USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 63
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The first postoffice in Clinton township was at Bigelow's Mills, and the first postmaster was John Closser. A man named John- son was the first blacksmith in the township. William Harding and Mr. Bogart started the first store; this was at Bigelow's Mills, and was kept in one end of Mr. Bigelow's house. The first physi- cian was Dr. Whitcomb.
VILLAGES.
In 1835 Elijah Bigelow came into the township and proceeded at once to build a grist-mill on section 21, on Hog creek. Upon the completion of this mill in 1837, Mr. Bigelow and a few others con- ceived the idea of laying out a town where the mill then stood. Accordingly this was done, and in the same year the town plat was recorded, being named after Mr. Bigelow. Harding & Bogart
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
opened the first store in the little county village; in the same year a blacksmith shop was started by a Frenchman, and a cabinet shop was opened by Arnold Sapp; in 1838 the postoffice was estab- lished, and the first postmaster was John Closser.
Thus the little town grew slowly, off and on, for several years; but it was not destined to become a noted business point. In 1848 the people, becoming tired of their place, proceeded in the proper legal manner to have their town vacated. After this had been done there was still a little business carried on, but all there was to enliven the town was "Bigelow's Mills," the people of that place not being afforded the advantages of a railroad. Finally, the postoffice was discontinued, about 1868. The mill was afterward sold to John Closser, and by him to John Wright; it next passed into the hands of Henry Harding, and after him Abram Sovereign owned it and disposed of it to Adam Boland, who now owns and runs it. The mill has a good location and is doing a good home business. To- day the original site of Bigelow still remains; to-day the same old mill still stands unchanged by the lapse of years; and this is about all there is to perpetuate the name of the little village and the man from whom it was named. A few houses still stand, but it is no longer a town.
Haskell Station is situated near the center of section 17 of Clinton township. The first idea of a town was conceived by A. Cnlver, upon whose land the town was located. The first thing that was indicative of a town was a store, started in 1855 by Mr. Brush. The original location of the town was on section 20, about a half mile from where it now stands; but when the Grand Trunk road was surveyed through the township, intersecting the L., N. A. & C. on section 17, the junction proper took the name of Haskell Station. The place never had high rank as a town; to-day it is only a rail- road junction, there being in the place a postoffice and small store.
Alida, situated at the junction of the L., N. A. & C. and B. & O. railroads, on section 5 of Clinton township, is likewise only a railroad junction. There are only five houses in the place; however, much railroad business is done here, and considerable grain and stock is shipped from this point. There is a postoffice in the depot build- ing, and the agent of the two roads, E. M. Hotchkiss, acts as post- master.
Thus Clinton township is almost deprived of towns. In " the days of small things" of Clinton township a man named Arba Heald owned a very small mill about the size of a tin pail, which he fastened securely to a small tree and cracked corn for his neigh- bors and friends; but now large mills have supplied the places of small mechanical contrivances like those of "long ago." Hog Prairie, situated in the northern part of Cass and southern part of Clinton townships, was so called by B. T. Bryant and father and James McCord, because they found some hogs there which had been scattered by the Indians. The first settier on Hog Prairie was Thomas Concannon.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
We are indebted to B. T. Bryant, of Clinton township, for some of the above facts concerning the pioneer history of this domain, Mr. B. is one of the old settlers and successful farmers of his com- munity, and has in his possession a few articles of furniture that are quite antiquated; he has furniture which was made in the first furniture shop that was ever established in La Porte county, the material for which grew on his father's farm in New Durham town- ship, consisting of a library case, bureau, bedstead and stand. He has also a looking-glass over 400 years old, which came from Hol- land before the Revolutionary war; he obtained it when it was over 350 years old. Mr. B.'s first wife's maiden name was Affe M. Benedict; her sister, the wife of Henley Clyburn, and her mother were the first white settlers of La Porte county.
CHURCHES.
Clinton township has only one Church, a Methodist organization, and their house of worship is situated on section 10. Rev. Mr. Wood is the regular Pastor. The congregation is very small. On the site where the present church is, now known as Clinton Chapel, was formerly a log church called Hickory Chapel. It was also a Methodist church, and Rev. W. B. Mack was the first officiating minister. This was built as early as 1844, was afterward burned down, and its place was supplied by the present one.
EDUCATION.
The educational interests of Clinton township are well attended to. It has seven school-houses, situated at various points of the township. They are somewhat irregularly located, and are known by number. The first school-house ever built in this township was on section 14, and the first teacher was George Stubbs. Since that time the places of one or two little log honses have been supplied by seven good, comfortable frame school buildings, and each district is furnished with about eight months' school every year.
POLITICAL RECORD.
The population of the township in 1870 was 797; in 1880 it was 828, showing an increase of 31 in ten years. The number of farms in the township is 129. For the last few years the township has been Republican, until the last election, when two Democratic offi- cers were elected-Crawford Allen, Assessor and A. E. Burner, School Trustee. The highest township office is School Trustee. The other offices are: Assessor, two Justices of the Peace; and six Supervisors or Road Overseers. E. S. Gardner was appointed Census Enumerator for the year 1880. Clinton, which is township 35 north, range 4 west, is situated in the western row of townships. A great part of it is watered by Hog creek; there is a sufficient
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.
amount of timbered land, and its railroads are in abundance. The climate is healthful, and its citizens are thrifty, shrewd and in- telligent.
But few of the early settlers of the township still live to tell the story of pioneer times; their days have long since been numbered, or their locks have long since been silvered o'er by the lapse of ages. Yet a few more years, yet a few more days, and all that now remains of the early living settlers of Clinton township will have passed forever from earth's paradise; their warm hearts will soon cease to beat, and their tired lips will soon cease to quiver in memory of the times of by-gone years.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
We now complete the history of this township by giving bio- graphical sketches of old settlers and leading citizens:
William Bowes, son of Frederick and Louisa Bowes, was born in Pennsylvania in 1818, and is of German descent. He has re- sided where he now is, on sec. 25, for about 25 or 30 years. Here he owns 360 acres of good land, worth about $40 per acre. His wife, who is now 54 years old, is the mother of 7 children, of whom 4 are living: William, Mary, Lonisa and Emma. His educational advantages when young were very good, and he now reads a great deal. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. When Mr. B. first started out in life he was very poor, and thought to earn a living by hard work. He has succeeded remarkably well. He was the first Ger- man who settled in La Porte county.
Benjamin T. Bryant, son of Josiah and Mary (Turman) Bryant, natives of Virginia, was born in Indiana in 1815, and is of Irish and Scotch descent. Leaving Sullivan county, his birth-place and the home of his childhood, he came to La Porte county April 20, 1832, and first settled in New Durham township, where he remained only about 2 years, and then came where he now is, on sec. 13, in 1834. Here he owns 256 acres of ordinary land, some of which is " marshy," and is worth about $35 per acre. In 1834 he was united in marriage to Miss Affe M. Benedict, who died about 39 years after their marriage. She was the mother of 11 children, 8 of whom are now living: Stephen J., Levi J., Mary E., John W., Martha E., Henry R., Miriam E. and Alvin H., only one of the 8 now being at home. He was married a second time, in 1862, to Miss Lucinda Hyde, who is now 63 years old, a native of New York. Mr. B. is the third son of a family of 4 children, whose father was a farmer and stock dealer. His advantages for securing an educa- tion were not the best, although he succeeded in getting a fair edu- cation, which is evidenced by the fact that he has a very fine library in his home. He was compelled to attend school, when young, in a log honse, having greased paper for windows, and only a sub- scription school at that. He and his present excellent wife are
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
both members of the M. E. Church. Politically, Mr. B. is a Re- publican. He is a prominent man in his community, conducts a well-regulated farm, and is held in high estimation by all who know him.
A. E. Burner, son of Abram and Mary (Long) Burner, who are now living in New Durham township, was born in La Porte county, Ind., in 1852, and has been a resident of this county ever since. His parents, who were natives of Virginia, are of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. Coming to this township in 1876, Mr. Burner settled where he now lives, on sec. 20, as a farmer. He owns here 154 acres of good land, which he values at about $45 per acre. He was married in 1876 to Miss Florence Hixon, who is also a native of this county, and is now 26 years old. From this union she is the mother of one child, which is living, and whose name is Bonnie A. Before removing to this township, Mr. B. was a resident of New Durham. For six years previous to his location here he was one of the few successful teachers of La Porte county, but becoming tired of that profession, he settled down as a farmer. His educational advan- tages were good, and being compelled by his parents to take advan- tage of them, he necessarily acquired a good education. He is now School Trustee, and is well qualified to hold that office. He was once elected to the office of Constable in New Durham township, but not wishing to serve, he was not qualified. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is politically inclined to be a red-hot Demo- crat. Mr. B. is one of the many jolly, good-natured, congenial souls of Clinton township. He is a young man of sterling worth and noble, high-minded aspirations.
Samuel L. Eaton, who is a farmer of Clinton township, is the son of John and Susanna (Lindsy) Eaton, both natives of Ireland, and was born in Virginia in 1831. Coming to Indiana in 1834, with his father, he first settled in Clinton township. Samuel, the subject of this sketch, is now on sec. 14, where he owns 100 acres of land worth about $25 per acre. Mr. E's mother is still living. He married Maria Koontz, who is now living, the mother of 8 children, of whom 7 are living. His educational advantages were quite limited and inferior to those of the present day. Politically, Mr. E. is a Democrat.
Edgar M. Hotchkiss is the son of Edgar H. and Susan Hotch- kiss. Although her name had also been Hotchkiss, she was not a relative of her husband before their marriage. He is a native of Connecticut, and was born in 1852. His parents were also natives of Connecticut, and his father is now a carpenter in Oceana county, Mich. In 1872 Mr. H. was married to Miss Lilian Pitcher, who is a native of New York, and is now the mother of 4 children, all of whom are living: Burton, Ella May, Claude and Robert. He first came to Indiana in 1876, and settled where he now is, as day oper- ator and agent of the B. & O. and L., N. A. & C. R. R. at Alida Junction; he is also postmaster at the same place. He owns a house and lot where he lives in Alida, which he values at about
yours Truly 2.0.0 Qunner
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
$500. His educational advantages were only such as were afforded by ordinary district schools in his young days. Mr. II. is promi- nently connected with the I. O. O. F. lodge at Westville, Ind., and now holds the office of Noble Grand; he is also a member of the Patriarchal Branch of the same lodge, and in this now holds the office of Chief Patriarch. Politically, he has been, is now, and always hopes to be, what his father was before him, namely, an honest Republican.
Russel Iseminger, who is a well-to-do farmer on sec. 5, of Clin- ton tp .; is a native of Indiana, and was born in 1852. His father, Jacob, who was of German descent and a native of Ohio, recently died on the farm on which his son Russel now lives. His mother's name was Elizabeth, and was a native of Virginia. Rus- sel, the subject of this sketch, now owns 120 acres of excellent farm- ing land where he resides, which is worth about $70 per acre. He was married in 1875 to Miss Amanda Link, a native of Ohio, who is now 25 years of age; and they have 2 children, both living, whose names are Pearly and Elma, aged respectively four and two years. Mr. R. and wife are both devoted members of the Chris- tian Church, and are living compatibly with their profession. Politically, he is a Republican.
William H. Livingston, son of Walter and Nancy Livingston, both of whom are now living on sec. 25, was born in Pennsylvania in 1834. He is of English and Dutch descent. His father, who is now 83 years old, is a native of England, and when young received a finished education; his mother, who is now 70 years old, is a native of Pennsylvania. William, the subject of this sketch, com- ing to Indiana when about two years old, in company with his father, first settled at New Buffalo, where they remained several years; then removed to Rolling Prairie, and thence to where he now is about 20 years ago. He is now living on his father's place on sec. 26; his parents are living just across the road on sec. 25. In 186S he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. Jackson, who is now 30 years old and the mother of 1 child, whose name is Nancy E. Mr. L. is the only child of his father, who owns here 160 acres of land, which he values at about $40 per acre. His educational advantages were rather inferior to those of to-day. His father was a member of the Masonic fraternity in England, but never united with them in America. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Jonathan N. Osborn, son of Nathan and Rachel (Graham) Osborn, was born in La Porte county, Ind., in 1857. His father was a native of Indiana, and his mother of Virginia. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Miss Adaline Yarger, who is now 22 years old. He owns, where he lives, 120 acres of well improved, excellent farming land, which he values at about $50 per acre. His educational advantages were only ordinary. Politically, he is a Republican.
Mrs. Mary Osborn, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Shugart) Harris, is a native of Indiana, and was born in 1830. Her father was a native of North Carolina, and her mother of South Carolina.
43
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IIISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
They were of German descent. In 1845 she came to this county and settled where she now is, on sec. 19, of Clinton tp. She was married in 1845 to David Osborn. She is the mother of S chil- dren, of whom 4 are now living. Their names are May, Thomas, Charles and Florence. She owns 115 acres of land, worth about $40 per acre. Religionsly, she and her family are members of the M. E. Church.
Alexander C. Patrick, son of James and Nancy (Culbertson) Patrick, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish descent, was born in Ohio in 1827. He came to this State in 1852, and first settled at La Porte, where he resided about five years, being engaged as a mechanic in the railroad shops at that place. From there he removed to where he now is on sec. 23. Here he owns 220 acres of land, which is fair in quality and is worth about $45 per acre. He was married in 1855 to Caroline Packer, who is now 50 years old, and the mother of 13 children. Of these, S are living: Albert E., Thomas L., Alexander J., Ellen M., Carrie D., Schuyler C., Mary and Harvey. His educational advantages were ordinary. Mr. P. was formerly a Whig, until the organization of the Republican party, ever since which time he has been actively connected with it.
Harvey W. Pinney, a farmer of Clinton tp, was born in Indiana in 1844. He is the son of William and Cynthia (Long) Pinney; his father is a native of Ohio, and his mother of Pennsyl- vania. He has resided in this township all his life, and has been a farmer during the whole time. He owns 80 acres of fine farming land, which he estimates at about $55 per acre. He has a comfort- able house on his place, also a neat little barn, 30x40 feet in size, which he built in 1879 at a cost of $500. He was married in 1869 to Margaret A. Kelly, who is now 29 years old and the mother of S children. Of these, 7 are living: Adella L., Lilian O., Perry Frank, Edna L., William H., Mary A. and Leonard L. He has held the office of School Director and Supervisor; is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge. His wife is a zealous member of the Baptist Church. Politically, Mr. P. is a Democrat.
William Pinney, a well situated farmer of great respectability and moral worth, is the third son of a large family, of which he is now the only son living. He has two sisters, one in this State and one in Kansas. His parents' names were Horace and Nancy, nee Snavely, who are now both deceased. His father was born near Hartford, Conn., and was a Yankee; his mother was a native of Virginia, and of German descent. William, the subject of this sketch, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, in 1819. He remained in that State until he was 18 years of age, when he came, in com- pany with his father, to La Porte county. Here his father died in 1838, and his mother in 1839. He has lived in this township ever since. He is now on sec. 31, and owns here 160 acres of well im- proved land, worth about $40 per acre. He owns also just across the road, in Porter county, 160 acres of land, which is somewhat cut up by what is commonly known in that country as "the marsh."
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In 1842 Mr. P. was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Long, who is now living; she was a native of Virginia. Of their 8 chil- dren 6 are living: Elizabeth N., Harvey W., William E., Perry G., Herman F. and Lois C. The youngest, who is now 26 years old, is still at home. Mr. P. has traveled considerably during his life- time, and has worked very hard for all he has, and flatters himself that he has done exceedingly well. His educational advantages were poor, although he now reads a great deal. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and politically, Mr. P. is a Democrat.
Mrs. Martha Reynolds, danghter of Jacob Iseminger and Nancy (Rogers) Iseminger, who were natives of Ohio, was born in Monroe connty, Ind., in 1826. On her father's side, she is of Dutch descent and on her mother's side, Welsh. She came to this county in 1834 and first settled in this township. She came to sec. 5, where she now lives, in 1852. She was married the same year to Levi Rey- nolds, who died about 17 years ago from erysipelas of the lungs. She is the mother of 7 children, of whom 5 are living: William G., Jacob O., Walter S. and Watson P., who'are twins, and Jennie, who is the youngest of the family. She owns 121 acres of excellent farming land, worth about $75 per acre. When young, the oppor- tunities offered to her for securing an education were quite inferior to those of to-day, being compelled to attend subscription schools in log houses. Mrs. R. is a member of the Christian Church, and lives consistently with her profession. Her husband was a Qnaker, and politically a Whig until the organization of the Republican party. when he became united with it. Mrs. R. is an old resident of La Porte county, and is a woman of great respectability. Upon the death of her father a short time ago, she became heir to a large sum of money.
COOL SPRING TOWNSHIP.
The territory embraced in Cool Spring township was a part of the original township of New Durham. By subsequent division it became a part of Michigan township, remaining thus until March 9, 1836, when the following order was made by the Board of County Commissioners: "Ordered, that Michigan township be divided by the line between towns 37 and 38 north, range 4 west, and that part of Michigan township comprising town 37, range 4 west form a judicial township to be known by the name of Cool Spring township; and there be an election held in the said township on the 1st Monday of April next, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for said township; and that Nathan Johnson is appointed inspector of elections for said township; and that the elections for said township be held at the house of Nathan John- son."
It has been very difficult to ascertain who was actually the first settler in Cool Spring township, or precisely in what year he came. Those who have been consulted differ in regard to the matter; some state that Nathan Jolinson was the first settler, others that it was a man named John or Isaac Luther, while still others claim Arba Heald as the first settler. It is probable that these all settled in the same year, which must have been the year 1833; and having gone into different sections of the township, the parts of which were not readily accessible to each other in those early times, each neighborhood believes its own first settler was first of all. Arba Heald went from Scipio township, of which he was one of the earliest settlers, into the southwest part of Cool Spring, and erected a saw-mill, not far from Beatty's Corners. Nathan Johnson made his improvements at Waterford, which it is said he laid out as a village; and Luther settled nearer the central part of the township. William Forrester states that he has often seen the remains of the Luther cabin in the neighborhood where he resides. But whoever may have been foremost in making a settlement, it is certain that there were very few inhabitants in the township prior to 1836; in that year there were in the township, Maj. Eliphalet Pattee, Thomas Forrester, John Jacobus, Thomas Sharp, George Smith, George Bentley, John F. Decker, Abram Langdon, Nathan Johnson, Arba Heald, John Van Meter, John Dysard, John Beatty, Purdy Smith, the Whitakers, Daniel Reed, John Glinn and Ebenezer Palmer. Palmer was the first Justice of the Peace in the township. Beatty had been engaged in the Black Hawk war, passed through the county on his way to Chicago in 1832, and made his settlement in 1833.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Arba Heald preceded Beatty in the timber of the southwest part of the township, and in connection with Daniel, erected a saw- mill, the first in that locality, probably in 1833.
John Dysard must have come in 1835; he now lives a retired life at La Porte.
George Bentley, the father of Ambrose, who still resides in the township, and Dr. G. J. Bentley, of Michigan City, ran a saw-mill for Gen. Joseph Orr, which was one of the earliest erected in the township. Elisha Mayhew owned an interest with Orr in the mill, and afterward Orr and Standiford owned it in company. The mill was built in 1833, but Arba Heald's had been erected a few months previously. Orr and his partner put up a wool-carding machine also. This afterward passed into the hands of Samnel Weston, who built a grist-mill in the same place or near, which is now owned and run by James Mason. Nathan Johnson built a saw-mill at Waterford, which some claim to have been the first erected in the township; and in 1836 he built another. Gen. Orr, now deceased (so said), thought it to be the first saw-mill in the township, erected by Walker & Johnson. A man named Bowen bought the Water- ford property and put up a distillery, which was run several years very successfully. The property passed through several hands. A grist-mill was erected and run in connection with the distillery. This was finally closed and the grist-mill continued to run until about 1870, when it was burned. Then Casper Kuhn bought the site, erected another mill and has run it successfully ever since.
Asa Harper made improvements in the township in1835, but was then living in Michigan City, and did not move into the town- ship until several years afterward. John F. Decker lived at or near Waterford, and died in 1844. He was the father of John F. Decker, now of La Porte. The first store in the township was in Waterford. It was opened by Mr. Bowen, and in about six weeks thereafter closed by his creditors. This was probably in 1836 or '7. Since that time there have been several in the place, which have all been closed except the last, now run by Casper Kuhn.
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