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 27
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 27
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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
COUNTY ACREAGE
Township
Leased or Rented
Pasture
Timber
Chester
17,082
5,176
1,323
Harrison
21,159
2,273
1,431
Jackson
22,649
6,474
2,433
Jefferson
19,816
3,131
1,920
Lancaster
4,986
896
359
Liberty
20,150
4,405
1,587
Nottingham
13,953
2,323
959
Rock Creek
21,937
3,310
2,226
Union
4,416
675
205
Totals
146,148
28,663
12,443
MABEL AND LITTER MATE
COMING LIVE STOCK MAN
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
CEREALS OF COUNTY (1917)
Townships
Corn
Oats
Timothy
Aeres
Bushels
Aeres Bushels
Aeres
Tous
Chester
4,447
130,455
2,708
62,420
2,574
2,444
Harrison
6,323
237,962
3,677
114,630
2,188
2,510
Jackson
6,197
204,466
3,281
83,067
1,985
2,456
Jefferson
5,252
210,080
3,347
100,310
3,109
4,305
Laneaster
3,240
93,315
2,050
53,737
1,885
2,278
Liberty
5,308
267,340
3,928
116,370
2,500
2,743
Nottingham
3,833
140,720
2,326
62,101
1,500
1,596
Rock Creek
6,200
276,360
3,666
135,418
1,758
2,326
Marion
. ..
..
..
...
Totals .
40,800
1,560,688
24,983
728,053
17.429
20,658
LIVE STOCK BY TOWNSHIPS (1917)
Townships
Horses
Cattle
Hogs
Sheep
Chester
702
1,232
2,500
463
Harrison
859
1,839
2,873
1,082
Jackson
855
1,657
5,054
578
Jefferson
781
1,362
2,863
551
Laneaster
1,493
1,395
2,850
188
Liberty
958
1,596
5,019
399
Nottingham
516
1,074
1,976
315
Rock Creek
871
2,063
5,437
966
Total
.7,055
12,218
28.562
4.542
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY, 1860-1910
The first United States census of Wells County was taken in 1860, when it had a population of 10,844; the figures had increased to 13,585 in 1870; 18,442 in 1880; 21,514 in 1890, and 23,449 in 1900. The deeadal enumeration of 1910 indieated a decrease of population, being given at 22,418.
The census of 1880 produces a mimber of interesting items. In that year the population by townships was as follows: Chester, 1,668; Harrison, 4,389 (ineluding Bluffton, with 2,354 and Vera Cruz, 260) ; Jaekson, 1,496; Jefferson, 2,262; Laneaster, 1,806; Lib- erty, 1,752; Nottingham, 2,057; Roek Creek, 1.412, and Union, 1,600.
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
Nativity : American, 17,851 ; foreign, 591. Of the American-born, the division by states was: Indiana, 11,879; Ohio, 3,958; Pennsylvania, 991; New York, 136; Illinois, 86; Kentucky, 83. Of the foreign-born, Germany furnished 206; Ireland, 133; England and Wales, 55; Scot- land, 26; British America, 16; France, 1; Sweden and Norway, 1 each.
POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS, 1890-1910
1910
1900 23,449
21,514
Civil Divisions
Chester Township, including Keystone Town .. 1,929
2,345
1,937
Keystone Town
242
250
Harrison Township, including Vera Cruz
Town, and parts of Bluffton and Poneto Town
6,742
6,548
5,764
Bluffton City (part of)
4,848
4,479
3,589
Total for Bluffton City in Harrison and Lan-
caster townships-Ward 1, 1,269; Ward 2, 2,022; Ward 3, 1,696
4,987
4,479
3,589
Poneto Town (part of)
112
71
Total for Poneto Town in Harrison and Lib- erty counties
308
332
Jackson Township
1,778
2,237
1,731
Jefferson Township, including Ossian Town. .
2,617
2,455
2,476
Ossian Town
661
529
Lancaster Township, including part of Ward
1, Bluffton City
2,371
2,169
2,030
Bluffton City (part of)
139
Liberty Township, including part of Poneto Town
1,846
1,976
2,037
Poneto Town (part of)
196
261
Nottingham Township
2,219
2,654
2,284
Rock Creek Township, including parts of Markle and Uniondale Towns
1,442
1,560
1,609
Markle Town (part of in Huntington Town- ship)
74
Uniondale Town (part of)
158
Total for Uniondale Town in Rock Creek and Union townships
189
Union Township (including part of Union- dale Town)
1,474
1,505
1,646
1890
Totals
22,418
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
COMPARATIVE PROPERTY VALUATION (1884-1917)
The assessors who went among the farmers and villagers of Wells County in 1884 reported the following as their grand conclusions : Number of aeres of land, 231,098, valued at $3,177,635, with improve- ments amounting to $795,005; lots, $263,545, and improvements, $374,615 ; personal property, $1,568,165. Total value of taxable prop- erty, $6,178,865. It will be seen by a comparison of the valuation of the farming lands with improvements and the improved village and town lots that the latter were assessed at between 18 and 19 per cent
WELLS COUNTY PERCHERONS
of the former. At first thought, a resident of Wells County would be rather positive that the more than thirty years which had passed sinee that time would have advaneed eity and village property much more proportionately than agricultural lands; but sueh is not the ease, and the figures which eover the same items for 1917 show that there has not been a change of 1 per eent in the comparative value of urban and farming real estate in Wells County.
VALUE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY (1917)
The following table exhibits the total value of taxable property in Wells County in January, 1917, by townships, town and city (Bluff-
282
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
ton). It shows the area of the county in acres, and the real estate is divided into "lands," or farms, and "lots," or village and city property. The lands and lots, with improvements, make the total real estate assessed for taxable purposes.
Townships
Acres
Lands and Improve- ments
Lots and Improve- ments
Personal Property
Total of Taxable Property
Jackson
22,844.60
$ 916,300
$ 5,840
$ 377,975
$ 1,300,115
Chester
22,869.68
943,235
4,695
278,440
1,226,370
Keystone (town)
42.32
10,850
10,725
12,225
33,800
Liberty
21,824.03
912,600
13,040
354,175
1,279,815
Poneto (town)
7.79
1,120
23,480
64,500
89,100
Nottingham
30,510.66
1,263,155
20,945
508,880
1,792,980
Rock Creek
22,630.05
999,920
3,495
474,200
1,477,615
Markle (town)
11,360
8,380
19,740
Uniondale (town)
40.01
12,195
33,760
69,695
115,650
Union
22,450.48
915,375
20,500
278,260
1,214,140
Jefferson
29,929.76
1,129,380
18,055
370,455
1,517,890
Ossian (town)
5,854.
28,195
84,260
126,970
239,425
Lancaster (town)
. .
30,151.40
1,281,570
30,355
462,830
1,774,755
Harrison
29,116.47
1,378,300
7,410
. 518,565
1,904,275
Vera Cruz (town) ..
5,124.
3,050
12,635
28,270
43,955
Bluffton (city)
19,807.
138,040
1,619,765
196,990
2,554,795
Totals
232,545.10
$9,933,285
$1,920,325
$4,730,810
$16,584,420
AUTOMOBILE INCOME AND ROADS
The assessors also collected a number of interesting items, both in their "round-up" of personal property and real estate. It was ascer- tained that the gross receipts turned into the county treasury from the registration of motor vehicles (chiefly automobiles) amounted dur- ing the year 1916 to over $15,000. They also learned that there were 756 miles of gravel and macadam roads in Wells County, and 31,992 in the entire State of Indiana.
FINANCES OF THE COUNTY
The report of County Auditor C. T. Kain for the year ending December 31, 1916, adds much in the way of information about schools, roads and other vital subjects, to the facts already conveyed, and also gives a definite idea of the county government as a financial and a business organization. The total received from all sources for the year amounted to $815,818.85; disbursements, $726,308.40; balance De- cember 31, 1916, $97,193.96. This sum, less overdrafts of $7.683.51, left a net balance of $89,510.45. The schools and the roads of the county drew most heavily on the treasury, the former to the extent of
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
about $170,000 and the latter (roads) about $100,000 more. The books further showed that more than $6,000 was expended on the up-keep of the County Poor Farm, some $5,500 on the Bluffton Library and nearly $12,000 on the electric light and waterworks plant.
INDEBTEDNESS ON ACCOUNT OF ROADS
The following table shows the bonded indebtedness of the various townships on account of free gravel and stone roads, and forcibly in- dicates the preponderance of Harrison Township in that regard :
TOWNSHIPS-
BONDS OUTSTANDING JANUARY 1, 1917
PRINCIPAL ON BONDS PAYABLE IN 1917
NET BONDED INDEBTEDNESS AFTER DEDUCT- ING 1917 PAYMENT
Jackson
$ 8,424.00
$ 1,128.00
$ 7,296.00
Chester
54,048.00
8.664.00
45,384.00
Liberty
42,814.00
8,950.00
33,864.00
Rock Creek
71,793.72
10,717.32
61,076.40
Union
41.766.28
8,394.68
33,371.60
Nottingham
35,588.00
10.624.00
24,964.00
Harrison
196,524.00
30.012.00
166,512.00
Lancaster
72,660.00
15,630.00
57,030.00
Jefferson
90,702.00
16,588.00
74,114.00
Totals
$614,320.00
$110,708.00
$503,612.00
CHAPTER XVI
UNORGANIZED PIONEER PERIOD
COUNTIES CARVED FROM INDIAN COUNTRY-CAPTAIN WELLS, AFTER WHOM THE COUNTY WAS NAMED THE FORT DEARBORN MASSACRE -GARRISON PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE-CAPTAIN WELLS' LIFE OF ROMANCE-ARRIVAL OF CAPTAIN WELLS TOO LATE-DESTRUCTION OF LIQUOR INFURIATES SAVAGES-THE DEATH MARCH FROM FORT DEARBORN-THE AMBUSCADE AND MASSACRE-DR. JOSEPH KNOX AND THE NORCROSSES-NUN MCINTYRE-TREE DWELLERS OF THE COUNTY-BOWEN HALE, PIONEER BENEDICT AND MERCHANT- STARTS TRADING POST NEAR MURRAY-NOT A MIGHTY HUNTER- A BLUFFTON MERCHANT-LOST A GOOD LAWYER BUT A POOR SPELLER-THE HARVEYS-HENRY MILLER-PIONEER EVENTS- GREATEST DRAWBACK TO SETTLEMENT-WELLS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION-GENERAL PIONEER PICTURES-THE CHASE IN WELLS COUNTY-ISAAC COVERT-"WILS." BULGER-THE WILD WOMAN- PAYING POSTAGE SOME JOB.
The early settlement of what is now Wells County, before it was organized as a body political and civil, covers the eight years from 1829 to 1837; the period commencing with the coming of Dr. Joseph Knox, the good doctor, without patients, who located near the present postoffice of Murray, and concluding with the assembling of the first board of county commissioners before even Bluffton had been staked out. Two years before the county government was organized it was given a name and a place on the statute books of the State Legislature.
COUNTIES CARVED FROM INDIAN COUNTRY
During the winter of 1835 Col. John Vawter, of Jennings County, chairman of the Legislative Committee on New Counties introduced a bill in the assembly to "lay out all the unorganized territory to which the Indian title had been extinguished in the state into a suitable number of counties." It was approved February 7th of that year, and under that measure the following counties in Northeastern and
284
PIONEER FRYING PAN.
BED WARMING PAN AND TIN LANTERN.
3
$
6
8
9
SPINNING WHEELS
(Courtesy of S. P. Orth.)
OLD-TIME HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS.
FOOT WARMER.
286
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
Northern Indiana were laid out-that is, legally created, although not organized as civil bodies: Wells, Jay, DeKalb, Steuben, Whitley, Kosciusco, Fulton, Marshall, Stark, Pulaski, Jasper, Newton and Porter.
CAPTAIN WELLS, AFTER WHOM THE COUNTY WAS NAMED
As will be noticed, the new counties carved out of this raw Indian country were named mainly in honor of well known statesmen and Revolutionary heroes. Perhaps of the entire list the average reader will be less familiar with the personality of the man honored by the sponsors of Wells County, although there was probably no hero identi- fied with the War of 1812 whose life was more romantic and whose fate at the Fort Dearborn massacre was more to the credit of a brave soul than Capt. William Wells. By reading the following narrative of the captain's death at the hands of treacherous savages, with an account of his previous career, none need be ashamed of the man chosen to give his name to Wells County.
THE FORT DEARBORN MASSACRE
On the 18th of June, 1812, the United States declared war against England, and on the 16th of July, Fort Mackinac surrendered to the British. On the 9th of August following, an Indian runner from General Hull, at Detroit, brought news of the war and the fall of Mackinac, to Captain Heald, with orders to evacuate Fort Dear- born and proceed with his command to Detroit, by land, leaving it to the discretion of the commandant to dispose of the public property as he thought proper. Within the next three days neighboring Indians came in from all quarters to receive the goods which they under- stood were to be given them. It might seem as if no other course was open to Captain Heald but to obey the orders of General Hull. His force was not as strong as that at Fort Mackinac. It consisted of fifty- four privates, and two officers, Lieut. L. T. Helm and Ensign George Ronan. Twelve militia men were also under his orders. Of the regu- lars, a large number were on the sick list. Altogether there were not probably forty able-bodied fighting men. With them were about a dozen women and twenty children. He received his orders on the 9th. But he trusted to the friendly reputation of the Pottawatomies, through whose country he must pass, and waited for six days, until 400 or 500 warriors were assembled at the fort, before he moved. He was then at their mercy.
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
GARRISON PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE
The Pottawatomie chief who had brought General Hull's orders was Winnemeg, a friendly Indian, who well knew the feelings of the Indians. He at first advised that the fort be held, until reinforce- ments should arrive. To this Captain Heald would not agree. Win- nemeg's next advice was instantaneous departure, so that before the Indians could assemble or agree upon definite action, and while they would be taking possession of the goods, the force might make its escape. Mr. John Kinzie, who had long known the Indians, approved of the same course. The younger officers were in favor of holding the fort-but Captain Heald resolved to pursue his own way. This was to assemble the Indians, divide the property among them, and get from them a friendly escort to Fort Wayne. On the 12th a con- ference was held with the Indians by Captain Heald, and they agreed to his proposals. They would take the property, and furnished him a guard of safety. Whether they really would have done so it is im- possible to know, but Black Hawk, who was not present at the mas- saere, but knew the Indian version of it, subsequently said that the attack took place because the whites did not keep their agreement. There were two species of property that the Indians chiefly wanted, whiskey and ammunition. There were large quantities of both at the fort, and the Indians were aware of that fact.
CAPTAIN WELLS' LIFE OF ROMANCE
On the 13th, Captain William Wells, Indian agent at Fort Wayne, arrived at Fort Dearborn with thirty friendly Miamis, for the purpose of bringing Captain Heald on his way. Captain Wells had lived among the Indians, and was cognizant of their character. He was the uncle of Mrs. Heald: born in Kentucky, and belonged to a family of Indian fighters. When he was a lad of twelve, he was stolen by the Miamis and adopted by Little Turtle, their great chief. He served with the Indians at the outbreak of the war in 1790, and was present at the battle where St. Clair was defeated. But he then began to realize that he was fighting against his own kindred, and resolved to take leave of the Indians. He asked Little Turtle to accompany him to a point on the Maumee, about two miles east of Fort Wayne, long known as the Big Elm, where he thus spoke: "Father, we have long been friends. I now leave you to go to my own people. We will be friends until the sun reaches the midday height. From that time we will be enemies; and if you want to kill me then, you may.
288
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
And if I want to kill you, I may." He then set out for General Wayne's army, and was made captain of a company of scouts. He fought under General Wayne until the Treaty of Greenville, after which he removed to Fort Wayne, where he was joined by his wife, who was a daughter of Little Turtle. He settled upon a farm and was made Indian agent and justice of the peace. He rendered ef- fective service to General Harrison, the governor.
ARRIVAL OF CAPTAIN WELLS TOO LATE
When Captain Wells heard of the intended evacuation of Fort Dearborn he volunteered to go there and act as escort to the soldiers. He arrived at the fort on the 13th of August, too late, however, to have any influence on the question of evacuation. Captain Heald had up to this point resisted the advice of Winnemeg, the friendly In- dians, John Kinzie and his junior officers, as to adopting any other course. But now after all his firmness came a period of irresolution.
DESTRUCTION OF LIQUOR INFURIATES SAVAGES
The supply of muskets, ammunition and liquor was large. It was madness to hand over to the Indians these supplies with which first to excite and infuriate them, and then to leave them with still more abundant means of wrecking that fury on the garrison. This fact was strongly urged by both Captain Wells and John Kinzie. Captain Heald yielded, and on the night of the 13th destroyed all the am- munition and muskets he could not carry with him. The liquor was thrown into the lake. No sooner was this done than the older chiefs professed that they could no longer restrain their young men.
Black Partridge, one of the most noted Pottawatomie chiefs, and always friendly to the whites since the Treaty of Greenville, had re- ceived a medal from General Wayne at the time of that treaty. On the evening of the 14th he came to the fort and entered Captain Heald's quarters. "Father," he said, "I come to deliver up to you the medal I wear. It was given me by the Americans and I have long worn it in token of our mutual friendship. But our young men are resolved to imbrue their hands in the blood of the whites. I can not restrain them, and I will not wear a token of peace while I am com- pelled to act as an enemy."
THE DEATH MARCH FROM FORT DEARBORN
The Indians held a council and resolved on the destruction of the garrison. And yet, with the most heroic fortitude and constancy, the
289
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
officers made their final arrangements for the evacuation, sustaining and encouraging the men by their words and by their example. At 9 o'clock on the morning of the 15th of August, all being in readi- ness, the gates of the fort were thrown open for the last time and the march commenced. In accordance with Indian custom and in premonition of his fate, Captain Wells had blackened his face. With fifteen of his Miami braves, whom he supposed to be trusty, he led the advance. The other fifteen wagons brought up the rear. The women and children were in wagons or on horseback. Brave John Kinzie de- termined to accompany the troops, hoping that his presence would be the means of restraining the Indians. Entrusting his family to the care of some friendly Indians to be taken around the head of the lake in a boat to a point near St. Joseph, he marched out with the troops. He was warned by several friendly chiefs not to accompany the sol- diers, but he was determined to do all in his power to bring some re- straining influence to bear, if possible, on the savages. The strains of music, as the soldiers passed beyond the gates, were certainly not en- livening. By some strange wierd choice of the bandmaster, who was among the killed, the "Dead March" was played as the soldiers filed out from the protection of the fortifications on the open plain. Scarcely had the troops departed, when the fort became a scene of plundering.
THE AMBUSCADE AND MASSACRE
Along the lake shore ran a beaten Indian trail, which was the path pursued. Westward from this, at about 100 yards distance, commene- ing perhaps a quarter of a mile from the fort, a sand bank, or range of hills, separated the lake from the prairie. When the troops started an escort of 500 Pottawatomies accompanied tbem, but when the sand hills were reached the Indians struck ont towards the prairie, instead of keeping along the beach. Concealing their movements behind the sand hills, they hurried forward and placed an ambuscade in readiness for the troops. The little band had marched about a mile and a half when Captain Wells, who had led the advance, came riding swiftly back, saying that the Indians were about to open an attack from be- hind the sand bank. The company charged up the bank, firing one round which the Indians returned. The savages, getting in upon the rear, were soon in possession of the horses, provisions and baggage, slaughtering many of the women and children in the attempt. Against fearful odds, and hand to hand, the officers and men, and even the women, fought for their lives. But it was soon over. Drawing his little remnant of survivors off an elevation on the open prairie, ont of
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
range, Captain Heald himself wounded, proceeded to examine the situa- tion. The Indians did not follow, but, after some consultation of the chiefs, made signs for Captain Heald to approach them. He advanced alone and met Black Bird, who promised to spare their lives if they would surrender. Upon these terms, Captain Heald complied with the demand.
Among the killed were Captain Wells, Ensign Ronau and Surgeon De Isaac Van Voorhis. The wounded were Captain and Mrs. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and wife. Every other wounded prisoner was put to death. Of the whole number that left the fort but an hour before, there remained only twenty-five non-commissioned officers and privates and eleven women and children.
The number of Indians engaged was between 400 and 500. Their loss was about fifteen. The Miamis fled at the first attack, and took no part whatever in the fight.
Captain Wells, after fighting desperately, was surrounded and stabbed in the back. His body was horribly mangled, his head cut off, and his heart taken out and eaten by the savages, who thought, by so doing, some of the courage of the heroic scout would be conveyed to them.
The day following the massacre, the fort and agency building were burned to the ground and the first Fort Dearborn ceased to be. The prisoners were scattered among the various tribes, and a large num- ber of warriors hastened to attempt the destruction of Fort Wayne.
DR. JOSEPH KNOX AND THE NORCROSSES
Dr. Joseph Knox was the first white man to make his home in Wells County, being also the first to settle at any point between Fort Recov- ery and Huntington, and that was in the year 1829, on the southeast quarter of section 18, Lancaster Township, near Murray postoffice, or the village of Lancaster. Shortly after his location there he was joined by his two sons-in-law, Vantrees and Warner, who "took up" the tracts since known as the Robert and James Harvey farms. Both came with their families and remained until 1832, when they were all frightened out of the country by wild rumors concerning the Black Hawk war.
Allen and Isaac Norcross came in 1831, settling near the river below Bluffton, the former locating on the eastern bank. They also left during the Indian excitement of 1832, returning to New Jersey, their native state. After the Black Hawk war, Allen came again to his chosen location. He was a rather singular character, although in-
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
telligent and well-educated and sociable. Although he resided here until his death in 1879, except a number of years in Texas, he passed a sort of hermit life, searcely ever appearing in town or in public except on circus days, when he was sure to be present, with a smiling, happy countenance. At these shows he would take his seat early, rest his hands and chin on the top of his cane, and take in everything with the utmost eagerness. Indeed, it is said that one of his chief objec- tions to removing further west was the fact that he would in a great measure be deprived of the privilege of attending circuses. Ile had a wife and five children, the latter of whom went to Texas. After the loss of his wife Mr. Noreross partially "kept bach," and, although affable with visitors, kept himself singularly dissociated from the out- side world. Ilis death was the result of injuries received in a runaway, and his remains lie buried in the Murray graveyard.
After his death there was found in his possession Government . bonds to the amount of $13,000, concealed in a staek of sugar buekets in the smoke-house. To the different classes of these bonds he had a unique system of indexing. He was in the habit of keeping his eur- reney sealed in fruit-eans, and buried in the ground a hundred yards from the house. In his hermit leisure he contracted many peculiar habits. William Norcross moved to Texas in 1844.
NUN MCINTYRE
Among the pioneers who located in Wells County previous to May, 1837, when its civil organization was effected, were Nun MeIntyre, who was a native of Virginia, came to the county in 1836, served as a pro- bate judge and in other publie offices and died in 1881, and Henry McCullock, who located in Chester Township in 1835, but was not so well known.
TREE DWELLERS OF THE COUNTY
Almon Case, a Yankee of good sense and ready wit, arrived about 1836, and celebrated his coming by having a "spell of the ague" of three weeks duration, during which period he curled up in a hollow sycamore log lying on the future site of Bluffton, near where MeFar- ren's clothing store stood many years afterward. Mr. Case became the first hotelkeeper in Bluffton and was the original contraetor of the 1845 court house. Ile died at Vera Cruz, Wells County, in 1875.
William Barton came from Vermont in 1836 and, like Mr. Case, is said to have first occupied a hollow sycamore tree. His improved
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