Perry Township

Table Of Contents

where the Indian and beast of prey roamed at will. Nerve, energy and a determined resolution were necessary at that time to z successfally with the many obstaclss presented. These being possessed || by Mr. Rogers, his humble log cabin soon appeared in the dense woods. This stood on the farm now belonging to Tucker and } a burn. Anthony Leek came with Rogers, with whom he made his home for about one year, when he moved to what is now Jackson ship. j E "4 pa ds Spring of 1828, a widow lady by the name of Nichols settled on the Clark farm. A little later in the Spring of the same year, David Clark settled on the farm where he is now living. H accordingly has been longer in the township than any one now Mr. Clark is an upright, honorable citizen - attending strictly to his own affairs. He does not, we believe, take the interest nor feel the pride in being a pioneer that he should. Surely much respect is the gray-haired vet« rans yet among us.

Emigration having turned toward Perry, before the close of | the following men had fixed their homes within her borders Kilmore, who settled on the land owned by Lane; Philip Bo the Charles Harper farm; Moses Watkins, on the farm at pre belonging to David Clark, and Zabina Babcock, on the Jesse farm.

In 1829, came the following: Peter Groves, who settled O. Rogers farm ; Nicholas Cunningham, on the land at present he ing to a Mr. Smith; David Reinhart (exact location unkno Charles Campbell, on the Maroney farm; Samuel Anderson still living in the township), on the William Tucker farm, and Brockman, on the farm at present belonzing to Thomas Rogers.

In 1830, Luke Blacker settled on the Samuel Bussey | William Blacker, son of Luke Blacker, came with his father,' whom he lived four years, when (in 1834) he married and settled û the land where he is now living. The same year, Benjamin Lo settled on the William Smith farm. His son John is now a leui merchant of Colfax. Others of 1830 were: William V. White, the Allen Reinhart farm; John Rector, on what is known ast Oats farm; William Rogers, exact location unknown; Andrew Print, ` on the farm belonging to Parker Print; John Voris, on the Maroney farm; and Joseph Cooley, on the farm belonging to Miles Carver.

Among those of 1831-32 were Samuel Hinton, Michael "Hinton, John E. Loveless, Michael and John D. Anthony Bro John Byers, Benjamin and Jeremiah Hinton, Wilhar ) Lowery, Enoch Johnson, John Miller, Jacob Creek Andrew Wolf and John Davis.

In 1835-36, came Dr. James M. Clark, Valentine Puff James Rector, B. Baley, William Baley, Henry Keyla, He ilton, John Weaver, William Hollaway, James Doyl, Alle and Thomas Sparks, Mr. DeFord and son Joseph, Fenton and George Lowery.

The first religious meeting in the township was held at the: of Elijah Rogers and Anthony Leek, by the Methodists, in the 1 of 1828. Joel Dolby was the preacher. "This was among the fi meetings in the county. It is generally conceded by all, that Dol preached the first sermon in the county. Whether services were in a grove near Mr. Rogers' or at his house, is not definitely kmo A meeting was held some time after this at the house of Ba Loveless, a Mr. Tartington, of the same denomination, preach : The f st church in the township was built on the Joseph la farm, in 1838-39, by the Methodists, and known " Shiloh." next was on the Reinhart farm, by the Presbyterians, about. The first school house was on the Elijah Rogers land, abo Soon after this, another was built on the Solomon Lowery a The township was organized at the September term of the Û E ders : ; Commissioners, at tho same in pm s eld at. Lowery's sehool house on tli

In 1849, about the time the L, C. & L. Railroad was commenced, a town was laid out by Montgomery Strowd, to which was given the name Midway. E

About 1870, the L., C. & S. W. Railroad was completed, passing direetly through Colfax. business of every kind. From that day until the present it has grown very rapidly. The appearance of her business houses, her splendid sehool building, churches, and many comfortable dwellings all indieate an industrious, intelligent, enterprising class of citizens.

Her business men at present are as follows: George Harbaugh: Harness Shop; J. R. Shepherd, Tinware; E. C. Andrews, Grocery ; E. H. Johnson, Dry Goods; Hayden & Teegarden, Drugeists; J. C. Clark, Dry Goods; R. A. Clark & Co., Hardware; Patrons of Husbandry, General Store; J. D. Holmes & Co., Grocery; William Powers, Farmers' Bank; Runyan, Dukes & Co., Dry Goods and Allen Sparks, Dry Goods; White & Girt, Hardware; John V, Lovless, Groeery; John Ghent, Drueeist; Levi Tharp,

"ist; Joseph Kendall, Groeery ; T. B. Moore, Furniture; W. C. Bartholomew, Furnituse and Undertaking; Colfax Manufacturing Company, Fitch, Dukes & Co., Grain and Live Stoek ; John Mitchel, Warehouse; Isaac Die, Grist-Mill; Isaac Armstrong, Blacksmith ; G. P. Rondebush, Blacksmith; George Slaughter, Wagon Maker; John Dawson, Tile Factory; F. F. Banni Shoemaker; Clift & Co., Milliners; Benedict Moore, Hotel ; Martin Baley, Hotel; William Hayes, Cooper Shop. Physicians are: John M. Clark, J. R. Hawk, J. R. Thornberry, J. S. Claypool, J. E. Milburn, Joseph Parker, and H. J. Coon. Attorneys are: W. M. Engart, F. M. Goldsberry, J. W. Collins, and E. J. Benjamin. Churches are three, Methodist Episcopal, Christian or Disciples, and Catholic. One commodious brick school house. Post Offiee - B. B. Clark, P. M.

About the year 1840, in the heart of a dense forest, was built for school purpose a log house, which was conveniently fitted up with all the appliances necessary to success in school teaching. Elijah Mitchell and George Kenall were among the early teachers, who made their names famous as instructors of the young. The course of study there was not materially different from that of other schools of' that early day, and comprised a knowledge of reading, spelling, writing, cyphering and flogging.

The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad, at first called the Indianapolis Railroad, was located in the year 1849, and finished about the year 1852, when Mr. Strowd laid out a town, to which he gave the cognomen Midway, which, after a while, grew into our present Colfax. In time, the tastes of the people became so cultivated as to render the appearance of the old log school house odious, and they erected, on the same location, a frame school house, to which the young, of course, were proud to go. This house, however, at last, grew too small, and an old church was appropriated to the use of school. Here gathered the motley crowd of children into an unhandy and uncomfortable room, to receive instruction from either the primary or principal teacher.

But the year 1876 rolled round, with the general idea prevalent that there should be a convenient and commodious school building ereeted, which was accordingly done, and on the same site as the two former houses. The new Seminary building is a two-story brick, containing four school rooms, nicely seated, besides four cloak, one cabinet and@library, and two apparatus rooms. TE is well built and nicely furnished, and cost, outside of grounds, well and out houses, $7,100.

the new school: ©. A. Shotts, Principal; Vie Shuls, Intermediate, and Adra Andrus, Primary. Owing to the fact that the workmen were slow in completing their contract, school did not open in the Seminary till the 2d day of January, 1877. There were 225 students in attendance, the first term, and the teachers had an arduous work before them; all the more laborious, because the school had never been graded, and they had this work to do, which they did to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

School opens, this the second year, on the 17th of September, with instructors as follows: O. A. Shotts, Principal; Anna Correll, Grammar; Adra Andrus, Intermediate, and Anna Cotton, Primary. Others will instruct in music and drawing.

A complete course of study has been prepared, and everything possible is being done to make and retain the school as good as the best. Colfax is justly proud of her school facilities.