History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 58

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 58

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The number of schoolhouses, together with the number of teachers in the different townships will be found as follows:

Green Township, eight districts -- Eight schoolhouses, seven brick and one frame; eight teachers, six males and two females.

Franklin, six districts-Six houses, one brick, five frame; thirteen teachers, ten males, five females.

Ward, twelve districts-Twelve houses, two brick, ten frame: thirteen teachers, eight males, five females.

Jackson, nine districts-Nine houses, four brick, five frame; nineteen teachers, ten males, nine females.

Wayne, ten districts-Ten houses, five brick, five frame: twenty-two teachers, twenty males, two females.

Greensfork, eleven districts-Eleven houses, five brick, six frame; thirteen teachers, eleven males, two females.

Washington, sixteen districts-Sixteen houses, four brick, twelve frame; thirty-one teachers, twelve male, nineteen females. West River, eleven districts -- Eleven houses, one brick, ten frame; eleven teachers, all males.

Nettle Creek, ten districts-Ten houses, seven brick, three frame; ten teachers, five males, five females.

Stony Creek, nine districts-Nine houses, four brick, five frame: nine teachers, six males, three females.

Monroe, nine districts-Nine houses, five brick, four frame; nine teachers, six males, three females.

White River, twenty-one districts-Twenty-one houses, three brick, eighteen frame; twenty-five teachers, eighteen males seven females.

The following are the number of schoolhouses and teachers in the different towns:

Huntsville-One honse, frame, one room, one teacher, male.

Farmland-One house, brick, three rooms, three teachers, one male, two females.

Ridgeville-One house (and college), four rooms, four teach- ers, two males, two females.

Winchester -Two houses, brick, nine rooms, eleven teachers, four males, seven females.

Union City-Two houses, one brick. one frame, ten rooms, eleven teachers, two males, nine females. Total, 51 brick, 84 frame; 135 in all; 167 rooms; value, $128,245.

Township Institutes within the year, 52; number of teachers. 211; males, 120; females, 82.

TOWNSHIPS.

Pupils Admitted

Daily Average.

Number of Days.

White River

815

545

140

Washington

726

470

140

Greensfork ..

606

392

100

Stony Creek

397

228

105

Nettle Creek

427

254

160

West River

574

264

Green

328

181

120

Ward

555

336

100

Jackson.

406

239

145

Wayne.

719

623

140

Monroe

294

237

120

Franklin.

241

126

120

Winchester, Town.

591

445

160

Ridgeville, Town.

180

119

160

Farmland, Town.

190

126

160

Huntsville, Town.

100

Union City, Town

922

628

180

Totals . .

994

5073 Av. 132

The average wages paid teachers for 1880 were as follows: Green, males, $1.75; females, $1.50; Franklin, males, $1.88; females. $1.53; Ward, males, $1.62; females, $1.60; Jackson, males, $1.60; females, $1.41; Wayne, males, $1.85; females. $1.56; Greensfork, males, $2.14; females, $1.74: Washington, males, $1.76; females, $1.58; West River, males, $1.87; Nettle Creek, males, $1.91; females, $1.96; Stony Creek, $2.03; fe- males, $1.06; Monroe, males, $2.03; females, $1.76; White

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

River, males, $1.76; females, $1.58; Huntsville, males, $2.50; Farmland, males. $3.50; females, $2; Ridgeville, males, $2,60; females, $2; Winchester, males, $4.41; females, $2; Union City, males, $4.76; females, $2.25.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS, UNION CITY, IND.

A Catholic school has been maintained for many years. The building contains two rooms, the upper room being entered by an outer (covered) stairway. The school is conducted by two fe- male teachers and a music teacher. It is wholly free to the pu- pils through the income of a fund established for that purpose by Peter Kuntz, lumber dealer, a public-spirited citizen of the town and a worthy member of the Catholic Church. This school is well patronized. The number of pupils reaches and some- times surpasses a hundred. If the Catholic friends seem disin- clined to patronize the public schools, which are supported by public taxation and freely open to the whole community, it is well, at least, that by the princely munificence of one large- hearted citizen, liberally contributing out of his honorable and abundant gains for the praiseworthy object, the poorest child shall have equal opportunity at learning with the richest man in the land!

The German Lutheran pastor has for many years maintained a German school during the summer of each year for instruction in the German language.

There are every summer, also, private schools held in the pub- lic school-rooms, for such as choose to attend them. Writing schools are in progress from time to time for separate and special instruction in that important art.

Altogether, the record of Union City in educational matters has been very creditable, and her schools are reckoned to be in a flourishing condition.

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES.

White River-Thomas W. Kizer, 1863-69, John W. Diggs, 1870-76; S. D. Coats, 1876-80; Ira Tripp. 1880-82.

Washington-David T. Hiatt, 1863-67 ; Jonathan Ozbun, 1868; Henry D. Nichols, 1869-72; James H. Dean, 1872-76; Ira C. Johnson, 1876-78; Joel Mills. 1878-82.

Greensfork-James D. Bowen, 1863; Levi Hill, 1864; James H. Bowen, 1865-66; John Harlan, 1866-67; Francis G. Mor gan, 1868-69; John W. Hill, 1870-74; John W. Taylor, 1874- 76; Isaac M. Nichols, 1876-80; John F. Middleton, 1880-82.

Monroe-Henry Jacobs, Robert Cowgill, 1863; Royston Ford, Henry Jacobs, 1864-65; James S. Davis, 1866-70; George O. Jobes, 1870-72; James Daugherty, 1872-76; Dennis Thorn- burg, 1876-80; Adam Slonaker, 1880-82.

Stony Creek -- Henry C. Thornburg, 1863-76; George W. Worl, 1876-80; William T. Davis, 1880-82.

Nettle Creek - William C. Hendricks, 1863-65 ; William Lumpkin, 1866-74; Hicks K. Wright, 1874-75; Lemuel Wig- gins, 1875-78; John C. Clevinger, 1878-82.

West River-Rufus K. Mills, 1863-65; William S. Hunt, 1866-72, 1878-81; John Hornaday, 1872-78; Levi Johnson, 1880-82.

Green -- Antony W. Jarnagin, 1863-68, 1870-72; Silas T. Gordon, 1868-69; James McProud, 1872-74; Joseph C. Devoss, 1874-78; Luther L. Moorman, 1878-82.

Ward-Olney Whipple, 1863-64; D. F. Hawley, 1865-68; Peter Stick, 1869; Henry W. Fields, 1870-72; Christian Nickey, 1872-74; W. W. Smith, 1874-76; Benjamin Clevinger, 1876-80; John B. Sipe, 1880-82.

Jackson -Joseph Brown, 1863-65 (appointed), 1870-76; Paul Gettinger, 1864-65; Herry Debolt, 1866-69; Rufus G. Hindsley, 1876-80; Peter Poorman, 1880-82.

Wayne-Robert Murphy, 1863; Alexander Gullett, 1870-72; Jacob C. Macy, 1872-76; John M. Turner, 1876-78; Robert B. McKee, 1878-82.

Franklin- - Levi W. Mann, 1863; E. T. Bailey, 1864-67; Isaiah C. Milner, 1868; Cyrus Blackaby, 1869; John W. Seavey, 1870-78; George Addington, 1878 -80; Isaac N. Stratton, 1880-82.

Union City-Nathan Cadwallader, Joel N. Converse, J. M. Janes. 1865-72; Edward Starbuck, David Ferguson, Tighlman Tritt, Henry Jackson, W. A. Wiley, C. S. Hardy, L. D. Lambert,

O. C. Gordon, Allen Jaqua, H. H. Yergin, John S. Starbuck, C. S. Hook, W. Harris. Present board, 1881, W. A. Wiley, C. S. Hook, William Harris.

Winchester (1872)-L. J. Monks, J. M. Hodson, Thomas W. Kizer, A. J. Stakebabe, A. R. Hiatt, F. M. Way (account not full), William Moore, J. L. Stakebake.

Ridgeville (1873)-M. R. Hiatt, D. W. Ward, Renjamin F. Boltz, W. S. Morritt, W. F. Studebaker, M. T. Sumption, H. T. Kitzelman, A. H. Farquhar.

Huntsville (1878)-Albert Jacobs, Horace M. Keever, Will- iam W. Miller.

Farmland (1976)-J. S. Davis, W. W. Fowler, L. A. Gable, J. H. Merridith, P. O. Howitt, H. P. Wood. Present Trustees, J. H. Merridith, P. O. Hewitt, H. F. Wood.

Note-The above list may possibly be deficient, or even inac. curate, though much care has been exercised in its preparation.

MUSIC.

In the pioneer days, the people found but little time and had small means to devote to the cultivation or the enjoyment of the fine arts-and particularly as to music. The fact that many of the pioneers were " Quakers" was unfavorable to its extensive development, since that excellent society seem to have regarded the knowledge and the practice of that beautiful art as unneces. sary, and, perhaps, even improper. That prejudice (if it be one) has at the present time greatly worn away, and the minds of the people at large have gradually been awakened to the fact that "music hath charms to soothe the savage breast;" that so far from its being a sin or a crime, or even a nerdless waste of time or means, it is in reality one of the greatest blessings to the hu- man race, that the knowledge and culture thereof tend in a won- derful degree to soften the roughnesses of life, and to encourage and develop everything lovely and amiable in the human soul.

The first public movement known to the writer toward a higher degree of attention to the subject of music in Randolph County was a musical convention, or rather institute, held at Winchester in the winter of 1870-71, by Prof. W. S. Montgom- cry, assisted by J. D. Boggs, of Huntsville, Ohio, and William T. Giffe, then just beginning his work as an instructor in that ex cellent art, since grown famous both as a teacher and as an au- thor, and now teacher of music in the schools of Logansport, Ind. This institute at Winchester was the place of his first ap. pearance before the public as a musical instructor. Prof. Mont. gomery conducted a class in a course of forty-eight lessons, and, at the close of this school, the convention was held for two weeks, having three sessions each day, and giving a thorough and ex. tensive drill in the rudiments and the practice of the noble and delightful art, and ending with a public concert. Altogether, it. may be reckoned to have been a musical success, and laid a broad and solid foundation for the advancement that has since taken place in this branch of culture and refinement in Randolph County. Many of the members of that convention yet reside in the county, and look back to that "beginning of things" with great satisfaction and delight, and still stand firm and steadfast, friends and helpers in this excellent work. A public lecture was delivered at the concert by a gentleman from Indianapolis, whose name is not now recollected, and altogether. great good was done.

Prof. Montgomery has since that time performed much mu- sical work in Randolph and Wayne Counties. He has taught adult or juvenile classes (in some cases both at once) in many places throughout the county, has held some conventions and conducted several concerts. He has taught at Ridgeville, Win- chester, Union City, Arba, Lynn, Gilead, Spartansburg and else- where. A convention was held at Ridgeville in June, 1874, assisted by Prof. Boggs-one at Spartansburg, Christmas, 1879, and one at Lynn, March, 1881. The schools were mostly closed by public concerts, the one at Spartansburg receiving the assistance of Prof. William T. Giffe. These concerts have been in every case occasions of deep public interest and of great and lasting advantage.

Mr. Montgomery is a musical instructor and performer of many years' standing, and has achieved a high reputation in his

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

line of labor in Randolph, Jay, Blackford and Wayne Counties, Ind., during twenty-five years of energetic and successful efforts put forth in this direction, and his enthusiastic exertions have aided greatly in developing a pleasing degree of attention to the subject of music, and the knowledge of the science and the amount of skill in the practice of the art has been largely owing to his earnest work performed in its behalf.

In the fall of 1880, Mr. Montgomery was employed to give instruction in music to the public schools of Winchester, and his services have been secured for the same purpose during the year 1881-82. Music has been and still is taught in the Union City schools and probably the same thing has been done in some other places in the county. The music teacher in the Union City public schools at the present time is Prof. Harlan, who is also one of the regular teachers of the High School. Prof. Burgett and others have taught music st different times at Winchester and elsewhere within the county.

There are many organs, pianos, etc., in the region, and, on the whole, there is a gratifying and growing degree of interest taken in the subject by the citizens of Randolph, and that in- terest will doubtless increase still more and more in time to come. It is a fact that may be of interest, although known to few, that, forty or fifty years ago, and for thirty years or more, music, vocal and instrumental, was taught through Randolph and Wayne and other counties by a colored gentleman who was an enthusiast in the art, and, for those early times, a skillful and efficient in- structor and performer. But age and infirmity have done their work, and "Old Gabe Smith " travels round to teach singing- schools and hold concerts no more.

LECTURES.

Union City has been very backward in furnishing improve- ment and instruction in the way of lectures. A lecture system was attempted during the winter of 1879-80 and maintained during several weeks, with only moderate success. The season was unfavorable, the evenings being occupied by religious meet- ings, etc., during the entire winter. The course of eight lectures by resident citizens was completed as follows: Rev. William Coulter, "Cromwell and His Times;" Rev. E. Tucker. "Lib- erty," a poem; Prof. Treudley, "The Heavens; " Dr William Commons, "Homer and Siege of Troy;" Dr. C. S. Evans, "Oxy- gen;" S. R. Bell, Esq., " Pompeii; " Rev. C. G. Bartholomew, "The Old and the New; " Rev. H. J. Meck, "Hash." The lect- ures were greatly enjoyed by those who were attendants upon the course, and they felt themselves richly repaid, both for the time and the money expended. The attendance, however, was but meager, considering the size and wealth and culture of the town, and the mere nominal price of tickets-50 cents for the course of eight lectures. The services of the lecturers were wholly gratuitous, yet they gave much time for the preparation of their addresses, and their efforts were worthy of a better recep- tion.

A second lecture course was attempted by means (as before) of home talent. This series was to be historical, comprising the annals of the United States, from "prehistoric times" to the present happy, peaceful era wherein we joyful "live and have our being." The course consisted of ten lectures, with authors and subjects as follows: Dr. Willlam Commons, "Prehistoric; " Dr. Green, "Period of Discovery;" Rev. Keister, "Period of Colonization; " Rev. H. J. Meck, "French and Indian War;" Prof. Treudley, "Revolutionary Period; " S. R. Bell, Esq., "Constitution; War of 1812," etc .; Rev. E. Tucker, "Jackson and Adams," etc., first lecture; ditto, second lecture; Rev. W. D. Stone, "Mexican War; " Rev. William Coulter, "Civil War to the Present Time." The first eight were delivered by the gen- tlemen named. The ninth lecture was prepared and delivered by Dr. William Commons, Rev. Stone asking to be excused on account of the press of his other labors. The last has not yet ("ebruary 11, 1881) been given, as the reverend gentleman has " can absent for some weeks from the town on private business. (3% was not delivered at all, because he removed from the city.) ibis second course was like the first, highly appreciated by those who attended, but this time, also, the attendance was but meager,

entirely unworthy, as to numbers, of the earnest efforts put forth by the publie-spirited gentlemen who spent so much time to please and entertain an unappreciative public. Whether the watch-word for next winter will be the schoolboy's motto-" Try, try again," cannot at this time be told.

Lectures have also been delivered at Winchester at different times by distinguished gentlemen from abroad, as Rev. Mr. Fletcher, President Burgess, Prof. Fertich and others, but no special facts are at hand concerning them.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Much has been done in this department in Randolph County for many years past, and Sunday schools are held in nearly every meeting-house and some schoolhouses in the county. But we lack statistics in detail upon this subject, and beg leave to be al- lowed to omit further statement as to this interesting and impor- tant matter. Some information concerning it may be found in the account of the various churches.

LIBRARIES.

Many residents of Randolph possess extensive libraries. Among such may be named, as known to the writer, Hon. Thomas M. Browne and Gen. Asahel Stone, both of Winchester. There are doubtless many others who own fine collections of valuable books, clergymen, attorneys, physicians, teachers, as also other citizens of means and culture, have expended much money in gathering valuable libraries. Of public libraries, not much can be said. Many years ago, legal provision was made for township libraries, by which each township in the county and the State acquired a large number of books of more or less value. These libraries still exist to some extent, though they are sadly neglect- ed, both as to care and use. Public libraries, other than the township libraries already mentioned, are unknown in the county. Three small circulating libraries are known to be in use-Winchester High School Library, Union City High School Library and Union City Library. All three are small, yet new and valuable, and the books are extensively read by the persons entitled to their use, and wisdom would dictate that the collec- tions in question should be greatly enlarged. It is a fact, more- over, though probably not extensively known, that a law was passed many years ago, and is still in force, authorizing cities. and towns, on certain conditions, to take stock in libraries which may have been established by private munificence; and money, whether private or public, might be put to many uses less bene- ficial than to create and maintain public libraries.

CHAPTER XIII.

TEMPERANCE.

GENERAL-UNION CITY-SONS-TEMPLARS-PORTER LODGES-S. S' V. & E. L .- REMINISCENCES.

GENERAL.

T THE cause of abstinence from intoxicating liquors found early advocacy in Randolph County.

The Friends had for many years been taking strong and com- paratively high ground against the common use of strong drink, as had also the Methodists of the earlier days, not, perhaps, strictly identical with, yet much similar to, the more modern dis- tinctive movement.

This movement was, in fact, a gradnal one, growing by pro- gressive steps, and through various efforts during the lapse of many years, taking at length the shape of the American Tem- perance Society, which was formed at Boston, Mass., in about 1826, on the principle of total abstinence from ardent spirits as & beverage.

That movement spread rapidly and extensively through the settled portions of the country, and in ten years had become a general success, insomnch that the habits of drinking and offer- ing ardent spirits, their use in harvest and at raisings, etc., as

190

HISTORY OF RANDOLPHI COUNTY.

also their sale in the general stores and groceries of the country had, in very extensive regions, mostly or entirely ceased. During several years before 1836, most of the active temperance workers became convinced that the enterprise could not be permanently successful unless all intoxicating drinks were abandoned. The pledge against all such liquors gradually superseded the old . pledge; and, in 1836, the American Temperance Association changed its ground accordingly, framing its pledge substantially as follows:

The undersigned, believing that the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage is not necessary, but rather injurious, and that while their moderate nse is continued the evils of drunkenness can never be prevented, do hereby mutually pledge ourselves to each other that we will neither use nor traffic in the same nor furnish them to others; and that in all suitable ways we will dis- courage such use and traffic in the community.

This ground thus taken in 1836, forty-six years ago, has been in substance the basis and foundation of all temperance action since that time. During forty years past the forms of opposi- tion to the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to the traffic in the same, have been legion; the principle in all, how- ever, being substantially identical.

The detailed history of temperance work in Randolph County during those early times is supposed to be not now accessible.

The first temperance meeting of which we have an account was held at the court house in Winchester about 1830, under the auspices of the original National Association, with the pledge against distilled liquors. Temperance societies were formed extensively throughout the county, and the religions element for the most part became convinced of the correctness of the principles of the movement, and the necessity of the work pro- posed.

Among those who were actively engaged were Moorman Way, Paul W. Way, John Way, Henry Huffman, Thomas Fisher, Isom Puckett, William Harris, J. E. Beverly, M. A. Reeder, James Clayton, the Dunkirk Friends in general, and many others whose names cannot now be given.

J. E. Beverly, then a young man under age, was, for a con- siderable time, Secretary of the County Society, and Isom Puckett was at one time its President.

The movement flourished for several years, and most good people were indoctrinated with its principles. Moorman Way at one time walked eight miles to attend a temperance meeting held by a Presbyterian clergyman who was an active and tal- ented advocate of the cause.

Soon after 1840, the movement was revived in the form of Washingtonianism. One Mr. Porter, from Cincinnati, held meetings at Winchester for that cause, and, perhaps, organized societies here, and the movement extended as before through- out the county at large, and continued to prevail for several years, with much enthusiasm.

Up to this time the various temperance societies had been open and free to all; but, as the Washingtonian movement began to show symptoms of decline, the temperance work took new shape in the form of secret associations of various kinds. Per- haps the earliest, at least one of the earliest. was the Sons of Temperance. It began in New York City, but spread rapidly westward, and was soon planted in Randolph County, in 1844. Others were Good Templars, Daughters of Temperance, Temples of Honor, etc.

These associations have done an extensive work, continuing for many years, in some cases even down to the present time.

In some respects the work done by these various societies was more restricted than the former movements, chiefly from two canses. First, many ardent temperance workers were in convic- tion opposed to secret societies, and could not, in consequence, affiliate with their work; and such, while deeply sympathizing with the object to be attained, and uuwilling to throw anything in the way, yet felt obliged to stand aloof from active participation.

The second reason was that the various secret orders required the payment of money as a pre-requisite of membership, and as a condition of continued connection.

In the summer of 1854, a Fourth of July temperance cole-

bration was held at Winchester. Great preparation had been made. and great display was indulged in. All the temperance orders then in vogue were present, and marched in procession in regalia. An immense crowd was in attendance, and great enthu- siasm was apparent. Just before that, an event of notable im portance in temperance had taken place in Winchester. A noto- rious saloon-keeper had defied the whole power of public senti- ment and kept brazenly on with his mischievous work. He had been appealed to in every way, and especially by the ladies of the village, to cease his work and close his saloon. He refused. A citizen of the town, once honored and prominent, who had at one time been County Sheriff, having become a hard drinker, was lying sick from a debauch and prostrated with delirium tre- mens. He finally died with this awful disease, and while his lifeless corpse was lying stark and stiff at his wretched home, the ladies of Winchester gathered at the domicile of his afflicted widow, and, placing her at their head, formed a large and im- posing procession and marched in a body to the grog shop where this man had bought much of his liquor, and sternly demanded of the keeper that he destroy his liquors and quit the business of dram selling. He refused, and they proceeded to smash in his liquor barrels, and spilled the whole in the street. Great ex- citement throughout the region was the consequence. The grog seller sued the women, but, owing to the fact that all their wives were engaged in the onslaught, none of the attorneys of Win- chester would engage for the plaintiff, and he was obliged to get legal assistance from Greenville, Ohio, and elsewhere. The final issue of the case is not now remembered. (See Judge Col- grove's biography). The case was strongly commented on, and the spirit of the courageous ladies highly praised by the gifted orator of the day. Matthew R. Hull, Esq., who to an enthusiastic and eloquent delivery, added a most sarcastic and fiery manner. and his invectives against the heinous traffic and all its partici- pators were bitter and terrible.

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History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 58

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman Number of Pages: 664

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664