53^ S' r/vi I. Class _j^.6'_3z Book_:l_tjVt-_^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. (.'HESTER A. Mcl.'OKMlCK. McCORMICK'S GUIDE TO ^ STARKE COUNTY ^ ... OR ... A PAST AND A PRESENT VIEW OF OUR TERRITORY ... BY ... CHESTER A. McCORMICK. e^ ILLUSTRATED e^ PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 1902. THt LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Two Copies Received FEB 4 1903 (\ Copyright Entry JluCv, lo ^ii\d^ d'LASSV Oo XXo. No. l^^ 2)T- COPY B. DEDICATION T^ the memory of the early pioneers who settled in Starke County, to whom much of its crrowth is due, and to the spirited, energ-etic citizens of today, who are taking- an active part in tlie progrress and welfare ol our county, this little vol- ume IS affectionately dedicated. r. >. i; Ccjpyrighted VMl By CHESTER A. McCOKMlOK Introduction* It is with personal pride and pleasure that this little volume is presented to the people of Starke County. It was the purpose of the author to issue a volume small in size and 'Containing- only that part of history of most value and jnlerest that it might sell at a low price, thus placing- it within the reach of every- body, rather than to put out a larg-e volume of several hundred pages filled with minor events and facts and incidents of only passing- interest, which wculd neces- sitate a much larger book, thus placing it within the reach of a comparative few. As it is, everybody is able to possess a brief history of his own county. While this little book is not as complete and at- tractive as more time and money could make it. yet it is all that is claimed for it — a work which seeks to trace the growth and progress of Starke County from the time before its organization up to the present day. That the county has mnde rapid strides forward dur- ing the past few years is a fact which all of our citizens are glad to admit. On looking over the old files of the Starke County Ledger, under date of March 7, 1871, we find this advertisement: '•Wallace Gould will carry passengers from Knox to Hamlet to meet the early morning and afternoon trains.*' At this time railroads were not as common in Starke County as they are today. We now have rail- 6 INTRODbXTlON roads crossing- the county in all directions. So it is with all torms of progress At one time where stood a few log- huts, dense torests, marshes and ponds, today stand larg-e and elegant frame and brick build- ings and progressive little town*. We often hear the old settlers tell about their hardships in g-etting- to this country in the e.irly dayj- either by miring down in the swamps or being forced to cut their way tlirough the dense forests. Roads were an unknown thing. Today we have pnblic highways thronohout the county, and the sand mads are being replaced with gravel and stone. If you had told a farmer fifiy years ago that within a halt century his mail wrnild t)e delivered to his door he would have laughed at the idea. But this has all come to pass. And what has brought about all this change? We can no better answer than to say, the spirit ot progress. In this connection I desire to acknowledge my in- debtedness for favors and assistance rendered me by the followin.o- gentlemen: John L. Moorman and S. M. Gorrell for access to newspaper files; James C. Fletcher for furnishing some early facts and for referring me to different sources; to H. E. White for use ot some county records; to Jacob Ouigley for access to some old newspaper files which are in his office; to Jacob Keller for information pertaining to the arti- ficial stone industry: to P. H. McCormick for some INTRODUCTION 7 information concernino: North Judson; to F. J. Wein- kauf for data concernirg- San Pierre; to H. R. Robbins for valuable information and fig-ures kindly furnished on the draina<^e of the county : to Glenn D. Peters for the article on ''Bird Lite of Starke County," the greater part of which was taken, by permission, from a g-raduation thesio on that subject; to H. S. Ivoring for some information concernintr Hamlet; to W. S. Blatchley for reference to g-eological reports, and to T. H. Ball for some informa'ion contained in "North- western Indiana." It was the intention to on it nothing- from this little historv that would be of lasting- interest or great importance at the present time, ht)\vever. as years, or even mo::ths. roll by, some of the history contained herein will become obsolute tor changes are constantly taking- place, new enterprizes are s[)ringing up', towns are rapidly g-rowing, old citizens are passing- away and a new population is rapidly overshadowing- the old. And, loo. those who are today reading^ the his- tory with which they are familiar, and possibly of some of their own accomplishmenls. and whose hearts are throbbing with pride and patriotism to think of the rapid strides the county of their choice has made, will soon have left the shores touched by the mys- terious sea that has never yet borne on any wave the imaofe of a returniujj- sail. STARKE COUNTY, ITS PAST AND PRESENT. ORIGIN, POSITION, AREA AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTY Starke County occupies an area of three hundred and fourteen square miles lying- in the second tier ot counties south of MichiL'"an, and in Ihe third east of Illinoi'^. Nine miles west of its north-eastern corner the Kankakee river intervenes between it and Laporte county, and flowing southw-^sterly, forms the remander of the northern and all but five miles of the western bonndry. The county was named after General Stark, a noted personage of the American Revolution, Throug-h some unknown way a final -e" was added which the name of the general does not possess. Set- tlement into Starke county, or rather what was later to become known as Starke county, began in the year 1835. The surface of the county is diversified by marsh; wet prairie, dry prairie and sand ridg-es; the latter predominating. More than half the area is covered to to a depth of 2 to 15 feet by the fine grained buff sand 10 HISTORY OF STARKP: COUNTY so characteristic of all the ref^^-ion adjacent to the Kankakee on the south. Experience has proven that this sandy soil, if properly cultivated, will produce ex- cellent melons, berries, g-rapes, sug-ar beets, etc. Where ploughed deep and fertilized it also yields good crops of corn, oats and potatoes. Within the past twelve years colonies of frugal, industrious Germans and Swedes have bought at a low price large areas of this once despised land and are making- a good living from it. They utilize all fertil- izers produced on the farm, they haul muck from the low lands and mix it with the sand, they plow deeply each season, and by these and other means are prov- ing the land of far greater productive power than it was ever believed to be. Many thousand acres of marsh land have been recently drained (of which a detailed account will be given later) and wiiere a fe^v years agfo the waters were waist deep the year round, beautiful crops of corn are now produced. Beneath the sand, the prairie sod and the marsh bottoms of the county there is every- where the fine grained, ash blue boulder clay, which covers the entire area of Northwestern Indiana. In many places this comes close to the serface. Not an out crop ot rock occurs in the county. The only bores known to have pierced the thick mantle of drift are at Knox and North Judson. in both of which stratified HISTORY OF STARKE COU^^TY 11 rock was found about 200 feet below the surface. The only workable deposit of marl fonnd in Starke Countv IS wholly a marsh deposit, lyinj*^ in sections 10 and 15 {32 north, 4 west). Railroad township, about three and a halt miles west of North Judson. The deposit occupies the basin of an extinct lake. Thirty years ag-o the lake had become replaced by a marsh over which duck hunters and muskrat trappers hunted and trapped with great success. Now part of it is cultivated in corn and the remander furnishes laig-e and excellent crops of hay. The marl is everywhere overlain with muck, except in one or two places, where it forms the surtace. ihe muck varies in thickness from one to five feet, avt^raging- about two and a half feet. II. SOME INTERESTING EARLY FACTS. The county seat was located at Knox. April 1, 1850. In the same year and month the first county commissioners were elected: John W. P. Hopkins, George Estey and William Parker. They met at the home of Mrs. Rachel A. Tillman (Lambert), on the south bank of Yellow river Her house was used for county purposes for several years. The next county officers elected were: Sheriff, Jacob I. Wampler; Aud- itor, J. G. Black; Clerk, Stephen Jackson, Sr. ; Re- 12 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY corder, Jacob Bozarth; Treasurer. Jacob Tillman: County agent, C. S. Tibbits. Tlie first term of the Starke Circuit Court was held at Mis. Tillman's, May 19. 1851. The judge was E. M. Chamberlain; associates, Samuel Burke and George Milroy. "One indictment was found. That was for hog- stealing-, and the defendant was acquitted. Hog stealing m those days was very different from horse stealing'." T. H. Ball, author of "Northwestern Indiana." says the following- were some of the first thingfs in Starke County: "The first boy born. Tipton J^indsay. 1836. Tlie first burial in the county was of Thomas Robb. who was frozen to death while out hunting^ and was buried in a canoe. The first church buiiding^ was erected by the United Brethren in 1853; the second was built by the Methodists in Knox, in 1856. The first ministers in the county were: Elder Munson. Meth- odist; Elder Ross. United Brethern; and Rev. James Peele, Christian. The first physicians. 1851, Dr. Sol- omon Ward, Dr. Baldwin and Dr. Charles Humphreys,. The first lawyer, 1852, Judg-e Wilcughby M. Mc- Cormick. The first paper, the Starke County Press, published in May, 1861, Joseph A. Berry, editor." This paper is now known as the Starke County Demo- crat, S. M. Gorrell. publisher. "A Fourth of July celebration was held in the HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 13 bounds of Starke County before the county was organ- ized, in either ^1848 or 1849, tlie locality being i;ear the present Toto. ^ The company could not have been very large. Tliey had a warm dinner. The cabin in which they met seeing to have contained but two rooms, they had tables from which to eat, and alter dinner they danced. Slie who, as a young girl remem- bers the circumstances, was born in 1840. was then living in Puk.sKi County and came into the new county of which her father became a resident in 1851, and is now a resident in the town of Knox." The €r^t musical organization in the county was a band organized at Knox in 1876. with twelve members. A. W. Swartzell was the leader. Old instruments were purchased from a Winamac band for $40. The present local telephone system bejian opera- tion June 20, 1898. The projectors were S. C. Close, A. W. Swartzell and J. N. Cotter. The present owner is J. G. Steinman. III. THE TOWNS OF STARKE COUNTY. In some stages of society, and connected with some occupations, the history of villages, towns and cities, IS to a large extent the history of that region, for the people are mostly in towns and cities, and from them usuallv sfo forth the guiding and control- 14 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY ling- influences. But the more any reg^ion is strictly atrricultural, the less number of large towns will it have, and the true history will be made much more in the country homes, -^ on the farms and b y t h e firesides. And as the coun- ties south of the Kankakee are ag- ricultural, their history is to a large extent the gradual increase of home comforts, the grow- th of school and church life, and the difl:'usion of intelligence among thousands of peaceful prospering homes. Yet villages and towns have sf)rung up many and prosperous, and a study of these will give quite a full idea of the <»wth of the communities. Heautiful Hotel Fit/, Knox. KSOX — Knox is the county seat and largest town of Starke County, situated in Center township. At the time of its organization, the town was mere land and trees, but soon town lots were laid out. building began, families tuoved in and village life was com- menced. Civil as well as social life began. Its growth fot several years was slow, but in later years, as any of the old residents can testifv. the jrrowth has been HISTORY OF STARKK COUNTY 15 rapid, until we now have a populaticn of 1,6()(). with bright prospects of even faster g-rowtli. Today in Knox there are about twenty larg^e brick blocks, a number more in coarse of construction. a \nr^e number of elegant brick and frame residences, a beauti- ful brick jail, one ot the finest stone court houses in Northern Indiana, several very good churches, a large brick and sl( n=: school house and various other attractive biiildin^is. We now have paved streets. and stone roads pass through the town. The town has an electric light system, and a waterworks plant is expected to be installed at mo^t any lime. The town is very well sup- =5 plied with churches, there be- ing four:— Methodist Episcopal, ^i^^t ^^'^^^ Block, Knox. Free Methodist, Christian and a congregation of Latter Day Saints. An extended account of our schools would here be unnecessary, for I dare say there is not a citizen who is not familiar with the excellent schools of Knox They are widely known and the Knox high school is 16 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY recogriized as one ot the best in the state. A uniform course of study is earned on in the common schools and a regular four years' course is maintained in the high school department. Prof. J. Walter Dunn is Beautifut Residence of H. K. Robbius. the very efficient superintendmt of the schools and Sophie H. Luzadder the competent principal. The board of education lor 1903 is composed of James VV. Nichols, president; J. N. McCormick. secretary, and Charles H. Peters, treasurer. In tlic summer ot 180'4 the present elej^ant and commodious ten-room brick building was erected at a total cost ot, including furnishings and equipment, about S15,000. -Our schools have made a wonderfiil W trt- 5S o 18 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY growth during the last decade. From three teachers and a few pupils they have grown until the present large building is used throughout, employing eight teachers and a music instructor." Successful literary societies, known as the Star Iviterary Society and the Lew Wallace Club are maintaitied, albo a foot ball team, quartettes and other organizations. Also in the grammar department are literary clubs known as the Washington and Lincoln Literary Societies. The fifth and sixth grades have a Washington and an Irving Literary Society. The high school was com- missioned in 1900. The Knox high school was the first school in Northern Indiana to publish a paper The Eclipse, a four p.ige, three column publication was founded in 1809, and the following year was chRnt»ed to magazine form. In 1902 the Sopho- more class issued a 32 page souvenir magazine. \\\ Knox there are two pickle factories, a handle factory, a rough lumber mill, two grain elevators, one •*wr?!?.35J, 1901, its number being 5919. It has a capital stock of $25,000. Its history, although short, shows remark- able growth. A general banking business is con- ducted. Tiie officers are: O. D. Fuller, president; Edjiar W. Shilling, vice president, M. C. McCormick, cashier. These gentlemen together with Francis Ytrager and Robert H. Bender form the board of directors. The oldest financial institution in the county is the Farmers' State Bank. It was organized as a private bank in 1892, and on May 30, 1901, it was in- corporated as a state bank with a paid in capital of $25,000. The bank is a member of the American Bankers' Asscciation, and a general banking business is carried on. The officers are: A. P. Dial, president, H. A. Ellingson. vice president; Isaac Templin. cash- ier. Knox has two beautiful large brick hotels, known as the Fitz House. T. A. Wetherferd proprietor, and the Stevens' House. A. J. Stevens, proprietor. Also there is the Commercial i'otel, J. G. Kratli, proprietor, which occupies a new brick building. There is one creamery in the town, located in the southwest part, owned by J. B. Prettyman. Knox has one opera house, the Metropolitan, owned by P. VanDerweele. and another under con- 22 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY struction owned by Rice and Horner, wliicli will sur- pass anything- of the kind in the county. One of tile best equipped steam laundries in this part of the country is owned and operated by Orris Booth. A g-eneral laundry business is conducted and branch ag-encies are established in a number of towns. First-class telephone and telej^raph service is had with surrounding- townis and cities. The Knox tele- phone Company. J. G. Steinman proprietor, and the Bell Telepohne Company, furnish the telephone facil- ities. The Western Union Tcleg-raph Company fur- nishes the teleg-raph communication. Three express c<^mpanies have ag-encies here. The United States, the National and the American. The railroads entering- the town are the New York. Chicago & St. Louis. P. M. Beauchamp agent. end the Indiana. Illin«)is <*fe Iowa, George W. Weig^ner, agfent. The present town officials are: William Booth, George H. Brown and Frank L. Brown, town council: M. T. Hepner, clerk: T. H. Claussen, treasurer: George Stewart, marshal: B. D. L. Glazebrook, town attorney. NORTH JUDSON- This enterprising little city is sit- uated in Wayne Township, ten miles south-west of the county seat. It is particularly known as the railroad center of the countv. being- on four different lines. In HISTORY OF STARKK COUNTY 23 North Judson there are several large brick and frame business blocks, a number of beautiful residences, a large brick school building, several very good churches, two opera houses and several other attractive buildings. There are stone streets and a large amount of brick and cement side-walks. That North Judson is speed- ily advancing is due to the meritorious efforts of her citizens ot whom she can justly teel proud. The town is well supplied with churches, there being four: Methodist Episcopal, German Lutheran, United Brethern and a Roman Catholic church. The schools of North Judson are among the very best in the county. The building is fully as good as the one at Knox. The common schools maintain a standard course of study and in the high school de- partment a regular four years" course is had. That the North Judson sch )ols are up to the standard, is a fact of which her citizens can justly be prord. Be- sides the public schools thhre is a German Lutheran school, controlled by that denomination. The practicing physicians are: P. O. Englerth, W. A. Noland, C. Waddell, and Dr. G. B. Corbett, dentist. Oscar B. Smith and Simon Bybee are the two practicing attorneys; Henry Lightcap and A. T. Het- held are the justices of the peace. The real estate men are A. J. Lintz Jacob Keller, and E. T. Short. 24 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY The post master is Charles H. Keuster. There is a North Judson Building-, Loan and Saving's Associa- tion and a North Judson Commercial Club. The town has two musical organizations — North Judson Military Band and Smith's Orchestra. There is a Volunteer Fire Department numbering- twenty members. There are three hotels: The Eagle Plouse. the Hotel Transit and the Erie Hotel and Railroad Restaurant. The principal financial institution is the Citizens' Bank, Wm. Luken president; G. N. Peterson, caslrer. A general batiking busincs- is conducted. There is a Roller mills. Jachins Brothers pro- prietors, a grain elevator owned by the Churchill- White Company; a brewery, North Judson Brewing- Company; two pickle factories, one owned by the Stafford & Goldsmith Co.. and another by the W. H, Bung-e Co.; a wholesale frog and turtl-; industry, owned by A. A. Sphung; a poultry packing house, by D. D. Bowersock; a cigar factory, by Gcorg-e Smith; and an artificial stone industry, owned by Jacob Keller. The Crown, the Columbia and the Schlitz Brewing- Companies nave branch depots in North Juilson. Also the McCormick Harvester Company has a branch depot here. Burch's opera house ar.d Dusek's opera house furnish the accommodations for theatrical purposes. The North Judson News, ICarry O. VVarvel pub- HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 25 lislier, is one of Llie principal publications of the county. The hig-ti standing- of tlie News was attained by the persistent efforts of the late J. Don Gorrell, v\lio made it one of the cleanest and best edited weeklies in Northern Indiana. Under the present editor the News continues to be one of the principal papers in this part of the state. Tl;e four raiiroads entering- North Judson are: The Chicaj^o & Erie; Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie; Indiana, Illinois & Iowa; and the Pittsburgh, Chicago & St. Louis Tlie Adams Express Company and the Wells-Fargo Co have a joint agency at North Judson. Also the United States and American Express Com- panies hi ve offices at this point. The Western Union Teiegrapli Co. affords the telegraphic accommodations and the North Judson Telephone Co., Truman Smith proprietor, affords local communication and connec- tion with surrounditig towns. HAMLET — The [>rogressive little town of Hamlet is situated in the norUiern part of the county, in the south-eastern part of Davis and the south-western part of Oregon townships, about six miles from the county seat. The town is on two railroads, the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago and the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa. It is next m size to North Judson and third in size among the towns of the county. Hamlet has four churches, a Methodist Episcopal, ) ^ 1 ft T f i Ik \M i __i J. B. I'rettymMii, Citizen and Stock Dealer Who Remembers Well the Days of the Fionieer in staike County. HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 27 a Weslyan Methodist, a Roman Catholic and a German Lutheran. Also a larg^e and attractive new school house costing- about $7,000. The two prominent hotels in the town are, Hotel Jolly. J. E. Jolly, proprietor; and the McKinley House, G. M. Veach. proprietor. There are five general stores, a furniture store and a drug- store. The town has two grain elevators, one owned by the Churchill- White Co., another by H. Hardesty; and two lumber yards. Tlie local real estate dealers are: C. J. Danielson, J. E. Jolly, G. M. Veach and H. J. Childs, Sr. The Hamlet Foundry and Machine Works, L. D. Parmley proprietor, occupies a building 32x70 feet in size. While repairing receives prompt attention at all times, the main feature of the enterprise will be the manufacture of patent wind stackers and threshing machines, both inventions of Mr. Parmley. "The press is the greatest public benefactor." This is an old yet wise saying. What would a nation, state, county, city or village be without some means of communication among her people? The little city ot riamlet, while progressive, lacked something that would bring her people nearer together and establish social intercourse with her nei^^hhoring towns. This work was ptrrfornit-d by Harry S. Loring, a practical all-round printer and long employed on the Democrat 28 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY at Knox, who founded on December 12. 1901. the Elani- let Herald, whicli proved a great suvcess fr(Hn the very start This fact can be no better illustrated than by a g-lance at its advertising- columns. The Herald gave new life to the town and the citizens were quick to recognize the beneficial results of the new enterprise. In November Mr. *vorinti- retired from the newspaper business and the Herald became the property of Dr. W. Bowman, who is the present editor. The secret societies in Hamlet are: Modern Wood- men of America, Knights of the Maccabees, Knights of Columbia, Ladies of the Maccabees and Ladies of Columbia. The Hamlet band is a successful musical org-anization. Besides the societies named there are women's clubs and other social org-anizations SAN PIERRE— This quiet little town of about 350 inhabitants is situated in Railroad township, in the north-east quarter of section twenty-one, rang-e four west. It is on two railroads, the Chicago, Indiana- polis & Louisville and the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa. It is well provided with churches, there being- four: a Roman Catholic, German Lutheran, Methodist Epis- copal and an "Evang^elical Association" church. A modern fiame school house wa^^ built in 1899. costing- over S2.000. In San Pierre there are three g-ener.il stores, two liny and g-rain enterprises, a lumber, tile and brick Isaac Drake, asjed 94 years.— The oldest man living in Starke Connty to-day. 30 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY yard, two hotels, two saloons and three general black- smiths. There is one physician, Dr. W. J. Solt. The Churchill-White Co. has a grain elevator at this place. The Modern Woodmen of America and the G. A. R. have organizations here. The post master is Fred J. Weinkauf. A <^rocery is conducted in connection with the post office. GROYEKTOWN— This little town is situated in Oregon township, on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad. The town has not made as much advance- ment as its larger neighbors, yet it has three general stores, a large new pickle factory, owned by the H. J. Heinz Co.. a fine brick church building and some other improvements. There are two lodges in the town, the Modern Woodmen and the Gleaners. The town has a frame school building. There is one real estate dealer in the town. A. J. Uucapher, who also buys hay and grain. This gentleman is accorded with owning more land than any other individual in the county. The other towns or stations which are of niinor importance are named below, each containing a post office and from one to three general stores: Aldine. Bass Station, Davis, English Lake, Nickel Plate. Ober. Ora, Toto and Winona. IV. FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTY. Below will be found the financial condition of HISTORY OP STARKE COUNTY 31 Starke County up to December 31, 1901, at which time the last annual report was made. County orders outstanding-, Dec. 31. 1901, . ..$ 16,112 59 County orders issued for the vear 1901, 43,003.61 Toial " 59,116.20 Prom which deduct county orders redeemed for 1901 38,583.32 Leaves countv orders outstanding- Dec. 31, '01 20,532.88 Prom which deduct cash in treasury 2,634.22 Leaves flontinir indebtedness Dec. 31, 1901, . . 17,898.66 COUNTY BONDED INDEBTEDNESS Court house bonds oulstcindincr Dec.3L1901 $ 102. 000. 00 Prom which deduct cash in treasury 2,856,05 Leaves court house bond indebtedness. ... 99,143.95 GRAVEL ROAD BONDS. Stone road bonds. Center township, out- standing, Dec. 31. 1901..' S 34,124.80 Gravel road bonds, Wayne township, out- standincr ijec 31, 1901 38,989 60 Total 73,114.40 Total bonded and floating- indebtedness out- standing Dec. 31. 1901 $190,157.01 V. OUR LAKES. The lakes of Northern Indiana are the brightest gems in the corona of the state. They are the most beautiful and expressive features of the landscape in the region wherein they abound. Numbered by hund- reds, they range in size from area of half an acre up to five and a halt sqn.ire miles With the fertile soil, the The old Court house, stili staiidina: north of tlie present magnificent structure. HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 33 threat beds of gravel and the myriads ot bowlders, larj>-e and small, they are to be classed as mementos of those mig-hty ice sheets which, in the misty p ist, covered the northern two-thirds of our state. Out«ide of the counties in which they occur but few of the citizens of Indiana know of their presence, their beauty, their value. Their origin, their fauna and flora, the cause of their gradual diminution in size and final distinction, are likewise known to but few. By the red nvcin these lakes were more highly appreciated than by his more civilized Caucasian successor, tor the reason that the Indian stood much nearer to wild nature than we. On the hitj:her ridges overlooking the lakes he liad his villaii^e sites. Over their placid waters he paddled his birch bark canoe, and from their depth he secured with spear and hook fishes sufficient to supply his needs, while mussels and i he roots of the water lily added variety to his drnly food. Wild fowl by myriads, in their migrating seasons, came and went, stoppint);^ to feed upon the lakes, thus oflFering him many a chance to test his marksmanship with bow and arrow, while the skins of the muskrat, otter and beaver which he trapped about the marshy mar- gins, furnished him protection against the cold. Thus it will be seen that his very existence depended often times upon these living- bodies of water. It is little wonder, therefore, that he remained in this vicinity 34 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY until driven westward by the conquering white man, leaving- only the signs of his feast — vast piles of shells, bones and pit-ovens — as reminders of his former presence. The lakes of Starke Ccmnty all owe their orioin to the irreg-ular deposition of the drift brought in by the glaciers. The origional hollows or lake basins are the counterparts and complements of the surrounding hills and knobs so characteristic of the terminal moraines of the retreating ice sheets. The moranic lakes are classified, according to the shape of their basins, into three division-: (I) '"Kettle-hole" lakes with round cauldron shaped b;.sins, usually of great depth. (2) Channel lakes, or those with long narrow basins, whose bottoms are vt-ry uneven, the water in places forming deep po'.'s, in uthers being shallow. (3) "Irregular lakes.' whose basins are very complex in outline, being branched, lobed and otherwise irreg- ular. The bottom is also verv uneven, deep pools of water alternating with shallow areas, without regard to order or regularity. The majority of the lakes in Indiana belong to this class. Bass lake, Starke Countv, belongs to this division, and is one of the largest examples of this group. The following table shows the area and greatest depth of the five largest lakes in the state: HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 35 Area sq. miles. Depth. Lake Wawasee. or Turkey Lake, Kos- ciusko County 5 66 68 ft. Lake Maxinkiick"fe, M.irsl.all Co 2 97 89 Lake Jamcrs. Steuben Co 2.62 87 Bass Lake, Starke Co 2.23 32 Tipptcan-e La ke, Ko-ciusko Co., . . .1.61 121 In conclusion it may be said tliat all of the mo- ranic lakes in St:irke County, as well as the State in g^eneral, are "g"eol<>trically youn^*", bein^;" confined to the very latest mornines of the j^lacia! period. They are mere babes,, born yesterday and destined to die to- morrow. The present dominant race of men may pass away and leave these lakes still lying^ like brijrht jewels among- the hills; but every one is doomed to final extincti«)n. 'The hills are shadows and they flow From form to form, and nothing stands: They melt like mist, tlie solid lauds. Like clouds they shape themselves and go.' "But of all the beauties of the landscape, lakes are the most ephemeral. As long as they remain they will continue to contribute to the service and delight of man, by affo.''ding means for that relaxation and healthful pleasure which the conditions of modern life demand." KOO^TZ LAKE.— Koontz Lake lies in sections 1 and 12 (34 north, 1 west) Oregon township. It is a shallow body of water covering 200 or more acres, and is largely Hon. Geo. W. Reeman, Starke County's First Judiro HISTORY OF STARKK COUNTY 37 artificial. All tlie shallow water area around the shores contains hard bottom, except in a few places wliere beds of muck have accumulated. Many acquatic plant-^ abound in the Inke, and as a result the fishing- is excellent. Manv people from Hamlet. Grovertown and other -urrounding [places, spend several days or weeks here during- the hot summer months, enjoying" a pleasant outing EAGLE LAKE. — Eagle Lake lies in the north-west quarter of section 13 (33 north, 1 west) Washington township. Its area has recently been reduced more than one-half by drainage. The area covered by the lake is ab'>ut 70 acres The north and south shores slope j^raduii 11 y upward into sandy, cultivated fields or woodland. The outlet. Eagle creek, leaves the west end and flows almost due west into Yellow river. The lake is nowhere more than eighteen feet in depth, while much of its area is less than five feet, and bids tair to soon become extinct, as the decay of the abund- ant water vegetation is rapidly adding to the extensive beds of muck. ROUND LAKE. — This is a small and nearly circular lake lying in the west half of section S, (32 north, 2 west) California township. It is located about six miles south-west of Knox, and about three miles south- east of Toto. The lake covers an area of about 120 acres. The water is, for the most part, quite deep, 1 ^ 1 t«^ r r r rr ""^lan a m 1 i piii iPWfjSS ^-'i;.:^ ^ what is familiarly known as the Kankakee marsh, are for q-.iite a period of time each year covered with from one to three feet of water. About six sections of this marsh land in the south- east corner of Lake County are covered with timber, composed mostly of ash and elm with some sycamore and g"um trees. The balance of these wet lands, run- ning west to the State line, are open marsh covered with a luxuriant growth of wild grass, wild iice and flags. It is the home of the water iowl and musk-rat, and a paradise for hunters. The number of acres of this wet land in the Kan- kakee valley, in the seven counties through which the Kankakee River flows in this state was, in 1894, about SIX hundred thousand. However, in the past lew years this vast number has been greatly decreased by HISTORY OP" STARKE COUNTY 51 extensive drainage. Prominent among the counties which are pushing this important enterprise is Starke County. The vat-t amount of good being accomplished by the drainage of the Kankakee region is set forth in another cliapter. It is only a question of time until these lands will all be drained, as the Kankakee valley has a main elevation of ninety feet above Lake Mich- igan and one hundred and sixty feet above the waters of the Wabash river and lying as they do at the very doors of Chicago, the ^[reatest stock and grain market in the world, it would be strange if they long remain in their present condition Some portions of these lands are hi^ h dry ground, like an island in the ocean, and as they are olten surrounded by water they are called islands. These islands have all once been cov- ered with a heavy growth of timber, but the farmers living on the prairies north of the marsh have stripped most of them of all that is desirable. Hauling tirriber from these islands and from the ash swamps further east, a few \ears a^o was the farmers' winter harvest, and was called swamping. Some authorities hold that the lives of manv of the early sc tilers were shortened by exposure and over w^ork in some of our bitter cold winters on these marshes. Cheap lumber and baroed wire now almost entirely take the place of the swamp timber for fencing, etc , and but little swampirg has 52 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY been done for a number of years. Many of the islands where the timber has been cut off are now excellent grazing- lands and nearly all ot ihe larger islands have one or more fan'ilies livinj^ on them who keep stock, and some good farms are under cnllivatioti. Many old land marks go to show that these lands bordering on the Kankakee river were, before the white man came, the favorite stamping ground of the Indians, Many of the islands have tiieir mounds and burying grounds, and on some ot them are plats of ground which still hold the name of the Indian's gardens. Truly, the Kankakee region ot today shows a marked advancement and improvement over that region of a score of years aj^o. VIII. BIRD LIFE OF STARKE COUNTY. Starke County has been accused of a paucity of bird life. Upon careful examination, this has been shown to be an erroneous accusation. In the richness of its bird life, Starke County equals, if not surpasses any of the other counties of the state. This is es- pecially true of the aquatic birds. Only two of the numerous species of wild ducks, that have ever been found within the ninety-two counties of Indiana, are not found on the marshes of Starke County. Lookins: over the Indiana Geological report of 1897, in which HISTORY OF STARKIC COUNTY 53 Mr. Amos W. Butler gives a catalogue of the birds ot Indiana, we find almost every species of birds to have been recorded at some point of this county. About Febiuary the loth the first migratory movements of birds begin. Most species of wild ducks, the robin and the meadow lark, in sunny homes farther south, have an irresistible longing for the meadows and marshes of the Hoosier state. A little later that beautiful songster, the blue bird, ar- arrives at this neighborhcod. After these come the black birds, the orioles, the warblers, the fly catchers, the vireos and last, but not least, the swallows. Al- most every species of the wild duck has been found to breed in this county. When the lingerers of the ducks are still wander- ing over our marshes and the blue birds and robins have arrived come the snipes and plovers. Passing alone: a piece of wet ground you hear the sharp cry ot the rising jack snipe, with its erratic zigzag flight it presents a diflicult target to the sportsman. On the great hay marshes myriads of plover and sand pipers feed. These are most wonderful birds. When seen in our countv they are in great flocks, so many in one flock that a haphazard shot often brings twenty or thirty to the ground. The king of birds, the robin, is always seen around the home, being the most sociable of all birds. I'rof. J. Walter Dunn, Superintendent Knox Public Schools and Proaiinent in Educutional Circles. HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 55 In the woods are to be seen wood peckers, fly- catciiers, orioles wrens, sap suckers and song- spar- rows. On the edg-e of the woods appear the chewinks and the warblers. In the meadow the bobolink, the black birds, the meadow lark and the crow. A little later in the spring-, than the robin and the blue bird, come the turtle doves, the thrushes, the nig-hthawks, the whip poor-wills, the humming birds and the tan- agers. These not only add to the beauty of the land- scape, but they destroy innumerable insects. Passing" throug-h the woods one is startled by a pheasant, or in reality a ruffled giouse. Its whirring- wings and its brown body are seen by you through an opening- in the trees. At one tipie the marshes of our county were peopled by almost innumerable prairie chickens. The old settlers tell of going- out and killing ten or twelve in an hour's time; but this species has been greatly de- creased in recent years so that only a small number at present abound in the county. While rambling about in the marshes you hear a queer rumbling sound. Sometimes it sounds like distant thunder, othertimes like an old wood pump.^ Ivooking around, you see a queer stick on the marsh. Soon this turns to life and an American bittern flies awkwardly away. This bird is locally known as the thunder pumper. The purple martin is one of the most interesting and beautiful of our songsters. 56 HISTORY OF STARKE COUMTY From observation and authorities, it is found tiiat there are about fifty species of birds found here in 'he winter time. The wood peckeis, a few varities of the Finch family, the snow birds, the nuthatches, the crows and the blue jays are some of the more common ones. IX. TWO LIVING CURIOSITIES. Eli Green. — Doubtless there is not a single per- son in the county who has not at least heard of Ind- iana's greatest livingf curiosity. The name, Eli Green, the ossified man of North Judson, has been heard not only in county and state, but throu^^hout the United States and other countries, and while most of the readers of tins little volume are familiar with this strange persor)age yet there are many interesting facts connected with his life that are not generally known, and for that reason the ful'.owiug" complete history of his life is giver. Eli Green was born near Forestou, O^^le County, Illinois, June 22, 1862, of humble parentage. His bov- hood was spent on his fatheTs farm and his early education was obtained in the Foreston public schools. Young Green worked on the farm until he was 25 years of age, after which he was a carpenter until disability. From Foreston, Green moved to Ora, Ind., HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 57 from there to Akron, Ind., thence to Monterey, Ind., then to Harper 111., and from here to North Judson, ind., at which place he wab living- at the time of af- fliction, but was working- at Streator, 111. Here Green was building a platform tor the Streator bottle works and on account of great need ol same by the company he worked in a heavy cold rain. Three days later the first change in his condi- tion was noticed, the same being a binding and pres- sing sensation. He took several hot baths and dur- ing one of these was first noticed the hardening ot the fle&h ot the arms and hands. The same continued to harden and spread over the entire body and limbs from collar bone to feet. Mr. Green possesses no sense of feeling at all. He says one can jab a knife or needle through his hands or feet without any pain wliatever. His joints are so stiff that it is with great difficulty that he walks or uses his arms. He has prac- tically no use of his fingers. The x-rays show his bones to have shrunk or diminished to one-half their normal size. He has tried various treatments cf the leading- doctors of the land; has attended Medical Society gatherings of the most noted doctors of the country, and has taken various treatments prescribed by them. He has been placed in an over, with the exception of the head, and baked with the temperature as high as Henry R. Robbins. a Promineut Knox Attorney, and Promoter of the Great Industry of Drainage in Starke County. HISTORY OF STARKLY COUNTY 59 360 def tongues, wisdom, charity, brotherly love, etc. We believe that Marriage is ordained of God; and that the law of God provides but one companion in wedlock, for either man or woman, except in casts where the contract cf Marriage is broken by death or transgression. We beheve that the doctrines of a plurality and a community of wives are heresies, and are opposed to the laws of God. We believe that the religion of Jesus Christ, as taught in the New Testam<-!nt Scriptures, will, if its precepts are accepted and obeyed, make men and women better in the domestic circle, and l)etter citizens of town, county and state, and consequently better fitted for the change which cometh at death. We believe that man should worship God in 'Spirit and in truth," and that such worsliip does not require a violation of the csnstitutional law of the land. XL THE COUNTY'S OLDEST MAN. It is with great interest that we view the faces and read the biographies of men and women who have lived ninety or more years. Isaac Drake, who lives near Bass Lake, is credited with being the oldest man in the County. Mr Drake was bc-rn in Dearborn HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 67 County, now Oliio County, near Rising- Sun, in 1809, making- him at this time past 93 years ot age, witli every promise reasonably hoped for of his living- sev- eral years more, for his habits are of the very best, and so active and ambitious is he tiiat it is nothing- uncommon for him to mount a horse and ride live or ten miles or walk two miles to a post office to get his mail. He is a great reader and reads without g-lasses. He chops nearly all of his own wood, not from force of need, but force of habit, as he has a step-son who is very mindful of this old gentleman and sees that his wants are well supplied, Mr. Drake joined church when 43 years old and has been a faithful member ever since, believing that "The love of God is broader than thh measure of man's mind, and the heart of the Eternal is most wonder- fully kind, if our love were but more simple. We should take Him at His word, and our lives would be all sunshine in the sweetness of the Lord." Mr. Drake's first vote for president of the United States was for Andrew Jackson, but he has been an ardent republican ever since the party was org-anized, never missing- an election. He has a distinct recollec- tion of his boyhood days, and is a pleasant and intel- lig-ent conversationist. He helped build the first rail- road in Indiana. 68 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY XIL FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN THE COUNTY. Mrs. Racliael A. Lambert, who died onlv in Au- g-ust, 1901, is credited by some authorities as being the first v-hite vvoman to settle in Stark County. She was, nevertheless, one ot the first pioneers in the County, and was the very first white woman to take up her residence in the town of Knox. She came to this County in 1850 and took up her abode in Knox The County was almost in a primeval state at that time, there being* many more InJians than white peo- ple living- here. Tlie family settled on the place where Mrs. Lambert died, and during- the half century and more that has rolled away since her coming, she con- tinued to reside at the old homestead. She was born in Dark County, Ohio, in 1821. being almost eighty years old at the time of her death. Until recently her memory was strong, and she made hundreds of affidavits concerning early residents here in the adjustment of titles to real estate. Because she was the first white woman to take up her residence here, Mr. Shields, who laid out the town, gave her a deed to seven acres of land within the confines of the town. Since the death ol her husband in 1866, she lived alone with her adopted son, Thomas Lambert, whom she adopted in 1873. at Peru, Indiana. HISTORY OF STARKtO COUNTY 69 Her maiden name was Rachael Ann Murpliy. Her first husband was Jacob Tillman, and to them two cliildren were born, only one of whom survives. Her second husband was Adam Lambert, who died in 1866. Mrs. Lambert's home, which stands north of the present court house, was used lor county purposes for a number of years. Here was held the first term of the Starke Circuit Court. xni. IN MEMORIAM. "Behold, we know not anythinij^; We can but trust that ^ood shall fall At last— far off— at last, to all, And every winter change to spring-." On the following tew pages are given sketches of a few principal characters who have been prominent in the affairs of the County, and whom death has claimed as her own. To make mention of all the characters who have played important parts in our history, would here be impossible, and mention is made only of those who have just recently died and whose memory is yet fresh upon most of our minds. Dr. Alexander H. Henderson. — One of the con- spicuous characters in the death annals of Starke County is the name of Alexander Hamilton Hender- son. He was born near Lafayette, BYbruary 21, 1841, 70 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY being- sixtj-one years and two months old at the time of his death. He worked on his father's farm until fifteen years of ag"e, after which he attended school for a time and became a teacher. In Aug-ust. 1862, lie enlisted in Company C, 72nd Indiana Volunteers. At the close of the war lie again, taught school, studying medicine at the same time. He began the practice of medicine in 1868, at Monee, lUinois. In 1871. he came to Knox and remained here until his death. In 1873 lie was elected county super- intendent of schools. While holding that office he was elected county ar-ditor, being the only republican ever elected to that office in Starke County. In 1882 he was eleceed joint representative for Starke and St. Joseph Counties. He was several times chairman of the re- publican central committee ot this county, was post master here from 1889 to 1898, member of the pension examining board for years, and a member of the G. A. R., Odd Fellows and Knigiits af Pythias. In business he was considered upright and honorable, and he had a large circle of friends over the county and state. Dr. Henderson died suddenly April 21. 1901, from congestion involving the entire system. The Indian- apolis Sentinel spcke of Dr. Henderson's absence from the republican state convention being greatly noted, and stated that a, chair in the convention lial: was draped in flags and crepe in his memory. Chiis. J. Danielson, one of the County's most honored citizens, who has done much for the im- provement of his c(>unty. 72 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY Samuel R. Guilds. — This very old g-enlleman, whose face was familiar to almost every body in the county, died August 30, 1901. He was more than 77 years of ag"e, having- been born in New Jersey, in March. 1824. Mr. Childs had been a resident of this county for many years, living' near Grovertown for several years, when be moved to Knox. Until the last two years ot his life he was actively engaged in the real estate business, in which he was quite successful. In his young-er days he was an extensive traveler and trader. For some time he was in business in Chicago. In pol- itics he was an uncompromising democrat and was never slow to make the fiict known. George S. Savery. — This influential citizen, who was one of the first residents of Knox and Starke County, and prominent in political afltairs. passed from tins life November 27, 1901. Geo''g"e S. Savcry was born at Rollinsville, Lan- caster County. Pa., December 17. 1832. He moved to this county in 1869, after residing for two years in Marshall County, and lived for a time on Bogus Creek, rliis side of North Judson. In 1874 he was elected sheriff of this county on the democratic ticket and was reelected in 1876. "Georg-e Savery, like every other son ol Adam, had his virtues and his faults. The comirendable thing- HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 73 for erring- mortals to do is to remember and emulate liis virtues, and in the presence ot the great leveler, throw a mantle of charity over whatever faults he may have had, for we are all in need of sincere charitable consideration." Albert Irving Gould.— Albert I. Gould was born in Saratoga County, New York, March 26, 1833. When a child he was taken by his family to Ohio. At the age of eighteen he entered the law office of Law- rence S. West, at Beltountaine, Ohio, and at the age of twenty was admitted to the bar by Chief Justice Corwin. Previous to this he taught school. He be- gan the practice of law at Marysville, Ohio, but shortly removed to Iowa, where he conducted a newspaper for two years. In 1858 Judge Gould located at Winamac, Indiana, where he practiced law ten years, and was for nine succeeding years manager of the auditor's office at Covington. He then removed to Indianapolis, where he practiced law until February, 1882, when he came to Knox and opened a law office. For several years he was associated with George A. Murphy, now of Beatrice, Nebraska, in the practice of law in Knox. Later Charles H. Peters was associated with him, the firm dissolving two \ ears ctgo, when Judge Gould re- tired. He was for many years attorney for the county and for the town of Knox. In May, 1861, he was united in marriage to Martha 74 HISTORY OF STARKE COUA^TY M. Tibbetts, and to them two daug-liters were boru, one of whom survives. His second wife was EliJ^abeth Wierbaujrh. Judge Gould died May 1, 1901, and according^ to his wishes the body was cremated at Ft. Wayne. Albert I. Gould was one of 1he best known men in Northern Indiana, and enjoyed the respect a::d confi- dence of his large circle of acquaintances. He was a partisan in politics, being an ardent republican, and his work for the party was keen and effective. At the time of his death he weighed about 300 pounds, but he had weighed as much as 435 pounds. Jeremiah Good. — Jeremiah Good was born in Starke County, May 2, 1855, and died May 20, 1902, be- ing a few days past 47 years of age. Mr. Good lived in Starke County all hi? lile, and being connected with it in its pioneer life took an active part in building up the county and making it what it is. He had a multi- tude of friends who honored and trusted him. For eight years he was the honored clerk of the county. He received a good education in the Knox schools and at the Valparaiso Normal. For the past twenty years he had been engaged in teaching* school. In 1877 he was married to Miss Martha Coonfare. Mr. Good was brought up in the German Reform Church, but for the past sixteen y^ars had been a member of the M. E. Church. During his sickness he frequently said he Jacob Keller, a Prominent North Judson Real Estate Man, Who Has Done Much to Promote His County and State. 76 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY was reconciled to the will of God. He said he would like to stay with his companion and children, but if it was God's will for him to g";> he was ready. "His lite vvcis g^enlle and the elements so mixf d in him That Nature might stand up to all the world And sav, 'This was a man!' " J. Don Gorrell. — It is with a feelinji" of sadness and reg-ret that we chronicle the death of J. Don Gor- rell, the late editor of the North Judson News, which occurred August 27, 1902. Mr. Gorrell had suffered for nearly two weeks prior ^o his death wilh cranial neuralgia and a complication of other diseas.s, which the heroic treatment of eminent physicians and trained nurses could not al)ate. For several dnys physicians had announced his condition hopeless, but his numer- ous friends throughout the county silently prayed that he might rally and recover. The deceased who was 31 years old at the time of hjs death, is survived by his wife and three children, rangiiig in age Irom three to six years. His death at such an early age is extremely sad, following so closely the death of his aged father, the late James Gorrell, who passed away just a week before. J. Don Gorrell came to Knox from Ossian, Wells County, in June, 1892, where he published the Knox Democrat for nearly a year. He purchased the North Judson News in 1894, which he had since published, HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY making- it one of tlie brightest and best weekly papers in this part of the state. He vvtis a prominent mem- ber of tlie Masonic and Woodmen orders, and carried $2,000 life insurance in the last mentioned. He was sincerely loved by all who knew him, and his death is a source of reg^ret to his town, his county and his state. XIV. COUNTY CENSUS FIGURES. The following table shows the population of the townships and corporations ot Starke County in 1900 and in 1890: TowDsbip or Corporation. 1900. Calitornia Township, 949 Center Township, 2264 Davis Township 793 Jackson Township 340 North Bend Township 1217 Oregon Township 1035 Railroad Township 1045 Washington Township, .... . 1092 Wayne Township, 1696 Total in County 10331 Total Gain in County,.. Gain percent in County, 521 1480 430 225 884 773 875 846 1305 7339 3092 42.1 There are but six counties in the state that have made a g^reater gain in the past ten years than Starke. They are Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Lake, Madison, Che-Mali, the Smallest Mau iu the World, [see page 59 J HISTORY OF STARKli COUNTY 79 aud Marion. Starke county has made the g-ain of 42.1 per ceut in the past ten vebrs while the surrounding- counties have made the following- gains: Laporte, 11.4 per cent; St. Joseph, 38.7 per cent: Marshall, 5.5 per cent; Fulton, 4.2 per cent; Pulaski, 24.9 per cent; Jas- per, 27 8 per cent; Porter, 6.2 per cent. The first census of Starke Count}^ was taken in 1840, when the population was 149. In 1850 the popu- lation was 557; in 1860, 2,195; m 1870, 3.888: and in 1880, 5,105. It will be seen that the population of the county has made rapid increase each decade. The official population figures of the three principal towns are shown below: Town 1900. 1890. Knox. ' 1466 . . . 790. North Judson 944 572. Hamlet, 432 .... The g"ain per cent in Knox was in the past ten years, 85 5. In North Judson, 65 per cent. Hamlet was not incorporated before 1890. so the gain percent cannot be ascertained. The county seats of contiguous counties shows the following gain per cent, which will be of interest in comparing the increase of our own towns: Laporte City, 0; South Bend, 65; Plymouth, 34; Rochester, 34; Winamac, 38.5; Rensselaer, 55; and Valparaiso, 23 per c.nt. By comparison it is seen 80 HISTORY OK STARKE COUNTY that Ktiox is far ahead of the list, which speaks well of Starke County in general; also there is only one equal to North Judson. Coming- down to the county itself, tlie gain per cent in each township is: California. 82; Center 53; Davis, 84; Jackson 51, North Bend, 37.6; Oregon, 34; Railroad, 20; Washington, 29; and Wayne, 30 per cent. It will be seen that the greatest gain was made in Davis Township, with 84 per cent, followed close by California with 82 per cent, the rest of the townships ranging in the following order: Center, 53; Jackson, 51; North Bend, 47.6; Oregon, 34; Wa>ne, 30; W^ashing- ton, 29; and Railroad, 20 per cent. XV. OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. It has been truly said that, "The public schools are the hope of our country." If asked what is the greatest accomplishment one could possess, the answer would doubtless be, without hesitation, education. The "little red school house" has accomplished won- ders. The vast amount of good it has done is self evident. As time passes, these "little red school houses" are being supplied with large and elegant brick structures. The people of Starke County are unquestionably in. the educational spirit ^nd love to work for its advancement. HISTORY OF STaKKE COUNTY 81 Closely associated vvitl*educational work of Starke C:>unty is the name of the late William H. Sinclair, a name with which we are all familiar and proud. It was through his untiring- effurts that the schools of Starke County came to the front. The tj^rand w(»rk of ed- ucation is at present b^in5S 137 143 430 354 50 92 3584 All the pupils in the county are white except one one colored female in Knox corporation. In 1901 the tables were 1872 males and 1696 females, sliovving' a net j^ain of only 16 since last >ear. The gains and losses in the thirteen school towns were as tollows: — North Bend lost 9 males and 8 fe- males; Washington lost 11 males and gained 9 fe- males; Oregon lost 1 male and 14 females; California gained 11 males and lost 2 females; Center lost 14 males and 2 females; Wavne lost 9 males and gained Oroer A. Garner, l*romiuent in Drainage Matters and Engineer of the Place or Kankakee River Ditcli. 84 HISTORY OK STARKK COUNTY 1 female; Railroad g-bined 19 males and 17 females; Davis lost 6 males and 7 temc VauUer wcele William Elmandorf Joseph E. Harvey William Anderson William H. Harur William Emandorf William H. Barter William H. H. Coffin Sidney A. Uncapher George S. Savery Sidney A. Uncaphtr Georg-e S. Saver v William Elmandorf Wil.iam Elmandorf COUNTY CORONERS. First County Coroner Appointed in 1850. James B Prettyman Joseph W. Hiler John Lindsey Thomas R. Lambert Adam Lambert Thomas R. Lambert Adam Lambert Leander E. Conner J. K. Crites Mark R Wright Samuel Smith Mark R. Wright Elijah Wood Mark R Wright David P. Favorite William M. Kellev David P. Favorite Charles Waddell " Wingate Prettyman Thomas J. Agnew HISTORY OK STAKKK COUNTY Georg-e VV. Scofi..ld Israel Uncaplier Israel Uncaplier Wilson T. Loriiig- Joseph W, Hiler Jcinics S. Denaut Samuel S, Bonar William J. Solt COUNTY SURVEYORS. First County Surveyor Elected in 1856. John S Bender, Appd. Robert H. Bender Robtrt H. Bender John P. Kelky John P. Keliey William C. Boyles William C. Boyles John K. Short John B. Short Joseph N. McCormick Joseph N. McCormick William C. Bodies William C. Boyles Georg-e M. D Fisher Abner L. Purcell Abiier L. Purcell Henry C. Roney Joseph N. McCormick Joseph N. McCormick John W. Good John W. Good Howard M. Chapel Adam F. Seider Leo M. Keliey Alfred A Savt-ry COUNTY ASSESSORS. First County Assessor Elected in 1863. Nathan McCumber, App'd Jacob Keller Eli Brown, Appointed Christopner Hillabold Thomi. s Cussins Peter Speelman William P. Stanton Albert C. Wolfram William James Georufe W. Hark ins 98 HISTORY OF STARKE COU^^TY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The first County Commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice o'i Starke County on the first day of April, 1850, were: Wm. C. Barnette, L. Chomberlin, \Vm. N. Patterson The first reg-ular elected Commissioners, in 1850, were: L William Parker } Georg-e Esty ( John W. P. Hopkins Andrew Lon^ Edward Smith Abram Welsh George Felden John Good William P. Chapman James P. Fry George Felden William Svvartzell Isaac Reed Jacob Kelver Eli Brown Amos A. Green Jacob Kelver Eli Brown Jesse Jackson Jacob Kelver Madison Jones Elijah W. Geiselm.ui Madison Jones Mathias T. Hepiier Madison Jones John W. Rea J-^fferson Sea graves Christian Kreis Richard M. Gibbs William L. Scudder Oratio I). Fuller Oratio D. Fuller William Turner George Stocker Richard M. Gibbs Georg-e Stocker Joseph M. Hil«-r James M. Tucker Daniel H. Stanton Daniel Lc fever Jacob Kreis Daniel Lefever Jacob Kreis Daniel H. Stanton William T Collins William T. Collins Fred E. Vergin William Miller William T. Collins Wil-am Miller HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 99 Samuel Lefever Christian Borchardt Elijah W. Geiselman Christian Borchardt Jacob Shilling- Henry C. Short Samuel Lefever Sherman Carnes Henry Bejider Sherman Carnes Edw.ird Tucker James G. Heilman Christian Kreis Elij ill W. Geiselman ...... COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS. First Superintendant (County Examiner) App'd 1861 Andrew W. Porter William B. Sinclair M. T. Howard William B. Sinclair S.imnel Jacobs William B Sinclair John E. Short William B, Sinclair Wilouiihby McCormick William B. Sinclair Uziah Kline William A.. Foust Alt^x.inder H. Henderson Georofe E. Butcher Oliver Musselman George A. Netherton Henry C. Rogers ..ofC. t5 100 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY INDEX. Area ot the County 9 Birds of the County, . . . 52 Census Fij^ures, 77 Drainag-e in the County. 44 Financinl Condition of Strirke County,. 30 First White Woman in the County, 68 Grovertown. f 30 Hamlet. . .. 25 In Memoriam 69 Dr. A H. Henderson . . 69 S. R. Childs. .. . ... . 72 Georg^e S. Savery 72 Albert I. Gould 73 Jeremi ill Good, 74 J. Don Gorrell 76 Industries of the County 84 Ao^riculture, .... 84 Drainag-e 84 44 Pickle Fa ctories, 85 Handle Factory, 85 Grain Elevators 85 Flouring Mills. ^. .. 85 Faog- and Turtle Industry, . 85 Cig-ar Factories 85 Big Jamison Ranch 86 Manufacture of Artificial Stone, 86 North Jndson Brewery .... 86 Manufacture of j^ailway Velocipedes, 86 Frnit and Berry Raising, 88 Hamlet Foundry 88 Kankakee Region, 50 HISTORY OF STARKE COUNTY 101 Page Ktiox 14 Laktrs ol ilie County. 31 Bass Lake, .. ..'. 39 Koontz Lake 35 Eajile Lake 37 Round Eake, 37 Otiier LaUe? 44 NoTtli Jiid&oii .... 22 Newspapers 19 Knox . ... . 19 North Judson 24 Ilainlet 27 Oldest Mcjn in the County, 66 Onr Public Schools * 80 Position of the County 9 Record ol County Officials 94 Rc-lio^ious History 61 Methodist Episcopal 62 Baptist 62 Free Meth(»dist 64 Luiheran, 62 Christian 62 Catholic 64 Latter Dav Saint .. 64 Uniiihted Bret hern 64 Weslyan Methodist, .. 64 Some InterestiniT Early Facts 11 Location of County Seat, 11 First County Officers 11 Firsr Term of Circuit Court 12 First Bov Born 12 First Burial, 12 102 HISTORY OF STARKR COUNTY First Church Erected, 12 First Ministers, 12 First Lawyers .... 12 First Newspaper 12 First Musical Oriranizatio I 13 Early t:elebratioii 12 Societies ........ 89 92 Maccabees Knights of P\ thias Odd Fellows.'. Modern Woodmen .... Masons Royal Neii^hbors Gleaners Lady Rebi ccas Lady Maccabees G. A. R.... .... Knig-hts of Columbia Ladies of Columbia San Pierre 28 Schools of Knox l.S 81 Schools of North Jnd«(.n 23 81 Schools of the county .... .... 80 Tw^o Livinj*- Curiosities .... 56 Eh Green 56 Che-Mah . ... 59 Towns of llie County 13 Knox. . . 14 North Judson 22 Hamlet 25 San Pierre 28 Grv>\^ertown 30 Other towns 30 COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY. McCormick's Guide to Starke Co. IS ON SALE AT THE FOLLOWING PLACES KNOX — NEWS AND BOOK STORE. KNOX-COOPER & DUMAS' STORE- NORTH JUDSON P. H. McCORMiCK «fc GO'S DRUG STORE, SAN PIERRE F. J. WEINKAUF P. M. HAMLET -C. MCCORMICK'S GENERAL STORE- GROVERTOWN — A. J. UNCAPHER, OR ADDRESS C. A. MCCORMICK. KNOX. IND- Established 189:2 GUS REISS The Square Man, Knox, Ind. The larg-est establisliment ol the kind in the county. CLOTHING. GEN PS FURNISHINGS. BOOTS and SHOIOS. HONEST TREATMENT. HONEST GOODS. HONEST PRICES. Satisfaction Giiarantev d or Money Refunded. Your Patron- age is Respectfully Solicited Qus Reiss, The Square Man, Knox A. L. McKINNEY & SON, REAL ESTATE B.'U(rlit, Sold and Excliang-ed. Money to Loan on Ten Years' Time at Lowest Rate of Interest A L. McKINNEY & SON, KNOX. IND. FRANK L. BROWN, FOR DRUGS. Wall Paper, Paints, Oils, Varnishes. :: :: Prescriptions Carefully and Promptly Pilled. :: :: : K NO X, INDIANA. : A. J. U N C A P H E R, General Merchandise, Real Estate and Insurance. ALSO DEALER IN ..HAY AND GR A IN... G R O V E R T O W N, - - INDIANA. THE STARKECOUNTY DEMOCRAT S. M. GORRELL. PUBLISHER, EVERY THURSDAY ONLY $1. PER YEAR. ... All the News and the Truth About it.. . KNOX, :: :: INDIANA. .:KNOX GENERAL STORE:. ...LEADERS IN... Dry Goods, Groceries, Tobaccos, Cigars, Boots, Shoes, Etc. :BR1NG US YOUK COUNTRY PRODUCK: Mal-'e Our Store Your lleadqiuirtf i s wli n in Kuox Courteous 'l'r<. at mtnt and Satisfavitioii Giiaraiitet d C. J. LUNDIN, Prop'r, Knox, Ind. STARKE COUNTY REPUBLICAN Every Thursday, by John L. Moo:, man. KNOX, - INDIANA BARNUM'S STUDIO, Knox, Ind. PHOTOS 50 CENTS PER DOZ. UP. CABINETS. 5^2 00 PER DOZEN. . . . We have Photos on hand nf Starke County's Three Court Houses, like those which appear in this b< ok. COME IN AND SEE US. JACOB KELLER, MANUFACTURER OF Artificial Stone, .. Tile and Brick. . FACTORIES AT.. . East Chicago, and North Judson. J. \V. WEINKAUF, Postmaster, — DEALER IN — General Merchandise* San Pierre, : : Indiana. THE TIGER LILY FRUIT FARM, HUGH ROGERS, Prop., Knox, Indiana. Shipprr of Siiiiill Fruits, and Nnrst^rv Stock of All Kiii''s. Sold Oil Time to Suit Purclinstrr. ALL STOCK CxUARAMTEED Fiirm One Mile Soutli of Knox, Indiana. C McCORMlCK, Hamlet Indiana. — DEALER IN — (leneral Merchandise, All Kinds. M ike Our S'ore Your Headquarters When in Hamlet. OSCAR B. SMITH ...L A W Y E R... * General Practice and First Mortgage Loans. North Jiid-on, India iia. .Cooper & Dumas. Jewelry, China, Men's Furnishing-s, Shoes and Notions. Knox, : : Indiana. George Trevor Dry Goods and Notions, Boots, Sh.ie^ and ...Ladies' Furnishing-s... Knox, : : Indiana NEWLY FURNISHED. BETTER THAN EVER. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AT THE EAGLE HOTEL. C C. COLLIER, PROPRIETOR. Transients a Specialty. Rates, $1 50 Per Day. Oldest Hotel in the County. NORTH, JUDSON IND. DR. S. S. BONAR & SON. — DEALERS IN — DRUGS AND MKDICINES. PAINTS AND OILS. WALL PAPER STATIONERY, ETC. HAMLET, INDIANA W. D. S. RODGERS & SON Breeders and Slii[)ptr.s <>! Tlior.tnglibied POLAND CHINA HOGS cf the Leading- Strains Wf Han le Thoroug-libred B. P. Cmck^ns Finn N.ar Round Lake. Address KNOX, : : : INDIANA. THE NORTH JUDSON NEWS. HARRY O. WARVF.T,. PUBLISHER. EVKRY THURSDAY. $1.50 PKR YKAR, ...JOB WORK OF ALL KINDS... NORTH JUDSON, - INDIANA. HENRY R. ROBBDSrS. ATTORNEY. OFFICE ON \V A S H I N (} T O N S T R K K T .. OPPOSITK COURT IIOUSIO .. KNOX, - INDIANA Starke County Abstract Co, SUCCKSSORS TO BOZARTH & FLETCHER. WASHIXC/rON STREET OPP. SITE THE COURT HOUSE. Ti LEPKONE >0 ()7. A[.L \VOI\M\ (^. 1V1-:X l^KOMPT ATTKNIIOX, KNOX, :: INDIANA. OLDEST HARDWARE IN THE COUNTY. ESTAKLISHED lJ-84. HA n TZLER'S_^ DEALERS IN HARDWARE, STOVES, TINWARE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. ..... HARD & SOFT COAL, WINDMILLS. PUMPS, ETC Knox, Indiana. FRiiNK SLI0IN6ER & SON MERCHANT TAILORS v'-HOP Over Lundin's Store. ALL WORK NEATLY DONE .-^HONE. SHOP n RESIDENCE. 105 KNOX, ::::: INDIANA CHARLES H. PETERS. ROBERT. D. PETERS. PETERS & PETERS. (SrCL'ESSORS TO GOULD & PETRILS.) ATTORNEYS. TICLKPHONE 57. Knox, :: :: Indiana PRETTYMAN BROTHERS MEAT MARKET FOR FRKSH AND SALT MEATS OK ALL KINDS ALSO CREAM P:RY BUTTER BRING US YOUR PRODUCE WE DEAL IN LIVE STOCK. THIRD DOOR NORTH OF THE POST OFFICE. Knox, - - Indiana. FURNISHED WITH ALL THE MODERN IMPROVEMENTS ...HOTEL FITZ ... THK ONLY$2.00 A DAY HOUSE JN THE TOWN Knox, :: Indiana. A FIRST-CLASS HOTEL. RATES. SI. 50 PER DAY. ...H OTE L JO LL Y... J. E JOLLY. PROPRIETOR. STOP WITH US WHEN YOU ARE IN HAMLET HAMLET, :: :: INDIANA. FROM 1870 TO 1903. :: A Third Of A Century :: A STORE HANDED DOWN FROM FATHER TO SON... A CONTINUED SUCCESS. A GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE A. W. Swartzell, /. Knox. ....CHARLES WINDISCH.... DEALER IN GROCERIES FRESH AND SALT MEATS Cigars and Tobacco, Confectionery, Etc. Our Line Is Always Complete and Up=to=date, and We Respectfully Solicit a Share of Your Patronage. KNOX, :: INDIANA. H. A. ROCKHILL, FOR DRY GOODS. GROCERIES. FRESH and SALT MEATS .. ED. KREIS GROCERIES AND HARDWARE KNOX. - IND. North Judsun. Ind D, H. BACON. Hardware, Farm Implements and Machinery. Wagons, Buggies, Etc COME IN AND SEE US BEFORE YOU BUY. KNOX, - INDLA.NA. THE FAVORITE. The Leading Dry Goods Store in Starl^e County. KNOX, ^ ^ ^ INDIANA. C. M. TOWNSEND, THE GROCER (successor to m. h. chapel.) A Fresh and Complete Line of Groceries Always On Hand. Your Patronage Appreciated. KNOX, : : [TJ DIANA. H A R R T S. L R I IV G CIGAR MANUFACTURER KNOX, : : INDIANA. O U R LEADERS.. . "Knox 'Em All" "Old Starke" "Loring's Best" J. A. BYERS' CASH STORE : — DEALER IX— Dry Goods, Groceries, General Merchandise,Etc. I have Some Bargains For You Come In and See Me. Yours Truly, KNOX, - - INDIANA. RoGHesier Normal UdIwM Rochester, Indiana. /^KFERS Special luducements to Persons Desiring- to Take Up A Course in the Common Branches, Hig-li School Branches, A Teacher's Course, Short Hjind. Tvpe\vritin<>-, Bookkeepin*r, Music and Other Departments. For Information and Catalogfue, address W. H. BANTA, President. > D O o G ^ >-t c3 OJ •5S° QC - 00 Z o H O g o o «i c c rt --^ o ^' ^ "^ C 3 cc .S IJ: ;^ £ b/D ^ c/: O '^ 7} 00 c a; a "" u r^ — U Itj cc r- i-c C^ cr Tj- w o 00 OT 1-H r-( « 1— t * O r-* ro o ri o l^ O' o ro o o ri ro cr cr ■ ro o 00 rH T— • T— 1 y—^ ^^C ,_, o IC t- o C^ C ir. ri o 1— 1 r-t 00 CT M ^ i^ o T— ( '—1 y-^ 00 C^ o 00 r^T o c o^ c^ IT; rj OT ^ in 00 00 (M o o I^ o r-l l^ oo O^ OO CO ^ C^ c- c^ to (^ cr '^ ^ 00 00 (M o LO I- o y—\ y—i rH \0 l^ <^\ tH LO tn rr G^ cr T-i C^ 00 rT ■^ 00 oc rT in LTi i^ c^ rH r-( IT; X IT) IT; r- 1 o cr C< C^ c- xh LC I- GO no "LO tn vD oc tH rH ^lO ^ oo ro I- ,—( O^ O^ l^ OC ir> ri t- ^S 1— ( ^ rj- IT) l^ 1 ro^ ,_ To C^ 00 ro G^ C^ C^ t— ( ri oc ''5 I CO 00 -^ '=^ Ti- O rH rH ri-o ^ ~~rM ITi ro r^T ^ o cr 0^ cr 00 '^ f:: ! 00 oc ro ro ^ IC ^ ^ th n O ^ iC ro i-^ cr. c> ri ro i:: c^ 00 oo rn ro CO ^ r-l tH •• : "rt -M o v^ b£ H p a> g c '^4 {Jn t '^ 1 ^ o (/) w > Where will you attend School? Valparaiso College and Northern Indiana Normal School, — ONE OF THE — LARGEST AND BEST EQUIPPED COLLEGES IN THE U. S., offers except! )iially ti.ie o,»p >riuiiities tor duiii^a lii^li g^rade ot work in the tdlovving- J)ei)sirtiiients: Prepara- tory, Teachers. ScieiitiHc, C a-sic, i^ii^^iiieerinii. Ora- tory, Pharmacy. Musical, Fine Art, Law, vJoinmei cial, Piioiiography and Typewriting-, Review, Tho institution is well cfquipped with buildings, apartments, library, etc, (The new Science Hall, recent- ly completed, has labratory facilities sufficient tor ac- commodating- 400 students working at one time ) Each departinent of the school is supplied with everytliitig- necessary tor its special work. For Example, The Collegiate Department is providt-d with special library, apparatus, laboratories. etc., and offers every advantage for thoroughness that can be found at the older colleges and universities. The Pedagogical Department is not only supplied with a full reference library, consisting of all the latest and most approved books treating on profes- sional \vork but it has also excellent apparatus for ex- perimental purposes. The Commercial Department is pro- vided with a more extensive line of offices than has ever been attempted by any other school. The Pharmacy Department is one of the f^w in the U. S. that has lab- oratory facilities tor do'ngall the work. What is true of the equipments of these departments is true of the other departments. Attention is called to this to show that while the EXPENSES HERE ARE ABOUT ONE-THIRD AS GREAT as at other hiffh grade schools, yet the advantages are in every way equal and in most cases superior. Tuition, $io per term. Board and furnished room. Si 50 to Si 90 per week. Catalogue free Address Tl . V). BROWN, President; or P. (). K[>JSEV, Vice-President. Valraraiso, Indiana CALENDAR: Second Winter Tenm, J.in. 20, 150': .'Spring 'J erm, March 31, 1903; .Summer Term, June 9, 190.I. )m FEB 4 1y03