History of Marshall County

214 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

officials served with distinction in the upper branch of the general assembly, and are all so well and favorably known that special mention of them is unnecessary. House of Representatives. Although prior to 1869 Marshall county had been attached to other counties for representative purposes, it has had its full share of members of the lower branch of the legislature. Of the personal history of those who have represented Marshall county, residents of other counties, it is not necessary to speak at length.

Joel Long, the first representative after the county was organized, was a resident of Kosciusko county. He is said to have owned a large farm on a beautiful prairie about midway between Warsaw and Milford. He passed off the stage of action many years ago, and sleeps with the innumerable throng who passed on before him.

Peter L. Runyan was also a resident of Kosciusko county, but little of his history is known.

Enos S. Tuttle was born near New Haven, Connecticut, in 1796, removed to the southwestern part of Indiana in 1817, and settled in Marshall county in 1841. He was elected and served one term as county commissioner in 1845-46. In 1848 he was elected representative from the counties of Marshall and Fulton, and served during the session of that year. He died in Marshall county in 1850, aged 54 years.

James 0. Parks was a native of Kentucky, born March 20, 1813. He came to Marshall county in 1836, and settled in what is now the town of Bourbon. He was twice elected to the legislature, in 1846 from Marshall and Fulton, and in 1859 from Marshall and Starke. He made an efficient member. He died at his home in Bourbon several years ago.

William M. Patterson was born in Cincinnati, February 10, 1807. From there he moved with his parents in an early day to Lexington, Indiana, where he was married in 1824. He took a liking to politics in his youth, and was an active participant in all the campaigns that followed until

the day of his death. He was a democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and anyone who disputed his democracy was sure to hear from him in the most emphatic language. He was elected and served as sheriff of Scott county, Indiana, in 1832, and moved with his family and settled in La Porte in 1836, where he resided until the fall of 1847, when he became a resident of Plymouth. In 1850 he was elected a member of the legislature from the counties of Marshall, Fulton and Starke, served one term, was defeated for reelection by Thomas Sumner in 1851, and as a slight recompense he was elected doorkeeper of the state senate in 1851, and the same year was appointed appraiser of canal lands; in 1856 he was appointed receiver of the land office in Winamac; was appointed deputy United States marshal in 1860, and died at his home in Plymouth, August 9, 1871."

Since 1869 Marshall county has been entitled to a representative alone. Of the seventeen who have, been elected since that time the following are dead: Reason B. Eaton, Joseph W. Davis, James M. Confer, Thomas Sumner, William Shaw, Arthur L. Thomson, Millard W. Simons. Of those still living it is unnecessary here to speak.

HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 215

The Clerk's Office. The clerk's office is, if one office may be said to be of more importance another, the most important office in the county. Here the Judge of court sits as arbiter of the disputes between man and man, and here jury sits and determines the law and the evidence and the facts :n matters great import to the people, even the life or death of the individual; and

in these decisions are recorded on the records of the clerk's office, and are finding on all the people for all time to come. Therefore a brief sketch of a few of the earliest clerks who opened the books and without any plans of procedure to guide them did their work so well that It has stood the test of three-quarters of a century without any errors of consequence having happened, is in place here. .

Jeremiah Muncy, the first clerk, held the office by appointment from the board of county commissioners. They were in session July 20, 1836, at the time the commissioners designated to organize the county were assembled, and as soon as they had made their report that the county had been legally organized, the board of county commissioners immediately

appointed Mr. Muncy clerk of the court, it being the first business transacted by them after the county was organized. Those who knew Mr. Muncy then will remember him to have been a sprightly business man about forty years old, not very tall and somewhat heavy built, and somewhat handsome in appearance. His court records are clean and perfectly legible, and show plainly the traces of the now almost forgotten goose quill pen. The office at that time was more honorable than profitable, and having extracted all the honor there was in it, he went off with the Indians about February, 1839, locating in Clay county, Missouri, where he undoubtedly passed away many years ago. William G. Pomeroy followed Mr. Muncy by appointment of the associate judges of the circuit court, as appears from the following entry on the order book of the court:

" At a meeting held at the house of David Steel in Plymouth, Marshall county, Indiana, on the twenty-third day of February, 1839, there were present Peter Schroeder and David Steel, the associate judges of the Mar- shall county circuit court. As Jeremiah Muncy, clerk of the same, had vacated said office by removing from said county, thereupon said judges, according to the statute in such case made and provided, proceeded to fill said vacancy, and there upon appointed William G. Pomeroy clerk of the Marshall circuit court pro tempore."

Mr. Pomeroy resigned the office April 17, 1843, and was succeeded by Oscar F. Norton, who held the office until he died, and Mr. Pomeroy was again appointed February 10, 1844, to fill the vacancy. He held the office until March 14th, of the same year, when he resigned. Mr. Pomeroy was a man of more than ordinary capabilities, being competent to conduct the clerk's office, act as justice of the peace, practice law, keep a hotel, run a slaughter house, keep a dry goods store, a hardware store, and do anything else that happened to come in his way all at the same time. He removed to Rolla, Missouri, where he died many years ago. He was succeeded as clerk

by the appointment of Isaac How, March 14, 1844. He served under the appointment until he was elected at the August election following. He died

216 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

in January , 1848, and, being one of the early pioneers, was well known to the people of the county at the time of his death.

Charles Palmer was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. How. He very quickly determined that he would not serve as clerk, for the next day the following entry appears on the records : Plymouth, Ind., January 7, 1848. To The Honorable Associate Judges of the Marshall Circuit Court:

I hereby resign the office of clerk of said circuit court into your hands from whence it came. Respectfully, Charles Palmer.

At that time Mr. Palmer was a dry goods merchant. In conversation with him as to the reason he declined the appointment he said on the day of the appointment he went to the clerk's office to look over the condition of things, and finding it locked, returned to his place of business. The next day he went to the office, and made an examination of the work the clerk was required to do, and the pay he was to receive for it, and at once decided that there was nothing in it for him, and within a few minutes after he had entered the office he took up a pen and wrote the above declination. Mr. Palmer was one of the early business men: of Plymouth, and was one of the most substantial and reliable citizens of his time. He died many years ago.

Rufus Hewett was then appointed and served until March 26, 1849. when he died. Mr. Hewett was engaged in merchandising with Norman Woodward, in the firm name of Hewett & Woodward. He was in every way a splendid man.

James Buffum was appointed to fill the vacancy and served until September, when he went to California. He was followed by Richard Corbaley, by election, who served six years in all, ending November 1, 1855. He died in the state of Washington about 1895.

Since the organization of the county there have been eighteen clerks, all of whom but seven are dead.

The Early Auditors, The auditor's office is one of the most important parts of the machinery of the county government. Here is made out the tax duplicate from which the taxes are collected to keep the machinery moving. Here are recorded , the transactions of the board of county commissioners and here are made out the orders on the treasurer for the allowances made by the board; here the accounts of the township trustees are audited; here all the roads, public buildings, bridges, and many other matters too numerous to mention are authorized and provided for; and as the auditor has charge of all the records, and is supposed to be fully conversant with the details of everything connected with the office, the men who had charge of the office for the first quarter of a century are entitled to mention here as being important factors in starting the machinery of that part of the county government in SUCi1 a manner as to reflect honor and credit upon them and the county as well.

Jeremiah Muncy served as auditor and clerk, the two offices being combined in one, or rather under one management, until June, 1844. He left the auditor's office in the same unceremonious manner that he vacated the clerk's office. The county was in its infancy at that time, and the

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emoluments accruing by virtue of his two official positions we in sufficient to support himself and family. Nevertheless the records now the auditor's office made by him seem to have been thoroughly made and well kept during his stay in the office. He is represented to have been a man of the world, and kept himself up to if not a little ahead of the age in which he lived. He left in 1839, and is probably dead long ago.

William G. Pomeroy, as appointed auditor in 1839, and discharged the duties of the office until June 29, 1844., At that date the offices of auditor and clerk were separated and the business of each office since that time has been performed by one officer appointed or elected for each. Mr. Pomeroy was an excellent business man, wrote a fine hand and left the office in good shape when his term expired.

William M. Dunham was appointed first ,auditor after the offices were separated, June 29, 1844. Mr. Dunham had served as Justice of the peace, and was one of the leading men of the county at that time. He was small in stature, but was "wide enough out" to make up for the deficiency in height. He delighted in smoking a white clay pipe, and if there was any comfort he did not derive from it, it was not because he did not make an honest effort to patiently distil it out. He wrote a peculiar up and down hand, and his records are uniform, clean and perfectly legible. He died in Plymouth, February 25, 1855.

Thomas McDonald succeeded Mr. Dunham March 4, 1850, and owing to the change made in the commencement of the term of that office by his adoption of the new constitution of Indiana, and a reelection when his first term expired, he served in all nine years. He was one of the pioneers of the county, having arrived here six days after the county had been organized. He was attentive to business, and prided himself on the facility and correctness with which he could add up a row of figures, his knowledge of the description of lands and the number of people he was personally acquainted with. During his life he served as Justice of the peace, assessed the property of the county for taxable purposes; was elected county Commissioner; appointed county school examiner; and was the first county superintendent of schools after the law was passed creating that office, which office he was holding at the time of his death, March 26, 1875. He also established the Plymouth Democrat November 15, 1855.

Rev. Austin Fuller was elected in 1859 and served four years. He came here in an early day, and managed the Plymouth water mills, which were then known as "Fuller's Mills." He was a preacher of the gospel according to the Wesleyan view of Methodism for many years, and on

several occasions had taken an active part in politics always in opposition to the democracy. He died in Plymouth in the later eighties.

Of those who have had charge of the office since Mr. Fuller's term is not necessary to speak in detail. All discharged the duties of the office with credit to themselves and satisfaction to an concerned.

Treasurer's Office.

This office, like all the other offices, since its existence has been exceptionally well managed. John Houghton was the first treasurer. He was appointed by the board of commissioners May 3, 1836. He was elected, in August, 1836, qualified September 5th, and held the office under the election

218 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

until august 1839, when he was again reelected, and having served out the term, was again reelected and held the office until 1850. His first report as county treasurer is inserted here as a matter of historical interest:

First Treasurer’s Report.

John Houghton, treasurer, in account with Marshall County from April 1, 1836 to May 1, 1837:

Received for license to this date…………………………………………………………….$ 98,98 ¼

Received of Peter Schroeder, county agent, as part donation to county seat………… 300.00

Received of A. Vinnedge, collector for 1836………………………………………………. 466.40 ½

___________

Total ………………………………………………………………………………………… $865.38 ¾

Contra

By amount orders redeemed April 1, 1836 to May 1, 1837,

as appears by vouchers ………$ 802.03 ½

To balance in treasury as per contra, $63.35 ¼; deduct the treasurer’s

commission on $502.03 ½ since April 1, 1836 to May 1, 1837, at 3 per cent,

making $15.07; commission on $300, 2 per cent, $6, making ………………..21.07

Balance in treasury up to this date……………………………………………………….. 42.28 ¼

___________

Total ……………………………………………………………………………………….. $865.38 ¾

All of which is respectfully submitted,

John Houghton, County Treasurer.

Mr. Houghton was an Englishman, having been born near Southampton, England, in 1790. He learned the shipwright carpenter trade and worked in the King’s navy yard during the reign of George IV, at Portsmouth. He came to America in 1820, and to Marshall County in 1835, and remained here continuously until his death in 1877.

Joseph Evans the second treasurer, was one of the early settlers in Marshall County. He was an affable, pleasant gentleman and a straightforward citizen, of whom nothing but good could be said. In addition to his services as treasurer, during his life he had served two terms as sheriff and one term as County Commissioner, and other official positions of less importance. He died in the eighties.

David Vinnedge was the third treasurer. He came from Butler County, Ohio, where he was born, to Marshall County in 1846, settling in North Township, where he resided until he was elected treasurer, when he removed to Plymouth, where he remained until his death, October 14, 1859. He made an excellent treasurer; was kind-hearted, liberal to a fault and peculiarly jovial and social.

Nathan H. Oglesbee was twice elected treasurer, coming in on the tidal wave of the newly organized Republican Party, which was assisted by the American Party, commonly known as the Know Nothings. He was a gentleman of good business qualifications, pleasant manners,

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attended strictly to business and performed the duties of his office with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people. He died several years ago.

Daniel 0. Quivey was a young man of more than ordinary experience in business matters, and, being honorable and upright in all his dealings with mankind, he was well liked and very popular with all who knew him. His peculiar fitness for political positions attracted the attention of the voters of the county holding to the Democratic faith, and he was elevated to the office of county treasurer from among a large number of aspirants. He held the office two terms and transacted the business in a satisfactory manner to the people. His health began to fail during his term of office, and finally culminated in a paralytic stroke, from the effects of which he died at his home in this place July 11, 1869.

Of those who have served in that office since that time it is unnecessary to speak. The office from the beginning has been well kept, no short- ages or scandals of any kind ever having occurred. Nathan H. Oglesbee, Frederick Tescher, William J. Rankin and Jones Grant were republicans; all the others were democrats.

The Sheriff's Office.

Adam Vinnedge, the first sheriff, held the office by appointment of the board of commissioners immediately after the county was organized. An election was held in August following 1836, at which a successor was elected, and he seems to have dropped out of politics entirely, as his name does not appear as an official after that time.

Abner Caldwell was the first sheriff elected after the organization of the county. He was a resident of what is now Walnut township, then Green township. He resided with Sidney Williams or near his farm, which is now the town of Argos. When his first term expired the political elements began to work and the race for reelection was spirited and hotly contested. He was defeated by seven majority out of between three and four hundred votes in the county.

Patrick Logan was elected in August, 1838, over Abner Caldwell by a bare majority of seven votes. The race for sheriff was an exciting one and was conducted more .on personal considerations than on political principles, although the candidates were members and representatives of their respective parties, Mr. Caldwell being a Whig and Mr. Logan a Democrat. Mr. Logan served two years and was reelected. His second election was contested by Silas Morgan, as appears by the records in the auditor's office. The office, however, was awarded to Mr. Logan and he served out his full term. In 1852 he removed with his family to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he died about 1860.

Jacob K. Hupp was one of the pioneers of the county and built and operated a sawmill on Yellow river, four or five miles southwest of Plymouth. He was twice elected and served four years as sheriff. From an accident which happened to him in his sawmill he died March 7, 1856.

Seth Hussey was elected in August, 1850, and served until February 25, 1852, when he resigned. He was a shoemaker by trade, and some time before his election to the office of sheriff he accidentally cut one of his arms with a short knife, producing a severe wound. He suffered great pain for a long time, and finally amputation became necessary. He died shortly after he vacated the office.

William C. Edwards, a half brother of Seth Hussey's, was appointed

220 HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

to fill the vacancy and served until November of the same year. He made, a good officer. A few years before he died his mind failed him and he became demented, so much so that he was unable to take care of himself. John L. Thompson, a Republican in politics, was one of the early settlers and resided on a farm near Wolf Creek mills until he was elected sheriff, when he took up his residence in Plymouth, where he remained until his death, which occurred in May, 1856, five months before his second term expired. He was a kind-hearted social man and made an acceptable officer.

James F. Van Valkenburg was appointed to fill the vacancy of Mr. Thompson, and was elected at the election following. He served as postmaster a short time under Pierce's administration and also under a portion of Buchanan's. He died at Walnut station, this county, December 15, 1880.

The others who have filled the office since that time have all performed their duties well, nothing having occurred worthy of special historical note.

Recorders of Marshall County.

Silas Morgan, first recorder, served one year and then resigned. He was a dignified-appearing gentleman, about six feet tall and of slender build. He was a carpenter by trade and built the first bridge across Yellow river at Plymouth. He was also architect and builder of the first seminary building on the grounds where the Washington school building now stands. His health declined rapidly during the last year of his life and he died December 19, 1863.

Evan B. Hobson served less than one year. Outside his services as recorder, nothing of importance concerning him is known. He seems to have been a fair business man and kept the books in good shape. He died before his term expired in 1838.

Gilson S. Cleaveland held the office about fifteen years. His wife, who was Caroline Rose, daughter of Oliver Rose, one of the first merchants in Plymouth, was an excellent penman and a bright, intelligent business woman. She assisted him in the discharge of his duties, in fact had charge of the office most of the time, thus giving Mr. Cleaveland an opportunity to attend to his mercantile business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cleaveland are now dead.

Johnson Brownlee came to Plymouth in 1840 and engaged in the mercantile business. He was a working Democrat and endeared himself to his party to such an extent that without his asking for it they gave him the nomination for recorder, and he was elected. He did not attend the office in person, but employed deputies to do the work.

Samuel B. Corbaley took charge of the office the first two years, and Darnel McDonald the remainder of his term of four years. He was a very industrious man. He had not a lazy bone in his body, and during his business career had done as much or more to advance the general prosperity of Plymouth as any other man in it. He died of heart failure sitting in a chair at his home in Plymouth, January 12, 1898.

Thomas K. Houghton and John W. Houghton were brothers, one a Republican and the other a Democrat. They were the sons of John Houghton, the first treasurer of the county. They came to the county in 1835 and had resided here to the time of their deaths a few years ago. They

HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 221

both made good officers, community in which they lived.

Jacob B. N. Klinger served one term as recorder after having served six years as county surveyor. He left Preble County "Ohio, where he resided in 1841 and settled in Bourbon township a short distance north of the town of 'Bourbon. He came west in 1835 and footed it from LaPorte to Plymouth on his return home. The country from Lemon's bridge across the Kankakee to Plymouth was "one vast wilderness," with only a few houses to mark the commencement of civilization; prairie wolves were numerous; Indians were still prowling around seeking whom they might devour, and a journey on foot and alone through the swamps and marshes, brush and tree tops under such circumstances was not calculated to inspire him with the most agreeable assurances of safety. Nevertheless he reached home without meeting with any serious mishaps and returned five years later to Mar- shall county, where he resided until the date of his death. Mr. Klinger was an excellent citizen in all the walks of life, and all his work as a public official was performed conscientiously, faithfully and well.

From the time the office was opened for business in 1836 to the present time the records have been well and correctly kept, few mistakes ever having been made that were discovered and had to be corrected through the courts.

The Surveyor's Office.

The county surveyor is, in a way, one of the most important officers in the county. He fixes the corners and subdivisions of all the lands in the county, lays out the roads, fixes the abutments to all the bridges, surveys and superintends the construction of ditches, etc., a record of which is made on the books of his office.

Daniel Roberts, the first surveyor, served as such four years. The records are somewhat imperfect, owing probably to the lack of proper books and materials. He left the county many years ago and died in or near Indianapolis.

Grove Pomeroy, who was appointed in 1840 and served until 1841, was among the first settlers in Marshall county, and was well known to the people up to the time of his death. He was the first resident of Plymouth, and built the first "tavern" in the then village, which he named "The Yellow River House," but which was afterward changed to the "Plymouth Hotel." It stood on the northeast corner of Michigan and La Forte streets. For many years this tavern was the stopping place for the stage lines passing between Logansport, Indiana, and Niles, Michigan, and to and from La Forte. There were no sawmills in those days, and the lumber for the "tavern" was made with a "whip-saw." Roll your log up on a frame six feet high, with one man on top and one below, and push and pull your "whip-saw" alternately, and you will have a practical illustration of the modus operandi of making lumber here way three score years ago. Mr. Pomeroy was judge of the probate court, being the first who held that office, from 1836 to 1843, and took an active part in the organization of the county, and in everything looking to its prosperity. He died in Plymouth in 1854.

Henry B. Pershing was also one of the earliest pioneers, and when he first settled here was engaged in the tailoring business. Later he engaged