USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 3
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On the 24th day of May 1831, Ezekiel Provolt, David Stoner. Jesse West, Arthur Irving and a man named Willets, arrived in the township with their families. They came from the vicinity of LaFayette, and were on the road eighteen days-a rather tedious journey. On one occasion when the party had finished a day's journey, Mrs. Provolt rode back to the camping ground of the previous night to procure a fire with which to cook the evening meal.
The first night after the arrival of the party. they encamped upon
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KANKAKEE TOWNSHIP.
the land now occupied by A. J. Bowell, about one half mile north of the depot. The next day the party moved to the site of what is now the village of Rolling Prairie or Portland. There Ezekiel Provolt put up a log cabin and his family moved into it. Soon after, Jesse West and Arthur Irving built cabins near that of Provolt.
In the same year Daniel Murray, Chapel W. Brown, Emery Brown, Jacob Miller, John Garret and James Hiley moved into the township.
In the spring of 1832, Alex. Blackburn, Solomon Aldrich and Charles Ives with their families moved into the township and com- menced making improvements. Myron Ives had preceded them, arriving in the fall of 1831. In the month of May of that year, the Blackhawk war had broken out, and runners came from Chica- go, spreading stories to the effect that Indians were advancing upon the settlers. All was alarm and confusion, and they fled in dismay to Terre Coupee prairie in St. Joseph county, where a large number congregated at the house of a settler by the name of Egbert. A short time after, another panic took place and the settlers again re- turned to the same prairie, and part of them, about forty, took refuge in a school house, where they slept over night. The next day a company of soldiers moved westward on a reconnoissance. This reassured them, and they mostly returned homeward in the rear of the command. In June following the land sale took place, and while most of the men were gone to attend it, another rumor came of advancing Indians. The women were alone and unprotected, but they had become used to such reports and but few left their homes.
After the successful termination of the Blackhawk war, the set- tlement of the township became so rapid that the old settlers could not keep pace in the formation of acquaintances, with the new comers. Among those arriving at this time were Leonard Cutler, Nathan B. Nichols, Joseph Reynolds, and Ebenezer Russell. Pre- vious to this period, neighbors were such as resided five or even ten miles apart, and they visited each other at such distances as readily as now at a half mile. The products of the soil and the contents of the larder were free. Those who had plenty gave to their less prosperous neighbors as cheerfully as if they had been members of
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
their own family. The prairie was a flower garden, the woods were filled with game, wild fruits were abundant and honey could be found plentifully in the forests. There was much enjoyment among the people. They were bound to each other by ties which we now can little appreciate, ties of mutual dependence, protection against Indians, and the common deprivation of many of the com- forts which come to older communities. Mrs. Ann Eliza Provolt, was one of the pioneers, and from her are gathered many of the facts in the history of this township. She is enthusiastic over the beauty of the country, and the happiness of the people at that time.
The first religious services of which we have any account, was by the Presbyterians at the cabin of Alex. Blackburn, upon the place now occupied by Miner Nesbit. This took place sometime in the month of November, 1832. Services were performed by Rev. James Crawford, of the Wabash country. There were but seven members. The next summer Mr. Crawford came again, and com- pleted the organization of the church, which had then increased to twenty members. James Blair, Wm. O. Ross, David Dinwiddie and Myron Ives, were chosen and installed elders. The last two were ordained. The meetings were held in a log school house on the Niles road. Mr. Crawford died in Iowa about three years ago, aged eighty- six years. Among the settlers of 1834, were William Sharp, Asa Pease, J. M. Heckman, Zenos Preston, Jacob Wagner, and a family named Blood.
During 1834 a school house was put up on the Michigan road. It was constructed of logs, opposite the place now occupied by John Provolt. Difficulties had arisen regarding its location. From every point of the compass there were settlers who wanted it near their dwellings. After it was finished, a man named Emerson, was employed to teach. Before his term was completed, the school building was burned in the night. Another was soon afterer ected, and the same spot is now occupied by a frame school house.
In 1835, a large number of Indians encamped for a time on the Kankakee marsh, probably five hundred of them; but they soon passed on to the westward. From that time on, only scattering parties were to be seen, until all had left the country. The first
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death occurred this year. It was a child named - Stoner, aged three weeks. It was buried on A. J. Bowell's farm.
A tragedy occurred in this township in 1837, resulting in the death of an estimable young man, who was murdered for money. There were two young men in the township, one of whom was Joshua M. Coplin, and the other was named Scott. Coplin had a sum of money due him in Virginia, in amount, somewhere between $500 and $600, and they started eastward together. Scott stopped at the house of his mother in Lucas county, Ohio, and Coplin went on to Virginia, the State of his nativity, and having procured the money, four hundred dollars of which was in silver, and the balance in gold, undertook his return. Coplin stopped at the house of Scott's mother on his way, and stayed over night, and the next day started towards home. Scott followed, and overtaking Coplin, rode with him, each being on horse-back, until within less than a mile of Coplin's house, when he shot him dead and took possession of the money. Scott fled, but was followed, captured and placed in con- finement at LaPorte. The murder took place on the second day of February 1838, between a quarter and half mile of Jedediah Aus- tin's, and on the farm now owned by him, about eleven o'clock at night. The report of the pistol with which the deed was accom- plished, was heard by several. The body was found the next morn- ing by James Andrew, who lived in the vicinity. Scott was soon after tried, found guilty, and hung near LaPorte on the fifteenth day of June of the same year. Coplin's age when murdered, as inscribed on his tombstone, was nineteen years, three months and twenty days.
From this period, it would be impracticable to trace all the arrivals in the township. Containing a splendid body of land, settlement was rapid, farms were opened in every direction ; and the number of inhabitants was such that some of them began to think of the lo- cation of a village. The town of Byron was accordingly laid out, and a plot of it recorded on the 22d day of May 1837. Its location as designated on the record, was the south part of the east half of the northeast quarter of section fifteen, in township thirty-seven, north of range two west. It was laid out upon lands of Stephen G. Hunt and Hiram Orum. An addition was laid out, and recorded
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
on the 25th day of August, A. D., 1849, by Elias Lowe, on the southeast quarter of section sixteen, same township and range.
In the summer of 1835, there was but one cabin on the site of the town of Byron, and that was owned by William Hunt. In the fall of that year another was built, on the south side of the road. The first frame building was a store built by Amzi Clark, on the south side of Chicago street, in the fall of 1835, and spring of 1836. It was destroyed by fire in March 1873. Clark kept store in this house about a year, when he sold out to Orum & Phillips. It after- wards passed into the hands of Stewart & Lillie, and they sold out to Willis Peck, who in turn sold to Fraser & Campbell.
A postoffice was established in this locality in 1835, which was moved to Rolling Prairie in 1853. It was first kept in a log cabin, on Chicago street, near Amzi Clark's store. The first postmaster was S. G. Hunt.
W. F. Talbot built a frame house in the village in 1836, which was used for a blacksmith shop, and also as a residence for his family. In 1841 W. G. Hickman erected a building for a store, where he sold goods for a time, and then sold to Lowe & Young.
The first school house in Byron was built by subscription. It was erected in 1841, and the first school was taught by Joseph M. Salisbury. In 1847 a man named Wilber, commenced building a hotel on the south side of Chicago street. Before it was finished, he sold it to Charles Lebo, who moved it to the north side of the street and completed it. Lebo kept it three years and sold it to W. G. Hickman. I. N. Whitehead bought out Hickman in 1852 and kept the hotel five years.
Stewart & Lillie built a warehouse at Byron in the year 1847, which was situated on Chicago street, and large amounts of grain were stored in it. At that time Byron was quite a large wheat market, considerable business being done in its purchase and sale.
Before the Northern Indiana railroad was built, Byron was a town of much importance. Its trade was large. The travel through it was great, the merchants prospered and there was un- usual activity on its streets for a town of its size. The railroad killed it. Its streets are deserted. There is neither store, black-
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smith shop or tavern, within its limits. The first and only church in the place which was built by the Methodists in 1849, has been pulled down and moved away. It contains not more than half of its former population, and its residences are occupied mostly by. farmers who work on the neighboring lands.
Had the railroad passed through the place, the village of Byron would have lived and flourished ; but when it passed by to the north of it, a new town, and the death of the old, was the natural result ; and so the town of Rolling Prairie came into being. This is de- scribed in the survey as being in the northeast quarter of township number thirty-seven, north of range number two west.
The first house built upon the town site of Rolling Prairie was: erected by Ezekiel Provolt in the spring of 1831. This was followed by two others, put up by West and Irving. When the land came into market in 1832, and was sold at public sale, W. J. Walker bid in the premises upon which these settlers were living, and allowed them to remain there for a time in consideration of the improvements they had made. Ezekiel Provolt did not therefore remove to the present home of the family, until in the year 1834, when John Reynolds- moved into the vacated cabin. The Northern Indiana road was built to where the town now stands in January 1852. It reached LaPorte on the 10th day of that month and year, the last four miles of track being laid on that day and the cars coming into the city in the evening. The little cluster of cabins was known as Nauvoo, until a survey was made and recorded on the 26th day of November 1853. Walker gave the village the name of Portland, which is to- day the only legal name as recognized under the laws of the State, though the postoffice is called Rolling Prairie, and the railroad com- pany have given that name to the station.
On plat book No. 1, page 108, of the county records, can be found an addition without date or description, other than the plat itself. Twelve lots of this addition are bounded on the north by Walker street, on the east by Prairie street, on the south by Michi- gan street, and on the west by Maple street. The main part of the addition is bounded on the north by Michigan street, east by the boundary line of the northwest quarter of section eleven, south by the Northern Indiana railroad, and west by the county road. This, the first addition, was laid out by W. J. Walker.
4
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
On the 1st day of September 1855, B. P. Walker filed a plat for an addition to Portland, embracing eight blocks in section eleven. On the 6th day of December 1855, ho mar: his second addition, embracing seven blocks, and on the 23d day of January 1858, he filed a third and a fourth addition.
A steam saw mill was built in Rolling Prairie in 1852. It was erected by a company composed of John Drummond, A. J. Bowell and J. H. Fail, who soki it to Johnson & Folant in the Fall of 1855. They in turn sold to Jesse H. G. Coplin in 1857, and he in 1858 added a grist mill to the saw mill. An explosion occurred in this mill in 1860, which killed Thomas Lewis, and caused the loss of an arm to Frederick Knight. Coplin was slightly injured. B. F. Huntsman bought this mill in 1863, and in 1868 it was burned, but rebuilt the same year by Mr. Huntsman.
The first frame house in Portland was built by W. J. Walker, in the year 1853, and was rented by him to Ross & Organ. It was used by them for a store, and John H. Kierstead attended to the bus- iness. Kierstead afterwards bought the firm out, and run the store on his own account. It has since been moved about one hundred feet north of its former location, and is still used as a store and kept by E. L. Prince. It is located on Depot street. About the time the store was built, Nathan Smith erected a frame dwelling on Michigan street. This he sold, and the next year built another on Depot street. The depot was built in 1853. In 1854, the Chris- tian denomination erected a church, which was the first built in the village. In 1859, Kierstead built a store which burned down in February 1867. He sold the lot to David Hoffman, who again sold to W. B. Stevens. Stevens rebuilt in 1870. The Presbyterian church was built in 1857, and the Methodist Episcopal in 1865. The brick store now occupied by J. P. Nesbit, was built by G. W. Bolster, in 1870, and the store of Joseph D. Cassell, was erected in 1872.
The village of Rolling Prairie is pleasantly located, and com- mands a fair amount of business for a place of its size. It contains, at the present time, one bakery. two blacksmith shops, two boarding houses, one cooper, two carpenters, two clergymen, three dry goods and grocery stores, one drug and grocery store, one depot agent, one
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dress maker, one feed store, two grain merchants, one hardware store, one harness maker, one lumber dealer, one music teacher, one meat market, one fruit nursery, two painters and glaziers, two phy- sicians, two shoe shops, one steam saw mill, two telegraph operators, two wagon makers, and many very pleasant residences, some of which display considerable architectural beauty. The population is about four hundred.
Among the old settlers of Kankakee township whom we have not yet named were John Garrett who arrived in the Spring of 1830; Jacob Miller, who came probably in 1832; Daniel Murray and Emery Brown, 1830; Geo. W. Barnes, Ludlow Bell, Dr. Bowell, James Drummond, J. Austin, Benj. DeWitt, and the families of Harvey, Salisbury and Whitehead. These were all old settlers, some of whom are still living. Many more came at an early day, but those are not named as " Old Settlers " who came to the township later than 1832. Among those who have lived long in the township, and most of whom still reside there, are Samuel Downing; J. S. Hollo- way; David Bush, and his brothers, Isaac, now dead, and Abram, whose home is at present in Chicago; Lewis Griffith; J. H. Kier- stead, now in LaPorte; Benj. Finley; Miner Nesbit; Calita and Enoch L. Preston; Jesse Blake: A. H. Miller, now residing in La- Porte; Moses Burhans; C. L. G. Bell; and the Hickmans, Prouds, Wagners, Irelands and Darlingtons. These are, the majority of them, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and for this employment there can scarcely be found anywhere a more favored locality than Kankakee township. The soil is the rich prairie loam ; and timber and water are abundant.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
1
CHAPTER III.
SCIPIO TOWNSHIP.
Scipio township, like Kankakee was one of the three original townships of which the county of LaPorte consisted at its organiza- tion; and its limits were range three, the entire length of the county from north to south. Its present limits are Congressional township thirty-six, range three. The rest of its original territory is embraced in Centre and Michigan on the north, Noble and Hannah, and a small part of Union on the south.
The first settlers in Scipio township were Adam Keith and fami- ly, and Lewis Shirley and his mother, who arrived on the sixth day of July, 1829. The Keith family were originally from Pennsylva- nia; but the little colony named came from Ohio to this county. In the month of October in the year of their arrival, Keith Shirley was born. He was the first child born in the township, and is believed to be the third born in the county.
In the year 1830, a man named Welsh and his son, a youth of eighteen or nineteen years, settled at Door Village. They built a cabin and procuring some liquors, opened a trade with the Indians and did a very fair business. At first the liquor was of a quality to please the noble red man. It would "make drunk come quick." Finally the elder Welsh became dissatisfied with the amount of his profits, and desiring to amass a fortune in the small- est possible length of time, began to dilute the "fire water" from a spring. Though not as a general thing very fastidious about their edibles, this action on the part of Welsh in relation to their favorite beverage, excited their indignation. At last a party of young braves visited his cabin. and rolling out the barrels knocked out the heads with their tomahawks, and spilled the precious fluid upon the ground. This little incident so worked upon the feelings of the father and son that they left the township and removed to Chicago. On the thirtieth day of May 1830. Elizabeth Keith, wife of Adam Keith. died. It was the first death in the township. Among the settlers of this year were Daniel Jessup and Joseph Osborn.
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SCIPIO TOWNSHIP.
In 1831 Arba Heald, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Whittaker, John Gar- wood, Elijah Brown, Stephen Brayton, Hugh McGivens, Wm. Adams, James Anscum, and John Gattis, became settlers. Gen. Joseph Orr purchased land but did not stay-he returned the next year in time to take part in the Blackhawk war.
During the same year (1831) a body of Sac Indians passed through the township on their way to Detroit. A number who were in advance of the main body, stole three horses from Arba Heald. He followed them a few miles, but as he was on foot gave up the chase as useless. When the main body came up a day or two after, they were stopped and the larceny reported to the chiefs. After a council had been held, it was agreed to give an order on Col. Dav- enport, Indian Agent at Rock Island, Illinois, for the value of the stock taken. Mr. Heald afterwards went to the agency to get his money. Instead of paying it, measures were taken to get the hor- ses.
They were procured and driven into the town. They had been badly used in hunting buffalo, their ears being split and their tails cut off. Having received his horses, Mr. H. proposed to re- turn on the following morning, but during the intervening night, the best one of them was again stolen. This he never recovered nor any pay for it, as the Blackhawk war put an end to the Indian annuities-at least so far as they were payable this side of the Mississippi. During this year the first wedding took place-Adam Keith married Hannah Harris, daughter of Richard Harris.
In the year 1832, Christopher McClure, Arthur McClure, Lewis Keith, John Broadhead, Peter White, and Thomas W. Sale moved into the township. During the spring of this year, there were but two cabins in Door Village, one of which was occupied by Arba Heald, and the other was vacant, it being the one vacated by the Welshes, after the exploit of the Indian crusaders. The McClures occupied this vacant cabin, while they were building residences on their land one mile north of the village. The day after it was com- pleted the Indian scare commenced.
The Sac Indians were never kindly disposed to the American people or government. As far back as the war of 1812, they took up arms against the United States, and favored the British. In rec- ompense for this, they were receiving an annuity in Canada. Their
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
place of crossing was at Detroit, and the trail they pursued ran through New Durham township, and Door Village in Scipio. It is most probable that their intercourse with the Canadians, year after year, had anything but a good effect in quieting their ancient ani- mosity against our people.
In May 1832, Mr. Owen, the Indian agent at Chicago, sent word to Arba Heald that the Indians had commenced hostilities on Hickory creek, a short distance from that city, and advised the settlers to prepare to repel any invasion that they might make. Hostilities had commenced in other parts of the State of Illinois on Rock river and near Dixon. The alarm proved. as is almost inva- riably the case, to have been greatly exaggerated. The hostile acts were upon Indian creek. and a family by the name of Hall were murdered, with the exception of two girls, who were carried into captivity.
Heald having sent word over the prairie, a large number assem- bled at Door Village. They had been hurrying in during the night, and in the morning a meeting was called in order to consult upon taking means best calculated to promote their mutual defense, when from a mistaken idea of the cause of the confusion, a stampede took place and about half the company started their teams eastward; some not stopping except for rest and their meals, until they had reached Cincinnati. Many did not return until the next year. Forty-two men remained and built works for their defense. These consisted of a ditch, earthworks and a palisade, one hundred and twenty-five feet square. Upon two of the angles. there were block- houses. which commanded the sides. This fort, as it is called, was built under the direction of Peter White, who had acquired some previous knowledge in the building of such works. It was comple- ted in three days from the time of its commencement. when its occupants felt comparatively safe. It was located about a half-mile east of Door Village, on the lands of Lewis Shirley, near the road, and its site is plainly discernible at this time.
Amid all the turmoil and confusion, there was one woman who preserved her courage and assumed a defiant air, which gained for her the character of a heroine. It was Mrs. Arba Heald. With two rifles, two axes and two pitchforks, she barricaded herself in
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SCIPIO TOWNSHIP.
the cabin on her husband's farm, and neither threats nor persuasion could induce her to go into the fort. She declared she would kill six Indians before they took possession of her home. She would have doubtless fought them alone if they had disturbed her.
Soon after the fort was finished, a block house was built very near where Albert S. Hall now resides on section thirteen, south- east of Round grove. This was built under the direction of Judge Lemon.
On the second night after the fort near the village was commen- ced, it was thought best to send out a scouting party. Three men were selected, but Christopher McClure was the only man who per- formed the duty. He hid his gun behind a tree, and traveled in the direction of New Durham. Possessing a desire to create an excitement, he returned after a time with a sensational report, which made full as much bustle and turmoil as he expected.
General Joseph Orr purchased lands in Scipio township in 1831. In the month of May 1832, he came to take charge of and improve his possessions, which were situated on the line of Scipio and Center, being partly in both. He had previously, in 1827, been commis- sioned a Brigadier General, by Gov. Ray, and being present when the fort was building and the stampede took place, wrote to the governor giving him an account of what had happened, and then repaired to Chicago to ascertain, if possible, whether any real danger threatened the inhabitants of this vicinity. There he had an interview with Major Whistler, who commanded Fort Dearborn. After conference with that gentleman, he made certain recommend- ations and forwarded them to the governor of this State, and then started for the headquarters of General Atkinson, who was in com- mand of a force sent against the Indians. After interviewing Gen- eral Atkinson, General Orr returned to Chicago, where he received the following order :
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, INDIANAPOLIS, 26th June, '32.
SIR :- You will, upon the reception of this order, organize a company of volunteer Mounted Rangers, to be employed along the western line of our frontier, for the term of three months-keeping up an intercourse between our Wabash settlements and Chicago, by selecting suitable stations near the immediate settlements, and keep- ing out parties of observation with daily communication.
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