 Samuel Hall built a saw mill on the south side of the river. James Gillespie erected a saw mill adjoining the grist mill, in 1842. In August, 1843, Theophilus Wilson purchased the town site and the Gillespie Mills, brought a stock of goods, and opened the first store. Gillespie had laid off a few town lots in 1840, but none had been sold. In March, 1844, Mr. Wilson employed Thomas Brown to survey the town of New Corydon. Jesse Snyder put up the first blacksmith's shop in 1844. Theophilus


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159


WABASH TOWNSHIP.


Wilson put a tan yard in operation in 1845, which he afterward sold to Timothy H. Parker, who dis- posed of it to David Walter, the present owner. In 1845 Almon Sparling opened a cooper's shop. Wilson's store was the only one in the town until 1847, when Joshua Gifford commenced selling goods, and continued until his death, in Septem- ber, 1853. Wilson sold liis store to Sherburne A. Lewis in 1848, who subsequently took C. J. Plumb as a partner, and the store was kept in Plumb's house, at the lower end of Main street, which has since been a hotel. Samuel . Hall and Harper Tyson sold goods a few months in Wil- son's old stand, were succeeded by C. W. Scott, he by J. B. Cecil, and he by David Beardslee, whom George Steckel bought out, continuing the business, though at present in the hundred-days' service of his country.


The first school kept in the township was by Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, now Mrs. Thomas Towle, in the summer of 1840. The first school in New Corydon was taught in the summer of 1844, by Miss Sophronia Lewis,-a hewed log "smoke house" being converted into a school- room. A Post Office was established at New Corydon in September, 1844, and T. Wilson ap- pointed Postmaster, who held the office until Jan- uary 1st, 1852, when he resigned in favor of C. W. Scott, who resigned in a year, and George


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WABASH TOWNSHIP.


Stolz was appointed. He is the present incum- bent, and also has a store.


In 1844 the Rev. I. N. Taylor was stopping at Mr. Wilson's, who had just been repairing his old log house by ceiling up the rafters. Mr. Taylor proposed that a Presbyterian Church should be built there, and when Mr. Wilson made some objection he read to him these words from Hosea : "Is it time for you to dwell in your ceiled house, and this house lie waste? Go up to the moun- tains, and bring wood and build the house, and I will dwell.in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord." Mr. Wilson replied, "You have got the Bible on your side ; we will build the house !" and immediately gave Mr. Taylor the choice of his lots, and started a subscription paper by putting his name down for fifty dollars. The paper was circulated, and persons signed work, lumber, haul- ing, grain, etc., no money being promised. Rev. I. N. Taylor and the Limberlost settlement aided very much. Mr. Reuben Montgomery took the subscription and built the house for $250, without money. This pioneer church has been occupied by all denominations with good feeling. In 1855 a Methodist Church was built.


The first Sabbath School in New Corydon was established on the 26th of June, 1842. The pre- liminary steps of organization were taken at the house of Asahel W. Lewis, in February previous.


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161


ROBERT TISDALE.


The old mills have now good successors. About 1858 John Hall and Vynul Arnett started a steam saw mill on the south bank of the river at the bridge, and in August, 1859, set in operation a steam grist mill. In 1862 William and Henry McMakin erected a large water grist mill at the old mill site. All these mills are now in success- ful operation. In 1859 Henry Reed opened a drug store in New Corydon, which he still owns.


The earliest minister in Wabash Township was Elder Robert Tisdale, a Baptist. He continued to travel and preach until his death, at a good old age, at Montpelier, in the autumn of 1856. In early times he carried a hatchet with him, in the winter, with which, fastened to a pole by withes or linden bark, he would sit on his horse and cut the ice before him, sometimes making but three or four miles a day, camping out at night or climb- ing a tree to avoid the wolves. He traveled ex- tensively over Indiana and sections of Ohio; was a strong advocate of temperance and Sabbath Schools; noted for long sermons, and in late years for his liberal Christian sentiments.


Rev. F. Baldwin, Rev. J. W. Allen, Rev. Mr. Drury and Elder Chaffee were, at different pe- riods, the preachers for the Baptist church at New Corydon, until 1854, when Rev. J. C. Skinner became its pastor, and still holds that relation.


In 1847, Rev. J. H. Babcock preached for the


162


THEOPHILUS WILSON.


Congregational church of New Corydon, but died the following year.


He was succeeded by Rev. Andrew Loose, who remained some over one year, when Rev. James Boggs became the pastor of that church and the Presbyterian church on the Limberlost, and con- tinned until 1854, when he moved to Clinton, In- diana, and afterward to Fairton, New Jersey, where he still resides. Rev. Joseph H. Jones then became pastor of the two churches, and still retains that position. He settled first in Adams County, but, in 1863, moved to Westchester, where he now resides.


The many Methodist circuit preachers in New Corydon and other circuits in the county, deserve honorable mention for their self-denying labors in the dissemination of christian principles, but their large number prevents us from obtaining a com- plete sketch.


Among the most valuable of the Jay County pioneers was Theophilus Wilson. He settled in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1841, where he bartered goods for the furs, skins, deer hams and everything the surrounding forest pro- duced. He settled on the Wabash in 1843, from which time his identity with the physical, moral and political interests of Jay was conspicuous. He was the proprietor of New Corydon, its first mer- chant, post-master, and leading spirit in all reli-


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NOBLE TOWNSHIP.


gious, temperance, educational and other en- terprises, while he remained. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, always relied on as a citizen who was constantly looking to the best interests of the community. IIe represented this county and Randolph in the State Senate one term. His ceaseless activity, superior intelli- gence and large generosity made his loss deeply felt by the people, especially those at New Cory- den, who knew him best, when he moved to Avon- dale, near Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855, where he now resides, as deeply interested in Jay as though he were yet a citizen.


Noble Township was organized in September, 1837. It was named in honor of Noah Noble, Governor of Indiana from 1831 to 1837.


The first settlers were James Stone and Hen- derson Graves. The first election was held at James Graves', who was elected the first Justice of the Peace. Here the name Limberlost finds its source. This singular name was given this stream from the following circumstance : A man named James Miller, while hunting along its banks, became lost. After various fruitless efforts to find his way home, in which he would always come around to the place of starting, he determined lie would go on a straight course, and so, every few rods would blaze a tree. While doing this he was found by his friends who were hunting him.


164


DAVID MONEY.


Being an agile man, he was known as “limber Jim," and, after this, the stream was called " Lim- berlost." A curious phenomenon can be seen in its waters. Bubbles are constantly rising, which, on reaching the surface, burst and leave an oily substance upon the water. Perhaps they are ebullitions from a coal oil fountain. Among the many hunters who have lived in this township, perhaps David Money is chief. He first settled about half a mile from the Jay County line, in Ohio, October, 1830, moving into Noble Town- ship in May, 1839, his brother Alexander hav- ing preceded him several years. Hunting has been his chief business during life, and in this respect he has acquired considerable celebrity and much skill. The first winter after settling in this county, he hunted steadily for three weeks, killing from three to nine deer each day, except two days, on each of which he killed two. During that fall and winter he killed one hundred and twenty deer! He received, at one time, one hundred dol- lars in Fort Wayne, for furs and skins. At one time he was hunting with a companion who lost his gun-lock. Mr. Money sent him back to hunt the lock, and take care of the deer they had already shot, telling him.that he (Money) would meet him at a certain place the next day, at noon. At the appointed time they met, and, since their separation, the old hunter had killed eleven deer


165


EBENEZER WOODBRIDGE.


and one fox! The next winter he hunted three weeks, and killed sixty-seven deer. He took to market at one time thirty-two deer, all having their skins on. There were two sleigh loads of them. The first sleigh had a fine old buck with high horns and many "points," standing erect at the front, presenting a most novel and amusing spectacle. During his life he has killed eighteen deer at nine shots, two at each time. Only a few years ago he shot thirty-two consecu- tive times at deer, foxes, pheasants and other game, without missing. His chief hunting ground, in later years, has been Paulding County, Ohio, whither he goes once or twice a year, camps in the woods, after the good old hunting style, and hunts for weeks at a time. In the fall of 1861 he killed eleven deer and one wolf in that county.


A Post-office was established in Noble Town- ship, May 28th, 1851, called Hector, and J. C. Brewington appointed Postmaster. For several years Wilbur Morehous has held the office.


Near the "ninety mile tree,"-a tree on the. state line, between Indiana and Ohio, just ninety miles from the Ohio river,-Ebenezer Woodbridge now of Lee County, Illinois, settled in 1838, bringing his family two years after. Their cook- ing stove was the first in that part of the county, and created much curiosity among the neighbors. 8*


166


WAYNE TOWNSHIP.


He was an earnest temperance man. When he wanted to raise his barn, ont of many persons in- vited, but few came the first day, and it was hint- ed to him that it was because he would not furnish liquor. He indignantly mounted a stump and made a regular " stump " speech to his neigh- bors, saying that if his barn could not go up with- out whiskey, the logs might rot upon the ground. The next day his barn was raised.


In 1861, Daniel Forner and Charles Joseph commenced the manufacture of crockery ware at Mr. Forner's residence, in Noble Township. They are still engaged in the business.


Wayne Township was organized in September, 1837. Most of the early history of this township has already been given. The first election was held on the third Saturday in September, 1837, Daniel Farber, Inspector. The first settler was Philip Brown, who built the first house (1832). The next was William Brockns, and the third James Morrison. Then came Obadiah Winters, the Highlander family, and H. H. Cuppy. The latter built the "Conner house" on the south side of the Big Salimonie, now owned by Colonel Shanks, in the fall of 1833. That house is cele- brated as the one in which the first Commission- ers' and Circuit Courts were held.




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