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CHAPTER XXIII.
GRANT TOWNSHIP-ORIGIN OF THE NAME-FORMATION-IMPORTANT EARLY EVENTS-DAVID
OSBORN AND THE BEAR-WOLF TRAPS- SWITZ CITY-ITS IMPORTANCE AS A RAILROAD
CENTER-SURVEY OF THE LOTS-THE MERCHANTS-SECRET SOCIETIES-THE TEACHERS OF THE
TOWNSHIP-THE GRADED SCHOOL-ORGANIZATION OF RELIGIOUS CLASSES.
GRANT TOWNSHIP is the youngest in the county, and was named in 'honor of the
" Hero of Appomattox." It was originally a part of Richland Township when
the latter extended westward to the Sullivan,County line, but in May, 1828,
when old Dixon Township was created, it was included, and so remained until
August, 1829, when Fairplay,ancl Black Creek Townships were created out of
Dixon, thus abolishing the latter, and Grant was included within Black
Creek, but the latter name was changed to Stockton in January, 1830, and
Grant remained part and parcel of it until March, 1869, when the founding of
fhe town of Switt City and other interests led the citizens to petition for
the formation a a separate township, which was done by the County Board, and
in honor of Gen. Ulyssus Simpson Grant, who had just taken the Presidential
chair, was Darned Grant. It is the smallest subdivision of the county but
one, and much of the surface is low and wet, though when drained, will, and
does, furnish soil of the richest and most enduring fertility.
EARLY EVENTS.
One of the first settlers in this township was old Hiram Howard, who in his
way was a noted man. He was prominent in county affairs. He first located
near the old town of Fairplay, which he thought would become the county
seat, but when he found this was not to be he moved over to what is now
Grant Township. He was a Vermonter—was a live Yankee, who loved to be funny,
and possessed all the enterprise and genius of invention ascribed to the "
Downeasters." He built a black smith shop, where he made everything from a
poker to a plow. He made many steel traps forr,catching the various
fur-bearing and larger animals, and sold them to all the old hunters and
trappers for many miles around. Being a great bear hunter himself, he made
one for his own use which weighed 110 pounds. The spring was very strong,
and had to be set with lever power, and when it once snapped up on the limbs
of a bear, or any other animal that roamed the woods, it would not let go
until leverage was applied. He caught a number of wolves with it, placing it
where those animals would have to pass to get the bait. He caught some eight
or ten bears in that one trap. One of these animals weighed about 600
pounds. The trap had been securely fastened to a large log, yet so great was
the strength of the
bear, the log was dragged nearly a quarter of a mile, and was then stopped
only by becoming fast against a trse. Here the bear was shot by Mr. Haywood.
One of its paws was kept on exhibition in a store at Terre Haute for many
years. Wolves were usually caught in wooden pens. An opening was left, and a
trigger rigged so that when the wolf tugged at the bait a heavy log would
fall, completely
closing the opening, and effectually preventing the escape of the beast. It
could then be killed at will. A creek in the township—Wolf Pen
Branch—derived its name from the fact of its being a great resort for
wolves, and the place where many were trapped in the manner described. David
O. Harrah was another early settler, as was Noah Wagoner, David Osborn,
Daniel Fields and many others. Later came the Germans, who soon constituted
a great portion of the township's inhabitants.
BLACK BEARS.
The following is related of David Osborn, by Baber: He went one day to cut
buckwheat in the edge of Wright Township, and on his way to work, just after
daylight, while walking along, heard a hog squealing in the greatest
distress off some distance in the woods. He hurried to where the sounds
proceeded, and saw that a large bear had seized a hog and was busily engaged
in tearing it to pieces with teeth and claws. Mr. Osborn ran up as near as
he dared, and hissed and motioned at the bear to drive it from the hog, and
succeeded, but the animal made at him, and he ran for dear life, followed
closely by the bear, and swung himself into a small tree just as bruin
arrived at the foot. The tree was not a tree—only a sapling—and the bear, by
rearing up on his hind legs, could nip the feet of Mr. Osborn. This the
animal immediately did, and the only objections the settler could make were
to kick like a mule and shout like a frightened darkey, and break small
branches from the tree and thrash the beast over the nose. After its first
rage was over, the animal left, to the great relief of Mr. Osborn. His limbs
were scratched, his cotton pants torn, and his shoes were ripped almost from
his feet. His exploit was the talk of the neighborhood for a long time.
SWITZ CITY.
This village is one of late origin, dating its commencement to the
establishment of the,railroad. At that time, about 1868-69, Henry and Allen
Conduitt erected a long frame building in which they placed a general stock
of merchandise, valued at $5,000. About the same time, W. W. Dowell erected
a boarding house. Both these establishments were commenced then to secure
the trade of the railroad men mainly. Dr. Jesse Hanna was another early
resident. He built a small office. The Taylor Brothers opened the second
store, and C. A. Meacham soon came in with drugs. Switz & Walters opened a
general store with a large stock in 1874. Ed Foster succeeded Taylor
Brothers, and in 1878 John Switz bought out Foster. H. & H. Switz opened
their saloon in 1879. Hunt & Pegg started in business about this time. John
Switz erected the Odd Fellows building for a store room and dwelling
attached, and put in a general stock of goods. Milendorff, Martin and
Hartzell have had restaurants. Hervey & Riley opened a general store in
1881, and Spencer & Grace put up the brick store. Henry Fry was the first
blacksmith. Wesley Hale started the first saw mill, and J. M. Hunter the
second. The former had a small grist mill, which was operated by the same
motor as the saw mill. James P. Terhune had a livery stable of four or five
horses, which is now owned by Samuel Harrell with three horses. The grain
elevator was built by Hughes East;. Dugger & Neal are the present owners.
The town has a present population of about 200.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Beehunter Lodge, No. 507, Odd .Fellows, now at Switz City, was organized at
Linton, the first officers being: J. F. Wood, N. G. ; J. P. McIntosh, V. G.
; D. A. Sherwood, Secretary; W. F. Cornelius, P. Secretary; H. Ramacher,
Treasurer; B. F. Kertchner, Warden; H. Blair, Conductor. The charter members
were Wood, Fleming, Blair, Kertch-' ner, Ramacher, McIntosh, Cornelius,
Sherwood and Watson. The lodge was organized at Linton in 1875, and removed
to Switz City in 1879, at which time the " Odd Fellows Building" was built.
The first officers at Switz were: J. M. Martin, N. G. ; A. Hall, V. G.; W.
B. Spencer, Secretary; J. Mortz, Per. Secretary; A. H. Shoplow, Treasurer;
G. W. Lenard, Warden. The present officers are: G. W. Ellis, N. G.; H. S.
Terhune, V. G. ; C. J. Sinclair, Secretary; Robert Kirkum, Per. Secretary;
Patrick Dundon, Treasurer; W. M. Hale, Warden; Joseph Mullane, Conductor.
The present membership of the lodge is twenty-two. The lodge owns the upper
story of the building in which is their hall, and have property worth about
$1,000. Switz City was laid out in February, 1869, by Hughes East, on the
east half of the northeast quarter of Section 22, and the west half of the
northwest quarter of Section 23, Township '1 north, Range 6 west. A total of
192 lots was laid out, and the town was named in honor of the prominent
German living there—John Switz.
THE TEACHERS.
The first school in the township was taught in dwellings, but the facts in
detail cannot be given. Several terms were taught in various portions, and
it is said that Hiram Howard was one of the early teachers. It is quite
certain that one of the Wines was among the first teachers. An Irishman
named Patterson (probably not the historical "Billy " that was "struck ")
also taught very early in the township. The first real schoolhouse was
erected in the northwest corner, but was a cheap affair and was used only
about three years, if that long. A hewed-log structure—a much more
substantial building, erected in the same neighborhood—took its place.
School was taught in the Wagoner neighborhood as early as 1826, and a few
years later a log schoolhouse was built. In 1835, there were three or four
schoolhouses in the township, all well attended and doing well, and all
being subscription schools. It this time, the territory was a part of
Stockton Township. A small brick schoolhouse was built in Switz City, in
1873, by Fred Hinebrook, who made the brick and took the contract. One of
the first teachers in this house was James Drennon.
THE GRADED SCHOOL.
The present house was built in 1883, by Thomas Williams, contractor, and
cost $2,385. It is a fine two-storied brick, with two commodious rooms—one
above and one below, and is a credit to the township. The first teacher in
this building—winter of 1883-84—was Prof. Poindexter, a young man of fine
ability and excellent promise.
RELIGIOUS CLASSES.
The earliest settlers belonged to churches at Linton and vicinity. D. 0.
Harrah belonged to the Methodist Church there, and later others be; longed
to Methodist and other classes in Fairplay Township. The Methodist Church at
Harrah's was built about twelve years ago; among the membership were the
Terbunes (very prominent people), the Harrahs, Dr. Morgan, of Wright
Township (one of the county's best citizens), the Sharps, the Jameses, the
Smiths, the Hofferdeitz, the Duncans and others belonged about the time the
church was built, and afterward came the Barnses, the Andersons, the Bohleys,
the Letsingers, the Modrells, the Sherwoods, et al. The Winters Church was
built about the same time the Harrah Church was, or perhaps a little
earlier. The Winters, the Hinebrooks, the Nowltings, the Jacksons, the
Gastineaus,/ the Fields the Humphreys and others. A small class of
Methodists has been lately organized at Switz City by the Shoptaws,
Wakefields, Lundys, Meachams, Mrs. Bump and others. A Sunday school was
organized 1883-84, Mr. East, Superintendent.
This information is the research of many people across the United States and may contain errors. It is presented as the best information to date. Like all of those whose work I have incorporated herein, my research is a work in progress and subject to change without notice. A special thanks to Marlene Ricci of CA, Dwayne Meyer of CA, Jacqueline Bean of TX, Debbie Dick of IN, Milus Miller of IL, Carol Hendricks Miller of IN, Clarence Miller of IN, and Harold Glen Miller of IN. There are numerous others too; many of which are unknown, but their findings and stories are still much appreciated. Much of this would not have been possible with out their information. Also this website includes historical facts gathered from Washington County History, Indiana History, Rowan County and Salisbury North Carolina Historical sources and other US Historical sources.
James A. Miller- Great -Great -Great -Great Grandson of Adam Miller and Hannah Sheets.
©2007 The Millers of Washington County
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Last Updated 07/04/07 08:28:53 AM -0700