Elkhart County, Indiana - Chapter 9: The Smaller Centers, 1905

Chapter 9: The Smaller Centers

It was not long- after the country put on an appearance of advancing cix'ilization that centers of manufacture and of industrial and commercial life began to ]ye forined. It was natural that the store, the postoffice, the church and the school be located near the sawmill or the grist mill to which the settlers frequently resorted. Those who were engaged in mechanical, industrial or commercial pursuits would have their houses near their place of business. There the preacher, the teacher and the doctor would reside. Others, attracted to the sput by the advantages to be derived from society, would make their homes there if they could do so. Hence there came to be centers of civilization or hamlets and villages, some of which, according to the law of the survival of the fittest, became towns and cities : while others disappeared, leaving" only a few vestiges of their former life and activity. The surrounding country settling up so steadily reminds one of the star dust of which worlds are said to l)e formed, and these centers of civilization remind one of the nuclei which are said to grow' into worlds and go whirling through their orbits. Or, these villages and towns are like the ganglionic centers of the nervous system. It is proposed in the present and following chapters to notice the cases which Elkhart county presents of this process of formation.

Since no important end would be conserved, even were the data at hand to attain it readily, by considering the \-arious centers in their chronological order of founding, we shall follow the convenient method of treating the town? and villages by townships, in geographical order.

Benton township, (jccupying the southeastern corner of the county, well watered, densely wooiled - in some jiarts even so to-dav - with rich soil, early attracted the westward-migrating- white man to halt and build a home. It is mentioned elsewhere how Matthew Boyd, who came in 1827, was the first settler, and that he conducted a canoe ferry across the Elkhart about where Benton now stands. This circumstance was no doubt the leading cause which in a short time attracted enough other settlers to that point so that such a center as has teen above mentioned resulted. Then, also, nature had made this an appropriate spot for a settlement, since at this point the Elkhart river presented an excellent mill site, and it must be remembered that the presence of water power was a prime consideration to the town-makers of those days. A location that in this day of railroads and graveled highways would be entirely overlooked ofteii became, during the thirties, a thriving and bustling town. Another reason that prompted a grouping of society and industry at Benton, and which has already been hinted at in connection with the ferry, Avas that the old Fort Wayne road - the most important means of communication during the early days - passed, and does pass at this day, through Benton.

The village of Benton, which lies almost entirely in section 6, was laid out by Henry Beane in 1832, on land that belonged to John Longacre. Already in 1830 the first business building, a general store, was established by James Banla and Jesse D. Vail. For the first few years the settlers received their mail from the carrier who came from Fort Wayne, but in 1836 the postoffice that had formerly gone under the name of Elkhart Prairie was moved to Benton, with Dr. F. ^\'. Taylor installed as the first postmaster. In the same year a sawmill was established by Peter Darr, and the first schoolhouse erected, in which Henry Beane presided as first schoolmaster. Two years later the Baplists put up the first church, and by this time all the institutions and activities of a prosperous and thriving town were in evidence. According to the Goshen Express of March 4, 1837, " Benton is the name of a village that, being touched by the magic wand of improvement, has sprung into existence the past sixteen months. It is situated near ihe southeast corner of Elkhart prairie, and immediately on the bank of the Elkhart river. The state road from this place (Goshen) to Fort \\'ayne, and from Hawpatch lo Hvmtington on the Wabash, passes through the village. It contains, at present, two stores, several groceries, one public house, a number of mechanics and one physician." The men mnv living whose memory goes back to that early period all unite in saving that Benton was a business and social center of first magnitude. All conditions were favorable to a steady and continuous growth - immense agricultural and timber resources, plenty of water power for manufactures, good transportation for that day, and an industrious and progressive citizenship. But there came a change. Goshen, on a few miles to the northwest, as the county seat, drew prestige from her surrounding" rivals. Railroads crossed and recrossed the county, creating new centers and touching with magic growth the old, while Benton was left to one side. Her industries ceased or sought other fields, influx of population stopped, and there was a general decline to the position of a cross-road trading point. The advent of the Wal>ash Railroad in the early nineties came forty years too late, although since Benton has become a railroad station there has been a noticeable revival of commercial activity and as a shipping point for a considerable adjacent territory it bids fair to recoup some of its former prestige.

Benton at the present day contains alxjut one hundred and seventyfive people. There are Iwo' general stores, two blacksmith shops, a harness shop, second-hand store, barber shop. Irwin Berkeypyle is postmaster and William Strayer his deputy. W. B. Kyler, a physician, is the only representative of the professions in the village. There is a good grade school, of which at the time of this compilation Miss Arv'illa Stiver was teacher. Regular religious serA-ices are maintained only by the Lutheran and Methodist denominations. Rev. Weiscotten being pastor of the former and Rev. Wilkinson of the latter, while the Baptists had a congregation some years ago. Sunday schools are maintained by each of the present denominations. The only fraternal organization is the Modern Woodmen, represented liy thirty-three members.

The industrial history is mostly of the past. The railroad was built through in 1892, the station being located some distance north of the village proper, and a considerable amount of stock is shipped from this point. About a mile west of the village, on the river, is located the power plant which supplies the town of Syracuse with electricity. A number of years ago there was a tannery. The old mill still stands, though no longer lunning. The dam was lowered some years ago, and water power is no longer utilized as it was thirty or forty years ago.

The village of Benton everywhere gives evidence of its antiquity. Its story is one of " arrested development."' The shops and buildings which served in an adequate manner their purposes of fifty years ago have never been replaced by new structures, as would have been the case had commercial prusperilv cnntinued, and now stand as monuments of a venerable and worthy past rather than representative of the progressive present. Walker's store is one of the old places which might be mentioned. The oldest living resident is Thomas Longacre, known by two generations as a blacksmith, who was born in this county in 183 1, and whose father came to the county in 1829.

Benton was located in the midst of " oak openings," only a mile and a half south of the famous Elkhart prairie, and although the country has been pretty well cleared there are still large timber areas in the neighborhood. There are some sugar groves to the south, and up till recent years the apple crop of this vicinity was very large.

The earliest settlers of Clinton township were surrounded, within a radius of a few miles, by trading points - Middlebury on the north, Goshen and Waterford on the west, and Benton on the south. Also being a distinctly agricultural region, with its beautiful rolling landscape, capable of producing unending abundance of grain crops and of supporting a dense farming population - these circumstances no doubt combined to delay the formation of a commercial center in this township. Schoolhouses furnished places for social and other assemblages, where the itinerant preacher might deliver the gospel message,, the farmers meet to consider their material welfare, or both they and their families join together in the festivities that marked the various seasons of the rolling year. The fact that the township from an early date became numerously populated by the Amish and Dunkard sects, who for many years worshiped in private houses before building central churches, was likewise a factor in retarding localization of the people and their interests.

Solomon Miller (mentioned elsewhere), who was born in Tennessee m 1803, who was a captain in the Black Hawk war and who a year or so later, in 1834, \\as in Elkhart county and purchased land in section 34 of Clinton township, in 1842 returned to take up his home on this purchase and in 1855 laid cut the plot of the town which has since borne the name of Millersburg - in his honor. His one hundred and sixty acres in the southeast quarter of the section comprised practically the entire site upon which the town has since grown up. J. R. McCord surveyed the site, and the first building erected on the original plot was that of Tames C. Miller, son of Solomon Miller. The location of the village was well chosen, and its growth, while not rapid, has heen substantial and in keeping with its ambitions to afford the people of the surrounding country a good market and town center. The Lake Shore Railroad, which was completed al^out 1857, was the main factor in determining Millersburg's founding and subsequent prosperity. This has lieen a regular station on the road since 1857, and is one of the best stock and grain shipping points in the county. Li 1892 the Wabash completed its line through the county, giving Millersburg a station antl thus practically doubling its facilities of transportation.

With a population of about six hundred, and incorporated as a village since 1870, Millersburg is one of the progressive towns of the county and, as a business point, probably ranks first among the towns of eastern Elkhart county. The enterprising citizens have recently voted a Ixjnd issue to cover the cost of an electric light plant, town hall and opera house, all of whicli will be under municipal ownership, and, with quite adequate fire protection, these improvements will place Millersburg at a distinct advantage in its competition for business and growth in population. The village board as constituted at this writing is headed by W. L. Scalf, chairman, the other members being George Mason and Joel Potter.

The public schools, from which have come more than one man Avho lia.> taken a prominent and influential if not distinguished part in the world's work, are well graded and equipped and are still maintained at their high standard of efficiency, the present superintendent of schools being E. F. Ebersole. Of churches there are four, the Lutheran, Christian, Reformed and Catholic, mentioned in order of establishment, and all have buildings and regular services. Fraternally Millersburg is represented by the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and a G. ^\. R. post.

In business and industry we find a veneering plant, two genera! stores, two drug stores, two groceries and bakeries, two hardware establishments, harness shop, feed and grain store, etc.. Hotel Miller. As a dairy center there is a creamery. The Home Telephone has over three hundred "phones in this exchange, and the Bell system has numerous connections. Tlie postmaster is Lee Hostetter.

Among the old-timers who have been identified with this town and vicinity from almost tlie beginning of its historv may be mentioned Anthony Lesch, wlio is now eighty-seven years old. He kept a boarding house and grocery in the early }'ears of Millersburg's history, and was also one of the leaders in the building- of the Catholic chvn-ch in this town. He settled here in the late forties. Jesse Hockert is another old resident, as is also Brice Larimer, -who was the first station agent for the Lake Shore road and held that position twenty-five years.

Second Blennial Reunion

The second bi-ennial meeting- of the Four Generations Reunion Association was held Thursday and Friday. The event had long been anticipated and when the day arrived everybody was up and ready. The morning hours Avere devoted to music by the band and reception of the visitors as they arrived. The opera house was also temporarily seated with chairs and the stage decorated to have in readiness for the evening's festivities.

At 12:00 noon the land went to receive a large delegation from Elkhart, Goshen and other points. Leading the way the band marched to the school campus where a picnic dinner was held, in which many persons participated, much to the enjoyment of all. After the inner man had been satisfied the regular program was taken up. The convention was called to order at i 130 by President S. A. Widner and after some singing by the choir Rev. ]\IcLaughlin invoked the blessings of the deity and delivered the address of welcome.

President Widner then read a telegram from Al Kohler, who is located in Iowa. It read : "Home sweet home, there is no place like home, though it be ever so- humble." The choir then sang " Home Sweet Home." The sentiment expressed in the telegram and the appropriate application of the old hymn caused some faces to become stained with tears.

Rev. A. B. Garman, Osborn, Ohio, responded to the welconie address and made a stirring appeal for closer application of the ties of friendship' and of morality and right living. " It is a grand thing to be welcomed back," he said " tO' find our homes have been protected by those who' reside here." Feel at home, welcome, not by words but by actions.

A song followed the response when Anthony Deahl Avas announced on the subject " Millersburg, Its Early History." The speaker dwelt at some length and held the closest attention of his hearers for about two hours. The land upon which the town of Millersburg is located was entered by Solomon Miller in 1835 and was originally platted in 1855 and incorporated in 1866. Lake Shore road built in 1855. A Mr. Eldridge was the first agent and Brice Larimer the second, who held the office for over twentv vears. ]Mr. Larimer is still lixing at the age of 86 anrl up to tlie time of his wife's death lie was tlie oldest continuous resident of Alillershurg. Anthony Lesch liad Ijeen here longer, but in the interim had mo\-ed to Ohio, w here he lived twO' years, and then returned to Alillersburg, where he resides today. Mrs. F. M. Myers now enjoys the distinction of heing the oldest continuous woman resident. The first schoolhouse erected was erected on the site where Dan Unrue's house now stands. The huilding is now a part of Peter Boomershine's residence. As we are not a shorthand writer we are unable to (juote from his speech, Init let it suffice to say that it was a good one antl will prove of much benefit to those who^ heard it.

Ezra Stiver of St. Paul, Alinn.. fnllnwed <:in "Fond Recollections of the Blessed Town." Mr. Stiver's remarks were spicy, -witty and to the point and were pleasantly received by his hearers. Ezra is one of those big whole-souled fellows voho have a great capacity for enjoyment and he certainly absorbed his share.

A chorus song concluded the afternoon program. At 8 o'clock the opera house was filled to overflowing bv about 500 people. The program opened with a duet by Mr. and P^Irs. Peters. B. F. Deahl then took charge. The program was in the nature of the old soldier's camp fire or experience meeting. ^Ir. Deahl acted as toast master and received responses from Aaron ^^'ork. Elkhart; Mrs. Barnard Slyter. Mrs. Sarah Dewey Mathews, Shirley Suavely, J. K. Lesch, Clayton Stiver, W. B. Barnard. Albert Mutschler, !\Irs. Delia Dewey Thomas. Michael Stiver and Brownie Hockert. The speakers gave reminiscences of their younger days which were highly amusing and entertaining as well. Much merriment was provoked by the " tales told out of school." Vocal and instrumental music was sprinkled in for .seasoning.

On Friday the program was taken up again about 10:30. B. F. Deahl addressed the people at some length and was followed by short talks by old settlers, among them being Jesse Hockert, who is now 81 years of age and has resided in the county since 1835. He located with his parents on the prairie and later lived on the William Long farm one mile south of town. He trod the wilderness for game on the present site of Millersburg and has three deer to his credit. Mr. Hockert related an instance of attending an Indian war dance, which he classes as a reunion and the first one he ever attended. ]\Ir. Hockert made an eloquent appeal for still nobler citizenship in the future than has been attained in the past.

J. K. Lesch of Kansas City, Mo., a warm reunion enthusiast, addressed the people on " Innocence Abroad." Inasmuch as we were ncL permitted to hear our old time chum we cannot throw anv boquets at him, but he is credited with handling the innocence p-irt witli great credit and ability.

Joel P. Heatwole of Nortlifield, Minn., addressed the people on " Millersburg as Viewed After Twenty-se\en Years' .\bsence." His remarks were full of interest and well recei\ed.

C. L. V. Hedrick, of Kansas City, Mo., foster son of Mrs. Showalter. came from Suaqui de Batuc, Sonora, Mexico, where he has extensive mining interests, a distance of O'ver 3,000 miles, to attend this reunion. He traveled 138 miles of the way in a stage coach. The mercury stood no in the shade when he left Mexico-, Mr, Hedrick favored the'assemblage with an extemporaneous speech full of good things. He met acquaintances he had not seen for over 30 years. He will be here in 1907 if alive and well.

Election of officers followed a ^-ote of thanks to the retiring board for its successful lalxirs for the reunion. S. A. \Vidner was re-elected president with a vociferous aye vote and responded by saying he would be found with his shoulder to the wheel pushing for 1907. C. H. Myers was elected vice-president, \\'. B. Barnard, secretary, and S. L. Thomas, treasurer. Date of next reunion was fixed for 1907. two years.

The big barbecue which was held Frida}- noon was the cap sheaf and can be counted a complete success. At least 1,000 people were fed and none were permitted to go away hungry. The fare would not give one the gxjut, but it was substantial and wholesome. Two years hence the barijecue will be even a stronger feature than this year and a greater variety and quantity of food will be provided.

At 1 1 o'clock, Friday, Anthony Deahl, who taught here for seven consecutive j^ears, requested those present who were his ]>upils to assemble in the schoolhouse. They did so and a J0II3' body it was. Anthony was happy and almost moved to tears as he addressed us. Each one present had something to relate about their school days and t!ie " school " was in an uproar almost continuously. A permanent organization was formed as an auxiliary to the regiilar association. W. B. Barnard, Mrs. S. L. Thomas and INIrs. C. C. Method were chosen committee.

The Heatwole auxiliary met in the same room in the afternoon. Prof. Heatwole gave us a real nice talk and related how he enjoyed himself when out with the boys on a melon-swiping campaign and other reminiscences of great interest to his former pupils. Each one present had to " recite " their little piece and of course the " spiels " were highly entertaining to those on the inside of the game. The officers elected were C. F. \A'idner, S. W. Snavelv. W. B. Barnard and Mrs. B. F. Deahl.

The afternoon sessions were closed with the benedictii^n by Rew McLaughlin and friends began to bid one another adieu and leave for their homes.

Grandma Kohler. Mrs. Joe Niner and daughter, ]\Irs. P. N. Haw and her daughter were here from Chicago. They represented four generations. The people were all glad to again shake the hand of Grandma

Kohlei", who was for so many years identified witli Alillersburg-. She is now 86 years of age. in good health and spirits. She enjoyed meeting so many of her old and yoimg friends. In numerous other instances were four generations represented, among them we now recall B. A. Myers, daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter. Mrs. D. F. Beck and descendants through her daughter. Mrs. Willis Jones, was another.

The cniwd was estimated at 1.500 on the first day and 2.000 or more on Friday. It is generally conceded that there was a larger crowd than in 1903, although there were not so many visitors from a great distance. The people living in the vicinity of Millersburg turned out in greater numbers and showed greater interest than they did laefore.

Prof, and Mrs. B. F. Peters of Wawaka had charge of the music and their work added charm to the occasion. They were supported by a chorus of local talent. Mrs. A. J. Mays presided at the organ.

Millersburg is proud, and has every reason to be, of its band. The boys received many compliments from the visitors as well as the home people. Members of the band are Adrian, Chas.. Will, and Peter Boomershine. L. F. Juday, Geo. Musselman. C. S. Willard. Frank Mc- Kibben. Albert Stage. J. F. Gehring. Fred and Roy Castetter. Lou Groff. Amzie Dunifan. Frank Gary. C. R. Garman and Henry Long.

We missed the familiar faces of Dr. H. H. Long. L. E. Barnard. Mel Bollinger, Peter Rockenbaugh, Chas. and George Gehring, and many others who were here two years ago, Init found it impossible to l>e here this A-ear.

The merry-go-round and other side attractions up town aiTorded amusement and entertainment for the younger people and added much life to the occasion.

Conrad Smith was present at the reunion two years ago and was very enthusiastic and insisted on the next one being held in 1905. His funeral was held at the same hour the second reunion opened. L. C. Garman, Sarah Johnstonbaugh, Mrs. John Widner and others ha\-e passed away since the first meeting-.

Mrs. John Singler. accompanied l)y her daughter and son. from South Bend, attended the reunion. Frank Singler, the son, had not Ijeen in the blessed town for thirty-five years. ]\Iany of the older residents will remember him. John Singler could not attend this year, but for the benefit of the venerable ex-postmaster we might say that " the postoffice is now construblucated, but there is no mail for A. K. Root."

J. A. Juday, chairman of the reception committee, had charge of the register. Over 1,200 persons signed and not half of them were on. This indicates that there were at least twice that many here.

The Four Generations Reunion Association has become a fixed and pennanent institution and the meetings may be looked forward for with regidarity.

John Thomas, who came here from Oblong, Illinois, to attend the reunion, became ill and was compelled to return home. He was sorel}" disappointed.

The history of the Alillersburg Grit, which has alwa\s led the van in movements for the upbuilding and progress of ^lillershurg, is given on other pages of this work.

Traveling from Goshen to the mirtheast into the beautifully undulating region of Middlebury tcjwnship. with its almost uniformly excellent farmsteads, from the crest of the bluffy hills which border the Little Elkhart river on the west, one sees, lying at the foot of the range and embowered in the trees, the village of Middlebury, which is alike one of the oldest and most picturesque as well as most prosperous centers of Elkhart county. Situated in section lo of Middlebury township, some thirteen miles from the county seat and at a like advantageous distance from other surrounding towns, it is the commercial center of a rich and prosperous agricultural country. In its material aspects Middlebury has many points of superiority over most towns in northern Indiana. Its situation has much of the natural charm and beauty which we associate with the towns of old England, and while for many years it remained isolated from railway communication with the outside world, its other advantages more than compensated for this lack and maintained the town in a steady and substantial growth, which has been accelerated since the advent of the branch line of the Lake Shore. Thrifty, comfortable and some beautiful resiflences line the well sliaded streets, and the citizens take evident pride in their communitv and are themselves alx)ve the average in material circumstances and civic enterprise. The main street, along which most of the residences and business buildings are located, was the old Logansixirt and White Pigeon road, from which it appears that the village was originally placed, from design, upon one of the principal thoroughfares of the countrv and was in the direct hue of traffic until the railroad chansed the current. A public sc|uare, around Avhich the Inisiness activity centered, was originally a feature of the town, Imt, as stated, the more recent development has resulted in the business houses being strung along one street.

The Middlebury of to-day is the result of over seventy years' growth. There is just one man in the town whose eyes have seen the village from its infancy to its mature growth, and it may be said with approximate truth that Middlebury and Henry ^V. Hixon are coeval in years and have grown up together, with the closest identity of interests and associations. It is from Mr. Hixon, who is the well known banker of the town, that many <,*f the facts for the compilation of this article have been obtained.

Enoch Woodbridge. who came in 1832. is said to have been the first settler of the township, and it is hardly probable that this fertile region could have been passed by longer than that date shows. The township must have settled up qtiite rapidly during the first years of the thirties. Of those who formed the nucleus of the Middlebury settlement may be mentioned Solomon L. Hixon, the father of the present banker, who located on the northeast quarter of section 10 in the spring of 1834; also Thomas Evans, Cornelius Xorthrup. Dr. Dunning, the first physician ; Orange \^'alker. who- came from New York, and whose sole descendant now lives in California : Stephen Durgin, China B. Smith; Samuel Reynolds, who, witty and genial, was the life of the entire community; John Degarmo. Albert Meade and others.

Harvey Corpe, who died in Oregon, aged eighty-seven, settled at Middlebury in the early thirties, and owned most of the hills to the south and west of the village. Several years later came Benjamin Corpe. who was the grandfather of the present station agent at Vistula, and he located about a mile north of the village. At this writing there resides a short distance west nf Middlebury one of the veritable patriarchs of this coiuitry in the person of Squier Lee, who was born in 1807, ninety-eight years ago, settled in this township in 1839, and, a carpenter by trade, assisted to erect the first Methodist church in Bristol. He now lives with his son, who is himself a gray-haired man ()f nearlv seventy }'ears.

Middlebury was platted about 1836, by W'inslow. "Warren and Brown. The townsite was owned by a syndicate who are said to have boomed tJie place for speculative purposes. A plat of the town was taken to New York and many fifty-foot lots were disposed of at a hundred dollars apiece. There was a landing on the river, and no doubt the original promoters had extensive visions - which they influenced others to see also - of a thriving metropolis growing up at this point.

But this matter is only a passing phase of the history of the town, whose permanence was already strongly assured by the substantial character of the first settlers. The first building in the town was that erected by W. T. Hunter, in 1835, located at the north end of the present main street. Mr. Hunter used this house as an inn, and was the landlord of the community for many years. George Sayer opened a store on the east side of the square shortly after the town was platted, conducting a general store, as did also John C. Case. Cornelius Northrup built a flour and saw mill on the river in 1836; the frame of this buildmg may still be seen, on the east side of town. Charles A. and James S. Dole came later and operated a distillery, also had a store. In 1836 the people of this vicinity paid fifty cents a yard for calico and five dollars a barrel for salt. A Mr. Hoyage was the first blacksmith ; Benjamin G. Evans the first postmaster ; Dr. Cornell the first justice of the peace; Daniel C. Bishop was a wagon-maker. The first church was the Methodist, under the direction of Rev. Ira Woodworth, and they held services from house to house during the first year or so.

On the east side of the public square stands a building of unhewn logs, chinked with clay and mortar, which its owner, Levi Kalb, uses as a barn, but which was one of the early store buildings of Middlebury. The date of the erection of this building is not definite, Air. Hixon claiming it to have stood since 1836, and Mr. George Adams, of Bristol, asserting it to have come into being contemporaneous with the log-cabin and hard-cider campaign days. At an)- rate, it is the oldest liuilding in Middlebury, and has more than ordinar^' interest for this rea.son.

The Goshen Express of March. 1837, says: " Middlebury is situated on the road from Goshen to White Pigeon, about equi-distant from each place. It was laid out last fall, and already begins to assume the aspect of a village. It contains two stores, public house, etc. It. too, must become in a short time a town with its pave<l streets, splendid edifices, business houses, etc."

Stutz, W. F. Hani and \\'atson Hutchinson, the last named being chairman of the Ixsard. An agricultural community, the \illage has not depended for its prosperity upon manufacturing" or other industries and cannot be said to have ever suffered any serious reverses. Commercial activity has been stimulated and man}- other advantages secured by the building of the railroad through this point in 1889, while up to that time Vistula had served as the principal shipping connection for this vicinity. Middlebury has about six hundred population.

The first schoolhouse in the village was a little frame structure, called the Red schoolhouse from its color, and was located in the northwest part of town. It was built in the late thirties, and up to that time private schools had furnished the pioneer's children their educational advantages. The present school building, erected in 1857, is a two-story brick, with four rooms. The principal is Professor Balyeat.

The Methodist church has been the longest established, and has at present about fifty members, with services every Sunday conducted by Rev. Wright. There is a missionary society, and the various other departments of church work are. maintained. The Lutherans worship in a brick structure, their minister being Rev. Ziegler, and they also ha\'e a missionary society. The Mennonites hold services in their own building, and formerly there was a Baptist congregation in the village. Fraternally Middlebury is represented by a tent of the Maccabees and b\- a Knights of Pythias lodge. A G. A. R. post was maintained for a number of years, but is now disbanded. There are some fifteen Grand Army men in the town.

The present town toard of Middlebury is as follows: John (i. Bockus, Thomas Hutchinson, Henry Beers, L. Ecker and W. O. Eldridge, president. Fred S. Hixon is clerk and M. A. Farver is treasurer. C. W. Elliott is postmaster. Middlebur}- is a R. F. D. center for three routes. The rural free delivery is a N'ast improvement over the mail system that was maintained during the days when Isaac Carpenter carried the mail for all this part of the country on the route between White Pigeon and Goshen. He was one of the first men to travel that route, away back in pioneer times.

A list of the business, industrial and professional interests of INIiddlebury, as found in 1905, would contain the following - Farmers' Bank; $15,000 capital: H. W. Hixon. president, and Fred S. Hixon, vice president. Exchange Bank, Joseph D. Mathers, president, and Harry Cole, vice president. J. Jnntz, dry goods : A. G. Shettle, dry goods and general store ; Harve}' Gohn. dry goods ; Gohn Brothers, clothing : Wise & Barnes, hardware; Kauffman & Kauffman, hardware: Joseph F. Nusbaum, drugs ; Oscar Griner, grocery ; David Schrock, grocery ; George Gohn, grocery; Nusbanm & Nnsbaum. lumber; Griner & Griner, lumber, coal. etc. Also one tank manufactory, one cement block works, the Middlebur\- Rolling Mill, a 75-l_iarrel mill, run In- -water power; three blacksmith shops, one milliner, two hotels, one livery stable, two barber shops, twO' harness shops, the Haines furniture and undertaking establishment. The medical profession is represented by Drs. Page fhomeopath), Farver, Peters and Hani.

York township, in the northeastern corner of the county, though settled about as soon as other parts of the county, has never developed and important center, its population of farmers and fruit growers finding their markets and other town advantages in JMiddlebury, Bristol and towns outside the county. Vistula, which is the only center in the tow-nship, and which has a population of less than a hundred people, can-ie into existence as the result of the demand liy the ))eriple (if iNliddlebury for a near-by station on the Lake Shore Railroad, and for some time the depot and shipping point thus established -was known as Middlebury Station. Aliout 185 1 the railroad was built through the northwestern corner of the township, and, according to the story, a woodshed was placed alongside the track about half a mile west of where the Vistula depot now stands. The Middlebury people, among whom

Carrington Casey was foremost in the promotion of this object, appealed, successfully, to the railroad company to establish a station where the woodshed stood, and as a result a side track and platform afforded the shippers from the south an outlet for their products without the necessity of going to Bristol or Goshen. Thenceforward, until the railroad was built to iNIiddleljury, ^^istula was practicall}- the railroad station for her southern neighbor. About 1854 the dej^t was moved to its present location, and ^^^illiam Billings took charge as the first station agent in its new location. As Middlebury Station the place continued to be known until a postoffice was granted, when William Caldwell, who held both offices of station agent and postmaster, suggested the name of Vistula. The name probably had its origin in the old Vistula highway. The town was laid out in 1865. but has ne\-er attained to the dignity of a village.

\V. H. Greiner is postmaster at this writing". J. J. Shellenberger, who came here in 1867 and began merchandising that year, was in Ixisiness until about twenty years ago, and the family is still represented in the village. There is one general store, kept by B. F. Weed, and W. H. Greiner, the postmaster, has a stock of groceries and drugs. The village blacksmith is J- N. Bratton, and S. F. Raifsnider is a carpenter and contractor and has a repair shop. James L. Berry is justice of the peace. The churches are the Lutheran, with thirty or forty members, with Rev. Ziegler, of Middlebury, as their pastor, and the Christian, with over a hundred members, under the pastoral care of Rev. Hill, of Elkhart. School facilities are supplied by the ordinary district school, with about thirty pupils enrolled. The banking is done at White Pigeon and Middlebury. Mr. ^Sl. F. Corpe, a representative of one of the old Elkhart county families, is the station agent.

Among those who have been identified with this immediate vicinity for the longest time may be mentioned Edwin H. Corpe, who settled here about i860: Joseph Leckner. who resided here over fift}-- five years. Mrs. ]\Iary Stroup, who r.ow lives in Vistula and is about seventy years old, has been in the village since 1854, at which time there was only one house north of the depot and a little store, which was the extent of \^istula at the limit of her earliest remembrance.

Bristol

^Vashington township, through which courses the swift and broad St. Joseph river, was one of tlie first sections of the county to attract settlers. And at the point where the Little Elkhart empties its waters into the larger stream was founded one of the first business centers in the county. Bristol, vvhile one of the oldest towns in the county and taking just pride in its past, is at the same time one oi the most progressive and up-to-date of the Elkhart county centers.

Li 1829 James Nicholson and his family ended their search for a pioneer home by pre-empting land on the site where Bristol now stands. These first residents were soon joined by Peter Marmen, Aaron Brown, Reuben Bronson and James Cathcart, About 1835 Samuel P. Judson, Lewis M. Alverson and Hiram Doolittle laid out and recorded the original plat of the present town of Bristol. Dr. H. H. Fowler, the first practicing physician, was alsO' the first postmaster. Business, religion and education advanced steadily during the thirties and forties. Alverson and Doolittle were the first merchants. Miss Philossa Wlieeler taught school in a log cabin, the first regular school house being erected in 1838, and about 1837 the Baptists and Methodists held services in the village. The water power of the St. Joseph at this point was first utilized in 1S41. when a dam was constructed and several mills erected, among them a woolen mill.

" Bristol," avers the Goshen Express of March 4. 1837, "as a site for a town is not excelled by any other on the St. Joseph. It is on a beautiful plain, elevated about forty feet above the river. It bids fair to make a town."

Mr. George Adams, whose memory of Bristol and this vicinity extends back further than that of any other man now li\-ing. furnishes many interesting items concerning the village as he first knew it in the year of 1848. At that time, says Mr. Adams, the merchants were S. B. Romaine, Owen Coffin, Salmon Fowler, William Probasco, L. P. Knight and Mr. Wheeler. H. H. Fowler, J. R. Congdon and Louis Sovereign were physicians. Horace H. Hull was postmaster, and the old schoolhouse which was then in daily use by the Ixiys and girls is now located on the bank of the river and is used as a blacksmith shop. According to ^Ir. Adams, there was more business and industrial acti\'ity in Bristol at that time than at Elkhart. \\'heat was brought from all directions to be ground at the mill just west <if town. Mr. .\dams' father kept what might be termed a " barn hotel," which was filled night after niglit, during the season, bv farmers with their wheat wagons.

B. F. Cathcart. who came with his father James and whose home was just east of the present schoolhouse in Bristol, was a school teacher during the early days, and also entered about six hundred acres of land in this part of the county. Mr. Cathcart was a resident of Washington township for seventy years, one of the most prominent fruit growers and nurserymen of this section. In 1835, when he was a boy of about seventeen, he took a load of wheat to Constantine, Michigan, and while camping by the roadside one night he witnes.sed one of the awe-inspirmg meteoric showers which characterized that year in the minds of the people better than any other occurrence.

Among the old residents of Bristol still living are Henrv S. Wright and wife, Mrs. (Rice) Wright: Isaac L. Alver.son : Mrs. Michael (Nicholson) Frank. Among the oldest houses may be mentioned the first house east of the brick schoolhouse. owned bv Sa\-illa Cathcart,

This structure is nearly seventy years old, and there are one or two others of nearl}- eijual age. It will interest any person to know that the oldest daguerreotypist still living in the I'nited States, Alarvin Cathcart, a resident of Buchanan, ^Michigan, and over eighty years old, at one time had an establishment v)n Main street in Bristol, and no doubt there are examples of his art in numerous homes in this vicinity. He was also leader of the band in this town.

With a population between five and six hundred, excellently situated in a tine fruit growing countr}-, with the Lake Shore Railroad furnishing adequate shipping facilities, the Bristol of to-day is more prospemus than at any time in its history and has the advantages and resources mtjst needed for a leading residence and commercial center. Its school system is maintained at a high standard. An eight-room, brick building was completed in 1904, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. In addition to the regular grades there is a first-class high school, the schools being under the superintendency of J. E. Newell. Of churches there are three - the Episcopal, Rev. Brant, Presbyterian, with ser\ices every two weeks, under Rev. Good, and the IMethodist. Rev. Turner. Bristol is noted as a lodge town. There is George Washington Lodge No. 325. F. & A. M.. and Bristol Ghajitcr of the Order of the Eastern Star. Castle Hall Xo. 368 of the Knights of Pythias has eighty-four members and owns its hall. Then there are the Rathhone Sisters, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Bristol Lodge Xo. 448). and Woodmen of the \\orld.

Business and industry : - H. B. App, general store and agricultural implements. Thomas Hilbish, general store and private bank. W. W.'Bickel, hardware. A. L. Lamport, general store. L. C. Congdon, drugs. Hermance and Dussel, general store. W'. M, Sullivan, furniture and undertaking. J. N. Albers, lumber, coal, lime, etc. Bristol Milling Company, Mr. Weller proprietor. The Garman Manufacturing Co. makes hayracks, ladders, swings, etc. There are two meat markets, two billiard halls, two saloons, one creamer}-, two milliners, one harness shop, three blacksmith and repair shops, one restaurant, two barber shops, two livery stables. Hotel Bristol is conducted by George Kinyon.

The physicians are F. M. Aitken, the oldest in the town, C. E. Dutrow. J. E. Barbour and Dr. Hughes. H. W. Kantz is a lawyer and also engaged in insurance and real estate business.

blocks, has a mile of cement sidewalk on ]\Iain street, and evidences of cix'ic jnide are apparent everywhere. A hook and ladder apparatus and chemical engine affortl protection against fire, the water being dra^\n from cisterns. The memljers of the present town !x>ard are H. \\'. Dussel. president. Albert Stamp and Arthur Triggs. Clyde Hilbish is treasurer and L. A. Congdon clerk. The marshal is Arthur Semple. L. T- Greenan is postmaster. Bristol is the center for four rural delivery routes, two of which were established in June, 1904.

Upon the range of hills which extends through Washington township are to be found some of the finest nurseries and most extensive vineyards in the state. I-'ruit-raising in each year becoming more of a regular industry m this part of the county, and naturally Bristol is the shipping point for all this class of product. Mr. George Milburn (see sketch elsewhere) has a fine farm on the hills to the south of town, and his average cherry crop is 2500 cases, of apples two to three thousand bushels, 800 bushels of pears, a thousand bushels of peaches, large quantity of plums, and other fruit. Mr. A. Y. Cathcart estimates that in a full season two hundred thousand cases of small fruits, peaches, etc., are shipped at the Bristol depot, all of which is, of course, in addition to the home consumption. Some of the prominent fruit growers besides ]\Ir. Milburn are S. W. Pease, Joseph Garver, J. L. Judson, J. F. Cathcart, J. S. Letherman, George A. Fisher, Samuel Kreider, A. Y. Cathcart. Melons are another fruit grown in large quantities in the light sandy soil of this vicinity. Mr. Pease has had as high as twenty acres in this crop. Mr. George Roth is one of the principal stock dealers of the town, and Mr. B. B. Knapp buys and ships large quantities of wool. Huckleberries are a favorite fruit crop with some, and about four thousand cases are each season loaded on the train at Bristol.

The township of Jefferson, though one of the richest in tlie county from an agricuhural standpoint, has several country churches and its quota of schoolhouses, but no community center that could be dignified with the name of town. Two reasons might be given for this - first, the proximity of Goshen on the south and Elkhart on the west, the two largest centers in the county, not to mention Bristol on the north and Middlebur}' on the east, as a result of which geographical situation Jefferson township is surrounded with towns and in easy access of them all and thus never felt the need of a center of her own ; and second, the township has not lain in the (Hrect patli of railroad building. Elsewhere are mentioned those who were identiiied with the first settlement of this tmvnship.

Waterford Mills

Naturally much of the history of T^.lkhart township is the history of Goshen, and is told in other CDnnectiuus. Since the city of Goshen is assigned a special chapter in this history, it remains for us here to consider the only other center in the township - the village of Waterford, or Waterford Mills as it was known in the United States Postal Guide until the postoffice was discontinued.

When the rural deliveiy system supplanted the Waterford Mills postoffice about a year ago, the postoffice department practically initiated the last act in the drama which will end in Waterford's losing its identity and being completely merged with the city of which it even now is aluK.st a part. The changing lights and shadows which characterize human life find their cmmterpart in the history of this village, and it is with a feeling hardi)' less than reverence that one stands in this now decadent community and looks upon the scenes of a once fruitful industry and prosperous commerce. With its pulses of industry long stilled and the heart of its ]>roductive activity plucked away by its greater rival, Waterford for many years has been like a plant whose sustenance is sucked away by the great tree at whose roots it stands. From supporting, through its industries, a considerable population of its own, as was the case within the memory of many men yet living, Waterford now furnishes its small numerical strength to the business and industrial activity of Goshen. Indeed, a beaten path leads north from the village into the city, frerjuented night and morning by those whose daily toil brings them from the village to the larger center. And, despite the optimism pre\ailing among some of the Waterford people who anticipate the time when the village will return to her own and once more be a jiower and chief factor in commerce and industry, it would seem that the direction progress has taken can never ]x countervailed and that Waterford must be known more for the glory of her past than tor her importance in the present. With a knowledge of what has been and beholding the little that remains, one feels, with the poet, that " A great life has passed into the tomb, and there awaits the requiem of the winter's snows."

is of course impossible to learn its early histor}- from any person still lixing. and the facts concerning its settlement and first steps of progress are taken from the former chronicles and records. The village was well called Waterford " Mills," for it was around its milling industries that its life centered, and with the disappearance of the last factories some thirty-five years ago came the final period of decline for the village. The part of section 28 on which the village grew up was originally owned by Judge Elias Baker, who in 1833 put up his own log cabin and on the river bank erected a grist mill, which was the first of the producti\e industries which sought this location. Already, several families had settled in this neighborhood, for W'aterforfl lies on the wonderful Elkhart prairie, which perhaps attracted the e_\es of more settlers than any nther portion of the county. Rev. .\zel Sparklin. the pioneer Methodist preacher, had a farm on the east and Major John W. Violett's land lay to the north.

But the family whose interests most completely identified them with the early history of Waterford was that founded here in the thirties by Cephas Hawks, Sr., who bought the Baker mill in June, 1836, and in the following year his son, Cephas, Jr., took possession and began the operation of a mill. The milling firm of C. Hawks and Sons was the corner stone of Waterford's material prosperitv for manv vears. In 1838 David Ballentine, who also had an interest in the mill, and the senior and junior Cephas Hawks laid out the village of Waterford. The Hawkses also had a store, and the old building in which they did business is still standing, on the south side of the road near the bridge. On the completion of the dam and canal at Goshen, in 1868, the mill was moved av\^ay, and only a few stones mark the site of that once thriving industry. The oldest residents, whose memories go back fifty years, remember when there was a sawmill, a factory for the making of pumpstocks, and, on the west side of the river and south of the present bridge, was a woolen factor}-, and, north of the bridge, a distillery, a dye and fulling works, and a factory for the manufacture of rakes and forks. With such a nucleus oi industries it can be readily imagined wliat a thriving place Waterford was in those days. The old dam across the river was just south of the present bridge. The Hawkses did most of the mercantile as well as milling business, but William Baker had a store and tavern and \\'illiam Planter a store and pump shop. Farmers from a distance of many miles and from all directions came here to get their wheat ground and their corn " cracked," and of course tought here what other suppUes they needed at the same time. It seems that no postoffice was estabhshed until 1854, S. D. Lombard being first postmaster. From this it is evident, at even this early date, the people had been accustomed to getting their mail at Goshen. For some time the postoffice was discontinued, being re-established in 1865, and in 1904 was finally abolished by order of the postal authorities. Mr. John Lower has the honor of having served as the last postmaster.

At the present time Waterford has one store, whose proprietor is Arthur Womer; also a blacksmith shop of intermittent activity; a wagon repair shop. Shortly after the factories were moved to Goshen, the consummation for which the Waterfordians had so long and devoutly wished was attained^ - but too late. The Big Four Railroad was built through, and established a station, but there was nothing to ship, for which reason the road has been regarded as at least a doubtful advantage. Waterford was never incorporated, its present population is perhaps one hundred and fifty souls, and, situated only three miles from the court house at Goshen and only a mile from the end of the street-car line, it is, for all practical purposes, an integral part of the larger city. The Warsaw electric line, which, from all indications, will soon be constructed, will pass through the village and will, no doubt, cause a renewed activity along some lines. But whether Waterford will some day become one of the choicest residence suburbs of Goshen and will be a seat of manufacturing industries, is mit within the province of this history to say.

Just to the north of Waterford, and, seemingly, interposed as one of nature's bulwarks against the aggressions of restless humanity and its structures of brick and wood, stands a grove of stately oaks, the remains of the primeval forest which covered all this part of the country at the time the first settlers came to Elkhart prairie. This grove is in fact one of the most conspicuous features in this part nf the county, although its general denotement to the present generation is that of regret that the vast areas of magnificent forests, of whicli this is such an insignificant sample, were so ruthlessly overwhelmed and destroyed by the early settlers. This forest preserve, containing perhajis fifty acres, was set aside years ago and has always been kept intact by the Violett family, in whose possession it still remains. The grove has long been a favorite resort for picnicers. and until a few years ago the street car line had an extension out to it and a pavilion was maintained for pleasure-seekers.

Part Of This House Was Built By Col John Jackson In 1832

odist. The former, wliose pastor is now Rev. Stewart, is one of the oldest churches in the county, having Ijeen organized at Benton in October, 1842, shortly afterward moved to a log schoolhouse west of Waterford, and in 1853 a house of \vorship was erected in the village. The Methodist, which no longer has regular ser\-ices, except Sundav-schonl, was founded here perhaps as long ago as the late thirties, and ,-i huilding was erected in 1842. At one time there was a Presbyterian congregation in the village, \^'aterford lias a pretty two-story brick schoolhouse, erected m 1898 by Trustee Hess. There are four teachers.

An entire chapter, if not a good-sized hook, might be compiled from the historical data which one or iwn townshijis of Elkhart county furni,sh. This is true iif Jack.son townshi]j. and at this point the historian is prompted to be diffuse and speak of man\ matters which concern not so much the centers of the townshi]i as the township at large. This township furnished some df tlie most interesting personalities in the county's history, and upou their life \\ork and character as a foundation has been, built up the prosperous community which we now know as Jackson township. Col. John Jackson, the sturdy old soldier-pioneer, after whom the township vras named, one of the iirst, if not the first, permanent settlers here, is mentioned at length in various parts of this work, and for the more intimate relation of his family record the reader is referred t() the sketch of his grandson, Frank Jackson, who resides on the ver\- homestead which was occupied by the colonel three quarters of a century ago. Elsewhere will also be found the life history of that other forceful char- ?cter, Mark B. Thompson, so prominently and early identified with this township, and whose son, Hon. John E. Thompson, is still with us, one of the oldest and most honored of the county's citizens. The Rodi- Imughs, 'V\^eybrights, Wylands, Ri]3]3e>s, and others who were the foundation stones and pillars of the early progress and upbuilding in the town- Khip, are given space on other pages. According to the original purposes of this chapter we must here confine our attention to those places in the township which have served or do serve as centers of population or social and business life.

Leaving aside from our present consideration the centralizing of interests which was brought about to such an important degree in this township by the church communities of the German Baptists and the Methodists, we ha\e to deal with onlv two centers. In recording the history of these two centers there is found a course of development similar to that which marks the centers of Goshen and W'aterford, especially ill the circumstance that the older and more particularly industrial center of Jackson township in time yielded precedence, in population, business activity and most iither respects to its younger and more pi'osperous i?eighbor.

Here, as elsewhere, the presence of con\"enient and good waterpower was the factor which determined the location of the first industrial center. The Elkhart ri\er flows through the northeast corner of the township, and its swift current earh- invited a utilization of its wasting fiirce. There was the pinver, and all around were the magnificent fiirests of luml}er trees. In 183 1, only a year after Elkhart county came into organized existence, a Mr. Ingle built a sawmill near the dividing line between Benton and Jackson townships, and not long after Mr. Jonathan Wyland constructed a mill race on the southwest side of the river, in section 2. and with his sawmill laid the foundation of the village which through the succeeding vears has Iseen known b_\' various .names - Wyland's iNIills, simply The Mills, and, now more generally, Baintertown. This is another practicall\- " deserted village," through \\hicli the traveler m Elkhart count}' may pass and, by the vestiges that survive the passage of lime, hardh- suspect the industrial activity which once characterized the place. Mr. Wyland soon built a grist mill and did custom work for many years. Old settlers tell how the ten-acre field about the mill would often be filled with the wheat and corn wagons driven here from all directions, and often the teamsters would be compelled to camp here a week before their turn would come to unload the grain into the hopper. Mr. Wyland sold to a man named Bainter, and the mill has had various owners, and of course has been remodeled and changed to suit the changing times, until, having teen newly equipped about twenty ^-ears ago, it is now known as the New Paris Mills and is owned by Mr. \\'illiam Reddin (see his sketch). A woolen factory, tv\0 wagon shops, a postotiice, and various other institutions lielnnging to a village community have existed here in the past, but the abovementioned mill is now the only concern that differentiates this place from anv other rural vicinity. Baintertown has declined as New Paris has ascended in the scale of commercial prosperity, and, situated only a mile or two apart, the former is little more than an industrial adjunct of the latter.

the midst of a rich agricultural region, is situated the village of Xew Paris, one of the oldest centers in the county. New Paris is not a large place, its population according to the most recent estimate being four hundred and ninety-seven persons, but in many important particulars it deserves consideration among the trade and residential centers of the county.

New Paris has an excellent school system, a substantial brick schoolhouse of foiir rooms, and the principal for the term ending in the spring of 1905 was Mr. Frank Swartz. Three churches afford opportunities for religious observance - the Evangelical, whose minister is the Rev. Spangler; the Methodist, presided over by Rev. Wilkinson (see chapter on churches), and the Progressives (a branch of the Dunkards). with no regular minister. There is a Ladies' Missionary Society maintained by the ladies of the Methodist denomination. There is one fraternal order, the Alodern Woodmen, whose camp was founded December, 1904, and now has twenty-three members, John Reddin general consul.

New Paris, by its convenient situation on two' railroad lines, has become a good shipping point for the grain and stock products of the surrounding country. The Big Four Railroad (then known as Cincinnati, Wabash and Michigan) was completed through this point in 1870, and in the winter of 1892-3 the first trains began running over the Wabash. ;\lr. William Cart ships several carloads of stock from New Paris each week, ^^'heat. oats, corn and stock are the principal products of the surrounding country. A grain elevator Avas constructed about four vears ago. To take care of the dairymen's products Mr. Greenaw ault is erecting a creamery. Fisher Brothers have a private bank ; there are three general stores, an undertaking establishment, a hardware. imi)lement and lumber establishment, a tinning and roofing shop, one barber shop, a restaurant and lunch room, two butcher shops, a drug store, a liverv stalile. and one hotel, whose proprietor, Mrs. E. C. Blanchard, is one of the old residents of the town and cinnity, and the hotel building has been her home for thirty-seven years. The citizens of New Paris talk among themselves and with the surrounding country bv means of the Bell, the Farmei-s" Mutual and the Home Telephone Companies.

The postmaster is George \\\ Cart. New Paris is a rural delivery center for three mail routes. There is no newspaper published at the present time in the village.

^latthews and iJrs. \\ alters & Bruthers. Jackson Pickering is the present justice of the peace, and Frank McFarren constable. The village is not yet incorporated, hence an integral part oi Jackson township government, Charles Rohrer being present township trustee.

The early history of New Paris begins about 1838. when the village was laid nut by Isaac .\bshire and Enoch Wright, the fcjrmer oi whom was a settler here m 1829 and the latter in 1834. Each of these men owned a hundred and sixtv acres, the east and west road dividing the farms, and e;ich set aside jiart of his land fur village lots. The first postmaster was Joseph Cowan, and the stury goes that he kept the mail in a sugar huwl, the contents of which he would carefully e.xamine whenever anyiiiie inquired for his mail, .\mong the early business men were: Da\id Parrot, who had a dry-goods store; Elkanah Hoffman, the first blacksmith; T. Divinnie, the tailor and the first hotel proprietor; John Berry and Mr. Cashner: ^^'. C. Matchett. the first physician. The first settler on the site of the ti iwn was Frederick Harriman. Abrani Blanchard, the father of E. G. Blanchard. settled just east of town in 1836 and built the first brick house in this vicinity. He was the first man to bury a cliild in tlie cemeteiy just east of town, and he built a rail fence around the little nmund in order to keep the wnhes from digging up the bodw

E. (i. Blanchard, wiio has lived here since 1836 and is now past seventy, being the oldest resident of the town, speaks interestingly of several phases of early life in this part of the county. Laban Lacy, who was one of the early settlers about New Paris and whf) Ijroke up a great deal of the land in this vicinity, introduced into this section, according to Mr. Blanchard. the first grain separator, bringing it from Buffalo. Up to that time the " chaff-piler " had been used as the successor of the flail. Tliis v\as a mere cylinder worked by four horsepower or treadmill, and allhriugh liy this means the grain was beaten out, the straw and grain were ])iled t(>gether and had to be separated by means of fanning. Air. l-'rank Jackson sa\-s that after the chaff-piler came the traveling thresher - a prototype of the modern " headers " so much in use in the great wheat countries. Six horses drew this machine arountl the field, threshing out ten bushels at a time ;uid emptying the grain on a canvas, leaving the straw scattered all oxer the field. This threshing device was operated by a bull wheel.

The first schoolhouse at New Paris, of logs, was located just opposite from where the hardware store now stands. John McGrew was the first teacher.

Union township is pre-eminent for its agriculture. Much of it is parl-c-like in its landscapic beauty, and the fertihty of its soil is known far and wide. If we except the city of Nappanee, part of which lies in section 31 of this township, there was no community center of any importance until recent years. The observer is struck by the number of churclies which can be found along the highways, so that at least one is in sight at almost e\er_\- point in the township. This suggests that the worthy people of this part of the county, being entirely rural in their occupations and manners of living, have relied upon the commercial centers outside of the township for material supplies, while their social and spiritual needs have all been satisfied by their churches. Certainly one would go far to find a more generally intelligent and progressive class of people than those in this township, and homes, schoolhouses, farmsteads and every other factor that would furnish a basis for judgment indicate their prosperity and material welfare.

To single out only one of these rural localities for specific mention at this point, there is in section 22 a little rural community which has long been know-n as Stumptown. This appellation has nothing to do with the material appearance of the place, but was given in honor of Abram Stump, who, some sixty years ago, taking advantage of a small watercourse in that \icinity, constructed a dam and built a mill. A sawmill is still maintained at this point, though run by steam power. Several old buildings survive from the era of prosperity, among them a log house of hewn timbers, plastered chinks and clapboard roof, which dates back to the real pioneer period. An old store building still stands on the west side of the road, a weather-dimmed sign in front indicating a commercial enterprise under the title of " Union Valley Groceries, Dry-goods, Boots and Shoes Store." The sawmill is now operated by P. \Y. Hollar. At the crossroads north of the mill stands the Dunkard church, across the road from which the city of the dead tells, by its large number of mounds and many crumbling headstones, the long-continued existence of this community center better than more vital facts could.

In 1892, when the Wabash Railroad cut through the northeastern corner of Union township, two enterprising business men - Messrs. Blosser and Bechtel, the former of Waterford and the latter of Wakarusa - began the promotion of a new business center in that portion of the township. The name given to this village was Foraker, and it has enjoyed, during the thirteen years of its existence, a very consideraljle degree of prosperity and will no doubt in time be one of the important towns of the county. The village was platted on the land of Samuel Yoder, and there are now about twenty-five families who claim residence in Foraker. There is one general store, P. B. Bollinger, proprietor; M. T. Miller has a store and the postoffice; there is a creamery station, a branch to the Freese creamery in Nappanee; two blacksmith shops; Dr. M. T. Brumbaugh is the physician. Three trains stop at the station, and there is unusual business activity for a place of the size.

Locke township, which was not organized until the forties, Init which in the character of its citizens has long since made up for its tardy beginning, has experienced considerable diversity in the movement of its population toward community centers. The records mention a union church, built on section 22, which served as a focus for the people of the surrounding region. Another center was the first store, which was established by John Wolfe where the village of Locke is now situated. As to the first postoffice the records are not clear. In December, 1847, the Goshen Democrat has an item which states the establishment of a new office in Locke township, called " Locke," and Daniel McCov postmaster. The postoffice was known also as " Five Points " and under different postmasters had dift'erent locations. Previous to its removal to the village of Locke the ( iffice was occupied by Solomon Berlin, who was the incumbent from 1861 to 1869. The Berlin homestead is situated half a mile east and one mile north of the present village of Locke.

The village of Locke tells another story of vanished prestige and the sur\-ival of the fittest." Laid out about 1867 in section 24 by George W. Eby, ]\I. H. Morlan and L. B. Winder, its history for several years was that of a flourishing town, with a future which would place it among the leading towns of the county. At one time its business interests were substantially these: Three dr\--goods stores, one drug store, one grocerv store, one hardware store, one tin shop, one furniture store, two l:)oot and shoe shops, two sawmills, one shingle mill, one wagon shop, one steam grist and flouring mill, three blacksmith shops, a hotel, iniblic school, a church, three i^hysicians, and about forty dwellings. I.X)cated on high and rolling land, it nr. doubt seemed the acme of eligibility as a site for a large center.

When the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was constructed the advantages that might accrue to the road from having a station at Locke were disregarded, and the line was built two miles to the south. Nappanee was laid out, and with the help of the railroad grew rapidly and soon overmatched its ri\-al on the north. Locke could not hold its own even as an agricultural town, and its business interests soon were attracted to Nappanee or quietly passed away where they were. Twent)- five years ago Locke was still regarded as a commercial center of some importance. Now there are perhaps twenty-five or thirty people residing within the original limits of the village. At the date of this writing a small store building had just been erected by E. J. Pippenger. who accordingly has the honor of being the sole representative of business activity in the place. With the establishment of rural delivery the postoffice also was taken away. A part of the old flour mill still stands, but many of the business houses were moved away entire. Religious and educational advantages still make the locality somewhat of a center. The United Brethren church holds services every two weeks, and there is an excellent district school, in which many of the best teachers in the county have obtained their education. There are two teachers, Miss Catherine Chamberlain having been principal of the school during the past vear. The pretty brick school building was erected in 1890. The oldest resident of Locke community at the present time is Martin Robinson. Locke used to bear the name of Whistlertown.

The history of the city of Nappanee, which appropriately could be considered in the centers of Locke township, is deserving of such extended notice that place will be given for that purpose on later following pages.

\\'akarusa has for half a century I)een the principal center of Olive township. During the greater part of this period it existed as a " country town," without railroad advantages, and the fact that it grew and prospered and was a ixisy trading and industrial village even without a railroad indicates the enterprise of its citizens and the hig-h character of its surrounding population. Nearly twenty-five years ago the directory of the town's institutions contained the following: Four churches, Methodist, Lutheran. Christian, Baptist; two-story brick schoolhouse; one stave and heading factory ; one saw and planing mill ; two wagon and carriage factories; two harness shops, two drug stores, three shoe sliops, two dry-goods stores, one liardware and implement, one furniture store, one grist mill, two blacksmith shops, a meat market, a hotel, a millinery store, barber shop, saloon, two physicians, \eterinary surgeon, and nearly four hundred people.

During the first ten years after Olive township was organized there were no centers of population other than the log schoolhouses. [n 1849 a postoffice, known as Mt. Olive, was established in Harvey Bly"s logcabin, two and a half miles north rif the present Wakarusa. In that primitive postoffice \\as born th.e wife of Mr. George Nusbaum, the present postmaster of \\'akarusa, and as Mrs. Xusl)aum is her husband's assistant the Bly family has been identified, first and last, witli Uncle Sam's affairs in this vicinity for o\-er fifty-five years.

In 1S52 a village was platted where Wakarusa now stands, and was given the name of Salem, the nrigiiial plat being m.ide 1)\' Messrs. Holdeman, Smeltzer and Fletcher. When the .Mt. 01i\e postoffice was moved tn this place, there at once aro^e difficulties in consequence of there being another Salem in the state, .\fter a period of confusion in postal matters, the citizens assembled in town meeting ;nid \-oted a new name. .\t this meeting, which was held in i83<). Mr. Jacob Dell, then a boy in his teens, was ])resent, and he remembers nian\- of the ])ros and cons of the discussion which preceded the cliange of name. Mr. Woijlverton finally proposed the name of Wak.nrusa. which \\as the name of a place in Kansas of which he had liecn ;i resident, and this designation was finall}" adopted. \\'akarusa is an Indian word wh<ise meaning, according to the Ijest authorities, is "knee deep in mud." It was owing to the consistencv of this name with the nature of the soil on wdiich the village was located tliat the decision of the majority of the citizens finally favored the present title.

William Moon was the first settler nn the site of Wakarusa. building his house near what is known as the " fish iioud." Thomas Inks and Jackson Woolverton are mentioned as the first uicrchants. the Lutherans built the fi.rst church, and the first public school was erected about iS^d. subscription schools having been in vogue up to that time. (.)f the oldest residents who are still li\ing. it is fitting to mention Samuel Kline, wdio is now- past eighty and has li\-ed here o\er fifty \ears; ^Irs. Lucinda M. (Stevens) Woolverton, the mother of Dr. \\'oo]verton, is now in her eighties, and it w-as her husband who nruned the town. Mrs, Pamelia (Pitts) Grove has the double distinction of being one of the oldest women in the countv and of living in the oldest house in \\'akafllSTORV OF ELKHART COUNTY 127 rusa - the frame structure on the west side of Elkhart street near tlie business section. She was the first child born in Locke township, about seventy-five years ago. Other old-timers are Anthony Myers. David H. Fletcher. Mrs. Mary A. Young. Mrs. Abraham Lechlitner. Abraham W'eldy, Isaac Letherman.

The twentieth century Wakarusa affords many attractions as a [jlace of residence and is a business center whose importance is growing every year. The census of 1900 gave 917 inhabitants, and it is nowestimated that there are not many short of twelve hundred. To- afford permanent representation of the business activity as found in 1905, we make a list of the persons and firms who are identified with the various phases of business, professional and industrial affairs :

Civic enterprise is noticeable on every hand in this town. .Miout three years ago a first-class fire department was organized, and the drill is a regular feature of the municipal program. There are three tire companies, with chemical engine, hook and ladder, and plenty of hose. The pond and level-full cisterns afford a never-failing water supply, and it is hardly possible that Wakarusa could ever again suffer such a destructive fire as visited her a few years ago. The present town board has the following members : B. F. Lutz, president, Fred Trisinger, secretary; John Fink, treasurer; Jeremiah Bechtel and Howard Elliott. The town was incorporated in 1898.

The citizens take just pride in their public schools. The school building, wliich stands on the east side of town, was practically rebuilt some twelve years ago. being a two-story brick structure with nine rooms. Superintendent A. C. Steele and Principal L. M. Gulp have five other teachers to assist in the work, and so well is the institution graded and so efficient are all departments of the work that in 1905 the high school v>-as accredited with the State University. There were four graduates from the high school in 1905.

Wakarusa is a religious town and has a full quota of churches. The beautiful Christian church is mentioned elsewhere. The Methodists are under Rev. Earl Parker, the United Brethren have a non-resident minister, the German Baptists have E. J. Swartz as their pastor, and there is also a congregation of the Mennonite Brethren in Ghrist. There are also a Ghristian Endeavor, Epworth League, Home jNIissionaiy Society, Ladies Aid, and the Band of Willing Workers of the Ghristian church.

Of the fraternities, \\'akarusa has a lodge of the Masons and an Eastern Star chapter; the Knights and Ladies of the Maccabees, and there is a Grand Army post of some forty members, with a Woman's Relief Gorps as auxiliary. The Search Light Glub, an organization of ladies wlio devote themselves to different lines of study in literature and art. is one of the leading clubs of the county. 'Sirs. Gharles Frash is president, and Mrs. H. j\L Freed is secretary.

Wakarusa is now a fourth-class postoffice, but the present postmaster, who is a man of enterprise and public spirit, hopes soon to bring it into the third class. There are three rural delivery routes that center here.

Beautiful as a landscape, rich and fertile in soil, populated by as fine a class of farmers as will be found in anv similar section in the state.

Harrison township has long held pre-eminence as the agricultural paradise of Elkhart county. Fine farms are the rule here, the growing of premier grain crops and the raising of fine stock is the one absorbing pursuit of the inhabitants, and therefore we may little expect to find here any commercial development. Excellent roads cross the township in all directions and lead away in convenient distances to Goshen, to Elkhart and to Wakarusa, so that the people have no need for a town in their midst. Independent, progressive, prosperous, the farmers of Harrison township find all the comforts of life each within his own homestead, and when other advantages appeal to them they have the means to go after them. Good schools ha\-e been maintained from the early times to the present, and the township is noted for the number of its country churches. There are ten churches and no postoflice. .\t one of the crossroads four churches may he counted within a distance of two miles.

The Goshen Democrat, in December, 1847, tells of the recent establishment in Harrison township of a postoftice called Cabin Hill, of which Solomon P. Yeoman was postmaster. This office was in the western part of the township, and was discontinued after a few years. Some time later the demand for a postal station was gratified by the establishment of one where a community called Southwest had formed. Southwest is located at the crossroads dividing sections 26, 27, 34 and ^^. A short distance to the south runs the Logansport diagonal road, so that this was a very favorable six)t for a town. A postoffice was maintained at that point, with some interruption, up till a recent time, when the rural delivery displaced it. At the present time Southwest contains a general store owned by H. N. Garberick; a substantial brick schoolhouse, three churches in the immediate neighborhood, and perhaps a dozen families. About a mile south of Southwest is the only lake in this pari of the county.

The townships of Baugo. Concord. Cle\eland and Osolo have one center - the city of Elkhart with its seventeen thousand inhabitants. This city supplies nearly all the advantages of business, industry, society. amusement and religion which the people of these townships would seek at any community center, and for this reason the little embryo communities which at various times have come into existence are now at best nothing more than a local name. Baugo township has Jamestown or " Jimtown," a well known locality because one of the oldest settlements in the county, but no longer possessing any business importance. Will- iani Ricliason and James Davis built the sawmill which tVirmed the industrial nucleus of this place. Jajnes Davis laid uut a village there ab<5ut 1835, its location being on Baugo creek in section 26. Samuel Cotterel had the first store. The first schoolhouse in the township was also built there. The Methodists built a chapel there in 1854. and some t\\ent_\- years later the Baptists also erected a house of worship.

Francis Rork, wdro settled in the western part of Cleveland township about 1830. kept a public house there for some time, and this might be said to have been the first common gathering place of the settlers of that conininnity. The first scIidoI was also held in a cabin belonging to i\lr. Kork. There is a community in the northern part of the township called Yankeetown. which came into existence in 1878 as a result of agitation to build a church. There have been several other church communities, but no center deser\ing of special consideration.

Osolo township, the "lake" township, is likewise destitute of villages. The first schoolhuuse was built, on section jo, in 1838, and in the following year a postoffice was established on the west side of Christiana creek, with Alpheus Bugbee the first incumbent. The ofifice was continued only a few years.

Outside of Elkhart the onlv center in Concord township is Dunlaps Station, in section 26, on the inter-urban electric line, and formerly a station point on the Lake Shore Railroad. Dunlaps is the seat of the county asylum, and also marks, approximately, the site chosen by the commissioners for the first county seat of Elkhart countv.