USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Illustrated Atlas and Columbian Souvenir of LaGrange County, Indiana. > Part 9
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living monument to her honor. In these institutions, with the exceptions of the seminary at LaGrange, abont all of the work in higher education within the county was accomplished, until the more recent organization of high schools at LaGrange, Lima and Wolcottville.
In 1874 the LaGrange schools were graded and the school has gradually grown in efficiency and numbers until it now ranks among the hest in the state. The hnilding in which the schools are held cost the town over $30,000, and contains a large hall for meetings, eleven school rooms, and office. J. E. McCartney, A. B., is now superintendent, and Willets Bastian, A. B., and Frank Preston, are principal and assistant principal of the High School. and seven teachers are employed in the lower grades. Fifteen classes have been graduated from the High School. The High School course embraces mathematics and languages sufficiently advanced to prepare students for admission to the great universi- ties and the school diploma admits to the state nniversity without further examination. The fame of this school is wide spread and there is always a large attendance from withont the town.
The Lima schools were thoroughly organized abont 1881, when a course of study was adopted and a High School established. The school building is a beautiful one, which cost the township over 820,000. It contains six rooms besides hall and basement. The High School work is of a high grade, and gradnates are admitted to the university without further examination. For several years the school has been under the efficient superintendency of C. M. Leib, Will H. Duff, principal.
Wolcottville has a well organized High School and snhordi- nate departments, in a handsome brick hnilding, recently erected. It contains four rooms. The High School course prepares for the university to which gradnates are admitted withont examination. The superintendent is H. S. Gilhams. principal, E. E. Royer. The first class was graduated by the High School in 1883.
Still more important are the Common Schools of the town- ships. Fifty years ago there were but two or three small, rnde. log school honses in the conuty. Today there are one hundred and ten. Twenty-three of these are handsome brick buildings on the Baker plan. seven are frame on the same plan, and twenty-two brick and 58 frame on other plans. Six have two rooms. Three more brick buildings of four or more rooms each will be built in 1893 at Sonth Milford. Hawpatch and Shipshewana. Thirty years ago the schools of the county were withont organization, an ont- lined course of study unknown. Today the schools are well orga- nized. A regular course of study is provided for every school and every department of a school, from the humblest country school or the lowest primary room to the best high school. In 1881 the County Board of Education adopted a plan by which, when a pupil completed a prescribed conrse in the common schools, and passed a satisfactory examination, he was granted a diploma, which diploma entitled the holder thereof to he admitted to any high school in the county without further examination.
In 1892 one hundred and thirty teachers are employed in the public schools of the county. fifty-eight males and seventy-two females. Their average compensation per day is, outside of the town of LaGrange, $1.45 for women and 81.70 for men. The enumeration of persons of school age was 4,918, of whom 4.126 were enrolled in the schools. In seven private schools 163 were enrolled. The average length of school term was 1433 days. There was paid ont of the public treasury to teachers 829.434.22. for permanent improvements for schools $4.895.06, and otherwise expended ont of the school funds over 87,500. The estimated valne of the school buildings is $133,300.00, and of apparatus $7,415.
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AGRICULTURE.
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
IGH, undulating, lake-dotted country," is the characteri- zation of LaGrange county in the state geological report. The elevation of the country is largely on account of the great "drift" deposits of sand, gravel, clay and boulders, which bury the rocks to the depth of 100 feet or more, and are iu turn overlaid by the mould of primeval forests and the peat aud marl and humus of lakes and marshes.
In some parts the surface is nearly level prairie, especially in Greenfield and Lima. Here the soil is a black loam, easily culti- vated aud generous in its rewards to the farmer. Except Brushy Prairie, where the loam has more sand and clay, no typical prairie land is fonud south of Pigeon River and its tributary, Turkey Creek. But on the south side of Pigeon River stretching through the county is a belt of sand. varying from oue to three miles in width. This. even, yields fair returns in many places and skillful tilling increases the yield.
South of this the greater part of the area was originally cov- ered with dense forests ou a clay soil, and "oak openings." In this region the landscape is gently rolling or quite hilly. The most broken townships south of the rivers are Clay, Bloomfield and Milford. In Edeu and Clearspring is the Hawpatch, at settle- ment densely wooded but free from undergrowth except hawthorn. This region is level and very fertile and easy of access to market. Johnsou is emphatically the lake township, but contaius many valuable farms, the soil being heavy clay loam. Milford is a rich farming country mostly "openings," gravelly loam, and its fertile acres will rise in value with the opening of new railroad facilities. Springfield has its fertile prairie, "Brushy," already referred to, covering about six sections, its sandy region in the northwest. and hilly and rolling country in the north. Bloomfield is diversified by a promoutory of hilly country, terminating in the "Knobs." To the north of its termination is saudy laud, and the promontory is flanked ou either side by rolling fertile country. to the east a gravelly loam, to the west a clay soil. Clay township is of much the same character as west Bloomfield. It contains many good farms and its marsh area is being rapidly reduced. Newbury is a gently rolling country, mostly "oak openings," very fertile when brought under cultivation. With the exception of the rolling laud in west Van Buren, that township is mainly of the land known as burr oak openings, a sandy loam, making fertile farms. Clay is abundaut south of Pigeon river aud in Johnson and Eden a superior tile and brick clay is found in large quantities. Bog iron ore is found in the marshes of Clay township and was once mannfactured. In the same region are indications of gas and oil. There is yet great lumber wealth in the county, but the original growth of the more valuable wood, such as waluut, has been nearly exhausted.
In Agriculture, the basal department of industry, LaGrange Connty stands in the first rank of the counties of Indiana.
It will be interesting to compare her productions with those of the State, using as authority the State Statistical report for 1890, the latest printed.
In this connection it should be borue in mind that the area of LaGrange County is to that of the State as 1 to 87.
In the production of Wheat the County ranks second among the counties of the State, in yield per acre. Having but one- eighty-seveuth of the area of the state she produces one-fortieth of the Wheat crop, more than one-seventieth of the Oats, one-thirtieth of the Rye, one-sixtieth of the Clover Seed. one-fiftieth of the Clover Hay, oue-fortieth of the Irish Potatoes, one-twentieth of the Maple Sugar, and in other products has a good standing.
In the production of wool LaGrange County ranks first in Indiana. She produces one-twenty-fifth of the entire wool clip of the state.
The following figures show the production in various items as reported to the State Statistician:
Wheat
734,388 Bu.
Maple Sugar
3.195 Lbs.
Corn
668,219 Bu.
Butter
384,765 Lbs.
Oats
245,300 Bu.
Chickens
6.445 Doz.
Barley
3,325 Bu.
Turkeys
457 Doz.
Rye
23,388 Bu.
Ducks
370 Doz.
Buckwheat
1.142 Bu.
Eggs
351,370 Doz.
Clover Seed
4,188 Bn.
Apples
78,150 Bul.
Timothy Seed .. .
297 Bu.
Peaches
1.748 Bu.
Clover Hay. ...
42.221 Tons.
Pears
1.388 Bu.
Timothy Hay .. .
12.707 Tons.
Houey
20,000 Lbs.
Irish Potatoes .. 62,696 Bu.
There were 45,805 rods of drain tile in operation in 1890. In that year 8,513 rods of wire feucing were built.
The county then had 7,677 horses, 12,886 head of cattle, 32.000 sheep, 43,000 hogs.
The wool clip of 1890 was about 145,000 pounds.
The following table shows the acreage of various crops, according to the latest statistics gathered by assessors in 1890. It rather understates the agricultural development of the county:
AGRICULTURAL ACREAGE, 1890.
Wheat.
Corn.
O ats
Barley. Rye.
Potatoes
Timothy.
Clover
Grass.
Vanburen .. .
3422
2143
886
246
474
282
3536
51
Newbury.
3490
2315
1245
11
167
42
767
3290 440
Eden .
3484
2347
1308
41
198
188
772 1957 1827
Clearspring .
3951
2406
875
Clay.
3045
2532
1068
378
223
118
3331 1066
Lima
2637
1996
892
167
245
1996
669 1433
Greenfield ..
4421
3112
1134
70
91
774
3344
60
Bloomfield. .
3173
1900
569
266
129
140 2960, 381
Johnson ..
3520
2129
842
36
97
136
214 18211
Milford.
3936
3313
814
29
81
122
227
2526 230
Springfield .
3573
2861
592
14 . 309
110
2131
1934 1526 .
Tot. Acres. 38652 27053 10225
133 2174 1844
75
340
2659
..
7261 28127 7018
,
1
85 __
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
HAT LaGrange county is today is almost wholly the re- sult of the efforts of its citizens engaged in agriculture, and it is appropriate to indicate what they are and what they have done individually. by the following `personal mention of.a considerable number of them.
.
Eli L. Gunn, who settled in Milford township at an early day, is located in Section 29. one-half mile north of Sonth Milford. He has followed farming from early life, and has attained considerable success in his chosen occupation. His location is one of the best in the township. He has never given his attention to any special line of farming or breeding, hut prefers the general to the special lines of the hnsiness. Mr. Gnnn was born in Tompkins connty. " N. Y., July 23, 1827. At an early age he removed with his parents to Huron county, Ohio. Here they remained a few years when he with his parents moved to' Seneca county, in the same state. In Seneca county he grew to manhood, and was married to Mary L. Dawson. Soon after this they came to this township and settled on the farm now owned hy D. Bixler. . After remaining on this farm for a few years they purchased and moved on the farm where they now reside. They have had-five children, Gusta, Lillie L .. Della L .; Leoti L., aud Charles. All are living except Charles. who died when quite young.
FlorAnce R. Austin is located on a good farm in Section 29. Mr. Anstin is counted among the successful farmers and self made men of the township. He began life with hnt little assistance, but by industry and economy has accumulated considerable property. He was born in Milford township, July 29, 1852, and was married to Miss Alice Cochran Oct. 11, 1881. They have one child, Charity. In the fall of 1886 they purchased the farm on which they now reside. Mr. Austin has bright prospects of success.
George T. Lovett, a well known citizen and successful farmer, was born in Stark county; Ohio, Dec. 24, 1831. He remained in Ohio till 1856, when with his father he removed to Indiana and settled in Milford township. . He was married March 13, 1856, to Katharine Brady. They have had three children, Mary F., George R. and Lanra E., deceased. Mr. Lovett was married the second time to Mrs. Jennie Strong.
One of the snecessful farmers of Milford township is Charles A. Blackman. Mr. Blackman is well located.in section 29, about one mile north of South Milford. He makes no specialty but is rather an all round farmer. He was horn in Milford township March 1, 1857, and was married to Miss Lillie L. Gnun, Sept. 30. 1875. They have one child, Royal L., who was born March 2, 1879,
Joseph E. Newuam was born April 19, 1850, in Noble county. Ind., where he remained till 1866, when he came to Milford town- shin, where he has since resided. Mr. Newnam is a thorough farmer aud a practical feeder and has been quite successful in handling sheep. He was married March 7, 1872, to Miss Isadora M. . Spaulding, danghter of Dr. A. M. , Spaulding, of Brushy Prairie, Ind. Soon after the marriage they purchased the farm on which they now reside in Section 31 of Milford township. They have two children, Herbert H. and.Verne I. Mr. Newnam is an earnest advocate of public improvement and in favor of anything tending in that direction.
Alanson Blackmun, one of the honored pioneers of the county, was born at Clarksfield, Huron county, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1823. At the age of 20 he came to Milford township and settled on the farm where he still resides. By industry and a strict attention to husi- ness Mr. Blackman has risen to comfortable circumstances. He was appointed commissioner to fill the vacancy cansed by the death of Almon Dickinson, and after filling the unexpired term of Mr. Dickinson he was twice elected to the office, serving eight years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He is highly respected as a neighbor and esteemed as a citizen. He was married to Miss Margaret Maria Baker March 25, 1849. They have had four children, Albert E., Mary Jane, Weltha R. and Charles A. Charles is the only one still living. Albert went to Sonth America for his health several years ago and the last. ever heard from him was that he was dangerously ill in a hospital at Valparaiso, Chili.
Isaac B. Newnam was born Jannary 4, 1841, in Milford town- ship, and in that township he has since remained. From early life he bas followed farming as a business, hnt of late years has devoted considerable attention to feeding stock. Giving the work much time and study he has made it a success, and to his credit it may be stated that he ranks among the hest feeders in the country. Mr. Newnam owns and operates the grain elevator at South Milford. He is an excellent farmer and a good business man. He has a splendid location in Section 34. He was married to Miss Kate J. Childs, February, 1860. and they have three children, Mary J., Clemma and Harmer M., the present trustee of Milford township.
George L. Temple, present assessor of Milford township, was born April 19, 1842. in Orleans county. N. Y., where he remained till he was five years of age. In 1847 he came with his parents to Milford, but after their death, which happened in a short time after their arrival in Indiana, he returned to his birth place, where he remained two years. From New York he went to Michigan and shortly after came to Lima township, where he was residing at the breaking out of the war. He enlisted at Gosben, Ind., in Co. B, 29th Ind. Vol., July 31, 1861. The 29th was commanded hy Col. John F. Miller, afterwards U. S. senator from California. To this regiment helongs the honor of being the first to re-enlist in the union army, and to Norman Gihson, of Co. B., belongs the honor of being the first man to re-enlist. The 29th was a famons regiment, and Gen. Rosecrans said: "This regiment was always gallant and distinguished on every occasion when it had an oppor- tunity of distingnishing itself." Mr. Temple was honorably dis- charged Sept. 26, 1864. Mr. Temple is a member of the Ed Temple Post, No. 395, Dept. of Ind., G. A. R., and has heen three times its commander. Farming has always been his business, and he is well situated in Section 24. He was married to Molly A. Sanders, Oct. 5, 1869. They bave five children. Edwin L., Frank E., Agnes S .. Mabel S. and Tude.
Jacob Roser was born in Stark county. Ohio, March 22, 1832. When a young man he came to Nohle county, where he remained for some time. In 1858 he was married to Amelia Jane Ritter. In September, 1862. be moved to Milford township, and settled on the farm in Section 32 where he now lives. Mr. Roser is a first. class farmer. His farm is in good condition and his residence is one of the most attractive in the comity. They have three chil- dren, George A., born March 31, 1859, Cora S .. horn Sept 25, 1863 and Dallas G., born March 30, 1873. Mr. Roser is one of the best. citizens of the county.
George W. Newnam, one of the early settlers, has with the exception of a few years in which he was engaged on public works. been occupied in farming. He first began farming for himself in Steuben county, but after remaining in that county six years came to Milford township and settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Newnam has had wide experience in work for public proter- tion and good order, and during his life he has chased down and brought to justice many dangerons and desperate characters. He is located on one of the many good farms in Milford township. Mr. Newnam was born in Talbot county, Md., May 20, 1833, and was married to Anna Eliza Luens, April 10, 1858. They have three children, John B., George E. and Nicholas C.
George W. Leonard, one of the successful farmers of Milford township, was horn Dec. 26, 1851, in Johnson township of this county, where he resided till 26 years of age, and with the excep- tion of a residence of four years in Noble county, Ind., has since been a citizen of Milford township. Without money and with a very limited education Mr. Leonard began life in earnest, and by industry and economy has risen to he not only a well-to-do farmer ont a man of respectable education., Was married Dec. 24, 1876, to Lucinda J. Green, who was born in Van Wert county, Ohio. Feb. 17, 1857, and came to Indiana with her parents when 19 years of age. They have four children, George R., Ada Orena, Clara May and Bertha Virgil. Mr. Leonard is one among the many good farmers of Milford, and like any of the other of that class of farmers can point to splendid crops. He is classed as a good sheep feeder. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are members of the church of God, Sunday school workers and firm believers in the cause of temperance.
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1-
.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
William H. Deal was born April 25, 1857, in Springfield town- ship. where he remained until his marriage in 1883, when he purchaseil and moved npon the farm on which he is now located in Section 16 of Milford township. It is needless to say that in the case of Mr. Deal farming has been a snecess. Like most of the farmers of LaGrange county he makes no specialty of any particular erop, but instead farms a variety. In September, 1883, he was married to Miss Clara B. Case, dlanghter of Zopher Case. of Johnson township. They have had three children, Charley E. and Clarence C .. living, and Carrie Gay, deceased. Mr. Deal is classed muong the enterprising and public-spirited men of the township.
Jacob Longernecker came to Indiana in 1370 and purchased a farts in Section 31 of Milforl township. On this place he remained nutil 1874 when he purchased the farm where he now resides in Section 21 of the sim towaship. As a farmer he has been very successful and as a citizen he is enterprising aud public- spirited, and always rely to assist in a substantial manner any well directed public impr wement. He is a believer in the Chris- tian religion and has for some time heen identified with the church of God. He was born Nov. 4. 1844. in Seneen county. Ohio; was married Oct. 1. 1563, to Elizabeth A. Hampshire, of Seneca county. Ohio. They have two children, Jessie M. and Amos E.
Among the well known farmers of Bloomfield township is Israel Marks He was born June 7. 1830. in Stark county, Ohio, the son of John and Mary Marks, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1-56 Israel came to this county. and on Angust 24. 1850. he was married to Amanda, daughter of Peter Sigler. MIr. Marks pur- chased sixty-tive acres of his present farm in 1865. He has since increased his hoklings. and has good buildings. Four children were born to them. William W., Ira M .. Emanuel E., and Mary E. Emanuel was born Jannary 18, 1870, in Bloomfield township. He has always lived at home and is now farming the oldl place. They have a good farm of 90 acres, all but 25 cleared. and raise mostly whent and corn.
Albert H Price, of Clearspring township, was born Dec. 31. 1846, in Licking conuty, Ohio. When he was ten months ohl his father. Wm. H. Price, removed with his family to LaGrange county and settled near the present farm in ('learspring township. The farm was then entirely unimproved. not over one-half an acre being cleared. Wm. H. Price died in Iass and his wife in 1879. Our subjert in his youth lived with his father and followed farm- ing and raising peppermint. Dec. 24. 1571, he was married to Isabel, danghter of Erastus Nelson. late of ('learspring township. to whom much credit is dne for her industry and womanly kind- nexs. In 1>82 Mr. Price bongut his present farm of S) acres. well improved at that time, and in 1888 he added 20 acres of the old homestead. He and wife have living two daughters and one son. Mr. and Mrs. Price were formerly teachers in the public schools of the county, and he has served two years as assessor. Mr. Price has always taken a great interest in the general advancement of agriculture.
Frank A. Malone, of Bloomfield townhsip, son of Richard Malone, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 14, 1834, and when nine years old removed with his father to LaGrange county and settled in Bloomfield township. He worked on the farm with his father and at the carpenter's trade. On Aug. 28. 1879, he was married to Lillie J., daughter of Nathan MI. Parker, of Bloomfield township. After marriage they lived on rented farms until 1884 when he bought his preseut farm and in 1888 built his home. They have one child. Myrtle M .. aged 12. His father, Richard Malone. was born April 1, 1814, in Maryland. When three years old his family moved to Ohio. In 1865 he moved to Bloomfield town- ship, where he lived andl followed farming until his death, May 22, 1892. He was the father of seven children. five boys and twogirls. L. A. Brown, of Bloomfield township, was born Oet. 8. 1852. in Samtlusky county. Ohio. His father. I. W. Brown, in his life time a prominent citizen, was a wagon maker and farmer, and about 1855 located in Bloomfield township. He started a saw mill in Johnson township. and selling it Inter built another in Bloom- field on the present farin. It burned down in 1875 and was rebuilt the next year. where it still stands and is running nearly every day. Our subject has always worked in the mill and since 1850 has had full control. Mr. Brown also has a farm of 40 acres. In 1891 he built his fine residence, which is one of the best in the township. He was married Oct. 28, 1875. to Eliza. daughter of
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Richard Malone, then of Bloomfield township. They have fonr children, Bert I., aged 15. Carl R., aged 14, Ledger, aged 11, and Louis E., aged 5. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P'. lodges at LaGrange.
William A. Cline, of Bloomfield township, was born Ang. S, 1830, in Richland county, Ohio, son of Wm. Cline, who was a farmer there, and moved to this county and settled in Bloomfield township in August, 1856. Mr. Cline followed farming with his father until he was married to Mary E. Spears, Jan. 13. 1858. After marriage Mr. ('line bought 80 acres of his father where his present buildings stand. which he has erected since that time. There were only 15 acres cleared at that time. He has since bought. pieces of land adjoining his farm until now he has 346% acres, and in all the land there is not over 15 acres of marsh and about 70 acres of timber. Mr. Cline has four children living. Mary J., married to Orvin Anderson. Frank B., married to Carrie Hackett, Nellie E .. and Rachel L., wife of Joseph R. Smith.
John Sowers, of Bloomfield. was born Ang, 17. 1848. in Ash- land county, Ohio. His father. Martin Sowers, was a native of Germany and came to this country when 19 years of age and followed farming in Ohio until 1851. when he moved to Allen connty. Mr. Sowers livel with his father until 1870. when he moved to Williams county. Ohio. and purchased a farm. living there five years. There he was married to Engenia Page, Aug. 27, 1871. In 1875 he returned to DeKalb county and purchaseil a farm. where he lived five years. theu liveil five years in Allen connty. and in 1885 purchased his present farm in Bloomfield town- ship. to which he has made valuable improvements. Mr. Sowers has eight children, six boys and two girls. He and wife are mem- bers of the M. E. church.
Edwin Barnes, of Bloomfield township, was born Feb. 19. 1853. in that township. His father. Edwin Barnes, was a farmer in this county and was one of the early settlers. Edwin, Jr .. fol- lowed farming with his father until his marriage, Oct. 9. 1876, to Alice T., daughter of J. C. Kinney, of Lima. She died 18 months after marriage, and Mr. Barnes was married again March 1. 188t. to Charlotte Campbell, of Ingham county, Michigan. They have two children, Jennie M and Walter E. Mr. Barnes purchased his present farm in ISSI and built his comfortable home and maile other improvements the following year. The last few years he has devoted considerable time to the agricultural implement trade. handling the Champion binders.
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