USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 6
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79
NEW DURHAM TOWNSHIP.
The railroad was completed in 1853, and a depot was built, which gave the first business impetus to the place. During this year a steam grist mill was built by James Haskell. This was sold and moved away about the year 1860.
In 1853 a Methodist church building was erected which is now owned by the Catholics. The Christian church was built in 1859, and Elder H. Z. Leonard was the first pastor. The Methodist church was built in 1867-8 out of means arising from a generous bequest made by a large-hearted christian man and public-spirited citizen, Daniel West, who died a few years ago, honored and respected by all who knew him. He also made a handsome bequest to the lodge of Odd Fellows, and with it a good hall was built in 1868.
In the year 1855, Jacob J. Mann & Co., built a reaper and mower establishment, and made a machine patented by themselves. The concern did a good business up to the time of the death of the senior member of the firm.
The first number of the Westville Herald was issued on the second day of May A. D. 1856, by C. G. Townsend and Alfred Townsend. The partnership continued only until the following August, when the office was sold to a company composed of Samuel Burns, Henly Clyburn and James Concannon. Townsend con- ducted it until November, when Chas. G. Powell took charge of it, and having bought out the proprietors, removed it to LaPorte in the month of August 1859.
In the year 1858, Tobias Miller built a steam grist mill. After being sold several times it was owned by Mrs. Sloan Martin, in 1870, when it was burned.
In the fall of 1862 a bedstead factory was started by Reynolds, Weaver and Smith. Weaver continued with the firm until 1865. The other members of the firm continued in the business until 1869, when they sold out to Charles Ruggles, who changed the business to that of manufacturing wooden bottom chairs, which is now car- ried on to a considerable extent, and in the year 1864, a machine shop was put in operation and run by Charles W. Carter.
On the 14th day of February 1864, a meeting of citizens was held at the new school house to take into consideration the propriety
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
of incorporating Westville. Azariah Williams acted as chairman, and W. L. Webster as secretary.
Wm. B. Webber moved that preparatory steps toward getting the town incorporated be taken, and the chair then on motion appointed the following committee to carry out the objects of the convention : Wm. B. Webber, James Concannon, Wm. C. Martin, D. C. Stand- iford and W. L. Webster.
At the September term of the county commissioner's court, held at the court house on Friday, the ninth day of September, A. D., 1864, it was ordered by the board that in the matter of the applica- tion of the legal voters of Westville, it appeared that a majority of the legal voters in said town are in favor of its incorporation and that the law has been fully complied with, and that said town be and is hereby incorporated.
The first election under the act of incorporation took place on the 15th day of September, and the annual charter election on the 16th day of November following.
The first council consisted of W. L. Webster, D. C. Standiford, and Wm. C. Martin, Mr. Webster being elected president. G. L. Thompson was the first clerk.
James Dolman, Sen., and James Dolman, Jr., erected a grist mill near the railroad track, in 1872, and the next year sold it to E. and N. Dolman.
Cattron's hall and building was finished in 1873. It is a hand- some building and the hall is a credit to the town.
Perhaps the one institution of which Westville may most justly feel proud is the excellent public school which is recognized as one of the best not only in the county, but in all northern Indiana. Several years ago, it was brought up to a high standard by Prof. J. G. Laird, and has successfully maintained it ever since. The school has been so successfully managed that many persons have attended it, from adjoining counties. It is an honor alike to those who have conducted it, and the people who have given it a cordial support.
It is not within the province of this history to give all the busi- ness changes that may have occurred. It aims to present the county as it has been, and also as it is at present ; and the follow- ing gratifying exhibit of the business of Westville is given.
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NEW DURHAM TOWNSHIP.
Two attorneys; two bakeries; two barber shops; two blacksmith shops; one butcher shop; two brick masons; sixteen carpenters; one chair factory ; two dry goods, clothing and grocery stores; one well driver; one express agent; one gunsmith; four grocery stores ; two hotels; two hardware stores; six harness makers; two insur- ance agents; two justices of the peace; one jeweler and watch maker; one livery stable; three milliners; four physicians; two painters ; four plasterers; one pump manufacturer; two restau- rants; one saloon ; two saw mills ; one stationery store; three shoe makers; Two tailors; one undertaker and two wagon manufactories. There is also a Hook and Ladder company; a lodge each of the Masons and Odd Fellows; four churches, Baptist, Christian, Meth- odist and Catholic ; and an efficient corporation government, con- sisting of a council, with president, treasurer and clerk, assessor and marshal.
There are others now living in the township who came very early to the county. Hon. Charles W. Cathcart made a settlement in 1831, and has long been a distinguished citizen, honored in many ways by his fellow-citizens. He twice represented the district in congress, and has always borne a prominent and leading position in public affairs. Evan Henton came to the county in 1832, and now resides in West- ville. A. M. Jessup arrived in 1832. John P. Noble, Eliza Cole, Henry N. Cathcart, W. F. Cattron, John Warnock and J. R. Reed reached the county in 1833. M. S. Wright, M. W. Robertson, Ralph Loomis, C. R. Robertson, Wm. W. and W. L. Webster and Shep. Crumpacker came in 1834. J. M. and J. G. Warnock, and James M. Ray arrived in 1835.
It is impracticable to name later arrivals. The township is thickly populated, and except Centre and Michigan townships, casts a larger vote than any other township in the county.
The fertility of the soil in this township is unsurpassed and its farmers are prosperous. Among those who have held official posi- tions is Hon. Geo. Crawford, a leading agriculturist of the township. He has been several times a member of the State Legislature, serv- ing in both the Senate and House of Representatives; he served also two years as a member of the State Board of Agriculture. Though now at an advanced age, he is yet an influential, active
6
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
and useful citizen. Other well-known citizens of the township are Alfred Williams, John P. Cathcart, Azariah Williams, Dr. B. B. Freeman, Dr. T. Fravel, Isaiah Thompson, Mrs. FM. M. Duncan, H. Van Zandt, Daniel McKillips, M. W. Ray, I. D. Martin, L. R. Cole, Wash. Concannon, Mr. Armitage, and Dr. C. P. Cathcart. John P. Cathcart has served many years as county surveyor.
CHAPTER V.
MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP.
At the regular term of the commissioners' court, on the fourth day of September 1833, the following order was passed by the board : "Ordered that New Durham township be divided by the line dividing townships thirty-six and thirty-seven, and that all that tract of country lying in township thirty-seven and thirty-eight con- stitute a new township, to be called Michigan township." A divis- ion was afterwards made of this territory so that the present Michi- igan township consists only of the fractional congressional township thirty-eight, which is so far diminished by Lake Michigan on the north that it contains but fourteen whole sections and six fractional sections, leaving it the smallest township in territory [ there is in the county, with one exception, that of Hudson. The soil of the town- ship consists almost wholly of sand ridges. These were at one time covered with a fine growth of White pine timber, which has entirely disappeared. having been cut off for lumber.
One of the earliest settlements in Michigan township, outside of Michigan City, was at Scott's mills, where Mr. James M. Scott erected a saw and grist mill. This was the first flouring mill that was built in the township. It was located on Trail creek one mile and a half from Michigan City, and was completed in 1834. It was a large fine mill, and supplied a great extent of country with bread, pur- chasers coming all the way from Chicago, Rockford, Joliet and Galena, in Illinois. The proprietor was able to purchase wheat at sixty cents per bushel, and sell his flour at ten dollars per barrel. The first saw mill in the township was built by John Walker, father
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MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP.
of Maj. Benj. P. Walker of LaPorte. John Cheney and John Rit- ter, the Shreves, Sanfords and Van Winkles were all old settlers, having reached the county at a very early day.
Owing to the sparseness of the population of Michigan township outside of the city, its history is chiefly the history of
MICHIGAN CITY.
The land on which Michigan City, is now located was purchased of the government in 1831, by Isaac C. Elston, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and he laid out the town in October, 1832. The town site was one that was rather forbidding, much of it being low and swampy. A growth of pine trees covered most of the spot, and there were some sugar maple trees. Trail creek slowly made its way over the sands to the lake, winding around by the very foot of Hoosier Slide, a deep sluggish stream, which was obstructed by a bar at the mouth, where so little water passed over that a person?could readily cross it on foot. Yet it was believed that at this point a harbor could be made. Hence the purchase made by Major Elston, and all the subsequent operations towards building up a city, and a har- bor on the great lakes, for Indiana. The line between Indiana and the territory of Michigan was formerly some distance south of where it was afterwards located, shutting Indiana off entirely from all har- bor facilities, and depriving her as a State, of all the benefits to be derived from the vast commerce of the great northern lakes. This boundary was disputed, and it was finally settled by adopting a boundary that would give this State a position on the coast of lake Michigan; and the counties of LaPorte, Porter and Lake, are bounded on the north by its waters.
The first settlers in Michigan City arrived in 1833, and it may readily be presumed that they found few attractions to welcome them. To their view there was presented only sand hills and swamps. Hoosier Slide towered up many feet higher than now, while below it and around about there was only glistening sand, and further back, across the creek that passed through the woods, and which was still the abode of wild beasts, a low, wet, swampy tract of country occupied all the locality. It would have been discouraging enough only for the prospect that a city would one day arise there
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
in spite of adverse circumstances, and a harbor that should be to Indiana what the harbor at Chicago is now to Illinois. Animated by this belief, settlers rapidly arrived, filled with the spirit of enter- prise, and commenced the work of improvement.
From the best information obtainable, it seems that Jacob Fur- man and B. F. Bryant put up a log cabin in August, 1833, on the present site of Peck's corner, which was probably the first house erected in the place. Mrs. W. F. Miller, who is older in date of arrival than any other person now living in Michigan City, states that her father, Samuel Flint, arrived there with his family in October, 1833, when she was five years of age ; and the Flint tam- ily was the third to arrive. There was then but one frame building in the town, erected, it is said by Samuel B. Webster; and Mr. Flint erected the second one for a dwelling house. The presence of Indians was no unusual event, but they were friendly, and Mrs. Miller remembers having often played with them as a child. The two or three dwelling houses were located in the woods, and sugar was made from the maple trees surrounding them. There were no streets yet opened, and only foot paths led from house to house.
In the month of June, 1833, Thompson W. Francis arrived. He did not remain, but went to LaPorte, staying there until the month of November, when he journeyed to St. Joseph, Michigan. and worked at his trade there until the Spring of 1834. He then on the 16th day of March went to Michigan City, and made a permanent settlement. He found there Joseph C. Orr, and Samuel Miller. Orr built a tannery in 1834, and lived first in a log house which stood on the present site of Ames & Holliday's drug store, which he used as a sort of hotel, and where many a traveler found rest and refreshment, though the surroundings were somewhat rude. He afterwards moved to New Cincinnati, on the Wisconsin river, where he is still living. Miller was a forwarder, and occupied a log building on the ground where the old brick packing house now stands. Francis was a carpenter. and built, or assisted in building many of the older houses now in the city.
About the time of the arrival of the Flint family in October, 1833, Geo. W. Selkirk came. He has been many years engaged in farming, and now resides in Coolspring township. At this time
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MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP.
only an old Indian trail connected Michigan City and LaPorte, but the Michigan road had been laid out, and the laborers were then at work upon it. Until this was completed there was no road into the city, and the only communication with the world was out over the waters of the lake, by means of the occasional arrival and departure of a vessel. Vessels of ordinary size could not reach the wharf, but were obliged to anchor out in the lake at some distance, and land merchandise by means of lighters. This continued several years, to the time when the improvement of the harbor began under the supervision of the United States.
George Ames and Leonard Woods reached the place in 1834; and in 1835 came M. Romel, a native of Germany ; Simon Ritter from Seneca county, New York: Deacon W. Peck, from New York: W. W. Higgins, from Connecticut, Judge Woodward a jus- tice of the peace, and first postmaster : Hiram and Richard Inman ; Jacob Bigelow : David Burr: Benjamin James ; W. Moody ; Allen James: Robert Stewart: Quick, Peak, Western and many others. In the winter of the same year C. B. Blair arrived.
During this year and the next, settlers came rapidly, and the young town began to exhibit considerable stir and business activity. Sprague and Teali were in the place in 1834. Teall was engaged in the business of merchandising, and they afterwards became stage proprietors in partnership, having purchased the line from Mich- igan City to Chicago. Capt. Eliakim Ashton, who was a sol- dier under Gen. Orr, came very early, perhaps in 1834; and also Asa Harper, who now lives in Coolspring township. He came to the county in 1833, and assisted in surveying the town of Michi- gan City, the plat of which was recorded September 17, 1833.
Two hotels were built in 1834. The first one was put up by Lofland and Taylor, and was situated near the harbor; the other was built by Samuel Olinger, Thompson Francis doing the carpen- ter work. Soon afterwards Hiram Inman built the Stockton house near the present school house number one, on Pine street, and before the close of 1836, there were still other hotels-the Mansion house, City Hotel, Exchange, on Sherman's corner, Farmers' Hotel, Washington House and Lake House; also the Western Hotel which stood out near where the State prison is at present
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
located. The hotels were all full, and business of all kinds, in 1836, was in a flourishing condition. W. D. Woodward, who came to the place in that year, states that there were nearly three thousand inhabitants. This probably includes the hundreds of transient peo- ple; but it is certain that during the three years 1834, 35 and 36, the growth of the town was rapid beyond what seems possible now. The prospect of building the leading harbor on the lakes animated every settler, and disseminated a spirit of enterprise that seemed likely to create a great city in spite of every obstacle. They who first peopled Michigan City were pushing, active, intelligent and enterprising men. Some of them became the heaviest business men at that time in the State. They were chiefly from the eastern States; and with them, to suggest a business enterprise was to see it accomplished. The arrival of vessels became more and more fre- quent, and it was an interesting sight that at such times always occur- red, to see men, women and children flocking to the wharf to witness the coming in of the lighter, which was the link of communication between all large vessels and the shore, some actuated by mere curiosity, and others to renew their faith in the great commercial importance of the place in the not distant future.
Samuel Miller commenced merchandising in 1833, then Teall in 1834, and in the same year James Forrester also. These men built ware houses as did also Wm. S. Clark, who first clerked for Teall. In 1836, James Forrester brought a cargo of salt into the place on the schooner "Post Boy," which was the earliest shipment of the kind. The first warehouse was built by Miller, and the second one by Hobart, and others speedily followed built by Moore, Burr, Sleight & Gould, Jabez R. Wells, and C. B. Blair. Blair's stood on the pier, which he also built. The ware houses stood down near the present harbor, and the greater part of the business was in the vicinity of where the depot now stands. The steamers Ward, Champion, Geo. Dole and others made regular trips, and the com- mission and forwarding business became active and heavy. The town was the great grain depot for all northern Indiana, and wheat was brought in from even as far south as Marion county. At the end of 1836, besides the numerous warehouses and commission and forwarding houses, there were twelve dry goods stores. Jacob
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MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP.
Haas and Daniel Brown were merchants in 1835, and Eliakim and Gallatin Ashton in 1836. The son of the latter is now one of the leading business men of the place. Among others engaged in the business of merchandising were John Barker, Henry Carter, J. G. Sleight, Mr. Wendover, and Shedd & Turner. George and Fisher Ames opened a hardware store in 1835. There are only two persons now living in Michigan City who have been there longer than Mr. Geo. Ames. These are Mrs. W. F. Miller, and T. W. Francis. Chas. W. Henry, the father of the late Wm. Henry, who lived near Kingsbury, was a merchant in 1835; also D. and N. W. Lower in the same year, and Sleight & Moon, and W. Barbee. R. Coudon commenced the Stove, Tin and Sheet Irion business, under the firm name of Burke & Coudon in 1837, and continued the business on his own account from 1838.
The first school house in the city was erected in 1834, Thompson Francis was its architect and builder. It was used as a church also. At that time there were no regular church services; but preachers frequently stopped over Sunday in the place, not desiring to travel on the Sabbath, when they were drafted into the service of an extemporized congregation. The first teacher was probably a Mr. McCoy, who taught in the building alluded to; and from the begin- ning of that early time, the school system of the city has grown, until now the schools of the place are flourishing and eminently useful; and a building has been erected which is one of the finest in the State, in towns which are no larger than Michigan City.
The first building exclusively for church services was erected by the Protestant Episcopals. It was built in 1835 or 36, and stood on Pine Street, between fourth and Market streets. Afterwards a church was erected by the Methodists, on Pine between second and Michigan streets, which was removed to its present location on Franklin street many years ago. The present Episcopal church edifice was erected later; then the Catholics built, and after them the Congregationalists, and last of all, the Presbyterians. These all now receive good congregations on the Sabbath. A Baptist church was built in 1837.
On the eighth day of July, 1835, the first number of the Michi- gan City Gazette was issued. It was established by J. S. Castle.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
The material for the printing of the paper was shipped from Buf- falo around the lakes to Michigan City. Mr. Castle and family go- ing by boat to Detroit, and thence by team to Michigan City, where they arrived in June, 1835. They were accompanied by Polaski King, of LaPorte, who was "Printer's Devil." after the office was opened. This was the first paper published in LaPorte county. It opened as a Democratic sheet. but afterwards, passing into the hands of Samuel Miller, with James Stewart as editor. it became the servant of the Whig party. A more complete history of this newspaper, with the others of the county, will be given in another chapter.
In 1838-40, there was a literary institution in the city, which occupied a building three stories in height. It was called the Michigan City Institute. and its Principal was Rev. James Towner. He was assisted by a Miss Ward, now Mrs. Wyllis Peck, and Miss Coit, who was a sister of Mrs. Towner. It was a useful institu- tion; but not sufficiently successful pecuniarily to ensure a long life for it. It was soon suspended. and the building, which stood on Franklin street. corner of Boston was removed from that locality to become the Lake house, which was burned several years ago.
In the year 1836. on the fourth day of July, a vessel. the Sea Serpent, was brought in over the bar, and this circumstance was made the occasion for a day of rejoicing. The vessel was pushed and towed, the citizens aiding, some considerable distance up the creek. and the enthusiasm found expression in a way that was more appli- cable to those " good old times " than to the present evil days. A bar- rel of whisky was rolled out and set up on end. Then the head was knocked in. a nail was driven partly in the side. and a tin cup was hung on it, when every man helped himself, and it may be presumed that no one failed to partake of his full share of the liquid. It was a general spree, in which every man "lent a hand."
It was in this year (1836), that the work of improving the harbor began, Congress having at its preceding session made an appropri- ation of $20.000 for this purpose. The work was begun without much delay, under the immediate supervision of Capt. Ward B. Burnet, of the engineer bureau. The following year an appropria- tion was made of $30.000. and the further work on the harbor was
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MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP.
placed in charge of Capt. Stockton. These two appropriations were made while Jackson was yet President. The third came dur- ing the administration of Martin Van Buren. It was made to cover the two years 1838 and 1839, and the amount of it was $60,733 .- 39. Capt. Stockton continued in charge of the harbor work, until 1841, when he was succeeded in this duty by Maj. J. R. Bowes, of the Engineers.
The next appropriation made by Congress was during the admin- istration of President Taylor, probably in 1849. It was for the sum of $25,000; and a fifth appropriation of a like amount was made in 1852. With the first three appropriations much valuable improvement was made. Materials were purchased, such as timber, stone and iron, piles were driven, dredge and scows built, neces- sary buildings erected, and all preparations made for pushing the work forward with the utmost expedition. Piers were built into the lake until a depth of eighteen feet of water was reached, and the channel was partially dredged out, so as to admit vessels of two hundred tons easily and safely inside the harbor between the piers. But more than one-half the money derived from the first three appropriations was expended for materials, shops, the dredge, horses, scows, etc., including more than $20,000 worth of hewn oak tim- ber. To obtain any benefit from all this, it was necessary that the appropriations should have been continued until the completion of the work. But several years were allowed to intervene between the third and fourth appropriations. During all this period everything about the harbor stood still. The shops were closed up; the horses were sold for a small part of the original cost; the dredge, scows and tenders, tied up in the stream, were going rapidly to decay ; the splendid lot of oak timber, which cost more than $20,000 either rotted or was sold to individuals at less than one-fitth of its cost to the government ; the unfinished pier, left to the mercy of wind and wave, was soon seriously damaged.
At last the fourth appropriation was made, and was all expended in patching up the waste and destruction of the previous years ; and then the work ceased. There was no more money, and that which had been thus expended might as well have been cast into the lake. so far as the harbor was affected by it. The remains of the material,
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