Richland Township (part 2 of 2)

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.