CHALMERS, ORIGINALLY MUDGE'S STATION— JACOB RAUB, FOUNDER OF CHALMERS— J. & W. W. RAUB— ADDITIONS TO THE TOWN— GROWTH SINCE INCORPORATION— THE BANK OF CHALMERS— [INDUSTRIES]-- THE CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES-- EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES— IDAVILLE— FIRST MERCHANT AND POSTMASTER— ANDREW HANNA-- JOHN B. TOWNSLEY— CAPT. JOSEPH HENDERSON-- CAPT. PATRICK HAYS— PROGRESS DESPITE FIRE— BANK OF IDAVILLE— TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL-- THE [FIRST] CHURCH OF GOD (NEW DUNKARDS)— GEORGE PATTON-- URIAH PATTON— ROBERT F. MILLION— THE CHURCH OF GOD (INCORPORATED)— UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH— THE M[ETHODIST]. E[PISCOPAL]. CHURCH— SOCIETIES.
Chalmers, a town of about 600 people, is the grain, banking and trading center for Big Creek Township and for a considerable surrounding district, especially toward the west. Situated on the Monon line (Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville) about three and a half miles north of Brookston and five miles south of Reynolds, it is far enough from any village to have a distinct territory for support, and is the natural market town for West Point Township and country nearer in that direction.
The town is located on a beautiful slope of ground on the east side of the railroad. Its site was originally owned by Gardner Mudge, who donated a piece of land to the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Company when its line was being built through the township and county in 1854. Upon that tract the railroad company erected a little depot which stood for Mudge's Station.
Mr. Mudge and his brother-in-law, William S. Shaw, also put up a building and stocked it with the general merchandise required by the neighboring farmers. Shaw & Mudge, as the firm was called, are said to have lived in their store, which was therefore dwelling and business house combined.
Clark Johnston also opened a store—some say before Shaw & Mudge—while the railroad was yet building. R. P. Blizzard followed closely as the first blacksmith of the place; and then there was a cessation of the incoming tide for some time. In fact, a carpenter shop and a few dwellings were about all the structural additions to Mudge's Station for nearly twenty years.
The hamlet did not seem to have the promise of a village until July 24, 1873, when Jacob Raub, who for over twenty years had been largely engaged in the grain business and farming, both in Tippecanoe County and at Mudge's Station, platted the Town of Chalmers on a part of the old Ross farm, which he had purchased in 1872.
The original town was in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, town 26 north, range 4 west. It consisted of 103 lots and the following streets: Main, 70 feet wide; Earl, 66 feet; First, Second and Third, each 66 feet; Chestnut 56, and Walnut, 50 feet wide.
Mr. Raub's father had been a wealthy farmer of Tippecanoe County, was a public-spirited man and took an active part in the promotion and final construction of the Crawfordsville & Lafayette Railroad, which afterward became a section of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago. Two years after his father's death, Jacob Raub began the grain business at South Raub, Tippecanoe County, in partnership with his brothers, the firm shipping the first carload of grain over the New Albany line between Crawfordsville and Lafayette. In connection with their business the brothers also extensively engaged in farming, but in 1864 the firm was dissolved and its lands divided. It happened that the tract which fell to Jacob Raub was in Big Creek Township near Mudge's Station, and, after improving it for farming and livestock purposes, he turned his attention to his former business in grain. After being thus engaged for about five years, during which he had been elected president of the White County Agricultural Society, he bought the Ross farm and, as noted, laid out the Town of Chalmers. Jacob Raub's wife, whom he married in 1871, was a daughter of Benjamin Reynolds, founder of the town by that name.
During the year 1872 Mr. Raub commenced business with his youngest brother, William W., and the firm of J. & W. W. Raub for years conducted an extensive business in the handling of grain, livestock and coal. At one time their annual shipments of grain reached a total of more than 150,000 bushels annually, and their dealings in livestock were in proportion. In the conduct of these interests they built large cribs and warehouses, equipped with a big corn sheller and steam engine. In 1879 they erected a steam elevator and were the mainstays of the town during a long after-period.
Among the works which they accomplished and which had a strong influence on the founding and stability of Chalmers was the creation of a practical public sentiment which resulted in building one of the first gravel roads ever constructed in White County. It passed through the town and enabled the farmers for miles around to get their produce to Chalmers easily and safely.
In January, 1887, the founder of the town platted its first addition, as Jacob and Sarah C. Raub's addition to the Town of Chalmers, and in 1891 William W. Raub laid out his first addition; his third in September, 1895, and his fourth in December of that year. In February, 1896, Jacob Raub and wife made their second addition to the townsite, and in March, 1897, Levi Reynolds, his brother-in-law, platted another addition, and several small tracts have been added since.
In 1900 Chalmers contained a population of 462, which represents its first separate enumeration from the township by reason of its incorporation as a town. Since then its improvements have been more substantial than formerly and its population has increased about 100. Its streets are broad and well kept, its business houses creditable and its residences neat and homelike. Its streets and buildings are lighted by electricity supplied from Monticello.
As to the institutions which give Chalmers a good standing among the town incorporations of White County a few are mentioned hereafter.
In 1891 Jacob Raub established a private bank, of which he was president, and Albert Goslee (now of Lafayette) cashier. Tbe present officers are the founder, Jacob Raub, president, and Charles J. Raub, his son, cashier. The institution became a state bank under the name The Bank of Chalmers (Incorporated) in 1904. It has a capital stock of $25,000; deposits, $120,000; surplus, $6,250.
There are two substantial elevators at Chalmers, owned and conducted, respectively, by Ross & Barr and the Chalmers Grain Company (co-operative; C. O. Hawkins, manager). The Chalmers Lumber Company also has a large yard for dealings in lumber, lime, brick and sewer tile, and tile works are in operation.
The town maintains three religious organizations. Soon after the town was platted the Methodists commenced to hold services in various houses, and in 1881 erected a small frame church. They have since maintained an organization, and in 1900 built a modern house of worship. Rev. E. O. Chivington, the pastor, has also the charge at Brookston.
In October, 1897, the Baptist Church of Chalmers was organized, with Rev. I. W. Bailey as pastor. Following him, in succession, were Revs. Charles Bunnell, A. H. Kay, W. A. Kleckner, A. J. Unthank, R. W. Thorne, C. L. Merriman and C. B. Stephens. Mr. Stephens assumed the pastorate in October, 1913, and the present membership of his church is about 130.
The Presbyterians also have an organization about eighty strong, but have no settled pastor.
The secret and benevolent orders are represented by the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men and Modern Woodmen of America.
The Commissioned High School for Big Creek Township is at Chalmers. There are also three district schools outside of town, all under the superintendency of John C. Downey. Daisy M. Downey is principal of the high school, the pupils of which come from every part of the township. Including the district schools, there is an enrollment of 270 in the township, of which the greater number are residents of Chalmers. The total value of school property is in excess of $1,280,000.
Six years after the Town of Burnettsville was platted, on July 27, 1860, Andrew Hanna, John B. Townsley and John McCully laid out the Town of Hanna, now called Idaville, three miles west of the former village. It was platted on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 28, township 27 north, range 2 west.
The first building on the site of the town was erected in the summer of 1859, before it was platted, and Alexander Rodgers, the builder, opened a store therein in November of that year. When Idaville was laid out, however, it was found that the store stood on portions of two lots, and it was subsequently moved to another site and used as a dwelling. Mr. Rodgers sold goods in this first building from November, 1859, to November, 1860, when he erected another and larger store and continued in business for a quarter of a century. As Idaville's first postmaster he served from 1860 to 1865.
The third building erected in Idaville was a dwelling put up by S. D. MeCully on lot 1 of the original plat. Andrew Hanna then built a warehouse and in it John T. Barnes and John McCully opened a second store in town. It is needless to say that both the stores carried a miscellaneous stock of goods—were what were known as general stores, tiny types of the modern department stores.
Mr. Hanna had come to what is now Jackson Township with his parents in 1833, the year before the county and the township were organized. He was present at the first town meeting, where he cast the first whig vote. In 1841 he settled in the locality of the town, of which he was the chief proprietor and business man and eventually became the owner of some 900 acres of valuable farming land in the township. He served as county commissioner, but was too independent in his expressed views and his actions to be a successful politician. He was also deeply religious, and in 1875 founded a society of Reformed Presbyterians, erecting a church edifice for them out of his own funds and contributing chiefly to its support for many years.
John B. Townsley, another proprietor of the town, was a carpenter, builder and sawmill proprietor in Carroll County, before coming to the township in 1855 and investing in land adjoining Idaville and covering a portion of its site. In 1865 he laid out two additions to the original town, known as Townsley's west and south additions, the two comprising twenty lots. In the same year Robert Criswell platted an addition of six lots.
Among the pioneer settlers of Idaville were George H. Mitchell, who at his death in November, 1914, was the oldest resident in the county, and Capt. Joseph Henderson, the latter dying about eight years ago. Captain Henderson lived with Andrew Hanna when the Civil war broke out, enlisted in the Forty-sixth Indiana, and was promoted through the successive grades to a captaincy. He afterward served one term as sheriff of White County, and later engaged in the lumber business in Idaville.
Capt. Patrick Hays, another Civil war veteran, is living at Idaville. He enlisted as a resident of Medarysville, in the Twenty-ninth Indiana, but had been advanced to a captaincy when in December, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the Union service and settled at Idaville, then an infant of five years. As shoemaker, merchant and public official, farmer and good citizen, Captain Hays has earned the enduring respect of the community.
Idaville became quite a shipping point for lumber and wood, especially of fence posts. W. E. Myers set up a portable steam sawmill in Idaville in 1882, and there was a permanent plant three miles south.
Idaville is not incorporated, but it has an elevator, a creamery, some good stores and a bank, a substantial new school, several churches, and presents other evidences of a growing little town. This is surely creditable, in view of the fire of April, 1902, which wiped out the business portion of the place. Among the additions to the original site, besides those mentioned as having been made by John B. Townsley and Robert Criswell, are the following: By Perry Gates, in December, 1872; William Corder and Irvin Greer, June, 1873; Samuel A. McCully and others, September, 1875; James M. Townsley, August, 1896, and Perry Patton, March, 1897.
The Bank of Idaville was organized in 1898, with Robert Parker as president, and J. M. Townsley, cashier. The present management—John B. Wright, president, and Milton Timmons, cashier—has been in charge of its transactions since the fall of 1909. Its financial status is indicated by the following items: Capital, $10,000; surplus and undivided profits, $6,000; deposits, $100,000.
The first schools in the township were established nearer Burnettsville than Idaville, but a few years after the former was platted Andrew Hanna and others started a subscription school within the town limits. The Township Commissioned High School is at Idaville, and a fine building costing $25,000 was erected in 1914, its dedication occurring in November of that year. It replaced a handsome building destroyed by fire in November, 1912. About 235 pupils are enrolled, of which number thirty-five are in the high school department, under the instruction of Fred Francis, superintendent, and six teachers. The curriculum includes manual training, domestic science and an agricultural course.
The Dunkards are very strong at Idaville, both as religious denominations and industrious, progressive, upright citizens. Without going into the differences of their belief, they have divided into the Church of God (New Dunkards) and the Church of God (Incorporated).
George Patton, the founder of the Church of God, commonly called New Dunkards, was born in Fredrick County, Maryland, in 1812; in early childhood moved with his parents to Ohio, and later to Henry County, Indiana. After his marriage in 1836 he settled in Carroll County and became identified with the German Baptist Church. In 1848, with Peter Iman and others, he withdrew from that denomination, in which he had been advanced to the ministry, and formed the Church of God. Mr. Patton was the leading elder of the new brotherhood. He died in Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1892.
Rev. Uriah Patton, brother of the founder, settled in Carroll County, from which the organization spread northward into White County in 1835, and in 1847 moved to a farm five and a half miles northwest of Idaville. He moved to the village in 1898 and died there in 1903, having preached the gospel in the Church of God for forty-three years.
Another elder of the church, Rev. Robert F. Million, was a native of White County. He died at Burnettsville in 1912, at an advanced age, having preached for many years.
The present pastor, Rev. Marion A. Hughes, is a native of Liberty Township, and united with the church at Sitka in 1886.
The New Dunkards became so strong in 1872 that they built a large house of worship at Idaville on land donated by William F. and Rebecca J. Timmons. George Patton preached the dedicatory sermon. The trustees were Hezekiah Patton, Perry Gates and Aaron Price. The present officers of the church are: John W. Shull, elder; Jonathan Irelan and John W. Davis, deacons; A. L. Read, Albert Godlove and William H. Bryan, trustees; Edna Bunger, secretary; Mrs. Kate Stober, treasurer.
The Church of God (Incorporated) has a flourishing society at Idaville. On December 27, 1907, its attractive house of worship was dedicated, the chief address being delivered by Dr. C. I. Brown, president of Findlay (Ohio) College. The building, which cost over $9,000, is of white brick. The members of the construction board were Elder Love, D. W. Heiney, J. H. Hanna, N. C. Gibson, J. W. Shafer and Emery Godlove, and their adviser was Perry Godlove. Rev. Matthew W. Johnson is the present pastor.
The United Presbyterian Church of Idaville dates from 1858, when the union of the Associate and Associate Reform churches took place throughout the country. The original society was formed at Burnett's Creek in 1843, at the house of Andrew Hanna. Soon after the union, the Burnett's Creek Church was reorganized as the United Presbyterian Church of Idaville, its elders being Thomas Barnes, Andrew Hanna, Stephen Nutt and Thomas Ginn. In the fall of 1858 Rev. Thomas Callahan became the settled pastor. He has been followed by Revs. J. B. Reasoner, Gilbert Small, Milford Tidball, A. K. Strane, A. S. Baily, George A. Rosenburg, A. G. Hastings and J. A. Harper. The first church building was erected about 1849, while the organization was a Burnett's Creek institution, and an addition was built ten years later. In 1871 a new and larger structure was completed, west and beyond the road leading south from Idaville, and in 1905 the brick structure now occupied was dedicated.
The Methodist Church was organized in 1875, with Rev. Thomas H. McKee as minister and James Armstrong as class leader. In 1876 a building was purchased in Pike Creek neighborhood and moved to Idaville, to be used for religious services. It was afterward remodeled and entirely rebuilt in 1910. Until 1900 Idaville was in the Burnettsville charge, but withdrew that year. The pastor now in charge of the Idaville church is Rev. J. S. Godwin.
The Seventh-Day Adventists have also a small society, organized in 1882.
The leading lodge at Idaville is that of the Odd Fellows (No. 556), which has about 100 members. Their hall was erected in 1882. The Modern Woodmen of America are represented by Lodge No. 7274.