USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 65
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660
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
to be enclosed and improved. There will be two rooms in the build- ing, one below and the other above. The one in the second story is to be the full size of the building, undivided at present by any partition; and the two rooms at present will comfortably contain all the pupils of the institution for many years to come. The loca- tion of the building spoken of as being west of town is now in the heart of the city.
The school was first opened Monday, Dec. 7, 1846, under the management of II. Wheeler, a graduate of the Indiana University, as principal, and Miss L. C. Merritt as instructress in the female department. Prof. Wright came next and was succeeded by Mr. Cogswell. Then followed Professors Smith, Sperbeck, McLafferty, Miss Barrett, Miss Bacon, and Prof. Wilcox, in chronological order. The old seminary building, so eloquently referred to on a preced- ing page, became associated in the minds of the neighbors with many pleasant experiences, so that after its removal in 1872, dis- tance of time began to lend enchantment to the view. In April, 1872, the building itself was taken down and replaced by the present handsome structure known as the high-school building.
STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION .- CONGRESSIONAL.
The first election for Representative in Congress after the organ- ization of St. Joseph county occurred in August, 1831, when Ed- ward A. Hannegan, Democrat, was elected. Mr. Hannegan was re-elected in 1833 and 1835. In 1837 Albert S. White, Whig, was elected and served two years. He was succeeded in 1839 by Tillman A. Howard, Democrat. In 1841 Henry S. Lane, Whig, was the successful candidate.
The Legislature in 1842 re-districted the State, and St. Joseph county was made to form part of the Ninth Congressional district, composed of the following named counties: St. Joseph, Jasper, White, Cass, Miami, Fulton, Pulaski, Kosciusko, Marshall, Starke, Elkhart, La Porte, Porter, Lake, Wabash and Benton. Samuel C. Sample, Whig, of St. Joseph, was the "first Representative of this distriet. In 1845 Charles W. Cathcart, Democrat, was elected and re-elected in 1847. Mr. Cathcart was succeeded in 1849 by Graham N. Fitch, Democrat, who was re-elected in 1851.
In 1851 the Legislature again re-districted the State, this county still forming a part of the Ninth District, which was now composed of the counties of St. Joseph, Miami, Cass, Fulton, Marshall, La Porte, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper, Porter, Lake, Benton and White. Norman Eddy, Whig, was the first Representative of this district. He was succeeded by Schuyler Colfax, Republican, who was elect- ed in 1854, and re-elected in 1856, 1858, 1860, 1862, 1864 and 1866.
The Legislature in 1867 formed new districts, and St. Joseph
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661
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
county then formed a part of the Eleventh district, composed of the counties of St. Joseph, White, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, Fulton, Marshall, Starke, La Porte, Porter, and Lake. Jasper Packard, Republican, was elected in 1868, and re-elected in 1870 and 1872.
In 1872, by the Legislature of the State, a new district was formed composed of the counties of St. Joseph, La Porte, Porter, Lake, Newton, Jasper, Starke, Pulaski, White and Carroll, and named the Tenth district. William H. Calkins, Republican, was the first Representative, and was elected in 1874. He was re-elected in 1876 and 1878.
SENATORIAL.
On its organization St. Joseph county, together with Allen, Huntington, Elkhart, La Grange and La Porte, were made a Sena- torial distriet. The district was represented from 1830 to 1836 by Samuel Hanna and David H. Colerick.
In 1836 Wabash county was attached to the district, and Jona- than A. Liston was elected Senator, and served one year, being succeeded by Thomas D. Baird. The Legislature this year changed the Senatorial districts, St. Joseph, Marshall, Kosciusko, and Starke forming one. In 1837 Thomas D. Baird was re-elected in 1839 and 1841. Before the expiration of his last term he was removed by death, and John D. Defrees was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Defrees was elected again in 1843 for the full term. He has been suceeeded in order by William C. Pomeroy, Lot Day, Norman Eddy, A. P. Richardson, Hugh Miller, John Reynolds, John F. Miller, Horace Corbin, Lucius Hubbard, Joseph Henderson, David R. Leeper.
REPRESENTATIVE.
St. Joseph county was first placed in a Representative District composed of the counties of Allen, La Porte, Elkhart, LaGrange and Huntington, and was represented in 1833 by David H. Colerick, who was re-elected in 1834.
In 1834 the counties of St. Joseph and La Porte were made a joint Representative District which was continued for two years, being represented by Jonathan A. Liston and Thomas D. Baird.
In 1836 the county was alone inade a Representative District which has continued to the present time. It has been represented from that time to the present by John A. Henricks, Elisha Egbert, Leonard Rush, John D. Defrees, Hugh C. Flanne- gan, Harris E. Hurlbut, William Miller, Thomas S. Stanfield, Mark Whinery, John Reynolds, Jeremiah H. Service, George C. Merrifield, Andrew Anderson, Jr., Nelson Ferris, J. C. Williams, W. W. Butterworth, David R. Leeper, - Ging. Of the foregoing Representatives, Stanfield served four terms, Miller three, Merrifield, Henricks, Butterworth and Leeper two each.
662
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
Schuyler Colfax was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1868, and presided over the Senate from March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1873.
COUNTY OFFICERS .- CIROUIT COURT PRESIDING JUDGES.
John R. Porter,
Gustavus A. Everts,
Samuel C. Sample,
Ebenezer M. Chamberlain,
Thomas S. Stanfield,
Albert G Deavitt, John B. Niles, Andrew S. Osborne, Daniel Noyes.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
John Banker,
Chapel W. Brown,
William McCartney, John Ireland,
Reynolds Dunn, Powers Greene, Peter Johnson, John D. Robertson. -
PROBATE JUDGES.
James P. Antrim, John J. Deming.
Elisha Egbert, Edward F. Dibble.
COMMON PLEAS.
Elisha Egbert,
Daniel Noyes.
Edward J. Wood,
CLERKS.
Lathrop M. Taylor .1830 to 1837
Elias V. Clark. 1859 to 1867
Tyra W. Bray. 1837 to 1844
John F. Lindsay. 1844 to 1851
Edwin Nicar ... 1875 to 1879
Samuel M. Chord 1851 to 1859
Timothy E. Howard.
1879
SHERIFFS.
Benjamin McCarty 1831
Samuel L. Cottrell. 1831 to 1832
Scott West ... 1832
Daniel A. Fullerton 1832 to 1833
Samuel L. Cottrell.
1833 to 1838
Charles M. Tutt. 1838 to 1842
Lot Day, Sr .. 1843 to 1846
Lot Day, Jr. 1846 to 1850
Ralph Staples
1850 to 1852
Benjamin F. Miller. 1852 to 1856
Evan C. Johnson 1856 to 1860
Nelson Ferris ..
.1860 to 1864
Solomon W. Palmer.
1864 to 1868
George V. Glover.
1868 to 1872
Joseph Turnock 1872 to 1876
Robert Hardy ..
1876 to 1878
James Daugherty 1878
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS-CIRCUIT COURT.
Andrew Ingram .. 1832 to 1834 | George Pierson. .1848 to
Samuel C. Sample. 1834 to 1848
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS-COMMON PLEAS COURT.
John L. Foster. 1854 Andrew Anderson, Jr ... . 1856 to 1857 Joseph Henderson. 1854 to 1856 Reuben L. Farnsworth. .1857 to
George W. Matthews. 1867 to 1875
663
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
CORONERS.
Samuel L. Cottrell. .1834 to 1835
E. P. Taylor. 1835 to 1841
Leonard B. Rush. 1841 to 1842
Jacob Hardman. 1842 to 1843
Israel DeCamp. 1843 to 1845
Truman Fox . 1845 to 1847
Richmond Tuttle. 1847 to 1852
Allen Bassett. 1852 to 1854
Aaron A. Webster 1854 to 1856
Andrew H. Long. 1856 to 1874
Daniel Layton.
1874 to 1876
Israel Underwood.
1876 to 1878
John C. Miller
1878 to 1880
RECORDERS.
L. M. Taylor. 1830 to 1837
William H. Patterson. 1837 to 1851
Lot Day, Jr 1851 to 1858
R. J. Chestnutwood.
1858 to 1867
Alexander N. Thomas 1867 to 1875
John Groff ..
1875 to 1879
Harrison G. Beamer.
1879
AUDITORS.
L. M. Taylor. 1830 to 1837
Tyra W. Bray. 1837 to 1844
George W. Matthews. .1845 to 1849
William D. Smith
.1875
TREASURERS.
John D. Lasly 1830 to 1831
Aaron Miller .. .1831 to 1833
John T. McLelland.
1833 to 1840
Albert Monson. 1841 to 1850
John K. Wright.
1850 to 1851
C. Henry Sheerer.
1876 to 1878
John Hay
.1878
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
William Clark. 1831 to 1832
Tyra W. Bray. .1832 to 1836
Thomas P. Bulla 1836 to 1856
Milton W. Stokes 1856 to 1864
William D. Bulla 1864 to 1865
William M. Whitten 1865 to 1866
William D. Bulla. 1866 to 1868
Milton V. Bulla. 1868 to 1872
William M. Whitten ...
.1872 to 1874
Arthur J. Stace.
1874
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
1830-Adam Smith, Lambert McComb, Levi T. Arnold, (Acting Commission ers, old Justices' Court.)
1831-David Miller, Joseph Rohrer, Aaron Stanton.
1832-John Ireland, Benjamin Hardman, John Martindale.
1833-John Ireland, Lot Day, Reynolds Dunn.
1834-Same as for 1833.
1835-Lot Day, Reynolds Dunn, Orlando M. Hurd.
1836-Reynolds Dunn, Orlando M. Hurd, William H. Patteson.
1837-Lot Day, George Holloway, Orlando M. Hurd. (Mr. Hurd failed to qual- ify, and Alonzo Delano was appointed to fill vacancy).
1833-Same as for 1837. 1839 -- Same as for 1838.
1840-Lot Day, Alonzo Delano, Thomas D. Vail.
1841-Lot Day, Thomas D. Vail, Gilman Towle.
1842-Thomas D. Vail, Gilman Towle, M. B. Hammond.
[ Woodman J. Holloway .... 1859 to 1867
Alfred Wheeler
1867 to 1875
Aaron B. Ellsworth
1849 to 1859
John H. Harper. 1860 to 1864
Ezekiel Green 1864 to 1868
Hiram Miller 1868 to 1872
David B. Creviston.
1872 to 1876
Robert B. Nicar. .1851 to 1856
Solomon Miller. 1856 to 1860
664
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
1843-Thomas D. Vail, Gilman Towle, M. B. Hammond.
1844-Same as for 1843.
1845-Same as for 1844.
1846-Gilman Towle, M. B. Hammond, R. Hubbard.
1847-Same as for 1846.
1848-Gilman Towle, Ransom Hubbard, Samuel M. Chord
1849-Gilman Towle, John Druliner, Samuel M. Chord.
1850-Same as for 1849.
1851-John Druliner, Gilman Towle, Edwin Pickett.
1852-Same as for 1851.
1853-John Druliner, John Hammond, Gilman Towle. 1854-Same as for 1853.
1855-Same as for 1854.
1856-Same as for 1855.
1857-Same as for 1856.
1858-Gilman Towle, John Hammond, J. C. Williams.
1859-John Hammond, J. C. Williams, William F. Bulla.
1860-J. C. Williams, F. R. Tutt, W. F. Bulla.
1861-Same as for 1860.
1862-F. R. Tutt, Gilman Towle, J. C. Williams.
1863-J. C. Williams, C. Studebaker, Gilman Towle.
1864-C. Studebaker, Nathaniel Frame, Gilman Towle.
1865-Same as for 1864.
1866-Gilman Towle, J. C. Knoblock, Nathaniel Frame.
1867-Same as for 1866.
1868-Same as for 1867.
1869-Same as for 1868.
1870-Nathaniel Frame, Gilman Towle, Dwight Deming.
1871-Nathaniel Frame, Albert Cass, Dwight Deming.
1872-Same as for 1871.
1873-Same as for 1872
1874-John Emsperger, Nathaniel Frame, Dwight Deming.
1875-Same as for 1874.
1876-Dwight Deming, William D. Rockhill, John Emsperger.
..
1877-Same as for 1876.
1878-Same as for 1877.
1979-Same as for 1878.
A RETROSPECT.
More than two centuries have passed since the first white man trod the soil of St. Joseph county. After Father Marquette and La Salle, what other " pale faces" were within its borders until Pierre Navarre came in 1820, history is silent. It is possible, and quite probable, that the county was visited by many French traders and Catholic priests, but of this nothing is known. When Navarre came, and even for some years after Alexis Coquillard and Lathrop M. Taylor established their trading posts on the banks of the bean- tiful St. Joseph river, there was nothing to break the solemn still- uess of nature save the growl of the wild beast, the whoop of the savage, or the rush and roar of winds as they passed over the prairie and woodland. The soil was unvexed by the plow, and the woodman's ax had never been heard previous to this time. Nature had done her best to make the county a beautiful one, fit indeed for those who were destined to possess it. The various prairies were in the summer decked in beautiful green, while the prairie flowers exhibited colors that only the hand of the Creator could
665
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPHI COUNTY.
form, so that it could well be said that even "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
These the gardens of the desert-these The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, And fresh as the young earth ere man had sinned. Lo! they stretch In airy undulations far away, As if the ocean in the gentlest swell Stood still, with all his rounded billows fixed, And motionless forever.
The forests, too, were grand. The giant oak, the stately elm, and the useful hickory seemingly pierced the very heavens, and stood as faithful sentinels over the entire surroundings. No fallen timber or undergrowth of any kind obstructed the passage, the annual prairie fire making a clean path for all. A prairie fire! The sight is a magnificent one indeed. An early writer who was look- ing at the country and enjoying the unfamiliar sight, was startled by a flash of light, and thus sketched a prairie on fire:
"Whilst enjoying the sublimity of the scene, night threw her man- tle o'er the earth, and the sentinel stars set their watch in the skies, when suddenly the scene was lighted by a blaze of light illumi- nating every object around. It was the prairie on fire. Language cannot convey, words cannot express to you the faintest idea of the grandeur and splendor of that mighty conflagration. Me thought that the pale Queen of night, disdaining to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched ten thousand messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun, and that now they were speeding on the wings of the wind to their appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagration, my thoughts recurred to those immured in the walls of a city, and I exclaimed in the full- ness of my heart:
Oh, fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze, As o'er the grass sweeps the magnificent blaze! The world cannot boast so romantic asight, A continent flaming, 'mid oceans of light."
How changed the scene now! The timber in many places has been cleared away, and beautiful farms appear in its stead. The broad prairies have been shorn of their native beauty, and the hand of man has endeavored to excel in their decoration. The iron horse now courses over the prairie and through the timber where once only the trail of the red man was known. Villages, towns and cities appear where the wigwam was once seen. All this change has taken place in one-half century. What will the next fifty years bring forth? Who can tell?
Every old settler now living-those that were here prior to 1832 -can realize fully the picture drawn; and as they sit by their fire- sides in old age, their minds wander back to the scenes of the long ago. They see that grand old man, with a heart tender and sympa- thizing as a child, one always ready and willing to relieve the ery
666
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
of distress-Alexis Coquillard; they see the quiet, unobtrusive Lathrop M. Taylor as he was when not bowed down by the weight of years; they again take by the hand that bluff old Samuel Cot- trell; quickly pass in imagination Elisha Egbert, Dr. Henricke, Horatio Chapin, and a host of others, who have passed on to the other shore. All this seems to them a reality; and when they gaze out upon the living, active throng that is continually moving to and fro, they rub their eyes and imagine it all a dream. But the old days have passed away, never to be recalled.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY OF TO. DAY.
As it is impossible for the pen of the historian to do justice to the past, even so will he fail to properly present the St. Joseph of to-day. No county in Northern Indiana or Southern Michigan has made greater progress in the same length of time. In its churches, its schools, its manufacturing interests, its public and private buildings, in fact every thing that goes to show a progressive people, it has taken a leading position. It has to-day an incorporated city, two incorporated towns, and several villages numbering from one hun- dred and fifty to eight hundred inhabitants. It has a total popula- tion of upward of 33,000, and increasing rapidly. The great power of the St. Joseph river has been developed and utilized, and scores of manufacturing institutions profit by what has been donc.
In the early day citizens of St. Joseph county met for worship in school-houses, barns or private dwelling-houses,-anywhere they could find a place, and glad were they of the opportunity; to-day churches are upon every hand, from the plain, unpretending frame, where a few zealons men and women gather together " in the name of Jesus," to the imposing brick or stone, with bells pealing forth a joyful welcome to one and all to come "drink of the waters of life."
The old log school-house has long since been displaced, and to- day are found, especially in the larger towns and cities, school buildings of handsome architectural appearance, costing many thousands of dollars each, and equipped with every appliance that can promote the cause of education. The comfort of pupils has been secured by the introduction of suitable seats and desks, maps, globes, philosophical apparatus, music, libraries, commodious play grounds, well ventilated apartments, beantiful plants and flowers, are all used as accessories, and the result is a humanizing influence. A large revenue derived from taxation is annually raised sufficient to maintain a scholarly corps of teachers. In addition to the pub- lic schools there are in the county two institutions of learning that have a world-wide fame, Notre Dame University and St. Mary's Academy, the one for males, the other for females. Under the most patient, persistent efforts they have been made what they are, a credit to the county and State, no less than to the religious body whose zeal has taken such practical shape.
667
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
St. Joseph county of to-day boasts of another civilizing influence in her newspapers, twelve weekly and two daily; all of which are well and ably edited.
In mannfactures St. Joseph county of to-day leads every other county in the north part of the State. Three thousand men are at present engaged in the various manufactories.
In agriculture nowhere in the Union are more sure crops than here annually raised, and little vacant land is to be found in any part of the county; many acres which a few years ago were thought to be valueless on account of swamps, are to-day the most produc- tive farms in the State.
The St. Joseph river, though not to-day used for purposes of navigation, is doing better in affording power for the mannfactories already mentioned.
Railroads traverse almost every part of the county to-day, carry- ing away the productions of the soil and of the skillful mechanics variously employed. The telegraphic wire takes a message and carries it hundreds, nay thousands, of miles, in a moment's time; while the telephone wire is placed in the private houses of many, enabling them to converse with ease with those who are miles away.
Peace and plenty are enjoyed by every inhabitant of St. Joseph county to-day. Labor is in demand at remunerative wages; every manufactory is run to its full capacity, many of them finding diffi- culty in filling their orders.
The assessed value of real and personal property to-day is about $15,000,000, about one-third the real value. The county owes neither bonded, floating, nor any other kind of debt whatever. Gentlemanly and accommodating men fill the public offices. In fact, everything goes to prove that St. Joseph of to-day is a model county in every respect.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
As we look over this beautiful part of St. Joseph county, we can hardly realize that so few years have elapsed since it was a howling wilderness, inhabited only by the wild beasts of the forests, and a race of people almost equally wild.
Centre township is bounded on the north by Portage, on the east by Penn and Madison, on the south by Union, and on the west by Greene. It is four miles from east to west, and five from north to south, and contains 20 square miles. It was laid out Sept. 7, 1831, at which time there were only two or three settlers in what is now Centre township. The following spring a few more adven- turers settled in different parts of the township, and of the six men. then living here but one remains, Col. Smith. Nathan Rose was the first to contract for land. He first came here in the summer of 1829, and purchased his land of the Pottawatomie Indians. He then returned and worked in a saw-mill on the Tippecanoe river near Rochester, Ind., to pay for the land. It was located in sec- tion 36, and is now owned by I. Roseberry, J. K. Dice, and Jon. Forneman. Mr. Rose moved his family in the fall of 1830 on the place now owned by J. K. Dice. Here he lived, enduring all the privations of pioneer life, until 1852, when he removed his family to St. Joseph, Missouri. He lived but a few years after this; he and his wife both died on the same day, and were buried in the same grave. Their children are now scattered over different parts of the West. James and Ashur Palmer came in the summer of 1830 and settled on Palmer's Prairie, thus giving it the name. They and their families have all left the township, removing to Lake county , where they died a few years ago. Andrew Milling came abont the same time and located on section 35, where Mr. Hilderbrand now lives. He seems to have been a man of energy and intelligence, but has long since passed away. The family have all gone, and the name once so familiar in this community, will perhaps in another generation be almost forgotten.
In September, 1830, Henry Stull bought this land in the north part of the township. The land office at this time was at Fort Wayne. He came here by the way of Elkhart and Goshen. It must be remembered that at this time the city of Elkhart had not made its appearance, and Goshen contained bnt one house. There were no wagon roads north of Logansport. Mr. Stull was a native of Virginia, but becoming dissatisfied with his native State, and be- ing of a daring, yet careful disposition be loaded a boat with what he
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669
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
called skillets and pots, and started down the Ohio river, landing in the southern part of this State. This was while Indiana was yet a Territory. For a number of years afterward Mr. Stull was engaged in buying stock in Kentucky, and driving them to Eastern Pennsylvania for market. After he came to this county he engaged in farming. He was a man of good business talent, very careful and accurate in all his transactions, and respected and honored by all that knew him. It is said that he never had his name on any man's books, his motto being " Pay as you go." Being a man of temperate habits he lived to be a very old man, and died but a few years ago, in this township.
John Rose settled the same year, on section 36. His son William is still living in this township. It was about this time that the Rupels came to the county. They came from Pennsylvania, and stopped at Elkhart in 1830. While there, Peter Rupel secured his patent for his land in section 26. His son, E. H. Rupel, still has the original deeds made at the land office in Fort Wayne, and signed by Andrew Jackson. He lives on the old home farm. They removed from Elkhart to this township in 1831. They had a family of 7 children, most of whom are still living near the old farm.
After the year 1831 settlers began to come to the township very fast. In the year 1832-'3 the Smiths came; Isaac Lamb, Abiel Hungerford, Tyra N. Bray in 1833; James and Richard Inwood came in 1835 and settled in the southwestern part of the township. William Phillips came about the same time; Win. H. Roerston settled on section 2, in October, 1836. It was about this time that the Odells, Ulerys and Rushes came; and it was not long after this time till the giant forests began to disappear very fast from the hills and vales of Centre tp., and in their place came well culti- vated fields, bringing forth their bounteous harvests to reward the hardy woodman for his long and patient toiling. The narrow, winding wood road gradually disappeared; and in its place came the beautiful broad highway which now traverses the township in every direction.
The first child that was born in the township was Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Nathan Rose, and was born where I. K. Dice now lives, on section 36.
The first election was held in Smith's school-house on section 2. The elections are still held at the same place. The first Justice of the Peace was Mathias Stover.
The people of this township are very quiet and social,-so much so that they have not needed a Justice of the Peace or Constable for the past 20 years, although they comply with the requirements of the law and elect them. They do not qualify them: so they do not serve.
670
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
EDUCATION.
The people at an early day saw the need of education, for we see the little band of pioneers as early as 1835 joining together and erecting a school-house on section 36, between the section line and the Michigan road, on Nathan Rose's farm. This building, although it may have been rude in appearance, showed the progressive char- acter of the minds that these few hardy pioneers possessed. The building was built of round loge, with cabin roof; was small, and had a puncheon floor. The seats were rough benches made of slabs. For desks they had pins around the walls with boards on them. Blackboards, now considered so indispensable to a school-room, were not dreamed of. Stove it had nonc, but in its stead at the end of the room was a large fire-place; and on the outside could be seen the chimney towering above the roof, built of sticks and mortar. No doubt that many of these pioneer children who have grown to manhood often think of the merry faces and the laughing jokes that passed around thic merry party as they stood about that fire-place on a frosty winter morning warming their fingers and toes. This building was used for six or seven years, when the country, becom- ing more densely settled, demanded something better and larger; and a frame was erected on J. Smith's land in section 2. This stood till the brick house was built some years ago. The first teacher in the log school-house was Mary Mellings. After her came Benjamin Gibbons and Daniel Robertson, now living in Greene township.
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