USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 19
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Union township contains about twenty-seven sections of land ; is in town- ship 22, range 5. Its population in 1900, according to the Federal census, was six hundred and fifty-seven.
The villages platted within Union township are Wea Station, Shade- land and Taylor's Station. These are all very small places, way-stations on the line of railroad through the township, but are convenient trading and mail points for the farming community.
Farmer's Institute, in this township, has a population of one hundred and twenty.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Jackson township is the extreme southwestern township within Tippe- canoe county. It is bounded on the north by Wayne and Union townships; on the east by Randolph : on the south by Montgomery county ; on the west by Fountain county. Its domain covers forty-two square miles, the greater portion of which is level, rich prairie land and now under a high state of cultivation.
Owing to the fact that this was a prairie township, it was not settled as early as the timbered section. In fact the first comers doubted very much whether this land would ever be productive of paying crops. Then timber had to be used for both fencing and fuel. Samuel O. Clark was the first man to demonstrate that this was a suitable section in which to settle for the purpose of building a home. In the year 1824 he located and erected his log cabin, near what has since been known as Clark's Point, or Pin-hook. For two years he was "monarch of all he surveyed." The first ground was broken by the plow and a corn crop planted in 1824. From that time on settlements increased quite rapidly.
In 1826 Lewis Wheeler located on the farm since owned by his son Damas, and William L. Newman settled and built a log cabin in section 26.
In 1829 Jesse Meharry entered a half of section 22, returning soon after to his home in Adams county, Ohio. Two years later he effected his per- manent settlement. His brother Daniel also settled on a half section of land in the same township in 1836.
In 1828 Thomas Marks bought a traet of land located partly in Jack- son and partly in Wayne townships. The same season came in Dudley Miller, who located on Longlois Reserve.
In 1831 John W. Odell settled at "Odell's Corners," on the farm since owned by his son Washington.
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Other early settlers were Andrew Insley. John K. MeMillen. Robert Sayers, John Montgomery, Thomas Ezra, James Francis, John Hliett, Wil- liam Wiles. William Stewart. Samuel Rankin, David Farnsworth. George Kirkpatrick. James K. Stewart and John Shultz.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first religious meetings in Jackson township were held by the Methodists, at the house of William L. Newman, in 1828. For a number of years following services were held at the cabin homes of the settlers.
The first death in the township was James, the son of Levin Wheeler, in 1828.
The first township election was held in 1828. and Levin Wheeler was elected as justice of the peace.
The first church edifice in the township was built by the Methodists in 1855. For further church history the reader is referred to the chapter on religious history elsewhere in this volume.
The first marriage in Jackson township was that which united William L. Newman and Miss Vermilla Wheeler ; the exact date is not now known. In 1828 Damas Wheeler married Miss Elizabeth Cain. The same day John Cain and Miss Lucretia Dulin were united in marriage.
The postoffices of Jackson township were among the first improvements needed and had by the pioneers of Jackson township. "Shawnee Mound" and "Sugar Grove" were early-about 1843. At the first named. Jesse Maharry was postmaster, and at the latter named the postmaster was Andrew Insley. In 1871 Odell postoffice was added at Odell's Corners, and in 1877 New Aurora postoffice was established in the south part of Jackson town- ship.
Jackson is without any towns or villages up to this date, except Odell. a postoffice point on section 2, and it has but about fifty people, according to the latest United States census. The township has no lines of railroads traversing its territory either. According to the county school superinten- dent's reports ( 1908) there is an enrollment of one hundred eighty-two pupils within the township. The population of the township is about one thousand. It is a rich agricultural section and well settled by an intelligent class of husbandmen.
WABASH TOWNSHIP.
Wabash township, derived from the name of the river which forms its southeastern boundary, contains parts of three congressional townships-
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townships 22, 23 and 24. It comprises about forty-eight sections, but is in an irregular shape with five civil townships adjoining it.
James Suit, who came about 1822, was probably the original settler. He did not, however, engage in the usual customary labor of the pioneer, his real occupation being more directly that of a trapper. He had other men in his employ who assisted him in trapping beaver and collecting the wild honey with which the primeval forests of Tippecanoe county were so boun- tifully supplied. With a cargo of beaver skins and honey he loaded a keel-boat, in which he floated down the Wabash river to Vincennes, and in exchange for these goods brought back a cargo of salt, Mackinaw blankets, dry goods, whisky and general merchandise, which he sold and traded to the Indians in the surrounding country. In 1823 he was joined by Benjamin Cuppy, a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, who embarked in the same enterprise.
In 1824 an addition to the white settlement was made by the coming of Francis Sunderland, who established a ferry at Cincinnatus. For one year he continued to live in his boat, but at the end of that time, failing to realize the net profits which he had hoped to receive. he abandoned it and purchased an eighty-acre farm, which he improved and cultivated. The same year came James Emerson, who bought six lots on the prairie, returning . soon thereafter to his home in Pickaway county, Ohio. The land named he did not permanently locate on until 1828.
In 1824 other settlements were effected by James Pierce. James Sev- erson, Peter Caster, John Tolliver, Mr. McGuire, Michael and Philip Hoboy and James McCune.
From 1825 on for a number of years the settlement increased with great rapidity.
The first religious meetings in Wabash township were held in 1828, when services were held by a United Brethren minister at the house of Benjamin Cuppy. The following year religious services were held by the Methodists, the same being conducted by Rev. Emmett, at the home of James Emerson. Later on religious meetings were frequently held at various farm houses in the township.
In 1869 the Methodist people erected a church, but previous to that date services were held by them in the school house known as No. Seven.
The first school in the township was taught by Sanford C. Cox, the well known author. The first school house was built in about 1832. At present the township contains good school buildings, and has an enrollment of two hundred fifty pupils.
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As a civil township Wabash was organized in 1829, and an election held with the following results: Justice of the peace, Philip McCormick : constables, John Cuppy and Martin Murphy : supervisor, James Emerson.
The pioneer postoffice of this part of Tippecanoe was kept by James McCune, in 1824, near the present site of West Lafayette, but originally called Chauncey.
To the reference already made to religious meetings in the township, it should be stated that about 1869, the Baptist congregation erected a house of worship, previous to which date services were held at the school house. For the present religious standing of this section of the county, the reader is respectively referred to the religious chapter of this work.
WEST LAFAYETTE.
What is now known as West Lafayette has had different names at var- ious times in the history of the county. At first it was known as Kingston, and the land on which it was platted was largely owned by Jesse B. Lutz, who surveyed and converted it into lots and gave it its original name. Sub- sequently, however, the Chaunceys, of Philadelphia, located a town on land adjoining, to which they gave the name of Chauncey. Still later the two towns were united into one municipality, styled Chauncey and continued to be so called until recent years, when it has become virtually a part of Lafay- ette and is called by all "West Lafayette."
Concerning the organization of a town it may be stated that January 2. 1866, the citizens met at the Kingstown school house to consider the propriety of organizing the place as a village, and James H. Marsteller was chosen chairman of the meeting, and Daniel Royse as secretary. They then and there decided to incorporate and call the place a town. The first board of trustees selected from their number Mr. Marsteller as their president. At the first meeting of the trustees the name of Chauncey was adopted. ( See history of Lafayette, proper.)
In the history of Tippecanoe, published in 1887, appeared this con- cerning this town: "Nearly all of the public improvements have been made by the corporate management. Chauncey is rapidly growing, and more residences were erected there than in Lafayette itself. The present popula- tion of the place is about two thousand."
As the history of this place is given complete under another head, this description of the origin of the chief town within Wabash township will suffice in this chapter.
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PORTER.
The village of Porter is a station point on the railroad, and is on sec- tion 44, township 23. range north. Its population is small as compared to other villages in Tippecanoe county, but serves well as a shipping and pas- senger station.
The population of this township in 1900, including West Lafayette, was four thousand two hundred two.
SHELBY TOWNSHIP.
Shelby township was named in honor of Isaac Shelby, who was appointed to survey and locate a road from Logansport to La Grange. on the Warren county line.
It is situated in the northwestern part of Tippecanoe county, and con- tains about fifty-three congressional townships. It is noted as being a fertile agricultural section and lands have been highly improved by an intelligent set of soil-tillers, who have brought all to a most perfect and highly product- ive condition, hence the lands are very valuable. The population of the township in 1900 was one thousand six hundred sixty-two, which has increased in proportion to the steady growth of the entire county.
In regard to the settlement. let it be recorded that in 1828 the principal residents were :
John Cuppy, Job Haigh. John Dolly. William Foster, Joseph Moore, John Brigham, Wendall Brown. Z. Brown, John Foster and William McCrea.
Those who effected a permanent settlement in 1829 were: Moses and John McFarland, Enos Moore, John S. VanNatta, William Layton, Thomas Moore, Henry H. Moore, Wingate Timmans, Joshua Timmans. Benjamin Leichty and Stephen Sappington.
Worthy of mention were settlers named as follows: Abraham Switzer. Benjamin Eastburn, Samuel I. Godman. John White. William Jordan. Jacob Shamnbaugh and James W. Holliday.
Until 1838 the buildings of Shelby township were made from logs from the nearby forests. During that year John Brigham erected a frame resi- dence on section 29. and other frame structures soon followed his. But he being a man of considerable means. for those days, had better improvements than did his less fortunate neighbors.
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MONTMORENCI.
Montmorenci, the only village of Shelby township. is located on section 6, east of the center of the township, and was laid out by Sampson Hinkle, one of, if not the first, merchants in the township. He established a general store in 1830. During that year a man erected a water grist mill on Indian creek. Montmorenci finally became a railroad station point. It now has about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. The church and school history of this township and the village just named will- be treated under their proper headings in the general chapters of this volume.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
Wayne is on the west line of the county, north of Jackson, east of Union, south of Shelby townships and contain parts of townships 22 and 23, making about thirty-three sections of land, the river Wabash cutting off a part of the northwest corner of the domain that would other- wise make the even thirty-six sections. Its population in 1900 was, accord- ing to the United States census reports, one thousand two hundred thirty- eight.
This sub-division of the county was without doubt named in honor of General Anthony Wayne, of Revolutionary and Indian war fame. Its northern boundary being the Wabash river. it is at that point somewhat irregular in its shape. Its surface features are level prairie, greatly undulat- ing in places. Before the settlement by the white race, its undergrowth was annually burned by the Indians, thus preventing it becoming a timbered sec- tion. In later years, the timber has been permitted to grow on lands not absolutely required for farming purposes.
Up to 1871 Wayne township was included in the west half of the ter- ritory now embraced in Union township.
It seems a well settled historic fact that the first white man to invade this portion of Tippecanoe county was Elijah Moore, who came from Bloom- ington, Indiana, in 1822. Before that time he had been engaged as a brick mason, but having bright visions of the romance and profit of the develop- ment of rich, new country, he located at this point. He remained there until winter had depleted his store of provisions, when he was forced to return to his former home. The next spring. however, he again came to the town- ship, and was joined by Lewis Thomas. John McFarland and John Brockus.
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During the same year came Samuel Clark, William Brady, Peter Weaver and Moses McFarland.
The survey of the land in the township was effected in 1822, at which time it was sectionized, and again sub-divided into smaller tracts the ensuing year.
At first the settlement was greatly retarded on account of the sickness which prevailed, mostly on account of malaria. and cases of ague and fever were almost in every household. But steadily the hardy pioneers per- sisted in draining the land, and as the years one by one rolled by, the country was more healthful and the settlement increased more rapidly. The public Iand sales began at the government land office at Crawfordsville in 1824. after which event this township was advanced in its population to quite a considerable extent. The pioneer settlers here were not obliged to make clearings and literally hew out homes from forest lands, as in many other portions of the county, hence could plant crops at once, and begin to harvest crops, the first of which was planted by Lewis Thomas and John McFar- Iand in 1823. The following year a French trader stopped at the house of Peter Weaver. He had with him some oats, which he fed to his horse, and in consideration of a few bushels of corn, traded Mr. Weaver a portion of his cereal. The oats thus procured were sown, and in due time harvested; but the following year all were surprised to find several varieties of wheat spring- ing up from the stubble that had been made by the oat crop. How the wheat came there was never positively known, but the most plausible theory was that the seed was sown inadvertently with the oats. However, it was regarded as very mysterious by all who witnessed it. So it was that Mr. Weaver raised the first wheat as well as the first oats in Wayne township.
FIRST EVENTS.
The pioneer school was held in 1826 by a Mr. Wiles, on the banks of the Wabash river, near the western extremity of Wea Plain, and the number of scholars was all the house would accommodate.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. Emmett. of the Methodist church. A little later religious services were held by Rev. J. A. Carnahan, of Dayton. Indiana. Up to 1837 there was no church building within the township, but that year the Methodist Episcopal people built at West Point, and although it belonged to this denomination it was generously offered to and used by all denominations. Several years later a church was built by the Baptist church, erected in West Point. (See Religious Chapter for full account of the churches of this township. )
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George Lutz erected a saw mill in 1831, on Flint creek. To this he added a "corn-cracker," and in connection with his lumber trade ground corn for meal. Jolin Sherry erected a grist mill and distillery on the same creek. He was successful for a number of years, but finally got into an endless litigation which finally ruined his business.
In 1840 a hotel was built, or rather a tavern, as then called, at West Point, by John Fraley, a blacksmith, who conducted the shop as well as the tavern.
In 1826 the first township election was held at the house of Abel Jenny, and, by a majority of the votes cast on this occasion. Mr. Jenny was elected justice of the peace, and John Jones as constable.
The first child born within this township of the white race, so far as is known, was in 1824 to Mrs. John McFarland, who gave birth to a daughter. Later in the same year a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Staley.
The first death was that of the passing away of John Julian, whose remains were buried on his own land.
Wayne township had a population of one thousand two hundred thirty- eight in 1900.
VILLAGE HISTORY.
The town of Granville is in the extreme northern part of this township, three miles west of the ancient town of Oniatenon, elsewhere described in this volume. The present town was laid out by Thomas Concannon August 23, 1834, and an addition was laid out to it by James Cancannon, who gave it the name it now bears. It is located on the Wabash & Erie canal, and, like many canal towns of earlier days, once gave promise of blooming into a metropolitan place ; but on account of railroads, it was nipped in the bud, and now stands as one of the defunct places on the map of Tippecanoe county.
West Point was platted in 1833-34, by Samuel Kiser, and soon there- after a north addition was made to it by Miles Dimmett. The name given to the place by its founder was Middleton; but as this did not meet the approval of all concerned, including the postal authorities, it was settled by a mass meeting that met for the purpose of changing the original name and at this instance the name West Point was selected. The first store opened in the place was by Henry Banta, in a one-story building built from brick, and for several months he sold goods at this point without opposition, but soon Joshua and Isaac Heath opened a similar store. in which a lively
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trade in general merchandise was carried on. and is still. Its population is three hundred.
Grand Army Post No. 39 was organized in West Point, in 1881, by Capt. J. B. Shaw, of Lafayette.
On section 6 a town was platted by Joseph Hall and it was named Glen Hall, but it never grew to the expectation of its founder-was a mere hamlet where but little business was carried on for a time. It still has a place on the maps of Tippecanoe county.
RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP.
Randolph township is the central sub-division of Tippecanoe. in the southern tier of townships. It is situated west of Lauramie and east from Jackson township, with both Wea and Union on its north, and bounded on the south by the county line. It contains thirty sections of choice farming land.
As early as the year 1826 this township had the following permanent settlers within its borders: Mr. Buell and family, who first settled on the farm later owned by George W. House, Jr. : Major Ristine, who located on section 19; Judge Wiley, who first settled in the north part of the township (now Wea). subsequently removing to the south part; Judge Allen, who settled on the land since owned by Dr. Simison : John T. Jack, Mr. McDeed, and William Webster, who settled west of Judge Allen, on the same section. Late in the fall of 1828 came George W. House, Sr.
Randolph Lodge. No. 376. of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. was organized July 24. 1871, by D. D. G. M. Thomas Underwood, of Lafayette.
Eudora Lodge. No. 130. Rebekah degree of the Odd Fellows order, was instituted October 10, 1874.
A subscription school was taught in this township in 1826, the school term covering a period of about four months each year.
Among the early ministers to proclaim the gospel in this part of Tippe- canoe was Rev. Richard Hargrave and Rev. Samuel Brenton, of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and Rev. J. A. Carnahan, of the Presbyterian denomi- nation, who conducted religious services at intervals in the places before named, and until the year 1835, at private houses, etc. But in that year the Methodist people erected a building for church purposes at Romney, which they occupied until their increasing congregations rendered the building of a new edifice necessary. The first building was later used by the Odd
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Fellows as their hall. Religious services were conducted in this church until 1875. when, by donation, a five-thousand-dollar church edifice was con- structed, the same being the gift of George W. House, Jr. The Presby- terians built at Romney in 1845. For more on the churches of Randolph township see religious chapter in this book.
ROMNEY AND CORWIN.
These are the only villages within the township. Romney is a flourishing village of about two hundred population, laid out in 1831-2 by Joseph Hal- stead, who was the proprietor of the land upon which it is situated. He became the pioneer merchant at this point, he having kept a general mer- chandise store there before the town was incorporated. Among the early merchants, there were William Throckmorton, John Ryan and Isaac Mes- sick. In 1832 a hotel was built by John Mack, and by him conducted for a number of years.
Romney is a station on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago rail- way line, and one of the lively trading marts in Tippecanoe county. It now has a population of two hundred. It was originally called Columbia ; platted August 29, 1832, by John Peterson.
Corwin is near to Romney and enjoyed at one time considerable trade. Randolph township is the seat of good school houses, and the last annual report of the county superintendent of schools shows that the total enroll- ment of pupils within the township was two hundred and thirty-five.
Stock raising in this township has long since been a leading industry and been very profitable to the owners of large farms or ranches.
The township had a population of eight hundred and forty-two in 1900.
LAURAMIE TOWNSHIP.
The first election in this sub-division of Tippecanoe county was held in 1829, previous to the real organization of the township, and in fact before the boundary lines were fixed definitely. It was called Cole township, in honor of James Cole, but it was later changed to Lauramie-reason not known to the present historian. In 1830 a permanent organization of the township was effected, and Hezekiah Hunter was elected justice of the peace.
Lauramie is the southeastern township in Tippecanoe county, and com- prises all of township No. 21, range 3. and one-half of range 4 of the same
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township, making fifty-four sections of land. It is one of the most highly cultivated and valuable parts of the county. Its population in 1900 was two thousand five hundred and forty-six.
The first settlers in this part of Tippecanoe county were Leonard Anth- ony, William and Daniel Stingley. Nathan Parsons, Johnson, James and Richard Cole, Jacob Thorn. William Van Horn. Thomas Hewitt and Isaac Wickersham.
The next year, 1829. saw the little settlement increased by the arrival of Hezekiah Enos, Daniel and John Hunter, Henry Wunstaff, Daniel Stoner, Thomas Ellis, Joseph Gladden. George, Samuel, Leonard and Jerry Bar- cus, all of whom settled near the present town of Stockwell. The same sea- son came George P. Roudebush, locating near Concord, where he was later joined by Joseph Stoner. John Stutsman, George Kessler, Frederick Hanger and Moses Guinn. Thomas H. O'Neal settled about the same time at Monroe.
Schools early had attention by the pioneers above named, and in 1829 Mr. Cormeen opened a subscription school, the first in the township. It was a rude affair and like many another of those early days, the spot where bright intellects gained their first inspirations and training. Among the pupils of this school was he who came to be known as Honorable James Cole, member of the Indiana legislature, and a man of marked power and great influence.
The religion of the pioneer settlers of this township was of the unadul- terated type, simple and consistent with the teachings of the man of Gali- lee. The first services were held by Rev. Vredenburg, at the house of James Cole, Sr., near Stockwell, and until the year 1840 the religious meetings were held from house to house.
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