Marshall County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read), 1881

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 3 of those read)

Rivers AND LAkes - INDIAN NAMES - WOLF CreEkK - YELLOW River - Piatt's RuN - PINE Creex - YELLOW Brancu - Ttp- PECANOE RIVER - DEEP CREEK - LAKE MAXENKUCKEE - GENERAL DescripTION - CLUB Houses - Poetic TRIBUTE - LAKE OF THE Woops - Pretry Lake - -Twin LakEs - FLAT LAKE - GALBRAITH LAKE - DixoON LAKE - Mup LAKE - MANATAU LAKE - Lost LAKE - -Mvueksnaw LAKE - MAGNETIC FLowIna WELLS - ANALYSIS OF THE WATER - MARSHALI CocnTy's Navy!

since deceased, the last of his race then living, the names of some of the lakes and rivers as they were originally known and called by the Indians, and, although his knowledge of Indian orthography was quite limited, yet it is barely possible the reader ean guess the pronunciation from the spelling.

Wolf Creek rises in Tippecanoe Township, passes through a portion of Walnut and Green, and empties into Yellow River near the northeast corner of Union Township. It is dammed a few hundred yards above its mouth, and furnishes, most of the year, a sufficient amount of water to run the grist-mill owned by Mr. Zehner. It is skirted on either side, for some distances, with broken lowlands, marshes, eat swamps, ete., and was a safe and sure retreat for wild animals of every description. Black wolves were numerous from one end of the creek to the other, and from

Yellow River was called Wi-thou-gan, and very appropriately, too, signifies "yellow water." The early settlers, for want of a better name, called it Yellow River, from the peculiar chrome color of the water. It has been so known ever since, and will doubtless continue to bear that name for all time to come. Yellow River rises in the swamps and marshes of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties: runs through German, Center, West and Union Townships, and finally finds its way into the Kankakee River, where it is lost forever amid the rippling waters of that classic stream. The north branch of Yellow River, near Bremen, was called Po-co-nack, and means " beechy," from the prevalence of beech timber in that region. It is only in wet seasons that it is entitled to the name of river.

Platt's Run is a small stream rising in the west part cf Green and the east part of Union Township. It wends its winding way thrcugh low and swampy land, until it empties into Yellow River a short distance below the mouth of Wolf Creek. During the rainy season, it furnishes a sufficient supply of water to runa saw-mill a portion of the year. Some years ago, a dum was built across the stream, and a saw-mill erected on the farm now owned by Dr. Caillat. The milling business did not prove to be a paying investment, and has been abandoned. The creek got its name from Platt B. Dickson, through whose farm it ran.

Pine Creek and Yellow Branch are both small streams, of no special note, rising in Polk Township and emptying into the Kankakee. Yellow Branch was known among the Indians as "Pan Yan."

Tippecanoe River passes diagonally through Tippecanoe Township, from northeast to southwest, where it enters Fulton County, and so on in the same direction until it empties into the Wabash River.

It is a stream of considerable dimensions, and abounds in a plentiful supply of fresh-water fish of various kinds. It was called by the Indians Qui-tippecanoe.

Deep Creek is a small body of water running from north to south, through Tippecanoe Township, until it finds its way into Tippecanoe River. It derives its water from the marshes and lowlands through which it passes, and is noted for getting on a high every time it rains, and the facility with which it washes away the small bridges over ite banks.

There are nine bodies of water in Marshall County, called lakes, of which Max-en-kuck-ee is the largest. It is in the southwest corner of Union Township. Its dimensions are about three miles long and two and ahalf miles wide. The eastern banks are high, and, in places, quite abrupt. The northern, western and southern banks gradually rise from the water's edge, and the cultivated farms extending down to the edge of the water make the scenery the finest in the Western country. The country, for some distance back from the eastern shore, is quite hilly, full of stone and gulches, indicating a war of the elements in that region during the glacial era. The lake abounds in an abundance of choice species of fish - rock-hass, pike, wall-eyed pike, suckers, sun-fish, perch, ete. - and of late years has become a fashionable resort for fishermen from Indianapolis, Louisville, and from various other parts of the country. Several boat and clnb houses have been erected, and, during the fishing season, from ten to twenty boats may be seen floating here and there over the fishing ground. Maxenkuckee is an Indian name, and different meanings have been given to it. "Clear water" and "diamond lake" is suid to be a correct translation. Mr. Niago, who was a full-blooded Indian, and acquainted with the lake long before a white man came to the county, said Maxenkuckee meant stone, or stony, and was so called from the numerous stones and pebbles on the shores and in the bed of the lake. A diamond is a stone, and hence the word Maxenkuckee might apply in both ways. But if there ever were any diamonds there, the aborigines were careful to pick them all np and carry them off when they folded their tents, like the Arabs, and silently stole way.

~ This lake is destined to become one of the finest summer resorts in the Northwest. Within a few years last past, the attention of pleasure-seekers, far and near, has been attracted to its many advantages as a watering-place, and already several fine club houses and summer residences have been erected on its beautiful banks. Attention was first attracted to it by the erection of a club house in 1875, by several gentlemen of Plymouth. The building was located on the east bank of the lake, on the farm owned by Mr. L. T. Van Schoiack. It was a story-and-ahalf frame building, wiih sleeping apartments above, and parlor, dining-room and kitchen below. It became quite a place of resort, and many times, during the hot summer months, as many as fifty persons were entertained at one time. The officers of the club were Joseph Westervelt, President; W. W. Hill, Treasurer: ©. H. Reeve, Secretary. In 18758, a number of those who had been instrumental in organizing this club, wishing to have something more elaborate and commodious, purchased fifteen acres of eligible lake front on the north bank, and erected a large, two-story, lathed and plastered frame building, containing a large dancing and reception room, connecting with a commodious dining-room by folding doors, a kitchen, buttery and mealroom, with eight elegant sleeping rooms above, and verandas above and below fronting the lake, and the same on the north, looking out over the famous Burr Oak Flats. One of the proprietors, Mr, N. H. Ogleshee, erected a fine summer cottage, and the erection of others is contemplated. The club owns a fine sailing yacht, and five sail-boats are owned by individual members of the elub.

The name of the organization is the "Lake View Club," and is composed of the following residents of Plymouth: William W. Hill, Nathan H. Oglesbee, Henry G. Thayer, Chester C., Buck, Joseph Westervelt, Charles E. Toan, Horace Corbin, Daniel Me- Donald.

Mr. Ed R. Wheeler has purchased an eligible location on the gastern bank of the lake,on which he has erected an elegant summer residence, with ice house, boat house, and other conveniences, making it one of the most desirable rural retreats anywhere to be found.

A party of gentlemen residing in Peru, Ind. - Louis B. Fulwiler, Moses Muhlfeld, Shirk and others - have erected an elegant and commodions two-story club house and other conveniences on the northeastern bank of the lake, which was completed in 1879. Several prominent citizens of Rochester, Ind, have just completed a commodions club house on an eligible location on the west side of the lake. Several Indianapolis parties have purchased grounds on the east shore, and are arranging to build this season (1880). This much is given to show the start that has recently been made to bring this place up to what it is destined to be in the years to come - one of the most enjoyable rural watering-places in Indiana.

some note, gave it a good "send-off" in an instrumental composition entitled " The Rippling Maxenkuckee." Mr. Jerome C. Burnett immortalized it in the following excellent poem, written for a paper published in New York called Forest and Stream:

Ah, here is a scene for a painter - A gleaming and glorified lake, With its framing of forest and prairie, And its etchings of thicket and brake; With its grandeur and boldness of headland, Where the oaks and the tamaracks grow A-league with the sunlight of heaven, And the spirit-like shadows below.

And the heron that flies like asnow-flake Comes down from the clouds in the sky; Where the bobolink lights on the flag-blade, And so proudly and prettily sings, Or watches askance the swift minnow,

Where the lilies a-bloom on the surface, Held down by their cable-like stems, And the tints of the bright cardinalis Have the semblance of loveliest gems; Where the mosses in festoons are hanging In the richest of fashion and fold, To decorate submarine dwellings O'er pavements of umber and gold.

Where the soul of the mortal may worship In the freedom of unwritten creeds, Hearing many and joyous responses In the music that comes from the reeds; And where in my fancy I've pictured A temple that's builded so high, It reaches in grandest proportions From the beautiful lake to the sky.

Lake of the Woods is in German and North Townships, in the northeast part of the county. Its dimensions arefabout two miles in length and one mile wide. It takes its name from the fact that it is completely surrounded with a thick growth of timber. It is a beautiful sheet of water, but, being a considerable distance from the main traveled road, has not yet come into public notice as a place of general resort for sportsmen, outside of the immediate neighborhood. The Indian name for the Lake of the Woods, as it is now called, was Copenuckconbes. This is the name of a vegetable that grew spontaneously in that region in an early day. It was mostly a product of mud and water, and was found in the outlet, and in and about the shores. It was similar in appearance to the beet, and when properly prepared was very nutritious and quite palatable. The Indians cooked them by digging deep trenches in the ground, walling up the sides with small stones, leaving a small space in the middle, into which they placed the copenuckeonbes, and, covering it over with bituminous earth and other burning material, set fire to it and

Pretty Lake, four miles southwest from Plymouth, in West Township, took its name from the fact that it is the " prettiest lake" of its size in all the region round about. It is about one mile long and three-quarters of a mile wide. The banks are skirted with beautiful natural shrubbery, and timber of larger growth. It is surrounded with well-cultivated farms, and, from the eminence on the eastern shore, Lake Como, in all its glory, neyer appeared more beautiful.

Twin Lakes are also in West Township, five miles west and a little further south than Pretty Lake. These are three small lakes, each connected by a small neck of water between two hills. The largest is not to exceed three-quarters of a mile in length, and a quarter to a half-mile in width. The other is smaller, and almost a perfect circle; while the other is still smaller, and is more what a " Hoosier" would call a marshy pond than a lake. Sun-fish, goggle-eyes, perch and other varieties of fish are plenty. There are still a few ducks to be found in the bayous and out-ofthe-way places. Before the country was settled, the web-footed quackers congregated there by thousands - so much so that Indians called it "' Duck Lake * - in their tongue, She-ba-ta-ba-uk.

Flat Lake and Galbraith Lake are in West Township. They are both quite diminutive in size, and are growing smaller by degrees and beautifully less, as the years go by.

Dixon Lake divides the honors between Center and West Townships, two and a half miles southwest of Plymouth. It is perhaps half a mile long, and half as wide. It empties its surplus water into Yellow River, which flows southward half a mile distant to the eastward. It was named in honor of a man by the name of George W. Dixon, who resided in the vicinity of the lake in an early day.

Mud Lake is in Green Township, in close proximity to the Fulton County line. It is small, and will not likely ever attain an extensive notoriety.

"Muck-Shaw'? may be found one mile south of Plymouth. As its name indicates, it is mostly composed of muck, and the duck-hunter, as he goes into the muck and mud up to his armpits, is apt to ejaculate, "Oh, pshaw!"' Hence the name! This lake was immortalized by a continued story, illustrated, published in the Plymouth Democrat, in 1878, to which the attention of the curious reader is directed.

Flowing Wells

There are a large number of flowing wells in the county, the largest and most important of which is the Great Magnetic Flowing Well, situated near the flouring-mill of Messrs. Baily & Capron, in Plymouth, The proprietors had sunk an iron-tube well for the purpose of operating a turbine water-wheel. When down about forty feet. the parties driving the tube suddenly broke through into an apparently hollow place, and the water came rushing out at the top of the tube. In a short space of time, the bright, sparkling water spouted two feet above the tube, with a steady, even flow that was exceedingly refreshing to behold on a hot day. The tube happened to stand about perpendicular, and the stream parted at the top in liquid, sparkling hemispheres, taking all the tints and colors of the rainbow, and fell to thepool below in a plume-like cascade, almost hiding the tube itself.

By experiment, it was found that the flow ceased at a height of about fifteen feet above the river low water mark. Accordingly, the proprietors put down a thirteen-inch tube as an experiment. When the same depth was reached as in the first tube sunk, the flow of water came up through the enlarged pipe with equal force. mous.

The volume of water discharged is simply enor- It is estimated that the well discharges 500 gallons per minute, 30,000 gallons per hour, and 720,000 gallons every twenty-four hours - sufficient to supply a city of 50,000 inhabitants. Tests and experiments have conclusively shown that the water is highly charged with magnetism, and is otherwise possessed of medicinal and curative properties in an eminent degree, It is without donbt the largest and finest flow of magnetic water in the world. A preliminary analysis by Prof. Douglas, of Ann Arbor University, made August 6, 1876, shows the following ingredients:

"The analysis of the water received from you shows the presence of hydrochloric, sulphurie and carbonic acids, lime, soda, magnesia. States 231 cubic inches) is 16.36 grains. The amount of hydrochloriec in the United States gallon is .42586 grains."

There is another flowing well a short distance from the above, which flows a stream three inches in diameter. On East Garro street, the city has sunk a tube, and at the depth of seventy-two feet reached the same flow of water. There are several others in Plymouth, all similar to the above, of which it is unnecessary to speak.

At a celebration on the 4th of July, 1878, A. C. Capron, Esq., responded to the toast "Our Navy." After speaking at some length on the deplorable condition of the United States Navy, he

"But, my friends, sad as we may feel at the thoughts of the present reduced condition of our nation's navy, we have just cause for pride and congratulation as to 'our navy' here at home. For I tell you Marshall County has a navy; one not to be despised in these days of small things.

"We have in the north the Lake of the Woods. or, as it is commonly called, Big Lake. We have our roaring, raging Yellow River, meandering through almost the entire length and breadth of the county. A little way west, we have Pretty Lake, and a few miles further south the Twin Lakes stretch themselves like linked sausages half across the county. And last, but not by any means the least, in Union Township, is a small sea, our county's pride, Lake Maxenkuckee. On all these lakes, and all along the Yellow River, and Tippecanoe River, which wends its winding way through Tippecanoe Township, we have ships of peace and ships of war, single-masted sailing vessels, flat-boats, skiffs, row- Loats, gun-boats and dug-outs. At Big Lake we have a fleet of four nice serviceable boats, and when any of you want the service of able and experienced seamen, call on Capts. John Seltenright and Noah Wiltfong, with their crews, and you may depend upon them in almost any emergency; and they do say there is not a gar-fish in the lake big enough to run them ashore when they are fairly equipped and start on an expedition.

Here in town we have a gallant fleet - the " White Swan," managed by Enoch Belangee, and he manages his trim craft equally well whether he is above or below water. Then we have the lively '76, of which our genial host of the Parker House, U. S. Dodge, is Captain, and I have the honor of being 'Chief Cook and Bottle-Washer;' and the skill displayed by that crew in running their vessel against snags and into tree-tops as they sail up and down the river is something really astonishing.

"We go now to Pretty Lake - and well it deserves the name, for in truth it is a gem, a sapphire set in green enamel. There we have a fleet of flat-boats, and Hoaglan and Linkenhelt rank high among the officers, with crew enough to protect the surrounding country from any depredations the perch and catfish may make upon the fields.

What a squadron we have there! First and foremost we have the Queen Anna, a magnificent three-decker, spreading wide her snowy sails, of which our well-known townsman, William W. Hill, is Captain, H. G. Thayer is mate, and C. C. Buck is crew. Go down there almost any time - and it is worth your while to do it - you will find Capt. Hill in full command, barefooted, with coat and hat off, ready for a swim in case of an upset. But the way he sails his vessel makes your head swim in spite of yourself. Then is next "Nancy Lee,' manned by Ed Morris, who is always on hand with his fast-sailing craft for a fish, ride or race. But our navy would be incomplete without the " Kittie Mack," a duck of a boat, clinker built, with all appointments complete, of which my friend here, D. McDonald, is Captain, Mate and crew. Nor must we forget the row of stanch gun-boats anchored off the east shore, commanded by Commodore Spangler, the ready host of the Allegheny House, whose flag is never at half-mast, and whose larder never runs out. These, my friends, and on all occasions, they and their trusty officers and crews can be depended on for a ride or a fishing trip, or any kind of warfare you may wish to make upon the finny tribe. Let us be thankful for what we have, and not be cast down for what we have not, and may the flags of our home navy wave as long as the fishing is good and the water holds out."