USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Illustrated Atlas and Columbian Souvenir of LaGrange County, Indiana. > Part 4
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Chronology -- OF -
LAGRANGE COUNTY.
N 1828 Benjamin Blair and family make first settlement in the county, a half mile west of Lima, tben called Mongoqui- nong, or Big Squaw Village. Natban Fowler builds a cabin ou Crooked Creek, uear site of water tank.
1829.
Moses and Ica Rice settle, the latter opening a trading house. Jason Thurston, William Thrall and Jonathan Gardner settle in Lima in 1828 or 1829. Jesse Huntsmau and Nehemiah Coldren make first settlement in Vanburen. William Miller and Benjamin Jones settle in Greenfield.
First preaching in county hy Erastus Felton.
John Anderson, Samuel Bradford, Thomas and Samuel Burnell settle on English Prairie.
1830.
Several families of pioneers settle in the nortberu townships. John B. Clark makes first settlement in Springfield township.
1831.
First church ( Methodist ) organized near Lima, at home of Robert Hamilton. First election held in township of Greenfield, in October. First grist mill bnilt at Mongo ( Union Mills ). Saw mill started at Lima. First settlement in Newhury township.
1832.
LaGrange county is separated from Elkhart county and organized. County divided in two townships, Lima and Green- field. First county election in spring. First term of circuit court convened at home of Moses Rice, October 22. County seat located at Lima. First postoffice at home of George Egnew, Mongoqui- nong Prairie.
Town of Lima platted.
" Blackhawk war " rumors frighten the settlers. An nufor nd- ed rumor of hostilities at Mougoquinong, then an Indian trading post, causes settlers to flee to and fortify at Lexington, at a place called " Fort Donaldson."
Anthony Nelson makes first entry of land in Clearspring township. William McConnell and Robert Latta settle in Eden township.
Benjamin Jones and Jobn B. Clark make the first land purchase in Springfield township.
Preaching at Lima hy Rev. Christopher Cory, July. Hawpatch road surveyed.
Defiance road established.
1833.
Sawmill built in Newbury township. Jacob Butts becomes first settler of Milford township. . Novemher- Presbyterian church at Lima organized. David Hanson becomes first settler of Bloomfield township. First Log school-house built near Lima. First court-house built at Lima.
Fort Wayne road establisbed.
1834.
Springfield township constituted, May 4tlı.
Sawmills erected at Ontario and in Vauburen.
Levi Wright makes first settlement at Wright's Corners. James B. Howe, first resident attorney, admitted to the bar. County Bible Society organized at Liwa. Methodist Church organized in Vanburen. Nelson Nichols, Peter Lampman and John Adams enter land in Johnson township. Mill built near Shipshewana lake.
1835.
Thomas Oliver makes first settlement between Wright's and LaGrange.
Village of Lexington platted. Otia Shepardson teaches first achool in Springfield township. Minot Goodsell and others hnild first achool-house in Milford. Firat settlement in the vicinity of Wolcottville. Eden Chapel church organized.
Bloomfield townabip constituted, May 5tb.
Survey of Buffalo & Mississippi railroad through county. Samuel Hood builds a sawmill in Clay township, site Fleck mill.
Vistula road laid out.
1836.
Town of LaGrange platted by Reuben J. Dawson, William F. Beavera, George F. Whittaker, and James McConnell, June 18. Vanburen village platted hy Seldon Martin.
. Postoffice established at Lexington. Williams' addition to Lima platted. First presidential election.
Diatillery at Still Lake, Lima township; does a flourishing businesa
LaGrange Collegiate Institute founded by Nathan Jenks. Stage line established from Lima to connect with boats at Constantine.
1837.
Vanhuren townahip, January 3d. Newhury, Clearspring, Jolinson and Milford townships constituted. March 6tb. Village of Ontario platted hy Nathan Jenks, March 1.
Building of the LaGrange Collegiate Institute at Ontario begun. Wolcottville Baptist church organized. Pottawotamie Indians removed from the county. Baubauga road laid out.
1838.
Philo Taylor and others huild the first school-house at Wol- cottville. Amos Davis huilds the first mill in Newbury.
Ontario Methodist church organized.
Clay township coustituted, September 4th.
The autumn is marked by extreme drought and unusual sickness. Settlers auffer greatly from malarial fevers.
County votes atock to the Buffalo & Mississippi railroad.
1839 Wolcottville Methodist church organized. First divorce petition filed in court. LaGrange Collegiate Institute opened.
1840.
Presbyterian ( later, Congregational ) church organized at Ontario. Campaign of great excitement. The county sends a delega- tiou to the Tippecanoe hattle ground.
A famous religions revival at Pretty Prairie. 1842. Brushy chapel huilt in Springfield township. Eden chapel built. Samuel Hemenway establishes "The LaGrange Freemau," at Ontario. The first newspaper. Ontario wooleu mill erected.
54
CHRONOLOGY OF LAGRANGE COUNTY.
1843.
Congregation of Saints organized at Lexington. Baptist church built at Wolcottville. LaGrange Methodist and Presbyterian churches organized. Frame court-honse erected at LaGrange. Grist mill erected at Ontario. 184-6.
C. B. Holmes appointed first postmaster at LaGrange. The LaGrange Phalanx, a Fourier organization, formed in Springfield townsbip.
.. The Peoples' Advocate" established at Ontario. County offices removed from Lima to LaGrange. Boyd Honse opened at LaGrange by William S. Boyd. First Amish settlement in Newbury township. 1845.
The Lima Democrat established by Jewett & Bennett. William S. Boyd builds a sawmill at LaGrange, on Fly Creek. The LaGrange Whig, by James S. Castle, established at Lima. Frederick Hamilton builds a hotel ( site of opera house ), LaGrange. An extensive distillery operated at Lima.
1846.
Lima Baptist church organized.
First Teachers' Institute in Indiana held at Ontario by Rufus Patch.
Emigration to Oregon begins.
Peppermint industry begun by Hawley Peck.
1847. First Normal School held at Ontario by Prof. Patch. 1848
LaGrange Phalanx is dissolved. Lodge 1. O. O. F. organized at Lima. Fort Wayne plank road established, terminus, Ontario.
1849.
Masonic lodges organized at Lima and LaGrange. Schuyler Colfax addresses the Odd Fellows at Lima. Large emigration to California. Ontario the northern terminus of a plank road to Ft. Wayne. via Mongo.
1850.
Hawpatch Methodist church organized. LaGrange Seminary opened.
Mulberry and loenst trees introduced about this year.
Negroes begin their escape from Southern slavery by the " mlerground railroad." of which there was a station in Milford townsbip.
1851.
Lima Episcopal church organized. First sawmill in Milford township. Wolcottville Seminary founded by Miss Susan Griggs. 1852.
State legislature authorizes the organization in LaGrange and adjoining counties of companies for the purpose of breaking up bands of thieves and counterfeiters. LaGrange County Agricultural Society organized, Oct. 1. Free school system established in Indiana. 1853. Boyd grist mill bnilt at LaGrange. South Milford platted. First Fair beld at LaGrange. 1854. Amish church organized at Hawpatch. An exciting political campaign results in a change of the county from a slight Democratic majority to a considerable. " Anti-Nebraska " majority. Ontario Congregational church dedicated. Lutheran church at LaGrange organized. Bank at Lima founded by S. P. Williams and John B. Howe.
1855.
Delnging rains greatly injure the harvests. Lodge of I. O. O. F. organized at LaGrange. LaGrange nursery established.
Railroad excitement, and ground broken for the Grand Rapids .
& Indiana railroad. Town of LaGrange incorporated. Lima seminary founded by S. P. Williams. 1856.
LaGrange County Rangers organized in Milford township. Shuilar organizations are made in the connty.
"The Herald," first newspaper in LaGrange, published by G. D W. Staneliff.
LaGrange Methodist church bnilt.
The Republican party, just organized, receives a large majority in the Presidential election.
The Will " Mammoth " block built at LaGrange. 1857
" The LaGrange Standard" established by John K. Morrow and Rayhouser.
Six companies of LaGrange county Regulators attend the parade of regulators at Kendallville, Jan. 16.
Good Templars organized at Brushy Prairie. 1858 Free Hall erected in Springfield township.
Gregory MeDougal hung by regulators near Diamond Lake, Noble county, January 26th.
1859. J. S. Castle establishes the LaGrange Democrat at LaGrange. moved to Lima and soon discontinued.
Business block at Lima destroyed by fire.
1860.
East brick block erected at Lima. 1861.
April 18-First call for volunteers, made by J. H. Hall, Lima. April 20-An enthusiastic Union meeting held at the court- honse, and the first enlistment paper, drawn up by J. H. Rerick, signed.
May 21st-The first company, " The LaGrange Tigers," Wm. Roy, captain, leave LaGrangefor Indianapolis, and in July become Co. A. 21st Regiment.
Sept. 4-Co. G. 30th Regiment, under Captain William Daw- son, leaves Lima for camp at Fort Wayne.
Oct. 17-Co. H. 44th Indiana, Wm. B. Bingham. captain, leaves LaGrange for camp at Fort Wayne.
Lutheran church built in LaGrange.
1862
Company G, 88th Indiana Volunteers is organized by Captain Joseph R. Webster, and leaves for camp in Angust. In the same month Captain Harley Crocker organizes Co. C, 100th Regiment. First draft for the war.
1863.
A gloomy year for the Union canse. Political meetings on one side demand peace and on the other pledge support to the war, In the fall. J. Q. A. Reed enlists men for the Seventh Cavalry. and David Bennett musters in a company for the 129th Regiment, December 16th.
1864.
The Lima Branch Bank burned. Morrison & Hardman's store at Lima burned.
Union enthusiasm again predominates. Recruiting for the Twelfth Cavalry, 142nd Regiment, and other regiments. Volun- tary township bonnties are offered to encourage enlistment. Draft is made in August. December-LaGrange county asked for 191 men on the President's call for "300,000 more." 1865. Captain J. H. Caton organizes Co. F. 152nd Regiment, March. National State Bank of Lima organized.
County Commissioners offer a bounty of 8400 to each volun- teer after Jannary Ist, and bonds are issned for the money.
April-Great rejoicing over surrender of Lee at Appomattox, followed by intense excitement occasioned by the assassination of Lincoln.
1
55.
CHRONOLOGY OF LAGRANGE COUNTY.
1866.
Subscriptions called for the G. R. & I. Ry. on the old route. Hurricane visits the northwest part of this county, June 22. Daniel Stuckman killed in a sawmill near LaGrange. Good Templars organize in LaGrange.
The soldiers of the county held a hivonac for two days near LaGrange in September. Attendance each day abont 4,000. Frame school-house in LaGrange completed.
Dunker church organized on Hawpatch. 1867.
Work commenced on the G. R. & I. Ry .. Baseball fever strikes the county.
September-County Sunday-school convention hell; attendance 1,500.
Postal money order offices established in the connty. 1868.
Jan. 30- M. F. church at Ontario dedicated.
May 31-Decoration Day first observed in LaGrange.
July 30th-The LaGrange Democrat established, Francis Henry, editor.
Nov .- After an unnsnally exciting campaign, the presidential election is held.
1869.
Month of January noted for remarkably pleasant weather. April 9-Mass meeting at LaGrange calls for a radical change in divorce law.
April 24-Disastrons fire in LaGrange. Six business build- ings east of Public Square, burned. Loss, $16,000. 1870.
April 11-Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad completed to LaGrange from the north.
Shooting of George Mallow, of Ontario, by Stephen A. Jenks. Dunker church built at Hawpatch.
December-Stephen Jenks sentenced to imprisonment for life for the murder of George Mallow.
First brick block in LaGrange erected by James R. Devor.
1871.
Jannary .- Great quantities of ice accumulated on trees and shrubs, doing immense damage.
Dr. David Rogers, who settled in Clearspring in 1833, died in April, leaving his entire property for the benefit of the poor.
June 22-Murder of Adda Dwight, of VanBuren, by Chami- cey Barnes, and his attempted suicide.
December .- Channcey Barnes convicted of the murder of Adda Dwight, and sentenced to imprisonment for life.
The LaGrange Independent published at LaGrange by Hiram A. Sweet.
1872,
General vaccination.
Preliminary survey of the Detroit & St. Louis Railroad. March S-Contract for a new jail let. New York & Chicago Air Line Railroad question first agitated. June 11- Old Settlers' Convention held. Right of way secured and subscription of $20,000 made in Wolcottville for the Chicago & Canada Sonthern Railroad. Pashan P. O. established. Three ladies offer their ballots at LaGrange. Stephen Jenks escapes from jail. The Epizooty attacks the horses of LaGrange county. December. - A petition is laid before the County Commission- ers, asking for an appropriation of 898,000 in aid of the N. Y. & C. R. R.
1873.
Jan .- Kerr's flonr mill, LaGrange, bnrned. Heavy snow, blocking all the roads of Northern Indiana. Jan. 25 .- Election held on the question of appropriation for the N. Y. & C. A. R. R. Vote, 1220 for; 1520 against. The new jail building occupied. March-Wool-growers' Association formed. April- G. H. Gale purchased 720 acres of land on the Haw- patch. July-LaGrange Protective Association re-organized. Great excitement caused hy numerons burglaries hy tramps.
1873 (Continned. )
Ang. -- Postal cards received. Sept. 25-Work on Canada Southern R. R. stopped. November- Granges of Patrous of Husbandry first organized in the county.
1874.
January -- The Independent removed to Sturgis. Feb. 17-The American House, LaGrange, burned down. March-The name of Mongoquinong changed to Mongo. 4-County Council of Patrous of Husbandry organized. 21-La- Grange votes in favor of erecting a brick school house. April 2 -- Wolcottville Register published.
Coggia's comet becomes visible in the northern heavens.
July-Grapes suffer from severe frost. Episcopal church in LaGrange is dedicated.
Ang. 1-First National Bank of LaGrauge organized. Numer- ous fires throughout the country, especially in swamp land.
Sept .- A systematic grade established in the LaGrange schools.
Nov. 5-LaGrange County Trotting Association meets at LaGrange. Aid in goods and money forwarded to Kansas sufferers.
1875.
Fehrnary-Hotel at Ontario burned. Railroad trains stopped hy snow. 12-A portion of Moon & Co.'s wagon shops burned. Spelling school craze.
April-Saloons opened in LaGrange and Lima. Aldine Lodge, I. O. G. T., organized at Wolcottville.
June-Numerons robberies committed hy tramps. Work began on the new school house, LaGrange. Greenfield Mills P. O. established.
Lima school building completed.
Centennial tea parties held.
1876.
Jan. - Centennial year ushered in by a midnight celebration at LaGrange. Steam boiler explosion at a mill near LaGrange. Jos. Kennedy, Sebastian Gross and Henry Corwin instantly killed.
March-Several citizens leave for the Black Hills gold mines. Commissioners grant fcense to liquor saloons. Wolcottville
Register removed to LaGrange.
April LaGrange Light Guards organized.
1877.
Brown's hotel, LaGrange, burned, Jannary. 1878.
Corner stone of new court house laid, Ang. 15. Farmers' Rescue Insurance company organized. North hriek block at Lima erected.
Poultry show at LaGrange.
1879.
Silver dollars come into use. Death at Sandusky City, Ohio, Feb., of Joshua T. Hohbs, original owner of half the town plat of LaGrange. Solid brick hlock built on site of Brown's Hotel. LaGrange. First meeting to organize Island Park Assembly, April. Very successful campmeeting at LaGrange. Rose and Royer business buildings at LaGrange completed. Hudson's saw mill hurned at LaGrange and rebuilt. LaGrange Democrat established by J. F. Snyder. County offices moved into new court honse, Nov. Sycamore hall built at Hawpatch.
1880.
Narrow gnage railroad agitated. A political campaign noted for the large number of famous speakers.
1881.
The Sargent or Lake Shore railroad survey made through LaGrauge.
Great floods in February.
Fire destroys buildings northwest corner Detroit and Spring streets, qud injures butter tub factory at LaGrange, March 12 and 13. Cheese factory established at LaGrange.
Campmeeting association disbands. Many ditches begun under the new ditch law.
36تــ
CHRONOLOGY OF LAGRANGE COUNTY.
1881 ( Continued. )
Flour mill and otber buildings at Ontario, burned, loss 810,000, June.
A great comet attracts much attention. Memorial services for President Garfield.
The county makes large contributions to Michigan fire sufferers. Short potato crop. Potatoes imported from Scotland for local markets.
1882.
Jan .- Organization formed to fight drive well patents.
May-Charles Hudson killed by a mill accident at LaGrange.
June-County Farm west of LaGhauge purchased for 87,500.
Grain elevator burned at. Wolcottville.
Hays' pump factory burned at LaGrange.
July-United Brethren church opened at LaGrange. Aug .- Contract let for building County Infirmary.
Seven thousand dollars subscribed iu Vanburen and Newbury townsbips for the Danville railroad. Semi-centennial at Lima.
A comet appears near the suu. Nov. 3-J. H. Dauseur Post, G. A. R., organized. Dec .- Presbyterian church at LaGrange dedicated, cost, 88,000. 1883.
Jan .- Stewart ware-house burned at LaGrange. Jan. 20-Death of Hon. John B. Howe, at Lima.
February - Fresbets iu the rivers, and many roads impassable. More driveu-well meetings.
Roof paint swindlers invade the county. April-New connty infirmary accepted.
May 14-Only tornado in the history of the county passes through Vanbnreu township. destroying several buildings and killing William Moak. Damage in county estimated at $100,000. Purebase beguu of right of way for Wabash extension.
Aug .- Travelers' Hotel barned at LaGrange.
Nov .- Semi-centennial of the Presbyterian church at Lima. Danville railroad talk revived. Standard railroad time introduced.
Dec .- Attempt to re-organize the county agricultural associa- tion on a capital stock basis.
General store at Shore burns and blows up by powder explosion.
Remarkable red sun sets.
1884
Jan. Great fire at LaGrange. Will, Cutting, Rose and McEntarfer store buildings, south of court house, burned on the 5th. Temperature 20 degrees below zero.
LaGrange butter tub company organized. Woodruff's store at Wright's Corners burned.
March- Commissioners refuse liquor license at LaGrange, aud there is prohibition for less quantities than a quart, until September.
April-Proceedings begun on the Turkey Creek ditch, and litigation continues until 1892.
County temperance convention.
May-Liquor license trials reverse the decision of com- missioners. Excitement over fire limits in LaGrange.
June-Subscription secured for foundation of Howe Grammar Sebool. Lima.
July-Wheat falls from $1.00 to 70 cents in fall. Fly creek ditched in LaGrange. August -- A political campaign famons for pole raisings and meetings. Sept .- A gentle earthquake, first on record, felt in the county. Nov .- Canada thistle proseentions.
1885 Feb. The county is snow bonud. The 10th is the fiercest winter day on record, closing 21 below zero. Trains are stopped. The extreme cold continues through March.
March-Oliver House opened at LaGrange. May-House of Samnel Burnell burned at Lima. New St. Marks Episcopal church at Lima, dedicated.
1885 ( Continued. )
"LaGrange Sentinel" established. July-Memorial services for General Grant.
Sept .- Street lamps erected in LaGrange.
Bohemian Oats flourisb ou paper. Barn of Amos Schrock, Eden, burue 1. Loss, $8,000. Sebool difficulty between Johnson and Orange townships. Rnick's opera house completed.
Nov .- Lima Manufacturing company organized. Dec .- Memorial services for Thomas A. Hendricks.
1886.
Jan .- Weather sigual flags displayed at LaGrange by "The Standard."
Feb .- Lowest temperature, 13 below zero. Roller skating craze. March-G. R. & I. R. R. officials talk about a branch to
Orland. Death of W. C. Glasgow, a brilliant orator.
April-Heavy suow storm, 6th. Kuigbts of Labor organized at LaGrange.
Burning of Slack's wagon factory, LaGrange.
May-A great year for residence building in LaGrange.
Juue-Rev. Joseph Steininger, Vanburen, killed by a runaway.
July-Knights of Pythias organized at LaGrange.
Sept .- Heavy electrical storms.
Oct .- Baptist church organized at LaGrange.
Nov .- Reading room opened at Lima. Indiana & Southwestern railroad company organized for road from Gosheu to Battle Creek. C. S. Griffith builds a telegraph line to Middlebury.
1887.
Jan. 1-Thermometer 16 below zero. Good sleighing.
Feb .- Renewed agitation of the Orland branch. Very high water.
Great religious revivals at LaGrange.
March-J. M. Drake Post, G. A. R., organized at Lima.
April-Bloomfield votes aid to the Orland railroad branch.
Talk about boring for gas.
Dickensou brick yard established.
June-Springfield votes aid to the Orlaud project.
LaGrange chapter, R. A. M., established.
Summer resort projected at Twin Lakes. 150,000 acres of land in cultivation.
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