Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-03-10
Written for the MARSHALL Co. Republican.
Marshall County Lbs Early History.
DY WARREN TAYLOR.
CHAPTER I.

If my representations contain mistakes, will thank
/, ANY person to correct me. y eFes tls4
Up to the year 1882, Marshall County was occu-
pied exclusively by the Indians. In the spring OF
that year Messrs- Samuel ID. Tabor and Charles
1 osterfout settled, the former where he now lives
the latter about one mile south of Plymouth upon
the farm now owned by Mr.. Orr. About this time
that part ofthe Michigan Road between Locanspor,
and Michigan City was surveyed, located, and let
ont to contractors. An Of our citizens have heard
ofthe Michigan Road Lands, and it may be wen to
briefly explain their origin.
In 1873, near that time, the Pottowatamie
Indians gave to the STATE of Indiana quantity Of
land which Vas 70 be applied towards the eostr,c-
ticn the Michigan Road. The Indians designed,
it Is supposed, to give one section ofand for every
mile Of road that passed through their territory
which then reached from near the northern line Of
the State to within four miles Of Losansport, as
lance of about sixty miles. But the treaty is said
to hare been wooded that the tate obtained one
section for every mile OF road from Madison to the
mouth of Trail Greek, where Michigan City now
stands. The lands thus obtained were called Mich
igan Road Lands. The precise time when these
lands were FIRST brought into market am unable to
give, but they appear have been for sale rs carly
as le52 They were first offered at public auction,
and the lots remaining unsold were subject to Dri
vatc entry. During the year 1892 general treaty
was made with the Indians, by which most of the
lands within the limits of our county were coded to
the United States. -
By the fall Of 1884, the white population Of Mar
shall County had very much increased. Mcssrs
ostcrhout, Tabor, J Gibson, VIM Blakely, Clark.
and Caldwell, were living south from where Ply
mouth now stands, on or near the Michigan Road.
The two latter had settled not far from the present
village OF Fremont, the remainder, from one. to
three anI a half miles south of Yellow River
About four miles north from Plymouth was another
small settlement The names of these settlers
were as follows: Slas Morgan. Adam vinncdyc
George vinnedgc, - ShrtIifsc, Adam SNYDER
and Peter Schroeder. Late in the year 1884
Grove Pomcroy erected the first house in Plymouth
IL was a log cabin, and stood near tie corner of
Iaporic and Michigan streets, ON ground now oc
cuPied by the Corbin block. Besides the above
named gentlemen and their families, there we're in
Marshall County, at this time, few white person.
who worked ON the Michigan road, and had not b.
come perm residents.
In an election held at Charles osterhouts, prob
ably in the summer OF le34. Samuel ID. Tabor was
elected Jasticc fthe Peace. M,rshalI County
at this time had cxistencc-thc territory which,
it embraces attached to the county of ST Jo
<cph- In the fall Of ~ the Michigan roa, from
Lo.ansrort to Michigan City was completed. Be- /
fore the completion of this road persons who Jour
neycd from L,Stnsport to South Bend. followed an |
ln'iian TRAIL which. crossing yellow River below /
the village of Plymouth. and near tho Keslins
bluffs then took northc st direction not Ear from
the present Inc of the Laportc road, to about two
miles beyond BEssyillc IL there turned to the
north, crossed Pine creek near Knott's mill, the
Potaipc creek near North Liberty, and then passed
by te way Of Sumption prairie to South BEND
From the ncigl'borhOod Of Plymouth to Loeans-
port, this trail passed not FAR from the Michigan
road, general. to the of il through Marshall
County
VILLAGE OF PLrxotrH.-Thc original propric-
Tors OF Plymouth were, William Polk, John Scriny,
mi James Blair. The first plat was made out in
Ort- 1884 The ground laid Oft into lots and streets
was about half mile in width. Since that time
additions have been mad, the plat ON the east,
the west, the morrill, and the south.
In the winter or spring Of 1895, Oliver Rose open
rtl the first store Plymouth. His store room was
\ log building which stood upon the lot now occu-
pied BY Cieavcland & Hewct. and'the law Office of
l. H. Reeve Mr.. Rose also commenced farming
operations on quite an extensive scale, upon what
: now known as the Gooiscll place. He was, 1 =
believe, when he came to the county, accompanei
Dy our worthy and esteemed friend Mr.. Gibson s.
Ciearciand, who is still with us. Daring the sum-
ner or fall of 1895 Uri Mrtcalf and MiIburn Cole,
'ccamc residents OF Plymouth. The latter gentle
N naiterwarls erected saw mill, which stood al
title to the north Of the site nov occupied bv the
Plymouth FIGURING Mills. During the same sea e
ION ('35) Judge Pomcroy erected frame building
IT respectable size which stool upon the corner Of
-lporte and Michigan streets. Judge p. kept a
'ubiic house, and carried on an extensive business
entertaining travellers, a. tho general land sales
hieh commenced about tins time broght MANY
er$ons into the county, from different parts of the
Tnited States ~ 3
In September, 1888, the most of the lands with
| the limits Of Marshall County, were brought in
market. and offered for SUE at I.sporte. where z
&c land Office then located. OF this land Of
CO, Mr.. Robp was Register, and Maj John N.
'cmon, Receiver The sales were attended by a 3
rye number Of persons, and among them were
ANY spectators. Many choice lots were bid OF h
four and FIVE dollars per acre. some perhaps were II
I'D at higher price. The spectators succeeded n