Marshall County, Indiana - Chapter 22, 1881

Early Weddings

MISCELLANEOUS Trems - Frrst Manmaae LICENSE - OCCUPATIONS IN 1840 - Firsr TREASURER'S REPORT - COUNTY STATISTICS, 1886 - Frrst MercuAnt - Firsr Saw-Mitit - Guist Miti - Finst Estate - GvakbDIANsile - JUDGMENT INDICTMENT - Wire Camp - LawyEr - Doeron - BLacksurriu - Newspapers - WHEAT AND CORN IN 1856 AND 1870 - MORTGAGES - EARLY WEDDINGS,

First Merchant

In 1836, merchants, grocerymen, hotel keepers, and men engaged in a general retail business, were required to procure a license from the Board of Commissioneys. The fee for issuing these licenses was generally $5, At the first regular session of the board, at which miscellaneous business was transacted, the following entry appears: "On application made by Oliver Rose, John Dixon was granted a license for three months to vend foreign merchandise in the town of Plymouth." From this it appears that John Dixon was the first merchant who transacted business in Plymouth. Who he was, whence he came, or whither he went, the writer is unable to lean. He was, perhaps, related to George W. Dixon, who lived near Dixon Lake, southwest of Plymouth, and from whom the lake derived its name.

The same year Hobson & Gregory were licensed to vend merchandise in Plymouth. Later, A. L. Wheeler became associated with Mr. Gregory, and still later purchased the interest of both partners, and in 1837 Niles Gregory became County Agent.

Hotel Keepers

The first licensed hotel keeper was John Compton, in 1536, In July of the same year, Charles Ousterhaut was authorized to "keep tavern" at his place two miles sonth of Plymouth. In January, 1837, Robert Battie took out license for the same purpose. Abont the same time, James and William Owens were licensed to keep tavern in Green Township. The petitions presented to the Board of Commissioners in behalf of these early tavern keepers are elaborate and faultless in diction. One of the early ones will be interesting in this connection: certify that Samuel Darlington, who is now an applicant for a tavern license, and proposes opening a tavern or public house in the town of | Plymouth in said township, is a man of good moral character; that it will be for the benefit and convenience of travelers, and conducive to the public good if a tavern should be opened in the said town of Plymouth, and that we believe it is the bona fide intention of said applicant to keep a tavern for the accommodation of travelers,

Thirty-five names are attached to the petition, of whom, so far as is certainly known, only the following are living: G. S. Cleaveland, A. L. Wheeler, William C. Edwards and James S. Milner, all of Plymouth.

Gustayus A. Cone was authorized to keep tavern in 1840 on the La Porte road. His location was near what afterward came to be Imown as " Blissville." Also Hobson & Cougle and Grover & Dunham, Plymouth.

Before the organization of the county, the territory was attached to St. Joseph County, and appears to have been known and designated as " Plymouth Township." For road purposes it was called "Road District No. 19, St. Joseph Conaty," and Grove | Pomeroy appointed Supervisor. "His report at the first session of the Board of Commissioners is as follows:

Now comes Grove Pomeroy, Supervisor of the 19th Road District for the county of 8t. Joseph, Plymouth Township, for the year 1836, and makes return or report: Aceount of work done by hands liable to work on public highways, in 19th Road District in county of St. Joseph, Indiana, during the year ending first Monday of April, 1836: Lot Abrams, Charles Ousterhoute, John Brown, Grove O. Pomeroy and Joseph Evans each worked one day. Twenty-one others paid $1 cash, each.

Money matters became so "dubious" in 1837, that the Commissioners passed an order directing the Treasurer to receive only gold, silver, and notes of the State Bank of Indiana, in payment of taxes.

The first grist-mill was erected by Timothy Barber at what is known as the "Old Forge." Tt was destroyed by fire. Zehner's mill has taken its place.

The first permanently located physician is supposed to have been Dr. Thomas Logan, who settled and practiced in the region of country near where Wolf Creek Mills now are.

The first indictment was against a man by the name of Robert Beattie, for selling liquor without license. He pleaded guilty and was fined $2 and costs. Two other indictments were found against him at the same time. He pleaded guilty to one, was fined $2 and costs, and the other was tried by a jury of his peers, consisting of twenty-six good and lawful men, who returned a verdict

Polk, Blair and Sering were contractors on the Michigan road. They saw an opportunity of making a good thing by investing in some Michigan road lands in this locality, and securing the location of the county seat in Plymouth, which they sneceeded in doing, and thus became the original proprietors of our handsome John Sering was a resident of Jefferson County, William Polk, of Fulton County, and James Blair, of Vermillion County. Judge Taber expected the county seat would be located on property owned by him on the Michigan road, about three miles south of Plymouth. The embryctie town had been christened '' Pashpo," and Mr. Taber had hung ont his sign as landlord of the Pashpo Hotel.

The first Clerk was Jeremiah Muncy; the first Sheriff was Adam Vinnedge; the first Auditor, William M. Dunham; the first Treasurer, John Houghton; the first Recorder, Silas Morgan; the first Surveyor, Daniel Roberts; the first Probate Judge, Grove Pomeroy; the first Coroner, John Johnson.

The number of persons owning land and town lots for the past five years is shown by the following table, taken from the records of Marshall County:

Year

Townships Bu. Corn. Bu. Wheat. nto cocecens Meee eatta en eee Ghee 38,306 13.985 Banlerscsccssrdsnnmssasieaasessass TBR 21,721 CBO Stewie enti aasieeeasnes, GAGLe 15,330 BGuPbon His aLssesv es SENDA a Ree alee Uae 21,618 4,678 TIPpecanogs ocd idscccenusdess ewes 21,655 7,640 Gerri aa oei ne detkeniteass TSO 6,055 Safe 1) ERPS SEY Sey See ROTATE aN UT PDP POPE EEO 18,970 5,230 1) | Se See PR Se CCT OTT MES A, 4,856 yo EEN Peete Py fs shige aut aese 20.180 15,548

Mortgages, Liens, Transfers, Etc Amount

Speaking of mortgages, a writer has truthfully said: "In the whole range of sacred and profane literature, perhaps there is nothing recorded which has such staying properties as a good, healthy mortgage. A mortgage can be depended upon to stick closer than a brother. It has a mission to perform which never lets up. Day after day it is right there, nor does the slightest tendency to slumber impair its vigor in the night. Night and day, on the Sabbath and at holiday times, without a moment's time for rest and recreation, the blighting offspring of its existence, interest, goes on. The seasons may change, days run into weeks, weeks into months be swallowed up into the gray man of advancing years, but that mortgage stands up in sleepless vigilance, with the interest, a perennial stream, ceaselessly running on. Like a huge nightmare eating out the sleep of some restless shumberer, the unpaid mortgage rears up its gaunt front in perpetual torment to the miserable wight who is held within his miserable clutch, giant; not one hour of recreation, not a moment's evasion of its hideous presence. A genial savage of mollifying aspect while the interest is paid; a very devil of hopeless destruction when the payments fail."

Weddings in the early times were one of the principal features of pioneer life. Young men and young women in those days, so far as position and fortune were concerned, occupied the same level, and hence the first impressions of love generally resulted in marriage. The season of "billing and cooing " - " courting "- - as it was then familiarly called, was not the most uninteresting part of the programme, in getting ready for the state of * connubial felicity." The boys in the neighborhood selected the girls best snited to their taste, and the "sparking" began. These refreshing seasons generally occurred on Saturday or Sunday night, after the labors of the week were ended, The Hoosier Adonis having arrayed himself in his best "bib and tucker," set out on foot or astride his favorite riding horse for the home of his ladylove. And, oh! gracious goodness! how his heart went pit-a-pat as he saw the smoke from the chimney made of poles issuing forth in graceful enrls and floating quietly away among the neighboring forest trees. Old " Bounce," the faithful watch-dog, having been plaeated, and the horse properly taken care of, and the usual compliments passed in regard to the weather, the health and the state of the crops, everything was ready for an all-night job. It would be out of place here, in this enlightened day and age of the" world, to attempt to divulge the many interesting scenes and incidents that occurred between these "sparkers" of ancient times, and even were it proper, it is unnecessary - you lkmow how it is yourself. An agreement having been entered into to take each other for better or for worse, and the consent of the old man and old woman having been obtained, the preparations for the weddiag begin

The marriage was always celebrated at the house of the bride, and she was generally accorded the privilege of choosing the ofliciating clergyman. A wedding, however, engaged the attention of the whole neighborhood. It was anticipated by both old and young with eager expectation. In the morning of the wedding day, the groom and his intimate friends assembled at the house of his father, and after due preparation, departed en masse for the mansion of his bride. The journey was sometimes made on horseback, sometimes on foot, and sometimes in farm wagons and carts. It was always a merry journey: and to insure merriment. the little brown jug was occasionally one of the invited guests. On reaching the house of the bride, the marriage ceremony took place, and then dinner or supper was served. After the meal the dancing commenced, and generally lasted until the following morning. The figures of the dances were three and four-handed reels, down outside and up the middle," or square sets and jigs. The commencement was always a square four, which was followed by what pioneers called "jigging;" that is, two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was called " cntting out," that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation, the place was supplied by some one of the company, without interruption of the dance. In this way the reel was often continued until the musician was exhausted. About 9 or 10 o'clock in the evening, a deputation of young ladies stole off the bride and put her to bed. In doing this they had to ascend a ladder from the kitchen to the upper floor, which was composed of loose boards. Here, in this pioneer bridal chamber, the young, simple-hearted girl was put to bed by her enthusiastic friends. This done, a deputation of young men escorted the groom to the same apartment, and placed him snugly | by the side of his bride. 'The dance still continued, and if seats young man, when not engaged in the dance, was obliged to offer his lap as a seat for one of the girls; and the offer was sure to be accepted. The "infair,.' which was held at the home of the groom's parents, took place on the following afternoon and evening, and usually the same programme was substantially carried out. The young married folks soon settled down to the stern realities of life, in a log cabin in the woods, provided with a few articles of home-made furniture, and many who have grown old since then look back upon those early scenes as the happiest days of their lives.