WELLS COUNTY
MATERIAL WEALTH AND PROGRESS
GENERAL DESCRIPTION--THE SUBSOIL--GLACIAL MARKS-THE FOUNDA-
TION SOIL--TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE--CHANGES IN VEGETATION
--ANIMALS, EARLY AND LATE--ARTIFICIAL DRAINAGE IN WELLS
COUNTY--FIRST OPEN DITCHES--DRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS UNDER
STATE LAWS--FIRST PUBLIC DITCHES PARTIALLY TILED--THE LAKE
ERIE BASIN AND WABASH RIVER VALLEY--DITCHES PARALLELING
MAIN STREAMS--THE GREAT NORTHEASTERN DITCH--THE ROCK
CREEK DRAIN--BIG THREE MILE DITCH--ELICK-MICHAELS DITCHES
--LARGE TILE DRAINS--OPEN DRAIN THROUGH SOLID ROCK--OTHER
LEADING DITCHES--PROGRESS FROM 1908 TO 1917--AGRICUL-
TURAL EDUCATION--COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS--THE
COUNTY AGENT'S WORK--INCREASING THE PRODUCTION OF CORN--
PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE HOGS--THE BROAD, PROGRESSIVE
FARMER OF TODAY--CHANGES IN CEREALS AND LIVE STOCK--COM-
PARATIVE SOIL AND ANIMAL WEALTH (1884-1917)--COUNTY ACRE-
AGE (1917)--CEREALS OF COUNTY (1917)--LIVE STOCK BY TOWN-
SHIPS (1917)--POPULATION OF THE COUNTY (1860-1910)--POPULA-
TION BY TOWNSHIPS (1890-1910)--COMPARATIVE PROPERTY VALUA-
TION (1884-1917)--VALUE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY (1917)--AUTO
MOBILE INCOME AND ROADS--FINANCES OF THE COUNTY--INDEBTED-
NESS ON ACCOUNT OF ROADS.COUNTY ACREAGE
Wells County lies mostly in the Valley of the Wabash, or in the
Ohio-Mississippi-Gulf of Mexico system of waterways. Like Adams
County, it was in the natural course of travel pursued by both the
reds and the whites in their journeyings from the more settled East
and Northeast to the wilder West and Southwest. The general history
of the two political divisions is therefore the same and the background
of Indian migrations over trails fairly well defined when the American
pioneers first made their homes in the Northwest Territory, as well as
the earlier era of French exploration and exploitation, applies as
260
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 261
closely to Wells as to Adams County. It would therefore be a useless
expenditure of mental effort either to repeat, even in substance, the
earlier portions of this work, which dealt with such general historical
matters, and with subjects of later date relating to American civil
government over the territory now embraced in Adams and Wells
counties while it was attached to other political bodies than those
specially organized under those names.The surface geology of the two counties has many points of re-
semblance, the most marked difference being that the watershed be-
tween the Great Lakes and the gulf systems, which passes almost[photo]
EVIDENCES OF MATERIAL WEALTH
diagonally through Adams County, cuts across only a small corner
of Northeastern Wells. The county now under special consideration
is in Northeastern Indiana, and extends for twenty-four miles north
and south. It comprises nine municipal townships-two tiers of four
townships north and south, with Jackson Township jutting out to the
west from the southern tier. It is 372 square miles in area, is the sec-
ond county from the eastern state line and the fourth from the
northern.Northern Indiana is covered with what is called in geology the
"drift," consisting of gravel, sand and clay, deposited by water when
it lay under that element. The "lake region" was one great body of
262 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
water, covering Northern Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, as well as Michi-
gan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc. The dip of the underlying strata in
Northern Indiana is generally westward, but in Adams and Wells
counties it is nearly northward and about eight feet to the mile.
Although most of the subsoil in this part of the state is gravelly,
good commercial clay abounds in many places, so that brick can al-
ways be made convenient to the place of building. Valuable limestone
for foundations, bridge abutments, etc., also abounds along the Wa-
bash, Salamonie and St. Mary's rivers, near the surface, even cropping
out in places.South of the Maumee Valley is a terminal moraine, which is the
summit of the watershed dividing the waters of the Ohio from those
of Lake Erie, known as the St. John's Ridge in Ohio, extending west-
ward into Jay County, Indiana, where it is known as the "Lost Moun-
tains." The elevation of this ridge is nearly 350 feet above Lake
Erie. The boulder clay is thicker here than in any other part of
Northeastern Indiana. In Jay and Wells counties, scattered pro-
miscuously, are found many specimens on top of the drift, of streaked
and grooved boulders, the rounded and polished surfaces, often on the
upper side, demonstrating that they had been ground and polished
at a higher level, and then frozen in ice, transported, and dropped
from the melting ice. Another expansion of the torrid zone drove
the ice further north, leaving the great lake basin filled with-water,
which covered Upper Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
the northern portions (about half) of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.Wells and Jay counties have other superficial ridges, knolls,
mounds, etc., the origin of which may be easily accounted for by
any one familiar with the effects of winds and currents. Compar-
atively, these accumulations of sand and gravel are recent. Underly-
ing them, and shove the coarse gravel resting upon the bed-rock, is a
thick stratum of fine clay, which is the foundation of the agricultural
resources of this region.The surface of Wells and Adams counties varies from level to
gently undulating, the level being inclined to have a swampy appear-
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 263
ance; but as the land is generally high above the rapidly running
water-courses, it can be thoroughly drained, and ditches and tile
drains are in rapid process of construction. The southeastern portion
of this section, as before noted, is much the highest; and therefore
the streams run in a northwesterly direction.
The largest stream is the Wabash, which runs northwesterly
through Harrison, Lancaster and Rock Creek townships, Wells County.
The second in size is the St. Mary's, draining the most of Adams
County. Third, the Salamonie enters Wells County about a mile[photo]
VARIETY OF GRAIN GERMINATION
west of the center of the south line, and leaves the county a mile west
of the middle of the north line of Jackson Township. Rock Creek
rises in the western portion of Nottingham Township, flows a little
west of north through Liberty and Rock Creek townships, emptying
into the Wabash in Huntington County. Six-Mile Creek drains the
eastern portion of Nottingham Township, and empties into the Wa-
bash about three miles above Bluffton; and Eight-Mile Creek rises
in the eastern part of Jefferson Township, and flowing a little north
of west, leaves the county at its northwestern corner.
264 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
When the white man first entered this region he found it covered
with a dense growth of white, burr and black oak, white elm, bass-
wood (lin), ash of two or three varieties, beech, sugar maple, hickory,
yellow poplar and walnut. Two or three specimens of sweet gum
were noticed in early days. The blackberry was the most valuable
of the wild fruits in this section. About eleven miles south of Bluff-
ton, thirty years ago, there were 320 acres of blackberry in one piece.
Cultivation has introduced weeds from the East to supplant, in
a great measure, the native herbs. The first introduced were the dog
fennel or mayweed, jimson-weed, cocklebur and smart-weed; but as
no plant can hold a spot of ground beyond a limited number of sea-
sons, some of these have given way to the ragweed; and this, in turn,
shortly yielded the situation to the sweet clover, a more welcome
visitor than all, as it is a prolific source of honey, and no disagreeable
feature. The ox-eye daisy also flourished in a gravelly soil. Dande-
lion, white clover and blue-grass carpeted most of the ground in the
early days.The largest and most conspicuous animals found here by the early
settlers were the following: Black bear, in limited numbers, and
soon killed off. Rarely, in later years, an individual or two might
be seen straying along here from Michigan. The Virginia deer, in
great abundance. The last seen in this region was about 1875.
Panthers and wild cats, beaver and porcupine, were rare. Raccoons,
once abundant, arc now rare. Opossums came in between 1840 and
1850, became common, hut a severe winter in the '80s killed off what
the dogs and hunters had left. Foxes, once common, are now seldom
seen. Wolves, at first numerous, were all killed off many years ago.
Ground-hogs, or "wood-chucks," were never plentiful, and are so
scarce now that seldom can one be found. No otters have been seen
for many years, though they were frequent in early days. A few
muskrats remain. Wild hogs, that is, domestic hogs escaped and
running at large until they fully attained the savage state, were com-
mon in pioneer times. In a few generations these animals became
as furious and dangerous as wolves. In primeval times there some-
times occurred a "raid," when squirrels, pigeons, etc., would migrate
across the country in incredible numbers. About the year 1855 there
was a squirrel raid here, eastward in its direction. Wild turkeys,
once plentiful, are now rare.
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 265
Very early the farmers of Wells County-and nearly everyone
was a farmer to a certain extent in the pioneer times-realized that
in order to make the progress which was warranted by the natural
richness of their soil they must subject it to systematic and scientific
artificial drainage. As already seen, the physical features of the
country were well adapted to aid this purpose of the settlers; this
fact, combined with their determination, energy and foresight, has
brought about a potent change in the line of marked development.
The successive steps of this great evolution in the advancement of
Wells County, with brief mention of those substantial citizens who[photo]
SPECIAL DAIRY HERD
have stood by these drainage improvements from first to last, are
described in a paper which has been furnished by Thomas C. Guldin,
the surveyor of Wells County, than whom none can speak with more
practical authority. The article follows.ARTIFICAL [sic] DRAINAGE IN WELLS COUNTY
By Thomas C. Guldin
The early settlers that came to Wells County made their homes
along the natural water courses and on the more undulating portions
of the county because of the natural drainage. Much of this land in
the county is too level, and the soil too heavy and compact, to be suc-
cessfully farmed without some artificial drainage. Even the more
rolling land which sheds the surface water quite readily is improved
by subdrainage.
In the earliest efforts at artificial drainage the farmers either in-
dividually or by agreement cut shallow open channels to drain the
266 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
surface water more readily. These channels were extended farther
and farther back from the natural streams and deepened from time to
time, as the increase in population demanded.The first drainage ditch established by law was the Burns Ditch,
which is located in Chester Township. Joseph Burns et al. were the
petitioners. The petition was presented to the Board of County Com-
missioners in March, 1876. Henry Oman, Jacob Stahl and James
Crosbie were appointed as viewers and they were ordered to report
their proceedings at the September, 1876, session of the County Com-
missioners.
The viewers reported favorably and the ditch was ordered con-
structed. The ditch was 24,700 feet in length and the estimated cost
of construction was $1,789.60, the excavating being estimated at
12½ cents per cubic yard. The ditch was constructed by allotting to
each interested party whose lands were benefited, a certain portion of
said ditch for constructionDRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS UNDER STATE LAWS
Until 1881, all public ditches were constructed by petition in the
Commissioners Court. In 1881 a law was passed by the General As-
sembly of Indiana whereby ditches could be established through Cir-
cuit Court. William Kirkwood of Nottingham Township was the first
man to serve as drainage commissioner as provided in that act. W. H.
Gregg of Rock Creek Township, W. A. Popejoy of Poneto, and R. C.
Stewart of Lancaster Township have served as drainage commissioners.
John F. Stine of Jefferson Township is the present incumbent. The
first ditch established under the law was petitioned for by Jonathan
A. Markley of Lancaster Township.FIRST PUBLIC DITCHES PARTIALLY TILED
A few public ditches were partially tiled as early as 1886, but only
a few were thus established before 1903. In the year 1903 William J.
Smith et al. of Jefferson Township petitioned for an open drain,
known as the Parkison Ditch and a portion of the Ballinger Ditch to be
reconstructed by tiling the same. The viewers reported favorably and
said drain was tiled to the center of section 27, in Jefferson Township.
By subsequent petition another tile ditch parallel with the former
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 267
ditch was established and the tile was extended more than a mile, the
terminus now being at the Fort Wayne Road one mile south of Ossian.
Since 1903 many open ditches have been tiled and are at the present
time being thus improved.THE LAKE ERIE BASIN AND WABASH RIVER VALLEY
A very small portion of the eastern part of Lancaster Township
and about one-third of Jefferson Township drain into Adams and Allen[photo]
THE WABASH AT HIGH WATER
counties, and the water goes through the Saint Mary's and Maumee
rivers to Lake Erie. The Wabash River enters Wells County near the
center along the east line of Harrison Township and flows north-
westerly through the county, leaving it near the northwest corner of
Rock Creek Township. The Salamonie River enters Wells County
near the center of the south line of Chester Township, flows north-
westerly and leaves Wells County about two miles east of the north-
west corner of Jackson Township.
268 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
DITCHES PARALLELING MAIN STREAMS
Eight Mile Ditch and Rock Creek Ditch are two channels which
parallel the main rivers, both draining large portions of the county
and both having been enlarged by dredge construction, whereby many
acres of land have been reclaimed and now constitute the very best
farm lands within the bounds of Wells County.In 1888 the Eight Mile No. 2 Ditch was petitioned to be recon-
structed. Several interested parties remonstrated, reviewers were
appointed and the ditch was ordered established and reconstructed
in 1891 at a cost of a little more than $25,000. The main ditch com-
mences on the Wells-Adams County line at the northeast corner of
Lancaster Township. Wells County, Indiana, runs thence in a north-
westerly direction across Jefferson and Union townships to a point
about sixty rods north of the southwest corner of the southeast quarter
of section 12 in Union Township. At the present time there is a peti-
tion on file to widen and deepen this drain and to extend it to a point
about sixty rods west of the northeast corner of section 6 in Union
Township where said ditch crosses into Allen County. The viewer's
report has not yet been filed, but enough work has been done on the
same to give an approximate estimate of its cost which will be more
than $150,000 and will affect and benefit approximately 40,000 to
45,000 acres of land; about 10,000 acres in Lancaster Township, 20,000
in Jefferson Township, 9,000 in Union Township and about 4,000 in
LaFayette Township in Allen County.Rock Creek, another drain which has been enlarged by dredge,
commences near the southwest corner of section 28 in range 12 east in
Nottingham Township and flows in a northwesterly direction through
Nottingham, Harrison, Liberty and Rock Creek townships and crosses
the county line on the west about one-half mile north of the southwest
corner of section 18 in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, and
affects about. 300 acres in Jay County, 8,000 acres in Nottingham
Township, 4,000 acres in Harrison Township, 7,000 acres in Chester
Township, 19,000 acres in Liberty Township, 4,000 acres in Rock Creek
Township, besides 6,000 or 8,000 acres in Huntington County. The
portion of the ditch in Harrison and Liberty townships was con-
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 269
structed and enlarged by dredging in 1893-97, and about two miles in
Rock Creek Township was made deeper through solid rock. The
estimated cost of this reconstruction was $59,971.64. At the present
time the portion of the ditch in Nottingham and Harrison townships
is being reconstructed with a dry land dredge. It was petitioned for
by Abraham Haines et al. and the estimated cost is nearly $17,000.
A petition is on file and viewers have been appointed for the recon-
struction and extension by widening and deepening that portion of
the ditch located in Liberty and Rock Creek townships. The viewers
have done no work on this project and it is impossible to give all
estimate of the extent, cost and number of acres that will be affected.The Daniel C. Shoemaker et al. Ditch, more commonly known as
Big Three Mile, is a ditch now under construction. This drain is a
joint drain with Adams County and affects about 5,000 acres in east
Nottingham Township. It commences near the center of section 32,
township 25, north range 13 east, runs northerly and empties into the
Wabash River near Linn Grove. To give proper drainage to much of
the land affected at the upper end of this drain it is necessary to exca-
vate through solid rock for a distance of over a mile. The estimated
cost of the ditch is nearly $15,000.The A. J. Elick and Harvey Michaels ditches in Union Township,
are among the largest tile drains in the county. The A. J. Elick et al.
Ditch affects about 1,509 acres of land. The main ditch with its lat-
erals constitutes a system of drainage of about 6 miles in length, includ-
ing 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 24 and 30-inch cement tile. This ditch was
constructed in 1915 and 1916. The estimated cost was $9,501.43. The
Harvey Michaels et al. Ditch is now under construction. It is a system
of drainage made up of two main lines, one terminating with 27-inch
tile and the other with 24-inch tile. The whole system affects about
1,600 acres of land; main and laterals is about 7 miles in length in-
cluding 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 27-inch cement tile.
The estimated cost of said ditch is $13,075.77.In Rock Creek Township several open ditches have been tiled
since 1908. John Raber No. 1 estimated cost $2,701.24, John Raber
270 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
No. 2 estimated cost $6,667.95, Peter McAfee No. 1 estimated cost
$4,281.42, Peter McAfee No. 2 estimated cost $5,129.20, John Falk
estimated cost $3,992.37 and D. W. Lesh estimated cost $3,596.08. All
have been constructed since 1900. A petition is now on file to tile an
open drain commencing near the center of section 34 in Rock Creek
Township and running thence in a general northerly direction about
three miles. This petition was filed by Simon Houtz et al., and it will
affect about 2,300 acres of land. It probably will require from 18 to
36-inch tile if the viewers grant the ditch, as prayed for.
In Liberty Township, the Peter Gaskill and I. N. Roush ditches are
among the largest tile drains. The Peter Gaskill drain includes about
three miles of tile ranging from 12 to 24-inch cement tile. This drain
was constructed in 1913-14 at a cost of $7,648.39. The I. N. Roush
Ditch is now under construction. There are about five miles of tile
ranging from 6 to 30-inch, and three miles of open drain. The entire
drain was estimated at $8,128.58. This ditch is located in the south-
west part of the township and runs in an easterly direction.The viewers' report on the Joseph Delong et al. Ditch is on file at
this time and, if ordered established as reported on, will be one of the
most expensive drainage systems ever established in this county for
the number of acres affected. This ditch commences in section 18,
township 26, north range 12 east, and runs thence easterly and north-
erly about five miles to the Wabash River. The total length of that
drain, main and laterals, being about 6 miles of tile and about 3 miles
of open drain; 1,200 feet of the open drain will be in solid rock from
one to three feet deep. The estimated cost of the entire project is
36,000.
OTHER LEADING DITCHES
In Jefferson Township, the William J. Smith No. 2 Ditch referred
to before, the Valentine, the Ira Beck, J. H. Zimmerman, James
McNeal and Fred Lipp ditches are tile drains of recent construction.
The Valentine Ditch is a joint ditch with Allen County estimated
cost $41,248.15. The Fred Lipp Ditch was tiled at a cost of $3,487.80.
The McNeal Ditch was tiled at a cost of $4,665.35. The William J.
Smith No. 3 Ditch was tiled at a cost of $11,000.00. The Ira Beck
et al. Ditch was tiled at a cost of $6,704.00. All of these ditches were
constructed with clay tile except the Smith Ditch. The J. H. Simmer-
man [sic] petition calls for a tile drain to affect about 1,800 acres of land
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 271
in Jefferson Township and for an open drain of about four miles into
Allen County. The viewers have made no report on time petition, but
will, no doubt, be the largest drainage project affecting Jefferson
Township, except the Eight Mile No. 2.
The James T. Shady, the John Kehrn and the Peter Steffen ditches
are the largest tile drains that have been constructed in Lancaster
Township. The James T. Shady Ditch is a tile drain about 2½ miles
long and has tile ranging from 12 to 24-inch cement tile. Estimated
cost was $5,210.95. The John Kehrn Ditch is about 3½ miles in length
and has tile ranging from 18 to 24-inch clay tile. The estimated cost
was $6,998.09. The Peter Steffen Ditch is a joint (hitch with Adams
County and was constructed with cement tile ranging from 22 to 27-
inch. The estimated cost was $5,772.59.
The largest tile drains constructed in Nottingham Township were
petitioned for by Geo. B. Schott and P. B. Alberson. The Geo. B.
Schott Ditch is about 21/2 miles in length, was constructed of cement
tile ranging in size from 8-inch to 24-inch. The estimated cost was
$4,222.92. The P. B. Alberson Ditch was constructed by using cement
tile ranging from 8 inch to 22 inch tile and it is approximately 3 miles
in length. The estimated cost was $4,608.39.
In Chester Township the largest tile drains constructed by petition
are the Frank Mowery, and the John W. Gregg drains. The Frank
Mowery Ditch is about one mile long and was constructed with tile
ranging from 15 to 22-inch tile. The estimated cost was $2,658.51.
The John W. Gregg Ditch is about one mile long and was constructed
with 10-inch to 18-inch tile. The estimated cost was $1,241.71.
In Jackson Township the Davids Open Drain, the Clarinda Knott
Ditch, the Arthur Kelley Ditch, and the Thomas Morris Ditch are the
largest ditches constructed in recent years. The Davids is about 41/2
miles in length and was reconstructed as an open drain in 1910 at a
cost of $3,344.40. The Clarinda Knott Ditch is a tile drain which was
constructed in 1908-9 primarily to drain the swamps a mile east of the
center of Jackson Township at a cost of $3,833.74. The Thomas Morris
Tile Ditch is in the northeast part of the township and was a joint
ditch with Huntington County. It was constructed in 1910 at a cost
of $4,699.00. The Arthur Kelley Ditch is a joint ditch within Blackford
County. It is partly tiled and partly open ditch. The estimated cost
of construction was $6,602.95.Prior to 1908 there were very few public ditches tiled. Since 1908
many of our smaller open ditches have been and are being tiled. As
272 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
the land is being thoroughly under-drained, thus forcing the water
into our open ditches much quicker and faster, the open drains are in-
sufficient to take care of the water and many of our open drains will
have to he cut wider and deeper. Farmers are beginning to realize
that thorough drainage is one of their biggest assets. Tile drains are
being put in deeper and more systematically than ever before.
From 1908 to 1917 inclusive the farmers of Wells County have
lien assessed for constructing public drains the enormous sum of
$523,474.11, most of which has been spent in tiling open drains. This
does not include money and labor spent in the repair and maintenance
of these drains.
The records in the county surveyor's office show that there are
approximately 328 miles of open drain in Wells County, that have
been constructed by petition. There are also several short open drains
which were constructed by the interested parties without resorting
to law. Approximately 244 miles of tile drain have been constructed
by petition. Open drains not constructcd by a dredge are repaired
and maintained by the interested parties. The county surveyor allots
to each tract of land affected a portion of said drain to keep in re-
pair, in accordance with the original specifications. The township
trustee of each township has supervision of the maintenance of all
ditches that lie within the bounds of his township, except dredge
ditches. Tile drains are repaired under the supervision of the town-
ship trustee, and paid for by the lands affected by such drains in
proportion to the assessments for the construction of said drains.
Open drains constructed by dredging are repaired and maintained
under the supervision of the county commissioners and the county
surveyor.
Wells County contains 572 sections of land or approximately 366,-
000 acres, almost all of which is tillable when properly drained. The
undulating land along the northeast bank of the natural streams,
approximately 50,000 acres, may be farmed without artificial drain-
age. However, proper subdrainage improves this land for farm
crops.
Most of the really effective work which has resulted in the im-
provement of the farmers and their properties in Wells County has
been accomplished through the cooperation of the rural communities
with various officials of the county and the national governments. In
the former class may be placed the county drainage commissioners
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 273
and surveyors (the duties of both officials usually being combined),
the county superintendents of schools and the county agents. The
last named an official creation in Wells County only four years of age,
represents the United States Department of Agriculture in coopera-
tion with the Purdue University Agricultural Extetion [sic] Department
and the county board of education.COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Wells County had an agricultural society as early as 1853, when
Rev. D. H. Drummond was elected its president. The Civil war inter-
rupted the holding of its annual fairs, and in 1867 the society was
reorganized, John McFadden being its president for some years hi there-
after. The second organization went out of existence about 1882, and
the old fair grounds were sold for a park, which, in turn, reverted to
farm land. The Wells County Agricultural Association, which was
incorporated in 1906, has held eleven exhibits and street fairs, and
it has always been considered that its main object has been accom-
plished when provision has been made for the recurrence of those
affairs through the legal amount appropriated by the Board of County
Commissioners and the funds raised by private subscription. Matters
relating to the education and social uplift of the rural communities,
in former years largely undertaken by the County Agricultural So-
ciety, have been assumed by the county superintendent of schools in
cooperative work with the county agent. The officers of the Wells
County Agricultural Association, who managed the fair and exhibit
of September 25-29. 1917, were: D. V. Lamm, president; A. R. Wil-
liams, vice president; George L. Saunders, manager; C. W. Decker,
secretary-treasurer.The first and only county agricultural agent who has been as-
signed to Wells County is Harry Gray, and the functions of his
office are thus described in the section of the vocational educational
law passed by the Legislature of 1913: "It shall be the duty of such
agent, under the supervision of the Purdue University, to cooperate
with farmers' institutes, farmers' clubs and other organizations, to
conduct practical farm demonstrations, boys' and girls' clubs and
contest work, and other movements for the advancement of agriculture
and country life, and to give advice to farmers on practical farm
problems, and aid the county superintendent of schools and teachers
in giving practical, education in agriculture and domestic science."
274 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
INCREASING THE PRODUCTION OF CORN
As the corn crop is Wells County's prime source of wealth, steps
taken in improving the production of that cereal logically take first
place in the work of the county agent. As he himself says: "This
has perhaps been our most important work, as Wells County is pri-
marily a corn and hog county, and an increase of only one bushel per
acre on our sixty thousand acres, in a single year would pay the
salary of the county agent for twenty years. The work was com-
menced in October of 1914 by holding seed corn selection meetings
in each of the nine townships of the county, where the type of ear and
stalk was studied and attention paid to methods of storing seed corn.[photo]
A SEED CORN SELECTIVE MEETING
Great stress was laid upon the importance of selecting seed from the
fields before it was injured by killing frosts. The nine meetings were
held upon farms where we could go into the corn fields and were at-
tended by 167 men and 334 children. This was followed by putting
cards into the schools for the purpose of getting reports of the probable
corn acreage of 1915, the amount of seed corn selected from the field
and when and how it was stored. Not a great number of these cards
came back to me, but those that did showed that the farmers were
depending too much on crib-selected corn.
"At the meetings we used charts showing the possible yields with
given stands and weights or ears, and the per cent of stand and cost of
production in the Five-acre Corn Contest in Indiana in 1914. We also
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 275
showed the difference in vitality of different cars of corn by exhibiting
the sprouted grains as taken from the germination box. As a result
of these various efforts more farmers in this county this season tested
their seed corn than in any previous seasons. This means better stands
of corn and consequently increased yields. If we could get only one
farmer in each four in the county to discard a single dead ear and
plant a good one in its stead, we would secure the one bushel increase."PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE HOGS
In the line of "hog improvement" work, the county agent re-
ported: "This has been along the line of Hog Cholera control and
the feeding of better rations. A serum depot was maintained in
Bluffton in 1915 and one Anti-Hog Cholera organization formed. The
great difficulty in the control work is to get men to realize that
cholera is a community problem, and there is an immense amount of
work ahead along this line. A number of hog owners have been per-
suaded to feed better rations to their sows and growing pigs."THE BROAD, PROGRESSIVE FARMER OF TODAY
There have also been "wheat production" campaigns, horticultural
and dairy extension work, horse improvement meetings, ''drives'' to
control oat smut, potato scab and other fungus and insect threats,
and farm surveys for the purpose of collecting data on management
and business efficiency. Before the county agent commenced his work
two farmers' clubs had been organized in his territory and since
then many have been established. Under direction of the county
superintendent of schools, he has met with teachers' institutes, visited
schools and, in numerous instances, has listened to recitations, and
examined the pupils themselves, on agricultural matters which came
within the scope of his work. Each Saturday during the school terms
it is the custom of some of the teachers to call at his office in Bluffton,
in order to consult and co-operate with him. Perhaps the most com-
mon topic of consultation between the county agent and the teachers of
the country schools relates to the contests in corn growing, poultry
raising and sewing, which were inaugurated by the county superin-
tendent several years ago. In this special work the county superin-
tendent of schools is the leader and the county agent is directly under
him. Their close and warm co-operation in Wells County has resulted
in striking benefit to its boys and girls. These activities, coupled
with the social and literary benefits enjoyed by the members of the
276 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
farmers' institutes and clubs; the extended advantages of school and
traveling libraries, telephone service, automobiles, traction machinery,
improved roads, scientific drainage, and a hundred other blessings of
today (so widespread that they have become almost necessities), have
made the typical agricultural life of Wells County not only one of
independence, but of breadth, health and true development.
CHANGES IN CEREALS AND LIVE STOCK
As an agricultural and live stock county, Wells has witnessed a
number of positive transformations within the past thirty years.[photo]
SEEN AT A LIVE STOCK IMPROVEMENT TOUR
Its wheat crop, which in the '80s was such a source of wealth and
pride is now small, while its corn lands have almost doubled in area
and much more than doubled in productiveness. Both in the acreage
sown and the yield, oats have increased more than threefold. Timothy
has about held its own in acreage and quantity produced. In live
stock the greatest gain has been in milch cows and the most pro-
nounced loss in sheep. Thirty years ago Wells County was raising
three times as many sheep as it is today. The actual number of its
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 277
horses, cattle and hogs has not much increased, although all of them
show a decided improvement in breeds.
COMPARATIVE SOIL AND ANIMAL WEALTH (1884-1917)
In 1884 the chief cereals of Wells County were the following, as
indicated by the figures: Corn, 34,607 acres, with a production of
821,585 bushels; wheat, 28,272 acres, 370,507 bushels; oats, 7,727
acres, 253,921 bushels; timothy, 16,289 acres, 25,880 tons. The live
stock: Number of horses, 6,679; cattle, 13,149; hogs, 26,672 sheep,
12,045. Division of lands: Timber, 66,260; newly- cleared, 2,039;
idle plowed, 8,144; grass lands, 5,741.
Accompanying these and other figures taken from the census of
1884 is the note: "But it must be borne in mind that the official
census generally falls far short of giving the full amount." The
same may be said of the statistics gleaned from the township as-
sessors books which assume to bring these items up to January 1,
1917; in fact, some of these officials, such as those representing Lan-
caster and Union, have the grace to admit that their returns are "in-
complete." It is probable that from 25 to 30 per cent added to the
total of any of these items would be much nearer correct than the
figures as they stand; but they are the best which are accessible.Township Leased or Pasture Timber
Rented
Chester 17,082 5,176 1,323
Harrison 21,159 2,273 1,431
Jackson 22,649 6,474 2,433
Jefferson 19,816 3,131 1,920
Lancaster 4,986 896 359
Liberty 20,150 4,405 1,587
Nottingham 13,953 2,323 959
Rock Creek 21,937 3,310 2,226
Union 4,416 675 205
------- ------ ------
Totals 146.148 28,663 12,443
[page 278][photos]
MABEL AND LITTER MATE
COMING LIVE STOCK MAN
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 279
Townships Corn Oats Timothy
Acres Bushels Acres Bushels Acres Tons
Chester 4,447 130,455 2,708 62,240 2,574 2,444
Harrison 6,323 237,962 3,677 114,630 2,188 2,510
Jackson 6,197 204,466 3,281 83,067 1,985 2,456
Jefferson 5,252 210,080 3,347 100,310 3,109 4,305
Lancaster 3,240 93,315 2,050 53,737 1,885 2,278
Liberty 5,308 267,340 3,928 116,370 2,500 2,743
Nottingham 3,833 140,720 2,326 62,101 1,500 1,596
Rock Creek 6,200 276,360 3,666 135,418 1,758 2,326
Marion ..... ....... ..... ....... ..... .....
------ --------- ------ ------- ------ ------
Totals 40,800 1,560,688 24,983 728,053 17,429 20,658
LIVE STOCK BY TOWNSHIPS (1917)
Townships Horses Cattle Hogs Sheep
Chester 702 1,232 2,500 463
Harrison 859 1,839 2,873 1,082
Jackson 855 1,657 5,054 578
Jefferson 781 1,362 2,863 551
Lancaster 1,493 1,395 2,850 188
Liberty 958 1,596 5,019 399
Nottingham 516 1,074 1,976 315
Rock Creek 871 2,063 5,437 966
----- ------ ------ -----
Total 7,055 12,218 28,562 4,542
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY, 1860-1910The first United States census of Wells County was taken in 1860,
when it had a population of 10,844; the figures had increased to
13,585 in 1870; 18,442 in 1880; 21,514 in 1890, and 23,449 in 1900.
The decadal enumeration of 1910 indicated a decrease of population,
being given at 22,418.
The census of 1880 produces a number of interesting items. In
that year the population by townships was as follows: Chester,
1,668; Harrison, 4,389 (including Bluffton, with 2,354 and Vera
Cruz, 260) ; Jackson, 1,496; Jefferson, 2,262; Lancaster, 1,806; Lib-
erty, 1,752; Nottingham, 2,057; Rock Creek, 1,412, and Union, 1,600.
280 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
Nativity: American, 17,851; foreign, 591. Of the American-born, the
division by states was: Indiana, 11,879; Ohio, 3,958; Pennsylvania,
991; New York, 136 Illinois, 86; Kentucky, 83. Of the foreign-born,
Germany furnished 206; Ireland, 133; England and Wales, 55; Scot-
land, 26; British America, 16; France, 1; Sweden and Norway, 1 each.
POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS, 1890-1910
1910 1900 1890
Totals 22,418 23,449 21,514
Civil Divisions
Chester Township, including Keystone Town.. 1,929 2,345 1,937
Keystone Town 242 250
Harrison Township, including Vera Cruz
Town, and parts of Bluffton and Poneto
Town 6,742 6,548 5,764
Bluffton City (part of) 4,848 4,479 3,589
Total for Bluffton City in Harrison and Lan-
caster townships—Ward 1, 1,269; Ward
2, 2,022; Ward 3, 1,696 4,987 4,479 3,589
Poneto Town (part of) 112 71
Total for Poneto Town in Harrison and Lib-
erty counties [sic] 308 332
Jackson Township 1,778 2,237 1,731
Jefferson Township, including Ossian Town 2,617 2,455 2,476
Ossian Town 661 529
Lancaster Township, including part of Ward
1, Bluffton City 2,371 2,169 2,030
Bluffton City (part of) 139
Liberty Township, including part of Poneto
Town 1,846 1,976 2,037
Poneto Town (part of) 196 261
Nottingham Township 2,219 2,654 2,284
Rock Creek Township, including parts of
Markle and Uniondale Towns 1,442 1,560 1,609
Markle Town (part of in Huntington Town-
ship) [sic] 74
Uniondale Town (part of) 158
Total for Uniondale Town in Rock Creek and
Union townships 189
Union Township (including part of Union-
dale Town) 1,474 1,505 1,646
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 281
COMPARATIVE PROPERTY VALUATION (1884-1917)
The assessors who went among the farmers and villagers of Wells
County in 1884 reported the following as their grand conclusions:
Number of acres of land, 231,098, valued at $3,177,635, with improve-
ments amounting to $795,005; lots, $263,545, and improvements,
$374,615; personal property, $1,568,165. Total value of taxable prop-
erty, $6,178,865. It will be seen by a comparison of the valuation of
the farming lands with improvements and the improved village and
town lots that the latter were assessed at between 18 and 19 per cent,[photo]
WELLS COUNTY PERCHERONS
of the former. At first thought, a resident of Wells County would
be rather positive that the more than thirty years which had passed
since that time would have advanced city and village property much
more proportionately than agricultural lands; but such is not the
case, and the figures which cover the same items for 1917 show that
there has not been a change of 1 per cent in the comparative value of
urban and farming real estate in Wells County.
VALUE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY (1917)
The following table exhibits the total value of taxable property in
Wells County in January, 1917, by townships, town and city (Bluff-
282 ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES
ton). It shows the area of the county in acres, and the real estate is
divided into “lands,” or farms, and “lots,” or village and city
property. The lands and lots, with improvements, make the total
real estate assessed for taxable purposes.Lands and Lots and Total
Improve- Improve- Personal of Taxable
Townships Acres ments ments Property Property
Jackson 22,844.60 $ 916,300 $ 5,840 $ 377,975 $ 1,300,115
Chester 22,869.68 943,235 4,695 278,440 1,226,370
Keystone (town) 42.32 10,850 10,725 12,225 33,800
Liberty 21,824.03 912,600 13,040 354,175 1,279,815
Poneto (town) 7.79 1,120 23,480 64,500 89,100
Nottingham 30,510.66 1,263,155 20,945 508,880 1,792,980
Rock Creek 22,630.05 999,920 3,495 474,200 1,477,615
Markle (town) 11,360 8,380 19,740
Uniondale (town) 40.01 12,195 33,760 69,695 115,650
Union 22,450.48 915,375 20,500 278,260 1,214,140
Jefferson 29,929.76 1,129,380 18,055 370,455 1,517,890
Ossian (town) 5,854. 28,195 84,260 126,970 239,425
Lancaster (town) 30,151.40 1,281,570 30,355 462,830 1,774,755
Harrison 29,116.47 1,378,300 7,410 518,565 1,904,275
Vera Cruz (town) 5,124. 3,050 12,635 28,270 43,955
Bluffton (city) 19,807. 138,040 1,619,765 196,990 2,554,795
Totals 232,545.10 $9,933,285 $1,920,325 $4,730,810 $16,584,420
AUTOMOBILE INCOME AND ROADS
The assessors also collected a number of interesting items, both in
their "round-up" of personal property and real estate. It was ascer-
tained that the gross receipts turned into the county treasury from
the registration of motor vehicles (chiefly automobiles) amounted dur-
ing the year 1916 to over $15,000. They also learned that there were
756 miles of gravel and macadam roads in Wells County, and 31,992
in the entire State of Indiana.
FINANCES OF THE COUNTY
The report of County Auditor C. T. Kain for the year ending
December 31, 1916, adds much in the way of information about schools,
roads and other vital subjects, to the facts already conveyed, and also
gives a definite idea of the county government as a financial and a
business organization. The total received from all sources for the
year amounted to $815,818.85; disbursements, $726,308.40; balance De-
cember 31, 1916, $97,193.96. This sum, less overdrafts of $7,683.51,
left a net balance of $89,510.45. The schools and the roads of the
county drew most heavily on the treasury, the former to the extent of
ADAMS AND WELLS COUNTIES 283
about $170,000 and the latter (roads) about $100,000 more. The books
further showed that more than $6,000 was expended on the up-keep
of the County Poor Farm, some $5,500 on the Bluffton Library and
nearly $12,000 on the electric light and waterworks plant.
INDEBTEDNESS ON ACCOUNT OF ROADS
The following table shows the bonded indebtedness of the various
townships on account of free gravel and stone roads, and forcibly in-
dicates the preponderance of Harrison Township in that regard:NET BONDED
BONDS PRINCIPAL INDEBTEDNESS
OUTSTANDING ON BONDS AFTER DEDUCT-
TOWNSHIPS— JANUARY 1, PAYABLE ING 1917
1917 IN 1917 PAYMENTJackson $ 8,424.00 $ 1,128.00 $ 7,296.00
Chester 54,048.00 8,664.00 45,384.00
Liberty 42,814.00 8,950.00 33,864.00
RockCreek 71,793.72 10,717.32 61,076.40
Union 41,766.28 8,394.68 33,371.60
Nottingham 35,588.00 10,624.00 24,964.00
Harrison 196,524.00 30,012.00 166,512.00
Lancaster 72,660.00 15,630.00 57,030.00
Jefferson 90,702.00 16,588.00 74,114.00
Totals $614,320.00 $110,708.00 $503,612.00