Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 52: Tipton Township, 1913

Tipton township, named in honor of Gen. John Tipton, lies in the eastern part of the county and is bounded on the north by the Wabash river, on the east by Miami county, on the south by Jackison and Deer Creek townships and on the west by Washington township. It is the largest township in the county, being six miles in width and seven and a half, extreme length, north and south, contains an area of over forty square miles, and lies in congressional townships 26 and 27 north, ranges 2 and 3 east. It is well watered and drained by the Wabash river, into which flows Pipe creek, quite a large stream running through the north and east part of the township and affording water power for the operation of mills. Little Deer creek flows north through the east central part of the township and empties into Pipe creek. Rock creek and Dry run flow westwardly through Washington township and empty into Deer creek in Carroll county.

In the northern portion of the township, along the Wabash and Pipe creek, the surface is quite broken and hilly, but the central and southern parts are generally level. Originally the land was covered with a growth of heavy timber, consisting of walnut, poplar, oak, beech, sugar, etc., indicative of a deep and fertile soil, and Tipton ranks second to none in the county in productiveness. -

Along Pipe creek the limestone outcrops and the water has cut a deep channel in the solid rock, and the sides of this channel, or canyon, present a rugged and romantic appearance, and at one place in the course of the creek there is quite a waterfall known as Pipe creek falls; this with the craggy ledges of rock and precipitous hills presents scenery of rare beauty.

Tipton township formed a part of the Indian reserve and was not opened to settlement until ten years after the settling of some other portions of the county, and it was not until 1838 that the first white man erected a cabin and took up his residence in this township. In that year John D. Forgy and James Cook settled in section 1, township 26 north, range 2 east. They were not permanent residents, soon became dissatisfied in their forest homes, sold their claims and moved to Logansport, where Mr. Forgy engaged in business for a short time, then relumed to his native home in Ohio, where he died September 24, 1844. He was the father of C. P. Forgy, now living in New Waverly.

The first permanent settlers were Lewis Conner and Allen Wilson. They located in the northwest part of the township, erected their log cabins in the midst of the dense forest, and began to clear and prepare the land for cultivation, which only brave hearts, energetic and strong men were capable of doing. In the same year William Vandeveer located in the Wa-pa-pe-shee reserve. He was a great hunter and supported himself and family largely by the chase, and his cabin was always decorated inside and out by coon, mink and other peltries stretched up against the logs of his cabin. In 1839 William Scott became a resident and Andrew Wilson, the father of Charles B. Wilson, the present township trustee, erected a cabin in section 12, where he remained until his death some years ago. He was one of the most influential men in the township, and did much to develop and build up the material and spiritual welfare of the community.

21, and Moses Barnett in section 20. Mr. Barnett served as county commissioner and as justice of the peace. When he was elected justice of the peace, his boy asked if they were all squires, when the mother replied, **No, to be sure not; only your father and me are squires.''

In 1840 Thompson McGrue settled in section 35 north, range 2 east, and William and Westley DeMoss in the same section; James Tucker, David Ripley, William P. Louthain, Lewis Whitacre, John Hahn and John Larimore.

During the year 1841 David and Samuel Puterbaugh settled on Pipe creek and the same year came Vincent and Joseph Louthain, John Herri tt, David Whitsell, John Ladd, E. Harris.

During the years 1844 and 1845 many well-known pioneers took up their abode in the forests of Tipton, among whom were : Charles Flanagan, near Walton; Henry Wilkinson, west of Walton; James, Samuel, John, William and Hiram Lowry, Daniel Bowyer, John Booker, Henry P. Berry, William Nelson, in section 7 ; Gilbert Wall, near Walton ; Hugh Morgan, Mathias Bechdol and Conrad Minnick in the south- western part of the township. Prominent among the arrivals in 1846 were: William P. Thomas, in section 17, who became an energetic and active promoter of all that tended to the betterment of the community ; Anthony Hilles, James Louthain, John C. Leflfel, a relative to the LeflPiel family in Bethlehem township; John Ulery, Dudley Madden, Joseph Hemard, Thomas Plummer, Jesse Haas, Samuel Lowman, James Brockman, Oliver Waite and William Nichols.

The township was organized by the board of county commissioners on March 3, 1840, and an election ordered to be held at the house of David Ripley on Monday, April 1, 1840, and William Scott appointed inspector (see Commissioners' Record II, page 166). Probably this election was not held, for we find another election was ordered to be held at the cabin of Andrew Wilson on September 7, 1842, and Samuel T. Mc- Grew was appointed inspector (see Commissioners' Record II, page 338).

Agriculture is the chief industry of the people of Tipton, and no better farming district can be found in the county than in this township, which produces all the products indigenous to a temperate climate, and in recent years much attention has been given to stock raising and large herds of cattle, sheep and hogs, together with fine horses, may be seen grazing on the fields of this township.

In an early day, however, when the land was covered with heavy forests of valuable timber, mills sprang up along the water-courses to manufacture lumber and various products of the forest. The first mill was erected by David and Samuel Puterbaugh. This was a sawmill with a small buhr for grinding cornmeal for the pioneers, and stood on Pipe creek in section 10, near the Miami county line. The power was supplied by an old-fashioned overshot Waterwheel and was built in 1842-3. It was operated by Samuel Oblinger, and later by Lewis Lyttle and others until about 1882, when it was closed down.

George Sharts and Jacob Ringer built a sawmill on Pipe creek just below the falls about 1850. Ten years later John Costenborder purchased it and operated it for twenty years or more, but it was finally closed many years ago.

Elihu and Thomas Plummer built a sawmill in 1857 on ''Little Deer creek,'' in section 17 ; operated later by Lindol Smith and David Snyder, but it ceased operations thirty years ago.

As early as 1851 Thomas Hansberry erected a sawmill at the falls of Pipe creek, and about 1855 a large grist mill, the first of the kind in the township, was built at the same point by James A. Lewis, but it was some years after burned down. It was rebuilt by Joseph Stewart and operated by him, Charles Green and others, but ceased its operations in the early nineties and has long since been torn down.

John Costenborder in 1860 built a large flouring mill on Pipe creek below the falls, and generally known as the Costenborder mill. It was modernized in 1888 and the new roller process introduced. This mill still stands and is operated by Mr. Anderson, his chief products being cornmeal, buckwheat and graham flour, and is the only water power

A sawmill was built about 1864 by William Hildebrandt on **Li4;tle Rock creek/* section 23, and run by water power, and later by steam, but it has long since been torn down and removed.

About 1870 Mr. Dunbar built a small sawmill at the mouth of a creek that flows into the Wabash at the upper end of *' Cedar Island,*' but the dam was washed away before the mill began operations, and it was never run.

A sawmill was built by David Puterbaugh on Bear creek, northwest part of Tipton township, about 1847, and was operated extensively by him and Milton McGrew for twenty years or more, but like all the old water power mills it has been abandoned and all vestige of its former greatness has disappeared. After the railroads were constructed and transportation made easy, the water power mills gave way to steam sawmills which were erected at Walton, Onward and in the northern part of the township.

In the early eighties L. E. and J. C. Howe built a large steam sawmill near Circleville and in 1883 Harry Bennett erected a steam sawmill near the Wabash river, which was later operated by Isaac Himmelberger and 0. P. Plynn.

The timber, having been cut off and exhausted, all these mills have been closed and removed, and the only sawmills in the township at this time are two small steam mills, 07ie at Walton and one at Onward.

Realizing that education was* essental to good citizenship, the pioneers began early to arrange for the proper instruction of their children, and as soon as a few families were located in a neighborhood schools were opened. The first school in the township was taught, not in a public school building, but in an old log cabin that had been abandoned by a ** squatter,'* located on the Allen Wilson farm in section 12. This was in the winter of 1842-3, and a Mr. Heathener was the first teacher; and the following winter Lewis F. Bowyer taught the second school in a cabin on the Andrew Wilson farm in section 12.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1844 in this section. This was the * typical round log house, with cracks, plastered with clay, benches and floor made of slabs, oiled paper for windows, clapboard roof, which was the only ceiling; here in this primitive temple of learning, with a fifty or sixty day term, where only the three R*s were taught, was sown the seed that has developed into the present magnificent system of graded schools with ihe term lengthened to one hundred and fifty days, where all grades are taught up to and including the present commissioned high school, equal to a college course of eighty years ago. This original house was replaced by a hewed log structure, which in 1853 gave way to a frame and later the present brick schoolhouse, which was erected on the southeast corner of section 2, now designated as School No. 2.

Probably the second schoolhouse in the township was a hewed log building erected about 1845 or 1846 near the center of section 35, in the northwest corner of the township. This was occupied until 1868, when it was torn down and a frame building erected a mile to the southeast, which in turn gave way to the present brick schoolhouse, known as District No. 1.

In this old log schoolhouse B. F. Louthain, the editor of the Pharos, was first taught the rudiments of knowledge, under the tutelage of such pioneer teachers as Mr. Kyle, John and James McGrew, Aaron Puter- baugh and Lewis Jack. James McGrew was a captain on a canal boat in the summer time and taught school in the winter ; was a tall and powerful man and knew how to wield the birch. He moved to Minnesota and served as a captain in the Indian wars, and also in the Civil war.

In the forties a log schoolhouse was built on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 26, replaced by a frame on the northwest comer of the southwest quarter of section 25 about 1860 or 1863, and about 1875 the present brick schoolhouse (No. 3) was erected on the northeast corner of section 35. In this township, as elsewhere, there was no system or order in the erection of schoolhouses or in the management of the schools, each neighborhood built its schoolhouses wherever they might desire, and employed and discharged teachers at their own sweet wiU. The result was that schools were irregularly placed throughout the township. It was some years after the adoption of the new constitution of 1852 that the township trustee assumed full control of the schools and arranged the districts with some regularity, and in the early eighties there were thirteen schools in the township, the three above located ; No. 4, situated in the northwest corner of section 32 ; No. 5, in the east side of section 7 ; No. 6, near the center of section 20 ; No. 7, in the southeast quarter of section 10 ; No. 8, in the northeast coiner of section 33 ; No. 9, at Walton; No. 10, on the northeast comer of section 23; No. 11, in Bichardsville reserve, north of Pipe creek ; No. 12, in Oz-an-diah reserve, near Pipe creek, and No. 13, in Onward.

These schools have all been maintained until 1907, since which time several district schools have been abandoned and consolidated with others.

In 1907 a handsome twonatory brick high school was erected in Onward, containing five rooms and costilig $10,500. This is a commissioned high school and its curriculum is equal to the city schools. Five teachers are employed and forty high school students are being instructed in the higher branches, in addition to all the lower grades. The town of Walton in 1907 also erected a two-story brick high school building, with an expenditure of $8,000. The commodious grounds upon winch this building stands were donated to the town by Isaac Bumgardner shortly before his death. Five teachers are employed in the Walton school, and all grades are taught up to and including the high school. The latter became a commissioned high school in 1908, and now has about fifty students in the high school grades.

After the erection of commodious school buildings in Onward and Walton some of the smaller district schools were abandoned and consolidated with those schools. Districts Nos. 2, 9, 5, 6 and 7 have been abandoned and the students from the three latter are hauled to Onward at a daily cost of $3.75, and is eminently satisfactory to the patrons.

Tipton township at present has nine schools, including that of Walton, all of which are substantial brick structures, and represent a capital of nearly $30,000.

The school enumeration for the past year was 290, with 160 in the town of Walton, making a total of 450 in the township, taught by seventeen teachers. Tipton takes just pride in the complete and efficient system of its graded schools with its corps of experienced and trained instructors.

Some of the early trustees were : William P. Thomas, Oliver Waite, Frank Bowyer, Alexander Benson, Mr. Persinger; Benjamin Heward, 1865; Samuel Alexander, 1867; Thomas J. Flynn, 1868; D. B. Bnyart, 1869; P. 0. Flynn, 1877; W. T. Shafer, 1880; William Ramer, 1882;

So far as is known the Methodists were the pioneers of Christianity in this township. As early as 1842 they began to hold religious meetings under the auspices of Rev. Allen Skillman, in a cabin on the Andrew Wilson farm (northwest qufitrter of section 12).

In the year 1843 an organization was formed in the cabin of David Baker west of Onward, the Rev. R. Calvert oflBciating. The early members of this first Methodist class were: David Baker and wife, Peter Berry and wife, Joseph Heward and wife, D. K. Smith and wife, William P. Thomas and wife.

Services were held at irregiilar intervals at the cabins of David Baker, Peter Berry, D. K. Smith, William P. Thomas and the Mays schoolhouse and later at the Crossroads schoolhouse, until 1870, when a commodious frame church, 30x45 feet, was erected on land donated by William P. Thomas, situated in the northwest quarter of section 8, at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated April 23, 1871, by the Rev. L. M. Monson, assisted by Rev. V. M. Beamer.

Prior to the erection of the church building a reorganization of the class took place in 1870. The meeting was held in the '^ Crossroads" schoolhouse, presided over by Rev. R. J. Parrot, and the following persons signed the charter roll :

William P. Thomas and wife, Ezra Dela^^r and wife, Alf. Delawter and wife, D. K. Smith and wife, Henry Snyder, Thomas and Catherine Plummer, J. W. Thomas and wife, Harriet Snyder, GtK)rge, Annetta, Samuel, William R., J. W. and Eliza Thomas, Uriah and Martha Oblinger, Eliza McClure, Orpheus, Mary, Sallie, Catherine, Jacob, Rebecca and Laura Delawter, Moses and Catherine Plummer, William, Chfitrlotte, Mary and Josephine Helvie, Precilla Snyder, Ermina Kessling, Lydia Yohea, Charity McClure, Absalom, Martha, Sarah, Amelia and Solomon Blinn, Benjamin Dunn, Jane, Rebecca, Eliza and Mahlon Smith, Catherine and Delia Steward, Adelia Kelly, Mary Weston, Mary Guge, Margaret Venter, Andrew Richison, John and Emma Allison, Allexson Patterson, Thomas and Sarah Deford, Minerva Kinsey, Margaret Hopper, M. H. and Sarah E. Brown.

At this reorganization in 1870 Henry Snyder was made class leader, and by unanimous consent of the society the name was changed from Crossroads church to McKendree Chapel.

A Sunday school was organized in 1890 and continued to be actively maintained until the church was removed. After Onwfitrd and Walton grew to be towns of some size and churches established there, the members of McKendree chapel began to withdraw and attach themselves to the churches in those towns and at Pipe Creek, and the congregation thus scattered, disbanded and the church was closed in 1897 and ceased to exist as an independent organization, and in 1899 the church building was removed by the Onward class to that town and has since been occupied by the Methodist church of Onward, and the ground upon which it stood has reverted to the adjoining farm, and nothing remains to mai^ the place of this once flourishing church, the first religious organization in Tipton township. In 1847, when Rev. Leach ministered to this society, his circuit extended from the Michigan road to Marion, with fifteen different appointments, each of which he visited once a month, and he

The presiding elders of this circuit prior to 1871 were: Rev. May, Rev. Huffman, Rev. Mahon, Rev. Lamb, Rev. Cooper, Rev. Monison, Rev. Barnes and Rev. Beamer.

This church is an outgrowth of the dissolution of McKendree chapel, which was closed in 1897 and reorganized in the spring of 1899 by the Rev. S. P. Spitz, with the following charter members :

Henry Snyder, Maria Snyder, David and E. D. Snyder, W. O. Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Emma Thomas, Margaret Hopper, Ellen Little, Samuel and Martha Smith and others.

During the summer of 1899 the old McKendree chapel building, which was erected in 1870 on the northwest quarter of section 8, Tipton township, about two miles northwest of Onward, was removed to that town, repaired and improved and is still occupied as a house of worship by the Onward Society of the Methodist Episcopal church. The removal and improvement of the old church were made at an outlay of about $500. The membership is steadily increasing and the society is in a prosperous condition, doing good work for Onward and surrounding country. The following pastors have administered to the spiritual wants of the congregation: S. F. Spitz, 1899; W. H. Osbom, W. M. Amos, Wm. Hamilton, Albert Hoover, George Pelly, John Parker, 1910-13.

The second denomination to acquire a footing in Tipton township was the Christians, who held meetings at the residence of Wm. Nelson as early as 1845. An organization was effected with a few members, the names of whom we were unable to secure. Elder Nelson looked after the spiritual wants of the little flock and some years later the society ceased to exist.* About 1886, through the efforts of Rev. James H. Lacy, another organization of this denomination was effected in Onward. Some of the leading charter members were: E. L. Mays, John Mays, Frank Mays, Sarah Mays, Jacob Brandt and wife, Andrew Waggerman, Andrew Richison. The two latter were elected the first trustees. Soon after the organization the trustees purchased of the United Brethren people their old church in Onward, as that organization had disbanded.

Through the efforts of Rev. Robert Sellers, an evangelist, this society was organized in Staggs Hall, Walton, Indiana, on October 13, 1901, with the following charter members : 0. M. Barnard, Elizabeth Bernard, Robert and Lottie Benson, James and Lydia Richason, Vii^nia Flanagan, W. W. Branaman, George and Elvira Wysong, Ella Kapp, Christopher and Sarah Bean, Francis and Mary Lindermuth, Hezekiah Kline, Grace Kohl, Edna Howard, Jesse Allspaugh and 0. A. Dutchess.

The first ofiicers were : Deacons, James Richason and George Wy&ong; elders, M. M. Howard and 0. M. Barnard; clerk and treasurer, 0. A. Dutchess ; trustees, Geo. Wysong, Geo. W. Bishop and 0. A. Dutchess.

In the sumiuer of 1902 the congregation erected a commodious brick church edifice at an outlay of $2,800. A Sunday school was instituted in October, 1901 ; this with the Ladies' Aid Society is still maintained and are great aids in promoting the church's influence. The membership has steadily increased and now numbers fifty. Ministers who have served the congregation in a pastoral capacity are : Rev. Robert Sellers, evangelist and organizer; Rev. Philips, 1902; Rev. Milo J. Smith, Rev. Patton, Rev. W. A. Foster, Rev. Francis Coyle; Rev. A. L. West, 1912.

The early history of Methodism in Walton is involved in some obscurity and it is diflScult to ascertain the exact date of the first organization. From the most reliable information the Walton class was established about 1855 and the village schoolhouse was used as a meeting place. After the completion of the Lutheran church in 1861, the class met there for a time, but subsequently the meeting place was changed back to the schoolhouse which served as a place of worship until they were able to erect a building, which they did in 1870. This was a substantial frame church, 40x48 feet, erected on a lot donated by Allen DoUarhide in the northern part of the town, and cost the sum of $1,800.

This original house of worship was replaced in 1906 by the present handsome church, constructed of cement blocks and represents a capital of $6,000. The membership in 1885 was 70, which has increased to over 100 in 1912. A Sunday school was established in 1871 and has been steadily growing in numbers and influence. The Epworth League and Ladies' Aid Society, organized some years ago, are also prosperous and greatly aid the forward movement of the church.

This church was organized November 4, 1860, by Rev. J. N. Bamett with the following charter members: Samuel Stough and wife, Maria; William, Henry, Elizabeth and Sarah C. Stough; Rev. J. N. Bamett and wife ; Wm. Snyder and Rev. James M. Smith. Meetings were at first held in the scboolhouse but the society grew rapidly and in 1861 measures were taken toward the erection of a house of worship and in that year work was begun, but owing to the fact that the congregation was not strong financially, it was several years before the church was completed, furnished and dedicated, which was not until 1871. It is related that the pastor mixed and carried the mortar used in the construction of the building, which was a substantial brick structure. Members of the congregation made and burned the brick and otherwide made sacrifices, and Uved frugally in order to complete the church, a commodious building 36x40 feet in size, which cost $1,200, in addition to much labor performed by members of the congregation. This church was occupied until 1904 when it was rebuilt and enlarged at a cost of $6,800 and is now one of the finest churches in the county outside of Logansport. A residence for the pastor was built in 1871-2. A Sunday school was established in 1861 and is doing a splendid work in the Master's cause as is aUK> the Christian Endeavor Society, established some years ago. Owen Hurd was superintendent of Sunday school for many years and some of the older officers of the church were : William and Henry Stough, D. P. Hurd, C. F. Wendling, Eli Bechdol, J. M. Long and Eli Eapp. The church is prosperous and has an active membership of sixty.

The First Universalist church of Walton dates its history from 1868, at which time the organization was brought about by the Rev. N. S. Sage, who was then pastor of the Logansport church. The society began with a charter membership of eighteen, but their names are not obtainable. During the year 1869 a neat little frame church was erected at a total cost of $1,600. For many years the church was prosperous but in recent times the membership has not increased and services are held at long intervals. Some of tibe pastors who have administered to this congregation are: Rev. N. S. Sage, 1868-9; Rev. M. Biddlecomb, Rev. James Eidridge, Rev. T. E. Ballard, Rev. H. C. Beckett, 1905-12, the latter living in Galveston, is pastor of the Universalist church in that town.

The religious history of Walton dates from the foundation of the town in the early fifties, and among the first to hold meetings in the village were ministers of the United Brethren church. Revs. Forbes, Adam Surface, Samuel Surface and other itinerant ministers of this denomination held services from time to time in private residences and adjacent schoolhouses and occasionally in the Lutheran church. Some time in the fifties, an organization was perfected but the names of the members are not obtainable. The society was never large and a church building was never erected, although they continued to hold irregular

The first service of the United Brethren denomination in Tipton township and probably the first in the comity, was held in 1848, when Rev. John Suran, one of the pioneer preachers, began a series of meetings in the Wilson schoolhouse, a mile east of the present town of Anoka. As a result of these meetings a class was formed with Geo. P. Sharts, Sr., as leader. The class numbered about twenty, only two of whom are now living (1910) : Mrs. Elizabeth McBane of Aiioka and Mrs. Catharine Hahn of Logansport.

Services were continued in the schoolhouse until 1853 when a board of trustees was chosen, consisting of Geo. P. Dykeman, Thomas McBane and Alexander Zimmerman.

This board secured by donation from John P. Tucker, one-half acre of ground in the southwest corner of section 2, on what was known as the Logansport and Marion road, seven miles southeast of Logansport, and from this fact it takes its name of ** Seven Mile United Brethren Church."

The trustees at once planned to erect a frame building, which was completed ready for occupancy in the fall of 1853 at a cost of $759. James M. Smith and son Lindall were the contractors. Services were held regularly in this building for thirty years, when it became too small to meet the demands of the increasing congregation, and in 1883 it was replaced by the present commodious house of worship ; E. L. Woodling taking the contract for its erection for the sum of $1,400. The trustees who superintended the work were Andrew Wilson, Wm. P. Louthain and Geo. P. Dykeman.

The present oflBcers are : Trustees, Charles B. Wilson, Wm. B. Logan, Peter K. Shaffer, Wm. B. Thomas and Harry G. Warrick ; class leader, Wm. G. Logan; Sunday school superintendent, Perry Logan.

The United Brethren began to hold religious services in the Cross Roads schoolhouse about 1850. Aiftong the early members were Adam Surface and wife ; Samuel Surface and wife ; Abraham Surface and wife ; George Sharts and wife. The Surfaces were local preachers and generally conducted -the meetings for this pioneer band of Christian workers.

During the year 1852 a hewed log church was erected, the first in the township near the Crossroads schoolhouse on the northwest comer of the southwest quarter of section 8, Tipton township, about three miles northwest of Onward. The congregation occupied this log building until 1870 when it was replaced by a brick structure erected on the same ground and the name was changed to Zion United Brethren church.

The congregation continued to worship here until Easter Sunday, April 1, 1877, when it was completely destroyed by a cyclone or wind storm. The material was sold and the church organization disbanded, the members uniting with Seven Mile, Pipe Creek, Onward or Walton church, as was most convenient.

In the early sixties the United Brethren people in the vicinity of Little Deer creek held religious meetings in the schoolhouse and at private residences, organized a society and erected a neat little frame church on the Blinn farm, southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 21, a mile south of Onward. During the year 1880 the congregation moved this building to Onward, but the society was never large and gradually became smaller and about 1886 they sold the church building to the Christian church congregation of Onward, and the society disbanded and its members identified themselves with other churches.

Some of the early members were Jacob Humbert, Henry Blinn and Abraham Surface, the latter a local preacher. The first regular pastor was U. M. B. Patton.

This owes its inception to a series of meetings held in the Pipe Creek schoolhouse and at Lewisburg, in 1870, by Elder D. W. Fowler, during the progress of which 100 persons professed conversion. Measures were at once taken to erect a house of worship, and in 1872 the present substantial brick church was erected on land donated by Dr. J. A. Adrian, situated about a mile south of Lewisburg. This is a commodious church and represents a capital of $3,000 and has a seating capacity of 400 persons. The trustees of the church who so ably superintended its construction were i John Williams, Michael Sneiderman and Leroy Lowman. There is a cemetery adjoining the church.

This church was organized April 19, 1882, at the Himmelberger schoolhouse in Tipton township. Rev. R. E. West oflSciating, with thirtyone charter members, among whom the following names appear: John and Jane Turnpaugh; Henry and'Margaret Layton; Elizabeth Price; Lemuel and Perunia Brown ; Permina Knight ; Caturah McVety ; Flora and Mary Turnpaugh ; Elizabeth Curmin ; Letha and Oliver Brown ; Oliver and Julia Turnpaugh, Catharine Layton ; Jefferson Cotteral ; James, Thomas and Caddie Turnpaugh ; Nancy Layton; Emma Hackett; Martha Turnpaugh; Francis, Delia and Lucy Anderson; Mary Todd; Elizabeth Hackett; Idella and Melveta Galbreth.

The first oflBcers were : Deacons, John Turnpaugh and Henry Layton; stewards, Samuel Brown and Jefferson Cotteral ; treasurer, Oliver Turnpaugh; clerk, Elizabeth Price.

until 1903, when under the pastorate of Rev. Heflin a comfortable frame church was erected on the southeast corner of section 14, Tipton township, near what is known as Buckwheat schoolhouse. The contract price of the building was $1,100 and it was dedicated to the service of the triune God, May 31, 1903, by Rev. Heflin.

The present membership is forty, officered as follows : Deacons, Henry Layton and Simon Tumpaugh; trustees, Charles Woodling, Thomas Turnpaugh, Marion McVety; stewards, Oliver Turnpaugh and Adam Burk ; clerk, Mattie Minnick ; treasurer, Eva McVety.

The following ministers have served the congregation: William Winegarden, William Heflin, M. Wininger, J. H. Walker, Norman McLain, N. S. Johnson, Thomas, K. E. West.

While the few pioneers were perfecting a civil organization for mutual protection, yet they were unable to keep out the grim destroyer ** death" and many years before churches were . organized or burial grounds laid out, we find the forests of Tipton dotted with graves of the hardy pioneer. A brief mention of these ten different burial places will be made.

This burial ground has the unique distinction of lying in two counties. The county line runs north and south through the grounds near its west edge. The greater portion lies in Miami county and only a row of the graves lie in Cass county ; in fact, the head of some of the graves lies in this county while the foot lies in Miami. The cemetery derives its name from James Mays, who owned the land on the Cass county side, and is still the property of his descendants; he and the members of his family are buried on the Cass county side, although it is said their heads lie in this county while their feet extend into Miami county. Peter Bowyer, grandfather of Allen and S. C. Bowyer donated the ground on the Miami county side which is platted and recorded in that county. The small portion in this county was not deeded until July 13, 1894, when Aaron Klepinger conveys one-half acre in the southeast comer of section 10, Tipton townsMp to Geo. E. Reed, James Hopper and Jesse Coblentz, trustees of Mays Cemetery Association.

The groTind described in this deed is only used for a hitch rack and not for burial purposes. This is quite a large cemetery, located on the edge of an open woodland overlooking Pipe creek, is well fenced and neatly kept and has some fine monuments. The majority of the persons buried here were residents of Cass county when living, but when dead have become residents of Miami county until Judgment day. The first interment was the body of a Mr. Wilson, in 1842, and his son, in 1843, but they lie in unmarked graves. The earliest inscriptions on markers are: Margaret, wife of John Murphy, 1845, and wife of Alex Abrams, 1849. Mrs. York, who was killed when dynamite blew up her house about 1882, reposes here.

Walton Lodge, No. 314, I. 0. 0. P. for consideration of $300. On October 26, 1901, Albert Bish, John Richardson and Chas. M. Campbell, as deeded the above described lands to the Odd Pellows Cemetery Association and this association, by its trustees, John Richardson, Wm. H. Lucas and J. A. AUspaugh platted this ground.

This burial ground is located only about twelve rods east of the Odd Pellows cemetery described above and less than a mile northwest of Walton. June 5, 1870, Joseph Vennard deeded to the commissioners of Cass county one hundred and thirty acreff of land in the southeast comer of his farm in the northwest quarter of section 25. On June 11, 1883, the county commissioners conveyed this tract of land to the trustees of the Walton Vennard Cemetery Company on condition that they preserve it as a burial ground. This cemetery is laid out on rolling ground, has a row of fine maple trees all around the edges, with an occasional evergreen within the grounds. This, like many burial grounds in Cass county was used for burial purposes many years before deeds were made. William Vennard donated this ground but never made a deed and his son, Joseph Vennard, many years after made deeds as above noted. The ground is platted but not recorded-

The early burials are: Jacob, son of J. and S. Bechdol, Pebruary 21, 1849 ; son of S. and M. Doran, August 5, 1849 ; Andrew Plynn, 1788- 1852. Isaac Bumgarner, member of the legislature, 1878, reposes here as does also Samuel Vanskiver, who was drowned in the Wabadi in 1879.

This burial ground has been used for years but no deeds or* records have ever been made until recently the heirs of Jacob Schaflf, to whom the farm originally belonged deeded the surrounding lands to Samuel Schaflf, reserving one-half acre of ground with the right of way from the public road to the cemetery, which is situated on Bear creek in the Wa-pa-peshee, Indian reservation in Tipton township, about a quarter of a nule northeast of Seven Mile church. The deed bears date of March 8, 1905. This is a neighborhood burial ground, beautifully located on devated land, surrounded by native woodland. But few interments have been made in recent years.

Early burials: Samuel Puterbaugh, died 1858; John P. Tucker, 1862. Members of the Louthain, Jack, Schaff, Ulery and other families repose here. John Tucker, who hung himself in 1862 is buried here.

August 7, 1872, Dr. J. A. Adrian deeds one acre of ground in Bichardville Reserve, Tipton township, to the trustees of the Christian church. John Williams, Michael Snidermain and Leroy Lowman for church and burial purposes. A church was erected and still stands.

John C. Leffel, on September 19, 1857, sold his farm in the northeast quarter of section 12 to Qeo. W. Grimes, but reserves a burial ground and each time the farm was sold a reservation was made and in 1870 John Cotterman sold to Wm. M. Helvie and reserved the burial ground and described it by meets and bounds containing one hundred and ninetyfive one thousandths of an acre. (See Bee. 64, page 108.)

This little burial ground is beautifully located on the edge of timber land and has recently been enclosed by a woven wire fence about twenty feet square (1907). A large beech tree stands in the center of the enclosure. There are a number of marble slabs, most of them fallen or lying against the beech tree, from which we copy some inscriptions: Frances, wife of J. S. Louthain, died 1853; Samuel G. McGrue, died 1853; Mary, wife of Henry Book, died 1848; Mary Anderson, 1853. There are many unmarked graves of the Ulery and other families.

Samuel G. McGrew, who was laid to rest here under a forest tree in 1853 is the grandfather of B. F. Louthain, the present editor of the Pharos Reporter^ He was a pioneer in this forest region. This little burial ground is but a repetition of the history of many another burial I>lace in Cass county.

When in the midst of the forest, with no roads, no church yards, no undertakers or ministers to conduct funerals, when death entered the pioneer cabin, his only alternative was to act as iindertaker and preacher and tenderly lay his loved ones in a rude box of his own making and bury them in the virgin soil under a tree in the woodland where they peacefully sleep, undisturbed by the howling of wolves and other wild animals roaming, over them in those early days.

This is* an old burial groiind, often designated by the different names above and situated on the south bank of Little Deer creek, about a mile west of Onward.

The ground was donated by William P. Thomas in the early forties but deeds were not executed until April 12, 1861, when Josiah M. Thomas deeds one acre of land in the southeast quarter of section 17 to Julian Madden, John Pry and Joseph Heward, trustees of Public graveyard on Little Deer creek. (Rec. T, page 700.)

On February 25, 1890, the trustees deed the above to the Deer Creek Cemetery Association of Cass county, and on October 1^, 1906, Samuel G. Thomas deeds one acre adjoining above described tract to the same association. The new addition is platted but not recorded (1907). This is a large and fairly well kept cemetery on a bluff overlooMng the creek with a few evergreen trees and some good monuments.

The first burial was that of Winfield Scott, April 16, 1843 ; William Scott, 1773-1845. Hugh Morgan, who cut his throat in 1853, rests in this cemetery as does also Joseph Coblents, who accidentally shot himself while out hunting in 1897 ; George Walton who was shot and killed by Mrs. Schmitt about 1897 and Joshua Sensenbaugh who shot himself some years ago.

On March 17, 1860, Robert Wait conveys to the trustees of ''Pipe Creek Union Burial Ground" one-fourth of an acre of land in the nortiiwest comer of lot 2 of grant No. 1 of J. B. Richardsville*s reserve in Tipton township and on the same day Alpheus De Lawter deeds to Samuel Surface, Ezra De Lawter and John Costenberder, trustees of this burial ground and their assigns forever, twenty square rods adjoining the above mentioned tract and on April 10, 1870, Henry Stewart deeds twenty square rods on the east and adjoining the Pipe Creek burial ground to the trustees.

This is a beautifully located cemetery on a hillside overlooking Pipe Creek and contains some handsome monuments but is sadly neglected (1907).

Earliest burials as taken from the markers : Rosanna, wife of Jacob J. Ringer, died February 13, 1854 ; Rebecca M. Bowyer, died 1855 ; EUen, wife of Robert Wait, died 1854.

This private burial ground is located in the center of section 35, in the northwest corner of Tipton township on land belonging to Abe Cuppy, the father of David Cuppy now living on Knowlton street in Logansport (1907). The first burials were the six-year-old daughter of a Mr. Scott in 1845; Susan Cuppy, 1849, and her child in 1852; Alex Liggett, 1860 ; a child by the name of Philips and possibly several others. About 1864 David Cuppy removed the remains of his father to the Schaff cemetery, a mile to the south and the gravel road now runs over this once sacred spot. There was a log school house beside this burial ground in 1848, but it was rebuilt to the south about 1864.

This Uttle grave lot is situated on the Minnick farm in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 26, Tipton township, about a mile northwest of Walton. Here in the center of a field about twenty rods west of the Earner pike road may be seen (in 1907) three small scrubby elm bushes grown up between them with briers about fifteen feet square, once fenced but now fallen into decay. Here lies a marble slab under the moulding grass with the following inscription: Justice Minnick died September 21, 1847, age 41 years, 6 months, and his niece, Martha Stemler. The farm on which this burial lot is located was entered in 1844 by Mr. Minnick and is now the property of his son, Henry Minnick, of Walton. The latter relates many interesting circumstances and conditions at that early day in the midst of the forest. When his brother died in 1846, his father made the coffin out of rough boards. When his father died in 1847, he with a neighbor drove with a lumber wagon through the woods to Logansport to get a coffin, waited until it was made, then hauled it out in the farm wagon. At that time there were but two houses between Walton and Logansport and the road wound around through the forest trees. In 1846 there was no burial ground in Tipton to^roship and Mr. Minnick, like many other pioneers of Cass county, buried his beloved dead beneath the giant trees on his own landa and he selected a beautiful, elevated spot for his last resting place and where he has peacefully slept for over sixty years.

When returning from this little burial ground we could but meditate upon the past and contrast it with the present. In 1846 there were no gravel roads, railroads, interurbans, automobiles, or telephones. It required one long day to make the trip to Logansport. Today we were called to Walton by telephone, and at 5 A. M. took the interurban which dropped us a half mile this side of Walton, made three calls, inspected the three cemeteries nearby, including the one under consideration^ walked to each of these and on to Walton where we made a call and got back to Logansport before 9 o'clock A. M. consuming less than four hours. What a change since sixty years ago.

Doctors appear to be a necessary evil and the world it is said is inclined to evil and that continually, and the physician plays so important a part in every community that its history would not be complete without mention of the doctors and a brief notice of the twenty or more physicians who have resided for a longer or shorter time in Tipton township will be made.

Dr. Henry Alford came from Ohio in the fifties and located in Walton where he continued in practice until about 1890 when he moved to Peru, then to Kokomo and about 1905 retired and died at the home of his son in Chicago in 1907-08 and reposes in the Walton cemetery. He was married to Miss Sarah Hathaway and had two sons. His wife and one son are dead.

Dr. Matthew H. Bonner, bom in Whitley county, Indiana, 1868; licensed in 1899 as a physio-medical doctor; came from Starke county, Indiana, and located at Onward but about a year later moved to Knox, Indiana. He had a family.

About 1880 Dr. C. C. Champion practiced in Onward for a year or two when he moved to Logansport, relinquished practice and followed the trade of a carpenter and took an active part in labor unions. His wife died before coming to Cass county. He had two sons, one of whom married the daughter of A. J. Robinson, of Logansport. Dr. Champion left Cass county many years ago.

Dr. Charles D. Carpenter, bom in Ohio, 1849, graduated from the Medical College of Ohio, 1872, came to Cass county 1899 and located at Walton, where he is still in active practice.

Dr. Clayton C. Campbell, bom in Ohio, 1879, graduated from the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indianapolis, 1904, and located in Walton in 1907 and is still actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. His wife was Miss Mary I. Oarvis, of Columbia, Ohio, and they are blessed with several children.

Dr. C. P. Dutchess, bom in New Jersey in 1849, graduated from the Indiana Medical College, 1876, came to Cass county in 1868 and in 1873 opened an oflBce in Walton and is now the oldest practitioner in Tipton township, although in recent years he pays more attention to his drug store, which he has kept for many years, than to medical practice. He has been a member of the United States pension board since 1897. He was a drummer boy in Company H, Twenty-fifth New Jersey Infantry. His wife was Laura A. Hurd of Cass county, to whom he was married in 1874. They have two sons and one daughter.

Dr. Owen Engler, born in Indiana, 1851 ; came to Cass county, 1856 ; taught school and studied medicine and graduated from the Indiana Medical College, 1880, and practiced in Walton and engaged in mercantile pursuits and in recent years has given up the practice but is one of Tipton township's honored citizens. He was married in 1879 to Mary Scott of Pulaski county, Indiana, and they are blessed with several children.

Dr. Oscar A. Flanagan is a native of Walton, Indiana, where he was bom, 1880 ; received his degree of M. D. from the Kentucky Medical College in 1904, and at once began practice in Walton, but two or three years later moved to Creaton, Washington, where he is practising his chosen profession. His wife was a daughter of Dr. C. P. Dutchess, of Walton.

Dr. Estle Perry Flanagan, brother of the above mentioned doctor is also a Cass county boy, graduated from the Louisville Medical College, 1909, practiced in Walton for a year or more and moved to Herdsville, North Dakota. He is not married but prospects are good.

Dr. J. H. Goodale, lived and practiced medicine in Walton in 1873 and 1874. He was a charter member of the Cass County Medical Society and its first secretary. In 1874 he moved to Decatur, Illinois. He was married and had several children.

Dr. James F. Hatfield, born at Delphi, Indiana, 1872, graduated from Cincinnati University, 1897, practiced in Clinton county until 1910 when he located in Walton, where he has been in active practice since that date. He was united in marriage in 1895 to Miss Grace Lister and they have three children (1912).

and has been in active practice in Walton until the spring c^f 1913, when he opened an office in Logansport. He was elected coroner of Cass county in 1904. He was never married but is eligible and susceptible.

Dr. J. J. Pickett was a registered physician at Dow in Tipton township in 1882 where he practiced for about two years, then moved to Nebraska. He was married and had several children ; one little girl was killed by the railroad when he lived at Onward and lies at rest in Thomas cemetery west of that town.

Dr. Samuel Surface lived on a farm near Pipe Creek falls in the sixties and seventies and had a large country practice. For some time Dr. B. S. Clevinger was associated with him. He sold his farm to Mr. Young many years ago and moved to Lafayette, where he died in 1884. He was also a minister of the United Brethren church and healed both soul and body. He had a family.

Dr. Edward A. Spohn, born at Peru, Indiana, in 1880; graduated from the Louisville University in 1910, and on September 10, 1910, was licensed to practice at Walton but evidently did not remain long.

Robert F. Vernon bom in Cass county in 1874, graduated from the Louisville Medical College, 1901-2, and engaged in practice in Walton for two years or more when he moved to Kokomo. He was married.

Dr. F. M. Wall came to Cass county in 1881 and located in Walton. He practiced there for a year or two then moved to the eastern part of the state. He was married and had several children.

Dr. J. A. Adrain, noticed elsewhere, was one of the most prominent physicians ever located in Tipton township. He lived at Lewisburg or Circleville on the Wabash river from 1851 to 1873 and had an extensive practice. He moved? to Logansport in 1873. He was born in New York in 1824 and died 1886.

Dr. Charles S. Albertson, now in active practice in Walton where he was born in 1881, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, 1905, practiced in Ft. Wayne and in 1912 located at Onward but soon moved to Walton. His wife was Maild Robbins of South Whitley, Indiana.

In pioneer days the roads angled through the township following Indian trails and during the rainy season the black fertile soil would work up into sticky mud so that the roads became almost impassable, but with the improvement of the lands, the roads were straightened and placed on section lines, graded, macadamized or graveled and today Tipton township has over twenty miles of stone road with all the principal thoroughfares graveled so that every section of the township can be reached over smooth solid roads all times in the year with automobiles in which latter, Tipton township, leads all others - she having over seventy machines now in use by her citizens. The township is traversed by two lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Indiana TTnion Traction Company's line from Logansport to Indianapolis traverses the southwest corner of the township, they affording unequaled transportation facilities.

In 1903 the Home Telephone Company of Logansport established an exchange in Walton. Through this exchange or by direct line with the central office many of the farmers and all the business men in the

This is the largest town in Tipton township with a population of about six hundred. It is situated in the southwest part of the township, ten miles from Logansport on the Richmond division of the Pan- Handle Railroad and also on the Indiana Union Traction Company's interurban line. The town was laid out by Gilbert Wall in August, 1852, and named after the proprietor of the town, Mr. Wall. At this time the railroad had been surveyed and the town was laid out with a view of making it a station on the New Castle & Richmond Railroad, then in process of construction.

Numerous additions have since been made, to-wit : Wall and Booher's, Bumgarner's, Booher's, Bishop's, DoUarhide, Davis, Hathaway and Noel's and Oden's. Mr. Wall moved to Minnesota in 1856 and died there. His son, 0. 6. Wall, a cousin of B. P. Louthain, became a prominent newspaper man in the northwest and wrote a book entitled, ** Recollections of the Sioux Massacre.*'

The first merchant in the town was Oscar Herrell, who erected a doublfe-hewed log house in 1853 on lot No. 25, Wall and Booher's addition. In the front room of the cabin he kept a general store and the back room he occupied as a residence. His principal customers were the men engaged in building the railroad.

The second building was also a log house built on lot No. 26, by John Booher and occupied by him for some years. The first house on the original plat was a log structure built by Isaiah Noel in 1853, and in the same year Phineas Hathaway erected the first frame residence.

The second merchant was Abraham Kipp, who built a frame storeroom on lot 31, Wall and Booher 's addition, about 1854. Mr. Kipp was an energetic man and through his influence a postoffice was established here and he became the first postmaster. About 1860 he sold out to John D. Ferguson and Charles Flanagan. About 1855 Phineas Hathaway erected a frame storeroom and engaged in mercantile business for several years.

During the year 1856 George W. Bishop opened a general store and has continued in business of various kinds - mercantile, manufacturing and banking - until within the past year he has retired from the active duties of business in which he has been a prominent figure for more than half a century.

During the clearing and development of the country the sawmilling business was extensively carried on : first, by Noel & Lewis, followed by George Bennett, John T. Bishop, Hurd Bros., Owen Hurd & Son, A. F. Curtis, Isaac Bumgamer, 6. W. Campbell, Voucher & Phillips and others.

But as the timber became exhausted the sawmilling business languished. A flouring mill was erected about 1872 by Isaac Bumgamer and Dr. Alford, which was operated by D. P. Cramer, George W. Bishop and others, but was destroyed by fire.

George W. Bishop erected a factory for the manufacture of ''excelsior," a material made of basswood for packing purposes, about 1874. A large tile mill was built by John Shaf er in the eighties, and a canning factory was established here in the nineties, but all these industries have ceased operations and only one small sawmill now remains, operated by Elmer Oden.

The present ofiicers are: Edgar E. Phillips, president of the town council, which is composed of S. B. Yohn, William Staggs, John Plank and J. H. Rhodes, with James Kivett clerk and W. G. Umbarger treasurer.

The corporation erected a two-story brick high school building about ten years ago on grounds donated by Isaac Bumgamer, at a cost of $8,000. The high school was commissioned in 1907 and now about fifty high school students receive instruction equal to city high schools, and one hundred and forty pupils in the lower grades, requiring six teachers.

In 1878, when Harry G. Wilson was county superintendent, he established what was known as the Cass County Normal in Walton, under his superintendency, with other high-grade instructors, but only continued for a few years owing to want of patronage.

Eobert E. Huffman is the present postmaster, and two rural routes, Nos. 16 and 17, established in 1903 or 1904, carry daily mail to the farmers' door in the surrounding country.

There are five general stores conducted by Scroggs & Co., Emy & Kapp, William Staggs, William Logan, and the Hessel Cash Store; two hardware stores by W. G. Umbarger and Charles Shirley; two restaurants by Charles Britton and Otto Shirley; two bakeries by M. M. Routh and Mr. Timberman; tinshop by George Raikes; two butcher shops by M. Routh and Walter Irvington ; one drug store by Dr. Charles P. Dutchess ; one millinery store, two barber, shops by Rhodes & Bish and George Shedron ; two livery stables by M. M. Coleman and Bechdol & Burkit ; three blacksmith shops by John Shaver, Gunther & Bish and Otto Fiske ; one harness shop by Mr. Kinzie ; one hotel kept by Benjamin A. Deitrick ; a large lumber yard operated by the Walton Lumber Company, with B. E. Butte as manager ; two automobile garages by Walter Ballard and Ross Umbarger.

This financial institution was established in 1903 and George W. Bishop, Sr., was its president for many years, until it was reorganized October 1, 1911, and the name changed to Cass County State Bcmk. It is ably managed by the following oflBcers :

The telephone exchange was established in Walton by the Home Telephone Company of Logansport in 1905, and through this exchange the residents of Walton and the farmers of the surrounding country have telephone communication with Logansport and contiguous territory.

Walton is in the center of a rich farming district and supports two large elevators - one by L. McFadden and the other by The Farmers' Elevator Company. These elevators handle over three hundred thousand bushels of grain annually and hundreds of carloads of live stock and other farm products.

The health of the town and surrounding country is conserved by five doctors (noticed elsewhere), who safely pilot the people over the dark river, and four churches look after their spiritual wants, and Undertakers Small & Evans tenderly lay them away in their last resting places.

Odd Fellows - Walton Lodge, No. 314, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted August 14, 1868. The first officers were: Daniel Kelly, N. Q.; William Booher, V. G. ; William Ashton, secretary. The present membership is one hundred and sixteen, and the present officers are: Charles Shuman, N. G. ; John Small, V. G. ; John Bicheson, recording secretary ; W. H. Crim, financial secretary. The lodge occupies their own hall, which was erected in 1903 at a cost of $4,000.

Elvira Rebekah Lodge, No. 66, was organized about 1893, and has been in operation for twenty years. At present the officers are : Ida M. Crim, N. G. ; Jesse Somsel, V. G., and the membership is seventy.

About 1903 a Knights of Pythias lodge was organized in Walton, but in 1911 they surrendered their charter and transferred their membership to Logansport.

The Knights of Honor, Knights of the Maccabees, Chosen Friends and some other orders have been in operation, but all have been disbanded, except the Modem Woodmen of America, which is in active operation, with W. E. Umbarger as secretary.

The Walton Enterprise, a weekly newspaper, was published in Walton about 1870 by John Pinkerton, but soon suspended - a notice of which is made elsewhere.

For many years Walton was cursed with saloons, but under recent state laws the township remonstrated the saloons out of existence, and later under the township local option law an election was held and the majority of the good people of the township declared against the saloon, greatly to the advantage of the financial, moral and spiritual interests of the town and townidiip.

Onward, a thriving little town located ten miles southeast of Logansport on the Bradford division, of the Pan Handle Railroad, was laid out May 24, 1869, by Ambrose Surface.

In the past, several names have been applied to this place. Dow was the name of the postoffice when an office was first established at this point. Before the coming of railroads in Cass county, in the early fifties, Dow postoffice was kept by John Rine a mile north of the present town of Onward, on a farm now owned by Mr. Little.

The mail was carried on horseback from Marion to Logansport, and Dow was on this route. Later it was moved to Pipe Creek, and when the station of Onward was established the office was moved to that place and called Dow, and the name of the station was Onward, and when the Onward postoffice at Pipe Creek was discontinued that name was applied to the postoffice at Dow, and the latter name dropped, and the name of the postoffice and station became one, that of Onward, by which it is known by railroad and postoffice officials.

There is, however, a local nickname, **Plug," by which this place is designated and known, especially among the older residents, from the fact that Ambrose Surface, who laid out the original town wore a peculiarly shaped plug hat, and from that fact the name Plug was facetiously applied to the present town of Onward.

The first merchants in Onward were D. K. Smith and his son, Mahlon Smith. The latter was the first postmaster, and the firm operated the first elevator and shipped grain.

Rev. Noah Zerfis, now living near Onward, was the second postmaster, fee also married the first couple in the new town and preached the first funeral sermon in Onward, and Samuel Panabaker, Jr., now residing in Kokomo, taught the first school.

The country around Onward was originally heavily timbered and the sawmill business was carried on extensively at different times by John Hall, Thomas Little and Vaughn & Rice, but the timber is about all gone and now there is only a small steam sawmill run intermittently by John Wissinger. A large tile mill was also operated here for many years, but the farmers are supplied with that article and the mill has been closed for years.

Three general stores kept by James Dennison, William Morris and Edward H. Shank; two barber shops operated by Daniel MuUendore, and a shop and restaurant by Lee MuUendore ; a blacksmith and repair shop is conducted by Peter Smith.

A large elevator is operated by N. E. Walker & Co., who handle one hundred and twenty-five thousand bushels of grain annually, besides a large amount of live stock. They also handle coal, fencing, etc.

Onward Lodge, No. 455, I. 0. 0. F., was organized in 1874 with twelve charter members, and in 1876 a commodious hall was erected and dedicated June 19, 1876, which is still occupied. The present membership is forty-five, officered as follows:

The Ejiights of Honor organized a lodge here about 1888, and erected a large hall and occupied it until about 1900, when the lodge disbanded and the hall was sold and is now owned by W. T. Shafer.

The first policeman in the town was Ben Sager. He was also railroad station agent in 1880. He would airest ^* hobos" traveling along the railroad, hold moot-courts, convict them and consign them to the prison, for which he used the coal-shed. Ben acted as policeman, judge, jury and sheriff, and many a tramp he incarcerated in his co^-shed over night.

Circleville may be called a paper town, and was the first town laid out in Tipton township, in January, 1850, by Adam and A. J. Surface. It lies on the south bank of the Wabash river, opposite Lewisburg. The original plat shows thirty-five lots and three streets. Two additions were subsequently made. Soon after the town was laid out Adam Surface and George Smith erected a small building and kept a general store for a short time, being the first and the last merchants in Circleville.

Soon after Dr. J. A. Adrian located here, purchased the town lots and had the same vacated and only farm land now occupies the site of this former would-be metropolis on the banks of the Wabash far away.

Easton is another town that only exists on paper. On March 3, 1854, Jacob Comegys laid out this town on the south side of the Marion & Logansport Railroad, situated in the northwest corner of the west half of the southeast quarter of section 17, Tipton township. The plat contained twenty-three lots and four streets, Main, High, Walnut and Second.

William P. Thomas was the civil engineer of the town. Mr. Comegys expected to have a railroad station located here, but failing in that, the town never grew and the lots were vacated.

On May 26, 1869, John Castenborder laid out and recorded a few lots on Pipe creek at the mill below Pipe creek falls, and called it Onward (see Plat Book I, page 119). The sawmill, a flouring mill and two or three houses composed the town, and only the grist mill and two houses stand on this townsite today. There was a postoffice kept here for many years under different names - ^first, '*Dow,'' then ** Onward" and last "Pipe Creek'' - but the office was discontinued many years ago.

Walbaum was a station on the Richmond division of the Pan Handle Railroad, established about 1865, about four miles northwest of Walton in the southwest quarter of section 11.

^ Isaac Himmelbei^er at that time operated a large sawmill and shipped timber and lumber extensively from this point. A switch was put in for his accommodation and a number of small houses were constructed for the mill hands.

This was an Indian village, named after an old, well-known Indian squaw, that was located on the south bank of the Wabash about two miles east of Lewisburg, opposite the David Casebeer farm. Many interesting reminiscences have been related by W. W. Haney, who in 1835 lived at Lewisburg, about the Indian dances at this village and the attendance of the Indians at the annual payment grounds at the falls of Pipe Creek. There was an Indian burial ground at **01d Sally's Village,'' and excavations made there exhumed many Indian bones with their arrows buried with them.

The First Death - Winfield, son of William Scott, who died in 1844, is supposed to be the first death. His was the first burial in the Little Deer Creek cemetery.

'John Haines, a hotelkeeper at Lewisburg in the fifties, and who ran a sawmill on Pipe creek, attempted to cross the creek in a canoe when the waters were high, and was swept over the falls and was drowned.

During the Civil war George Knight, a soldier, deserted his regiment and returned to his home in Tipton township. George and Marian Lucas were directed by the proper United States oflBcers to arrest Knight. When they attempted to make the arrest he resisted and his brother, Byron Knight, was with him, and made a determined fight against the captors. In the struggle George Knight was killed and Byron died from the effects of injuries received. One of the Lucas brothers was severely wounded, but recovered.

Some time in the fifties George Spangler was found dead in Pipe creek. When last seen alive he was intoxicated and it was supposed he fell into the creek and was drowned. |

Joseph Coblentz, a prominent farmer living south of Onward, was accidentally shot and killed while out hunting in 1897. About 1850 a woman by the name of Minnick, who was partially deaf, was killed by a tree falling on her that was being cut down by woodsmen near Walton.

with her tenant, George Walton, about his i)oultry eating her com. In closing the door against her, Mr. Walton feU forward toward her, when she shot him in the head with a revolver she carried and he died instantly. Mrs. Sehmitt was sent to the Women's Reformatory for life, where she has since died. The shooting took place in the north part of Jackson township.

About 1897 the widow Stough was killed in Walton by an explosion of natural gas which blew up her house. Several others were seriously injured at tiie same time.