USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 9
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Resolved, that the association will accept such donations if made, and will preserve the collection, and increase it from time to time so far as can be done consistently with its leading objects.
For their cheerful co-operation in this feature especially, of our association, both by liberal donations, and by labor in arranging the specimens in the cases, too much praise cannot be awarded to Drs. T. Higday, Geo. L. Andrew, Henry Holloway, H. B. Wilcox, and Messrs. Fred'k West, Samuel J. Fosdick and E. G. McCollum.
Thus, from a beginning attended by doubts and fears. and through a history checkered by sunshine and cloud, we reached the
society's present condition. At no previous hour has the prospect been fairer than now. Five lectures of a course of six have left us nearly forty dollars ahead, and this in a season when lectures nearly everywhere have failed to pay. Our cabinet, in illustration of the natural sciences, is neatly and tastefully fitted up, and though not large, is well worthy the attention of the curious. The reading room, furnished with all the leading magazines of the day, draws to the rooms daily large numbers of busy readers, and every night the rooms are crowded with the young of both sexes, quietly and
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studiously securing information that will be a practical benefit during their lives. The library numbers probably over two thous- and volumes, consisting of many of the choicest works of the English language; history, biography, poetry, travels, science, light litera- ture, philosophy, belles lettres, and every variety of reading to please every variety of taste. We have lived down the stale calumny that we are a political institution, and all classes of our people, without regard to party, sect or creed, have a warm side for the LaPorte Library and Natural History Association. Our prospects may be best told by our past history and present condi- tion. We cannot doubt that our darkest days are over. The out- look before us is brighter and smoother than the backward look over the past. I look down the future, and see a long career of usefulness. I see our library expanding until these rooms grow narrow. The rich burden of thought here collected invites all our people to come and drink at the Pierean fount, not in little stinted sippings, but in vigorous draughts, that cheer the soul, enlarge the mind, and develope manhood. These thoughts are not fanciful, they are the grand possibilities of the future, and will be the gift of a generous now to the swift approaching then.
The purposes of this association may be summed up in one word -improvement. The improvement and development of man, as an individual, and as a member of the community. Our purpose is to educate, to develop thought, to enlarge and strengthen the mental powers, to purify the heart, to furnish rational and wholesome amusement, to make every man a better and stronger man, and every woman a better and more cultivated woman, to develop in the young a taste for reading, and make them acquainted with the great thoughts of the great authors who have honored the English tongue.
One of the most striking characteristics of our civilization, one which has worked deepest, and is destined to have the most lasting impression, is the general diffusion of knowledge. We are pre-emi- nently a reading people, and the privilege is not confined to a few. All participate. The morning paper follows the man of business to the breakfast table. The last monthly throngs the rail-car and steamboat. The latest novel enters the parlor of the opulent, and
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wrings the tears from eyes that never wept before; while every avenue of life is penetrated by the ubiquitous newspaper. News- north, east, west, south, the tidings are borne. Over hill and valley speed the messengers of the press. The palace of the rich, and the log hut of the pioneer, are alike objects of their visitation. Histor- ies are multiplied. The dramatic touches of Macaulay, and of Bancroft, Prescott and Motley, give to historic composition all the charm of works of the imagination. All must read, young and old, male and female, man of leisure and man of business. There is no escape; the world is busy ; it moves, so must man-every man-or he is left behind in a moment. It is our purpose to supply, as far as possible, this popular demand.
A celebrated English divine and philosopher lays down five eminent means whereby the mind is improved in the knowledge of things. These are observation, reading, instruction by lectures, conversation and meditation.
The first of these methods of improvement our association furnish- es, to a limited extent, by our cabinet of specimens illustrative of the natural sciences. Our library and reading room supplies the second, and the third is reached through our annual course of lectures.
These are our objects-to supply three of the methods of enlarg- ing, informing and strengthening the mind. With some degree of pride we point to the past; and we look forward hopefully to en- larged usefulness in the time to come."
Since the date of the above sketch which was written in February, 1869, the Library and Natural History association has continued to prosper. When Dr. Samuel B. Collins completed his marble front building on Michigan avenue, he generously offered to fit up the third story of the new building, and donate to the Library asso- ciation the free use of it for five years. The offer was accepted, and soon afterwards, the removal was effected, and these fine rooms, are still occupied, the five years lease not having yet expired.
Early in 1874, a movement was made to secure a permanent home for the Library. Gen. Joseph Orr, proposed to the Library board and citizens, that if they would raise the sum of $6,000 he would purchase and donate to the association the building known as
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the old Presbyterian church, the lot, and the half-lot adjoining on the north, amounting to $4000. Immediately active measures were begun for the raising of $6,000 by voluntary subscriptions, and these were finally successful. The money was subscribed, one-half of it paid in, and the property was conveyed to the association when an unfortunate disagreement occurring between Gen. Orr, and the board of directors of the Library association, in regard to the future arrangement of the building, and the manner in which the accumu- lated fund should be expended, the movement was abandoned, and the property was re-conveyed to Gen. Orr. Most of the money that had been paid in was suffered to remain in the treasury of the Library association, and many re-subscribed the amount still unpaid, the whole forming a large fund which is held by the board, and is now at interest, ready for use when an opportunity offers for the purchase of property that shall make a desirable and comforta- able home for the library. It is much to the credit of the citizens of LaPorte that an institution of this kind has received such constant and liberal support.
In the year 1852, the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana railroad was completed to LaPorte, and was extended rapidly to Chicago. Prior to this in 1839, the Buffalo and Mississippi rail- road was projected, much grading was done upon it through the county, and the board of county commissioners, in obedience to the petition of citizens subscribed for stock to the amount of $100,000. Only here and there a cut or an embankment remains to tell of the broken hopes of the people.
In 1856, the Cincinnati, Louisville and Chicago railroad, now the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago, was built between LaPorte and Plymouth. The gaps between Plymouth and Rochester, and Rochester and Peru were afterwards filled, thus giving LaPorte direct communication southward, as she already had to the east and west. In 1871, that part of the road between LaPorte and Michi- gan City was completed, and thus LaPorte is situated on the lead- ing line of railroad between the East and Chicago, and the principal line in Indiana from the lake to the south.
The rich farming country surrounding LaPorte has been the chief cause of its growth, though its manufactures, always an element of
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prosperity, have been by no means insignificant. The machine shops of the Michigan Southern railroad were located here immedi- ately upon the completion of the road, and continued here until 1870, when the machinery was removed to Elkhart. The build- ings are now occupied by the LaPorte Car factory. There have been several foundries, and establishments for the manufacture of machinery and agricultural implements of various kinds. The prin- cipal ones are now those of the Rumelys, who manufacture separa- tors and steam engines; James N. Brooks, who makes grist mill machinery and engines, and that of John W. Ridgway, which was burned a few months since and is now being rebuilt. There have been two paper mills in LaPorte, one of which failed and the other was burned and never rebuilt. The building of the former is now occupied by the LaPorte Wheel factory, which is prospering. The bedstead factory of Mr. Fred. Meissner has for many years been successful, and the chair factory under the management of Washington Wilson is doing a prosperous business. There are two woolen factories, each of them doing good work, three flouring mills and numerous wagon and blacksmith shops, which altogether give employment to a large number of hands. Within a few years past, a heavy trade has arisen in the ice that is taken from the lakes in the winter. The houses for its storage dot the borders of the lakes in every direction. It is chiefly taken from Stone. Clear and Fish Trap lakes. There is a Chicago firm engaged in the bus- iness, M. Thompson & Co .; a Louisville company: John Hilt & Co., of LaPorte, and others of this city. Many thousands of tons are taken off cach winter, and it is shipped extensively to Chicago, and the South. This is a flourishing business, and gives employment to many laboring people in winter when work is often especially need- ed, and difficult to obtain.
There are fifteen church edifices in LaPorte, Methodist, German Methodist, Presbyterian. Baptist, Episcopalian, three Lutheran, two German and one Swedish, Swedenborgian, Christian, two Catholic, Friends' meeting house, Jewish Synagogue, and Colored. The church first built in La Porte was by the Methodists in 1837. The edifice now occupied by the Disciples, and known as the Christian church was built by the Presbyterians in 1842. The Episcopalians
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erected their house of worship in 1845. It has been remodeled and much enlarged since that time. The present Baptist church edifice was built in 1859. The latest church building erected was that of the Presbyterians on Michigan avenue, which was completed in 1871.
The original survey of LaPorte has received many additions, the most important one, and the largest, being that of Capt. A. P. Andrew, Jr., on the south side of the city. The area of LaPorte contains now not less than eight hundred acres, and a population numbering about eight thousand. In 1835 there were but fifteen houses within the present limits of the corporation. A city govern- ment was adopted in 1853, and William J. Walker was the first mayor, who was elected to the office, and qualified on the fifth day of August 1853. His successors to 1861, were William Millikan, 1855; Fred'k McCallum, 1857; Wm. H. H. Whitehead, 1859; Daniel Noyes, 1861. Dr. L. C. Rose was elected in 1871, and served two terms, and Mortimer Nye was elected in 1873, and again in 1875. The city is divided into five wards, each represented in the city government by two councilmen. There are in the city more than one hundred business houses, gas works, "Holly water works, a variety of manufacturing establishments as already mentioned, machine shops and foundries, tanneries, six hotels, numerous board- ing houses, many secret and benevolent associations, and many elegant residences, with well kept and tasteful grounds surround- ing them. Taken altogether, LaPorte is unquestionably the hand- somest city in Northern Indiana, if not in the State. Its wide and well shaded streets, its long rows of dark green maples, its groves and lakes and charming drives present attractions which are seldom equaled.
LaPorte has had a steady but not rapid growth; and all its busi- ness has been on a stable basis. Panics and stringency in the money market affect her business interests comparatively little. Her banks, of which there are five including the Savings bank, are safely conducted, and when two years ago the great financial crash came upon the country no merchant or banker in LaPorte was touched. All weathered the storm easily and safely. Beautiful for situation, safe in her business interests, and enjoying superior edu- cational advantages, LaPorte is a most desirable place for a residence, combining the health of the country with the privileges of the city.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
At the March term, 1834, of the commissioners' court, on the third day of March, the board passed the following order: On mo- tion of Wm. Holmes, Kankakee township is divided by the line run- ning east and west between townships thirty-six and thirty-seven, all that part south of said line in said county to constitute and form a new township of the name of Pleasant, that the house of Oliver Classon shall be the place appointed to hold elections for said town- ship, and that James Webster be appointed inspector of elections - until the April annual election, or until his successor be elected and qualified." These limits have since been diminished by the forma- tion of Union, Lincoln and Johnson townships, until at the present time Pleasant township contains only the two 'northern and two central tiers of sections of township thirty-six, range two west.
Prior to the opening of this region to settlement, Pleasant town- ship was one of the most attractive parts of the county. Its rich and flower-clad prairies, its groves of noble forest trees, its numerous small lakes, and flowing streams, combined to form a spot of unsur- passed beauty. After the settlement of the county began, this por- tion was not long permitted to remain in its pristine condition. In the year 1831 or 32, James Webster came from Virginia and set-
tled on section one, in the northeast corner of the township. His son-in-law, James Highley, came at the same time. The next year, Silas Hale and Oliver Classon settled on section twenty-two. In 1833, John Wilson arrived from Ohio, and Andrew Harvey and Asa Owen. Valentine Nicholson came early, and Benjamin Butter- worth was present and bought land in the township at the land sales, but settled in the edge of Scipio township. Ralph Loomis arrived in Pleasant township, April 19th 1834, and in the same year came George S. McCollum and Samuel Stewart. Stewart bought land in sections four and five, and his home was only two miles from LaPorte. James Van Valkenburgh and a number of
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others came in 1835. On the 26th day of May, 1836, George Bos- serman arrived on a prospecting tour, located and secured three eighties of land, some of the best in the county ; then returned to his former home, and reached the township again on the 1st day of December, 1836, in company with his brother-in-law, J. G. Mc- Caskey. There were then in the township, besides those named, Griffin Treadway, John I. Crandall, Geo. C. Havens, W. A. Place, Stephen Norton and others. The following may also be named as early settlers ; W. W. Burhans, Ziba Bailey, D. E. and I. B. Cop- lin, Wm. Everhart, John V. Rust, G. W. Stewart, J. R. Stewart, Charles W. Wing, Seth Way, Curtis and John B. Travis, and other members of that family, and the Lomax family.
The first school house built in the township was known as "Old Charity." A number of those interested were opposed to having it on the site where it was built, and they put it on wheels or rollers,. and moved it to another place which suited them better. Then the- other party hitched on to it one day (or night) and pulled it back to its former location. A second time it migrated; and this time it was run on the top of a stump, so as to fasten it; but it was after- wards pried'or cut loose, and was made to take two or three more journeys, before the dispute was settled and the migratory school house was permitted to have a permanent abiding place. Since that early day, great advancement has been made in educational facilities, and the interest shown in the subject of education, especially during the last twenty-five years has been most creditable. In 1850 there was not a good school house in the township. There were schools, but the houses where they were taught were inconve- nient, comfortless, well-nigh worthless structures. Now there are five school houses, all of them good ones.
In the year 1835 or 36, Mr. Whitmer built a saw mill on the Little Kankakee,Son land now owned by Mrs. Burson. Root & Graham also built one on the same stream, and about 1850, the Websters put up another.
The first church in the township was Salem Chapel, built by the Methodists in 1853. The earliest preachers in the township were Elder St. Claire, Campbellite ; Elder Spalding, Baptist; and Rev. Geo. M. Boyd, Methodist.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
On the 9th day of March, 1836, an order was made by the Board of commissioners dividing Pleasant township, so that all that part of it which lies east of a line drawn from the northwest corner of section one, south to the county line, should be known as Madison township. This does not seem to have been satisfactory to the peo- ple, and at the succeeding term of the commissioners' court, the order was rescinded.
The Little Kankakee river runs through the northeastern part of the township, crossing sections two, one and twelve. The Indian- apolis, Peru and Chicago railroad crosses the township diagonally from southeast to northwest, and the Chicago and Lake Huron rail- road crosses the southeast corner. The former road has located a station in the southeast corner of section fifteen, called Stillwell. In 1870, a postoffice was established at Stillwell, kept by A. J. Wair, but after two or three years it was discontinued. The lands of this township consist mostly of fine arable prairie, with plenty of timber for all ordinary purposes. Immense crops of corn, wheat and oats are easily raised, and a part of the township is excellent for stock raising. The leading industry, almost the only one, is agriculture, and its farmers are uniformly prosperous.
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WILLS TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VIII.
WILLS TOWNSHIP.
Wills township consists of twenty-four sections in Range one, and the eastern tier of sections of Range two, township thirty-seven. A portion of the congressional township, of which Wills forms a part lies in St. Joseph county, twelve sections on the east and northeast of Wills township being thus cut off from LaPorte county. As originally constituted it included all of the present Hudson town- ship, and six sections on the east side of Galena, extending to the Michigan line. Its six southeastern sections were then in St. Joseph county. The township was organized and its boundaries designated on the same day with Pleasant township, both being carved out of the original township of Kankakee. On the third day of March, 1834, at the regular March term of the Board of county commissioners, the following order was passed :
"On motion of Henry F. Janes for a division of Kankakee town- ship and to form the township of Wills in the northeast corner of said county, bounded as follows, to-wit : Beginning at the southeast corner of section thirty-three, township thirty-seven, north of range one west, thence north with the county line to the northeast corner of LaPorte county, thence west with the county line to the section line one mile west of the range line dividing one and two west, thence south with said section line to the south side of township thirty-seven, thence east to the place of beginning, and that the house of Wm. West shall be the place for holding elections in said township, and that Henry F. Janes be appointed inspector of elections."
The first settlers of Wills township were John Wills and his sons, Charles, Daniel and John E., who reached the township in the year 1830. They made a home on section six at the site of what is now called " Boot Jack." This was undoubtedly the first settlement of a family, but Asa Warren claims to have been the first man in the township, having come in 1829. Other settlers came in 1830.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Among them were Andrew Shaw, Joseph Lykins, John Sissany, and John S. Garroutte; and in 1831 there came James Wills, Mat- thias Dawson, David Stoner, Dr. Chapman and others. In the month of February of this year a sad accident occurred, which was long remembered by the pioneers.
Mary, wife of John S. Garroutte, had been to the house of a man named Garwood, where the village of Hamilton now stands, in St. Joseph county, to visit his wife, who was sick. The day was clear and cold, and, on her return, she stopped at the house of John Wills. After resting a short time, she continued her journey home- ward. The wind, in the meantine, had arisen, and the snow drifted in sheets. She dismounted from her horse and sought by walking, it is thought, to promote warmth. She was overcome, however, by the cold, and the next morning her body was found in the timber, near the bend of Plumb grove, upon the farm now owned and occu- pied by Geo. W. Zigler. The mail carrier, who was traveling upon snow shoes, declared that when he discovered the body, the next morning, a wolf was traveling directly for it, and that he scared the animal away. Her son, is now a merchant at Carlisle Hill.
John Hefner arrived in the township, probably in 1832. and Joseph Starrett bought an "Indian Float," and settled on it in 1833. Jacob Gallion, Jesse Willett, Nimrod and Jesse West. and J. Clark, all came very early.
In the month of March, 1834, John Bowell came from Clark county, in this State, and made his home in Wills township. He brought with him his wife and children, consisting of the widows Drummond and Miller, Dr. B. C. Bowell. A. C. Bowell and A. J. Bowell. In November following, James Drummond, son-in-law of John Bowell, came with his wife. John Bowell died on the 10th of April, 1866, and Elizabeth, his wife, one week previously. Both were buried on the same spot, as near as it could be ascertained, where they first encamped in the township. During this year (1834) Joseph Lykins put up the first frame house that was erected in Wills. It was built in the northeast part of the township.
George Hunt with a family of six sons arrived in 1835: and in that year a trading post was opened by an Indian named Rice, at the little settlement on section six. Rice left with the Indians in 1836.
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WILLS TOWNSHIP.
The little settlement became known as Boot Jack, which name it still retains, probably from the manner in which the roads converged into the hamlet. Andrew Shaw, however, gives a different account of the naming of the place. He says that upon one occasion a drunken tramp came to town, and stopped at the tavern. He was finally turned out of doors and refused any more whisky, whereupon he turned his maudlin eyes upon the guide board, which resembled that very necessary accompaniment of a gentleman's lodging apart ments, and exclaimed, "I christen this place Boot Jack."
In the year 1851, a tavern was opened by a man named Kellogg, who also kept a few articles of merchandise for sale. John Parker afterwards kept a tavern, and subsequently sold out to Tom Nichols. There is now no hotel or store in the place. It was never surveyed and recorded as a town.
In the year 1835, John Wills, James Wills, Asa Warner, John Sissany, Andrew Shaw, David Stoner, Jesse N. West, Howell Huntsman, Mr. Kitchen, Dr. Chapman, Matthias Dawson, George Hunt, John Bowell, Asher White, Edmund Jackson, Joseph Lykins, John Sutherland, Joseph Starrett, Wm. Ingraham, Scott West, John Hefner, Jesse Sissany, Wm. Nixon, Wm. West, Gabriel Drollinger, Andrew Fuller, John Vickory, Nimrod West, Jacob Glygeau, Jonathan Stoner, John Clark, Geo. Belshaw, Samuel Van Dalsen, Martin Baker, Jesse Collum, John Galbreath, Benj. Gal- breath and Mr. Gallion, were residents of this township, besides others whose names it is not now easy to obtain.
On the 13th day of June 1836, Elder T. Price, of Edwardsburgh, Michigan, and Elder T. Spaulding, of LaPorte, organized a Baptist church at the house of James Hunt, and the names of the following persons were enrolled as members: James Hunt, John Salisbury, Matthias Dawson, Nancy Hunt, Martha Hunt, Catharine White- head, Sarah Mason, Phobe Hunt, Clarrissa Canada, Sabrina Salis- bury, Alsie Dawson and Martha Whitehead.
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