Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 16: Natural Gas, 1896

dE southeastern part of this county is in the extreme northwestern part a8 of the great gas field of Indiana. In the spring of 1886 two compunies were organized at about the same time for the purpose of drilling for gas or oil, one at Amboy and the other at Converse. The latter struck gas first, but the former has the credit of drilling the first successful well in this county. It was at first thought that there was an inexhaustible supply of gas, and flambeaux were burning all over the town where gas was struck. Excitement ran high and companies were organized iu nearly every town for the purpose of drilling for gas. 'The great gas field is gradually receding to the south, and there is now scarcely any gas at all inthe county except right around Converse. It is piped in from Grant and Howarc counties. The Amboy Gas and Oil Company, organized in the spring of 1886 with a capital stock of $50,000, struck the first successful wellin the county. Shortly after this Robert Ridgeway drilled three wells, which were piped to North Grove and the surrounding country. A Citizens' Gas Company was then organized on the mutual plan. The sum of $50 placed in the company entitled One residence to a supply of gas as long as it lasted. In 1892 this company had one well, which supplied two factories and forty families. It registered 300 pounds rock pressure, being one of the strongest in the gas field. Amboy had seven wells within its limits in 1892, all of which yielded a liberal supply of gas. The first well was drilled in Converse in the spring of 1886 by Sweeney & Co., of Kokomo. A company was then organized to pipe the town, counsisting of the following gentlemen: Aaron Michaels, L. G. Murphy, C. N. Wales, H. J. Rausman, Roscoe Kimple, John Bond, J. W. Dale and D. O. C. Marine. This company was incorporated under the name of the Xenia Gas and Pipe Line Company. The first well was soon found to be very weak and others were drilled. This company drilled eight wells at an average depth of 950 feet, five of which are within the corporate limits of the town. Two of the wells were a failure from the start; the others are gradually becoming weaker and new wells mzst be drilled from time to time to keep up the supply. This company supplies gas to the residences, water-works, machine-shops and the planiog and saw mill. Aaron Michaels has been the superintendent of the company most of the time since its organization. The present officers are: John Bond, president; William Miner, secretary; Roscoe Kimple, treesurer, and U. N. Wales superintendent. The Xenia Real Estate Company drilled a well in 1889 within the corporation, which supplies the electric light plant, the Hoop Works and partly the Peerless Glass Factory, which also has three wells of itsown. Five or six farmers west of Converse formed a company in 1887 and drilled a well for thein own use. The Garrison Bros. drilled a well in 1895 to supply their grist mill. 'The rate of gas at Converse for cooking stove is $12 per year, heating and office stoves $8, store stove $12.

The first company organized in Peru for drilling for gas was in the spring of 1886, and was called the Peru Natural Gas and Fuel Company. J. O. Cole was president, R. H. Bouslog secretary, and C. C: Emswiler treasurer. The capital stock was $10,000. They drilled three wells, one near the dapot, one on Jacob Miller's farm one mile south of the city, and the other on Younce's farm in Butler township. All were failures. A little gas was found on the Younce farm, but not in paying quantities. Then anothercompany was organized, the directors of which were R. H. Bouslog, F. M. Stutesman, P, M, Crume, J. E. Headricks and J. R. Cox. They drilled one well, two and onehalf miles north of Peru, which was a failure.

The Citizens' Gas and Pipe Line Company was organized in Peru, Oct. 25, 1887. J. O. Cole was elected president, R. A. Edwards vice-president, C. ©. Emswiler treasurer, R. H. Bouslog secretary and manager. 'The directors were J. O. Cole, Milton Shirk, R. A. Edwards, C. H. Brownell, R. H. Bouslog, C. C. Emswiler and Louis B. Fulwiler. Capital stock $100,000. They drilled their first well one mile south of Amboy on the Overman farm. This was a fair well. 'The second one, on David Haifiey's farm, was a failure. The next was drilled south of Amboy, on the Abbott place, and was one of the best ever drilled in the county. Several were drilled near this and all were. failures. 'The company then began to drill southeast of Amboy and south of Converse, and have been going in a southeastern direction ever since. After drilling three good wells they commenced to pipe the gas. This work was begunin July and on the 21st of October, 1888, the gas was turned into the mains. 'There are eighty-five miles of pipe in the plant. Over 8,000 acres in Howard and Grant counties are leased by this company. The territory extendsas far south as Sims in Grant county. All of the first wells lasted only two or three years, and all of those now used are much weaker than the first ones were. Peru was supplied the first winter by six wells and now there are twenty-four in the plant.

In May, 1895, the plant was sold to the Dietrich Syndicate, which now owns fourteen gas plants and two or three electric light plants, including the one at Lafayette. Charles F. Dietrich, of New York, is the president, A. P. Jenks, of Logansport, secretary, and S. T. Murdock general manager. R. H. Bouslog is manager of the Peru gas plant.