| SMALLER VILLAGES. |
PONETO.
PONETO, an enterprising village of 250 inhabitants, is a creature of the railroad, not of the company, but of the citizens on account of the railroad, led by Simeon Tappy and Dr. H. Doster. It is situated about seven miles southwest of Bluffton, in the extreme southeastern corner of Liberty Township, and was laid out by Mr. Tappy, September 4, 1871, he giving the land for the depot and paying out money as an inducement to the railroad company. The depot here was secured in a successful opposition to Wellsburg, across Rock Creek to the north, which is consequently an abandoned point. It was first named Worthington Crossing, or Worthington, in honor of the superintendent of railroad; but as it was afterward ascertained that a postoffice in this State already had that name, a new name was found in 1880 for the place, which it now bears.
When Poneto was laid out the only buildings on the ground were Mr. Tappy's residence and a saw-mill owned by Dr. C. T. Melsheimer, which was afterward moved away.
The business of Poneto is chiefly conducted by the following: Eph Ruth, general store; Crawford Eddington, also general store; Wilson, grocery; Joseph Kindlesparger and William B. Jones, blacksmiths; J. F. Moore, shoemaker; John Hardwidge, postmaster, and general store, including hardware; one barber shop.
The large brick business block, so conspicuous in Poneto, was built by John Hardwidge, partly in 1877, and afterward enlarged.
S. M. King's saw and planing mills, with corn-feed mill and flour exchange attached, was first set in motion, in part, in 1882 or '83, when Frank Courtney brought his saw and planing mills here. He sold to J. B. Plessinger, of luffton, who in turn sold to J. W. Heaton, and the latter to the present proprietor, in September, 1886. Mr. King employs five or six hands, and has in some lines plenty of work to do. Capacity of the saw-mill, 8,000 feet a day. The flour-mill does excellent work.
At Wellsburg is a tile factory built in 1877, and run by Hardwidge & Cook.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Poneto comprises about forty members in full connection. Thomas Barnhower is classleader, and William Singer, assistant. Simeon Tappy is both local and district steward, and Alexander Lee is a local steward. Mrs. Henrietta Tappy superintends the Sundayschool, which has about fifty scholars. The present church building is a neat frame, 32x 42 feet, completed in 1880, at a cost of about $1,200. The society was organized eight or ten years ago, with twenty-four members, and John Nicely, class-leader, and Isaac Singer, steward. Pastors—Rev. J. W. Paschall, Charles Bacon, J. C. McLin, Henry C. Myers, I. N. Rhodes, Henry Bridge, J. B. Cook and B. S. Holapeter, the present minister. The greatest periods of prosperity were under the ministrations of Revs. Myers, Bridge, Cook and Holapeter.
The Reifftown Methodist Episcopal Church, a few miles east, has a membership of fifty, probably. Their building is a neat frame, 28x40 feet, built during the pastorate of Rev. H. C. Myers, and dedicated August 8, 1880, by Rev. L. W. Munson.
The Baptist Church at Poneto was organized June 21, 1880, with thirty members, by Rev. B. Howard, a resident of Poneto. The deacon was George Doster, and clerk, Henry Mann. Present membership, ninety. Deacons, Henry Mann and Daniel Jones. The former is still clerk, and is also superintendent of the Sunday-school, which averages about seventy-five in attendance. The house of worship was erected in 1880, at a cost of about $1,700. Pastors—Revs. B. Howard, James E. Leaky and E. L. Thompson, the present incumbent, who came from Buena Vista to this place in March, 1886.
The United Brethren Church was organized at Poneto about 1877, under the ministration of Rev. Beaver, and erected a fine frame church edifice in 1882, 36x50 feet, seated it, etc., but, failing to satisfy their creditors, it fell into the hands of the contractor. The society meets at the school-house once in four weeks, where they also maintain a Sunday-school. Pastors have been: Revs. W. S. Fields, Robert Ross, James W. Nicodemus, L. T. Johnson and Edward Balduc. Class-leader, Thomas Grove.
The school-house, about 25x30 feet, is constructed of brick, and cost $500 or $600. School is taught by Oscar Noe, and the average attendance is about fifty.
Liberty Township was first settled by James Jackson and Henry Mossburg, in the winter of 1836-'37, both of whom are deceased; the latter was an aged man on his arrival here. During the following autumn came G. H. King, before mentioned, and Johnson King, who died March 10, 1842. The former is the oldest living resident in the township. In 1838 there arrived here James Hiram Jackson, whose oldest son is still residing here, and David Chapman, aged and soon becoming blind, who died in an early day. The next year there settled here Stuart Bolton, Benjamin Mendenhall and John McFarren (grandfather of George F. McFarren, the Bluffton merchant), all of whom died many years ago; also David Goings, who afterward moved to Delaware County, and is now living in Kansas; George Sparks, who sold out and lived elsewhere for a time, but is now a resident of the county again; George P. Mann, county surveyor a number of years, now deceased, and James M. Merriman, who still resides upon the farm he first occupied. In 1840 came John Hupp, who is still living upon his original farm, and John Muncie, deceased; and in 1841 Jacob First, who is still living at the "Center," with Mr. J. W. Rinear. He was one of the first trustees of the township, and held that office many years.
The township was organized, and the first election held, at the house of Johnson King, the inspector, on the first Monday of April, 1842. As there were only nine voters at this election, and five of them were required to fill the board of officers, they did not wish to spend the day in idleness after they had all voted; and as the polls could not be legally closed until 4 P. M., they covered their ballot box, which was a hat, with a handkerchief, set it aside, and improved the day in rolling logs for Mr. King, thereby getting in a full day's work and holding the election at the same time.
The names of these nine voters were James Jackson, Henry Mossburg, G. H. and Johnson King, Jacob First, John McFarren, David Goings, John Muncie and John Hupp.
The first road opened through Liberty Township ran from Bluffton to Jackson Township, leaving the center of Liberty to the right. It was surveyed with a pocket compass, about 1839 or '40. It has long since been obliterated by farms. The next road was the present north and south road running through the "Center," on a section line.
In aid of the Narrow Gauge road the township paid nearly $9,000.
The first school taught in the township was kept by George F. Mitchell, in a cabin built by Henry Stites, on section 28. Since then trees have grown up on the site fifty to sixty feet high, but have been cut away and the land reduced to cultivation. The second school in the township was taught by Lorenzo Irwin, in a cabin southwest of Liberty Center.
The Methodist Protestants have an organized society of eleven members, in the northwestern part of the township, with bright prospects for increased strength. In the northeastern part of the township they have a class of fourteen.
Blanch Chapel, Methodist Protestant, two miles west of Poneto, is a frame, 32x42 feet, erected about 1881. The society, which had been organized many years previously, now numbers fifty-six.
The "New Lights" have a society at Liberty Union Church, a frame, 30x50
feet, built in 1873, in the northwestern part of Liberty Township, and
free to all denominations.
VERA CRUZ,
called Newville until about 1870, is a village of about 350 population, seven miles up the river from Bluffton, being in a southeasterly direction and on the other side of the river. Like Murray, it never obtained a railroad, and therefore shows signs of dilapidation. Very good people live here, however, and many of the buildings look new and neat. It was laid by James Higgins and Christian Sowers, September 21, 1848.
Business: William Mertz, Jr., postmaster for the last thirteen years, keeps drugs and groceries; Fitzpatrick & Son, Geisel & Haug, and Samuel Mosiman, general stores; the latter also keeps tin and hardware; M. Hennefort and William F. Mosure, blacksmiths; Samuel Siegrist, wagon maker; August Müller and Leonard Tremp, shoemakers; Mrs. C. Biberstein and Mrs. Waltemath, milliners; Mrs. Maggie Bixler conducts the Bixler House; Dr. J. D. Fitzpatrick, physician.
A. Daelhousen's woolen factory was started over twenty years ago, and he has had it since 1875. The factory has 180 spindles, one set of cards, and about five hands are usually employed. Yarn is the principal product, which is shipped to dealers in neighboring towns. Steam power.
Isaac North & Co., since 1881, have owned the flouring-mill, which has two run of burrs for wheat and one for corn, and is run by either steam or water power; engine, thirty-horse power; capacity, about fifty barrels of flour per day. The mill was originally built in early times and has been several times remodeled. Only custom work is done here.
Meyer & Gehrig own and run a saw-mill across the river south, and a tile factory and brickyard in the northern portion of the village.
Ferdinand Biberstein has a saw-mill in the village, which he runs a portion of the time. For music, Vera Cruz has a cornet band of twelve or fourteen pieces.
The village was incorporated in 1870. Present trustees: Ernest Heche, John Meyer, and the third has just resigned.
The four oldest residents in this vicinity, who came here previous to 1850, are William Mertz, Sr., David Buehler, Mrs. Joray and Mrs. Mary Boivine.
The graded school building of Vera Cruz was erected in 1868, and is a two-story frame that will accommodate 125 pupils, which is the number of the present enrollment. It comprises two grades.
St. John's Reformed Church.-The first members of this church came into the neighborhood in the spring of 1841, namely, Christian Saurer, Peter Meyer and John Moeschberger; and half a year later David Buehler arrived. All these were from the canton of Berne, Switzerland.
The first minister was Rev. Knabe, who preached every six weeks here, two years in Mr. Saurer's house and two in Mr. Mueller's. Thenceforward for some time there was occassional preaching by Revs. Baier, Altermatt and Bossard, from Fort Wayne. Some of the parents here sent their children to that distant point-about thirty miles-for catechetical instruction.
In 1849 a Lutheran preacher named Kleinekaes organized a Reformed Lutheran church, and at that time a parsonage was built, which also served as a meeting-house. He remained but a year. Afterward Rev. Chambourd began preaching here, and by this time there were several French families in the neighborhood who were believers. They began to make preparations for building a church on a lot donated by Ferdinand Ritter, but before the work was far advanced the material was unfortunately consumed by fire.
No regular pastor succeeded until about 1854, when Mr. Dechandt came, and under his auspices the church was built, and dedicated by Rev. Bentz, acting in union with the "Albright Methodists"(Evangelical Association) until about 1859. This edifice, built rather for the use of the French element of the church, was sold not long afterward for a private residence. The pastors succeeding for a time, with occasional vacancies, were Revs. Fenneman, Schulze, Jaeckel (who was killed by being thrown out of a buggy), Stepler, Gehring, Huellhorst, Bolhiger, P. Vitz, 1877-'83, since which time his son, J. Otto Vitz, has been pastor. This gentleman is a scholar of great talent and of polished manners.
Present membership, about 220; elders, F. Engeler, John Kohler and Philip Banmann; deacons, Daniel Buehler, Gottlieb Saurer, William Baumgertner and Benedict Lininger; Sunday-school superindentent, Frederick Engeler. Average attendance at Sunday-school, about seventy. A ladies' missionary society, with about twenty members, meets at the church once a month, and for sewing once a month at some private residence. Religious services every Sunday. A fine two-story parsonage, built in 1880, is provided for the minister. The present prosperity of this church is greater than ever.
Mr. Vitz has charge of two other churches in this vicinity, both of which are in Adams County. St. Luke's, four and a half miles north and two east of Vera Cruz, was organized in 1857, by P. Vitz. Henry Billmann was the deacon. In 1870 that congregation was connected with the Vera Cruz charge. In 1871 the church building, a frame, was dedicated. Present in membership, eighty-seven and a Sunday-school. The Church of the Cross, eleven miles southeast of Vera Cruz, is a frame structure, where there are about ninety members and a Sunday-school. The church was organized December 12, 1869, by Rev. F. Huellhorst.
The Evangelical Agsociation at Vera Cruz was organized in 1853, under the ministry of S. Dickover, presiding elder, and Andrew Nicolai, preacher in charge, and John Fox, junior preacher, with a membership of twenty. The pastors since then have been, though not in the order here given, G. A. Hartel, John Fox,C. Claus, and then, in order, J. K. and E. R. Troyer, Jacob Miller (two years each), George Roederer and C. C. Baier (three years each) and John Hoffman, the present pastor, since March, 1886. Under Rev. Roederer's ministry was perhaps the greatest revival. At present there are fifty-five members. Jacob Mosiman, class-leader; William Mertz, assistant class-leader and Snuday-school superintendent; J. I. Moser, Steward. Average attendance at Sunday-school, ninety-six. There is also an auxiliary missionary society.
The house of worship, a frame that will seat 250 persons, was dedicated in 1855, by Rev. George Platz. There is also a parsonage.
Mr. Hoffman has charge also of a society in the Gottschalk settlement, three and a half miles south of Vera Cruz. It was organized in 1853. Present membership, sixty-eight. Class-leader, Henry Shoemaker; exhorter, Henry Kreps; Sunday-school superintendent, John Blocker.
Mennonites, from Switzerland, who are said to be very exclusive in their religious views, have a society which meets in their church, about a mile north of Vera Cruz.
ROCKFORD
This beautiful village of about ninety inhabitants is appropriately named, as it is situated at a ford where Rock Creek ripples poetically along over a fine rocky bed, and is in the southwest corner of Rock Creek Township, and about seven miles west of Bluffton. Postoffice, Barber's Mills. It was laid out September 21, 1849, by Solomon Johnson and Matthew Davis.
The present business of the place is conducted by Morgan Ware, general store; C. C. Swaim, postmaster, hardware and groceries; H. F. Lucabaugh, dry goods and groceries; William Johnson & Son, blacksmiths; Brown & Ware, tile factory, started about 1872; Braner Bros., tile factory, established about 1880, across the creek, east of Rockford; Redding & Coolman, tile factory, a mile and a half south of town, started in 1886; Milton Davis, saw-mill, across the creek, east of town, running since 1875; Drs. J. W. and C. H. English, physicians, both regular. An effort was once made to establish a saloon here, but was soon starved out.
In an early day Rev. Hallet Barber built a water-power saw and grist mill at Rockford, about twenty rods below the present bridge. Afterward an engine was put in, which in March, 1877, exploded, killing two men and wounding several others. Pyle & Brown were the proprietors at the time. The mill was never rebuilt.
The school-house of brick is awkwardly situated about a half mile southwest of town, where school is taught seven mouths in the year, with an average attendance of sixty-five pupils, and only one teacher. To the common branches there are added history, civil government, physical geography, physiology, etc. Present trustee, William Miller.
The Rock Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, a half mile north of town, is a substantial frame, 36 x 50 feet, erected during the pastorate of Rev. S. T. Stout, and dedicated in 1868 by Rev. W. E. McCarty. Other pastors serving here have been: Revs. Galbreth, Gillum, Ramsey, Chester Church, C. Woolpert, George Clark, Charles II. Murray, R. W. Whitford, and the present is I. W. Singer. The greatest revival was under the ministrations of Rev. C. Woolpert. When the church was built, two classes were consolidated for the purpose, and the present name assumed. Membership at that time, sixty-five, now increased to ninety-six. Classleader, John Sales; stewards, Jonas Redding, R. Pyle, Riley Stanton and William Gillum. Mrs. Bartmess, superintendent of Sunday-school, which has an average attendance of sixty.
The Rockford Reformed Church, 32 x 45 feet, is also situated north of the village about three-quarters of a mile. Membership, fifty or more. Pastor, Rev. Xanders, of Bluffton. Past ministers have been: Revs. John Naille, who dedicated the church, Wall, F. C. Withoff and Bretz.
The Seventh-Day Adventists in and about Rockford number about thirty-flve, and are (April, 1887) intending to organize and build a church. They already have a Sunday-school, numbering from thirty-five to sixty-five, with Dr. J. W. Crum as superintendent. Attendance at the social, thirty-five to forty. They also have a tract and missionary society of fifteen members. The following have preached for them, mostly as "tent elders": A. M. Shortridge, of Mechanicsburg; William Hill, of Rochester; L. Thompson, of Russiaville, and F. M. Roberts, of West Liberty, all of this State.
St. Paul's Church, Reformed and Lutheran, is a neat brick edifice, about a mile east of the middle of the township, 40 x 55 feet, and was built in 1880, on a lot of ground donated by Abram Mast. It occupies the place of the smaller church built in 1857. The house is still used by both denominations.
The Sparks Methodist Episcopal Church, in the northern part of the township, has over fifty members and a house of worship, a frame, that will seat 250.
Horeb Evangelical Lutheran Church, also in the northern part of Rock Creek Township, was built about 1875. Present elders, Joseph Seaman and Randall Schoonover; deacons, Jonathan Seaman and William Scott. Pastor, Rev. Waltman.
The Rock Creek Township Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized in 1875, with about forty members; Isaac Fishbaugh, President; Joseph Lesh, Secretary, and Harrison Duff, Treasurer. They have a sinking fund and lend their money, the interest on which has paid over $3,000 in losses by fire and other incidental expenses, and in the spring of 1886 a surplus of $500 was refunded to the insured. Present officers: President, Jacob Farling; Secretary, Joseph Lesh, who has held that office since organization; Treasurer, Isaac Fishbaugh.
The Rock Creek Township Horse-thief Detective Association was first organized about 1865, under the law, which arms every member with constabulary authority. Isaac Decker was the prime mover in this excellent institution. No horses being stolen from any member of the association for twenty years, they disbanded, with $500 accumulated in the treasury, from fines for non-attendence; but within six months thereafter three horses were stolen from them. They accordingly reorganized, with the present officers: President, Jacob Farling; Secretary, Joseph Lesh; Treasurer, W. F. Cotton. Meet the second Saturday of April and October. No horse has ever been stolen from any member of the association while it was alive, while several have been stolen from other parties within its jurisdiction.
The first settlers of Rock Creek Township were Solomon Johnson, Benjamin Brown, Solomon Sparks and Isaac DeWitt, in 1835; William Redding, Allen Redding, Thomas T. Smith, John Zeke, David Snyder and William Barton, in 1836; Thomas Wallace, Samuel Wallace, Mason Powell and William Ellingham, in 1837. Jacob Miller was also one of the early settlers. All these are dead except William Redding.
The first election in this township-which at the time included Union, Liberty, Chester and Jackson townships-was held May 8, 1839, at the house of Benjamin Brown, the inspector, who was also elected the first justice of the peace.
The first school in the township was taught in the winter of 1838-'39, by William Clark, in what was known as the Redding schoolhouse.
The first Sunday-school in the county was established in this township in the spring of 1838, at the house of Isaac DeWitt. The first preaching was by Rev. H. Barber, of the Christian denomination.
Rock Creek is pre-eminently the most improved township in Wells County,
if not in the whole State of Indiana. In the central and southern part
the traveler is astonished at the great number of magnificent red barns
which indicate the prosperity of their owners. Nearly every resident appears
to be a rich landlord, and scarcely any one a renter. The road running
south from Wabash River three miles, along the middle line of the township,
by the Center school-house, is a royal highway, and the locality deserves
some fancy name, as Rose Ridge, for instance, as the land is high and the
scenery beautiful.
ZANESVILLE
is a nice little village of perhaps 350 inhabitants, situated on a high ridge of ground, beautifully skirted along its northern boundary by the blnffs of Davis Creek. The oldest portion of the village, constituting about one-third, lies in Allen County. It was laid out March 4, 1849, by J. and L. Walker.
The business men of the place are: Knight, Bell & Co. and Michael & Hamilton, general merchants; F. P. Shepler, general merchandise and drugs; Reed & Taylor, carriagemakers; Robert Clark, harness-maker; George Biddle and Jonathan Michael, shoemakers; Cyrus Young and W. E. Angevine, blacksmiths; Kelsey Bros., meat-market; Benjamin Mygrants, barber; Drs. L. E. Murray, H. Z. Nobles and G. F. Hesler, physicians, all regular. A fine hotel is kept by Jonathan Michael, a sketch of whom is given in this work. In an early day he used to run an extensive tannery at this point. A good grist-mill and a saw-mill exist here on the Allen County side of the line.
The present school building is a neat one-story brick edifice, built in 1876, and contains two departments, with an average attendance of eighty or ninety pupils. Formerly this was a joint township school-house.
The St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized April 6, 1860, by Rev. H. Wells, of Columbia City, who preached the first sermon, of this denomination, in Union Township. Only eleven persons comprised the membership at that time; present membership, about seventy-five. Pastors who have since served-Rev. A. J. Gromer, Fred. Biddle, J. G. Jacobi and W. Waltman, the present minister, who resides at Kendallville, and commenced his pastoral duties here in 1884.
The United Brethren Church was organized in 1855, in the school-house at Zanesville, by Rev. Gear, with only five members. William Haverstock was appointed classleader and steward, and served in these relations many years; and he has been a trustee ever since the first church building was erected. The preachers in charge have been: Revs. Gear, McKee, Matthews, Bay, D. R. Miller, John Wagner, George Miller, T. B. Williams, S. T. Mahan, L. T. Johnston, R. G. Wilgues, and Mr. Abbott, the present incumbent. Nearly all these were residents of Zanesville during their pastorate.
The old frame church, erected in 1857, is now Reed & Taylor's carriage factory. The present edifice, frame and brick combined, was dedicated in September, 1884, by Rev. J. W. Holt, from Dayton, Ohio. Its dimensions are 45 x 60 feet, and the building cost over $3,000. There is also a parsonage. Present number of members, about 100. Sunday-school of fifty to sixty, presided over by A. M. Keplinger. David F. Thomas, local preacher. The greatest revivals were under Revs. Williams and George Miller.
The "Church of God" at Zanesville was organized about forty years ago, held meetings at private houses, the school-house, and in the United Brethren church, until 1868, when they erected a house of worship of their own, 32 x 44 feet. It was dedicated by Rev. R. H. Bolton, of Western Ohio. Parsonage was bought in November, 1886. Present membership, about thirty-five. Sunday-school attendance, about forty; George Diffendaffer, superintendent; William Beaty, assistant superintendent. Elders, George Diffendaffer and Jacob Barnett. The pastors have been: Revs. W. W. Lovett, Elias Bryan, John Shock, George Smith, Isaac Markley, Mr. Fuller and Edward Miller, the present, since November, 1886. During the pastorate of Rev. Miller has occurred a great revival.
The Methodists had a small society here for a time.
The Church of the Disciples at Uniontown, a mile southeast of Zanesville, has been in existence since pioneer times. Present membership, sixty-five. Elders: William Walker, Thomas Bernau, J. W. Walker and William Schoonover; deacons, Jacob S. Zion, George Zion, S. D. Cartwright and Joseph Redding. Sunday-school superintendent, G. W. Zion. Pastors have been: Thomas Bernau, -- Teeples, Aaron and Noah Walker, E. W. Hammond, Charles Austin, Mr. Newton and M. L. Blaney, of Kendallville, the present. The house of worship, a frame 32 x 36, was dedicated in 1853, by Elder Dowling.
The "Brethren" have a meeting-house about three or four miles southwest of Zanesville, called the "Eight-Mile District Brethren Church," with a society of twenty-two members. They organized in 1833, under the ministry of Rev. J. H. Bowman, of Kansas. Deacons: George A. G. Sonner and Ezekiel Roe. Pastor, Rev. W. M. M. Hamilton. They hold a half interest in the church building next described, from which they came. Services twice a month in the summer.
The German Baptist Church, two and a half miles southwest of Zanesville, a frame 40 x 55 feet, was erected in 1875. The membership is scattered and there is no shepherd.
The Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, in Union Township, is a frame 35 x 50 feet. Dedicated in 1862, by Dr. Robinson, of Fort Wayne.
Lodge No. 517, F. & A. M., at Zanesville, has twenty-two members. Charter granted May 25, 1875. First officers:-W. E. Angevine, W. M.; James M. Young, S. W.; E. J. Felts, J. W.; D. B. Ward, Treasurer; J. E. F. Thomas, Secretary; Cyrus Young, S. D.; William Shoup, J. D.; C. B. Austin, Chaplain; Benj. Hamilton, Steward. Present officers: Cyrus Young, W. M.; M. C. Hamilton, S. W.; William Putt, J. W.; William J. Beaty, S. D.; James Simonton, J. D.; John McClave, Steward; James K. P. Shepler, Tyler.
Odd Fellowship is also flourishing in Zanesville.
Union Township was organized in 1847, immediately after the land was brought into market from the Miami Indian reservation. The settlers in 1847 were: William Rosseau, who afterward moved into Allen County; James Edmundson, deceased, who settled on the Indianapolis road, near Eight-Mile Creek; John Wandel, who moved to Bluffton; Joseph Rich, deceased; Joseph Davis, moved away; Milton Davis, moved West; E. Bagley and Jacob Dewitt. In 1848 A. Housel, who moved near Ossian; William Walker, still living; John Felts, now living at Benton Harbor, Michigan; William Bell,.deceased; S. B. Caley, now living near Murray; Henry Chrismore, died many years ago; Simon Krewson; and about the same time, Michael Mason; James Cartwright, dead; L. S. Walker, who lives in Allen County; and Robert McBride, also deceased.
The first justice of the peace was Joseph Rich.
UNIONDALE,
a village of 150 inhabitants, three miles West of Kingsland, on the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad, was surveyed and platted in 1882, and George C. Ditzler established a saw-mill on the southwest corner of the Gardenour farm, leasing two acres and employing at the mill about fifty hands and ten to twelve teams. It was the largest saw-mill in the county. He sawed the lumber for the first business house at Uniondale. Present capacity of the mill, 15,000 feet a day. Average number of hands employed, twenty, with six to eight teams.
Mr. Ditzler also built the first residence at the place, and has cut the material for all the houses there. Henry W. Lipkey erected the first business house, and when the postoflice was established there, January 21, 1886, he was appointed postmaster, and he is also ticket agent for the railroad. The general store is kept by him and William Newhard.
Joseph Yost, the first harness-maker here, opened his shop in 1885. The grain dealer is William Newhard, who has a small warehouse. George Meixel, the first landlord, runs the Union House, which he opened in 1884 (the village was first called Union), and has also a livery stable.
There are also a blacksmith shop and a wagon shop.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church at Uniondale is in Rock Creek Township. Membership probably half a hundred. Pastor, Rev. W. Waltman.
BANNER
is another new village recently sprung up on the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad, a mile west of Uniondale; was named by the editor, Mr. Roth, of the Bluffton Banner, in honor of his paper, and now has about 150 inhabitants.
It is on the line dividing Union and Rock Creek townships.
The first business house established here was started by Levi Waikel, who is now running a saw-mill, as well as a general store. He also built the first residence.
The railroad has not yet established a station here.
KINGSLAND
is the railroad station at the crossing of the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville and the Chicago & Atlantic railroads.
The Presbyterian Church here will seat about 250, and was dedicated
in the spring nbof 1887. The society was organized in November, 1886, and
now has a membership of forty-four. Elders, Daniel K. Hanna, Donaldson
Wilson, David T. Wasson and Evan L. Chalfant. They have also a Sunday-school.
TOCSIN,
a village on the Chicago & Atlantic, five miles east of Kingsland, was platted in 1882 by Michael C. Blue. Samuel Kunkle was the proprietor of forty acres, and he first laid it out into lots. Mr. Kunkle was also the first postmaster, and the first to open a store and hotel. J. A. Bowman, the present postmaster, was appointed in February, 1887. He is now the only merchant of the place, and he keeps a general stock of goods; has also a warehouse. A good saw and planing mill exists here.
Dr. N. Bergman is the first physician; Dr. S. D. Beaver is a young man just from Adams County.
The township school-house is at one corner the village.
Population, about 150.
This is a place of some importance, as there is nearly a mile of switch here, and it is the point where railroad trains pass.
The first child born in Tocsin was in the family of Samuel Kunkle.
MURRAY.
This is the postoffice name, and becoming the exclusive popular name of the old village of Lancaster, sometimes called New Lancaster, the oldest point in Wells County. The oldest resident here is Mrs. Sally Aker, formerly Mrs. Harvey, who came here in 1833. Jacob Miller is probably the next. Another man of the same name settled here before him, but moved to Missouri, and is not now living. For the other first settlers here, see the general chapter on "Early Settlement."
Murray was laid out by Jesse Gerhard, October 17, 1839, and subsequently W. H. Deam and Mr. Matthews made additions. The town is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Wabash, but has not been prosperous for many years, as it is near the county seat and no railroad has ever touched it. Population, about 150.
The business interests are conducted by Lewis F. Shreve, dry goods; Peter Clemence and George C. Webber, shoe shops; Webber & Harnish, drug store; J. N. Fink, blacksmith; James Sutton, postmaster; J. O. Fulton, physician, and the two following mills:
Stafford & Eversole's grist-mill was first built in 1837, the first in the county, by Jesse Gerhard. It has several times since been remodeled. It has two run of burrs, and is still run by water-power. The present firm formed their partnership in November, 1885.
L. I. Staver, since 1882, with a twenty horse-power engine, finds employment for three or four hands in a saw-mill which was built three or four years previously by George Ditzler and Peter Clemence. The present school-house, brick, erected in 1884, is occupied half the year by fifty to sixty pupils.
The first school in this township was taught in the winter of 1838-'39, by A. B. Waugh, in a log cabin with puncheon floor, inside mud and stick chimney, and greased paper which served as window lights. This cabin was situated on the Harvey farm.
The principal church at Murray is the United Presbyterian. It was organized June 16, 1846, by Rev. J. F. Kerr, of the Michigan Presbytery, with fourteen members, and John Ogden and John Fulton as elders. Since then it has seen some prosperity, having as high as eighty members when Rev. Mr. Glenn was pastor, but at present there are only twenty members, who meet only occasionally. They have no pastor at present. The elders are Matthew and Henry Park and John Ogden. The principal pastors have been Revs. John D. Glenn, David Morrow, Robert Gray, Mr. Main and James McCrea. The house of worship is a frame, 32 x 52 fret, and was completed in 1855, during the pastorate of Mr. Morrow. Sunday-schools are maintained during the summer.
The Presbyterian Church is a frame, 40 x 50 feet, dedicated in 1861, by Rev. Wilson M. Donaldson. The membership, which has been nearly a hundred, has so diminished that no pastor is maintained. A small Sunday-school, of perhaps twenty~flve pupils, is sustained during the summer, with Archibald Waugh as superintendent.
The Christian Church, across the river, is a frame, 36 x 40 feet, and dedicated in 1865, by Elder Peter Weinbrenner. The membership, once nearly a hundred, has so diminished that no regular services are maintained. Sunday-school in summer. Among the ministers serving there have been Revs. James Atchison, Peter Weinbrenner, Thomas Whitman, J. J. Markley and James Greer.
The United Brethren Church (Salem), about two miles north of the center of the township of Lancaster, on land donated by James Dailey, has been burned down twice. It was first burned during the war, was rebuilt in 1872, and July 22, 1874, it was burned by an incendiary; loss, over $1,500.
First justices of the peace in Lancaster Township, 1841 and after, were
James Dailey and Benjamin Brown.
KEYSTONE
is a small hamlet on the railroad near the center of Chester Township, where W. H. Templeton and Eph Ruth keep general stores, F. P. Risley a drug store, James Bell, the station agent, a grocery, James Jackson a blacksmith shop, and John Dougherty & Co., of Bluffton, a saw-mill, which is doing a lively business. C. B. Abshire has a warehouse. Mr. Templeton is the postmaster. Population, about 150.
A good brick school-house exists near Keystone, costing about $900.
Keystone, which, after an exciting contest, was finally named in honor of the Keystone State, was laid out April 19, 1872, by Luther Twibell, an old pioneer.
The Methodist Protestant Church here was organized in 1883-'84, with ten members, which has since been increased to forty. Sunday-school, about sixty pupils; Henry Cottrill, superintendent. Robert Travis and O. P. French, local preachers. Pastors have been: Rev. J. C. McLin and T. F. Ransopher, the incumbent since September, 1886. Church building is 32x44 feet in dimensions and was erected in 1885, at a cost of $1,200.
The United Brethren Church was organized in the winter of 1886, with about fifty members. Meet in the Methodist Protestant church every two weeks. Rev. E. Balduc is the pastor. Sunday-school, with thirty-five pupils, is superintended by Henry Cottrill, in unison with the Protestant Methodists; Mollie Ransopher, assistant superintendent; class-leader, Rev. B. R. B. Holcom; steward, William Twibell. This church also has a strong society at Mt. Zion, a hamlet in the northwest corner of Chester Township.
Ebenezer Baptist Church, east of Keystone, was organized about thirty
years ago. It has now about twenty~seven members, with William Ellsworth
as deacon and Arthur Scott as clerk. The building was erected in 1875,
costing about $1,OO0.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
In addition to the history of Bluffton there is very little to say concerning this township. The churches are noticed elsewhere, except the German Baptist on Six-Mile Creek, which still keeps up its organization.
The first settlers in this township, within its present limits, were: Charles Bennett and Thomas W. Van Horn, in 1834; Gabriel Markley, John Markley and R. C. Bennett, Sr., in 1835; Adam Miller, James Guthrie and Almon Case, in 1836; John Burgess, Michael Myers, A. W. Johnson and Daniel Miller, in 1837; Michael Whitmier, John Studabaker, Amos Townsend and C. Chalfant, in 1838; Nelson Kellogg, William Studabaker, John A. Deam and William Foncannon, in 1839.
This township, like Rock Creek, embraced a large extent of territory, and when first organized, in July, 1837, comprised besides its present limits all of Nottingham and the east three-fourths of Lancaster and Jefferson townships. As these townships were severally organized, Harrison retained its name without further organization.
The first election was held at the house of Adam Miller, with Thomas
W. Van Horn as inspector.
NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP.
The first settler in this township was Joseph Blacklege, in 1837; Abram Stahl, John Nutter, Jacob Warner, Lyman Bass, Peter Garner, Hezekiah Grimes, Isaac Haynes, Edward Haynes, Robert Smith, William Nutter and John Dawson came in 1838, Alonzo Lockwood, John Warner and others in 1840. Blacklege is deceased; Stahl died in 1856; John Nutter was living in Ohio at last accounts; Warner is still living, in this township; the rest have died, most of them long ago. William Stahl, who resides in the extreme southwestern corner of the township, may be now considered one of the oldest settlers.
The township was organized January 4, 1841, and the first election was held that year in the Hite cabin, on section 14, when fifteen votes were cast.
A German Baptist Church exists in this township, of which Jacob Warner,
Amos Garrett and John Shigley have been prominent members. Their house
of worship is a frame and was erected in 1870.
CHESTER TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized March 1, 1841, when the first election was held, at the house of Jonas Jarrett.
The first settlers were: Henry McCullick, deceased; Newton Putnam, who
left the county a few years ago; Alpheus T. Stevens, who moved away; Wilson
Brown, Thomas Blunt, died long ago, and Joseph Blunt went to Kansas; these
all came in 1836. In 1837 came John Lancaster and Benj. Starr, who are
still diving here, and Jonas Jarrett, who died several years ago. In 1838,
Isaac Lancaster, who did not long remain; Alex. Walker, who is still here;
John McCullick, who went to Wisconsin a number of years ago, and J. Brotherton,
who moved away and afterward died. In 1839, Levi Phillips, who moved
to Wisconsin and died; Franklin Spaulding, deceased several years ago,
and James Jordan, dead long ago. In 1840, Samuel and Nathan Rice, both
deceased, and Thomas Hulet, who died three years ago. In 1841 arrived Joseph
H. McGrath, who died here, and Sewell Snow, who died several years ago.
In 1842, Daniel and Joseph Sells, both deceased, and James Bell, the present
station agent, who has been elected county commissioner twice and appointed
once.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This has obtained the sobriquet of the "lost township," on account of the counties around it being so arranged that it could not be attached to any of them without forming an awkward projection. Chester Township was at first included under this name.
The first settlers were Nathaniel Batson, Daniel Jones and Leander Morrison, in 1836; Elijah Y. Graves, Christopher Miller, Philip Roush, Isaac Wright and Andrew Morrison, in 1873; Richard Mclntire, Nun McIntire and Robert Alexander, in 1838; Dorsey Mason, in 1839.
The principal stream of the township is the Salamonie, which affords good drainage as well as stone for building puposes. The bottom lands along the stream are noted for their fertility and excellence. The first road opened was known as the Bluffton road, which commenced at the northeast corner of section 29, and ran northeasterly through the township.
In the year 1839 two school-houses were built, one at the center of the township, and the other in the east end. The first school was taught by James Wright.
Several churches have flourished in Jackson Township, as the Bethel (United Brethren), with nearly a hundred members, the German Baptist, at Sugar Grove, also with seventy or more members, and the Protestant Methodist, with about the same number. Their houses of worship are new.
Union Chapel, Methodist Protestant, near the center of the township, has a membership of 148. Class-leader, Mr. Miller; steward, Daniel Stroup. Two local preachers, William Custard and William Ray. Their church building, 34 x 48 feet, frame, was erected in 1879.
Mt. Zion, an initial village at the northeast corner of the township,
contains a church owned by the United Brethren, where the Methodist Protestants
have a membership of fifty-three. Class-leader, Dr Morrison; steward, Thomas
Arnold.
OTHER SMALL POINTS.
Eagleville, a mile north of Murray, was laid out by William J. Kirkpatrick, November 18, 1854.
Craigville was laid out by William Hartman and Peter Hetrich, April 21, 1879.
Coreyville on the east county line, was laid out by J. P. Drum and Peter Corey, March 25, 1859. The United Brethren church, near this place, is a frame, erected in 1877, and is free for all orthodox Christians.