Rivare, Indiana

Saint Mary's township was one of the first in the county. At its beginning it comprised all of what is now Adams county except the present Root and Union townships. This township has some historic interests that are different from any other of which we have mentioned. It contains an Indian reservation of about one thousand six hundred acres of land, which lies principally between the towns of Rivare and Pleasant Milfs on- the east side of a line dividing sections 16 and 17 and 20 and 21, This reservation was used as a residence by certain Indian families and a general camping ground by the tribes as they traveled from Girty's town - now Saint Mary's. Ohio - to Fort Wayne semi-annually to receive their payments for lands sold to the United States in 1818 and 1S26. After 1832 these Indian tribes, were removed to west of the Mississippi river. It is said that Robert Smith came to Saint Mary's township as a resident in T832, and that his son. John Smith, was born on the 2d dav of October,

Passage source: Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, published 1907.

The town of Rivare was laid out by David Shaffer and the plat recorded on the 13th day of October, 18S3. This town originally had twelve lots and three streets. In November of the same year George J. Bipus laid out an addition of forty-nine lots that are fifty by one hundred and fifty feet in size. This town has two churches, one a United Brethren frame structure, that was built about 18S0, and an elegant brick edifice, erected by the Methodist congregation in 1901. This is the finest and most expensive church building in the township. In this village are some good residences, a saw and planing mill, a general store, kept at present by E. H. Cowan, who is also the postmaster - the postofnee at this town is known as Bobo. In 1887 Trustee J. C. Cowan built a graded school building two stories high, with two rooms, in Rivare, thus making two graded school districts for this township. Among the earliest school buildings were the Ross school house, built upon what is .sometimes called the "Backbone," a ridge running back from the river. This house was built about 183S and was situated in section 27. The Smith school house, in section 8. The Hawk school house, northeast of Rivare, in section 4. These school houses were all log structures of the genuine pioneer type. The first brick school house in this township was built in the Jones district, in section 22, and put up about i8!>o. The Evangelical Association has a good frame church building in section 3. The old Mount Tabor church house is still standing in section 8, south of Rivare.

Passage source: Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, published 1907.

Its history would be interesting reading if all were given. The Hope Well church building to the cast of Pleasant Mills, in section 28, is a log structure, but has long since been used as a residence. This township has two railroads, the Clover Leaf, which passes through Pleasant Mills, and the Chicago & Lrie, through Rivare.

Passage source: Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana, published 1907.

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 St. Marys Township - it names this place 1 more 1 time.