Montmorenci High School - Tigerette Yearbook (Montmorenci, IN)

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.. 1 'ff' ' Wgese. I ,:,.,, V 1 fu, . , ' list-r 11' ls. 5.231 5 -2 H s V ff A-- 1 11 Y sgmmslgsssggsssesssssiz r.e.-- fl ateeddsensg A- '-,rm '-2 ,,4. ,. 1 iv .-gl, -Lf VY Y - A 'I' I f 4 I HISTORY OF SHELBY T WNSHIP In preparing a history of this township,we are come pelled to base our statements upoh information furnished us by the survivors of that community who first entered its wilds and engaged in its settlement. 'Theyf however, came not with note books and pencils, but with the rude farming implements of early days and with a single purpose that of establishing a home for themselves and their posterity, in a new and undeveloped country. Some community Fosterg Zephaniah Thid of the very earliest families to settle in this were: John Guppyg Job Haighg John Dolly Wm. Joseph Mooreg John Bringhamg Wendell Brown, Brown: John Foster and Wm. McCrea. township was named in honor of Issac Shelby, who appointed to survey and locate a road from Logan- sport to La Grange, on theline of Warren County. Up to year of 1878, no public surveys had been made, - .Q . ,. .I . A 4 and all the land embraced by Shelby Township was known as Uthe lost landn. Deers and other lfrge game abounded in- great numbers, and for several years after this date the settlers believed that their hunting grounds would remain unmolestedg but the march of improvement is irresistible, and in due course of time these lends were surveyed and divided into sections, lend sales were effectedg and soon the few families mentioned were joined by others. Little. log cabins began tohbe seen scattered all over the town- ship proclaiming that the Nlost landsn were redeemed and by s community who were determined to prove the value of a rich prairie country and develop its hidden resources. On the land where the wer-whoops had resounded and the smoke had curled skyward from hundreds of wigwams, the song of the plow-boy was nowheard, and the smoke arose from the hearth-stones of a colony of pioneers a com- munity joined by bond of sympathy, having a purpose which they meant to accomplish, despite the obstacles which beset their path. Crops were raised at this point much earlier than in the timber region of the county, from the fact that all the undergrowth was regularly burned by the Indians, thus preserving the levelprairieg but this very fact was a serious inconvenience in itself, for the material for erecting homes wanting. For this commodity, the settler s of this township were compelled to draw upon the super- abundance of surrounding settlement, dragging these. ' J rg 'I he ' 12 , .3 i T2 ,wa 4 X 2' .f -FE V ,gg 4 w- ' Q it Q ' 7 as 7 . ' ' Q , ' , Y , H, 7 ' 7, ,fl H .qfgfg e ' ,see t.U3b5 ,, kQ,,jp.,g,ag5 W a,glg,f4.3gf' - 1145 1 - . kg, A, ,Q ,- rib .grj4sw4es' 1- ' 'f -T - 15i'2v,'f, , '59, ,M .,f. 'ar . afgvtei K fy I Q25 Sl!-a 4 S

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Loads through trackless forests and trsckless prsries, by a slow-moving team of oxen. Undismayed they presever- ed, day after dey, Qamping in tents and wagons, until by the united efforts of the msle member of the community , all were provided witp comfortable log homes. . 1.,x'd4. 1 In the year of - 58, John Eringhsm erected a frame residence which was rft6T owned and occupied by John Mc- Farland. Other buildings of Q similar character were erected in the course of time, but this building was en- titled to some distinction as being the first. . 'ti v ,r In l851,i they were presented with the opportunity affording their children s primary education. In that yQ r,i a subscription school wss opened and taught by Mr. Peytcn in a cebin on the farm of Rollin Ward. This sys- tem of npay schooln were at that time the only available means of acquiring an. education, which at best wfs very imperfect. Improvements however, were made in this sys- tem st a later date, and the studies pursued were of a more advanced course. In course of time twelve public schools were erected in township. In 1915, a fine brick school building was erected taking the place of the small one roomed buildings scatt- ered over the township. William Burkle was the trustee at the time of the building. It cost S40,000. Then in 1928, Harry P. Buch had the wonderful gym built, that we have now. It also cost t4o,oco. The first Church was erected in the southern part of the township about 1845, and was known as Asbury Gh- urch. About five years later, Wesley Chrpel was erected W in the central part of the township and,.afterwards, Lit- tle Pine Church, in the north pert. Asbury Church was destroyed by fire a few years later. .In 1878, Montmorenci Church was erected in the town of Montmorenci. Now there are three progressive churches in the township. The Meth- odist church and United Brethern church in the town of Momtmorenci. Greenhi11'scuth of Montmorenci. ' The town of Montmorenci is situated eest of the center of this township. The land upon which it is lo- cated was owned by Samson Hinkle, who sold goods at this point, subsequently dividing his property into town lots in 1852. It is situated on the Big Four Railroad and is a thrifty little town.' The business interests are repre- resented by three general stores, kept by Chas. Kneale, Paul Rostov, Albert Mullins, s post-office, three gas st ations, elevator, blacksmith shop, hardware store, bar- ber shcp, a physician and a wonderful school building. ' By, Catherine Mills Martha Jane Eller