Carroll County township histories

by John C. Odell 1916

     

Adams Township

Adams township was organized by the board of county commissioners at the May term 1828, and John Scott was appointed inspector of elections. The first election was held on the first Monday in August, 1831, and John Love was elected justice of the peace. Three trustees were elected at said election. The first school house was built on the farm of John Love in 1834. Thomas McLaughlin was the first school teacher. The first religious organizagion was the Associate Presbyterians in 1834. Rev. Nathaniel Ingles was the first pastor of the church.
Burnett's creek furnished excellent water power and a saw-mill was erected at Lockport by John A. Barnes in 1832. He built a grist-mill in 1835. Lockport was the only village in the township. It was located on the Wabash and Erie canal, and for many years a large amount of business was transacted at this place. John Newman built a saw-mill on Rattlesnake creek in 1834, and a few years later added a flouring-mill. A number of saw-mills were built by various persons.
Among the early settlers were William Hicks, John Love, John Crowell, Joseph Newman, Jacob Riegel, Peter Speece, Amassa Straight, John Barnes, Charles Wright, Daniel Hoover, Samuel Neill, James Small and others.

Burlington Township
Burlington township was organized by the board of county commissioners in March, 1832. Alston Wyatt was appointed inspector of Elections. The first township election was held on the first Monday in April, 1832, and Mahlon Shinn was elected justice of the peace. The first shcools were taught in log cabins; the first of note was in 1836 on the farm of Edmond Moss. Brick school houses abound in this township. The gospel was preached in the log school houses until church buildings were erected.
Burlington is the principal town in this township. It is located on the state Michigan road which runs through this township. It contains a fine high school building, a bank and churches. Burlington Lodge No. III, Free and Accepted masons, was organized at Burlington in 1851. Burlington Lodge No 77, Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized on January 10, 1850.
Among the first settlers were Henry Bolles, Samuel Anderson, J. M. Darnell, Robert Johnson, Jacob Brown, William Smith, James C. Smith, W. C. Ewing, Edmund Moss, William Runnion, S. Harmon, William Stockton, Andrew Gwinn, John T. Gwinn, Joseph Kingery, Samuel Gwinn, Andrew Beck, Joseph Rinker, Peter Harmon, James Chittick, Enos James, Thomas Huston, William Trent, Richard Duncan and others.

Clay township
Clay township was organized by the board of county commissioners in 1831, and Albert G. Hanna was appointed inspector of elections. The first election was held at the house of Jonathan Gillam, on the second Monday of April, 1831, and George Julian was elected justice of the peace. This township is the southwest township of the county. Wild Cat creek runs through this township. The first school house was built on the farm of Alexander Murphy in 1837 and a Mr. Troxell taught the first school. The next school house was built thereafter as the demands of the people required. Two churches of the German Baptist denomination are located in this township. John Wagoner erected the first saw-mill, and also a mill to grind wheat and corn. The villages in this township, are Pyrmont and Owasco. Pyrmont is situated on the western border, and Owasco on the Monon railroad.
Among the early settlers were John M. Beard, Nicholas Garst, Jacob Shigley, Alexander Murphy, Adam Bates, James Gray, Eli Moore, Samuel Moore, James Enochs, George Stombaugh, Daniel Wagoner, John Wagoner, Samuel Mooney, N. Campbell, John Cripe, S. Studebaker, Jacob Cripe, Daniel Metzger, Jacob Saylor, Daniel Saylor, Samuel Bugher and others.

Carrollton township
Carrollton township was organized by the county commissioners in 1835, and Elisha W. Lake was appointed inspector of elections. The first election was held on t he first Monday in April, 1835, at the house of E. W. Lake, and George Fouts was elected justice of the peace. The first settlements were made in 1832. The state Michigan road runs through this township. The Rev. John P. Hay was the nimister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, the first to hold religious services in this township. In 1836 the first shcool house was erected on the land of George Young. Saw-mills were built in 1835, and the first grist-mill was erected in 1848. The villages in this township are Wheeling, Sharon and Carrollton, located on the state Michigan road.
Among the first settlers were George Trapp, Johsnson Kirkpatrick, George fouts, Benjamin Kirkpatrick, Martin Wagoner, Francis McCain, Peter Duncan, Samuel Ayers, John Garrison, John Shively, Abner Shanks, Jacob Shively, William Martin, Charles Martin, Jacob Cline, Jeremiah Trent, E. W. Lake, Andrew Hunter, Uriah Blue and others.

Deer Creek township
Deer Creek township was organized in May, 1828, by the board of county commissioners, and an election was ordered to be held on June 7, 1828. At this election Henry Robinson was elected a justice of the peace. The board appointed the constables, overseers of the poor, and the fence viewers. Delphi, the county seat, is situated in this township. At the time of the organization of this township, there were about two hundred people in the township. The chief civil business transacted was the laying out of roads. The Wabash and Erie canal ran through this township, upon which canal there were a number of warehouses established. Delphi was incorporated pursuant to a charter of the Legislature of 1837-1838. In May, 1838, William Crooks was elected the first mayor.
The early schools were taught in log school houses. The first public school building erected in Delphi was used for all purposes. The courts were held in it until the first court house was built. After the new Constitution went into effect, in 1852, the free school system, which has been in operation ever since, made provision for better school houses, and provided for a tax for school purposes was in 1848, a brick, two-story house. A Methodist Society was organized in 1826. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1828.
The first saw-mill was built in 1826 by Henry Robinson. He erected a merchant mill on Deer creek in 1830. To this structure was added in later years, by the owners, a large addition, which was known as the "Red Mill," which was burned down four years ago. The Wabash railroad was built in 1857 and 1858, and then the canal soon went out of business.
Among the first settlers of this township were Henry Robinson, Abner Robinson, John Carey, B. D. Angel, James Odell, Sr., John Ballard, Daniel Baum, David Baum, D. F. Vandeventer, Isaac Griffith, R. Manary, R. Mitchell, Dr. E. W. Eweing, James H. Steward, William Hughes, Thomas Gillam, William Bishop and others.

Democrat township
Democrat township was organized by the board of county commissioners in May, 1835, and William Dawson was appointed inspector of elections. The first election was held at the house of James McNeil in 1838. The first school house was a log building erected in 1833. The villages were Prince William and Lexington, and later the town of Cutler was established. Cutler is loacated on the Vandalia railroad. The Presbyterian and Baptist denominations were the first to organize churches. At Cutler, Wild Cat lodge No. 311, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in 1864; and Cutler Lodge No. 571, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in 1879.
The oldest mill was the Adam's mill, located on Wild Cat creek, east of Cutler, in 1831. Mr. Adams erected a flouring-mill in 1835. Samuel Weaver operated a carding-mill, also manufactured linseed oil, and later operated a woolen-mill at Prince William. A tannery was operated by a Mr. Campbell from 1835 to 1840. Lexington was laid out on land of Eli Patty in 1835, and was a good trading point. Prince William was noted in early times as a popular place for the holding of political meetings. Considerable business was transacted at this place during the palmy days of the "Plank Road" existence. Wild Cat creek is the principal stream in the township, having several branches in the southeastern part of the township.
The laying out and building of roads occupied the people during the first years of the township organization. the township trustees had charge of the management of the public schools and establishing school districts. Dr. R. D. Herron was the earliest physician in the township. Jacob Watson and family were the first settlers of this township. David Motter was a close second.
Among the early settlers were Isaac Watson, David Simpson, Andrew Gee, John Gee, Benjamin Gee, John Adams, Henry Tinkle, George Sheets, William Chatham, James McNeil, Phillip Rinker, Jacob Shaffer, David T. Wyatt, William Wyatt, George Lowman, Alston Wyatt, W. Seawright, Anthony Wilson, Daniel Cleaver, Jesse Daniel, John L. Ritter, John Jack, James Chittick, Robert Simpson, Anthony Burns, Bolton Smith, John Black, Joshua Craner, Jacob Watson, Jeremiah Ashba, William Mustard and others. All of the above named settled in this township prior to 1833.

Jackson township
Jackson township was organized by the board of county commissioners in August, 1830, and Moses Allridge was appointed inspector of elections. The first township election was held at the house of Enoch Allridge on the third Monday of October, 1830, and Jacob Humerickhouse was elected justice of the peace. James Allridge was elected constable. The first log school house was built on the land of John Odell in 1830, and George C. Sanderson was the teacher. It accommodated all the children of the township. In 1831 the township was divided into school districts, and on the 22nd of October, 1831, a vote was taken and adopted to raise a fund by taxation to support free schools. This system prevailed until 1852, when the new Constitution went into effect.
The early ministers were circuit riders, and held religious services at the school houses. The German Baptist church was organized in Camden in 1829. The Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized in 1830. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1831. Camden Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1846. Paint Creek Baptist church was organized in 1832. Camden Baptist church was organized in 1834. St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1846. Camden is the only town in this township, and is located near the center of the township. It was laid out and platted in 1836. It maintains a high school, has two banks, fine churches, good stores and improved streets. Its population is about one thousand. It is an incorporated town. The Vandalia railroad runs through this town.
Among the first settlers were Moses Allridge, Elisha Brown, Adam Porter, Jeremiah Ballard, John Ballard, John Little, William Armstrong, John Odell, Thomas Sterling, David Harter, William Hance, John Lenon, Levi Lenon, Samuel Lenon, David Fisher, F. G. Armstrong, Phillip Hewitt, Levi Cline, James Martin, William martin, Jacob Humrickhouse, Hiram Gregg, R. G. Mundy, P. M. Armstrong, Enoch McFarland, John Shanks, Daniel Blue, Z. Lake, Thomas Lenon, George Julian, Peter Replogel, J. E. Snoebarger, William Wilson, John Kuns, David Wise, Samuel Wise, John Musselman, John Bunker, Charles Bowman and others.

Jefferson township
Jefferson township was organized by the board of county commissioners in May, 1836, and Joseph Williamson was appointed inspector of elections. The first township election was held in 1839, at the house of Robert Mitchell. The first school house was built in the year 1834, on the farm of Moses Grandstaff. Nathan C. Gillam was the first school teacher. In 1856 the first school tax was levied by the trustee. The average length of time of schools was one hundred and twenty-five days.
The gospel was preached in this township, as in other townships, in the early days. In 1855 the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren denominations erected churches. The first saw-mill was built on the Tippecanoe river in 134, by Anthony Sheets, and he afterwards added buhrs to grind wheat and corn. This mill was located at what is now known as "Oak Dale." The villages of Yeoman and Patton are situated in this township, on the Monon railroad.
Among the first settlers were John Hornback, Samuel Goslee, Jonas Elston, Robert Gillam, Robert Million, David Lucas, Samuel Moore, John Lynch, James Dalzell, William Carson, David Carson, John E. Mikesell, Jacob Baum, Henry Tedford, David Overly, Peter Prough, John Scott, R. P. Scott, Robert Mitchell, Thomas Patton, A. Shultz, Peter Pence, J. H. Newman, B. Price, W. S. Montgomery and others.

Madison township
Madison township was organized by the board of county commissioners in March, 1837, and Joseph Hanna was appointed inspector of elections. The first election was held in 1839, at the house of Peter Tanner, and Michael Kite was elected j ustice of the peace. The first log school house was built in 1837, which served as well for church purposes for a number of years. Nelson Gillam was the first school teacher. Much of the time the people were engaged in building roads. The towns of Radnor and Ockley are in this township, and are located on the Monon railroad.
Among the first settlers were Thomas Gillam, John M Gillam, John Thompson, Michael Kite, Albert G. Hanna, Robert Gillam, Amos Thompson and others.

Monroe township
Monroe township was organized in March, 1840 and Isaac Price was appointed i nspector of elections. The first election was held on the last Saturday in June 1840, and James C. Todd was elected justice of the peace. The first log school house was built on the farm of Amos Ball, in 1833. The Dunkard church was established in 1831. Other church denominations followed as the population increased.

Flora, an incorporated town, has a population of one thousand six hundred, and is located on the Vandalia railroad, in this township. Bringhurst is a town of about six hundred inhabitants, situated in this township and on the Vandalia railroad. Flora and Bringhurst each have fine high school buildings. These two rival towns are only one mile apart.

Among the early settlers were Thomas Ross, Samuel Ross, Joseph Beckner, Amos Ball, John Flora, Jacob Zook, George Cline, Jonathan Barnnard and others.

Rock Creek township
Rock Creek township was organized by the board of county commissioners in May, 1828, and an election ordered for the township, to be held at the house of Isaac Atkinson in 1833. Isaac Atkinson was elected justice of the peace. The first school was taught in 1830 in a log school house. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1836. A year or two later other religious denomiantions organized churches.
The town of Rockfield is located in this township, also the town of Burrows. The Wabash railroad runs through this township, and the towns mentioned are situated on this line of railway and on the Ft. Wayne and Northern Indiana traction road. Rockfield has a bank, as has also the town of Burrows. A fine school building is located in Rockfield. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 301 is located in Rockfield and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 495 is located in Burrows. The first saw-mill was erected in 1831 by Emanuel Flood, on Rock creek. Later, on the same site, a flouring-mill was built by John Mullendore in 1848. This mill was known in later years as the "Dougherty" mill.
Among the first settlers were John Kuns, Aaron Merriman, Jacob Kuns, Christopher McCombs, John Farneman, John Corder, George Kuns, Emanuel Flora, Samuel Williamson, Thomas Millard, Lewis Neff and William Atkinson.

Tippecanoe township
Tippecanoe township was organized by the board of county commissioners in the year 1830. The Tippecanoe river runs through the western side of the township, and the Wabash river is its boundary on the south. Pittsburg is located on the Wabash and dates its settlement to the year 1825. The town of Sleeth is situated in this township, on the Monon railroad. The Associate Presbyterian church was the first church to organize in this township. Other denominations organized in later years. At one time Pittsburg did a large business in produce shipping, had a foundry, a tannery, a woolen-mill, a flouring-mill and a saw-mill. A canal was taken out on the north side of the river, above the dam, and it was used to ship on canal boats the products to Toledo.
Pittsburg was laid out by Merkle & Kendall in 1836. Bolles & Colton, Spears Brothers, T Donavan and Merkle & Kendall were the principal buyers and shippers. In February, 1882, the Wabash dam was blown out with dynamite. After this affair the canal soon ceased to be a water highway. Deer Creek prairie lies on the west side of the Wabash river and was land reserved to A. Burnett by Indian treaties.
Among the first settlers were John Burkholder, Daniel Vandeventer, Robert Gibson, John Lindsey, Graham Roberts, John Anderson, John Smith, James L Johnson, Charles Angel, Greenup Brothers, George Malcom, James Malcom, John Brookbank, John Benham, Richard Sibbitt, Abner Robinson and others.

Washington township
Washington township was organized by the board of county commissioners in 1835. The first election was held in 1836, and John G. Treen was elected justice of the peace. Washington township is situated in the northeast corner of the county. It conatins nineteen thousand two hundred acres of land. The principal creeks are Rock creek, Deer creek and Paint creek. This territory was heavily timbered and the land is generally level. The soil is mostly black and after draiage is very productive. The public lands in this township were all taken up by the year 1836.
The first school was taught in a log cabin on the farm of Moses Stanley by Amanda Huston in 1838. The teacher was only sixteen years of age at the time, but was well qualified and was successful. The following is a true description of the first log cabins that constituted the homes of the early settlers. It was built of round logs, fourteen feet by eighteen feet, one room, a large fireplace in one end of the house; two windows, one door, floor made of puncheons, roof made out of clapboards four feet in length; the joists were smooth round poles, wooden pins in place of nails; the chimney made out of slats, mortar placed between; a crane in the mouth of the fireplace, made to swing out, with hooks to attach the pots. "Johnnycake" was baked before the coals on the hearth. The cabin was used for a parlor, sitting-room, dining-room, bed-room and kitchen. By the light of tallow candles or a lard lamp the family ate their evening meal and the children studied their lessons. They were a happy and contented set of people and there were none their right to dispute.
There was an incident occurred in this township that did not occour in any other township in the county. About the year 1840 two Mormon missionaries came into the township to proselyte for members of the Mormon church. They procured a cabin to hold their meetings and were very saintly and soon had not only large congregations, but converts to their religious views. After securing about one hundred converts, and after baptizing them by cutting the ice in Rock creek, they made propositions to their followers-- as being a part of their religious duty-to sell all their property, place the proceeds in their hands, as representatives of the church organized by Joseph Smith, and pack up their personal goods and go with them to the West to the Mormon people. This was too much, the people showed their displeasure, and as a result the Mormons left unceremoniously.
Deer Creek is the principal town in the township, situated on a state Michigan road, and during the time of the building of this road, was quite a lively place. The various church denominations have their organizations and fine schools are found in this township. Improved roads and permanent iron bridges make this township a model one in the county.
Among the first settlers were Moses Stanley, J. G. Treen, Daniel Dunham, Anthony Brown, J. G. Cohee, W. McClain, Thomas Trimble, R. Cornell, C. Hinkle, V. D. Cohee, James Cooper, Jacob Shusser, Aaron Cline, William Mills, William Wright, J. Yenkis, J. Shank, J. Tipton, L. West, J. Lake, R. Harris, A. Stipp, William Crocket, A. Hardy, William Cox, James Newer and others.