CHAPTER XVI
The territory embraced in the present townships of Cass, Dewey and Hanna, was originally a part of Stark county; but the inhabitants living north of the Kankakee river, were put to great inconvenience to reach their county seat, being obliged to go around by the way of Lemon’s bridge near the centre of the east side of the county. To remedy the difficulty an appeal was made to the State legislature, and that body passed the following act, approved January 29, 1842, “for the attachment of a part of Start county to the count of LaPorte.”
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General assembly of the State of Indiana, That all that part of Stark county which lies north of the Kankakee river be, and the same is hereby attached permanently to the county of LaPorte.
“Sec. 2. This act to be in force from and after its passage.” Thus all the territory named was made a part of LaPorte count. Wile it formed a part of Stark count it was know as Van Buren township; and this name was retrained upon the whole of it until the organization of Cass, which took place on the 12th day of June 1848, the Board of county commissioners having on that day made the following order:
It is ordered by the Board upon the petition of sundry inhabitants of Van Buren township that said township be divided by running a line north and south upon the range line dividing ranges three and four, and that the part west of said line, and south of the township line dividing townships thirty-four and thirty-five, and in LaPorte county, be called Cass township, and be numbered sixteen upon the tax duplicate, and it is ordered by the board that Alexander Campbell, be and he is hereby appointed inspector of elections in Cass township, that Clark Meeker be and is hereby appointed constable of said township, and that Moody Kimball and W. McLane be and hereby appointed fence viewers of said township to serve until the next annual election for the township officers and until their successors are duly qualified.”
As thus organized, the township embraced also the present township of Dewey; and the limits of Van Buren township were reduced to that portion lying east of the designated line between ranges three and four. This part of Van Buren contained very few inhabitants, not enough to make it advisable to hold elections, and they applied to the Board of commissioners to be attached to and made a part of Noble township, and accordingly that body on the 11th day of March, 1850, made the following order:
“Now come sundry citizens of Ban Buren township and present their petition to be attached to Noble township. It is therefore ordered by the Board that said Van Buren be so attached to the said Noble township, and that the boundaries of the said Noble township shall be as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of section number six, in township number thirty-five, north of ranges three west, and running south of the range line to the Kankakee river, thence up the said river to the township line between township number thirty-four and township number thirty-five, thence west on said last mentioned township line to the southeast corner of second number thirty-five in township number thirty-five, north of range three west, thence north of township line between townships line to the place of beginning.” The territory thus added to the township of Nobel afterwards was organized as Hanna township. Van Buren township ceased to exist with the passage of the order above quoted.
When the question of a name for the new township arose, those of the inhabitants who were of the Whig faith in politics desired it should be called Harrison, while the Democrats preferred the name Cass. It was decided to draw lots, and Walter Livingston and John Wills were selected for the drawing. Wills, who was a Democrat, won, and Cass became the name of the township, the very wet condition of Cass township at an early period, rendering a large portion of its territory little less than a marsh, hindered settlement and it was not until 1839 or 1840 that any settlers made their homes here. Peter Wooden, and Abraham Eahart were foremost in the settlement of Cass, coming about the time named. Jeremiah Wilson also was one of the earliest, but finally made his hoe in the edge of Clinton township. Nimrod West was an early settler in Van Buren township, but by the division was left in that part which is now Hanna township. The Concannons, James and Thomas, also came early, and Wm. Smith, Wm. Batterson, John Wills, and his sons, Charles, John and David; Isham Campbell, Adam Leeper, Alexander Campbell, Bishop Brockway, E. V. Waters, Dr. John F Tilden, and James and Richard Cannon. Augustus W. Vail settled at Morgan Station or Callao in 1844, and Hon. Edward Evans, the present representative to the State legislature has been a resident of the township more than twenty-five years. Sixteen years ago, John Harris arrived and population has gradually increased from that time forward. A large German population has settled in the township, and their industry has made them a very useful class of inhabitants.
In addition to those already named, the following persons are successful farmers in the township; Henry Bowman, who is a native of Prussia, and came to this county in 1853; . M. Shurte, from Butler county, Ohio and A. J. Shurte from Cass county, Michigan, who came to the country in 1846: S. B. Rundlett, a native of this county; and J. H. Cannon, who came from Porter county in 1843. Mrs. M. M. Beckley is a farmer and a stock raiser; J. O. Burner is a druggist and grocery dealer, and J. T. Sanders is a railroad agent, telegraph operator and a dealer in Agricultural implements.
There have been three villages in Cass township; Callao, Rozelle and Wanatah.
CALLAO
This village is know also as Morgan Station. It is situated on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad, and was laid off in 1859, by Wm. Taylor.
The following is the record: “Field notes of survey of the town of Morgan, situated in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of second two, township thirty-four, north of rage four west, commencing at a point five hundred and eighteen feet north of half mile stake on south line of described section, thence east eight hundred and sixty-eight feet, thence north one hundred and sixty-one feet, thence eighty-four feet, thence south three hundred and twenty-eight feet to the place of beginning. Surveyed and platted by W. A. Taylor, Mary 29, 1859.
The first merchants in this village were Wm. A. Taylor and Wm. McLane; they also put up warehouses and purchased considerable grain. An attempt was made to build a steam mill, but the proprietor dying, his work was never completed. Some years ago, August Gruening stated a blacksmith shop, and still follows that occupation. Three years ago, Charles Scarborough opened a store, and continued in business for two years. Wm. A. Taylor was the first postmaster of Callao. In 1864, A. W. Vail was appointed, and resigned in 1872. He was succeeded by Charles Scarborough who still holds the office. In 1862 or 1863, Mrs. Batterson kept a hotel and Dr. John F. Tilden has been located there as a physician since 1846. A Methodist church was erected at Callao about 1858 or 1859.
ROZELLE
This village was laid out by its proprietor, Joseph Unruh, and the plat was recorded in 1859. The follow is the record:
“State of Indiana,}
ss.
LaPorte County}
Before me Daniel W. Long, Justice of the peace in and for said county, this 22nd day of January, 1859, appeared Joseph Unruh, and acknowledged the execution of the within plat and that he filed the same in the recorder’s office for record. The same is the west half of the northeast quarter of section number eight, in township thirty-four, north of range number four west.
Daniel W. Long, J.P.
Filed January 24, 1859.”
The village was located about a mile south of Wanatah, on the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago railroad. There never was much business done in the place, nearly all of it by Unruh, who was a merchant there, and grain buyer; and when he removed his stock and building s to Wanatah the rest of the town followed; and there now remains only a railroad water-house.
WANATAH
The town of Wanatah was laid out by T. A. E. Campbell, Ruel Starr, Joseph Unruh and Wm.Unruh; the survery was made by T. C. Sweeney and the town plat was recorded September 7, 1865. Its growth commenced a few months prior to the time when the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago R. R. was completed which was in the year 1857. The business of the place now consists of one hotel and one flouring mill/ seven dry goods and grocery stores; one drug and grocery store; two boot and shoe shops; five blacksmith and wagon shops, three of which manufacture new wagons, the other two being repair shops; one tailor shop; one millinery store; two harness shops; one carpenter shop and furniture store; one lumbar yard’ two hay presses, one of which pressed in 1874, on thousand tons of hay; on agricultural, and agricultural implement store; two saloons; two butcher shops; one produce shipper and general dealer; one grain dealer; three physicians, one of whom is a lady; one plasterer; one real estate and insurance agent; three telegraph operators, and two railroad stations.
The first general store was kept by Joseph Unruh who moved from Rozelle, a mile south of Wanatah, at that time of the completion of Pittsburgh , Fort Wayne Chicago railroad. Unruh’s building was used as a store and dwelling house also, and he afterwards opened it as a hotel which he kept until about four years ago when he sold out to Mitzner & Conitz, who still keep the store, and removed to Chicago. Unrhuh also built a flouring mill in the year 1867. It was erected for a warehouse, but concluding to make of it a mill, he put in three run of stones, and it is not one of the best flouring mills in the county. Emil L. Keil, the present owner, was for some time in Unruh’s employment in the management of the mill, and purchased it in 1870.
The first house in Wanatah was erected by a man named Hyde, for a dwelling house. A Mr. Protsman built the first hotel, some time before the town was surveyed and platted. This building is now Gallert’s saloon. A hotel was also kept a short time by a man named Louderback. Frank McCurdy built the McCurdy house in 1865. He sold it in 1874 to Robert Whitlock, and on the 9th day of January, 1875, it was burned. It was immediately rebuilt by Whitlock, and was opened July 22, 1875, under the name of the Wanatah House.
The first physician in the village was Nelson Ward. After having been in Wanatah some time her removed to LaFayette, but afterwards returned. His wife has since studied medicine at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and now practices with him. Dr. B. F. Janes afterwards settled in place.
The German Lutherans have built a very good church edifice in Wanatah, but other denominations have held services of late years in the “Enterprise” school house, which was built by a company of citizens in 1870. It was a stock company and most of the shares are now owned by F. McCurdy. An effort is at this time being made to induce its purchase by the township.
Wanatah is situated on Hog creek, at the crossing of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago, and Louisville, New Albany and Chicago railroads. It is in the open prairie, which a few years ago, it would have been difficult to cross on horseback or with a team without sticking fast in the mire. Now the land all around is dry, much of it is under cultivation, and is very productive. As the surrounding country becomes more developed, the trade of Wanatah must increase, furnishing as it will, the market place for all the grain and hay of the southwest part of the county. Even now its business is considerable, but is certain to advance just in proportion to the growth of the country around about.
In the township outside of Wanatah, there are two churches, the German Methodists having built one two and a half miles south of the village. The Lutherans also have erected a church building at the same place.
There are seven school houses in the township, showing a good degree of interest among the people in the matter of education. When Dewey was organized, the trustee of Cass was left in the new township, and Augustus W. Vail was appointed to fill the vacancy, and at the succeeding election, Edward Evans was elected trustee. Richard Cannon has been trustee of the township; and James Cannon also for several successive years. Emil L. Keil is the present trustee. Hog creek passes through the township across the western side running out of this township into Porter county. The land is generally of an excellent quality, perhaps two-thirds of the township consisting of rich, deep prairie soil. On the north and east, there are groves of timber, chiefly oak. Some portions of the Kankakee marsh lands reach up into the township from the south, and southeast, and these arms of the prairie are intermingled with sandy “barrens;” but the marsh is excellent mowing land, and is becoming each year more capable of cultivation. The sandy portions take readily to clover, and can thus be made rich and valuable lands. The most successful grain crop is corn, though the wheat and oats do well, and it may be said that Cass township is likely to become one of the richest agricultural districts of the county. The population is enterprising and industrious, is increasing year by year, and a bright future for the township is promised.
Condensed from Packard, Jasper, History of La Porte County, Indiana, and Its Townships, Towns and Cities. S. E. Taylor & Company, La Porte, 1876 - Transcribed for La Porte Co. Gen Web by Christine Scott 27 February 2006.
CHAPTER VI
At the organization of the county, the present Centre township was wholly included in the limits of what was then Scipio, which extended from the southern to the northern boundary of the county, and was the central t township of the three into which the county was divided. But a division of it was made at an early period. The Board of county commissioners, at their regular meeting on the fifth day of November, 1833, passed the following order:
“Ordered that the township at present know by the name of Scipio be divided by the line dividing the townships composed a new township to be called Centre township and that Aaron Stanton be appointed inspector of elections, and John Stanton and Wm. Bond be appointed overseers of the poor in said township of Centre.”
Changes have occurred in the limits of Centre township as thus designated, until the present time it occupies sections one and two of township thirty-six, range three, and all of township thirty-seven except the northern tier of sections, which are now a part of Springfield township.
The first settlement made in this township was by Aaron Stanton on the twenty-eight day of March 1830. He settled on section twenty-four, about two miles north of the eastern boundary of the city of LaPorte. Philip Fail came at the same time, and settled on the same section but removed in the Fall to Kankakee township. Wm. and Stephen Clement arrived in the township in the Fall of 1831, and soon afterwards opened a store within the limits of the present city of LaPorte. Benajah Stanton hauled goods fro them from Niles, Michigan. Wm. Clark came in 1830, and made a settlement on section twenty-three, but did not bring his family until the fall of 1831. Adam smith arrived in the fall of 1830. The Blakes, Landon, Wheeler, the Balls, John B. and Charles Fravel, Wilson Malone, Wm. Staton and family, and Alfred Stanton, all arrived very early. At the land sales at Logansport, James and A. P. Andrew Jr., bought land in section two, township thirty-six. They also bought land of Jesse Morgan, Wm. Thomas and Richardson, who had arrived earlier. In the year 1831, William and Jesse Bond settle on the east side of the township. John Garwood reached the county in 1831, and Brainard Goff in 1832.
Settlers now began to arrive in great numbers. There was no part of the county more attractive than much of that which is now Centre township. The north part of it was well timbered; and on the south and west were broad reaches of rich prairie land, dotted with beautiful Burr oak groves. In prairie and woodland, were many sparkling lakes, the loveliest of which lay near the site chosen for the town of LaPorte.
In 1831 Col. W. A. Place made a preliminary visit to LaPorte county, and being well pleased with the country, he determined to make it his home. He brought his family and settled in Centre township in October, 1832. He was here early enough to help build the first log cabin put up in LaPorte. It was built for George Thomas, and stood near where the depot of Lake Shore railroad is now located.
The population of Centre township exclusive of the city of LaPorte, is about 1200, consisting of intelligent and industrious citizens, engaged almost wholly in agricultural pursuits. In the immediate vicinity of laPorte, there are several small fruit farms, and market gardens, which supply the city with fruit and vegetables during the season, and from which may products are shipped to Chicago. For the township generally wheat, corn, oats and potatoes are the staple products. Much attention has been given to providing means for education of the children of the township, and in every school district there is a good school house.
About two miles north of the city of laPorte, in Centre township, on the heights bordering the east side of Pine lake, is Pine lake cemetery. It contains forty-seven acres, and is perhaps the most lovely spot in the county. For the beauty which nature has given it, there can scarcely be found in the whole country a more charming place. It is controlled by an association, which was organized under a State statute in the year 1855. Gilbert Hathaway was the first president of the association and Don J. Woodward, secretary and Treasurer. Gen. Joseph Orr was President of the association several years, resigning the position only a few months ago; and the valuable and tasteful improvements of the grounds are due in a great measure to his energy and public spirit, and the correct taste which he brought to the work of beautifying this resting place of the dead. Visitors to the place are always delighted with its diversified scenery, looking out upon the lake in front, and resting on a dark green back-ground of woods, while all between presents gentle elevations, quiet vales, and winding walks and carriage drives. Nature furnished here a happy ground work of beauty; and the hand of art, judiciously and tastefully employed, has perfected the work, rendering this sacred city of the dead, a place of loveliness and solemn delight, as well as of sad and holy memories.
In Centre township there is no two except the city of LaPorte.
LAPORTE
LaPorte, the county seat of LaPorte county, is situated on the Lake Shore of Michigan Southern, and Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago railroads. It is fifty miles east of Chicago, and twelve miles from the lake port of Michigan City, with which it is connected by rail. For beauty of situation LaPorte is unsuppressed. East, sough and west lie spread out, the rich prairie lands, interspersed with groves; and on the north, coming up to the edge of the city is a chain of small lakes, gem-like in their beauty, the most noted of them being Clear lake, Stone lake and Pine lake. It is not strange that those who first came, should be the county seat of the county. It may readily be imagined that when nature only, had visited the lakes and groves and prairies of this locality, the dullest and most unsusceptible of minds much have been touched with its beauty.
laPorte is situated on what was know as the “Michigan Road Lands.” They were sold at the land sales at Logansport in the month of October, 1831; and Walter Wilson, Hiram Todd, John Walker, James Andrew and Abram P. Andrew Jr., bought four hundred acres of them with a view to laying out a town which should be the capital town of the county. The town was laid out and the original survey made in 1833. There was already a number of settlers in the place. Joseph Pagin had arrived in 1831 and built a house on the east side of Clear lake, near where the ice house now stands which replaced the burned brewery. Still earlier, in the year 1830, Richard Harris and George Thomas came and built cabins within the present city limits. The cabin of Thomas stood near the present location of Michigan Souther deport, and it is said that his neighbors erected it for him on a Sunday. Wilson Malone who now lives in Porter county says he was the first person to sleep in this house, before it was occupied by the family of Mr. Thomas. In the winter of 1832-3, there were but three families in LaPorte, which were those of George Thomas, Richard Harris and Wilson Malone. Oak groves occupied the present site of the city, and when the Spring opened, and the wild flowers covered the future streets, and the tress were covered with foliage, and the green sward carpeted the earth, approaching to the very edge of the bright and unvexed waters of Clear lake, it formed a picture to charm the eye and captivate the heart of the lover of Nature, whether savage or civilized.
The intrusion of Geo. Thomas into the sylvan beauty of the spot was the signal for the advent of still more, and many a noble Burr oak fell, and maybe a flower was crushed under the feet of the sturdy pioneers who came to make homes and build a city. Thomas’ house was constructed of slabs procured from a steam saw mill which Capt. Andrew had erected a short distance west of the town. It was in this house that the first session of the board of county commissioners was held. The first cabin soon had companions; and in 1834 there were fifteen houses on the ground which was to be occupied by the future town. Business was opening. Mechanics, merchants and professional men began to arrive. Charles Fravel came in 1832. The Blakes, and a man by the name of Lily kept the first hotels. John and Wm. Alison, Hiram Wheeler, John B. Fravel, Dr. Ball and Nelson Landon, were merchants in 1832 and 1833. Seth Way and Charles Ladd were dwellers in tents in those days like Abraham of old, and they followed the business of breaking up the sod of the prairie for the farmers who had fixed their homes at various points between LaPorte and Westville, and elsewhere in the county. In March, 1833, Thompson W. Francis, now of Michigan City, came to LaPorte to work as a builder and carpenter. He built the hotel which was kept long afterwards by Capt. Levi Ely.
At the September term of commissioners’ court, 1833, a license was granted to J. F. and W. Allison to keep a tavern in LaPorte, and also to vend merchandise. Licenses were granted also to Wm. Clement and to Seneca Ball to vend merchandise. At the March term, 1934, a license was granted to H. and T. Wheeler to vend merchandise, and a licence to Wm. Clement : to vend foreign and domestic liquors and groceries.”
At the September term of the same year, Amzi Clark was licensed to vend merchandise, also Absalom Walter; and Noah Newhall “to keep a tavern;” and at the November term the following, A. and A. W. Harrison were licensed to vend merchandise. At the March, term, 1835, Wm. Clement was licensed to keep a tavern, and R. B. Hews and Hiram Wheeler to vend merchandise.
In 1835, licenses were further granted to McCarty and Howel, John brown and Thomas H. Phillips; and to Daniel D. Rathbun, Oliver Shirleff, Grover and Williams, John A. Fletcher and Mordecai Cross, to keep tavern. A license was also granted at the November term in the his year, to Sherwood and Hixon, “to vend wooden clocks.”
In 1836, James Gibson, Arthur McClure, Samuel Darlington and Conrad Everhart were licensed to keep tavern; and McCarty and Howell and Eli Hays to vend merchandise.
A hotel which was kept by Mr. Blake stood on Brown’s corner, the one now occupied by Eliel’s drug store. Afterwards General Brown himself kept a hotel there. The old wooden buildings which were the predecessors of the present brick structure, and which were burned a few years ago, were built by Gen. Brown.
In laying out the town the original proprietors, Wilson, Todd, Walker and the Andrews, donated every alternate lot to the county for the purpose of enabling it to erect a court house and other public buildings. The lots were sold on easy terms, and during the years 1835 and 1836, the population largely increased. The Michigan City Gazette of July 22, 1835, in speaking of LaPorte denominates it as “this flourishing village.” A land office was opened here in 1834 or 1835, with Major Robb, Register, and John M Lemon, Receiver. James Whittem was a clerk in the land office.
Among lawyers first admitted to practice in LaPorte were Wm. O. Ross, June 10, 1833; John B. Niles, December 16, 1833; John S. Lacy, December 16, 1833; Wm. Hawkins, December 16, 1833; Robert Merrifield, October 13, 1834; B.B. Taylor, October 17, 1834; Wm C. Hannah, October 18, 1834. In 1935, there were Charles McCleese, and John H. Bradley; in 1836, Myron H. Orton, Jabez R. Wells, G. A. Everts, Thomas Tyrrell, N. W. Saxton, and A. W. Enos; and in 1837, Andrew L. Osborn, Gilbert Hathaway, J. W.Chapman, and E. A. Hannegan. Some of these lived in Michigan City.
In the month of July, 1838, the first newspaper that was established in LaPorte was sent out to the people of LaPorte and other counties. It was published by J. M. Stuart, and S. C. Clisbe, and was called the “LaPorte County Whig, and Porter, Lake and Marshall Counties Advertiser.” Stuart & Clisbe conducted it only about a year, when it passed into the hands of Capt. A. P. Andrew, Jr. It was a staunch Whig paper, hoisting in 1840 the names of Harrison and Tyler, for the election of whom, and the candidates of the Whig ticket throughout, the editor of the Whig labored with zeal and energy and much efficiency. Stuart went to Michigan City, where he obtained control of the Gazette, the politics of which he changed from an earnest advocacy of the Democratic party to become the champion of the Whigs.
Prior to 1840, a Democratic paper was established by Joseph Lomax, which was called the LaPorte Herald. The campaign of 1840 was warmly contested, and not less so here than elsewhere. The town and county of LaPorte participated fully in the political spirt and feeling that characterized the campaign. The Herald gave an enthusiastic support to Van Buren; the Whig, with equal earnestness, supported Harrison. Its columns were ornamented with a long cabin, the cut of which was made by a gunsmith of LaPorte.
In the year 1833, the first school house was built. It was a humble beginning, but educational privileges have gone on increasing and improving until now the system of graded free schools is the pride of every citizen. The graded schools were established in 1856, in which year a school building was erected in each ward, each of them having a primary and secondary department. Four of these buildings were of brick two stories in height. After the first term under the graded system a grammar department was opened which was taught in an old frame building belonging to W. D. Farnsworth, which stood not far from the present location of the High School building. The teachers in the various schools were R. M. Johnson, A. T. Bliss, Jasper Packard, Mrs. J. Packard, Miss. O. M. Tibbits, Miss Emma Chandler, Miss M. A. Kens, And Mrs. Steele. The schools grew in strength and influence, and usefulness, under the wise management which they have fortunately always received, and a High School department was soon organized which was first taught by Jasper Packard. The first board of trustees were Gilbert Hathaway, Amzi Clark and b. P. Walker, who were succeeded by John B. Niles, James Moore and Ferdinand Roberts, and these by Wm. C. Hannah, L. Crane and Rev. Geo. C. Noyes, under those administration the present High School building was erected.
In 1863, this commodious school building was constructed, and with its completion, and the continued successful management and conduct of the schools, the educational advantages of laPorte are of the highest kind. So excellent have been the public schools that from the time of the inauguration of the graded system, it has been impossible for private or select schools to be maintained for any great length of time, though several have been in operation at different times that were well worthy of support. Such were those especially of Mrs. Holmes who now conducts a fine school for young ladies in Springfield, Illinois; of T. L. Adams, just prior to his acceptance of the position of Superintendent of the public schools; and the Technic and Training school of W. P. Phelon, all of which had to yield before the steady upward march of the admirably conducted free schools. These have never been more successful than during the present year under the superintendency of Mr. B. L. Swift, with J. R. Goffe, and Misses Lyon and Crittenden as teachers in the High School, and an efficient corps of teachers in all the other departments. The present board of trustees are Messrs. Donly Foster and Early.
In the winter of 1840-41, a charter was obtained from the State Legislature, through the exertions of John H. Bradley who was then a member from laPorte, for a school of high rank to be called LaPorte University. The charter was drawn by Wm. Andrew, and provided for an insinuation that should have a literary, a medical and a law department. The next year the law department was organized under the charge of Judge Andrew, who received quite a large class of students. The medial department was organized in 1842. The building in which classes were first opened stood where Davidson’s marble-front store is now located. A good building was afterwards erected on the square immediately south of the present High School building, and here the school progressed with a fair degree of success. The medical faculty consisted of the following gentlemen:
Geo. W. Richards, M.D., Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine.
John B. Niles, A. M., Professor of Chemistry.
Daniel Meeker, M.D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology.
A. B. Shipman, M.D., Professor of Surgery. Nicholas Hard, M.D., Profession of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children.
E. Deming, M.D., Professor Materia Medica.
Levi F. Torrey, M.D. Demonstrator of Anatomy.
In 1848-9, J. Adams Allen, M.D. became Professor of Materia Medica; George W. Lees, M.D., Demonstrator of Anatomy; and Tompkins Higday, M.D., Professor of Physiology and General Pathology.
Dr. G. A. Rose was the President of the board of trustees during a large portion of the time of the existence of the school, and among the trustees were Wm. C. Hannah, Secretary, John B. Niles, Treasurer, Rev. Wm. Andrew, Daniel Meeker, Rev. F. P. Cummins and Ezekiel Morrison. Tompkins Higday was Registrar in 1848-9. The name of the insinuation was changed to the “Indiana Medical college,” and there were in 1846-7, one hundred and four students, in 1848-9, one hundred and one. The names of many of the students are familiar in Northern Indiana, and some of them have become distinguished throughout the State, and in other States
In the year 1843, the literary department of the university was organized. There was then at LaPorte, a school called Lancasterian Academy of which Rev. F. P. Cummins was principal, in which besides a thorough English course including Philosophy, the Natural Sciences, and the higher Mathematics, there were taught Latin, Greek, German and French. This institution had but a brief existence. It is worthy of note that the circulars issued for the purpose of advertising this academy, started that the board could be obtained in LaPorte for from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents per week. When it was determined to organize the literary department of the LaPorte University, application was made to Prof. Cummins, to merge his school in it, as such a move would be likely to make it successful from the start. To this proposition he assented and in connection with Rev. Mr. Marshall, past at the time, of the Presbyterian church, he opened this department of the University. But it sees not to have met with the success which its friends anticipated and hoped; it languished, and died.
The medical school continued to flourish for some years; but there grew up other which withdrew support from it. The medical department of the Michigan University was opened, the Rush Medical college at Chicago, a similar institution at Indianapolis, and one at LaFayette; and finally the managers of the LaPorte school determined to suspend the lectures. This occurred in 1851; and the suspension proved to be a final closing up of the school. The building was afterwards occupied as a literary academy, which was conducted by Prof. Churchman, a blind man, and an excellent teacher. It was a school for girls only, and it was a flourishing institution until it was burned in the winter of 1855. The institution was never reopened, and the graded free school system having been adopted in 1856, and proving so eminently successful, there has been less need fro private schools of any kind. For several years, the only private schools of importance, besides those heretofore mentioned, have been the schools of German Lutheran church, and Catholic Sisters.
There has never been a time in the history of LaPorte when education failed to receive a large share of the attention of the leading citizens. Private schools have been at times well supported, and since the present system of graded schools come into existence, the whole people have cheerfully met the taxes necessary for the required buildings, which are expensive and valuable, for the salaries of the first-class teachers, and all the other incidental outlay.
The earliest physicians to settle in LaPorte were Doctors Dinwiddie, Timothy Everts, Daniel Meeker, and G. A. Rose, who arrived in, or prior to, 1835. They were followed by Abram Teegarden, who came in 1837, J. P. Andrew, Geo. L. Andrew, T. Higday, L. Burisie, Thos. D. Lemon, L.C. Rose and others.
The first ministers of the Gospel who came to LaPorte, will be mentioned in connection with the history of the various church denominations in another chapter.
LaPorte has always been ably represented in the professions. The pastors of the churches have generally been men of culture, and intellectual power; and many of her practitioners of law and medicine have occupied high rank in their profession, and enjoy a reputation co-extensive with, and even beyond the State.
In the year 1835, A. W. Harrison was postmaster. This was during the presidency of Andrew Jackson, but soon after the inauguration of the new administration of Martin Van Buren in March, 1837, a change was made in the postoffice here, Dr. Thos. D. Lemon, being appointed. He held the office continuously until the beginning of the administration of Abraham Lincoln, in 1861, when Geo. B. Roberts was appointed on the recommendation of Schuyler Colfax, then the Representative in Congress from the ninth congressional district of Indiana. He held the office until after the assassination of Mr. Lincoln made Andrew Johnson, President.
One of the most popular and useful institutions of LaPorte is the Library and Natural History association, which has been in existence since1863. It has continued to strengthen in public favor, until the present time, and its history will not be without interest now, and in the future. In 1868 the author of this work was requested by the association to prepare a sketch which should embody the history of the institution. This he afterwards read to the board, and it was placed on file as one of its permanent records. The substance of that report is herewith presented; and is as follows:
“On the fifth day of May, 1868, Wm. Niles, Esq., offered a resolution before the board of directors of the LaPorte Library and the Natural History association, which was unanimously adopted, requesting me to prepare a historical sketch of the origin, history, present condition, prospects and purposes of that association.
Various controlling events have prevented an earlier compliance with the request of the board, but now at this late day, I have the honor respectfully to submit the following facts and thoughts on the important subjects named in this resolution.
At the beginning of the year 1863, LaPorte was a city of nearly eight thousand inhabitants. As a people we claimed to be civilized, enlightened, refined and educated; and yet there was not among us a reading room of any sort, and no library except the McClure, to which but few had access; so few that it was practically without any influence on the community. A reading room, exhibiting on its tables the earnest thoughts and activities of the present in the current periodicals of the day, and a library containing he ripened wisdom of the past and the present are means of education, especially to the young, whose utility cannot be estimated.
Here was a great and pressing want unfilled, and there were a few, who, seeing and feeling the need of an institution that should, in some degree, meet the wants of the people, determined to organize a Library association, that would, at slight expense, furnish books and periodicals to all who might choose to avail themselves of its privileges.
It was believed that such an association would be influential in developing a literary taste, by cultivating a habit of reading, and that it would become a powerful educator of the people, positively, by stimulating the growth of the mind and promoting learning and scholarship, and negatively, by furnishing a pleasant and useful place of resort, to largely counteract the evils of vicious pleasures and associations; and on the 16th day of March 1863, an organization was effected by the adoption of a constitution, and the election of the following full complement of officers:
President, Wm. C. Hannah; Vice President, James Moore; Recording secretary, Wm. Niles; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Geo. C. Noyes; Treasurer, Fred West. Directors– Wm. H.H. Whitehead, Dr. N. S. Darling, Ezekiel Morrison, Dr. L. C. Rose, Simon Wile, James Lewise, O. Wilson and Charles Paine.
The association thus organized was incorporated under the name of the “LaPorte Reading Room and Library Association.”
Negotiations were entered into with the McClure Working Men’s Institute, which finally resulted in the transfer by that association to this, of all the books and other property of the former. The terms of the contract were such as to convey to the new association all the property of the old, to be held and use by it forever, or during its existence, with revision to the McClure association in case of the dissolution of the new organization, upon the payment of the debts of the Institute amounting to fifty-five dollars, and the grant to each of its members of a membership for one year in the new association this result was highly gratifying, as it at once gave to the Library association a permanent footing, enabling it to start with seen hundred volumes, many of them standard works in history and English literature. With this handsome nucleus at the start, around which to gather other works, until the library should be founded, the attempt to build up a noble educational power in out midst, ceased to be an experiment, and became an assured success.
I pause here in the course of this sketch, to notice an even that carried sadness to heart, not only of the members of the association, but of all our people. On the 16th day of March, James Lewis had been elected as one of the board of directors, and on the fourth day of May, when the board held their regular meeting for the month, his place was vacant; death had invaded that active life, and sadly and unanimously the board passed the following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, By the death of our associate, Mr. James Lewis, this board has lost a valued member, whose worth we would commemorate in the records of this association, therefore, bit.
Resolved, That we recognized in Mr. Lewis an upright and generous citizen, ever earnest, to advance the welfare of the community in which he lived, whether at the cost of money or personal exertion.
Resolved, That we tender to Mrs. Lewis and the family of the decreased our respectful and sincere sympathy in their bereavement.
Mr. Lewis died on the 23rd day of April, 1863. He was an upright and enterprising citizen, a faithful friend, a zealous member of the association, and a devoted Christian.
On the 11th day of May, the board of directors submitted their first report to the association. In it they speak very encouragingly of the condition and prospects of the work before them, and although they find some difficulties and discouragements in the way, yet they say, and very truly, that “these difficulties ought to weight as nothing in comparison with the great need and importance to the whole community of an undertaking like the one upon which we are glad to believe, we have now successfully entered.”
At the meeting of the association on the 11th day of May, it was necessary, according to the constitution, to elect officers fro the ensuing year. The election resulted as follows:
President, Wm. C. Hannah; Vice President, James Moore; Recording Secretary, Wm. Niles; Treasurer, Fred West; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. G. C. Noyes.
Directors.– Andrew L. Osborn, Charles Paine, Ezekiel Morrison, Jacob Zook, W.H.H. Whitehead, O. Wilson, and Landon C. Rose.
The association seemed not fairly equipped for a race of usefulness; but its early promise was doomed to undergo a blighting check. The meeting on the 11th day of May adjourned with a prospect of vigorous growth before the young foundling. The members much have been too sanguine, and reposed too much confidence in the powers of the child, for they left it to run alone until the 26the day of October, 1863, to the 6th day of December 1864. This seems to have been the “dark age” of our association’s history. It was even darker than the night of the middle ages, for then the monks in their gloomy cells did not permit learning quite to perish from the earth, and history penetrates the gloom of that cavernous night; but over those forgotten months of our society’s life, whose record is forever lost, an impenetrable shadow has fallen, and nothing but the fiat of Omnipotent Power proclaiming “Let there be Light,” could disperse the gloom. It must have seemed to the friends of the association that its light had gone out forever. But the usefulness of such an institution had become know; and although the old officers and board of directors would seem to have been somewhat discouraged, they determined not to stand in the way of any others ho might be willing to try to give new vitality to the association. On the 6th day of December 1864, the officers and members of the board, each and all resigned, and others were elected to fill the vacancies so created; and the organization commenced its new existence with the following officers:
President, L. Crane; Vice President, C. G. Powell; Treasurer, Wm. M. Scott; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. P. Ash; Recording Secretary, T. L. Adams.
Directors.– Dr. Geo. M. Dakin, H. B. Weir, Dr. W. L. McKahan, John M. Hood, Rev. J. H. Lee, Mr. Baker and A. J. Redding.
As an indication of the vigorous manner in which the new board commenced their work it is worthy of note that at the this meeting a committee of one was appointed to “prepare the Reading Room for occupancy by to-morrow.” The work was done, and meetings have been held regularly at the Society’s room from that time to the present.
On the 6th day of November, 1865, the first movement was made towards renting the pleasant rooms now occupied by us; and on the 20th of the same month they were occupied and have given the association a home, and our people a useful and attractive place of resort for more than three years. At the meeting of November 20th, 1865, it was, with characteristic energy, resolved to “pledge ourselves as individuals to see the work carried through.” This feeling has ever since actuated the directors, and the consequence has been the continued growth and prosperity of the association. Since the year 1864, a leading feature of the Society has been a course of lectures each winter. These have been given by the leading men of the country, authors, poets, statesmen and divines. The lectures have embraced a wide variety of subjects, travels, history, national affairs, social reforms, the woman question, in fact almost every subject that engages the American mind at the present day.
These lectures , while not highly remunerative to the Society, have bee an agreeable means of instruction for the people, most of them having been of a high order of merit, and worthy to have been heard by far more than availed themselves of the privilege.
The growth of the library has been constant if not rapid. Handsome donations of book have been received from Morgan H. Weir, Benj. F. Taylor, L. Crane, and others, and in each of the last four years there have been additions by purchase, of from two to three hundred volumes.
On the sixth day of April,1868, a movement was commenced for the collection of a cabinet under the superintendence of Dr. T. Higday; and on the fifth day of May last the following preamble and resolution presented by Wm. Niles, Esq., were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, It is proposed to form a collection of specimens in illustration of the natural sciences, and those interested in the matter desire to place the collection in the rooms of the associations, if the donation will be accepted.
Resolved, that the association will accept such donations if made, and will preserve the collection, and increase it from time to time so far as can be done consistently with it leading objections.
For their cheerful co-operative in this feature especially, of our association, both by liberal donations, and by labor in arranging the specimens in the cases, too much praise cannot be awarded to Drs. T. Higday, Geo. L Andrew, Henry, Holloway, H. B. Wilcox, and Messrs. Fred K. West, Samuel J Fosdick and E. G. McCollum.
Thus, from a beginning attended by the doubts and fears, and through a history checkered by sunshine and cloud, we reached the society’s present condition. At no previous hour has the prospect been fairer than now five lectures of a course of six have left us nearly forty dollars ahead, and this is a season when the lectures nearly everywhere have failed to pay. Our cabinet, in illustration of the natural science, is neatly and tastefully fitted up, and though not large, is well worthy the attention of the curious. The reading room, furnished with all the leading magazines of the day, draws to the rooms daily large number of busy readers, and every night the rooms are crowded with the young of both sexes, quietly and studiously securing information that will be a practical benefit during their lives. The library numbers probably over two thousand and volumes, consisting of many of the choicest works of the English language; history, biography, poetry, travels, science, light literature, philosophy, belles lettres, and every variety of reading to please every variety of taste. We have lived down the stale calumny that we are a political institution, and all classes of our people, without regard to party, sect or creed, have a warm side for the LaPorte Library and Natural History Association. Out prospects may be best told by our past history and present conditions. We cannot doubt that our darkest days are over. The outlook before us is brighter and smoother than the backward look over the past. I look down the future, and see a long career of usefulness. I see our library expanding until these rooms grow narrow. The rich burden of thought here collected invites all our people to come and drink at the Pierean fount, not in a little stinted sippings, but in vigorous draughts, that cheer the soul, enlarge the mind, and develop manhood. These thoughts are not fanciful, they are the grand possibilities of the future, and will be the gift of a generous now to the swift approaching then.
The purposes of this association may be summed up in one work— improvement. The improvement and development of man, as an individual, and as a member of the community. Our purpose is to educate, to develop thought, to enlarge and strengthen the mental powers, to purify the heart, to furnish rational and wholesome amusement to make every man a better and stronger man, and every woman a better and more cultivated woman, to develop in the young a taste for reading, and make them acquainted with the great thoughts of the great authors who have honored the English tongue.
One of the most striking characteristics of our civilization, one which has worked deepest, and is destined to have the most lasting impression, is the general diffusion of knowledge. We are preeminently a reading people, and the privilege is not confined to a few. All participate. The morning paper follows man of business to the breakfast table. The last monthly throngs the railcar and steamboat. The latest novel enters the parlor of the opulent, and wrings the tears from eyes that never wept before; while every avenue of life is penetrated by he ubiquitous newspaper. News– north, east, west, south, the tidings are borne. Over hill and valley speed the messengers of the press. The palace of the rich, and the log hut of the pioneer, are alike objects of their visitation. Histories are multiplied. The dramatic touches of Macaulay, and of Bancroft, Prescott and Motley, give to historic composition and all charm of works of the imagination. All must read, young and old, male and female, man of leisure and man of business. There is no escape; the would is busy; it moves, so must man– every man– or he is left behind in a moment. It is our purpose to supply, as far as possible, this popular demand.
A celebrated English divine and philosopher lays down five eminent means whereby the mind is improved in the knowledge of things. These are observation, reading, instruction by lectures, conversation and meditation.
the first of these methods of improvement our association furnishes, to limit extent, by our cabinet of specimens illustrative of the natural sciences. Our library and reading room supplies the second, and the third is reached through our annual course of lectures.
These are our objects– to supply three of the enlarging, informing and strengthening the mind. With some degree of pride we point to the past; and we look forward hopefully to enlarged usefulness in the time to come.
Since the date of the above sketch which was written in February, 1869, the Library and Natural History association has continued to prosper. When Dr. Samuel B. Collins completed his marble front building on Michigan avenue, he generously offered to fit up the third study of the new building, and donate to the Library association the free use of it for five years. The offer was accepted, and soon afterwards, the removal was effected, and these fine rooms, are still occupied, the five years lease not having yet expired.
Early in 1874, a movement was made to secure a permanent home for the Library. Gen. Joseph Orr, proposed to the Library board and citizens, that if they would raise the sum of $6,000 he would purchase and donate the association the building known as the old Presbyterian church, the lot, and the half-lot adjoining on the north, amounting to $4,000. Immediately active measures were begun for the raising of $6,000 by voluntary subscriptions, and these were finally successful. The money was subscribed, one-half of it paid in, and the property was conveyed to the association when an unfortunate disagreement occurring between Gen. Orr, and the future board of directors of the Library association, in regard to the future arrangement of the building, and the manner in which the accumulated fund should be expended, the movement was abandoned, and the property was reconveyed to Gen. Orr. Most of the money that had been paid in was suffered to remain in the treasury of the Library association, and many resubscribed the amount still unpaid, the whole forming a large fund which is held by the board, and is now at interest, ready for use when an opportunity offers for the purchase of property that shall make a desirable and comfortable home for the library. It is much to the credit of the citizens of the LaPorte that an institution of this kind has received such constant and liberal support.
In the year 1852, the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana railroad was completed to LaPorte, and was extended rapidly to Chicago. Prior to this in 1839, the Buffalo and Mississippi railroad was projected, much grading was done upon it through the county, and the board of county commissioners, in obedience to the petition of citizens subscribed for stock to the amount of $100,000. Only here and there a cut or an embankment remains to tell of the broken hopes of the people.
In 1856, the Cincinnati, Louisville and Chicago railroad, now the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago, was built between LaPorte and Plymouth. The gaps between Plymouth and Rochester, and Rochester and Peru were afterwards filled, thus giving LaPorte direct communication southward, as she already had to the east and west. In 1871, that part of the road between LaPorte and Michigan City was complete, and thus LaPorte is situated on the leading line of railroad between the East and Chicago, and the principal line in Indiana from the lake to the south.
The rich farming country surround LaPorte has been the chief cause of its growth, though its manufactures, always an element of prosperity, have been by no means insignificant. The machine shops of Michigan Southern railroad were located here immediately upon the completion of the road, and continued here until 1870, when the machinery was removed to Elkhart. The buildings are now occupied by the LaPorte Care factory. There have been several foundries, and establishments for the manufacture of machinery and agricultural implements of various kinds. The principal ones are now those of the Rumelys, who manufacture separators and steam engines; James N. Brooks, who makes grist mill machinery and engines, and that of John W. Ridgway, which was burned a few months since and is now being rebuilt. There have been two paper mills in LaPorte, one of which failed and the other was burned and never rebuilt. The building of the former is now occupied by the LaPorte Wheel factory, which is prospering. The bedstead factory of Mr. Fred Meissner has for many years been successful, and the chair factory under the management of Washington Wilson is doing a prosperous business. There are two woolen factories, each of them doing good work, three flouring mills and numerous wagon and blacksmith shops, which altogether give employment to a large number of hands. Within a few years past, a heavy trade has arisen in the ice that is taken from the lakes in the winter. The houses for its storage dot the borders of the lakes in every direction. It is chiefly taken from Stone, Clear and Fish Trap lakes. There is a Chicago firm engaged in the business, M. Thompson & Co.; a Louisville company; John Hilt & Co., of LaPorte, and others of this city. Many thousands of tons are taken off each winter, and it is shipped extensively to Chicago, and the South. This is a flourishing business, and gives employment to many laboring people in winter when work is often especially needed, and difficult to obtain.
There are fifteen church edifices in LaPorte, Methodist, German Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopalian, three Lutheran, two German and one Swedish Swedenborgian, Christian, two Catholic , Friends’ meeting house, Jewish Synagogue, and Colored. The church first built in LaPorte was by the Methodists in 1837. The edifice now occupied by the Disciples, and known as Christian church was built by the Presbyterians in 1842. The Episcopalians erected their house of worship in 1845. It has been remodeled and much enlarged since that time. The latest church building erected was that of the Presbyterians on Michigan avenue, which was completed in 1871
The original surgery of LaPorte has received may additions, the most important one, and the largest, being that of Cap. A. P. Andrew, Jr., on the south side of the city. The area of LaPorte contains now not less than eight hundred acres, and a population numbering about eight thousand. In 1835, there were but fifteen houses within the present limits of the corporation. A city government was adopted in 1853 and William J. Walker was the first mayor, who was elected to the office, and qualified on the fifth day of August 1853. His successors to 1861, were William Millikan, 1855; Fred’k McCollum, 1857; Wm. H. H. Whitehead, 1859; Daniel Noyes, 1861. Dr. L. C. Rose was elected in 1871, and served two terms, and Mortimer Nye was elected in 1873, and again in 1875. The city is divided into five wards, each represented in the city government by two councilmen. There are in the city more than one hundred business houses, gas works, Holly water works, a variety of manufacturing establishments as already mentioned, machine shops and foundries, tanneries, six hotels, numerous boarding houses, many secret and benevolent associations, and many elegant residences, with well kept and tasteful grounds surrounding them. Taken altogether, LaPorte is unquestionably the handsomest city in Northern Indiana, if not in the state. Its wide and well shaded streets, its long rows of dark green maples, it groves and lakes and charming drives present attractions which are seldom equaled.
LaPorte has had a steady but not rapid growth; and all its business has been on a stable basis. Panics and stringency in the money market affect her business interests comparatively little. Her banks, of which there are five including the Savings bank, are safely conducted, and when two years ago the great financial crash came upon the country no merchant or banker in LaPorte was touched. All weathered the storm easily and safely. Beautiful for situation, safe in her business interests, and enjoying superior educational advantages, LaPorte is a most desirable place for a residence, combining the health of the country with the privileges of the city.
Condensed from Packard, Jasper, History of La Porte County, Indiana, and Its Townships, Towns and Cities. S. E. Taylor & Company, La Porte, 1876 - Transcribed for La Porte Co. Gen Web by Christine Scott 27 February 2006.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP
From the date of the organization of the county untiul March 9th, 1836, Clinton township was a part of New Durham; but on that date, at their March term, the following order was made by the Board of county commissioners: "Ordered that New Durham township by divided by the line dividing congressional townships thirty-five and thirty-six, north of range four west, and that all that part of said township formerly comprising congressional township thirty-five, north of range four west form a new township for judicial purposes, to be known by the name of Clinton township, and that there be an election held in this township on the first Monday of April next, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for said township, until the next annual election for township officers, and that the election for said township be held at Charles Eaton's shop."
There has been no change in the limits of the township since that time. The south side of Clinton was then the boundary of the county, but it has since extended to the Kankakee river by act of the legislature, and two more townships have been organized.
In its physical characteristics, Clinton township shows much diversity. The larger portion of its area is prairie, but there are groves of timber, and on the south and east are sandy "barrens" producing fine crops of grain. Taken altogether, it is regarded as one of the most desirable parts of the county, of great productive capacity and convenient to market, three railroads, the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago, Chicago and Lake Huron, and Baltimore and Ohio, passing across it, the first from north to south, and the other two from east to west.
Of the early settlers Isham Campbell is said to have been the first. He made his home on the west side of Hog Creek in teh year 1832, and in the Fall of the same year Andrew and Edmund Richardson made a settlement, taking land on section nine.
In 1833, Nathaniel Steel, R. Prather, Levi Reynolds, John Osborn, Wm. Niles, Lemuel Maulsby, Richard Williams, Thomas Robinson, and Stephen Jones, a Methodist minister, came into the township and became residents. John Warnnock located his claim this year on section four, but did not move on it, on account of sickness in his family, until the ensuing spring.
In 1834, the list of settlers was quite large and embrace John Reynolds, T.J.S. Hixon, Simeon Tuley, John Small, Matilda Tuley, James Haskell, Jonathon Osborn, John Warnock, Phineas Small, John and Charles Eaton, Hezekiah Robertson, Daniel Robertson, Wm. Eaton, Jacob Iseminger, Wm. Wilson, John Small, James Reeves, Samuel Maulsby, Walter Livingston, L. Richardson, John Clark,John Lewis, Jesse Marshall, John Wilman, Orange Lemon and Benj. J.Bryant.
William WIlson who came this year, located Indian floats on section nine and ten. These floats were in the nature of land warrants, save that they contained no provision for the protection of actual settlers. They were issued to half-breed Indians, but being made assignable, found their way for the most part, into the hands of speculators. Mr. Wilson honorably paid the settlers on the two sections for all the improvements they had made.
For the year 1835, we have the following record of settlers to present: Wm. T. Harding, Joseph Wright, Thomas Patterson, Richard Williams, Perrin Scarborough, Jonathon Williams, Herbert Williams, Horace Pinney, Sen., Horace Pinney, Jr., Wm. Pinney, David Pinney, Adijah Bigelow, David Congdon, Benjamin Maulsby, Luke Ashley, Mr. Heaton, Dr. Philander Loomis, John Bailey, Mr. Heat (deaf and dumb), and Dr. Whitcomb, who is said to have been the first resident physician.
Mr. Doolittle and Mr. Johnson were early settlers, coming probably in 1834 or 35.
In 1837, Christian Richardson, Lemuel Brush, Richard Robertson, Sen., John Koontz, Gideon Long and Adam Iseminger, settled in Clinton;j Wm. Snavely came in 1839, and in 1840 John Robinson, Isaac Powerll and Dr. Bement arrived. The year 1838 is somewhat memorable as the 'sickly season.' Bilious complaints were prevelant, and very few escaped. There were not enough remaining well, properly to care for the sick. E.S. Gardner moved into the township in this year.
In 1843, Nathaniel Davis, a Congressional minister, and well known as an ardent advocate of temperance, and an original Abolitionist, made the township his home. Dr. Cobb also arrived the same year.
A log church was built on section ten, in 1844, which afterwards caught fire and burned down. It was built by the Methodists and was called Hickory Chapel. Wiley B. Mack was the first minister who officiated within its walls. He was succeeded by Rev Mr. Oakes. Rev. R. Hargrave was also one of the earliest preachers here. This Hickory Log Chapel was succeeded by the present Clinton chapel, which was built in 1860.
The culture of mulberry trees and the rasing of silk worms at one time engaged considerable attention in the township. The following will be found in book C, of the proceedings of the commissioner's court, page twenty-six:
"It is ordered by the board that Potter Doolittle be allowed the sum of two dollars and twenty-five cents as a bounty on fifteen pounds of silk cocoons, as per the certificate of Wm. Moorman, a justice of the peace of LaPorte county." Potter Doolittle was a resident of Clinton, and the foregoing order was made in September, A.D. 1846.
HASKELL STATION
In the year 1854, A. Culver purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in section twenty, in Clinton township. It being favorably located on the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago railroad, he conceived the idea of laying out a town in case a sufficient number of persons were attracted to the locatlity to warrant it. He did not commence as many have done by having it platted and filed in the recorder's office before any evidence of a village was visible, and afterwards subject himself to the mortification of leaving upon the county records an enduring monument of a vanished air castle. From its location it seemed to be a good point for a store, and he gave to Samuel Brush an acre upon condition that he would open one. This Mr. Brush did in the year 1855, and he continued in the mercantile business at that place until 1863, when he died. John Ferris bought out the estate, both real and personal, of the administrator, continued the business until 1867, and sold to Wm. D. Crothers. It soon after passed into the hands of Mr. Sopris and from him to Thomas L. Hoadley, who discontinued the business in 1870.
In the year 1857, a postoffice was established at the station, and Samuel Brush was appointed postmaster. The present postmaster is Thomas L.. Hoadley.
In 1858, David Carpenter commenced blacksmithing.
In 1861, a warehouse was built by Samuel Brush, and considerable grain was shipped from this point, but the construction of east and west roads has diverted the grain trade in a great measure from the south. In 1871 this warehouse was struck by lightning and burned. Haskell never ranked as a town. No plat of it was ever recorded. It is only a hamlet - having had a store, blacksmith shop, grain depot, postoffice, and being a railroad station.
BIGELOW
Abijah Bigelow moved into Clinton township in the year 1835, and soon after proceeded to put up a grist mill, which he completed in 1837. He brought a small colony with him who were mostly Canadians.
In the year 1836, Wm. T. Harding opened the first store in that place. After he had fairly commenced he took as a partner, a man named Bogart, and while Harding was attending to his farm Bogart sold the concern to one Bentley. A litigation ensued which resulted in Bogart's being sent to jail and Bentley's getting away with the goods.
During the year 1837, the town was recorded in the informal manner so common in those times. It embraced twenty-eight blocks, described as being in township thirty-five, range four west, in the southwest quarter of section twenty-one.
In 1837, a Frenchman who was known by the name of "Bushee" started a blacksmith shop. During the same year Arnnold Sapp had a cabinet and jobbing shop, and in 1838, a postoffice was established and Wm. T. Harding had the contract for carrying the mail.
In the year 1848, the people became tired of their own organization, and among the records of the September term of the county commissioner's court of that year, we find the following:
"Now comes Hubert Williams and motions that his petition heretofore filed, to-wit: On the 21st day of July, A.D., 1848, for the vacation of the town of Bigelow's Mills be now taken up. Whereupon theh board, upon due consideration, being satisfied from the affidavit of said Hubert Williams, that manuscript notices of the pending of said petition had been set up in three of the most public places in said town, thirty days previous to the present session of this board, containing a description of the property to be vacated, do order the said town to be vacated."
John Closser started a store at Bigelow's Mills in 1848, and afterwards sold out to Soper & Metcalf. They did business for a time, and then sold to Henry Brush. Samuel Hammond bought out Brush in 1861. Perrin Scarborough started a wagon shop in this year; in 1852, Frank Howell started a blacksmith shop near where Frank Knight's house now stands, and in 1854, Mr. Gordon had a gunsmith shop to which he added a stock of goods the ensuing year.
The Bigelow mill having been sold to John Closser, and by him to John Wright, passed into the hands of Henry Harding in 1854. He built a store also, and had a general assortment of goods. Mr. H. continued the business until 1874 when he died, and John Warnock, as administrator of the estate, sold the property to Abram Sovereign, who disposed of it to Mr. Boler.
In 1864, J. Jacobson carried on the business of harness making.
The postoffice at Bigelow was discontinued in the year 1868.
The following incident occurred in the year 1835. Wm. T. Harding and A.G. Webster of Noble township, were brothers-in-law, and put in crops together, some corn on Webster's claim, and buckwheat on that of Harding. After the corn came up the ground squirrels commenced digging it, and some arsenic was obtained to destroy them. A part of it was used and the remainder was laid away in Webster's clock. During the following summer, Harding procured some calomel and after having used a part of it, put the remainder away in the same place where the arsenic had been stored. After this, Harding returned to Ohio, from whence he had migrated, for his family, consisting of his wife, two sons and three daughters, and returned with them in the latter part of September. The first day after his arrival, he went to Webster's house, who, with his wife, were absent visiting the newly arrived family. Harding's oldest daughter being unwell, he went to the same clock to procure the calomel to administer it to her. Going to his own home with it, he related to Mrs. Webster what he had done. After Mr. Mrs Webster had returned, the former went to the clock to wind it as he had usually done, and missing the arsenic, and being informed by his wife what had become of it, ran all the way to Harding's, hoping to arive before any of it had been taken. He was too late. Fifteen minutes before he came, the oldest daughter had taken a dose, and Harding had also done the same a moment before his arrival. Lamp oil, being the only article at hand to serve as an emetic, was administered. The father was saved, but the daughter died before morning. This was the first death that occurred in the township.
At an early date in the settlement of Clinton, a hog dealer passed through the township, and in doing so, lost a number of his drove. They ran wild and multiplied. There were very few enclosures, and the early settlers allowed their swine to run at large also, each preferring to have his own private mark upon his stock, and each desiring to have his share of the wild ones which were running about promiscuously. An old settler states that it was wonderful how soon a porker could be dressed and packed away by the residents on the creek after it was shot. They had a habit of first cutting off the ears, or of even skinning the animal when dead to avoid identification, and the crack of a rifle had scarcely ceased to echo over the prairie before this was all accomplished. Finally, an immense amount of litigation was the consequence, and one of the settlers expended all his means, involving one hundred and sixty acres of land, his stock, house and home, in lawsuits growing out of the uncertain proprietorship in swine. This circumstance probably gave name to the creek which flows through the township.
On the 27 day of November, 1865, James Woods shot and killed John Lohm, a German resident, in the west part of the township in the Osborn and Small neighborhood. Woods and Wm. Fulton had been drinking, and had just returned from Westvilled in a state bordering upon intoxication. When in the neighborhood we have described, they encountered a party of Germans who had been husking corn and were returning with loaded wagons. Woods ordered them to halt, to which no attention was paid. Fulton then said to him: "Why don't you shoot." Woods then drew a revolver and discharged it, the ball passing by those who were on the first wagon, and took effect in the body of John Lohm, inflicting a mortal wound from the effects of which he died in a short time. The men were said to be strangers to each other, and had no previous difficulty. Both Woods and Fulton were indicted at the April term of the circuit court, 1866, and were tried in April, 1867. Woods was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to the penitentiary during the term of this natural life, and Fulton of manslaughter, and sentenced for thirteen years.
On the 14th day of March, 1869, Nicholas Aker, a boy fourteen years and eight months old, was playing with a gun with two younger brothers, when taking it up to blow into the muzzle it accidentally went off, killing him instantly. On the 7th day of Nov., 1874, August Kopelski, a boy fourteen years and eight months old, who resided with his father, Frank Kopelsi, a resident of Bigelow, was out duck hunting. In walking along he held the muzzle of his gun under his arm. Striking the lock accidentally, the cap exploded and the contents of the gun nearly tore the arm from his body. He died in less than an hour afterward.
In the two cases above narrated of death from the use of fire arms, both boys were nearly of an age at the time the accidents in the cases occurred, the difference being but one day.
On the 6th day of November, 1874, Frank Knight, a young man who resided at Bigelow, met with an accident at Mansfield, Ohio, which cost him his life. He was employed on the Pittsburgh and Ft. Wayne railroad, and while engaged in uncoupling cars, fell between them. One car passed over a leg cutting it off. He lived only three hours and a half after the accident occurred. He was a very promising young man, and his death was much deplored by a large circle of friends. His age at the time of his death was twenty years, ten months and twenty-seven days.
Among those who have recently lived in Clinton township or who now live there, and who came early to LaPorte county, are Wm. Steele, a native of the county, born in 1830; Thomas Garwood, born in the county in 1833; Wm. Snavely, who came to the county in 1833, emigrating from Virginia; R.R. Richardson who came from Washington county, Indiana, in 1833; Charles G. & Thomas L. Eaton, Benjamin V. Fogle and Jacob Iseminger, in 1835; Wheeler Bentley,and E.C. Reynolds a native of the county, in 1846; Wm. Pinney and Amenzo Mann in 1837; W.H. Beahm, a native of the county, 1839; and C.R. Burch, born in the county in 1840. These are, nearly all of them, successful farmers, agriculture being the chief industry of the township. The township is well settled with an industrious, intelligent and thriving people. The interests of education have not been neglected; there is a school house for each neighborhood, and the children of the pioneers' children enjoy advantages of schools and churches, and social and neighborhood intercourse, of which the early settlers were in a large measure deprived; but which they fully appreciated, and took measures to secure for those who should come after them.
Transcriber's Note: March, 2006: The History of Townships, Cities & Towns contained in the county history section of La Porte County Gen Web is based on Jasper Packard's 1876 History of La Porte County, Indiana. Those chapters, however, have been summarized by volunteers.
Chapter XIII
The territory embraced in Coolspring Township, was a part of the original township of New Durham. By the subsequent division it became a part of Michigan township, remaining thus until the 9th day of March, 1836, when the following order was made by the Board of county commissioners:
“Ordered that Michigan township be divided by the line between towns thirty-seven and thirty-eight, range four west, and that part of Michigan township comprising town thirty-seven, range four west, form a judicial township to be known by the name of Coolspring township, and that there be an election held in said township on the first Monday of April next for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for said township, and that Nathan Johnson is appointed inspector of elections for said township, and that the elections for said township be held at the house of Nathan Johnson.”
It has been very difficult to ascertain who was actually the first settler of Coolspring Township, or precisely in what year he came as many differ in the matter. Some state Nathan Johnson was the first settler and others say it was a man by the name of John or Isaac Luther, and still others say Arba Heald was the first settler. Most likely they all settled in the year 1833 going to different sections of the township, the parts of which were not readily accessible in early times, and therefore, each area believes its own first settler was first of all. Arba Heald, an early settler of Scipio Township came to the southwest part of Coolspring and erected a saw mill not far from Beatty’s Corners. Nathan Johnson made his improvements at Waterford, which it is said that he laid out as a village and Luther settled nearer the central part of the township. Whoever was first has not definitely been determined, but it is definite there were very few inhabitants prior to 1836. In 1836 there were Maj. Eliphalet Pattee, Thomas Forrester, John Jacobus, Thomas Sharp, George Smith, George Bentley, John F. Decker, Abram Langdon, Nathan Johnson, Arba Heald, John Van Meter, John Dysard, John Beatty, Purdy Smith, the Whitakers, Daniel Reed, John Glime and Ebenezer Palmer.
Palmer was the first justice of the peace. Beatty engaged in the Black Hawk war, passed through the county on his way to Chicago in 1832 and settled in the township in 1833. Arba Heald preceeded Beatty, and with Daniel Reed erected the first saw mill in the southwest part of the township in 1833. John Dysard came in 1835 and is a farmer, stock raiser and successful fruit culturist. George Bentley, father of Ambrose Bentley, who still resides on the homestead, and of Dr. G. J. Bentley of Michigan City, ran a sawmill for General Joseph Orr. Elisha Mayhew owned an interest with Orr in the mill and afterwards Orr and Standiford owned it. They also put up a wool carding machine. The mill was built in 1833, a few months after Heald built his. This mill later passed into the hands of Samuel Weston who built a grist mill on the site and is now owned and run by James Mason and his father. Nathan Johnson built a saw mill at Waterford, which some say is the first in the township, and in 1836 he built another. Gen. Orr thinks the first saw mill in the township was built at Waterford by Walker & Johnson. A Mr. Bowen bought this property and put up a distillery and later a grist mill was erected and ran in conjunction with the distillery. The grist mill continued to run until about 1870, when it burned. Casper Kuhn bought the site, erected another mill and has run it successfully ever since. Asa Harper made improvements in the township in 1835, but was living in Michigan City at the time and did not move to the township until several years later. John F. Decker lived at or near Waterford, and died in 1844. He was the father of John F. Decker of La Porte.
Around 1836 Mr. Bowen opened the first store in the township at Waterford. It was closed by his creditors in about six weeks. There have been several stores in Waterford, but they all closed. A post office was opened at Waterford in 1838 with the postmaster by the name of Sears. It later moved to a hotel about a mile south of Waterford and was discontinued in 1865.
There was a great amount of timber in Coolspring Township and many other sawmills were built including one by John Beatty and Purdy Smith in 1833 or 1834 in the southwest part of the township. In 1836 Aaron Stanton built a flouring mill which his son, Alfred purchased and managed from 1838 to 1842 when he sold it and went to Oregon. Both Orr’s and Stanton’s mills were on Spring creek, a branch of Trail Creek. The mill which Nathan Johnson built later now belongs to the Timm brothers.
The first school opened in 1835 or 1836 and Ebenezer Palmer is supposed to have been the first teacher. Rachel Jacobus was also an early teacher as was Maria Sharp. In 1837 or 1838 Wm. C. Talcott taught at a school near Waterford. He was a Universalist preacher and was probably the first to preach in the township. The Methodists and Presbyterians held services in school houses until about 1855 when a church was built by the Presbyterians near Waterford. It was really a union church being occupied by various denominations and is the only church edifice in the township. There are presently five good schools in the township.
The villages of the township are Waterford and Beatty’s Corners, but little business has ever been done at either place, with the most important enterprise being the flouring mill at Waterford. Beatty’s Corners was laid out as a town, dividing two acres into lots, in 1842 by James Whitten. Only one lot was ever sold and the entire town site was purchased by George Selkirk. Prior to his purchase a Mr. Collins opened a blacksmith shop and a Dr. Bosley worked at wagon making. A hotel was built and kept by Enoch Brewer for about two years and then for awhile by A. B. Wolf. It has long since been closed.
When the township was first settled, it was one of the wildest parts of the county. There was an abundance of game consisting of deer, turkey and even wild bears, that latter of which sometimes carried of pigs and hogs at night. The Indians were still in the county and came freely to the huts of the settlers, but never molested them in any way, either in person or property. One time while out hunting, John Beatty almost mistook an Indian for a deer. The Indian identified himself in time, thus preventing arousing the hostility of the Indians and placing in peril the lives of the settlers.
Coolspring Township is well watered by small creeks in nearly every part affording many good mill privileges. Good timber has been abundant even though large quantities have been cut off. The entire township is timbered with no prairie land. The timber consists of oak, ash, maple, walnut, popular, beech, hickory and other varieties. There is great deal of good land in the township and most of the soil can be made to produce very good crops of corn, wheat and potatoes and for fruit it cannot be surpassed in the county.
In 1836 an accident occurred, resulting in the death of ten year old Amos Smith, son of Purdy Smith. He was bringing water to the men who were chopping trees in the forest when a falling tree struck another and as it sprang back, fell and killed the lad instantly.
Among those who now live in the township and who came early to the county are: Hiram and N. W. Blackman, farmers and the latter a cooper; A. L. Booth, a farmer; Richard Cross and Amos Thorpe, farmers and cider makers; Reuben Chapin, fruit grower and farmer; John Dysard, a farmer and stock raiser; Wm Forester, farmer and grain buyer; Elder L. Fogle, Christian preacher and farmer; Robert Curran and C. G. Dalgren, farmers; Asa Harper, Augustus C. and M. J. Hubner, Wm. Loumbard, S. C. Perry, and John Zahrn, farmers and stock raisers; Joseph Eddy, tailor and farmer; John Ebert, mason and contractor; A. B. Hunt, farmer; D. L. Jackson, farmer and cooper; Casper Kuhn, proprietor of Waterford flouring mill; Daniel Low, farmer and fruit grower and many years township trustee; Z. W. Palmer, farmer and speculator; A. B. Wolf, farmer and carpenter; Dennis Purvis, G. R. Selkirk, G. W. Van Dusen, Wm Sohn and John Windland, farmers; B. N. Shreve, township trustee and lumberman; Eli Smith, farmer and cooper; and Jacob H. White, physician and surgeon, residing in Waterford, the first and only resident physician in the township.
The township has quite a large population. It is even more thickly settled than some portions of the prairie, for the farms are not so large and neighbors are brought more closely together. The New Albany and Chicago railroad passes across the west side of the township; the Michigan Central cuts the northwest corner; and the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago, the northeast corner, but there is no railroad station within the limits of the township. Otis furnishes the market for the southwest part, La Porte for the southeast, and Michigan City for all the north side. With markets all around, with a soil reasonably productive, excellent for fruit, and abundance of choice timber, the inhabitants of this township may expect continued prosperity.
Condensed from Packard, Jasper, History of La Porte County, Indiana and Its Townships, Towns and Cities. La Porte, 1876 by Patricia Gruse Harris, 1 March 2006
DEWEY TOWNSHIP
The territory of this township was a part of that which formerly belonged to Stark County. It was then in VanBuren township, and when Cass township was organized, was a part of that township, and so remained until Jun 8, 1860, when the Board of county commissioners directed its organization into a new township. The following is the record, made at the June term, 1860:
"In the matter of the Erection of Dewey Township. And now comes Patrick Hencheon, and files the petition of himself and others, citizens of this county and residents of congressional township thirty-three, north of range four west, praying that so much of Cass township in said county as lies south of the north lines of said congressional township, be set off from said Cass township, and erected and organized into a separate township for civil purposes, and it appearing to this Board of commissioners that the convenience of the inhabitants residing in said part of said township, requires that the same be so set apart, and erected into a township for civil purposes, do hereby set the same off and detach it from the said township of Cass, and do hereby erect and organize the same into a township for civil purposes by the name and style of Dewey township of LaPorte County, with the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of said congressional township number thirty-three, and running thence westward along the north line of said township to the west line of LaPorte county, thence southwardly along the west line of the county to the south line of the county, thence eastwardly along the south line of the county to the east line of said congressional township to the place of beginning, and that the same now is and henceforth shall be a body politic and corporate by the name and style aforesaid, and all elections held in said township shall be held at the school house on section three in said township, and whereas the office of township trustee for the township of Dewey in this county, is now vacant, it is hereby ordered that Patrick Huncheon be and is hereby appointed trustee for said township, to hold said office until the next annual township election required to give bond and security to the acceptance of the auditor, pursuant to the statute in such case made and provided, and it is also further ordered that upon demand after the execution of said bond, the trustee of Cass township, and all other officers who now have or into whose hands shall come any funds arising or accruing from school lands in said township, or any monies arising from assessments fro road purposes upon lands in said township of Dewey, or any other funds properly belonging to said township, for school, road or other township purposes, shall pay the same and every part thereof to the said trustee of Dewey township."
Thus Dewey township embraces all of township thirty-three, range four west, lying north of the Kankakee River, and part of three sections of town thirty-two, in the same range, being bounded on the south by the river, on the west by Porter county, on the north by Cass township, and on the east by Hanna township.
Two railroads cross the township. The Louisville, New Albany and Chicago crosses it from north to south, and the Chicago and Great Eastern, or Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis, enters the township near the southeastern corner and curves through it so as to pass out not far from the center of the west side. The railroads cross each other in the northeast corner of section seventeen; and here there is a station, a freight depot, telegraph office, etc., and a few business houses.
A large part of this township is Kankakee marsh, and was formerly, at every rise in the river, inundated as far north as LaCrosse where the railroad crossing is; but hundreds of acres of these wet lands have been redeemed by drainage, and each year from natural as well as artificial causes, the reclamation is going on, and once cultivation, the land will prove exceedingly fertile. At present there are thousands of acres of good mowing land, which alone renders it valuable, owing to increasing demand for hay.
The township is settled chiefly by Germans, George P. Schimmel is probably the first one who made a settlement. He arrived on the first day of January, 1854, though Jacob Schauer came about the same time, and possible was foremost. Lewis and Michael Besler were among the first settlers in the township. Patrick and Richard Huncheon have been in the township seventeen years and is a farmer and heavy stock dealer. Elias Osborn, also an early settler, is a farmer and stock dealer. He resides about half a mile west of LaCrosse, and has been postmaster since 1868, when the postoffice was established. In the same year the depot was removed from old to new LaCrosse. The Great Eastern railroad was finished fifteen years ago, and in 1862, a German Catholic church was built. Philip Schimmel opened a store in 1874. The first school house was built on Hog Island eighteen years ago, and the first teacher was a Miss White. Patrick Huncheon was the first trustee, and holds that office at present. James Lougee has been trustee during several of the intervening years, one or the other of them having held that position ever since the township was organized.
A large part of the land in Dewey township is held by non-residents, which will probably result in retarding settlement, and thus prove an injury to the township. With the reclamation of the marsh lands this township will become exceedingly productive, but its full capacity will be developed only by actual settlers, occupying small tracts of land. Among the large holders of land in this township who are non-residents, are J.W. Glidden, A. Long, S.M. Lockwood, and J.C. Lattimer.
The principal industry of township is farming and stockraising combined. James S. Long is thus engaged; and Orville Adams, who is also a teacher. Among the leading German inhabitants are the Beslers, J.A. and Wm. Rosenbaum, George P. Schimmel, C.W. Rudolph, F.W. Kruger and C. Wagner.
The present population has exhibited much enterprise in the work of bringing the land into cultivation, and their reward has been such that the people are fast becoming prosperous.
Transcriber's Note: March, 2006: The History of Townships, Cities & Towns contained in the county history section of La Porte County Gen Web is based on Jasper Packard's 1876 History of La Porte County, Indiana. Those chapters, however, have been summarized by volunteers.
GALENA TOWNSHIP
On the 9th of March, 1836, at the regular March term of the Board of county commissioners, it was ordered that Kankakee township be divided. The part lying in township thirty-eight, in range two west, was to form Galena township. It was further ordered that an election was to be held in the new township on the first Monday of April, for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace. Joshua Jordan was appointed inspector of elections, and the elections were held at the house of George W. Barnes.
This township consists of twenty-four whole sections, and six half sections, one tier and a half of sections of the congressional township thirty-eight are in the State of Michigan.
George W. Barnes is supposed to be the oldest settler in Galena; his biography is obscure, as he died about thirty years ago, leaving no descendants. Tradition says that he was a native of the State of Maine, and from thence migrated to Cleveland, Ohio; that he was a married man, but never brought his family to his new home. Whether his wife refused to follow him into the depths of the forests, or if they parted from domestic infelicity, is not known. He was a man of uncommon nerve and force of character, possessing traits which made him eminently fit for a pioneer of civilization; and he came to Galena township in the year 1833, and at once went to work with that untiring energy for which he was always distinguished. (See Transcriber’s Note “George W. Barnes” at the end of this chapter). Whitman Goit, Shubal Smith, Richard Miller, Sylvanus James and John Talbot also settled the township in 1833.
Those settling the township in 1834 were: Daniel Baldwin, Aurea and Basil Sperry, William Waldruff, Sans H. Austin, Byron Cadwalader, John Morrow, Joshua Jordan, Elijah Bishop, Micajah Jones, John Cooper, Ephraim Cooper, Jesse Jones, Oliver Porter, James Paddock, Charles Francis, Joseph Fuller, James Jones, Abram Purcell, and Joseph Henderson. Joseph Wallace, the Martin family, the Weeds, Mr. Morrill, and Edwin Jordan, brother of Joshua, were also early arrivals in the township.
The first mill in Galena township was built in1834 by John Talbot and Whitman Goit. Another first for the township occurred in 1834 with the birth of a son to Mrs. and Mrs. William Waldruff. In 1835 a second mill was built by George W. Barnes. While the Talbot and Goit mill was built in the northeast part of the township, the Barnes mill was in the southwest portion. Also in 1835, Mathew Mayes opened a blacksmith shop, the first in the northern part of the county, at Mayes’ Corner. About a mile west of the blacksmith shop was a wagon shop owned by Shubal Smith and Mr. Purcell erected a lathe for turning wooden bowls on Mud Creek. Joseph Winch later bought Mr. Purcell’s establishment and made split bottomed chairs and spinning wheels.
A great number of settlers arrived in the township during the year 1835; among them were: Jacob Heckman, James Catterlin, Robert Kennedy Smith, Lewis Weed, Mathew Mayes, Hiram Bement, Samuel Vance, John Rodman, Jedediah Austin, James Wilson and Hiram Catterlin. Martin Bates came this year and bought land, but went away and did not return and improve it until 1840.
In 1836 the first school house was built of logs on the land of Theodoric Heckman, the teacher was Amanda Armitage. Those who arrived in 1836 were Walter and Ezra Brown, Kellogg Shedd, John and Henry Brewer, Abraham Burcham, Julius Tappan, Levi Paddock and Elder Caleb B. Davis, pastor of the Christian church. Hiram Russ arrived in 1837.
Solomon Palmer built a saw mill in 1838, and in 1840 James Winch came and put up a turning establishment on Barnes' creek, where he made hubs, bedposts, and spinning wheels. He was a Free Will Baptist preacher, and died in 1853. The property was sold to W. W. Francis and brothers, and they built a grist mill on the site.
Previous to 1841, religious services had been held at the school houses, and in private homes. Shubal Smith acted as a local Methodist preacher. Reverend Posey was assigned by the conference to preside in Galena. He directed his influence among his brethren to induce them to build a chapel for a place of religious worship, and a day was assigned for all to turn out from far and near, to accomplish this object. At the appointed time they came from distances as great as eight or ten miles, and worked steadily for a week, when a very comfortable and commodious log chapel was completed. It was built upon an acre of ground given by Whitman Goit for the purpose, and named Posey chapel in honor of the founder. It has since been torn down and rebuilt, a frame structure occupying the place of the old one. (Transcriber’s Note: See Posey Chapel Cemetery History). The Mount Pleasant M. E. church was built in 1844. Lamb's chapel, so named after Mr. Lamb, who appropriated the land, is situated at the junction of the town line and LaPorte roads. It is a frame building about the size of an ordinary school house which it very much resembles. It was built by subscription of the people of the neighborhood in 1854. The Christian denomination is largely represented, and in 1865, they completed a very fair church edifice. It is located on the southwest quarter of section twenty, and Rev. Caleb B. Davis is the pastor.
In 1841, Willis and John Wright put up a turning lathe about a mile and a quarter west of Caleb B. Davis'. They ran it four of five years and sold it to E. S. Dodds, who continued the business for some years, until the machinery became worn out and worthless. In the same year Loami Shedd started a small wagon shop about three quarters of a mile east of where Centre school house now stands.
In the year 1846, Charles Francis & Son built a saw mill on Galena creek, a mile and a quarter above Barnes' mill.
In 1848, William Waldruff and Hiram Bement built a saw mill about three-fourths of a mile below Barnes' mill, on the Barnes branch of Galena creek. Waldruff afterwards sold out his interest to Ira L. Barnes. Bement and Barnes sold to Richard Etherington.
John B. Smith started a wagon shop in 1849, on the farm belonging to R. K. Smith, on the road from LaPorte to New Buffalo. In the summer of the same year, Valentine F. Smith built a small turning shop on a stream emptying into the Galena, about a mile and a half west of Winch's shop. Mr. Smith continued the business until the spring of 1854.
In January, 1852, Whitman Goit, killed by a falling tree, while he was engaged in getting out