Marshall County, Indiana - Chapter 1: Alexander C. Thompson, 1890 (part 2 of 2)

" Ordered by the board aforesaid, that all the territory lying and being in the North-East corner of said county and bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the North-East corner of said county, thence west on the county line dividing the counties of St. Joseph and Marshall to the center of Township 33 North, Range 3 East, thence south on a "strait" (straight) line to the line dividing North and Center Townships, thence East to the line dividing the counties of Marshall and Kosciusko, thence north on said line to the beginning, for one civil Township, for Judicial purposes: And be it further ordered that said Township be known by the name of German Township."

The above description and bounding of German township is really deficient, vague and incorrect. The true boundary of German township at the time of its organization was as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of Marshall county and ' running west on the line between Marshall and St. Joseph counties, a distance of nine miles, or to the northwest corner of section ig, township 35, north of range 3 east; thence south to the line then dividing "North" and "Center" townships, as then organized, which was a distance of seven miles; thence due east to the line dividing the counties of Marshall and Kosciusko, and then due north on said county line to the place of beginning. This made the area of German township nine miles east and west by seven miles north and south. At the March term, 1S53, of the board of commissioners, Franklin township was organized by taking three miles off of the east end of German township, as above described, but, in January, 1S55, the name and organization of Franklin township was revoked and rescinded, and the territory became again a part of German township, and it so remains at this time. Subsequent to the order made % the board of commissioners throwing Franklin back into German township, upon petition of citizens interested, sections 19 and 20, in township 34, north of range 3 east, were taken out of the southwest corner of German township and attached to Center township.

Clayton. - Clayton was the name of the first town site located in German township. This was August 21, 1837. The proprietors were Lathrop M. Taylor and Henry Augustine, of South Bend. Mr. Taylor was at that time clerk of St. Joseph county. The location was about three miles east of the present town of Bremen. Its form was a diagonal, cut up into gorgeous streets and avenues. But the center of gravit}- did not seem to be in that region, and the project of building a town there was abandoned, and the lots have all been vacated.

German is the largest township in the count}-, containing an area of sixtj^-one square miles or sections. It is also one of the best townships for agricultural purposes. It originally had a great growth of the finest of timber, but it is now nearly all taken off and a large portion of the lands are at present under a good state of cultivation. Many of the citizens have grown wealthy in the saw-mill and lumber business. The citizens of the township are, as the name suggests, largely German and of German extraction. They are honest, frugal and industrious. They are the most prompt taxpayers in the county and their own local, or township taxes, are a less rate than any other in the county. The thriving town of Bremen, the only one in the township, will be treated of in another chapter of this work, under its proper heading-.

N'orth Township Ah. 7. - North township was one of the original townships. When it was first organized, it comprised, in addition to its present limits, the territory now embraced in Polk and German townships. German township was taken off May 1 1, 183S, and Polk, March 4, 1845. When Polk was cut off from the west part of North, it was a time when political excitement was. the order of the day. Polk township having been named in honor of the newly-elected president, some of the democratic voters conceived the idea that it would be just the thing to change the name of North and call it Dallas, in honor of the vice president. March i, 1S45, the following petition was presented to the board of commissioners: " To the Board of Commissioners: We, the undersigned petitioners of North township, ask for the name of said township to be altered from North to Dallas. Signed, S.N. Champlin, James Palmer, Adam Snider, James Sherland, Warren Burch, John Kilgore, Charles A. Stilson, John Morris, N. Parmer, Hiram Baker, John Trowbridge, John P. Grover, John Irwin, George Nitcher, Alex M. Vinnedge, George Vinnedge, John Snider, Seymour Stilson, John S. Baker, Abraham Baker, Joseph Trowbridge, Josiah White, A. Burch, Daniel Nitcher, Orrin Palmer, John Wildey, George W. Ferguson, Calvin Burch, J. E. Emerson, W. S. Braum, P. P. Robinson, Sol. Stevens, and H. R. Pershing." The board ordered the change to be made as indicated in the petition.

" We, the undersigned citizens of now Dallas township, respectfully request your honorable body to change the name of Dallas township to that of North township. Signed, Robert Schroeder, Jesse Schroeder, Robert Johnson, Sr., Seymour Stilson, G. W. Ferguson, C. A. Stilson, Warren Burch, Sol. Snyder, James Parmer, D. Cummins, George Murphy, D. Vinnedge, M. Hard, Daniel Nitcher, James Sherland, Sol. Snyder, Wash. Morris, George Vinnedge, A. M. Vinnedge, D. Conger, John Schroeder, Simon Snyder, M. Robert, B. Gerrard, J. C. fones, A.Snyder, D. Murphy, Sr., R. Johnson, Jr., J. Snyder, W. S. Brown, H. M. Greer, James Murphy, C. Sherland, ]. Johnson, Thomas Packard, J. P. Grover, G. Nitcher, J. Wilder, J. Kilgore, D. Murphy, C. Burch, J. Lampheer, Pleasant Ferguson." The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the distinguished honor accorded to the vice president was obliterated by one fell swoop of the magic pen of the board of commissioners.

Liuksvillc is a small " country' place," whose residents have mostly engaged in the lumber and timber business. It makes no pretensions as a city-, having no railroad, telegraph or express office, but has a postoffice only.

Wahuit Hill, near the residence of Eb. Shirland, deceased, on the Michigan road, prior to the completion of the railroad through La Paz, was a postoffice and stopping place for the stage line between Plymouth and South Bend, at which the people of the neighborhood received their mail. But, upon the completion of the railroad, the postoffice was removed to La Paz, since which time its identity has become entirely lost.

Plank Road. - Some twenty-hve or thirty years ago the South Bend & Plymouth Plank Road company put down an inferior plank road through this township and most of the way along the Michigan road to South Bend. It was quite a relief as compared with the mud and sand for some time after it was made, but the boards soon became broken and warped so that it became almost impassable, and after a few years, was entirely abandoned, and the boards removed. Drainage has done as much for North as any other township in the county in the last ten years.

La Paz and Additions. - La Paz is the only village in this township of much note. It was laid off by Archalaus Hunt, upon the completion of the " Baltimore & Ohio & Chicago railroad," in the year 1873.

The following is the description of the location and platting of said town, filed in the recorder's office of Marshall countv, August 6th, 1873:

" Archelaus Hunt being desirous of laying out a town in Marshall county and state of Indiana, to be known and designated as ' La Paz' has caused the same to be surveyed and platted, and said town so surveyed and platted is situated on the north half of the northeast fraction, east of the Michigan road, of section number five (5) of Michigan road lands (except a strip forty-six feet in width across the south end thereof) , and across the east end of the north half of the northwest fraction, west of the Michigan road of section number five (5) Michigan road lands (except a strip forty-six feet in width on the south line of said tract). The starting point for the platting of said town, is a ' Maple Tree,' about one foot in diameter, situated on the west line of the Michigan road, designated on the plat as ' Michigan street,' which said tree is the established southeast corner of what is known as the ' Center Lot,' and from this, as a starting point, said town of ' La Paz ' is platted and laid out in parallel and right angle lines with the east and west lines of the Michigan road, and is laid out into lots, streets and alleys, as to numbers, depth and width as set forth and designated on the above plat, to which reference is hereto made for greater certainty.

" Before me, the recorder, in and for said county, personally appeared Archelaus Hunt, to me well known, and acknowledged the execution of the above plat and certificate, for the uses and purposes therein expressed.

The above and original plat referred to, contains 127 lots of different sizes, and also, are the streets and alleys of various widths, and the plat will have to be consulted to ascertain accurate information.

On the 23rd day of September, 1S75, Edson Spencer laid out an addition to the town, called "Spencer's Addition to La Paz," containing eighteen lots, which are 40x120 feet. The streets are forty and the alleys fourteen feet wide.

Moses Thayer s Addition to La Paz. - On the 27th day of December, 1881, Moses Thayer laid off and caused to be platted the above named addition to La Paz, containing thirty-five lots besides blocks 2, 4 and 5 that were not subdivided. The streets are forty feet wide. This addition lies south of Spencer's addition.

On the loth day of June, 1884, the above named Moses Thayer filed his plat of " Thayer's Addition to La Paz, Ind., Continued," containing eleven lots and lying west of the said Thayer's first or original addition.

April 1st, 1SS5, Leonard Logan and Gideon Logan laid out " Logan's Addition to La Paz," which contains sixty-four lots of varied length and breadth. This addition lies in the southeast part of the town.

The above is the original La Paz with all its additions, and it will readil}' be seen that the various proprietors of the additions have made ample provisions for the town to spread. It is situated in the midst of a fertile section of country' and is a verygood trading point, there being two good dry goods, grocery and notion stores, two drug stores, a large stave factory, two saloons, three doctors, a postoffice, telegraph office, church and school building.

East La Paz is about three-fourths of a mile east of the original La Paz at the junction of the Baltimore & Ohio & Chicago railroad, and the Logansport & Terre Haute railroad, and is described as follows, by Walter Kimble, the proprietor, his plat being filed for record, February 14, 1855: " East La Paz is situated in southeast quarter of northeast quarter of Section Twentj'-eight (28), Township Thirty- (35 1 five north. Range Two (2) east, at the crossing of the Baltimore & Ohio & Vandalia railroad, is bounded on the east by \'andalia railroad, on the south, west and north bj- the boundary' line of said SF.% of XE^^i!," etc. There are but few houses in the place as yet, and the ground being very low and unfavorable to building it will probably never be much of a trading or business point. Besides the railroad station house there is a postoffice in the place.

Hams' s S/afion is situated between Linksville and the Michigan road on the line of the Terre Haute & Logansport railroad and about half way between Plymouth and East La Paz. It was laid out and platted by John Seltenright, October 31, 1885. It has a grain elevator, store and postoffice, but will never be a very large village.

Po/k Township No. S. - This township, organized March 4, 1845, the day James K. Polk, was inaugurated president of the United States. It was considered in keeping with the fitness of things that the new township should take the name of Polk, and it was accordingly so called. Prior to its organization the territory was the west part of North township. The petition, which was dated March i, 1845, is as follows: To the Honorable Commissioners of the County of Marshall:

We, the undersigned citizens of North township, in said county, would represent that, in our opinion, it would be of public utility to divide said township into two townships, on account of the great disadvantage in voting and doing township business. And we would further request that said township be so divided as to hold the elections at or near James Sherland's and Thomas Singleton's. And this your petitioners would ever pray.

Tyncr City. - Tyner City, the seat of justice of Polk township, was laid off and platted June i8, 1S55, by Jacob H. Miller, Maynard French and Thomas Tyner. It took its name from the last-named proprietor. It is located in the west half of section 10, town 34, range i east, on the I., P. & C. R. R., about seven miles northwest of Plymouth. It is laid off into twelve blocks, 315 feet feet square, including alleys, each block containing twelve lots, each 50.x 100 feet. The streets are named Race, Vine, Main, Walnut, May, Miller, French, Allen, Boyce. The first four were named after streets in Cincinnati, where some of the proprietors at one time resided, and the remainder were named in honor of railroad men who flourished there about that time.

Tyner was incorporated as a town under the state laws for that purpose, in 1872-74. A feud had sprung up between the people of the town and those who resided outside of its limits. It was carried to such an extent that no resident of the village could be elected to a township office, and, as it was desirable to have a justice of the peace resident of the town, the only way to accomplish it was to organize under a corporation government, the law providing that, where there was such a form of government, one of the justices should reside within the limits of the corporation. The organization had the desired effect. A justice who resided in town was elected, and, in course of time, the warring elements having subsided, and there being no apparent necessity for a town government, an election was called to vote upon the proposition to disband the organization. The result of the election is embodied in the following, filed in the clerk's office:

I, George E. Leroy, do hereby certify that an election held in the town of Tyner City, on the 2Qth day of November, 1879, for the purpose of dissolving the incorporation, that the whole number of votes cast were 2,o> ^'^d that the number of voters in the town are 47, and that there were 22 votes cast to dissolve and 1 1 cast to maintain the incorporation.

The incorporation was accordingly dissolved. The population are generally law-abiding, and really had very little need of a corporation government.

Elizabeth Tozvn. - This was a town on paper, located on the La Porte road, twelve miles from Plymouth and eighteen miles from La Porte. It was elegantly laid out in the shape of a cross. There were twelve blocks, each containing twelve lots. It was laid out May 23, 1837, by G. A. Cone. At a time it was considered to be an eligible location for the building of a town, being about half waj' between Plymouth and La Porte. But some way it failed to attract any settlers within its limits, and, except the record in the recorder's office, from which the foregoing information is derived, nothing remains to mark its untimely demise.

Blissvillc. - Blissville was a place near the west line of the township, on the La Porte road, that attained some celebrity in the early days. It was owned and managed by Justice T. F. Stevens, an old gentleman of commanding presence, who supplied the weary traveler that passed that way with all the necessaries, comforts and conveniences of life. Upon the completion of the I., P. &. C. R. R., in 1S56, the current of trade centered at Tyner, and Mr. Stevens found his occupation gone. He has since died.

Tccgardcn - The following is the description of the location of Teegarden, as filed by Eii Taylor and Calvin J. Wright, the proprietors, November iS, 1873: " Teegarden is located in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 23, township 35, north of range i east, in Marshall county, Indiana. The south line of said town is the section line, and the west line is the center line of said section 23, there is fifteen feet left on the north side of the section line for half of a street; also twenty feet on the east side of the center section line for half a street, and forty feet on the south of the right of way, of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad for a street, called Wright street. The south line of Taylor street commenced on the center section line - fifty feet north of the center of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and runs east at right angles to the north and south center section line of said section 23," etc. The plat contains thirty-three lots, and they are 100 feet wide by 144 feet in length. The streets are sixty, and the alleys 20 feet wide. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad runs through the southern portion of the original town. On the 20th day of June, 1874, Lewis Lemert laid out and caused to be platted and recorded an addition to Teegarden, joining the original plat on the west. The addition comprises fifteen lots of the same size as those in the original town. There are two good dry goods, grocery and notion stores, a saw-mill, a tile manufactory, coal kiln, blacksmith shop, etc. The town is surrounded by a good farming country that is being improved by drainage.

Associations. - A mutual detective association, for the purpose of capturing horse-thieves, was organized July 29, 1867. The members of the association were: Consider Cushman, Bryan McDaniel, C. J. Wright, Van Gilmore, Joseph Ogilwy, C. Watkins, Francis Weisner, Francis Black, Willis Wright, Hiram Mongold, Warren Burch, James W. Falconbury, Levi C. Myers, Thomas Nichols, Jonathan Wyant, Peter Walsh, J.W.Sherwood, N. A. Lane.

Magnetic Springs. - There are a number of magnetic springs in the village of Teegarden. The water flows out of the ground in large quantities, and, besides being strongly magnetic and containing other medical properties, is considered the best quality of drinking water.

Huckleberry Marsh. - A huckleberry marsh two or three miles west of Tyner has of late years attained considerable notoriety as a frontier village, during the gathering of berries, with all that the name implies. Hundreds of people from far and near locate there, and, during the "season," it has more the appearance of a mining camp than a temporary village for peaceful pursuit. Huckleberries (whortleberries, more properly) are gathered there by the car-load, and the products in favorable seasons are a source of considerable revenue to those who engage in the business. When the "season" is at its height, amusements of every description and kind known to temporary places of that sort are indulged in by the inhabitants and the hundreds of visitors who go there out of curiosity or for pure, unadulterated cussedness. If one is bibulously inclined, the cravings of his appetite can be satiated at the ' Alhambra," on a convenient corner, and if he wants to indulge in a set-to at "old sledge," or the more interesting game of "poker," the appliances are always at hand; and it is a rule of the inhabitants of the village, when a visitor arrives, to "take him in," and he will find a dancing hall, with the 'Arkansaw Traveler" to make the music, where he can

Near this huckleberry marsh lived an old man, who was arrested by the United States authorities early in iSSo, charged with manufacturing and putting into circulation counterfeit silver coins. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in the state's prison for a term of years, but through the clemency of President Hayes, was pardoned out some months later. The coins found in his possession were mostly Mexican dollars, and were said to be exceedingly well executed. He had erected a small, high building, in which he had an immense iron weight, which had been cast for the purpose, in which the "die was cast." It was elevated by means of a windlass, and, when the metal out of which the bogus money was to be made had been properly placed on a solid block of wood beneath, the weight was dropped, descending with such force as to coin a single piece at each blow. A large number of these coins were found in and about the premises, and quite a number of them had found their way into circulation. Underneath the building was found a cellar with a floor. Underneath this floor was found another apartment, in which was discovered a complete set of tools, metal and other articles necessary to make a complete outfit. These implements were carried away by the officers, and of course that kind of manufacturing enterprise in this part of the county has entirely ceased.

Thomas Tyner, the founder of Tyner City, and from whom it took its name, died in that place on the iSth of October, iS8o. He was born in Kentucky in iSoo. He was a worthy and highly respected citizen, and during his long life, filled many important positions of trust and honor, always in a satisfactory manner to all parties concerned. In the earlier portion of his manhood he assisted in moving the archives of the state from Corydon to Indianapolis, after the capital was established there. He was one of the old land-marks, not only in this county, but of the state, and was well acquainted with many prominent citizens of Indiana. He was generous, kind and charitable, almost to a fault - was honored and esteemed while living, and died sincerely regretted by all who knew him.

Jl'es^ Tonnisliip No. g. - Originally the territory comprising this township was the west part of Center. In 1S53 a township was organized which was christened Pierce township, but for some cause which does not appear, the order was cancelled and nothing done to perfect the organization. Afterward, however, on the Sth of March, 1S54. it was placed upon record by the board of commissioners that all that part of Center township lying west of the range line dividing ranges i and 2 east, be constituted into a civil township, and no change has since been made in its boundary lines. A brief mention of the organization of the township appeared in the Plymouth Banner oi April 14, 1854, as follows:

" The citizens of this new township, which was set off by the county board at its late meeting, have taken the necessary steps for an efficient organization. At the. election on the 3d inst., James A. Corse, William Slayter and Hiram A. Lyon were elected trustees; John Coleman, clerk; and Maj. Tuttle, treasurer - all good and prompt men. Daniel Barber was elected one of the justices of the peace."

settlement here - probably as early as 1S32. At that time he was what was known as a " pack-horse trader." He traded the Indians, who were numerous here then, such things as they needed, for furs and venison, which he carried on pack-horses to market. He lived with the Indians from the time he was eight years old until he arrived at the age of sixteen. He learned to talk their language fluently. Pretty lake, which is situated in this township, around whose beautiful shores cluster many of the scenes and incidents of early Indian life, was called, in the Indian tongue, Oua-uck-eu-bus. He also states that the Indian name for Plymouth was Aus-ka-nuk; Yellow river, Wau-sau-auk-a-to-meek. x^nother name for Yellow river in the Indian language has been given as Wy-^hou-gan. Probably the first was Pottawatamie and the last Miami. Representatives of both of these tribes were here at that time. Mex-en-kuck-eek was the Indian name for our delightful Maxinkuckee lake, and signified Moccasin lake, on account of its shape resembling the shape of an Indian moccasin. Edwin Dwinnell was another early settler here, whose recollections of days long gone were still quite fresh in his memory to the day of his death. He could "talk Indian " as glibly as an original Pottawatamie, but the lapse of time had caused most of it to slip from his mind. Hiram A. Ranck was another old resident of this locality, and has served more years as county commissioner than any other man in the county. James A. Corse was another. He served a number of years as probate judge during the continuance of that system in the county, and has taken an active part in the organization and development of the county. And then there were iManlius Root, James Case, George Dickson, Isaac How, Joseph Waters Simeon Ells, Lyman H. Andrews, John G. Burch, Ransom Barber, Daniel Barber, Norton S. Burch, Sooy Belangee and a number of others whose names cannot be recalled. Up to 1854, as before stated, this township was a part of Center township, and to that date it had no separate identity.

The " Old Forge," located at the lower end of Twin lakes, gave promise in an early day of becoming a place of considerable importance. Like the famous Duluth, the sky came down in equal distances all around it, and hence it, was considered about as near the center of the universe as it was possible to figure it. One of the first grist-mills in the county, if not the very first, was built at this place by Timoth}' Barber. It was known as Barber's mill and was patronized far and near for many j'ears. The forge hammer, that could at one time be heard miles and miles away, has long since been removed, and the mining and forging of the very inferior bog iron ore found in that vicinity has been abandoned, and but little remains to indicate that such an enter prise ever existed.

The old Indian chapel, the first house of worship erected in the county, was located near the north bank of the middle Twin lake, a few miles above the Forge, on the farm now owned by John Lowry.,. The services were held in French b}' a Catholic priest, whose name is unknown. Many residents of the county now living remember to have attended church there, probably more out of curiosity than from the good they expected to derive in a spiritual sense. When services were held, the Indians congregated from different parts of the county in large numbers, and it is said they were very devout in their adorations to the Great Spirit. The best of order prevailed, no disturbance of any kind ever having occurred. The chapel was allowed to remain standing for a long time after the Indians were driven away, but was finally torn down, and now nothing remains to point out the spot where the first religious services were held in the wilderness over half a century ago. Occasionally an arrow point or a stone implement of one kind or another is yet picked up by the relic hunter in that vicinity, but beyond these the footprints of the " noble red man" are entirely obliterated. Sic transit gloria iiiinidif

Donclson. - The original plat of Donelson was laid out October 25, i87i,by D.W.Taft, Cornelius TuttleandW. J. Richardson. It is located in the corners of sections 29, 30, 31 and 32, township 34, north of range i east, on the line of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago R. R., and is one mile east of the Stark county line. It contains twenty-two lots, their size being sixtysix feet wide by 132 feet in length. On the 14th day of September, 1875, D. W. Taft laid out " Taft's addition to the town of Donelson," containing twenty-one lots of the same size as the lots in the original plat and lying north and west of the original town, and on the 14th day of September, 1875, Cornelius Tuttle laid off " Tuttle's addition to Donelson," comprising twenty-two lots, being of the same size as the original lots. It is a quiet little village and probably will always remain so as most of the farm products raised in its vicinity are marketed elsewhere. It has two stores, a drug store, a grain elevator, a blacksmith shop, one doctor, a good school house, church and all the conveniences and evidences of civilization common to villages of its size.

U^alnnt Township No. 10, was organized June 9, 1859. The territory now composing .the township was, at the date of its organization, a part of Green township. A meeting of those interested was held at the school house near M. L. Smith's tavern-, then in Green township. May 21, 1859, for the purpose of selecting a name for the new township and recommending a suitable person to be appointed trustee. Merrill Williams was president of the meeting, and Samuel B. Corbaley, secretary. The names of Argos, Richland and Noble were proposed for the new township. Noble was withdrawn, and the vote resulted: Argos, thirteen; Richland, eight. For some reason not stated, the board of commissioners ordered the township to be called Walnut. The names of John A. Rhodes and Charles Brown were proposed for trustee. The vote resulted: Rhodes, eighteen; Brown, four. Merrill Williams, John A. Rhodes and Dr. N. E. Manville were appointed a committee to attend to the necessarybusiness before the board of commissioners. Immediately following the organization of the township, the following petition was presented to the board:

Whereas, We, the undersigned citizens and petitioners, believing that so many names are, and will continue to be, against the interest of citizens of said places, we, therefore, petition your honorable board to change the name of the above-named towns, and consolidate them into one name, namely, Argos, and thus, in dut}' bound, we will ever pray. John A. Rhodes, John Whitacre, M. E. Richards, J. G. Bryant, N. Siple, Thomas King, Joseph Rhodes, J. W. Harris, William Worthington, G. W. Gordon, Martin Bucher, John Tribby, N. E. Manville, J. A. Haig, Joseph Litsinger, Joseph Finney, W. Nichols and J. J. Hough.

The petition was granted, and the consolidated towns were ordered to be thereafter known as Argos. Argos was the name of a city in Greece, made famous in the Iliad of Homer. This ancient city, according to history, is long since in ruins. " Her thirty temples, her costly sepulchers, her gymnasiums, and her numerous and magnificent monuments and statues have disappeared, and the only traces of her former greatness are some remains of her Cyclopean walls, and a ruined theater cut in the rock and of magnificent proportions. The modern Argos, built on the ruins of the ancient city, is nothing more than a straggling village. The plain of the ancient Argos is said to be one of the most beautiful to be found. On every side except toward the sea, it is bounded by mountains, and the contrast between these mountains and the plain and the sea is strikingly beautiful." The Argus spelled with a " u " was the name of a fabulous being of antiquity, said to have had a ^undred eyes, and placed by Juno to guard lo, and hence originated the term " arguseyed."

The town of Sidney, of which Argos is the successor, was laid out by John Pleak and M. L. Smith, January 8, 1851. It was named in honor of Sidney Williams, who settled there probably as early as 1835. Sidney was surveyed and platted by Amasa W. Reed, county surveyor, and contained sixty lots.

November 6, 1856, and contained twenty lots. It was named in honor of Col. John C. Fremont, who was on that day voted for as the republican candidate for president.

Mastodon Relics. - In June, 1S74, Mr. Oscar L. Bland, while bathing in a pool in Deep creek, on the farm of his father, Alexander Bland, in the northeast corner of Walnut township, Marshall county, Ind., found a very large tooth, whose weight at that time, including the debris connected with it, was about eight pounds. Further search was made, and within a few feet another tooth, about the same size, was found. Further examination of the banks of the stream was made, and, some 200 feet farther up, several very fine specimens of the remains of what must have been a very large animal, were found. The "find" naturally created quite an excitement in the neighborhood, which extended all over the country, and many exaggerated descriptions of the relics and the supposed size of the animal were made by newspaper correspondents and others. In December, 1874, a correspondent of the Warsaw Northern Indianian had the following in relation to it:

" Mr. Alexander Bland has discovered on his farm near Bourbon a great number of large bones of an unknown animal, that, according to careful measurement, was certainly a huge old monster, the largest ever known. Several of the teeth are in a partial state of preservation, and weigh over eight pounds each, and several of the ribs are almost like the ribs of a mammoth man-of-war ship in size, the other bones being proportionately large. One of the officers of the Academy of Sciences of Chicago came here to investigate the remains, and pronounced the animal to have been over sixty feet tall and of proportionate length! The bones are to be carefully collected and sent to the Academy Museum in the city, as of rare value to antiquarians."

Of course the above statement was exaggerated beyond all reason, as neither sacred nor profane history gives any account of any living thing one-fifth the height or length indicated. But it had the effect of calling the attention of the people to it, and hundreds have visited the residence of Mr. Bland and made an examination of the relics and locality where they were found, and numerous letters have been received making inquiry in regard to them.

The specimens found consisted of two teeth almost exactly alike, each now weighing six pounds. They are eight inches long, seven inches high from point of root to upper surface, and four inches wide, and contain five divisions or separate grinders. The preservation is perfect, both as to the teeth and the enamel. The enamel is composed of a mixture of black, white and brownish gray. The third tooth is four and a half inches long, three and a half inches wide, three inches high, the roots having been broken off. Its weight is about two pounds. There are four sections of the vertebrce, all in a perfect state of preservation. Their measurement is about thirteen inches across at bottom part, eight inches at upper part, two and a half inches thick, twelve inches from top to bottom, and weigh four and three-fourths pounds each. The section of the skull measures twenty-one inches in length by thirteen inches in width, is about one inch thick and has about loo brain cells. It is a grayish color, having much the appearance of the first coat of plaster on a building. One tusk was found in a splendid state of preservation. Since it came in contact with the air, portions of it have dissolved and fallen off. It was about nine feet long and about twenty inches in circumference where it joined the head. A section of the shoulder blade was' also found. It measures eight inches in thickness and fourteen inches in width, and weighs thirty-six pounds. The outer extremity has been broken off, so that it is impossible to say what its length originally was. Two ribs were also found, one of which measures two and threefourths feet in length; the other, somewhat smaller. About one hundred pieces of various sizes were found, a description of which is impossible. The place where they were found is low, marshy ground, on the east bank of Deep creek. All the specimens, except two of the teeth, were found in a wet place, where a branch had run into the creek, and about four feet under gro^ind, near and under the roots of a beech tree four and a half feet in circumference. The earth under and surrounding the tree is made entirely of drift, and has undoubtedly accumulated and the tree has grown since the animal mired down and died. There is no doubt but the remains are those of a mastodon, probably about eleven feet high, seventeen feet long and about sixteen feet in circumference. They inhabited this country so long ago that the memory of man runneth not to the contrary - certainly long prior to the Christian era.

The geological position of the remains of the mastodon has long been and still is a subject of dispute among geologists; in a few instances, they are said to have been found below the drift in the pliocene, and even in the miocene; but they have generally been obtained, from the post-pliocene or alluvial formations^ at a depth of from five to ten feet in lacustrine deposits, bogs and beds of infusorial earth. Some have thought that the mastodons became extinct since the advent of man upon the earth, like the dinornis and the dodo; according to Lyell, the period of their destruction, though geologically modern, must have been many thousand years ago. The same causes probably acted in their extinction as in the case of the fossil elephant - perhaps partly climatic changes, but more probably some great convulsion on the surface of the globe at an epoch anterior to man. According to Owen, the mastodons were elephants with molars less complex in structure and adapted for coarser vegetable food, ranging in time from the miocene to the upper pliocene, and in space, throughout the tropical and temperate latitudes. The transition from the mastodon to the elephant type of dentition is very gradual.

Frcdericksburgh. - On the i6th day of April, )866, Fred'k Stair, as proprietor, filed a plat and the following description of " Fredericksburgh":

" Frederick Stair, being desirous of laying out a town in Marshall county, Indiana, called ' Fredericksburgh,' has caused the same to be surveyed and platted, the same being situated in center part fractional southeast Or. Section 31, town 32, north, of Range 3 east, on the Indianapolis, Rochester & Chicago railroad. Said town containing an 'area' of 1,008 feet, north and south, and 1,256 (feet) east and west, which is laid out 'in to' lots, depot grounds, streets and alleys. The lots are all regularly numbered from i to 72, inclusive. Each lot is 66 feet by 150 feet, except the following, namely: 7, 8, 24, 25, 35, 36, 54, 55. 61 and 62, which are made fractional by the angle of the depot grounds, which angle is at N 22" W. Said fractional lots have their front and width marked in red ink on the ' platt.' Said depot grounds are 150 feet in width. The streets are all 66 feet in width, except first street on the east side which is 33 feet. The alleys are all 20 feet, which will all appear and more killy show by reference to the plat hereto attached, which is platted on a scale of 100 feet to an inch," etc. (Signed)

On the 1 8th day of May, i86q, Andrew W. Calhoun and Regulus Tucker, laid out and caused to be platted an addition to Fredericksburgh, described as follows:

" Calhoun & Tucker, being desirous of making an addition to the town of Fredericksburgh, have laid out and platted, immediately south and adjoining the original plat (as does appear of record) the following area of ground, viz.: Commencing at the s. w. corner of said town plat, of Fredericksburgh, running thence south 170 feet; east 990 feet, N. 170 feet, west to beginning, divided into lots, streets and alleys._ Lots numbering from 73 to Zl inclusive," etc. (Signed)

Andrew VV. Calhoun, Regulus Tucker. The lots, streets and alleys are of the same dimensions as those of the original plat. Fredericksburgh, like many of the other small towns in the county that depended upon the lumber business for support, has seen its best days. It still has a general store, drug store, grain elevator, boarding house or hotel and a postoffice. It has a good farming district around it and will

Plymoutli was permanently established as the seat of justice of Marshall county on the 20th day of July, 1836, as set forth in the proceedings of the board of commissioners, which appear in full elsewhere. The court house, stipulated in the agreement between the proprietors and the board, was completed according to contract. Its dimensions were 20x30 feet, one story high, and was erected on lot No. 22. This building was used for the purposes for which it was intended until the county built the wooden court house which gave way, in 1871, to the magnificent building now adorning the public square. The old building was used as a carpenter-shop, cabinet-shop and other purposes, and was afterward moved " down town," and later, on to the lot where the new engine house now stands, where it was used for a place of worship by the Presbyterian congregation. Still later it was converted into a dwelling and occupied as such until its purchase by Arthur L. Thomson, for the sum of $10, and by him removed to his premises, west of the court house, where it has been so completely overhauled as to lose its identity.

The contract for the building of the first court house erected by the county, was awarded to Levi C. Barber, May 8, 1840. As compensation for building the same, it was agreed by the board of commissioners that he should have all the lots donated by the proprietors of the town, unsold at the time the contract was made, except the lot on which the court house was to be built. He was also to receive a small amount of money and notes, except about $517 in notes in the hands of the county agent.

From an estimate of the value of the lots at that time, it is thought the probable expense of building the court house was about $5,000. The lumber of which it was built was manufactused at the saw-mill at Wolf Creek, five miles southwest of Plymouth. The old mill has long since gone to decay, and the frame-work only remains as a sort of historical landmark of the beginning of civilization fifty years ago. The rising generation and those who may come after them, will be interested in knowing that the court house in question was the finest temple of justice at that time in northern Indiana. Its dimensions were about 50x80 feet, two stories in height, with a cupola and winding stairs to the top. Offices about 14x16 on the first floor 'were provided for the clerk, treasurer, auditor, recorder and surveyor. The second floor was used entirely for court purposes. This building was sold at auction in 1871, for $150, to A. C. Thompson, and by him transferred to M. W. Downey, who removed it to a vacant lot on the I., P. & C. R. R., west of the present school building, where it was converted into a stave and barrel factory. During a heavy thunder-storm one evening in July, 1S74, it was

Marshall County Court House, iSSo. - If the public buildings of a county are in anywise an index of the enterprise and intelligence of its people, the county of Marshall may fairly claim a front rank for her citizens, for no other county in the state of the same population can boast of as fine and complete a court house as that belonging to Marshall county at the present time.

It is an elegant brick and stone structure, complete in all its parts; with all the offices fire-proof, and the court room, halls, offices, jury and other rooms beautifully frescoed. The furniture, desks, counters, etc., were designed and finished by home workmen, and made in the most substantial manner from native ash and black walnut. All the rooms and offices are furnished in the most substantial manner. The judge's desk in the court room is pronounced by all who see it, as one of the finest, if not the very finest, in the state.

The walls of the building are of great thickness and look wonderfully solid, the heavy rough ashlar of the foundation giving them the appearance of being built on a solid ledge of rocks. A visit to the basement stor3^ in which the foundation and division walls are plainly seen, will convince any one that " the building ought to stand a thousand years." Architect Randall, of Chicago, pronounced the brick work the " best public work of the kind he had ever seen."

As far back as 1S65, the people of the county began to urge upon the county commissioners the necessit}^ of erecting a new court house, and at the June term, 1865, of commissioners' court a court house tax was levied, which levy was kept up until the building was finished. In 1869, Alexander C. Thompson, John C. Cushman and Albertus C. Capron were appointed a building committee, to procure plans and get in readiness to commence work. Mr. Thompson acted with the committee until after the adoption of the plans and specifications, but resigned at the September term, 1S69, on account of a disagreement with the other members of the committee as to the manner of paying for said plans and specifications, and he donated his services as committeeman, up to the time of his resignation, and Johnson Brownlee was .appointed in his stead. The plans and specifications prepared by G. P. Randall, Esq., of Chicago, were adopted by the committee, and approved by Herman A. Ranck, Jonas Miller and Henry Crause, then constituting the board of commissioners, and the contract was let to Epperson & Favorite, of La Fayette, Ind., xmder whose direction the work was commenced in April, 1870, and from that time pushed vigorously forward.

occasion was made one of general celebration by the people of the county, who gave a free basket dinner at Seminary Grove, near by, at which there were, to use the language of an enthusiastic spectator, " miles of tables and acres of provisions." The corner-stone was laid under the immediate supervision of the Masonic fraternity, which was represented by a large number of lodges, headed by Martin H. Rice, grand master of the state. The Odd Fellows and other associations, fireman, town council, etc., were also in attendance. Hon. Andrew L. Osborn, who was then judge of the court, was selected as orator of the day, but owing to sickness was unable to attend. Hon Charles H. Reeve was then selected by the committee, and although he had but a short time to prepare himself, made oneof the finest efforts of his life.

"Be it remembered, that, on the nth day of June, 1872, the records, books and papers of the several county offices were removed into the new court house just completed at a cost of $105,000. The officers of the county at this time are: Daniel Mc Donald, clerk; Hiram C. Burlingame, auditor; John Soice, treasurer; John W. Houghton, recorder; Daniel K. Harris, sheriff; Morgan Johnson, surveyor; John Bauer, Jr., coroner; Hiram A. Ranch, Jonas Miller and Henry Krause, commissioners."

Judge Thomas S. Stanfield, of South Bend, presided at the first term of court held in the new building, and Daniel K. Harris, sheriff, first opened court therein with the usual "Hear ye! hear ye! hear ye! the honorable Marshall circuit court is now in session, pursuant to adjournment, and all persons having business herein can now be heard." The clerk of the court spread upon the order book of said court the following entry:

" Be it remembered that, at a term of the circuit court of Marshall county, state of Indiana, began and held at the new court house in Plymouth, Ind., on the first Monday of August, 1S72, and on the first judicial day of said term, the same being August 5, 1872, there were present the Hon. Thomas S. Stanfield, judge of the ninth judicial circuit of said state, and ex-officio judge of the circuit court of Marshall county; William B. Hess, deputy prosecutor of the ninth district; the clerk, and Daniel K. Harris, sheriff of said county, and court opened in due form of law."

This was August 5, 1872. The names of the Marshall county bar who were in attendance at the opening of said term were: Charles H. Reeve, James O. Parks, Horace Corbin, A. C. Capron, M. A.O. Packard, D. E. Van Valkenburgh, John G.Osborne, Amasa lohnson, A. B. Capron, William B. Hess, John S. Bender, J. Darnell, S. D. Parks, Z. D. Boulton and R. D. Logan.

The entire cost of the building, including furniture, heating apparatus, grading the square and superintendency, was $105,000; and the entire county indebtedness for the same was, at date of completion, only $50,000, for which bonds had been issued and sold at par, which, two years later, were fully paid.

Although finished twenty years ago, the building in its new coat of paint and frescoing, appears as new and fresh as if completed yesterday. Its beauty and harmonious proportions strike even the most careless observer, and every day it "grows in grace" in the eyes of those who oftenest look upon it.

First Ctmnty Jail. - The first county jail was built of hewn logs, and was completed August i, 1S38. From the plans and specifications it appears that the building was "to be 16x20, of white or burr oak timber, to be well hewed, and counter-hewn, twelve inches square; the foundations to be three sills, 12x20 inches, let into the ground twelve inches; the lower floor to be laid with timbers hewn as above, twelve inches square, to be well laid and perfectly level; the walls of the first story to be made of timbers twelve inches square and hewed as above, to be built seven and a half feet high; then the second floor to be laid with timbers hewn as above, twelve inches square, to be laid in a complete, workman-like manner; the above-said wall to be raised with a half 'duff-tail,' so as to fit down close and tite! to be two windows, twelve inches square and eighteen inches long; the grates to be let in the centers of the timbers at equal distance; the said lower floor to be covered with inch boards, well seasoned and well matched, and spiked down with spikes two inches in length, and the spikes to be two feet apart one way and six inches the other; the said walls to be well lined with good white oak plank, well seasoned and matched together, two inches thick, spiked on with four inch spikes, twelve inches apart one wa}' and four inches the other, the whole building to be weather boarded with good half-inch boards; the door of entrance to be five feet high and two and a half wide; said door frame not less than two inches thick, to be made of good timber, well seasoned, and hung with good strong hinges in the upper story of the north side, near the east end; one trap door, made of good oak timber, five inches thick, two and a half feet square, to be hung with good iron hinges, made for the purpose; the said door to be let down even with the floor, in a place cut through the floor for the purpose, to rest on two iron bars, three feet long, one inch square, with a good and sufficient hasp and staple, lock and key, to be placed three feet from the wall of the west end."

The contract for erecting this magnificent building was let, in 1837, to Oliver Rose and James Currier, for the sum of $399. The building was completed according to contract, and many who read this will remember the trap-door aforesaid, through which prisoners were let down to the "bottomless pit" in the regions below. This structure was used until the completion of our pres ent (1879) old brick jail, which in time has given place to our elegant brick and stone jail, and sheriff's residence, completed as stated further on.

Second County Jail. - The plans for the second county jail, which stood in the southwest corner of the public square, were drawn by William M. Dunham. The contract for its erection was let, through a mistake in reading the bids, in 1849, to A. M. La Peere, E. Compton and W. G. Norris. This was afterward corrected, and the contract let to Albert Bass for $2,380. The building was completed according to contract, and delivered over to the county June i, 185 1. The building proved to be a very poor one, and of late years it has been almost impossible to keep an expert thief from escaping through the tumble-down walls. Some five or six holes, or places where holes were made through the walls, could be seen on the east, north and west sides. Several years ago, one end was knocked down by a stroke of lightning, but no serious damage resulted. It was recently demolished by Enoch Belangee.

Third Jail. - In the early part of 1879 the board of commissioners resolved to build a new jail, secured plans and advertised for bids. The plans adopted were drawn by J. C. Johnson, of Fremont, Ohio, and the contract let to William H. Myers, Fort Wayne, for the sum of $16,970. The heating apparatus, furnishing, painting, fencing, etc., will probably bring the total cost to $22,000.

County Asylum. - The first county asylum property was purchased in 1849, of John Murphy, for the sum of $1,671.11. It was situated on the Plymouth and La Porte road, about three miles west of Plymouth. For some cause which does not appear of record, it was ordered sold June 19, 1853, for not less than $1,350, and the auditor was authorized to sell to Joseph Evans for $900 in Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad stock, and $450 in two equal annual payments. The record of its sale does not appear, but the offer of Mr. Evans was probably accepted, as he afterward owned the property. The present " Poor Farm " is located about one mile from Tyner City. The building is of wood, 34x36, two stories, and was erected in 1862. William B. Kyle is the present superintendent.

The poor of Marshall county are humanely but economically cared for. The county asylum or poor house, and the poor farm, are not what they should be, for a county like ours. The building is a wooden one, is old and has not the accommodations and modern conveniences it should have, and the farm is not near enough to the county seat and railroad center of the county, and it is only a question of time when a new farm will be bought and a new building of modern style and improvements built, that will be a credit to the county, but, considering the present building and surroundings, the poor of no county in the state are better cared for than ours.

Within the last two years, the orphans' home has been abolished and the children are being kept and homes found for them by the Northern Indiana Orphans' Home at Mishawaka, at a saving of from $1,200 to $1,500 per annum to the tax payers of the county, and the children are all being placed in good homes and becoming the heirs of well-to-do and respectable citizens, instead of being raised and finally turned out upon the world ignorant, vicious and worthless paupers.

State Senators. - 1835, David H. Colerick, from the counties of Allen, Wabash, Huntington, Elkhart, La Grange, St. Joseph and the territory thereto attached; 1836, J. A. Liston, St. Joseph, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1837-39, Thomas D. Baird, St. Joseph, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1842-44, John D. Defrees, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1S45-47, William G. Pomeroy, St. Joseph, Marshall and F'ulton; 1849-50, Norman Eddy, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1853, Augustus P. Richardson, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1855, A. P. Richardson, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1857, Hugh Miller, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton. 1858, Rufus Brown, St. Joseph, Marshall and F'ulton; 1861, John F.

Miller. St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1863-65, Horace Corbin, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1867-69, John Reynolds, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1867-72, Lucius Hubbard, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1873-75, Milo R. Smith, Marshall, Fulton and Pulaski; 1876-80, Charles H. Reeve, Marshall, Fulton and Pulaski; 1880-84, William H.Davidson, Marshall and Fulton; 1884-88, Valentine Zimmerman; 1888-92, P. O. Jones.

Representatives. - 1836-37, Joel Long, Marshall and Kosciusko; 1839, Amzi L. Wheeler, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1840, Peter L. Runyan, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1841, William Rannels, Marshall and Fulton; 1842, Amzi L.Wheeler, Marshall and Fulton; 1843, Joseph Robbins, Marshall and Fulton; 1844, William G. Pomeroy, Marshall and Fulton; 1845, Anthony F. Smith, Marshall and Fulton; 1846, James O. Parks, Marshall, Fulton and Stark; 1S47, John B. Shryock, Marshall, P^ulton and Stark; 1S48, Enos S. Tuttle, Marshall and Fulton; 1S49, Hugh Miller, Marshall and Fulton; 1850, William M. Patterson, Marshall and Fulton; 1852, Thomas Sumner, Marshall and Stark; 1853, Eli Brown, Marshall and Stark; 1855, Amzi L. Wheeler, Marshall and Stark; 1857, Eli Brown, Marshall and Stark; 1S59, James O. Parks, Marshall and Stark; 1861, Marcus A. O. Packard, Marshall and Stark; 1863, M. A. O. Packard, Marshall and Stark; 1865, Lloyd Glazerbrook, Marshall and Stark; 1867, D.E. Van Valkenburg, Marshall and Stark; 1S69, Amasa Johnson, joint representative of St. Joseph and Marshall; 1S69, Daniel McDonald, Marshall; 1871, Milton M. Galentine, Marshall; 1873, Reason B. Eaton, Marshall; 1875, Designy A. Snyder, Marshall, 1877, Joseph W. Davis, Marshall;^ 1877, John W. Houghton, Marshall and St. Joseph; 1879, James M. Confer, Marshall; iSSo, Thomas Sumner, Marshall; 1882-84, William Shaw; 1884-88, Charles Kellison; 1888-90, Dr. Jac. W. Eidson.

As is shown by the above table, the increase in the number of votes polled at each presidential election has been rapid and permanent. The decrease in the vote of 1S72 was occasioned by the dislike of the democracy to the nomination of Horace Greeley; 581 democrats, who voted at the October election, immediately preceding the presidential election, refused to go to the polls, and consequently did not vote at all.