USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Remington > History of the town of Remington and vicinity, Jasper County, Indiana > Part 6
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and domestic animals, after a year or two became toler- ably safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were often attacked. When the open land was all fenced and under cultivation, so that these fires were a thing of the past, the residents of the prairies were happily released from the constant apprehension which for years had dis- turbed their peace by night, and caused anxiety by day, though the early settlers still retain vivid recollections of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, caused by numberless prairie fires. The whole horizon would be lighted up around its en- tire circuit. A heavy fire, five, six or seven miles away, would afford sufficient light in a dark night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires like two armies facing each other, the sight at night was sublime; and if one's premises were securely protected, and he could enjoy the exhibition without apprehension, it was a sight well worth going far to see. Almost every fall for many years, these prairie fires visited the locality of Remington, and the grass being very thick and tall, if the wind was blowing very heavy the flames would often dart up from fifteen to thirty feet in the air; these fires would also, when the wind was high, travel at a very rapid rate, often going ten to fif- teen miles an hour. Under such conditions, it behooved every person to keep out of the track of the conflagration. Our creeks and small rivers afforded no protection as the fires would instantaneously leap across. The people, how- ever, soon learned to protect their property by burning around it when the conditions were favorable.
In the year 1869, the first regular meat market was established in Remington. This meat market was estab- lished by Mr. Dorr Blood and Mr. H. Dallas, who were partners in this business. Their shop, or market, stood on the lot now occupied by J. S. Barnes & Co.'s new hay barn. Mr. Blood did not remain long in the business, but sold out his interests in the concern to Mr. Crafford
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Cheek, and Mr. Dallas sold out his interests to Mr. Charles Griffin, thus Messrs. Cheek & Griffin succeeded Messrs. Blood & Dallas in the meat market business. This change was consummated in the year 1872, and the new firm established their business in the west wing of the Nevada house. Mr. Cheek came to Remington in the year 1868, but resided on a farm for about four years before he moved into town. He has lived in Remington ever since 1872, and has been in the butchering business here, continuously, to the present date. At one time he was in partnership in this business with Chas. T. Denham, and at another time with Clarence A. Babb, having their shop in Allman's cellar. Mr. Cheek's meat market is at present located on the south side of the depot, where he has been in business since 1887. He is doing a fair business. His son Ira Cheek, attends to his father's shop for him a great portion of the time, and is a good steady young man, and makes an excellent clerk.
We have heretofore stated that George W. Hascall taught the first public school in Remington. Mr. James Welsh, resident of Jordan township, taught Remington's second school, during the school year of 1864. Mr. Welsh was fairly well educated, and made a very successful teacher. He was a cripple, having some years previous to this time been engaged in threshing, and while in this business, and running the horse-power, his right foot was caught in the cogs and ground into a pulp. His leg was finally amputated above the knee. Notwithstanding his misfortune and the fact that some of his larger scholars were to some extent very unruly, he made a success. This school numbered about fifty puils, of all sizes and ages, and it was considered a very large school. The writer is the only one out of the larger sized boys who attended this school that now remains in Remington. Jacob A. May, who was also a pupil of this school, however, lives about four miles northwest of town, and is a farmer. The others of the larger class, who are still living, have since mostly
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all married and sought other fields of business and pleasure. There are, however, two of the daughters of Jacob Shew, who attended this school, that are still residing in Reming- ton. They are both married and have families. Our next teacher was Felix R. Donnelley, who was a veteran in the business. He was a member of the 48th Regt. Ind. Vols. during the late War of the Rebellion, but had returned home at the close of the war, and was employed to teach this school, which commenced in the latter part of the year 1865, and closed in 1866. This was the third school for Remington, and the school had increased, to some extent, in numbers. There were some of the larger boys that were, to some extent, unruly, but Mr. Donnelley handled the entire school with profit to it, and with credit to himself. Mr. Donnelley had been a prominent figure in Remington prior to his enlistment in the service, being one among the first to settle here, and built a business house south of the depot in 1861, being the house afterward occupied by Thomas Harris as a saloon, which was some years later, together with all the other business on the south side of Railway street in this block, destroyed by fire. Mr. Donnelley was elected a member of the Town Board of Trustees in 1872. He was a great lover of music of all kinds, and whilst he was in the service of his country he was a Drum Major. He passed away a few years ago at Monticello, White county, Indiana. In the fall of the year 1866, the patrons of the Remington schools again selected Mr. George W. Hascall as the teacher. This was his second term here, and the fourth term of school for Remington. During this term the scholars were unani- mously in favor of having a school exhibition at the close, and with the assistance of some of the outsiders of our town, we succeeded in producing an exeedingly creditable entertainment. Mr. Eldon E. Lockwood took quite an interest in the success of the enterprise, and lent his aid by singing several various comic songs, one of which was as follows:
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"Old Noah, he did build an Ark, He built it of sticks and hickory bark. In comes the animals two by two, The old gray horse and the kangaroo, And if you belong to Gideon's Band, Here is my heart and here is my hand, For we are looking for a home," etc.
Another one of his songs was concerning the
"Grasshopper that sat on the sweet potato vine, When the turkey gobbler came strutting up behind, And yanked him off," etc.
The singing of these and similar songs created consid- erable amusement for the school and audience. Another prominent man now in Remington, also took an active interest in this entertainment. We refer to Mr. Robert Parker, who located here in the fall of 1866. Among the exercises indulged in was the reading of an essay which mentioned the name of every pupil of the school. This production, or the original of it, is still in existence.
In the fall of 1867, Mr. James Welsh was for the second time employed to teach this school. When he taught the first term he was a single man, but in the inter- val between the two terms he had married a daughter of Mr. Samuel. Ritchey, of Jordan township, and at the beginning of this second term, he moved his family into Remington, occupying the J. D. Nichols prperty, now owned by Mr Josiah Allman. Mr. Welsh only remained here until the expiration of his school term in the following spring, when he returned to his home near Rensselaer. Mr. Welsh is still living near Rensselaer and is a prominent citizen of Jasper county, in political circles being one of the most enthusiastic supporters and leaders of the Peoples' party. He is also a prominent leader in the Farmer's Alliance, and has held the office of State lecturer in this institution for several years. He has also instituted a great many local organizations in this Alliance, in Jasper, Newton, Benton, White, Pulaski, and other adjoining counties. At one time he made an effort to organize a 5
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lodge in the town of Remington, but through some misun- derstanding the meeting proved a failure, and was adjourned without accomplishing the objects sought. There has not, to this time, been an organization effected in the town. Mr. Welch's second school taught here, wound up his school teaching career in Jasper county, he having since the spring of 1868, devoted his time and attention to buy- ing and selling stock, politics and the farmers' interests. In the summer of 1867, Miss Annie Peed taught a sub- scription school in Remington. She taught a three months term, and at the close of the school, she was joined in wed- lock to one William Lowe, a house carpenter, who had previously to this event been a guest and boarder at White's hotel, better known as the "Nevada House." Shortly after their marriage they removed to the west, where they are at present living. In 1867, the Remington school had grown too large to be handled by one teacher, and conse- quently the Township Trustee, Mr. Thomas Lamborn, divided it, and made two schools. He rented a room up stairs in the Morgan building, which then stood near the site of the post office, for this second school, and he em- ployed Mr. John Fisher as the teacher. John Fisher was a brother of Capt. Charles F. Fisher, who resides a short distance northeast of Remington, and is one of our best farmers, and an excellent citizen. John Fisher was not a wealthy man, and he died several years ago.
In 1868, Miss Addie Hulbert was employed to teach our school, and she proved to be a model teacher. But at first some of the patrons thought she was too severe with her pupils, having brought the birch into active service on some occasions; in one instance having severely chastised a daughter of Dr. Samuel Miller. Dr. Miller called a school meeting with a view of having her discharged, but after a full and thorough investigation it was decided to re- tain her in the school, and she proceeded to teach it to a successful close. After Dr. Miller's daughter had time to think the matter over, she returned to the school again,
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and was an excellent pupil, causing her teacher no further trouble. The free and vigorous application of the rod pro- duced a salutary effect on the entire school. Dr. Samuel Miller, also after due reflection and observation, concluded that he had been in error, and soon became one of the best friends and supporters of Miss Hulbert. She was greatly beloved by all her pupils, and also the patrons of the school, and all others who had formed her acquaintance, and consequently she was again employed to teach the next term of school, which commenced in the fall of 1869. She had no opposition in securing this employment, and Dr. Miller remained faithful to her in his support, being more anxious, apparently, than any other person to secure her service. The larger scholars during this term (which was the tenth) organized a lyceum or a debating school for general practice in debating and speaking on various ques- tions, the object being our mutual improvement in these lines. Weadopted a constitution and by-laws for our govern- ment, and also kept closed doors. We invited several per- sons who were not going to school, to become members of this debating society, and after it was fully and completely organized, the membership consisted of the following named persons, viz .: Miss Addie Hulbert, Thomas Don- nelley, Adaline Donnelley, Samuel Haver, Charles Haver, Emma Haver, Josephine Harman, Charles Fisher, Hattie Black, Abbie Black, John Darlington, Eliza Ravenscroft, Josephine Jeffries, Gertie Troutman, James Royalty, Maggie Miller, Jacob A. May, Martha Curry, Jane Curry, John Curry, Frank Shaw and Mary Shaw; the above con- stituted the membership of the lyceum, and upon the first meeting they all became members by placing their signa- tures to the constitution. Samuel Haver was selected as the president, and Miss Addie Hulbert was chosen as the secretary. We had a paper, and Miss Emma Haver was chosen as its editress. On the second meeting of our society two of the members got into an altercation over a certain seat, each one claiming it, and roughly contending
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for the occupancy of it; this difficulty resulted in a law suit, under the constitution and by-laws of the society. This law suit occupied, or furnished entertainment, for five or six meetings of the society. The parties to the suit were Thomas E. Donnelley vs. the Janitor; Samuel Haver was the judge of the court. Dr. Albert Irwin was employed as an attor- ney on one side of the case, and Mr. Silas Black was em- ployed on the other. Donnelley brought this suit, and in his complaint he alleged that the janitor had assaulted him in a rude, insolent, angry and rough manner, by siezing hold of him, the plaintiff, and jerking him out of the seat. Nearly all of the members of the society had seen the dis- turbance between the parties, and were consequently sub- poened as witnesses to testify in the trial of the case. The lawyers spoken of had become members; the reader will understand that this law suit was originated for amusement, and was all a farce, but the defendant was nevertheless subjected to heavy fine, which was promptly stayed by good security, for the customary ninety days. When not trying a law suit, the entertainments generally consisted of speeches, declamations, debates and essays, and reading of the paper. The contents of this paper were generally communications written for it, by the members of the society, in which frequent criticisms were indulged in of each other. These communications afforded immense amuse- ment for the members, as they were openly read in the presence of all. At the close of Miss Hulbert's school, this society ceased to exist, and has therefore long since been an institution of the past. However, the gratitude of this school was, and is due to Miss Hulbert, and she will always be held in grateful remembrance by her scholars, and those patrons and citizens who had the pleasure and good fortune to form her acquaintance.
The teacher succeeding Mr. Fisher in the second school room established in Remington, was Miss Eliza Parker, in 1868. She taught this school at the same time Miss Hul- bert was teaching the other and larger school, being Miss
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Hulbert's first school, Miss Parker's school was known as the Remington Primary school department, and the pupils were generally small, and did not of course attract the at- tention that was bestowed upon the higher and older school controlled by Miss Hulbert.
Miss Clara Williams taught this primary department school during the successful term, or during the term that Miss Hulbert taught her second term. This was in the fall and winter of 1869-1870. The above and foregoing is a partial record of the first ten schools taught in the town of Remington, and the same having been taught by only seven different school teachers. This is the record as remem- bered by the author, he having nothing from the township trustee's office to guide him as that official has kept no of- ficial record on file in his office. The absence of the school records for Carpenter township is due to the fact that they were destroyed by fire at the time of the destruc- tion of the Hathaway building, which occurred about 1881 or 1882; the township records at that time having been kept in the office of Harper W. Snyder, attorney, who then had his office in the Hathaway building. The foregoing records are, however, pretty nearly correct, if not entirely so. Thomas Lamborn had up to this time been the trustee of Carpenter township, and at about this time the town of Remington was legally incorporated, which took the control of the schools and other public matters from the township trustee, and the regular officers of the town then assumed the control of such matters. As before stated, the first board of school trustees for the town of Remington, con- sisted of S. C. Maxwell, Geo. B. Clark and William Rails- back. These changes were accomplished during the year 1870, from which date the schools of Remington have all been graded. At that time Remington had a sufficient num- ber of children of school age to warrant the employment of three teachers, but so far unfortunately she had no suit- able buildings in which the schools could be taught. But in order to establish the third department, the school board
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leased the Presbyterian building for the purpose of holding this third school in; Miss M. P. Bolles here taught her first school. In the fall of the year 1870, Miss M. P. Bolles became principal of the Remington schools, and the Misses Clara Williams and Mary Blood taught the two lower de- partments, the school officers at this time renting for the third room the building now owned and occupied by Mr. Thomas Harris. In 1871, James H. Snoddy became prin- ciple, with the Misses Julia M. Nelson and Mary Blood as his assistants, for the second and third departments. In the summer of 1872 Miss Blood taught a select school in Remington; she also at later dates taught schools at Gilboa Center, in Benton county, and Green's school No. 2, in Jasper county.
In the winters of 1872 and 1873, J. H. Snoddy was again the principal of these schools, with the Misses Julia Nelson and Mary Blood as his assistants. At this time the board of school trustees was composed of S. C. Maxwell, William Railsback and George B. Chappell. In the later part of 1873, the corps of teachers was N. R. Neize, Maggie P. Bolles and Agnes Nelson, and about this time the corps of teachers was changed to Misses M. P. Bolles, Mary Blood and Agnes Nelson, and the board of school trustees was also changed so that the new board was com- posed of Daniel Nelson, David H. Patton and George B. Chappell.
In 1882, D. B. Sweetzer & Co., built a flax and straw breaking mill in the northwestern part of Remington, and they continued the business until the latter part of 1883. This had the effect to encourage the people of the country to raise flax, and it afforded labor for a goodly number of persons. Thus a market was afforded for flax and other straw. The company sold this institution to Mr. Michael J. Costello in the year 1884; he continued to run this flax mill for about three years. During this time there were two men employed in this mill that were very seriously injured by being caught in the machinery, one of them
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having his hand badly crushed in the flax break, the other having one of his fingers taken off. The first of these men to meet with an accident as above stated was a Mr. Coucha and the other was Mr. F. Baker. The property was des- troyed by fire in the latter part of 1884, and it was rebuilt in the year 1885. From this time on, however, this mill was used only for a hay barn. There was, however, an accident occurred again here to one of the employes in the place, the victim this time being Mr. Theodore F. Sheets, who had his right hand and arm fearfully crushed in some part of the machinery. His hand and arm was ever after this accident partially useless to him. This barn is situated on the west bank of the creek, in Chambers & Morgans addition to Remington, at the end of Iowa and Short streets.
In 1869 the Christian church edifice was built in Rem- ington, it being the second church building to be erected here. The church class proper was organized by Rev. C. A. O'Connor, who came to this place in 1868, and made it his mission to revive religious sentiments in the minds of the people of that particular faith. He held his meetings in the old school house. He stirred up a considerable revival, the church being thereby greatly strengthened, and the leading members went at once to work, taking steps toward the construction of a regular house in which to worship. Their efforts being crowned with success in 1868, as stated above. Rev. O'Connor remained with this congregation for some time, and was succeeded as pastor by the Rev. W. B. Hendryx, who took charge and remained with the charge until during the year 1874, when he was succeeded by the Rev. T. Lillie, who remained with the congregation only one year, and he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Car- penter, now an evangelist, who remained one year, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Hauger. Mr. Hauger was suc- ceeded by the Rev. E. O. Sharp, who remained with the congregation one year; he by Rev. Mr. Craft, who re- mained one year; he by Rev. Mr. Leonard, who remained
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one year; he by Rev. Mr. Ellis, who remained one year; he by Rev. Lemuel Shortnage, who remained one year; he by Rev. Armstrong, who remained one year; he by the Rev. LeMiller, who remained one year; he by the Rev. C. W. Cooper, who remained about one year, and he by the Rev. Mr. Carson, who is at this time, 1894, the pastor of this church. It is proper here to remark that a Mr. J. P. Robinson was the pastor of this church for two years immediately preceding the Rev. Mr. Carson, the present pastor. This church maintains an excellent sab- bath school, which has been so fortunate as to command the services of Mr. Robert Parker as superintendent, for the greater portion of the time since its organization. The Christian Endeavor Society was also organized in this church about 1891; this society has had as its treasurers, Messrs. Jno. Heickle and R. R. Pettit.
During the history of this church there has been en- acted some exciting scenes. It appears that some mem- bers of the so-called Church of God, had contributed some- what toward the building of this Christian church, and they were allowed for a time to worship therein; but eventually some of the leading members of the Christian faith deemed it advisable to exclude the other faction, and on one cer- tain occasion Mr. J. O. B. McDougle was forcibly ejected from the edifice by Dr. Samuel Maxwell. This occurred in 1883. This church has also been used for worship by the United Brethern organization on several occasions. This United Brethern church made the first church record ever made in Remington. They held their first meetings in the old school house, before any denomination had constructed a temple for worship. The United Brethern church as a separate society was not a success here. They were never able to build. The society made their home with the other church societies, but in the last few years they have held no meetings here whatever.
The Church of God heretofore mentioned, and whose followers were known as soul sleepers, had quite a member-
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ship here at one time, and they were led by Father Babb, a former hotel keeper of Remington, and Mr. J. O. B. Mc- Dougle, as his assistant. The former ministers of this society in their order were, the Reverends Shockey, Reed, of Chicago, Wilcox, Hess and Oppy; but the flock was eventually left under the charge of Mr. J. O. B. McDougle. After being refused admission to the Christian church, the membership became greatly scattered, some of them unit- ing with the Christian church, some of them moving away and others waiting for some kind of an opening to present itself, whereby they might become again united. Among the first ministers to arrive in Remington were J. C. Webster, who held religious services in the school house. This man resided then (in 1866) where Mr. Hugh Roberts now resides on his farm, directly east of town. Rev. Isaac Vinson came here also from Reynolds, Ind., to preach the gospel to the people; also a Mr. Dennis Wiggins preached to the people here in the early sixties; he was not a regu- larly ordained minister of the gospel, and only preached and exhorted the people occasionally. He was a citizen of Remington from 1862 until 1866, when he removed with his family to the State of Missouri, during the fall of the year 1866.
The Rev. Joseph Glaize followed Rev. Wiggins. He remained with the people for several years; he was a circuit rider, having several different appointments to fulfill. He kept a horse and buggy and made it his business to travel all over the country, doing good work in the service of the Master. Another man of record, was the Rev. Mr. J. C. Roswell, who ministered to the spiritual wants of the United Brethern of the town and vicinity. Other ministers of the gospel of Christ, that we may properly mention here, were Mr. E. Peck, Rev. E. F. Penney, Rev. Mr. Smith and Rev. Mr. Hoffman.
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