History of Tipton County Indiana, Part 20

Author: M. W. Pershing
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 701

USA > Indiana > Tipton County > History of Tipton County Indiana > Part 20

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 first religious services in Jefferson township were held by traveling preachers of the Methodist and New Light denominations, several years be- fore any permanent organization was effected. The citizens of the western part of the township met for worship with an old Methodist society in Clin- ton county, while the Presbyterians had an organization many years ago a short distance east in Cicero township.

In the year 1844 the citizens living in the vicinity of Mr. Nash's resi- dence inaugurated measures for the purpose of erecting a house of worship to be used for general church purposes, and a building committee was ap- pointed to select ground and otherwise further the project. The committee was composed of the following: Robert Nash, Robert Pyke, Joseph Town- send, Thomas Pratt and William Pyke. Mr. Nash donated one acre of ground and the building was erected according to specifications. It was frame, thirty- two by forty feet in size, and cost sixteen hundred dollars. Immediately after the erection of Nash Chapel. as it was called, the few members belong- ing to the Methodist church living in the vicinity called a meeting for the purpose of organizing a class. Rev. T. J. Elkin had charge of the meeting, and a society numbering twenty members was duly organized and attached to the Sharpsville circuit. Under the Elkins pastorate, which occupied the

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time of two years, the church grew very rapidly and was soon increased to fifty members. The second pastor was Rev. Adam Curry, who preached three years. Then came Rev. Powell, who stayed two years. He was followed by Rev. Beall, who served one year. The next supply was Rev. Asbury Fish, who remained the same length of time. Next came Rev. Charles White.

Rev. Richard A. Newton was the pioneer preacher in Liberty township. In the fall of 1851 he preached at three different points, Sharpsville, Mc- Gee school house and at Uncle Cale Richardson's. A portion of what after- ward became the Hopewell class was organized by him at the McGee school house in 1851.

The Rock Prairie church, four miles southeast of Sharpsville, was or- ganized in 1852 by Elder Joy Randolph, with nine charter members. Elders Langman. G. W. Turner and W. H. Spurlin have been pastors of the church. A frame building was constructed at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, and dedicated in 1876 by Elder G. W. Baumgardner. The church, which is Sep- arate Baptist, has now seventy-five members, and is in charge of Rev. Omar McCoy.

OTHER DENOMINATIONS.

In the year 1854 a union church building was erected in the southeast corner of the township and named Pleasant Hill, after the old cemetery in the same locality. It was built by members of the different church societies and the citizens of the community, for general church and Sunday school pur- poses, being thrown open to all denominations alike. The house was of frame, and cost about six hundred dollars, although its real cash value would repre- sent more than that amount, as much of the labor and material was donated. It was used principally by the Methodists and Christians (New Lights).

An organization known as the New School, or Anti-Methodist, came into existence under the preaching of a certain James DeHority, near the year 1855. For some time the organization was a success, and DeHority attracted many of his congregation. The society was organized at the resi- dence of Philip Litzinger. This was sustained for four years, and was ad- ministered to at intervals by Revs. Ransom Smith, Jonathan Carey, Goff and DeHority. Many of the members afterward returned to the Methodist Epis- copal church, and the society of New Schoolers was abandoned.

Nash's Chapel, Friends church, was organized in 1876, with a member- ship of twenty-five. The first meeting was conducted by Rachel Middleton. who, with the assistance of George Wilsie, effected the organization. Meet- ings were at first held at the chapel, when, on account of some misunder-

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standing with the Methodists, the place of meeting was changed to private residences. Among the list of ministers have been Revs. Rachel Middleton, Lemuel Middleton, S. Tollert, James Newland and Aaron Cosand.

The introduction of religion into Prairie township is dated with the com- ing of the first settler, although no definite organizations were effected for several years later. In 1844 Elder Laomi Ashley, a minister of the "Chris- tian Connection," or New Light church, held public services at the residences of Alexander Suite and Vincent Garner, in the northwestern part of the township. These meetings were held at regular intervals for one year, at the end of which time an organization, under the title of Prairieville church, was consummated at Garner's residence, Elders Ashley and Samuel Poff officiating. Among the early members of this society were Alexander Suite, Peggy Garner, Thomas Scott, Silas Scott, Rachel Garner, Elisha Comer and wife and Nancy Orr. Elder Ashley was the initial pastor, in which capacity he served faithfully for several years. The second pastor was Lemuel Shoe- maker, after whom came Samuel Poff, Abraham Cole, Almon Cook, Adam Kellison, John Poff and Henry Puckett. Later there were Elders George Hubbard, Thomas Hubbard, George Boswell, Isaac Goldsberry, Mr. Van- ness, Johnson Dipvoy, John Puckett, John R. Kob, James Comer, James Winegardner and B. F. Jayne. The society met at the residences of the different members of the congregation for about two years, at the end of which time a log meeting house, twenty-four by twenty-four feet, was erected on land bought of Isaac Eads and William Chapman. This home served until 1853, when a frame building was erected near the same place. The latter home cost about six hundred dollars. The society used the frame house until 1877, when steps were taken to put up a better house. A build- ing committee, composed of Robert Orr, Gilbert Van Sickle, R. McReynolds, John Carter and Riley Suite, were appointed to draw up plans and specifica- tions for the new building and to solicit subscriptions. Work on a brick edifice was begun in 1877, but, owing to the lack of available funds, it was not completed until 1879. It was a large, commodious structure, two stories in height, thirty-seven by fifty feet in size, and cost approximately thirty-five hundred dollars.

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CHAPTER XIII.

AGRICULTURE.

The latest figures compiled by statisticians in regard to the county of Tipton give the total number of farms as 2,067, against 2,290 ten years ago. There are 2,031 native white farmers, and 36 foreign-born white. This num- ber of farms gives an approximate area of farm land as 166,400 acres. Ninety-eight and four-tenths per cent. of the land area is in farms. The average number of acres per farm is 79.2. The figures for the improved land in farms run just slightly lower, which proves that the farmer of Tip- ton county has land. equal to the best, in equipment, improvement and pro- ductiveness. All farm property in the county is valued at $23,637,361. In 1900 this amount was $10,913,568, showing 116.6 per cent. increase. The value of the land alone is now $18,649,185; the buildings, $2,571.565; im- plements and machinery, $417.339; domestic animals, $1,999.272; all of these figures being over 100 per cent. increase over those of 1900. The aver- age value of each farm in the county is $11,436.

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

There are 2,021 farms in the county keeping domestic animals. The value of these animals, taken together, is estimated at $1.906,047. There are 13,285 head of cattle, including dairy cows, yearling. heifers, calves, yearling steers and bulls and others, valued at $401.901. There are 9.270 horses. valued at $1.049.756. There are 235 mules, valued at $31,046. There are 60,851 head of swine, valued at $360.407. There are 12.827 sheep, including rams, ewes, wethers and spring lambs, valued at $62.097. There are 46 goats, worth $125.00. There are 154.038 fowls of all kinds, valued at $90.883. There are 636 colonies of bees. valued at $2.342.

CROPS.

The total value of all crops in Tipton county is $2.410,445. This in- cludes cereals, grains and seeds, hay and forage, vegetables, fruits and nuts. There are 90,881 acres in cereals, yielding 3.899.954 bushels. There are

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HARVEST SCENE IN TIPTON COUNTY.

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55,476 acres in corn, yielding 2,935,971 bushels. There are 19,844 acres in oats, yielding 669,068 bushels. There are 15,220 acres in wheat, with a yield of 289,274 bushels. Barley, 66 acres, 1,325 bushels. Buckwheat, 3 acres, 30 bushels. Rye, 272 acres, 4,286 bushels.

There is a total of 14,903 acres in hay and forage, making 23,625 tons. All tame and cultivated grasses is on 13,622 acres, or making 20,923 tons; timothy, 7,244 acres, 11,564 tons; clover, 2.972 acres, 4,044 tons; alfalfa, 37 acres, 64 tons; millet or Hungarian grass, 65 acres, 129 tons; wild, salt and prairie grass, 4 acres, 5 tons : grains cut green, 74 acres, 129 tons; coarse forage, 1,203 acres, 2.568 tons; potatoes, 790 acres, 83.936 bushels; maple trees, in lumber, 795, maple syrup made, 409 gallons.

There are 54,083 apple trees in the county, yielding 25,218 bushels; 15.968 peach trees, yielding 11,904 bushels; 9,206 pear trees, yielding 2,354 bushels ; 7,280 plum trees, yielding 1, III bushels; 13.145 cherry trees, yield- ing 8,076 bushels; 394 quince trees, yielding 121 bushels; 9,351 grape vines, yielding 202,582 pounds of fruit. In small fruits, such as strawberries, rasp- berries, blackberries, dewberries and loganberries, there are 7 acres, yield- ing 5,454 quarts of fruit.

A typical year's milk supply is 1.926,229 gallons. Butter, 394,261 pounds; eggs, 805,612 dozens; honey, 3,390 pounds.

There are 1,288 farms operated by owners; 767 operated by tenants, and 12 by managers. These figures are lower than those fifteen years ago, showing a startling decrease in the number of farms, productiveness and ownership.

AGRICULTURE AND CULTIVATION.

From the Indiana state geologist's report issued in 1914 the following is taken in regard to agriculture in Tipton county :

At the time of its settlement Tipton county, with the exception of a few swampy prairies, was covered with dense forests of oak, beech, maple, walnut, hickory, sycamore and tulip trees, with a dense undergrowth. The first attempts at clearing the forested areas for cultivation were made in the southern part of the county, where the natural drainage was better developed. With the exception of that used for domestic purposes the timber was burned.

Owing to the difficulty of hauling products over long and frequently impassable trails, practically no crops were grown for market. Corn, wheat, oats, rye, flax and potatoes were among the early crops grown in the area. Hay was cut from the open prairies. Wheat and corn were grown year after

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The advantage of seed selection is generally recognized, but the methods of selecting the seed can be improved. No attempt at corn breeding to im- prove the quality of the corn is made.

Check drills are generally used in planting the corn, so that it may be cultivated both ways. This frequently does away with the necessity of hoe- ing. In general, three to four, and sometimes five, cultivations are given to the crop. The cultivators used are chiefly of the riding type. The use of power corn cutters has also reduced the labor of harvesting. A large per cent. of the corn now grown is cut usually late in September for ensilage.

Oats has never been a paying crop commercially, but it fits in well with the customary rotation of crops and is especially valued for its straw. The average yields are about thirty-five to forty bushels per acre. The intro- duction of the cowpea and soy-bean will probably cause a decrease in the acreage of oats in the future, especially where used with corn for ensilage. Oats are sown with an end-gate attachment at the rate of two and a half to three bushels per acre.

The acreage devoted to wheat was originally restricted by the expense and difficulty of harvesting the crop. With the reap-hook or sickle a good hand could cut only one-half acre per day. The manual labor necessary in harvesting the crop has been reduced to a minimum by the introduction of the self-binder, and the acreage has been increased. The yields, however, have not increased proportionately. At present an average yield of fifteen to twenty bushels per acre is obtained instead of the thirty-five to forty bushels produced when the land was first cleared. Wheat is generally recognized a not particularly profitable, but as a nurse crop it is conceded to be better than oats, since the straw is lighter and shades the clover less.

The use of ground limestone will be equally beneficial to the wheat and clover. The lighter colored soils of the area are better suited to wheat. They also show a stronger reaction when tested for acidity. Wheat should be seeded in corn during the latter part of September, not later than the 10th of October. preferably after the corn is shocked. It is generally sown with 'a disk drill having a fertilizer attachment.

The production of hay shown in the 1910 census report was only about half that for 1880. Of the 4.165 tons produced in 1910 the clover yield was 4.044 tons. The acreage of timothy is being rapidly reduced as its soil-rob- bing properties become more generally known. Some of the leading farmers of the area have excluded it entirely from their rotations. The growing pop- ularity of the silo has also done much to reduce the acreage of timothy. The

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APPLE PACKING, JOHN D. SMITH ORCHARD.

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advantage of growing leguminous crops rather than such soil-depleting crops as timothy is becoming better understood.

The average yield of hay for the county is about one and a half tons to the acre, though as much as two and a half tons per acre are frequently obtained. The planting of cowpeas and oats for hay has been tried, but the results thus far have not been generally satisfactory. Hay makes a ranker growth on the black lands, but the quality is said to be better where it is grown upon the clay soils. Heavier yields are obtained from the latter soils where ground limestone is applied.

Stock raising and dairying are important industries in the county. The 1910 census shows an annual production of 1,607,230 gallons of milk and 321,096 pounds of butter from 3,389 cows. The milk is handled through creameries, located in towns along the railroads and traction lines. The milk and cream is collected by wagons sent out from the creameries. Jersey and Holstein milkers are the favorite cows. A large number of beef cattle is marketed annually.

Fruit culture was profitable up to about 1880. Since that time various diseases have affected both trees and fruit, so that the neglected orchards have become practically worthless. It has been demonstrated, however, that with proper care excellent fruit can be produced. The pear is probably most seriously affected at present. One or two large commercial orchards in the vicinity of Tipton have recently been partially destroyed by blight. The growing of fruit for domestic use is to be encouraged, but it is doubtful whether its commercial production would prove profitable in this county. The orchards should be small, in order that they may be given proper at- tention. In many cases adequate care is given to the orchards, but the spray- ing is not practiced at the proper time.

Most of the farmers in Tipton county follow some form of crop rota- tion, but in many cases without a definite purpose. The rotation should be so planned as to produce larger yields, to distribute the work more evenly throughout the year, to be more certain of a regular income than is possible with a one-crop system, to maintain. or rather increase, the productivity of the farm, and to reduce to a minimum the injury from weeds, insect pests and disease which frequently accompany the one-crop system. Hence in formulating a rotation it is necessary to take into account the income it will bring. the needs of the land, the requirements of the stock at hand. the effects of one crop upon another if followed in succession. and the profitable dis- tribution of labor. The three main classes of crops to be dealt with in plan-

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ning a rotation are small grain, hay and cultivated crops. Every successful rotation must include some legume to enrich the soil. Red clover is now used for this purpose throughout a greater part of the corn belt. This crop often fails to make a stand, and in this case a good practice is to disk or plow the land and plant in cowpeas or soy-beans. The planting of cowpeas or soy-beans in the corn at the time of the last cultivation, as a green manure or for pasture, is particularly recommended for the light thin land. Alfalfa sown at the rate of two to three pounds per acre with clover and timothy until the fields are thoroughly inoculated will enrich both the hay and the soil, and better yields of corn will be obtained. Alfalfa can be grown successfully in the county and should be grown more extensively. Wherever difficulty is en- countered in maintaining a stand of clover commercial fertilizers or lime should be applied. Commercial fertilizers if depended upon alone for in- creasing crop yields will injure rather than improve the soil, but if used judiciously in improving the yields of clover and other legumes from which the ultimate enrichment of the soil must come they will generally increase the profits of the farm. A good rotation, with proper utilization of all the farm manure, is required for success in farming.

In 1909 there were mortgages aggregating five hundred and ninety-eight thousand eight hundred and ten dollars held against the lands of Tipton county. These mortgages usually represent loans which were made to parties increasing their holdings of land. The price of land has increased rapidly within the past twenty years, and little if any land can now be bought in the county for less than one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars an acre.

Farm hands receive from twenty to twenty-five dollars a month, in ad- dition to board, lodging, washing and horse feed. Harvest hands and extra laborers receive from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars and fifty cents per day.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

The Tipton County Agricultural Society was first organized on August II, 1855, and on the first of September a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The first county fair was held on October 4th and 5th of the same year. Much care was taken, and no expense spared, in fitting up the grounds near the downtown depot with sheds, etc., in which to make the display. Rain seriously interfered with the plans, however, and when the opening day came the display was very small. There were no shows, races, and other things we now associate with a county fair; consequently, there was little

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interest taken. The society at this time numbered about seventy-five per- sons. Newton J. Jackson was president and John Green, secretary.

The second fair was even more of a failure than the first. Crops were a failure that year, and when the first day of the fair came there were less than fifteen people in attendance. The fair lasted two days and the total number of tickets sold was forty-seven. Subsequent to this dismal failure the fair organization dissolved.

Another company was organized in 1857, and they rented a piece of woods across the street from the home of Judge Green, where the high school building later stood. They gave a fair that year, which lasted three days, and, as usual, it rained every day. However, people came from every direction, and after all was over the directors discovered they had clear about one dollar above expenses.

The fourth and fifth fairs were little better than picnics. The people refused to pay admission, so the gates were thrown open and a round of hilarity begun.

In the year 1860 no attempt was made to hold a fair, although there .was an attempt at a celebration, aside from the jurisdiction of the fair authorities. Campaign spirit, and the threatening clouds of war, rendered impossible a successful fair.

In 1865 another company was organized and they secured ground across Cicero creek, near the railroad bridge, and the county donated two hundred dollars for the purpose of building a fence around it. The soldiers were coming home, there was more or less excitement all the time, and the people loved public gatherings. The exhibition was the largest held in the county up until that time, and gave indication that the farmers were paying more attention to fine stock and the best varieties of grain. The fair lasted three days and the crowds were large. On the second day it was estimated that three thousand people attended the exhibition. The receipts comfortably overtopped the expenditures, notwithstanding that it rained every day-an invariable fair accompaniment.

After several years the fair organization almost suffered a third death, but it was revived in time, in 1874. and became known as the Tipton County Joint-Stock Agricultural Society, quite a pretentious title. In 1874 much ex- pense was incurred in having the fair. Rain came every day. The Burr Robbins circus troupe was advertised to be in town on another day. The show came overland from Anderson, and on the morning of their arrival Col. Robert L. Porter met them four miles east of town. He made a con-

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tract with them to pitch their tents in the fair ground, and in the afternoon give an exhibition for the sum of four hundred dollars. They agreed to do it, but the Colonel didn't have a dollar. It looked like defeat, but he told them that he owned a jewelry store, expected to be a candidate for county office some day and was well acquainted with P. T. Barnum. That clinched the bargain and the show exhibited, and made money. In 1878, however, the Joint-Stock Company went to the wall.

In 1879 an entirely new organization, called the Tipton County Fair Company, was organized. This proved to be the most stable of all, and fairs were given regularly until 1893, when the fair association went out of ex- istence. The Columbian world's exposition held at Chicago in 1893 was so big. that county fairs became very insignificant. All interest in them was lost. No attempts at agricultural fairs have since been made, the state fair at Indianapolis, and such other exhibitions as at St. Louis, detracting interest in local effort. However, in 1910-12-13 free stock shows were held in the streets of the city, showing that interest in farm exhibits has not altogether died out. The free stock show has become a permanent fixture and the ex- hibits equal that of the average county fair. Business, live stock and indus- trial parades are a special feature of these shows and thousands of people attend them.

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CHAPTER XIV.

JOURNALISM IN TIPTON COUNTY.

In 1855 Drs. Rooker and A. M. Vickrey, of Tipton, bought an old- fashioned Franklin press and a small quantity of type and other printing materials of Mr. Chapman, of Indianapolis, and began issuing a small six- column folio newspaper of Democratic proclivities, called the Tipton County Democrat. The material was purchased on credit, and the first printer was James Mahaffie, who, a year or so later, was succeeded by Archibald Ramsay, father of A. W. Ramsay of the Tipton Tribune. Ramsay was one of the most valuable journalists in the history of the county; he was a man of in- credible energy and his devoted labors to the county press were in a large measure responsible for its success. The able Doctor Rooker was editor for the period of one year, when he retired permanently, leaving his portion of the indebtedness to be shouldered by his partner.

In 1857 the name of the paper was changed to the Western Dominion. The ownership remained with Doctor Vickrey, although O. P. Baird was the editor. It has been stated that Baird bought the establishment, but being un- able to pay for it, the paper reverted to the hands of Vickrey.

THE TIMES.

In 1858 the paper was again sold to G. W. Fisher, and the new owner changed the name again, this time to the Tipton County Times, and began issuing the sheet with John Chambers as principal editor and A. Clark as local editor. Ten of the foremost Democrats owned the paper, among whom were John Chambers, William Stivers, A. J. Redmon, Hugh Dickey, J. V. Cox, A. Clark, Barnibus Geltner and A. M. Vickrey. The office at this time was valued at four hundred dollars. In 1860 interest in the enterprise became lax, and the publication was suspended for six months.

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History of Tipton County Indiana, Part 20

Author: M. W. Pershing Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Number of Pages: 701

Author: M. W. Pershing
Publication date: 1914
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 701