LIBERTY MILLS BY RON WOODWARD Liberty Mills is a small community located on the east bank of the Eel River in Chester township. It was platted by John Comstock and recorded on June 14, 1837. Two additions were later added to the community – one in April of 1840 and another in March of 1872. Early settlers of Liberty Mills were: William Arnett, Daniel Baker, Charles L. Bates, Asa Beauchamp, Erastus Bingham, Hosea Bingham, Joseph Bloomer, Robert Casebolt, David Clapp, John Comstock, John W. Ellis, David Enyeart, Samuel Fages, Richard Helvey, A.W. Henley, C.V.N. Lent, Lewis J. Long, J.W, Nottingham, James Oakley, Samuel Pershing, John Rhodes, David Simonton, Jacob Simonton, John R. Simonton, Levi Smith, Daniel Swank, Henry Walker and John Whistler. In its early days Liberty Mills rivaled North Manchester as the major trading center in the northern portion of the county. This was due in part to the roads leading into and out of the town, which drew trade from Huntington and Kosciusko counties. Industry was another factor in its prosperity. At an early date the town had a sawmill, gristmill, tannery and a very successful whiskey distillery. Grocery and dry goods stores as well as saloons lined the streets. The town's prosperity prompted John Comstock, active in state and local politics, to attempt to create a new county with Liberty Mills as county seat. His hoped for county would have been created out of Huntington, Koscuiusko and Wabash counties. Commonly known as Judge Comstock, the county histories have many interesting stories to tell of this man who came west from Lockport, N.Y. After a few years in Bristol, Ohio, he bought 80 acres west of Liberty Mills at a cost of about $10 per acre, arriving there in 1836 with his wife, six children and a hired man. In 1837 he erected a double hewed log cabin and bought an addition forty acres, a part of which he laid off into town lots. From then on he engaged in various enterprises including a hog market, saw mill, grist mill, tannery, store, woolen mill, distillery and a detective agency. In 1858-9 he served as county representative to the state legislature and pioneered the improvement of cattle, bringing the first herd of shorthorns to Wabash county. In 1839 he opened the first store in Liberty Mills which he sold to Stitt & McCray in 1851. Other stores were opened by Erastus Bingham (1842) as well as an ashery; John Whister & Bro. merchant tailors (1843); Jacob Simonton & Co., Long & Abbott, and Whistler, Bender & Keagle. Joseph Bloomer, Wesley Parker, William Danner and Robert Carson also ran stores in the early days. The first subscription school was established in Liberty Mills in the winter of 1838-9 taught by Harriet Tullis in a cabin on lot 39. A frame building was erected on lot 51 in 1841. Later still a two story brick, township graded school was erected in 1872. Early principals of this school were John Myers, Prof. McAlpin, A.E. Maurer, William Dover and William Shaffer. At the end of the 1958-9 school year, the school was closed and the children sent to the North Manchester schools. The abandonment of the Liberty Mills grade school, which is still standing, came about as a result of consolidation. In early 1850 a plank road between Lagro and North Manchester was completed and had an important influence on the activities of Liberty Mills. The earliest bridge was built by private subscription and washed away in the flood of 1856-7. Other bridges were built to replace it. In 1873 a covered bridge similar to the North Manchester bridge was built at a cost of $18.50 per lineal foot or $3,339.20. The contract for the masonry was $8.59 per cubic yard or $5,142.50. The bridge was 175 feet long. This bridge was sold at public auction February 10, 1953, for $270 to Oscar Scott, Lloyd Capes, Norris Krom, Elmer Miller and Clinton Myers. The present bridge was completed in December of 1954 at a cost of $67,214.78. The county commissioners have upgraded it several times since then. During the Civil War, Liberty Mills furnished more soldiers for the Union army than any other town its size in the United States. There was one man who must receive credit for this role-George Abbott- the fighting parson of Liberty Mills. Abbott was one of ten children born to James and Catharine (Tillman) Abbott who in 1834 moved to the area. On July 26, 1838 he married Nancy Barrett and settled in Chester township. Their first home was a simple log cabin with no windows and an animal hide hung over the opening for the door. To the family were born eight children. In 1842 he and his wife united with the Christian Church. By 1844 he began preaching and was ordained in 1849. In his first three years he made 25 cents. He was present at the organization of the Eel River Christian Conference and served in various capacities for 50 years. He was conference president in 1862, 1864 and 1869. Abbott was pastor for over 25 churches. In the early 1860s when the call came for troops, he went with the recruiting officers, helping to interest people. He was ever the warm friend to the soldier in blue, and his eloquence led many to join the army. He would harangue the crowds that came to hear him, stating "I will never ask any parent to do a thing that I am not willing to do myself." And with that three of his sons enlisted, two never to return making the supreme sacrifice for their country. Throughout the war George was a fearless worker for the Union. An incident was told of him that illustrates his nature. The body of a fallen soldier was returned home. The mother desired a funeral, but the Knights of the Golden Circle and other Southern sympathizers strong in the area, declared no funeral service should ever be preached there for a Union soldier. Preacher after preacher was asked, all refusing. Finally the mother sent an appeal to Abbott. He accepted. Going to the building in which the funeral was to be held, he found it filled with people. In the back he recognized some of the ring leaders of the sympathizers. As he opened his Bible on the pulpit one of the fellows made a move as if to get up to leave the building. Before he got any further Abbott drew two pistols from his pockets, and dropping his elbows on the Bible, said, "I have been called here to preach this funeral, and I am going to do it. By power of the Almighty God I will shoot the first one who makes a move to leave this building until the service is ended." A gleam in his eye indicated he meant what he said, and the funeral proceeded with pistols lying beside the Bible and a quiet and attentive audience. After the Civil War, Liberty Mills continued to grow. It had one of the best bands in Indiana. Acey McFan was the leader and three of his sons were also in the band. Band concerts were often given during the summer evenings. The bandstand was located downtown in hopes of attracting business for merchants. In 1873, Liberty Mills had three dry goods stones, one hardware, two drugstores, two furniture stores, a hotel on the northeast corner of North St. and No. 2, two boot and shoe stores, two blacksmiths, one gristmill, saw mill and three doctors, Banks, Lent and Lower. Continued growth seemed assured with the construction of the Detroit, Eel River and Illinois Railroad through town. This led the town to become an important shipping point in the township for livestock and grain. However, the town lost its trading lead when the Big Four Railroad, running north and south, was built through North Manchester instead of Liberty Mills. Three disasterous fires also did not help. Trade and businesses began to slip away. In 1882 businesses included C.T. Banks & Co. dry goods, John Cordier grocery, C.T. Banks & Co. flour mill, Nellie Martin drugstore, Mrs. E.A. Banks millinery, Dr. A. J. Carper, D.B. Long & John Johnson blacksmiths, Michael Cook, wagon maker, H. Wonderly meat market, David Hartman harness shop. The Chester Grange #1436 Patrons of Husbandry also had a meeting hall in a two story brick building in town. In 1894 business consisted of Reed & Abbott meat market, W.A. Baugher saw mill, Cordier & Welker general store, Michael Cook, wagon maker, J.M. Fitch & Co. grocer and baker, A.T. Hull harness and agricultural implements, McFann grocery, Martin & Robbins blacksmiths, S.B. Rittenhouse manufacturer of seed sowers and adjustable wrenches. Daniel Mentzer was postmaster and also ran the hotel. In 1898 the United States went to war with Spain. Members of the 159th regiment from the North Manchester and Liberty Mills area were called up. One of the members distinguished himself not with fighting but in volunteering for the Walter Reed's malaria experiment. His name was John R. Kissinger. He received the Medal of Honor for his sacrifice. He died in 1946 in Clearwater, Florida and is buried in Huntington, Indiana. In 1904 the #75 Lodge I.O.O. F. social organization built a new lodge in Liberty Mill. In 1913 a fire, which started in the meat market of Matthew Ritter, did $15,000 worth of damage. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the Rittenhouse family became a prime mover in the community. Several industries were begun and operated by this family, including a flour mill which produced a fine grade of wheat flour known as Liberty Bird Flour, and a factory which manufactured shovels. Later Freeman Rittenhouse merged this plant with the American Fork and Hoe Company and moved its operations to Akron, Indiana. Nothing but ruins and memories remain of these industries today. Another name which became important in Liberty Mills and Wabash County history was Arthur Coblentz. One of Coblentz's first glimpses of local fame was in 1927. He and Oscar Crabill were defendants in the very first Indiana lawsuit involving property damages caused by an airplane crash. On June 29, 1927 Coblentz was in Oscar Crabill's airplane when they crashed into the home of Jenny Rader at Akron, Indiana. Radar sued for $1,000. Judge Kenner of Huntington County Circuit Court dismissed the case for lack of evidence. Coblentz would go on to represented the county in the Indiana General Assembly. On January 31, 1945 William Enyeart, 98, of Liberty Mills, passed away. He was the last Civil War veteran of the county. In 1953 the following businesses were in Liberty Mills – Coblentz & Son garage runt by Max and Arthur Coblentz, Frantz grocery run by Donald Frantz, Lee's Self Service run by Carl and Iva Heeter, Liberty Elevator managed by Glen Keaffaber, Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren, Liberty Mills E.U.B. Church, Liberty Mills Sale Barn managed by Duane Garrison, and Rittenhouse Seeder Factory run by Wayne Rittenhouse. There were 85 families living in the town with a population of approximately 266. In 1968 the government in an attempt to save money closed the post office in Liberty Mills which was begun in 1874. But through the efforts of the postmistress Iva Heeter the government changed its mind. In 1970 the Heeter's shut down their grocery store and Iva Heeter continued as postmistress. In April of 1979 the Liberty Mills Elevator was completely gutted by fire and not rebuilt. The town had 71 houses in all with a population of 220 people.