USA > Indiana > The Indiana gazetteer : or, topographical dictionary of the state of Indiana, 1850 > Part 28
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SMOTHER'S CREEK, a tributary of the west fork of White river from the north-east, in Daviess county.
SMYRNA, a small town in Decatur, eight miles south- east of Greensburgh.
SMYRNA, a central township in Jefferson county.
SOLOMON'S CREEK, a small stream in Elkhart county.
SOMERSET, a small town on the Mississinewa, in Wa- bash county, on the Peru and Marion State road.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE .- This order had its origin in the City of New York, in the year 1842.
The various temperance organizations which had pre- viously existed having, to a great extent, performed their missions, it was deemed necessary, in the judgment of its founders, to embody in a more permanent and efficient form the friends of the cause, by an organization found- ed upon the principles of total abstinence from all intoxi- cating drinks as a beverage, and to incorporate such ele- ments of power, and objects of benevolence, as would secure its permanency and extend its usefulness.
With this object in view, 16 active and experienced temperance men met in Teetotalers Hall, in New York, on the 29th day of September, A. D. 1842, when a con- stitution was adopted, and other preliminary measures were taken to commence active operations. So soon as the form and principles of the order had been agreed upon by its founders, it was presented to the public and received with much enthusiasm by many friends of the cause, and was hailed as being admirably adapted to the wants of the temperance community.
Under the authority of this first division, many others were organized in neighboring cities, and as the parent, it became the head of the Order, from which has grown up the present very extensive and powerful organization,
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INDIANA GAZETTEER.
numbering, in North America, one National Division, 35 Grand Divisions, 4,39S Subordinate Divisions, and about 250,000 members.
On the 15th of November, 1845, the first division was organized in this State, under a charter granted by the National Division, and located at Brookville, under the title of " Indiana Division, No. 1.," which was authorized and empowered to grant charters for the organization of new divisions in the State, by which nine additional di- visions were created, when it became lawful and neces- sary to organize a Grand Division.
On the 21st of March, 1846, the charter for this Grand Division was granted by the National Division, and on the 2d day of May ensuing, it was duly instituted at Brookville by J. C. Vaughn, then acting as G. W. P. of the State of Ohio.
Annual meetings have subsequently been held at In- dianapolis, the chartered locality. E. H. Barry and C. F. Clarkson of Brookville, L. J. Adams of Madison, and William Hannaman of Indianapolis, have each, in the precedence named, filled the chair of G. W. Patriarch.
The following statement will exhibit the progress of the Order, under National jurisdiction, according to the reports presented to the National Division at its last ses- sion, viz:
Initiated during the year, 111,520 members.
Cash received, -
$716,583 09
Paid for benefits, - 200,886 68
Cash on hand, -
- 336,614 68
The quarterly returns from the Subordinate Divisions of Indiana, for the quarter ending June 30, 1849, show the following condition of the Order up to that period, viz:
Number of members, 11,592 Receipts for quarter ending June 30, '49, $12,045 15 Paid for benefits, 3,779 61 - - - Cash on hand, - -
20,294 27 Number of Divisions, 283. - - -
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TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS.
CADETS OF TEMPERANCE .- The Juvenile Order of Ca- dets of Temperance has for its object the organization of the youth of the land, between the ages of 12 and 17, into temperance societies, which shall be adapted, in their spirit and exercises, to the age and comprehension of those whom they are designed to embrace. The or- ganization, its features and ceremonies, bears great re- semblance to the Order of Sons of Temperance, and is partly under the control of the latter body. The first section of Cadets within the borders of the State of In- diana, was instituted at Vincennes, on the 3d day of June, 1847, under a charter from the Grand Section of Pennsylvania, then exercising the functions of supreme head of the Order in the United States. This was fol- lowed by the organization of Marion Section, No. 2, at Indianapolis, on the 3d of July following. Up to June of the following year, eleven other Sections had been organized, all of which obtained their charters from Pennsylvania. On the 14th day of June, IS48, the Grand Section of Indiana was organized at Indianapolis with power to issue charters for the subordinate Sec- tions, and perform all other acts previously pertaining to the Grand Section of Pennsylvania, so far as relates to the State of Indiana. Since that period, the progress of the Order has been extremely rapid. From the time of the introduction of the Order in the State, up to the present period, seventy-four Sections have been organiz- ed, four of which have since surrendered their charters ; so that there are now seventy Sections in successful ope- ration in this State. The aggregate membership in these Sections is estimated at 2,500. The Grand Section as- sembles annually at Indianapolis, in the month of Octo- ber.
A. W. Morris, of Indianapolis, was the first Grand Patron, and J. W. Duzan, of the same place, was the first Grand Secretary. The present Grand Patron is Rev. B. T. Kavanaugh, and the Grand Secretary, is Henry Ohr, both of Indianapolis.
SOUTH BEND, the Seat of Justice of St. Joseph county,
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takes its name from its situation on the river St. Joseph, where, from a western course, it turns north, and after running six miles, passes into the State of Michigan 35 miles before it reaches the lake. The settlement of South Bend commenced in the spring of 1831, though it had been previously an Indian trading post. L. M. Taylor and A. Coquillard were among the first settlers. There are now in town over 300 houses, mostly frame, and 1,600 inhabitants. . The public buildings are four church- es, a County Seminary, good county buildings, and a branch of the State Bank. There are also two merchant mills which can make 150 barrels of flour each, per day, one woollen factory, with a capital of 10,000 to be in- creased to $50,000, an oil mill that manufactures 80 gal- lons a day, two establishments for building threshing machines, three saw mills, one edge tool factory, a ma- chine shop, a carding machine, an establishment for mak- ing pegs, lasts, vaneering, lath, &c., all which are pro- pelled by water power created by a dam in the St. Jo- seph. South Bend is now improving more rapidly than at any former period, and its fine situation, excellent water power and the enterprise of its citizens, give assu- rance that it will be among the largest towns in northern Indiana.
SOUTH EAST, a township in Orange, population 1,300.
SOUTH FORK, a branch of Wild Cat, in Clinton and Tippecanoe counties, which falls into the main stream nine miles from its mouth. It is a valuable mill stream.
SOUTH FORK of Muscackituck, a mill stream that rises near Napoleon, and joins with the north fork at Vernon.
SOUTHPORT, a small town recently laid out on the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, six miles south of Indianapolis. It contains Presbyterian and Methodist churches, both neat buildings.
SPARROW creek, a tributary of the Mississinewa, in Randolph county.
SPARTA, a township in Dearborn, population 1,800.
SPARTA, a western township in Noble, population 560.
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TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS.
SPARTANBURGH, a small town in the south-east corner of Randolph, first settled in 1831.
SPENCER COUNTY, organized in 1818, was named in honor of Capt. Spier Spencer, of Harrison county, who fell in the battle of Tippecanoe. It is bounded north by Dubois, east by Perry, south by the Ohio river, and west by Warrick, and it contains 410 square miles. The civil townships are Luce, Ohio, Grass, Jackson, Hammond, Huff, Harrison and Carter. The population in 1830 was 3,187, in 1840, 6,305, and at this time about 9,000.
The south part of the county is level, the middle un- dulating, and the north-eastern hilly. The soil for the most part is a rich black loam with an under soil of yel- low clay mixed with sand, though in places steep hills or extensive flats do not encourage agricultural improve- ments. The prevailing timber is oak, hickory, ash, pop- lar, black gum, walnut, sugar, beech, and sassafras, with an undergrowth of dogwood, spice and pawpaw. Large crops of corn are raised on the extensive river bottoms, and in the interior, corn, wheat, rye, oats, grass and to- bacco. There are in the county eight grist mills, eight saw mills, thirty stores, ten groceries, five warehouses, one printing office, three lawyers, nine physicians, fif- teen preachers, and quite a small proportion of mechan- ics. The surplus produce, consisting of corn, wheat, hay, oats, tobacco, hogs, cattle and horses, is estimated to be worth $150,000 annually. There is a great abun- dance of stone coal found in the county. The taxable land amounts to 156,159 acres.
SPENCER, a western township in Jennings, population 1,100.
SPENCER, the seat of justice of Owen county, is situ- ated on the west bank of White River, fifty-four miles south-west of Indianapolis, forty east south-east of Terre Haute, thirty south of Greencastle, and sixteen west of Bloomington. It was first settled in 1820, by John Dunn, Philip Hart, and Richard Beem. It contains a Methodist Church, a Christian Church, four stores, three warehouses, eight mechanics' shops, and a population of
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about 300. The country around Spencer is so fertile, and its situation so favorable, that it must ere long in- crease in size and importance.
SPICELAND, a southern township in Henry county.
SPICE VALLEY, a south-western township in Law- rence, population 1,000.
SPRING CREEK, a tributary of Sugar Creek in the north part of Boone county.
SPRING CREEK, runs south-east into the Wabash in the north part of Vermillion.
SPRING CREEK, rises in Parke, and runs south-west into the Wabash near the north line of Vigo.
SPRING CREEK, rises in the north part of Whitley, and runs south into Eel River, one mile above Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD, a northern township in Allen, popula- tion 265.
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SPRINGFIELD, an eastern township in Franklin, popu- lation 2,100.
SPRINGFIELD, a small town in Clay township in Hen- dricks county.
SPRINGFIELD, an eastern township in Lagrange, popu- lation 700.
SPRINGFIELD, a northern township in Laporte, popula- tion 750.
SPRINGFIELD, the former seat of justice of Posey coun- ty, seven miles north of Mount Vernon.
SPRINGFIELD, a small town in Whitley county, on the north bank of Eel River, ten miles south-west of Colum- bia. It was first settled in 1837, by Joseph Parrot, and others.
SPRINGHILL, a small town in Decatur, eight miles north-east of Greensburgh.
SPRINGVILLE, a pleasant town in Lawrence county, nine miles north-west of Bedford, so called from a large spring in the town. It was first settled in 1816, by Sam- uel Owens, James Garton, and John Gray. It contains fifty houses, and 250 inhabitants.
SQUIRREL CREEK, a tributary of Eel River from the north in Miami county.
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TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS.
STAFFORD, a south-west township in Greene, popula- tion 400.
STAMPER'S CREEK, an eastern township in Orange, population 800.
STANFORD, a small town in the south-east of Monroe.
STARKE COUNTY, so named from Gen. John Starke, the victor in the battle of Bennington, has never been organized. It contains about 320 square miles, and is situated mostly in the marshes of the Kankakee south of Laporte, west of Marshall, north of Pulaski, and east of Jasper. There is but a small portion of the county that will be valuable, except for raising stock. It is attached to Marshall for civil and election purposes. The popu- lation in IS40, was 149. It is now about 450.
STEEL'S PRAIRIE, named from Ninian Steel, the first settler, contains about 1,000 acres all in cultivation, is a sandy, level tract of land in the western part of Daviess county.
STEELE, a western township in Daviess, population 450.
STERLING, a northern township in Crawford.
STEUBEN COUNTY, organized in 1837, was named in honor of Baron Steuben, a Prussian officer of distinc- tion, who joined the army during the Revolutionary war, and was a very efficient disciplinarian. It lies in the north-east corner of the State, being bounded north and east by Michigan and Ohio, south by De Kalb, and west by Lagrange, and it contains about 330 square miles. The civil townships are Millgrove, Jamestown, and Brockville, in the north ; Jackson, Pleasant, and York, central tier ; and Salem, Steuben, Otsego, and Richland, in the south, commencing on the west in each case. The population in 1840, was 2,57S ; at this time it is about 6,000. About one half the county is timber- ed land, one-third is oak openings or barrens, and one- sixth prairie. The timber and prairie land is in general equal in quality to any in the State. The barrens have a poorer soil. The principal surplus product is wheat, of which 200,000 bushels have been exported in a year.
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There are in the county nineteen saw mills, five flouring mills, the most of which make first rate flour; fifteen dry goods stores, five groceries, four lawyers, five physi- cians. School districts have been laid out, and houses built in the most of them, where schools are taught a portion of the year. The taxable land amounts to 169,- 077 acres.
Steuben County was first settled in 1833, by emi- grants from Ohio, who located on Jackson prairie. The increase of population and improvement has been stead- ily progressing since that time. Its beautifully diversi- fied woodlands, oak openings, and prairies, interspersed with small clear lakes, present a great variety of fine scenery, which is not surpassed in any part of the west.
STEUBEN, a southern township in Steuben county, pop- ulation 525.
STEUBEN, a western township in Warren.
STILESVILLE, named after Jeremiah Stiles, the proprie- tor, is situated on the east bank of Mill Creek on the National Road, twenty-seven miles south-west of Indian- apolis. It is a pleasant village containing about 300 in- habitants.
STILLWELL PRAIRIE, a rich tract of land in the south part of Laporte county, containing about twenty sec- tions.
ST. JonNs, a small town in Lake county, in the centre of a German Catholic settlement, six miles north-west of Crownpoint, where they have erected a Chapel.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, SO called from the river which passes through it, was organized in 1830. It is bounded north by the State of Michigan, east by Elkhart, south by Marshall, and west by Laporte, and it contains 477 square miles. The civil townships are Olive, Warren, German, Portage, Green, Liberty, Madison, Penn, Cen- tre, Clay, and Harris, The population in 1830, was 287; in 1840, 6,425; and at this time about 12,000. Except in the vicinity of the river, where the land is pleasantly rolling, the balance of the county is only so far from a level as to afford good drainage. About one-half is bar-
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TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS.
rens, or oak openings, one-third heavy timber, and the other one-sixth is either wet or dry prairie. The soil in the timber and prairies is equal in quality to any part of the State, and in the hickory and burr oak barrens the soil turns black and seems to become richer the longer it is farmed. Wheat has been the principal crop, though corn, oats, grass, fruit, vines, &c., are cultivated to ad- vantage. For manufactures see South Bend and Misha- waka, where the principal establishments are carried on; and as to education, see the Notre Dame Catholic Col- lege in the first part of this Book.
There are in the county five grist mills, ten saw' mills, two oil mills, two woollen factories, 11 general assort- ment stores, two drug stores, three ware-houses, one printing office, eight lawyers, ten physicians, six preach- ers of the gospel, and 218,623 acres of taxable land.
Iron ore of a good quality is found in great abund- ance near Mishawaka and other parts of the county, and marl, useful either for lime or as manure, may be found in great quantities in most of the marshes, and occasion- ally in the timbered land.
St. Joseph will eventually be one of the richest and most important counties of the State. Its fine soil, abundant water power, valuable ores, the facility with which good roads can be made, and the advantages of the river navigation, are such as to encourage rapid im- provements.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, or the Big St. Joseph, rises in the State of Michigan, runs south-west into the State of In- diana, then north-west into the State of Michigan again, and into the lake. Its course in this State is about 50 miles, and its width usually 100 yards. It is navigable at least half the year.
ST. JOSEPH, or Little St. Joseph river, rises in the south- east part of Michigan, runs south-west through the north- west corner of Ohio into this State, and unites with the St. Mary's at Fort Wayne, where the two streams form the Maumee, which then returns nearly in an opposite direction to the former course, towards Lake Erie.
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ST. JOSEPH, a township in Allen county, population 525.
ST. Louis, a small town near Haw Creek, 11 miles north-east of Columbus, population 75.
ST. Louis, a small town on the Ohio river, in Perry county, one mile above Cannelton, population 150.
ST. MARY'S RIVER, rises in the State of Ohio, runs north-west through Adams and Allen to Fort Wayne, where it joins the St. Joseph and forms the Maumee.
ST. MARY'S, an eastern township in Adams, population 550.
STOCKTON, a township in Greene, population 600.
ST. OMAR, a pleasant village on the Michigan road, in Decatur county, nine miles north-west of Greensburgh, population 350.
STONE LAKE lies one mile west of Laporte, and covers about 600 acres.
STONY CREEK, a fine mill stream that rises in Madison, runs south-west into Hamilton, and falls into White river two miles below Noblesville.
STONY CREEK rises in the north-cast corner of Henry, runs north into Delaware and then into Randolph, where it falls into White river near the west line of the county.
STONY CREEK, a north-east township in Henry.
STONY CREEK, a western township in Randolph, popu- lation 1,000.
STOTT'S CREEK, a mill stream that rises in Johnson, and runs west through Morgan into White river, eight miles above Martinsville.
ST. PETERSBURGH, a small town in Pulaski, laid out in 1848.
STRAIT CREEK, a tributary of Patoka from the south- east, in Dubois county.
STRAWTOWN, a beautifully situated village on the south- east bank of White river, six miles above Noblesville, with a population of 200. It was once a flourishing In- dian town, and its name is derived from a house in it thatched with straw.
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TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS.
STUCKER'S FORK, a southern branch of the Muscacki- tuck, and the principal mill stream in Scott county.
SUGAR CREEK rises in Benton and runs west into Illi- nois, where it falls into Iroquois river.
SUGAR CREEK, or Rock river, rises in the south-east of Clinton and runs west and south-west through Boone, Montgomery and Parke, falls into the Wabash five miles above Montezuma. Its whole course is about 100 miles.
SUGAR CREEK, a north-west township in Boone, popu- lation 1,650.
SUGAR CREEK, a south-east township in Clinton, popu- lation 450.
SUGAR CREEK, a small stream in the south-cast corner of Daviess.
SUGAR CREEK, a fine mill stream, rises in Henry and runs south-west through Hancock, Shelby and Johnson, falls into Blue river near the south line of the county, one and a-half miles below Edinburgh.
SUGAR CREEK, a south-west township in Hancock, population 500.
SUGAR CREEK falls into White river from the south, at Lawrenceport.
SUGAR CREEK, a north-east township in Montgomery, population 550.
SUGAR CREEK, a north-east township in Parke, popu- lation 1,300.
SUGAR CREEK, a western township in Shelby, popula- tion 750.
SUGAR CREEK, a western township in Vigo, population 1,200.
SUGAR CREEK rises in Illinois and runs south-east into the Wabash, two miles below Terre Haute.
SUGAR LANDS, a fertile tract of country in Daviess county, containing about 20,000 acres, lying north and north-west of Washington, named from the prevailing growth of timber.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, organized in 1817, was named in honor of Daniel Sullivan, who was killed by the Indians on the road from Vincennes to Louisville, while carrying
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INDIANA GAZETTEER.
an express, in the public service, between those places. It is bounded north by Vigo, east by Clay and Greene, south by Knox, and west by the Wabash, and it con- tains 430 square miles. The civil townships are Gill, Turman and Fairbanks, on the Wabash; Curry, in the north; Hamilton, in the centre; Jackson, in the north- east, and Haddon in the south-east. The population in 1830 was 4,696, in 1840, S,315, and at this time about 10,500. The surface of the country is mostly level. About one-twentieth of the county is river bottom, one- sixth is prairie and barrens, the balance is uplands, tim- bered principally with oak, walnut, poplar, ash, pecan, beech and sugar. The soil on the barrens is mostly poor; on the prairie and timbered land it is rich and well adapted to corn, wheat and grass. The surplus products shipped down the Wabash and Bussero creek are corn 150,000 bushels, wheat 20,000, oats 10,000, hay 100 tons, and 10,000 hogs, 1,500 cattle, and 600 horses and mules, estimated at $150,000 annually.
There are in the county 11 grist mills, nine saw mills, four carding machines, 16 stores, four lawyers, 17 physi- cians, 20 preachers, 20 blacksmiths, 30 carpenters, 10 coopers, five saddlers, 17 shoemakers, 11 Methodist, three Presbyterian, two Baptist and three Reformers' churches.
The taxable land amounts to 168,129 acres, and about 70,000 acres still belong to the United States, of which at least half is of a very poor quality.
The first settlement in the county was made near Car- lisle, in 1803, by Capt. Wm. Price, and next year came the Ledgerwoods, Holders, Purcells, Haddons, Barrier, &c. Coal is found in abundance, and Sullivan ought to be among the richest counties in the State.
SULLIVAN, the Seat of Justice of the county of the same name was laid out in 1842. It contains the Court House, Jail, County Seminary, Churches for the Metho- dists and Reformers, and 400 inhabitants. It is 10 miles north of Carlisle and 30 south of Terre Haute.
SWAN, a south-east township in Noble, population 560.
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TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS.
SWAN POND, a small lake near Washington, in Daviess county, one and a-half miles long and half a mile wide. It abounds with fish. It is fed by springs, and in high water by White river.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY, organized in 1S14, derives its name from a settlement of Swiss, who came within the bounds of the present county in 1802, and commenced the cultivation of the grape there. It is bounded north by Ripley and Ohio counties, east and south by the Ohio river, and west by Jefferson, and it contains about 225 square miles. The civil townships are Craig, Jefferson, York and Posey, on the Ohio, Cotton in the north, and Pleasant in the north-west. The population in 1830 was 7,111, in 1840, 9,920, and at this time is about 14,000. As the Ohio river borders on the county 36 miles, there are many large and fine bottoms which are mostly rich and well cultivated. Back of these for an average dis- tance of three miles, the river hills rise from 400 to 500 feet, and are interrupted at short distances by precipi- tous ravines. The timber and soil are, however, of a superior quality, and where the hills are not too steep to be farmed, first rate crops are produced. Farther back from the river the ravines disappear, and a high table land is reached, more clayey, yet well adapted to grass and small grain, and with proper cultivation, suited to any crop common to the climate. There are some of the best farms in the State in Switzerland, and every year large quantities of produce are shipped to the south from the numerous landings on the river.
There are in the county 10 grist mills, 15 saw mills, of which about half are propelled by steam the others by water, 40 stores, 20 groceries, 20 ware-houses, one print- ing office, 10 lawyers, 30 physicians, 25 preachers, and the usual proportion of mechanics. In the towns there are 12 Methodist churches, two for the Presbyterians, two for the Baptists, and one for the Universalians, be- sides others in the country. The taxable land amounts to 143,016 acres. There is none yet belonging to the United States.
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John James Dufour was the enterprising leader of the Swiss Colony before referred to. By his indefatigable exertions, a grant of land was procured from the United States to him and his little colony on a long credit, and by this means about 200 acres of land was procured for each of the original settlers. They were industrious and prudent, and they and their posterity have generally been prosperous. See Vevay.
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