SOMERSET BY RON WOODWARD Published in "Family Branches", Newsletter of the Wabash County Genealogical Society Volume 14, Number 7, March 2009. Somerset has a colorful past. Before settlement the area belonged to unknown groups of Native Americans. A mile west of Somerset along the cliffs overlooking the Mississinewa can be found the remains of a large campsite with over thirty firepits. The Indians were attracted to this area because of the numerous springs of sweet tasting fresh water and the wildlife of the area. The Miami Indians made the area their home. It was to become the heart of the Big Miami Indian Reserve. Between Somerset and Red Bridge was a sacred spot in the river where the great Panther Manitou lived. Offerings were made at this spot before entering. The land Somerset sat on was last owned by the Miami chieftain Richardville before passing into the hands of settlers. Before it was established as a town, it was a known halfway point on the state road from Marion to Peru with only a log cabin standing there. The landlord was a Frenchman named Krutzan who had married an Indian woman and operated the log cabin as a tavern. The earliest known settler was Samuel Orcutt. Local tradition claims that he moved into an abandoned Indian hut in the Somerset vicinity. Orcutt also had the reputation for being the homeliest man in the entire county. At one time, that claim was disputed. A crowd put the two rivals side by side and decided Orcutt should retain the honor. Moses Coppick also came early and established a corn cracker near what became Somerset. Somerset, originally known as Twin Springs, was platted as Springfield. It was surveyed December 11, 1843 by David P. Adler and acknowledged by Stephen Steenbarger, proprietor. The deed was recorded by Wabash County Recorder William Steele on January 14, 1844. There were originally 64 lots and the streets north and south were Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Jackson; while east and west were Water and Main. There were four additions to the town one in 1849, 1851,1853 and 1867. The name change came about in 1846 or 1847. In 1858 citizens petitioned the county commissioners to incorporate the town which was granted April 10, 1858. At the time there were 289 residents. The town did not grow until1845 when the first house, used as a hotel, was built by John Shackleford and then a storeroom was built by Derrick Lehmer in which he sold a stock of dry goods. Daniel Hoover built a log cabin storeroom in 1846 followed by John Wherret's blacksmith shop and dwelling in 1847. Elihu and Allen Weesner each built a dwelling and established a tannery. Another tannery was established by Ben Huff. Other early businesses included, a pottery shop owned by John Morton, a blacksmith shop erected by Benjamin Ross, Murray & Son harness shop, pump shop owned by Warner Michaels and Joseph Peery's cabinet shop. Later there were dry goods stores owned by Dillard and Asa Ross, Joe Sumpter and George Day; shoe shops owned by Jacob Staley & son and John Van Fleet; wagon shops owned by Allen Weesner and E.G. Harvey; and millinery shops owned by Mrs. Edd Wimmer, Mrs. Sue Huff, Mrs. Ruth Miller and Mrs. Mollie Jones. At times the quiet little community was not so peaceful. In the spring of 1873 it became necessary for Robert Elliot to build the a calaboose to hold miscreants. It was made of native solid oak 3 by 6s flat down for the walls. The ceiling was the same but edged up. It contained 1000 cut nails. There were so many nails that no one could saw through at any place. It was eight feet wide, eight feet high and ten feet long and just big enough to stand up in. Eph Barnett had the honor of being the first man jailed in it. He was drunk. One time a drunk man from Indian land set fire to the straw that was used for a bed. The jail was moved several time but by the 1930s it was located on the south river bank west of the bridge (behind Tom Bodkin's barber shop). About 1850 several mills were built on the Mississinewa above and below Somerset. They were built by John Crumrine and a Mr. Cable. Both had three runs of buhrs and were driven by water power. These two mills continued in operation for many years. By 1883 both were known as the Somerset Mills and reported a lively business. Their custom grinding for the month of August was wheat 1,020 bushels; corn 180 bushels; chap 240 bushels, for a total of 1,440 bushels. By 1878 a grist mill was built about a mile west on the river by Ferree and Albaugh but it burned, was rebuilt, burned again and a third structure was erected. The last one was of solid stone, the rock being quarried and the lime burned within fifty feet of the building. A dam across the river supplied the water power necessary for the mill. For a time a guard was kept at the mill to prevent fire but within a short time it too burned leaving only the stone walls. It was never rebuilt. In 1861 Jacob Ullery erected a woolen factory which he kept in operation for several years. Another woolen factory, three stories tall, was built by Bell and Luther McClain and D.B. Starbuck. It was active many years in the manufacturing of flannel, yarn and wool blankets. It closed in 1873 and the machinery removed. Later it burned and was torn down. By 1881 there were 500 people in Somerset. Somerset had two justices of the peace Will Morton and Jacob Ullery. The township trustee was Lewis Hursh. Those businesses that advertised were Drs. Ader and Oren O'Neal, Charles E. Faree hardware, J.C. Gochenour dry goods, Harvey & Huff blacksmiths, Mrs. Huff and Mrs. M.J. Jones milliners, Will Morton and Ross & Brothers boots and shoes, the Somerset House run by D.H. Morgan and Sumpter and Day general merchandise. In June of 1883 a feather renovating establishment was set up in Somerset. However, by July it moved to Marion leaving several citizens holding the bag. An excellent quarry was worked below Somerset by Mr. Ullery. At this quarry the contractor for the Marion Court House purchased a considerable quantity of fine, large, serviceable rock to be used in the construction of that edifice. The rock used for the Ferree and Albaugh mill also came from here. A number of early businesses have come and gone with the passing of time and at one time Somerset boasted three hotels. One burned and two were torn down. By 1884 Somerset had two general stores, two milliners, two drug stores, two meat markets, two harness shops, one she store, two blacksmiths, one hotel one feed stable, three doctors, public school, two churches, telephone exchange, Henry D. Lawshe undertaker, one broom shop and about 100 dwellings. The broom shop was begun in 1867 by Thomas Lawshe. By 1884 he was making 500 dozen brooms during the year. He raised or purchased all the material he need in the surrounding countryside. As late as 1910 Oscar Lawshe was still carrying on the tradition of broom making in Somerset. Henry D. Lawshe & Son had an undertaking establishment on Main street, near the old creamery. The first coffins were made by hand by John Wimmer. Then Lawshe & Son started making them in a building back of what was to become Frank Jones carpenter shop. Their coffins were rectangular in shape, small at the head, larger where the shoulders would go then smaller at the foot. Later they just bought rough coffins and lined them. For a short time Somerset had its own newspaper called the Somerset Bugle. The Bugle was a weekly newspaper printed at Wabash. The editor, and self styled "Bugler" was Dr. Oren O'Neal. Dr. O'Neal practiced medicine and surgery with his father, Laughlin. The Bugle, independent in politics, was begun June 8, 1883 and lasted until December 6, 1883 when the printer was no longer able to print it. From its few pages we learn that Somerset had a hack line which ran from Somerset to Wabash and back. It left each day except Sunday at 7 a.m. and returned at 3 p.m. The fare round trip was 75 cents. There was a town council and it handled such weighty matters as whether a vote should be held to annul the corporation or the election of school board members. D. H. Morgan ran the hotel which "the traveling public will find this a comfortable home." The only place in town where you can get a good three-cornered lunch at all hours was at the restaurant of J.D. Lemon & Son. Z. Albaugh had on exhibition at his drug store a three foot, five and one-half inch, eight pound radish that he grown. The pages of the Bugle also reveal that Somerset had an active social life. There was a Masonic Lodge A.,F.&A.M., No. 383 which was granted a dispensation August 6, 1867 and a charter dated May 25, 1869. The first Masonic Temple burned August 2, 1885 destroying all records and a new structure was purchased. It too burned in 1914. There was also the Kossuth Lodge I.O.O.F.#81 instituted in 1849, closed 15 years later, reestablished 1874. Its elected officers were H. Lucas, N.G.; Pete Helms, V.G.; Jacob Ullery, treasurer and H. Ader, secretary. A Professor Leepeur gave an exhibition of slight of hand and ventriloquism at the city hall. Andy Peery caught some of the fair sex playing "keerds" in Ferree's woods. In 1869 Somerset had two bands "namely; the toothpick band consisting of several graduated and experienced plays. Secondly, the Jews-harp band less however in numbers and science" some of whom had an "innocent passion for seven up." Somerset continued to attract people and by 1894 there were four doctors in town, Henry Ader, P.G. Foust, B.A. Houser and L. O'Neal. General merchandise stores were run by J.W. and S.M. Aukerman and J.F. Ogan. General stores were run by the Davis brothers and Nevo Haas. Crumley and Weesner ran an agricultural implements store, C.A. Gibson was a shoe maker, E.G. Harvey was a wagon maker, A.A. Malsbury ran the drug store, B.F. Starbuck ran the resturant, Lizzie Weesner and Ruth Miller ran the milliners styore, Elizabeth Weimer was a carpet weaver an Anson Weeson ran the Riverside House. The post office was established in 1846 and Richard Lehmer was the first post master. Levi Behny brought mail for many years from Wabash by a hack drawn by two horses or mules. He also carried passengers. In 1910 Frank Starbuck was the post master and in 1920 it was Benjamin Starbuck. In March of 1965 the post office was moved to a new facility in new Somerset. The postmaster at that time was Inez Drook. The first school in Waltz township was held in 1846 in a log cabin north of Somerset. By 1850 a frame school building 22 by 38 feet was built in Somerset across from the tavern. By September 9, 1858 it was replaced with a new two room school house erected by John Wimmer. When a new building became necessary this building was moved and used first as a paint shop and later as a dwelling by Allen Weesner. It was replaced in 1870 with a brick building having six rooms, three rooms up and three rooms down. The first graduating class of Somerset High School was in 1877. Only two students graduated that year Roscoe Kimple and A.L. Lawshe. The next class to graduate was in 1881. H.A. Hutchins was the principal at the time. The graduates were Belle Anderson, E.A. Anderson, Clara Bloomer, Ina Comer, Lizzie Ellis and W.E. Shilling. In 1883 the Somerset schools reported for the month ending November 2nd 1883, that the high school enrollment was 25; % of attendance 99 2/3; cases of tardiness 6; number of recitations per day 16. Intermediate Department enrollment 34; % of attendance 97.5; cases of tardiness 1; number of recitations per day 16. Primary Department enrollment 46; % of attendance 96.4; cases of tardiness 1; number of recitations per day 20. W.E. Bowman was principal and W.F. Stewart and Maggie Henley were assistants. By 1918 kid hacks that used to deliver students to school were replaced by motorized busses. After several additions this building was replaced with a more modern 15-room building in 1924. The brick from the old school was used as the inside layer of the new school. Much of the community activity centered on the school. The school was improved in 1951 with the addition of a 54 by 86 foot gymnasium of cement block constuction. The gymnasium included a stage for dramatizations, concerts and programs. The old gym was converted into two classrooms. The school stayed current with new course offerings such as vocational agriculture, drivers education and an effort had been put forth to broaden the scope of musical training. There was a junior band as well as a high school band, several choruses and many of the students participated in solo or ensemble competition. Children also had release time for Bible Study which took place in the Methodist or Christian churches. The school was known as the Shamrocks and its colors were green and white. The school staff included 15 teachers and a principal, Charles Emrick. An active Parent- Teacher Association was involved with the school. Youth for Christ met once a week at the school during lunch hour with 25 to 30 attending. The Seniors enjoyed trips to Washington, D.C. and New York. There was also an active Future Farmers of America. Many of the boys and girls belonged to 4-H clubs. The athletic program had a broad scope with basketball, volleyball, touch football, softball, baseball, cross county, track and ping pong. Sock hops were also added to the school entertainment. By 1959 there were 369 students in twelve grades. The last graduating class of the high school was in 1962. In the fall of that year students began attending Southwood High School. The building was used until December 1965 for elementary classes until transferred to Southwood Elementary School. It was the last building in town to have electricity. It was torn down in 1966 by Herman Wenz of Hartford City for $412.50. As a young man James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet, was quite familiar with the area and would later write poetry about the area. As a young man he roamed the area around Somerset working as a sign painter. "The Hills of Somerset" was the name of one of his works. Somerset was an important crossing point on the Mississinewa River. Before bridges appeared there were two fords for vehicles, one on the east and one at the west of town. For pedestrian use, a boat was operated by Sam Seward and a Mr. Young, living directly opposite each other on the north and south river banks. A covered wooden bridge was built across the Mississinewa at Somerset in 1871 at a cost of $6,000, and was later replaced with an iron structure. In 1949 an entirely new bridge was built. For many years liquor was not sold in the town of Somerset although at one time a distillery was located close to Somerset. In the 1880s there was a saloon but the local Temperance organization put it out of business. In 1910 Joseph Brown and Ross Huddleston both ran saloons in Somerset for a short period of time. In 1914 disaster struck Somerset. A fire started in Ed Cochran's grocery store wiping out much of the town. Destroyed were two groceries, a drug store, lodge hall, town hall, barber shop, post office, and two ice houses. This did not discourage the citizens of Somerset. They quickly began to rebuild. By 1920 Somerset had two garages one run by Rex Earlywine, Ogan's dry goods store, Arthur Shellhamer's meat market, Schlegel hardware store, William H. Myers tin shop, a service station, Vincie E. Frank's lunch counter, coal yard run by Peercie Heeter, Bodkins barber shop, post office and two truck lines. Aaron A. Malsbury continued to be the town druggist. A. Earl Rogers was the only doctor in town while in 1910 there had been four; Drs. Carter, Ader, O'Neal and Houser. John W. Drook ran a grocery store. There was a basket factory which employed four basketmakers. Later on West Main street, Homer Davisson, a Fort Wayne artist widely known for his Indiana landscapes, had a summer home and studio. He spent his summers in Somerset and one or two days each week he had a class of pupils. Many scenes of Somerset and the Mississinewa were subjects of his landscapes. In the 1960s another artist would call Somerset home. Thad Miller was an artist who lived in old Somerset on a farm and would paint more modernistic work. The walls of the Somerset Steakhouse in new Somerset would showcase his work that sold all over the country and as far as Egypt. Otho Winger, president of Manchester College assisted in setting up and popularizing the Francis Slocum Trail which ran through Somerset. It was a highly popular car trail known for its picturesque settings and Indian lore and attracted many tourists to the area. By 1953 businesses of Somerset were Gruener Grocery store, Hardacre Slaughter House, Lash Refrigeration, Ogan & Snyder Locker, Ogan's Store, the post office, Schlegel Brothers Tin shop, Browne's Shell filling station, Smith's Restaurant, Snyder's Trucking, Somerset hardware, Somerset High School, the Christian and Methodist churches and a Masonic Lodge. Many residents attend the two churches within the town, the Christian and the Methodist. A Methodist class was formed as early as 1848 and a frame church building was erected in 1858. In May 1896 the trustees conveyed the building and property to the Methodist Episcopal Church. This building was still standing and in good repair when the town was moved. The Corps of Engineers decided to tear it down when it was decided to relocate Somerset. The Methodist Church united with the Union Evangelical United Brethren Church to create a new church known as Woodlawn United Methodist Church and a new building was built for it in new Somerset. The Union Church formed when a group of 25 persons gathered at the Newman School house in April of 1900. By August they began abuilding and four months later had a new church built of limestone. They remained in this build until the merger July 1, 1962. the first pastor of Woodlawn was the Rev. LeRoy DELong. The Christian Church, first called "Disciple Church", was organized in 1857 and held meetings in a schoolhouse and other buildings until the erection of a brick building in 1868. The building was damaged by a cyclone in March 1916 and burned in November 7, 1953. The church was rebuilt the following year with much of the work being done by members and people of the community. The new structure includes five classrooms, kitchen and sanctuary. It was an attractive modern church of brick. This new building was moved by the Corps of Engineers with the construction of the "Upper River Flood Control Project and is in use today. By the late 1950s the business area included two grocery stores, a restaurant, post office, hardware store, cafeteria and school. The population by 1959 was 250. Active organizations included the Lions Club, the Waltz Township and Mississinewa Home Demonstration Clubs. The Lions Club was organized in 1950 and its first officers were Jim Hoeksema, Keith Clupper, Les Templin, and Lloyd Miller. Most of the residents had employment in nearby communities. In 1958 residents learned that the town would become part of the Upper River Flood Control Project of the Corps of Engineers. Most residents were unwilling to move. They loved Somerset with its easy going ways and Main street lined with maple and locust trees. Early in 1961 residents began to organize and formed the Somerset Citizens Committee which later became the Somerset Relocation and Development Corporation. A town board was elected to represent all parties. The town board was headed by Warren Palmer who was the chief architect of new Somerset as he would head the board for nearly 12 years as president. In 1962 representatives of the federal government and Army Corps of Engineers set up a meeting in the school house to announce the plans for the construction of the dam. It was decided that the town would be relocated about one mile east of the old town on Indiana 13. New Somerset wound be located on 93.824 acres of land owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lorrin D. White and contain 143 lots for buildings. The Somerset Relocation and Development Corporation headed by president Fredrick Snyder made the purchase. Robert McCallem, Wabash attorney, served as the attorney for the corporation. Almost immediately moving began to the new site. About 32 dwellings in all were moved and 93 houses destroyed. Many decided to build new homes while others just left the area. About 75% of the population moved to new Somerset. When finished new Somerset had some 65 dwellings with about 150 residents. Many saw a great future, some even predicted the town would have a population of 5,000 in ten years. A sign was erected announcing that Somerset was the GATEWAY TO THE MISSISSINEWA. The first business to open in the new shopping center was Floyd Bowman's Garage and Marina in 1964. It was followed by Dain Nealis' barber shop (open evenings and all day Saturdays), Robert King's grocery/service station and the Frontier Restaurant run by Hal Lunsford. The Frontier was known for its turkey dinners every Sunday and the horseshoe shaped counter in the center. The post office with postmaster Inez Drook was the last business to leave the old town. She had been the postmaster since about 1933. New Somerset is made up of the following streets Elm, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Main, River, Taylor, Walnut, Water and Washington. The seven member town board continued as the governing body. The Community Building was erected in 1969 by the Lions Club, Home Demonstration Club and the town board. It was dedicated in 1970 by Representative Richard Roudebush. By 1974, the community was comprised of 64 families, a shopping center, post office, restaurant, service station, marina, grocery and insurance office. By 1977 there was a body shop and the Somerset Steak House. A Mini Mart and Soda Shop, run by Steve and Nicki Knight added to the businesses. The 1970s also the creation of a festival to celebrate the new community. It was called Somerset Daze. One person to help put Somerset on the map was Vic Minnick, the Tomato King of Wabash County. Unhappy with working in Wabash he and his wife, Merle, returned to his father's farm in Somerset in the early 1920s. Joined by his younger brother Rex, they began working rented farm land and purchasing small tracts until 1966 when their partnership accounted for 800 acres. Originally he grew corn, soybeans, wheat and tomatoes as well as raising livestock and a diary herd. By 1966 he was raising 250 acres of tomatoes much of which was contracted to Vincennes Packing Corp., in Swayzee. Since the 1950s, Minnick brought pickers from the south for the eight-week tomato season. Scores of trucked rolled out on Somerset with Minnick tomatoes in hundreds of hampers for the cannery. Although Somerset failed to attract 5,000 people it has continued to develop. By 1990 there were about 250 residents. Dave Compton served as the town board president, Boots Jack was the postmaster, Sue Morrison ran the Country Hare Restaurant, and Laverne Sonafrank ran the Mini Mart. By 1997 there was a Masonic Lodge, post office, Mini Mart, McCoart Auto Repair, Deb's Cafe, Mississinewa Marine Inc., Morris Insurance, Weaver's Body Shop and the Somerset fire station. ------