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 9
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 9
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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
ADAMS COUNTY INFIRMARY
Vol. 1-5
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
for the southern bank of the Wabash. At the present site of Decatur he found what he sought-a good water power; another necessity was lacking, the demand for a mill because of grain to be ground, for when Mr. Rugg reached the locality he could not find a bushel of grain to grind within a radius of twenty miles. Although he decided to remain and await settlement, he wrote to his partner suggesting a post- ponement of the mill project. A year or two later, as new settlers did not appear to any great extent, the partners relinquished the idea altogether, and the machinery which was to have been used in the Adams County mill went into a similar establishment in Huntington County.
When Adams County was organized in 1836 Mr. Rugg was elected its first clerk and held the office for eighteen years. Then, in 1854, he was chosen joint senator for Allen and Adams counties, and a year later became a resident of Fort Wayne. In 1858 he was elected state superintendent of public instruction. He was popular, honest and altogether a man of large caliber. Although he died at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1871, his remains were returned to Decatur which he always considered his home town.
THE FOUNDER OF DECATUR
Mr. Rugg was considered the founder of Decatur. From the first he was loyal to her interests, and the town and the city reciprocated his confidence in her. As Mr. Snow adds in his history : "Through his untiring effort the old plank road from Fort Wayne to Saint Mary's left the straight and graded roadway up the Piqua line to pass through Decatur, then his new town. Before it came, no busi- ness thrived or trade of any consequence left the Piqua road. In this enterprise Mr. Rugg spent hundreds of dollars and was financially crippled from its results. He built the first steam saw mill in the county, and furnished the Inmber for a number of miles of the plank road in 1852-53, in order that it pass through Decatur. To four of the principal churches in Decatur he donated their church lots. When Mr. Rugg entered these lands in 1833 and petitioned that a new township be made in Allen county, he saw a future county. When he petitioned the State Legislature for a separate county, in 1835, he saw a prospective county seat on the lands he had entered. When his county seat was established, he saw an exercise of power, an action he more coveted than the money received in all his office holding or from the town lots sold. Yet that power was all for public good; not his own aggrandizement. He went to the Senate in 1854, and a more
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
diligent member could not be found in the General Assembly. Many of the state laws on town and county matters date from the '50s.
"It has been truly said that ofttimes the most thoroughly educated men are not the most practical in public service. It is equally true that many who have not enjoyed extensive sehool training have exeeu- tive ability in a high degree and are natural leaders of men. Mr. Rugg was a thorough business man, a skilful accountant, a man of legal knowledge and one who was not afraid to perform the duties required of him. When a state public officer, his plans for the collection and distribution of the revenues for tuition show him to have been an economist of rare merit. Much of the interest on congressional funds had not been accounted for, and he at once begun legal proceedings against the delinquent officers of the various counties, and secured many thousands of dollars which rightfully were intended to educate the youth of the state. Here he again shows his desire to control, not wealth, but what money will buy, the education of the children of the country. After retiring from office he took up his residence at Huntsville, Alabama, and while visiting a son at Nashville, Tennessee, died a poor man at the age of sixty-five years and seven months, on the 28th of March, 1871. A marble monument in the old cemetery at Decatur, his old home, marks the last resting place of one of the ablest and best of Adam's county citizens."
ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS
Mr. Rugg's name is a worthy one with which to introduce the of- ficial roster of Adams County. The chief officials are given below, with the exception of those connected with the judiciary and the school systems of the county who are recorded in the chapters devoted to those special topies.
County clerks-Samuel L. Rugg, 1836; Samuel S. Mickle, 1854; James B. Simcoke, 1855; John McConnell, 1863; A. Judson Hill, 1875; Norval Blackburn, 1878; John D. Hale, 1882; John H. Lenhart, 1890; Elmer Johnson, 1898; David Gerber, 1902; James P. Hoefling, 1906; Ferdinand Bleeke, 1908; Will Hammell, 1914.
Auditors-George A. Dent, 1841; William Trout, 1845; John Me- Connell, 1850; William G. Spencer, 1859; Seymour Worden, 1867; Godfrey Christen, 1875; Lewis C. Miller, 1883; W. H. H. France, 1891-1895 (died in offiee) ; Irvin Brandyberry, appointed to fill out the unexpired term ; Noah Mangold, 1896; Abe A. Boch, 1900; Carey D. Lewton, 1904; Henry S. Michaud, 1908; Thomas HI. Boltzell, 1912; John Mosure, 1916.
Recorders-Samuel L. Rugg, 1841; Oliver T. Hart, 1848; William J. Adelspurger, 1858; M. V. B. Simcoke, 1866; J. J. Chubb, 1870;
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES OF ADAMS COUNTY, 1912-16
-
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
John Schurger, 1874; A. MeW. Bollman, 1882; William Baughman, 1890; Harvey H. Harruff, 1894; Thomas M. Gallogley, 1898; Clinton C. Cloud, 1902; Hervey S. Steele, 1906; Andrew F. Welfley, 1910; Aaron Augsburger, 1914.
Treasurers-Jeremiah Roe, 1836; John Reynolds, 1836; James Crabbs, 1841; Samuel S. Mickle, 1847; James B. Simcoke, 1848 ; John Crawford, 1852; David Showers, 1856; Charles L. Schirmeyer, 1860; Jesse Niblick, 1864 ; John Meibers, 1868; John Dirkson, 1872; Anthony Holthouse, 1876 ; Robert D. Patterson, 1880; Andrew Gottschalk, 1884; Perry Robison, 1888; Daniel P. Bolds, 1892; Jonas Neuenschwander, 1896; J. H. Voglewede, 1900; John F. Lachot, 1904; Charles W. Yager, 1908; W. J. Archbold, 1912; George Kinzle, 1914.
Sheriffs-Daniel MeKnight, 1836; Zachariah Smith, 1836; Alvin Randall, 1840; Alexander Fleming, 1842; James B. Simcoke, 1846; John N. Little, 1848; David McDonald, 1850; Jacob King, 1854; David McDonald, 1856; George Frank, 1858; Jacob Stults, 1862; James Stoops, Jr., 1866; David King, 1870; E. Philison Stoops, 1874; Henry Krick, 1878; Michael McGriff, 1882; Perry A. Lewton, 1886 (died in office) ; L. W. Lewton, filled out the term from 1889; Mark M. McConnell, 1890; Samuel Doak, 1892; Peter P. Ashbaucher, 1894; Dan N. Erwin, 1898; Albert A. Butler, 1902; Eli Meyer, 1906; Thomas J. Durkin, 1910; Edward Green, 1914.
Surveyors-Philemon N. Collins, 1852; E. W. Reed, 1858 ; H. Hart, 1859; Christian F. Stauffer, 1860; H. C. Peterson, 1868: Harry B. Knoff, 1870; Gabriel F. Kintz, 1874; James T. Simcoke, 1882; John W. Tyndall, 1886; William E. Fulk, 1894; George MeKean, 1900; Levi L. Baumgartner, 1906; Charles C. Ernst, 1908; Phil. L. Macklin, 1912; Orval Harruff, 1916.
Coroners-Jonas Pence, 1836; John W. Cooley, 1837; Enos M. Butler, 1838; Daniel Weimer, 1839; James Niblick, 1840; William Elzey, 1844; Jacob King, 1846; Jesse Niblick, 1848; Thomas W. Andrews, 1850; Charles Gorsline, 1852; Levi Ewing, 1853; Cornelius B. Lemaster, 1854; Levi Ewing, 1856; John King, Jr., 1859; D. D. Barnhart, 1860; William D. Baker, 1868; John E. Smith, 1870; Sam- uel C. Bolman, 1874; John E. Smith, 1876; A. B. Tullis, 1878; J. E. Smith, 1880; Charles A. Jelleff, 1886; O. T. May, 1890; C. S. Clark, 1894; C. H. Schenck, 1902; J. S. Falk, 1904; Jolm C. Grand- staff, 1906; David D. Clark, 1912.
Land appraisers-George Frank, 1863; Andrew Barkley, 1869; Ferdinand Reinking, 1875. Office abolished.
(For prosecuting attorneys, associate judges, probate judges and circuit judges, see Bench and Bar.)
(For superintendents of schools, see County Schools.)
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL COUNTY MATTERS
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY-FRENCH AND GERMAN SETTLERS- LARGEST LAND OWNERS IN 1850-DECADAL CENSUS FIGURES (1860- 1910)-INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE, 1886-1916-TAXES OF THE COUNTY (1916)-DIVISION OF FARM LANDS-CHANGES IN STAND- ARD CROPS AND LIVE STOCK-EARLY ROADS-WOULDN'T BE FORCED AS "JOHN DOE"-DIRECTION OF TRAVEL DIVERTED GRAND RAPIDS & INDIANA RAILROAD-TOLEDO, ST. LOUIS & WESTERN-THE CHICAGO & ERIE RAILROAD.
There are certain matters intimately relating to the county which concern neither its government nor its institutions. They are mostly represented by hard-headed facts; they are proofs by figures and statistics of general statements which have been made, or may be hereafter advanced as to the growth of the county in the things which lie at the basis of its material prosperity ; development in good drains, good roads, in population and in wealth of grain crops and live stock. The reader who has long lived in Adams County and knows such general statements are true need not read this chapter, and the com- paratively uninformed may also pass it, if he has no liking for such a brand of literature. The author believes that much may be learned from even a hasty perusal of the facts and figures here presented.
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY
Along about 1840 the influx of settlers to Adams County com- menced to take on such proportions that every new arrival did not create a sensation and later, as the Wabash & Erie Canal and the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad penetrated the interior of Indiana through the valley of the Wabash, this section of the state received its share of the general impetus. As the means of entry and exit became easier, prospectors increased in number and, once having tasted of the comforts and delights of the country, remained to achieve permanent prosperity and enjoyment. The decade preceding the Civil war was
70
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
a period of remarkably vigorous development, both French and Ger- man immigrants forming a number of prosperous settlements.
FRENCH AND GERMAN SETTLERS
The eensus of 1850 shows a French settlement in Southern Kirk- land and Northern French Townships, and German settlements in Northwestern Wabash and Southwestern Monroe Townships, as well as in Western Root and Northern Preble. At that time Hartford Township reported but one German family and Jefferson Township, three German residents. Soon afterward numerous immigrants, many of whom had eome to America as a result of the Revolution of 1848, commeneed to take up farms in the Wabash Valley through the opera- tions of speenlators and land companies. Many an eighty-acre farm in Adams and adjoining counties was thus purchased with French or German gold; and, at the breaking ont of the Civil war, not a few of these Americanized farmers went to the front and sturdily performed their part in the great contest for a united country.
From 1845 to 1855 it was not uncommon to see land buyers going on horsebaek, in bands of from six to ten, conducted by well posted residents. These prospectors were often speeulators, who were look- ing for profitable investments in western lands. They often bought large traets and retailed them to smaller purchasers from the older states who desired to become actual settlers. By thus putting up the price of land to be purchased by those who came to found homes, per- manent settlement was somewhat retarded, although this class of land speeulators were not in such bad repute as those who kept large tracts of land out of the market, waiting for a rise of values which was sure to come with the passage of the years.
LARGEST LAND OWNERS IN 1850
In 1850, as shown by the census records, the following were the largest land owners in Adams County : M. F. Burkhead, 1,080 acres ; Eli Zimmerman, 1,000 aeres; Denison Tinkham, 530 aeres; Morgan Smith, 465 aeres; Samuel Acker, 410 acres; Bazil Hendricks, 400 aeres; Henry Fuelling, 400 acres; Peter Moyer, 400 aeres; Peter Moser, 375 acres ; John Watson, 360 aeres; John Hartman, 360 aeres ; Josiah Crawford, 360 acres; John Everhart, 360 aeres; J. Buffen- barger, 360 aeres; Reuben Lord, 355 aeres; Alexander Fleming, 352 acres; Thomas Fisher, 346 aeres; Daniel Ball, 330 aeres; George A. Dent, 329 aeres: James Glendening, 325 aeres: Thomas Watson, 320
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
acres; Peter Lahman, 320 acres; Samuel Agit, 320 acres; Henry Gal- braith, 320 acres; John H. Blakey, 320 acres; John K. Evans, 310 acres; Adam Faey, 310 acres; John Stephens, 280 acres; Isaac Falb, 275 acres; William McDonald, 275 acres. In the foregoing list will be recognized the names of some of the "solid" residents of Adams county ; not a few well known officials of the county. At that time the foreign element had not filtered in to any extent, many of the settlers having come from Western Ohio.
DECADAL CENSUS FIGURES (1860-1910)
By 1860 the population of Adams County had reached 9,252; 1870, 11,382; 1880, 15,385. In the decade 1870-80, which showed such a marked increase in population, the two principal lines of railroad which accommodate Adams County were completed-one traversing it substantially from north to south and the other, from east to west. Obviously, the census enumerators considered 1880 a favorable year in which to exploit their work and therefore put forth some very inter- esting data.
The population of 1880 by townships was as follows: Blue Creek, 931; French, 1,032; Hartford, 1,103; Jefferson, 648; Kirkland, 793; Monroe, 1,534; Preble, 997; Root, 1,270; St. Mary's, 979; Union, 912; Wabash, 1,991 (including Geneva Village, 567); Washington, 3,159 (including Decatur Town, 1,905).
The native-born population in 1880 was 13,948, of which number 9,418 were born in Indiana, 3,442 in Ohio, 584 in Pennsylvania, 89 in New York; 44 in Illinois and 22 in Kentucky. The foreign-born population was 1,401, of which 757 were born in Germany.
The decade 1880-90 was also one of decided expansion, the in- crease was less marked for the following decade, and the decadal cen- sus for the year 1910 shows an actual decline, compared with the fig- ures of 1900. The conclusion of the decade ending 1920 may exhibit either a decrease or an increase-the matter will be determined, as in so many other questions at issue, by the duration of the world's war and the influence which it is to exert on the population of Adams County.
By townships and corporations the population of the county has been as follows for the last three decadal years of the national census :
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
1910
1900
1890
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
21,840
22,232
20,181
Blue Creek Township
1,168
1,127
1,212
French Township
974
1,115
1,095
Hartford Township
.1,285
1,424
1,276
Jefferson Township
1,093
1,183
1,092
Kirkland Township
919
1,090
1,094
Monroe Township (including Monroe Town
and part of Berne Town)
3,050
3,326
2,685
Berne Town (part of)
800
Total of Berne Town in Monroe and
Wabash Townships
1,316
1,037
544
Monroe Town
334
Preble Township
1,051
1,180
1,122
Root Township
.1,264
1,234
1,394
St. Mary's Township
1,085
1,090
1,066
Union Township
956
1,040
991
Wabash Township (including Geneva Town
and part of Berne Town)
. 3,171
2,870
2,429
Berne Town (part of)
516
Geneva Town
.1,140
1,076
748
Washington Township (including Decatur
City)
.5,824
5,553
4,725
Decatur City, Ward 1
1,505
Ward 2.
1,348
Ward 3.
1,618 4,471
4,142
3,142
INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE, 1886-1916
According to the figures collected by the assessors thirty years ago the total value of the land in Adams County was $2,201,685; value of improvements, $766,818; value of lots, $176,050; improve- ments, $269,900; personal property, $1,477,754. Total value of all taxable property, $4,892,207. The foregoing were the figures for 1886.
The statistics for 1916, published in January, 1917, were as fol- lows, the "real estate" including both country lands and corporation lots; the "corporation property" in the second column refers to rail- roads, telephones, etc. The record is by townships, towns and the City of Decatur :
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
PERSONAL
NET VALUE
TOWNSHIPS-
REAL ESTATE
CORPORATION NET VALUE PROPERTY OF TAXABLES
Union
$ 586,075
$ 202,900
$ 788,975
Root
964,005
683,765
1,647,770
Preble
628,580
598,410
1,226,990
Kirkland
623,095
524,620
1,147,715
Washington
930,170
743,340
1,673,510
St. Mary's
598,795
572,490
1,171,285
Blue Creek
557,550
258,985
816,535
Monroe
905,995
553,880
1,459,875
French
601,710
287,285
888,995
Hartford
619,755
390,305
1,010,060
Wabash
830,615
431,285
1,261,900
Jefferson
527,770
259,855
787,625
City of Decatur
1,353,095
864,870
2,217,965
Town of Monroe
54,665
98,975
153,640
Town of Berne
294,435
535,555
829,990
Town of Geneva
224,840
196,675
421,515
$10,301,150
$7,203,195
$17,504,345
The value of steam and electric railway property, as shown by the assessors' figures for 1916, $11,881.45; value of telegraph and tele- phone property, $601,285 ; value of express property, $11,005.
TAXES OF THE COUNTY (1916)
The total taxes of the county, including delinquents for 1916, were as follows: Union Township, $20,839.37; Root, $39,920.77; Preble, $30,878.18 ; Kirkland, $26,750.43; Washington, $49,337.60; St. Mary's, $30,679.69 : Blue Creek, $24,994.51 ; Monroe, $40,519.42; French, $20,- 907.49; Hartford, $27,296.42; Wabash, $35,241.93; Jefferson, $22,- 946.60; City of Decatur, $118,991.89; Town of Monroe, $5,424.12; Town of Berne, $31,413.37; Town of Geneva, $21,460.63. Total, $547,602.42.
The taxes levied for the repair of gravel roads amounted to $348,- 833.64; for bonds and interest on same account, $139,026.25.
DIVISION OF FARM LANDS
As to the farm lands of the county, the assessors found that in 1916 nearly 190,000 acres were leased or rented; that 36,929 com-
MODERN FARMING SCENES
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
prised pasture lands and only 20,305 timber lands. These divisions by townships were as follows:
TOWNSHIPS-
LAND LEASED OR RENTED
PASTURE
TIMBER
Union
13,693
1,843
1,560
Root
21,295
4,713
2,226
Preble
14,718
2,513
2,373
Kirkland
13,863
1,838
1,540
Washington
21,082
3,994
1,996
St. Mary's
13,293
2,520
1,072
Blue Creek
15,243
3,112
1,279
Monroe
13,789
2,122
1,205
French
15,465
3,408
1,318
Hartford
13,325
2,586
1,540
Wabash
19,091
4,792
2,550
Jefferson
14,764
3,488
1,646
Totals
189,621
36,929
20,305
CHANGES IN STANDARD CROPS AND LIVE STOCK
In the production of the standard crops and the wealth of the chief varieties of live stock, several radical changes have occurred within the past thirty years. Wheat, which was then one of the prin- cipal cereals, is now a small erop in comparison with corn and oats. The total production of timothy has not greatly increased, but the yield per acre appears to have been larger in the earlier period. Hogs have held their own all these years, sheep have almost disappeared and cattle and horses show a marked increase. The agricultural and live stock wealth of the county in 1916 is thus represented :
-CORN-
- -OATS-
-TIMOTHY-
TOWNSHIPS- ACRES BUSHELS
ACRES BUSHELS ACRES
TONS
Union
3,384
123,195
2,357
54,474
2,265
2,656
Root
4,113
151,898
3,180
78,670
3,060
3,200
Preble
2,985
92,550
2,016
48,460
1,671
2,115
Kirkland
3,459
137,050
2,475
58,975
2,615
3,422
Washington . .
5,645
202,130
3,720
83,335
2,943
3,675
St. Mary's
3,004
95,055
2,146
48,577
2,019
2,429
Blue Creek
4,748
180,520
2,773
60,620
1,898
2,093
Monroe
3,929
167,615
2,715
70,835
1,411
2,619
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
-CORN --
-OATS-
-TIMOTHY-
TOWNSHIPS-
ACRES
BUSHELS
ACRES BUSHELS
ACRES
TONS
French
3,242
150,150
2,341
60,280
1,597
1,597
Hartford
3,938
113,795
2,010
46,269
2,929
3,142
Wabash
4,907
155,155
2,810
59,299
2,980
4,214
Jefferson
3,918
123,555
2,395
53,735
2,159
2,987
Totals
47,272
1,692,668
30,938
723,529
28,547
34,149
TOWNSHIPS
HORSES
CATTLE
HOGs
SHEEP
Union
597
963
2,294
123
Preble
624
1,611
2,859
259
Root
861
1,815
2,463
403
Kirkland
421
707
779
24
Washington
932
1,563
3,546
442
St. Mary's
540
826
1,527
449
Blue Creek
855
981
2,786
515
French
557
1,341
1,655
198
Hartford
625
1,268
2,101
231
Wabash
1,060
1,808
2,791
479
Jefferson
983
803
1,739
508
Totals
8,055
14,686
24,540
3,611
As against the foregoing statistics may be placed the figures taken from the National Bureau of Statistics as they relate to Adams County in 1884. An acreage of about one congressional township, or, to be exact, 22,755, was planted to wheat during that year. The pro- duction of that cereal was 269,527 bushels, or about twelve bushels per acre. An area of 24,235 aeres was planted to corn; production, 755,530 bushels, or over thirty per acre. Oats were raised on 10,284 acres, and the yield was 386,596 bushels, or nearly forty per acre. The acreage in timothy was 15,467, and tons of product 27,849. The timber acreage, which once virtually included the county, had, even in 1884, been reduced to 70,091. Over 12,000 acres of plowed land was reported idle, and nearly 5,000 acres as covered with blue and other wild grasses.
EARLY ROADS
When the early influx of settlers first set toward northeastern Indiana from western and northwestern Ohio, the highways which
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
were put through such counties as Allen, Adams and Wells, were links which connected the Ohio and Wabash valleys with the Lake Erie region and its tributary streams, such as the St. Joseph, the Maumee and the St. Mary's. The old Piqua Road, or Wayne trace, which ex- tended from Fort Recovery, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, was planked, in 1852-53, from the latter terminus to about a mile north of Decatur. As stated, it entered Adams County about a mile to the northwest of Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio; passed through the
MODERN LIVE STOCK FARM
Rivare Indian Reservation in St. Mary's Township; thence extended through the northeast corner of Washington and the southwest cor- ner of Root Township by way of the pioneer Town of Monmouth to Fort Wayne.
THE WAYNE PLANK ROAD
The Wayne plank road was one of the most famous highways in northeastern Indiana, especially for the number and the quality of its hotels. It is said that "at an early day about every other house was a tavern," and this condition of affairs, so encouraging to the influx of travelers and settlers to Adams County, continued until 1865.
As time passed, however, it was found that the old plank road was
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
at best but a make-shift until something better (always a railroad) could be provided. The company which owned and operated it during the later years of its existence received so few tolls that the road went without repairs, and, in places, was almost impassable. The interest on its bonded debt was also allowed to lapse, and finally the property was sold under a decree of the court and was bid in by J. D. Nutman. This disposition of the road was preceded by not a few legal compli- cations and threatened bloodshed.
WOULDN'T BE FORCED AS "JOHN DOE"
Along this line Mr. Snow writes: "Travelers refused to pay the tolls, and a test case was brought by the arrest of a stranger in one of the taverns at Monmouth. Ezra Malloney kept the toll gate and the house. The gate was torn down and the house went up in smoke. As the story goes, along about the last days of the plank road tolls a man came riding along on horseback and the gate-keeper tried to collect tolls from him, but he passed on through and stopped at the Fleming Hotel in Monmouth. An affidavit was procured and a warrant issued and put into the hands of the local constable for his arrest. The officer located him at Ziba Dorwin's grocery, which at that time was a general loafing place for the villagers in the long fall and winter evenings. The warrant was read to the stranger as 'You are hereby directed to arrest John Doe and forthwith, etc., etc., person whose true name is unknown.' When the officer had read the warrant he reached to take hold of the man to make his arrest complete. The stranger stepped back and drew a brace of pistols and said: 'No man with a Peter Funk warrant can take me.' It is needless to say that there was a general scramble from in front of his guns. IIe ordered his horse and at once proceeded on his way toward Fort Wayne. No further attempt was ever made to collect tolls by process of law."
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL DIVERTED
By the late '60s the region around the lower end of Lake Michigan, with Chicago as its nucleus, had developed with such rapidity that the attention and the business of the people of northeastern Indiana were directed more in that direction than toward the Lake Erie country. This fact largely determined the routes of the railroads which were built through Adams and Wells counties during the decade 1871-81.
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ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
GRAND RAPIDS & INDIANA 'RAILROAD
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was the pioneer steam line to enter Adams County, coming up from the south by way of the old Winchester Road, retaining substantially a northerly direction, and from Decatur bending toward Fort Wayne, as did the trails and traces in the good old days. The original organization was known as the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad, and its route was first projected through Bluffton, further to the south and west. But after the Muncie road was built through Wells County, the line was so changed that the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne came to De- catur. The work of construction through Adams County was com- pleted in 1871, the first regular passenger trains commencing to run on Christmas day of that year-a gift which the people of Adams County have never failed to appreciate, although it was some years before the affairs of the railroad company were solidly organized. The old company became embarrassed, as was the custom with the early concerns of that character, and in the '80s the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, the Pennsylvania and the Grand Rapids & Indiana rail- road companies were jointly assuming the interest of its bonds. The last named finally assumed the entire responsibility. About that time its condition is thus described : "The mileage of main track in the county is 24.61, assessed at $4,500 per mile, or $110,745. There are 2.93 miles of side track assessed at $2,500 per mile, or $12,305. The improvements (depots, etc.) are assessed at $2,075, making the total assessed value of the road in Adams County, $132,450. It crosses Root, Washington, Monroe, and Wabash townships, and has the sta- tions of Monmouth, Decatur, Monroe, Berne and Geneva.
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