The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 54

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 54

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The first lot was bought by Thomas Jay, who built the first store-room in the place, in the fall of 1839. " He kept a general stock of dry-goods, groceries and notions, which he exchanged for the various farm products brought to the store. It had been stipulated by Mr. Clark, when selling the lots, that no log-buildings should be erected; consequently, instead of the usual log-cabin, we have here neat frame structures, many of which are standing and are quite respectable in appearance at the present day. The first tavern was built by Henry Krise in 1840. The amount of travel in those days, especially in this part of the country, had not assumed gigantic proportions. The landing of a traveler from the canalboat was quite an event in the daily life of the village, and was an exception rather than a rule. In order to make up somewhat for the want of travel, and to more fully occupy his time, Mr. Krise purchased a stock of dry goods, notions, etc., and united the mercantile trade to the business of keeping public-house. He continued in this

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building many years, when he disposed of the property, which has since ceased to be a place where man and beast may find refreshment, and is now used as a saloon, proving a curse rather than blessing to the place. Abram Hartman was another of the early inhabitants of the place. He kept a tailor's shop, and, in conjunction with this, sold goods of various descriptions. John McPherson was one of the first persons who put up buildings in the new village. The first blacksmith shop was built by Charles Shultzbaugh, in 1842; it was situated on the north side of Main street, but was removed years ago, and in its place stands a two-story frame structure, the lower floor being used as a hardware store, while the upper is occu- pied by Caldwell & Company, the only newspaper establishment in the township. In the summer of 1840, Uriah Johns built what was then the most substantial grist-mill in the township, which has been in successful operation ever since. John Clark erected his brick residence on the east end of Main street in 1851 ; it was at that time considered, if not the best, at least as good as any residence in Miami County. Since that time, many tasteful and even elegant places of abode have sprung up, as well as some fine business blocks. Among the latter, the Chaffee Block is worthy of mention. It is located on the corner of Main and Second streets, and was finished in 1867, having been started in the fall of 1866. The third story is used as the opera house, and is capable of comfortably seating from 600 to 800 persons. The whole building is 75x133 feet, and was put up at a cost of about $12,000.

John Morrison built a brick block on Main street in 1850. The third story of this building contains the rooms of the various secret societies of the place. The Tippecanoe City Engine-house, situated on the corner of Main and Third streets, was built at a cost of between $5,000 and $6,000, in 1874. The Fire Department occupies the first floor, while in the upper are to be found the Mayor's office, Town Hall and Calaboose.

NEWSPAPERS.

At different times in the history of the place, various newspapers have sprung into existence, and, after struggling spasmodically to gain for themselves a name and position among the countless periodicals of the day, were compelled at last to give up the attempt as fruitless. They all seem to have died an easy and natural death, and no doubt, " after life's fitful fever, they sleep well." The first of these papers went by the euphonious title of the Tippecanoe City Reflector. It was established and published by Mr. Hudson, in 1853, but never gained a very strong hold on the affections of the people. Its circulation was limited to five or six hundred subscribers, being published weekly. Its publication was discontinued by Hudson at the expiration of two years from the date of its establishment. No other attempt was made to establish a home paper after the unsuccessful attempt of the Reflector, for an interval of eleven years. At the expiration of this time, however, the thought presented itself forcibly to the mind of Charles Crowell, that the results of a second trial in this direction might not be so fruitless as the first. Accordingly, in 1866, what was henceforth known as the City Item, came into existence, and at intervals of a week, would make its appearance at the various homes, where it received a cordial welcome. The time, however, had not yet come when a permanent newspaper could be supported in Monroe Township, so it soon came to pass that the City Item was numbered only with the things that were but are not. After this, there was a semi-monthly publication established, more par- ticularly for the benefit of persons wishing to advertise. This sheet, in a few short months, followed in the rear of all the rest, and there were those living then who predicted that to run a newspaper in "Tip" and make both ends meet, would be as impossible as to bring together two parallel lines, which, mathematicians tell us, will not meet, how far soever they may be produced. Still, Mr. Horton, who had held the unenviable position of printer's devil in the office of the Reflector, and who had watched the rise and fall of the various publications, was by no means dismayed by previous failures, and June 10, 1869, he issued the first number of

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the Tippecanoe City Herald, which he edited weekly till the 1st of April, 1880, when he disposed of the establishment to Caldwell & Co., the enterprising firm who conduct the paper at the present time. Under their supervision, the sheet has become not only readable, but highly entertaining and instructive. The subscrip- tion list has been greatly increased, and the prospect bids fair for the present paper to remain one of the most permanent, as well as one of the most useful, establish- ments in Monroe Township.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 174, A., F. & A. M .- Was organized October 27, 1851, by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, issuing the charter, which contained the following names : Thomas Jay, Joseph L. Wilcox, A. B. Hartman, Thomas Deweese, Charles Shultzbaugh, Thomas J. Line, William Loury, Jonathan Favor- ite, F. S. Fagan. The first Master of the new lodge was Thomas Jay ; first Senior Warden, Thomas J. Line, and Junior Warden, Charles Shultzbaugh. The present officers are as follows, viz. : Eli Pearson, Jr., W. M. ; M. E. Eidemiller, Senior War- den ; Thomas Hartley, Junior Warden ; Charles Trupp, Treasurer ; Peter Fair, Secretary ; Furnas Kerr, Senior Deacon ; O. W. Bair, Junior Deacon; G. O. Chidister and S. D. Hartman, M. D., Stewards ; Joseph Brump, Tiler. The lodge, at the present time, has seventy working members in good standing. They have the next to the largest membership of any secret order in the township, being only excelled by the Odd Fellows. The Masonic Hall is in the third story of the Booher building, a brick structure on north side of Main street. The hall is com- fortably furnished, and is owned by the society, which, by the way, is the oldest secret organization of any kind in the township.

Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 247, I. O. O. F .- Was organized May 12, 1854. being, as regards age, the second secret order established in the township. A charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of Ohio to the following persons, viz., D. H. Brinkerhoff, A. H. Wesler, H. H. Darst, George Smith and John Cotral. These persons constituted the first officers of the organization, which has gradually in- creased in numbers till the present time, when its roll-book shows that the names in good standing are about one hundred, being the largest membership of any secret order in Tippecanoe. They have been ever zealous in good works, as can be testified by the families of many of their number that would have suffered for the necessaries of life, had it not been for this benevolent institution. The lodge holds its deliberations in the upper story of Morrison's Block, in their hall, which is handsomely furnished. The present officers are as follows, viz. : C. C. Chaffee, N. G .; John C. Collins, V. G. ; "Peter Fair, R. Secretary ; Cyrus Shafer, Per. Sec- retary ; E. A. Jackson, Treasurer ; John S. Shafer, W .; J. T. Bartmass, C .; Levi Owen, I. G. ; Joseph S. Bishop, O. G. ; A. M. Hecker, R. S. N. G. ; H. E. Haw- ver, L. S. N. G. ; Charles Trupp, R .. S. V. G. ; Lawrence Gates, L. S. V. G. ; C. D, Hikes, R. S. S .; Dr. S. D. Hartman, L. S. S. Trustees are Charles Trupp, Joseph S. Bishop and Joseph Brump.

Monroe Encampment, I. O. O. F .- Received its charter from the Grand Encamp- ment of Ohio the 15th of June, 1871, with the following charter members, viz. : Joshua H. Horton, William Green, Valentine Pearson, Eli Pearson, Jr., D. L. James, J. H. Martin, Frank Byrkett and Isaac Vanest. The members at the pres- ent time are thirty-three in number, showing an increase of twenty-five since the organization of the encampment. The first officers were Joshua H. Horton, C. P .; Eli Pearson, S. W .; William Green, H. P .; John H. Martin, J. W .; David L. Jones, Scribe. The present officers are John S. Shafer, C. P .; Joshua H. Horton, H. P .; Levi Owen, S. W .; Cyrus Shafer, Scribe ; Charles Trupp, Treasurer ; and C. C. Chaffee, J. W.

Deutscher Orden der Harugari-Miami Lodge, No. 67, D. O. H .- Was organ- ized March 28, 1859. They hold their meetings in Morrison's Block, in a neatly furnished hall, which is the property of the society. In order of time, this is the third secret organization in the township. The charter members and first officers

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were as follows : Peter Walherr, O. B .: Philip Guckes, U. B .; Robert Geiger, Sec. ; I. N. Price, Treas. ; Charles Kopp, R. H. O. B .; Louis Marguart, L. H. O. B .; William Hildebrand, R. H. U. B. ; Fred Huber, L. H. U. B. ; Mathias Guckes, Guide, John Spiess, I. U. Officers installed for 1880 are E. Koetitz, O. B .; P. Knorm. U. B .; John Born, Treas .; J. M. Haaga, Sec. Henry Born, R. H. O. B .; Herr ; Knochel, L. H. O. B .; W. Hergenroether, R. H. U. B .; Frederick Kettlebrooke L. H. U. B .; Charles Trupp, Guide; W. Thorp, I. U.

The officers and charter members of Common Council, Royal Arcanum Lodge, No. 270, at its organization, were as follows : H. E. Hawver, Past Regent ; J. A. Kerr, Regent; A. W. Miles, V. R. ; J. T. Bartmass, Orator; Charles H. Gary, Sec. ; Benjamin F. Rhodehamel, Treas .; W. C. Robison, Col .; Rev. D. H. Bauslin, Chaplain ; F. A. Rhodehamel, Guide ; H. A. Galloway, Warden ; Job Clark, Sen- try ; S. D. Hartman, M. D., Medical Examiner; D. McConnaughey, S. Galloway and H. A. Hawver, Trustees; S. R. Rhodehamel, W. V. Ballord and C. Krise. These constitute the charter members. The lodge at present numbers thirty-one members, with the following officers for 1880: A. W. Miles, Past Regent; James T. Bartmass, Regent; D. H. Bauslin, Vice Regent; H. A. Galloway, Orator ; Charles H. Gary, Secretary ; B. F. Rhodehamel, Treasurer ; William C. Robison, Collector ; S. D. Hartman, M. D., Chaplain ; J. A. Kerr, Guide. George L. Favorite, Warden ; F. C. Merkle, Sentry ; S. D. Hartman, Medical Examiner ; D. McCon- naughey, S. Galloway and H. A. Hawver, Trustees.

Faithful Temperance League, No. 1 .- The foundation of a secret organization of this name was laid in this place the 29th of April, 1880, when a charter was granted to the persons applying for the same, by the Secretary of the State of Ohio. The league meets Friday evening of each week, in Chaffee's Block. The officers and charter members are John C. Collins, President; Cyrus Shafer, Vice President ; John V. Sullivan, Secretary ; Henry Anglebarger, Treasurer; John S. Shafer, Sergeant-at-Arms ; Lawrence Gates and Addison Collins, Conductors ; William Furrow, Warden; S. Vandever, Chaplain ; William Prince, A. G. Hutchins, G. B. Collins, A. J. Bradley, Ed Grant, G. B. Vore, W. Bear, C. L. Hecker, J. A. Cushwa, Robert Baskerville, John J. Denbuer, C. C. Chaffee, B. F. Kauffman, Fred Miller, Frank Clark, Thomas Hartley, Harry Horton, Samuel Deweese.

CHURCHES.

Methodist Episcopal Church-In all probability dates its origin nearer the beginning of the nineteenth century than any other church in the township now in existence. The first church was a log structure, built in what was then Hyattsville, a small town which has since been incorporated with Tippecanoe. As near as can be ascertained, the church was built in 1820, and was a very rude place of worship. Its huge fireplace made it comfortable in winter, and during the summer the services were quite frequently held in the woods. The old log finally yielded to the more modern brick structure, which was erected upon the same spot about 1840. Among the first preachers, Rev. McPherson is named as being a man of ability. Rutledge is also spoken of as a man of considerable power in protracted meetings. Additions were made to the old brick, and services were held here till 1860, when the present brick was built. Rev. M. Kauffman, the present minister, has a congregation of 200 members, with a Sunday school which has an average attendance of 100 scholars. The parsonage was built in 1879 and 1880, at a cost of $1,300, which has all been paid, and leaves the con- gregation with no outstanding accounts.

Lutheran Church .- This congregation existed in Monroe Township previous to 1826. At this date, a parcel of ground south of Tippecanoe was deeded to the church for a burial ground and purpose of building a suitable place for worship. Services were held here till about 1839, when, on account of some differences, the congregation divided, and John Ritter donated a house and lot and $2,000 for a parsonage, besides giving largely toward the building of the church. The building was immediately erected, the first brick ever used in Tippecanoe City having

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assisted in its construction. Rev. Link, the first Pastor, served faithfully for ten years, preaching at Hyattsville, Casstown, Vandalia and Stillwater, as well as bere. The dedicatory sermon had been preached by Dr. Ezra Keller, First President of Wittenburg College, at Springfield. Link resigning, the vacancy was supplied by Rev. A. H. Anghe, who remained a single year, and was succeeded by J. G. Harris, who served four years. Jacob Schauer came in 1854, and served the con- gregation till 1861, when Link returned and took charge of the congregation till his death, in 1862. Solomon Weills served as Pastor till 1866, at which time the charge was divided. J. J. Welsh took the charge of Tippecanoe and Casstown till 1873, and was succeeded by J. F. Hershiser, who resigned in 1874, and was succeeded by N. W. Lilly, who left in 1878, and was followed by the present Pastor, D. H. Bauslin. The membership now numbers 100 persons. with a Sunday school which has an average attendance of between fifty and sixty pupils.

The German Lutheran Church-Was organized in Tippecanoe City in 1856, with a membership of about twenty persons. Rev. Anker was the first minister who presided regularly over the congregation ; he was succeeded by Rev. John Hinter, who was shepherd to the little flock for seventeen years, resigning in 1875. Rev. A. Cer- nake was called to the charge, which he has satisfactorily conducted to the present time. Services were held in the English Lutheran Church till 1870, when the mem- bers were about thirty in number. About three years ago, the congregation re-or- ganized, purchased a lot on Third street, between German and Walnut, and pro- ceeded to build a home for themselves. A neat frame structure, 30x48 feet, was erected, at a cost of about $1,700, and since that time services have been held here semi-monthly. There are now forty-five members in good standing.

Baptist Church .- A meeting was held in the old schoolhouse November 2, 1851, when the few persons of this creed decided to unite their strength and form a Regular Baptist congregation in this place. November 14 of same year, they were made a branch of the church at West Carlisle. The first conference met at the house of Willis Davis, December 21, 1851, at which time the congregation con- sisted of twelve members. Rev. L. C. Carr presided over the church at this time. The first converts were James Hannum, Jonathan A. Miles, Sarah Miles, Mary E. Ketchum and Sarah R. Wesler, who were baptized February 29, 1852, when many persons in the township witnessed that ceremony for the first time. They sepa- rated from the West Carlisle Church August 5, 1852, when they held their services in the Lutheran Church, and in 1856 they worshiped in Morrison Hall. About this time, they purchased the old frame schoolhouse on First street, for $200, put an addition to it, and used the same till two years ago, when it was sold for $400, and is now used as a dwelling. The new brick, 38x58 feet, was commenced in 1878, and will soon be completed, when regular services will again be held. The congregation numbers fifty-one persons.

St. J. B. Catholic Church-Existed first as a mission church. The neat brick building, 26x40 feet, was completed October, 1858, at a cost of $2,500, and dedicated by Bishop Rosecrans, of Columbus, Ohio. Rev. Father Hensteger was their first priest, who remained about three years. Rev. Father Menke has presided over the congregation about two years. The connection consists of about twenty families, who have services semi-monthly.

The German Reformed Church-Was built in Monroe Township about 1820. Some years afterward, the congregation received a donation of about $900 from Mr. Palmer, which was used in enlarging the house. In 1856, the old building was torn down and several denominations united and erected a structure to be used by all denominations, at a cost of $1,350. It is now occupied only by the Reformed Church. A burying-ground was also laid out near the old church previous to 1820, and the first person interred there was Stephen Dye, a man who figured conspicu- ously in the affairs of Miami County till his death.

The first religious denomination in the township was the Friends, which com- prised the families of most of the pioneer settlers in Monroe. The first minister

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was William Neal. They built a log church in Frederick, in 1816, which still stands in the tan-yard in that place. It looks a lonely thing amid the modern structures round about it, and seems to silently speak of ages long gone by, when those old fathers who have been many years in the land of spirits, met within its humble walls, and sent up their weak petitions to the Throne of Him Who doeth all things well. The brick church now standing, was erected in 1850, and here services were held until a few years since, when they ceased to exist here as & separate congregation.

TIPPECANOE CITY SCHOOLS.

While the place has much reason to boast of the rapidity with which so many improvements have taken place in ber corporate limits, as well as the con- venience of her business facilities, there is nothing for which she deserves greater praise, or for which she should be more highly lauded than the thoroughness of her public schools, and their kindly influence upon the youth of her town and neighborhood. At the present time, not only every facility for obtaining a sub- stantial education, such as is necessary to transact the every-day business of life, is provided, but, if desirous of so doing, the pupil may go away beyond the fun- damentals and become well versed in the classic languages as well as conversant with the unchangeable rules of the higher mathematics. The first schoolhouse in the vicinity of the village was in what was then known as Hyattsville. It was one of the log cabins of the primitive days, furnished with a huge fire-place, both in the front and back of the house. These, heaped high with dry logs of a cold winter's day, created in the youthful knowledge-seeker, after a tramp of several miles through the snow, sensations by no means disagreeable. Some time after this, another house was erected on what is known as the " Island," a small spot of ground separated from the mainland by a bayou which joined the river, that made quite a bend in this place. The first teacher here was a young man by the name of Gilbert, who afterward became a physician. It was not until March, 1853, that the first Board of Education was elected in this place, which consisted of three members, viz .: John McPherson, L. N. Booher and D. H. Brinkerhoff. In the following April, a tax of $3,000 was levied on the property in the corporation line for school purposes. The house and lot on the Island were sold for $111. The board then purchased some lots on First street, and the first school building in Tippecanoe was rapidly erected. N. L. Perry was the first teacher in the town, who taught for three months, and received for his services $100.

The property on First street was sold at auction to A. B. Hartman, for $415, in March, 1854, and steps were immediately taken toward building a more com- modious house, to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing population. Mr. Lines donated ground for this purpose on Dow street, between Third and Fourth streets, and a frame building 40x44 feet, two stories high, containing four recita- tion rooms, was built at a cost of $5,000. I. W. Sawyer, assisted by Misses Wood and Brinkerhoff, was the first Principal. This was used till 1868, when ground was purchased of Jacob Rohrer for $2,000, and the elegant brick structure now in use was built. The main part of the building is 60x80 feet, three stories high, with a tower 108 feet. It contains ten commodious and well-ventilated recitation- rooms, with a hall in the third story, used for commencement exercises, lecturing pur- poses, etc., 29x58 feet. Prof. James F. Bartmass, principal of the school, has occupied the position since 1875, during which time he has greatly advanced the standard of scholarship. He is this year, 1880, assisted by the following efficient corps of teachers, viz., Misses Humphrey, Hilleary, Billingsley, Cochran and Brump. A regular course of study was laid out in 1878, when the first graduat- ing class of four members received their diplomas. The course at present is seven years in length, beginning in the primary department. The class of 1879 con- sisted of seven members, while the present class has nine, showing a gradual increase since the course was established. There are three hundred and fifty pupils in the school.

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MANUFACTORIES.

Improvements in both the sciences and arts advance so slowly and gradually as to be almost imperceptible to the casual observer. Yet, when we go into any neighborhood in our country and begin to trace the ramifications of the various industrial pursuits back to their origin, we are forced to acknowledge that the works of man not only change rapidly, but mighty strides are taken in facilitating the modes of labor by which he contributes to the welfare of the age in which he lives, as well as to his own happiness. In comparing the rude machines and tools of our forefathers with the' modern and elegant appliances now in use by their progeny, we can hardly realize that only seventy-five years of our history have been written since these great improvements began. The first mill in Monroe Township was, perhaps, as rude a structure as can well be imagined. It was built, or, rather, burned, for the principal part of the structure was made by burning, in the year 1802, by John Yount. As the preliminary steps were being taken, the most ingenious person would not have suspected his object. The largest beech- tree near his house was selected to form the foundation of the mill. It was cut so as to leave the stump as near level as possible, a fire was then put in the center of the stump, and, by hard labor, a hole, shaped somewhat like the inside of a large bowl, was obtained. The charred surface of. the concavity was then scoured and rubbed with sandstone till the charcoal was all removed, and then the most difficult part of the labor was completed. A contrivance was erected over the stump, such as our forefathers used in drawing water from a well, which was called a sweep. Instead of attaching a bucket to one end of the sweep, they fastened a large, round stone, which was placed in such a position that, when lowered, it fell into the burned depression in the stump. Owing to the fact that this simple con- trivance could be worked without either steam or water, it possessed one advantage over our more modern mills. The motor power necessary to keep such a machine moving demanded such a wonderful expenditure of muscular activity that it was not to be wondered at that the head of the family felt by no means elated when informed by the good housewife that the flour barrel was empty and it was neces- sary for him to go to mill. The second mill in the township was built by John Freeman, in 1809, near where Tippecanoe City now stands. It was quite an improvement over Yount's concave stump, but still was a rather rude affair, con- sisting only of a hopper for grinding corn, placed in a shed made of logs. The settlers, for many miles around, came here to mill, so that Mr. Freeman was always busy, and the rattle of the old hopper was heard from early dawn till nightfall. Its clanking has long since ceased, and the memory of the mill only remains in the minds of the few remaining pioneer settlers. Various other small mills were operated in different parts of the township, but none of any importance till Mr. John built his grist-mill in 1840, which has done a prosperous business ever since. An oil-mill was built near Tippecanoe, by Jonathan Favorite and Wesley Roberts, in 1839. The oil-mill was at first only one story high, but has since been increased to three, and has, for many years, been doing quite an extensive business. The malt-house was built in 1854, by Walter Norey, a Scotchman, who subsequently failed in business, and the mill is now operated by a common joint-stock company. George and Edward Smith built their distillery in 1852, and have done a very lucrative business up to the present time. The first malt-house in the township was built by Col. Hutchins about 1852, which was operated till 1877, when it was sold to Mr. Rhodehamel, who carried on the business afterward.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 54

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051