Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 43: Boone Township, 1913

Boone township is located in the northwest corner of the county in congressional township 28 north, range 1 west, and embraces an area of 36 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Fulton county, on the east by Harrison township, on the south by JeflFerson township and on the west by White county. It was named in honor of Kentucky 's great pioneer hunter, Daniel Boone. The general surface of the township is level, in fact is quite flat, and much of the land was originally marshy and swampy and during the rainy seasons was covered with water and presented the appearance of an inland lake; from this fact, and from the further fact that it was situated remotely from the avenues of travel, it was late in being settled and developed.

Boone township has no rivers or creeks of any size but Big Indian creek, a wet weather stream, runs from east to west through the northern half of the township and is the source of drainage of that half of the township. It flows westward into the Tippecanoe river and has been deepened and widened into a veritable canal and completely drains the land that was formerly covered with water, and nearly all the marshy land of Boone township has thus been reclaimed and converted into the most productive farms. The land was originally covered with heavy timber except in some places in the western part, where swamps and prairies prevailed. The soil is a black loam and very productive except in a few localities, where sandy, rolling land prevails ; and with artificial drainage, which has been extended wherever required, Boone has become one of the richest agricultural districts in the county and produces an abundance of all farm products grown in a temperate climate and stock raising is quite extensively engaged in by the farmers.

Prior to 1834 Boone township was an unbroken wilderness; savage tribes of Indians were its sole possessors Except as wild beasts might contest with them for supremacy.

Andrew Kline, in the year 1834, was the first white man to make a permanent settlement in the southeast quarter of section 24, on what is known as the Fultz farm. He was followed the same year by John Henry, James Denton, Vincent Cidvin and G. D. WashburA, all of whom took an active part in the development of the country. In the year 1835 the little colony was increased by the following persons: John Beckley, Thos. Martindale, David Beckley, Sr., Robt. Bemetha, John Reeder, Henry Long and J. Beede.

Prominent among the arrivals of 1836 were John Beckley, Jr., and Daniel Weyand, who became influential residents in the development of the towziship. About the same time Jonas Kistler, Jacob Eistler and James McCauley secured homes.

Martin Key settled on the Klinger farm in section 36 as early as 1833, but soon moved away. About 1836 Wm. and Moses Williamson located* in the southern part of the township, on sections 33 and 34. During the year 1837, Matthew Ralston, Moses Washburn, Thos. Powell, Wm. Washburn, Bryant Button, Solomon Bernetha, David McCombs, Jacob Kistler, Jr., M. T. Harvey, Wm. Guthrie, Jos. Ballou, Wm. Kistler, Solomon Berkshire became residents.

In 1838 the following lists were added to the Boone colony : H. Estabrook, Henry Wood, E. B. Waterhouse, James McMillen, Emanuel Growell, Henry Conn, Elias McCawley, Aaron Dawson, H. Kistler, G. M. Fickle, E. Booth, Hugh McCaffrey, Wm. Dale.

The next two years came : Israel Bickle, Philip Shaf er, Jbhn Nolan, Amos Wisley, N. Minthom, James Thompson, I. V. Thompson, Andrew Wirwhan, S. Spencer, Geo. Caldwell, D. Caldwell, Richard Gaston, Laban Gaston, the majority of whom became permanent settlers and assisted in making Boone township what it is today. Many others deserving of special mention in the pioneer list of Boone may not have been reported and thus necessarily have been omitted.

We will give a few of the earliest land entries as shown by the tract book, but these do not indicate the first settlers, for many may have entered land and never occupied it; then again, many settlers may not have secured their entries for years after their occupancy.

In the year 1838, the following persons made entries : Samuel Black, Wm. Guthrie and J. McMillen in section 1 ; John Long, G. W. Williamson, J. Henderson, J. Burton, J. Thompson in section 2 ; Jos. Hawkins, James Johnson in section 3; Jeremiah Woods, Hampton Wood, Wm. McCleary, Christian Long, Thos. Vernon, Amos Bishop, Francis Dale in different sections.

The township was organized May 8, 1836, by the county commissioners and an election ordered at the cabin of David Beckley. At this election 11 votes were cast. John Beckley acted as inspector and Geo. Caldwell was chosen the first justice of the peace and Jacob Kistler, Jr., D. Weyand and John Beckley were elected the first township trustees.

When Boone township was first settled in 1834, there was not a road .pened up for travel. Indian trails through the dense forest were the only means of ingress or egress, and these wove around in all directions through the woods. The pioneers cut down the trees and opened up roads through the forests with a view to benefit the greatest number with the smallest possible inconvenience and no attention was paid to section lines.

The first road of any importance in the township was the state road known as the Logausport and Chicago road, now called the Royal Center pike. This road was established in 1838 and the route to and through

Other roads were opened through the township, but all these roads were practically impassable during the spring and in rainy weather, and the only improvement to the roads in pioneer days was to throw brush and logs in the road and cover them over with dirt. This made the celebrated and popular ** corduroy roads. '*

Chas. Berkshire graphically described a trip he made with his father in 1838 to Logansport over the Chicago road, then just opened to travel. They had to weave in and out and around stumps, over corduroy in some sections, with the wagon jolting so you had to hold on with both hands to prevent you from being pitched out in the mud. Again, the wagon would strike a stump or go hub deep in a mud hole, requiring a lever to release it, or the horses would mire in the mud and require a **lift'' to release them, or perchance the harness would break or the wagon give way. What a contrast between then and now. Over this same road, the Royal Center pike, a trip to Logansport can be made in an automobile in less than an hour, whereas in 1838 Uncle Charlie Berkshire was the entire day and far into the night to make the same journey, saying nothing of the trials and vexations caused by obstructing stumps, corduroy or mud holes into which you may be pitched, and taking no account of the temptations and strain to which your religious precepts may be put and Uncle Charlie Berkshire is authority for the statement that even a preacher was not censured for using **cuss words*' when he was pitched head first into a mud hole on the Chicago road in pioneer days.

Boone township today has 18 miles of stone road and all the main thoroughfares are graveled so you can travel to any section of the township with comfort and ease in automobile or rubber-tired buggy. The first automobile in the township was purchased by: Geo. S. Akers.

First Birth. The first white child born within the limits of the township was Clarinda, daughter of Andrew and Hannah Kline, in the year 1834. She became the wife of C. Minthorn.

First Marriage. The first marriage was solemnized on November 14, 1835, the contracting parties being Elijah Booth and Sallie Beckley. The ceremony was performed by the associate judge of the Cass circuit court, Robt. Edwards, and the event was celebrated in an old-fashioned pioneer way by the whole settlement turning out with a ** fandango*' in the evening.

Boone township is essentially: an agricultural district and but little necessity or opportunity for manufacturing enterprises, and those that have been started were generally erected in Royal Center and will be noticed under the industries of that town.

The first sawmill in the township was a primitive affair, erected by Geo. Conn and Geo. Hendee, about 1845, in section 1. It was a treadmill, run by a yoke of oxen, but was a great convenience to the early settlers and furnished lumber for their buildings. It was later enlarged and run by steam and did quite a business for a number of y^ars.

A steam sawmill was erected about 1846, in section 14, just northeast of Royal Center, by Goodrich and Minthorn, who operated it for a number of years. The last owners were Corbett and Thrush, who ran it until it was destroyed by fire over forty years ago.

and manufactured a good quality: of leather, out of which the pioneer cobbler made coarse boots and shoes for the early settlers. The tannery was operated for 15 years or more, but centralization of industries drove it out of business and no vestige of this primitive industry remains to mark the place and like many of the pioneer institutions, exists only in memory.

The first blacksmith shop in Boone township was operated by Solomon Berkshire, a short distance northwest of Royal Center, who located here about 1835. Among other duties of a smith, he made rough knives for the Indians, who had a village on Big Indian creek, to the northeast, and often came to his shop to purchase knives.

The history of Royal Center is largely the history of Boone township, as the town has been the center of most of its activities for the past half century. This enterprising town dates from April, 1846, at which time E. Andrews laid out the original plat of 41 lots, situated in the north half of section 23. It being located ten miles northwest of Logansport, he hoped to build up an inland town to accommodate all that section of territory, but it was necessarily of slow growth. The first house in the new town was erected on lot 8 by C. W. Anderson, who opened a blacksmith shop in 1846, and soon after Wm. Kreider came and entered into a partnership with Mr. Anderson and the two erected a shop on lot 11. Another early resident was Q. W. Strode, who opened a shop and made planes and other wooden tools, and John Beckley, carpenter and builder.

The first store was opened by G. B. Moore in a small frame building on lot 8, and he ran it for several years. The second merchant was Thos. Eendrick, who sold goods in an old school building that stood a short distance east of the original town plat. He only continued in business for a few years, when he moved to Georgetown. Dennis Brown ran a general store from 1856 to '58 and was replaced by A. P. Philips for two years thereafter. Royal Center was only a small inland country village with blacksmith and repair shops and a country store to accommodate the neighborhood until about 1861, when the Logansport & Chicago Railroad was completed, since which time the town has steadily grown.

Some of the principal early merchants have been ; James Mehaffy, 1860 to 1884; Mr. Wade, 1860 to 72; C. W. Anderson, Jerry Falvey, J. J. Smith, Fred Shrader, James Wilson and Sweet Bros., the latter still one of the leading merchants.

The first industry of any importance to be established in Royal Center was the large cooper shop of Michael O'Brien, shortly after the completion of the railroad in 1861. He carried on an extensive business for over twenty years, manufacturing barrels for the Chicago market, but timber becoming scarce he was compelled to quit business.

A sawmill has always been in operation in Royal Center and is still operated by Wra. Funk, but only on a small scale as there is but little timber to be found at this time, but formerly large quantities of walnut, poplar, oak and other lumber were shipped, but this industry,

In 1881 a large steam flouring mill was erected by Messrs. Wm. Davidson, Kellogg Dill and Daniel Wattis, and did a prosperous business until it was destroyed by fire in 1884 and since then there has been no mill in the town.

A canning factory was started about ten years ago, but after a few years of precarious existence, closed its doors. The building is still standing but unoccupied. A creamery was also started up about the same time, but did not prove profitable and ceased its operations.

Wm. Winslow & Company are operating a fertilizing factory run by a gasoline engine. They sell their product to the farmers of the surrounding country. The cement works furnish cement blocks and other products manufactured from cement and is a great accommodation to the community.

Since the advent of the railroad over fifty years ago, the town has gradually grown, demanding larger quarters and several additions have been made. An addition of 59 lots by Hugh Wooley and John Beckley was made in 1859 and a year later Beckley and McComb's addition of 35 lots was surveyed and recorded. In March, 1863, Henry Wisely platted an addition of 28 lots and in 1886 an addition of 15 lots was made by C. W. Anderson. Since then other additions have been made until the corporation limits include nearly one mile square.

In 1880 the town was incorporated under the laws of the state and the following are the names of the first trustees that composed the town board : Jacob H. Walters, Wm. Hauselman and Lewis Washburn. The present officers are :

Wm. Goodrich, president of the board. Councilmen: Wm. J. Goodrich, J. W. Kistler, Herman Smith ; clerk, Wm. Spencer ; treasurer, James H. Sullivan; marshal, Benj. Saflford; chief of fire department, John Ubelhauser.

Royal Center is now a prosperous town of one thousand inhabitants, with graded and improved streets, cement sidewalks, creditable brick business blocks, handsome modern residences and business interests too numerous to particularize, only to say that there are 35 to 40 business firms, five dry goods, clothing and general stores, four grocery and meat market stores, three hardware and agricultural implement dealers, two drug stores, two restaurants, one bakery, two milliner shops, two hotels, two livery stables ^and an automobile garage, two lumber and coal dealers, two elevators and stock yards, with other business houses and shops too numerous to mention, as barber shops, blacksmith and repair shops, plumbing shop, etc.

Three doctors look after the health of the community, one dentist, B. A. Conrad, keeps their teeth ready for active service, James F. Fry removes all legal entanglements, L. R. Day insures them against loss and Oliver M. Hand, the versatile editor of the Record, sends out the weekly news to the people.

The Citizens* State Bank was organized in 1910, with a capital stock of $25,000, divided among 52 shareholders. The officers are : A. Ross Beckiey, president ; J. J. Schmidt, vice-president ; Ira A. Kistler, cashier. Deposits, $91,000.

The Royal Center Telephone Exchange was established by Thomas and McCombs in 1901 and three years later Geo. S. Akers and Wm. B. Ford purchased the exchange and are successfully conducting the business, which has gradually increased until they have 375 local patrons extending all over the town and surrounding country. Nearly every farmer for miles around is supplied with telephones The exchange is connected by long distance with Logansport, and through it is in communication with every part of Cass county and adjoining cities and states.

Feeling the necessity of better fire protection the corporation during the year 1896 constructed a complete system of waterworks, consisting of two deep wells (300 feet deep), a gravity tank with pumps and one and a half miles of street mains with fire plugs on all street comers. The total cost of the improvement was over $6,000.

Royal Center now boasts of a complete system of waterworks, which furnishes an abundant supply of pure water, not only for fire' protection, but also for domestic use.

Prior to the building of the waterworks the town had organized a **fire department, ""February 19, 1883, with a hand engine and water was supplied by large cisterns, but these were dispensed with and now the town has a regularly organized volunteer fire company with hose reels to attach to the waterworks plugs, giving the town as efficient protection from fire as our large cities.

Royal Center has a complete up-to-date electric light plant, which is owned and operated by citizens of the town. It was first installed by T. P. Sweet, E. B. Thomas, W. H. Bingaman and J. J. Smith, in January, 1898. In 1900 the company was reorganized and incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000, under the name of ** Royal Electric Light, Limited." The directors are W. G. Sweet, W. H. Bingaman, E. B. Thomas, 0. M. Hand and 0. M. McCombs. The company lights the streets for $60 per year, per light, and also private lights to all who apply and the majority of the business houses and better residences are thus lighted. The company also furnishes steam power to run the waterworks pumps, as they can do it with less expense to the town than the latter can do it with an independent power plant.

Royal Center postoffice was established about 1841 or '42, some years before the town was laid out and was named by Daniel Weyand, father of Geo. W. Weyand, who lived at the time about a mile or more soutiieast of Royal Center and became its first postmaster. This office was on the mail route from Logansport to Winamac, which was at that earlyday carried on horseback. The name Royal Center was suggested by

After Royal Center was laid out and began to build up, about 1846, the office was moved to the town and David Beekley was the first postmaster. The original notification to David Beekley by W. J. Brown, then second assistant postmaster general, notifying him of his appointment, dated October 23, 184 - , is in possession of Geo. Beekley and id a relic of the past, as at that time envelopes were not in use, neither were postage stamps and this document is neatly folded in the shape of an envelope, with the blank side out, upon which the address is written and is a good object lesson to those of this generation, and shows the changes and improvements since Royal Center postoffice was established nearly seventy years ago, when the mail was carried from Logansport on horseback, over a corduroy and mud road, where the traveler would have to dodge in and out between the stumps.

Royal Center became a third class or presidential office in October, 1907. The postal receipts for last year amounted to $2,700. Five rural mail routes, Nos. 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, lead out from Royal Center, carrying mail over stone and gravel roads, delivering it daily at the doors of the farmers in all that section of country. Wm. D. Lutes is the present postmaster.

For many years Royal Center has had the advantages of a local newspaper, The Royal Center liecord, which was established in 1890 by Dr. J. J. Burton. In a short time he sold out to Grimes and Wentworth, a year or two later G. A. Rea and E. B. Thomas became, owners of the printing outfit because of a lack of funds of the managers and they sold the fixtures to M. A. Krans, but early in 1896 it fell back into the hands of Rea and Thomas, who, on September 1, 1896, sold the plant to Oliver H. Hand, a wide-awake as well as honorable newspaper man, who has successfully published the Record to the present time. It is an independent weekly paper, upholding the right and condemning the wrong regardless of consequences and from a high moral standpoint is the most fearless and best edited paper in the county. Oliver H. Hand, its editor, was bom in New Albany, Indiana, October 1, 1864; moved to Cass county in 1873; educated in Logansport 's public schools ; married to Jennie L. Wood in 1896, and is blessed with two sons.

This was a weekly publication, established in the summer of 1890, by Madison Kistler as editor, but the presswork was done at the Reporter office in Logansport. The paper was started in opposition to the Royal Center Record, then managed by Dr. J. J. Burton, in the political cam-^ paign of 1890, when the temperance cause was the leading local issue. The Sentinel espoused the cause of the saloons and the liquor traffic.

The Sentinel was continued about 18 months and suspended. Madison Kistler, the editor, was a native of Ohio, being born in 1835, came to Boone township in 1840, where he was raised and educated and continuously resided until his death. May 12, 1911. He was united in marriage September 23, 1860, to Julia A. Goodrich, and they are blessed with five children, four of whom still survive. Mr. Kistler was justice, of the peace in Boone township for over forty years.

the forests or over newly cut roads. Medicines and surgical appliances could not be procured and the early doctor had often to content himself with native roots, herbs and barks, possibly with a little calomel, jalap and ipecac. The good pioneer housewife, however, was well supplied with indigenous roots and herbs which could be seen hanging from the loft of every pioneer cabin. She was well versed in their uses, had a remedy for every bodily ailment and was not slow in the use of her herbal decoctions. On the slightest indications of any change from the normal standard of health, which her experienced eye was sure to detect, she would get down her bag of herbs, select the proper one to meet the case in hand and soon the patient would be drinking pints of that good old family decoction and seldom the doctor would be called unless the case persisted, when the family doctor was summoned and would supplement the decoctions with calomel and jalap, or ipecac, to empty the stomach, if necessary.

We will make mention of the medical profession of Boone township with a brief sketch of each, so far as could be ascertained at this late day, which is copied from our medical history of Cass county.

It was nearly ten years after the settlement of Boone before any physician located in the township. We are informed that Wm. N. Townsend, who was a son-in-law of Andrew Veal, was the first doctor to locate in the township, some time in the early forties, and when Royal Center was laid out he moved to that town. He taught school as well as looked after the health of the community. About 1858 he moved to Lease's Comer in Harrison township and two years later to Indianapolis, where he died. He left several children.

Dr. James B. McConneli, father of D. B. and S. T. McConnell, was bom in Ohio in 1813. Like most doctors of his day, he studied in the office of other physicians but never completed a course in a medical college. He began to practice in Ohio but came to Cass county in 1848, locating in Royal Center, where he continued in active practice until his death, January, 1852, and was laid to rest in Indian Creek cemetery, Harrison township, but in recent years has been removed to the family lot in Mt. Hope cemetery. He was married about 1831 to Sarah D. Stewart of Ohio, to which union eleven children were bora.

Dr. Samuel W. McConnell, son of Dr. J. B. McConnell, was born in Ohio in 1831, came with his father to Royal Center in 1848, studied medicine in the office of Dr. Fitch in Logansport and in 1853 opened an office in Royal Center, but three years later moved to Brown county, Ohio, where he died December, 1856. He was married in Ohio and left one daughter who now resides in Chicago.

Dr. Daniel Rea was bom in Virginia, June 6, 1820, and died in Royal Center March 2, 1891, and sleeps his last sleep in the Kline cemetery. He came to Cass county in 1840 and ten years later located in Royal Center, where he practiced medicine, but in later years conducted a drug store. He married Miss Clymer of Clinton township in 1846, by whom he had three children. She died in 1853 and he was united in marriage to Jane Anderson and to this union, three children were born.

Dr. James Thomas was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 4, 1828, moved with his parents to Fayette county, Indiana, and brought up on a farm, educated in Connersville high school, studied medicine with Dr. Kitchers in Franklin county, Indiana, moved to Wabash county, then to Winamac in partnership with his brother. Dr. F. B. Thomas, for four years and in 1858 located in Royal Center, where he continued in active practice until his death, August 21, 1887. He was a member of the legislature of 1882, being elected by the Democratic party, of which he was an influentual member. Dr. Thomas was first married May 24, 1857, to Rachael A. Washburn,- near Royal Center. She died May 30, 1858. He married May 14, 1859, Mary A. Kistler, by whom he had one child, James, now deceased. This wife died February 12, 1860. He was again married February 9, 1861, to Elizabeth Lytle, who bore him seven children, of whom Wm. C. Thomas resides in Logansport and Ernest B. and James L. live in Royal Center. Dr. Thomas was an intelligent and energetic citizen, had an extensive practice and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the community in which he lived for over a third of a century.

Dr. H. E. Semelroth practiced medicine in Royal Center for a few years about 1876. He was married and had several children, but of his antecedents or after .life we are ignorant.

Dr. David Million is the son of Wm. Million, a pioneer of Jefferson township, this county, where our subject was born December 25, 1847. He attended the Logansport high school and Merom College, studied medicine with Dr. J. B. Schultz of Logansport, graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Institute in 1881, practiced a short time in Logansport, in Denver, Indiana, for two years, then located in Royal Center, where he resided on his farm near by until his death June 7, 1903. He was injured by a log falling on him when a boy and had a lame leg, was never stout thereafter and traveled south for his health. He had several apoplectic seizures and was partially paralyzed and unable to practice some time before his demise. He was united in marriage February 25, 1875, to Miss Naekey Cotner, daughter of Wm. Cotner, one of the pioneers of Noble township, by whom he had two sons, only one of whom survives. Dr. Million was a sociable and kind hearted man, ever ready to attend the poor as well as the affluent, frank and open in conversation and his integrity was unquestioned.

Dr. D. N. Fonts is a native Buckeye, being bom December 9, 1840, educated at Yellow Springs College, Ohio, served as hospital steward in the Forty-eighth Ohio Regiment during the Civil war, discharged December 13, 1862, because of an injury received. The same year he came to Cass county and taught school and studied medicine, attended Ohio Medical College in 1871 and Rush Medical College in 1874 and at once located in Royal Center, where he has been in active practice until in recent years his eyes have failed and other causes compel his retirement. He was united in marriage to Abbie Miller, July 27, 1865, and they have one son and one daughter.

Dr. J. N. Hewitt graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in 1877, located in Royal Center in 1880. He was a member of the Cass County Medical Society in 1880-1. In March, 1881, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has been lost sight of.

Dr. E. M. Hoover was located in Royal Center about 1878 to 1883. He left unheralded and we are unable to further trace his adventures in the rhubarb and ipecac line. He had a family when in Center.

Dr. F. G. Buck, bom in Pulaski county, Indiana, January 6, 1849, educated in the public schools, attended lectures at Indiana Medical College and the American Anthropological University of St. Louis in 1883. He was located in Royal Center in 1870 and married Emma Brook of Cass county. She died in 1873 and in 1878 he married Anna M. Jones of Pulaski county. He was located in practice at Rosedale at last accounts. He was a soldier in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana.

ical College of Iowa in 1891. He was engaged in practice in Royal Center from 1895 to 1899, when he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a member of the Cass County Medical Society. He had a family of several children. -

Dr. L. L. Culp, a graduate of Bellevue College, New York, 1899, and at once located in Royal Center. He was bom in Cincinnati in 1872, was an energetic and bright young man and left Royal Center in 1900 for parts unknown to the writer.

Dr. J. E. Pryor is a Cass county production, the son of Horace Pryor, an influential farmer of Jefferson township, where our subject was born April 14, 1861. He was educated in the Logansport high school and taught district school for six years. He graduated from the Detroit Medical College in 1888. located in Ocean City, New Jersey, and in 1890 became its mayor. In 1892 he opened an office in Logansport and was county physician in 1893. In 1894 he returned to Ocean City, New Jersey. In 1897 he was appointed by the Presbyterian board of missions as physician to the Indians at Eausicka, Idaho. In 1903 he located in Royal Center, where he was in practice for several years, but nervous ailments caused his retirement from practice. He was twice married but has no offspring.

Dr. Marcellus Mayfield is a native of Washington county, Indiana, where he was born in 1866. He is a licentiate from the Kentucky School of Medicine in 1897 and began practice in Benton county, Indiana. In 1900 he moved to Royal Center, where he continued in active practice until 1909, when he moved to Marion, Indiana, where he is engaged in an advertising medical business. The doctor was married and had several children.

Dr. Frank M. Kistler is a native of Boone township, where he was born May 19, 1869, and was reared on a farm. He received hia preliminary education in the public schools, after which he attended Danville College. He graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute in 1892 and at once opened an office in Royal Center, where he has built up a lucrative practice in the community where he was reared and is best taiown. He was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Elsie J. Martin of Logansport and to this union three sons have been born.

Dr. Donnell R. Ivey, the son of a Methodist minister, was bom in Hendricks county, Indiana, April 8, 1878, educated in the public schools of the state, attended the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis, from which he graduated in 1904, practiced at Wolcott, Indiana, and in December, 1909, located in Royal Center, where he is still engaged in active practice. Ida E. Blake of Wolcott, Indiana, became his wife in October, 1908. They have no children.

Dr. J. L. Allison, the son of a Christian minister, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, September 17, 1861, educated in the public schools, moved to Indiana when fifteen years of age, later taught school for several terms, attended Northwestern Medical College, Chicago, practiced at Sullivan, Indiana, then in Nebraska, later near Wolcott, Indiana, and in 1910 located in Royal Center, where he is still in active practice. The doctor was married near Brookstbn, Indiana, in 1881, to Viola Jarrett and they have two daughters aged twenty and twenty-four.

under it The first master Mason was Robt. Estabrook. The present master Mason is J. W. Cline. The present secretary is F. A. Winslow. The present membership is eighty-seven.

Royal Center Post, No. 501, was an active organization in years gone by but the ranks of the old soldiers have been so depleted by the hand of the grim destroyer that there are not enough left to keep the order alive and it is in a state of suspended animation.

Helms in his history states that the first school taught in the town^ ship was in the winter of 1835-36 by Thos. Harvey and the location of the schoolhouse is not stated. The same authority says that the first schoolhouse built in the township was in the northeast corner of the present town of Royal Center in 1838-9, and that Mary Washburn was the first teacher. Other authorities state that Catherine Wooley taught the first school in the cabin of 6. W. Washburn in 1838-9; and Geo. Beckley says Mary Beckley was the first teacher to wield the birch in old Boone.

Chas. Berkshire states that he went to school in the winter of 1838-9 to Mary Mahuron in a round log schoolhouse, with a log cut out and greased paper pasted over the crack for a window, with puncheon floors, seats and writing desk and a big fireplace with stick and mud chimney. This round log house was replaced about 1842 by a hewed log building in the south part of Royal Center, which was occupied until about 1850, when the first frame schoolhouse in the township was erected on lot 27, which served its purpose until 1863, when it gave way to a third, which was used for only a few years and in 1865-66 a fourth building, a twostory frame structure, was erected in the northern part of the town. This contained three rooms and stood until 1874, at which time it was burned to the ground and the following year a two-story brick build- ing was erected containing four rooms and represented a capital of $6,000. During the year 1906 this old brick schoolhouse was replaced by the present commodious building at a total outlay of $30,000. This is a handsome brick structure containing about twelve school rooms, with other rooms for oflSces, receptions and a large assembly hall. The building is modem in every respect, containing closets, lavatories, steam heated and is the finest school building in the county outside of Logansport. All the eight grades of the common schools and a full fouryear course in a commissioned high school are taught and nine teachers are employed, including the superintendent. Average wages paid teachers, $69.78 ; length of term, 180 days ; total enrollment in the B^yal Center schools, 275; total enrollment in the high school, 76; total expended for school purposes in 1912, $6,000.

the old log schoolhouse, with its narrow oiled paper window, puncheon floor, fireplace and its pioneer teacher who taught only the three R's - ** Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic'* - compare this with the present high school building with its modern improvements, closets, lavatories, electric lights and steam heated, with a complete course of study running through all the grades up to and through the high school, employing nine or ten educated and experienced teachers who have to pass a rigid examination before they are permitted to enter upon their duties. Then say that Boone is not progressing.

In 1838-9 there was but one schoolhouse in the township and that a primitive round log structure near Royal Center and for some years this, or its successor, a hewed log building, accommodated the whole township for school purposes and the following teachers instructed the youth of the new settlement then in the midst of the forest : Catherine Wooley, 1838-9; Mary Washburn; Mr. Allison; Caleb Hendee, 1846; Israel Anderson, 1847; Mr. Coffield, 1848; M. C. Kinney, 1849; H.

Beckley, 1850, the first school taught in a frame building; Dr. W. N. Townsend, 1851; H. Beckley, 1852; John McDonald, 1853; J. Albright, 1854, being the first teacher who was able to teach all the branches and who was anxious to push his pupils through the arithmetic or to teach grammar.

As the country became settled in the later forties and early fifties, schoolhouses were built in different parts of the township and under the operation of the new school law after the adoption of the new constitution in 1853 there were five schoolhouses reported, and in 1913 there are seven, outside of the town of Royal Center, six frame and one brick. No. 1 located on the southwest corner of section 1; No. 2 schoolhouse situated on the northwest corner of section 10; No. 3 on the northwest comer of section 8; No. 4 on the southwest quarter of section 17; No. 5 on the northwest comer of section 32 ; No. 6 on the northeast corner of section 33, and No. 7 a brick schoolhouse known as Common Center, is located on the northeast comer of section 35. Total enumeration of district schools, 275 ; length of term of school, 140 days. Seven teachers are employed and the highest wages paid is $2.87 and the lowest $2.18 per day.

As Boone is one of the outlying townships and some distance from Logansport and the rivers, it was later in being settled and when setr tiers began to locate there it was slow in developing on account of its inaccessibility. The early settlers of this township, however, came from Christian communities and were imbued with the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion, which they carried with them into the impenetrable forests of Boone township, and while the settlers were always religiously inclined, yet they were so few and far apart that religious meetings could not be held for some years after the first settlement. There was but little inducement for a preacher to locate in such a sparsely settled country, but we find here, as elsewhere in Cass county, that as soon as a few families had located in the township the itinerant preacher moving out through the dense forests, along Indian trails, either afoot or on hdrseback, visiting from cabin to cabin, gathering a few pioneers together in one of their cabins and holding religious services, thus carrying the gospel to the most inaccessible places, displaying a fortitude equaled only by the saints of early Christendom. The settlers living so remote from each other and spending their lives in the solitude of the forest, were always delighted to have the preacher call on them or meet a few of their distant neighbors in religious meetings for social greetings as well as religious worship.

The first religious meeting held in the township was at a cabin of Martin Key, conducted by a Baptist minister in 1835. A Methodist preacher soon followed and held public meetings in groves and at private houses. Later representatives of the United Brethren made their appearance and this denomination, it is said, was the first to perfect a church organization in Boone township. At present there are four churches in Royal Center and two in the township outside of the town, each of which we will consider separately, also each of the four defunct churches.

This was the first religious organization in the township and was perfected about 1845 but we are unable to secure the names of tHe charter members or any records of the church. They held meetings in the schoolhouse in Royal Center and at private houses until 1861, when a modest church edifice was erected in Royal Center. For a time the church prospered but owing to various causes the organization gradually declined and on June 12, 1875, they sold the church building to the Methodists and ceased to exist as an organization.

There was a class of Methodists organized in Royal Center about 1846 or '47, but it did not survive and we are unable to gain any further knowledge concerning this first class.

The present Methodist church of Royal Center was established in 1874 by Rev. Wood, with the following charter members: Levi Kramer and wife, C. W. Hall and wife. Dr. D. N. Fonts, Mrs. C. Davis, R. Torrence and wife, John McCawley and wife. The organization was perfected in the U. B. church and meetings were continued in the same church until June 12, 1875, when the church edifice was p]jrchased of the United Brethren, which the latter had built in 1861. The congregation continued to occupy this old church until 1900, when they remodeled and enlarged the church and now have a handsome and commodious house of worship, having expended over $1,500 in making the change. A Sunday school was organized with the church and is doing a grand work for the Master, together with the Ladies' Aid Society, and largely through the instrumentality of the auxiliary organizations the church has prospered until it has a membership of over 250. Pastors who have served this congregation: Rev. Wood, 1874; S. L. Langly ; T. S. Vincell ; Francis Cox ; T. H. McKee ; Rev. Brindle ; Rev. Johnson, 1886; C. N. Stockbridge, 1888-9; S. Clovis; J. B. Sites, 1889-91; E. N. Simmons, 1891-3; W. G. Vessels', 1893-5; C. H. Lieson, 1895-6; J. W. Schell, 1896-7; J. C. Neal, 1897-1900; J. J. Thompson, 1900-03; T. B. Machin, 1903-5; P. J. Shields, 1905-6; W. C. Aye, 1906-9; N. M. Cleath, 1909-10; G. W. Alley, 1910-12.

When the Indian Creek and Concord Presbyterian churches in Harrison township suspended, the former permanently and the latter temporarily, about 1873, their members with a few of the same faith organized a Presbyterian society in Royal Center. They had no regular pastor but Presbyterian ministers from Logansport and other transient preachers served the congregation. They held their services in the schoolhouse, halls and other churches and never had a house of worship of their own. They only held together for a few years and when Concord church in Harrison township was reorganized and rejuvenated about 1875 the Royal Center society disbanded.

On April 7, 1860, a petition to the Crooked Creek Baptist church in Harrison township was presented for the organization of a Baptist church in Boyal Center and G. D« and M. L., Elizabeth and Emma E. Washburn and John A. Buskirk were granted letters of withdrawal to become members of the proposed Boytd Center church and a committee from the Crooked Creek church consisting of Deacon Robinson, E. M. Wagram, D. Clinger and J. A. Calvin were appointed to complete the organization if the way was clear to do so, but we find no records that this society was perfected at this time, although meetings were held at private houses and schoolhouses, but the organization seems to have disbanded and the present Baptist church of Royal Center was organized December 11, 1887, but this denomination had held occasional meetings for many years prior to this time. The Rev. J. B. Bair officiated at the organization which was perfected with a charter membership of the following thirty-six persons: James and Elizabeth Humes, L. Bingaman, Katie Vernon, EUa Simmons, Lena Burton, W. A. Grant, Mattie Beckley, Caroline, Julia, Dora and Ella Kistler, Ernest and Laura Thomas, Hettie Hopkinson, G. Sweet, E. Jones, Hattie Fultz, C. M. Anderson, Mary Harvey, R. V. Jones, D. Hopple, Elizabeth Thomas, Geo. Gilpin, L. M. and Charlotte Washburn, Angeline Grant, Amanda McComto, Mrs. W. Martin, Wm. Hattery, Sarah Fultz, A. and Ida Pavy, Wm. Doyle, James, Bess and Emma Grant.

A comfortable frame church building was erected in 1888 at a cost of $2,500 and a Sunday school was organized this same year and has been successfully maintained ever since, together with the Women's Missionary and Aid societies. From the original charter membership of thirtysix the society has steadily grown until the present membership is nearly two hundred.

In the year 1874 Elder H. Z. Leonard held a series of meetings in the Methodist church in Royal Center and organized a society with nearly a hundred charter members. Dr. Leonard labored energetically for over two years with this newly formed Christian society but when he left the congregation took no steps to secure a successor or erect a house of worship and the congregation gradually disintegrated and was entirely abandoned and the Christian denomination had no organization in Royal Center for many years but occasionally a minister of this faith would hold services in a hall or other church until March 22, 1900, by the efforts of Elder E. E. llogers, a new organization was perfected in Runkle hall with the following charter members : 0. P. Kistler, J. E. Holmes, E. E. and S. A. Applegate, Linnie S. Rogers, Alma C. Bjstler, H. B. Allerl, Nils Ringdall, Tilda Ringdall, E. E. Rogers, Wm. H. Walters, Cordelia Walters, G. W. Beckley, Margaret Beckley and Sarah E. Holmes. A church edifice was built in 1902 and dedicated to the serv- ices of the Lord by Elder L. L. Carpenter July 13, 1902. The date of dedication was fixed before the foundation was laid. The building was finished only twelve hours before the hour set for the dedicatory service. The church is a handsome frame structure, situated on West Center street and costing $2,500, which has been promptly paid ; the society owes no man anything but to love him. ** Thanks be to Gtod, who giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.'' There were twentytwo resident members, only three of whom owned their homes when the church was built, which shows what a determined congregation can do when trusting in the Lord. Names of ministers, with date of service : "Elder C. R. Taylor, 1901; J. H. Vinson, 1903-4; F. A. Coyle, 1905-6; 0. M. Eaton, 1907 ; M. P. Rickoflf, 1908 ; James Teeter, 1909 ; A. P. Barber, 1910 ; E. W. Brikert, 1911. A Sunday school was organized April 6, 1900, by 0. P. Kistler and others, which has been maintained ever since; also a ladies' auxiliary, both of which have been great aids in securing an increase of membership, which is now 121.

This church was organized in 1889 through the efforts of Rev. James Wales, who had held a series of meetings in Royal Center and secured a charter membership of thirty. This little band of earnest Christian workers, under the energetic leadership of Rev. Wales, held regular meetings in the schoolhouse, halls and other churches, and gradually increased the membership until 1901 they were strong enough to build a church of their own and erected a substantial frame building on lots 15 and 16 in Wiseley's and Terrel's addition to Royal Center. The original cost of the church was $2,000. A Sunday school was established in 1889 and later a Young People's and Ladies' Aid societies, all of which are well attended and 'doing good work in the Master's cause. The present church membership is 140. List of pastors, with time of service : Revs. James Wales, 1889-1900 ; James Weisejahn, 1901-3 ; Rev. Tracey, 1903; Daniel Heil, 1904-5; Rev. Kaley, 1906-7; J. S. Kroft, 1908-12, present pastor.

This church was organized in 1880 by Rev. G. Flesh, of Winamac, with a membership of about fifteen families. A small frame church was erected in 1880. This little flock was fairly prosperous for some years under the guidance of Rev. Flesh and later Rev. Dominie Shunk, of Winamac, but gradually dwindled down and the organization was abandoned and the church sold in 1909 and converted into a storage room.

This church dates its history from the year 1859 and its organization was brought about largely by the untiring efforts of Rev. Withaupt, who labored unceasingly and finally secured the names of twenty charter members, all of whom were Germans. The organization was perfected at the house of Jacob Kennel in 1859. For the two following years meetings were held at Mr. Kenners home and later at the schoolhouse until the year 1868 when the congregation erected a substantial temple of worship about two miles southeast of Royal Center. This is a handsome frame structure, 34x46 feet, and the contract price was $1,200. This building was blown down during a cyclone in 1906 but was immediately rebuilt, and the society may well feel proud of their beautiful house of worship, at an expenditure of more than $2,000. Some of the charter members were : Jacob Kennel and wife, Mr. Criplever, L. Dempsey, D. Heil, J. Fleuck, J. Kennel, John Newman, Jos. Moug, Jacob Lusher. Emanuel Lusher, Jos. Powlen and D. Heil were church officers for many years. Pastors who served the congregation from time to time: Rev. Withaupt, 1859; Rev. Shimel; Rev. Fisher; N. Alberts; J. S. Smith; Rev. Dustman; Wm. Snyder; Rev. Tracy; Rev. Caley; W. A. Stowell; Rev. Kieper; Rev. Brehtle; Wm. King; Wm. Wildermuth; James Wales; Rev. Smith; Rev. Wist John; D. Heil; J. S. Kropt. W. A. Stowell is the present pastor.

Common Center church is the mother church of surrounding Evangelical churches. She has sent forth some very able ministers into the Master's vineyard. Rev. Levi Newman, now conference evangelist of Evangelical Association of Indiana and Rev. Daniel Heil received their first communion here.

Trinity Evangelical church was organized in Star schoolhouse, Boone township, in 1887, by the Rev. Overmeyer, with the following charter members: Jackson' Holmes and wife, Wm. Gundrum and wife, H. Burton and wife, Sarah Knapper, Mrs. John Stout, Mrs. Ellen Hamilton, Wm. Lutes and wife, E. Burton, Elmer Kistler and wife, Mrs. Jesse Martin, Mrs. Oberla, Mrs. Clarissa Button, B. Kistler and wife, Jos. Hollis and wife. This earnest band of Christians for two years continued to hold religious services in the schoolhouse until 1889 when they erected a plain but substantial frame church on the southeast quarter of section 9, Boone township, the contract price being $1,200. A Sunday school was organized with the church society and it was a source of spiritual awakening to the neighborhood for several years. Owing to some differences and apathy on the part of the members, the organization disbanded in 1898 and the church building was removed and the society ceased to exist. The following preachers administered to the congregation during its existence : Rev. Overmeyer, 1887-9 ; Rev. Holderman, 1890-1; Rev. Lacy, 1893-6; Rev. Speicher, 1889-90; Rev. Bucklin, 1891-3; Rev. Snyder, 1896-8.

Representatives of this church began to hold meetings at private houses in an early day. Later the services were conducted in the old log school houses, in the neighborhood. For many years these meetings were continued at irregular intervals. In the year 1889, through the efforts of Rev. Uriah Patton, assisted by Wm. McCorckle and Robt. Million, an organization was perfected and the same year a neat little frame church was erected on the southeast comer of the southeast quarter, section 29, Boone township, costing $1,600. We find the following list of names on the charter roll of this organization : Chas. and Elizabeth Berkshire, Alice H. Thompson, May Vernon, Emeline Berkshire,

E. Shields, S. P. and Alice Hoffman, Jonas Kistler, Bertha, John, Chas., Edward and Sarah Berkshire, Ellen Ward, Martha Kistler, M. Calloway, Ellen Hicks, Milton, S. M. and Geo. Kistler, Geo. and Tirza Berkshire, John Davis, James and Emma Leezenbee, Felix Kistler, J. Pry, Adaline Fry, T. Calloway, Naomi Thompson. When the church was dedicated impressive services were held and the following ministers assisted: C. Berkshire, Geo. Burkit, J. Eyman, J. Hannah, W. ShuU, Henry Ireland. The following preachers have served the congregation from time to time : Wm. C. MeCorkle, J. Pross, Chas. BeAshire, Bobt. Million, Prank Andrews. The present membership is about twenty-five and services are held at irregular intervals with no regular pastor.

Kline and Weyand Cemetery. This burial ground is situated about a mile southeast of Royal Center. On April 8, 1853, Andrew Kline donated and deeded to Boone township and the public in general for a burial ground, one-half acre in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 24, Boone township. On the same day Daniel Weyand donated one-half acre adjoining the above tract for the same purpose (Rec. L. page 197).

When the original ground above described was occupied, Amos Pultz laid out and platted one-half acre adjoining it, but it was never recorded and still later G. W. Weyand has platted three additions, but has never placed them on record. These partis sell the lots and manage the additions themselves.

As is the case with a majority of burial grounds in Cass county, there were interments made here long before any deeds to the ground were made or recorded. This is a large and well kept cemetery. The first burial was said to be Susannah, the thirteen-year-old dau^ter of Geo. Hamilton, in 1840. The coffin was made by John Beckley and the grave dug by Solomon Berkshire ; but we copy a few inscriptions from markers, to wit:

James M. Thompson donated the groimd for this cemetery about 1843, but no deeds were made or recorded until recently, July 22, 1901. E. A. Dunn, who became owner of the adjoining farm, conveys to trustees, J. F. Fry, Jerome Fry, J. Thompson and Andrew Thompson, seven-twentieths of an acre situated in the southeast comer of the southwest quarter of section 17, Boone township, for burial purposes only, and on July 27, 1901, Jerome Fry, as trustee, plats the above described ground and records the same. This is a finely located burial ground, three miles west of Royal Center, on a knoll rising out of the level surrounding prairie, is well fenced and neatly kept. Among the first burials are:

Boone township lays claim to having furnished more public officials, school teachers and railroad men than any other township in the county, outside of Logansport. Her teachers are numbered by the score from such well known families as the Washburn, Kistler, Thompson, Moore, Weyand, Bliss, dinger, Beckley, Walters, McCauley, Thomas, McCombs Antrim, Burton, Bemethy, Hamilton and other families.

Coimly Commissioners: H. M. Kistler, 1860-63; Daniel Kistler, 1863-66, and a host of railroad and other employees from Boone township may be found doing honorable duties from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

A biographical sketch of the following residents or former residents of Boone township may be found in Helms' History, published in 1886, and will not be reproduced here.