Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 49: Jefferson Township, 1913

Jefferson township was named after our third president and lies in the western part of the county and embraces the greater part of congressional township 27 north, range 1 west. It is bounded on the north by Boone township, on the east by Noble, on the west by White county and on the south by Carroll county and the Wabash river. Crooked creek is the most important watercourse, and is a stream of considerable size. It receives its name from the tortuous course in which it flows: arising in the northeast comer, flows westward, southwest, southeast, south and again southwest, emptying into the Wabash river a mile below Georgetown. It has numerous tributaries, affording ample drainage. This stream furnished abundant water power in the early settlement of the country and was an important factor in inducing immigration to this part of the county. The southern part of Jefferson is characterized by a broken surface and in some places along the Wabash may be seen precipitous limestone bluffs of romantic boldness. The country adjacent to Crooked creek and its tributaries is also hilly and broken, while the north and west parts of the township are comparatively level and in some places flat and marshy, although the extensive ^stem of drainage in recent years has reclaimed the swampa and converted them into the most fertile and productive farm lands, whilst the^sand hills in the northwest section produce a superior quality of certain vegetables. The soil is not naturally as strong and fertile as some other townships, but with drainage and careful cultivation produces abundant crops of all agricultural products adapted to this climate, and an average with the other sections of the county. Lake Cicott, the only lake in the county, is located in sections 20 and 21, Jefferson township. This is a beautiful sheet of water covering an area of about one hundred acres. The waters of the lake are of crystal purity, and it is surrounded on three sides by beautiful wooded hills, making it one of the most romantic and loveliest pieces of nature's handiwork in Cass county.

Jefferson township, lying on the Wabash river and easy of access by boat or pirogue, which was the only means of reaching the wilderness of Cass county, unless by foot over Indian trails, was early settled. Gteorge Cicott was the first white man to set foot within the present boundaries of this township. He was a French-Canadian who for many

The Indians looked upon him as one of their number and he was, so far as the rights and privileges of the tribe were concerned. By the treaty of 1826 a reservation of over one thousand acres in the southern part of the township was ceded to him, as were also other tracts of land, including the present site of Logansport. From the sale of these lands he accumulated quite a fortune. Immediately after the cession of these lands in 1826, or possibly 1827, Mr. Cicott settled on his reservation at what was afterwards known as Georgetown, and opened a trading post and dealt almost exclusively with the Indians, as there were at that time no white settlers in the township. He erected the first mill in the township in 1829 near the present site of Georgetown, and used the water from Crooked creek as a motive power to run the mill. This was a saw and grist mill and was at first operated for the benefit of tiie Indians, but tide white settlers, who soon began to find their way to the wilds of Jefferson, highly prized the products of this mill both for its lumber and meal which! it turned out. There is some doubt whether or not this mill was the first one built in Cass county, and the writer is not prepared to say, although General Tipton's mill on Eel river in Logansx>ort is supposed to antedate Cicott 's mill at Georgetown. Mr. Cicott died about 1833.

The next settler was William Price, who came in 1828 and located on the north bank of the Wabash river in section 3, township 26, on what wag later known as the Elsroth farm. For nearly a year he and Mr. Cicott were the only white residents of the township, their only companions being Indians.

In 1829 John Myers settled on a portion of Cicott 's i^eserve, and in 1830 Peter Elsroth located near Mr. Price ; Maj. Ben Smith in section 33 ; James Williams in section 36, and Andrew McMillen to the north.

In 1830 Beaufort Banta settled in section 24, where he resided until . his death in 1888. He was bom in Kentucky in 1808, was a man of fine appearance, tall and commanding figure. He had marked individuality, conviction and courage. In politics he was a Whig and later a Republican, and often made political speeches. He had a large family, of which his sons, Benjamin, William, Caleb and John Banta, are still honored residents of the county.

In 1831 came Robert and Alexander Gray and located in the southern part of the township. Robert became captain of militia and was known as Captain Gray. He was bom in Pennsylvania in 1796, and died in 1868, and lies at rest in the Georgetown cemetery. He was a large and powerful man, was justice of the peace for many years and often referee in disputes between neighbors. Politically he was an ardent Democrat. He was the father of eight children, all of whom are now. dead.

Alexander Gray was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, located on section 33, Jefferson township, on land now owned by his son Harrison Gray. He had dark curly hair, was a plain man, unostentatious in his demeanor, a clean man with sturdy Christian character, and a leader in the Pisgah Presbyterian church. He had an invalid wife for whom he cared like a child. He greatly aided in the development of Jefferson township until the time of his death in 1875. .

James Gray, another brother, was bom in Pennsylvania in 1802, married Katharine Duncan in Pennsylvania in 1828, came to Jefferson township in 1839, and was a* prominent pioneer farmer until his death. His children were : John, James D., Thomas, Alexander, Hamilton and Martha, all of whom are dead except the latter, now the wife of Lemuel Powell, of Bethlehem township.

Abraham Hildebrandt came in 1834 and located in section 33, on land now owned by his grandchildren. He was a prudent, upright man, and spent a long and useful life aiding in the development of Jefferson township. He died in 1892. His wife was Lucy Weirick. Larkin Herman was a settler in 1835. He was a school teacher and farmer, and was the father of Mrs. John Banta. /i About this time Taylor Sturgeon settled in section 22, John Kistler (in section 25, Dr. James Gordon in Cicott's reserve, Aaron Renberger, father of Commissioner George Renberger, in section 8, David Weirick in section 33, Joseph Day near Georgetown, Daniel Bell near Georgetown, William Nethercutt, John Shaw, Israel Watts, Daniel Small, John Watts and Alexander Scott. The latter was the first preacher in the township. About 1835 the following well remembered pioneers became citizens of the township: William Hughes, Daniel Devore, John Hicks, Thomas Martindale, George Houk, Thomas Harless, Robert Gillum, S. M. Braden, John McMillen, John W. Wilson and Thomas Pritchard. The next few years witnessed the arrival of many wellknown settlers, some of whom are: Robert Donovan, William Craig, Thomas Patterson, Robert Jellison, Alexander Smith, Michael Bruner, Benjamin Baxter, Jefferson Rhodes, Alexander Seawright, Timothy Callaway, William M. Rogers, James Burket, John Crain, I. C. Thompson, S. M. McClure, James Hood, Silas Atchison, Wesley Johnson, Daniel Short, John Winegardner, John Miller, Samuel Tam, Joseph Qalbreth, Isaac Dill, John Crook, William Barr.

Jefferson township was organized and the first election held September 6, 1831, at the cabin of John Myers, near Georgetown. Maj. Daniel Bell acted as inspector of the election, and it did not take all night to count the ballots, for there were only six votes cast - all of which were cast for Joseph Day for justice of the peace and for Robert Gray and Beaufort Banta, trustees.

Elizabeth, daughter of Beaufort and Elizabeth Banta, bom March 17, 1831, and Barbara, daughter of Robert and Barbara Gray, bom . September 22, 1832.

Probably the first deaths that occurred in the township were Barbara, the fou"r-months-old daughter of Robert Gray, who died December 26, 1832, and Peter Price, who died in 1833, and were interred in the Georgetown cemetery.

Crooked creek in early days afforded abundant water power and gave this part of the county superior manufacturing facilities, and within a short period after the first settlement several mills ^ere erected at different points along this stream.

The first mill in the township was erected at Georgetown in 1829 by George Cicott. This was a sawmill, and later a com cracker attachment was made to grind corn for the early settlers. This mill was operated by different parties for twenty-five years or more.

The Qilrrett mill on Crooked creek above the Reed mill, in section 14, was erected in about 1835. This was both a saw and grist mill and was successfully operated for ten years or more, when it was washed out during a freshet and was never rebuilt.

Andrew Waymire was Cass county's pioneer millwright, and about 1835 erected a grist mill for Pollard and Wilson, but it was known as the "Waymire mill. It stood on Crooked creek near the corner of section 10. It was afterwards purchased and operated by Qeorge Houck, but ceased operations in the later fifties.

About 1838 Alexander Seawright built a sawmill on Crooked creek, in section 26, and in 1843 "^erected a large grist mill on the same site. This was perhaps the largest mill ever erected in the township, being four stories in height and fitted up with four run of buhrs, and did a heavy business until it was totally destroyed by fire in 1847, and was never rebuilt.

James Gordon, father of Max Gordon, about 1840 erected a second sawmill at Georgetown and operated it for some years, but it gradually feU into desuetude.

John Fisher built a grist mill on Crooked creek, in section 14, about 1858, known as the Reed mill. Later D. L. Fisher purchased it and was operated by him, Beaufort Banta, Amos Johnson and others, but was finally abandoned.

About 1868 or 1869 Jacob Ringer erected a flouring mill on Crooked creek, about one-half mile west of Pisgah church, section 23. It was successfully operated by several parties, Mr. Michaels being the last, when, in 1885, it was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.

Taylor Sturgeon erected a small carding machine and woolen mill on the north end of Crooked creek in Jefferson township. It was a small affair and only ran for a few years.

Enoch Cable built a large grist mill at Georgetown on the site of Cieott 's first sawmill, about 1868. In recent years it was supplied with new roller process by Wesley Frick and was doing a good business until it was burned down, February 20, 1911, entailing a loss of over three thousand dollars. The fire was supposed to have been of -incendiary origin. There was freshly fallen snow on the ground and tracks in the snow were traced to a certain house in Georgetown, and the man was indicted by the grand jury, tried and acquitted, but many believed him to be guilty. In 1912 Mr. Frick erected a small mill on the site of the ruins of his old mill and is grinding feed, com and buckwheat only. This with a small grist mill at Pipe creek are the only water power mills now being operated in Cass county.

About 1840 William Rector built a small distillery on Crooked creek, in section 14, and turned out a fair article of **bug juice," but that kind of goods was not in great demand by the good people of Jeflferson and he soon closed his questionable business.

Jefferson township had better water power facilities than any other township in the county and a greater number of mills have been erected within her boundaries than any other township in the county, but all have disappeared. Three causes have operated to close these mills. First, cutting the forests and draining the land have caused the water to flow rapidly off, so that the water power is not efficient or constant ; second, the timber is practically all cut and no demand for sawmills.

and the third cause is the concentration of eflfort into large factories and mills which has driven out the small mills, and probably a fourth reason is the building of good roads and railroads, which render it esay to distribute goods from the large central mills and factories. So that of the scores of small mills that formerly dotted Cass county none remains today. A new era has come, the old gives way to the new in the onward progress of civilization, yet some features of the old we yield with regret, the neighborhood sociability and community of interests.

The pioneers brought Christianity with them into the wilderness of Jeflferson and as soon as a few settlers could be gathered together they began to hold 'religious meetings. It is reported that the first meetings were held in the cabin of Robert Qray about 1833 to 1835, by the Christian (Disciple) denomination. These first meetings were conducted by Elders William Hicks, John and Alexander Scott, pioneer preachers, who settled in Clay township. They conducted religious worship at the cabins of the pioneers for several years, but never culminated in a permanent organization. About this time the Dunkarde or German Baptists began to hold meetings in the cabin of David Weirick, but they also failed to effect an organization, and the Christian or New Light denomination were the first to perfect a church organization in the township.

This is said to be the^ oldest church organization in the township and was formally launched in 1839 at the house of Solomon Burket, who then lived in section 11 and officiated as the organizing minister. The following names appear on the charter roll : Solomon and Sarah Burket, Thomas and Lida Martindale, Thomas and Sarah Vernon, John and Rebecca Hicks, David and Sarah McCombs, Jonathan and Elizabeth Martindale, Mary Dale, Joseph Lewis, James Shaw, John and Rhoda Watts, and possibly others. The first year after the organization meetings were held in private houses and at the log schoolhouse in the neighborhood, but in 1840 the congregation erected a neat little frame church on land donated by John Garrett, situated in the southeast comer of the iiortheast quarter of the southwest quarter section 3, Jefferson township, but deeds were not executed until November 14, 1863, when Joshua Garrett conveyed the ground to the trustees of the church: David McCombs, Hollingsworth Vernon and Larkin Austin. This first little church building served the congregation until 1881, when it was replaced by the present commodious frame house of worship which represents a capital of $1,400.

A Sunday school was organized in 1860 and has been successfully conducted since that date and is a great aid in the upbuilding of the church which now has an active membership of ninety. A cemetery is maintained by the society.

This church was orgsmzed by the Rev. M. M. Post, September 24, 1836, in a log schoolhouse then located in section 17, Noble township, with nineteen charter members, to wit: John, Benjamin, Sarah, Rosannah and Anna Adair, William and Catharine Loman, Taylor and Eunice Sturgeon, Margaret Smith, Joseph Gibson, George, Susan, Jane and Sarah McMillen, John, Margaret and Sarah Wilson. The first eldersi of the church were William Loman, John Adair and Joseph Gibson. John Wilson and Benjamin Adair were elected deacons. Meetings were held at irregular intervals in the old log schoolhouse and at private residences, usually conducted by Father Post, until 1840 when a hewed log church was erected in section 18, Noble township, on land belonging to Mrs. Jane McMillen. Some years later the adjoining farm was sold, before any deeds were made to the church, and the ground upon which the log church stood reverted to the purchaser of the contiguous lands and the old log church, the first erected in Noble township, was converted into a stable by the purchaser, and the congregation worshipped in schoolhouses, chiefly in the schoolhouse located near Curveton.

The matter of selecting a site and building a church agitated the congregation for some years. The congregation was divided. Those living west of Crooked creek desired that the church be built near them, but those residing east of the creek contended that it be erected on their side; so matters dragged along for years, but finally a compromise was agreed to, and on April 16, 1852, John Wilson deeded one and one-fourth acres of ground situated in section 23, Jefferson township, to the trustees of the church, A. E. 'Gray, Alexander Seawright and Richard Pryor. Soon after a contract for building a church edifice was let to Richard Pryor for the sum of $425. A neat frame structure was soon, completed and dedicated to the service of the Master, March 12, 1853. This building, with some minor improvements, served the congregation until 1910, when it was replaced by the present modem house of worship, constructed of cement or ** stucco'' at a cost of $6,000. This new building was dedicated June 11, 1911. The building committee who so faithfully and energetically prosecuted the construction of the new church were Caleb Banta, J. E. Buchanan and Schuyler Gibson. The present trustees are : Jonah Michaels, J. E. Buchanan and Schuyler Gibson ; treasurer, Wilson Seawright.

A Sunday school was instituted in 1831, long before the church organization, at the residence of Mrs. Jane McMillen, who then lived in the west edge of Noble township. Rev. M. M. Post was the moving spirit in the organization of both the Sunday school and the church and was their pastor at intervals until his death in 1876.

This society is an oflBahoot of Pisgah church and dates its history from about 1852, when that church was located and erected. Those living west of Crooked creek were dissatisfied with the location of Pisgah church, and organized Center Presbyterian church under the leadership of Revs. Ed. W. Wright, Levi Hughes and R. Bell. The first meetings were held in Martindale schoolhouse in Boone township, and later in private residences. The organization was perfected in Martindale schoolhouse, November 16, 1854, with the following charter members: William Barr, Sarah Barr, William and Nancy Williamson, James, Robert and Elizabeth Benson, John, Sarah and Newton H. Benson, William Rogers, Elizabeth Murphy, Sarah Fry, Jane McNitt, Mary J. McNitt, Ann Houk^ George and Mary J. Williamson. In ,1858 the congregation erected a comfortable house of worship on land donated by John Watts, situated in the north half of the southeast quarter section 9, Jeflferson township. This is a frame structure 30x40 feet in dimensions and cost $1,000.

Robert McNitt hauled the boulders with an ox team from the bed of Crooked creek, with which to build the foundation. This is not a large congregation, the present membership is only forty, but what they lack in numbers is more than compensated for by the earnest Christian, work of its members, and the church has wielded a great influence for good in the community.

This church was organized in 1855, at the residence of Jacob Yenney, by Rev. Jacob Grommiller with a charter membership, composed of Jacob Yenney and wife, Jacob Gougle and wife, George Gougle and John Gougle. This little band of earnest German Christians held religious meetings at private residences and occasionally in a schoolhouse, keeping the fold together in the Master's service until 1870, when a neat frame church edifice was built in the northwest corner of Jefferson township on land donated by Elizabeth and George Gougle, they conveying to the trustees of the church a lot thirteen rods square on September 23, 1870.

In 1904 the original church building was replaced by the present frame structure, with an outlay of $620. The congregation has steadily increased and now numbers forty-five.

A Sunday school was organized in 1855 and is still maintained. The congregation's spiritual welfare has been in charge of the following pastors: Rev. Kaney, Rev. Spohn, Rev. Kaley, Rev. Wickous, Rev. Wildermuth, Rev. Bothemay, Rev. Wales, Rev. Teder, Rev. Smith, Rev. Oaks, Rev. Snyder, Rev. Alberts, Rev. Heil, Rev. Reper, Rev. J. K. Kroft, Rev. Ruel, Rev. Bumgartner, Rev. Teaney, Rev. Overmeyer, Rev. Stowell,*Rev. Bailer, Rev. Shoe, Rev. Brocker, Rev. Weisjohn, Rev. Holderman ; Rev. W. A. Stowell, 1912, present pastor.

This flourishing congregation is of recent date. There being no church in this neighborhood, the good people were gathered together at Lake Cicott in 1903 by Revs. F. G. Howard and George Jones, and an organization perfected with, a charter membership of thirty-two, as follows :

Henry and Mary Young; Asa, Ida, Harry, Halleck, Ella and Bert Fisher; Sarah Geir; Sarah and Pearl Baehme; Jacob and Ella Williams; Sarah, James and Mahala Burtis; Turpie, Nora, Bessie, John and Ralph Saunders; Charles, Ella, Lee, Susie, Minnie and F. M. Million; Orpha Bingaman, EflSe Gordon, Sarah Burk, Emma Gardner, G. B. Harrington ; Ada, Fay and Mabel Calloway ; Albert, Ella, Tona and Quincy Hildebrandt, Mary Green, Bertha Stewart, Samuel and Ada Berry, John and Theodore Cassman, Fred McDowell, Emma and Maggie Liston, Pauline Banta ; David, Hattie and Susie Shields ; Daniel, Jane and Flora Foglesong, Max Williams and George Webster.

During the year 1904 the congregation secured lot No. 13 in Million's addition to the town of Lakeville, at Lake Cicott, situated in the southeast quarter section 21, Jefferson township, and erected a substantial house of worship, the material being cement blocks. The cost of the church complete was $2,350. A Sunday school was organized in 1904 and is in a prosperous condition, as is also a Ladies' Aid Society. The church is doing a grand work in the Master's vineyard and has a membership of fifty. The following ministers have had pastoral charge :

About 1838 the Old School (Hard Shell) Baptists organized a society in the northeast corner of Jefferson township under the leadership of Rev. Andrew Veal, who lived in that neighborhood at that time, and for many years thereafter.

About 1839 Vincent Calvin, Henry Garrett and Andrew Veal were appointed trustees to erect a suitable house of worship. They secured a location on the northeast corner of section 10, Jefferson township, and built a hewed log church, but owing to removals of some of the members and the weak society, the building was never fully completed and never dedicated, and the Crooked Creek church, a few miles to the northeast, in Harrison township, received the few remaining members of this society, and the log church building was sold in 1843 to Aaron J. Fuller, father of John A. Fuller, and moved about two miles to the north in Boone township on Mr. Fuller's farm and occupied as a residence for many years, and this church society became extinct.

Jefferson township, being settled early before churches were organized, and being hilly, makiig travel difficult, and remote from town, when the grim reaper entered the pioneer cabin, as it frequently did, because the unacclimated settlers were easy victims to the deadly malaria, the early settler was compelled to entomb his dead on a nearby knoll on his own farm, and we find many of the hills of Jefferson dotted with pioneer graves, and we find as many as eighteen different places where the dead sleep the sleep that knows no waking.

On April 6, 1852, John Wilson deeded the ground to the trustees of the church for a church site and burial ground, although interments were made here prior to the above date. Probably the first burial was Elizabeth, daughter of Alex. E. Gray, u\ 1852, and a child of William Smith. The oldest inscriptions on the monun>ents are wife of Richard Pryor, 1842, and children of Alexander Seawright, February 12 and -lune 9, 1848.

This cemetery is situated twp and one-half miles west of Lake Cicott in the southwest quarter, section 19, and the largest and best kept grounds in Cass county, excepting Logansport and Galveston. This land originally belonged to Mr. Winegardner, and he donated the ground and it was utilized for burial purposes many years before dee<£ were made, and not until Winegardner had sold the farm. May 16, 1870, Richard P. Davis, father of Prof. George B. Davis and Commissioner P^rank Davis, deeded one acre of land to the trustees of Winegardner cemetery, and May 30, 1870, Catharine McDowell, of Carroll county, deeded the same to the trustees, William York, Eli Shaw and Richard P. Davis. June 8, 1892, Richard P. Davis also deeded one acre in addition to the old part, and again on November 15, 1900, conveyed one and onehalf acres more, adjoining the above tract on the west, to the Davis Cemetery Association. John W. Wimer, as one of the directors of the Davis Cemetery Association, on January 21, 1901, platted this ground.

Some early burials, as appears on the monuments, are : Hester Ann Davis, 1838; Phebe Million, 1838; James B. Elliott, 1836. Burials as early as 1833 are said to have been made here in unmarked graves.

This little burial ground is well located in the northwest corner of the township on the northwest quarter of section 6. On September 23, 1870, Elizabeth and George Gougle conveyed by deed a lot thirteen rods square in this section t% the trustees of the church. If the ground is platted it is not of record. A church was built and is still maintained. There are only a few graves in this little churchyard.

Georgetown cemetery is located about a quarter of a mile northwest of Georgetown in Cicott 's reserve, on a wooded hill on land now belonging to W. L. Femald. No deeds for the burial ground have ever been recorded although old resident!^ say deeds by Daniel Bell were made when he owned the land in the '30s. This cemetery is very diflScult of access, the hill upon which it is located is very steep, but is finely located, commanding a grand view of the Wabash valley to the south. There are probably one hundred or more graves on this hill but very few of recent date and it is practically abandoned for burial purposes.

The first burial was Barbara, daughter of Robert and Barbara Gray, December 26, 1832 ; Martha, daughter of A. and E. Gray, 1833 ; Emanuel Weirick, first husband of Mrs. Beaufort Banta; voted for Lincoln in November, I860; returned home and died suddenly, probably of apoplexy, and lies buried here on this beautiful hill. Robert and Alexander Gray, Elsroth, Hilton and other pioneers are resting here.

Lake Cicott private cemetery is located on a high sandy knoll, covered with small oak trees, on the south side of Lake Cicott, between the railroad and the lake about eighty rods west of the Lake station. The ground (1907) is enclosed with a barbed wire fence about one hundred feet square.

The first burial was Nancy Spencer, wife of Daniel Bell, 1794-1849. Mrs. Beaufort Banta told the writer she attended this funeral and that Mrs. Bell died suddenly. Members of the Wimer, Hoffman, Gaby, Adams Herman and Tam families are buried here. This is an ideal burial ground, on a sandy hill overlooking Lake Cicott, and Daniel Bell first selected it as such, probably before the land was purchased from the government. There seem to be no deeds or reservations and it has been abandoned as a cemetery.

Hughes or Abraham Banta private burial ground. Mr. Hughes originally owned the land now belonging to Caleb Banta in the S. W. 14 Sec. 24, Jefferson township. This little burial place is located north of the state line division of the Pennsylvania railroad, about eighty rods east of Curveton station, in a fine grove of native trees. Here were buried two children of Mr. Baum in 1835. The following names appear on marble slabs, most of which are broken and fallen down amidst forest trees that have grown since the graves were dug.

Abram Banta, born 1775, died 1863; Rachel, wife of Christopher Lovinger, died 1848, age 51 ; Christiana, wife of Wm. Ross, died June 12, 1846, a^ed 27. A number of unmarked graves are found here and no one living knows who fills them.

Daniel Bell once owned the land and lived on the property where Wm. Max Gordon now resides on the hill north of Georgetown and in the thirties or early forties buried two children near the house in the present orchard of Mr. Gordon. Here also was interred the remains of Mary Ellen MeCleland and a few others in unmarked graves. A crumbling marble slab still marks the spot.

Banta Family Cemetery is located in the edge of a grove on the north side of theroad on the Wm. Banta farm, about eighty rods east of Pisgah church, in the N. W. 14 Sec. 24, Jefferson township.

The following inscriptions were taken from the monuments, which are surrounded by a few pine trees, in 1907 : Catharine, wife of R. Howes, died 1837 ; Sarah, consort of Benj. J. Banta, died 1838 ; Sarah Ann, daughter of B. and E. Banta, died 1851; Geo. W., son of B. and E. Banta, died 1854; Elizabeth, wife of Beaufort Banta, died I860; Beaufort Banta, died 1888, aged 80.

In the early thirties John Garrett donated the ground, but deeds were not executed until November 14, 1863, when Joshua Garrett deeded to the trustees of the church a tract of land in the S. E. V^ Sec. 3, and November 12, 1863, William Million also conveyed one-half acre adjoining the above. May 2, 1866, Andrew Jackson, and December 28, 1893, Wm. Million also deeded lots of land adjoining the above to the trustees. July 1, 1904, Wm. B. Ford, James W. Gray and Wm. W. Smith, as trustees, plat said grounds.

A church was erected here in an early day and is still maintained. Some of the first settlers of Jeflferson township are buried are : Andrew Veal, died, 1863 ; Eli Cotner in 1857 and Jonathan Belew, 1844.

This long since abandoned burial place is situated on a knoll near the center of the S. W. ^ Sec. 11, Jeflfers6n township, formerly owned by Mr. Burket but now tiie property of C. J. Minniman. Here in an early day were entombed a number of the Lafever, Conn, Vernon, Smith, Burket, Million and other families. Today, 1907, under the shade of a wild cherry tree in a woodland pasture south of tiie barn are more than a dozen fallen and broken marble slabs with inscriptions dating from 1843 to 1864, with many unmarked graves.

The ground was never set aside by deed, but belongs to the farm on which it is located, but the occupants of these neglected graves sleep peacefully, oblivious of the herds of stock that graze over them, and another generation will never, know where this once sacred spot is located unless they may chance to scan these pages.

is situated on a sandy knoll, covered with oak bushes, one-half, mile S. E. of the N. W. comer of Jefferson township in the N. W. 14 Sec. 6, now the property of John Gougle. In this elevated yet lonely place Mrs. Lobaugh was laid to rest in 1839. She was the mother of John A. Puller's first wife. A number of unmarked graves are here located and the following inscriptions are taken from marble slabs lying under the trees and covered with leaves : Andrew Cast, son of W. and S. Cast, died 1852; Henry Cast, sgn of W. and S. Cast, died 1854; Alvin, son of S. and L. Swartzell, died 1853 ; Martha, daughter of J. C. and S. Wattebaugh, died 1854.

In the early forties and later were buried on the James McNitt farm, N. W. 14 Sec. 9, Jefferson township, a child of Samuel Fry, Sarah Benson and three children, Jane, wife of James McNitt in 1855; James McNitt, Sr., who died in 1845 and buried at Concord, was removed here in 1855; Eobert McNitt, 1867, and his child in 1859; Wm. McNitt and daughter in 1868.

Mrs. Jane McNitt donated one acre of ground for church and burial purposes in 1855 or before, but Center Presbyterian church was erected one-half mile to the east and deeds were never executed for this ground. The McNitts were removed to Pisgah cemetery and the ground abandoned as a burial place.

was established on his farm a short distance northwest of Pisgah church in the N. W. 14 Sec. 23, before the church was erected or even thought of, in 1852. Samuel Wilson and several others were buried here but no markers were erected and all vestige of this little burial place, once sacred to the memory of the pioneer dead, has passed into desuetude.

was located on Richard Pryor's farm in the N. E. i^ Sec. 14, now the property of his son, Horace Pryor. Before any public burial grounds were laid out in Jefferson township, death entered Mr. Pryor 's pioneer home and he was compelled to lay his loved ones to rest in the virgin soil under the forest trees on his farm and a few of the neighbors also buried their dead here. When Pisgah cemetery was established Mrs. Pryor 's remains were removed but others were left to sleep in their original forest home unconscious of the busy world that today ignorantly tread above them.

In 1866, a Mr. Fitzgerald, who then lived on the N. E. i/4 Sec. 14, Jefferson township, on the farm now belonging to Mr. M. McNitt, buried two of his children in the corner of his garden, where they peacefully sleep till Judgment day.

This burial ground is situated on the N. E. i/4 Sec. 15 on the farm formerly owned by Geo. Houk, but now the property of Geo. L. Webster, whose wife was a Houk. Here are now found two marble slabs with the following inscriptions : Levi Edgar, son of S. A. Suter, died 1847 ; C. A. Theodore, son of S. A. Suter, died 1846 ; Teter Houk and his daughter Caroline and a few others are buried here in unmarked graves. The wife of Geo. Houk was buried here but was removed to Mt. Hope many years ago.

John Fry, sometime in the thirties, donated ground for burial purposes in the S. W. corner of the N. E. y^ Sec. 12, Jeflferson township. The surrounding farm has since belonged to William and Henry Cotner and others. No deeds for this burial ground were found until 1905, when Melvin E. Nethercutt and wife, who was a Cotner, deeds to Henry Meyer the forty acre tract containing this cemetery, but conveys it subject to this incumbrance.

This burial ground is located in the edge of a woodland one-fourth mile north of the White Post road and the same distance west of .the Noble township line. It is grown up with bushes and briers and sadly neglected. There are probably fifty monuments and markers and as many more unmarked graves. It is in an out of the way place, is practically abandoned as a cemetery and Wm. Sturgeon is probably the last . interment, in 1888. The first burial was probably the infant son of A. and R. Wolford, in 1835.

Many well known pioneer names are found on the markers, as Jacob Wolford, died 1861; Joshua Binney, died 1857, age 86; J. W. Johnson and the Nethercutts, Chilcotts and Robinsons; John R. Chilcott, soldier, War of 1812, died 1875, age 87.

In the forties and early fifties four children of Wm. Rogers, who owned the land at the time, were buried on his farm situated in the N. W. 1/4 Sec. 22, about a mile north of Lake Cicott.

Here also were interred Benjamin Berry, his wife and two children. This lot is now situated in a woods-pasture on the farm of Wm. A. Barr and the only mark of this once sacred spot is a marble slab leaning up against «C tree with the following inscription : Benj. Berry, died February 9, 1853.

In recent years a road was made near this place and in cutting down the hill human bones were found, supposed to be those of the above named persons. Many a pioneer grave's unmarked, as you may plainly see. But little he cares for worldly show, when out on the unknown sea.

Helm's history states that the first schoolhouse in Jefferson township was erected on the Dunham farm in 1836. Mrs. Beaufort Banta,'just prior to her death, told the writer that there was a round log schoolhouse built as early as 1836 near the center of section 24, about one-half mile east of Pisgah church. This was the typical pioneer cabin with oiled paper windows, puncheon floor, fireplace and clapboard roof. About 1847 this was replaced by a frame and about the same time a frame schoolhouse was erected near Curveton. About 1868 both these buildings were abandoned and a new schoolhouse erected at Pisgah church. This was torn down in 1892 and the present schoolhouse, No. 5, built one-half mile north of Pisgah church on the southeast comer of section 14.

The first teacher is said to be Alanson Crocker. He was a New Englander, an unusually bright and refined gentleman, but an eccentric character and when off duty would frequently indulge to excess, and as a consequence he died in the poorhouse some time in the forties. , - township trustee record of 1837, where it is stated that on June 24 of that year Jefferson township was divided into five school districts by the trustees, Robert Gray, Daniel L. Devore and Joseph Watts. The patrons of each district had exclusive control over the schools, erected scboolhouses where they desired and employed or dismissed teachers. Under this system log scboolhouses soon made their appearance in different parts of the township. As early as 1838 a log house was built in section 2 ; one in section 28, south of the lake, and one west of the lake, known as Herman schoolhouse ; one in the northeast comer of section 30. This was often termed the Sheep-pen schoolhouse, from the fact that flocks of sheep sought shelter therein when school was closed, which viras generally nine months of the year. Log scboolhouses were built on the hill north of Georgetown, in section 9, a half mile east of Center church, and on the northeast corner of section 30 and on the river bank in Georgetown.

There was no public money, the schools were taught by subscription and never more than three months in the year, the teachers being paid from $8 to $20 per month. A Bible, a spelling book and an arithmetic constituted the text books for all grades and the three R's the curriculum. Gradually the log scboolhouses were replaced by frame buildings but their location was still left to neighborhoods and districts and even as late as 1886 there were eleven scboolhouses irregularly located in the township. Under the operations of the new constitution in 1853 a better system was gradually evolved. Beaufort Banta, Robert Gray and John Kistler constituted the first board of township trustees under the new law. It was not, however, until about thirty years ago that the schools were placed on the present perfected system and the schoolhouses arranged to meet the wants of all the people.

The scboolhouses are now all comfortable frame buildings and are equitably located. No. 1 is located near the southeast comer of Sec. 2 ; No. 2 near the southeast comer of Sec. 4 ; No. 3 on the southeast corner of Sec. 17; No. 4 (Center schoolhouse) on the northwest corner of Sec. 22 ; No. 5 on the southeast comer of Sec. 14 ; No. 6 at Georgetown ; No. 7 on the southeast corner of Sec. 28 ; No. 8 in the northwest quarter Sec. 31 and No. 9 on the southeast corner of Sec. 6.

The school property of the township at this time is valued at about $8,000. Nine teachers are employed and the pupils of school age number 347. Jefferson has a graded system of schools up to and through the eighth year and forty students were graduated last year from the common schools. This township has no high school but her pupils, however, have easy access to Burnettsville, Royal Center and Logansport high schools. These conditions certwnly show great progress in educational advantages since pioneer days eighty years ago.

The Village of Georgetown was laid out in July, 1836, by Daniel Bell, a brother-in-law of (General Tipton, and is one of the oldest settlements in the county. It is situated on the north bank of the Wabash river in George Cicott's reserve and is probably named from Cieott The original plat shows fifty-seven lots and six streets, to wit : Canal, Wabash, Market, Jackson, Wai^ington and Bonaparte; the first two running east and west, the others north and south. It early became a prominent shipping point on the old canal, and during canal days did an immense business and was the chief source of supplies for a Large territory. Among the first settlers of the village was Silas Atchison, who came as early as 1830 ; and about the same time John Myers moved to the village and became the first merchant of the town, opening a general store. He was a large land owner and subsequently sold his store to Simon Elsrath, who with a Mr. Berry carried on the business for some years. Cieott 's sawmill, built in 1829, was the first industry and around which the village grew.

in Georgetown was built by William Atchison on lot No. 1, a pretentious building for that day. It was destroyed by fire in 1872. The last owner and proprietor was John T. Wiley, who was also a merchant and the last postmaster.

was Joseph Day, who also ran a small tannery for a few years until he was elected justice of the peace and that lucrative oflSce caused him to relinquish his trade for legal pursuits.

was established in the early thirties under the name of "Amsterdam.'' The office was discontinued in the seventies but re-established under the name of ** Gordon," but was discontinued some years ago and the town is now supplied by Rural Route No. 7 from Logansport. The first physician was Dr. James Gordon, father of Max Gordon, who located here in 1835 and later engaged in mercantile business and erected a large warehouse on the old canal about 1852. He dealt in all kinds of merchandise, bought and shipped grain on the canal to Toledo and carried on an extensive business, but when the canal was closed by the building of railroads his trade was entirely killed as was also the town and today there are only a few dilapidated houses, a small store kept by Albert Kleping, a blacksmith shop by Charles Nethercutt, a small mill operated by Noah Frick and a district schoolhouse. The first schoolhouse at Georgetown was a log structure that stood near the entrance to the bridge, and the first teacher was probably Joseph Day.

During the year 1883, a covered wooden bridge was built across the Wabash at Georgetown and James Gordon was the superintendent of construction. This bridge was carried away by the great ice gorge, March 20, 1912, and during the fall of the same year the present handsome is a small station on the state line division of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad, situated at the east end of Lake Cicott, from which it derives its name. The former name was **Lakeville" and under this title James DuflPy laid out the original town July 9, 1868, and became its first store keeper and postmaster* and later township trustee. At one time there was a large steam saynnill located here that did an extensive business but want of material caused its suspension. The present postmaster is Albert Grood and two rural mail routes, Nos. 31 and 32, deliver daily mail to the farmers in the surrounding country. Free rural mail service was established in 1903.

At present there are two general stores kept by Lantz & Qood and Turpie Saunders, the latter is also the station agent; a restaurant kept by Jacob Williams; a blacksmith shop and implements by John Cassman. The Pennsylvania railroad has extensive ice houses located here which supply a good quality of ice taken from Lake Cicott.

A Methodist church was erected in the town a few years ago but the schoolhouse is nearly a mile to the north. Million brothers operate extensive sand pits near the town and ship annually 2,000 car loads of sand to all parts of the country and Mr. Million says there are ''millions'' in it.

is a station on the state line division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and is situated in the northeast comer of section 26. It is reported that Alexander Seawright laid out a town here soon after the railroad was completed, about 1860, and that William Seawright was the first postmaster and Abraham Miller the last when the postoffice was discontinued about 1900.

The records show that in February, 1878, William Turpie and William Collom laid out a town consisting of ninety-six lots with five streets; Railroad and Logan streets running east and west; Main, Collom and Turpie streets running north and south. A schoolhouse and a general store with a postoffice were located here but all have disappeared and Curveton is now only a fiag station on the railroad to accommodate the farmers and especially school children.

is a paper town, situated in the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 3 in township 27, north of range 1, west.

This town consisted of forty-eight lots with six streets, North, Main and Garret streets running east and west and Joseph, West and Black Oak streets running north and south. It was laid out November 10, 1837, and duly recorded by John B. Durett, recorder of Cass county, but this is all the writer has been able to ascertain about this town 4nd evidently it did not survive long.

Doctors may be a necessary evil but **the people are inclined to evil and that continually," and history would not be complete without at least

Dr. James Gordon was probably the first physician to take up his residence within the limits of Jefferson township, locating at Georgetown in 1835, where he took up the practice of his chosen profession for four or five years and then engaged in mercantile pursuits, and became one of the largest dealel^ and best known merchants on the Wabash as well as one of the most influential and respected citizens of the county. He was bom in Ohio, 1809, attended medical college at Cincinnati, located in Vermilion county, Illinois, where he married Cyndia McMillen in 1834, by whom he had four children, one of whom, Wm. M., is now an honored citizen of Georgetown. Mrs. Gordon died in 1842 and the doctor remarried in 1845 to Ann Neflf and to this union five children were born, two of whom are now living. The doctor died October 11, 1889, and lies at rest in Pisgah cemetery.

About 1845 Dr. Robert Wilson lived and practiced medicine at Georgetown for two or three years. He moved to Bumettsville, then to Lockport, where he died about 1900. He has a son who is a practicing physician in Chicago and several daughters married and living in Carroll county. Dr. Vroman followed Dr. Wilson at Georgetown in 1848 and ill 1850 he was succeeded by Dr. Childs, who was also a school teacher, and in 1853 Dr. Rockhill replaced him and was himself succeeded by Allen B. Jones, who in 1864 went to Tennessee and later moved to Bumettsville, Indiana, where he died September 4, 1909.

The first doctor to locate at L^e Cicott was Dr. Hughes in 1848 but soon moved to Monticello and was lost to our informant. Lake Cicott was without a doctor until about 1865 when Dr. Busick opened an oflSce, but he soon moved to greener pastures and was followed about 1880 by Dr. Ezra Geer, who resided here until his death about 1893 and was buried in Pisgah cemetery. He was bom in Vermont, practiced in Ohio and served in the First Ohio Artillery during the Civil war. He was an old man of no great medical attainments but of kindly disposition. A daughter, Mrs. Geo. L. Webster, is now a respected resident of the township.

Dr. Caleb Scott, an eclectic physician, lived and practiced medicine in the western part of the township about 1851 to 1855. He moved to White county where he died some years ago.

Dr. J. B. McElvey was located and practiced at Curveton in 1873 and was a charter member of the Cass County ^ledical Society. He moved to Rockfield, Carroll county, and gave up the practice of medicine and followed his trade, that of a carpenter, and in 1907 was living in Logansport.

Dr. Singer was a practicing physician at Reed's ]Mill about 1873-4 and died there and lies at rest in Pisgah cemetery. He was a soldier, and had a family who moved away after the doctor's death.

Jefferson township heads the county for hills, creeks, and romantic scenery and while its hills were originally difficult to travel over, yet they have in recent years been cut down and roadways opened up through all sections of the township and the abundance of gravel contained in its hills provide material easy of access to construct roads and today many of the principal thoroughfares are improved by grading and graveling and a few miles of stone road have been constructed on the west line of the township.

The farms are generally well improved and large; neatly painted dwellings and outbuildings may be seen on every hand, in which are installed the electric telephone, so that the farmer of today can sit in his parlor chair, communicate with and transact business with the merchants of Logansport without spending an entire day traveling over the hills and mud roads to town, as the pioneers were compelled to do eighty years ago. Many farmers are also provided with automobiles and over smooth roads travel quickly and in comfort, and with the telephone practically annihilate time and space.

In early days there were few amusements, hence religious meeti^igs, singing schools and spelling matches were the chief diversions and always well attended. The pioneer preacher's monthly visits to tho log schoolhouse would attract young and old from the entire settlement and the old singing master reading buckwheat notes and beating time wuth tuning fork in hand was as good as a circus to the young people. The spelling school, however, was more frequently held and in the v'inter time was the weekly entertainment, where great rivalry was excited between different school districts and expert spellers were more numerous among the pioneers than are found today.

There was a quartet of extra good spellers in Jefferson, composed of Harrison Gray, Amos Chileott, John W. Wiley and Josephus T\m. These boys knew more about Webster's spelling book than Webster t 'er dreamed of, and were always on hand at every spelling match in the township and their fame extended beyond the limits of the township.

In early days prairie fires swept over the western part of Jefferson township nearly every fall and were very destructive and a terror to the pioneers. Fencing, buildings and small growth of timber and everything in its path would be consumed by the terrible and rapid progress of the fire. Joseph W. Barr, son of William Barr, were pioneers and the former, now living in Logansport, relates some exciting experiences in fighting prairie fires. James D) McNitt also states that his mother, Jane McNitt, died from the effects of fighting prairie fires in 1855. These fires would sweep across the prairies or through forests with a roaring noise that could be heard for miles and was as terrible as an **army with banners.*'

Wilson Seawright, a prominent farmer of the township, who has a fondness for anim^ and birds, constructed a park in 1906 on his farm in Jefferson township consisting of seven acres of beautiful ground, enclosing the same with a high woven wire fence and stocked it with elks, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, Russian jack rabbits, golden pheasants, wild geese and alligators. The latter could not resist the cold winters and have died. He has raised a number of elks and sold them to ready buyers. He says he hopes to secure some moose before they become extinct. In 1907 an organization of Jefferson township farmers was formed wdth Wilson Seawright at its head, representing 4,800 acres of land upon which they expect to maintain a **game preserve," and the state is aiding and encouraging such movements, and is endeavoring to locate such a preserve in every county, and the state game warden in 1908 sent twenty pairs of Mongolian pheasants to Mr. Seawright 's

Jefferson township preserve; in 1909 twenty-five pairs of Hungarian partridges and in 1910 an additional consignment of twelve pairs, all of which are doing well on this extensive game preserve.

Biographical sketches of the following persons have been written and may be found in Helm's History, published in 1886, and will not be reproduced here: