Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Part II, Chapter XXXII

Dallas Township - Its Geography and Early History - An Incident Connected with the First Election -
Names of Early Settlers - Nicholas Helms - The First Mill - First Marriage and Birth - Thomas Kirton -
An Adventure Through the Snow - Destruction of Wild Game - The Bauer Brothers - Peter Yrentz - Hiram Teakel -
Henry Harstman - Church Organizations - First School - Newbern - Dallas Town - A Hunting Adventure - Conclusion

Dallas is the south-west corner township of the county, and is technically described as town. 74, range 21. It is bounded on the north by Franklin, on the east by Washington, on the south by Luca county, and on the west by Warren county.

White Breast runs through the north-west quarter, and a nameless branch of English takes its rise in the interior, and runs through the south-east quarter of the township. Timber is more abundant then in Franklin, but covers much less than half the surface. Coal abounds along these streams, and numerous veins have been opened, averaging about three feet in thickness. One owned by John F. Willis, near Dallas Town is worked. But the richest coal fields are to be found in the west and south-west.

From the 6th of January, ‘47, till the 2d of October, ‘48, this township constituted a part of Washington, after which it was ordered that it and town. 75, range 21, (Franklin,) be called Dallas; and so remained till some time during the year ‘52, (at precisely what date we have been unable to ascertain,) it became a distinct township. The first election after this, was held at the house of Thomas Kirton, April 5th, ‘52, at which the following officers were chosen:

Joseph Bauer and William J. McClain, justices; Hiram Teakel and John Clark, constables; Peter Yrentz, Alloys Bauer and Thomas Kirton, trustees.

An election was held in November, ‘48, at which time nine votes were cast, by settlers in what is now Dallas and Franklin; but, as in so many cases, the record was poorly kept, carelessly handled and finally lost.

A day or two after this election, Joseph Bauer being on his way to Fairfield, was requested by Nathan Nichols, the clerk, to carry the poll-book to Knoxville. Not having been an officer of the election, Mr. Bauer objected on the ground of the illegality of such a performance, but was finally persuaded to take and deliver it to George Gillaspy, the sheriff of the county. But by missing the right way to Knoxville, Mr. B. was so much delayed that he did reach there till some time in the afternoon; and then, being in much haste to be on his journey again, he found George directly, and handed him the documents.

“Are you one of the board?” asked that dignitary.

“No,” answered Bauer, and cut him short with: “Then I don’t want your poll-book,” and abruptly turned away, refusing to have anything more to say about it.

This scene took place in Babbitt’s store. Gillaspy walked around the counter and appeared to be engaged in something else, whilst Bauer stood thoughtfully discussing the matter with himself, but unable to decide what he should do with the precious document. To return with it to the proper authority was scarcely to be thought of, as other business urged him to be on the way to Fairfield, and he would not risk the responsibility of carrying it with him. At length his own perplexity and the provoking silence of the great George, roused his wrath, and decided him instantly. He drew the poll-book from his bosom, dashed it upon the counter and drew the attention of George to it in this emphatic manner: “Here, take your poll-book and do what you d--n please with it,” then abruptly left the presence. It was not till after his return from Fairfield that Mr. Bauer learned that it had been found necessary to send for Nichols that evening to come to Knoxville, present the poll-book and take the oath required by law in such cases.

The following are the names of persons who settled in this township at the earliest dates:

Nicholas Helms, with his four sons, and Wm. Willis, in ‘46; Thomas Kirton, Henry Wagoner, Joseph Bauer, Peter Yrentz, and Hiram Teakel, in ‘58; Alloys Bauer in ‘49; Henry Ghoring, Henry Harstman, and Jacob Smith, in ‘50, and Jacob Fight in ‘52.

Of these, Thomas Kirton, Wm. Willis, Henry Ghoring, Henry Harstman, Joseph and Alloys Bauer and Hiram Teakel live in the township. Nicholas Helms is dead, and his four sons are supposed to live in Missouri. Henry Wagoner, Jacob Smith and Jacob Fight are also dead.

Nicholas Helms was from Ohio, and he, with his sons, took claims in what is now the southwest part of the township. During his residence here he was a useful citizen to the extent of his means. By the erection of a temporary hand-mill, worked by a crank, he supplied many of the early settlers with meal when it was impossible to obtain it from the great distance people then had to go for breadstuffs. Particularly during the winter of ‘48 and ‘49 did this little corn-cracker prove to be of inestimable value; for, as has already been shown, it was impossible to get any distance from home on account of the great depth of snow. During this period, every family within reach of this mill, who had a peck of corn to convert into meal, came to it; and the faithful little make-shift was kept at work day and night, grinding a peck, or even a mess or two, for one and then another, as their turns would come, each customer taking his own turn at the crank.

In the family of Mr. Helms occurred the first marriage in the township, that of his son Jesse and Miss Sarena Wind, whose parents resided within the limits of Lucas county. The wedding took place in Dallas, December 25, 1847. And to this couple was born the first child born in the township, Henry Helms, Aug. 2, ‘48.

Thomas Kirton was born in Yorkshire, England, came to Canada, where he resided five years, from thence to Illinois, and from thence to Clay township, in this county, in ‘43, and from thence to this township in the spring of ‘48. He purchased a claim where he now lives in the north part of the township, of an individual named Geo. Leach, an adventurer of some notoriety in this part of the country at that time, and suspected of being a horse-thief. After selling to Mr. Kirton, Leach moved his residence to Franklin township, near where John Clark now lives, where he passed the winter of ‘48 and ‘49, making it rather his temporary home. Once during this winter, being at Pleasantville he set out for home across an uninhabited prairie, the snow being nearly three feet deep on the level, and blown into drifts of much greater depth, and unbroken trail, this adventurer came very near ending his career. After struggling through the trackless waste till within about two miles of destination, he became so exhausted that further progress seemed impossible, and it occurred to him that he must perish. In view of his impending fate he cut a small stick, flattened it, wrote his name thereon, and stuck it up in the snow, in order that his remains, if ever found, might be identified, and then laid himself down to die. But here the horrible idea of leaving his carcass to be possibly found by some fellow being, but more probably to be devoured and scattered by wolves, came upon him with such force that it roused him to a determination to make another effort for his life. This he did, and by such efforts as only the fear of death can nerve a sufferer to make, he reached his home alive.

We may as well add in this connection, that such was the severity of that winter that much of the wild game perished in this portion of the county. In one instance a number of deers, being unable to travel, huddled together and remained in one place in the timber on White Breast, where they trampled a circuit a few rods in circumference, keeping the snow down by their feet and the heat of their bodies, whilst it arose like a wall around them. Here they remained till their prison walls vanished under the wrath of spring, and those that were alive escaped. A great many turkeys were also found dead in the spring.

Joseph and Alloys Bauer, who reside in the western part of the township, were natives of Hanover, Germany, from whence they came in ‘33 to Indiana, and from there to their present residence (section 19) in ‘49 and ‘49. Joseph made his claim and Alloys purchased his of Leander Bennett, a temporary settler, who had came from Illinois in ‘46.

Just previous to the commencement of the severe winter of ‘48 and ‘49, Joseph had procured the grinding of four bushels of meal at Burch’s, on White Breast, and on this, with pounded hominy and what little grinding they could occasionally get done on Helm’s hand mill, they subsisted all winter. Leander Bennett had also taken a sack of corn to Burch’s; but being unable to get it ground soon, he returned without it, thinking he might be able to go or send for it another time. But the snow soon put an end to all hopes of the kind till spring. And then, after so long waiting, he found that the mice had made nests of the sack and taken their winter’s subsistence out of its contents. A fortunate circumstance for the mice.

During their first two or three years residence here the Bauers, being destitute of any kind of earthen vessels, barrels or even boxes, or lumber to make them of, used wooden troughs to store their provisions in.

Peter Yrantz moved into this township from Eddyville, late in the autumn of ‘48. Owing to the lateness of the season he did not get his stock feed and provisions moved up before the first snow fell; and as all kinds of provisions moved up before the first snow fell; and as all kinds of provisions were scarce in the county, he subsisted by borrowing from his neighbors for his own subsistence, and browsed his cattle in the White Breast timber.

Hiram Teakel was a native of Tennessee, from which State he moved to this, and to this township in the winter of ‘48 and settled where John Graves now lives, near Newburn, and purchased the claim of Freeland Willis, giving him $5 for it. On this he built a cabin, broke and fenced ten acres, and after living on it two years, sold it, and purchased another claim of Adam Uchler, in section 17 where he now lives.

On moving up from Eddyville, and nearing his destination, Mr. T. found no road and scarcely an object to guide him aright across a treeless prairie; and at the same time the snow was so deep that the fore wheels of the wagons were nearly buried in it. The teams, one a horse team and the other oxen, could make but slow progress. But by constant and untiring efforts they at last succeeded in reaching their chosen place of habitation, and are now, in common with many of their contemporaries in the privations and sufferings of pioneer life, reaping the rich reward of their perseverance through difficulties.

Jacob Smith planted the first orchard in the township, but none of the trees are now living, having perished from exposure and neglect.

Henry Harstman was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, December 17, 1818, and left that country for America in 1847, first settled in Ohio, from whence he came to Indiana, and from thence to his present residence on section 8, in September, 1850. Here he purchased a claim of 160 acres, of Henry Wagoner, for thirty dollars. This claim had no improvements on it, and Mr. Hartsman proceeded at once to erect a cabin 18 by 20, near the creek. Here he lived for some time, during which he occasionally suffered severely with the ague, and was at one time, for nine consecutive days, without any other food than potatoes. This, however, was not for the want of grain, plenty of which Mr. H. had stored away, but for the want of ability to get it carried to a mill and ground. He is now the owner of a well-improved farm of 490 acres.

The western portion of Dallas is mostly settled by Germans, a part of whom are Lutherans in doctrinal faith, and the others Catholic. Rev. J. F. Shearer, an American Lutheran minister first organized a society of those holding to that faith, in 1854. About sixteen families were united, making a membership of 45. But, as Mr. Shearer could only speak English, his place was soon taken by Rev. Wilhelm Hounderdosse, from Germany.

The Catholic church was organized in 1854, by the union of nine persons of that faith, by whom a hewed log church was soon erected, 16 by 18 feet, with belfry. This organization was not effected by the aid of a priest, and it was not till after the erection of a house of worship, that Father John Krekel held services in that community. A frame building is now in process of erection for a parsonage.

Wm. Demoss and Johnson first formed societies of United Brethren and Methodists, in 1851-2.

Asa Davis taught the first school in a round log cabin built for the purpose, in 1852. Henry R. Klingman taught next.

Newbern was surveyed by F. M. Frush, by request of Ransome Davis, on the south-east quarter, of the south-east quarter of section 31, September, 9th, 1851. One of the chairmen was Joseph S. Howard, now Professor Howard, of McGee College, Missouri. The other is not remembered. It was so named by Mr. Davis, from a town of the same name in Indiana.

Nine lots were sold at auction, at from four to eight dollars per lot. Mr. Davis built the first house within the town plat, (a hewed log,) that stood in the north side of the village. Jesse Moon sold the first goods, till he disposed of the business to Fletcher Kane. The first post-office was kept by Joseph Howard, father of Joseph S., mentioned above. He received his commission in the spring of 1853, not having been previously consulted. His successor was Fletcher Kane. Present incumbent John Willes. Mails daily. Chicago post-office on the north-east quarter of the north-east quarter of section 17, was established in February, 1872, Julius Teakel, postmaster. No public mail service, but matter supplied from Newburn by private conveyance. There was no town laid out here, but the place contains two stores and several dwellings, and is situated on White Breast creek. Christopher Anderly, first opened a store there, in 1867, and jocularly gave it the name of Chicago.

The first hotel was a log house, kept by Rufus Murry. Dr. C. Taylor was the first practicing physician, located in the village. He is still a resident practitioner.

There are now two stores, two hotels and rather more than a proportionate number of good building. A small part of the village lies in Lucas county, and the entire location is very good, being surrounded by an excellent and well-improved farming district. convenient also to coal and timber.

Dallas town is located on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section two. It was surveyed by F. M. Frush, in September, 1857, at the instigation of Richard Willis, on land purchased by him of a Mrs. Eckles. Mrs. E. was a grass-widow, whose husband was at that time alive and not divorced from her, and upon this ground the opinion was held by some that the title of the land given by her was not secure. This report materially injured the prospects of the village for a short time; but the fact that Mrs. Eckles had purchased the property with her own money, restored confidence, and a goodly number of lots were at length sold.

The embryo city was at first called Ohio town on account of the number of settlers from that State in the neighborhood. But it was eventually found advisable to change it to Dallas, in conformity to the popular habit of calling it so when Dallas post office was about all there was of the town, and was there before it.

Dallas post office was established in 1855, and was first kept by John Parrett, in a little log house still standing, but unoccupied. Present P. M., P. Buckalew. The first house was built by Hiram L. George, who also sold the first goods. The place now contains one store, two blacksmith shops, a commodious M. E. Church building, and a good school house. The one store enjoys the trade of a fine farming country lying south and east of it.

Mr. Parker Buckalew, the P. M. and lone merchant of Dallas, relates to us a hunting expedition of his, with which we will close this history.

In December, 1853, being then on a visit to the country, he was ambitious of the distinction that might be accorded to any young man for killing a deer before returning to the east. Accordingly, he one day accompanied by Simon Thomas, an experienced hunter, on a hunting expedition. Having separated from his companion, and seated himself on a rise of ground in the timber for the purpose of ambushing the game that was expected to come that way on its accustomed round, he had the good luck to spy to large deers passing about 25 yards distant. Taking aim as well as he could through the timber, he fired, and had the glorious satisfaction of seeing one them, a large, withered buck, drop. He ran to it with the utmost speed, and found the animal only wounded by a graze of the bullet across the back, and already getting upon its fore feet. Here, in the midst of his excitement, Parker threw his gun away, and bravely laid hold of the creature’s horns. With this the latter made a violent surge, threw his assailant headlong down the hill and fell upon him. Still Parker held fast, and a rough and tumble struggle ensued, during which the buck hooked his sharp, hind hoofs in P.’s pants, and, with one violent jerk, sundered the lower half of the youthful Nimrod, leaving only the waist band of his pants and a few shreds belonging to the legs thereof. The possibility of having his hide served in the same way now presented itself to the excited imagination of the desperate hunter with such force that he instinctively placed a big tree between himself and the flying heels of the buck, still maintaining his hold upon the horns. In this condition the deer’s head was drawn around the tree, and Parker had an opportunity to get his knife and cut its throat, thus ending an adventure that, for having the quality of being at once exciting, critical and comical, is surpassed by few of its like on record.

The following was the population of Dallas by the United States census of 1870:

Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1066

Total population of Marion county by the United States census of 1870:

Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,731
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,705
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24,436

Transcribed by Mary E. Boyer, 12/06, reformatted by Al Hibbard 12 Oct 2013.