Cass County,
Indiana
ADAMS
TOWNSHIP
Adams Township is situated in the northeast corner of Cass County and
embraces an area of about thirty square miles. It is bounded on the
north by Fulton county, on the east by Miami county, on the west by
Bethlehem and Clay townships, and on the south by Eel river which
separates it from Miami township. It is not a full congressional
township, is irregular in shape, being nearly eight miles in length
from north to south, and five miles from the eastern to the western
boundary and lies in congressional townships 27 and 28 north, range 3
east. In the northern part of the township the surface is level, with
some marshy land, but in the southern portions it is undulating. It is
well watered by Twelve Mile creek, which has two branches, eastern or
upper, and western or lower, Twelve Mile, that begins in the northern
part of the township, winding about in a southerly direction a distance
of about twelve miles, hence the name Twelve Mile creek.' The two
branches unite about a mile north of Eel river and empty into that
river a mile and a half west of the town of Hoovers. This was quite a
barre stream and afforded power for numerous mills in the early
settlement of the township, but since the land has been ditched and
tiled the water runs off rapidly and the water power is no longer
available. The eastern half of the township was originally covered with
heavy timber of walnut, poplar, beech, etc., but the western part was
what is termed "barrens," being covered mostly with scrubby oak. The
timber, however, has been largely cut and only enough remains for the
farmers' private uses. The land adjacent to Eel river is a black loam
and very fertile soil, except in the southwest corner, where the soil
is lighter. The north and northwest part of the township, known as the
"range," contains a light soil, not so well adapted to agriculture as
the southern sections. Adams, however, is a fair average township, and
under better and more careful .methods of her farmers in recent years,
is very productive of all the agricultural products adapted to a
temperate climate.
PIONEERS
The early settlers of Adams township who first sought homes in the
dense forests of this section, were not adventurers, but plain, matter-
of-fact people, who were induced to locate here and endure the
hardships and privations of pioneer life by the advantages that were
afforded by cheap lands, which could then be obtained at congress
prices, $1.25 per acre. To make a home in the dense woods was an
undertaking attended with great trials, and difficulties, of which we,
of today, can have no conception. The wild condition of the country,
the absence of roads, mills, the long distances to be traversed to the
nearest markets, together with the general poverty of the settlements
and the immense amount of hard work and drudgery required to clear the
land and make a living at the same time during the first few years,
were obstacles well calculated to shake the determination of the most
energetic and -brave hearted pioneer. These were years attended with
many dangers and constant struggle and the motives which animated and
impelled them forward are certainly deserving of the highest praise of
we, of today, who are profiting by the results of their labor and
industry.
Prior to the year 1828 Adams township was in the undisputed sway of the
Indians, unless the wild animals that infested the forests might be
considered as disputing the Indians' supremacy.
Barring an occasional roving and daring hunter, the first permanent
settler was Jackson Conner, who located about 1828 on the east half of
section 4, township 27 north, range 3 east, about one mile east of the
present town of Hoovers, on the north bank of Eel river. Here he
established a trading post with the Indians and this was his occupation
exclusively until the final removal of the Indians to their western
Mr. Conner was a shrewd trader and carried on a successful business
with the Indians and became known far and wide for his shrewdness in a
trade and acquired a reputation of being a great lover of money. He was
married and had a family of sons and daughters, all of whom are now
dead, but many of his grandchildren are still living, one, Mrs. Cizzia
Lunsford, is now a respected resident of Hoovers, in the neighborhood
where her eccentric grandfather lived and died. Jack Conner, as he was
generally called, was a unique and eccentric character, who died 6n
August 26, 1846. Prior to his death he gave directions that his body
should not be buried under ground, but the box containing his coffin
should be filled with tar and placed on blocks eighteen inches high and
thus left above ground. His directions were carried out and David
Young, of Adams township, and Mrs. Harp, of Logansport, both still
living, attended the funeral and verify the above account. Mr. Conner,
it was said, was not the most account. Mr. Conner, it was said, was not
the most religiously inclined and had an abhorrence of the devil and
took this precaution, thinking the devil would not disturb him thus
encased in pitch, but Mr. Conner would certainly receive little
consolation, if the modern idea of the devil is correct, for in this
progressive age it is generally thought that his satanic majesty
delights to revel in pitch. The coffin thus encased rested in the woods
near his house for some months, but the neighbors objected and a stone
vault was erected over the coffin, which stands there today, as shown
in the illustration from a photograph taken by E. E. Worstell on
Thanksgiving day, 1912. This tomb is located less than a mile east of
Hoovers, on the south side of the railroad, on a beautiful knoll. Here
also is buried his wife, Elizabeth Conner, who died June 5, 1848, also
several other interments. Jack Conner's tomb is across a deep ravine
from his hewed log cabin, which is still standing and the illustration
shows this old cabin as it exists today, in a dilapidated condition, as
it has not been occupied for years, yet shows the primitive house and
surroundings of the pioneers of 1828, when Adams township was first
settled by this eccentric Indian trader.
The second white man to set foot on Adams township soil was Samuel
Lowman, in 1830. He settled in the southwest quarter of section 28. The
following year "Logan" Thomas occupied a part of section 29, township
28 north, range 3 east. The same year James McPherson and John Kelly
also located in section 29 and to the north, and John Hoover in section
4. These, the very earliest settlers, were strong characters and did
much toward the development of the community. About 1833 Miner Alley
settled on the east half, section 28, and Philip "Woodhouse in the same
neighborhood. In 1832 Isaac Young located in section 29 and his son,
David Young, still occupies the old homestead. About the same time
Richard Ferguson, Henry Daggy, John Gilleland and Nathaniel Nichols
became honored residents of this new settlement.
The next few years witnessed the coming of Joel Black, James Dalzelle
and Nathan Jones. About. 1834 Geo. Lowman settled in the western
part of the township in section 19 and began to fell the forest and
erect a cabin in the clearing. He was an eccentric character and
possessed marked peculiarities and will be remembered by those who knew
him as ever working in the construction of perpetual motion machines,
which he was always hopeful of perfecting, but he went down to his
grave with, his hopes forever blasted. His wife was no less a
character, although honest and sturdy, yet rough and outspoken, and
many a joke she has turned to the discomfiture of her neighbors, who
were wont to take advantage of her eccentricities.
An early settlement was made in the north part of the township by
Father Enyart and his sons, Benjamin, David and Silas.
Anthony Martin located in section 7 as early as 1833 and opened a
blacksmith shop, the first ever operated in the township. (I. W.
Kreider.) In the eastern part of the township, during the year 1835, we
find the coming of Thomas Skinner and his locating on section 15. He
was a man of character and his moral and religious influence left a
permanent impress upon the entire community. His brother, Nathan
Skinner, about the same time settled in section 19. where he lived
until his death a few years ago. The Leffel family, consisting of
Jacob, Arthur, William, John, Anthony and Samuel, came some years,
later and settled in the southern part of the township.
Other early comers were: James Reed. In the Skinner settlement on the
eastern line of the township: Tasewell Richardson, in the southeast
corner, on the banks of the Eel River; Noble Plummer, near the Fulton
County line, and B. Chestnut, near Jack's Corner Indian trading Post;
Daniel Dillman moved to the township in 1840, settling in section 28,
and was a prominent citizen until his death in 1880. Daniel Conrad
purchased land in section 18, where he resided for many years and until
his retirement and removal to Logansport. The above names are some of
the earliest settlers, but some of them were only what was termed
"squatters," who simply settled or squatted upon their land but never
took title from the government. The following, however, shows some of
the earliest settlers who obtained title to their land as shown by the
plat book, yet some of them may never have occupied the land but bought
it for speculation.
FIRST
LAND ENTRIES
The first entry of land in Adams township was made in 1831 by Samuel
Hall, who obtained a patent for the east half of the southeast quarter
of section 29, township 28 north, range 3 east. In 1832 entries were
made by Nathaniel Williams in section 32; John Cox in section 29 ;
Samuel Leffel in sections 20 and 28 ; Samuel Lowman in section 28 ;
James McPherson, section 20; Isaac Young and Samuel McKinney in section
21, and Franklin Douglass in section 22. During the years 1833-34 the
following persons made entries from the government : Abraham Garst,
section 27; I). H. Morris, section 27; William Stapleton, section 22 :
Wm. Halston, section 28 ; Miles Thomas, section 29 ; Nathaniel
Williams, section 29 ; John Daggy, John Gilliland, and E. Gilliland, in
section 30. During the years 1835 and '36 many entries were made in all
parts of the township by Silas Enyart, Wm. Reed, James McClung, Wm.
Lowman, Joel Martin, Richard Ferguson, Geo. Lowman, Thos. Sheridan,
Henry Lewis, Miner Alley, John Arnold, Elijah Cox, John Kelly and Geo.
Harland. Prior to 1840 the following names appear to have received
patents for land: Calvin Taylor, Wm. R. Davis, Sam'l Harp, J. Lathrop,
J. E. and J. Carney, Jos. Shamburg, Wm. Stroud, James Payne, John
Denny, John Puritt, Henry Conrad, Jesse McLean, Jonathan A Washington,
C. W. Lowe, Wiseley Craig, E. Morse, Geo. H. Sherwood, Joel H. Davis,
Wm. Filley, Jacob Metz, Wm. Bromenbaugh, John Simons, Jos. Lowman,
Jesse Greathouse, Henry Alexander and Silas Wells; not all of these,
however, became settlers.
All the first houses built by the pioneers were rude, round log cabins
; later, however, hewed logs were used, but yet very primitive, being
covered by clap-boards weighted down with poles. The floors made of
split timber, called puncheon floors ; the doors made of the same
material, pinned to the baton by wooden pins hung on wooden hinges with
wooden latch to keep the door closed, which was opened by a latch
string passed through a gimlet hole in the door to the outside and the
latch string always hung out except at night or in times of impending
Indian hostilities. Not a nail or piece of iron of any kind entered
into the construction of the pioneer home.
James Reed, in 1842, was the first to build a frame house in the
eastern part of the township, prior to which the pioneer cabin held
full sway and Mr. Reed's house was the cynosure for all eyes in the
settlement.
ORGANIZATION
The township was organized May 6 1835, and received its name from
President John Quincy Adams. Soon after the declaration of the county
board fixing the boundary lines of the township an election was held at
the house of Nathaniel Nichols, who acted as inspector and was chosen
the first trustee and John Cox the first justice of the peace.
FIRST
MARRIAGE
The first marriage ceremony performed in the township was that uniting
Samuel Kelly and Sirena Cox, on March 5, 1834, Rev. Wm. M. Rayburn
officiating.
ROADS
In the early settlement of Adams Township, Eel river, in times of high
water, afforded transportation to the southern part of the township and
Indian trails to the interior. While the pioneers opened up roads, that
is, cut down the timber so as to permit an ox team to pass around and
over the stumps, through the mud, to reach this township, yet the first
main road leading from Logansport to Perrysburg in Miami county, a
distance of about twenty miles, was opened up about 1840-44. It ran on
a comparatively straight course northeast, passing entirely through
Adams Township. This road was a great thorough -fare for travel and all
that section of country passed over this road in coming to Logansport,
then the principal town in Northern Indiana. This road was improved
by grading and used for thirty years, but as the farms were cleared up
the road was changed to section lines so that it is now on a zig-zag on
two sides of every man's farm between here and Perrysburg and is used
only for local travel.
In the early settlement of the township the roads were impassable at
certain seasons of the year, but as the forests were cleared, the land
drained, and the county generally improved, the farmers realized more
and more each year the benefits of good roads. Adams has no stone
roads, but has about twenty-five miles of gravel roads. Roads have been
straightened, placed on section lines and the main thoroughfares
graveled, so that almost any section of the township may be reached by
graveled roads. There are now six roads running east and west through
the township and three roads running north and south, all in good
condition.
RAILROADS
Adams Township has two railroads extending through the entire township.
One, the C. C. & L., running from the southeast to the northwest,
built in 1901, and passing through the towns of Hoover and Twelve Mile.
The other railroad is the Eel River division of the Vandalia, which
passes through the southern part of the township and crossing the
former road at Hoover. This road was begun in the fifties but the work
was suspended, but taken up by a new company and pushed to completion
in 1871. These roads afford ample shipping facilities to the farmers of
the township.
OLD
WATER POWER MILLS
As has been stated elsewhere, the pioneer, landing in the midst of a
forest, hundreds of miles from mill or factory, first began to feel the
necessarity of grinding his corn and sawing limber for his buildings,
and consequently set about to erect mills on the banks of the creek and
harness its waters to run them; so here, as in other sections of the
country, we find the pioneer early building mills. The first one was
erected by Samuel Lowman about 1835-37, on the banks of Twelve Mile
Creek, in section 29. This was a saw mill and corn cracker attachment.
It served a useful purpose for many years but has long since been
abandoned and no vestige of this old mill is left to mark the spot of
its past activities, although it was a picturesque as well as a useful
adornment of pioneer days.
The second mill was erected by James Reed in 1840, on Upper Twelve Mile
creek in section 22. This was also a saw mill with a corn cracker
attachment. It was successfully operated for about twenty years, but
fell into decay.
In the early fifties Jacob Leffel erected a saw mill on Twelve Mile
creek above the Lowinan mill and operated it in times of high water
until 1876, when it was washed out and was, never rebuilt, as there was
no demand for such a small mill that could not be run except during
flood times, as the country became ditched and the rains rapidly flowed
off, leaving the water too low to run a mill except in times of flood.
The first flouring mill in the township was erected in 1856 by Matthew
Obenchain. It stood on Lower Twelve Mile creek in section 31. It was a
typical old frame country mill, and ground corn, wheat and buckwheat;
also a saw mill to manufacture lumber. It was successfully operated,
and quite extensively, until 1876, when it was totally consumed by
fire. It was soon after rebuilt by David Myers, but it was again burned
down in 1883, entailing a heavy loss on the proprietors. Two years
later, or in 1885, Noah Simons and brother, at a cost of $3,500,
rebuilt the mill. This is a frame building and has been operated by Mr.
Simons, Lewis Smith and a Mr. Brower, but suspended operations several
years ago, as it was not profitable, the larger mills with newer
processes driving out the small country mills. The old mill, however,
still stands as a monument and reminder of pioneer days when the boy
was sent with a sack of corn on horseback to the little old country
mill, with its old fashioned water wheel, creaking as it was turned by
the over-shot, moss-covered water buckets.
Out of the three score old water mills that have been built in Cass
county, this one, the Adamsboro mill and one on Pipe creek, are
the only ones left standing to remind us of our boyhood days at the old
mill pond.
DISTILLERY
About 1840 Taswell Richardson erected a small distillery where he
lived, on the north bank of Eel River. It was a small affair but often
did a big business for the sheriff. Some time in the sixties a Mr.
Myers moved the still further east near the Miami county line and did
a “moonshine" business in a small way, but soon abandoned
it.
STEAM
MILLS
After the passing of the old water mills, and facilities for
transportation improved, steam mills began to make their appearance and
the first mill of this kind was erected in the town of Twelve Mile in
1852 by Daniel and Jacob Brubaker and since that date there has been a
saw mill in Twelve Mile village almost continuously, operated by
different parties. At present Theodore and Samuel Hoover own and
operate it. About 1874 a large steam saw mill was erected in the town
of Hoover to saw the timber in what was known as Taber's seven sections
and surrounding country, and did a very extensive business for many
years, and is still operated, on a smaller scale, however, as the
timber is nearly all cut off.
FIRST
MANUFACTORY
Probably the first business in the way of manufacturing was a cooperage
for the making of barrels, run by Nathaniel Nichols, some time in the
thirties, but as "Taswells" distillery could use only a limited number
of barrels and kegs, Mr. Nichols' cooper shop did not prosper long and
only furnished kraut barrels in which the farmers could make that
standard of pioneer diet.
TOWNS
AND VILLAGES
Newburg is a paper town that was laid out in 1838 by Sam'l Lowman and
Joel Black, located on the east branch of Twelve Mile creek in section
29, near the first mill erected in the township a few years before.
Benjamin Powell was the surveyor who run the lines and made the plat of
the town, which shows seventeen blocks, fifty-four lots and five
streets, three of which, Main, North and Spring streets, run north and
south, the other two, Poplar and Mill streets, cross them at right
angles, running east and west. Although this was a beautiful site for a
town and the proprietors had visions of becoming millionaires, yet they
were doomed to disappointment and the great metropolis, of which they
would be the leaders, never materialized and the town site has never
passed the agricultural stage and cannot be found today except by an
expert surveyor who is capable of unraveling the field notes of its
projector.
TWELVE
MILE
This, the recognized capital of Adams, is situated near the center of
the township in section 17 and dates its history from 1852, when a saw
mill was erected here by Mr. Brubaker and soon after became a local
center of trade. Hammond Ludders was the first merchant, opening a
general store and since then Richard Ludders, John Walters, Geo.
Lowman, Frank Wait, J. L. Clouse, Noah Simons, Milton Enyart. Sam'l
Pence, James Wilson, J. S. Rannels and T. P. Swigart have operated
country stores in the village. Isaac W. Eggman opened a general store
about 1882 and succeeded in building up and holding an extensive trade
and is still in active business, having continued in business longer
than any other merchant in the history of the town.
Twelve Mile or "lien Peck," as it was generally called, never had but a
few residents, but was in the midst of a good agricultural country and
being a long distance from any other town, commanded quite an extensive
trade, attracted not only by the store but also by repair and other
shops, where Decker Bros, ran a planing mill. John Smith a blacksmith
and wagon shop, and Dan'l Fetrow, a saw mill. In 1901, however, the
Cincinnati, Chicago & Louisville Railroad was built and left the
little town of "Hen Peck" about a half mile to the east of the railroad.
Jerome Jones owned the land on the south of the wagon road, now Main
street, and Edith Skinner that on the north side, and they at once laid
out the town into building lots, with four principal streets, towit:
Main and Pickle, running east and west, Carson and Beamer streets,
north and south. The new town grew rapidly. Business soon began to
drift to the railroad station, the old town was practically abandoned
and now the new town of Twelve Mile is a thriving village of over three
hundred inhabitants, located on both sides of the railroad, which gives
excellent shipping facilities to Chicago and the North and Cincinnati
and intermediate points to the South. Mr. Eggman, the veteran merchant,
abandoned his store room in the old and moved into the new town, where
he is still in business but has several competitors since the advent of
the railroad.
Three general stores and a hardware and agricultural implement store
have located here, kept by Ira Slifer, Jerome Jones, Geo. Brown and
Becker & McMahin; furniture and undertaking establishment by J. B.
Grindle; butcher shop by Dudley Dalzelle and Sam Cover, also barber
shops, blacksmith shops, livery stable, pickle factory and stock yards,
and an elevator operated by P. P. McPaddin, giving ready market for all
kinds of farm products. J. E. Black runs an up-to-date restaurant, Dr.
C. L. Miller looks after the health of the community and two resident
preachers, a Methodist and United Brethren, administer to their
spiritual needs. A new U. B. church has recently been erected, also a
handsome eight-room brick schoolhouse in which all grades are taught,
including the high school. A hotel accommodates the traveling public
and all kinds of building crafts and mechanics are well represented, as
carpenters, plasterers, brick and stone masons, painters, etc.
The Twelve Mile State bank was organized in 1911 with a capital stock
of $25,000, held by seventy-three stockholders, chiefly residents of
Adams township. The bank officers are: President, Dr. C. L. Miller;
Vice-President, Aaron Plank; cashier, 0. R. Pickering; directors are
the officers and M. W. Collet, Wm. Murden, Abe Moss, Chas. Kinneman,
Wm.. Carson, Geo. Kistler, Geo. Raub. Their deposits at this time
amount to $55,000. In the fall of 1912 a substantial new brick bank
building was completed and occupied, at an expenditure of $5,200.
TELEPHONE
EXCHANGE
The Twelve Mile Telephone Company was organized in 1903, with the
following officers: President, Win. Carson ; vice president, Wm.
Dalzelle ; secretary, Dr. C. L. Miller ; treasurer, Isaac W. Egman.
Directors : J. W. Denniston, Ira Gehmau, E. M. Kiue, Chas. Dalzelle,
August Swanson.
The exchange started with 108 patrons, which have been increased to 220
in 1912. The exchange is connected with Logansport, so that its patrons
can communicate not only with each other but also with any of the
patrons at the county seat, and is a great convenience as well as
conserver of time to the residents of Twelve Mile and Adams township.
POST
OFFICE
Twelve Mile post office was established about 1852-4 in "Old Hen Peck,"
and John Walters was its first postmaster. The office was supplied by
star route, part of the time from Deedsville in Miami county, but most
of the time on a route from Logansport to Perrysburg, where Stephen G.
Conrad was mail carrier for many years and Daniel Fetrow the last star
route carrier from Logansport, when the building of the railroad in
1901, replaced the star route service. Isaac W. Egman, the present
incumbent, has been postmaster for thirty years. Two rural mail routes,
Nos. 21 and 22, established eight or ten years ago, lead out from
Twelve Mile, now carried by Charles Jones and Elzie Martin, and are a
great convenience to the farmers of Adams Township, bringing daily mail
to their doors. Prior to the establishment of this office the people in
this township had to go to Logansport, 10 to 18 miles distant, for
their mail.
