Jackson Township

Jackson Township

The township being situated in the extreme southeastern part of the county and being wholly in the " Great" or " Miami Reserva¬ tion," did not come into market until other parts of Cass County (especially in the vicinity of Logansport) were being rapidly brought into a state of cultivation.

In November, 1841, Richard R. Howard (who had been a citi¬ zen of Harrison Township since 1833, and still, the year previous, a citizen of Noble Township) moved into what is now Jackson Town¬ ship. Howard was a great hunter and fisher, and as the deep forests were advantageous to his calling, he hesitated not to sell his claims in the older township and settle in the new. Despite the hardships undergone in those early years, Mr. H., by reason of strength, is yet spared and is making his home; at present, with his son, Nelson, who is living upon the farm where Mr. Howard first settled.

Mr. H. informs us that at the time he moved, there was but one family living within the borders of what is now Jackson. That was the family of James Dixon, who lived upon the farm now owned by Samuel B. Sprinkle. Mr. Dixon had moved the April previous (1841), and hence has the honor of being the first white man in the township.

A settlement now being commenced, the following year, 1842, a number of well-to-do men were added to the little colony. They were Israel Bickell, who came early in the year and settled on the the land owned, at present, by Robert Williams and I. V. Canine; Daniel Flinn, who came a little later the same year, and fixed his home on the Ramsey farm ; Hezekiah Frush, on the land belonging to Canine; Jacob Myers, on the Fickle farm ; David Kemp, on the farm owned by his widow; John Flinn, on the George Staffer farm ; Thomas Morgan, on the I. V. Canine tract of land ; Freeman Dag¬ gett, on the Fickle farm; David Bickell, on the farm belonging to Thomas Morgan; Henry Bickell, on what is now the Williamson Wright farm, and William Frush on the Joseph Graves land.

In 1843, came the following: David McCalley, who settled on the present site of Galveston; Elisha Garrett, on the Joshua Garrett farm; William_ Stanley, on the Bickell farm ; Isaac Windom, on what is now the Lewis Wample farm; David Bell, on the farm belonging to Mr. Adams; a gentleman by the name of Thomas, on the Emrick farm; James Bell, on the farm owned by his son William; William Dale, on the Joseph Graves farm ; Daniel Fickle, on the Daggett farm ; Christian Howdyshell, on the farm belonging to Mr. Stauffer; William Murphy, on the Joseph Gray farm, and James Wind, on what is now the Absalom Boring farm.

After 1844, the township began to be rapidly settled. Among those who came soon after that time with others, whose exact date and place of settlement are to us unknown, we name James Hayworth (probably came as early as 1842); the Grays, Samuel B. Sprinkle, Joseph Parks, William Tracy, Robert Williams, James Graves, N. Jump, I. V. Canine, Joseph Graves, Dr. J. C. Loop, Dr. T. Bald¬ win, R. S. McW r illiams and Joshua Barnett. The latter is one of the oldest men of the county.

The first religious meeting in the township was held at Richard Howard's in 1842 by the Disciples, or Christians, a Mr. George Smith preaching. The next denomination was the United Brethren, who held meeting the year following (1843) in private families, Mr. Doolittle being their preacher. The next denomination was the Methodists.

The first church was built by the Methodists in 1849 or '50, and known as the "Sprinkle Chapel." The next church was by the United Brethren, in Galveston, soon after.

The first school house was built on the William Stanley farm, where Bickell now lives, about the year 1843. Mr. John M. Jackson taught the first school held in the new house.

The township was organized June 6, 1847. The first election was held soon after at the cabin of William Frush, now the Canine farm. At this election, Thomas, who is still a citizen of the township, acted as Inspector. The first Justice of the Peace was Daniel Kemp. Thomas Patterson also held this office at an early date. Richard Howard was one of the first Township Trustees; the names of the other township officers have been forgotten.

The first person to engage in the milling business was John Sprinkle, who built a saw mill on the south prong of Deer Creek, about 1846 or '47. A man by the name of Hiatt also built a saw-mill on the same stream at an early date.

The first death was that of William Dale, caused from cutting his foot, which occurred in the year 1843 or '44. The first marriages and births are not remembered by our informants.

In the way of improvements, considering the late date at which the white man began to fell her forests, Jackson has indeed made rapid progress. Her farms are generally well improved, with a goodly number of substantial dwellings. Her churches, with name and location, may be seen by reference to the township map found on another page of the Atlas. Her schoolhouses are - ; enrolled school children, - .

Lincoln

is situated in the north-central part, and was laid out by Theodore Lincoln, about the year 1855. It contains at present the following business houses: Howard Shanks, general merchant; Bell & Sou, saw¬ mill ; William Tracy, cooper shop ; J. H. Doyle, miller; Dr. Lester, physician and surgeon; Albert Rhea, blacksmith; on church - Methodist; one school house and a post office, H. Shanks, Postmaster. The town is a station on the line of the P., C. & St. L. Railroad.

a thriving village and a town of much enterprise, is situated in the southeastern part of the township, on the line of the P., C. & St L. Railroad. It was laid out in 1854 by James Carter. Its first mer¬ chants were B. 0. Spencer and Mr. Hay. The business men at present are as follows: M. H. I homas & Sons, dry goods, etc.; John Turley, dry goods, etc.; Z. W. Loop, druggist; G. W. William,druggist; A. J. Shirley, stoves and tinware; Thomas McGovern, groceries; M. II. Thomas & Sons, grist-mill; B. L. King, saw-mill and pump factory; J. H. Eisenbrey, harness and shoe shop ; Thomas Flinn, shoe shop; William Russ, carpenter and joiner; A. B. Rule, blacksmith; George Page, blacksmith; John Crisler, meat market; Noah Ault, cooper shop; John Keever, broom factory;William Koup, cabinet maker.

Mollie Lytle, millinery; G. M. Shaffer, hotel; Jacob Collins, wagon maker; B. M. Arnell, sign painter; Croft & Smith, gallery; Geo. Davis, railroad agent.