Jay County, Indiana - The whole text, 1881 (part 7 of 11)

Change Of Climate

Many theories are advanced, but geologists do not yet agree as to the causes of this remarkable change of climate, from the tropical heat which had previously prevailed over nearly the whole of the northern hemisphere, to the constant cold of an arctic winter. Gradually the temperature of the frigid zone crept southward until the entire continent, from the north pole to the latitude of Louisville, was wrapped in one vast field of ice, hundreds, perhaps thousands of feet deep. As the continental glacier came southward, it stopped the flow of the St. Lawrence River, and turned the surplus water of the great lake basin into the Ohio and Mississippi, and even after attaining its most southern limits it was not stationary. Like the alpine glaciers of the present epoch, which move forward ten or twelve inches every day, it had some of the properties of both a fluid and a solid. In its slow, but constant and irresistible motion toward the equator it ground mountains to powder, and scooped out great basins and valleys. Its southern margin was not a straight line, but, becoming thinner as it advanced southward, it was modified by the ancient topography, and presented a scolloped edge. Separating into distinct streams, one glacier, striking the water shed north of the Ohio River, moved westerly, scooping out the basin of Lake Erie, and grinding down the apex of the Cincinnati Arch. Thence, turning southward again, it swept, with a regular curve, through the Maumee, Miami, and Wabash Valleys to the Ohio River. As the southern edge melted and flowed toward the Gulf of Mexico, the vast field was pressed forward by the accumulations of ice in more northern latitudes. Thus this stupendous agent was constantly at work, during thousands of years, slowly but surely performing its task toward fitting the earth for the habitation of man. The surface rocks were planed down, and the loose material broken into boulders, rolled into pebbles, or ground to sand, or the impalpable powder of the finest clay. In the bottom of the glacier this debris was imbedded, the sharp rocks and frozen sand forming the face of a huge rasp, which has left its marks on the face of the bed-rock in almost every part of the continent north of the fortieth degree of latitude.

One of the effects of the action of glaciers, is the formation of ridges and hills of debris, known as " moraines " As the ice thaws, the imbedded boulders, gravel and sand is freed, and the lighter portions are carried off by the glacial streams, while the coarser material remains where it fell. As this process goes on, the glacier moves forward to supply the place of the melted ice. Should these opposing forces be in equilibrium, the edge of the glacier remains stationary, and in the course of time a ridge is deposited called by geologists a " terminal moraine." Such a ridge now forms the western and southwestern boundary of the "Black Swamp," and ever since its deposit has exercised an important influence on the physical character of the Maumee and Wabash Valleys.

At the close of the Great Winter, and the beginning of the Great Spring, the margin of the glacier of the Miami, Maumee, and Wabash Valleys moved slowly northward, until it rested at the points now occupied by Hudson, Michigan, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Kenton, Ohio, extending farther south than Lima and Van Wert. The edge of the glacier corresponded in general outline with the present shore of the western end of Lake Erie, and parallel with it. During an extended period the climatic influences were so nearly in equilibrium, that the margin of the glacier remained nearly stationary, the glaciers during the same period grinding and leveling the Maumee Valley, and depositing a " terminal moraine," which is now recognized as the boundary of the "Black Swamp." Just outside of this moraine, and parallel with it, are the St. Joseph and St. Mary Rivers - the former rising in Michigan and flowing southwest ; the latter flowing from Ohio in a northwest direction - which rivers meet at Fort Wayne, and their united waters forming the Maumee, thence turn northeast and flow through the graded valley to the head of Lake Erie. The height of this moraine, above the present general level, is from twenty-five to fifty feet, and its width from four to eight miles. It is composed of coarse gravel and loose boulders, and undoubtedly marks the edge of the ancient ice-field, which, during a long period, lingered in the Maumee Valley.

Lost Mountains

Outside, and south of this, is still another terminal moraine, which is the summit of the watershed dividing the waters of the Ohio from those of Lake Erie - known as the St. John's Ridge, in Ohio - extending westward through Hardin, Auglaize, and Mercer Counties, Ohio, crossing into Indiana and appearing in Jay county, and there known as the "Lost Mountains." The elevation of this ridge is near 350 feet above Lake Erie. The boulder clay is thicker here than in any other part of Northeastern Indiana. In Jay and Wells Counties, scattered promiscuously, are now found many specimens, on top of the drift, of streaked and grooved boulders, the rounded and polished surfaces, often on the upper side, demonstrating the fact that they had been ground and polished at a higher level, and then frozen in ice, and transported, and dropped from the melting ice.

Another expansion of the Torrid Zone drove the ice farther north, leaving the great lake basin, which it had excavated or deepened, filled and overflowing with water, forming one vast inland sea of fresh water, and covering the peninsula of Upper Canada and the two peninsulas of Michigan.

System Of Drainage

Still the ancient outlet of this system of drainage, through the lower valley of the St. Lawrence, was completely dammed by mountains of solid ice, and during another long period the surplus water of the great fresh water sea flowed into the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. This theory is sustained by the appearance of certain gaps or gorges through the present watershed, separating the lake basin from the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. One of these gorges connects the valley of Grand River, in the eastern part of the S^ate of Ohio, with the Beaver Valley, through the Mahoning ; another connects the headwaters of the Cuyahoga with the valley of the Muskingum ; the third lies between the St. Mary and the Big Miami; the fourth through the valley of the Wabash. Lake Michigan was drained into the Mississippi by two routes - through the valleys of the Illinois and the Wisconsin. The water then stood at least 350 feet higher than the present lake level.

Iceberg Era

Another depression of the southern half of the continent - another deluge: - and we have the iceberg era. Enormous masses of ice broke off from the great northern glacier, and floated with the winds and currents into more temperate latitudes, where, slowly melting, tljeir imprisoned rocks and pebbles were deposited upon the surface of the glacial debris, which in turn rests upon the face of the solid rock, planed down by the ice-fields of the preceding period. The interstices of each of these strata of coarse material are partially filled with sediment precipitated from the water above it, and the entire stratum is designated " Erie Clay." This deposit occasionally appears in the form of detached hills or mounds, and irregular ridges caused by the stranding of an iceberg in shallow water, and ihe consequent deposition of rock formations rise to the west and north, and of it. entire burden in one place Many of the ridges and knolls of have the Hamilton limestones and the Huron shales. Northeastern Indiana may thus be accounted for. corner of Indiana the dip is to the northwest.

Succeeding the deposit of the iceberg drift, next came the final, and, as vet, permanent elevation of the continent above the ocean level; and ag^n we find the great lake basin full to the brim, the water standing from 300 to 500 feet higher than at present. At just what period the drainage of the lakes was again turned into the lower St. Lawrence can not now be determined. Referring to this subject, Professor Gilbert suggests that the withdrawal of the waters of the ocean was attended with "considerable vertical movements of the land," and attempts to account for various subsequent phenomena on the same hypothesis. Speaking of these supposed local elevations and depressions, he says: "They did not cease with that event, but have continued, either at intervals or perpetually, to the present time. Their effect on the lake basin has been to so elevate and depress its rim at various points, that not only has the elevation of the outlet been frequently changed, but it has even been transferred from point to point of the low rim. * * * In the intervals of repose, the waves have marked beach lines on the shores at the successive water stages, some of which have been above and others below the present levels of the various lakes." Many of the ancient lake beaches were partially or wholly obliterated by subsequent temporary elevations of the lake level; but between the head of the lake and the great terminal moraine above referred to, at least four distinct shore-lines may now be easily traced. These old lake beaches appear as low gravelly ridges traversing the Black Swamp in regular concentric curves, approximately parallel with the present lake shore.

Professor Gilbert says: " The Maumee Valley is well adapted to the display of these beaches, since in its easy slopes they are so broadly separated that they can be traced without confusion, and in its soft drift they were inevitably modeled at every stage of the water's lingering. The first, or highest beach, marks a water level at least 220 feet above Lake Erie. It is within, and nearly parallel with, the moraine inclosing the Maumee Valley. We find that it enters the northwest corner of the State, from .Michigan, and traversing diagonally the counties of Fulton. Williams, and Defiance, in a southwest direction, enters Indiana and crosses the Maumee River near Fort Wayne. Thence, curving to the south and east, it traverses Van Wert. Allen, Hancock, and Seneca Counties, and thence on around the entire south shore of the lake to the high land of western New York." Mr. Klippart says of this ridge : " From the western portion of Cuyahoga County, one may travel on this ancient beach - for it is a good road throughout almost its entire length - 250 miles, by way of Tiffin, Findlay, and Fort Wayne, and through the Counties of Defiance, Williams, and Fulton, to the State of Michigan, and not be subject to an extreme range of seventy-five feet of variation in elevation in the entire distance," and as much may be said of the same ridge east of Cleveland. From Fort Findlay to Fort Wayne, in the early settlement of the Black Swamp, a wagon road was laid out on this old lake beach, passing through Columbus Grove, Delphos, and Van Wert, and it is still one of the best roads in the country.

At the time this beach was formed, although our great inland sea was approximating its present divisions into separate lakes, Erie and Huron were one, and undoubtedly discharged their surplus water through the Wabash Valley into the Ohio River. "After flowing thus for ages, this river - which never had a name, and no man ever saw - ran dry and ceased to be, for by {he cutting down of some other bullet, or the warping of the crust of the earth, the surplus water of the lakes was drained in another direction."

Wells and Jay counties have other superficial ridges, knolls, mounds, etc., the origin of which may be easily accounted for by any one familiar with the effects of winds, currents, and waves in our lakes.

But, comparatively, these accumulations of sand and gravel are recent. Underlying them, and above the coarse gravel resting upon the bed-rock, is a thick stratum of fine clay, which is the foundation of the agricultural resources of this region. Immediately following the iceberg deposits, and when the waters of Lake Erie extended over the entire Maumee Valley to the depth of two hundred feet, this bed of clay began to accumulate in the form of fine sediment.

The glacier which " flowed " downward (now upward) through the basin of Lake Erie and the valleys of the Maumee and Wabash, rasped down the topmost layers of the solid rock, exposing in the bed of the Wabash, in the northeast corner of Jay County, a stratum of waterlime. Following down the valley the Oriskanv sandstone appears to be wanting. The next rock is the corniferous "limestone, found in the quarries at Bluffton and in the Salamonia, at Montpelier. The series

. But the glacier did not leave Northeastern Indiana as we now see it - with a plane surface, gently inclined toward the northeast and southwest. The sheet of ice occasionally came in contact with an obdurate point or strip of rock harder than that surrounding it. Bearing in mind that glaciers possess some of the properties of both fluid and solid substances) it is readily understood how such obstacles produced temporary digressions of the principal current, cross currents, and even counter currents and eddies. Were the superincumbent " drift " removed, we would behold the bed-rock - the surface as moulded by glacial action - presenting a very irregular and fantastic aspect. We would see broad plateaus as smooth as a floor, with occasional valleys, into which the descent, from one side, would be gentle and easy, and, on the other, would be bounded by a perpendicular or overhanging cliff. Projecting high above the general level are ragged knobs, pinnacles, and irregular ridges.

These inequalities of the surface were partially "leveled up" with glacial debris and iceberg drift; but the work was finished during the succeeding period by the deposit of clay from the deep and quiet waters of the great inland sea. Slowly and gently it settled in the form of sediment, impalpably fine, but none the less substantial, gathering at the bottom, at first as slimy ooze, but gradually compressed, by constant accumulations of the same material, into a compact bed of clav. Year after year, ages, centuries, millennium succeeding millennium, the work went slowly on to perfect completion ; and when, like a deep and gentle fall of snow, all inequalities of surface were leveled, all rough and forbidding features hidden as with the mantle of charity, the waters retired to other tasks.

It is to this bed of clay, then, that the topography of Northeastern Indiana owes its chief characteristic - its plain, almost level surface.

After the peace between France and England, which lasted nearly thirty years. " King George's War " began in 1744, and terminated in 1748 by the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, which still left undecided the boundary between the American possessions of those two great nations. But, whether the parent nations were at war or peace, appeared to matter little to their colonies in this contest, which continued with varying success in the form of petty campaigns on the. frontiers, instigated on either side by those engaged in trading with the savages. The various tribes were arrayed on one side or the other. Sometimes the conflict would be among the Indians almost exclusively, at other times the Indians, in sympathy with the French, would make a raid on the frontier English settlements, and occasionally the pioneers and English traders would retaliate by advancing into the Indian territory.

The English colonies, which at first had been struggling for bare existence with the surrounding savages, and which had joined in England's campaigns against Canada, on compulsion or in sell-defense, had by this time increased in population and wealth, and began to look westward, with some concern, upon the encroachments of the French. The emigration from Europe to the English colonies had greatly exceeded that to Canada ; and this population was concentrated, with the consequent advantages of education, religious culture and wealth. The French colonists were widely distributed, with a line of forts from Detroit to Vincennes and the Ohio River, and being almost exclusively devoted to commerce with the Indians, had given but little attention to popular education, had few towns, or centers of opinion, and had, in fact, been rapidly deteriorating under their peculiar surroundings. The very circumstances and peculiarities of character which had enabled them so readily to adapt themselves to the Indian customs, and thereby to gain their friendship and co-operation in preceding wars, were now to prove of doubtful advantage. They had lost much of their European civilization by long contact and familiar affiliation with the savages. The colonial power was concentrated at the center of the circle, while the Canadians were compelled to keep up and defend a long line of fortified posts on the circumference.

The petty warfare in the region between the Upper Ohio and Lake Erie continued - a constant succession of irresponsible massacres and murders committed almost indiscriminately by the heterogeneous, floating population, a large percentage of which was composed of desperate criminals - renegades from justice in the colonies and the European states. Many of these had joined the Indian tribes, and, by their superior intelligence, became dangerous agents of reckless, mercenary traders.

As the inevitable final conflict approached, every trading post, fortification or settlement started by either party, on the ground between the Alleghenies and Maumee, was soon destroyed by the other, or by Indians instigated by the opposite party. This constant turmoil and strife for possession of the disputed territory, served as a school for the hardy frontiersman, preparing them for the terrible war which soon followed. The topography of the country was well understood. The French laid out a road from Detroit to the Ohio River, by the way of the foot of the lower rapids of the Maumee, and the foot of the lower rapids of the Sandusky - fifty years before Anthony Wayne built his fort at the junction of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's, and exacted from the conquered Indians the right of way, over the same route, for a military road.

The Ohio Company, composed of influential men of London and Virginia, obtained a charter from the English Government, with a grant of 6,000 acres of land on the Ohio River, to carry on the fur trade with the Indians. By virtue of the discoveries of the Cabots, the English Government claimed all the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, limited only by the parallels of latitude bounding their colonies on the Atlantic coast. France claimed all west of the Allegheny Mountains - all the region drained by the Mississippi, which stream they had first explored, and all the territory drained by the upper lakes, for the same reason.

When the Ohio Company began its preliminary surveys, the Governor of Canada protested, and commenced the construction of a line of military posts from the south shore of Lake Erie to the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers - beginning at Erie and terminating at Pittsburgh. The names of these forts were Presque Isle, Le Bceuf, Venango, Kittaning, and Du Quesne. The last named had been commenced by the Ohio Company, but before it was finished a party of French and Indians took possession, completed and occupied it.

The French, now in possession of the entire territory north and west of the Ohio River, and all negotiations failing, the French and Indian war began late in the year 1753 Until May, 1756, it was confined to America, and although assisted by their respective home governments, it was conducted mainly by and between the French and English colonies. During the first four years of the war the French were generally successful; but when, in 1758, the elder Pitt was placed at the head of the English administration, under his wise and vigorous management of the war, the tide of success immediately turned, the English achieving one victory after another, until the whole of Canada fell into their possession. The w ar closed in 1763, when, by the treaty of peace, made at Paris, France ceded to England all her American possessions east of the Mississippi. By this treaty the beautiful Maumee, which had been so profitable to her subjects in time of peace, and such a source of strength in war, passed forever from her dominion. Thus ended French jurisdiction in Western Ohio.

During the French and Indian war the Maumee River, in connection with the Wabash, was an important military route for the French. These rivers, with the lower Ohio, formed a short, safe, and easy pas-age from the Mississippi to Lake Erie. The route by the upper Ohio River and the Allegheny to Presque Isle (Erie) was longer, more difficult, and too near the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania and Virginia to be safe at all times. The land route between the two important forts, Detroit and Du Quesne (Pittsburgh;, was in almost constant use. That crossed the Maumee at the foot of the lower rapids, thence through the swamp, on the dryest land, to the Portage at several convenient points below Woodville, thence to the ford at the foot of the lower rapids of the Sandusky, whence the trail led on the high land near the headwaters of the small streams to the headwaters of the Muskingum. Another route followed the Portage or the Sandusky River to the rocky point of the peninsula north of Sandusky Bay, crossed the narrow strait between the bay and Lake Erie, and followed the lake shore to the Cuyahoga. There is a tradition that the entrance to Sandusky Bay was formerly fordable. The Maumee and Western Reserve Road is therefore a natural highway around the head of Lake Erie, between the north and the south, the east and the west, and before the age of canals and railroads, and especially before the streams were bridged and the roads improved, it was of great importance as a military and commercial route. That this was the best, and almost the only practicable military and commercial route at that time, is seen by a glance at the map. The head of Lake Erie extends so far southward as to compel a detour from the general course; but the closer the road hugs the lake shore the less deflection from a straight line. Between the Maumee and Sandusky, however, the ground near the lake is low and wet, and the numerous small streams, as they near the lake, expand into wide marshy estuaries, The object, therefore, was to find a route far enough from the lake to avoid the marshes, and yet to cross the Maumee and Sandusky at their lowest fordable points. Both these advantages were gained by the Maumee and Western Reserve Road. General Wayne, it is readily perceived, does not deserve all the credit usually accorded him for locating the military posts and connecting rights of way within the Indian territory. They had already been located by the French and Indians, or during the border raids of the Revolution.

During the latter half of the eighteenth century, and even until the successful defence of Fort Meigs, " Maumee " and Wabash were dreadful words to our frontiersmen. Especially was this true during the English occupation of Detroit, and after the beginning of the Revolution. The Maumee River, and the Wabash with its tributaries, was a delightful home and a secure retreat for our savage

Their banks were studded with villages, the rich bottom lands were covered with their corn, while their light canoes glided over a beautiful current, which was at once a convenient highway and an exhaustless reservoir of food. Forest, stream, and prairie produced, spontaneously and in superabundance, game, fish, fruit, nuts - all things necessary to supply their simple wants. Here their wise men, without fear of molestation, gravely convened about their council fires, and deliberated on the means of checking and rolling back the tide of white immigration - a tide which they dimly foresaw would ultimately sweep their race from the face of the earth. From here their young warriors crept forth, and stealthily approaching the homes of their natural enemies, the pale-faces, spread ruin and desolation far and wide. Here their booty and savage trophies were exhibited with the exultations and boasts of the returned "braves." Behind an impenetrable swamp, their women, children, and property were safe during the absence of their men, Exempt from attack or pursuit, the savage here enjoyed perfect freedom, and lived in accordance with his rude instincts and the habits and customs of his tribe. Amid the scenes of his childhood, in the presence of his ancestors' graves, the red warrior, with his squaw and pappoose, surrounded by all the essentials to the enjoyment of his simple wants, here lived out the character which nature had given him. In war, this valley was his base line of attack, his source of supplies, and his secure refuge - in peace, his home.

Fort Miami was described as a " regular military work of great strength, the front covered by a wide river, with five guns mounted. The rear, which is most susceptible of approach, has two regular bastions, furnished with eight pieces of artillery, the whole surrounded by a deep ditch, with horizontal pickets projecting from the parapet over the ditch. From the bottom of the ditch to the top of the parapet is about twenty-five feet perpendicular. The works are surrounded by an abatis, and furnished with a numerous garrison."

It was erected by the British at the most commanding point within the Indians' great stronghold, and was designed as an encouragement to the savages in their warfare on the Americans, and, if a convenient pretext offered, to be used in their assistance. Wayne was instructed to capture the fort, if he should consider it necessary to secure peace with the Indians, and it is supposed that had that bold commander been furnished with the necessary artillery, he would have made the attempt. In their retreat the Indians fled toward the fort, near which their battle-field had been selected, as if they expected assistance from the garrison, but Major Campbell, the British commander, prudently closed his gates, and, from the parapet, with apparent composure, viewed their rout.

Colonel McKee, the British Indian agent, and Captain Elliott, his assistant, were Pennsylvanians. Being tories, that State became too warm for them during the Revolutionary war, and they fled to the Indians. Joining the Shawnee tribe, and marrying Indian wives, they soon obtained so much influence with the savages, that they were appointed agents for Indian affairs by the British Government, and continued as such until their death. McKee 's residence and official post was, for a time, at the foot of the rapids, and that point was often designated " McKee's," or " McKee's Station." It has been established beyond dispute, that while the Indians were gathering on the Maumee River, and awaiting the onslaught of Wayne's army, they were regularly supplied with ammunition and subsistence from the English fort, and by McKee, from the government stores in his charge. McKee's residence and store houses were destroyed by Wayne in the general devastation which he made along the river after the battle of the Fallen Timber.

A few days after the battle Wayne leis Glaise (Fort Defiance), " laying waste 1 cornfields of the enemy for about fifty river." The crops in the immediate vicinity of the post were preserved. Fort Defiance was strengthened, after which the army proceeded to the upper fork, and on the site of the old Miami villages, erected another fort, which was named "Fort Wayne." In November the army arrived at Camp Greenville, and went into winter quarters.

The old Indian boundary line has always been a prominent landmark in the history of Indiana and Ohio, and may yet be traced on the map of the States, forming a part of the southern boundary of the counties of Stark, Ashland, Richland, and Marion, and part of the northern boundary of Tuscarawas and Knox, Fort Recovery was in Mercer County, near the Indiana Line. Loromie's store was within the present limits of Shelby County, Ohio. Within the Indian territory, which included all north and west of the boundary above described, the United States, by this treaty, obtained sixteen distinct cessions of small tracts of land for military posts, with the necessary rights-of-way through the Indian country to reach the posts. Of these cessions, two lie within the present limits of Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio, namely : " One piece, twelve miles square, at the British fort on the Miami of the lake, at the foot of the rapids," and " one piece, six miles square, at the mouth of said river, where it empties into the lake." The tract twelve miles square has ever since been an important subject in the histories of Lucas and Wood Counties, and until the organization of Lucas, was wholly within the limits of Wood County.

Military Posts

Early in 1796, Jay's treaty having been ratified by our government, England surrendered to the United States certain military posts within our territory, of which she had to that time unjustly retained possession. Among them were Fort Mackinaw, on the strait connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron ; Fort Miami, on Maumee River, and the fortified town of Detroit. The posts were delivered to General AVayne, as the authorized representative of the United States.

Wayne County, as organized in 1796, under the first form of our territorial government, may be briefly described as including about twenty-six of the present counties in the northwest quarter of Ohio (about one-fourth of the State), the northern part of Indiana, and all of the southern peninsula of Michigan. What is now this county, was then comparatively a very small part of Wayne County, and Detroit was our first county seat.

a bare protection ? Would they not feel the mortification of personal insults? From the temper of a majority of the citizens of that place (Chillicothe) last winter, I really believe that their persons would be in danger. At all events I am not personally disposed to make the experiment. Yet I will do everything in my power to stir up the citizens of Wayne to claim their violated rights I have conversed with a number of leading characters, most of whom disapprove of the law, and are desirous of becoming a part of the new State, if possible. But nothing frightens the Canadians like taxes. They would prefer to be treated like dogs, and kennelled under the whip of a tyrant, than contribute to the support of a free government."

One reason of the objection of Detroit to becoming a part of Indiana territory was the erroneous opinion that the northern boundary of Ohio, as proposed by the law of Congress, would pass north of the rich settlement at the River Raisin, and thus cut off one of the best portions of Wayne county.

Detroit was a garrisoned town, completely enclosed by strong pickets, and defended by a fort on the north, and by batteries on the bank of leges of a free people.' the river. The " citadel," for the accommodation of the commandant and his suite, was "a spacious edifice within the pickets, wilh an esplanade in front of sufficient dimensions to manoeuvre a regiment of troops." The town was compactly built, on very narrow streets, most of them not exceeding one rod in width. It was entirely destroyed by fire in 1S05, and is rebuilt on a more convenient plan. Detroit is the oldest town on the lakes above Niagara Falls, and, until 1796, was the

" We feel for our fellow citizens in the county of Wayne, who have relinquished their allegiance to the crown of Great Britain, and become American citizens, firmly attached to the interests of this territory; and we hope they may not be transferred against their wishes to the Indiana territory, at the moment they had expected with us to ter into an independent State government, and to enjoy the privi-

Jchigan Territory Org A.

When General Wayne took possession, for the United States, of Detroit, Mackinaw, and Fort Miami, he constructed Fort Industry, on the left bank of the Maumee, just below the mouth of Swan Creek, and very near the northeast corner of the cession of twelve miles' square. It was garrisoned for ten or twelve years, and is distinguished as the location of an important treaty with the Indians, in 1805.

First Territorial Legislature

The ordinance of 17S7 provided for a change in the form of territorial government when the number of free white male inhabitants, of full age, should reach five thousand. Accordingly, in the fall of 1790 the first territorial legislature convened at Cincinnati. The representatives from Wayne county were Solomon Sibley, Jacob Visgar and Charles F. Chobart de Joncaire.

The Territory Divided

In 1800 the North-Western territory was divided into two governments, by a line drawn from the mouth of Kentucky River to Fort Recovery, and thence northward to the territorial line, leaving the Detroit settlement in the eastern division, under the old government This created a vacancy in the Council - the " upper house " of the territorial legislature - to which vacancy Mr. Sibley was appointedand Mr. Sibley's seat in the lower house was filled by the election of Mr. ScheifHin, of Detroit.

First Constitution Of Ohio

Early in 1802 a census was taken in the eastern division, which was found to contain over j 5, 000 persons. By authority of an Act of Congress a convention was elected to form a constitution for the proposed new State, to be composed of the southern part of the eastern division The convention assembled November 1, 1802, and agreed upon the first constitution of the State of Ohio, before the end of the same month. Wayne county was excluded from representation in this convention, which caused great dissatisfaction at the time. Besides this exclusion from the constitutional convention, the Act of Congress above referred to, reserved the right to attach the northern part of the eastern division to Indiana territory ; whereas the ordinance of 1787 contemplated its continuance as a part of the new State (Ohio), until it (Michigan) should have sufficient population of its own to entitle it to admission as a State. This increased the dissatisfaction, for it was the desire of the oetter class of the people of Wayne County to remain attached to the new Slate. It was suggested that this county elect thifffn To V conve"t'OT..a"d demand the right of representation SMeTrepHe°dt:h,S SUggeS"°n' * '° * friend al C - «-

Sibley'S Letter

But expostulations and petitions were in vain. The Detroit settlements were attached to Indiana territory until 1805, when Michigan territory was organized. Nor did Wayne County lose her cherished province on the Raisin, for it was afterward found that the northern boundary of Ohio passed considerably south of the mouth of that river. Two years before the organization of the State government, lrumbull County was set up. Its original boundaries coincided with the boundaries of the Connecticut Reserve, and of course took a part of Wayne County - that part lying west of the Cuyahoga River and within the Reserve.

By this time, the British violations of our national rights - by impressing our seamen into the English navy and seizing American vessels engaged in commerce with France - had excited feelings of indignation and hostility throughout the country, and intelligent men in Canada and the United States predicted another war between England and America. In June, 1807, the United States frigate Chesapeake had been captured by a British ship, killing three and wounding eighteen The crew of the frigate was then mustered, and four of them forcibly carried off, on the pretense that they were British deserters. Both nations had for some time been drifting towards unfriendly relationsbut from this time the enmity was rapidly aggravated, until, in 1812 it culminated in open war. During this period, preceding the war' of IS v' ?e C-^d'ans were not idle. The Indians of the Maumee and Wabash Valleys were again visited by British agents, who encouraged the Indians to begin another war upon the western settlements south

11 if ' by Paging, semi-officially, the assistance of their old ally. The old idea of compelling the Americans to abandon the territory north of the Ohio River-of making that river forever the boundary between the whites and the Indians - was secretly revived Canadians still held almost a monopoly of the Indian trade in this vicinity, and, as a means of retaining their friendship, furnished them whisky in unlimited quantities. Under the old French regime this had been prohibited, and during the British occupation of this territory it had been disapproved ; but now the Canadians were under no restraint. Although our territorial and State legislature had enacted stringent laws forbidding the sale of liquor to the savages it was almost wholly disregarded, especially by the Canadians. It is undeniable that the free use of intoxicating liquors by the Indians, which began here soon after the Revolutionary war, caused a rapid deterioration of the best traits of Indian character. Another cause of the increasing unfriendliness of the savages was the numerous crimes committed against them by bad white men on the frontiers - the most atrocious crimes committed with apparent impunity ; for such was the prejudice against the Indians, that no white man could be convicted in the courts, of any crime committed against them, no matter how clearly proved. So notorious had this state of affairs become that, in r8oo Governor St. Clair, of Ohio, called the attention of the territorial legislature thereto, and said that, " the number of these unfortunate people who have been murdered and plundered since the treaty of Greenville, is sufficient to produce serious alarm for the consequences." During the same year the legislature passed an act " providing for the trial of homicide committed on Indians," with the following preamble -

Whereas, his excellency the governor, hath stated that difficulties have arisen m prosecuting and bringing to punishment persons charged with I"!,10 'de committed on certain Indians within this territory, that similar difficulties may be expected in future, and that serious evils are likely to arise therefrom, unless a remedy be provided therefor by law; therefore, to remove those difficulties, and the more effectually to insure justice to the Indian tribes in such cases. Re it enacted," etc. One provision of this law authorized the governor to order special courts of Oyer and Terminer for such cases; and, if necessary, to grant a change of venue. But the most powerful influence operating among the Indians - exciting their hatred and organizing them for another war upon the whites - was that of Tecumseh and "The Prophet," two Shawnee brothers. The former, by his eloquence and really noble qualities as a man, and the latter by his " miracles," acquired a remarkable ascendancy over all the tribes along the frontier - from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1808 they established themselves on the Wabash River, at the mouth of the Tippecanoe, where, during the next three years, they collected a large force of warriors from a number of tribes. A large part of their force was drawn from the Maumee River, the Ottawas, located at the mouth of the river, furnishing about three hundred. But Tecumseh's power was temporarily impaired, and the Indians dispersed, by the battle of Tippecanoe, in November, 181 1.

Although defeated in the battle of Tippecanoe, in the fall of 181 r, the Indians were not subdued, but began to plot with the English for an invasion of Ohio and Michigan, from Canada, in case of war betweeen Great Britain and the United States. As a defense of the northern frontier against the Indians, and as a precautionary measure, in case of war with England, an army was raised in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Michigan Territory. As soon as it was organized and equipped, this army, under command of General William Hull, marched from its rendezvous in the southwestern part of Ohio, directly north through Champaign County to the foot ol the rapids of Maumee River, traversing the present counties of Champaign, Logan, Hardin, Hancock and Wood, cutting a road through the wilderness, and establishing a number of military posts along the route, which route was for many years afterward known as " Hull's Trace." Crossing the Maumee on the 1st of July, 1812, Hull marched to Detroit, which had been selected as the strategic point of the campaign. After a disgraceful inactivity of a few weeks, on the 26th of August Hull surrendered Detroit, with all the military force under his command, lo General Brock, the British .

Another army was promptly raised, and placed under the of General William H. Harrison, which advanced by three routes to the foot of the rapids, with the design of making that a base for the recovery of Michigan and the conquest of Canada. General Harrison, with the right wing, marched by the way of Upper Sandusky, which he made his depot of supplies. General Tupper had command of the center, with Fort McArthur, in Hardin County, as a base, and was to advance by Hull's route. General Winchester marched from Fort Defiance down the Maumee to the foot of the rapids. Without waiting to be joined by Harrison, Winchester moved on to the River Raisin, where he was defeated, January 22, 1813, and where the Indians were permitted to massacre the settlers and American prisoners. Harrison had crossed the Maumee with a part of his force, but, on learning of Winchester's defeat, fell back to the foot of the rapids, and the next day, after destroying his stores in a small stockade on the north side, retreated to the forks of the Portage, opposite the site of the village of Pemberville, Wood Co., O., where he remained a few days, and on the 1st of February again advanced to the foot of the Maumee rapids, and began the construction of Fort Meigs. It was an "open winter," unfavorable to military movements in this region, and but little was accomplished.

On the 27th of April, the British and Indians, under Proctor and Tecumseh, invested the fort, and on the 9th of May raised the siege. It was during this siege that a regiment of Kentuckians, under Colonel Dudley, was terribly defeated on the north side of the river. Harrison left the fort under command of General Green Clay, and went to the interior of the State to organize new levies of troops. On the 20th of July, the enemy again laid siege to For; Meigs, but on the 29th again decamped and proceeded to Fort Stephenson (Fremont), and beean an attack on the ist of August. But there they were repulsed by the gallant Croghan. On the 10th of September, Commodore Perry captured the British fleet at Put-in-Ilay, on Lake Erie, soon after which Harrison's army was transported to Maiden by Perry's vessels. On the sth of October the British and Indians were defeated in the battle on the Thames, where Tecumseh was killed. The territory and posts surrendered by Hull were speedily recovered, and the war in the Northwest was virtually ended.

Soon after this. General Harrison entered into an armistice with the hostile Indians, followed by the second treaty of Greenville. Still, few ventured to settle on the Maumee and Wabash until after the treaty of Ghent and the battle of New Orleans. Those who returned built temporary cabins out of the " arks " which had been used as transports by the army, and of the pickets and block-houses of Fort Meigs. Congress made an appropriation for the partial reimbursement of those whose property had been destroyed during the war.

At first the settlehient of this side of the river was confined to the immediate vicinity of Fort Meigs, or the foot of the rapids, on the twelve miles square, the center of which. was on the large island in front of Perrysburg; and even after the Indian title was extinguished in all northwestern Ohio, the improvements for many years were limited to a narrow strip along the river bank up to the head of the rapids.

In 1815 a town was started near the fort, which was at first called Fort Meigs, afterwards Orleans. At the same time Maumee was started. In the summer of 1815 three large vessels came up to Fort Meigs after the government stores left here at the close of the war. Of these Mr. Hosmer says : " With the exception of a few light vessels used by the British as transports during the war, these were the first vessels of ordinary draft that ever ascended to the foot of the rapids."

" Upon the close of the war of 1812 the foot of the rapids became an important point in the commercial business of the country. Large quantities of the produce of the western part of Ohio and Northeastern Indiana was brought down the river in flatboats and transferred to the shipping of the lakes The Indian trade was large. The quantity of furs and peltry collected here by the Indian traders, and that of the sugar made by the Indians from the sap of the sugar maple, and put up by them in cases made of bark, each weighing sixty or eighty pounds, and called ' mococks ' - these and other like objects of trade and commerce made up a considerable business. The fisheries of the river also constituted a large item in the then business of the place. The quantity of corn even then raised on the Maumee was very large, and was exported in large quantities to Detroit and other parts of the upper lakes. This was so much the case that it was called ' coming to Egypt for corn.' These objects, and other minor subjects of commerce and traffic, rendered the business of the place far l.irger than that which would be indicated by the population of the place, and the amount of lake shipping that came up there to meet this commercial demand was quite considerable."

" The spring work of the Indians was the manufacture of maple sugar, which they generally made in considerable quantities, and it was of a tolerable good quality. As they had no other means of conveying it to market, they manufactured a kind of box, made of elm bark, about eighteen inches in length, and ten or twelve in width, and sixteen or eighteen in height. The bark was bent in proper shape and fastened with a thread of the same material. This was called a ' mowkon ' or ' mocock,' holding from fifty to one hundred pounds each. The Indians conveyed these boxes upon their ponies, each pony packing two boxes, one upon each side.

" The dress of the Indians was, for the most part, of their own manufacture. They dressed deer skins in the best manner. These they used for moccasins, leggings, mittens, and shirts; and in cold weather they wore woolen blankets, which they received as presents from the British Government."

The Indians of Northeastern Indiana were chiefly Miamis, and, by treaty, ceded to the United States, in 1846, their last reservation, which laid partly in Wells County, and were transported to the Indian territory, now Kansas.

ORGANIZATION. - The county was named in honor of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States. Colonel John Vawter, of Jennings County, Chairman of the Committee on New Counties, in the House of Representatives of the Indiana Legislature, introduced a bill entitled "An act laying out all the unorganized territory to which the Indian title had been extinguished in the Slate, into a suitable number of counties, and for other purposes." This bill became a law, and was approved February 7, 1835. The counties laid out and organized under its provisions embraced a strip of territory extending from the eastern to the western boundary of the northern portion of the State, and included Jay, Wells, DeKalb, Steuben. Whitley, Kosciusko, Fulton, Marshall, Stark, Pulaski, Jasper, Newton and Porter. At that time Jay County embraced the territory of Blackford County, organized two years later.

The act under which Jay County was organized was passed and approved Januarv 30, 1836. The first section provided that from and after the first Monday of March, 1836, Jay County should enjoy all the rights and jurisdiction that may properly belong to separate and independent counties. Sections 2 and 3 appointed Judge Jeremiah Smith and Judge Zachariah Puckett, of Randolph Countv; Jacob Thornburg, of Henry County; Nathan Coleman, of Allen County, and Philip Moore, of Delaware County, as commissioners to locate the countyseat. Section 4. provided that the first Circuit and other courts should be held at the house of H. H. Cuppy. Section 5 made it the duty of the agent of the county to reserve ten per cent, of the money received for lots donated to the county for library purpose. The act further defined the duty of the commission, and placed the county in the Eighth Judicial Circuit and Fifth Congressional District.

With the exception of Mr. Moore, the members of this commission met at the house of H. H. Cuppy 011 the first Monday of June, 1836, as required by the act, and selected, as the site for the county-seat, eighty acres of land north of the Salamonie River, then owned by Daniel Reid, of Richmond, and ten acres adjoining, which belonged to James Hathaway. Prior to this time the original territory of Jay County had been organized as Salamonie Township, and was attached to Randolph County for judicial purposes. The commission was paid for its services from the treasury of Randolph County.

The record*! in the history of Portland, the county-seat, show that the title to the land selected for the county-seat changed ownership about this time and other parties became proprietors.

Election. - Governor Noble appointed Christopher Hanna, Sheriff, to notify the citizens that an election would be held in August, 1S36, for county officers. There were three voting places, one at B. Goldsmith's, in Madison Township; one at Daniel Farber's, in Wayne Township, and the other in Licking (or Lick Creek) Township, now Blackford County. The election was held, with the following result : Commissioners - John Pingrv, Abraham Lotz, Benjamin Goldsmith ; Associate Judges - Enoch Bowden, James Graves; Clerk - Christopher Hanna; Sheriff - Henderson Graves. James Graves declined to accept the office of Associate Judge, and Silas Pingry was subsequently chosen.

Session of Commissioners, - The first session of the Board of County Commissioners was held November 8, 1836, at the house of Mr. Cuppy. At this session the following appointments were made: H. H. Cuppy, County Treasurer; Lewis S. Farber, Assessor; B. W, Hawkins, agent to superintend the sale and conveyance of lots that had been donated to the county; David Baldwin, superintendent of the three per cent, fund, arising from the sale of State lands appropriated for roads and bridges.

At this session a license was granted to H. H. Cuppy for $10 to retail merchandise for one year. This was the first money paid into the treasury of the new county. The Huntington and Winchester road was ordered to be opened at this session, and Christopher Hanna was allowed $20 for his services as Sheriff, and each Commissioner $6 for his services for the term.

At a special session, held December 5, 1836, it was "Ordered that the county-seat should be called Portland," and D. W. McNeal was appointed County Surveyor.

First Court House. - May 3, 1837, it was " Ordered that a house should be erected on some suitable lot in the town of Portland, for the use of the county, and that Christopher Hanna superintend the letting of the same." L. S. Farber was allowed $23.27 for assessing the county. The first levy of taxes was made at this session, at the rate of $1.25 on each $100 valuation, for county purposes; 1 cent for road purposes, and 75 cents for each poll.

June 13, 1837, a contract was let to Robert Huey for the construction of a log court-house, and the building was completed and occupied September 4, 1837. This building was paid for out of the proceeds of the sale of lots in Portland.

Hanna was appointed to superintend the erection of a county jail building, the contract being awarded to Joshua Penoch for $181 The building was of logs, poorly constructed, and was erected on a lot north of the present jail. Some idea may be formed of what this building was by the report of the committee - Sanford Ackerman and Alexander White - who. had been appointed to examine it and see if the contract had been honestly fulfilled. The committee, in its report, says : "We have proceeded, according to order, and find it not made according to contract ; but if the stopple of the locks is made sufficient, and the floor adzed off, and a ring fixed in the floor of the small room, and a bar of iron on each way across the windows of the small room, then we consider it will fill the contract." For making this view and report, Mr. Ackerman wa? paid 50 cents.

At this session Mr. Cuppy was allowed §5. 80 for room rent and fuel, which was the first expenditure of the kind in the county. It was also " Ordered that there be a ten-plate stove and pipe procured for the use of the county, and a table three feet long and eight feet wide, and the necessary quantity of benches for the use of the court-house."

At the January session, 1838, Hawkins C. Fouts made settlement for the year, showing the lota! receipts to be $393.82. A license for $10 was granted to William Haynes as retailer of foreign and domestic goods, and also a license for $5 to sell spirituous liquors. This was the first liquor license issued in the county - the avatit courier, so to speak, of civilization. These licenses were granted for one year, commencing March 5, 1838.

The following is duly recorded : " February 23, 1839. - Eli Swallow produced to me the scalp of a wolf, by him taken in this county, which wolf was one six months old, and took the oath as required by law.'1

Courts. - The first term of Circuit Court was held at the house of Henry H. Cuppy, April 17, 1837, Hon. Charles W. Ewing, of Ft. Wayne, and the Sixth Judicial District, presiding, with Enoch Bowden, Associate Judge of Jay County; Clerk, Christopher Hanna; Sheriff, Henderson Graves; Prosecuting Attorney, Thomas Johnson, of Ft. Wayne. Jeremiah Smith, Esq., of Randolph County, was also present, and these two last named gentlemen were then admitted to practice as attorneys and counselors-at-laws in Jay County.

The court was in sesssion two days, and two indictments were found against two members of the Grand Jury, D. W. McNeal and H. H. Cuppy, for an affray in which they had been engaged. McNeal pleaded guilty, and Cuppy was tried and found guilty, and each were sentenced to pay a fine of $1 and costs, and were delivered into the custody of the Sheriff until fines and costs were paid. There was no traverse jury

The two succeeding terms of court were held by the Associate Judges, Enoch Bowden and Silas Pingry, without the aid of the Prosecuting Attorney ur other lawyers.

The first traverse jury in the county was at the October term, 1837, and consisted of the following persons: George White, Nathan Perry, Martin Hiatt, Job Carr, William Swallow, William Chenoweth, Jacob Buffington, Jesse Gray, William Nixon, John Watson, Edward Burford, Joseph Williamson, Thomas Jones, William Cummins, William Money, Alexander Glassford, William Isenhart. William Hardy, Adam Flesher, Howard Harford, Alfred Graves and Philip Brown.

The first marriage license was issued April rr, 1837, to Casper Geyer and Rachel Clark, who were married April 18, 1837, by Rev. Wade Posey.

Jay County was first represented in the State Legislature by Hon. L. W. Purviance, of Huntington County, in the year 1839. The county was not entitled to a Representative until 1852, when it was first represented by Hon. Robert Huey. Its second Representative was Hon J. P. C. Shanks, who was elected in 1854.

The taxable valuation on the duplicate, as shown at the end of the several decades, and the amount of taxes levied thereon, may be seen by the following table :

Population

1 his institution comprises . in 1S64 and 1872 for $9,500. and the remainder is lenced. The present buildings are frame, costing S3.000, and were erected in 1866. The cost of the institution to the county, in 1879, over and above the receipts of the farm, was $1,777.12. The receipts of the farm for that year were ©777.

The first Superintendent was Samuel Huey ; the second, Christian Haviland ; third, Samuel Howard ; fourth, Oliver B. Brown. Mr. Brown has had charge of the Infirmary since March 12, 1S75. The salary of himself and wife for the first and second year was $800; for the third year, $698 ; for the fourth and fifth years, $500. '

The earliest settler in this township was Peter Studabaker, who built the first cabin, in 1821, in the bottom south of New Corydon, on land now owned by Samuel Hall. He was a squatter, and remained in the township about two years. The first actual settler was Orman Perring, in 1826, who bought land and improved it. He was followed by William Gibson, in 1834; by Hamilton Gibson, in 1836; by Peter Montgomery and J. B. Gillespie, in 1837; and by Samuel Hall and others later.

The township was organized and the first election held at the house of William Gibson, September 23, 1838, who was then elected the first justice of the peace, only ten or twelve votes being cast. A list of the other officers cannot be obtained. The first-grist mill was built in 1839, by J. B. Gillespie, and the first saw-mill in 1840, by Samuel Hall. In 1840 J. B. Gillespie laid out a few lots where New Corydon is now located, but none were sold. The first school-house was built in 1843, on Section 5.

The township comprises twenty-four sections, the east tier of which is fractional. The land is generally rolling, with the Wabash River crossing the northern part. The southern and middle portions are drained by the Limberlost, and its branches.

The village of New Corydon was laid out March 15, 1844, by Theophilus Wilson, to which his northern and eastern additions were added January 12, 1848. The first hewed log-house was built in 1844, by Jesse Snyder. The village stores. 1 clothing store, 1 hard 1 shoe shop, 1 blacksmith and and r attorney.

840, by Samuel Hall and David hurch, 1 general store, 1 saw-mill, millinery store. Jay Chapel, erected by the United Brethren, is a frame X46 feet, and will seat 300 persons. It was dedicated, erected by Father Racas, in 1 families. He continued in ucceeded by Father Roff, who was in charge until 1866. Father Reutter had charge until 1867; Father Ringell until 1869; Father Capeder until 187 1; Father Reutter until 1876 ; Fathers Fleisch and Felix until 1877; Father Graf until 1879. He was succeeded by Father Joseph Uphaus, the present priest. The organization now comprises about sixty families.

The other churches of the township are the M. E. Church, at New Corydon ; the Evangelical Lutheran, and the Christian Church, located on Section 20.

The first settler that came into this township was John Pingry, in 1834, and the second, Enoch Bowden, who came in the fall of the same year. William and Uriah Chapman, Biram Pierson and William

Vail came in 1835, and others followed later. The township was organized and the first election held in December, 1836, at the house of John Pingry, with Biram Pierson as inspector. The following officers were elected: James Marquis, inspector: William Vail and James Marquis, supervisors; William Baldwin and Edward Burford, of the poor; Frederick Wible and William Gray, fence At that time the township included the present township of Jackson. James Marquis was also the first justice of the peace, and built the first grist mill, in 1838.

The first postoffice, known as "Bear Creek," was established at Bloomfield, in 1840. At present, this village has no business carried on of any description whatever. The town of Westchester is a small village, and has one general store, a postoffice, one blacksmith and wagon shop, one church, and two physicians. The town of Bryant, on the line of the Grand Rapids and Fort Wayne Railroad, was laid out December 8, 1871, by William McClellan, William R. Gillum, W. K. Sanders, and William Carson. North Bryant was laid out, October 6, 1873, by Ezekiel Rowlett, and has a population at this time of 187. It contains 1 hotel, 1 general store, 1 drug store, r dealer in drugs and groceries, 4 grocery stores, a postoffice, 1 stave factory, 1 warehouse, 1 saw mill, 1 hub and spoke factory, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 church, 4 physicians.

The township contains thirty-six sections of land, and is well watered by the Limberlost and Bear Creek, which afford excellent outlets for drainage.

Churches. - The Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at Bryant, is a neat frame structure, 32 by 60 feet, and will seat 500. Tne church was dedicated, May 12, 1878, by Rev. J. B. Helwig, D.D., with a membership of fourteen persons. At present its membership is sixteen. Rev. Cyrus Finley has been the pastor since its organization. The trustees are William Fleming and Jacob Miller.

The Westchester Preparative Meeting-house of Friends was erected in 1875, on a lot donated by Aaron Beck. 'Die building is frame, 28 by 38 feet, and will seat 250. The society was organized September 10, 1874, and the present trustees are Cyrus Stanley and Dr. Isaac Vail.

The Congregational Church of Westchester has a membership of twelve. The building was erected in 1862, and will seat 200 persons. Trustee, Peter Walter Dea, and pastor, Rev. Marshall Diggs.

Union Chapel (Albright) was built and dedicated the present year. It is a neat frame, and will seat 200. The membership numbers 81, and the trustees are David Black and David Houser.

The Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is built on a lot donated by Henry Artman, and was dedicated, August, 1878, by Rev. A. J. Douglass. It will seat about 200. The present trustees are Adam Martin, Henry Artman, and Jeremiah Weaver.

Jesse Gray was the first settler in this township, and was a noted pioneer hunter and Indian fighter. He settled north of the Loblolly Creek, in 1830. David and William Baldwin, William Samuels, John L. West, and Peter, John and Joseph Stults, came in 1834 and 1835. Samuel Moore, William Chenoweth, John Oler, William Mathena, Adam Akins, and James Marquis came in 1836. Silas Pingry, Edward Burford, Alsa and Poindexter Morris, and perhaps a few others, came in 1S37. These facts are gathered from the recollections of Silas Pingry, who is the only one now living in the township of the early settlers.

This township assumed a separate organization on the first Monday of April, 1839, and, on that day the electors met, in pursuance of an Act for the Uniform Method of Conducting Township Business, and held an election, with the following result: Trustees, George B. Bateham, William Chenoweth, and Samuel Moore; treasurer, R. Gillman; clerk, George White; constables, James Moore and Lewis Johnson. James Marquis was already justice of the peace, having been elected at the organization of Bear Creek Township. The total expenditures of the township for 1839 were S26.50.

West Liberty was laid out, August 20, 185 1, by James Marquis, Mary Marquis, and William Bateman. At present, besides the postoffice, known as Mills' Corners, there is one general store and one church. One of the pioneer grist mills, extensively patronized by the settlers of this and adjoining counties, was built on Bear Creek in 1838, by James Marquis. He also erected a saw mill in 1839. The first road opened west was from the Huntington road, at the crossing of Bear Creek, to Camden.

The southern part of the township contains much excellent land, but the northern and middle portions have extensive marshes and lakes, known as " The Loblolly." Together with Wolf Creek, these afford the principal drainage of the township. Many years will not pass before these marshes will be reclaimed and cultivated.

Churches. - The Christian Church of West Liberty was built on the site of the old Sardinia Church, and was dedicated, in 1876, by Elder M. McDaniels. It is a neat frame building, and will seat 400.

The organization has a membership of 200. The trustees are David Chaney, E. Overmever, and John Hamnet. Pastor, Elder John Newhou«e. The first preaching had in behalf of tins denomination was in iS^S, by Elder H. Barber, at the house of Silas Pingry.

Union Chapel, for the Church of the United Brethren, was built on a lot donated by Thomas Wells, and dedicated. January 25, 1880, by Rev Elias Coun seller. The building is a neat frame, 32 by 44 feet, and will seat 300. The membership numbers 60. The trustees are John B. Stubs. A. J. Shewalter, Thomas Wells, M. L. Rupel, and R. N. West. Pastor, Rev. Thomas Coats.

In 1823, John Gain, a roving hunter and trader, built the first cabin in this township. The first family who came into the township was that of John Brooks, in 1S23. He remained, however, but a short time. The first permanent settler was Moses Hamilton, in 1834. The second settler was Samuel Grissell. In the years 1834 and 1835 came Elias Porter, Tohn McCoy, Jonathan and Richard Hiatt, Job Carr, William Samuels, and Goldsmith Chandler. There were a few others who came about this time, but the names of all, and the precise date at which they came, cannot be obtained.

This was the first township organized in the county by ojder of the commissioners, at their first session, November 8, 1836. The election was held, on the second Saturday of December, 1836, at the house of Jonathan Hiatt, when Elias Davis was elected the first justice of the peace, and D. V. Canada, constable. In the May term of 1837, the commissioners appointed the following additional officers : Overseers of the poor, Joshua Bond and William Swallow; fence viewers, Moses Hamilton and David Canada; inspector, Elihu Hamilton.

A horse mill was built in rS37 by Joshua Bond. In 1838 Samuel Grissell built both saw and grist mills. The first school was taught in the winter of 1838, by Benjamin Davis.

1837. The east addition was laid out in November, 1837, by J. Wilson ; the south addition, in 1841, by Wilton and Grissell. Samuel C. Whiteman laid out his addition December 19, 1866. The first house in Camden was built by John D. Jones, in 1836, and, in 1837, H. Z. Jenkins opened the first store. The present population of the village is 498, and it contains 2 hotels - the " Union " and " Indiana " - 4 dry goods stores, 2 drug stores, 1 hardware and implement store, 3 grocery stores, 2 boot and shoe stores, 3 furniture stores, 1 woolen mill, 2 saw mills, 1 grist mill, 1 tannery, 3 blacksmith and wagon shops, 2 millinery and stationery stores, 1 attorney, 6 physicians, 1 masonic lodge, and 3 churches.

This township contains more good land, and is better improved, than any other in the county. The principal stream is the Salamonie. The southern part is gravelly and rolling, and well supplied with excellent water, while the northern portion contains some of the finest and richest prairie lands in the State.

Churches. - The M. E. Church, at Camden, is a frame structure, 32 by 50 feet, and will seat 350. It was dedicated, February 23, 1858, by Rev. C. W. Miller, at which time the organization numbered 200 members. The membership, at present is less than 100. Trustees, G. W. Whiteman, Selh Armitage, Joseph Smith, W. G. Jones, Nathan Hidey, and Frederick Ninde. Pastor, Rev. J. W. McDaniels.

The Orthodox Friends hold their meetings in a house built by Benjamin Paxson. They number 30 members. The house committee consists of Joseph, J. R. and Harriet Paxson.

' The Church of Christ, in Camden, has a neat frame building, 32 by 45 feet, and will seal 300. The church was organized February 28, 1869, by Elder Henry James, with a membership of 52, which is now increased to 50. Elders, Newton Boles and Levi Johnson; deacons, William Cash and Heslon Paxson.

organized on the petition of I it was named. The first elet Joseph Gaunt, at which sev. election of the following offi Roland, and Joseph Gaunt; peace, Joseph Gaunt

The first settler in this township was John Brooks, in 1824. At first he built a small house near the present residence of Jacob Gaunt. Here, his son Allen, was born, March 4, 1824, which was the first birth among the settlers in the township. In November, 1836, Adam Zigler came into the township as the second settler. He is now seventy years of age, and is living on the land he first entered. Among the first settlers, who were heads of families, he is the only survivor, and furnishes many of the facts of the early history of this township. In 1837, came John and Joseph Gaunt, Michael Roland, Joshua Bowen, and William White. In 1838, came Minor Dye, William Hoskins, and Seth Armitage ; in 1839, A. B. Beard, and A. C. Smith ; in 1840, James Spencer; in 1841, John Giger, Sr., John Bergdoll, and Joseph Whitacre.

'. Smith and Joseph Gaunt, by whom 1 was held in 1839, at the house of votes were Dolled, resulting in the j ; Trustees, A. C. Smith, Michael rk, Cornelius Smith; justice of the idara Zigler. The first school in the mith.

ship was taught in the winter of 1838-39, by Con The first orchard in the county was raised from seeds planted by Mrs. Mary Brooks. These seeds were from seven apples brought from the Great Miami, in Southern Ohio. She raised them on what is known as the Godfrey Farm, and then brought the young trees, thirtythree in number, and planted them on what is known as the Brooks Farm, at Cherry Grove, in the southeast corner of this township. These trees are still standing as venerable monuments to the brave couple who came here nearly three-score years ago and endured the hardships of pioneer life. -

There are twenty-four sections of land in the township. The country is generally rolling, and is drained by Mud Creek to the northeast, and by Brooks Creek in the eastern part. This last creek takes its name from the first settler of the township, and along its banks may be found some of the best fa"rms in the county.

Churches - Oak Grove M. E. Church was built on a lot donated by Caleb Winget, and dedicated, in 1874, by Rev. A. J. Hill. The building is a frame, 32 by 42 feet, and will seat 300 persons. The trustees are, Caleb Winget, Milton Baird, Daniel Bird, Simon Clouse, and Jacob Gaunt. Pastor, Rev. J. W. McDaniels.

An expert hunter and noted pioneer, named Thomas J. Shaylor, was the first settler in this township, in 1833. About the year 1835 came Greenbury Coffin, John Ripe, and Bennett Goodson ; in 1836, came Nathan Perry. William Bach, Samuel Routb, Henry De Long, Sr., Joseph Hiatt, Elon Ewers, and George P. Piles; in 1837, G. C. Whiteman; in 1838, Jacob Duggan, and Jacob Hiser. These names and dates are obtained from Nathan Perry, who is now the only survivor of those who were here at the time he came.

This township was organized in 1S38. The first justice of the peace in the township was Samuel Routh. On Monday, April 1, 1839, the first election was held, at which a full board of officers were elected, at the house of Joseph De Long. At this election Joseph De Long, Sr., was inspector; J. Timberlake and Joseph Hiatt, judges; Henry De Long, Sr., and Henry Robinson, clerks. The following officers were elected: Trustees, Samuel Routh, Henry De Long, Sr., Henry Robinson; clerk and treasurer, C. I. Timberlake; overseers of the poor, George C. Whiteman, Bennett Goodson; fence viewers, Samuel Routh, Henry Robinson ; supervisor, Samuel Romh. The second justice of the peace was C. I. Timberlake, with George P. Piles as constable.

On l he 6th of April, 1839, the trustees met and divided the township into three road districts. The supervisors appointed were as follows: Road District No. 1, Christopher I. Timberlake; No. 2, Samuel Routh; No. 3, William Bunch.

The following was duly recorded under date of November 27, 1839 : " At a meeting of the trustees, it was ordered that William Jones and Benjamin J. Gillam should open that part of the road running across the northeast corner of the township, which road was not known to the Board at the April meeting, neither were the above men known to

At the Spring election of 1840, there were 26 votes cast; at the November election, 22 votes, of which 13 were for Van Buren, and 9 lor Harrison.

Green Postoffice is a small village containing 1 general store, 1 tile factory, 1 grist and saw mill, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 wagon shop, 2 churches, and 1 physician.

This township is one of the most flourishing in the county, and has increased rapidly in population, and in the acreage of cleared land, during the last decade. It contains much excellent land, divided up into many productive farms. The bottom lands, however, are subject to overflow. The Salainonie is the principal stream in the

Churches, - Willow Chapel, devoted to the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was built on a lot donated by William Campbell, and dedicated, June 16, 1879, by Rev. E. Karns. It is a frame building, and will seat 350 persons. The membership numbers 12. Trustees, Thomas W. Cassell, L. Evilsizer, James Penn, George Keck, and. William Cartwright. Pastor, Rev. Mr. Stevens.

Christian Chapel was built on a lot donated by James Dugan, Sr. It is a frame building, 30 by 40 feet, and will seat 200. The first steps in its structure were taken March 18, 1873, by the election of Messrs. Alexander Stephan, Lester Osborn, Vincent Lake, James Lank, and J. C. Stephan, as trustees.

The Union M. E. Church is a irame building, 32 by 40 feet, and will seat 300. It was dedicated, in the fall of 1872, by Rev. N. H. Phillips. The board of trustees are Charles Hart, Matthias Spahr, J. O. Spahr, and Jacob Starr. Pastor, Kev. J. W. McDaniels.

This township, as at present constituted, comprises thirty-six sections of land. It was originally known as Salamonie Township, Randolph County, and embraced, at that time, the entire county, and what is nowknown as Blackford County, which was formed in 1837. This, then extensive township, also embraced a part of Adams County, and was organized in the winter of 1S34-35. The principal streams in the township are the Salamonie and its tributaries.

The first election was held, at its organization, for a justice of the peace, at the house of Daniel Farber, near College Corners, in what is now known as Wayne township. Benjamin Goldsmith and Henry H. Cuppy were the two candidates. The total vote polled was 15, and Mr. Cuppy was declared elected by a vote of 8 to 7 - numbers which have since been rendered so famous in our national history. He was the first legal official of the township.

This township retained the name of Salamonie, as late as May, 1837, when the following persons were appointed by the board of commissioners to fill the several offices, viz. : Constables, Anderson Near and Joseph Flesher; fence viewers, George Bickel and Sandy Highlander; supervisors, William Nixon and George Bickel.

Wayne Township, as at present constituted, was organized, and the first election held at the Court House, on the third Saturday of September, 1837, with Daniel Farber as inspector. In consequence of the destruction of the early records of the township, the result of that election cannot be obtained, even from the memory of the old settlers.

Within the present limits of the township, the first settlers may be given as follows : Philip Brown, in 1831 - Hawkins C. Fonts and James Morrison, in 1832; Henry H. Cuppy, Obadiah Winters, Daniel Farber, Sandy Highlander, William Highlander, and James Highlander, in 1S33; Joseph Staley and Thomas Jones, in 1834; Joshua Penoch, Daniel W. McNeal and Robert Huey, in i8«, and Thomas Wheat and Peter Coones, in 1836.

The original plat of the town of Portland was surveyed by D. W. McNeal, June 5, 1837, on lands donated by Ob.idiah Winters, Benjamin W. Hawkins and H. H. Cuppy. The proprietors and dates of the several additions are as follows : East addition was laid out, by the original proprietors, June rS, 1837; west addition, by H. H. Cuppy, and conveyed by hmi to H. C. Fouls, who became proprietor, April 1, 1839 ; Ira Denney's subdivision of out-lots, December 14, t87l ; D. C. Baker's addition, March 6, 1872 ; Joseph Votaw's addition, April 5, 1872 ; J. M. Haynes' subdivision, April 17, 1873 ; Ira Denney's second subdivision, July 4, 1873; A. J. Tucker and Martha Tucker's 'subdivision, March 20, 1874; A. L. Jaqua and C. Hays' addition, September 7, 1876; C. A. Munson's addition, September 11, 1876; George Band and William C. Johnson's subdivision, December 23, 1876; Hannah L. Ashdell's subdivision, September 8, 1879; South Portland, by William Coffin, F. M. McGlaughlin, William Giffe and John P. C Shanks, October 24, 1879.

Portland was incorporated June 26, 1 866, and its present population is 1,706. It contains, at the present time, 4 hotels, 2 banks, 3 dry goods and clothing stores, 4 drug stores. 2 hardware stores, 2 stove and tin stores, 2 agricultural stores, 2 furniture stores, 3 boot and shoe stores, 7 groceries. 2 bakeries, 2 butcher shops, 2 jewelry stores, 3 barber shops, t photograph gallery, 2 saloons, 1 pork house, 1 marble shop, 5 blacksmith shops, 2 lively stables, 1 foundry, 2 grist mills, 3 steam saw mills, r bent work manufactory, 1 handle and spoke factory,

The village of Liber was laid out April 30. ^53, by Jonathan Lowe, I. N. Taylor and George W. Temple. Liber College was founded, under a State enactment, in 1853, and was free to all who desired to acquire a common or collegiate education. It was a flourishing school up to 1861-62, and was well patronized by students from this and adjoining counties. Many prominent men in this part of the State

College Corners was laid out by Dr. Watson in 1850, and was the seat of Farmers' Academy, which for a time was a successful rival of Liber College. Both of these institutions were discontinued during the war, and have not since revived.

Churches. - The M. E. Church at Portland is a neat brick structure, 40 by Co feet, on the northeast corner of Arch and Harrison streets, and will seat 700 persons. It was dedicated August 9, 1874, by Rev. A. Mairne. The membership at that time numbered 49; the present membership is 237.

The first preaching of this denomination was in Pike Township in 1832, by Rev. B. Barnes, at the cabin of John J. Hawkins. The first class was formed at the house of Enoch Bowdon, in Bear Creek Township, May 2, 1S36, and consisted of ten members, viz : Enoch Bowdon, Wm. Vail, James Marquis, Win. Baldwin, David Baldwin, and their wives. Portland Mission was organized in 1837, with Rev. E. Lank as the Minister. The second class was formed in this year in Pike Town- ' ship, and consisted of John Kidder, John Blazer, and their wives. The first quarterly meeting was held at the house of James Marquis in 1839. The present pastor is Rev. R. J. Parrett.

The Christian Church of Portland was organized in r874 by Elder J. W. Ferrell, with a membership of 15, which is now increased to 39. The meetings are held in Miller's Hall, on the corner of Main and

Meridian streets. The Elders are D. H. Kinzee, G. Mendenhall, Orin Rolland, John Cookerly; Deacons, B. R. Bradley, G. Mendenhall and John Bradley.

The Presbyterian Church of Portland was organized in r872, by Rev. F. Stovenhour. In t876 an elegant frame building was erected, 40 by 60 feet, on a lot donated by Judge J. M. Haynes, and it was dedicated in December of the same year by Rev. Dr. Cooper, of Cincinnati. It has a membership at this time of 23, and the organization is free from debt. The edifice will seat 600 i'iie first trustees were M. C. Culver, John Hays and Avery Needles.

The Congregational Church of Liber was built in r8S6 on a lot donated by Jonathan Lowe. It is a frame building, 26 by 50 feet, and will seat 300 persons. At the organization of this church tile membership was 25, with Thomas Towle and J. C. Hawkins as trustees and Rev. I. N. Taylor as the first pastor. At the present time' the membership is t2, and the church is free to all Christians.

The Fair View United Brethren Church was dedicated in 187c bv R. J. Weaver, D. D. It is a neat frame, 32 by 48 feet, and will seat 300 persons. At its organizalion there were 30 members ; now there are 42. Trustees, Wm. Valentine, Stephen Journey and Win. Myers Pastor, Rev. L. J. Johnson.

Providence Chapel, United Brethren Church, was built on a lot donated by John Artman, and dedicated April 28, 1876, by Rev Elias Counseller. It is a frame building, 30 by 38 feet, and will seat 300 persons. The membership at that time was rs, and has now increased to 39. Trustees, Samuel Hilly, John Artman, Jacob Foltz Wm Myers and C. Morehouse. Pastor, Rev. L. J. Johnson.

The Christian Church Society was organized by Elder Batteral in l84r. The first church building was ereeted in r8so. The present edifice was built in 1876, on a lot donated by E, Allen. It is a neat frame, 36 by 46 feet, and will seat 300 persons. The membership at this time is 65. The trustees are Daniel Miller, Jacob Miller, Andrew Allen, John Wilkinson and C. H. Clark. Pastor, Rev. D. S. Spade

James Stoxe was the first settler in this township. He came with his wile and five sons and six daughters September to, 1830, and was followed by Thomas Scott and Henderson Graves in rS32. James Graves came ih t834; Alexander Money and Thomas Walling in 1835 ; Martin Ryan and Joseph Nevins in 1S36; Wm. Scott in 1837; Samuel Premer, Wm. Harvey, John Oakley and Wm Thompson in 1838; George Weaver, Jerry Weaver, Ransom Denney, Jonas Hartzel and David Money in 1839, and A. V. Waldron and J. W. Miller in 1840.

This township was organized in September, ^37. The first election was held at the house of James Graves, who was elected the first Justice of the Peace. Henderson Graves was the first Clerk, and Samuel Premer the second. Thomas Scott was the first Supervisor. In 1839 the trustees were Thomas T. Wheat, Jr., John Oakley and Isaac Hearn. August 13, 1839, they met and appointed Isaac' Hearn Clerk and Treasurer, divided the township into two school districts, and directed the Township Clerk to appoint three trustees for each district. In the first district Conoway Stone, David Teeters and Abraham Ousenbaugh were appointed.

The first school house built, and the first school taught, was in the Waldron District in 1839-40. The first road opened was the Winchester and Huntington road, which was the principal thoroughfare for early settlers.

Noble Township is well improved, the farms being generally small. The land is rolling and is drained by the branches of the Wabash and Salamonie.

Beilefontaine is a small village, which was formerly known as Hector. It has a post-offiee, 2 general stores, r pottery, 1 saw mill, 1 blacksmith shop and 2 churches, with a population of about 50.

Churches. - Bethlehem German Lutheran Church was built in 1856, on a lot donated for church and cemetery purposes by Nicholas Stolz. The structure is 26 by 36 feet, and was built by Philip Nicholas, Frederick Stolz, Solomon Martin, George Martin and Christian Young. The organization at the present time numbers 30 members, and Rev. Philip Locker has been the pastor for twenty-two years.

The Evangelical Church is a log building, erected in 1870 on a lot donated by C. Young. It will seat 400 persons. Membership, 36. The trustees are S. Haley, A. Geggenheimer and F. Woertz. The first minister was Rev. Samuel Keplinger.

Noble Christian Church was built on a lot donated by Wm. Kimbal, and dedicated March 27, 1879, by Elder John Barkett. It is a frame building, 30 by 36 feet, and will seat 300 persons. Membership, 200. Trustees, O. S. Greene, S. D. Ireland, Joshua Nickerson, D. Houser and Jethro Evans. Pastor, Elder Wm. Terrell.

The Christian Union Church at Beilefontaine was erected in 1862. It is a frame building, 30 by 40 feet, and will seat 400. Present membership, no. Trustees, Jacob Jones, George Parsons and Absalom Eims. Pastor, Rev. Henry Gudgeon. The building is also occupied by the Methodists.

The United Brethren Church at Beilefontaine is a frame, 30 by 40 feet, and is well seated, with accommodation for 600 persons. Trustee, Dr. John A. Moorehouse. Pastor, Rev. L. J. Johnson.

The Home Christian Union Society was organized in 1879. Sen-ices are held in the old Warnock school-house, with a membership of 15. Pastor, Rev. Henry Gudgeon.

The first settlers in this township were Wm. F. Denney and John Eblin, in November, rSjr ; Wm. Isenhart and Abraham l.otz in t832 ; John Fox, John Havnes, Henry Crowell and Hell Woten in 1833; Wm. Money and Benjamin Goldsmith in 1854; Jonathan Hugh, John Woten and Thomas White in 1S35. John McGlaughlin, Wm. Mc- Glaughlin, Henry Glassford, Thomas Atkinson and Henry Abel were also early settlers.

The first Justice of the Peace was Abraham l.otz, and the first Constable fohn Fox. The first election after the permanent organization of the township was held at the house of Benjamin Goldsmith, in r838, and the first trustees were Wm. Money, John McGlaughlin and Thomas Atkinson. John Eblin was elected the first Supervisor.

The first school in the township was a subscription school, taught by Bell Woten in his own house, in the winter of ^35. It was not only the first school in the township, but the first in the county. Abo.ut 20 pupils attended the school.

The township has thirty sections of land, is well watered and improved, and contains some of the finest farms that can be found in the county.

Lancaster was laid out by Henry Abel and Benjamin Goldsmith, January 6, 1839. James White and George Stamps laid out the East Additiun August 30, 1854. The town was incorporated in March, 1867. aad the name changed to the same as that of the post-office - Salamonie. It contains 2 general stores, r drug store, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 cooper shop, 1 boot and shoe shop, 1 tannery, 1 saw mill, 2 churches and 2 physicians.

Salem (Jordan P. O.) was laid out June 4. r837, by E. G. and J. G. Campbell. Henry Chandler's Addition was laid out October 30, 1837. The village contains 1 general store, 1 blacksmith shop, r wagon shop, 1 saw mill and 1 church.

Churches - Poplar Grove Christian Church was built on a lot donated by Wm. Money in 1870. It is a frame building, 36 by 40 feet, and will seat 300 persons. The Society was organized May 19, 1S67, by Elder Wm. Money. Membership, 66. Trustees, Samuel Money and John Ratisch. Deacons, George Denney and Levi Harland. Services are conducted by Elders Wiliiani and Samuel Money.

Wesley Chapel, of the M. E. Church, is a frame building, 35 by 40 feet, and will seat 5C0 persons. It is built on a lot donated by Isaac Rauts. There were 30 members when organized. Trustees, Wm. Ingle, Isaac Lotz and Rev. I. N. Caste!, who is also pastor of the church.

The M. E. Church at Salamonie is a neat frame, 36 by 60, and will seat 500 persons. It was dedicated May 25, 1878, by Rev. W. W. Roberts. Its membership is 33. Trustees. L. W. Leemaster, Jr., Christian Cope, W. P. Beard and Wm. C. Ingle. Pastor, Rev. J. B. Stevenson.

The Christian Church of Salamonie is a neat frame, 40 by 60 feet, and will seat 500. It was built about the year 1S61, although the society was organized in 1840 with a membership of 30, now increased to 75. Trustees, J. D. Jetter, B. F. Harter and John Northstine. Elders. J. G, Harter and lason Bailey. Deacons, James Harroff, Amos Mitchell and John Wall. Pastor, Elder J. G. Harter.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church at Salamonie is a frame, 26 by 40 feet, will seSMso persons, and was built in r868. Twenty-five families now belong to the organization. Trustees, M. Griesenger, C- Messner and John Meyer. Pastor, Rev. F. W. Franke.

The Free-Will Baptist Church at Salem is a neat frame, 38 by 50 feet, and will seat 500. It is finished in modern style,, and was dedicated in March, 18S0. The society was organized February 27, r836, and now numbers 40 members. Trustees, E. C. Clough, E. M. Clough and Richard Matchett.

Prospect Chapel, United Brethren, was built on a lot donated by Jesse Wickersham. It is a neat, substantial frame, well finished, and will seat 400 persons.

In the fall of 1829, John J. Hawkins built a small camp or cabin, on the northeast quarter ot section 11, and on the 8lh of March, 1830, he moved into it with his family, consisting of his wife Nancy and six children - four boys and two girls. One of the sons, J. C. Hawkins, Esq., and one daughter, Mrs. Clark, are still living in the township Mr. Hawkins was followed by Thomas J. Shaylor in r83o, and Mrs Sarah Ridley, in 1831. She had been the wife of six husbands, and after a time married the seventh husband and settled in Randolph County. John S. Mays George liickel and Henry Welsh came in 1833; George Hardy, VVm. Bunch and Eli Longnecker, in 1834, and

Wm Clark, in 1835. This was known as the squirrel year, when the squirrels traveled by thousands, destroying nearly all the corn raised in the county. J. A. Ware, John Kidder and George Horford came in tS37, and others later.

The township was named and organized in r837, and John S. Mays, John West and Whipple Cook were the Trustees in 1838. September 22d, of this year, the township was divided into four school districts.

Collett Stalion was laid out February 13, 1872, and contains I general store, 1 warehouse, 1 blacksmith shop, in which the postoffice is also kept.

Boundary City was laid out by Daniel Hiester and John Langel, on the 4th of January, rS54. The postoffice had been established there May 11, 1832, with D. Hiester as postmaster, which office he still holds. The village contains i general store, 1 co-operative Grange store, 1 grist mill. 1 saw mill, 1 tile factory, r blacksmith shop and 1 physician.

Bluff Point P. O. is a verv small place, which was laid out in 1S54 by L. J. Bell and I. N. Taylor! It has two stores, r blacksmith shop and 1 physician.

The first school house erected in the township was at John Kidder's, and the first school was taught by Miss Lucetta Kidder, in the summer of 1S40.

Churches - Zion Chapel, the United Brethren Church, at Collett, was dedicated March 4, 187S, by Bishop Dixon. It is a frame building. 32 by 40 feet, and will seat 300 persons. Its cost was $1,000. Membership, 60. Trustees, S. H. Darby, li. A. Sutton and G. H. Bonnell. Pastor, Rev. T. Coats.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Boundary City, erected in 1846, is a frame, 28 by 36 feet, and will seat 300 persons. It was built by the German Reformed, and is free to all orthodox organizations. Membership, 25. Elders, Daniel Hiester and B. S. Degler; Deacons, David Knoll and Jacob Kober. Pastor. Rev. R. C. Finley.

Zoar M. E. Church was built on a lot donated by John Kidder for church and cemetery purposes. The first building was erected in 1852. The present building was erected in 1868, at a cost of $r.6oo. It is a neat frame, 32 by 40 feet, and will seat 500 persons. Membership, 35. Trustees, A. D. Hudson, F. Mirgon, N. Brockoven and Francis Collett. Pastor, Rev. T. E. Madden.

The Otterbein United Brethren Church is built on a lot donated by Aaron Bissell, and was dedicated in 1873. It is a frame, and will seat 250. Membership, 30. Trustees, L. Patterson, C. Whitenack and A. Bissell. Pastor, Rev. Mr. Cost.

The first settlers in this township were Aaron Dilley, Adam and Joseph Flesher, in 1834. Later in the same year came Daniel Harford, John West and Peter Daily. John Steed, Wm. Nixon, John Nixon, lacob Sanders, Wm. Hite, Peter Lane and Jonathan Van Skyoc came in 1836 ; Wm. Finch, John Bell, Anson Coulson and Tohn Rhodes, in 1837 : Timothy Stratton and Jacob Kerns, in 1838. These names and dates are obtained from Messrs. Coulson and Stratton and Mrs. Bell.

The township was organized in 1838, and Jacob Sanders was the first Justice of the Peace, and John Nixon the first constable. The first election for a full board of officers was held April r, 1839, at the house of Jacob Sanders, with Peter Daily as Inspector; John Steed and Jacob Sanders, Judges, and Peter Daily, Clerk. The whole number of persons present was 15, only nine of whom were voters. A dispute arose as to the proper heading of the poll-book, and the election was postponed for two weeks. In the interim Peter Daily went to Samuel Ruth, Esq., in Green Township, who prepared the poll-book in a proper manner. An election was subsequently held, but the names of the officers elected can not be obtained.

The township contains thirty-six sections of land, and is drained principally by Brooks' Creek, The soil is excellent and will improve without any waste land.

New Mount Pleasant was laid out by J. H. Sanders, March 2, 1838, and Sanders' Addition January r4, 1840. The town contains 1 hotel, 2 stores, 1 drug store, 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, 1 blacksmith shop, 2 boot and shoe shops, a postoffice, 2 churches and 2 physicians.