Tipton County IN Archives History - Books .....Prairie Township 1883
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Book Title: Counties Of Howard And Tipton, Indiana

PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
BY G. N. BERRY.

   Nature, in her green mantle, is nowhere more lovely than in that portion of
Tipton County set aside by survey as Prairie Township. Cozy farmhouses nestle in
somber quietude amid green orchards which dot the landscape in every direction.
Though it has the appearance of newness, this division has been settled for many
years, and scenes once familiar to the older residents are fast fading from
view. Only too frequently is it the case that people do not see beyond the
narrow limits of their own lives, and items of private and public interest are
allowed to drift into the channel of the forgotten past. Many important facts
connected with the early history of Prairie Township are irrevocably lost, while
a few have been found by careful research and will be appropriately mentioned in
the following pages.

   Prairie Township embraces territory lying in the northwest corner of Tipton
County, west of Liberty and north of Jefferson Township. It borders on Howard
County on the north and Clinton County on the west, and was formed at the
general division in 1844. It originally included the western half of Liberty
Township, and was reduced to its present area of thirty-nine square miles in the
year 1849; viewed from a topographical, geological or agricultural standpoint,
it is so similar to other townships already described as to render it
unnecessary to enter into minute details. The surface in the main is level, yet
sufficiently undulating to present a very pleasing prospect to the observer. The
soil is of the black loamy nature common to this part of the State, and noted
for its depth and fertility. When first seen by the white man, the surface of
country was covered with dense forests, the leading varieties of timber being
black and white walnut, beech, several species of oak, hard and soft maple, elm
and ash, with a thick undergrowth of willows, spice-brush, etc.

   In the western part of the township is a long, wet slough, or prairie,
embracing many acres of rich soil too marshy for cultivation. Much of this
prairie has been reclaimed of late years by a successful system of tile
drainage, and at the present time presents some of the best farm land in this
portion of the county. Indian Prairie, from which the township was named,
extends into the southwest corner. It was originally nothing but a quagmire, but
artificial drainage has developed its productiveness to such a degree that the
land is second to no other portion of the township for agricultural purposes.
The principal streams by which the country is watered and drained, are Mud Creek
and its tributaries. Little Wild Cat and Shanty Creek. The first named flows
through the eastern and southern parts and leaves the township from Section 12.
It is a stream of considerable size and importance, and affords the chief outlet
for the drainage of this part of the county. The country though which it passes
is low, and in some places stretches away into large sloughs and quagmires, on
both sides of the stream. Little Wild Cat rises in Section 19, flows in a
northeasterly course, and leaves from Section 35. Shanty Creek flows in a
northerly course and has its source in Section 19. Two small streams not
designated by any names on the county map flow through the southeast corner of
the township.

   The leading occupation of the citizens of this township is agriculture,
although considerable attention is given to stock-raising, an industry which
promises to assume some importance in the near future. At present, however, it
is to the different crops that the majority of the people look for their chief
support. The soil appears peculiarly adapted to corn, although wheat and the
other cereals are produced in abundance. Fruit of many varieties is found in
almost every orchard. The pioneers' attention was early called to fruit-culture
and many old orchards that have been bearing for years, are to be seen in
various parts of the township.

SETTLEMENT.

   Forty years ago, the area embraced in Prairie Township was comparatively an
unbroken wild. The settlements were few and far between, and it was only after a
ride of several miles through the dense woods that the traveler might find
evidence of advancing civilization in the presence of a diminutive, rough pole
cabin, planted near a spring, or some small stream, or an insignificant
round-log shanty, in the midst of a small opening in the forest.

   Broad expanses of woodland lay around without the sight of a human
habitation, while the country furnished but few signs that it had been
penetrated by white men, and these signs were principally the blazed paths made
by cutting through the bark of the trees, a sign scarcely distinguishable after
twilight set in. Here and there claims had been marked out by home-seekers, and
they were always welcome sights to the luckless one who found himself lost in
the deep, trackless woods. But the scene has changed marvelously since then, and
the wilds of prairie now blossom and bloom like the rose. Her broad, fertile
acres are divided off into well-tilled farms, in which are many fine and elegant
residences, evidences of  the prosperity with which the farmer is surrounded and
blessed.

   This portion of the county was not opened for settlement as early as some of
the neighboring townships in the southern part, as it formed a part of the
Indian Reserve, which did not come into market subject to entry until the year
1847. Prior to that time, however, quite an extensive settlement had been made
along the western border, where the pioneers pre-empted claims and held the land
until patents were obtained from the Government. A number of hunters and
transient settlers entered the township several years in advance of the
permanent residents, but just when they made their appearance cannot be
determined with any degree of accuracy. It is known, however, that when the
first permanent settlers, who became owners of land, appeared, there were living
along the creeks several of these squatters, none of whom appears to have made
much improvement in the way of clearing the land or tilling the soil. They were
sojourners rather than settlers, and a portion of them were but the scum which
crested the tide of advancing civilization, and having a large region from which
to choose, soon drifted to other localities. Their names and history have alike
been forgotten.

   Among the first, if not the first actual settler, was one Alexander 

[2 pages missing]

ard, who located in the southern part of the township. When the land was put
upon the market subject to entry, a number of home seekers came to the township,
among whom were Isaac Glenn, who entered land in the western part, where Joseph
Worden lives; Andrew Sample, a native of Switzerland County, who settled near
the northwest corner; Peter Keel, who located near the western border; Jacob
Smith, who settled in the same locality, where he still lives, and W. B. Irby,
who entered land in the northwestern part, where he still resides. Other
settlers, who came in an early day and shared the hardships of frontier life,
were Thomas Quackenbush, James Carter, Owen Lindley, Maj. Bennett, James Vawter,
Henry Bowlen, Ambrose Corn, Daniel Umphreys, John Lee, James Baldwin, Riley
McKay, Joseph Orem, Samuel Carter and James A. Franklin, all of whom became
permanent residents.

   In addition to the above list, the following persons secured lands in the
township during the years 1847 and 1848: Stephen Kenworthy, Molten Moody, Hiram
Adams, Lewallen Adams, William Hutto, Harvey Lake, Daniel Lane, Stephen Lane,
Cyrus Ally, E. Gage, John Luckenbauch, Benjamin Fee, Thomas Armstrong, Jacob
Smith, Andrew Sample, E. Gilbert, F. M. Jones, William Osborne, A. N. D.
Thompson, W. Chapman, W. B. Hyatt, William Landers, Jesse Coleman, Smith Turner,
Lorenzo Owen, Harvey Barnes, H. Bowlen, George Tucker, D. F. Rittenhouse, Jacob
Dunham, Nicholas Tomlinson, George Pitzer, John W. Pyke, William Morris, John
Harrow, Jacob Ackerman, Adam Copper, Samuel Bader, William Hendixon, Daniel
Green, Z. Piper, G. Wr. Hogan, Abram Kilby, Samuel Kilby, John Stevens, Alex S.
Jones, Henry Cobbins and James Miller, many of whom were not identified with the
township in the capacity of citizens.

LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS.

   The pioneers of forty years ago managed to get along with but few of the
modern conveniences of comfort. They accustomed themselves to do without such
articles as nails, glass, sawed lumber, or brick, for the reason that they could
not procure them. Their dwelling houses, if pole cabins could be called such,
were small, consisting of one story, built of rough, unhewed logs, with the ends
projecting from six inches to two feet at the corners, the crevices between them
being daubed with mud or clay, and the whole structure covered with clapboards
held to their places by heavy weight-poles. The same kind of boards, fastened to
cross-pieces by wooden pins driven into holes made with a gimlet, constituted
the door-shutters, generally constructed to open outward. The floor, when they
had any, was made of puncheons pinned down or laid loose. These, when carefully
dressed and closely put together, constituted a very good floor, but some of
them conveyed the idea that the settlers believed in ventilation, for they left
cracks so wide that the children in pursuit of their favorite amusements would
often slip their little feet through the dangerous trap-doors, causing many
squalls and bruises. A wooden latch, raised by a string, served as a fastening
for the door. This string had one end tied to the latch and the other passed
through a small opening above, and when the door was shut, the person wishing to
enter had only to pull it in order to raise the latch, hence to leave the
"latch-string hanging out," was considered synonymous with sociability and
hospitality. The apartment was warmed by a large open-mouthed fireplace, where
rocks or billets of wood were used for andirons. Though very wide and capable of
receiving logs of almost any dimensions, these fire-places were very convenient,
furnishing a receptacle for most, if not all, the cooking utensils of the
family, and when crowded, the children, and in some families the dogs, found
accommodations in each side in company with the skillets, ovens, frying-pans,
etc. Articles of household furniture were very few and of the rudest
description, with the exception of those brought from the older settlements.
Chairs could not for several years be procured, their place being supplied with
wooden stools, which, though answering well their purpose, were easily upset, a
circumstance often causing much merriment. The tables and bedsteads were of the
simplest kind, the former being constructed out of the same material as the
doors. Many of the latter were made by boring two holes in the wall with a large
auger, six or seven feet apart, into which pieces of wood were driven, having
the opposite end of each inserted into an upright post, the whole constituting a
kind of frame-work, which, when covered with clapboards, served as a receptacle
for the beds. Sofas, rocking-chairs, center-tables, bureaus, and all such
articles of luxury, were not used, except where some old lady, or whimsical old
maid, had refused to part with these "household gods," and had brought them to
this wild country from their old homes. On the outside of the house it was no
uncommon thing to see a goodly number of coon and deer skins stretched and
hanging up against the wall to dry, and occasionally the skin of a wolf, wild
cat or bear. The projecting ends of the logs at each corner of the cabin served
'as places to hang the various utensils used on the farm, such as hoes, rakes,
bridles, harness, etc. The manner of living was in keeping with the dwellings
and utensils described, and for many years the pioneer's lot was by no means an
enviable one. Like all new settlers, they labored under the disadvantage of
being poor in all the comforts of life-the plainest necessities even, as well as
a complete absence of tools, such as blacksmiths', carpenters', etc. There was
little or nothing to be bought, and they had even less to purchase with, had it
been there. In 1847, there were only four or five farms where land enough was
tilled to use an old-fashioned breaking-plow, and one of the pioneers relates
how he footed it from his farm to the nearest blacksmith, several miles distant,
carrying his plow to have it sharpened.

Many started their "deadenings" in the timber and dug holes here and there, and
planted corn and potatoes, and perhaps a few beans, and thus their little
truck-patches gave them food, or bread at least. Their meat they could procure
in great abundance with their rifles. Deer were plentiful, and furnished the
pioneer meat sufficient for his own use, while the skins were sold at the
different market places for from twenty-five to fifty cents apiece. These, with
wild honey and ginseng, of which large quantities of each were obtained,
afforded the principal articles of commerce, and were exchanged for groceries,
wearing apparel and meal. The nearest market place to the northern settlement,
was the village of Burlington in Carroll County, a distance of twelve miles,
while those living in the southern part of the township obtained their
groceries, etc., at Boxleytown, in Hamilton County, and later, at the little
stores at Tetersburg and Normanda in the adjoining Township of Jefferson. An old
pioneer, whose boyhood was passed in the northern settlement, says that it was
his duty to procure meal for the family, and regular trips were made on
horseback to Burlington for that purpose. When no corn was at hand to take to
the mill, our pioneer youth carried a large jug of honey to exchange for meal,
the jug being placed in one end of a bag, and a stone of equal weight for a
counter-balance in the other end, the whole thrown across the back of the horse.
This jug held several gallons of the precious sweets, and when filled was
equivalent to a bushel of meal. Upon one occasion, while the boy was unloading
the sack, the rock fell against the jug, breaking it into a hundred atoms and
wasting the greater part of the honey.

   The first wheat raised in the township was grown by Alexander Suite. It was
threshed with a flail, cleaned by being thrown up into the air from a sheet, and
marketed at La Fayette for 60 cents per bushel, a large price at that time. The
early farmers drove their hogs to the same market place, and realized from the
sale about $1.50 per hundred, in cash and trade.

   The first frame house in Prairie was built by Joseph Orr, about the year
1850. It was a small structure of one room, and is still standing near the
western boundary of the township. William Chapman and William Osborne were the
next to build frame houses on their farms. Robert Nash and Gilbert Van Sickle
erected the first brick houses in the township.

BURIALS AND MARRIAGES.

   The first burial place was the Prairieville Graveyard, in the western part of
the township. There were laid away the children of Jackson Watts and Thomas
Scott as early as the year 1844. Other early interments, at the same place, were
a son of Clinton Gray, who was killed by a well-pole falling on him, a man by
name of Hoffman, and the children of Solomon Bringle. The Normanda Graveyard was
probably the second one, and then the cemetery at Liberty Church, near
Groomsville. The fact that a cemetery is found near each church, or regular
preaching place, points with great clearness to the fact that no funeral was
thought to be properly conducted without a sermon. The coffin was generally the
handiwork of a home workman, and the body was arrayed in the chill simplicity of
a shroud. It was an unknown thing for a dead person to be buried in the dress
worn in life, or in such garments as living persons wear.

   The first marriage ceremony in the township was solemnized at the residence
of Joseph Orr, in the year 1845, the contracting parties being Eliza Orr and
William Peters. The occasion seems to have been one of general merriment, and an
eye witness, still living, says that the fluid which makes the head light flowed
as freely as water. Quite a number of festive youths of the neighborhood
gathered at the bride's residence, a short time before the hour appointed for
the ceremony, and proceeded in a procession to meet the groom and preacher, who
came together. The couple were halted by the tipsy revelers who presented them a
decorated decanter well-filled with the "O be joyful." To make the occasion pass
off pleasantly, the prospective young Benedict cheerfully gulped down the "red
eye."

CHURCHES.

   The cause of religion received the early attention of the pioneers of
Prairie, It is a fact highly commendable to them that churches were established
while yet there was but a handful of residents in the new community. People in
those days seem to have been more religious and more zealousy devoted to their
churches than their descendants of the present day. Whether this resulted from
their lonely life in the wilderness, beset with toil and danger as it was, or
whether they were more zealous Christians, we will not attempt to say. Their
religion was simple, earnest and sincere, and possessed fewer forms and
ceremonies than are now in vogue. Religion like everything else has kept pace
with the marvelous march of civilization, and the ancient doctrine of "Him who
spake as never man spake" has been wonderfully improved upon to adapt it to the
lively wants of the nineteenth century.

   The introduction of the Gospel into this township dates back to the settlers'
first appearance, although no organizations were effected for several years
later. As early as 1844, Elder Laomi Ashley, a minister of the "Christian
Connection," or New-Light Church, held public services at the residences of
Alexander Suite and Vincent Garner, in the northwestern part of the township.
These meetings were kept up at regular intervals for one year, at the end of
which time an organization under the title of Prairieville Church was effected
at Garner's residence, Elders Ashley and Samuel Poff officiating. Among the
early members of this society were Alexander Suite, Peggy Garner, Thomas Scott,
Silas Scott, Rachel Garner, Elisha Comer and wife, and Nancy Orr. Elder Ashley
was the first pastor, in which capacity he served acceptably for several years,
and labored diligently for the success of the little society. The second pastor
was Lemuel Shoemaker, after whom came Samuel Poff, Abraham Cole, Almon Cook,
Adam Kellison, John Poff and Henry Puckett, all of whom were men eminent in
piety and good works. Later, came Elders George Hubbard, Thomas Hubbard, George
Boswell, Isaac Goldsberry, Mr. Vanness, Johnson Dipvoy, John Puckett, John R.
Kob, James Comer, James Winegardner, and B. F. Jayne, the present incumbent. The
society met at the residences of the different members for about two years, at
the end of which time a log meeting house, 24x24 feet, was erected on land
bought of Isaac Eads and William Chapman. This house was a tolerably fair
structure, and served its purpose until the year 1853, when a frame building was
erected near the same place. The latter house was erected at a cash outlay of
$250, the majority of the members contributing work and material to the amount
of about $400, making the aggregate value of the edifice $650. The congregation
used the frame house until 1877, at which time steps were taken to erect a
structure more in. harmony with the growing prosperity of the society. A
building committee, composed of Robert Orr, Gilbert Van Sickle, R. McReynolds,
John Carter and Riley Suite, was appointed to draw up plans and specifications
for the new building, and to solicit subscriptions for its erection. It was
decided to build a brick house, and work was commenced in the year 1877, but,
owing to a lack of funds, it was not completed until 1879. It is a large,
commodious edifice, two stories high, 37x50 feet in size, and represents a value
of $3,500. The upper story is used for lodge purposes. The present membership of
the church is eighty. Robert Orr and Raven McReynolds are the present Elders. Ri
McReynolds, Josiah Orem and Gilbert Van Sickle, compose the Board of Trustees.
The large, flourishing Sunday school is under the efficient management of Riley
Suite.

   Liberty Baptist Church dates its history from the year 1853. It was organized
at the residence of Peter Duncan, about one and a half miles north of the
village of Groomsville. The organization was brought about by the labors of Rev.
Henry Cobb, and numbered ten original members, whose names were as follows:
Roley Smith, Elizabeth Smith, John Smith, Eliza Smith, Edward Coombs, Frances
Coombs, Elijah Henry and Judy Henry. Duncan's residence served the congregation
as a meeting place about four years, when a log building was erected a short
distance north of Groomsville, on land belonging to Abraham Kirtley. This house
was used until it could no longer accommodate the constantly increasing
congregation, when it was abandoned, and a frame structure Erected in its place
in the fall of 1882. The latter building is 26x30 feet in size, and was erected
at a cost of $900. The first pastor of the church was Elder Cobb, who preached
for a period of four years. He was succeeded by Rev. Simeon Mugg, whose
pastorate extended over a period of one year. After Mugg's time expired, Elder
Cobb was again called by the church, and remained about two years. Then came
Uriah Thomas, who preached one year, after which Rev. Denton Simpson preached at
intervals for two or three years. Rev. John Storm succeeded Simpson, and
ministered to the society a little over a year, when Madison Carver was called
to the pastorate. After Carver came Storm again for a short time, who was
succeeded in the year 1882 by the present pastor, J. K. P. Carson. The present
officers of the church are: Jonah Hand and William Scudder, Deacons; Michael
Orr, Charles Evans, Josiah Hand and William Hand, Trustees. The society is in a
nourishing condition at the present time, and has about one humdred members.

   Mount Zion Baptist Church was organized by the Rev. Denton Simpson, in the
year 1860. The first meeting was held at the Zion School-house, in Section 3,
and a society formed, consisting of twelve members. Public services were held at
the schoolhouse until the year 1880, at which time the present neat temple of
worship was erected. This stands in Section 3, on land donated by James Terrell,
and is a commodious frame structure valued at $1,000. The first regular pastor
of the church was Rev. Valentine Knight, who ministered to the congregation
about four years. After him came Eev. Denton Simpson, who preached acceptably
for two years, at the end of which time Rev. Joseph Van Briggle accepted the
pastorate and served at intervals for seven years. John Storm was the next
preacher and remained four years. The pastor in charge at the present time is
Rev. Madison Carver, who is in his second year's work. There are about thirty
members at the present time, among whom are many of the best citizens of the
community. James Terrell and Thomas Miller are deacons. Wilson McGraw is
Superintendent of the Sunday school, which is well attended and ably conducted.

   In the year 1844, the citizens living in the vicinity of Mr. Nash's
residence, inaugurated measures for the purpose of erecting a house of worship
to be used for general church purposes, and a building committee was appointed
to select ground and otherwise further the project. This committee was composed
of the following gentlemen: Robert Nash, Robert Pyke, Joseph Townsend, Thomas
Pratt and William Pyke. Mr. Nash donated one acre of ground and the building was
erected in due season. It is a neat frame edifice 32x46 feet in size, and cost
the sum of $1,600. Immediately after the erection of Nash Chapel, as it is
called, the few members belonging to the Methodist Church, living in the
vicinity, called a meeting for the purpose of organizing a class Rev. T. J.
Elkin officiated on the occasion and a society numbering twenty members was duly
organized and attached to Sharpsville Circuit. Under Mr. Elkin's pastorate,
which extended over a period of two years, the church grew very rapidly and was
soon increased to fifty members. The second pastor was Rev. Adam Curry, who
preached three years. Then came Rev. Mr. Powell, who remained two years, he was
followed by Rev. Mr. Beall, who ministered to the congregation one year. The
next supply, was Rev. Asbury Fish, who remained the same length of time. The
present pastor is Rev. Charles White. The officers of the church are Frank
McGraw, Class Leader; Robert Pyke, Steward; Robert Pyke, Maj. Bennett and
William Pyke, Trustees. Thomas Hutto, Sunday School Superintendent. The present
condition of the church is not what its friends desire, the membership having
decreased very sensibly during the last two or three years. At the present time
there are only about thirty names on the church record.

   Nash's Chapel, Friends' Church, was organized in the year 1876, with a
membership of twenty-five. The first meeting was conducted by Rachel Middleton,
who, with the assistance of George Wilsie, effected the organization. Meetings
have been held at the chapel until within a recent period, when, on account of
some misunderstanding with the Methodists, the place of meeting has been changed
to private residences. The ministers who have preached to the church at
different times were Rachel Middleton, Lemuel Middleton, S. Tollert, James
Newland and Aaron Cosand. The society has diminished in numbers somewhat, there
being but fifteen members belonging at the present time.

MASONIC LODGE.

   Praireville Lodge, No. 554, A., F. & A. M., was organized in the year 1879,
with the following charter members: Charles Duncan, Gilbert Van Sickle, Robert
Orr, Riley Suite, Abijah Pence, John Carter and R. Wilds. The first elective
officers were: Charles Duncan, W. M.; R. Wilds, S. W., and Gilbert Van Sickle,
J. W. The present officers are: Charles Duncan, W. M.; Thomas Stratford, S. W.;
J. Savage, J. W.; Samuel Carter, Treasurer; Abijah Pence, Secretary; Pleasant
Cardwell, S. D., and William Stratford, J. D. The hall in which the meetings are
held belong to the lodge, and is the upper room of the Prairieville Church. It
is neatly finished and furnished, and is one of the most commodious lodge rooms
in the county.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.

   The cause of education received the early attention of the pioneers of
Prairie, and to-day its fruits may be seen in the intelligence and culture of
the descendants of the early and honest settlers. Though in the first settlement
there were a great many influences that worked against the development of a
general system of education; though neighborhoods were thinly settled, money
scarce, and the people generally poor; though there were no schoolhouses, no
public funds, no trained and qualified teachers, no books, yet the pioneers
organized schools, and their children were taught, and grew to manhood wiser and
more learned than their parents. The exact date of the first school in the
township was not learned, though it is supposed to have been as early as the
year 1845. It was taught by one Oren Williams, in a little cabin which stood in
the northwest corner of the township, and, like all pioneer schools, was
supported by subscription, the teacher receiving $1.25 per scholar, for a term
of three months. The cabin was built by the few neighbors living in the
vicinity, and was a very rude affair, 16x16 feet, and furnished after the
pioneer plan, with puncheon benches, a large fire-place, and a single
insignificant window, through which a few rays of light could enter to lighten
the dark interior. The school was attended by about twelve pupils, and, under
the circumstances, was considered very good indeed. The usefulness of the school
stopped with the "rule of three." The second school, at the same place, was
taught by Henry Williams in the year 1846. He wielded the birch the next year
also, after which time the building was abandoned as a schoolhouse, and used as
a shop. The second house erected for school purposes stood about two miles west
of Mount Zion Church. It was a hewed log structure, and served its purpose for
many years. A hewed-log house was also built near the present site of Zion
Church about the same time as the foregoing, and stood until a few years ago,
when it was torn down, and replaced by a more commodious structure. An early
school was taught by Cyrus Maxwell, at the residence of Alfred Lee, in the
western part of the township, but the exact date of the term could not be
ascertained.

   When the law providing free schools went into effect, good houses were
erected at proper intervals throughout the township, the majority of which have
long since outlived their usefulness, and been replaced by brick and frame
buildings. There are at the present time eleven school edifices, all of which
are in good condition, and well furnished with all the modern appliances of
education. The teachers for the school year 1882-83 were Thomas Miller, A.
Pence, John Parker, John W. Covert, Isaac Smith, Benjamin Holman, Jesse Mott,
Albert Pritchard, James Cardwell, James Romack and Viola Evans.

GROOMSVILLE.

   The village of Groomsville, if a little hamlet of half a dozen houses can be
dignified by the term village, is situated in Section 16, in the southern part
of the township, and dates its history from the year 1860. At that time Mr.
Enoch Smith got up a petition for a post office, which was granted soon
afterward, and the name Groomsville given to the office, in compliment to Dr.
Groom, a resident of Tipton. The office gave the place some local prominence,
and a store building was erected in the course of a few years, and stocked with
a general assortment of merchandise, by Thomas Lamb, who sold goods until the
spring of 1883, at which time he disposed of the store to Messrs. McCray &
Stoops, the present proprietors. A saw mill was in operation here for several
years, and did a good business, but at the present time no manufacturing
establishment of any kind is at the village.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

COUNTIES OF HOWARD AND TIPTON, INDIANA.

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
ILLUSTRATED.

CHARLES BLANCHARD. EDITOR.
CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO.
1883.


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