USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Remington > History of the town of Remington and vicinity, Jasper County, Indiana > Part 2
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daughter. Irvine was an Irishman and his wife a German lady. He and his boy made a business of breaking prairie and other new grounds. He usually had five yokes of oxen to each breaking plow. He, in summer seasons, usually run about five different plows. He broke up the prairie lands and charged those hiring him at the rate of three dol- lars per acre. Mr. Irvine's plows were rigged on to the two front wheels of a wagon, with a lever attached to set the plow in and raise it out of the ground. Further east on the Black Oak road lived one Jason Hinds, who had a large family of children, who were nearly all of full age in the year 1860. He died during the year 1868, leaving a wife and six sons and three daughters surviving him. The widow and three daughters are at this time residing in the town of Remington. North of Mr. Hinds' home there lived a well known citizen and auctioneer named William Haver. He had the distinction of probably being acquainted with more people in this section of country than perhaps any other man. In that early day his prospects were bright, but in later years misfortune overtook him, and his wealth departed from him. William's father lived there at that time, and had quite a large family. He was well-to-do, and owned quite a goodly number of acres of land in Black Oak. Milton Morrow lived in this neighborhood also. We next mention one of the early pioneers, who settled in Black Oak, Mr. Christian Hardy. He located there some- time in the fifties. He had at this time bright prospects of success, but he invested his means in a cheese factory, which did not prove to be a paying venture, and he finally sold his factory, together with his farm, and removed with his family to the town of Remington, a few years ago, where he resided until the year 1892, when he departed this life, leaving a widow and children, who were, however, all of legal age at the time of his decease. The original May farm adjoined Carpenter's Station on the northeast, and consisted of forty acres of land. This small farm was then owned jointly by the entire family, which consisted
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of four boys and four girls, the two eldest daughters being married. This land included the grove just west of Mr. Robert Y. May, and was about all fenced. There was then a log house on it, just west of where Mr. Robert May's frame house now stands. Mr. R. Y. May is now the owner of this land, and has added some hundreds of acres of excellent land to his original possessions. The Henry C. Lipprant farm, just north of the station, was the north- ern boundary of improved farming lands, until we reached near the town of Rensselaer, twelve miles distant. There was at this time an immense stock pasture between the station and Rensselaer, consisting of several thousand acres of fenced lands, owned by one Jesse D. Bright, a former United States Senator from Kentucky. He was an uncle of our fellow townsman, Mr. O. B. McIntire, who is now engaged in the banking, real estate and loan business. This Bright ranch, or south limits of same, was about four miles north from Carpenter's Station. The ranch was bounded as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of the Michael Cook farm; thence running north nine miles; thence west one and one-half miles; thence south nine miles, and thence east one and one-half miles to the place of beginning. This would make the total number of acres in this pasture and under fence, eight thousand six hundred and forty (8,640). The Harris family occupied the house on this Jesse D. Bright ranch. [Mention has been made of the Harris family heretofore.] We may be permitted to add that Thomas Harris is a respected real estate dealer now residing in the town of Remington.
The foregoing is a brief mention of all the families of people who lived north and northeast from the town of Car- penter's Station, contained within a circuit of about seven miles, beginning at the railway and swinging northeast, north and west, to the west line of the Jesse D. Bright ranch.
Regarding the people living north of the station and along Carpenter's creek, we will first mention Henry C.
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Lipprant, a German. Mr. Lipprant had settled here sev- eral years prior to 1860. His family consisted of a wife, one son and five daughters. The son was the oldest child. The next family down the creek was Uncle John Jordan, heretofore mentioned. He lived in a hewed log house that stood just west of the fair grounds, across the public high- way a few rods distant. Mr. Jordan, at this time, owned nearly all of Carpenter's grove. He also owned a small log house that was located west of his residence, near the west side of an old orchard, that had been planted in a very early day. This house was occupied by a man named Henry Courtney. He was a married man, his wife being the second daughter of the May family. West of Mr. Courtney's, through the grove, and on the opposite side of the creek, on the upper slope of the bottom lands lived a John Jordan, a nephew of the old gentleman, John Jordan. This John Jordan, Jr., is still living in the same neighbor- hood, and is the owner and proprietor of an excellent farm, which is known as "Fern Branch." Samuel Babb is the next man to receive our attention. He lived a short dis- tance below the Jordans'; had located here quite early. His family consisted of his wife, one daughter and three sons. He still owns the old farm, but he is at present residing in the town of Remington. The next family living on the Carpenter creek road was that of Basil Hunt. He then lived in the northeast corner of the grove; his family was quite small. The next family living on this angling Car- penter's creek road was the old school teacher, Esquire Thomas Lamborn. The Lamborn family consisted of his wife and four sons. Mr. Lamborn departed this life many years ago, but he is still held in grateful remembrance by his remaining family and many friends. The next family to mention in this neighborhood is that of Mr. G. G. Thompson, whom we mentioned heretofore, and who was formerly the postmaster at Carpenter's Station. Mr. Thompson is still living, and is at present a successful farmer living a few miles northeast of Remington. The
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RESIDENCE OF OLIVER B. MCINTIRE.
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next to call our attention is the family of William Blake, in the same neighborhood. The Westfall family also were residents of the same neighborhood, some of whom are at present residents of Remington. From the Westfall resi- dence north to the timber, being a distance of about three miles, the space of country was known as the Colonel May cattle ranch. This ranch joined that of Jesse D. Bright, immediately on the west, and it is now owned by Mr. Christian Hensler. This man Colonel May was never a resident here himself, but he built a small house in the southern edge of the timber, near the present residence of Charles Hensler. Some two miles farther northwest, and following the creek, were the homes of the Waymires, Welchs and Lamsons. Then from this locality, and in a southwesterly direction, a distance of about four miles, we come upon a farm known as the Alter farm, which was located in and around a natural grove of timber; the grove also being known as Alter's grove. In 1860 this was the only farm in that vicinity, it being alone on the open prairie. Mr. Alter had lived here for several years and had then grown children. He was a firm believer in the Christian religion, and held daily religious meetings at his house and in the grove. In the fall of 1860 John Y. May located a farm and built a house and moved into the same, about one mile northwest of the Alter farm. This man John Y. May is the oldest of the May brothers, and he is at the present time living on the same farm, having since he first located there added many acres thereto. He mar- ried a daughter of Esquire Miller's. James Gray settled in the Alter neighborhood about this time. He was a brother- in-law of John Y. May. South from this neighborhood to the railway, a distance of about two miles, the country was an open prairie, and southwest from the town of Carpen- ter's Station, and nearly in a direct or parallel line with the railway to the range line dividing ranges seven and eight, a distance of six miles, there were only two houses, one of these houses being near the station of Carpenter,
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then known as the Jordan forty, afterward owned by LaFayette French. The house stood about one hundred yards south of the present site of the Remington tile mills. It was a small log house, and was occupied at that time by one Marion Murphy. The other house stood on the Ed- wards farm, and was across the county line in Benton county. Mr. Edwards had settled there prior to the year 1860. His principal business was herding and caring for cattle. He had boys large enough to greatly assist him in this cattle herding business. He also was engaged in farm- ing in a small way. It was certainly a very lonesome place in those days, there not being another human habitation within three miles of his residence. From Edwards' we will again return to town, remembering that the last two houses described were the only ones in the southwest for many miles, within easy proximity to Carpenter's Station in 1860, excepting about one-fourth of a mile south and on the east bank of the creek, and just east of the range line, there was a small frame house owned by one John De Witt. He lived on the farm afterwards purchased by James Sheetz, which he recently sold to a Mr. Galbraith, who now owns and occupies the same. This is now a very val- uable farm, in an excellent state of cultivation, the build- ings having been greatly enlarged and improved. De Witt had only made a few minor improvements on the place, and in the fall of 1860 he sold the farm to Lycurgus Rawles, who moved on to it in the spring of 1861. This was the only improvement south of Carpenter's Station until we reached the few farms on and around Mt. Gilboa, about eight or nine miles south of the station.
We believe the foregoing comprises all the names of persons who were living in Carpenter township, and also Carpenter Station, during the year 1860.
The families living at this time in the Mount Gilboa neighborhood were Thomas Tracey, Isaac Boyer, Samuel Johnson, a Mr. Tallman, Dr. Lamborn and Carey East- burn. To the east a few miles, in Denton's grove and
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vicinity, there was a small neighborhood, comprising the families of Joel Denton and his brother, Den Hawk, Den- nis Wiggins, Christian Hensler, Alpheus Ellmore and one Foster. Southeast of Denton's grove, three or four miles, was another grove, known as Jordan's grove. This grove, as well as a very large tract of prairie land surrounding it, was owned by William Jordan, a brother of John Jordan, heretofore mentioned. He was a well-to-do farmer, and had an abundance of everything necessary to make himself and family comfortable. He was a close trader. He kept a great many horses and large herds of cattle, which he occasionally disposed of when the markets suited him. He had land enough to give each of his children a good farm. In addition to William Jordan's extensive holdings of real estate at Jordan's grove, he was the possessor of quite a number of lots in Carpenter's Station. He also acquired quite an extensive farm at Carpenter's grove, purchasing the same from his brother, John Jordan. He thus acquired all of Carpenter's grove, except a small corner in the north- westerly part of the grove, owned by Mr. Samuel Babb. In 1860 William Jordan could drive his team from his resi- dence, in Jordan's grove, to his brother's, John Jordan's, in Carpenter's grove, a distance of about eighteen miles, without passing a farm house or laying down a fence, or meeting any other obstacle in the way excepting the waters of the Monon and the tall prairie grass. The grass on these prairies in those days grew as tall as an ordinary sized man in many places, being the highest in the low lands. There was plenty of large game on the prairies in those days, and hunting as a business and for sport, was enjoyed by many of our first citizens.
In Carpenter's Station there was considerable business being transacted in the fall of 1860. George B. Chappell arrived here about this time, and immediately set about building a store room. This building was completed the first of January, 1861, and it was located on the northeast corner of block thirteen (13) of the original plat of the -
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town of Remington, just east of the office of Drs. Patton & Ramsay. The stock of goods put into this building was known as Bolles' store. Mr. Chappell had associated with him in this store Mr. William Shaw. The building was a two-story frame, and Mr. Chappell lived over the store in the second story. The store contained a general assort- ment of goods, consisting of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries and provisions, hardware, tinware and drugs and medicines. The postoffice was also kept there, with Berny Shaw as the postmaster. The postoffice at the grove had been discontinued, and the patrons came to town to receive their mail. It was many years before this postoffice became a paying institution, either to Uncle Samuel or the postmaster. William Shaw also came to Carpenter's Station in 1860, and had commenced the erection of the same house he is living in at the present time. George B. Clark built for himself, about this time, the house now owned and occupied by William Shepherd, This was the largest house in the town. The section house was used as a boarding house for the railway hands, while the railway was being constructed. There were about one hundred hands fed there during this time. These hands were lodged on the lot now occupied by Daniel O'Connor. Their quarters were constructed with railway ties set upon end into the ground, being two rows of them, and they were well covered over with wild hay, using the same also on the inside of this structure as bedding for the men to sleep upon. The men were nearly all Swedes, and were at this time just completing the railway. The headquarters of these men were at this place, and they had the work in charge from here to the Illinois State line. Mr. Gallinneau had charge of this force of men, and he was ably assisted by Mr. Timothy O'Connor, formerly of this place.
The beginning of the spring of 1861 found the town of Carpenter's Station improving quite materially. G. B. Chappell had moved his family over the store, where they continued to live until 1864. Mr. Jesse Nichols, a carpen-
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ter by trade, came to the town and built a small dwelling house on the lot where George Griffin now lives, and in the fall of 1861 he sold this and built another house on the lot where Mr. Josiah Allman now resides, which he afterward sold to a Mr. Kauffman. Sampson Erwin came to this place in the fall of 1861, and bought the lot known as the " Babb " lot and built a dwelling house on it. This prop- erty afterward fell into the hands of Mr. Babb, who con- verted it into a hotel property. This property was de- stroyed by fire a few years ago. Mr. Erwin was a black- smith, and on the rear of this lot he built a shop. He sold out to George F. Shaull in 1864. The town had been without a physician until about 1864, at which time Dr. Samuel Miller, who was a well read man, located here, and in a short time he enjoyed a fair medical practice, considering such a sparsely settled country, the population of the town being only about fifty souls. Dr. Miller built a small house on the site of the residence now occupied by Mr. Peck. He sold this and built again on the site of the Esquire Tharp property, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Sarah F. Bunnell. A Mr. Burns and J. Jordan built a small store room on the corner now occupied by the stone and brick building in which Messrs. Allman and Sheetz have their stock of hardware, etc. This original store building contained a small stock of groceries, but the proprietor did not remain in business very long, and sold out to Elden E. Lockwood, who came here direct from his farm, a few miles northwest of LaFayette. Mr. Lockwood took an active part in the first school exhibition held here, singing several songs, and in other ways helping the exhibition along. He also taught the first writing school ever held in this place. Some of his family are residents of Reming- ton at this time. Thomas White started in the hotel bus- iness and keeping boarders in the Fordyce house in the latter part of 1861. Among his boarders was a Mr. Will- iam Low, who was a carpenter. Mr. White remained here several years. In the fall of 1861 a Mr. Remington
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came to the place and established a general store in the Jesse H. Fordyce warehouse, or rather the Roberts ware- house, Mr. Fordyce having built it and Mr. Roberts occu- pied the same. The town of Carpenter's Station was named after this man Remington, who only stayed here a few months. It would seem that he was hardly entitled to the honor of having the town named for him, yet the name of Carpenter's Station was changed to that of Remington, in the latter part of the year 1861, and the place has since been incorporated and known as Remington. The post- office, also, about the same time, assumed the name of Remington postoffice. Berney Shaw was Remington's first postmaster. The postoffice was kept in the railway depot until the establishment of the Bolles store, when it was located in this room. Mr. Shaw was also freight agent here until 1861, when the freight business was turned over to one William Lott, as agent, and the postoffice turned over to William H. Shaw, father of Berney Shaw, who then retired from both positions. William H. Shaw was one of the clerks in the Wm. P. Bolles store, and the two positions taken together, compensated him fairly well. The Wm. P. Bolles store was conducted by George B. Chappell and William H. Shaw. Mr. Bolles did not reside here, but was a man of wealth, and furnished the store with all . the goods required. His two clerks branched out in other kinds of business. They handled coal, bought corn and oats, and paid, either in money or goods, in exchange for grain. They handled a great deal of corn and oats. They built a large double crib for corn where the depot now stands, which reached nearly from Indiana to Ohio streets. These cribs were filled with ear corn, which was afterward shelled by horse power and hauled in wagons and trans- ferred to the cars, through the medium of a scoop shovel. The greater portion of this corn was shelled and hauled by Mr. Dennis Wiggins, of Gilboa, who afterwards became a resident of Remington, and remained there only a few years. William Irvine built a house on the lot where one
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of the Jacob Barnes & Co. hay barns now stand. This house was intended for a dwelling, but it was used to some extent as a business house. Joseph Lewis, of whom we have heretofore had occasion to speak, had built a barn on the rear end of his lot, and during the year 1862, this barn was consumed by fire, together with one horse, which was stabled in it. It was the generally accepted theory, as to the origin of the fire, that it was the work of an incendiary, and the suspicions of the people were directed toward a certain individual of the town, who was known to be a very tough character. He and Mr. Lewis had not been friendly with each other for some time past, and it was supposed that the fire was the result of spite, and there was some talk of forcing this individual to leave the town, but the matter finally died out and was forgotten. This was the first fire that ever visited Remington, and it created much excitement at the time.
A man known as Harmon Ravenscroft, who was liv- ing at this time (1861) in one of the southern states, and about the commencement of the late War of the Rebellion, was known to be a Union man, and had refused to join the Confederate army. This matter became known to the cit- izens here and he was brought from the south to this place by our people, he not being provided with the necessary funds of his own to bring him here. Those war times were stirring times here, especially in the spring of 1861. Peo- ple would talk with each other and say: "Why don't you go to the war, I can't." The older ones finally endeavored to persuade us younger ones to enlist, and would ask us why we would not go. Many of us thought it would be great sport, but we were nearly all too young. Finally Jacob A. May, myself and Cornelius R. Donnelly said we would go, but the officers refused to accept me on account of my age. May and Donnelly were accepted and went to the front. Henry Lewis and John Curry said they would prefer a job on the railway rather than a job from Uncle Sam. These boys in due season both secured berths as
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brakemen for the railway company. Curry was a steady boy and attentive to business and held his position as long as he desired it. He afterward was employed by the Wabash railroad, and soon obtained the position of con- ductor on this road. We believe he is yet in the employ of the Wabash road. Jacob A. May enlisted in a Pennsyl- vania company and regiment, being in the regular service, and during one of the battles in which his organization was engaged, he was made a prisoner of war and placed in one of the southern prisons. He was not permitted to write home, and for many months it was believed by his friends here that he was dead. He was finally exchanged and returned to Remington. He was cordially welcomed back by all who knew him, and he concluded to make this his future abiding place. There were several persons who enlisted into the service from Remington and vicinity, the majority being from the country surrounding the town. As in other portions of the country, there was a great deal of excitement and an unusual amount of ill feeling engendered here, by reason of the different views held by the people regarding the causes leading up to and the justice of the war. There were, however, not many personal conflicts. We recall one that occurred between two ladies of this place, one of whom was known as Mrs. Allen May and the other Miss Josephine Jordan, daughter of John Jordan, Sr. This conflict resulted in much hair pulling and great destruction of much feminine wearing apparel. Miss Jor- dan received the worst of this battle, and was obliged to provide herself with a new gown, in which to return home. She was much younger than her adversary and not skilled in the arts of war, hence her defeat. Notwithstanding the war was on, and people generally uneasy and excited, our little village continued to grow somewhat.
Samuel Haver built a small house in Remington to be occupied by his wife while he was absent in the service of his country. This house is located in the southeast portion of the town, and is now owned by Miss Jennie Hinds.
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Mrs. Samuel Haver occupied it however until her husband returned from the army. On the corner of Indiana and Railroad streets, and directly opposite M. P. Bolles' store, there was built a store room, in which a Mr. William Hop- kins established a grocery. He had as a partner with him in this enterprise Mr. Lott, the railway agent, who con- tinued with him for a time, when he withdrew from the partnership concern, and was succeeded by George W. Hascall, as Mr. Hopkins' partner in the business. This firm handled some grain through the medium of the For- dyce warehouse. West of the Babb hotel site about fifty feet, and about where the Ellis saloon is situated, Mr. Wil- liam Irwin built a small house and rented it to Kentner & Clapp, as a factory in which to manufacture cigars. They failed to make a success of the cigar manufacturing busi- ness and soon suspended operations. Mr. Kentner soon died, and Mr. Clapp was wrecked by overindulgence in liquors. Remington still kept moving slowly along. Mr. John Miller, a brother of Dr. Samuel Miller, came here and settled on the range line in the western part of the town. Jacob Shew built a house near the corner of Ohio and North streets, immediately north of Exchange Block, in the fall of 1861. Mr. Shew had, prior to this time, resided in the old section house, and he had boarded the railway laborers while living in this property. Thomas Lynch was now the section boss. The next man following him in this capacity was L. Bartlett, and following Bartlett as section foreman was a Mr. William Williams. Mr. Williams built and resided in the dwelling house now owned by Mrs. Lockwood; he also put in the switch, or side-track for the railway company. When his house was completed he allowed the young people of the town to dedicate it with a social party. During this party one of the daughters of Mr. Williams, through over exercise, fell in the middle of the floor, having fainted, and during the excitement which followed, all supposed that she was dead, but in few moments she was returned to conscious-
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