USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Remington > History of the town of Remington and vicinity, Jasper County, Indiana > Part 13
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Originally, Remington was divided into three wards, and at that time only had three Town Trustees, but later the territory was divided so as to make five wards, two of
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which are on the north side of the railway and three are . on the south side of the railway, and, therefore, Reming- ton now has five Town Trustees, one for each ward.
The First Ward embraces all that territory west of Ohio street and north of First North street.
The Second Ward embraces all that territory east of Ohio street and north of First North street.
The Third Ward embraces all that territory lying west of New York street and south of First North street.
The Fourth Ward embraces all that territory lying between New York street on the west and Indiana street on the east and lying south of First North street.
The Fifth Ward embraces all of the southeasterly part of the town lying east of said Indiana street and south of First North street.
It will thus be seen that the railway runs through the three south wards. The Trustees must reside in their respective wards, from which they are chosen to represent, but the Clerk, Treasurer and Town Marshal may be selected from any part of the town, but they must be residents of the corporate limits of the town.
The corporate limits of the town are as follows: Com- mencing at the Carpenter creek bridge, on the Remington and Wolcott public highway; thence west to Illinois street; thence north to Wilbur avenue; thence west to Indiana street; thence north to said creek, bearing slightly west to the curve in said creek, crossing the north end of Bruell street, northwest of the cemetery bridge; thence bearing north to the said creek; thence west to New York street; thence north to Short street; thence west to Missouri street; thence south to the Remington and Goodland public highway; thence east to the alley between Missouri and Iowa streets; thence south to the north line of O. P. Taber's property; thence west to Missouri street, taking in one acre of Mr. Taber's land; thence south to South Line street; thence east to Main street; thence south to South Line street, or the north line of the Galbraith farm; thence
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east to Kentucky street, and thence due north to the place of beginning.
The growth of Remington for several years was slow up to the year 1892, when a kind of boom struck the place, and the people began making more and much better im- provements. There had also been two building and loan associations organized here, which proved a blessing to poor men and those of ordinary means, for through this instrumentality they were enabled to build their own dwell- ing houses, and pay for them, with about the same amount of money, payable monthly, as would have been required to pay their rent in other houses, thus practically saving their rent, by investing it in property owned by themselves. Among the improvements made in Remington in 1892, we note the following: John Allman, Mrs. Hartman, Wm. Hartman and J. C. Mossler, all built new houses on vacant lots on South Ohio street, and these were all good dwelling houses, taking up very nearly all the vacant property on South Ohio street. This same season other portions of the city were improving equally as well. Among some of them we may mention R. S. Tuttle, who built a good house on North Indiana street. Dr. John P. Ramsay built a neat cottage house on Michigan street, between Indiana and Illinois streets. Hon. George Major built a commodious addition to his residence on North Indiana street, at the corner of Virginia street. Mr. James W. Noland built a good two-story frame residence on North Indiana street, between North Line street and Virginia street. Henry Miller built a good two-story frame residence on North Indiana and Wilbur streets. Ira W. Yeoman put an addi- tional story on his house on North Ohio street. W. A. Traugh built an addition to his residence on North Illinois street. George and Charles Hascall built a good two-story dwelling house on First South street, between Indiaaa and Illinois streets. Joseph Vogel built a good new business house for his boot and shoe trade on South Ohio street, near the railway. George B. Clark built an addition to a
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house in the west part of town on South and Missouri streets. There were also many minor improvements made that are not here mentioned. Those mentioned were all good and substantial improvements and have added largely to the benefit and appearance of the town. In fact, all the improvements made in Remington during the past six or eight years have been good ones and credits to our town, showing that our people are not laggards, but are to a con- siberable extent prosperous and happy. They seem to be gaining little by little each year, as they go along. We do not mean to say that our people, either in town or in the country, are amassing great wealth, but that they are doing fairly well and at least they are not losing anything. Until the year 1893 we had been blessed with fair corn crops and oats also, but 1893 proved a failure in the corn crop, which failure is felt, not alone by the farmers, but people in town as well, for whatever affects the farming community is equally effective in every other class of business or walk in life. The prosperity of Remington, from a financial point of view, was more flattering than it had ever been prior to 1882. The building of so many new houses had a great deal to do with the prosperity of Remington, as it fur- nished employment for a great many mechanics and also day laborers, who were all paid excellent wages. Every- body felt encouraged and also felt like assisting in the work in hand. There was a flow of money into the bank at Remington that was loaned out at a moderate rate of interest. Farmers who were well-to-do preferred to loan the money received for grain and their sales of stock rather than deposit in bank, for the reason they could generally receive a higher rate of interest than they could on spec- ified time deposits, and of course this was the case with those who had sold their farms and who did not contem- plate buying elsewhere. Money however was not in such great demand as it had been previously, nor as it was in the year following, to-wit 1893, a panic extending in magnitude all over the United States, prevailing during this year and
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a greater portion of the year 1894. The two years prior to 1892 had been successful years for the farming commu- nity, they having raised good crops which enabled them gen- erally to get rid of their indebtedness. The prices for hay, oats and corn were good and they had a ready market for them in Remington. Prior to those two years this section of the country had never had two full crops of all the ceri- als and hay in succession within the past thirty years of its history.
When we take into consideration that Remington and the surrounding country was classed as swamp lands by the United States general survey, we may well look upon it with great astonishment. It is now well supplied with all the blessings granted by nature, and to this is added the additional comforts afforded by skilled labor and excel- lent husbandmen, all of which makes it one of the most happy communities in creation. It is now considered to be the finest farming country in northwestern Indiana. The lands have been all placed in a high state of cultivation; nearly all of it having fine farm residences and the greater portion of it being well drained both by open ditches . and tile drainage, the tiling having been mostly done within the past few years, which fact alone has added at least twenty dollars in value to every acre so drained. The County is being rapidly populated with wealthy and ener- getic men. Their fields are well cultivated and their pastures are well stocked with first class horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. The horses particularly need a more than passing notice, for it is generally acknowledged that our horsemen cannot be surpassed anywhere, and that they have raised many as fine horses as has any locality in this or any of the adjoining states. They have taken a special interest in heavy draft horses, of the Clydesdale and Nor- man breeds, and they have also devoted much time and attention to the breeding of trotting and pacing stock, some of which has made excellent time and captured a consider- able amount of prize money.
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Regarding the value of lands, it is proper to say that lands which could be bought for twenty-five dollars per acre ten years ago, now command the price of and can be readily sold for sixty dollars per acre, many farms, perhaps twenty, in the immediate vicinity of Remington having been sold for this latter price in the fall of 1891. These were, of course, farms that were fairly well improved.
On the second day of May, 1892, the annual town election was held for the election of town officers, in the town Hall, and the following named gentlemen were select- ed to fill the various offices.
For Trustee First Ward, E. B. Voudersmith.
Second " C. T. Denham. (Held over.)
Third " Sam'l Bowman.
Fourth " Josiah H. Allman.
Fifth " Geo. B. Clark.
" Clerk and Treasurer, Charles E. Peck.
" Marshal, Isaac D. Luckey.
The Election Board consisted of five members, viz: Charles, E. Harlacher, John Lamborn, William Draper, Michael J. Costello, and John J. Porter.
. The election of 1892 was a very quiet affair, more so than usual on such occasions. There was no particular issue sprung, and no scheming practiced out of the general order. It was purely a politicians election and the contest was merely between the Democratic and Republican parties of the town. The Republicans were successful, having elected their entire ticket excepting one trustee.
The following is the vote as recorded at that election: For Trustees. -
First Ward-Geo. E. Vincent. (Dem.) .. 76
E. B. Voudersmith. (Rep.). 131
Rep. majority . 55
Fourth Ward-John K. Stoudt. (Dem.).
106
J. H. Allman. (Rep.). 92
Dem. majority
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Fifth Ward-T. J. Turpin. (Dem.). . 57
Geo. B. Clark. (Rep.). I 34
Rep. majority 77
Clerk and Treasurer-Joseph L. Pefly. (Dem.) 77
C. H. Peck. (Rep.). 119
Rep. majority. 42
Marshal-L. Crownwette. (Dem.) 64
I. D. Luckey. (Rep.). I33
Rep. majority. 69
The only Democrat elected was John K. Stoudt. Total number of votes cast was 214; some were thrown out.
BRICK.
HE first brick kiln ever burned in this locality was in 1864, during the late war. It was made and burned in Carpenter's grove, just one mile north of Remington, by one Joseph Lewis. He had a partner when they commenced operations, but they having some misunderstanding, this partner withdrew from the concern and Mr. Lewis completed the work alone. This partner's name was Jesse Nichols. The hands employed by Mr. Lewis in connection with the work were Harvey Hart- man, Clarence Babb, James H. Royalty, and his son, Henry Lewis, and also his son-in-law, John Hooks. Mr. Lewis brought the brick into Remington and he built with them the first brick house ever erected in the town. This house was built in 1865 on Illinois street and was destroyed by fire about the year 1873. The next brick burned here were made for the purpose of building the Exchange block, by Oliver B. McIntire, J. O. B. McDougle and Henry Tribbey. They were made and burned just north of the property now occupied by Esquire George B. Chappell, on
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the banks of Carpenter's creek, in the year 1874, by Fred Bloomer and George Hummel, who were the moulders and burners. In 1875 the Exchange block was built, and in the spring of 1875 Mr. J. O. B. McDougle made and burned the second kiln, with which he built a house. Mr. O. B. McIntire also burned more brick on Range Line street, in the year 1877, just west of the town corporation line. There has been no bricks burned here since that time, except a few kilns, which have been made and burned by the tile factory people, for retail in small lots. Nearly all the brick heretofore used in Remington for building pur- poses have been shipped from other points.
TILE.
HE tile factory was first established near here, adjoining the town on the southwest, during the year 1884, by the Messrs. Green Brothers. They bought ten acres of clay land from Mr. LaFayette French, and afterward they purchased two acres more just south of their first purchase, from John W. Thomas, mak- ing twelve acres in all. They at once started up their factory, with good buildings and first-class machinery, suit- able for the purposes intended, and they did a flourishing business from the start. In the year 1889 Samuel Bow- man, one of Remington's best blacksmiths, purchased the interest of one of the Green partners in the business, and the firm has since that time been known as Green & Bow- man. They employed Mr. Moses French for a time to superintend this business. The firm of Green & Bowman have made many excellent improvements in various ways to their tile factory, and have been doing an increasing business each year since the formation of their partnership. This tile business has been an excellent thing for both the country and town of Remington as well. The factory has
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given employment to eight or ten men a great portion of the time, and it has furnished an immense amount of tile, which has been used in draining the town and the farms for miles throughout the surrounding country. It has also been the means of furnishing employment to a great number of tile ditchers all over the county, who have invariably been paid good wages for their labor. It has been the means of bringing a great quantity of land into cultivation, which would not have been done had not this tile factory made it possible to do so. Farmers who adopted the plan of tiling often made enough extra money the first year after putting in their tiles to pay for the same, including the digging of the trenches, laying and covering the same. This innovation among our people has proven a great blessing to them, and we are glad to record the suc- cess of Messrs. Green & Bowman also.
RAILWAY STATION AGENTS.
E have elsewhere in this work given the records of the various station agents who had controlled the agency at this place up to the year 1868-9. In the year 1866 Mr. Robert Parker came to Remington. He was at that time a young man, but had the advantages of a good education. In 1867 he formed the acquaintance of Miss Hattie Black and she soon became his wife. Mr. Parker is and has been since he first came to this place one of the leading business men. His first occupation here was to clerk in a drug store for a short time, during which period he learned the art of telegraphy with Cornelius McDaniel, who was the freight agent and operator here at that time, and when Mr. McDaniel gave up the position of freight agent and operator, Mr. Parker succeeded him in both those occupations. He remained in the employ of the railway company for several years, when
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he finally had a call to Indianapolis, Indiana, as cashier in one of the banks there. He did not remain in Indianapolis a great while, however, and returning again to Remington, he immediately engaged in the banking business, and had as his partner in this enterprise his brother-in-law, Mr. John Burger. They did a general banking business together until the year 1888, when Mr. Burger withdrew from the firm and engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Parker continued his banking business alone for some time, but eventully he formed a partnership with Mr. Henry Van Voorst, of Monticello, Indiana, and this firm continued the business in Remington tor three or four years together, when Mr. Van Voorst withdrew from the firm and organ- ized a bank in Monticello, of which he is at present the president and principal stockholder. Since that time Mr. Parker has conducted the business alone in Remington, and has always enjoyed an excellent patronage. By strict attention to business and honesty and integrity in all his dealings, he has been enabled to amass a considerable for- tune.
After Mr. Parker surrendered the freight agency here he was succeeded by Mr. Wright Williams, who assumed control of the office in 1872. He remained here for some time, or until his health began to fail, when the company changed him to the State Line (now Effner), where Mr. Williams soon afterwards became too ill to attend to busi- ness and he returned to Remington, where he died in a short time thereafter. George W. Morris now became the next freight agent for this station, having received his appointment in 1882, holding the office until the year 1892, when he was taken suddenly ill and died also. His assist- ant held the office a short time, and then Mr. P. E. Carson was appointed to the place in September, 1892, which he still holds, with L. E. Allison as his assistant.
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HEZEKIAH PAXTON.
(See page249.)
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SAMUEL M. BLACK.
URING the year 1866 Mr. Samuel M. Black came to this county and settled upon and improved the southwest quarter section of the farm now known as the Treat Durand farm. He remained there but a few years, when he sold his farm to Mr. Geo. Major, and he then moved into the village of Remington. He estab- lished himself in the harness business here at once, it being in the year of 1872. Mr. Black was an uncompromising temperance man, and soon after his arrival in the village he commenced an active warfare against the liquor traffic in this place. He had the zealous support of several of the most energetic and active ladies of the town, and together they accomplished a great amount of work. Whether the good accomplished was equal to the labor done, we are un- able to say. We are certain, however, that the cause of temperance was not injured any by their labors, even if the sale of liquors was not suppressed. When Mr. Black came into the town he was a widower, but soon after arriving here he was again married to a Miss Martha Cherry, a relative of the Haver family, and also a very strong temperance lady. She was an acknowledged leader in the crusades against liquors. She soon, however, departed this life and her re- mains were laid away in the Remington cemetery. Mr. Black married again one Miss Lilvis and soon after this latter marriage he removed to Denver, Colorado, where he is engaged in the fruit business.
ROBERT PARKER.
N the year 1887 Robert Parker built a small yet very commodious banking house, the materials used being wood surrounded with brick. This building is located on the corner of Ohio and south Railway streets. Here Mr. Parker installed his banking business, 11
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where he and Mr. Van Voorst continued until their dissolu- tion, after which Mr. Parker remained there alone. In 1892 Mr. Parker and O. P. Taber united in erecting a two story brick building, completely surrounding the bank and fronting west on Ohio street and north on Railway street. The lower part of this structure is excellently arranged for a general store room and the upper story is occupied as a lodge room for the K. of P., an art gallery, and physicians and business offices. The brick and stone work was con- tracted to J. M. Hodshire and he commenced the work about the Ist of April, 1892. His workmen were very much troubled for about one month on account of the ex- ceedingly heavy rains, which occurred almost daily during this entire time. They, however, finished the stone work about the first of June, 1892, when they at once commenc- ed laying brick. As help, Mr. Hodshire had beside him- self, his son and two other good brick mechanics. Their assistants were William Barnes, Bert Blood, J. Stahl, Elias Johnson, James Thompson, Jacob Thomas and Ed- ward Stone.
The carpenter work on this building was contracted to Wm. R. Love & Son. They commenced their work about the Ist of June, 1892. This year proved to be a rather bad year for building operations as it rained for nearly three months during the building season, and to make matters worse for this building enterprise one of the proprietors was taken very ill. This was Mr. Taber, who is himself a good caapenter, and had intended to assist in this part of the work. He was at the time also one of our county Commissioners and was unable to attend the June session of the Commissioners' Court. However, in course of time he recovered, although at one time his life had been almost despaired of. As this work progressed Mr. Parker con- ceived the plan of putting or building a fire and burglar proof vault at the east end of the bank building which he had erected in 1887. This was accordingly done also, and before the close of the year 1892 the entire building was
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ready for occupancy. In the fall of this year Mr. Parker commenced the construction of an excellent private resi- dence for himself and family, he having selected the site on the corner of Illinois and Wisconsin streets. This is the most expensive dwelling in the town of Remington. The foundations are made of a brownish colored cut stone obtained in the southern part of the state of Indiana, but the building proper is a frame. Mr. Parker employed experienced stone cutters for cutting and carving the stone work in this house. The carpenter work was done by the Cummons Bros., two of the most experienced wood work- ers ever in Remington in business. Mr. Collins R. Griffith was employed to do the brick work and Mr. H. Paxton did the painting. The work is all nicely done and is a credit to the mechanics of Remington. The building is 40x50 feet on the ground and second stories and is two stories high, and cost Mr. Parker $10,000. He put down a well 250 feet deep and obtained mineral water. Some of the citizens organized and built a large derrick with a large water tank on top of it in order to supply their families with this water This company of citizens consisted of William Townsend, Dr. David H. Patton, A. M. Traugh, W. A. Traugh, Walter Gumm, Berey Graham, and M. G. Traugh. Mr. Parker has been occupying his property since the fall of 1893. We desire here to note that Mr. Parker was elected to the house of Representatives in the Indiana Legislature in November, 1888, and served honorably in this position for two years when his term expired. He is a firm believer in Christianity and is an active member and leader in the Christian church and Sunday school of Rem- ington.
In the spring, summer and fall of 1892 there were sev- eral business buildings erected in Remington. The O'Con- nor Brothers, having purchased through the agency of Ira. W. Yeoman from P. D. Gallagher the four business lots immediately south of Railway street and fronting east on Ohio street, they went to work at once and built a one story
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double brick building on two of these lots. After they were completed they leased one of the rooms to Mr. S. Cassel, a Jewish merchant who had been in business here about two years. Soon after moving into this new place he failed in business and was closed out by the sheriff. He had made two moves in this town before going into the O'Connor building. He now quit business here and located soon after in Brook, Indiana, when he started again in the clothing business. He left here about the middle of Decem- ber, 1892. Soon after the completion of the O'Connor building they opened out a new billiard and pool hall in the other room of which they are the proprietors. This pool outfit cost them $500. They kept as their clerk Mr. Fint Swigard. The room vacated by Mr. Cassell has since been occupied as a restaurant, first by J. L. Pefley, next by C. W. Harner and next by Harner & Thomas, and it is now occupied for the same purpose by M. Adelbert Gray. Mr. Major, the editor of the "Remington Press." has estimated the cost of the buildings which were constructed in Rem- ington during the year 1892, at about sixty thousand dol- lars ($60,000). This is the greatest amount of money ever expended in Remington for building purposes in any one year. There were a great many new private residences constructed, besides the business buildings, and a great number of people made valuable and substantial repairs. The brick that was used in the construction of brick struct- ures was shipped to this place from other points, the build- ers claiming that they could import their brick for less money than they would have to pay for home manufactured brick. The manufacture of brick in or about Remington is in the back ground, but that is no legitimate reason why as good brick and cheap may not be made here as else- where, and we believe that the day is not far distant when this will be an accomplished fact.
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