USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 53
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In the Egolf district. at present district number seven, the first schoolhouse was built a year or two after the one at Hum- barger's, also of logs, and near where the church now stands. This was followed by a frame building of octagon form which can be seen at the present time just across the way from the church. The third house was built a half-mile east of the church, also a frame: and the present building, built of brick and in modern style, stands a quarter of a mile north of where the first one was located.
In the Beech Chapel district, or district number nine, the first schoolhouse was built a short distance west of the Stough ceme- tery. also of logs ; the second house, a frame building, was erected at Five Points cross- roads and was known as the Linn school- house : and about 1876 or 1877, a brick building was erected a half mile east at Beech Chapel, which still stands and is used for school.
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The first house in district number eleven was a frame and stood at the place where the brick now stands. The first house in the center district stood where the brick build- ing stands at this time. The second house, a frame building, stood across the road to the west from the present building. Dur- ing the trusteeship of John Orr the present brick building was erected.
In the other districts the same progress was made, log houses being superseded by frame buildings, and these in turn by sub- stantial brick houses until all the school buildings were brick. There are eleven schoolhouses in the township, and this num- ber makes it convenient for all the children to attend school without being compelled to travel a long distance as was necessary dur- ing pioneer days.
In 1855 Thorncreek township reported three hundred and eighteen children between the ages of five and twenty-one years, one hundred and seventy-two boys and one hun- dred and forty-six girls-of which only two hundred and twelve attended school. There were only six school districts then, taught by five male and one female teachers. The men received an average of twenty dollars per month, and the lady teacher only sixteen dollars per month. Most of the other town- ships in this county were lower than this in the compensation of their teachers. The length of the school term was two months. The state superintendent of public instruction in this same report says that "educational improvements and progress, that were an- ticipated three years since, have not been realized except to a very limited extent. Instead of beautiful and commodious school- houses evincing the good taste and generous
patriotism of the people of their respective localities, we still meet with primitive struc- tures, unenclosed school premises, unadorned grounds, dilapidated buildings, types of a bygone age, still lingering in the pathway of progress." It was about this time that bet- ter buildings were being erected for the ac- commodation of the school children.
In 1856 the report was substantially the same as in the preceding year. The whole number of children was three hundred and twenty-eight, of which two hundred and fifty-two attended school in the six districts under the care of six male teachers. The amount expended for education this year was only two hundred and forty-one dollars. The township library was reported to contain one hundred and seven volumes, to which were added one hundred and one volumes during the year. The tax assessed for build- ing school houses was fifteen cents on each one hundred dollars and fifty cents on each poll, and the whole amounted to two hun- dred and thirteen dollars. The whole num- ber of taxpayers was two hundred and thirty-eight, of which two hundred and three paid on five hundred dollars and less. From this it will be seen that there were but few rich citizens in the township. Dur- ing the years 1857 and 1858 the number of school children gradually increased while the number of districts remained the same. In the year 1859 a change was made in the number of districts, another one being cre- ated. There were then seven in the town- ship. The whole number of children re- ported was three hundred and sixty-seven- two hundred and one boys and one hundred and sixty-six girls. Six male teachers ;esi- one female teacher taught these schoo John
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an average compensation of one dollar and eighty-two cents per day for a term of only forty-four days. The new house erected during this year was at a value of only two hundred and twenty dollars. The tax col- lected for building, repairing, and fuel, was only three hundred dollars. The township library contained two hundred and sixty-two volumes, all in good condition.
In 1860 there were three hundred and seventy-seven children, two hundred and eleven boys and one hundred and sixty-six girls, and the ownship contained eight dis- tricts, but had only seven schools as in the preceding year. Of this number of children only three hundred and ten attended school with an average attendance of only two hun- dred and nine. The average compensation per day was only eighty-seven cents for a term of only forty-four days. The tax col- lected for building, repairing, fuel, etc., was only one hundred and seventeen dollars and twelve cents. There was no change in he library.
About this time the school law underwent a very general revision and re-enacment. Up until this time the schools made butt little progress and the reasons came in answers from almost every township in the state, that it was for the lack of teachers trained in their profession, and acquainted with the approved methods and art of teaching. For this purpose the state superintendent sug- gested the establishment of a normal school for the training of teachers.
In 1861 the county school examiner, Al- exander J. Douglas, reported for this town- ship four hundred and ninety school chil- the'l, of which two hundred and fifty-three hous boys and two hundred and thirty-seven
girls, attending school in ten districts. The township library contained two hundred and thirty-six volumes, and the tax collected for building and repairing was five hundred and nineteen dollars and seventy-seven cents. It would be interesting if the examiner had made comments on the condition of the schools and buildings of that day, but this was not done.
The county examiner, H. D. Wilson, in 1864 reported that the average compen- sation of teachers in Thorncreek was one dollar and twenty-three cents a day, and the number of days one hundred and nine; the number of school houses as nine, all frame buildings, valued at twenty-six hundred dol- lars, and a total value of twenty-nine hun- dred and fifty dollars on all school property in the township. The township library con- tained three hundred and twenty volumes. and five hundred and sixty-nine were taken out for use within the year. The amount paid to trustee for managing school matters was sixteen dollars. It seems as if there was one school abandoned during the past year or two.
In 1866 County Examiner I. B. McDon- ald reported five hundred and six school chil- dren, of which two hundred and fifty-eight were boys and two hundred and forty-eight were girls, in Thorncreek township. Of this number only four hundred and twenty-three attended school in the eleven districts-the number of districts the township contains at present. These schools were taught by four male and seven female teachers, the former receiving an average of one dollar and forty- eight cents per day and the latter one dollar and tweny-five cents per day for one hun- dred days. At this time Thorncreek town-
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ship ranked first in the average length of schools in days. These eleven school houses were all frame and the total estimated value of all school property was three thousand one hundred and fifty dollars. The number of volumes in the library was four hundred and seventy-five, but only one hundred and twenty-five were read. The reports from all the townships show a great falling off in the number of volumes read.
The county examiner in 1868 reported the total value of school property in this township at only two thousand three hun- dred dollars and the volumes in the library at two hundred and ninety, of which only forty were taken out during the year.
The township library has been on the de- cline for some years past. The reason for this is the increase of newspapers, and the well known one given by some of the county superintendents of the different counties in the state. Our own county superintendent, the beloved and revered A. J. Douglas, in 1874, said of these libraries that they "are not very well cared for and but little read The reading material was intended for some other generation." This seems to have been the opinion of every superintendent who said anything upon the subject.
In 1870 the report shows two hundred and seventy-eight boys and two hundred and fifty girls of school age, of which three hun- dred and seventy-one attended school with an average attendance of only two hundred and twelve. In this report it is stated that there were only ten districts in which school was taught. In 1872 it was reported that one new school house was erected at a value of six hundred dollars.
About this time brick school houses were
taking the place of the frame buildings and Thorncreek township kept up in this ad- vancement until today all its school buildings are substantial brick structures, and some are of modern architecture and arrange- ment. Better locations were selected as building sites, taking into consideration the convenience to the greatest number of chil- dren. The teachers were better qualified for the profession by the training which they received in normal schools and teachers' in- stitutes. Parents gradually took a greater interest in the schools and a general improve- ment became manifest which has been main- tained until the present time.
During the years 1901 to 1905 consoli- dation of districts was being tried, but it did not prove successful nor popular, and since then the idea has been abandoned. Each district desires to have its own school. The township high school, which was started during those years, has also been abandoned as not being a success. At the present time graduates from our common schools are be- ing sent to the Columbia City high school and their tuition paid by the township. Dur- ing the year 1906 the sum of two hundred and thirty-nine dollars was so paid out for sixteen pupils.
Some of the teachers of "ye olden times" in Thorncreek are John Magley, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Sherwood and Mrs. S. S. Mill- er, of Columbia City : Mrs. Henry S. Egolf. Mrs. Elizabeth K. Waugh, Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Widup, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Magley, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Shilts, J. H. Snyder and sister Lizzie, now Mrs. T. M. Orr, and George W. Laird, all residents of the town- ship. The early teachers who died as resi- dents of this township were the Rev. John
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Miller, Hon. M. D. Garrison, William Wid- up and Nathan Gradeless. Other teachers of past years not resident here now are Ben- jamin Humbarger, John M. Deem, Rezin Orr. Mrs. Cyrus Keiser, William T. Harrod, Mrs. James W. Burwell, Mary Jane Wade, Mary Taylor, Cyrus Widup, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Brown, Miss Callie Cotterly and John Pressler. There are others whose names are not now recalled but to whom all due respect is given.
RELIGION.
The citizens of the township manifest a pleasing religious disposition as evidenced by the six neat, substantial and commodious frame churches within its boundaries. There are some who worship in the churches of Columbia City, and are regular attendants there. Even in the early years of the town- ship's growth and settlement the pioneers did not neglect their religious duty, but per- formed their Sabbah worship and had their Sunday-schools in the school houses of that day.
The Saint John's church, better known as the Hively church, was built about 1865 or 1866. The congregation was organized be- fore the church was built and services were held in the school house in that locality. This church was remodeled and a spire built to it since and the congregation is today in a flourishing condition financially and reli- giously. A well kept cemetery is adjacent to the church, and in it are at rest some of the sturdy pioneers o fthat neighborhood.
The Church of God or Thorncreek Beth- el, popularly known as the Egolf church, is without doubt the most commodious and
substantial church structure in the township and is kept in the best condition. It is gen- erally conceded that it was in the Egolf neighborhood, and at one of the Egolf homes that the first Sunday-school was or- ganized. Before the church was built serv- ices were held in the school house which stood where the church now stands. A beau- tiful and well kept cemetery occupying a hill- side is to the south of this church and adja- cent thereto. In this small city of the dead are at rest all that is mortal of the Egolfs who figured so prominently in the early his- tory of this township. Lying in their com- pany are others of the pioneer settlers, and gradually, one by one, those good old pioneer fathers and mothers are gathered together in their final resting place.
Blue River church in the eastern part of the township is maintained by the Free Methodist denomination and was built about 1875. The first pastor was the Rev. A. F. Godwin. This is also a commodious church and across the road from it is also a neatly kept cemetery in which also lie heroes of the early days, and where their descendants are being gathered about them one by one.
The Baptist denomination has a good and neat church structure in the southwestern part of the township. It is better known as the Foster church. This church was remod- eled and a spire built to it a few years ago. The congregation is strong and flourishing. and a keen interest is taken in religious mat- ters by all its members. There is no ceme- tery near this church, but many of its de- ceased members rest in the Stough cemetery, just one mile east on a straight line. This is a very old cemetery and the largest in the township. In its embrace are sleeping also
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some of the honored old pioneers of this township.
The Christian denomination has a fine church edifice in the northern part of the township which was built in 1887. Prior to the building of this church religious ser- vices were held in the school house one mile north. The congregation is also in a flour- ishing condition and has some very zealous members. The structure was completely finished and is of good size and has a fine church spire.
The Dunkard denomination has a church in the northeastern part of the township. This is also a substantial structure without spire or ornament. The congregation is composed of very zealous worshipers who take a keen and lively interest in their reli- gious belief.
Besides the cemeteries mentioned in con- nection with the churches there is one in the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 9. Some old pioneers are also buried here but the cemetery is not used at present and has not been for some years. It is not abandoned, however. The only other place in the township where any pioneer is buried is the plat of ground on the Franklin Shilts farm, in which lie the remains of John H. Alexander, the first settler in the township.
HIGHWAYS.
The highways of the township have un- dergone many changes. When the first set- tlers came into its domain there were no roads, and they blazed and cut their way through the forests, around swamps and hills. In this manner the first roads wound around, and cut diagonally across farms and
sections. But very few were on section lines at first. Gradually, however, they began to place newly opened highways on the section lines and straightened those already opened. In some instances where farm dwellings are situated some distance back of the present highways it is found upon investigation that in years past the road wound around some fancied obstruction and passed the site of such buildings. These crooked and diagonal roads have about all been changed with the exception of the Yellow River road. This will very likely never be changed.
OFFICERS.
This township has furnished some coun- ty officers from among its citizens as fol- lows : Richard Baughan, sheriff, from March, 1838, to August 23, 1838: John O. Adams, treasurer, from November 24, 1866, until November 8, 1870; A. Y. Swigert, cor- oner, from December 2, 1867, until Decem- ber 2, 1869. The following as county com- missioners in the order named: Nathaniel Gradeless, John G. Braddock, Henry Knight, Adam Egolf, Andrew Adams, Ja- cob Ramsey, Henry W. Miller and Jacob Paulus. John H. Shilts served as recorder from November 10, 1887, until November 10, 1891. Logan Staples is the present sher- iff. John H. Alexander, the first settler in the township, served as county surveyor from 1839 to 1842, and again from 1848 to 1850, in which year he died. B. F. Magley is at present a member of the county ad- visory board.
It is almost an impossibility to get all the township trustees from the beginning and the years during which they served. It
28
Joseph To adain
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HON. JOSEPH WILSON ADAIR.
No profession develops with so much ac- curacy and vigor man's native intellectual powers as that of the law. While it opens a vast field for profound philosophic inquiry and research it at the same time imperiously demands an acute and close observation of the daily workings and practical experiences of nearly every phase of life. In its record and principles it reaches back into the mist of ages long since historic, yet in the appli- cation of those principles to daily use the possessor must keep his mind constantly fixed upon the stupendous progress of mod- ern improvements as well as upon the far more extended and complicated machinery of modern society. A moment's reflection will serve to show that, aside from the pa- tient and laborious task necessary to accom- plish successfully a work of such vast pro- portions, he who would rise to eminence in this most arduous and far-reaching of call- ings must possess a sound mind, keen dis- cernment, and clear discrimination and prac- tical judgment. He must be capable of ex- tracting great principles of jurisprudence from amid the rubbish of ages, and stiff. stern and inflexible though they prove, they must in his hands be made sufficiently inal- leable to be applied to the rapidly changing
necessities of a progressive and gradually developing state of society.
The mere disclaimer and sentimental dreamer will find in this profession no field suited to his talents or exertions. The lofty aims of a practical wisdom, of a far- reaching and sagacious philosophy can alone be tolerated in an arena which more perhaps than any other demonstrates the law of the survival of the fittest, and it is but natural that those who have thus at- tained merited distinction should possess a charm and force which commend them to the favorable consideration of every sound thinker. There is a growing interest in trac- ing the record of one who, by sheer force of will and the powers of a native genius. has reached an elevated position in public confidence and wielded a wide and whole- some influence for the general good. Who. living truth and integrity for their own sakes, has undeviatingly followed his dic- tates, regardless of personal consequences. and risen to a commanding place at a bar long distinguished for the ability and high standing of its legal talent.
Of this class of lawyers the Hon. Joseph Wilson Adair, judge of the thirty-third ju- dicial circuit court, and for a number of years one of the leading practitioners of the northern Indiana bar, affords an illustrious
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example. Like the majority of those who have attained eminence in legal circles, his success, both in the practice and on the bench, has come to him as the reward of profound research, energetic action and hon- orable endeavor, and with a laudable ambi- tion to dignify his calling and make it what it has ever purported to be-a potential, as well as an active agency for the administra- tion of justice among men-he has steadily advanced along the line of distinguished service until now, in the prime of his phys- ical and mental powers, and the largest de- velopment of his professional ability, he stands a conspicuous type of the successful, self-made man of to-day. Judge Adair is a native of Noble county, Indiana, where his birth occurred on November 29, 1843. His father, Joseph E. Adair, was born in Ireland 'and came to America in early child- hood, settling with his family on a farm near New London, Ohio, where he grew to ma- turity, familiar with all the duties that usu- ally fall to the lot of those reared in close touch with nature, amid the active scenes of rural life.
When a young man Joseph E. Adair married Miss Elizabeth Winders, of Mary- land, and subsequently, in 1837, removed to the new and sparsely settled county of Noble, Indiana, locating on January Ist of that year in what is now Washington town- ship, of which they were among the earliest pioneers. Here Mr. Adair entered four hundred acres of land, which was very heavily timbered, but, nothing daunted by the discouraging prospect, he at once erected a diminutive log cabin. with clap-boards, daubed with mud and furnished with a rough puncheon floor, which afforded a
fairly comfortable shelter for the family until replaced by a more commodious and substantial structure in after years. This frontier cabin commanded a beautiful site on the banks of the Tippecanoe and for sev- eral years was frequently visited by the In- dians, between whom and the inmates a spirit of amity and good will seems to have obtained. The country at that time was largely as nature had created it, the few small clearings of the settlers being mere niches in the dense forests, in the midst of which various kinds of wild animals roamed in large numbers, some of them, like the wolf and bear, ferocious and during certain seasons destructive to live stock, and not in- frequently proving dangerous enemies to man himself. Game of all kinds was plentiful and easily procured and as Mr. Adair was fond of hunting and an exceedingly accu- rate marksman. many deer, wild turkeys, geese, ducks, squirrels, etc., fell before his unerring rifle, in this way the table being supplied with the choicest of meats during the greater part of the year. Immediately after providing a shelter for his family Mr. Adair addressed himself to the more for- midable task of clearing his land and pre- paring the soil for cultivation, to accomplish which required hard and continuous toil, such as the present generation can illy con- ceive, much less realize and appreciate. By persevering industry, however. he gradu- ally succeeded in removing the forest growth and in the course of a few years had a good- ly number of acres under cultivation. By gradually extending the area of tillable land his efforts were in due time rewarded, as he finally developed an excellent farm on which were made some of the finest and most sub-
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stantial improvements in the county, and in time he became one of the prosperous and well-to-do men of his community. In con- nection with agriculture he dealt quite ex- tensively in live stock, which he purchased throughout a large area of his own and neighboring counties and drove to Cincin- nati, Columbus and other shipping points, where he disposed of his animals at hand- some profits. So encouraging was his suc- cess in this line of business that he contin- ued it as long as he lived and it was while on his way with a herd of cattle to Cincin- nati that he was stricken with cholera and died at Wiltshire, Ohio, October 9. 1849. Joseph and Elizabeth Adair were the par- ents of a large family, thirteen children in all, of whom five are still living, Mrs. Mary Correll, Mrs. Elizabethi Burke, Joseph W., subject of this review, and Dr. Thomas E. Adair, who is practicing medicine in the town of Moline, Kansas. Some years after the death of Mr. Adair the widow became the wife of C. B. Wood, but both have passed from the scenes of their earthly strug- gles and trials to the land of silence.
Reverting to the personal history of Judge Adair, it is learned that as a youth and dur- ing the earlier years of his boyhood he was subject to those wholesome family influ- ences which give the proper direction to moral character ; and to parental precept and example may doubtless be traced, in a large measure. the germs of the honorable and manly ambition which now distinguishes him as a public man. He was reared on the old family homestead, early bore his share of the labor required to clear the fields and cultivate the same and grew up to the full stature of vigorous young manhood, with
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