USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 25
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Adams Township .- The earliest considerable settlement was in Adams township, in 1823, when Jesse Adams, William Caswell, Elipha-
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let Edmunds, Charles Weeks, sr., Charles Weeks, jr., Martin Weeks, Israel Taylor, Philip Fall and Capt. Hurst, began to make them homes, at first "deadening," and in later years clearing away and ruthlessly destroying the heavy timber which encumbered the land, and was then of little value. Mr. Adams, who came from Rochester, N. Y., and settled near New Haven, was a man of much ability, and gave the township subse- quently formed his name, not in his own honor, he declared, but in memory of John Quincy Adams. The closing years of his life were spent in Jefferson township. A daughter of this pioneer died in 1825, and was buried upon his farm, where a second interment, the body of Mrs. James Thatcher, was made in 1828. The spot became the ceme- tery for a large district, but the established cemetery afterward was upon land donated by D. W. Miller, in 1830, which is now included in the beautiful cemetery maintained by the Odd Fellows since 1875. In 1830 Caswell and the senior Weeks removed and became the first settlers of Perry township. Henry Cooper and Judge Wolcott settled in Adams township in 1824, and in December of the following year John and Jabez Rogers took possession of land in the woods. They were all of true pioneer stock, hardy, industrious and good citizens. Henry Cooper here laid the foundation of his fame as a lawyer by studying by the light of the log heaps. John Rogers came from Ohio, with a large family, and the survivors and their children are now among the best people of the county. In that year, 1825, a son was born to Mr. Rogers and wife, named John S., who was the first white child born within Adams town- ship. He died at Fort Wayne at the age of twenty years. The first hewn-log house was erected this year by Mr. Rogers, and it was an architectural triumph for the locality in those days. This prominent old settler lived in the township twenty-five years, and then moved to the city, where he died in 1877. In 1826, Samuel Brown, from Ohio, settled, and in the following year John McIntosh, who entered land in 1823, was married to Ruth, a daughter of his neighbor Brown, the ceremony being performed by Squire Jesse Adams, who had been elected at the first election, held on the second Monday of March of the previous year, at the home of Eliphalet Edmunds. Two years elapsed before the next marriage, of David Miller to Rachel Townsend. In 1827 Henry Cooper sowed the first wheat, at a rather late season, November 15, but it turned out well, according to the tradition. In this year a number of good men were added to the population: John Blakely, John K. Sen- seny, Joseph Townsend, David W. and Abraham Miller, Thomas Daniels, John Troutner and Judge Nathan Coleman. The year 1827 is also memorable as the date of the survey of the first road, from Fort Wayne to a point just east of the site of New Haven. It was afterward extended as a stage line to Defiance, Ohio, and " the river road " became a popular thoroughfare. Henry Tilbury came in 1826 and Jeremiah Bateman in 1828, and in 1829 the Smith brothers, William, John, Thomas and Joseph, began clearing their farms. In this year immigra- tion began to increase so rapidly as to make an accurate record almost
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impossible. Neighbors, before so scattered, began to touch elbow in the march of civilization, and the smoke from many stick chimneys told of happy families at home in rude cabins which were for all their rude- ness the shrines of peace, religion and industry. The tide of immi- grants led John Rogers, in 1832, to establish an inn on his farm, convenient to the river road and the Maumee, and many an immigrant's wagon stopped there, or pirogue hauled up to the bank to enjoy the hospitality of the " Hoosier Nest," as it was called. About the same time Rufus McDonald opened the "New York " inn on his farm, and in 1837 the postoffice was established there, and was kept by Mr. McDonald until 1842. During that period the mail was carried between Defiance and Fort Wayne, on horseback, by John Omans.
New Haven .- The land embraced in the original plat of New Haven was entered by one Gundy, who deadened the timber after the usual manner of the first settlers, and it was known as " Gundy's Deadening." The land passed from him to Samuel Hanna, then to Eben Burgess, who with his son, Henry, made the town plat March 16, 1839. Henry Burgess opened up the first store, and Elias Shafer kept a hotel near by. The expectations of prosperity from the canal traffic were not justi- fied, but the building of the Wabash railway and the "Nickle-plate " through the town have made it an excellent railway point. In June, 1866, a petition was presented to the county commissioners by John Begue and others asking the incorporation of the town, and an election was ordered, which took place on June 7th, and resulted favorably to incorporation. In December, of the following year, upon the petition of A. H. Dougall and others, the corporation was made a voting precinct. Additions to the original plat were made by J. K. Edgerton in 1854, by Reuben Powers in May, 1853, and Nicholas Shookman in 1863. During the war, and for ten years later, there was extensive manufacture of staves, hoops, etc. Money was plentiful, and the town flourished as it has not since. But it is handsomely situated, and has many beautiful and well-kept residences. The population as taken by Trustee O. D. Rogers, in 1885, was 1,211. A pioneer industry of the town was the the New Haven flouring mill, which was erected in 1856 by Amasa Volney and John A. Powers, in the hands of one or more of whom it remained in whole or in part for many years. An interest was owned at one time by Allen H. Dougall. While owned by Volney Powers, it was destroyed by fire, January 7, 1884. L. M. Rogers, in partnership with John Begue and Levi Hartzell, founded the Maumee Valley flouring mill in 1864, an extensive establishment. Amasa Rogers owned an interest subsequently, and for several years, up to 1871, it was managed by Louis and Charles Lepper. In the latter year a terrific explosion was caused by lack of water in the boiler, the proprietors and engineer were instantly killed, and the miller and two boys dangerously injured, and the building ruined. In 1875, the property was purchased by Joseph Brudi & Co., who are still operating it with full roller process. In 1854, John Begue started a cooper shop, to which stave manufacture was added
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in 1862, the Beugnot brothers becoming partners. Subsequent to 1870, under the management of Schnelker, Beugnot & Co., this became a great establishment.
In 1863 the planing mill was erected by Gustav Gothe and Carl and Joseph Brudi at the east end of town, which is now operated by Gothe & Co. A stave factory of considerable importance was founded in 1864 by B. Schnelker and J. E. McKendry, which in May, 1876, went into the hands of H. Schnelker & Co., they then employing ninety-five hands, and consuming in their manufacture, 12,000 cords of wood annually. It is now owned by H. F. Schnelker & Co., and is an extensive manufactory. In 1881, F. H. Bueter and A. R. Schnitker founded a handle factory, which is operated at present by Schnitker & Fischer. A large wood working factory is now in erection by M. S. Flowers. The more promi- nent business men at this time are: L. M. and W. S. Rogers, dry goods and groceries; Frank H. Bueter, general store and postmaster; G. Adolph Foellinger, druggist; Bartholomew Dowling, hardware; Henry Hager and Salvador Peltier, groceries; Rogers & Tustison, agricultural implements; O. D. Rogers, notary; Edward Harper, furniture; Mack & Gabet, brewers; Amos Miller, watchmaker; Henry Blaising, Hudson & Butler, meat markets; Chas. W. Cook, New Haven hotel; W. Zeddis, harness; George C. Hathaway & Co., lumber; Jacob Scheeler, tile manufacturer. The first physicians were distinguished more for natural talent than for college diplomas. Jesse Adams practiced for some time, administering relief to those who were sick, and Dr. Barn- well, a botanical doctor, and Opp, a physician of more skill, followed him in this work. Dr. Philip H. Clark came in 1840, but after six years, removed to Ashland county, Ohio, where he is still living. Dr. W. W. Martin, who became a surgeon of the Forty-fourth Indiana, and afterward committed suicide, practiced some time in New Haven, and was followed by Drs. Ross, Mitten and Diggens. The physicians at present are Drs. John W. Bilderbach, August G. Brudi, Charles J. Gilbert, Lycurgus S. Null. The societies of the town are Newman lodge, No. 376, F. & A. M., instituted February 3, 1868; New Haven lodge, No. 253, I. O. O. F., instituted March 6, 1866, which is distinguished for its work in estab- , lishing the famous cemetery; Jesse Adams post, G. A. R., No. 493, organized March 12, 1887.
In 1858, the trustees of Adams township erected a school building with two rooms, in which a district school was held. After the incor- poration, the town added two rooms to this structure, and in December, 1866, Dr. James Anderson was employed as principal and authorized to grade the school by the school board of the town, L. M. Rogers, C. E. Bryant and John Begue. In 1885 this building was torn away, and a handsome brick building was erected, through the efforts of Trustee O. D. Rogers. The building contains four rooms besides an office, and is two stories high. The school board now consists of H. F. Schnelker, C. A. Miller and Joseph Brudi. The town officers are: Trustees, Dr. L. S. Null, D. H. F. Barbrick, J. J. Lee; marshal, Charles Bell; treas-
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Lament It Raque
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urer, B. Dowling; clerk, H. H. Schnelker. The newspaper of the town, the New Haven Palladium, was founded October 25, '1872, by Thomas J. Foster, who continued to publish it until June 5, 1879, when it was rented by Orrin D. Rogers, who conducted it one year when the paper was suspended. Subsequently H. L. Williamson established the Echo, which had a short existence.
Washington Township .- The next township after Wayne and Adams in order of settlement was Washington. Immediately follow- ing the beginning of the sale of lands, Reinhard Cripe, a Pennsylvania- German, settled on Spy run, with his family. He was one of those who enjoyed the sport of hunting, and his good nature.made him pop- ular, but he left little to show for his residence when he removed a few years later, to Elkhart county. The first real beginning at the settle- ment and improvement of the township was made by the Archer fam- ily, which consisted of Benjamin Archer and wife, then past middle life, their three sons, David, John S., Benjamin, a daughter Susan and her husband Alexander Ballard, their daughter Elizabeth, who was the wife of Thomas Hatfield, also one of the party, and the daughter Sarah, with her husband, Edward Campbell, a French-Canadian. Andrew J. Moore was also a member of the party, and Adam Petit, who in 1828 married the daughter of David Archer. Thomas Hatfield had visited the township in the spring, and entered land, and in November, 1825, accompanied by the Archers, who had removed from Philadelphia to Dayton, they set out, and traveled thither by the Wayne trail, through the boundless forests, camping out by the way during the nights, which were made musical by the howling of wolves and screeching of wildcats. Benjamin Archer was well-to-do for those days, and his sons being grown men, were given tracts which he purchased, to improve. David settled on the St. Joseph, two and a half miles from the fort; John S. was given a quarter section near the site of the Catholic orphan asylum; and Benjamin went three miles to the northwest, upon land recently owned by Alexander McKinley. Mrs. Ballard was given a tract just east of the Wells reserve, but she and her husband, who worked as a brickmaker in the village, did not go upon it until 1830. The heirs of Thomas Hatfield, who was for many years a justice of the peace, and a minister of the gospel, still retain the lands the parents settled upon at that time. Near the same locality lay the lands allotted to the Camp- bells. All of the family were stalwart and healthful, and they have sub- dued hundreds of acres of forests and changed the somber hue of green to the golden gleam of ripening grain on many a landscape. In the year of his settlement Benjamin Archer established a brick kiln on sec- tion 35, where his sons, principally John S., engaged in making brick, supplying the demand in the town until 1830. In this family occurred the first birth, of David, son of David and Anna Archer, born January I, 1827, and the first marriage, of Franklin Sunderland to Rebecca Archer, in 1828. In 1826 Isaac Klinger entered a tract near the site of Bloomingdale, and took possession in the following year, when Jona-
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than Cook arrived with his family and settled on section 34. His brother, Philip Cook, came with him, but in 1828 married Isabel Archer and removed to town. His latter years were spent upon the farm he took in 1827.
Late in the year 1827, two Virginians, Lovell Yates and Richard Shaw, settled, but their land transactions were confined to renting and tilling a small field. Their main occupation was hunting, and when the settlers became more numerous they went further west. James Sanders settled in the same year. He had been a minister of the Methodist church, and conducted meetings occasionally at the neighbors'. A Mr. Hudson and family settled in 1828, and Joseph Goins in 1830. In that year Col. John Spencer located roads through the township, one of which became the highway to Goshen, the other to Lima, Ind., the latter subsequently made a plank road (1839-40). Next year the same engi- neer located the Leesburg and Yellow river roads, so that the early set- tlers in Washington township were especially favored with primitive highways. The Lima road becoming a favorite thoroughfare, Mr. Poir- son opened the first hotel upon it in a log building. About the year 1828, Jonathan Chapman, or " Daddy Appleseed," established a nursery and sold fruit trees. In 1829, David Archer brought a number of apple trees from Ohio, and these were set out in the pioneer orchards. In 1832, Joseph Gill came in from Pickaway county, Ohio, and soon after his settlement on section 15 his wife Mary died and was buried in the pioneer grave- yard, which, one acre in extent, was donated by Thomas Hatfield, in 1830. It is still in use. Among the subsequent early settlers were Joshua and George Butler, Gavin Peyton and Babel Wainwright in 1832, Elias Walters, John B. Grosjean and Charles Schwab, the blacksmith, in 1834; Benjamin Sunderland in 1836. Early in the thirties Thomas Hin- ton, an Englishman, settled in the southeast, and he afterward kept an inn at the place where the Goshen road crosses the feeder canal, called the "Bullshead Tavern." His son, Samuel Hinton, is now an aged res- ident of Fort Wayne. In 1840 the population began to increase rapidly. The first election in the township was held in April, 1832, and John S. Archer was elected justice. In 1856, a tannery was established by Mr. Gray near the site of Centlivre's brewery, which became for a time a prosperous establishment, with stores in Fort Wayne, St. Louis, and elsewhere, but it finally failed.
The village of Wallen was founded in 1870, upon lands owned by J. K. Edgerton, adjoining the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad, and the name was bestowed in honor of the then superintendent of the road. Additions were subsequently made by James P. Ross, who was the first postmaster, appointed in 1871. Important interests here are the saw- mill of Grosjean Bros., established in 1872, and their tile manufactory established in 1882. This, and thé branch at Arcola, manufacture about 3,000 tile annually, to the amount of $8,000, and give steady employ- ment to about twenty-five men.
The village of Academie, so named because of the Catholic institu-
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tion two miles east, was platted by S. Cary Evans in 1874, but has not developed.
St. Joseph Township, when first created, embraced all the territory in northeastern Indiana north of the township line north of Fort Wayne, and west to the western extremity of the jurisdiction of Allen county. Within its present limits, to which it was reduced in 1840, the first settler was Jeremiah Hudson, of Delaware, who established himself in the fall of 1828, and cleared a farm on the land afterward known as the " Ogle half-section." Charles H. De Rome, a native of Canada, who had mar- ried a half-breed Miami maiden at Vincennes, came to the township in 1829, and lived on the reserve which was granted his wife, Marie Chris- tine. He was well educated, knew the English, French and Indian lan- guages, and held positions in business houses in Fort Wayne. Jesse Klinger, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled on the Richardville reserve in 1829, and became a great favorite, and conspicuous for those kindly acts of neighborly kindness peculiar to the early days, was fairly embarked in making his farm, when he died in 1835, and was one of the first of those to be buried in the cemetery he had donated. His son, Samuel, born in 1830, was the first white native of the township. Thomas Griffis was another 1829 settler, and was unfortunate in losing the land he purchased of De Rome, on account of the president not giving his consent to the transfer. Another who lost his labor in the same way was John Klinger, a settler of 1829, who afterward improved a farm on the west side of the river. Other comers in this year were William Sturms, a famous hunter, but also an industrious farmer; Moses Sivotts, a good Pennsylvanian, who remained but a few years; and Mar- tin Weeks, who settled on the ridge road. The latter was devoted to the chase, and was also a turbulent citizen, so amply endowed by nature that his neighbors were no match for him, and he was consequently avoided. Later, however, he underwent a remarkable change and be- came a popular minister of the Baptist church. In 1830, Abraham Dingman and William Butt came in from Ohio, and settled down to clearing and farming with such industry and obliviousness to_ everything else, that they became famous as workers in a community of forest- fellers. John Tilbury, another man of great energy, began work in 1832, on a farm on the ridge road three miles east of Fort Wayne, still owned by his descendants. The list of new people in 1833 includes James A. Royce, an industrious and popular man, who was one of the earliest school teachers; James Porter, who subsequently removed to Washing- ton township; and Christian Parker, grandson of a revolutionary hero, who cleared a farm of 160 acres, and subsequently became the first jus- tice, then county commissioner, and member of the state assembly for four successive terms.
In 1836, Job Lee, a quiet and pious man who had been in the war of 1812, came here. Others this year were True Pattee, who held relig- ious meetings as a minister of the Methodist church; James Mayhew, John Harver, Silas, Charles and John La Vanway, and the Goodale
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brothers. In the list of pioneers should also be included Uriah J. Rock, Jeremiah Whitesides, Jedediah Halliday, William Matthews, Benjamin Coleman and Peter Parker. "Jerry" Whitesides was a conspicuous figure of those days. He was tall and slim, and had lost his right arm, it having been amputated half way above the elbow, leaving just enough to serve as a rest for a rifle, which was his inseparable companion. Throughout the valley of the upper Maumee he was known as Jerry Whitesides, the one-armed hunter. The first marriage in the township was performed by Justice Parker in 1835, Isaac Bush to Sarah Madden; and the first death was that of William Matthews, who died in 1834 and was buried at the Maumee settlement. In 1834, at the instance of Christian Parker, the road which was subsequently extended as the St. Joseph state road, was established from town to Jacob Notestine's farm, and in 1836 the Ridge road was surveyed. On this highway, in 1838-9, Mr. Rossington opened a small tavern, which became well known. Pre- viously, the private hospitality of Christian Parker, for which he would accept no recompense, such was the courtesy of the good pioneer, was the main resource of travelers on that road.
On a beautiful and historic tract of land, four and a half miles from Fort Wayne, on the St. Mary's river, now reside the descendants of dis- tinguished men whose names are frequently met in the annals of the upper Maumee valley, Richardville and Godefroi.
Francis Godfroy, or Godefroi, which is the old French form of the name, was a war chief of the Miamis of great power and influence, succeeding Little Turtle in 1812. His father was a Frenchman who took to wife a Miami maiden. Francis married Soc-a-jag-wa, a Miami girl, and they made their home on the Wabash, near Peru, about four miles east of the site of which town their son, James R. Godfrey, who is still living, was born in July, 1810. The latter came to Allen county about 1844 and was married to Montosoqua, daughter of La Blonde, the daughter of the famous civil chief of the Miamis, John Baptiste Richardville. She was born near Fort Wayne, in 1835, and died in March, 1885. They had twelve children, James, now deceased; Mary, now deceased; Louisa, wife of George Neid, residing on the reserve; John, who lives with four children on the reserve; Annie, wife of William Stuck; George L., and six who died in childhood. James, the oldest son, was born on the reserve in 1846. At the outbreak of war in 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana battery, but contracting disease, was discharged on account of disability at Corinth, June 5, 1862. On the same day that he reached home his life ended.
George Lewis Godfrey, the youngest son of James R. Godfrey, was born at the family residence on the reservation, October 2, 1850. There he was reared and was given a good practical education in the public schools. He has followed farming as an avocation, residing on the reservation all his life. He is one of the very few Indians in Indiana or the country who are members of secret societies, and is the highest in Masonry of any Indian in Indiana and the world. He became a
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' Mason several years ago, joining Home lodge, No. 342. Since then he has become a member of the Fort Wayne chapter, No. 19; Fort Wayne council, No. 4, R. S. & M .; Fort Wayne commandery, No. 4, K. T .; Fort Wayne grand lodge of perfection, 14th degree; Urias council, 16th degree, and consistory S. P. R. S. of Indianapolis. He is also a member of the Phoenix lodge, No. 101, K. of P., and divis- ion No. 12, uniform rank, and was at one time a member of the United Order of Foresters, passing through all the chairs of the same, and was also a member of the Patriarchal Circle. He is a member of Wayne Street Methodist Episcopal church. There are now seventy- two residents of the reserve, embracing James R. Godfrey, his children and grandchildren.
Charles W. Fairfield, a prominent farmer of Wayne township, was born June 6, 1842, in a frame honse which was built in the country, but now stands on Broadway street, Fort Wayne, south of the Wabash rail- road tracks. His father, Charles Fairfield, one of the pioneers of Allen county, was born in Kennebunk Port, Maine, February 14, 1809, son of Capt. William Fairfield, a sea captain of Kennebunk Port, who was one of Gen. Washington's aides-de-camp during the revolutionary war. All the sons followed in the footsteps of their father and became sailors, two of them, Oliver and Asa, rising to the position of captains. They participated in the war of 1812, and were both captured on the sea by English men-of-war, and confined in English prisons, the former at Hal- ifax, N. S., for sixteen months, and the latter at Dartmouth, England, for six months. When Charles Fairfield was fifteen years of age he went to sea, and continued for thirteen years, during the latter part of that time being in command of a vessel. In 1835, the three brothers, Oliver, Asa and Charles, came to Indiana. The brothers located first in Fort Wayne, Oliver engaging in the bakery business, while Asa and Charles began farming. Asa died October 4, 1868; Oliver, March 24, 1883, leaving Charles the oldest representative of the family in the west. About 1843, Mr. Fairfield removed to a farm on the St. Joseph road in St. Joseph township, and from there removed to Wayne township where he purchased over 400 acres of land on the Bluffton road. In 1862, he traded with the county commissioners for a farm of 290 acres, where his son now resides, three and one-half miles southwest from Fort Wayne. In May, 1889, he removed to his present home two miles from the city. He has been a worthy citizen throughout his residence in Allen county, but though he has accepted with reluctance various public trusts, he has always lived a quiet life. Being a careful business man he has been success- ful financially, owning 515 acres of improved farm land and city property. Known all over Allen county, he is everywhere esteemed. He was married December 4, 1837, to Sarah A. Browning, who was born near Marietta, Ohio, January 18, 1815, and is the daughter of Bazalia Brown- ing, a native of New Jersey, who was an early settler of Ohio, a soldier of 1812, and a pioneer of Allen county, coming here as early as 1832. In 1887, Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield celebrated their golden wedding. To
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