St. Marys Township

St. Marys Township

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,

183S. This was the fust white child born in this township. Some of the other early residents of this tosvnship were a Mr. A.yres, who came in 1S21, and settled in section 16, on the Wayne trace; that John Ross came in 1S29 and settled in section 28. and Esias Daily in 1833 and settled in section 26 ; that Zachariah Smith and William Heath, Sr., came in 1S36. Andrew Teeple, Robert D. Tisdale, Elisha Gulic and Ardillas Carter were all early settlers. The Wayne trace passes along the Saint Mary's river and through the Rivare Reservation, which was platted for allotment on the 26th day of May, 1S55. This township has two towns, Rivare and Pleasant Mills, also two railroads. The plat of Pleasant Mills was recorded on the 8th day of September, 1846. The town was laid out by F. A. Goddard and George W. Heath in thirty iots, sixty-six by one hundred and thirty-two feet in size. On the 27th day of December, 1850. an addition of thirty-two lots was made by the original proprietors of tins town site. Pleasant Alills is on the plank road route connecting Saint Mary's with Fort Wayne, and in the fifties was a flourishing town. Eefore that time the river was used as a means of travel and for carrying produce to market. The boats and large canoes conveyed grain, lumber, furs and other produce from Goddard's stores and mills down the river to market. The first mill was on the east side of the river and was built in 1834. The next was on the west side and was built four years later, with buhrs for grinding grain. This mill changed to a woolen factory and a new grist mill built in 1846. This was operated for about fifty years, and rebuilt in 1896 by J. C. Cowan and W. W. Smith.. In this village many of the old buildings have outlived their usefulness and have been torn down. However, one of the old Goddard store buildings is yet standing at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets and is used as a residence and baiber shop. Pleasant Mills has three churches, the Baptist, a brick building, put up in 1878; a United Brethren structure that shows its age, and a new frame house, built by the Methodist congregation. This town, unlike Monmouth, when its railroad was completed in 18S0, regained some of its lost vitality and took on new life. It opened up a grain market and now has several good general stores. This town has a large brick graded school building. The original was a two-story, two-room brick building that was put up in 1881 by Trustee A. M. Fuller. This was remodeled and enlarged in 1897 and an additional primary room built in 1906 by Trustee William II. Teeple. Pleasant Mills has one brick residence, one restaurant, one blacksmith shop, one barber shop, one grain elevator, one livery stable, one butcher shop, one hardware store, threegeneral stores and one doctor, Dr. J. W. Vizard, state representative for Adams county at this time.

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.

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.

The estimated population of Saint Mary's township in 1907 is 1.555. l'ne school enumeration, 394, and the number of voters, 31 t. The township trustees and election inspectors have been: Samuel Smith, 1846; John Foredyce, 1847; Daniel YVinans, 1849;