East Germantown, Indiana

The Lutheran Church and congregation at East Germantown, composed mainly of Germans from Pennsylvania, was formed about the year 1824. Among their early members were the Waltzes, Condos, Keplers, and others. Meetings were for several years held in the log school-house. Their minister, Rev. Gruber, lived in Ohio, but came over at stated times to preach and perform other pastoral services. Two acres of ground, a short distance north of town, were purchased at $11 an acre, comprising the sites of the present house of worehip, parsonage, and cemetery. The meeting-house was built in 1833. There being among these Pennsylvania immigrants members of the German Peformed Church, they joined with the Lutherans in building the house, and called a pastor of their own, S. Zumpey. The ministers preached alternately to the united congregation. This union continued but a few years, since which time the congregation has been solely under a Lutheran pastorate. After Mr. Gruber, they were served for a time by missionaries, Henkel, Heinaka, and perhaps others; and since by regular pastors, beginning with Schultz, who was succeeded by Eisency. They preached only in the German language. Next, Julius Stirewalt and Isaac Hursh, who preached in German and English alternately. M. J. Stirewalt, the present minister, preaches exclusively in English. About ten years ago, the church edifice was thoroughly repaired, and a gallery at one end, a steeple, and bell were added.

Passage source: History of Wayne County, Indiana, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time : with Numerous Biographical and Family Sketches, published 1872.

William Hawkins, son of John Hawkins, a native of South Carolina, was one of the earliest settlers at Cambridge City, and original owner of most of the land on which the town has been built. It had been entered in 1813, by his father, who did not live to occupy it. ISTor did William, his son, to whom the land descended, make any material improvement on it until peace had, been made with the Indians, in 1814. In 1817, he married Isabel Powell, by whom he had ten children: 1. Jane, who married Allen Williams, and died here. He resides at Xenia, 0. 2. John S. N., a physician at Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. 3. 3Iar}/, wife of Pyrrhus Woodward, of N"ewcastle. 4. Simon P., who died at 7. 5. Nathan S., who married Huldah C. Marsh, of Vt., and resides near Cambridge. 6. Tamar J.., wife of David Binford ; they live at Thornton. 7. William, who married Amelia Marshall, and lives at Leavenworth, Kansas. 8, 9. Amos, who died at 11 ; and Isabel, in infancy. 10. Lemuel, who married Caroline Brown.

Passage source: History of Wayne County, Indiana, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time : with Numerous Biographical and Family Sketches, published 1872.

Dr. John W. Smith, son of Benjamin Smith, was born in Wayne township, and removed with his father, in 1824, to Jackson, ^ mile north of Dublin. He commenced practice as a physician, at Dalton, in 1836; practiced at Dublin from 1849 till 1855 ; since in Wabash county, and in Peru, Miami Co. ; and returned in 1868 to Dublin. He was married to Abigail Misner, by whom he had three sons; all of whom. and himself served in the late war. Dr. Smith was a surgeon of the 155th liegiment. Amos C, his eldest son, served 4 years and 4 months; James D., to the end of the war; both wounded. Oliver C, the youngest, served 4 months.

Passage source: History of Wayne County, Indiana, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time : with Numerous Biographical and Family Sketches, published 1872.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Jackson Township - it names this place 2 more 2 times.