Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 47: Harrison Township "^^, 1913

Harrison comprises the entire congressional township 28, north range 1, east of the government survey and takes its name from the illustrious soldier president, General William Henry Harrison. It lies in the north part of the county and is bounded on the north by Pulton county, on the east by Bethlehem, south by Clay and west by Boone township. The physical and topographical features of the township are similar to the surrounding divisions, the surface of the country being generally level. The soil is generally a black loam of great fertility. The land originally was covered with heavy timber, which has been mostly cut oflE, and much of it ruthlessly burned up and destroyed in preparing the ground for cultivation in the early settlement of the township. The leading varieties of timber were walnut, ash, oak, poplar, maple, beech, elm, and hickory. Only small groves of native timber are now to be found within the limits of Harrison.

This township has no large creeks or water courses, Big Indian Creek being the largest, but it is only a small stream extending east and west through the northern part of the township and into which small tributaries empty, giving drainage to the larger portion of the township, which ultimately flows into the Tippecanoe river. A small section of the south and southwest parts of the township drain into Crooked creek and the Wabash river.

Harrison is pre-eminently a farming district and produces all the agricultural products indigenous to this climate and but few factories or other industries have been established within its borders, but on every side may be seen broad acres of the finest farm land, commodious barns and elegant residences, enclosed with wire fences, and well provided with the best breeds of live stock, and all modem agricultural implements.

The first white man to locate in Harrison township was John Fletcher who settled on the west part of section 25, later known as the Skinner farm.

This was considered an exceptionally good tract of land and several men were seeking it. Mr. Fletcher hastened to Laporte, where the government land ofl&ce was then located, ahead of the others. He had to go on foot however, but succeeded in filing his claim first, and secured the land. Thus elated, he celebrated his victory by indulgence in "fire water,*' and his trip homeward was made more leisurely, and the weather being intensely cold, and being debilitated in body and mind by liquor, laid out one night and his feet were frozen, and had to be amputated - making him a cripple for life - ^proving the truth of the adage : * * The way of the transgressor is hard." Later Mr. Fletcher sold this tract of land and moved to Fulton county, on the north bank of Fletchers lake, which was named after him. Here he lived for many years, carried the mail and was often seen on the streets of Logansport, ''stumping it" around on his knees, but this sad lesson never broke him of this most injurious and senseless habit, *' drink." Robert Bamett was the second pioneer to seek a home in this township who settled just east of Mr. Fletcher on what \<(fes known as the Shideler farm. Robert Bamett came from Kentucky and had a large family, some of whom became influential citizens of Cass county, viz: Moses, the eldest, lived in Logansport, then in Tipton township, and was county commissioner; he moved to Warren county, where he died. He was grandfather of Judge Lairy. Harrison Bamett, grandfather of Mrs. A. H. Douglass died in this township; Thompson, father of Robert, David and Isaac Bamett, died in Logansport; Henry moved to Marshall county, and died there, and William died in Rochester; Asberry Bamett was trustee of Clay township and died in that township in 1883 ; James, Robert and Jesse died in Illinois and a daughter, Mrs. Eliza Clary, in Clay township.

During the year 1833, James Blackburn settled in section 26; Harrison Bamett in section 25; Lewis Crane in section 36; Richard Howard in section 33; Mr. Ross in section 35; Joseph Dunham in. section 26. In the years 1834-35, numerous settlements were made, to-wit: William Kline on southwest quarter, section 15; James Piercy in section 30 ; James Corbitt, section 35 ; Peter Michaels, section 23 ; William Orant, section 32; James Gates, section 30;. John Calvin, section 32; William Michaels, section 22; Richard BrowUj section 21; Samuel Sharp, section 28. About the same time came others and located in different parts of the township, viz. : James Sharp, Charles Riley, James Montgomery, Noah Castle, Tobias Castle, John Overlesse, George and Daniel Foglesong, Abraham Skinner, Mercer Brown, Benjamin Powell, Leander Dixon, James Denning, Stebbins Powell, Isaac Smith, A. A. MehafiBe, J. R. Johnson, Richard Brown, George Allhands, John Callahan, Henry Estebrook. Among the arrivals in 1836 were James B. Rogers who settled in section 22; James Stevens, Michener Tucker, Michael Burk, James Butler, Daniel Morrison, David Pinkerton, Christopher Long, William Hammerly, Owen Hart, James Noland, William Noland, Henry Garrett, William Donovan, Jesse Kilgore and Joseph Gibson. The next two or three years came Edward Whalen, Jacob Remley, Daniel Remley, William Whalen, Newton Clary, Morris Landrigan, Reuben Bachelor, John Callahan, Samuel Crawford, John Barrett, John McCauley, Rev. Robert Rankin, Martin McGowan, John Clary, Patrick Martin, Hiram Knowles, Reuben St. Clair, Henry Barnett, James Butler, Andrew Michaels, Joshua Binney, John Pierce and William Mitchell.

The township was organized March 7, 1836, at the cabin of Benjamin Powell. The first justice of the peace was James Scott; the first trustees were James M. Stevens, John A. Calvin and J. B. Rogers ; the first constable was James Corbitt. David Pinkerton and Michener Tucker became justices of the peace at a subsequent election.

The first industry in Harrison township was a sawmill built by Christian Long on a branch of Big Indian creek in the northern part of the township, about 1837 or 8. Itobert McMillen of Noble township did the mechanical work. This was a primitive mill run by an old fashioned undershot water wheel that could only be operated in times of high water. It was not a great success and in a few years was abandoned.

The second mill erected was also a primitive affair. It was constructed by James N. Stevens on section 16, and was operated by neither water or steam power but by a yoke of oxen. Mr. Stevens successfully managed this little mill for some time manufacturing much 4umber for the settlers in that neighborhood. He had the misfortune to be crushed to death in the machinery after which the mill fell into other hands and finally g^ve way to better mills of later years.

About 1851, Abraham Coppick built a steam sawinill on section 23, and did a large business for a number of years; Wilson and Matthews operated it for a time, but it finally fell into disuse and was abandoned.

About 1852, J. R. Johnson engaged in the sawmill business, in Be^ tion 22, where the town of Lucerne is located. This was a large steam mill and was conducted on an extensive scale. Judge Dyer B. McConnell operated this mill for a time just prior to the Civil war.

In the later 'fifties or early 'sixties, a steam sawmill was built in section 28, and operated by Thrush and Pearson, and later by Samuel Metsker.

A large steam sawmill was built about 1865 to 70, in section 2, by Daniel Foglesong and was operated on an extensive scale. The mill was last conducted by John P. Foglesong and John Beeder, but like all its predecessors, ceased operations for want of material as the timber was nearly all cut off.

About 1846 David Pinkerton established a factory to manufacture caustic potash, on his farm located in section 20, now owned by Mr. Blackburn. He carried on quite a lucrative business for some years.

When pioneers first entered the territory now comprising Harrison township, Indian trails were the only means of ingress. Probably the first wagon road into the township was along one of these Indian trails and was known as the Laporte road extending from Logansport to Laporte. It angled through the country regardless of section lines; has been changed at different times until about 1878, when this old road was straightened and placed on a due north and south line from Logansport, extending entirely through this township, and since known as the Pleasant Grove or Kewanna pike. Thfe was the first gravel road built in the township, at first by a private company, but about twenty years ago the county made a free road of it, with all the other toll roads. Since that time roads have been straightened and placed on section lines and improved until today the township line road on the east and south, also the road running through the center of the township east and west have been macadamized with crushed stone and all the principal roads have been graveled until every section of the township can be reached by stone or gravel roads, quite a contrast with the old Indian trail, mud and corduroy roads of pioneer days. Originally, there was much low, flat and marshy land in Harrison, but ditching and tiling has drained this, which greatly improved the condition of the roads as well as reclaimed this marsh land, converting it into the most productive farm land in the township.

Extends from north to south through the township, with a flag station, Verona, in the southern part, and the town of Lucerne near the center of the township, thus affording convenient transportation facilities for the residents of Harrison. This road was opened up for traffic in August, 1883.

The Home Telephone Company of Logansport opened a telephone exchange at Lucerne in 1904 and now has one hundred and sixty-five subscribers in and around that town so that the majority of the farmers of Harrison township can communicate with each other and with any subscriber in Logansport or throughout the county, and by long distance, toll lines can reach any part of the state or even nation.

The first postoffice established in the township was ** Pitch,*' about 1849, and its first postmaster was Michener Tucker who kept the office at his house, then situated in section 14, on what was later baown as the Jacob Yantis farm. The old Laporte road ran by his residence and the star route came out from Logansport and north to Maxenkuckee and was carried by John Carroll. This office was established through the influence of Dr. G. N. Pitch who was then congressman from this district. Later the office was moved south nearly a mile to ** Leases Comer** and J. C. Thompson was postmaster until his death, October 8, 1863, when William Allhands was appointed postmaster and continued as such until the office was abolished about 1865. About this time **Big Indian** postoffice was established and George Herd was the first postmaster and later John Long and Frank Threewits. The office was abolished about 1888.

Nebo postoffice was established at the present town of Lucerne soon after the railroad was built and the town laid out in 1883. The town was at first called Altoner, but the postoffice department could not give the office that name owing to conflict with other offices of similar name and adopted the name **Nebo.*' The postoffice having a different name from the town caused much confusion and about 1890 the name of the office and town were both changed to ** Lucerne*' by which name it has since been known.

The first postmaster at this place was Amos Sweigart. The present postmaster is Joseph E. Todd. Three rural mail routes, Nos. 23, 24, 25, were established in 1903, which carry daily mails to every farm house in the township and with the parcels post established in 1913 brings the farmers in close touch with the cities and outside world and is a great advance over the monthly or weekly star route service of sixty-five years ago, when Fitch postoffice was first established.

While the pioneers of Harrison township were not college bred men, as a rule, yet they appreciated the value of education and as soon as a sufficient number had settled in a neighborhood we find them gather* ing their children together, not in great gilded halls, but in primitive log cabins, to instruct them in the rudiments of an English education. The first school house in this township was built in 1834 or 1835, in the northeast comer of section 26 and William Mitchell was the first teacher.

This was the usual pioneer, round log cabin, with it)of, floor and door made of clapboards or puncheon, Are place for heating, and a log cut out the whole length of the building, and paper pasted over it for a window. Under this window was a shelf made of a hewn slab, laid upon pins that were driven into holes bored into the logs; this was their writing desk. Benches for seats, were made of the same material, without any backs. But the character of the building in which students are instructed does not necessarily indicate the character or the future greatness of those studying therein, and we find in Cass county, as in other places, men brought up in the cabin and graduated from the log school house, have risen to distinction. Sarah Worstell, now living at 1831 North street, was a student in this first school taught in Harrison township seventy-eight years ago.

William Mitchell, the first teacher was an educated, refined Christian gentleman, who taught school for many years in different townships of this county and in Logansport, where he lived in later years, and died about 1870. He was a strict Presbyterian and a rigid disciplinarian, gave each of his three sons and three daughters a liberal education, all of whom became teachers, for a season at least. The oldest drifted into journalism and for many years published the Duluth, Minnesota, Times. He died there in 1907. Joshua became a distinguished Presbyterian minister. All the members of his family are now dead except William, who is a railway postal clerk on the Vandalia Railroad.

Benjamin Powell, who was the chief promoter of this first temple of learning, was possessed of more than ordinary intellectual activity. He was a great mathematician, and a good surveyor. He was bom in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1785; married to Sarah Carroll, at SteubenviUe, Ohio; moved to Harrison township in 1834; died in Logansport in 1868. His children who grew to adult life were William P. Stebbins, Lycurgus, John, Josiah and Sarah, all of whom are dead, except Josiah, now living in Missouri, and Mrs. Sarah Worstell, of Logansport. Benjamin had a brother, Josiah, who was an influential pioneer of Bethlehem township.

The first school house was replaced by a hewed log structure erected on the northeast comer of section 35 ; this again gave way to a frame, and in 1895 the present brick building was erected, known as District No. 7. About 1836 a second log school house was built on the northeast comer of section 11, which went through the changing process until in 1902 the handsome brick school house was erected now known as district No. 1. Probably the third school in the township was opened in a log house about 1838, near Leases Comer, in section 23. The hewed log house that occupied this site was partially caved in by mischievous boys, of whom Jim Thompson was the leader, in 1862, and stood for some years unused, and was facetiously called the ''Flat Boof Seminary." In the meantime, school was held in the Universalist diurch or cabins in the neighborhood, until a frame school house was built in 1869, which served its purpose until 1903, when it was replaced by the present brick building, heated by a furnace, quite diflferent from the old log house erected in 1868. In early times schools were held in vacated cabins or in the cabins of the pioneers in various parts of the township until suitable school houses could be built. The schools were chiefly private and subscription schools, and were seldom continued longer than two to three months.* The teachers were usually some pioneers who taught in the winter for diversion and to make a few dollars. No examinations or licenses were required. Each district built its own school house and hired the teacher. The simple studies of reading, writing and arithmetic were all that were taught in the pioneer day. There were but few textbooks. The Bible was the reader, an old elementary Maguffie's spelling book and an arithmetic constituted the text books for all grades.

After the new constitution of 1852 the schools began to be better organized and have progressed rapidly until Harrison township had nine school districts, systematically arranged throughout the township. No. 1, No. 6 and No. 7 have been mentioned. All of the nine buildings are substantial brick structures. No. 2, located on the northwest comer of section 10, was erected in 1905; No. 3, built in 1898, on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 5 ; No. 4, situated on the northwest corner of section 20, built in 1899 ; No. 5, Lucerne high school, built in 1907; No. 8, on the southeast corner of section 28, erected in 1892, and No. 9, on the north side of section 32, erected in 1901, to replace a frame house that stood a half mile to the south, that was burned down the year previous. These nine buildings represent a capital of over $30,000. Districts No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8 have within the past few years been vacated and the schools consolidated with the Lucerne high school. One wagon is employed for each district to haul the pupils to the central school at a cost of $2.50 per day for each wagon and the trustee, Mr. Tucker, makes favorable reports that the consolidated school system is eminently satisfactory, both from an economic and educational standpoint.

The Lucerne high school building is a handsome brick structure, two stories in height, with basement, containing four assembly rooms and necessary cloak rooms with all modern improvements. The high school was commissioned in 1911 and now ranks with the best schools in the state, where about thirty-five farmers' sons and daughters are receiving high school instruction, at the same time have parental care, all of which is greatly to be desired. Five teachers are employed in this central building and one each in the six districts, making a corps of eleven teachers in the township, ^he total enumeration in the township in 1912 was three hundred and thirty-five. This is said to be a progressive age and certainly there is nothing that demonstrates that fact more clearly than to compare the first pioneer round log cabin schoolhouse, with Harrison township 's present magnificent high school building, with its modern conveniences, and the primitive textbooks, where the three R's, reading, riting and rithmetic, were taught, compare these with our variety of textbooks and extensive high school curriculum of today, equal to a college course of eighty years ago.

The pioneers of Harrison township were a Gtod-fearing people, and as a consequence, religious training was not neglected in the early days, and we find the itinerant preacher carrying the Gospel of Christ into the wilderness, long before the organization of the township, Mr. Helms, in his history, says that the first religious services held in the township was conducted by Rev. Burrows AVestlake at the home of Robert Barnett in the year 1833, followed soon after by Rev. Burnes, another Methodist preacher. Since the first settlement of the township, there have been ten different church organizations within its boundaries* three of which have disbanded, leaving seven active churches at this time.

This church was organized in 1837 by the Rev. Jacob Colclazer, with the following charter membership: George Allhands and wife, William Allhands, Michener Tucker and wife, J. R. Johnson and wife and Mrs. Peter Michael. For a year pr two following the organization, meetings were held in private residences. The first house of worship was a hewed log building, erected about 1839 or 1840, on ground donated by George Allhands, in the northeast quarter of section 23, but deeds were not made until May 28, 1849, when William Allhands conveyed the land on which the church stood to the trustees, to wit: James Black, Michener Tucker, Noah Castle, George and Daniel Poglesong, J. R. Johnson, John G. Castle, William Reder and William Allhands. The old log church was replaced in 1850 by a commodious frame edifice which accommodated the congregation until 1887, when it was rebuilt at a cost of $5,000. This is a handsome modern church and large enough to accommodate the congregation which now numbers one hundred and twenty-five, together with a large number of patrons not members. A Sunday school was organized in 1840 and has been in operation ever since with more or less regularity. A cemetery adjoins the church controlled by the congregation.

The following ministers have served the congregation: Rev. Jacob Colclazer, 1837-38; Revs. William Reder, Cozat, Hatfield, Leach, Fairchild, Calvert, White, Conner, Vencil, Stallard, Brindle, 1867-68 ; Hays, Wood, Harmon, Wright, Vaught, Cox, Cramer, Handley, McKinsey, McCloud, Hagenbrock, Simonson, Philips, Beebe, and Wm. Davis, 1912.

At an early day the Presbyterians held religious meetings in the northern part of the township at the cabin of Christian Long, which culminated in the organization of the Indian Creek church, about 1837, Rev. John Wright, father of Williamson and Judge Wright, officiating. Some of the early members were Joseph Gibson and wife, Robert Montgomery and wife, David Pinkerton and wife, Daniel Morrison and wife, J. B. Rogers and wife, Samuel Sharp and wife. A hewed log church was erected in 1838 on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9 on land donated by Christian Long, he conveying the same to the trustees of the church, viz. : Benjamin R. Adair, Samuel H. Sharp and Christian Long. The deed bears date of June 12, 1839. Some years later this log building was replaced by a frame structure, which continued to be occupied by the congregation until' about 1865 or 1866, when the organization was disbanded and the building was used only at funerals and some years later was torn down and only the adjoining grave yard marks the place where once stood this flourishing little church, the first erected in the township.

A division occurred in the congregation and many of the members withdrew and organized Concord church in the southern part of the township, this, with deaths and removals, so weakened the congregation that disintegration naturally ensued. Among the pastors who admin- istered to the spiritual wants of this con^egation were: Rev. John Wright, 1836-40; Rev. M. M. Post, Rev. James Buchanan, 1840-42; Rev. Robert Rankin, Rev. Robert Irvin, 1862-63; and Rev. McKnight Williamson.

In the early forties the Presbyterian Church of America became divided into what was known as the New and the Old School Church. This division extended to the Indian Creek Church in Harrison township, which resulted in the New School members (progressives) withdrawing from the parent church and the organization of Concord church, June 1, 1843.

The organization was conducted by the Rev. M. M. Post and the meeting was held in the Indian Creek church. The following names appear on the charter roll: Samuel McConnell and Martha, his wife; Robert Montgomery and Margaret, his wife; David Pinkerton and Maria, his wife; James B. Rogers and Jane E., his wife; Jonathan Palmer, Rebecca Palmer, Elizabeth Easton, Sallie Douglas and Jane Stansbury. Meetings were held during the summer in the bam of Samuel Wilson, and in 1844 a frame church was erected on land donated by Samuel Wilson. The records show that on March 26, 1844, Samuel Wilson deeds a lot of ground situated in the N. W. quarter of section 34, Harrison township, to the trustees of the church, David Pinkerton, Robert Montgomery, and Samuel Wilson. The congregation prospered for many years, but finally became weak in number, the building needed repairs and they being left without a shepherd or fold, resolved to disband in the year 1873.

Some strayed to Royal Center, some to West Union, near Fletchers Lake in Fulton county, and some to Logansport, Concord church thus remaining in a state of suspended animation until 1879, when through the efforts of Rev. R. 0. Post, Rev. A. L. Adams and Rev. L. M. Schoefield, the scattered remnants of this little flock were brought together and rejuvenated, the old church remodeled and repaired and a complete re-organization perfected, with the following names, to wit: G. G. Thomas, A. A. Mehaffie, James Coulter, Mrs. Mary Carter, Mrs. S. Tilton, Mrs. Maria Van Emon, Mrs. Anna Fergus, Miss A. A. Van Emon, Ira J. Stoughton, John Brown and wife, John A. Anderson, Salina Tilton, D. B. Sharp and wife, Daniel and Anna Morrison, Thomas Dill, Sarah Kilgore, Elihu Hanna and wife. From this time forward the congregation took on renewed life and gradually increased in numbers and influence until in 1908 the old building became too small to accommodate the congregation and it was replaced by the present handsome and commodious brick house of worship costing $8,000. The new church was completed and dedicated to the service of the triune God on the first Sunday in December, 1908. The dedicatory service was conducted by Rev. George Ejiox, synodical superintendent of missions of Indiana, assisted by the pastor. Rev. J. M. Bolton.

The present membership is about seventy-five. A Sunday school was organized in 1843 and has been successfully conducted from that time to the present, except during the temporary suspension of the church from 1873 to 1879. Ladies Aid and Home Missionary Societies are also doing good work in the Master's cause.

This church was organized in November, 1836, by a council consisting of Rev. William Reese and Benjamin Martin, of Delphi, and David Patrick, of Logansport, in the house of William Dixon. The following charter members were present: Andrew Veal and Doshe, his wife; Vincent Calvin and Rachel, his wife ; William Driscoll and Martha, his wife; Henry Garrett and Mary, his wife; Naomi Calvin and Leonidas Dixon. Rev. Reese delivered a sermon and administered the Lord's Supper. William Dixon was elected the first clerk. Services were held monthly in private houses. January 1, 1848, brothers Fuller and Robinson were appointed to locate a site on which to erect a meeting house. On April 7, 1848, they reported the present site, situated on the X. W. quarter of section 32, Harrison township, and William Robinson, Leander Dixon and J. A. Calvin were appointed a building conimittee to superintend the erection of a meeting house and soon after the church was completed, but the records show that the deed to the ground was not made until December 20, 1856, when John A. Calvin and William Grant deeded three acres of ground to the trustees of the church: William Robinson, David dinger and Leander Dixon.

On December 2, 1871, as Reverend Delp was taking his seat in the pulpit, the church was discovered to be on fire, and despite all efforts it was completely destroyed. Steps were at once taken to erect a new church and Benjamin Binney, John A. Gehr and Wm. H. Dill were appointed a building committee. In the meantime the congregation continued their regular service in the school house near by.

During the sunmier of 1872 a handsome new frame temple of worship was erected at a cost of $1,413.01, and dedicated on January 3, 1873, by Elders Bishop and Delp. In 1901 this old building was renovated and greatly improved. The first record of a Sunday school dates back to 1853, since which time it has been quite regularly maintained, and has proven a great feeder to the church membership.

The officers as reported in 1907 were: Trustees, Joseph A. Watts, Samuel Deboo and William Eikleburner; deacon, Stephen Watts; clerk, Mrs. Effie Eikleburner.

About the year 1852, Ephraim Dukes, one of the pioneers of tht Restoration movement, gathered together in the community of Indian Creek Disciples to the number of eleven, whose names were : Leonard and Emma Burton, John Burton, Susan and Sarah J. Burton, Wm. B.

and Mary M. and Phebe J. Grant, Levi Burton, Hezekiah Cast, Christine Newbraugh. This little band of earnest Christian workers, under the guidance of Reverend Dukes, held meetings in private houses and the school house for several years, without any regular organization. In 1859 Rev. Geo. Campbell came to look after the spiritual wants of the community, and perfected an organization, and in the meantime steps were taken to erect a meeting house, and on January 16, 1857, Richard Batty conveyed 13x16 poles of land in the northeast comer of the northwest quarter of section 17, Harrison township, to Leonard and John Burton, trustees of the church, for church and burial purposes. About this tiine the congregation erected a neat little frame church, which they occupied until 1888, when it became too small tp accommodate the increasing congregation and it was replaced by the present house of worship.

They also increased the church yard by purchasing of Wm. Herd one acre of groimd adjoining the above, the deed bearing date of February 15, 1888.

The first church edifice cost between $300 and $400, the present building between $3,000 and $4,000, and was dedicated the third Sunday in December, 1888, by Rev. S. M. Hathorne of Kewanna.

The first sermon preached in Lucerne hy a minister of the Presbyterian faith was by Rev. F. U. Elliott, on December 2, 1889, and the following February a permanent organization was effected by Rev. N. S. Dickey. This organization meeting was held in the West Union Presbyterian church, near Fletcher's Lake, in Fulton county. The following names were enrolled as charter members: James D. and Elizabeth Callahan, ]Miss Anna Callahan, Wm. and Mina Morrison, David Morrison, Dr. Noah J. Larose and Anna Larose, Mrs. Julia A. Freshour, Wm. A. Freshour, Mrs. Alice Freshour, Alfred and James K. Gray, Miss Eva A. Estabrook, Caroline Estabrook, Virgil and Anna E., and Martha Pinkerton, Lavina Clary, Samuel and Margaret Clem, S. J. and Harriet Pitman. The congregation at once took steps to erect a house of worship on a lot donated by Edward Freshour, he having previously announced that he would give a lot to the first religious society that would erect a church, and the Presbyterians were the first to accept the proposition. The contract for the erection of the church was let for $1,850.50, in the summer of 1889, and the building completed and dedicated to the Lord February 2, 1890. It is a substantial frame structure and meets every want of the con^egation. A handsome two-story parsonage is just being completed on a vacant lot adjoining the church on the east, where the pastor will reside, who also has charge of Bethlehem and Concord Presbyterian churches. A Sunday school was organized in 1890 which is doing efficient work for the Master, as is also the Ladies' Aid Society. The church has a membership of sixty and has bright prospects for the future.

The first minister of this denomination to deliver a sermon in Lucerne was the Rev. F. A. Coyle, of the Indian Creek church. This was on Friday night, June 19, 1903, and the meeting was held in the Evangelical church (which church organization was then disbanded). This sermon was the sowing of seed that grew into the organization of this church two years later, which was formally organized in Kistler's hall in September, 1905. Rev. F. J. Coyle and T. J. Legg officiated at the ' organization, when the following persons signed the charter roll : Rev. Frank J. Coyle and wife, Mrs. John W.'Winn, John Martin, Chas. Hall, Cora Burton, Gertie King, Henry Rhodes and wife, Thomas Hicks and wife, Mrs. Frank Lidgard, Mrs. Lizzie Hall, Wm. Paul and wife, Mrs. Daisy Foglesong, Mrs. Ethel Baker, Mrs. Emma Long, Miss Lou Long, Arthur Koons, Mrs. Samuel Mellinger, Pearl Arthurholtz, Florence Remley, Mrs. Mary Reed, Mrs. Wm. Ingram.

Meetings were held regularly in the hall, school house and Evangelical church until 1907, when the congregation purchased the old school house and the lot on which it stood for $540 (the old school house was abandoned for school purposes when the new high school was erected). This building was altered and repaired and converted into a church, which served the congregation until .1912, when it gave way to the present commodious temple of worship, which was dedicated to the triune God on February 2, 1913, by the Rev. Geo. L. Snively of Lewiston, Illinois. A Sunday school was instituted April 26, 1903, which with the Dorcas Circle are successfully maintained. The present membership is seventy -five. Present officers are : Elders, John W. Hall, John R. Backus, Dr. S. E. Jones ; deacons, Luye Clary, Chas. Hall, Herd Burton.

About 1857, Rev. Geo. H. Hamilton brought together the Catholic families of Harrison township, and organized St. Ann's church, and through his efforts a parish church was erected in the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 27, about two miles south of Lucerne. On January 11, 1859, John Newbraugh deeded one acre of ground on which this church was built to Right Rev. John Henry Luers, Bishop of Ft. Wayne, for the use and benefit of the Catholic population of Harrison township. There is a burial ground adjoining the church. A neat little frame church edifice was erected and dedicated in 1863 by Bishop

About 1855, under the leadership of Dr. Edwards, a Universalist society was organized in Harrison township. Some of the early members were Wm. M. Little and wife, Dr. Edwards and wife, Wm. P. Powell and wife, Mr. Hendrickson and wife. Reverend Kidder officiated at the organization and acted as the pastor for some years thereafter. The records show that on July 29, 1857, Wm. M. Little of Cincinnati, Ohio, deeded 4x6 rods of ground situated on the east side of the Laporte road in the northeast quarter of section 14, Harrison township, to the Universalist society of said township. The same year a small frame church was erected, costing $500. The membership of this society was not large, but they were earnest Christian workers and prospered for a season, until Dr. Edwards and Mr. Little moved away, and the congregation became reduced in numbers and finally ceased to exist as an organization. About 1878 the church building was sold to Philip AUhands, who moved it about a mile southward to Lease's Comers, and converted it into a dwelling, and nothing remains to mark the place except one or two marble grave stones which are crumbling to decay on the graves of a few that were buried here, and now may be found in the comer of a field, and not on the main road, as the Laporte road has been changed when roads were improved and graveled.

The Calvary Evangelical Society of Lucerne was organized by Rev. J. Wales in Williams hall in Lucerne, in the year 1890, with the following list of members: J. Wales, Adam and Nancy Umbenhour, Silas Umbenhour, wife and children, James and Ann Umbenhour, W. W. Williams and wife, John Dunkle and family, George Ely and wife, S. Newman and wife, William Witters. The following year a neat little frame church was erected in Lucerne at a total outlay of $1,550. A Sunday school was organized at the time of the* church society, and the church prospered for a few years, but various causes operated to reduce the membership, and in 1905 the society disbanded, and sold the church property to the Catholics. Pastors who ministered to the society were : J. Wales, S. S. Albert, J. M. Smith, D. D. Spangler and H. Steininger.

The subject of cemeteries may be a dead issue, yet it is a subject that interests us all, for it is only a question of time when we will all have to yield to its sure and certain hold upon us. Harrison township has eight burial grounds, three large and five smaller ones, each of which will be briefly mentioned.

This is perhaps the oldest public burial ground in the township. A church was erected here on ground donated by George AUhands about 1840 (see church history). February 17, 1887, Joshua Tucker deeded to the trustees of the church 6^^ by 25 rods of ground adjoining the church property, for a hitch yard.

The first burials were the wife of Michener Tucker, in 1837. George Preshour cleared off a small lot of ground that was then covered with tim'ber and dug this first grave. David, son of Benjamin Powell, 1840 ; Ira, son of Benjamin Powell, 1842, and probably earlier interments in unmarked graves.

Like nearly all the early burial grounds, this cemetery was used many years before any deeds were executed. Ground was secured for church and burial purposes, of John A. Calvin and Wm. Grant, in 1856, and additions to the original tract have been added in 1872 and 1882.

This is a large and beautifully located cemetery, in reality two cemeteries, the old and the new, the latter across a ravine sometimes called the Hanna burial ground, which is enclosed by a separate fence, has a few native and evergreen trees. Samuel Hanna and wife were interred here in 1871 and 1894, respectively, and other members of his family as early as 1843. Earliest inscriptions on monuments are: Loretta, daughter of G. and P. Harwood, 1846; infant son of A. A. Mehaffie, 1848.

Presbyterian church a lot of ground in the northeast comer of southwest quarter, section 9, Harrison township. Deed acknowledged before David Pinkerton, J. P. August 5, 1855, John Long conveyed to the trustees an addition to the above. A church was erected here, but is now abandoned and torn down. November 2, 1889, there was a plat made of this cemetery by the Indian Creek Burial Association, Wm. Morrison, president, E. S. Estebrook, secretary, who now manage the grounds. Some of the first interments were : Reuben, son of H. and E. Conn, 1840; son of James Sharp, 1841. Probably there are some earlier unmarked graves.

This is a small burial ground in the church yard of the Concord Presbyterian church, and well located, but few interments have been made here, and we are informed none for the past twenty ^years. The older cemeteries being used because the families in this section first interred their dead in them, and family ties attract the present generation to the burial grounds of their progenitors. On March 26, 1844, Samuel Wilson conveyed the ground to trustees of the church, and the deed acknowledged before William Mitchell, J. P. A church was erected soon after. The first burials : Mary Kerns, March 24, 1847 ; Dennie M. Pinkerton, 1849; Daniel Pinkerton, 1850. Probably not a dozen 'other graves are located here.

This is a neat little churchyard and burial ground, situated in one corner of the cross roads with a few good monuments. The church owns and controls the grounds (for data see church history).

First burials : Mrs. Irvin, 1857, in unmarked grave. The earliest inscriptions on markers which were probably removals, are: Joseph St. Clair, April 10, 1840; Edmon Cast, 1860. The only soldier at this time (1907) is Robert Backus, Company A, 3rd New York Cavalry.

This abandoned, neglected and almost forgotten burial grouped is situated in the corner of a field not fenced but uncultivated. It lies in the northeast quarter of section 14, Harrison township, about a mile northwest of Leases Corners. The ground, 4x6 rods, was deeded by Wm. M. Little to the Universalist Society of Harrison township in 1857, and in 1867 Charles Troutman, in deeding the adjoining farm to Richard Winn, excepts this burial ground, and the title so far as we have searched records, still remains in the name of the society. A church was marble slabs lying near by. Upon one an inscription: '* Hendrickson, died 1859, aged twenty-five years.'' The other stones are so broken the letters cannot be read.

There were about a half dozen interments made here from 1857 to 1867, but in a few years more they will likely be farmed over and forgotten unless this record may keep this once hallowed place before the eyes of a curious few who may peruse its pages.

The dead, however, are beyond the power of man to injure or reward, to please or displease, and it matters not to the dead what becomes of this mortal body, when the earthly tabernacle is dissolved and he **has put on immortality" and gone to the ** house of God." A ** house not made with hands eternal in the heavens," yet there is a sentiment indwelling in the breast of the lowliest, that respects the last resting ^place of the dead. This body is only a shell, to be sure, like a last year's bird's nest, when the spirit has gone there is only dross that must moulder to dust, yet it is all we can see, and know, of the departed and we hold it in sacred remembrance.

On January 11, 1859, John Newbraugh conveyed one acre of land in Section 27, Harrison township, to the Catholic church for burial and church purposes. A church building was erected here soon after, but it was torn down when the church was moved to Lucerne a few years ago, but the cemetery is still controlled by the congregation. This is a small burial ground to accommodate the Catholic population of the neighborhood. The first burial was Elizabeth, wife of John Newbraugh, March 18, 1859. We note the following early inscriptions: Nancy, wife of M. Landrigan, June 29, 1845; Dennis Gorman, 1856; Edward Gorman, 1858.

The history of any locality is not complete without a notice of the doctors, and those who have resided within the confines of Harrison township will be mentioned here in alphabetical order:

Dr. John J. Burton, son of John Burton, a pioneer of Harrison township, where the doctor was born in 1850; educated in the Logansport high school, graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, 1876 ; practiced in Logansport, Royal Center, where he was postmaster, and in 1889 located in Lucerne, where he is still in active practice and also keeps a drug store. He Vas married to Miss Mary Lumbert of Cass county in 1877. The doctor is widely and favorably known throughout the county and has materially aided the writer in compiling the history of Harrison township.

Dr. Daniel Hess Eckert was born in Ohio, 1828, attended the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, 1856, and the same year located at Leases Corners in this township, where he has since resided engaged in the practice of his chosen profession until in recent years he has been compelled to retire from active practice, owing to the infirmities of age. He was married and has two sons and one daughter. Dr. Eckert is a typical country doctor and is known to every one in Harrison township, where he has resided for half a century.

Dr. Edwards was an educated physician who came from Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1853, and located about two miles northeast of Lucerne, where he built up quite a practice. He was instrumental in the organi- zation and building the Universalist church in that locality. About 1860 he moved west and has been lost to our informant. He was married and raised an adopted daughter.

Dr. Brazilla Gray moved from Ohio about 1874 and located on a farm about a mile or more northeast of Lucerne, where he continued to reside until his death in 1882, aged sixty-six years. He did not engage in regular practice. He was a surgeon in the Fourth Ohio Regiment. He was married and had several children. His remains repose in the Indian Creek Presbyterian cemetery.

Dr. Wilson M. Heward, son of Benj. Heward, a pioneer of Tipton township, where the doctor was bom in 1859, attended the public schools and Danyille, Indiana, Normal School, and graduated from the University of Louisville in 1892, and at once located in Lucerne, where he engaged in active practice for the next two years, and then moved to Grass Creek, Fulton county, where he built up a lucrative practice and held the confidence of the community until his death in 1910. In 1892 he was united in marriage to Alice E. Hammond and had two children.

Dr. Samuel E. Jones is a native of Montgomery county, Indiana, where he was bom about 1872, graduated from the Indiana Medical College, ^1906, and moved to Lucerne in 1910, where he has ingratiated himself into the confidence and esteem of the community as a Christian gentleman, and has bright professional prospects. He has a family of several children.

Dr. Noah J. Larose, the first doctor to locate in the town of Lucerne, about 1885, where he continued in active practice until 1901, when he moved to Greenfield, Indiana, and in 1903 he renounced his profession and joined the Alexander Dowie host at Zion City, Illinois, where he now holds an official position in that erratic religious sect.

Dr. Larose is the son of Joshua Larose, a pioneer of Clay township, where the doctor was bom in 1851, educated in the Logansport high school, Akron, Ohio, College, and the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, from which he graduated in 1885. His wife was Miss Rebecca Martin, to whom he was married in 1886, and they have four children. Dr. Larose was seriously injured in one leg by a reaping machine when a boy, and rendered a cripple for life, which was manifest in his limping gait.

Dr. Wm. N. Townsend during the later fifties moved from Royal Center to Leases Corners, and occupied the old steep roof house just south of the corners. About 1860 he moved to Indianapolis, where he has since died. His wife was a Veal, and they had several children.

Dr. D. K. Zartman lived and practiced medicine at Jacktown, or Big Indian, Harrison township, from 1880 to 1882, when he quit the practice and moved to Logansport, where he now lives, engaged in painting and paper-hanging. He is a native of Ohio, where he was bom in 1859, came with his parents to Carroll county, Indiana, when a boy, educated in the public schools and at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, 1871. He has been twice married. His ^present wife was Naomi Grauel of Fulton county, to whom he was married in 1880, and they have three children.

most ancient of these was known by the euphonious and high-sounding (or rather low) name of Hell's Half Acre, located on the northeast corner of section 23. This, however, was only a local name and it was known on the Bourse in Paris! as Pitch, and later Leases Comers. ** Pitch" postoflSce was established here about 1850, but was discontinued about 1865, and George Lease about this time located here and kept a store for many years. He died in Missouri twenty years ago, and there has been a country store kept at this point ever since, Willard Jones being the present merchant. Pormerly there was a cooper shop and blackiwnith shop. At present Dr. Eckert, retired, lives in the village. A school house and Zion church just west of the corners and a half dozen houses constitute the village.

located in the northwest part of the township on Indian Creek, in the later sixties, and for twenty-five years thereafter, had a postoffice, a store and a blacksmith shop, and cooper shop, but all have disappeared since the railroad was built through the township and Lucerne began to develop.

This is regarded as the capital of Harrison. It is a flourishing little town of 270 souls, situated near the center of the township on the Vandalia Railroad, nine miles north of Logansport. The town was originally called *'Altoner,'' in honor of Mr. Al. Toner, who was instrumental in building the railroad. The postoflSce established soon after was called **Nebo.*' This caused confusion and about 1891 both the town and postoffice were named Lucerne, by which latter term it is now known, and the former names are almost forgotten.

The original plat of Altoner was laid out by Edward Preshour, September 29, 1883, the railroad being completed the month previous. , This plat consisted of twenty-four lots, situated on the south edge of section 15 and north part of section 22, with Preshour, the main street, running east and west, and Hill and Pitch street paralleling it, and Osmer street running north and south. Since then additions have been made by Julia Preshour, Rosa Backus, Wm. Backus and Wm. W. Stevens, the last March 21, 1892.

The first merchant and postmaster was Amos Sweigart, who originally came from Nebraska and settled in Lucerne, then called Altoner, in October, 1883, soon after the town was platted. He remained several years then moved to Halifax, Pennsylvania, where he now resides, we suppose retired and livinof on the fortune amassed as Lucerne's first merchant. Samuel Sweigart, a brother, came at the same time and was the first carpenter who erected the first buildings in the town in the fall of 1883. He is still a resident of the town. Wm. Kirtland was the first blacksmith. He is now following his trade in New Mexico.

The present business interests are represented by three general stores, kept by Sher & Ordman, Mr. Helmie and J. E. Todd ; hardware and agricultural implements, by Addis A. Preshour ; hotel conducted by Mr. Ilelmie; livery stable by Guy Thompson, and two restaurants by Hilkert & Sheets. James Huff is the tonsorial artist and Bernard Clemens and Sam. Mellinger operate blacksmith and repair shops, the latter having been in business for over twenty years. E. E. Ely operates a large sawmill and rip saw, and is doing a good business, buying timber from a wide territory around Lucerne, and ships hardwood products of his mill all over the United States. This mill has been three times

There was a handle factory operated for several years by George Jamison and later by Frank Reese, but it was burned down in 1911 and was never rebuilt. The elevator and depot was also burned and each of these structures have been replaced by handsome and commodious buildings. The elevator is owned and operated by O. Gandy & Co., and furnishes a first-class market for all' kinds of grain, and ships over 175,000 bushels annually.

The Lucerne Bank was opened for business August 13, 1912, with a capital stock of $25,000. The officers are: President, Willard Winn; vice president, S. M. Grable; cashier, Everett Gragg. The deposits at this time amount to $55,000. The stock is h6ld by local men. A company has recently been organized to establish a canning factory, which they expect to have in operation at the opening of the canning industry. Morris Winn is president and Everett Gragg, secretary of the company. A telephone exchange enables the farmers of the township to communicate with each other and with any section of the county. A magnificent high school building and three churches provide for the intellectual and spiritual^ needs of the town and two physicians look after the health of the community. Joseph E. Todd is the postmaster and daily sends out mail by three rural carriers to every farm house in the township. Thus this prosperous little village of Lucerne supplies every want of the town and country, a ready market for all farm products, and stocks of all classes of necessary goods of the household, and is a great convenience to the entire township and is a great advancement over pioneer days, when a farmer would have to travel all day over mud roads to market his grain or to purchase the most trivial article or to summon a doctor.

Lucerne Lodge No. 680, I. 0. 0. F. was instituted in 1891 with five charter members. The first officers were: W. P. Baker, N. G. ; G. N. Brush, V. G. ; E. E. Ely, sec'y- The present officers are : Charles Hall, N. G. ; Dr. S. C. Jones, V. 6.; Everett Gragg, sec^. The lodge purchased an old building which they occupied as a lodge room until 1911, when a commodious two story frame building was erected and fitted up. Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 589 was organized in 1901, with Mary Needham, N. G., and Mrs. Etta Backus, sec'y.

Lucerne Post No. 591 G. A. R. was organized in 1893, with fourteen charter members and held regular meetings for some years but, the majority of the members have answered the last tattoo and gone to their reward and not enough of the old soldiers are left in this neighborhood to oflScer the lodge and this G. A. R. post has disbanded.

In the summer of 1868 a lodge of Good Templars was instituted at Zion church east of Lucerne, and for a time flourished and did a noble work in that community but it finally disbanded.

Abraham Skinner an influential pioneer who settled in sections 25 and 26, about 1836, willed eighty acres of his farm to Harrison township as a permanent fund, the interest on which should be used to aid and maintain the schools of the township. The township trustee is the custodian of this fund and gives bond for the faithful performance of the trust. It is known as the Skinner fund. The land was sold many years ago and the proceeds invested permanently and now amounts to about $2,500. Mr. Skinner was a leading spirit in all educational enterprises. It is related that at a school meeting in an early day when they were contemplating building a new schoolhouse that one man stated that he would give as much as any other person present. Mr. Skinner arose and offered to give $50 and a week 's work. At that time this was considered as a very large offering, beyond all expectation and the party making the first proposal skulked out and left the meeting. Mr. Slnnner was an ardent Democrat and had a brother living in Ohio that was as strong a Republican, and each were positive men of strong convictions, bordering on obstinacy; that on one occasion, his brother visited him, driving through in a buggy, while out unhitching the horse the two brothers became involved in a heated controversy about politics and each became so embittered that the visiting brother hitched up his horse, and drove away, never even going into the house, and the brothers never met thereafter.

Ira Powell, son of Benjamin Powell, a lad five years old, was accidentally cut in the thigh by a scythe in the hands of an older boy, and bled to death within an hour, before medical aid could be summoned. This was in 1842.

Robert Wilson, a young man, brother of Mrs. Thomas Jamison, while out in the woods cutting timber, March 5, 1889, had the sad misfortune to be instantly killed by a limb of a falling tree.

Harrison township has been a peace loving community and has been remarkably free from any serious infractions of the law, never having had a murder committed within its borders. Her early settlers were Imbued with the Christian spirit and not only did they establish and maintain churches, but were accustomed to hold great revival camp meetings in the Foglesong neighborhood, in the northern part of the township. In 1845 there was a great camp meeting held on the William Jamison farm, then owned by William Mitchell, in section 35, at which Henry Ward Beecher was the principal speaker, and unusually large crowds were in attendance. '

Major S. L. McFaddin was brought up in the northwest corner of Harrison township, and it was here that he saw his first ground-hog. Here it was that by diligently watching the ground-hog's hole year after year he discovered the habits of the woodchuck. If the ground-hog saw his shadow on February 2nd, he would return to his hole and winter would last six weeks longer, but if it was cloudy and the ground-hog saw not his shadow, then the winter was over. Wils Berry, the local artist, has immortalized this anecdote by painting the Major in his lonely vigil sitting beside a ground-hog hole dozing, while his ground-hogship emerges and escapes into the forest.

The Major relates many amusing incidents of pioneer life ; the early singing master with his tuning fork beating time ; Charles McGowan was one of these pioneer singing teachers, and had marked peculiarities, which cannot be related here ; how he would make comical gestures and flourishes as he beat time to the singing of the old buck-wheat notes from the old ** Missouri Harmony.'' After the Major's return from the Mexican war he often referred to the field of Buena-Vista as the field of bis-cuits.

There was an Indian village on Indian creek in the northwestern part of Harrison township until their final removal west in 1838. They were generally peaceable, but would occasionally make a raid on a settler's hen roost, or suddenly open a cabin door and utter an unearthly war ** whoop" to frighten the women and keep them indoors, while they helped themselves to chickens or other articles desired.

Biographical sketches of the following pioneers and citizens of Harrison township have been written and may be found in Helms' history of Cass county, published in 1886 and will not be reproduced here: