History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens, Part 22

Author: Inter-state publishing co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 894

USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 22

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 next movement was to decide upon a plan, which ultimately met the approval of the Governor. It favored the erection of one principal building, one house for a reading-room and hospital, two large mechanical shops and eight family houses. January 1, 1868,

244

HISTORY OF INDIANA.

three family houses and work-shop were completed; in 1869 the main building, and one additional family house were added; but previous to this, in August, 1867, a Mr. Frank P. Ainsworth and his wife were appointed by the Board, superintendent and matron respectively, and temporary quarters placed at their disposal. In 1869 they of course removed to the new building. This is 64 by 128 feet, and three stories high. In its basement are kitchen, laundry and vegetable cellar. The first floor is devoted to offices, visitors' room, house father and family dining-room and store- rooms. The general superintendent's private apartments, private offices and five dormitories for officers occupy the second floor; while the third floor is given up to the assistant superintendent's apartment, library, chapel and hospital.

The family houses are similar in style, forming rectangular build- ings 36 by 58 feet. The basement of each contains a furnace room, a store-room and a large wash-room, which is converted into a play-room during inclement weather. On the first floor of each of these buildings are two rooms for the house father and his family, and a school-room, which is also convertible into a sitting. room for the boys. On the third floor is a family dormitory, a clothes-room and a room for the " elder brother," who ranks next to the house father. And since the reception of the first boy, from Hendricks county, January 23, 1868, the house plan has proved equally convenient, even as the management has proved efficient.

Other buildings have since been erected.

Map of STEU

PLEASANT

'6 Crooked CryKi

JAMESTOWN

ORLANDA

TAMARACK LAKE

evada 0

HELLE L

31 JIMESISON STATE

LAKEY

JA CKSON

QPEEP L

AIR

HALLOW L.

CROOKECHTAKE

-15

FLINT

BROSS

EESEBRO L.

190 &L

CENTRE KLAKE

ASSherwood!

DEVARD L

OTTER L.

ANGOLA

BASS

OG. BAGKILAKE

GOLDEN.C.

,72

TURKEY.L.

Salcus CentreP.O.

RISEOF

PLEASANTLAKE GREREC

PLEASANT L.

+ 79

TURK

Turkey

IME

STEUBENY. ELET

UTTLE

I.BENTON

S 10

LONG L 16

13 M

Ł8

PIGEON

GREEK

Ale SAMOo).2160

MILL POND

MUDL

Roas

HOGL.

ROOM

BEN County

RayPO

WALTERS

LAKE

2 1

·19

2.2

CEDARIO LAKEN

LEAR

FREMONT

)

SMARSH L.

120

PIGEON 30

METZE

JOHNSONS L.

15.

ALVARADO NO

: 22

30-

vers

HAMILTON

LONG

R 20

RICHLAND 50

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL HISTORY .- LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS .- COUR- AGE OF THE PIONEERS. - THEIR LABOR AND REWARDS .- CHANGE OF FIFTY YEARS .- INTEGRITY AND GENEROSITY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS .- GRAND ACHIEVEMENTS.

All history is essentially local. No record of events, however important, can make a vivid or lasting impression upon a reader's mind if the locality of the occurrences is not given due prominence. By association the scenes of great events become sanctified and endeared in the hearts of a people. Who, for instance, can gaze unmoved upon the house which was the home or the birthplace of an illustrious man? Who can give expression to his emotions as he stands upon the ground where some decisive struggle for liberty took place?

Even the most prosaic places, even the simplest of every-day occurrences, are sometimes elevated beyond their natural condition, becoming illustrious and important on account of the memories which surrounded them. And even within the narrow limits of a county, events, perhaps of little moment in themselves, are con- stantly transpiring, which growing venerable through age become invested with peculiar interest, and are rightfully worthy of perpet- ual remembrance. A small community has its place in history as well as a large one. Every intelligent and public-spirited citizen feels a degree of pride in the achievements, the industrial growth the religious, social, and intellectual progress of his county.

Thus it is that in almost every section of the Union efforts are now being made to perpetuate local history. No cause is more worthy of popular attention. Centuries hence, when a history of the American people shall be written, the historian will gather his data largely from the facts which are now being collected and put 16

(245)

246

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

in preservable form. But the greatest importance of local history lies in the interest which we may expect posterity to entertain for it. The work of the pioneers-humble in its details yet magnifi. cent in its results; the first rudely built church or school-house; the founding of a village; the inception of an industry -- each mark an epoch in the history of any locality. The nationality and char- acteristics of the early settlers; their lives, adventures and hard- ships; the part performed by them in civil, judicial or military affairs-all these are topics in which their descendants can never cease to have an interest.

LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS.

The life of the pioneer is humble yet glorious. He prepares the way for advancing civilization, endures poverty and hardship, toils without recompense, that his posterity may enjoy the full fruition of his labors. He is the adventurer in fields untried, the path- finder, the discoverer, the advance agent leading others to a land of promise. In all ages and countries he has been honored and remembered on account of his self-sacrificing labor.

Pioneer life in Steuben County finds its almost exact counter- part in every part of the West. When the first settlers arrived here, they found a fair and beautiful region, but just left by the aboriginal inhabitants. Forests were to be felled, prairies broken, cabins built, mills, school-houses, churches, roads-the labor of a lifetime rose before them. But were these bold spirits dismayed? Not they! They had journeyed from their far distant homes, through a rough country, over bad roads, rivers, swamps and marshes, passing nights with no shelter above them, and toiling forward by day, meeting new obstacles ever and anon. Now they had reached the land for which they had started, and fair and pleasant was the prospect.

In Steuben County the settlement is of so recent date that al- most every one is familiar with pioneer ways either from actual experience or from hearsay. Nevertheless, for the benefit of pos- terity, who may be interested in knowing what was the real nature of pioneer life and the character of the work of the early settlers, we devote a portion of this chapter to a description of primitive manners, customs and labor.

Such has been the change since the days of our fathers and grandfathers in this State, it is almost as though a new race of beings had come into possession of the land. Clothing, diet,

247

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

dwellings, social customs, individual habits, have all been trans- formed. Old ways are not our ways; but they were good ways, and served their purpose admirably, and the memory of them is full of tender interest to us. The earliest settlers, upon their ar- rival, constructed hastily what they called "three-faced camps;" that is, buildings with three walls, and the front open. These camps were usually about seven feet high, without floors, and roofed with poles upon which bark or shingles lay, held in place by weight-poles. No windows, doors or chimneys were needed in these dwellings, which were not built for temporary residences, but usually merely to serve as shelter while the cabin was being constructed.

The cabin of round logs was a material advance upon the camp. The interstices between the logs were filled with chips, or sticks, then daubed abundantly with clay mortar. A log "house"-in distinction from a cabin-was constructed of hewed logs, and was the prevailing style of residence for rich and poor. The building was often without a floor, but more commonly one was built of "puncheons," or split logs, made smooth as possible on one side by the adze or the ax. The roof was covered with long shingles, or "shakes," held in place by weight-poles. For a fire-place, a space about six feet long was cut out of the logs at one end of the room, and three sides were built up with logs, making an offset in the wall. This was lined with stone when convenient, and plenti- fully daubed with clay. The chimney was built of small split sticks, plastered together with clay, and rose but little above the roof.

A space for a doorway was cut in one side of the cabin, and in it was hung a door made of split shingles or puncheons, fastened together with cleats and wooden pins. The hinges were also of wood, and the latch. The latch-string was of leather, extending through a hole a few inches above the latch, to the outside, so that a pull lifted the latch from the catch enabling the door to open. It was only necessary for those inside to pull the latch-string in to lock the door securely against all comers.

The living-room was of good size, as it ought to be-for it was parlor, dining-room, sitting-room, kitchen, pantry and bed-room, all in one. The rafters were usually adorned with flitches of bacon or festoons of dried pumpkins. In one corner of the apartment were seen the loom and, perhaps, the spinning wheel, while the kitchen utensils were grouped about the ample fire-place. One

248

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

side of the room was devoted to the family wardrobe, which hung suspended from pegs driven into the wall.

The trusty rifle usually hung over the door, and near it the powder-horn and hunting-pouch. Well-to-do families had a spare room for guests-that is, a space in the loft of sufficient size to contain a bed, besides serving usually the purpose of a lumber-room. The loft was reached by a ladder from the main room. Sleeping apartments were sometimes separated from the sitting-room by partitions made by suspending quilts, coverlets or sheets from the upper floor.

This mode of living was not so irksome as might be supposed. People soon became accustomed to it, and patiently put up with it until their means had increased sufficiently to enable them to enlarge their domicile by a lean-to, or, better yet, to construct a double log cabin-a happy distinction to which only the wealthy could attain. The furniture of the cabin was as primitive as the house itself. Bedsteads, chairs and tables were of home manufacture, and the makers were not always skilled workmen. The articles used in the kitchen were few and simple ; a " Dutch oven," a skillet, or long- handled frying pan, an iron pot or kettle, and sometimes a coffee- pot were all that the best furnished kitchen contained. When a stone-wall formed the base of the fire-place a long iron crane on which, attached to a pot-hook, hung a large pot or kettle, was one of the

indispensable features. The style of cooking was necessarily sim- ple, as all of it had to be done at the fire-place and in the fire. Corn meal, cooked in various forms, such as "mush," "Johnnycake," " hoe-cake" and "pone," was one of the staple articles of diet. The "pone" and " corn-dodger" were cooked in the Dutch oven, set upon a bed of glowing coals. The oven being filled with dough, the cover, already heated on the fire, was placed over it and cov- ered with hot embers. After the bread was cooked, it was taken from the oven and placed near the fire to keep it warm, while the oven was again pressed into use in the preparation of some other article of food. The "hoe-cake" was cooked upon a board or flat stone placed in front of the fire, a thick dough of meal and water having first been prepared. Cooked pumpkin was sometimes added to the dough to give it richness and flavor. Venison or ham was fried in the Dutch oven. Hominy or hulled corn was often added to the frugal meal. Wild honey was found in abundance; game was plenty, and although flour was at first scarce, the pioneer's bill of fare was usually a good one, containing a plenty, if not a variety, of good wholesome food, well cooked.

249

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

The pioneers were true-hearted and hospitable. Strangers were never denied shelter or food, though often the family were much discommoded by furnishing such entertainment. The early set- tlers of Steuben County were mainly from the older States of the Union-New York, the New England States and Virginia-though there were some English and Irish. They were generally poor, and understanding the hardships and disadvantages of poverty them- selves, they sympathized with, and aided the more readily, those whom they found in need of assistance. Selfishness was not in their nature. They were bold, brave, free-hearted, and led useful and upright lives. Of course there were exceptions-now and then a self- ish man, and once in a great while a rascal-but the great body of the early settlers was composed of men fearless in the right, honest, generous, truthful, and independent even though they were poor. Their situation was one calculated to beget feelings of friendliness and helpfulness. They were all situated alike; all had left the asso- ciations and the friends of other days, and were seeking the accom- plishment of a difficult task. There was no room for idlers, but newcomers were looked upon as helpers, and the watch-word ap- peared to be, "The more the merrier." Says an early writer: " Men must cleave to their kind and must be dependent upon each other. Pride and jealousy give way to the natural yearnings of the human heart for society. They begin to rub off the neutral prejudices; one takes a step and then the other; they meet half way and embrace, and the society thus newly organized and con- stituted is more liberal, enlarged, unprejudiced, and, of course, more affectionate than a society of people of like birth and character who bring all their early prejudices as a common stock to be transmitted as an inheritance to posterity."

The life of toil and hardship was one well calculated to develop a strong character and a self-reliant, trustful spirit. Many men of eminence have risen from humble homes; have studied by the fire- light, or in the old-fashioned log school-houses, and become distin- guished far above those reared in homes of luxury and schooled in affluence. The best citizens of Steuben County to day are those who have cleared the forests and subdued the prairies, or the descendants of these early settlers. The boys in early times were early taught to put their hands to every kind of farm work; they plowed and grubbed; pulled flax, broke and " hackled" it; wore tow shirts, coon-skin caps; picked and carded wool; and " spooled" and carded wool. The girls were taught to make and mend their own

250

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

clothes; to cook, wash and scrub; to lend a hand in the harvest field if necessary. They were not injured by the exercise. It gave them strength and muscle, and fitted them for useful wives and mothers.

Such industry, coupled necessarily with energy and frugality, brought its own certain reward. The men grew prematurely old while sustaining their burdens, but they saw the forests pass away and beautiful fields of grain take their place. Marvelous indeed has been the change wrought in a half century. Many an aged pi- oneer, as he sits in his easy chair and overlooks the past, involun- tarily exclaims, "Is it possible that all these things have been wrought by the hand of man within the space of one life-time?"

" The voice of Nature's very self drops low,

. As though she whispered of the long ago, When down the wandering stream the rude canoe Of some lone trapper glided into view And loitered down the watery path that led Thro' forest depths that only knew the tread Of savage beasts and wild barbarians That skulked about with blood upon their hands And murder in their hearts. The light of day

Might barely pierce the gloominess that lay Like some dark pall across the water's face And folded all the land in its embrace. The panther's screaming and the bear's low growl, The snake's sharp rattle and the wolf's wild howl, The owl's grim chuckle, as it rose and fell In alternation with the Indian's yell, Made fitting prelude for the gory plays That were enacted in the early days.

" Now o'er the vision like a mirage, falls The old log cabin with its dingy walls And crippled chimney, with the crutch-like prop Beneath, a sagging shoulder on the top. The 'coon-skin battened fast on either side ; The whisps of leaf tobacco, cut and dried ; The yellow strands of quartered apples hung In rich festoons, that tangle in among The morning-glory vines that clamber o'er The little clapboard roof above the door; Again through mists of memory rise The simple scenes of home before the eyes : The happy mother, humming with her wheel The dear old melodies that used to steal So drowsily upon the summer air; The house-dog hid his bone, forgot his care

251

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

And nestled at her feet, to dream, perchance,

Some cooling dream of winter-time romance.

The square of sunshine through the open door That notched its edge across the puncheon floor, And made a golden coverlet, whereon

The god of slumber had a picture drawn Of babyhood, in all the loveliness Of dimpled check and limb and linsey dress.

The bough-filled fire-place and the mantle wide,

Its fire-scorched ankles stretched on either side, Where, perchance upon its shoulders neath the joists

The old clock hiccoughed, harsh and husky-voiced;

Tomatoes red and yellow, in a row, Preserved not then for diet, but for show ;

The jars of jelly, with their dainty tops;

Bunches of pennyroyal and cordial drops; The flask of camphor and vial of squills, The box of buttons, garden seeds and pills. And thus the pioneer and helpsome, aged wife Reflectively review the scenes of early life."

The clothing of the early settlers was simple, being usually en- tirely of home manufacture. The supply brought with the family into the new country was made to serve until flax could be raised from which to make more. It was with difficulty that sheep could be kept, owing to the prairie wolves; but after sheep had been in troduced and flax and hemp raised in sufficient quantities, it still remained a difficult task for the women of the household to make cloth and fashion clothing for the entire family. Flannel and lin- sey were woven and made into garments for women and children, and jeans for the men. The wool was usually colored with wal- nut or some other kind of bark; or else black and white wool mixed made "pepper and salt" cloth. Every household was a factory in which every branch of clothing manufacture was carried on-card- ing, spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing. Before carding ma- chines were introduced all the wool used was carded by hand on cards about four inches wide and eight or ten inches long. Flax, after being dried, broken and "scutched," was spun on a small wheel, worked by a treadle, such as may now be seen once in a while among the lumber of an ancient garret. Tow and linen cloth was worked into shirts and dresses, or pantaloons for summer wear. Tow, the coarse part of flax, formed the filling of the cloth, the strong linen threads being the warp. A tow and linen shirt was not a thing of beauty, and it had a tendency to irritate the skin, but the boys of that day were satisfied with it.

CHAPTER II.

SCIENTIFIC.

GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY. - GEOLOGY. - ZOOLOGY.

Steuben is smaller than a "model" county of sixteen townships, such as is frequently the size of the new counties in the West made by legislators with the aid of a map and pocket rule. It comprises six whole and six fractional congressional townships, or scarcely more than ten townships altogether. The county lies just in the northeastern corner of Indiana, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Branch and Hillsdale counties, Mich., on the east by Hillsdale County, Mich., and Williams County, Ohio; on the south by De Kalb County, Ind., and on the west by Lagrange County, Ind. The county contains the usual physical characteristics of the Northwestern States, having a gently rolling surface, originally covered with hard-wood timber. It is situated on the "divide " between the tributaries of the Mississippi and those of Lake Erie. Within the borders of Steuben County are between sixty and seventy clear water lakes, most of them having gravelly or sandy bottoms and fine beaches, and it is safe to say that no county in the Northwest offers greater advantages to the sportsman or to the weary city family seeking rest from their hot and dusty homes. All that this county needs is advertising. But one lake in the county has ever been adver- tised to any great extent, and that is hardly known outside of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. That is Pleasant Lake, which for two or three years past has attracted a large number of persons, and become a favorite resort of excursionists. Owing to the scarcity of hotel accommodations, very few have remained more than a day or two, but if plans recently formed be carried out it will doubtless become in the course of a few years a popular place for summer gatherings. The village of Pleasant Lake is situated between two bodies of water-Pleasant and Long lakes. It is proposed to dredge the channel connecting these lakes with Golden, Hogback and Silver, thus enabling steamers to pass from

(252)

253

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

one to another with perfect freedom. The shores of all these lakes are quite bold and afford many beautiful sites for the build- ing of cottages and club-houses. All of these bodies of water are plentifully stocked with fish, such as pickerel, black bass, rock bass, perch, etc. Disciples of Nimrod can find no better place for their sport than in this vicinity, game such as ducks, quails, etc., being very plentiful.

Six miles southeast of Pleasant Lake is Fish Lake, which has the reputation of containing as fine specimens of the finny tribe as can be found anywhere. Being situated several miles from a railroad, it is not so well known as many other lakes, but in case a railroad is ever completed on the Canada Southern grade, it would doubtless be within about two-hours ride of Toledo, and five of Chicago. There are many beautiful building places on its banks, all of which will be utilized sometime when the communi- cation with the outside world is improved.

In the extreme northeastern corner of the county is situated Clear Lake, which, next to Pleasant, is the best known of any ot the lakes of the county. It is situated two and a half miles from Ray station, on the Fort Wayne branch of the Lake Shore Road. There has been some talk of building a railroad from the nearest point on the Lake Shore, but the prospect has seemingly been abandoned.

Lake George, situated near the village of Jamestown, part of the lake being in the State of Michigan, is a favorite resort for parties who desire to spend a few days camping out and fishing. The water is clear, and experienced anglers claim to have better luek here than at any other place.

Of all the lakes in the county, James and Crooked are the largest, and were they nearer a railroad, would present unrivaled attractions; and, as it is, they will doubtless within a few years have their banks dotted with summer residences and club-houses, negotiations having already been entered into by Fort Wayne parties for the purchase of building sites on the banks of Crooked Lake.

Of the dozens of lovely lakes in the county, it is probable that, all things considered, Lake Gage, eleven miles northwest of Angola and five miles from Orland, presents the most attractions and never fails to excite the unqualified admiration of visitors. Being surrounded on every side but one with high gravel banks and entirely free from marshes, it presents an appearance which can find few equals anywhere.

254

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

There are many other bodies of water in the county deserving of note. The water found in these lakes is remarkably free from mineral matter. A few years ago the State Geologist made an analysis of the water in Lake James, and in an imperial gallon found only ten and one-half grains of mineral substance, there being of bicarbonate of lime seven grains; iron, alumina and silica, two and one-tenth grains, and magnesia one and four-tenths grains. From the bottom of any of the lakes, water may be drawn in the middle of summer with a temperature of fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

The ancient shores of many of these lakes are composed of carbonate of lime, which is of a creamy tint, almost white. The water area of these lakes is constantly diminishing, thus adding to the agricultural surface. The carbonate of lime is due to or- ganic matter, since it contains only a trace of oxide of iron, and the discoloration disappears when it is burned. At one time this chalk was in common use for the manufacture of quick-lime, for which purpose it answers very well. Samples of this fresh-water chalk have been collected from various localities by members of the geological survey corps. An analysis of a sample taken from section 4, township 37, range 13, resulted as follows :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens, Part 22

Author: Inter-state publishing co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 894

Author: Inter-state publishing co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 894