INDIANA TRAILS
HUNTINGTON COUNTY HISTORY
( Transcribed from 'A History Of The State Of Indiana'
by DeWitt C. Goodrich and Charles R. Tuttle Published 1876)
HUNTINGTON COUNTY HISTORY
Huntington county,
rich in
agriculture and commerce, and minerals, but once dense forest. The
county was named in honor of Samuel Huntington, a delegate in the
Continental Congress from Connecticut, and one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence. A small portion of the county is hilly,
but for most part it is level, or only sufficiently undulating to
constitute a natural drain. The soil is a mixture of sand and clay, is
very deep and fertile, and well adapted to all the products indigenous
to the climate and country. At an early day the county was heavily
timbered throughout, with the exception of a few small prairies. The first
settlement, as near as we can learn, was made in Huntington county in
1829. Messrs. Artimedee Woodworth and Elias Murray were the first
settlers. They came in 1829. Mr. Woodward settled north of Silver
creek, on the Wabash. Here he built a log house and began pioneer life
in earnest. Mr. Murray settled a mile east on the opposite side of the
river, where lie also built a cabin. In 1832-3, a settlement was made
on the Salamony River, near the present town of Warren. Samuel Jones
erected a log house at this place in 1833, and moved into it with his
family in September of the same year. James Morrison settled at the
same place about the same time, and in the following winter Lewis
Purviance, Lewis Richards, and George Helm, located with them. The first settlers
of the present prosperous city of Huntington were C. and J. Helvey, who
came from the White river section, originally from Clinton county,
Ohio, to Huntington, in 1830, with their sisters. They built a hewed
log tavern, which is known in history as the “Flint Springs Hotel” It
remained a tavern until 1857, and was for a long time a favorite
stopping place on the old “Fort Wayne and Lafayette trace.” A few now
living in Huntington county remember this trace. It was nearly the same
pathway over which the bold Robert de La Salle traveled with his
military escort in 1680, and the same trace upon which many a zealous
French priest journeyed alone, before Americans explored the head
waters of the Wabash. There was another
log tavern erected near the cabin of Mr. Woodworth in 1832, but that
region remained unsettled until 1847. Clear creek, two and a half miles
north from Huntington, was first settled by Michael Doyle, in 1834. In
that year he erected the pioneer log cabin of that section, and moved
into it with his family. The Helveys, who
first settled at Huntington, sold their lands to General Tipton and
Captain Murray, soon after they were located, and the latter gentlemen
laid out the town in 1882. Mr. Murray moved to Huntington to reside,
with his family, about one year previous. The Wabash and Erie Canal was
commenced in 1832, which may be regarded as the immediate cause that
led to the settlement of Huntington. The work on this important State
internal improvement prospered, and the new town of Huntington shared
in the prosperity In 1835 the permanent population of Huntington was
probably two hundred and fifty, although previous to that time gar of
canal men frequently visited the place, swelling its population
temporarily to four and five hundred. Huntington county
was organized in 1834, previous which it formed a part of Grant county.
The first county election was held in the fall of 1834, as also the
first court The latter was held in the well known “Flint Springs Hotel
From this the court was soon after taken to the school house, which
shows that Huntington, now so justly celebrated for her excellent
schools, began the good work of education in youth. The first school
teacher in Huntington was a Mr. Sergant. They called him a “down east Yankee,”
but he had considerable influence, probably because he was the son of a
Presby- terian clergyman. He “boarded round,” and being a little on the
particular order, it is not a wonder that the old settlers Huntington
tell some funny stories of his experience of t phase of his residence
in their town. It is very probably however, that. he had enough to
contend with, both in school room and in society. But we shall not tax
the reader with every step in the growth of Huntington county. Such was
its social and political beginning. Let us look at result its present
condition. The Huntington of
today has a population of three thousand five hundred, and is
surrounded by well settled, well cultivated agricultural lands, in
every direction. It is the county seat and a smart, thriving city. The
streets have been admirably laid off, and the general appearance of the
buildings favors substantial. The new court house is a fine building,
located in the center of a spacious square enclosed by a substantial
iron fence. The churches arc, for the most part, fine buildings,
erected in a modern style of architecture, and present striking evidence of the high moral
taste of the people. The schools are, at present, in a flourishing
condition. For many years they lagged for want of the proper
management, within the last few years a splendid three story brick hug
has been erected, in which the city graded schools are now located,
excellent teachers are provided, and the public schools of Huntington
today are a credit to the State. There is probably
no other city in. Indiana of equal population that can boast as much
success in manufacturing as Huntington. The manufacture from wood has
increased until city is now supplying many of the towns in northern
Indiana with staves, headings, plow handles, etc. In this particular
industry Huntington possesses many advantages. Wood of nearly all kinds
exists in large quantities in many parts of the county. Labor is cheap,
and the surrounding county affords an ample and remunerative market.
However, manufacture of lime is perhaps the largest industrial interest
of Huntington. During the present year there were thirty kilns in
successful operation, employing a capital of over one hundred thousand
dollars, and giving employment a army of men either in immediate
connection with the kilns or in chopping wood to supply them with fuel.
Over ten thousand cords of wood were consumed during the year
just closed, for which over twenty-five thousand dollars have been
disbursed throughout the county. The product of the Huntington lime
kilns is unsurpassed in quality. “Huntington white lime,” has become a
favorite brand in the northwest, is sought after even to the full
extent of the supply. The lime business of Huntington shows a steady
and healthy ease, and is capable of great extension. The total product
in 1874 was over four hundred thousand bushels. Huntington county
is rich in agricultural wealth, and most he farmers have become
wealthy. Old-time log houses have, for the most part, disappeared, and.
new and elegant rural residences are scattered over the entire county.
Villages have sprung up, and in every quarter there are indications of
ft and prosperity. With the increase of wealth have come the other
desirable acquisitions. Education, once so sadly neglected in the
county, has now its full share of attention, and the youths are so far
advanced in the usual course of study as in any other section of the
state.
