Washington Township

Washington Township

Washington was organized in March, 1838. The northern boundary is Tippecanoe Township, east, Whitley County, south, Whitley County and Monroe Township, west, Wayne Township.

The first settlers were John Makemson and his brother Vincent. They erected the first house built in the townshii) on section 3 in the spring of 1885, and the same autumn Vincent Makemson erected the second house in the township. In 1836 Henry Hoover, John McNeal, George and Henry Somerville, Samuel Firestone, William Moore, and others with their families came, and the close of 1837 found John Hoover, Robert McNeal, James Crouch and many others, all of whom came with tlie determination of making a home in the new country. The first election was held at the house of Martin Braysted in April, 1838, and Lewis Keith was elected justice of the peace.

Morris P. Chaplin was married to Miss Sarah A. Morris in 1840, and later, in the same year, his sister, Mary Chaplin, became the wife of Adam Laing. These were the first marriages in the township.

The first public house was built upon the Ryerson homestead in 1839, and was for many years in charge of G. W. llyerson. He planted the first orchard in the township in 1841, having raised tlie young trees from seed obtained in Fort Wayne. The first postofhce was also established at his house in 1837, George Kyerson, postmaster; his son Ira, deputy postmaster. The Fort Wayne & Chicago Koad was surveyed in 1837, and passed the house of Mr. llyerson. The mail was carried on horseback between the points named, and the postman's arrival was a great event at that early day. Lewis Keith, one of the founders of Pierceton, was one of the most prominent men of that time, being miller, blacksmith, justice of the peace and general adviser in a legal, social and theological way. In 1853 he erected the first hewed-log house in the township, which was afterward used as a tavern, and stood on lot 1, block 15, in the original town pilat of Pierceton.

A log school-house was erected in 1840 on the farm of Daniel Firestone, and the same year Adam Laing taught the first term of school. The scholars paid tuition to Mr. Laing, the free school system not being established until 1851. Washington Township has now twelve school districts outside

The first religious services was the funeral sermon preached by Rev. William Devinney, a Methodist Episcopal missioiuiry, at the house of John Bratt, the occasion referred to was the first death in the township.

The first church society organized was the Methodist, at the house of Robert McNeal in 1838, and for five years religious services were held at his house. In 1851 Mr. McNeal donated a lot, and a frame church was erected by the Methodist society, and until the organization of the Methidist Episcopal church at Pierceton the society was in a prosperous condition. The church was sold in 1872, and the congregation concenti'ated at Pierceton.

The Dunkard church, known as the Washington Congregation, was organized December, 1860, by elders Metzgar, LTllery and Brumbaugh, at the residence of Samuel S. Leedy, with twenty-one members. Services were held at private residences and in school houses until the purchase of the Baptist church in 1866. That society was practically disbanded. The Dunkard members numbered seventy. The church is located two and onehalf miles north of Pierceton. Levi Workman was the first minister chosen from their congregation. This church has a membership of 150, and a fine brick church has recently been erected three and one-half miles northeast of Warsaw. Jesse Calvert, A. H. Puterbaugh, H. II. Brallier and Levi Stone are present pastors.

Kosciusko station is a small hamlet possessing but little commercial importance, situated on the line of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. There is a postofiice, a blacksmith-shop, and small stores where farmers can obtain general merchandise. The iiostoffice is known as " Wooster."

This, the second largest town in the county, was laid out December 6, 1852, by Lewis Keith and John B. Chapman, on the north part of the northwest quarter of section 27, and christened Pierceton, in honor of President Franklin Pierce.

John B. Chapman, one of its founders, inaugurated business enterprise by opening a general stock of merchandise in a small log house, on a farm outside the now corporate limits of the town. In 1853 three frame buildings were erected, and in the one which occupied the present site of the building owned by Lawrence Spayde & Co., a postoffice was established in 185'4, with O. P. Smith as postmaster. Dr. William Hayes, one of the first medical men in the town, succeeded Smith as postmaster in 1855. Dr. Baker and William Conant erected a sash and door manufactory in 1864. Before it was long in operation Dr. Baker sold his interest to John Moore, who in 1872 purchased Conant's interest. Owing to his death this has been closed for two years.

The Pierceton " Roller Process " Flouring Mills were erected in 1862, by Michael Murray, at a cost of 818,000. The firm of D. Balliet & Strauce Bros, now operate the same.

John L. Douglass owns and operates the saw and planing mill; Kirkland & Son the chair factory; T. W. O'Brien is a manufacturer of wagons and buggies on quite an extensive scale, and the principal dealer in grain is Samuel Snj'der, who began business in 1877.

opera house. The stage is 18 x 35, and the appurtenances thereto are quite elaborate. With an expenditure of a few hundred dollars, the doctor has given Pierceton an opera house of no mean pretensions, as it seats comfortably 400 people.

The People's Bank was opened in April, 1885, by W. C. Matchett, and is of great convenience to the business men of the town. It does a general banking business, and succeeds the "Citizens' Bank." which was organized in 1876.

Secret Societies

Pierceton Lodge JS'o. '257, I. 0. 0. F., received its charter iJ-.y 16, 1866, and held its first meeting July 17 of that year. The first ofiicers were: D. M. Shoemaker, Noble Grand; John Shaffer, Vice Grand: W. H. Spayde, Recording Secretary; Jacob Klingel, Treasurer. Eli Hayden. George Watts and N. B. Morland were also charter members. The lodge room with all contents, also the records, were destroyed by tire August 26, 1878, but meetings were held in the Universalist church until another building was made ready for occupancy. The lodge is very prosperous, and the following are the officers for this term: J. F. Logan, Noble Grand; J. C. Lilly, Vice Grand; T. J. Heagy, Recording Secretary; C. D. Snyder, Permanent Secretary; F. H. Foster, Treasurer. There are 122 members, and the lodge-room is tastily furnished.

records were destroyed bj fire on the occasion previously mentioned. William H. Spayde was the tirst Scribe, and E. i\. Eddy first Treasurer. There are thirty-three members, twenty-eight Past Chief Priests and iifteen Past High Priests, belonging to this encampment, whose officers in December, 1886, were: J. 0. Lilly, Chief Priest; E. J. McAlpine, Senior Warden; Jacob Klingle, Junior Warden; E. H. Poster, Scribe; J. R. Shanton, Treasurer, and T. A. Hoover, High Priest. The first initiations were made June 30, 1870, J. M. Minnidi, Marquis R. Bishop, Jonathan Thatcher, Thomas Cretcher, George W. Starr, David Kufiel, A. C. Engle and John K. Eldor becoming members of the encampment.

Picreeton Lodge, JVo. 377, A. F. ^1. J/., was organized June 20, 1868. The first officers elect were: Henry H. Sweet, Worshipful Master; William A. Babcock, Senior Warden; John G. Waldo, Junior Warden; Dwight P. Nichols, Secretary; William Sherburn, Treasui'er; Jerome Potter, Senior Deacon; Uriah Rnch, Junior Deacon; David Johnston, Tyler. There is a large membership, and the order has a nicely-furnished lodge-room over the postoffice. Officers for 1886: H. 0. King, Worshipful Master; L. S. Foster, Senior Warden; Josiah Trump, Junior Warden; E. Eadclifte, Secretary; William McNamara, Treasurer; L. B. Snyder, Senior Deacon; Dr. C. R. Long, Junior Deacon; Hiram Finton, Tyler; A. R. Johnson and A. M. Johnston, Stewards.

Pierceton Chapter, No. 56, Order of the Eastern Star, was organized July 8, 1884, with twenty-five members. Tliis now includes many of the most prominent ladies and gentlemen upon its roster, which now shows a total of fifty-six members. The officers elect in December, 1886, were as follows: Mrs. E. Moore, W. M.; S. S. Eater, W. P.;

Mrs. (). Palmer, A. M.; Mrs. M. Bate, Secretary; Mrs. C. Clemens, Treasurer; Mrs. J. Miller, Con.; Mrs. I). Moody, A. Con.; Mrs. William McNainara, W. ; H. Finton, Sergeant. The ladies comprising the star are: Miss I. Spayde, Ada; Mrs. A. M. Johnston, Ruth; Mrs. Mary Brusnaham, Esther; Mrs. D. Balliett, Martha; Mrs. W. C. Moore, Electa.

John Murray Post, No. liil^, G. A. R., was mustered December 28, 1882, by Colonel R. S. Robertson, of Fort Wayne, with twentyeight charter members. The officers installed at that date were: John Moon, Commander; Frank H. Foster, Senior Vice-Commander; (). Palmer, Junior Vice-Commander; J. W. Miller, Adjutant; L. C.Smith, Quartermaster; H. ILackett, Surgeon; W. F. Eddy, Officer of the Day.

Present officers: Hiram Finton, Commander; W. F. Eddy, Senior Vice-Commander; F. M. Idle, Junior Vice-Commander; A. G. Adams, Chaplain; N. R. Galbreath, Adjutant; L. C. Smith, Quartermaster; IE W. Hayes, Officer of the Day; Samuel Kyle, Officer of the Guard; A. J. Scott, Surgeon.

John M<>or>' Camp, Sons of Veterans, No. 137, was instituted April 1, 1886, with seventeen charter members. The recruits have been rajiidly secured, and the roster shows a gain of twenty-nine men to date. Meetings are held in the G. A. R. Hall. The present officers are: Eugene Underwood, Captain; William Shader, First Lieutenant; W. A. Clefibrd, Orderly Sergeant; A. B. Palmer, Quartermaster-Sergeant; W. Thomas, Chaplain; A. E. Douglas, Color Sergeant; Charles Finton, Sergeant of the Guard; Lime Wine, Corporal of the Guard; Jerome Gwin, Camp Guard; Charles Galbreath, Picket Guard; Dan Finton, Principal Musician; A.

Jb^ire Department. - Pierceton has an excellent fire department, and some excellent work has been done by its members. One of the most severe conflagrations that Pierceton has experienced was the burning of the Palmer House, one residence and eight business houses August 26, 1878. The Alert Fire Company, No. 1, was organized August 4, 1876. It consisted of forty members, with officers as follows: Foreman, F. H. Foster; First Assistant, K. M. Lawrence; Second Assistant, Levi Snyder; Secretary, S. B. Albright; Treasurer, F. V. B. Minnich; L. I). Nichols and Josiah Trump, Pipemen; .1. McGonigal, Hose Foreman. A hand engine, four hundred feet of hose, and twelve Babcock fire extinguishers were purchased by the \illage council in 1876 and placed in charge of tlie company, and they in turn distributed them among the business houses. Convenient cisterns and wells furnish the water supply, and the company is supplied with SdO feet of fire hose. There are thirtyfive men enrolled, with officers as follows: F. IL Foster, Foreman; G. M. Shoemaker, First Assistant; Harry Alwein, Second Assistant; C. D. Snyder, Secretary; Peter Conrad, Treasurer.

In 1870 the school trustees of Pierceton erected a handsome brick school building in the southwest part of town at a cost of *9,900. The main building is 40 x 70 feet, with an '- L," and has accommodations for 550 pupils.

Li the fall of 1870 it was organized as u graded school by Professor C. P. Hodge, principal. Miss E. A. Root was placed in chai-ge of the intermediate department, and Mrs. Anderson of the primary. The following are the teachers for the term of 1886-'87: Professor E. J. McAl])ine, principal; Mrs.

E. McAlpine, gramiuar department; Miss Bertha Sweany, first intermediate; Miss Ethe Lawrence, second intermediate, and Miss Mary Snyder, of the prinuiry department. Tiiere are 317 scholars enrolled.

TJie First Presbyterian Church was organized January 9, 1858, at the Crawford schoolhouse. Rev. J. N. Swan, W. S. Wilson, ministers; John Allen and Robert Cowan, elders. William Wilson was elected elder. The church had seventeen members at organization, and Rev. W. S. Wilson, of Warsaw, was the first regular pastor. Their first ch^irch building was erected in 1863.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. Camp in 1854, the meeting being held at the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago depot. The hospitable mansion of Robert McNcal in Pierceton was for some time the place where divine services were held, and later the school-house was used. Their present commodious church building was erected' at a cost of $1,500.

The membership numbers 231, with an attendance at the Sabbath-school of 175. A comfortable parsonage costing $600 is the property of the Methodist people. Rev. Thomas C. Neal has charge of Morris Chapel," which has a membei'ship of sixtysix, and a Sunday-school with seventy-five scholars. The chapel belongs to the Noi'th Webster Circuit.

The First Universalist Church was organized by Rev. Nathaniel Crarj^ at the schoolhouse in Pierceton in 1865, commencing with twenty-five members, and under his ministrations they were increased to one hundred in two years. A handsome frame church costing $9,000 was erected, and in January, 1869, was dedicated, the Revs. S. Sage and S. F. Gibbs preaching the sermons.

St. Francis Xwvier Roman Catholic Church was organized at the house of Thomas Murray by Rev. Father Lawier in 18(33. The next year tlieir cliurch edifice was erected. The membership lias steadily grown and Rev. ! Fatlier Worden lias charge of the congregation. Twenty-two families are communicants. Bishop Josepli Dwenger, of Ft. Wayne, has j charge of the dioeese; monthly ser\-ices only , are held.

Pierceton was incorporated May 10, 1866. The members of the board for that ye-AV were, President, Adam Simmons; Trustees, John JVLoore. Adam Simmons, Alexander Daughertv. E. T. Marshall acted as clerk, treasurer, assessor and marshal, but resigned before j the expiration of his term and J. B. Roberds was appointed clerk and assessor; John Minnich. treasurer and John G. Waldo, marshal. The officials of Pierceton in 1886 were. President of the Board, W. G. Graham; Trustees. W. G. Graham, J. N. Crawford, Robert M. Humphrey; J. C. Lilly, Clerk. The corporation limits contain about 1,200 inhabitants.

The principal business men are as follows: Dry goods. Ilayden, Cone tV: Cn., lladcliffe and McNamara, the Frohley Bros.; hardware, .1. H. Miller, Shanton, Humphries A; Snyder; drugs, F. H. and L. S. Fostei-, and E. W. Baker: groceries, Clemans & Co., Cochran <fe Carroll, B. tt S. Snyder & Johnson, and J. G. Miller; milliner, Mrs. Ella Moore; dressmaking and fancy goods, Mrs. A. E. Johnson; jewelers, Elmer Beesley and J. A. Dallas; photographer, J. F. Shoemaker; meat market, Brillhart & Williams; livery, W. C. Harvuot and Charles Guy; harness, A. M. Johnson and Chas. Underwood; lumber and saw-mill, Yohn & Grim. A company organized in December, 1886, and have com- 7iienced the manufacture of wheelbarrows

The Pierceton Cornet Band is the oldest organization of its kind in the county, and the orchestra numbers thirteen pieces. Since 1868 the organization has remained intact and this band has secured an enviable record not only at home but abroad. It is the life of the village, and is under the able leadership of Professor D. Strauss.