USA > Indiana > Wabash County > History of Wabash County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 17
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
"These are the names of a few of the men whose careers alike hon- ored themselves and the city. They had their faults, 'even as you and 1,' but you may turn back the world on its axle of flame and you will not find a better citizenship. A sturdy, steady and cheerful generation worthy of our homage and remembrance, they met and overcame the obstacles of strenuous years with magnificent courage and fortitude.
THE OLD TOWN OF WABASHI
"Do you remember the Old Town-the court house that burned down in April, 1870; the old Methodist Church, where the conference was held presided over by the famous Bishop Simpson; the Union Hall where publie meetings were held, where we had home entertainments and danced to the music of Hull & Arnold's orchestra, of Constantine, Michigan ? Do you recollect the streets from the hill to the business district-recol-
144
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
leet that Wabash Street was so steep where the Ross block now stands that the sidewalk enabled you to see into the second story of the Old Center House ? Remember the dock space where Bradley Brothers are now located, where the boats tied up for unloading and where Deacon Whiteside once stopped a fight and picking up both combatants threw them bodily into the canal ? Remember the volunteer fire company, with the old hand engine that did such effective work at the fires and won so many prizes at the tournaments? Remember the old City Band that attracted fully as much attention on account of the respectability of its membership as it did because of its music, although most of us stand ready today to declare it the peer of Sousa's or any other band organiza- tion that ever came down the pike following a drum major? If you remember these early days you haven't forgotten the two Presbyterian churches (afterward united in one congregation and now so many years under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Little ), the Old School and the New, the pastors of which were Rev. Browne and Rev. Essick. Nor the girls who sang in their chorus-
".And where Coronation exaltingly flows
" 'Tried to reach the high notes on the tips of their toes.
"'Ah, the sweet human psalms of the old-fashioned choir
".The Girl that sang alto, the Girl that sang air!' "
JUDGE JOHN COMSTOCK
In some respects the personality of Hon. John Comstock, originally identified with the development of Liberty Mills, was one of the broadest and strongest of any which has conserved the well-being of Wabash County. We therefore here take the occasion to dwell upon it in detail. the main facts of the narrative which draw pictures of so many early phases of pioneer life in the Wabash Valley being taken from the "Ilis- tory of Wabash County" published in 1884, to which we are much indebted for other information concerning these times.
THE FATHER
The European origin of the Comstock family was Austrian. In the United States various members planted themselves as stanch New Eng- landers, and the special branch from which JJohn Comstock budded was early rooted in Rhode Island. He was born in that state, at Greenwich, February 21, 1802. His father, also John, served in the Rhode Island Legislature, and was evidently a man of consequence in the little state. When John, Jr., was two years of age the family moved to Dutchess
-
11 ... 1
145
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
County, N. Y., where the father invested heavily in a cotton factory. Hle was ruined by the rascality of partners, his wife died and his large family of children was scattered. The three younger sons were bound out to service, but John, Jr., ran away from his master and located in the town of Lockport, New York.
INTENSITY, A YOUTHFUL TRAIT
The youth was now sixteen, weighed 160 pounds and was eager to pit himself against the world. His legal freedom having been obtained, he chopped wood, did chores around the farm, milked the cow, ate frozen lunches, went around thinly clad, fiercely economized, and, while he saved money, nearly ruined his health. Then he commenced to fight for an education with the same dogged persistency. He returned to Dutchess County and, while attending school as a preparatory step toward teach- ing, acted as an all-around man for one Deacon Whiting. Having mas- tered the common branches, he attended a high school at some distance from home. But incessant study, coupled with intense physical work, brought him low-almost to the status of an invalid in body and mind. But his vitality was naturally so great that he finally recovered suffi- ciently to venture upon a Western trip.
In the fall of 1822 John Comstock started afoot from Lockport, New York, and when he reached Bristol, Ohio, had three shillings in his pocket. This capital he laid out in the purchase of a penknife and other essentials for teaching school, and was at once employed at a salary of $8 per month and "board 'round." He taught in that vicinity until 1828, having married two years before.
BECOMES A LAND OWNER
But John Comstock was an instinetive landsman, and in the winter of 1525-26 bought a quarter section of land adjoining the one on which stood the schoolhouse wherein he taught. Erecting a cabin, he next commenced to clear his land. HIe chopped away morning, noon and night, when not teaching, married his wife on New Year's Day of 1826, raised a good crop of potatoes, bought more land, and so on. In the spring of 1831. in company with his brother William, he opened a store at Bristol, and from that time on, his career was outside the walls of a schoolhouse.
STARTS FOR WABASH COUNTY
In 1835, with his brother-in-law, John Newhouse, Judge Comstock attended the land sales at Fort Wayne, when, aside from other tracts Vol 1-10
146
HISTORY OF WABASII COUNTY
at less figures, he bought the fractional eighty acres just west of the site of Liberty Mills, paying for the same, "in the green woods," $10 per acre. Next, with the enthusiastic cooperation of his wife, he sold all his Ohio properties and in the spring of 1836 loaded his big wagon with household goods. To this he hitched two yoke of oxen. His faithful young mare, Kate, he hitched to a single covered wagon, into which he loaded his wife and six children. Mrs. Comstock, with a six- month babe in her arms, drove the family rig, while the future judge managed the big wagon and the oxen. A hired man was also of the party ; he drove the six cows, and did such work as clearing out roads, lift- ing the vehicles out of the mud, foraging for fuel, and other eamp duties.
BUILDING OF A PIONEER'S CABIN
Twenty-seven days were consumed on the trip, as the party was only able to make four or five miles per day while passing across the Black Swamp. They reached the west bank of Eel River on June 26, 1836, but upon their arrival were disappointed to find that the house Mr. Comstock had expected to occupy was located upon the land of another and al- ready occupied. Thereupon he pitched his tent beside an unfinished cabin already eight logs in height, and, with the help of four men, soon shaped it to accommodate the family. They threw brush over one corner for covering and chimney. A portion of the floor was laid with puncheons. Bedsteads or bunks were fixed in the corners of the room. For the inner post to each, a stout sapling was driven into a large hole made in the floor, while in lieu of the other posts holes were bored into the logs of the wall, poles being used for bed and side rails. For a window an aperture was made through the logs at the side, and a blanket was hung for the door. Fire was then kindled upon the ground in the corner beneath the brush opening, and the family moved in. A patch of.potatoes was next planted, which yielded a heavy erop in the fall.
NOT AN INDIAN SCARE ON THE WOMAN
In August of the same year, while Mr. Comstock was two miles distant from home making marsh hay, some drunken Indians of the Pottawatomie tribe, in war-paint and heads decorated with feathers, eame galloping along on their ponies, causing the woods to ring with their savage yells. Indian Bill, of this party, stopped at the cabin, dismounted and entered, when casting around and seeing some bottles of medicine upon a shelf, he demanded of Mrs. Comstock some "goodentosh." Being refused, he drew his knife and brandished his tomahawk over her head, swearing
-
147
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
he would kill her if she did not give him "goodentosh." Then she coolly told him that unless he behaved she would call "white man," and went to the door calling loudly for John. This had the desired effect, for although John was two miles distant Indian Bill mounted his pony and was soon lost in the woods. These Indians were on their way to the burial of one of their tribe who had been killed in an affray about two and a half miles northeast of Liberty Mills while they were returning from an annuity payment at Fort Wayne.
ENTERS THE LIVE STOCK BUSINESS
The following year (1837) Mr. Comstock erected a double-hewed log cabin, with porch between, the north end being used as a store room. During the same year he bought the forty acres of Mr. MeBride, a portion of which he laid off into town lots. Then came his venture into the live stock business.
HIe first bought a drove of hogs which he sold to "neighbors" rang- ing as far away as thirty miles; the second drove he sold in Michigan ('ity. This was all in 1837. In the following year he and his nephew, Christopher Watkins, bought and drove out a herd of cows and heifers, and after supplying his neighbors found a market for the balance at Michigan City.
EARLIEST INDUSTRIAL CENTER
Mr. Comstock built his first saw mill in the winter of 1837-38, but it had hardly been completed before it was burned to the ground. But it was quickly rebuilt and in the following winter he erected a grist mill. Ilis tannery, under the supervision of a Mr. Collins, was put in opera- tion in 1839, and in that year he also moved his store into town. In the spring of 1841 he started his carding machine, or woolen mill, its location being about five rods below the present river bridge. In the fall of the same year he erected a distillery. Quantities of corn and rye were used in this factory, and a large number of cattle and hogs were fattened from the slops.
About this time Mr. Comstock brought from the East a large floek of sheep, but the wolves were so plentiful he was obliged to watch them day and night, although enclosed in a yard protected by a twelve-foot picket fence. As he found the project on a large scale unprofitable, he sold out his flock.
The tanning business proved so profitable that in 1844 Mr. Comstoek enlarged his plant to sixty vats and took one of his brothers (Ichabod)
-
148
IIISTORY OF WABASHI COUNTY
into the business. In 1849-50 he built his new grist mill of four run of buhrs. Ile then moved his carding machine into his old mill building, to which he added another carding machine, as well as one for dressing and fulling eloth, and this was continued in successful operation until destroyed by fire in 1866.
PROMOTER OF PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
In the opening and construction of public highways, Mr. Comstoek was always foremost. Requiring himself a large amount of transporta- tion, he repeatedly tried to organize a joint-stock plank road company to connect La Gro with Liberty Mills, the same to fork four and a quarter miles south of the last named place and run to North Manchester. But in this he failed for want of co-operation. Ile then made a proposition to the leading citizens of Huntington looking to the building of a plank road from that town to Liberty Mills. This proposition being ac- cepted in 1851, the road was completed in 1854. At that time, La Gro was handling more grain than either Wabash or Huntington. In 1852 he held the position of vice president of the Eel River Valley Railroad, but withdrew from all connection with the enterprise and publicly ex- posed the corruption practiced by some of its managers. Nearly twenty years later (1871) he became a director of the latter enterprise, which was completed.
SUCCESSFUL PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY
In 1851 there existed an organization of horse thieves, burglars and counterfeiters, extending from Ohio across Northern Indiana into the Mormon district of Illinois. Members of this gang plotted at various times to intereept Mr. Comstock, William Thorne and other prosperous business men who traveled lonely routes with large sums of money on their persons. Although Mr. Comstock escaped personal molestation, his store was finally robbed of $1,000 worth of goods, and he and his friends and relatives decided to act. Their first step was to organize a private detective service, the members of which were Mr. Comstock, William and Isaac Thorne, John J. Shaubert (Mr. Comstock's son-in- law) and his three sons, Thomas, Henry and William Shaubert. In less than one year this self-constituted detective committee learned the names of more than two hundred of that band of evildoers, several of whom were well known characters living in this vicinity. In a short time the Wabash County force sent to state's prison a neighbor's son for breaking into Mr. Comstock's store, a professed minister who planned
-
1
1
149
IHISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
the burglary, two horsethieves and a counterfeiter. Two other noted characters barely escaped prison walls-the one by forfeiting his bond, the other by a fatal accident just before the time set for his trial. After a few other arrests had been made, quite a number of men of former good repute in the community settled their affairs and left hurriedly for parts unknown. The Comstock-Thorne-Shaubert Detective Agency was a great success.
DISPOSING OF ILIS PROPERTY
At one time Judge Comstock (as he was usually known) was the owner of more than 1,600 acres of land, but sold from time to time until only 600 of it remained. In July, 1869, he sold his mills and water-power privileges to C. T. Banks & Company, giving thereafter increased attention to his live stock interests.
POLITICAL AND PUBLIC LIFE
In politics a whig, up to the organization of the republican party, he was ever earnest and active in support of the party of his choice, and transferred his faithful allegiance to the latter body. In politics, as in all other affairs in which he participated, Judge Comstock's natural leadership came promptly to the surface. In April, 1834, while residing in Wayne County, Ohio, he was elected a justice of the peace in a township which was largely democratic. This position he resigned at leaving the state, and for several years after coming to Indiana served as postmaster. In June, 1846, he was appointed commissioner for the Northern District of Wabash County to fill out the unexpired term of William Johnson. In the fall of that year he was elected probate judge, serving thus until the office was abolished in August, 1852, thus acquiring the legitimate title of judge.
In 1858-59 Jndge Comstock served his county as representative in the state legislature. During the dark earlier days of the Civil war he gave evidence of his loyalty in many ways, being among those well-to- do patriots who turned over to the Government, at the solicitation of Oliver P. Morton, the war governor, all his available private fortune in support of the Union, in order to add to the fund necessary to carry on the state government and to arm and equip its soldiers for the field. At that stage of the war, there was no assurance that any money loaned to state or nation would ever be returned, as the results of the conflict were extremely doubtful.
150
.
HISTORY OF WABASHI COUNTY
PIONEER IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF CATTLE
Judge Comstock was a pioneer in agricultural matters in Wabash County, and did more than any other man to improve its stock of fine cattle. He was one of the organizers of the Wabash County Fair, fill- ing for several years the office of director, and from its first session in 1852-then located between the Wabash River and the eanal-he largely patronized this institution by exhibitions of his fine stock. About 1843 he bought of Jacob Stevens, living four miles north of Liberty Mills, five head of thoroughbred short-horns. But they proved frail, short-lived ereatures and for a time disappointed his hopes of improving his herd. The summer of 1854 was very dry, cutting short the pastur- age, when he drove 120 head of native steers to Toledo, thence shipping them by rail to New York City. Ile there sold them at $27 per head, paying out of that sum a commission of $2 per head for selling. He said : "I could have stood this better, had I not seen a Dutchman in one corner of the stoek-yard surrounded by Jews, who were trying to buy his old barren short-horn eow for less than $90, which they finally paid him." This was one of the first steps in the establishment of the meat trade of the "West," which for a generation has been planted in the Mississippi Valley, instead of in the Valley of the Wabash.
Soon after his return from the East, Judge Comstock bought a number of short-horns in the southern part of Indiana, and a cow each from Hon. James D. Conner of Wabash and Judge Stuart of Logansport. He afterward added to his stock from such herds as those of Jerry Duncan, J. A. Goff, Van Meter, George W. Bedford and William War- field, of Kentucky; Ira S. Adams, of New York, and M. H. Coehran, of Compton, Canada. He not only aided the people of his own county and state in the improvement of their stock, but helped to enrich the blood of many herds throughout the Union. In time he became one of the leading dealers of fine eattle in the country, and his annual sales were largely attended by buyers of blooded cattle from all seetions of the United States.
A POPULAR FRIEND IN NEED
By reason of his large and varied interests, Judge Comstock was compelled to employ a large number of laborers. From about 1840 to 1860 (especially up to 1850) many farmers cach fall come in to husk eorn and do other work by which to obtain winter outfits for them- selves and families. To Judge Comstock this elass never applied in vain. Indeed, the needy of both town and country, when desiring work from
151
HISTORY OF WABASHI COUNTY
him at any season of the year, were given employment at fair cash wages. No one has probably ever lived in the county who has been helpful to so many of its people in so many ways as Judge Comstock. When the energetic, helpful, kindly and generous citizen was therefore first stricken with paralysis, in the spring of 1879, it seemed like an impending misfortune which would overshadow hundreds of homes. It was inconceivable that any one could take his place, either as a guarantor of the necessities of life or as a good and trusty friend.
JUDGE COMSTOCK'S DEATHI
Judge Comstock rallied from the slight paralytic stroke of the spring and seemed to enjoy better health during the coming summer than for several previous years. But on the morning of September 30, 1879, he complained of a pain in his shoulder, at the same time objecting to the application of any liniment, fearing that the trouble might be there- by driven to his heart. Finally, however, he allowed it to be applied, was quite cheerful during the day, walked out among his stock, read his Bible and talked freely with his daughter Anna who was then visiting him. At 4 o'clock, while sitting in his old arm chair conversing, his premonition of the morning was verified and the pains of the earlier day clutched his heart. In a moment he was unconscious, and he ex- pired while being borne to a settee in the arms of his daughter Sarah and his grandson, Harry Comstock. On the 3d of October his hon- ored remains were laid in Greenwood Cemetery-a beautiful plat of ground taken from his own estate west of Liberty Mills-his wife lying upon one side and his son John on the other.
There were seven children in the Comstock family. Three of the four sons died before their father, two of them having entered the min- istry. The mother died about a year before her husband, on August 18, 1878.
-
CHAPTER X
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
ORIGINAL ('REATIVE ACT-BOUNDARIES CORRECTED-LEGISLATIVE ATTACHI- MENT-GIVEN INDEPENDENT CIVIL BODY-FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS- ESTABLISHING THE SENT OF JUSTICE-PROPOSITION FROM COLONELS BURR AND HANNA-FIRST MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD-WABASHI, THE COUNTY SEAT-LA GRO AND NOBLE TOWNSHIPS FORMED-THIE OLD COURT HOUSE-HISTORIC LINCOLN CALENDAR-COURT HOUSE OF TODAY-THE OLD COUNTY JAIL-PRESENT JAIL AND SHERIFF'S RESI- DENCE-EARLY CARE OF THE POOR-PRESENT SUPPORT OF THE POOR- CREATION OF THE TOWNSHIPS-COUNTY CLERKS-TREASURERS-AUDI- TORS-SHERIFFS-SURVEYORS-RECORDERS-CORONERS ( FOR THE PAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS)-BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-PRESENT COUNTY OFFICERS.
The treaties with the Pottawatomies and Miamis signed October 16 and 23, 1826, indicated the willingness of the Indians who still claimed land in Wabash County to make way for the civil order of the whites, and, within a few years thereafter this willingness had developed into eagerness. The red man was doomed to be displaced by the stronger race and he longed to leave behind him all his humiliations, although his migration to the far western wilds carried with it the grief of part- ing from his old-time haunts along the beantiful valley of the Wabash and its tributary streams. By the early '30s, although all the Indian titles had not been cleared, the end was so plain that civil government approached Wabash County and the white settlers continually increased in number, with or without titles to the land upon which they located.
ORIGINAL CREATIVE ACT
The father of the political body known as Wabash County was the legislative act approved February 2, 1832, "Establishing the counties of Huntington, Wabash and Miami." The provision which most closely concerns us is Section 2, as follows: "That all that district of country
152
-
1981
-
153
IHISTORY OF WABASHI COUNTY
included in the following boundaries shall form and constitute a new county to be known hereafter by the name of the county of Wabash, to-wit : Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 5, in Township 26 north. in Range & east, on the northern boundary of Grant County; thence west sixteen miles; thenve north twenty-four miles with the west- ern boundary of Huntington County; thence east with the township line to the northeast corner of Section 5, in Township 29 north; thence south twenty-four miles to the place of beginning." The territory forming Wabash and Miami counties was taken from Huntington, to which county they remained attached for legislative and judicial pur- poses.
BOUNDARIES CORRECTED
Shortly after the passage of the act, the Indiana legislators found that the boundaries of the new counties had been so indefinitely defined that another measure had to be passed correcting the defeet. So on Jan- uary 30, 1833, they tried again. So far as Wabash County is concerned the second and final act read as follows: "Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the boundaries of the county of Wabash be and they are hereby changed and established as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 5 in Township 25 north, in Range 8 east, on the northern boundary of the county of Grant, being the southwest corner of Huntington County, run- ning thence west sixteen miles; thence north twenty-four miles; thence east with the township line between Townships 29 and 30 north sixteen miles, to the northwest corner of Huntington County; thence south twenty-four miles with the western boundary of said county to the place of beginning."
LEGISLATIVE ATTACHMENT
Several weeks before the boundaries had been thus corrected-Janu- ary 7, 1833-Wabash County was attached to the Eighth Judicial Cir- cuit, and by an act approved on the following day became a part of the Sixth Congressional District. The latter included the counties of Bartholomew, Johnson, Shelby, Hancock, Hamilton, Marion, Morgan, Boone, Hendricks, Monroe, Madison, Cass, Miami and Wabash. By the act of January 2, 1834, for senatorial purposes Wabash County was attached to the district composed of the counties of Allen, Huntington,
Elkhart, La Grange, St. Joseph and La Porte.
1
154
HISTORY OF WABASHI COUNTY
GIVEN INDEPENDENT CIVIL BODY
Up to this time, Wabash County had only a paper body; was only a theoretical county. In order to give it real form, it must have an inde- pendent civil body, and that was provided for by the legislative act which was approved January 22, 1835, and which read as follows:
"Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the 1st day of March next the county of Wabash shall enjoy all the rights and jurisdiction which to separate and independent counties do or may properly belong.
"Section 2. That Giles Smith of Grant County, Daniel Worth of Randolph County, Jesse Carter of Clinton County, Bartholomew Apple- gate of Johnson County, and Thomas Watson of Tippecanoe County, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of fix- ing the permanent seat of justice of the said county of Wabash, agree- ably to the provisions of 'an act to establish the seats of justice in the new counties,' approved January 24, 1824. The commissioners above named, or a majority of them, shall convene at the house of David Burr, in said county, on the third day of May next, or so soon thereafter as a majority of them shall agree upon.
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.