Van Buren Township

Van Buren Township

This is one of the best townships in the county and contains 23,040 acres. Tingle Lake, with an area of two squares miles, is a romantic and picturesque retreat and extends over Tnost of section 25. Wawa's Lake, formerly a part of the Indian Chief Waw-waesse's reservation, is largely on section 21. Both abound with fish and wild fowl. Van Buren was organized June 29, 1836, and was named by William Felkner, the first commissioner from that township to serve on the county board. Elkhart County bounds Van Buren Township on the north, Turkey Creek on the east, Plain on the south and Jefi'erson on the west. Early in March, 1833, Olivar Wright and his son Moses settled on section

28, and the 20th of ]\Iarch came William Felkiier and wife, and settled on section 21. Later in the same year Elijah Miller and Kichard Gawthrop settled on section 32, A. C. Cory on section 1, Samuel Street on section 29 and Mrs. Sarah DeBault and live children on section 32. The earlj* settlement was made on Little Turkey Creek Prairie. The new-comers planted a crop of corn in 1833, and surrounded the prairie with a rail fence to keep out loose stock the same year.

Kachel, daughtei- of William and Mary Ann Felkner, was born May 15, 1833, the first white child in the township. Her father erected the first log school-house in the autumn of 1835, on section 29. John G. Woods was the first teacher.

William Felkner was one of the most enterprising men of early times. He erected the first brick house in the county on section 21, in 1846, which is now owned by John Bartholemew.

He built the first frame barn in the county in 1836; it is standing at this date. The first cook stove in the township was purchased hj Mr. Felkner and was transported from Michigan City by Metcalf I'eck, the pioneer merchant of Leesburgii. People came for miles to see the wonder, and many for the first time in their lives beheld the great curiosity.

Concord Church was erected in 1847, on the northwest quarter of section 24, and was the common property of all the religious denominations in the township. It now belongs to the United Brethren. Van Bureii

Two railroads traverse the township, the Cincinnati, Wabash A: Michigan, and the Baltimore & Ohio. The first passes through Milford, and the second forms a junction one mile north. There are only a few houses at Milford Junction; no stores nor other business buildings. The Baltimore & Ohio Eailroad passes from southeast to northwest aci'oss sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Both roads give excellent shipping facilities, but the location of the Baltimore & Ohio so far from Milford has retarded in a great measure its growth and business prospects.

chain carriers. Judge A. M. Ferine settled on the town site in 1834, and his family may properly be termed the first residents of Millord, also Judge Ferine as the first hotelkeeper, although his house was not formally opened to the public until after the town was surveyed.

Dr. Nathan ('lian)berlain located in IMilford in 1839, and practiced for many years. Chipman and Doolittle were the first merchants of the town. The first frame building was erected by Henry Doolittle in 1840, and is now used as an office by J. C. McLaughlin. Dr. Abram Shaver and his brother Benjamin were the first to open a stock of drugs. A postofiice was established in 1839, Dr. Nathan Chamberlain, postmaster. The present incumbent, Mr. Levi Keehn, was appointed October 19. 1885.

Milford is to-day one of the prettiest towns ill the connty, with a popuhition of 600. The modern appearance of its residences, and substantial business buildinirs gives it an air of freshness, and a large retail trade is done here.

The Milford Times, devoted to the Prohibition interest, is conducted by J. A. Wertz, and the community is noted for morality and intelligence.

The substantial brick school building was erected in 1878, and a graded school established, with C. P. Hodge, principal; Miss Louisa Felkner, teacher of the intermediate, and Miss Jennie iLcDonald, teaelier of the primary' de])artment. There are 200 scholars enrolled at this date, with Messrs. John W. Caspar, principal; Marion Self, teacher of the intermediate, and Miss Annie AYatson, teacher of the primary department. Mr. Caspar is now serving his second term as principal of the Milford schools, and has given universal satisfaction.

The Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 180.3, the Christian church in 1867. Both are frame buildings in which services are regularly held. The " Progressive Brethren " organized their society in December, 1885, and in 1886 erected a handsome brick church, finished in modern style, which cost complete §4,500. Eev. R. F. Mallott is present pastor.

William Felkner erected the first brick business house in Milford in 1875. It is now occupied by Martin and Neil Felkner, who carry a large stock of general merchandise.

P. N. Allies and George Kleder each erected a two-story brick business house in 1881, and the ensuing year George Snow, Ed Smith and Charles A. Sparkland further improved the business center by the erection of substantial two-storv brick stores. F. P.Groves, a druggist, built his brick business block in 1885. C. C. Reytiolds, also a druggist, has been engaged in business for mcn'e tlian tliirty years in Milford, and in partnership with Martin and JVeil Felkner erected, in 1876, a hub and spoke factory and planing-mill that employed fifteen hands. This, the first and only manufactory of any kind ever attempted in Milford, was destroyed with its contents by fire in 1880, involving a direct loss to the three proprietors of !?i5,0U0 each.

There are two grain elevators, tlie fir.-^t belonging to the Cincinnati, Wabash ct Michigan Railroad, operated by Whetten & Higbee. Martin and Neil Felkner erected the second in 1886, and are the largest dealers in grain. Their elevator has a capacity of 5,000 bushels, and the firms handle annually 75,000 bushels of wheat, 50,000 bushels of oats, and 2,000 bushels of clover seed.

Kosciusko Lodge, No. JflS, A. F. da A. 31., was instituted January 2, 1869, and the charter was granted May 24, 1870. The charter members and officers elect for the first year were: Worshipful Master, Elislia Miller; Senior Warden, Charles I). Feltoii: Junior Warden, Edwin Barlow; Secretary, John A. Smith; Treasurer, W. C. Brown; Senior Deacon, T. B. Felkner; Junior Deacon, F. H. Stephenson; Tyler, Robert McCoy; Stewards, T. L. Smith and E. S. Higbee. Tlie order now has a membership of thirty-one, own their own building, and among the members are some of the most sub-taiitial men of the county.

MUford Lodge, No. ^78, I. 0. 0. F., was organized March 4, 1875. Simon Miller, Levi Keehn, Milton B. Groves, Preston F. Miles, Davis Gibson and Frank McAlpine were charter members. The first officei's were: Noble Grand, Simon Miller; Vice Grand, Levi Keehn; Secretary', Frank Mc- Alpine; Treasurer, Davis Gibson. For several years the society vi-as in a prosperous condition, but no meetings Ijave been held for several months.

Milford was incorporated in 1880. The first trustees were: Simon Miller, Isaac D. Hall and James H. Kinley. Isaac D. Hall was first President; John J. Hoopingarner, Clerk; David W. Becknell, Treasurer; James H. Hoftman, Marshal.

The present village board is composed of the following gentlemen: President, Enoch Pohrer; Trustees, William V. McDonald, Enoch Poll rer, Madison B.Jones; Ti-easurei-, David W. Becknell; Marshal. George Whorton.