USA > Indiana > Adams County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 16
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 16
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
The Kirkland Township High School building was erected in 1917- 18 at a cost of about $12,000. The Central High School building of Hartford Township was built within the past year at the cost of about $20,000. It is the purpose to secure as many high school commissions for the schools in Adams County the next year as possible. These last named schools may be in the list.
The State Board of Education prescribes the requirements upon which these buildings must be constructed. The actual cash value of all the property in Adams County at the present time is about $52,000,- 000; the assessed valuation as returned by the various school corpora- tions is $17,350,705-which is estimated as about one-third of the actual cash value of the whole amount of property in the year 1917.
In connection with the County Board of Education, is the " Agri- cultural Extension Service" of Purdue University, a reference to which is heretofore made under the title of "The County Agent."
Though the county superintendent may have a deputy for certain parts of his work, the requirements of him have been so inereased that all his time, and more, are required to properly eondnet the busi- ness of his office.
To the foregoing very interesting and complete history of edu- cational development in the county is added the statistical matter which gives a specific idea of the present material status of the schools, the strength of their teaching foree, and various financial items. The following table was compiled by Superintendent Christen late in the fall of 1917 :
Number of Value of
Townships
Enrollment
Teachers
Property $ 25,000
Bhie Creek
274
7
French
192
6
8.400
Hartford
300
10
27,000
Jefferson
214
6
16,100
Kirkland
195
6
27.800
Monroe
514
17
60,000
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
Townships
Enrollment
Number of Teachers
Value of Property $ 22,000
Preble
165
1
Root
191
6
13,500
St. Mary's
269
11
19,000
Union
132
5
12,000
Wabash
346
11
22,900
Washington
279
9
32,000
Berne
390
13
45,000
Geneva
304
9
27,500
Decatur
924
29
106,000
Total
4,689
149
$464,200
Various financial items taken from the superintendent's last re- port :
Amount on hand July 31. 1916: Townships, $21,705.26; Berne, $857.85; Geneva, $1,568.18; Decatur, $31,393.00. Total $55,524.29.
Total revenue for tuition: Townships, $83,148.23; Berne, $13,- 215.81; Geneva, $9,536.24; Decatur, $28,627.94. Total, $134,528.22. Amount of special school revenne for year ending July 31, 1917 : Townships, $39,435.79; Berne, $883.94; Geneva, $2,103.67; Decatur, $65,858.01. Total, $108,281.41.
Amount expended for teaching for year ending July 31, 1917: By townships, $70,832.87; Berne, $4,278.30; Geneva, $5,718.23; Decatur, $24,008.61. Total, $104,838.01.
Amount expended for teaching for the year ending July 31, 1917 : Townships, $41,472.15; Berne, $7,808.00; Geneva, $4,761.49; De- catur, $20,610.85. Total, $74,652.49.
CHAPTER X
MILITARY AND WAR MATTERS
ANTE-CIVIL WAR COMPANIES-MARTIAL SPIRIT SPRINGS UP OVER- NIGHT-FIRST CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEN-BOUNTIES AND RELIEF- COMPANY C, FORTY-SEVENTH INDIANA INFANTRY-BYRON H. DENT -THREE COMPANIES OF THE EIGHTY-NINTH INFANTRY-CAPT. A. J. HILL-DEATH OF MAJ. SAM HENRY AND OTHERS-THE ELEVENTH CAVALRY-NORVAL BLACKBURN-THE TRIRTEENTH CAV- ALRY-SAM HENRY POST NO. 33, G. A. R .- CIVIL WAR BODIES AT GENEVA-THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-COMPANY B, FOURTH IN- DIANA INFANTRY-BECOMES THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTIETH REGI- MENT IN FEDERAL SERVICE-MOVEMENT FOR A SOLDIERS' MONUMENT -SITE SELECTED AND CORNERSTONE LAID-THE SOLDIERS OF FIVE WARS-DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT-HOW THE MEMORIAL AP- PEARS-ADAMS COUNTY IN THE WORLD'S WAR-NATIONAL GUARD MUSTERED INTO THE UNITED STATES SERVICE-COMPANY A, FOURTH INFANTRY-MEN IN SERVICE, SPRING OF 1918-STATE UNIVERSITY'S HONOR TABLET.
From the Civil war to the World's war, Adams County has done its full part in supporting the causes which the bulk of its people be- lieve to be right, with all the men, the money and the stanch backing of public sentiment at its command. Like the remainder of Indiana and the United States, it has always loved peace and has only gone to war when it was obliged to fight for the free development of peace- fnl pursuits and a high average of ideals.
ANTE-CIVIL WAR COMPANIES
So far as can be ascertained, the first company organized in Adams County was raised about 1845. It is known that Samuel S. Mickle, William Trout and James Niblick were officers; that the company was mustered twice a month and was drilled by either an officer from the governor's staff or from the United States service. In 1862, besides the several companies raised for active service at the front, some of
151
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
the citizens who remained at home for various good reasons were organized as Home Guards.
MARTIAL SPIRIT SPRINGS UP OVER-NIGHT
When the Civil war broke upon the country, Adams County had a population of only about 9,000 inhabitants. With a population mainly devoted to agriculture which knew nothing of war except by history and tradition, it could hardly be expected that a martial spirit would spring up over-night. But that was exactly what happened fifty-six years ago, as in the year of Grace and Our Lord, 1917. After the Sumter news was flashed over the country, the transformation in Adams County as in every other rural section of the North, was as if born in electricity and lightning. Men stopped talking promiscuousły at the corner grocery, or on the streets, and gathered in crowds at country schoolhouses and public halls, freely offering of their means and their lives to stamp out what they considered a menace to their homes and their typical institutions.
FIRST CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEN
A number of volunteers at once proceeded to Richmond, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and other centers, there to enlist in various companies and regiments. For such contributions of soldiers the county never received special credit. It was four or five months after the begin- ning of the war before a full company was raised in Adams County. These contributions of its best young men continued as long as the Government called for recruits until some 700 soldiers had been fur- nished, or nearly one in ten of the total population of the county. The draft was enforced but once-in October, 1862. Then thirty-seven men were drawn from these townships : Preble, 13; French, 13; Hart- ford, 8; Kirkland, 3.
BOUNTIES AND RELIEF
About this time, the county offered a $100 bounty to each volunteer, with $5 monthly to a wife and $I monthly to each child under fourteen years of age. In January, 1865, under the last call of President Lincoln, when another draft was threatened, the Board of County Commissioners, under authority of a special popular vote, offered a bounty of $300. In the fulfilment of these measures, the county paid out in the progress of the war $50,000 for bounties and over $18,000
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
for the relief of families. Most of the townships also gave bounties to fill their quotas as fixed by the Government. These reported amounts were: Hartford, $2,200; Root, $2,200; Union, $2,000; Preble, $1,800; Blue Creek, $1,800; Washington, $1,600; Wabash, $1,400; Monroe, $400; Jefferson, $400. Altogether, by county and townships, there was expended in Adams County, during the Civil war, the sum of $82,894. In consideration of its population, wealth and the disturbed condition of all occupations and business, that was a record for ex- eusable pride.
COMPANY C, FORTY-SEVENTH INDIANA INFANTRY
It was not until the fall of 1861 that a full company of volunteers was raised in Adams County. That unit, which became Company C of the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, was organized with the fol- lowing officers: Captain, Esaias Dailey ; first lieutenant, Byron H. Dent, and second lieutenant, Henry C. Weimer. Samuel S. Mickle was major of the regiment, but resigned April 12, 1862. Captam Dailey resigned in February, 1862, and Lieutenant Dent was promoted to his place, while Austin Crabbs became first lieutenant. Lieutenant Weimer died at Bardstown, Kentucky, February 18, 1862, and Calvin D. Hart succeeded him. In April, 1862, Captain Dent resigned and Lieutenant Crabbs received another promotion. He was captain until December, 1864, when his term of service expired and he was mustered out. Horatio G. P. Jennings beeame first lientenant when Austin Crabbs was promoted and served until the expiration of his term. Lieutenant Hart resigned October 18, 1862, and next day William A. Dailey was given his shoulder straps. He resigned October 23, 1864. Ira A. Blossom was first lieutenant from January 1, 1865, and eaptain from March 1st following, John T. Weimer then becoming first lien- tenant. Originally, the company had ninety-eight enlisted men; to there were added, at different times, twenty-three recruits, making 121 as its maximum strength.
The Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which Com- pany C was a unit, was composed of companies raised in the Eleventh Congressional Distriet and was commanded by James R. Slaek. It was with Buell and Pope's armies in the Missouri campaigns, being the first regiment to enter Fort Thompson, New Madrid. Thence it was moved to Tennessee and after the capture of Fort Pillow was trans- ferred to Arkansas, and soon afterward joined General Grant's army before Vicksburg. It participated in the siege and was there at the surrender on the 4th of July, 1863. The battle of Champion Hills
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
levied sadly from its ranks. Subsequently the regiment participated in the unfortunate Banks expeditions in Louisiana, and during that period reenlisted as a body and became veterans in the official ac- ceptation of that word; "veterans," in that sense, including all those Union soldiers who reenlisted, after their three years' term of service expired, for the "period of the war," whatever that might be. In December, 1864, Colonel Slack was commissioned a brigadier general, and John A. MeLaughlin was promoted to the colonelcy of the Forty- seventh. Under its new commander it participated in the campaigns near and against Mobile, and was with General Herron's army at Shreveport, Louisiana, which received the surrender of General Price's army of the Trans-Mississippi department. It was mustered out of the service at that point, in October, 1865. Reaching Indian- apolis with 530 men and 32 officers, it was present, on the first of November, at a reception given to the regiment in the capitol grounds, and was addressed by Governor Morton, General Slack, and Cols. Milton S. Robinson and John A. MeLaughlin. On the following day the regiment was finally discharged.
BYRON H. DENT
Byron H. Dent, who went into the service as first lieutenant of Company C, resigned that commission after a few months and later was appointed adjutant of the Eighty-ninth Indiana, serving thus for nearly two years. His father, George A. Dent, was one of the pioneers of the county and its first auditor.
THREE COMPANIES OF THE EIGHTY-NINTH INFANTRY
In the summer of 1862 Adams County raised three entire com- panies, about 325 men, for the Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, of which Charles D. Murray, of Kokomo, was colonel. Be- sides Adjutant Dent, there were upon its regimental staff the follow- ing: Barnabas Collins and Jacob M. Crabbs, quartermasters, the former serving a few months in 1862 and the latter for more than a year of the regiment's term; Enos W. Erick, for about a year in 1862-63 as chaplain, and John P. Porter, as assistant surgeon and surgeon in 1862-64, being killed by guerrillas in November of the latter year.
The first captain of Company H was Enos W. Erick, who became chaplain of the regiment when it was fully organized. Adoniram J. Hill was then promoted from the first lieutenaney to the captaincy,
155
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
and James H. Browning, formerly second lieutenant, moved up a grade. Martin V. B. Spencer was promoted from the ranks to seeond lieutenant. Captain Ilill was mustered out in January, 1865, and Robert D. Patterson commanded the company during the remainder of the war. Upon the resignation of Lieutenant Browning in Feb- ruary, 1865, William A. Wisner was promoted to his place, several changes having already been made in the second lieutenancy.
Of Company I, Henry Banta was captain in 1862-63; Peter Litzel, in 1863-65, and John J. Chubb until the muster-out in September of the latter year. Captains Litzel and Chubb had both been first lieu- tenants, and the latter had also been a second lieutenant. John Blood who had been a second lieutenant held a first lieutenancy during the last year of the war in which the Eighty-ninth saw service.
Edwin S. Metzger was captain and Henry MeLean first lieutenant of Company K during the entire term of service from August, 1862, to September, 1865. James Stoops, Jr., was seeond lieutenant, but resigned in June, 1863, and was succeeded by Henry H. Hart. When quite young he had joined Company I and was afterward promoted to be drum major of his regiment. He was discharged at Mobile, Ala- bama, in July, 1865, and after the war was engaged in the lumber and milling business at Decatur. His father, Jacob S. Hart, was an old miller of that city.
The movements and campaigns of the Eighty-ninth Regiment were substantially the same as those of the Forty-seventh. It participated in the operations in the southwest, in Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Eighty-ninth was in the assaults and sieges against Fort Pillow, Vieksburg and Mobile; was a part of Banks' Red River expeditions, and was mustered out of the Union service at Mobile, July 19, 1865. Proceeding homeward, it reached Indianapolis on the 4th of August, when, after having been publicly received by Governor Morton in the State House Grove, it was dis- charged. The remaining recruits of the Eighty-ninth were transferred to the Fifty-second Indiana, and continued to serve with that organiza- tion until September 10, 1865, when they were mustered out with the regiment. During its term of service the Eighty-ninth suffered losses as follows : 31 killed, 167 wounded and 4 missing, making a total loss of 202. It marehed 2,363 miles on foot, traveled by steamer 7,112 miles and by rail 1,232 miles. Total distance traveled, 10,707 miles.
CAPT. A. J. HILL
Capt. A. J. Hill, of Company H, was one of several well known newspaper men who enthusiastically dropped the pen for the sword.
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
A New Yorker by birth, he had been educated in Virginia and at the age of twenty settled in Decatur. Graduated he became interested in newspaper work, and in the spring of 1859 purchased a half in- terest in the Eagle. He was then in his twenty-seventh year. Soon afterward he became sole owner of the paper and was conducting it in the fall of 1862 when he was elected captain of Company H. He took with him to the front the entire force of the office, including the "devil" for a drummer boy. Captain Hill continued in command of the company until the fall of 1864, when his health failed and in January, 1865, he returned home. At that time a draft was pending in the county, but by his personal efforts its necessity was completely neutralized through the enlistment of sixty volunteers, which filled all demands made by the President for troops during the war. With this work accomplished, he resumed his old position on the Eagle, the office having been rented during his absence at the front. After the war (1867) he was elected clerk of the Adams Circuit Court and served for two terms. Although he disposed of his interest in the Eagle in 1874, when its name was changed to the Democrat, and en- gaged for several years in business, he returned to newspaper work for a time, previous to his retirement from active pursuits on account of ill health.
DEATH OF MAJ. SAM HENRY AND OTHERS
In the fall of 1864 the Eighty-ninth was engaged in guarding Mem- phis against the threatened cavalry raids of the Confederate General Price and in pursuit of his force in Missouri. While employed in the latter movements at Greenton, some distance south of Lexington, Maj. Sam Henry, who resided at Pendleton, Howard Ashler, quar- termaster, of Kokomo, and John P. Porter, of Decatur, the regimental surgeon, were killed by guerrillas on the 1st day of November. As told by a member of the brigade, who passed along soon after the shooting: "They were with their command on a march to St. Louis, about forty miles from the town of Lexington, and had stopped at a farm home to get something to eat. The lady served them, but pleaded with them to leave, telling them that they were in danger. They scoffed at the idea, however, and finished their meal. They had left their horses at the gate and their revolvers in the holsters. The guerrillas slipped up, surrounded the horses and captured the three officers. They took the men to the rear of the command, and entered a small woods, where they stripped the men, shot them and, taking all their possessions, left them there, riddled with bullets. The next
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
brigade found them and, recognizing the brave officers, took the bodies on to their own regiments and the remains were immediately shipped home for interment." Seventeen years afterward the G. A. R. post at Decatur was named in honor of the brave and popular Major, Sam Henry. On the walls of the G. A. R. hall hangs a fine likeness of the major, presented by his brother, Charles L. Henry, while he was con- gressman from the Eighth Indiana distriet.
THE ELEVENTH CAVALRY
In the autumn of 1863 a number of men were raised in Adams County for the Eleventh Cavalry and became Company C of the 126th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. James C. Wilson, a Deeatur carpenter who had served in the Mexican war, was second lieutenant. Soon afterward he became captain of Company G, Thirteenth Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was in command of the company at the battle of Nashville. While in the army Captain Wilson contracted a disease, which caused his death on November 29, 1866.
NORVAL BLACKBURN
Norval Blackburn was second lieutenant of Company C from March 1, 1864, first lieutenant from August 1st of that year and eap- tain from June 1, 1865. At the time of his enlistment in the previous September he was in his twenty-first year. He was mustered out of the service in September, 1865. After the war he held various county offiees, serving as clerk of the Circuit Court in 1879-83. Soon after -. ward he bought a half-interest in the Demoerat, in 1884 became sole proprietor and in 1885 commeneed his term as postmaster of Decatur. The several companies of the Eleventh Cavalry were raised and or- ganized during the fall of 1863 and the winter of 1863-64. On the first of March of the latter year the regimental organization was per- fected at Indianapolis, and the command given to Robert R. Stewart, who had been promoted from the lieutenant coloneley of the Second Cavalry. On the first of May the regiment left Indianapolis and moved by rail to Nashville, only a small portion of the command be- ing mounted. After remaining in a eamp of instruction for sev- eral weeks, it was assigned to guard various railway lines in Northern Alabama. In the fall it was mounted as a regiment and joined in the pursuit of Hood's forces from Nashville to Northern Alabama. It was then dismounted and again placed on guard duty. Subsequently,
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
as cavalry, it operated in Missouri and Kansas, and it was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, in the latter state, in September, 1865. On the 26th of that month the regiment reached Indianapolis with thirty officers and 579 men, under command of Col. Abram Sharra, for final discharge and payment. On the 28th, after partaking of a satisfying dinner at the Soldiers' Home, the Eleventh Cavalry marehed to the State House, where it was publiely welcomed by speeches from General Mansfield, Colonel Stewart and Surgeon Reed, to which responses were made by Colonel Sharra, Majors Crowder and Showalter and Chaplain Barnhart. After the reception the regi- ment was marched to Camp Carrington, where the men and officers were paid and discharged from the service of the United States.
THE THIRTEENTH CAVALRY
A large part of Company G, Thirteenth Cavalry (131st Regiment ), was composed of men enlisted in Adams County in the winter of 1864. As stated, James C. Wilson was captain of the company. Wil- liam Bettenberg, Andre J. Simeoke and Robert T. Patterson were given lieutenants' eommissions during 1865, but mustered out before taking the rank thus conferred. The Thirteenth was the last cavalry or- ganization raised in the state. In April, 1864, the regiment was mustered into the service, with Gilbert M. L. Johnson as colonel. On the 30th of that month it left for the Nashville eamp of instruction as an infantry command, and in the following month engaged in several skirmishes with Confederate cavalry in Alabama. In the fall, six of the twelve companies forming the regiment went to Louisville to be equipped as eavalry units, and, as such, hovered for observation around Hood's army. They also had a number of brisk skirmishes with the enemy and suffered some losses. Company G was not in- eluded in these operations. That command, with five other com- panies, was placed under Lieutenant Colonel Pepper, and, dismounted, participated in the battle of Nashville, Deeember, 1864. Soon after- ward they were remounted, and joined by the other companies, and the entire regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Seventh Divi- sion of the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi, Colonel Johnson commanding the brigade.
In 1865 the Thirteenth Cavalry was engaged in raids on the Mo- bile & Ohio Railroad around Vieksburg and in the operations against the forts and defenses of Mobile. After the fall of Mobile, under command of General Grierson, the regiment started on a raid of some 800 miles through Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, arriving at
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
Columbus, the state last named, in May. Its operations had extended over a period of more than a month. The Thirteenth then proceeded to Macon, Mississippi, garrisoning that point and sixty miles of rail- road tributary to it. Immense quantities of supplies and ordnance were also confiscated. The muster-out ocenrred at Vicksburg in No- vember, 1865. It reached Indianapolis for final discharge, on the 25th, with 23 officers and 633 men.
This was the last of the commands from Adams County to be mustered out of the service, and therefore concluded the Civil war as far as that section of the state was especially concerned.
SAM HENRY POST, No. 33, G. A. R.
About three years after the conclusion of the Civil war the first post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized at Decatur, Illinois. The pioneer post and the patriotie order itself were born in that city, Auril 6, 1866. On May 12, 1882, was organized the post at Decatur, Indiana. In the evening of that day, at the Masonie IIall, Col. R. S. Robertson called the twenty-nine Union soldiers together, who had signified their intention to become charter members, and A. C. Gregory, of Decatur, was elected secretary. A belated comrade arrived soon after, making the original thirty of the post. I. S. Blos- som was first initiated by Colonel Robertson, assisted by Comrade Drake of Post 21, Michigan, and Comrade Todd, Indiana Post, No. 33. After the thirty had been initiated, the post selected its first elec- tive officers, as follows: Henry H. Hart, post commander; David Laman, senior vice commander; B. W. Sholty, junior viee com- mander; J. P. Quinn, officer of the day; J. S. McLeod, officer of the guard : L. A. Counter, quartermaster; Washington Kern, chaplain ; R. B. Freeman, surgeon. Commander Hart appointed A. C. Gregory, adjutant. Soon after the organization of the post a committee was appointed to suggest a name, and on August 5th its recommendation that it adopt "Sam Henry" as such was adopted. The organization therefore became from that date, Sam Henry Post No. 33, Grand Army of the Republic.
The successive commanders of the post have been as follows: II. H. Hart, 1882: B. H. Dent, 1883; B. W. Sholty, 1884: J. D. Hale, 1885 ; C. O. Bly, 1886; II. H. Hart (second term), 1887; D. K. Shack- ley, 1888; A, J. Hill, 1889; David Laman, 1890; Ira A. Blossom, 1891; G. Christen, 1892; Norval Blackburn, 1893; Theodore R. Moore, 1894; R. S. Peterson, 1895; J. H. Smith, 1901; George Woodward, 1902; Henry Lankenau, 1903; Theodore Kennedy, 1904: J. D. IIale, 1905
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
(second term) ; M. J. Wertzberger, 1906; C. T. Rainier, 1907; D. K. Shaekley (second term), 1908; R. D. Patterson, 1909; J. R. Parrish, 1910; L. N. Grandstaff, 1911; T. W. Mallonee, 1912; F. F. French, 1912; W. H. Myers, 1914-18. On New Year's Day of 1918 the Post had fifty-two members in good standing. During the thirty-five years of its existence the Post has had its headquarters in five different halls -located in the Masonic, the Patterson, the Forbing, the Railing and the Wilder buildings. The last named is opposite the courthouse.
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