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 VI.
BY G. A. GARARD.
BOONE TOWNSHIP -- EARLY SETTLEMENT -- FIRST EVENTS -- ANECDOTES OF THE INDIANS
-- INDUSTRIES -- SCHOOLS -- HEBRON -- CHURCHES -- SECRET SOCIETIES.
AT an election held at the house of Jesse Johnson, in Boone Township, on the
30th day of April, 1836, the following persons voted for one Justice of the
Peace: John Prin, Thomas Johnson, Jennings Johnson, Frederick Wineinger, George
Eisley, William Johnson and Jesse Johnson. Following is the return:
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We the undersigned Judges and Clerks, do certify that Jesse Johnson received six
votes for Justice of the Peace, and Aschel Neal received one vote for the same
office.
JESSE JOHNSON,
FREDERICK WINEINGER,
JENNINGS JOHNSON,
Judges.
JOHN PRIN,
THOMAS JOHNSON,
Clerks.
At an election held at the house of Jesse Johnson, in Boone Township, on the
24th day of September, 1836, for the purpose of electing one Justice of the
Peace, the following vote was taken: Joseph Laird, William Bissell, Jesse
Johnson, A. D. McCord, John Moore, Isaac Cornell and John W. Dinwiddie.
We, the undersigned Judges and Clerks of the above election, do certify that
John W. Dinwiddie received seven votes for Justice of the Peace.
JESSE JOHNSON, Inspector.
JOSEPH LAIRD,
WILLIAM BISSELL,
Judges.
J. W. DINWIDDIE,
ISAAC CORNELL,
Clerks.
Judge Jesse Johnson, who settled with his family in Boone Township in the early
part of 1835, was the first permanent settler. In the same year, Isaac Cornell
brought a large family, and Simeon Bryant, with his wife and son, settled at
Pleasant Grove. In 1836, the following came: Thomas Dinwiddie and family,
Absalom Morris and family, Orris Jewett and family, Solomon Dilley and family,
James Dilley and family, and John and Hugh Dinwiddie. Orris Jewett was a
blacksmith, the first one in the township, and the only one for years. In 1835
or 1836, John Prin, Thomas Johnson, Jennings Johnson, Frederick Wineinger,
George Eisley, William Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Joseph Laird, William Bissell, A.
D. McCord, John Moore, Isaac Cornell and John W. Dinwiddie came. In 1836 or
1837, Barkley and John Oliver and families, Absalom Morris and old Mr. Pricer
came. In 1837, Amos Andrews, E. W. Palmer and T. C. Sweeney came. In the same
year, David Dinwiddie came. Mr. Sweeney did not make a permanent settlement
until February, 1838. In the spring of 1838, Mr. Smith and a family of boys
located three miles northeast of Hebron. Dr. Griffin located at Walnut Grove as
early as 1838. James Hildreth and Cooper Brooks came in the spring of 1838.
James Dye, Mr. Fiske and Mr. Johnson came in 1838. From 1840 to 1847, many came.
In 1863, with the railroad, came many others. The immigration, except at the
times above named, has been gradual.
The first birth of the township was that of Margaret Bryant, now Mrs. Dr.
Blackstone, who was born April 16, 1837. The first death was that of Harriet
Dinwiddie, in 1837. She was the youngest of a large family, and the funeral was
one of unusual sadness. The second death was that of the wife of Orris Jewett,
in 1838. One of the first
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marriages, if not the first marriage, was that of James Dilley to Sarah
Richards.
Mrs. Bryant, the oldest living resident settler of the township, tells of a
perilous experience with the Indians in 1836. In the absence of Mr. Bryant, the
old chief Shaw-ne-quoke came to the house, took a piece of chalk, made a circle
with it on the floor, and said in the Indian language, five miles around belongs
to the Indians, and ordered her to leave, threatening her with a butcher-knife
to "kin-a-bode" (kill her) if she did not leave at once. He approached her with
uplifted knife: she screamed and sprang to the other side of the room. The
scream aroused two large dogs that were, contrary to orders, sleeping under the
bed; they attacked the Indian savagely, and thus defeated his murderous
intention.
At another time, in the absence of the family, the Indians came, and were trying
Mr. Bryant's gun and inspecting things in general. Catherine Sadoris, a hired
girl, came home while they were there. Just as she came around the corner of the
house, an Indian raised a gun to look through the sights. The girl supposed that
he intended to shoot her, and ran for life. They tried to make her understand
that they did not intend to harm her, but she ran like a deer and disappeared in
the woods. The Indians told the family of the incident on their return, and they
searched for her, but she was not found until the next day, when she said that
she had no intention of returning, as she supposed that the family were all
slain. She stated that in the night seven deer came up to her, but she felt no
fear except of the Indians. As a rule, the Indians were very civil and
peaceable, and gave but little trouble. They would only annoy you by coming to
you for food as long as you would furnish them. If in a good humor, they would
salute you with "Bo zu Nick," "How do you do, friend?" Dancing was a favorite
amusement with the Indians. With a drum made of an empty keg, having a raw-hide
head, and gourds containing beans or pebbles, they made music to soothe the
savage heart, tickle the savage ear, and move the savage feet through the mazes
of the dance; or rather to shake their savage bodies, for in dancing the Indians
seldom move the feet, but shake themselves to the time of the barbarous music.
It amused them exceedingly to see the whites skip around over the floor in
dancing. This seemed to them highly improper and undignified. The Indian mothers
mourned over their children by blacking their faces, and by cooking and eating
food over their graves. They often buried the papooses in hollows in logs. When
living, the babes were tied upon boards to make them straight. These boards,
with the babies on them the squaws would stand against the fence or house while
they went in to beg. Once, in the absence of
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the family, the Indians painted an Indian in war dress on a board and left it at
the door of one of the old settlers. This was a threat of hostility, but no acts
of violence followed.
As this township is nearly all good farming land, the attention of the people
has been confined mostly to agricultural pursuits. Raising grain and rearing
stock have been the main and almost the sole sources of revenue. For some years,
hay has been a leading crop. No manufactures of great importance have ever been
established within the borders of the township. About 1845, a large wind-mill
for grinding grain was built two miles north of Hebron. It was built by Robert
Wilson, who sold in two years to his brother Charles, who ran it for about seven
years, when it went down. There is a creamery in the northeastern part of the
township, which was started by Mr. Woodhull, who sold it to David Hurlburt &
Son, who sold it to Merrifield & Dye. There is a steam-mill at Hebron, owned and
run by John Wilson.
The township was at first a beautiful prairie, interspersed with fine groves.
One of these groves covered the site of Hebron, and was about two and a half
miles in length by three-fourths of a mile in width. About one-half of a mile
south of Hebron was an Indian village.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1837. It was of logs, and was used five or
six years. After this, school was held in the Presbyterian Church, and after
that, in the summer of 1814, school was held in a vacant house of William
Bryant, with Ellen Hemes as teacher. Some of the teachers in the first house
were Amos Andrews, James Turner, Liza Russell, Sarah Richards and Roda Wallace.
The second schoolhouse was a log one, situated a mile and a half southwest of
Hebron, and was built in 1840. It was about 18x20 feet in size and had no
fire-place. There was a hearth and jamb of mud, and the chimney, of mud and
sticks, was built on projecting timbers at a man's height. To this chimney,
through the intervening air, the smoke must find its way of exit, but, as may be
imagined, it often failed to find the chimney, and spread through the room,
filling it and the eyes of the pupils. George Espy, and an Englishman, named
Alexander Hamilton, were among the early teachers. Hamilton was a man of high
family and fine education, and subsequently became one of the leading lawyers of
Chicago. The third schoolhouse was built on Siglar's Corner, which is in the
northeastern corner of Section 15. This was built, in 1842, of logs, by the
neighbors, and used for school purposes two years, when it was burned. Mary
Grossman was the first teacher. The fourth house was built a short time after
the last mentioned two miles east of Hebron, on the southwest corner of Section
7, Town 33, Range 6. It was a log house.
The fifth followed in a short time, on the south line of the north half of
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Section 6, Town 33, Range 6. This was also a log house. Ths sixth was built soon
after the fifth. It was on the south line, near the quarter post of Section 5,
Town 33, Range 6, and was of similar construction and size to its predecessors.
The first frame was built two miles east of Hebron, on Section 7, Town 33, Range
6. May 28, 1853, "a special meeting was held by the board and voters of the
township for the purpose of determining whether a special tax for the support of
free schools in the township should be assessed, at which meeting four votes
were given in favor of the tax and ten against the tax." The following is the
apportionment of the school funds made November 8, 1854: District No. 1, $43;
No. 2, $9.10; No. 3, $19.08; No. 4, $39.10; No. 5, $12.62; No. 6, $39.10. In
1854, a tax of 15 cents on the $100 was voted for school purposes. At present,
there are eight schoolhouses in the township, three of which are brick and the
others are frame. The houses in Districts Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are brick. The one in
No. 5, or the Hebron District, is a handsome brick, erected in 1872, at a cost
of $5,000. The one in No. 6 cost $1,100, and the one in No. 7 cost $1,000. The
one in No. 4 was built in 1880, at a cost of $600; the one in No. 8 in 1878, at
a cost of $500. The houses in Districts 1, 2 and 3 are frame, erected some years
ago. Nos. 2 and 3 cost about $600 each. The house in District No. 1 is the
poorest house in the township, as it is the oldest. It cost probably about $300,
and was moved from the present site of the house in District No. 2. The house in
District No. 2 was moved to its present site from the place now occupied by the
house of District No. 1. The following facts and figures are taken from the
report of H. J. Nichols, trustee, for the year 1882: White pupils admitted to
the schools of the township during the year -- males, 199; females, 183;
colored, female, 1; number who attended on the average, 250. Male teachers, 5;
female, 6; average compensation of males, $1.37 per day; females, the same; in
town, $1.78. Estimated value of school property, $8,000; of apparatus, $60.
Special tax, 20 cents on the $100. Amount paid trustees for services rendered
the schools, $95.91. The following is a list of the teachers for the years 1881
and 1882: 1881-- In District No. 1, Anna Kelly and Sarah A. Douglas; in No. 2,
R. B. D. Simonson, Minnie A. Fuller and Charles F. Leeka; in No. 3, J. N.
Buchanan, Jr., and Emeline Massey; in No. 4, W. N. Buchanan and Ella Denison; in
No. 5, W. B. Blackstone, R. C. Mackey. Mary O. Buchanan, Ida E. Fisher, R. B. D.
Simonson, R. S. Martin. S. F. Southwick, Mary Young and O. J. Andrews; in No. 6,
E. E. Flint and Carrie Buchanan; in No. 7, O. S. Baird; in No. 8, Richard S.
Martin. 1882-- In No. 1, Sarah Douglas, Electa Elson and Effie Wilson; in No. 2,
Charles F. Leeka and A. A. Doyle; in No. 3, Emeline Massey and O. J. Andrews;
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in No. 4, Ella Dennison and Sarah Douglas; in No. 5, Mary Young, S. F.
Southwick, O. J. Andrews, Alice J. Sanborn and O. S. Baird; in No. 6, E. E.
Flint, Sarah A. Douglas and Effie Wilson; in No. 7, Dorcas Adams and Eugene
Skinkle; in No. 8, Emma Buchanan, Hattie Pararaore and R. S. Martin. The Hebron
Graded Schools are now under the direction of W. B. Swearingen, assisted by Mrs.
H. B. Southwick, Mrs. Sanborn and O. S. Baird. Mr. Cathcart was the first
Principal in the new building for one year. He was succeeded by Mr. McAffee, who
served a year, when Rev. R. M. C. Thompson took charge in 1874 and served a
year. J. C. Carson now had the Principalship for two years, and was succeeded by
Mr. Simonson, who taught a year, and then gave place to Mr. McAffee for a year,
when Mr. Simonson took the place for another year, when O. J. Andrews came to
serve a year, and gave place, in 1882, to W. B. Swearingen, the present
Principal. Before the present commodious brick was built, the town schools
occupied a small frame. In 1871, Mrs. James E. Bryant taught in a log house
located near the center of the town, that was built for a blacksmith shop. After
being used as a schoolhouse, it was converted into a stable. Thus the
educational interests of the township have progressed from primitive poverty to
present prosperity.
Village of Hebron. -- Hebron was located where it is because of the fact
that two roads cross at this point. The first house was built by Mr. Bagley,
about 1845. This was a log structure, and is now owned by D. Wolf and occupied
by John Hoffman. The second house was built in 1846, by Samuel Alyea, and was
the first store. Mr. Alyea put in a stock of goods that he might have carried on
his back. This was a log house about forty yards from the "Corners." Mr. Alyea,
after awhile, took in E. W. Palmer, and they moved up to "The Corners." Alyea
soon sold to Wesley Doty, and in a short time Doty traded his interest to Samuel
McCune, who kept the store until 1858, when he sold to Thomas Davis, who closed
out the stock. The second store was started by William Siglar, who, after two
years, sold to his brother Eli, who ran the store a year, when he took his
brother, D. T., as a partner, and they have run the business in the same
building ever since. This building stands on the corner of Siglar and Main
streets. The first frame building was built by Mr. McCune. The first brick was
built by Daniel Siglar for a dwelling, in the north part of the town, in 1867.
The second brick was built by Sweeney & Son as a business block, in 1875. It
contains the town hall. The name Hebron was given by Rev. Hannan, an Associate
Reformed preacher, to the congregation that assembled here to worship, and in
1845, Rev. Blain was installed. He circulated a petition for a post office, and
succeeded in getting one within the year, and it was called Hebron
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Post Office. Rev. Blain was the first Postmaster, and served for two years, when
Mr. Morris was appointed, and served for the same length of time. John Hoffman
took the office next and kept it in the woods half a mile west of where the town
stands, for five or six years. Amos Andrews held the office during the war. J.
E. Bryant held it for some years, and gave place to Loren Pomeroy, who had it
for four years. Charles Carmen next took it for a year, when he resigned, and
the present incumbent, Oscar Baird, took charge about six months since.
The first lots were laid out in 1844, by John Alyea, who laid out three one-acre
lots. He sold one to Palmer, one to McCune, and retained one upon which he built
a blacksmith shop. In 1849, Mr. James had a tier of half-acre lots laid out on
Section 14, on a street south and east of "The Corners." The mill now stands on
one of these. In 1852, the Siglar Brothers laid out a tier west of "The
Corners," on the south side of the street on Section 15. A few years later they
laid out another tier south of this one. In 1864, the Siglar Brothers laid out
quite a large plat of lots on Sections 10, 11 and 15. In 1855, Patrick's
Addition on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 10. The
growth of the town has been slow and gradual. It received quite an impulse from
the railroad when it came. In the last eight years there have been three
unsuccessful attempts to incorporate the town. The last one was made during the
summer of 1882.
The Free Press was issued here from September, 1878, until October 1,
1879. H. R. Gregory was the editor. The Local News was printed here from
October, 1879, until some time in 1880, by Mr. Mansfield. In 1856, George
Washington Sampson located here, and remained about thirteen years. About the
same time, John Quincy Roberts came to stay only a year and a half. John K.
Blackstone is the oldest resident physician, having been here almost a quarter
of a century, but he is not now in active practice. Dr. S. R. Pratt is of almost
as long standing. Dr. Andrew Jackson Sparks was here for three or four years.
Dr. Sales came in 1868, and stayed three or four years. Dr. Price died here in
1880. Dr. Woods and Dr. Carson are among those who have come in later, and are
still practicing here. Dr. Carson came in 1880. Several attempts have been made
by parties to start here in the law, but none of those who attempted it stayed
for any great length of time. The first drug store was started in 1866 by Ross
Bryant, who, after two or three years, sold to Dr. Sales, who closed out the
stock. The second was opened by W. B. Doddridge, who is still carrying an
extensive stock. George Stemble has charge of the corner drug store, which is
owned by a party in Valparaiso. The firms that carry general stocks of goods are
Bryant, Doud & Co., E. and D. T. Siglar, Wilson Morrow and H. J.
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Nichols. J. C. Smith and Thomas Clews have grocery stores. Conner, Doud and
David Fisher compete in the hardware line. Mr. Beebe was the first to start a
furniture store. The business changed hands a number of times, and is now owned
by S. F. Andrews. John Baker and Mr. Rolliston have shoe shops, while Gus Weggen,
William White, William Nelson and John Paramore do the blacksmithing. The first
hotel was opened in 1849 by Samuel McCune in the frame house now occupied by Mr.
George Mosier. After McCune, Tazwell Rice kept the house. He was followed by
Harvey Allen, and he by John Skelton, who kept it last. The next hotel was the
Pratt House, opened by Burrell Pratt in 1865, and kept by him two years. This
was kept next by a Mr. Pratt not related to the one above mentioned; he kept it
about two years. Then John Brey took charge for a year, and he was followed by
John Gordon for the same time. Harvey Allen then became landlord, and was in
charge for three years. Then the house passed into the hands of the Siglar
Brothers, who rented it for four or five years to a nephew, John Siglar, who was
succeeded by the present genial and gentlemanly landlord, who took charge of the
house in June, 1879. Since that time it has been known as the Bates House. The
third hotel was opened in 1866 by Henry Smith, near the depot. This was run by
Mr. Smith for five years, and then by Mr. Winslow for four years, after which it
was bought by Mr. Poole, who is now using it for a dwelling. The fourth and last
hotel built was the Central House, erected in 1878 by John Skelton. It was kept
by Loren Pomeroy for two years and a half, since which time it has been used for
dwelling purposes.
Churches. -- All of the churches of the township are located at Hebron.
Bethlehem Church of Associate Reform Presbyterians was organized on the 28th of
July, 1838, by Rev. Hannan. At that time there were only fifteen members, and
they had no church building. The first members were Samuel Turner and wife,
Thomas Dinwiddie and wife, Berkly Oliver and wife, Susanna Dinwiddie, Sr.,
Susanna Dinwiddie, Jr., Margaret Dinwiddie, Mary McCarnehan, Susan P. West, John
W. Dinwiddie, David T. Dinwiddie, Margaret J. Dinwiddie and Eliza A. Dinwiddie.
Of these only one, Margaret J. Pierce, nee Dinwiddie, remains. Messrs.
Samuel Turner and Thomas Dinwiddie were the first Elders, which positions they
occupied until death removed them from office. Rev. Hannan remained only long
enough to organize the church. Rev. Wilson Blain was the first pastor. He was
ordained and installed in 1841 or 1842, and stayed until 1847, when he was
released. Prior to his installation, they had had occasional services by
different ministers. After Rev. Blain left, they were without a pastor until
1851, when, during the month of May, Rev. J. N. Buchanan supplied the church. He
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was soon called to the work and on November 29, 1851, he was installed. Here
Rev. Buchanan preached his first sermon and here he has continued to preach up
to the present time, a period of thirty-one years, an unusually protracted
pastorate for these latter days of restlessness and change. The first members of
the congregation were poor, and for some time they assembled in the rude
residences of these sturdy Christians. The first meeting was held at the house
of Thomas Dinwiddie. In warm weather, the groves were used as temples, and they
met for a time in the schoolhouse at the cemetery. The brethren all assisted in
the erection of the first place of worship. Trees were felled, their trunks were
hewed and the house was raised with no expenditure of money except for nails,
glass and flooring. The seats were made of small logs split in halves. This
house was located about a mile south of Hebron. The name of the congregation was
changed from Bethlehem to Hebron, during the pastorate of Rev. Blain. The
congregation occupied this building until 1852, when it erected a frame
three-fourths of a mile south of Hebron, at an expense of $1,200, all of which
was paid up. This was occupied in the fall of 1852. In 1864, the building was
moved to Hebron, where it was used by the society until 1879, when they built
the present commodious frame, at a cost of $2,500. Of the amount subscribed to
build this church, every dollar was paid. The society has had a steady growth.
In 1851, there were forty members; of these, only six now remain. The present
membership is eighty-three, and it has been as high as ninety-five. The present
Elders are David Turner, Joseph Wood, John Simpson, Hugh Fickle and H. P. Wood.
This is the only organization of this denomination in Lake and Porter Counties.
The Methodists held their first meetings at the dwellings of Simeon Bryant and
Absalom Morris, and later at a schoolhouse. They organized a society here in
1837, under the direction of Rev. Jacob Colclasier, who was the first minister.
Aaron Wood was Presiding Elder of the conference at the time. Rev. Young, Rev.
Biers, Rev. William J. Forbes and Rev. Hyde were among the first ministers. Rev.
Lamb, Rev. Pettyjohns, Rev. Wayde, Rev. Posey, Rev. Crumpacker, Rev. Wheeler,
Rev. Griffith, Rev. Greene and Rev. L. B. Kent were among the early ministers,
in about the order given. Absalom Morris, James Dilley, Solomon Dilley and
family, Mrs. Elizabeth Bryant, Mr. Gridley and wife and Gideon Alyea and wife
are some of the first members. In 1840, a protracted meeting of eight weeks was
held. The meetings were held at Hebron for four weeks, and then the place of
meeting was changed to a schoolhouse four miles east of Hebron. This was a great
revival. The first church of the denomination was built in 1844, half a mile
south of Hebron. It was about 20x30 feet in size, and was built of unhewn logs.
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At the first meetings, the sleepers were used for seats. Rev. Griffith was the
first minister in this house. This house gave place to the present frame, built
about 1859, at an expense of §1,000. The parsonage was bought in 1877, of
Stillman Andrews, for $650. The Ladies' Aid Society keep the church in repair,
and during the present summer have expended over $50 in papering, etc. Rev.
Denham is the present pastor. He was preceded by Rev. C. S. Burgner, who was
preceded by Rev. Lasurd, who was preceded by Rev. Buckles, who was preceded by
Rev. Vaught, who was preceded by Rev. Cox, who was preceded by Rev. Michaels,
who was preceded by Rev. Kinsey.
In 1877, a church, styled the "Union Mission Church," was organized with a
membership of eighty. The church was built in 1878, at a cost of about $2,000.
The principal contributors were James King, William Netherly and E. and D. T.
Siglar. The trustees of the first organization were Hiram Marsh, B. Blanchard
and William Netherby. The Deacons were William Fry, James King and L. Temple.
On the 26th day of April, 1882, a Congregational Church was organized of the
members of the defunct Union Mission Church, with a membership of forty. James
King, B, F. Gossett, James Alyea, J. G. Gibson and A. Blanchard were elected
trustees. William M. Watt and William Fry were elected Deacons. The church then
called Rev. L. Adams Smith to her pastorate, who has since officiated. In the
American Church Review, of Cincinnati, bearing date of January 25, 1870, we find
the following notice: "We have just closed a protracted meeting at Hebron, Ind.,
on the Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad, which resulted in the organization of a
church of twenty-six members." The following are some of the first members: Mrs.
Mary E. White, who was the first one to be baptized, Joseph Dye, who was the
first Deacon, and his wife, Sarah Essex, Sarah A. Johnson, Mrs. Viola Robinson,
Ellis Huff and wife, Mrs. Sheldon, Isaac Margison, Mrs. Blood and Mr. Montgomery
and wife. The church was built in 1878, at a cost of $1,100. The present value
of the property of the church is $1,450. The membership is 130. The following
are those who contributed most liberally to the building of the church with the
amounts given: Joseph Cathcart, George Maxwell and James Ross each gave $100; W.
W. White, $60; William Sturgeon, $50; S. Andrews, George Bruff, Hugh Swaney,
William Dye and Mary Bryant each gave $25; Joseph Dye, $15; Enoch Jones, William
Sawyer and Dr. Blackstone each gave $10; "Boone Grove Church" gave about $60 and
"Morgan Prairie Congregation" gave $50. Lemuel Shortridge was the first
minister, and served for three years. The first meetings were held in the
Methodist Church and in the schoolhouse. William Wheeler was the second minister
and
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stayed for two years, when William Lowe came for a short stay, after which there
were no regular services for a time. After Rev. Lowe came Rev. William L.
Streeter, Rev. Cassel and Rev. Carpenter, each of whom stayed but a short time.
Rev. A. P. Maston came next for a stay of three years. Rev. Edwards, Rev. Rower,
Rev. Chase, Rev. Franklin, Rev. John Ellis and Rev. Barnett came in order, each
staying but a short time. For the next two years, H. B. Davis filled the pulpit,
after whom came the present genial Christian gentleman. Rev. Adolphus C. Carter,
who has entered upon his second year.
The Presbyterians proper, or, as they style themselves in the articles of the
church, "The Presbyterian Church (O. S.)," was organized in 1860, as is shown by
the following extract from the church records: "Hebron, Ind., October 29, 1860,
11 o'clock, A. M. The commission appointed by the Presbytery of Lake met in
Hebron Schoolhouse, and, after a sermon by Rev. S. C. Logan from Ephesians, 4, 1
-- 'There is one body and one Spirit,' etc., the committee proceeded to the
organization of the Church of Hebron." The articles are signed by J. L. Lower
and S. C. Logan, Ministers, and Ezra Reeve and Nathan Strong, P. Elders. Those
who subscribed to the articles as members are William Mackey, E. Mackey, Gideon
Brecount, Jane Brecount, A. A. Burwell, Rebecca I. Burwell, Nancy Tanehill, Mary
Hill, T. C. Sweeney, Jane Aylsworth, Stella McCollom, Carrie M. Wilson, Margaret
M. Gill and Mary E. Hill. William Mackey and Amos A. Burwell were elected
Elders, and Gideon Brecount, Clark L. Tannehill and Thomas C. Sweeney, Trustees.
In April, 1868, there were twenty-six members; in 1876, there were thirty-five
members. June 21, 1873, the society bought the old schoolhouse and the lot upon
which it stood of the Siglar Brothers for the sum of $350. This they fitted up
for a meeting-house. Rev. J. L. Lower was the first regular minister; A. Y.
Moore was the next, who was succeeded by Rev. Beer, who was succeeded, in 1868,
by Rev. McKinney, who was followed by Rev. Flemming, who was followed by Rev.
Spencer Baker. Since Rev. Baker's time, the congregation has been supplied by
students from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Chicago. Rev. Small is
supplying the pulpit occasionally. He was preceded by Rev. Ferguson, who was
preceded by Rev. Ely. Formerly, the congregation was connected with the one at
Crown Point; now it is connected with the Tassinong Church. The present
membership of the church is twenty-five.
Secret Organizations. -- The Hebron Lodge, U. D., of Freemasons,
commenced operations under a dispensation dated June 9, 1874. The first officers
were L. C. Dunn, W. M.; J. N. More, S. W., Pro tem.; L. P. Scott, J. W.; W. M.
Nelson, S. D.; John Skelton, Treasurer; R.
177
Sheine, Tiler, Pro tem.; Samuel Irvin, Secretary, Pro tem. The charter members
were L. C. Dunn, John Skelton, W. M. Nelson, S. K. Pratt, Y. Welding, Samuel
Irvin and L. P. Scott. The following is a list of the others who have belonged
to the lodge up to the present time: F. Mikles, Thomas V. Rockwell, B. F.
Hathaway, Aaron Godwin, Andrew Godwin, Andrew Runion, G. W. Maxwell, J. L.
Baker, C. G. Carman, Michael Dorn, William McGinley, J. C. Carson, John
Wellinger, J. P. Brough, N. D. Edmonds, S. C. Mclntire, Rufus Rice, Mott T.
Perry, W. C. Shreve, E. S. Irwin, H. B. Davis, Hamilton B. Southwick, Spencer
Baker, G. W. Mosier, W. B. Swearingen, C. H. Carman and John Carson. The present
membership is twenty-three.
There was at one time a lodge of the I. O. O. F., but, as the records are not
accessible, and the few here now who were interested can furnish no definite
information, its history can not be given.
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