Van Buren Township

Van Buren Township

The (itsl settlement of which we have any record was made in this lownship by Peter Huntsman and Nehcniiah Coldren, on sections 17 and iS, range 1). in I$2o, Among other early ones are Nathaniel Calahan, Ami Lawrence, Asa and John Olncy. The land in ihis lownship came inio market Ihc first Monday in June. [S31, and during the same month Nathaniel Calahan, Obadiah and John Lawrence each enlered eighty acre, in sections 17 and iS, range 9. The first birth in the township was that or Sylvan Us Obey, February 20, 1332. Hulda Lawrence was bom December 22 of same year. The first sermon was preached sometime in July. 1S32. by Rev. Christopher Cory, at the residence of Nathaniel Calahan. now owned by hi? - hi, Miles Calahan. A school-house was buill on this farm, and in the Summer of 1S36 Ihc first school was taught by Clarissa Monger. During the Summer of 1834, Sheldon Martin & Brothers put up a saw-mill at Van Hurcn Village, on Pigeon River, and the following year creeled a grist-mill. These were the first mills put up in Ihe lownship. Sometime in 1S36, 1 1 aiding & John -on built a saw-mill on Buck Creek, and a Mr. Pierce pul up a blacksmith shop at Van Huren the same year. The Village of Van Hurcn was laid out in 1836, surveyed by Dehwan Martin. 'Ihc first justice of the peace was one Pierce, the same man that put up the firsi blacksmith shop. A hotel had been elected by L. D. Brooks, and a cooper ..hop by 11. It. Oslrander; also a wagon shop by one Carey. C. C. Barns was a carpenter and joiner, The firsi physician was Sidney Cobb, who died after residing here a year or two. William Fox succeeded him, and George and James Fox carried on a shoe-shop. The mill properly passed into the hands of John Dolion, and finally were purchased by George Nnrbnr, who is at present operating them. The old hotel was a few years since destroyed. The village contains one church, a good two-story school-building, and Iwo stores owned by William Drcbes and John Morrison. There arc also two physicians - W, B. Gntbb and A. Toms, James Hagerty settled here in 1-.'. and .= ihe oldest living settler in ihe village. The township is well watered by Fawn River, or Crooked Creek and Pigeon River, wilh their tributaries. Marshes arc numerous and extensive, one ol them. Big Marsh, ' having considerable deposits of bog iron. There arc also a number of lakes, Stone Lake, in Ihe northwest portion of Ihe township, being one of Ihe most beautiful in the counly.

The greater portion of Ibis lownship is thickly settled. As will be s< by reference to the map. there is considerable marsh in the eastern a northwestern portions of the lownship. causing quite an area of land to main unimproved, and being, except in very dry seasons, when grass is 1 on them, almosl worthless. A number of marshy lakes also abound, principally .-.long the <;aslcrn boundary, which feed one branch of Ihe Elkhart River, which is here 3 very sluggish, dirty stream. A. mill pond on Ihc south line of ihe township causes considerable overflow, and renders slill more land useless.

The first man who entered land in this township was Anthony Nelson, who came from Ohio in 1829 and located first in Elkhart County, and finally removed to LaGrangc County, where he had entered three eighty-acre lots in 183a. David Rogers, a botanical physician from Geneva, N.Y., was probably the nesi settler, ;is ho came into ihe township in 1833, and entered sixteen eighty-acre lots. Charles Roy came with his family from about the same locality in 1836, making the trip in twenty-one days, fifteen days of ihe time being rainy and the roads in terrible condition. This township was named from a very line, large spring on Mr. Roy's place, which was famous among the Indians and backwoodsmen half a century ago and more. There is a number of olher very fine springs on Mr. Roy's place, which have broken out during violent thunder storms and never been dry since. John S. Gibson settled on section 33 in 1835. E. Schermcrhorn came lo the

Township. Has lived on present location, section 4, Clear Spring Town- l.ip, since 1S40. Richard Green located on section 35, in iSjj, on land now owned by Willard Wemplc. Nicholas Low was also an early settler. llawley Peck bought land in 1S3S, nud moved on it in 18.1(1, Orvin Kent was perhaps in this portion of Ihe counly as early as any one, but did not actually settle until after the others we have mentioned,

La Grange

CO, CHAPMAN, Photographer and Healer in t'liiomoi, Engravings, Moulding, Picture Frames, Stereoscopes, elc. Old Pictures copied ami enlarged in any site. Negatives always preserved.

in DSON S RUll K, Proprietoi ol 1 a Grange Mills-, and dealers in Flour, Feed, Meal, Bran, Shorts, etc. Also dealers in rough and dressed Lumber.

II I SI HOONOVER, Dealer in Drags. McditSues, 1 iqimrs, Paints and Oil- ; Groceries of besl quality always kept on hand. West side Main Street.

Sewing Machines, and Agricultural Implements. J. M HALL, Dealer in Sewing Machines. M, I PUNCHES, Livery and heed Stable. L. L. MERIFIELD. Lumber Dealer. JOHN MORTON. Lumber Dealer. JAS -s. DRAKE, Attorney at Lav,. JAS. 1 DRAKE. Dealer in Heal Eslatc. PARKY & PI All'. La Grange Nursery; Fruit and

A. A. SNYDER, Nulary Public and Dealer in Drugs, Groceries. Notions Stationery. Blank, Miscellaneous, and School Books, &c, K:c. Physicians' prescriptions carefully compounded.

DICKINSON & TUCK. Dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Paints, Oils, Varnishes. Dye Stuffs, Perfumer)' and Toilet Article-, Blank. Miscellaneous, and School

WESTLER .V AXEL, Proprietors ol Wolcoitville Mills, Dealers in Grain. Flour, and Feed ; Custom Work a specially . < aih paid (or grain of all kinds.

STEPHEN BROWN (Van Bnrcn Township), owning and running Sleani Thresher. Doing double Ihe amount of work with half the labor of any machine in Ihe country; threshing in Ihe Fall of 1S73, 400,000 bushels in 70 days, threshing for 140 different men. and selling machine 180 times.

Ities And Mongo

D. J. SWART.S, Physician and Surgeon - gives special attention to diseases of (he Eye and Eat. Office in Swarls & Long's Drug Slorc, where may he found all articles pertaining to a first class Drug

Miscellaneous

GEO. W. PRICE, Practical Blacksmith ; all Wagons, Sleighs, and Buggies ironed with neatness ; Horseshoeing done with promptness; Custom Work attended to, and all work warranted; Le.iington. Greenfield Township.

H.J. HERN, Manufacturer of Brooms and Broom Brushes of all kinds; a constant supply kept On hand, and all orders promptly attended to; Lexington, Greenfield Township.

L. L. DARROW, Dealer in Thoroughbred Stock, Poland China Hogs, Cotswold Sheep. Asiatic Fowls, and Poultry of all kinds; Orland, Greenfield Township.

J. A. HALL, Pleasant Hill Place, Patentee and Manufacturer of Hall's Windmills and Pumps, for wells of any depth ; also sells Iron Pipe. Pumps, Well Points, Fittings, Valves, etc., etc. ; Ornamental Fountains erected on order. Ligonier, Ind.

Res. Of B J. Dickinson, Sec 28, Johnson Tp

Incorporated 1840. Invested Capital. $7,000. Endowment Fund. $10,000. Rufus Patch. A.M. Principal ; Mrs. Mary D. Patch und Mrs. Martha Doolittlc, Assistants; Miss Miry Abbott, Teacher of Music. Tuition, per quarter of twelve neks, $s to $7 , Music (piano or organ.) twenty-four lessons, $10 - use of instrument $3 ; Fall Term, of sixteen weeks, t.tLjms 'St Tuesday in September , Winter Term, of twelve week,?, begins <hu tsl Tuesday in January . Spruit; and Si Term, of twelve weeks, begins the 2d Tuesday in April. Thirty ladie> ami gentlemen can be furnished with roon board at the Seminary, in connection with the family of the Principal. Room rent $3 to $450 per quarter. Board $2.50 to $2.75 P" week.