Dubois County, Indiana - Chapter 9: Townships and Towns, 1896

Chapter 9: Townships and Towns

Toivnships. About 1841, Dubois County was divided into five townships. They were called Harbison, Bainbridge, Columbia, Hall and Patoka. In 1S44, Ferdinand township was created out of parts of Hall and Patoka.

Eckerts' Mill, Jasper, Ind

This mill stands where Eiilow's Mill stood when Jasiier heeaiiie the eoniily seat. At the mill end of the bridge stood an old house in which the liaptists held their first church services at Jasper. Not fur down the river from the other end of the bridge stood the cabin in which the tirst Catholic services at Jasper were held. The bridge shown in the picture is the first iron one erected in the connly. On the river below tlie mill f^at-boats were loaded with flour, bacon, beans, hoop-poles, etc., and floated down to Memphis or New Orleans as late as 1870. The water in the picture is 123 feet below Lake Erie, and -150 feet above sea level.

These six, with but minor changes, constituted the sub-divisions of the county, until 1874, when the county board of the commissioners re-organized the county into twelve townships as follows: Columbia, Harbison, Boone, Madison, Bainl>ridge, Marion, Hall, Jefferson, Jackson, Patoka, Cass, and Ferdinand. These are bounded as shown on the county map found elsewhere in thilittle volume.

Jasper. The location of Jasper was selected for the express purpose of a county seat. Enlow donated a part of the , ... . ,^.o -nn he entered it. It was surveyed and platted by County Surveyor Hosea Smith, of Pike County, in September, 1830. This was the same surveyor that laid out the first county seat - Portersville, in 181S.

Member of the Indiana State Legislature for Dubois County in IS^g. Died at Louisville, Ky., in 1880. while professor of surgery in the Kentucky School of Medicine. The above engraviug was executed by his son, Dr. Matthew Kempf.

law permitted this. In 1818, a grist mill is said to have been built, where the present one now stands, at the steel bridge across Patoka River. Many additions have been added to Jasper, and the original 103 acres form but a small portion of the town. The town was incorporated in March, iS66. In 1872 and 1S91 the public school building now used was erected. In 1S93, a high school department was established. Jasper is on the Patoka River, (a slow, sluggish stream) but its death rate stands among the very lowest in'the state of Indiana, The town has many manufacturing establishments, many fine residences, one of the largest stone churches in the state, water works, electric lights, college, academy, etc. Jasper was re-surveyed, and a grade plan was established in 1S75, by August Pfafflin, civil engineer.

Jacob Qeiger

Bom August 14, 1779, in Washingtou County, Maryland. Founded the city of Huntingburg in the year 1837, where he died, January 2, 1857. Hisremains are at re.st in Fairmount Cemetery, southwest of Huutiugburg.

of the wife of Joseph Enlow. Mrs. Enlow objected to the name, and requested that the new town be called Jasper - the name of a precious stone, noticed by her while reading in her Bible. Her wishes were complied with, and all the records, maps and documents of the town bear the name of Jasper.

Huntingburg. Huntingburg is the only city in the county. The land upon which it is situated was entered by Jacob Geiger, on Saturday, November ii,

1837. Previously he had entered the remaining part of sec. 34, township 2 south, range 5 west. He then lived in Louisville, Ky. He came to Dubois County about 1840. He gave lots for schools, churches and for the cemetery at the southeast end of the city. Huntingburg like all other towns or cities, has a large number of additions. As a town it was incorporated in March, 1S66. It is at the junction of a branch with the main line of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad. It has many churches, some handsome, and a full quota of fine residences, water-works, improved streets, etc. The Dubois County fair grounds lie southeast of the city. The fair was established in 1SS7.

Huntingburg was laid out and platted in 1837. It is said to be so named because Mr. Geiger was fond of hunting there. A re-survey of the town was made November 26, 1S54, by Jacob Marendt, county surveyor; in August 1866, by Surveyor Sandusky Williams, and in 1874, by August Pfafflin, a civil engineer.

"Plan of the town of Ferdinand, in the North American free state of Indiana, Dubois County, established January 8, 1840, 'in honor of His Majesty, Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria, and dedicated to His Highness, by Joseph Kundeck. Missionary General, Vicar of Vincennes, Indiana."

This missionary general is a man well identified with the early history of Dubois County. Perhaps no man has ever lived in Dubois County whose influence and life-work have gone farther than his for the welfare of this county. He was the pastor of the Catholic churches at Troy and at Jasper, in the "forties." In those days all shipping to and from Jasper, was by way of Troy, on the Ohio River. It was a long way, and Ferdinand was established as a resting place for man and beast. He bought the land of the United States in January and December, 1S39, ^"d had it platted, and then went to Louisville, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg, and urged settlers to come to his newly established town.

Ferdinand is one of the substantial towns of Dubois County. Its buildings are of a high grade, and its citizens need no peace officers. It is the best tobacco market in the county. Its church has the finest interior in the county ''St. Joseph's Home for the Poor" shows its charity. Ferdinand has a foundry and machine-shops that give employment to many men

The Convent of the Immaculate Conception at Ferdinand, was founded in 1867 At first, the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, lived in a house not far from the church of St. Ferdinand. In the year 186S, Rev. Chrvsos- torn Foffa, O. S. B., laid the coiner stone to a larger adjoining building, which was completed two years later. However, after several years, the community increasing so rapidly, the erection of a new building was contemplated. Accordingly, the work was begun in 1883. In 18S7 the main building was completed at a cost of $80,000. The work was directed by the Rev, Eberhard Stadler, O. S. B., who, with a never-wearying solicitude has a special interest in the spiritual as well as temporal welfare of the community. The building rests on a gentle eminence, over-looking the town of Ferdinand, and is built in the form of a rectangle, 186 by 160 feet. The grounds inside are divided by the chapel, which is located in the center. The community, at present, consists of ninety-one Sisters. The majority of these at this time, labor at nineteen mission-places in the diocese of Vincennes, conducting in all, fifteen public and twenty-nine parochial schools, besides an academy, which is in connection with the convent. On account of its retirement and salubrity, the site is well adapted for an institution of learn- ing. The course of instruction in the academy includes every useful and ornamental branch of female education, while the most untiring attention is paid to the moral and polite deportment of the pupils. Another academy, under the direction of these Sisters will soon be opened at West Indianapolis.

the leading merchant of the town he established, for thirty years. He settled at this place when it was a primeval forest, and was for years its fore-

Hon. Benj. R. Kemp

Korii in Diiliois County Oot. :U, 1830, (iied Dec. 11, 18(54. Taught school in Dubois County fourteen years, served the county six years as county surveyor, and represented the county in the General As.sembly of 18G3. He was a good surveyor and matliematician.

most citizen. It is now a good town, located in a rich township, has many well kept homes, churches^ and good schools. Holland is in Cass township. This township has many substantial farmers, whose houses and immense barns are characteristics. The town of Holland was surveyed and platted by Benj. R. Kemp, county surveyor, on May 5 and 6, 1S59.

Ireland. This town is situated four miles northwest of Jasper. It was first called American City, and its settlers were proud of its name and location. The name American City was borne by another village and to prevent loss of mail, the name was changed to Ireland, in honor of the nativity of John Stewart, who bought the land of the United States, on December 33, 1816, a short time after Indiana became a state. John Stewart died in the fall of 1S43. His son James, and four others laid out the town. The map bears date of May 20, 1S65, but the place was a small sized village many years before that. Ireland has parochial, common, and high schools, three churches, and many lodges. The Masons, Odd Fellows, and Red Men

One of the founders of Ireland. Born Get. 4, 1814. Died Nov. 12, 1874. His fatlier, .lohn Stewart, entered the land upon whieh Ireland stands.

Ireland M. E. Church

many years before. Its present growth is due to the construction of the Air Line railroad. It is in the timber belt of Dubois County, and is a good shipping point for cross-ties, hoop-poles, staves and lumber. Birdseye was the name of the postoffice which was established in 1846. The town was incorporated on Dec. 3, 1883. Its corporate limits cover four hundred acres. About nine o'clock on Sunday night, August 20, 1893, the town was almost totally destroyed by fire. Previous to this fire the town saw much fighting and litigation. It now has some of the best equipped storerooms and offices, and some of the finest residences in the county. The town has two churches and three schools. Topographically, the town stands the highest in the county.

Schnellville. This town is situated on land sold for school purposes by the state on March 11, 1846. In 1864, Henry Schnell began a store there, and on November 27, 1865, he laid out and platted the town of Schnellville. He now ( 1896) lives in the town he established, and saw

Boru in Germany, October 22, 1821. Served in Co. I, 49th Ind. Vols., for four years. Took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and the battle of Port Gibson. Champion Hill and others. Laid out the towu of Schnellville in 1865, and served thirteen years as county commissioner and trustee.

grow from one or two houses to a nice little village. It has a flourmill, sawmill, tobacco warehouse, furniture shops, church, schools, and other evidences of prosperity.

Bretzville. The map of this town bears date February 8, 1866, but it was settled about 1850, by William Bretz, father of the man who laid out the town. The map shows its original name to have been the "Town of New Town," but its similarity to Newton caused the goverment to request a r^ew name when a postoffice was wanted, hence it now bears the name of its founder. The name was changed on record in June, 1S73. It is a hamlet on the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad. It has a church

Haysville. On April 30, and oil October i, 1816, and again on November 28, 1817, Joseph Kelso entered land where Haysville now stands. The original plat of Haysville is not known to be in existence. It is said to have been laid out in 1835 by Moses Kelso, and named after Willis Hays, its first merchant. On January 3, 1S93, Henry Berger, then 'the surveyor of Dubois County, made a plat of the town from a survey he had previously made. The town is prosperous, and is surrounded by many fertile farms. It lies in section 35, township i north, range 5 west, andone-half mile south of the east fork of White River. Toussaint Dubois Springs lie two miles southwest of this place. Buck Shoals silver mines lie on the banks of White River, a short distance above the town. The discovery of a trace of silver there about ten years ago caused much excitement and speculation. A new addition was then laid out to the town.

Started more than fifty years ago ; its constitution was framed by Rev. John Herrmann, and adopted on October 15, 1848. From 1853 to 1882, Rev. Christian Nix served the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Adolphus Baur, who served two years, Rev. John Lautenschlager succeeding. In 1890, Rev. Henry Grabau was called, succeeded on July 6, 1893, by the present pastor. Rev. Julius J. Keerl, who had been minister of the German Lutheran Emanuel's Church near Kellerville, this county, from 1889 to 1893. The corner stone of the present church was laid December 15, 1867, and the edifice dedicated September 13, 1868. In 1894, a new constitution was adopted, the church house enlarged and its interior remodeled ; a large pipe organ was dedicated December 33, 1894. The congregation is in a flourishing condition, numbers 190 voting members, has a property valued at about $6,000, and a parochial school with an average attendance of fifty children. The present pastor, Rev. Julius J. Keerl, Ph.D., was born, 1855, in Bavaria,

Germany, and came to America in 188S, after having studied theology and philology at the universities of Erlangen, Tubingen, and Munich. He then taught as private instructor in Germany, and made extensive voyages in Austria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and for over two years was teacher in Egypt, Africa. From there he traveled through the Holy Land, Syria, and Asia Minor. After his arrival in the United States he served a German congregation in the state of New York, and came to Indiana in October, 1889.

Hillham. On November 18, 1836, George Wineinger purchased one hundred twenty acres, where Hillham now stands, of the United States. John A. Wineinger began a store there in 1850. A post office was established in i860. The town is situated in the northeast corner of Dubois County, being but one-half mile from Martin County, and the same distance from Orange County. Hillham has not been established as a town ; no survey and plat have been made. It has a church and several stores and mills.

township I north, range 3 west, in Columbia township. It has a school, store, church, and post office, and from present indications is destined to grow, and remained established. The post office of Crystal was established October 9, 1SS9.

Portersville. On September 19, 1814, Jacob Lemmon's money paid for the land on which Portersville now stands, and he received from the government a large parchment bearing the name of James Madison, President of the United States. It called for 445 acres. A part of this land was selected for the first county seat of Dubois County (1S18.) Surveyor Smith of Pike County laid out the town, but the map he made has been lost. In October, 1879, Henry Berger, county surveyor, re-surveyed, re-platted, and re-established the corners of the town. In its early davs Portersville was a properous little village, court was held there, and soldiers frequently mustered there. From the foot of one of its streets barges, flatboats, and small steamboats carried away the products of the surrounding farms. Kellerville. Kellerville is a hamlet that lies at the southwest corner of section 36, township I north, range 4 west. It has no map.

It IS located near the "Governor's Trace," and about half way between Haysville and Crystal. One mile east of the Kellerville post office stands a fine Lutheran church and parsonage. In the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 2, south of Kellerville stands the Emanuel Lutheran church. It was organized under Rev. C. Risch, in 1853. The present church was erected in 1863, under Rev. C. Trauth. The tower was added in 1S78, under Rev. A. Sterger. The congregation consists of about two hundred communicant members. Rev. H. Heesemann is the present minister. A picture of the church is shown above.

Dubois. This town is frequently called Knoxville. Its legal name and post office is Dubois. Shiloh Poison, in 1836, and his son, Robert S. Poison, in 1S37, entered most of the land upon which

The Town of Dubois. Marion 'I'ow'nsliip on the lel'i; Harbison Township ou the right. Hon. Frank Piunick and Capt. J. J. Alles stand in the center'of the street in the distance.

Piistorv And Art Souvenir

the town is situated. This place has been called Knoxville for many years and the name seems attached. The town lies in two townships; the line between Harbison and Marion townships is the center line of the principal street, and if the town continues to g^row east it will not be long until part of it will be in Columbia township. This is one of the youngest and most prosperous towns in the county. If it secures a railroad it will be one of the most important points in the county. It is on the left hand bank of Patoka River. It has had a saw and gristmill for many years. It was surveyed and platted as a town by George R. Wilson, county surveyor, on November 5 and 6, 1SS5. Dubois is a business town ; has a Methodist Episcopal church, and is an educational center for the surrounding territory.

Celestine. The town of Celestine is in the southeast quarter of section 31, township I south, range 3 west, and it is the principal point in Hall township. Part of the land was bought of the United States, October 4, 1843, by Rev. Joseph Kundeck, its founder. He was also its only pastor from

1844 until 1S53. A brick church was erected in 1864. In 1896, this was torn down and a handsome one erected, as shown in the engraving. The town was surveyed and platted by Benjamin R, Kemp, county surveyor. The plat was acknowledged by Rev. Joseph Kundeck on the 16th day of November, 1S43. The town is named in honor of Rt. Rev. Celestine Rene Lawrence De La Hailandiere, second bishop of the Vincennes diocese.

Ellsworth. The little town of Ellsworth bears date of June i, 1885, on which day it was surveyed and platted by George R. Wilson, county surveyor, at the request of James M. Ellis, who held title to the land. A post office had previously been established, and Mr. Ellis was the postmaster, and principal merchant. It is in part of the west half of the southwest quarter of section 14, township i south, range 3 west, in Hall township. Zachariah

St. Anthony. This town was first called St. Joseph, but its name was changed in order to secure a post office. Its plat bears date of April 10, i860, and calls the town St. Joseph. The original town covers the east half southwest quarter of northwest quarter of section 36, township 2 south, range 4 west. Joseph Reuber entered the land July 20, 1S39. It was government land. On April 4 and 5, i860., Benj. F. Kemp, surveyed the town. The land was donated by John Riber, and deeded to the trustees of the St. John's congregation of the Catholic Church. A Catholic congregation was established at St. Anthony in 1864. A log church and a log parsonage were built in that year. On February 25, 1868, while trees were being cut down near the church Father Meister was struck by one of them, and died in a few hours. He was the first pastor. A handsome stone cliurch, 50 feet by 106 ,has been erected, and one of the handsomest and best equipped dwellings in the county is the parsonage. A half mile west of St. Anthony is one of the largest and best brown stone quarries in the state of Indiana. It employs many men, and its out-put adorns the fronts of many of the handsomest buildings in the Mississippi valley. A spur of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad conveys the large stones to market. One stone frequently weighs all a railroad flat car can carry.

iVlaltersville. This is a little place laid out by Mrs. Anna Barbara Malter, D-icember 17, 1867. It has no post office, and is little more than the crossing of two public highways.

Miliersport. This point is the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, section 14, township 3 south, range 6 west, in Madison township. It was surveyed on February 3, 4 and 5, 1859, by Benj. R. Kemp, county surveyor. Forty acres were divided into one hundred lots and suitable streets, including a public square of one acre in the center. There is no post office and really no town. The place is used for a farm. Circumstances combined to prevent it becoming a town. Stephen McDonald Miller was the founder.

Duff. This place is situated on the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad, in Patoka township. Robert Small is jts founder, as a town. The post office had been established for many years before town lots were sold. The town plat bears date of April 9, 1883. It has two churches. Duff is named in honor of Col. B. B. Edmonston, who when a boy was called "Col. Duff," from his military inclinations in drilling his companions as soldiers.

Kyana. This town is an out-growth of the construction of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad. It was founded by the Louisville Mining & kyana SCHOOL.

abbreviation of its home state, and the termination of the state in which it is located. It has a new church building and a new school house. It is a good shipping point. Its original plat bears date August ii, 1882. It was resurveyed and the corners established in 1887, by George R. Wilson, county surveyor. Its deeds contain a clause to prevent the sale of intoxicants.

St. Marks. M. B. Cox was the founder of St. Marks. T. P. Parrent, an Air Line civil engineer, first surveyed the town in 1872, but his survey was lost, and it was re-surveyed and establised by George R. Wilson, December, 1882. Great things were looked for of this town, when first laid out, but lots fell in price, and the place lay dormant until the final construction of the railroad. It has no church, no school, and no post office. St. Anthony supplies these and St. Marks in return is St. Anthony's railroad station.

St. Heory. The plat of this town reads, "The Town of St. Henry or Henryville." The post office is St. Henry, and it is better to so call the town to distinguish it from Henryville, Clark County, Indiana. Mr. Fisher is its founder, though the main business part of the town is not on the plat of the town, which is dated September 22, 1874. A Catholic church was established at St. Henry in 1862. A stone church was built that year. The Evansville and Jasper branch of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad passes one mile and a quarter west of the town. Its station is called Ferdinand, and Ferdinand station is Johnsburg post office. Henry Bruner lived near here. He was one of the first settlers in Cass township. He was an expert with his long rifle and hundreds of deer, bears, and other wild game fell at his shot. Mr. Bruner was one of the best known hunters that ever "drew a bead" in the early days in Dubois County.

Mentor. Francis M. Sanders is the founder of this town. He was a great admirer of President Garfield, and named the town in his honor. Henry Berger was the surveyor. The post office for this place is Altoga. It means "high and dry," and was so named by the late John M. Deinderfer, county auditor. Mentor is the main shipping station for Schnellville, Celestine, Ellsworth, and Dubois. The original plat of the town is dated September 29, 1881. Hickory Grove. This is a hamlet in the extreme northeast corner of Harbison township. It has two churches, a school house, stores, and the usual

Rev. Fidelis Maute

Born in 1837, in Inueriugen, Province Holaenzollcrn, (Sigmariugi'n, Prussia). He received his classical education in Hedingen, near Sigmaringeu and Maria Eiusicdeln. His theological studies he finished in Mainz. In 1861, he left for America. On June 21, he landed at New York, and on the 29ih he arrived at St. Meinrad, Spencer County, Indiana. He made his profession at St. Meinrad, September 8, 1863, and was ordained January 2, 1864. lit. Rev. Bishop St. Palais, of Vincennes. Since July 18, 186.5, he has been pastor of St. .Joseph's congregation at Jasper. Ry his persistent energy the present large St. Joseph's church was btiilt at Jasper.

number of dwellings incident to such settlements. For many years the post office was known as Hickory Grove. It is known as Thales P.O. since January 19, 1895.