Whitley County, Indiana - The whole text, 1907 (part 13 of 28)

There have been some serious accidents which did not result in death. A man. while chopping wood on the Perin place, near Larwill, had his skull broken with a limb. Dr. Firestone removed some of the fraetured skull and put in a plate. The man finally got well. ( I have forgotten his name. ) Jacob Stackhouse had both legs broken at Jeremiah Williams's bam raising. William -R. Curtis lost two fingers in a sawmill. Conrad Noss lost four fingers at another mill. Daniel Stihvell had one foot badly injured in Robinson's mill. Sherman Welker and Tyree Firestone each had a leg cut off on the railroad. A boy, the son of J. Graham, had a leg cut off with a mower.

Some Of The First Things

David Hayden built a frame house in section 6. The plastering lath was rived out of oak timber and the sand was hauled some four miles, when there was just as good sand on his own place, which he had not discovered. A man named Smith from Kosciusko count)' did the plastering. In 1844 David Hayden built a frame barn. This was the first in the township. The house still stands, but the barn has been superseded by a larger one.

Price Goodrich built the first brick house in 1852. He knew something of brickmaking and made the brick in 185 1. This is the only building I ever noticed where tile or brick eight inches square were used for "headers."

At first the dead were buried on farms and were scattered over most of the township. But now most of the remains have been removed to some regularly laid out cemetery; but some graves have been lost. There are four cemeteries within the township : Larwill, Boonville, Oak Grove and Center Schoolhouse. -

Dr. Wiggins had the first melodeon, about 1853; Mrs. Lucinda Mitchell the first sewing machine, about i860. John Burns bad the first reaper, a McCormick, about' 1861. Elon Maynard had the first binder; it was a wire binder, about 1880. I do not know who had the first machine to separate cream. There is not an automobile owned in the township.

Local Names

Boonville! How was it named? In [857 there was a young man named James Bolton, who lived with his father in section [8. He was a southerner, a good chopper and a g"ood hunter and loved to dance. He got the name of "Boon" for some of the foregoing reasons. There was another young man named Hendricks. He could sing, but was not as handy with the girls as Boon. It is said that Boon "beat his time." Jake had said something about some of the neighborhood girls and Boon took it up. Well, there was a Fourth of July celebration at Moore's schoolhouse in Kosciusko county and the boys were both patriotic and went. They had some hot words and made threats. The next day was Sunday and there was some kind of a gathering at the church and as they were going home and came to the crossroads, near where the church now is, they came to blows. It is said that Boon got "knocked out," although he got the "first blood." For a while it was called "Boon's Defeat," but that did not sound like a nice name, so it was soon changed to "Boonville." At that time there was a cemetery, and a sawmill was building. A church and a blacksmith shop were not far away. In the course of ten years a new church was built near the cemetery and another sawmill was put up and many improvements made. But now all the public places are gone except the church, the schoolhouse and the cemetery. Both the participants in the duel of '57 are far removed. Hendricks lives at Hobart and Bolton at Alexandria, both old and gray.

Buck's Crossroads. Now, there are two versions to the way the name came about. The place is on the south line of the township, one mile east of the southwest corner. It is said that there was a "deer lick" somewhere in section 20 of Richland and a wet prairie in section 30 of Cleveland and there was a deer trail between the places. It was a good place to hunt, and the trail was known as "Buck's Crossing'." When the roads were laid out on the section lines between these four sections - 19, 20, 29 and 30 - it was found the roads crossed near where this trail crossed from section 20 to section 30. So in this way it was called Buck's Crossroads.

The other is this: In 1856, when Buchanan and Fremont were running- for President, there was a pole raising and a speech at this crossroad. The pole was hickory and the Democrats had a good time and they christened the place "Buck's Crossroads." We favor the first explanation. There has been a schoolhouse at this place for several years.

The Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

Dodge; treasurer, F. W. Pattsman. This lodge is worth Si. 500 at the present time. In the last six months, from July 1, 1906. to January 1. 1907. this lodge has paid out for relief work, including funeral expenses, $176.50. The funds on hand Januarv 1. 1907, were $231.92. The lodge owns its own hall, which is the second story of the H. B. Whittenberger building. This building was erected in the fall of 1866, but the lodge did not own an interest in the building till several years later.

There are at the present time seventvfour members in good standing. The lodge has buried only sixteen members since its organization, in 1865, which is very remarkable for so long a time. The lodge meets on Wednesday night of each week.

The Larwill Lodge, No. 238, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized May 17. 1865. A charter was granted by the grand lodge of the state of Indiana at the above date. There were siv charter members. The names are as follows : William Bonar, Samuel S. Bonar. Rufus W. Dodge. Jacob Klingle, John P. Savior and F. W. Pattsman. Eight candidates were initiated at this organization. Its first officers' names were as follows: Noble grand, William Bonar: vice-grand, S. S. Bonar: recording secretary. Rufus W.

Rebekah, I. 0. O. F.

This society was instituted. May 18, 1870, with thirteen charter members as follows : Males - Samuel S. Bonar. Daniel Kirkpatrick. Henry Smith. Henry McLallen, John W. Groves. Isaac Harrison and Azariah R. Clugston. Females - Madames E. F. Bonar. Elizabeth Smith, L. C. Mc- Lallen, A. E. Groves. S. S. Clugston and H. Harrison. Of these seven have died.

Modern Woodmen Of America

This is a fraternal beneficiary society. Larwill Camp, No. 3367, of Modern Woodmen of America, at Larwill, Idiana, was organized October 2, 1905, with twentyfive charter members, names as follows : Wade Sowder, Fred Beard, A. L. McCrea,

A. E. Kistler, L. Rhodarmel, Charles L. Klein, F. A. Dietrich, F. A. Curtis, Alonzo Brunner. L. M. Noble, Alva Buntain, I. C. Cornelius, E. M. Cunningham, L. A. Scott, Floyd Souder. G. E. Ream. W. A. Kyle,

The place of meeting is at Dietrich's Hall, in postoffice building. The regular time of meeting is Friday evening of each week, except during the months of July and August of each year, when the meetings are the second and and fourth Friday evenings. No deaths have occurred since the organization up to the present date. Amount of insurance in effect when organized, October 2, 1905, seventeen thousand five hundred dollars. Total amount of insurance carried by members nt present, forty-two thousand dollars. Present membership is fifty-five.

Free And Accepted Masons

The Due Card Lodge, No. 278, of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized under dispensation, July 2, 1861 ; charter granted May 27, 1862: organized under charter June 7, 1862; by-laws approved by grand lodge May 29, 1872. The names of the charter members are as follows : John B. Firestone, Elisha L. McLallen. Ambrose M. Trumbull, Jonathan Cunningham. J. J. Shorb, William M. Thompson. John O. Adams, Jacob W. Miller, David James. Virgil Barber. Edwin L. Barber. Henry C. Yanliew, George F. Miller. E. L. Barber is the only charter member living. The first officers under the charter were : John B. Firestone, worshipful master; F. L. McLallen. senior warden; A. M. Trumbull, junior warden ; D. B. Clugston, treasurer ; H. C. Van- Hew, secretary : Virgil Barber, senior deacon ; J. W. Miller, junior deacon: E. L Barber and T. Cunningham, stewards ; John Maynard, tyler. Officers for 1907: Joseph W. ( lompton, worshipful master: John Smalley, senior warden ; John R. Smalley, junior warden: C. F. Merchant, treasurer: Lewis TT. Clevenger. secretary; George O. Comp- ton, senior deacon ; William McDonald, junior deacon ; J. A. Young and Leander Lower, stewards; and Daniel Smuthers, tyler. The present trustees are Henry S. Clevenger, George James and David F. Lower. Present membership, sixty. The regular time of meeting is the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the evening.

The first meeting place was in a hall just west of Ream's store. The building burned a few years ago. The present lodge room was built in the summer of 1869, at a cost of about one thousand dollars. It is on the second floor of the Ream store building.

The Grand Army Of The Republic

This order decorates annually the graves of all the dead soldiers buried within the township. Soldiers buried in Lake View cemetery, at Larwill are : Henry Smith, William Sterling, Martin V. Hammond, John B. Davis, Jacob Stoler. Benjamin Mc- Creary, James Worden, Samuel A. McKelvey. Chancy L. Heaton. George Maguire, Christopher Souder, David L. Whiteleather, Flam Fletcher, William W. Freeman. Clyde O. Rindfusz, William A. Seymour. Robert Guy.

Spanish-American soldiers living in the township are as follows : Floyd O. Jellison, Charles D. Chapman, Richard Butler, Elmer Curtis, Alva Buntain and Herbert Reece. These all enlisted in this township. Besides these there were fourteen others enlisted in this township, two have died - Clyde Rindfusz and William A. Seymour, and twelve have left the township, namely : Robert A. Jellison, Fred Norris, Wayman Warner, Gideon Klingaman, James Klingaman, James Fletcher, Clarence Easton, Raymond Prugh. Ulysses S. Maguire, George N. Cady, Edwin C. Barber, Eli Davis.

The post surrendered its charter and disbanded in November, 1896. During the first six years of its existence it prospered, giving considerable aid to sick and destitute soldiers and their families, and had mamsocial events. Regular memorial and decoration exercises were had. Each winter supper was had by the post. If the simper was a "farmer's supper," the people of Larwill and vicinity were always very liberal in their contributions. Either farmer's shipper or oyster supper always were good. The writer remembers well that at one single farmer's supper, the post netted sixy-two dollars. The people of Larwill and its vicinity always had and have yet a warm feeling toward the "boys of '61 and '65." No blame can be laid to the people of Larwill and country about for the early disbanding of the post. Early in 1886 the post instituted a movement to raise money by public subscription to buy a lot in Lake View cemetery at Larwill for the burial of destitute soldiers. The effort was a success, for in a very short time the money was at hand. The citizens gave a very large per cent, thereof. A lot was bought and one soldier, who had been buried in "free ground" was disinterred and reburied on this lot by the post. Since then a number have been buried therein.

Patrons Of Husbandry

In the winter of about 1872 and 1873 was organized a grange at Robert A. Jellison's. I do not know who were the officers or what was accomplished by this grange. I think it was in existence about two years. A little later a grange was organized at the house of Henry Bailev in section 30. This organization lasted but a short time. There was a great deal of ridicule made of this order, led bv the merchants.

Of the orders that once did business but are now extinct the Independent Order of Good Templars organized twice and each time lived some three or four years. The first was about 1859.

The Union League had an existence for a time when the Civil war was going on. but they ceased doing business in 1863. It was said there was a lodge of the Knights of the Golden Circle about this time, but 1 can give no proof.

The Methodist Episcopal Church At

The history of the Methodist church in nearlv every section of the country begins with the settling of that country, or wherever a colony of pioneers settle, there will Methodism flourish. The first class of Methodists formed in the township was at the cabin of Edwin Cone. ( I here copy from the "Old History".) "The pioneers of the church and its first members were John Buck, class leader ; Edwin Cone and wife. David Hayden and wife. William Guy and wife, John Erwin and wife and John Burns and wife. The members met from house to house, most frequently at Edwin Cone's and John Buck's. Edwin Cone was a local preacher - 'An Israelite in whom there was no guile.' The itinerant preachers, at the formation of the class in 1839, were Revs. Ackerman and Owen. Their visits were few and far between; the circuit was large. Succeeding them, Lemon and Young, Green and Anthony, Holstock and Miller, Speer and Davis, Jesse Sparks, Bamhart." We think that Woodard. Sewell, Metz and Blake came before Barnhart. "By 1848 the class had become too large to meet in the narrow cabins of the pioneers. They took title from Alex. McNagrry of the site of the 'old log school house,' by the trustees, David Hayden. Andrew Dodge and John Burns, who, aided by William Mitchell, a carpenter, built a frame meeting house, twenty-six by thirty-four, ten feet in the clear." This was called the Summit church and belonged to the Columbia circuit at that time. I do not know what the name of the society was prior to this time. Soon after this building was completed, meetings were held by Cooper, the circuit preacher, a great revival followed, and many were added to the church. The ministers, as I remember them after the building- of the church, are as follows : Barnhart, Cooper and Snyder, Stright and Armstrong, Bradshaw and Ruplev, McCarter, Payton and Payton ( one vear), Payton and Smith (one year), C. W. Miller, J. H. McMahon. E. M. Baker (two years'). H. J. Lacey (two years). R. J. Smith (three years). During the ministry of Baker in i860 and 186 r the Methodist parsonage was built at Larwill. In the winter of 1866 there was the greatest revival perhaps the Methodists ever had at tins place. H. J. Smith was pastor at the time. The meetings were begun at the Summit church in February, but after two or three weeks were removed to Larwill and held in the old United Brethren church. The meetings continued day and night for seven weeks, and the membership was increased by about one hundred. The people never went back to Summit to worship, but almost immediately began building' the present brick church. The church was dedicated March 14, 1869, by Dr. Bowman, then president of the Asbury University, but afterward bishop. The building committee were John Bums, Abner Prugh, C. W. Hayden, Dr. Kirkpatrick and E. L. McLallen. The edifice was forty-two by sixty, twenty feet in the clear, with basement. Estimated cost, nine thousand dollars, of which over three thousand dollars was subscribed at the dedication. E. P. Church was pastor three years ; J. H. Slade, two years ; S. J. McElwee, three years ; James Greer, three years ; S. J. Smith served one and one-half years, when differences grew up and a part of the members withdrew and formed the 'Wesleyan church,' the parent society, however, still flourishing and building up. Pastors since that time: M. H. Smith came in April, 1879, to 1881, R. S. Reed to 1883. N. T. Peddycord to 1884, John Thomas to 1885, C. F. Cook to September, 1885, C. H. .Beechgood to April, 1886, N. D. Shackelford to 1889, R. H. Smith to 1891, E. P. Church to 1893. J. M. Stewart to 1895, XV. B. Freeland to September. 1897. M. H. Smith to November, 1897. A. J. Cary to April, 1899, J. W. Tillman to 1901, D. S. Jones to T004, W. L. Singer to October, 1904, L. B. Stookey to the present. The Methodist Episcopal parsonage was rebuilt in 1895 at a cost of about five hundred dollars. The church was repaired in 1901, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. The repairs consisted of a new shingle roof, a new belfry, new seats and windows, an elevated floor, a steel ceiling and a new entrance. The pastor's salary is six hundred and fifty-five dollars and parsonage. The Larwill society pay of this three hundred and twenty dollars. The present membership is one hundred. The trustees are H. B. Whittenberger, Sylvester Flickinger and Daniel Dietrich. The stewards are T. E. Daniels, Mrs. J. T. Wilson and Ella Marchand. Class leaders, S. Flickinger and H. B. Whittenberger ; recording secretary, J. W. Zartman ; treasurer, H. B. Whittenberger; superintendent of Sunday-school, Mrs. S. W. Byall. The name Summit was given the church about 184S when the house was built at Summit, and to Larwill about 1866, when the name of the town was changed from Huntsville to Larwill.

Union Christian Church

This church (commonly known as the "Boonville church"), was organized in 1845 by Rev. James Atchison in what was known as the Hand school house, which stood about a mile west of the present location of the church property. The old records of the church being lost, it is difficult to give many of the facts concerning the first vears of the church's existence. John Hand and Silas Atchison were deacons, and Anthony Atchison church clerk at the time of its organization. I do not know that there were any trustees. All of these officers have been dead several years. The first roll of the members I could not find, a few of the first names are as follows : John Hand and Harriet Hand, Silas Atchison and Anna Atchison, Cornelius Hand, John W. Smith and Mary Smith. Anthony Atchison and Hannah Atchison. These nine I think were the charter members, but T will give a few mure :

Sarah Cordell, Olive Bolton and Budd Bolton, Susan Fletcher, James Atchison and Mary J. Atchison. The society met at the Hand school house and Bethany Nickels' barn till 1854, when it had completed a meeting house in section 18 of this township, about eighty rods north of the present chapel. It was built of hewn logs and was about twenty -two by twenty-two and some ten feet in the clear. This served as a place of worship for thirteen years, when the present frame edifice was erected, near the center of section 18. The building committee was composed of Elder Thomas Whitman, William H. Lancaster and James Bayman. The building is forty by fifty and a fourteen-foot story. It is valued at about twelve hundred dollars. It was dedicated December 29, 1867. Up to this time it is not certainly known who were the pastors, but Elders James Atchison, Thomas Whitman and Philip Zeigler were most of the time. Those who served as pastors since are Thomas Whitman, Peter Winbrenner, William B. Jones, William S. Manville, Lewis Himes. David Hidy, W. G. Parker, Hiley Baker and John M. Miller. Others who have served the church but not as pastors are S. H. Mc- Gee, James Atchison, Samuel McNeely. Levi Marks and perhaps others. This church has entertained the Eel River Christian conference four times, namely 1857, 1869, 1880 and 1896. The church at present has a membership of seventy-one. There has been Sunday-school most of the time since 1855. A Ladies' Aid Society has given valuable assistance for the last few years. The present officers are as follows : John F. McConnell. Lewis Bayman and Joseph A. Norris, trustees ; Alexander Bavman and

The Eel River Baptist Church

This church was organized in 1840, at the house of John Collins, in Cleveland township. Among its first members were John Collins, William Cordell, John Cordell, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton and S. A. Chaplin. To these were afterward added, by baptism and letter, Edwin Rambo and wife. Margaret Rambo, John Cuppy and wife, Mary Cuppy, Jane Collins (wife of John Collins), Mrs. Martin Collins, Isaac Collins and wife, Nancy Collins, Mrs. Chaplin (wife of S. A. Chaplin), William Norris, James Chaplin (father of S. A. Chaplin), and Mores P. Chaplin (brother of S. A. Chaplin). James Martin was the first pastor of this little flock. February 19. 1842, S. A. Chaplin was licensed to preach and on August 20. 1842, he was ordained, and for some time preached for them. A change of views in regard to the future destiny of the earth as well as of man's' nature, whether immortal by nature or redemption - the view of earth restored being the future home of the redeemed - in plain English Millerism or Second Adventism - was embraced by Elder Chaplin and a number of other members of the church, who dissolved their connection with it, and it languished for several years. The church was reorganized at the house of John Cuppy in Kosciusko county in December, 1845. William Norris, John Cordill, Esther Cordill, Norah Hand, Elizabeth Cuppy, Michael B. Kelly, Rebecca Ryerson, K. C. Hamilton. Caroline Hamilton. Caroline Collins, George Gunter, John Cuppy and Nancy

Cuppy were members. For awhile the meetings were held alternately at the houses of William Norris and John Cuppy, and later at the Richland center school house. The present church house was built in 1861, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. Father Martin again took charge of the newly organized church and was its pastor for several years. He was followed by Meredith, Scott, Collins. Denman and Barrett, who was pastor when the church was dedicated, which was June 22, 1862. Rev. R. H. Cook preached the sermon and Rev. J. Barrett made the dedicatory prayer and Father Martin gave the benedictory blessing. Rev. Barrett was a revivalist and the church grew. The next pastor was W. A. Hitchcock, followed by W. W. Robinson, W. A. Hitchcock. R. Childs, R. H. Cook. W. A. Hitchcock, Latham, W. D. Sanders. V.

O. Fritz, J. M. Maxwell. B. W. Harmon. H. H. Smith, B. F. Tucker, H. H. Smith, W. S. Kent. A. J. Gage and Winans. The church has not been prosperous for the last twelve or fifteen years, and at this writing-, January. T907. is extinct. The trustees last elected were Henry Norris. William Cordill and Benjamin Bates. The last clerk was Ola Norris.

Wesleyan Methodist Church

This organization was made at Larwill. Indiana. June 13, 1879. by Elder A. Worth, who was then pastor of Albion charge. Indiana conference. The purpose of this organization was to promote scriptural holiness and advance the cause of Christ. The Bible is taken as the rule of faith by which all the articles of the church discipline are formed.

For about one year prior to this organization meetings were held, first at C. Benner's residence, then in a rented hall. The present church edifice was built A. D. 1879, and cost eighteen hundred and fifty dollars. It is a neat frame structure, situated at the corner of North and King streets in the village of Larwill. The first trustees were : P. H. Rindfusz, C. Benner and S. F. Robinson. The parsonage stands on the same lot. It was erected in 1880, and is valued at five hundred dollars.

The following conference after this organization was made it was joined to La Otto circuit and Rev. W. H. Kennedy became its first pastor. Under his labors the membership was increased to about forty. At the close of this year the church at La Otto withdrew from the circuit and it was then changed to Larwill circuit, and yet remains so, although a permanent organization has been consummated and a church built at Warsaw, Indiana, and is connected with this charge.

Two camp meetings were held in the past. One at Thompson's grove, one mile south of Larwill, in 1882. Revs. Rice and Rowly, of Ada, Ohio, were the evangelists. The other near Black's school house, two miles west of the village, conducted by Rev. J. W. Brown and others. The following are the names of the past ministers in order of their serving as pastors of this charge : W. H. Kennedy. C. S. Smith. R. M. S. Hutchins, L. Shatford, Rev. Hines. E. T. Spohn, G. W. Zike. E). F. Gordon. C. A. Billheimer.

Robert Jeffrey, J. W. Brown, S. Kennedy. D. L. Tice, E. L. Dickey, W. H. Hopkins, L. H. Carter, M. M. Worth, W. M. Bailey. The present pastor, W. M. Bailey, serves also as pastor to Warsaw charge. He is paid by tithing and receives about three hundred dollars. Larwill class paying half. The present membership is about thirty-nine. The following are the names of the present church officers : Trustees, P. H. Rindfusz, D. S. Klinger and Simon Helfrich ; class leader. P. H. Rindfusz ; steward, Pressley Patterson ; secretary, Ralph Rindfusz ; Sunday-school superintendent. Elizabeth Benner. The church is in a prosperous condition financially and spiritually and has been a benefit to Larwill and vicinity.

The Baptist Church At Larwill

The first organization of the Baptist church at Larwill. or Huntsville, as the place was then called, was on February 14, 1857. by Elder Wilder, with ten who had been members of the Baptist church and six by confession of faith. The names are as follows : Elisha Havens, Daniel Hartsock. Henry McLallen, Sr., James McLallen, William Stilwell, William Worth. Frances Mc- Lallen, Alice A. Mack, Ann Hartsock, Floretta Havens, Henry Mack, Henry McLallen. Jr., James McDonald. Ann McLallen, Samantha Mack and Harriet Stilwell. This little band met usually at the first school house in Huntsville and was under the pastoral care of Elder McLeod till December 3, 1859. After this the church became dormant.

The second organization of the Baptist church was April 22, 1880, under the care of Rev. D. W. Sanders as pastor. There were ten charter members as follows : Henry Bailey and wife. Fielding Barnes and wife. Mary Barney. Anna Clugston. Mary Radcliff, Margaret Maston and D. W. Sanders and wife. The first trustees were A. F. Martin, D. B. Clugston and Henry Bailey : clerk. Rev. D. W. Sanders. In 188 1. they built a neat little brick church, at a cost of twentyfive hundred dollars. They prospered fairly well for several years, although the membership has never been large. Rev. Sanders continued as pastor till 1883. Then Rev. Graham was supply pastor for awhile, there being no regular pastor for four years. Rev. Charles Bragg became pastor in June. 1887, and remained till December. 1889, then again there Tvas a vacancy for over six years - Rev. George B. Beardsley preaching a few times. The next regidar pastor was Rev. C. J. Gage, from March, 1896, to September. 1897. then Rev. C. S. Winans to March, T898: then Rev. C. G. Rhodarmel till September. 1899, when he took a leave to attend theological school. He resumed his labors with this church ag'ain. January 1, 1901, and continued pastor till December 14. 1902. At this date Brother B. H. Truman, one of the members, was licensed to preach, and was employed to preach for an unlimited time. He continued to preach for about a year, when he, too, went away to school. He was ordained at the Larwill church, September 6, 1004. Rev. D. W. Sanders again became pastor in March. 1905, and continued till the next September, since which time there has been no pastor. The present church officers are : Trustees,

It appears that the old Union meeting house in section 24 was built in 1846, which antedates the building of the Summit church by Mime two years. It was built by the Methodists, United Brethren and Lutherans, which presupposes that each had a society at this place. If the United Brethren or the Lutherans had an organization here, we have been unable to find out anything about them. The Methodist Episcopal church at this place was organized in 1849. Some of the first members were Rev. A. D. Parrett and wife, John Graham and wife, Henry Rupely and wife, John Jones and wife, Edmond Parish and wife and Eliakem Mosher and wife. Some of the first preachers were Anderson D. Parrett, Edwin Cone and Henry Rupely, these were all local ministers. This class was part of a circuit, sometimes of Columbia circuit, sometimes of Springfield circuit and now part of the Larwill circuit. This society has usually been prosperous. In 1880, they built a commodious brick church at a cost of about two thousand dollars. It is situated in section 13 and is known as the Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal church. The present pastor is Rev. S. B. Stookey. If any of these dates are wrong or any other errors, it is because we have been wrongly informed.

I here have been several church organizations within the township that have beci mie extinct. The German Baptist built a frame church in section 13, at a cost of about < >ne thousand dollars. It was used about five vears bv the society. This was some twenty-five years ago. It has since been sold and is now doing service as a barn. The principal members were Peter Bolinger and wife and Jeremiah Flickinger and wife.

The United Brethren organized a society at the old schoolhouse at Larwill about 1856, under the preaching of a Rev. Thomas, who was followed by Rev. Plummer and others. In 1858 they erected a meeting house where the YVesleyan chapel now stands. The society soon vanished. The principal members were Benjamin B. Salmon and wife and Jeremiah Welker and wife. The building was used for several years as a meeting place for other churches, also for lectures, political meetings, onehorse shows and for a while as a schoolhouse.

The Presbyterians had an organization from about 1866 on for a few years. Rev. W. S. Harker seems to have been the first resident pastor, who came there in 1867. The meetings were held in the old United Brethren church, the schoolhouse and the Methodist Episcopal church after that building was completed. Rev. Harker served as pastor till August 8, 1869, when he died of a stroke of apoplexy while filling the stand. He was succeeded by Rev. Beech. The last pastor was Rev. Strvker, who left in about 1880. The church soon after this went down. Among" the first members were William Bonar, Sr., and wife, John Buntain, Sr.. and wife. Daniel Weaver and wife, A. II. McBride and wife. Dr. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Lewis Halderman, Mrs. E. L. Barber and others.

met at first at the homes of the members, but soon purchased the old schoolhouse at the northeast part of town, which the)- converted into a church. Its pastors were J< >hn Brukert, Henry Brightmire, Holderman and Wales. Some of the first members were George Kiplinger and wife, Michael Gutcher and wife, Samuel Ward and wife. Francis C. Guy and wife, and others. In 1884 they held a camp meeting just north of town. The}' were in a prosperous condition for a while, but some financial differences arose among its members, litigation followed, the church suffered and finally vanished. Its members went to other churches. This was about 1887.

The Free Methodist organized a society about the time the Albrights disbanded and some of its members went into the new organization. They purchased the same old schoolhouse and used the upper story for a parsonage. Some of the pastors were W. T. Loring, who organized the church, Edinger, Robinette, Laberteaux, Hoover, Kemp and Fletcher. They held camp meetings about ever)- year. Among its members were Samuel Ward and wife, R. W. Burns and wife, Mrs. Gutcher and daughter, Mary J . Clifford Cummins and wife, Lester Fletcheiand wife and W. H. Guy. It was never very strong in members or in means. The church went down in about 1901. Several of the members were transferred to the church at Lorane. The old schoolhouse was purchased by Samuel Ward and has been torn down and moved away. There were other church organizations no doubt, but they were of short duration. Most of the churches have maintained Sunday-schools and some have Ladies' Aid societies and one or two Christian Endeavor societies. In years gone there were Sunday-school picnics, but they have ceased to be, but perhaps have been superseded by Sunday-school conventions. There was a society of "Murphies," a temperance society, in existence for a time and put the saloons out of business for a while. It was not a secret society, but of a religious nature. This was about 1877.

Of the soldiers who were in the wars for the establishment and protection of this government it is necessary that some record should be made. We think there are no Revolutionary soldiers buried within the borders of Richland township. Of the si >1- diers of the war of 1812, we know of eight who died within the township and their burial place, but know nothing of the regiment or command to which they belonged. Zebulon T. Burch is buried in section 22 on the land belonging to Mrs. George Miller. The site of the grave perhaps has been lost. John McPherson died about 1850, at the age of ninety-one years, is buried in the Dodgertown cemetery, in Kosciusko county. Bela Goodrich was born in 1776, is buried in the Adams cemetery, in Troy township. Anthony Atchison died November 24, 1848. at the age of fifty-six years. He is buried in the Boonville cemetery. John Buck died in 1864, is buried at Summit. George W. Essig died in 1866. at the age of seventythree years. He is buried at the Oak ( rrove cemetery. Robert Guy died in 1845. is buried in Larwill cemetery. Jesse Radcliff is buried at Center.

Larwill cemetery. Jonathan D. Witt died while on the march. He was in General Worth's command. He was sent here for burial and is buried in the Oak Grove cemetery.

Of the soldiers of the war of the Rebellion a complete list has not been kept to my knowledge. The reader is referred to the report of the adjutant general for the state of Indiana for any corrections that should be made. This report consists of eight large volumes, filled with thousands of names, and large numbers of men are there recorded without any indication of where they were enlisted from. The vastness of this field together with the fallibility of memory of the older' citizens, will render this report incomplete. The number of the regiment and in some cases the company letter are given :

There were a few others who were away temporarily when they enlisted and called this township their home. Their names are Michael Long'. Seventy-fourth Indiana; Charles Shuh, Adam T. Steel. Samuel Beard, regiments unknown. Of the above, I think there were four commissioned officers-: Isaac XT. Compton and Alfred J. Koontz were first lieutenants; Stephen J. Compton and Ervin Whitman were second lieutenants.

One Hundred Sixtieth Regiment, Company G - Clyde Rindfusz, Elmer Curtis. Alvah Buntain, James Fletcher, Richard Butler, Gideon Klingaman, Clarence Eastom, Fred Norris, Floyd O. Jellison, Robert A. Jilleson. Raymond Prugh, Wayman Warner, Herbert J. Reece, Carlos D. Chapman, James Kling-erman. Company H - Ulysis S. Maguire, twenty in all. Of these two are dead, Clyde Reindfnsz and William A. Seymour.

The Gutcher Sanitarium

In the time of the war of the Rebellion, Michael Gutcher came to this township. He built a saw-mill east of Larwill, which he run a short time, sold out and went to Larwill, went into the hotel business, then dealt in lumber, kept grocery, sold mills for some machine manufacturers and set up the machinery, then dealt in chickens, was a vender of chicken and hog cholera medicine. and finally began treating people afflicted with rheumatism, by steaming and usingbarks. L'p to this time, about 1890, or a lit- tie later, he had met with varing success, sometimes he seemed to have an abundance and other times would be hard up. Of course his manner of doctoring and the remedies were a secret. He traveled a great deal in a closed rig in his practice, and would sometimes bring some of his patients to his home for treatment. This led to the building of a sanitarium. It was called the East Elkhart Sanitarium and stood about one mile east of Larwill. The main building was erected about 1895, at a cost of some five thousand dollars. It was a two-story building of some thirty rooms, well equipped with water, heat and light. The location was in a picturesque part of the country with considerable natural scenery. The proprietor afterward added other buildings as the}" were needed till the whole institution would have cost not far from fifteen thousand dollars, or perhaps more. He graveled at his own expense, the road from the sanitarium to the railroad depot at Larwill, and run a line of hacks to meet the trains. There were usually two hacks and sometimes there were more patients and attendants than could be hauled and a second trip w 1 iuld have to be made. From fifty to seventy-five could be accommodated at the buildings, but sometimes the quarters were not sufficient and some would have to be cared for at town. The charges, I have been told, were only two dollars to three dollars per day and board. And I think that a good main- went there in hot weather for an outing. The manner of treatment and the treatment itself must have helped a great man)'. I believe there was only one death among the patients in the nine years this institution was run. The Doctor, as he was called, was hated by all the licensed physicians of the count}', and they would have used any honorable means to have him put out of business. He accumulated a considerable property, bought several farms which he deeded to his children. The beginning of the decline was when he lost his wife. Then after a time he married again and this woman seemed to be after the money, and got a good part of it. It was thought these domestic troubles had something to do with his death. He died in the spring of 1904. I think Mr. Gutcher was a native of Holland. The property went into the hands of an administrator and all had to be sold, which paid only about thirty-five cents on the dollar of indebtedness. One or two have tried to revive the business but with no success.

Reminiscence

In about 1S47, David Payne. Jr., and Sarah Cray were married. The}' were both working out at the time, and went to Edwin Cone's to get married. Dave had been hoeing corn for Joab McPherson and Sarah was doing housework for Mrs. Stephen Biddlecome. The bride was a resident of Kosciusko count}', and Mr Cone was not posted as to the law, but thought it would be best to have the ceremony in the county where the license was issued. So the bridal part}- went about three quarters of a mile through the woods and across a swamp on a foot log to where they knew they were in Kosciusko county and were married. They were afraid of being "belled" as that was a custom. They wore their working clothes and slipped back to their work. But there was an old ladv who always wanted to

When Jacob Kistler and Sophia Payne were married in 1838, Thomas Webb, Lige Scott and John Anderson made two "paddies" at Andrew Compton's and at night carried them over U > Mr. Payne's, where the wedding was and set them up. The old gentleman g'ot up the next morning before it was light, and saw the hideous things in the door yard. It is said he went in and got his old gun and fired at the paddies.

It will be remembered that prior to about 1852 there were no matches and the people would have an old log on fire not far from the house in the summer, and in the winter it was not much trouble to keep fire, although sometimes it would go out. A story is told of a widow. Denman by name, whose fire had gone out and it was in the winter. Her family mostly were girls, one boy about sixteen years old. The old lady started him to a neighbor's, about a mile away after fire and she and the girls intended to lie in bed until he got back. Well, he went to the neighbors and stood around their fire and warmed himself for an hour or so and never told what he went for, but presently the old lady appeared with a big whip and reminded the young man of what he was after.

There was another story told of this same voting man, Cornelius Denman. He was going to school one winter and Edwin Cone was the teacher who always wore his hat in cold weather on account of being bald. One afternoon they were having a spellingcontest. Neal could pronounce pretty well so Mr. Cone asked him to take the floor and pronounce. So Neal got up and deliberately

Many years ago there was a man named John Harris. He could stand more hardships than a tramp. He went barefooted nearly all the time. He had been known to go barefooted when there was snow. He loved to talk and the cold made no difference to him. He would stand on one foot and hold the other up like a turkey and would change once in a while. He had been known to carry a bushel of corn to Morehead's mill on Tippecanoe river, on his shoulder a distance of eight miles or more. He was a strong man but a little lazy. He had a wife and several children and was a poor provider. He was bragging about having plenty to eat at his house. He said : "All that's lacking is the meat." But when it was found out the}' had only corn bread and pumpkin. He went into the army and made a good soldier. He could eat any kind of rations and stand any kind of hardships. He told about being run over with an army wagon and had his back broken and they hitched a span of mules to each end of him and tried to stretch him enough to set his back, but could not get him straightened, so the doctors took out a section of his backbone and he got well.

In 1867, Haldermans had a lot of lumber at the mill on Spring' creek east of Lar- \\ ill . There had been a switch at this mill for the purpose of loading cars but it had been taken away. They made arrangements with a local freight conductor to stop the train at the mill long enough to load the lumber, some thirty thousand feet. It was all walnut lumber. The train stopped with five empty flat cars, and Halderman had

In April, 1S61, just after the call for seventy-five thousand men to put down the Rebellion, there was a war meeting to get men to enlist. There was a pole raised some sixty or seventy feet high. This pole was of lind and stood somewhere on the ground now occupied by Whittenberger's store in Larwill. In the evening a speech was made by Lawyer H. D. Wilson, of Columbia City. There were other meetings and the excitement ran high, a few enlisting in the army. But the war went on and differences grew as to the manner in which it was being carried on and how it ought to be settled. Some were in favor of putting down the Rebellion at all hazards and to use the last man and the last dollar if it was necessary. Others were in favor of compromise and wanted the "Union as it was and the Constitution as it is." I do not think the strife was any worse here than other places but it was bad enough.

Pole Raising

The conservatives raised a pole on the south side on Main street, a hickory pole and something over a hundred feet high, a nice pole for the kind, and placed on it a large flag with a spread eagle. The same motto was on each side of the flag. Francis G Guy says it was "God Speed the Right," but does not remember the size of the flag. 1 do not know who made speeches when this pole was raised. Shortly after this a pole was raised by the other party or faction, on the north side on Center street. This w:as, I think, of ash and was some higher than its neighbor across the way. There was a large flag made for this pole. It was made by Mrs. Daniel Mitchell and, I think, was twenty by thirty feet, although Mr. E. L. Barber thinks it was only twelve by eighteen feet. The motto on one side was, "The Union Must and Shall be Preserved," and on the other side, "The Rebellion Shall be put Down." I do not remember who made speeches at this time. This did not end the pole raising. The conservatives then raised another pole, all hickory. I think part of their former pole was put in this. My remembrance is that this pole was one hundred and fifty-six feet high and the same flag was raised. I have been unable to find out who made the speeches at this time. This called for another demonstration from the north side. This last pole was made of hickory, ash and tamarack, and, I think, was one hundred and seventy-three feet high. Mr. Barber thinks it was one hundred and eighty-five feet high. This pole was so long that it was feared it would not stand the strain in raising, and there was a great shout went up when the pole was straightened up. Then again when the flagwas hoisted by a half dozen young ladies, dressed for the occasion, Colonel Charles Case and "Pop Gun" Smith, of Fort Wayne made speeches. These last two poles. I think, were raised with a block and tackle and by an expert boss. I think the Pierceton "sheepskin" band, aroused the patriotism of the people with music on most of these occasions. This band was composed of Dwisrht Nichols. Allen Downs and David

Lichtenwalter. The flags were over one hundred feet from the ground. I think the last pole was the tallest that had been raised in the state at that time. The Rebellion was put down, the Union has been preserved, the eagle is still an emblem of freedom, and we think that God did speed the right. These poles were all raised in the summer of 1861.

In conclusion, I would say there are some things of importance which have not been . mentioned. Some of these are the public ditches, the draft in the war of the 'sixties, the bounty paid the soldiers, and ear marks on stock. They have not been forgotten, but I have not had the time to investigate these matters and trust some <»ne else has touched on these subjects.

I am under obligations to several of the citizens of this and Kosciusko counties for information furnished. Mention should be made of John R. Anderson, Mrs. Nancy Graham, Isaac N. Compton, Henry Norris, Mrs. Orril McBride, Mrs. Ann Clugston, J. YV. Zartman, W. S. Smith, Charles S. Kline, Lewis Clevenger, H. B. Whittenberger, E. E. Rindfusz, John Trachsell, Mrs. Lizzie Buntain, W. E. Young, George Ream, S. P. Kaler and Robert T. Smith, of this county, and Vincent D. Campbell, John E. Hayden and Clark Little, of Kosciusko county.

By John H. Shilts

The genius of the civilization and the pursuits of the citizens of a country or any part thereof depend largely upon its geological structure. An agricultural pursuit depends upon a fertile soil ; mining results from mineral resources; and commerce depends upon navigable waters and other modes of transportation. It is known that phases of life, modes of thought, moral and intellectual qualities depend largely upon and are influenced by material conditions. Where the soil is rich in the bestowal of wealth, man is indolent, but where effort is required to live, he becomes industrious, enlightened and virtuous. The civilization of communities is, then, to a great extent, but the reflection of physical conditions.

In its physical conditions Thorncreek township is very interesting. It lies in the great Saginaw-Erie moraine, and the crest of this moraine, which forms the divide or water-shed between the Tippecanoe river and the Eel river drainage systems of Indiana, passes through the northern part of the township. The surface, inclination and the direction of its drainage system, with the exception of a small part of the north and northwest, faces the south and southeast. The greater part is drained by Blue river, which crosses the southeastern part of the township, and its two tributaries, viz.. Blue Babe creek and Thorn creek. Blue Babe creek, so named because of its being smaller than Blue river, therefore only a baby com- pared to the river, rises in the northwestern part of the township and flows in an irregular southeasterly course, entering Blue river in Columbia township. Thorn creek, so named, it is related by old residents, on account of the many thorn bushes growing on its banks when the township was in its primitive state, rises in the northeastern part and flowing southward empties into Blue river near Blue River church in the eastern part of the township. A small portion of the southwest part is drained by ditches to the southwest. The rest of the township is drained into the lakes in a north and northwester! v direction and whose outlet is the Tippecanoe river. The surface of the township is undulating and some portions of it very hilly. In some parts the hills are gentlv rolling, in others rough and very precipitous. There are nowhere any considerable areas of level land aside from the lands which were once swamps and marshes. The surface geology consists entirely of glacial material which became subsequently altered in places by the atmospheric agencies and by erosion. The lowlands along the streams and in the valleys are of sedimentary material brought there by erosion of the uplands during rainy seasons. Even now there is a tendency of the uplands to wash and gully and the evil must be guarded against in the cultivation of these lands. The soil consists of loam, clay, sand and gravel, with here and there small areas of muck. All of this glacial material was originally rock and derived from the original earth formation and came from the north as evidenced by the boulders which fill and cover the soil in many places. These rock materials have suffered decomposition and disintegration like everything else, and this decomposed rock material acted upon by vegetation forms the fruitful mold of the surface. We are accustomed to look upon the soil without considering its formation, its wonderful properties and its great importance in the economy of all life. It is not attractive in itself, yet its productions are more elaborate than the finest works of art. It produces an endless variety which pervades the vegetable and animal kingdoms. It clothes the earth with verdure and pleasant landscapes. Its mysterious elements bloom in the flowers, load the atmosphere with fragrance, blush in the clustering fruit, fill the fields with harvests for the supply of food, and furnish the tissues which, when manufactured into fabrics, decorate and protect the body. From the same source also come the elements which pulsate in the blood, give the cheek the glow of health, the eye its sparkle, the nerve its feeling of pleasure and pain, and the brain its reason and brilliant fancies. Happily for Thorncreek township that its soil formation precludes the possibility of sterile extremes arising from local causes. The entire surface. of the township is a stratum of glacial drift. This immense deposit varies in thickness, and in places has become covered by marshes where now are our fertile muck lands. Most of the surface was originally covered with forests of heavy timber consisting of oak, ash, poplar, hickory, maple, sugar, beech, elm, sycamore and basswood, under whose branches disported the various creations of animal life. Birds warbled their sweetest music in these waving groves : and in the groves the demands of the pioneer's meat supply were always filled without exhausting the resources. These primeval woodlands were also the homes of Indian tribes previous to the advent of the white man, who was known to the Indian as the "pale face." These noble forests have disappeared as rapidly as the settlers appeared until now there are only patches of timber here and there.

Thorncreek township, known and described in the government survey as township 32 north, range 9 east, was laid off and platted as a congressional township in 1834 by (ine John Hendricks. Land entries were made the following year. During October of 1837, while it was yet a part of Hunting-- ton county, Nathaniel Gradeless circulated a petition among- its few citizens to organize the congressional township into a civil township. This petition was signed by Benjamin F. Martin, Adam Egolf, Joseph Egolf, John H. Alexander, Martin Overly, Peter Shriner, Daniel Hively, Jacob Shearer and Jacob Brumbaugh, all residents of the township. Opposite each petitioner's name was to be written a name for the civil township. Two had no choice, two wrote Lake and five wrote Thorncreek. This latter name was already given to the stream in the eastern part of the township for reasons as stated and was now also given to the township. Thus the township was named from the stream which is the outlet of a group of beautiful and interesting lakes which will be described and spoken of later in this sketch. This petition was presented to the board of Huntington county, and on the 6th of November, 1837, the board ordered that this township should be organized as a civil township and designated as Thorncreek. The board also ordered an election to be held on the first Monday in December following to elect a justice of the peace. At this election Adam Egolf was elected and thus became the first justice of the peace in the township. This township is the center one of the northern tier of townships in Whitley county. On its north side it is bordered by Noble county, on its east by Smith township, on its south by Columbia township, and on its west by Richland and Troy townships.

The first settlers of Thorncreek township were John H. Alexander in 1835, John and Joseph Egolf in 1836. The Egolfs came in July and were followed by Martin Overly in the fall of the same year. The Alexander family settled in section 33, John Egolf in section 1, Joseph Egolf in section 13 and Overly in section 11. In a former history of Whitley county it is recorded that Mrs. Margaret Egolf. widow of Joseph Egolf, related a circumstance which proves that the Alexander family came to the township eight or nine months before the Egolfs came. The circumstance recorded is as follows, viz. : "Mr. Joseph Egolf soon after he settled in the township, being out one morning hunting his cows, heard voices which he confidently believed to. be the voices of white people. An intervening lake and the want of time prevented him from going- just then to see who his neighbors were. In a few days, however, he and his wife started out in search of them. After a long and tiresome walk they found the object of their search, which proved to be the residence of John H. Alexander. The distance between the two families was not, on a direct line, more than two miles. By the circuitous route they were oblig'ed to travel, however, which meandered around the margin of the lake, it was prob- ably fully twice that distance. Mr. Alexander's folks told Mrs. Egolf that she was the first white woman but one they had seen for nine months. The first that they had seen within the preceding nine months was, they said, the wife of an emigrant who passed by their home on his way farther west." The lake spoken of by Mrs. Egolf in her narrative was a very wet cranberry marsh often entirely covered by water but which is now a very fertile field on which are raised the finest celery, potatoes, onions, cabbage, etc. There is a discrepancy in Mrs. Egolf's narrative as to distance. The distance between Joseph Egolf's place and John H. Alexander's place was, on a direct line, about three and one-half miles instead of two, as related.

The farm upon which John H. Alexander then lived is now owned by Mr. Franklin Shilts. Mr. Alexander subsequently moved to Columbia City, where he died and his remains were buried on the farm he entered, and his grave is near the present buildings. His resting place is marked by a marble slab upon which is inscribed the following :

John Ii. Alexander

His widow married a Mr. Bennett and they moved to California. Mr. Alexander was the surveyor who surveyed the Yellow River mad from Fort Wayne through to the Yellow river, where the Michigan road crosses it. This road was established and laid out during 1834 under the direction of a commissioner appointed by the state legislature. This commissioner was one Francis Comparet. This road enters the township near the southeast corner and following a northwesterly course passes out of the township about two miles south of the northwest corner; and it at once became an important highway for the emigrants into this new country. It was on account of a spring on the south side of this road just west of where it crosses Blue Babe creek that Mr. Alexander entered this farm in section 33. It was near this spring that he built his cabin and later built another on the hill to the east, near which site he is buried. Other early pioneer settlers were the families of Adam Egolf and Henry Egolf, in section 26; Jacob Shearer, in section 14; Peter Shriner and Jacob Hively, in section 9 ; and Daniel Hively, in section 1 1 ; John dinger, in section 1 ; Benjamin F. Martin, in section 12; Nathaniel Gradeless, in section 24. It is related that the mother of Adam. Henry and John Egolf came at the same time with Adam and Henry. This was in June, 1837, and this pioneer mother died in a very few days after she arrived and is, without doubt, the first white person dying in the township. Adam Egolf, Henry Egolf (or Harry, as he was familiarly known), Solomon Sumners and W. H. Widup lived for many years and died upon the same lands that they entered and settled upon when the)- came to the township. Some of the other early settlers and pioneers of the township who still have direct descendants living about here were John Olinger, Daniel Hart. Adam Humbarger, Benjamin Grable, Henry Knight, William H. Widup, Solomon Sum- mers. David Engle. Isaac Keirn, Peter Haynes and Joseph Waugh. There were eleven land entries made in 1835, the first by Richard and Nathan House, August 10. In 1836 there were one hundred and eleven entries, and most of the land wras taken up in this and the following year. The last entry on record was by Henry Pomeroy in 1853. Henry L. Ellsworth on June 1. 1836, took up one thousand five hundred and twenty acres in sections 27, 29, 30 and 31 of this township. This was the largest number of acres entered by any one person.

The first settlers in this new region made their way hither in wagons from their Ohio and other eastern, homes. They usually took up land where water for domestic purposes was abundant, generally springs, near which thev built their cabin homes regardless of the location on the farm. Many of the old cabin sites are marked yet today by some old apple trees which were planted around it by the pioneers of the 'thirties and 'forties. Near these old trees can always be found an old spring or the evidences of one. There was no incentive in those days to clear away the forests and cultivate the soil except to supply the family needs, to pay the taxes and to support the little stock they had. With the good old trusty rifle, to be found above the door or fireplace of every pioneer home, they could supply themselves with meat from the abundant game in the forests, and from the lakes and streams a supply of fish could be had at any time. There were no game and fish laws then to violate. The few hogs they had could put on fat and bacon from the rich nuts and acorns which they gathered in the woods. It was true in those davs that the swine must either "root hog or die." The little corn the settlers raised they used for themselves in making corn bread and mush. There were no local markets then. The nearest market for these sturdy pioneers was Fort Wayne, and the only mode of transportation was by wagon over the Yellow River road. A source of income was the furs of the wild animals caught during the winter season.

The first impetus to agriculture was the building of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad through Columbia City in 1856. The first engine, called the "Mad Anthony," arrived in Columbia from Fort Wayne on the 23d day of January, 1856: and on the 1st day of February the same vear a regular train service began. The service was very primitive, but yet of inestimable value to the citizens. This road opened a market for the lumber of the forests which had to be cleared away before the soil could be farmed. It was soon after the completion of this railroad that steam saw mills were built to convert the timber into lumber. With this improvement in transportation and the advent of better saw mills (the first being water-mills) the settlers increased and the uplands were gradually cleared and prepared for cultivation. The crops grown were corn, wheat, rye. beans, buckwheat and potatoes. Flax was also grown to some extent and made into homespun clothing. The ground was prepared by what was known as a "jumping plow" or "side jumper.' usually drawn by a yoke of oxen. The grain was sown broadcast and dragged in with a brush when a three-cornered or A-shaped harrow could not be afforded. The ripened grain was reaped by hand and threshed with a flail. As the cleared area became larger in extent improved machinery was introduced for the putting out and harvesting of the crops. Threshing machines, too, were then brought into this new country. As agricultural development progressed new and more modern machinery has been introduced until today the few tools used by the pioneers are looked upon as interesting curiosities and sought for by the antiquarian.

Whitley county was organized as a separate county in 1838, when one of the four voting places in the first county election was at the house of Richard Baughan, in Thorncreek township, who was the first sheriff of the county and who held the office under appointment by Governor Wallace. This election was held on the first Monday in April, 1838. The convention of the citizens of the county for the selection of candidates to be voted for at this election was held at the house of Calvin Alexander on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 33 in Thorncreek township, the land being now owned by John Magley, one of the few remaining pioneers. It is stated that about twenty assembled at this caucus and nominated Abraham Cuppy for clerk and recorder, Jacob A. Vanhouten and Benjamin F. Martin for associate judges and Otho W. Gandy, Nathaniel Gradeless and Joseph Parrett, Jr., for county commissioners. These men became the respective officers for which they were nominated possibly without any opposition, for in pioneer days politics were laid aside in the selection of men to fill the offices. The house of Richard Baughan was at the point on Blue river where the Yellow River road crosses it near the present homes of E. A. Barney and Josiah Archer, and near where Mr. Barney's barn now stands. It was at this point on the south side of the river and at the foot of the hill that Mr. Baughan, about the year 1841, built a water-power mill in which to do sawing, and also grind corn, wheat and buckwheat on a small scale. Mr. Baughan's house, it seems, was a prominent place, for it is said that here also the first courts of the county were held and justice dealt out.

The first township election or the one ordered held on the first Monday in December, 1837, as previously mentioned.avas held, it is said, at the house of Benjamin F. Martin in section 12. As near as can be ascertained the voters at this first township election were John H. Alexander, Henry, Adam, Joseph and John Egolf, Martin Overly, Benjamin F. Martin, Peter Shriner, Jacob and Daniel Hively, Jacob Brumbaugh and Jacob Shearer. It was at this election that Adam Fgolf was elected justice of the peace as before mentioned.

The general assembly of the state of Indiana, on the 17th day of February, 1838. passed a law fixing the time of township elections and naming the offices to be filled thereat. The act provided as follows concerning elections :

Section 2. The qualified electors in each county are hereby authorized and required to meet in their respective townships at the usual places of holding elections on the first Monday in April, annually, and proceed to elect three township trustees, a township treasurer and clerk, two overseers of the poor, two fence viewers and as many constables as there are justices of the peace in each t( iwnship. and after the first election

Section 5 provided that the trustees were to meet on the first Mondays in March, June, September and November, annually, to transact the business of the township, and at their first meeting to divide their townships into' a, suitable number of road districts and appoint a suitable person in each district as supervisor of highways.

The trustees had full charge of the township affairs, a general superintendence of roads and highways, had to assess and direct the collection of township revenues to defray the necessary expenses of the township. One of the constables was to be appointed township collector. This law affected only certain counties, among which was Whitley. This law remained on the statutes for twenty-one years and one day.

On February 18, 1859, the general assembly of the state of Indiana enacted that one trustee should be elected instead of three, and his duties were :

Fifth. To see to a proper application of all monies belonging to the township for road, school or other purposes, and perform all the duties heretofore required of the township trustees, clerk and treasurer.

Seventh. To cause a record to be made accurately defining the boundaries and numbers of each road district, and all alterations made in the boundaries in such district.

He was made inspector of elections, overseer of the poor, and fence viewer. He was to levy a tax on the property of his township for township purposes which was to be collected by the county treasurer. He could not change, vacate, or open any highway in his township, for this power was now vested in the county commissioners. He was to receive one dollar and fifty cents per day for all the time necessarily employed in the performance of his duties. This law remained on the statutes until 1877, when, on March 3d the general assembly enacted that the election of township officers should take place on the first Monday of April, 1878, and every second year thereafter. And again on March 12, 1877, the general assembly enacted that any person holding the office of trustee of any township for two consecutive terms at the general election in October, 1878, shall not be eligible to the office for the next ensuing term, and cin not hold the office more than four years in any six. On April 1, 1881, the state legislature again enacted that township officers should be elected on the first Monday of April, 1882. and every second year thereafter: and on March ir. 1889, it was provided by act of the legislature that an election should be held on the first Monday of

April, 1890, and every fourth year thereafter for the purpose of electing township officers. At this time the township officers hold for four years.

A general demand being made by the voters throughout the state to change the time of holding the township elections, the general assembly by an act approved March 2, 1893, changed the time of the election of township officers from the first Monday of April to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1894, and every four years thereafter; and, again on February 25, 1897, the time of election of township officers was changed from 1898 to the general election of 1900. The last change up to the present time (1906) is that the township trustees and assessors elected in November, 1904, shall begin their terms of office on the first day of January, 1905 : and those elected at succeeding elections shall begin their terms on the first day of January succeeding their election. Thus, briefly told, is the history of the law governing the elections of the township officers since the organization of this county. Since the year 1877 the township election law and the law affecting township officers has been manipulated and changed so often for purposes best known to the politician.

Manufacturing Interests

The manufacturing interests of the township have alwavs been limited to saw mills which converted the valuable timber of the woodlands into lumber for the pioneer homes. Manv of the houses and barns of this township in use at the present time were constructed from lumber sawed at these mills. Mr. Baughan's mill has been mentioned previously as being the first one in the township. Another saw mill, and a carding machine in connection with it, was erected on the south bank of Round lake in 1846 by Solomon Anspaugh, who then sold it to Wesley Hyre, Sr., in 1849. It was but a small affair, and Mr. Hyre rebuilt the saw mill which he operated until i860, when he sold it to his son Joseph. The mill was run by water power, obtained through a race, from Round lake. During this time, or about 1850, another saw mill was built about a mile and a half south of the Hyre mill, on Thorn creek, which received the water that operated the machinery in Hyre's mill. This same water was used to operate this second mill. Joseph Hyre sold his mill to his brother Leonard in 1865 ; and in 1867 Leonard sold it to Frederick Maglev. who owned it until it became only a ruin. The third saw mill, or the one on Thorn creek, south of the Hyre mill, was built by Christian Knaga. After Mr. Knaga's death, which occurred soon after he built the mill, it was rented to Frederick Humbarger for five years. Afterward it was operated by Cyrus Knaga. a sou of Christian Knaga,. for about nine vears. then it was sold to Samuel Coverstone, who operated it until it, too, became a ruin. The dam constructed near Round lake to raise the water at the upper mill was removed some years ago and nothing now remains of these two old pioneer mills except some willow trees growing along" the old mill race which mark their location. Likewise nothing now remains of the mill on Blue river, which was erected by Mr. Baughan except an old relic owned by E. A. Barnev.

Soon after Joseph Hyre had sold his mill at Round lake he built another one near the half section corner of sections 20 and 29, which he operated by steam power for a fewyears. He then sold this mill and it was moved away. He then built another steam saw mill and grist mill combined at the same place, which he operated until about 1879, at which time he sold both - the saw mill being moved into Noble county near Big lake, and the grist mill taken to Laud, in Whitley county. This was Air. Hyre's last venture in the mill business.

Another steam saw mill was erected on the Role}- farm about the year 1862 by Mr, Simonson for Harris & 'Green. These parties sold it to John Null in 1864. This mill was built on the west half of the northeast quarter of section $3. Henry Guise and John Magley operated it in 1863 and Mr. Null in 1864-65. Dr. D. G. -Linvill had an interest in this mill for many years, and during this time it was ran by Mr. Maxwell. It was afterward owned and operated by James W. Yontz, who subsequenly moved it to his father's farm about a mile south of its first location. In all probability this mill sawed a greater amount of lumber than any other two of the pioneer mills of the township. It was a heavy and powerful mill and the' largest logs were handled with ease by it.

A steam saw mill was built on the Samuel Miller farm about a half mile north of the center of the township. This also sawed up a lot of valuable timber into 1 number.

Robert Smith, Sr.. about 1866, built a saw mill near Catfish lake, which was afterward removed and rebuilt about one-half mile west and was for many vears owned and operated by John E. Smith, a son of Robert Smith, Sr. Many of the present citizens will remember seeing Smith's mule teams hauling logs to the mill and lumber from it to the market in Columbia City.

Thomas N. Hughes built a saw mill about 1873, in the eastern part of the township, about three miles north of the southeast corner. In 1881 it was removed to Taylor's station on the Vandalia Railroad.

These mills converted much of the valuable walnut, poplar and ash timber into the finest lumber, and much of it can yet be seen in the older dwellings and barns of this township. The products of these mills, like the mills themselves, are fast going to decay, and in a few years more nothing of either will remain. The}- were an important factor in the development of the township. Before the}- were built the timber was burned, and only log cabins were constructed, but after the mills appeared this good timber was sawed into boards, some of which were used in the houses and barns, and the surplus sold to dealers in Columbia City, and often hauled to Fort 'Wayne, by ox teams, over the rough roads through the woods and there marketed.

Several tile mills were operated in past vears. One on the Cotterly farm manufactured drain tile for several years, until 1905, when it was sold and removed to Columbia City*. This mill was operated by John, Benjamin and Ernest Cotterly and John Pontzius at various times, and the tile made were of the best quality. Another tile mill was operated northwest from this one about two miles by John Judd and John Fry at different times, where also tile of fine quality were manufactured.

There are at present two stationary saw mills - one owned by Christopher Judd and the other by Emanuel Harshbarger, and three portable mills in the township. These mills do what little sawing there is yet to be done.

The township has one general store which is in the northern part. This store is of great convenience to the residents in that part. The business was started by Edmund E. Hoffer on the corner of his father's farm. He sold it to John Cotterly, who moved it to his farm, a half mile east and a half mile north of where Mr. Hoffer had it. Mr. Cotterly subsequently moved it a half mile south. A postomce, known as Cresco, Indiana, was established at this store and maintained until rural free delivery was brought about, and it was then abandoned.

Agricultural Conditions

While Thorncreek township does not rank with the best of the townships of Whitley county in the totals of its agricultural wealth, yet its farming' interests are very important and hi ild the only place among its people. A pleasing feature of its economic conditions is the comparatively equal distribution of wealth among its farmers. As a general rule each farmer owns the land he cultivates, and has secured on his farm the necessary buildings, implements, stock and all things required for a comfortable living. The barns and outbuildings are not too large or expensive, but are constructed and built suitable to the needs of the farm. The dwellings are, as a rule, all comfortable frame buildings, there being only seven brick dwellings in the township. .Mamnew houses have been erected within the last decade. A few log cabins of the early settlers may yet be seen in different parts of the township ; and in some of the earlier substantial frame dwellings may yet be seen the old-fashioned fire place with its old fire dogs and crane. Many of us will readily recall the cheerful glow of the fire in these dear old fireplaces; of the family sitting in sweet repose around them ; of mother and grandmother spinning yarn and flax for our clothing; and of father making spiles from alder bushes to be used during the maple sugar season in the spring. The present conditions of agriculture are fixed, and naturally favor a system of general farming and, in connection therewith, the raising of cattle, sheep and swine. Interspersed throughout the township are small areas of muck land. Owing to the nature and position of these muck land it is reasonable to suppose that they are old lake beds and ponds which have gradually become filled with decaying organic matter. These muck patches were covered with swamp grass, huckleberry bushes, cranberry vines, willows and occasionally larger trees. Drainage is necessary before this muck can be cultivated. When it is drained it becomes an ideal soil for the raising of onions and celery. Many onions are being raised in the township on these lands at the present time.

Thorncreek township has as beautiful and interesting- a lot of lakes as can be found anywhere in the state of Indiana in an area of the same extent. They are all located in the northern one-third part of the township.

Of these the state geologist, in the seventeenth report, made in 1891, says : "Shriner's and Cedar, in sections 2, 11 and 12, Thorncreek, are as pretty a pair of twin lakes as one can wish to see. They occupy two narrow parallel valleys, separated by a ridge scarcely a quarter of a mile wide. Shriner's, the smaller and prettier of the two, is a mile and a quarter long by a quarter of a mile wide. Its level was lowered several feet about forty years ago by a ditch cut through the ridge between it and Round lake. The beach thus left dry is several rods wide and' covered with grass. The present shores are remarkably clean, bordered by only a thin belt of sedges and rushes. Outside of that the water deepens rapidly, and varies from forty-five feet to over seventy at the upper end. The water is very clear and furnishes excellent fishing grounds. Moderately high bluffs on either side, covered to a large extent with forest of magnificent beeches, maples and lindens, form a fit setting for this charming picture.

Cedar lake is much like Shriner's, but more irregular. The lower fourth is separated from the main body by narrows and an island. Its level was raised by a dam at the same time that Shriner's was lowered, and the shallow space thus gained is entirely occupied by aquatic veg'etation. These two lakes furnish an illustration of the law that lowering a lake leaves clean shores and raising it results in the formation of a marshy border. The depth of Cedar lake varies from forty-five to seventy-nine feet in the upper basin.

navigable on account of vegetation. Its axis is at right angles with that of Cedar, and its depth from thirty-five to sixty feet. These lakes are drained through Thorncreek into Blue river.

Separated from the west end of Cedar bv a divide a quarter of a mile across and twenty-five or thirty feet high is Crooked lake, which empties westward into the Tippecanoe river. Its axis continues the general direction of Shriner's and Cedar, southeast and northwest, but is nearly as large as the other two and much more irregular in outline and bottom. The upper basin is small and partially separated from the central by a narrow gravel ridge. The central basin is a half mile in diameter, and near its center was found the deepest sounding ever made by the writer in an Indiana lake, one hundred and seven feet. * * * The shores are clean and gravelly and the hills on either side probably form the highest ground in Whitley county. The group of lakes comprising Shriner's, Round, Cedar and Crooked furnish five or six miles of boating and offer attractions for the camper, sportsman and artist, such as are equaled by few places in the state."

From this it can be seen what the state geogolist thought of our beautiful lakes at that time. The dam spoken of as being constructed to raise the level of Cedar lake also raised Round lake. This dam has been removed and the shallow space spoken of as being covered by aquatic vegetation is now more or less dry and covered by grass and weeds where not cultivated. The dam was constructed to furnish water power for the saw mill built by Solomon Auspaugh, in 1846, and it was removed some years ago when the mill at that place became a ruin. By ilc liny this some fine soil for cultivation on the adjacent farms was reclaimed. Where the island and narrows were in Cedar lake a fill has been made and the small intervening space of water has been bridged over, and it looks now mure like two lakes than one.

There is another small but nevertheless an interesting lake known as Catfish lake near the upper end of Shriner lake lying in the same valley and perhaps not more than thirty-six rods distant and separated from it by a low stretch of valley between the hills on either side. This little gem of water is nestled at the foot of the largest hill in the township and is entirely surrounded by aquatic plants and can be entered upon only at one place and only upon its eastern shore. It is almost round, and is beautiful to look upon when viewed from the top of the hill surrounding it on its northern and western borders. Part of Loon lake lies in this township, and it is on its southern shore in this township that is located the Loon lake summer resort. There is also a fine summer resort at Shriner lake. All of these lakes are ideal places for campers during the summer season, and a great boon to the sportsmen of Whitley county. Picnics and family gatherings are held in the beautiful groves at these resorts where all can enjoy a day of pleasure and recreation.

Education

The first efforts at education in the township arc said to have been made by William II. Widup, who taught in a private house in the Egolf neighborhood. The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 14, then owned by Jacob Humbarger. This house was of logs, and about 1856 it was superseded by a frame building built upon the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 11. About 1865 or 1866 this was abandoned and another frame building built upon the northwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 14. These last two were known as the Hively school. and about 1882 or 1883 this last one was abandoned and a brick building was built on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 14. This is known as the Hoops' school or district number six. Two of the earl}- teachers in this school district were Harrison Crabill and Nathan Gradeless.

In the Egolf district, at present district number seven, the first schoolhouse was built a year or two after the one at Humbarger's, also of logs, and near where the church now stands. This was followed by a frame building' of octagon form which can be seen at the present time just across the way from the church. The third house was built a half-mile east of the church, also a frame: and the present building, built of brick and in modern style, stands a quarter of a mile north of where the first one was located.

In the Beech Chapel district, or district number nine, the first schoolhouse was built a >hort distance west of the Stough cemetery, also of logs ; the second house, a frame building, was erected at Five Points crossroads and was known as the Linn schoolhouse: and about 1876 or 1877, a brick building' was erected a half mile east at Beech Chapel, which still stands and is used fi ir school.

The first house in district number eleven was a frame and stood at the place where the brick now stands. The first house in the center district stood where the brick building" stands at this time. The second house, a frame building, stood across the road to the west from the present building". During the trusteeship of John Orr the present brick building was erected.

In the other districts the same progress was made, log houses being superseded by frame buildings, and these in turn by substantial brick houses until all the school buildings were brick. There are eleven schoolhouses in the township, and this number makes it convenient for all the children to attend school without being compelled to travel a long distance as was necessary during' pioneer days.

In 1855 Thorncreek township reported three hundred and eighteen children between the ages of five and twenty-one years, one hundred and seventy-two boys and 1 me hundred and forty-six girls - of which only two hundred and twelve attended school. There were only six school districts then, taught by five male and one female teachers. The men received an average of twentv dollars per month, and the lady teacher only sixteen dollars per month. Most of the other townships in this count)- were lower than this in the compensation of their teachers. The length of the school term was two months. The state superintendent of public instruction in this same report says that "educational improvements and progress, that were anticipated three years since, have not been realized except to a very limited extent. Instead of beautiful and commodious schoolhouses evincing the good taste and generous patriotism of the people of their respective localities, we still meet with primitive structures, unenclosed school premises, unadorned grounds, dilapidated buildings, types of a bygone age. still lingering in the pathway of progress." It was about this time that better buildings were being erected for the accommodation of the school children.

In 1856 the report was substantially the same as in the preceding year. The whole number of children was three hundred and twenty-eight, of which two hundred and fifty-two attended school in the six districts under the care of six male teachers. The amount expended for education this year was only two hundred and forty-one dollars. The township library was reported to contain one hundred and seven volumes, to which were added one hundred and one volumes during the year. The tax assessed for building school houses was fifteen cents on each one hundred dollars and fifty cents on each poll, and the whole amounted to two hundred and thirteen dollars. The whole number of taxpayers was two hundred and thirty-eight, of which two hundred and three paid on five hundred dollars and less. From this it will be seen that there were but few rich citizens in the township. During" the rears 1857 and 1858 the number of school children gradually increased while the number of districts remained the same. In the rear 1850 a change was made in the number of districts, another one being created. There were then seven in the township. The whole number of children reported was three hundred and sixty-seven - two hundred and one boys and one hundred and sixtv-six girls. Six male teachers res,~ one female teacher taught these schoo'J'^m an average compensation of one dollar and eighty-two cents per day for a term of only forty-four days. The new house erected during this year was at a value of only two hundred and twenty dollars. The tax collected for building, repairing, and fuel, was only three hundred dollars. The township library contained two hundred and sixty-two volumes, all in good condition.

In i860 there were three hundred and seventy-seven children, two hundred and eleven boys and one hundred and sixty-six girls, and the ownship contained eight districts, but had only seven schools as in the preceding year. Of this number of children only three hundred and ten attended school with an average attendance of only two hundred and nine. The average compensation per da)' was only eighty-seven cents for a term of only forty-four days. The tax collected for building, repairing, fuel, etc., was only one hundred and seventeen dollars and twelve cents. There was no change in he library.

About this time the school law underwent a very general revision and re-enacment. Up until this time the schools made but little progress and the reasons came in answers from almost every township in the state, that it was for the lack of teachers trained in their profession, and acquainted with the approved methods and art of teaching. For this purpose the state superintendent suggested the establishment of a normal school fur the training of teachers.

Tn 1861 the count}- school examiner. Alexander J. Douglas, reported for this township four hundred and ninety school chilt|u.i. of which two hundred and fiftv-three housJ'">s and two hundred and thirty-seven girls, attending school in ten districts. The township library contained two hundred and thirty-six volumes, and the tax collected for building and repairing was five hundred and nineteen dollars and seventy-seven cents. It would be interesting if the examiner had made comments on the condition of the schools and buildings of that day, but this was not done.

The county examiner. H. D. Wilson, in 1864 reported that the average compensation of teachers in Thorncreek was one dollar and twenty-three cents a day, and the number of days one hundred and nine; the number of school houses as nine, all frame buildings, valued at twenty-six hundred dollars, and a total value of twenty-nine hundred and fifty dollars on all school property in the township. The township library contained three hundred and twenty volumes, and five hundred and sixty-nine were taken out for use within the year. The amount paid to trustee for managing school matters was sixteen dollars. It seems as if there was one school abandoned during the past year or two.

In 1866 County Examiner I. B. McDonald reported five hundred and six school children, of which two hundred and fifty-eight were boys and two hundred and forty-eight were girls, in Thorncreek township. Of this number only four hundred and twenty-three attended school in the eleven districts - the number of districts the township contains at present. These schools were taught by four male and seven female teachers, the former receiving an average of one dollar and fortyeight cents per day and the latter one dollar and tweny-five cents per day for one hundred days. At this time Thorncreek town- ship ranked first in the average length of schools in days. These eleven school houses were all frame* and the total estimated value of all school property was three thousand one hundred and fifty dollars. The number of volumes in the library was four hundred and seventy-five, but only one hundred and twenty-five were read. The reports from all the townships show a great falling off in the number of volumes read.

The county examiner in 1868 reported the total value of school property in this township' at only two thousand three hundred dollars and the volumes in the library at two hundred and ninety, of which only forty were taken out during the year.

The township library has been on the decline for some years past. The reason for this is the increase of newspapers, and the well known one given by some of the county superintendents of the different counties in the state. Our own county superintendent, the beloved and revered A. J. Douglas, in 1874, said of these libraries that they "are not very well cared for and but little read. The reading material was intended for some other generation." This seems to have been the opinion of every superintendent who said anything upon the subject.

In T870 the report shows two hundred and seventy-eight boys and two hundred and fifty girls of school age, of which three hundred and seventy-one attended school witli an average attendance of _ only two hundred and twelve. In this report it is stated that there were only ten districts in which school was taught. In 1872 it was reported that one new school house was erected at a value of six hundred dollars.

taking the place of the frame buildings and Thorncreek township kept up in this advancement until today all its school buildings are substantial brick structures, and some are of modern architecture and arrangement. Better locations were selected as building sites, taking into consideration the convenience to the greatest number of children. The teachers were better qualified for the profession by the training which thev received in normal schools and teachers' institutes. Parents gradually took a greater interest in the schools and a general improvement became manifest which has been maintained until the present time.