USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 38
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Oliver P. Koontz instituted Lodge No. 462, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; on August 18, 1875, which a few years after- wards was discontinued.
Churubusco Tent, No. 113, Knights of the Maccabees of the World, was instituted April 12, 1895, with Francis M. Richards sir knight commander ; William A. Devault, sir knight record keeper.
The present officers are Lawrence A. Boggs, sir knight commander, and William A. Devault, sir knight record keeper. The lodge is now the owner of its equipments.
LADIES OF THE MACCABEES OF THE WORLD.
Churubusco Hive, No. 113, organized 19, 1900, by Sarah Eliot, with forty-six charter members, with Ettie R. Diller, post commander; Emma Pressler, lady commander; Myrtle Douglass, lieuten- ant commander; Caroline Rich, record keeper; Sarah A. Smith, finance keeper; Almira J. Smith, chaplain; Madge Slagle, sergeant : Mildred R. Weaver, mistress of arms; Effie K. Diller, sentinel; Ada Hull,
picket. The present officers of this lodge are Amanda Hemmick, lady commander ; Katie Ort, record keeper; finance keeper, Emma Pressler; chaplain, Katie Geiger, with nine members.
Oliver P. Koontz instituted Lodge No. 462, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, on August 18. 1875, which a few years after- wards was discontinued.
Charles G. Archele, of Kendallville, in- stituted a Knights of Honor Lodge, No. 2,109, on March II, 1880, which has also discontinued.
Churubusco Tent, No. 113. Knights of the Maccabees of the World, was instituted April 12, 1895, with Francis M. Richards sir knight commander; William A. Devault, sir knight record keeper. The present offi- cers are Lawrence A. Boggs, sir knight com- mander, and William A. Devault, sir knight record keeper.
Zion Temple, No. 177, of Pythian Sis- ters was organized October 5. 1898, with twenty-nine charter members under the fol- lowing officers: Most excellent chief. Mina Nicky; excellent senior, Carrie Leiter; ex- cellent junior, Mary Devault : manager of temple, Jennie Rhodes; mistress of records and correspondence. Nettie Keichler; mis- tress of finance, Katy Ort; protector of temple, Allie Wyatt; guard of outer temple. Nora Smith: past chief, Rose Grisamer. Present membership, sixty-one, with the fol- lowing officers: Past chief, Rose Grisamer; most excellent chief, Etta Ort: excellent senior, Margerite Coulter; excellent junior, Allie Reed; manager of temple, Nettie Keichler; mistress of records and corre- spondence, Annie Geiger : mistress of finance. Maggie Loudy; protector of
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temple, Delpha Richey; guard of outer temple. Lettie Greenwalt.
On April 20. 1893. Ephraim K. Strong. special deputy, assisted by the Columbia City Lodge, organized a lodge of Eastern Stars with thirteen charter members, with the fol- lowing officers: Sarah Morrison, W. M .: Leopold Isay. W. P .: Katie Geiger, associ- ate matron : W. A. Geiger, treasurer: Mrs. J. A. Pressler, conductress; Eva Jolmis, as- sociate conductress ; Myrtle Kent. Adah : Maggie Loudy. Ruth: Tilly Isay. Esther ; Amanda Hemmick, Martha: Rachael Ar- thur. Electa: Ellen B. Baker, warden : Charles Erickson, tyler.
Present officers of the Order of the East- ern Star: Worthy matron, Tillie Isay : worthy patron, V. A. Compton ; assistant matron, Emma Pressler; secretary, Hettie Gandy: treasurer, Viola Welsimer; con- ductress, Edna Cline; associate conductress, Ocie Hall; chaplain, Jennie Orndorf: mar- shall, Emma Stites; organist. Ottie Smith ; Adah. Veru Potter; Ruth, Jessie Sordlet : Esther. Georgie Geiseking: Martha. Mary Devault ; Electa. Julia Krider: warden, Susan Long.
Simonson Post, No. 151, Churubusco, Indiana, was organized March 2, 1. D. 1883. Charter members: W. R. Anderson. William Brubaker, Isaac Claxton. E. E. Cutter. A. T. Esterbrook, John M. Fowler. Edward Geiger. David Glor, H. A. Grim, George Gaff. Nathan Gray, D. C. Green, Joseph Hood. Joseph Hosack. George Han- nan. M. G. Heffelfinger, Wesley Johnson. G. H. Johnston, C. H. Kreston, Samuel Kissinger, A. K. Krewson, Ira Kinney, G.
W. Krider, F. P. Loudy. L. A. Millier. W. C. Moor, Amos Miller, Charles Rapp, George W. Stites. William Sible, A. D. Skidgel, Frank Stamets, Abraham Weaver. William Watson. Jonathan White. I. Wine- brenner.
MODERN WOODMEN.
Chapter 8026, Churubusco Camp of Modern Woodmen of America. was organ- ized April 25, 1900, by Deputy W. W. Ren- ley, with thirteen charter members with the following officers: Consul, E. J. Smith : adviser, S. E. Briggs; banker. J. L. Long : clerk, J. W. Leiter; escort, H. A. Cutter ; watchman, Jess Greenwalt; sentry, Elijah Kissinger: managers-C. I. Bechthol, Ed Miller, F. E. Long. The present membet- ship is fifty-six and the following named officers: Consul. Albert Jackson : adviser. Logan Killworth; banker, O. B. Clase; clerk. William H. Hawk: escort. Arlo Hawk: watchman, Harry Scarlet : sentry. Edward Ramsey: physician, Jesse Briggs : managers. E. C. Jackson, Charles Harter, E. Bridegan. Through the efforts of William A. Devault the, present postmaster, Rural Free Delivery route No. I was estab- lished on November 1. 1900, with Alfred Geiger carrier : No. 2 route on February I. 1904. Walter T. Raypole carrier and Har- vey Raypole substitute: No. 3 route, Feb- ruary I, 1904, Edward T. Vorhees carrier and Lewis D. Strong substitute: No. 4. es- tablished October 1, 1904. Chancy Bear carrier and Alfred Bear substitute. The present salary is $720.
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CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP.
BY S. P. KLER.
By reference to the general chapter on organization in this history our readers will get much detail information, which to give here would only be a repetition. Cleveland township was organized and named in 1836, more than a year before the organization of the county. The county was organized in . May, 1838. A year before this, or, to be ex- act. May 1, 1837, Joseph Parrett caused to be surveyed and platted forty-two lots on Eel river, and called the town Springfield.
Before this time, to-wit, on the 25th day of February. 1837, a postoffice was es- tablished in the locality. In view of the coming town which it was understood should be christened Springfield, that name was asked for the postoffice when the appli- cation was made, but there being another Springfield in Indiana at the time, the au- thorities named the office Whitley, as it was the only place in all the new and unorgan- ized Whitley county that made any preten- tions to being a village. All other present towns in the county were a dense forest. Anything approaching to the dignity of a town was considered . synonymous with Whitley county. This action of the depart- ment did not deter Joseph Parrett, Jr., from naming his town Springfield, and we thus have the origin of the two names that have caused so much confusion. On the estab- lishing of a postoffice at the new county seat a little later it was called Whitley Court House, and Whitley postoffice was changed to South Whitley on the same date, and this caused still more confusion.
Though Springfield was surveyed and platted May 1, 1837, the plat was not ac- knowledged and recorded until January 9. 1840, but in the meantime he began selling lots. It might have been recorded in Hunt- ington county, but the proprietor wanted to patronize home institutions and wait to have it recorded in the new county when organ- ized, and even when that was done held it from the record nearly two years. In this later day of abstracts and perfect titles peo- ple would hardly want to take deed for a town lot of a town without an existence except a plat on paper the proprietor carried around in his pocket or kept in the family Bible. the only book in his cabin.
However, on July 8, 1837. Parrett sold to Richard C. Meek inlot number two for sixteen dollars, and this was the only con- veyance prior to the county organization, but there were three other conveyances be- fore. the plat was recorded. On May 16. 1838, a week after the county organization, lot twenty-six was sold to Daniel Lesley for fourteen dollars, and on April 10, 1839, Samuel Obenchain bought lots four, twenty- eight. twenty-nine and thirty for seventy- four dollars and twenty-five cents, and on May 25. 1839, Solomon Stiver bought lot twenty-seven for twenty-five dollars and twenty-five cents. From this early and small beginning Springfield has grown to be a fine town with two railroads, and has held its place as first in the county, outside of the county seat. Twenty additions to the original plat have been made from time to
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time, though some of these have been only the platting of larger outlots or subdivisions.
On the 9th day of February, 1846, Smith Rambo procured the services of George Ar- nold and surveyed and platted the town of Millersburgh, and on the 23d day of March following acknowledged and caused the plat to be recorded.
September 8, 1849, a postoffice was es- tablished. The name asked for was Millers- burgh, but as there was already a town and postoffice by the name in Elkhart county, the authorities named it Collamer, in honor of Jacob Collamer, then postmaster-general, and it is now known as Collamer. There were ten lots surveyed. Lot one was three by eight poles, lot ten was ten poles on the north line and bent around river. The other lots were four by eight poles. The first lots were sold on February 6, 1847. On that day Rambo sold four lots or parts : To Christian Harter, lot one and a rod off the south side of lot two for sixteen dollars and ninety-six cents, and to John W. Not- tingham, lot seven for fourteen dollars, and lot six for eleven dollars and sixty-six cents. The next sale was November 25, 1847, lots four and five to Ellis Miller for twenty-five dollars and fifty cents. Ellis Miller had built the dam across the river in the sum- mer of 1845 and sometime in the winter of 1845 and 1846 began to grind corn and shortly after wheat and other small grain. The mill and dam remain, the only water- power left in the whole county, the South Whitley dam having gone out on the dredg- ing of Eel river a few years ago. Millers- burgh, or Collamer, though having the only water-power mill in the county and having the Vandalia Railroad, and being in as fine
country as the world affords, has made no headway and is no better town than a half century ago. The railroad station has been abandoned and it has been hinted that the postoffice will soon yield up the ghost before the march of rural delivery.
The place has two churches, the Chris- tian and Church of God, and a few years ago an attempt was made to erect a Univer- salist house of worship, but on the theory of being saved anyhow, enough force could not be generated to get even a foundation.
While the first town and postoffice in the county were at South Whitley, and Cleve- land township was the first organized, there were two or three, perhaps more, settlers in Smith township prior to the Eel river settlement. It is impossible to ascertain who was the very first settler or to determine the priority of several of the first ones. James Chaplin lived on section 7 in 1835 and blazed a trail or road from his farm to intersect the Squawbuck trail in Richland township. This was the highway to Oswego and Turkey Prairie. It is most likely that the Clevelands, Parretts, Samuel Obenchain and John Collins were all settlers before Jan- uary 1, 1836. Joseph Creager soon fol- lowed. Creager and Joseph Parrett settled on land now covered by South Whitley. The Goshen and Huntington road was the only established road in that part of the county at the time of organization. The only other in the county was the Fort Wayne and Go- shen road in the northeast part of the county, though there were several applica- tions pending at the time of organization. proceedings began in Huntington county and concluded in Whitley. Soon after the establishment of the county seat a road was
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blazed through, practically what is today called the "North. Whitley and Columbia road." It was blazed almost through in 1839 and finished early in 1840. Soon after the river road was opened up to what is now Collamer, Liberty Mills and North Man - chester.
There were no Indian habitations or vil- lages about South Whitley when the set- tlers came, the villages were south and in Huntington county and in Columbia town- ship. They gave some trouble as beggars, but the settlers forgave this propensity so much different from what they had expected of savages.
Henry Parrett's remains were deposited in what is now the South Whitley cemetery in 1845, August 21st. It was used as a pri- vate family burying place for some time and gave no more prospect of becoming the beau- tiful city of the dead it now is than several other places now obliterated. Some time in the same year Benjamin Cleveland was buried in section II, what has since been known as the Cleveland cemetery. We omit reference to the burial of that old set- tler on John Edwards' lot in South Whitley, as it is fully detailed elsewhere in this book. The old cemetery adjoining the South Whit- ley cemetery to the west was also started as a family burying place in that same year- 1845. John Collins' body was the first de- posited therein.
It is settled that the first death in the township was Roxina Chaplin, September 18, 1836. She was buried on her father's farm on section 7. The first birth was also in this same family-Byron Chaplin-born April 14, 1836.
When the postoffice was established
February 25, 1837, Henry Parrett had a little store on the west side of State street near the bridge. The street now runs over the exact spot where it stood, in the Hunt- ington and Goslien road. The postoffice was installed here, in the name of David D. Par- rett. This rude store contained a few 110- tions and curiosities and some staples. The supplies were mostly brought in from Fort Wayne by wagon, but were sometimes shipped by canal from Fort Wayne to a point near Huntington and hauled in.
In the summer of 1839 Parrett sold the store to Arnold & Townsend, from Stark county, Ohio, and Arnold was made the postmaster.
In 1838 another small store was started farther north on the same road and did a good business. This was the beginning of the Combs & Edwards general store that was of so much importance to the commu- nity for many years.
The first saw mill was erected by Wil- liam Parrett in 1841, on section 34. just north of South Whitley, called Wetzel's mill for many years. It entirely ceased opera- tions in 1872. A year later Milton Grimes and David Clapp built a saw mill a mile southeast of South Whitley.
The most important milling enterprise ever in the township was the Arnold water- power mill. Work on the dam began in 1848, but the mill was not put in operation until about January 1, 1851, and at once the Arnolds came to the front as millers, bankers and general merchants and re- mained at the front until the disastrous and far-reaching results of their complete fail- ure a few years ago, which is well described in the article on Banks and Banking in this
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history. For many years this mill drew 1838: John Cuppy to Nancy Hale. February the milling business from many miles. The 8. 1839: A. Rambo to Margaret Collins, September 16. 1839. writer remembers when a boy of being sent to this mill a distance of ten miles, starting in the night and arriving at the mill about the time it opened up in the morning and awaiting his turn, got his grist of eight bushels just after dark and making the re- turn trip the next night, the roads then be- ing entirely different from the present.
The marriage record discloses the fol- lowing as the first in the township: Isaac H. Collins to Nancy Cuppy, December 27,
John Parrett began the hotel business when the town began taking on airs in 1837. furnishing the primitive entertainment for man and beast, and even that early there was considerable travel and his cabin hotel of two rooms below and a loft above was often taxed to its limit, and at no time could a weary traveler get a room to himself with steam heat and bath.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
JOHN F. MOSSMAN.
The most interesting incidents of Indian history before and during the war of 1812 center in what is now Union township; but it is found recorded in detail in other chap- ters. However, the village of Coesse, in which the first house was erected in 1855. by Joseph Root, preserves the name of one of the latter chieftains of the Miamis. In 1846 they were removed to Indian Terri- tory, Coesse accompanying them; but he returned and died while visiting near Roa- noke, Indiana, where he was buried. Tal- cott Perry was the original settler in Union township, coming as did Benjamin Gardner, Dr. Joseph Pierce. Horace Cleveland and George W. Oman, in 1837.
Perry and Oman selected the name of the township at the first election held July 4. 1839. at which Perry was chosen jus- tice of the peace, an office to which he was again chosen four years later. Dr. Pierce.
the first physician, had a Mr. Starkweather associated with him in a general store for some years, most of their trade being with the Indians, it not being an unusual sight to see three hundred of them in and about the store. Upon the death of a little son of Starkweather's, treated by Dr. Pierce. a quarrel arose between the two men, result- ing in a dissolution of partnership.
The first saw mill of the township, if not in Whitley county, was built by Dr. Pierce in 1839. and the late James Worden, who had come from New York to work for the doctor, claims that he and William Van Meter hauled the first saw logs to that mill. The first steam saw mill was erected in 1854 by Nathaniel Allen and John Stagle and James Burton built the first grist mill, on Eel river in the northeast part of the town- ship. \ distillery was operated for a time by a Mr. Kepler in the southeast part of
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the township where peach brandy was a principal output. In 1852 B. A. Cleveland sold merchandise for a couple of years. Freeman and Fuller keeping a general store on the Yellow River road and later one mile east of the present site of Coesse. This vil- lage was laid out by Peter Simonson in the winter of 1854. Joseph Root erecting the first building. Christ Rummel had the blacksmith shop. Very little growth oc- curred for ten years. The first goods sold in the village was by Simon Herr & Brother. B. A. Cleveland, Thomas Mc- Cune. F. Smith, J. H. Clark and J. S. Baker were among those who have sold goods at Coesse, as are Luke Tousley and William Swarts, Kaufman & Levi, I. Kinsey. Allen Bros. F. Smith and W. E. Mossman.
The first postoffice was kept by Horace Cleveland on the Yellow River road. its re- moval to Coesse being in 1856 with J. H. Root as postmaster.
Cornelia Bonestel taught the first school in Union in 1839, receiving $1.50 per week. This was in a cabin on Horace Cleveland's land, though the "school house on the hill" standing on the north side of Beaver Run was the first school building. Mrs. Simon Sherod in 1845 taught in her own home in the extreme northwest part of the township. Mary Brown, Amanda Tousley; Eliza Young, Cornelia Travis, George Lawson, E. A. Smith, Riley Merrill, Maxie Foust and Miranda Root, all of whom labored faith- fully and left strong impress for good on the minds of their pupils.
Esther Omans was the first white child born in Union township, though it is claimed that David, a son of Talcott Perry. was born in 1836, and Whitlock, son of Benjamin Gardner, was born in 1837.
Henry Hull and Jane Gardner were married December 18, 1839, which was doubtless the first ceremony of this kind.
The first death was Robert Starkweather in the fall of 1838. though in March. 1839. William Clater was killed in a barn raising but in Lake township. Allen county. James Worden helped to build. the first bridge not only in Union township but in Whitley county. This was over Eel river though probably the same year, 1838, some movers made a rude log bridge over the stream at AAkers. G. W. Oman kept tavern on his farm in 1837. The next year Isaac Taylor began to accommodate the travelers though it was four years later that he hung a sign.
Rev. Jacob Wolf was doubtless the first minister, organizing a Presbyterian church October 15. 1841, with eight persons. George Walker and wife, Jacob Vanhouten and wife, Mrs. Vance, William Park. and James Pringle and wife. Rev. Wolf was a graduate of Harvard and naturally a man of finest. impulses. In 1854 he erected "Wartburg College," named in honor of Wartburg Castle near Eisenach Saxe-Wei- mar, founded in 1067 and renowned as the refuge of Martin Luther after the diet of Worms and where he finished his transla- tion of the Bible. Wolf's ambition was to educate young men for the ministry and with Rev. A. J. Douglas as an assistant conducted a school for two years. Mr. Wolf's heart was right and to advance the cause he loved so well made provision to have most of his property go to Wittenberg College. Springfield, Ohio.
In 1844 a "hallelujah band" was organ- ized by the Methodists under direction of Rev. Jesse Sparks and held worship in
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school houses till 1857 and didn't secure a church of their own until 1870. Rev. Wells, an educated and accomplished gentleman and an orator of no mean ability, organized a Lutheran church in 1857. A Christian church was started in 1854 by Rev. Van Sickle baptizing several converts in a hole cnt through the ice on Mud creek.
Judge Hannah, of Fort Wayne, ad- dressed the first Sunday school picnic and the late Bishop Anthony, of California, was present as a pupil.
The first candidate for congressional honors to speak in Union township was Samuel Brenton, who had been presiding elder at Fort Wayne, and who walked with a crutch owing to paralysis. The meeting was held at Oman's home, his advent being declared by the hoisting of the stars and stripes on a tree still standing in George Oman's yard.
John Pecker induced J. H. Clark to bring several paw paw bushes from Ohio on horseback to propagate the fruit. His description of the delicious flavor and tempt- ingness of that delicacy being such that Clark's mouth watered and continued to do so whenever paw paw's were mentioned, tin- til in his haste and enthusiasm he tasted the green fruit.
George Slagle produced the first brick used in the township. Making a circular box five feet high and ninety feet in circum- ference he shoveled in clay and drove a yoke of cattle over it until it was reduced to stiff mortar, when it was molded, dried and burned.
Many beaver dams are still to be traced. indicative of the thousands of those indus- trions animals that must have existed here.
Social conditions among our forefathers were such that there ever existed the warm- est community of interest. Horseback rid- ing was the usual mode of travel, a young man often having his lady love seated be- hind him, though there were none of the ladies but could ride and easily control the wildest steeds.
When Rachel Wagner was fifteen, she rode with her brother Harmon Beeson to Warsaw to attend the wedding of another brother Benjamin. Starting to return Ben- jamin's wife's father, Mr. Sapp, handed her a willow switch, saying "stick that in the ground, it will make a nice tree." She did so and today it is a landmark at least two feet in diameter, standing close to the walk on the main street as you go to the Penn- sylvania depot, making the site of Lee Bros. blacksmith shop, which is just being demol- ished as these lines are written. January. 1907.
HAZEL COT CASTLE.
In 1842 Eli Pierce, while a medical stu- dent in Philadelphia, married a richi Eng- lishi lady who soon purchased a large tract of land in the northeast part of Union township, where they settled in 1844. Dr. Pierce practiced somewhat, but mainly de- voted himself to the clearing of the land and in building a castle after the style of an old English lord and which, with its ex- tensive outbuildings, became the wonder of the entire region. The house had broad porches, sweeping verandas and huge col- umns, the barn being also pretentious. In 1892 the ruins of the barn were cleared away and the remains of the house a year later. Mrs. Pierce died in 1868 or 1869
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and the doctor fell dead at Arcola in 1872 or 1873, both being buried at Lake Chapel cemetery, it having been a portion of the farm. Their children were five sons and two daughters. Mrs. Pierce retained her old English customs, living in state and ever ex- hibiting that courteous bearing characteris- tic of the patrician class. Charles Hughes, then county treasurer, was once invited to dinner by Dr. Pierce, and when asked by Mrs. Pierce if his office was one of much dignity he replied, "None at all." She turned her attention to other guests.
Many years ago, when the people of Ire- land were said to be starving to death, I think it was in 1846. Union township peo- ple were the only ones in the county to re- spond. Although they were poor and had about all they could do to take care of them- selves, they responded liberally. My father gave the largest amount, five dollars. George Walker led in the movement, and was assisted by others among whom was the Rev. Jacob Wolf.
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