Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 44: Clay Township, 1913

Clay township was named in honor of Kentucky's great statesman, Henry Clay. It is the smallest township in the county, embracing a territory of only about twenty square miles, which lies in congressional township 27 north, range 2 east. It is bounded on the north by Bethlehem township, on the east by Adams, on the west by Noble township, and on the south by Eel river and the city of Logansport. The surface of the country is gently rolling, but in the southern and eastern sections along the river and Spring creek, it is quite hilly, but not so precipitous but what it may be cultivated. The township is better supplied with creeks and springs than any other township in the county. Spring creek and Tick creek are both supplied by springs and are constant streams that flow in a southerly direction, the former emptying into Eel river at Adamsboro and the latter in section 21, near the south center of the township. These are both streams of considerable size and in the early settling of the country furnished an abundant water-power to run the grist and sawmills, and was a great boon to the pioneer.

The land was originally covered with heavy timber of oak, poplar, walnut, beech and hickory, except in the northern part, where it shaded oflF into the barrons, but the timber has about all disappeared before the woodman's ax and only here and there are left groves of native trees.

Clay is a rich agricultural district and in point of material prosperity will compare favorably with other divisions of the county. The hills along its southern and eastern borders furnish an inexhaustible supply of sand and gravel for building and road making.

Clay township, lying in close proximity to Logansport, was one of the earliest townships to be settled and the first comer was Elder John Scott, who made a tour of inspection in 1827 and selected a home on the Girrard farm in section 20. The following year he brought his family from Delaware county, his former residence, to his new home in the unbroken wilderness of this new country. At this time there were only a few cabins at the mouth of Eel river and none north of that river, Mr. Scott thus being the first settler to locate in Cass county north of Eel river. He built a log cabin and made a clearing, but only remained on this tract for a year or two, when he was compelled to move, owing to a prior claim to the land of another settler.

He moved northeast a mile or more in section 16, where he resided until 1835, when he sold out to Nathan Julian and located in section 2, on land now owned by his son, Nelson Scott.

Elder Scott was a native of Kentucky and a man of more than ordinary intelligence, of strict integrity and moral worth and was the first Christian or Disciple minister to preach the gospel in the wilderness of Cass county. He died in September, 1866, and lies at rest in Spring Creek cemetery. Alexander Scott, a brother, came to the township the same year, but soon after moved to Noble township.

In the fall of 1828 Samuel Ward, Daniel Fuller and George Richardson settled on land in section 16. In November, 1829, Joshua Shields settled on what is now the County farm in section 17 and the same year claims were taken by Reuben Covert and Jos. Sellers. In 1830 Jos. Douglass began to fell the forest trees in section 18, on the farm now owned by his son, Prof. A. H. Douglass.

The following two or three years saw Wm. Follis locating in section 7, Peter Miller on the Orwin farm in section 3, John Hamilton on the Flory farm in section 21, James Tucker in section 23, Leonard Southerland, section 15, near Adamsboro; Geo. Smith near the center of thetownship; Solomon Kelly and Zera Sutherland in section 15; Gillis McBean on Eel river in section 20; Chas. Demoss in northwest quarter of section 17.

In 1831-32 many other additions were made to the settlement, to wit : Wm. Demoss on the Horn farm in sections 20 and 21 ; Geo. Julian in section 16; Moses Barnett in section 23; Noah Vandever in section 20; James McClung in section 8; Archibald McGrue in section 22; John Shields, section 17 ; John Murphy in section 9 ; Wm. Murphy, on the La Rose farm in section 9; John Sutton on the Campbell farm in section 3.

The next few years brought the following persons, whose names were familiar to pioneers in all this section: James Heddens, John Plummer, Jacob Hall, Wm. Sutherland, J. L. Smith, Walter Wilson, John Hill, Wm. Rogers, Nathan Julian, Jonathan Washington; Philip La Rose, .Daniel Bell, Samuel Swigart, Henry Rush, Elihu Plummer, Daniel Cox, Benj. Enyart, Alexander Wilson, Jesse Julian, Edward Johnson, Noah Castle, Jacob Julian, Conrad Martin, James Burnett, Wm. Scott, Jesse Buzan, John Simpson, David Miller, John Ward.

The official records of land entries were made by the earliest settlers and many entries were made by men who never occupied the land; but it is interesting to give a few of the earliest patents issued, to wit: The first entry of land in Clay township was made in 1830 by Jacob R. Hall in section 5; then Peter Miller in section 3; James Rush in section 11; Benj. CoflPman and David Miller in section 13; Nancy Burnett and John Barr in section 22 and John Tipton in section 8. The entries in 1831-32 were made by Benj. Enyart, section 6; John Hill, section 6; Alexander Wilson and Wm. Fallis, section 6; Jacob Bowman, section 14; Jordan Vigus, section 16, and Wm. Scott, section 22. These were the earliest entries, but nearly all the early settlers above named purchased land of the government and in many instances never procured a patent until several years after settling on the land and it is unprofitable to give the dates thereof.

Clay township was organized on May 5, 1832. The first election was held at the cabin of Samuel Ward in section 1§ a^d Jos. Sellers was the first justice of the peace to be elected and the following are some of the earlier justices of the peace : John Ward, W. W. Eldridge, Samuel Swigart, Isaac Aly, J. Wilds, Geo. W. Julian, J. Simpson, M. J. Morgan.

Clay township, having two streams of considerable size running through its territory, has had perhaps, more water power mills built within its borders than any other township in the county. These were at first very primitive affairs and all the mills for grinding grain were called grist mills, where farmers would take their wheat or com, generally in a sack, on horseback, before the days of improved roads and wait at the mill while his grist was being ground.

In those days there was a state law compelling the miller to give each customer his turn, first come, first served and also prescribing the amount of toll to be taken for his pay for grinding. For many years the law gave the miller one-eighth of the grain for toll. On the day the pioneer was going to mill he would get up long before daylight so as to get an early start to mill in order to be the first to get his grinding done, and it was no unusual sight to see a number of settlers on the road to mill and the mills of Clay township were in early times a place of social intercourse, while they were waiting for their ** grist." Often, however, the miller would be so busy that he could not accommodate all his patrons and then the farmer would go home, returning at a future time to get his meal or fiour.

This was the first mill to be erected in the township, about 1830 or '31. It was a small log structure located in section 4 on the headwaters of Tick creek, from which it received its motive power. At first it was a sawmill, but later a mill burr was attached for grinding com and wheat, but had no bolting cloth, the patrons sifting out the bran by hand as was the custom in the early days. This mill, although a rude and small affair, was the only mill for a time north of the rivers and was highly prized by the pioneers, for in those days there were no roads opened up to Logansport and it was practically impossible to bring grain to town and Jonathan Washington did a thriving business in his little log mill. When other and larger mills were erected this mill fell into decay. Charles and P. J. Demoss built a small sawmill about 1836-8, on what was known as Plory creek, a short distance north of the county poor asylum. It was a great convenience to the early settlers and sawed much of the lumber used by the residents of Clay township. It was operated nearly twenty years, then was abandoned.

About 1837-8 Andrew Waymire, who was a millwright of some ability and erected a number of mills in the county, built a sawmill for Hamilton and Taber on east side of Tick creek near where it emptied into Eel river. This was quite a large mill and did a good business, being operated by Mr. Waymire for a number of years, then by Elihu Plummer and J. S. Wiley and probably others. The build ing was a substantial structure and stood for many years after it ceased to be used, but all vestiges of this quaint old water mill have disappeared.

The George Julian sawmill was built about 1835 on Tick creek in section 16. A year or two later there was added a carding machine attachment and still later a shingle machine, all of which were successfully operated until 1845-6, when the entire building and machinery were destroyed by fire.

A few years later Jos. Terrell rebuilt the sawmill, which did a good local business, being operated by Mr. Terrel} and later by J. J. Julian, but fell into disuse a quarter of a century ago.

and Thomas Plummer erected a sawmill about 1840 and operated it for some time, when Sanford Fair, brother of the California millionaire, ran it for awhile, but it, like its northern and southern neighbors on Tick creek, fell into desuetude.

Murphy tan yard with, its bark grinding water wheel was built about 1834 by John Murphy. It was located in the north side of section 16, on the east side of Tick creek and did a local tanning business for the farmers in that neighborhood. Later it was operated by Buskirk and Patch. The tannery was operated for about 26 years, but finally fell into disuse and no vestige of the old tannery remains to mark the place of its former activities.

The Henry Miller flooring mill was erected about 1835 on the head waters of Spring Creek in the southeast quarter of section 3. It was at first a small log structure, but a few years later a commodious frame building was erected. Samuel Gingrich owned and operated it for many years, until his death when it changed hands. Wm. Snepp and others continued to run the old mill until about twenty-five years ago it ceased to be operated on account of scarcity of water and new roller processes of the larger mills that drove many small mills out of business.

This mill was built by Zera Sutherland about 1844 a mile below the last named mill on Spring Creek from which it received its motive power. This was a large frame structure, fitted up with the best machinery in that day and turned out a fine grade of flour. These two Spring Creek mills did a big business for more than a third of a century, people coming from Kewana and Rochester to have their grain ground and staying all night and sometimes two or more days before they could get their flour. This mill was last operated by S. I. Gingrich, but it has been closed for twenty years or more, having yielded to modem machinery and centralization of human effort.

This was erected by John Miller about 1837-8 on the west bank of Spring Creek, a half mile south of his flouring mill. At first it did only carding but later spinning and weaving machinery were put in and it was operated extensively from 1860 to 1870, and* turned out a good quality of woolen cloth and flannels. Jacob Weaver was the operator for some years about this time. Later it was run by J. W. Thomas and James Smith; then Joshua LaRose, but has yielded to centralization and closed its doors more than a quarter of a century ago.

Conrad Martin about 1834 built the first mill at Adamsboro. It was a saw mill located on the north or west bank of Eel river and received its power from that stream, a brush dam being first built across the river just above the present wagon bridge, which was, however, soon washed out and replaced by a more substantial dam. Mr. Martin operated the saw mill for a number of years, probably until his death in 1844-6 when it was sold to Joshua Morgan, who continued the business until the early fifties when George Rush purchased the mill. About 1855 the dam was washed out and Mr. Rush sold out his interests. Dr. 6. M. Jeroleman gained control of the power on the west side of the river; he with the Kendall Bros, on the east side erected the present dam some distance above the old, which was completed in August, 1857. John Davidson then operated the saw mill until 1861 when J. S. Winters purchased the property and did an extensive business in hardwood lumber. He was succeeded by J. W. Thomas and later C. M. Swigart, who was the last to operate the saw mill and he retired from the business more than twenty-five years ago. Since then the old mill has fallen into decay.

Conrad Martin started a small distillery at the mouth of Spring creek about 1837 and turned out a fair article of ** tanglefoot/' where the farmers so inclined could exchange a bushel of com for a gallon of the stuff. The place bore the euphonious name of ** Heirs Half Acre." Gleo. Bush, Beise and Joshua Morgan, Chas. Luy, Jacob Fisher and Henry Fiedler operated the distillery at different times for many years but closed up the business over fifty years ago.

About 1843 Beese Morgan erected a building of moderate dimensions at Adamsboro and installed a complete line of machinery for roll carding which was patronized for miles around. The farmers came to have their wool carded into rolls which the good housewife would spin at home on the old time spinning wheel, ^t the yam into stockings or maybe weave it into home-spun cloth to clothe the family, for in those days women not only made the clothing for the family but very often spun the yarn and wove the cloth out of which the clothing was made. Mr. Morgan did a thriving business for some years, but after a time the business ceased to be remunerative and the machinery was advertised for sale in the Pharos in 1854. The old building was used later for a distillery By parties previously named as engaged in that business.

About 1868 J. W. Thomas built a large woolen mill at Adamsboro adjoining the old saw mill and utilized the water power from Eel river to run the machinery, which was up-to-date in all respects. He did considerable work manufacturing the usual classes of domestic woolen goods. Later Mr. Thomas leased the mill to Paden and Wiggington, who operated it for about two years, when they gave it up. John Tatman, an Englishman, next took charge of the wooftn mill. He, with his family, all textile workers, turned out large quantities of first class goods, which found a ready sale, but he could not compete with the large mills with improved machinery and in a few years found his business was not profitable and closed the mill about 1883 and the machinery fell into decay and was never used thereafter. The old building stood idle until about 1898 when D^vid Myers took possession of it, installed mill buhrs for grinding com meal, whole wheat flour and buckwheat, and operated the mill until his death, when his son Willard continued the business for several years. He in turn was followed by M. T. Oliver for one year. In 1910 J. G. Wilson repaired the property, putting in concrete race walls and operated the mill, principally confining his work to grinding feed, com meal and buckwheat. He also put in a cider mill attachment and made large quantities of cider. In the spring of 1912 the high water and heavy ice carried out a large section of the dam which has never been repaired and the mill has fallen into disuse.

This is one of Cass counties -paper towns which was laid out by Samuel Swigart in September, 1873. The plat shows sixteen lots adjoining Adamsboro on the north and situated in section 14, Clay township. No improvements were made, lots were not salable as Adamsboro did not develop as expected and Springdale reverted to the tiller of the soil and only exists as a town on the plat book in the recorder's oflBce.

This town is an outgrowth of the Eel River Railroad and was laid out by G. E. Adams in the fall of 1872 and receives its name from the owner of the town site. The town plat is situated near the center of the east line of section 14 and a quarter of a mile from Eel river bridge at old Hooverville. The original plat embraces sixty-three lots and one park, traversed by five streets; Jefferson, Monroe and Quincy run north and south, and two, Adams and Madison, east and west. Mr. Adams was interested in and largely instrumental in the building of the railroad and the platting of the town was largely a matter of speculation on the part of the proprietor, who was disappointed in the town not coming up to his expectation. But few of the lots were sold and with the exception of a depot, schoolhouse and a store room no improvements have been made on the town site, but there are a number of houses that were previously built around the milling industries on Eel river in the vicinity and a few more recently erected, which collectively are now called Adamsboro, a village of less than a hundred population. Soon after the railroad was completed and opened to traffic in 1872 the Adamsboro postoffice was established, but as there were no houses in the townsite the office was kept nearly a half mile east across the river in old Hooverville, in Miami township. Here J. S. Dubois became Adamsboro 's first postmaster, followed by Amos Fortney, J. M. Maxwell, S. McCoy, Emanuel Loser and M. J. Morgan. In 1891, Mr. Morgan erected a commodious and substantial frame building near the depots on the railroad to which he moved his store and the postoffice where he has continued to do a profitable business to the present time, in all lines of goods usually found in a well stocked country store. Mr. Morgan was postmaster for twenty-one years and until the office was discontinued, being replaced by the rural mail service from Logansport, about 1905, which now daily delivers mail at the door of every house in Adamsboro, which is more satisfactory to its people than its former postoffice. Several years ago J. M. Swigart put up a store building in the village an<f opened a general stock of goods, but after a few years sold out and retired to his farm.

Samuel I. Gingrich formerly started a steam sawmill near the railroad just east of the station and did quite a business, the larger part of which was making ties for the railroad, but timber becoming scarce compelled the closing of the mill nearly twenty years ago. Messrs. C. D. and Reese Morgan are engaged in the stock and grain business at Adamsboro and Mexico, thus furnishing a ready market for the farmers in all the surrounding country. They also handle coal, lime, cement, tile, wire fencing and farm implements, greatly to the convenience of the farmers in the vicfnity.

When the railroad was first completed a large station house was erected and a telegraph office established with J. F. Rhodes as operator, but the service did not pay and was soon discontinued and some years later the depot building was blown down during a heavy storm.

The village schoolhouse, a comfortable frame building, was erected in 1869, and I. J. Berry taught the first school therein. Larkin Justice was the first blacksmith in the village, opening a shop just south of the Eel river bridge, in 1850. The present blacksmith is J. A. DeMoss, who located here some years ago. Jacob Fisher at one time had a furniture factory where he made common household furniture, coffins, handrakes and grain cradles, before the time of reapers and binders, but modem methods have driven out all such industries.

Dr. Cyrus Pickett located in Adamsboro in 1879 and continued in active practice until 1884, when he moved to Twelve Mile in Bethlehem township.

Of the pioneer buildings but one remains. It was erected by Jacob Miirtin about 1837, and is a two-story frame house and has changed but little since its erection about seventy-five years ago.

The village of Ke-ne-pa-com-a-qua or Old Town, was the name of an Indian village on the north bank of Eel river, covered by the reservation to Manchinequa, in the treaty of October 16, 1826, with the Pottawattomies. This village extended from the east part of Clay township eastward into Adams township. In the latter part of the eighteenth century this was an important Indian village and the center 01* headquarters for Indians on the Upper Wabash and from which numerous depredatory expeditions against the whites were sent out. The government determined to break up this rendezvous of the Indians and sent a force of five hundred and twenty-five soldiers from Kentucky under General Wilkinson, who in August, 1791, attacked and dispersed the Indians and burned their wigwams. Many curious relics have been found on the site of this Indian village, such as tomahawks, beads, pipes, knives, swords, etc. The place was for many years Imown as the **plum orchard" on account of many wild plum trees growing there in early days.

In the early fifties a young son of Josuha Morgan, while crossing Spring creek on a foot brodge, fell into the water and was drowned; this is the only tragic event to record in the village of Adamsboro.

Rev. John Scott, the first settler in Clay township in 1828, who then lived on the Julian farm in section 16, had an exciting experience with a drunken Indian. The Indians had a village on Eel river above Adamsboro and a trail led through Mr. Scott's land to Logansport. In clearing his land he had felled a tree, the top of which obstructed the Indian trail. This particular Indian took offense at this obstruction of the trail and determined to seek redress in his death. So while in Logansport he filled up on **red eye" and started off in advance of his companions and sought ^Ir. Scott in his cabin and made demonstrations to make mince meat of him with a knife which he flourished in his hand. However, Mr. Scott was on the alert, as the pioneer always learned to be when a drunken Indian was about, and with a chair knocked the Indian down. He lay apparently lifeless for some time, and Mr. Scott began to feel nervous lest he had killed him, but soon the Indian began to show signs of life and got up and left as suddenly as he came and Mr. - Scott was never molested thereafter, but he, being a Christian gentleman, went to the Indian camp, where they usually stayed all night on their way from Logansport to their village, which camp was only a mile or less east of his cabin on the Plummer farm, and there related what had occurred. The Indians generally applauded Mr. Scott's actions, stating that he was a quarrelsome and bad Indian and he was treated as he deserved. This, however, illustrates the trials and diflSculties of the pioneer, especially during the Indian occupation before their removal west in 1838.

Dr. Bruce Harmon was bom in Miami county, Indiana, about 1850 ; moved with his father to Bethlehem township, near the Twelve* Mile M. E. church, in the early sixties. The doctor studied medicine but did not complete his course in the medical college. He located and practiced at Adamsboro about 1875 to 1880. The medical law of 1881 compelled his retirement from practice in Indiana and he moved west, where we are informed he is still engaged in dispensing pills. He married a Miss Dalzelle, of Adams township, and they have several children.

Was a native of England, where he was bom June 17, 1827. He made a number of trips across the Atlantic as a sailor. He finally settled in Butler county, Ohio, and learned the shoemaker's trade. About 1858 he attended the Cincinnati Medical Eclectic Institute. In 1867 he located in Clay township, on a farm adjoining the county farm on the north, where he engaged in the practice of medicine and managed his farm until 1895, when he sold out and moved on a farm near Richmond, Virginia, where he is now living a retired life. The doctor was married in 1849 to Mary A. Winerose, of Ohio, by whom he had three children. One son, John W. Wilds, now an honored citizen living near Adamsboro. Mrs. Wilds died and the doctor has since remarried.

Was born in Ripley county, Indiana, in 1854. He moved to Cass county in 1905, and was licensed as a regular physician to practice medicine. He located on a farm in Clay township just north of the county poor farm, and engaged in general practice and acted as assistant county physician, attending the inmates of the county infirmary. In 1908 he removed to the suburbs of Indianapolis, where he had formerly resided.

About 1836, John Stafford came from Rush county, Indiana, and lived with his daughter, Mrs. Sallie Julian and her husband Geo. Julian, who then resided on the farm now belonging to Ed Douglass, in section 16, Clay township. He was a soldier in the United States army under General Wilkinson and engaged in Cass county's only battle, that of Old Town on Eel river, August 7, 1791, where he was wounded and made a cripple for life. By virtue of his service in Cass county's only battle and his residence with us in early days he is one of our honored and respected pioneers. It will therefore be of interest to notice the last sad experience of his, among the Indians, and is worthy of record m Cass county history, although the incident occurred in Rush county after he went out from our midst. John Stafford located in the midst of a dense forest and made what was called a brush house or tent, by setting four forks in the ground, laying poles across and covering it with brush and leaves and closing the sides with the same material, thus he occupied his first rude house in Hoosierdom. It' was the custom for pioneers to fire a brush heap at night and work by the light it gave in clearing the land. One night John Stafford and his son and Billy Tune, a helper, were thus working by the brush light when suddenly Indians in ambush fired upon them; one of Stafford's legs was shattered and he was at the mercy of the savages. Billy Tune was shot and mor- tally wounded. John Baker, grandfather of J. J. Julian, of Clay township, lived in a cabin about a mile distant from the Stafford campi to which place the Stafford family hurried as the Indians placed the torch to their rude domicile made of extremely inflammable material. Billy Tune also was able to reach the Baker home where he died two days later. When Mr. Baker and other friends returned to J. Stafford, who was unable to walk owing to his fractured leg, they found him lying in a dying condition, where the Indians had scalped him. Thus perished one of Cass county's early and honored pioneers and who was the only soldier that fought and was wounded on Cass county's only battlefield.

About 1833-35 Clay township had a peculiar man within her borders, known at the time as **the wild man." He was so named because he lived solitary and alone in the woods where he had '* squatted" wit*hout right or title. His little cabin about 8 x 10 feet and seven feet high was made of round poles and covered with brush, bark and leaves. It was located in the dense woods with no clearing around it, just north of the little prairie on the north part of the Hamilton and Taber farm and on the bluflf east of Tick creek. He came no one knows from where, he lived to himself, having no relations with the neighbors, although neighbors were seldom near each other in those days, and no one knew whither he went. This eccentric creature may well be styled the **wild man of Clay township."

Clay township being in close proximity to the county seat was early settled and here as elsewhere, the pioneers were alert to the advantages of an education for their children and although there was no system of public schools, yet they began to arrange for the instruction and education of their children as soon as there were families suflScient in the settlement to justify the employment of a teacher.

The first schoolhouse in the township was erected on the farm now owned by Art Wells, about eighty rods east of the Michigan road in the northwest quarter of section 7. This was a log structure and the first teacher was Chas. DeMoss, in the winter of 1830-31. Later, Felix McLaughlin, an erudite, but eccentric Irishman, a rigid disciplinarian, who did not spare the rod. Daniel McCaufil, a native of \he * ' Emerald Isle" also and of similar characteristics to his predecessor taught the next term in this pioneer temple of learning which continued to be occupied until about 1852-3 when it was torn down and the present brick schoolhouse (No. 3), a half mile or so to the northwest on the Michigan road, was built. Geo. C. Home was the last teacher to occupy this, the first log schoolhouse in Clay township.

The next schoolhouse was built in the thirties on the north bank of Eel river, about twenty rods east of the Davis bridge in the southwest quarter of section 20. This was a frame building. A. J. Sutton taught school here and Bob Barnett relates some amusing incidents connected therewith. Mr. Sutton made a rule that no one should skate upon the river, for fear of breaking through. One day, however, when the teacher was temporarily absent at noon, all the scholars went sliding on the icecovered river. Mr. Sutton returned, saw his orders disobeyed, called them in at once and set about to apply the rod to every pupil, big and little, except two, Levi Horn and Dave Douglass, who were large boys and went home and never returned. It was no small job for the teacher to whip twenty-five or thirty scholars and it was amusing to the larger pupils, and a smile came over the countenances of some, while the performance lasted, which only aggravated Mr. Sutton, and he would fume and sweat all the more but his orders must be and were enforced that day, but the rules were soon changed and all was peaceable; but Levi Horn and Dave Douglass never returned. About 1850 this schoolhouse was abandoned and a new frame house erected near the Douglas farm on the southwest comer of section 17 and known as *'Pair View;'' this was abandoned and removed about 1870 and ** Shady Nook'' (No. 4), a substantial brick structure two stories high was erected. This was blown down or injured by a heavy i^dnd storm December 5, 1909, but rebuilt the same year.

Bob Barnett professed to be something of a bully himself and relates that at his first day of school at **Pair View" he became involved in a fight with Bob McMillen, who had deformed legs but was very strong in his arms; that McMillen clinched him in his arms, .they fell to the ground and although Barnett was on top, yet McMillen when on his back could hold him in his powerful arms and with his crooked legs beat him into a jelly and he soon ** hollered nuflf," the first and only time Bob Barnett was ' * licked ' ' and that, too, by a cripple.

At this same school the teacher was a long-haired, dudish-appearing little man; he was an educated and polished gentleman but was not liked by the rough hoosier boys of pioneer days. One day Bob McMillen, under some provocation, jumped onto him during the session of school and clinched him in his strong arms, threw him on the floor and with his club feet, gave him a thorough beating. The school was broken up for the day. A meeting of the patrons was called and the teacher dismissed.

In the early forties a typical round log schoolhouse, with puncheon floor, a fireplace with stick and mud chimUey and clapboard roof, was built in the woods on the southeast quarter of section 15, which was occupied for several years, but about 1852 a frame building was erected where the present schoolhouse (No. 5) stands, near the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 15. This school is commonly designated by the euphonious name of *'mud sock." We will relate an incident that occurred in this old log schoolhouse in the forties. Isaac Shilling, a very small man, but nervy, taught a very unruly school. Ash Carter, who was school supervisor of the district, doubted Mr. Shilling's ability to control the unruly boys, but Mr. Shilling told him he would not ask one cent of pay if he did not successfully teach the entire term out. The big boys entered into a conspiracy to whip the teacher. It was arranged that Joshua P. Shields, who is now an old soldier in the ''Marion Home" should do some rude act to insult the teacher by ** wiggling his thumb and fingers at his nose in derision." Mr. Shilling did not pretend to notice the insult at the moment, but soon after walked around and took him unawares, seized him, shoved him down and gave him an unmerciful beating with his clinched fists, and did it so quickly that the other bullies had not time to think. After that he had no further trouble, finished the term and Mr. Carter paid him according to contract.

About 1857 a log schoolhouse was built about a mile north of Adamsboro, on the west part of section 12, which was abandoned in 1879, and the present frame house was erected on the southeast quarter of section 2, now known as No. 1. About 1843 a log schoolhouse was built in the northeast quarter of section 9 and in 1853 was replaced by a handsome eight-equare frame building built by Benj. Campbell, Sr., and John Carr, and N. S. Rose taught the first term in this new schoolhouse and Ida Harp (now Mrs. Harrell) taught the last in 1881, when it was sold to Henry Orwin and is now doing duty as an out-building on his farm. A new building to replace the eight equare was erected at this time a short distance to the northeast in the southwest quarter of section 3, but it has recently been temporarily abandoned and the pupils hauled elsewhere.

In 1869 a substantial frame schoolhouse was built at Adamsboro near the center of section 14, and I. J. Berry taught its first term. Prior to the adoption of the new constitution in 1852 there was no system of public schools and each neighborhood managed its own school. There was but little or no public funds and most schools were maintained by private subscription and the teacher boarding around with the scholars. Text-books were scarce and the pioneers had little funds to buy with and books were borrowed and loaned among the pupils. The Bible was the standard reader. Prom these crude begginnings Clay township has gradually evolved, with the aid of our splendid school system, her present magnificent public schools with all the. grades up to the high school, and last year out of her public fluids, paid $480 as tuition for her high school students who attended in Logansport. Clay township at present has two brick and four frame schoolhouses, with a total valuation of $8,150; a total enumeration of two hundred and twenty pupils and pays her teachers from $2.70 to $3.50 per day, according to grade of license. The following is a list of the township trustees with date of election, from 1865 to 1912 :

Clay township lying in close proximity to Logansport was settled very early and could be easily reached by the itinerant preachers and we find the gospel was introduced into this township at a very early day, as the pioneers were a God-fearing and church-going people. In fact, the first settler in this township is said to have been Elder John Scott, and he with his brother Alexander Scott, were the first preachers who went about JErom cabin to cabin holding religious meetings for several years before any religious society was organized. The beginning of the Spring Creek Christian church, the oldest religious society in the township had its origin at the residence of Elder John Scott, in 1832 or '33 ; he, with a Mr. Nelson, being the prime movers in its organization and Elder J. Scott continued to preach for this church at intervals, until his death in 1866.

The charter and early members were: Samuel Rogers, Henry Rush and wife, Wm. Nelson, Peter Miller and members of his family, Josiah Butler and wife, Mr. Conrad and wife, John Ward and family, J. R. Hinton and wife, Wm. Smith and family, Geo. Conkling and family, Daniel Plynn, and possibly others. Soon after the organization measures were taken to erect a house of worship but the church was not built until 1836. During this year a frame building was erected in the center of section 3, Clay township, on land donated by Peter Miller. In 1857 this old church became too small for the increasing congregation and it was replaced by a more commodious structure, 40x60 feet in size, with an audience room capable of seating four hundred persons. This frame church was again replaced in 1900 by the present handsome brick structure. This church was not only the first religious organization in Clay township, but also the second in the county outside of Logansport. The congregation rapidly increased through the influence of Elder Scott, who watched over the society with a fatherly interest for so many years, and perhaps no church in Cass county has exerted a wider or greater influence for good than the Spring Creek Christian church. Wm. Smith, father of Job and J. W. Smith, John Wilson, Samuel Carr, Joshua Scott, Fielding Warner and Job Smith were officers and leaders in the church for many years.

The present officers are: Elders - Ego Smith, J. H, Rohrer,Wm. A. Simpson. Deacons - Chas. English, H. M. Funk, J. L. Warner, J. H. Williams, Clark Rohrer, W. A. Funk. Treasurer - Clark Rohrer. Clerk - Samuel Warner. Superintendent of Sunday-school - ^Wm. A. Simpson. Sabbath-school convenes every Sunday and preaching service every other Sunday. The church is prosperous with an active membership of about one hundred.

The following ministers had pastoral charge of the church at different times, although the date and order of service may not be correct: Elders John Scott, 1832 to 1866 (at intervals) ; Wm. Shockey, Geo.

The history of Methodism in Clay township dates from 1833, at which time Rev. Amasa Johnson began to hold religious meetings in the cabins of the pioneers which soon culminated in the organization of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church. This was at first a mission with a four weeks' work, and extended north to Laporte. The class was organized in the fall of 1833, at the home of George Julian, Sr., and was composed of the following persons: Geo. Julian, Sr., and wife; John, Noble, Nancy and Mary Ann Plummer. The meetings were continued at Mr. Julian's house and the following persons soon identified themselves with the organization: John DeMoss and wife, John Close and wife, Wm. Ackright and wife, Mrs. Nathan Julian. Father John Plummer, as he was called, was bom in 1773, came to Cass county in 1833 and dieS July 4, 1855, and sleeps in Bethel cemetery, after a faithful, Christian life. Mother Plummer, his faithful wife, was bom in 1784 and died July 7, 1859, and sleeps beside her husband, near the church she helped to organize. This aged father and mother are today in the bright valley of life, where all the inhabitants are young. Geo. Julian, Sr., was born February 22, 1801. He strayed to the far Sacramento valley, in 1849, and died there in 1876. Rev. Johnson was followed by the Rev. M. Huffaker in the fall of 1833. The district at that time was called the Laporte district and Rev. Armstrong was its first presiding elder.

The first church erected by the congregation was a frame 28x36 feet, built in 1844, on the original Bethel cemetery grounds, donated by Nathan Julian and situated in section 16, Clay township. On the completion of the building the society by a vote gave the name of *' Bethel" to the new church.

In the missions earlier history and for a number of years following the meetings were held at the residence of Geo. Julian, which was then situated on the creek a short distance northwest of the present church. In 1871 the original church edifice was replaced by a large frame build- ing which represented a capital of $1,300, and was dedicated by Rev. Father Gillam, of sacred memory. This building was destroyed by fire in winter of 1899 and in the following year (1900) the present beautiful modern edifice was erected at a total cost of $3,5(K), under the pastorate of Rev. I. Godwin, and was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Parr.

In the early history of Methodism it was the custom for some church to hold a camp meeting and invite all the surrounding congregations to join with them. Bethel church has held four old-fashioned camp meetings; the first was held in the fall of 1835 on the south part of the Douglass farm, not a half mile northwest of the church The second was held on the Chas. Thomas farm in section 17, just west of Shady Nook schoolhouse, in 1840 ; and the third was held on this same ground in 1842. The fourth camp meeting was held just east and near the church in 1849. These camp meetings caused a great revival of religion and many accessions to the church followed. Under the pastorate of Rev. J. Leach, who served for two years, occurred one of the most wonderful revivals the church ever experienced. Bethel at that time was associated with Zion chuf ch in Harrison township, and Pleasant Grove, now Kewana church, forming what was called the Pleasant Grove circuit.

For several years prior to 1893 the Rev. A. W. Hawkins, of Logansport, held occasional meetings in the brick schoolhouse, four miles north of Logansport on the Michigan pike, and gathered together a number of believers in the doctrines of this church and in 1893 perfected a formal organization with the following charter members: Silas Mc- Dowell and wife, Paul Gundrmm and wife, Jacob Wilt and wife, Chas. Cook and wife, S. D. Shilling and wife, Mrs. Emma Dritt and daughter, Sadie Dritt; Mrs. Martha Shoup, Mrs. Sarah A. Dritt, Minnie Mc- Dowell, Mr. and Mrs. Bloom, Mr. and Mrs. Rodabaugh, Mrs. Amanda McDowell. In the summer of the same year this little congregation erected a comfortable frame church on land donated by Mrs. Emma * Dritt, situated in the northwest quarter section 6, Clay township, at an expenditure of $2,000. The church was completed promptly and dedicated to the service of God on November 10, 1893, the Rev. A. W. Hawkins oflSciating at the dedicatory service. This church is under the management of and is supplied by the pastor of the Logansport church. A Sunday-school and Ladies' Aid Society are maintained in a prosperous condition by the church. The present active membership is about forty.

The United Brethren in Clay township under the leadership of Rev. Jos. Terrell, held meetings in schoolhouses and secured a small congregation, the names of whom we are unable to secure. About 1853 or '54, this little congregation erected a small frame church on the northwest quarter of section 16, on the south side of the road about three quarters of a mile east of Shady Nook schoolhouse, on the farm then owned by Geo. Julian, Sr. This building continued to be occupied for church purposes by several religious societies for about ten years, when the United Brethren congregation dwindled down instead of increasing, and about 1864 sold the building to John J^ and Tobias Julian, and tliey removed it and converted it into out-buildings. There was a graveyard adjoining the church where quite a number of interments were made; some of these were removed to Bethel, others were left and the land where once stood this church and its sacred burial ground is now farmed over and the present generation knows nothing of this sacred place, as it exists only on paper and in the minds of a very few of the old pioneers, but the dead occupying those unmarked graves sleep .as peacefully as though the little church stood near, as of old, and was filled with sacred music and pious voices.

This is the oldest burial ground in the township and is located in the center of section 3, on ground deeded by different parties. April 30, 1845, Peter Miller conveys to the trustees of Spring Creek Christian church, Wm. R. Smith, J. R. Hinton, and John Simpson, a tract of land in above-named section (Rec. M, page 687). Again on September 28, 1857, S. Lowman deeds a piece of ground adjoining the above (Rec. M, page 688). Also G. W. Coons, on March 13, 1882; S. Lowman, April 30, 1887; Otho Conrad, March 5, 1904, and Wm. B. Ball, on January 14, 1904, conveys land to the trustees of the church, all adjoining the other, for burial and chtirch purposes.

The firat interment was David Plynn,, in 1836, and Sabrie, wife of Josiah Butler ; David Scott, February 12, 1838 ; the latter was killed by Jeremiah Harrison in Logansport; the latter was condemned to be hung, but hung himself in jail the night before the day appointed for the execution. Elder John Scott also lies at rest here; he died in 1866. The first addition to this cemetery was platted and recorded November 27, 1894, by P. 6. Warner, Jos. Rohrer and Job E. Smith, as trustees. This is one of the oldest, largest and best kept cemeteries in the county and many old pioneers lie buried here. The following soldiers are sleeping within its limits:

David Scott, killed February 28, 1838, War of 1812; John Long, War of 1812 ; Henry Conrad, War of 1812 ; Benj. Jones, died December 14, 1852, War of 1812 and in Indian wars; Jos. Sellers, War of 1812 ; John Hill, War of 1812 ; Ebenezer Bridge, died in Mexico, War of 1812; Alexander Scott, died May, 1844, Ilevolutionary war; John

Ward, Revolutionary war; Samuel Chestnut, Seventy-third Indiana; Ward Bennett, Ninth Indiana; Wm. Spencer, died 1904, One Hundred and fifty-first; Christian Kreider, Second Indiana Cavalry; Robt. Sellers, One Hundred and Eighteenth ; Samuel Sellers.

Nathan Julian, on November 6, 1848, conveys a part of the southwest quarter of section 16, Clay township, to the trustees of the church, to-wit: Batley White, N. Julian, L. Sutherland, P. D. Mellinger, P. J. DeMoss, John Plummer and Moses Plumraer (Rec. H, page 10). The ground was later platted but never recorded. On October 11, 1894, J. W. Wimer deeds to the trustees one acre on the east of above.

Joshua LaRose, Mexican war, died 1905; Absolem Hower, Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana; Henry Bums, Company H, Fifteenth Indiana; Martin Fry, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana; Edward Sutherland, lieutenant Company F, Twentieth Indiana, died May 26, 1864; Martin Enyart, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana, died July 27, 1906 ; Robt. Tilton, Company B, One fiundred and Twentyeighth Indiana, killed at Dallas, Georgia, May 31, 1864; Wm. Julian, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana, died May 17, 1887; I. J. Julian, Company I, Forty-sixth Indiana, died May 25, 1862; Geo. W. Julian, captain Company K, Ninety-ninth Indiana, died June 7, 1897; Albert Bamett, Company H, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana; Amos Mobley, lieutenant Company H, Fifty-fifth Indiana; Robt. Clary, Company E, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana ; John Long ; J. J. Murphy, Company G, Fifteenth Indiana ; Chas. Davidson, Company I, Fortysixth Indiana, died April, 1893; J. A. Irvin, Battalion F, Second Illinois, died December 20, 1866; S. Bennett, Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana; Peter Rainey; Sylvester Etnire, Company H, Fifty-fifth Indiana; Wm. Etnire, Company I, Seventy-third Inijiana, died of wounds March 23, 1863 ; A. Johnson, Company G, Seventythird Indiana, died November 3, 1863; Chas. Michaels, Company H, Seventy-third Indiana; Wm. Laycock, Company F, Twentieth Indiana, burned to death in lime kilns.

On the Wilson farm north of Eel river, just outside the city, in the center of a field opposite the north end of Seventeenth street are buried Gen. Walter Wilson, March 18, 1838, age fifty-six; Gen. Walter Wilson's wife, January 6, 1865; Wm. Wilson and son Alex, and other members of his family, but the latter have lately been removed to Mt. Hope.

There is a large monument to mark the grave of General Wilson and the lot is surrounded by a hedge fence and several large trees which can be seen from Seventeenth street.

This farm belonged to Walter Wilson and he selected a beautiful burial ground overlooking the town. He was born 1782, died 1838. He was a general in the Indian wars and fought at Tippecanoe ; was a member of the first Indiana legislature in 1816; came to Cass county in 1828 and again served in the legislature in 1831-32.

This little burial ground is in the southwest quarter of section 15 and now situated in the center of a field about twenty rods east of the road running north from Broad Ripple bridge and twenty rods north of the Eel river railroad. A few trees mark the place and can be plainly seen from the road. A number of grave stones are still standing and the following names are copied:

Wm. Fair, 1839; John Hamilton and wife, 1842; Nancy, wife of Thomas McBean, 1851; Hester, wife of David Flory, 1845; Members of the McGrew family who owned the farm before Mr. Carter. Ashford Carter, who owned the farm at the time of his death, April 16, 1863, was buried here, but later removed to Bethel. Several broken slabs with unintelligible letters are found lying on the ground. There was once a fence around this sacred place but it has fallen into decay. Like many a pioneer, Mr. Carter, when death appeared in his home he buried his loved ones on a knoll under the forest trees, on his as no church yards were then in existence in Cass county, yet the occupants of these secluded graves, then under the forest trees but how in an open field, run over by the stock, sleep as soundly and rest as sweetly as though they occupied a vault in yonder church yard within the sounds of the bells that peal forth their sacred chimes.

About a quarter of a mile above Adamsboro on the east side of the Mexico road in the northeast quarter of section 14, Clay township is a little burial place where from 1834 to 1850 members of the Martin, Pfouts, Morgan and Fisher families were buried. The last interment was a Mr. Fisher, about 1850, and since that date it has been abandoned as a burial ground. There are no monuments or markers at this time but a barbed wire fence about forty feet square encloses the ground, but the posts have rotted. The lot is grown up with bushes and small trees at the road side.

On what has been known as the Samuel Horn farm, but formerly owned by Judge John Smith, situated in the northwest corner of section 20, Clay township, was a family burial ground. Judge John Smith, father of Benj. H. Smith, lived here at the time of his death and was buried on his farm, March 18, 1845. Also Charlotte, his wife, and marble slabs marked their graves for many years, but in recent years the remains have been removed to the Leroy Fitch lot in Mt. Hope, and the original old marble slab lies -upon the grave, from which we the inscription :

This burial place is located about three-fourths of a mile east of Shady Nook schoolhouse (No. 4), and on the south side of the road in the northwest quarter of section 16, Clay township, on land now owned by Ed Douglass, but formerly owned by Geo. Julian. Here were buried from 1831 to 1850 about thirty or forty different persons. Sarah, wife of Geo. Julian; two children of John Murphy; a brother of Noah La- Rose ; members of the Rush, Welch and other families.

The United Brethren erected a church here about 1850, but it was sold and removed in 1864 and when Bethel cemetery, a mile to the south, was laid out, a few of the bodies were removed to that place, but the majority were left and there is nothing to mark these sacred places, and they only exist in the minds of a few old pioneers and on this the only recorded page of their history.

About the year 1840 Mercer Brown owned land north of Logans- X>ort, two miles on the Michigan road and like most pioneers, when the visiting angel claimed a loved one, he interred the remains on a knoll upon his own lands. So Mercer Browit buried his son Israel in an improvised box in a secluded spot on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 18, Clay township, about eighty rods west of the Michigan road opposite the home of Robt. Barnett, where he has slept the sleep that knows no waking for the past seventy-five years!

On March 6, 1846, Henry H. Helms conveys by deed to Cass county commissioners, ninety acres of land in the southeast quarter of section 17, Clay township, consideration, $1,350. The following year a building was erected in which to care for the poor and unfortunate of the county and from that day to this the poor have been comfortably cared for, but every year many deaths have occurred and when not claimed by friends, are buried on the county farm in a burial ground about forty rods east of the county house on the west side of Flory creek.

The first person buried here, the date or the number since interred, is unknown, as no records are kept. There are no markers of any kind and the only evidence of graves is the raised ground over the fresh grave and the sunken ground over the old graves. It would seem that the county authorities should keep a careful and permanent record of all deaths at the county house and also place some simple marker at the head of each grave as is done at Long CliflE Asylum. It might be a matter of much importance to identify a person who has died here, and for common humanity's sake such records of identity should be preserved.

The biographies of the following persons have been written in Helms' History in 1886 and are of permanent record and will not be reproduced, here but simply mention the names that they may be referred to at any time :