History of Porter County, 1882County history published by F. A. Battey and Company . . . .
Source Citation:
Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882.
Counties of Lake and
Porter, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Chicago, Illinois: F. A.
Battey and Company. 771 p.
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
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CHAPTER XI.
BY W. S. WHEATLEY.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP -- LAND SALES AND CLAIMS -- EARLY SETTLEMENTS -- INCIDENTS OF
INTEREST -- SAW-MILLS, GRIST-MILLS, DISTILLERIES, ETC. -- FIRST ELECTION OF
OFFICERS -- SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES -- SECRET SOCIETIES.
WHAT is now known as Liberty Township, with an additional tier of sections on
the north, consisting of thirty square miles in the northern half of the county,
was formerly attached to La Porte County, and was included in the large tract of
Government land sold at auction at La Porte in 1835, from which were formed the
counties of Porter and Lake. At this sale, the land speculators, with their
usual shrewdness, offered a quarter-section to the settlers who agreed not to
bid against them, and thus they obtained -a two-fold benefit. They bought their
land at a low price, and secured its rise in value by the improvements made upon
the part given away. Liberty Township being heavily timbered was especially
valuable to them, and the greater part was obtained, and held long after other
portions of the county were quite densely populated. As a natural result, this
township has been considerably retarded in its development, but it has
advantages in soil and location which, in time, will make it the equal of any
spot in the State. In another way the Government favored these unscrupulous
speculators to the disadvantage of the settlers. Much trouble and annoyance were
occasioned by the settlers locating upon land which, at the time of the treaties
with the Pottawatomies, became what were known as "floats," or reservations.
These "floats" consisted of a claim upon a quarter, a half, or a whole section
of land, or sometimes more than one section. The claims could be bought of the
Indians or half-breeds, who were unconscious of their value, for a mere song,
and of this the traders and speculators took advantage. The settlers became much
incensed, and sent several petitions to Washington, praying for an adjustment of
the system. One of these claims was laid upon a quarter-section in the northeast
part of the township, owned by William Snavely, and which he had bought of
William Crawford. This led to what is commonly called the "Snavely war." Peter
White became the owner of the claim, and he took action to remove Snavely from
his land, but this was not to be accomplished so easily. Sheriff Charles G.
Merrick, with a posse of men, was sent to remove him and obtain possession, but
he, like the yeomen of England,
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considered his house his castle, and resolved, with the help of his sons, to
defend it. The Sheriff and his men, after several vain attempts to gain
admittance at the doors or windows, bethought themselves of the roof, which they
immediately ascended, and began to remove, whereupon Snavely climed to the loft
and fired upon them, wounding one of them severely. Supposing by the commotion
caused that he had killed him, he became frightened and attempted to escape, but
was arrested and taken to jail. As the man shot soon recovered, he was
discharged upon the payment of a fine and the relinquishment of his land. Since
his death, his heirs have obtained a partial compensation.
Forest Productions and Water Supply. -- The surface of this township is
generally very level, and in the western and northwestern portions there is
considerable swamp land. The soil consists of a dark loam, or clay, and, when
properly drained, will become as good land as there is in the county. This soil
seems especially favorable for the production of timber. The most valuable is
oak, of which the forests produced the finest quality. The other varieties are
maple, hickory, ash and elm, with more limited quantities of black walnut,
butternut and white wood. Were the trees standing to-day which forty years ago
were split into rails or burned up in the log, they would be of the greatest
value to the citizens. Two creeks of considerable size, with three small lakes
or ponds, form the chief water supply. Salt Creek, which widens to form one of
the ponds, passes through the southwestern part, and furnishes considerable
water-power. Long Lake, in the southeastern part, the largest of the three, is
connected by a narrow channel with Flint Lake in Centre Township. Coflfee Creek
runs through the northeastern part, and furnishes power for several mills along
its course. It widens to form the third pond.
Early Settlements and Improvements. -- Probably the first settler of
Liberty Township, or at least one of the very first, was Owen Crumpacker, who
came from Union County, Ind., in June, 1834. He settled on the place now owned
by Mrs. E. P. Cole. During the same year, William Downing, Jerry Todhunter and
Elijah Casteel came also. The next year, Peter Ritter settled on the place now
owned by Amanda Mott. Thomas Clark, commonly known as "Bee-hunter" Clark,
located on the place owned at present by H. Kimball. During the next two years
their number was increased by the arrival of John Dillingham, E. P. Cole,
William Gosset, George Hesing, Asa Zane, Ira Biggs, David Hughart, John White,
Frederick Wolf, Samuel Olinger, Daniel Kesler, John Sefford, M. Blayloch, Jerry
Todhunter, Abram Snodgrass, Solomon Habany, William Calhoun and others; also,
Joseph and Jesse Morgan, who settled in what is now a part of Westchester
Township. At this time the people
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were commonly divided into three settlements known as the Dillingham, in the
eastern part, Zane, in the central, and Salt Creek in the western. At the latter
place, immediately after his arrival in 1836, William Gosset began the erection
of his saw and grist-mill, and thus the settlers of this part of the county were
spared the necessity of going forty or fifty miles for their lumber and flour.
William Gosset also built the first frame building in Liberty during this year.
This was one story, and about twenty-four feet long by thirty-two feet wide. It
is still in existence, having been used successively for a church, schoolhouse
and kitchen.
The people of the Dillingham settlement were more closely connected with those
in Jackson Township. A mill and distillery having been erected on Coffee Creek
by Casteel and Blayloch, they had the best of facilities for supplying
themselves with aqua vitae and the "staff of life." Previous to the
erection of the distillery, John Dillingham, who usually sheltered the
"wayfaring" men that reached the settlement, dealt out the former article in
quantities of not less than a quart. He, of course, unlike the "moonshiners" of
the Alleghanies, paid a "government license."
The first houses in the Zane settlement were built by Asa Zane and Ira Biggs in
the early part of 1835. During this year, David and William Hughart came from
Greenbrier County, W. Va., having been forty-five days in making the journey.
They built a house sixteen by twenty feet, in which both families, numbering
fifteen persons, lived for several months. A camp of Pottawatomie Indians was
situated within a hundred yards of their house, and in the spring they came
regularly to make sugar, of which they prepared large quantities. This they
exchanged with the traders for whisky. The Indians, when not crazed with
fire-water, lived at peace with the whites, and scarcely ever "offered show of
violence."
One day, in the fall of 1835, four or five of the red skins who were returning
from Bailly's trading-post, having become, as they termed it, "cockazy,"
attempted to enter the house of David and William Hughart. The women, who were
alone, were badly frightened, barred the door, and climbed into the loft. After
much whooping and several vain attempts to break down the door with their
tomahawks, the Indians departed just in time to escape the wrath of the Hughart
brothers who were returning home from a hunt. William Hughart's wife was so
badly frightened that she died soon after from the effects of the shock, and his
mother did not long survive her. These were the first deaths that occurred
within the limits of this township.
Pioneer Experiences. — Though these early pioneers were not compelled to endure
the dangers incident to those who crossed the Alleghanies fifty years before,
they lived amid their cares and labors with no
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comforts, no conveniences, no roads. They were forced to be self-reliant and
dependent on their own resources. Their bread was often made from meal mixed
with water and salt, and baked on a split shingle before the open fire. Their
meat, when they had it, was usually the flesh of deer or other game killed in
the woods. For such necessaries as they bought they had to go, at first to South
Bend, afterward to Michigan City.
They knew little of the so-called pleasures of to-day, yet unhampered by
conventionalities they had enjoyments none the less rare. The raisings, log-rollings,
shuckings, "bussing bees," and, occasionally, a wedding, at which "the cup that
cheers" flowed freely, and the "wee, sma'" hours were spent in tripping it on
the "light fantastic toe," furnished recreation suited to their life. The first
of these latter occurrences was occasioned by the marriage of William Hughart to
Elizabeth Zane on June 14, 1836, by Elijah Casteel, Justice of the Peace. The
next was that of Daniel W. Lyons and Anna Dillingham February 6, 1837. On April
6, of the same year, William Calhoun and Sarah Sefford were married by J. C.
Spurlock, and George Humes and Sarah Crawford by Thomas J. Wyatt, the latter
couple in a small log house near where John Johnson now lives. This was the
occasion of unusual festivity, and was the first important society event of the
settlement. Some thirty or forty invited guests, young and old, were present,
and as the house contained only one room, fourteen by sixteen feet, with two
beds in it, the necessity for economy of space is apparent. The Justice and the
father of the bride having indulged rather too freely in something stronger than
coffee, became oblivious, it is said, to the surrounding festivities. The
younger portion of the company, wishing "to thread the mazy," were at a loss to
know how to dispose of the fallen heroes, as both beds had been used for
wardrobes and hat-racks. The difficulty, however, was soon solved by rolling the
worthy pair under the beds, and the joy of the dance was unconfined until
"night's candles were burnt out."
Early Industries and Roads. -- The first saw-mill in the township was
built by Samuel Olinger, on Damon Run, on the place now owned by J. Wilts, in
1836. It was run by T. J. Field until 1838, when he sold it to William Johnson,
who, after seven or eight years, allowed it to fall into disuse. A little later
in the same year, William Gosset began the erection of a saw-mill on the east
bank of Salt Creek, opposite the site of the present mill. Having finished it,
he sawed the lumber for several frame buildings which were erected the next
year, when he also completed a grist-mill, which he ran in connection with the
saw-mill until about 1844. These were of the usual capacity and arrangement of
the ordinary grist and saw-mills of those days.
In 1844, the mills needing repairs, and thinking that the west bank
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offered better facilities for them, he began the erection of the present mill,
but died in 1845, before its completion. It was then bought and finished by
David Skinner, one of his heirs. From this time it was successively owned by
Samuel Skinner, T. J. Fifield, S. P. Robbins, Abram and Peter Stafford, Blachly
Brothers, and Blachly & Son, who control it at present. When first built, these
mills had a large custom. People came from places fifty and sixty miles distant,
and, at times, so great was the number of customers that they were compelled to
wait three and four days for their grists. At present only a moderate business
is done.
Closely connected with the history of these mills is that of a somewhat
chimerical enterprise -- the building of a steamboat for the purpose of
navigating Salt Creek, and its trunk, the Calumet River. About 1865-66, Abram
and Peter Stafford, and Dr. Stanton, who afterward associated with themselves W.
D, Cruthers, began the construction of a steamboat for conveying wood and timber
to Chicago, by way of Salt Creek and Calumet River. It was about twelve feet
wide and thirty feet long, and two or three years were consumed in building,
after its completion, it was run up and down the creek once or twice, and was
finally sunk in the Calumet River.
In 1842, a saw-mill was built by Cromwell Axe, on property now owned by William
Harvey. It is still in existence. In 1858, a steam mill was built by Hunt &
Kellogg. It changed hands several times, and was finally moved away. About
1854-55, Brown & Sellers erected a saw-mill on Coffee Creek. This was run a few
years, but finally fell into disuse. In 1870, David Long built another mill,
just below the site of the old one. In 1875, it was pulled down, and a
grist-mill erected by Long & Wondes, at a cost of $5,000 or $6,000. The present
owner is O. W. Wheeler, who does a large business.
During 1837-38, a chair and wheel factory was operated by Abraham Snodgrass, on
Spring Creek. He soon sold out and went West, and it was used no more.
In 1836, after the county was organized, the first regularly laid out road was
constructed. At the spring term of the Commissioner's court, Peter Ritter,
Samuel Olinger and William Thomas were appointed to run a road from Casteel's
Mill, on Coffee Creek, to William Gosset's Mill, through to the county line,
which they accordingly did, and located the road where it now is. Previous to
this time, Indian trails had been the only roads, save those that had been built
before the county was organized. About 1851, the construction of a plank road to
extend from Valparaiso to Michigan City was began. It passed through the eastern
part of the township. After the building of railroads through these places, the
necessity for such a road was no longer felt, and it was
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never completed. In 1874, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was built. Much trouble
and some litigation were occasioned in procuring the right of way.
Stores and Post Offices. -- The first store was opened by McPherson &
Meyers, at Salt Creek, in 1845. Their stock was small, not much larger than is
usually carried by a stout peddler, and consisted principally of those articles
included in the comprehensive term, "Yankee notions." After three or four years
of such extensive business, the store was closed, and the people of Liberty were
without a mercantile enterprise, until about 1866, when W. D. Cruthers, who had
an interest in the steamboat enterprise elsewhere described, opened a store in
the upper part of the mill then owned by Abram and Peter Stafford. As before,
the business carried on was not large, and after being sold to Robbins & Miller,
was closed out by them. A few years ago, the present store was opened by George
Wheeler, who still conducts it, keeping the usual stock, and doing the business
generally done by a small country store.
There are but two post offices within the limits of the township, one of which
was opened at Woodville, a station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few
months since. This will doubtless form the nucleus of a thriving village, as the
proprietor has already erected a building for the storage of wheat, to
accommodate shippers. The other office was instituted at Salt Creek about 1858,
with John Beck as the first Postmaster. It has since been held successively by
John Miller, Abram Stafford and George Wheeler, the present incumbent.
Elections and Population. -- The first election after the organization of
the township was held at Daniel Kesler's. The following is a copy of the
tally-sheet and list of voters used at that election:
At an elction held at the house of Daniel T. Kesler, in Liberty Township, Porter
Co., Ind., on the 30th day of April, A. D. 1886, for the purpose of electing one
Justice of the Peace for said township, the following-named persons came forward
and voted, to wit: Peter Ritter, Thomas J. Wyatt, William Downey, Daniel W.
Lyons, Joel Crumpacker, Joel Welker, John Sefford, M. Blayloch, Frederick Wolf,
Richard Clark, William Calhoun, Isaac Zane, Owen Crumpacker, Hiram Snodgrass,
Jerry Todhunter and Solomon Habanz. We, the undersigned Inspectors and Judges of
an election held at the house of Daniel T. Kesler, in Liberty Township, Porter
Co., Ind., on the thirtieth day of April, 1836, for the purpose of electing one
Justice of the Peace, do certify that for the office of Justice of the Peace,
Peter Ritter got thirteen votes, and Thomas J. Wyatt got three votes. Given
under our hands this thirtieth day of April, 1836. Jerry Todhunter, Inspector;
John Sefford, Joel Crumpacker, William Snavely, Solomon Habanz, Judges.
At the spring term of court, 1836, Daniel W. Lyons was appointed first
Constable; Jesse Morgan and Richard Clark, Overseers of the Poor; E. Tratebas
and William Downey, Fence-Viewers; Solomon Habanz, Supervisor of Roads.
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On August 7, of the same year, an election was held at Kesler's house for State
officers, at which time twelve votes were polled. At this election, T. J. Wyatt
was elected Justice of the Peace. Since that time nearly all the offices, then
held in the township, have been merged into Trustee. The present Trustee is
Fritz Lindermann. The population of the township in 1880 was 901.
Schools, Churches, etc. -- The first school in the township was probably
taught in a log house, built in the Zane settlement in 1836. Mrs. Sophia Dye was
the first teacher. She had about fifteen pupils, and received $2 per week. This,
like all others at that time, was a subscription school. The house was built by
the neighbors in common, and its furnishings were of the rudest character. Its
windows were formed of oiled paper, and its seats of slabs; the desks were made
by driving pins into the wall and laying a board on them. The present frame
house was built by Morris Risdon in 1854, at a cost of about $300.
A school was taught in the Dillingham settlement in 1837 by Anna Lyons, in a
part of her father's (John Dillingham's) house. She had eight or nine pupils.
The following year, a log house was built for school purposes, and E. P. Cole
taught the first two or three terms. About 1856, a frame house was built; this
was used until 1877, when the present substantial brick building was erected, at
a cost of about $600. The present teacher is Miss Mary Mead, who receives $25
per month.
A school was maintained at Salt Creek from about 1837 until 1856, though no
house for that purpose had been erected until the present one was built in the
last mentioned year. The first teacher in this house was Miss Kate Hoste, who
received $10 per month. The present teacher is Mary Love, who has an average
attendance of fourteen pupils, and receives $25 per month. The house in District
No. 5 was built in 1854, by William Babcock, at a cost of $300. In District No.
1 James Bradley built the house in 1858 or 1859; in No. 4 a brick was built in
1869, at a cost of $700. The house in No. 7 was erected in 1875. In 1882, the
number of pupils between the ages of six and twenty-one years, enumerated by the
Trustee, was 343. The present schools are as good as any county schools, and
fully sustain the high character for educational facilities which the State
bears.
Though an exceedingly quiet and law-abiding community, the people of Liberty
have never possessed a church organization. A somewhat singular, and it might be
said suggestive, coincidence is, that no saloon was ever established within the
same limits. Though no chapel may be seen beckoning us with white spire, no den
of iniquity casts its withering curses abroad to blight the happiness of the
inhabitants.
The first minister who visited this township was Stephen Jones, a
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member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He came at the invitation of William
Gosset, and preached at his house. The services were held at 2 P. M., on Friday,
the congregation having been called together by the blasts of a tin-horn in the
hands of Mrs. Gosset. There were about forty persons present. A great interest
in religious matters was aroused, and during the same year the Rev. Stephen
Jones conducted a camp-meeting on Salt Creek, which lasted a week. People came
from far and near, and many converts were made. During the next year, William
Gosset erected a small church building, which is still standing, and is used by
Mrs. Gosset for a dwelling. Salt Creek was now placed upon a circuit, and
services were regularly held for some years. Among those who encountered the
hardships and sufferings incident to the itinerant pioneer preacher for the
purpose of dispensing the Gospel to this settlement, may be mentioned the Revs.
Beer, Young, Forbes, Posey, Griffith and Colclasier. The circuit-rider as he
once existed has disappeared, and only occasionally, except as they go to
churches at a distance, do the people of Liberty have the privilege of meeting
together for religious services.
The only secret society ever organized here was that of the Grangers. Three
Granges were organized in 1875 -- one at Salt Creek, another in District No. 5,
and a third in the southern part of the township. For a time these societies
flourished and supplied a long-felt social want -- some place for friends and
neighbors to meet and spend an hour or two together each week; but from a
pecuniary standpoint, they were not a success, unless in the returns they
brought the farmers. A co-operative store was established in a small building
owned by George Fisher, and he was placed in charge of it. Some jealousies in
regard to the distribution of the goods were manifested. After about six months
of not very profitable business, the store was closed, and soon after the
organization was abandoned, having been in existence about two years.
NAVIGATION OF
1882 HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
PREFACE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. - EARLY HISTORY OF COUNTY
CHAPTER II. - EARLY HISTORY COUNTY (Continued)
CHAPTER III. - MILITARY HISTORY
CHAPTER IV. - VALPARAISO AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER V. - WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VI. - BOONE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VII. - WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VIII. - MORGAN TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER IX. - UNION TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER X. - JACKSON TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XI. - LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XII. - PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XIII. - PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XIV. - PORTER TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XV. - PINE TOWNSHIP
Transcribed by Steven R. Shook, February 2012