Indiana Local History <-> Genealogy 
[Contact: Ann McRoden Mensch]

St. Joseph County, Indiana History <-> Genealogy - 1875 Map

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Indiana
History <-> Genealogy

*First created in 1830.
* County seat: South Bend (South Bend was called "Southold" in early years).
Click on this link to read an Historical Sketch of Early St. Joseph County, Indiana .
Located in northern Indiana, with the state of Michigan at it's northern boundary.
*Cities, Towns & Communities include: Ardmore, Chain-O-Lakes, Colburn, Crumstown, Gilmer Park, Granger, Hamilton, Lakeville, Lydick, Maple Lane, Midway Corners, Mishawaka , New Carlisle, North Liberty, Notre Dame, Nutwood, Olive, Osceola, Pine, Plainfield, Pleasant Valley, Roseland, Rupel Lake, South Bend, Sumption Prairie, Terre Coupee, Walkerton, Westfield, Wharton Lake, Woodland, Wyatt and Zeigler .

Select this LINK to see GENERAL St. Joseph County information and links .
Select from the TOWN list above to learn which township the community is located in, and view information and links specific to that area.
Select from the TOWNSHIPs Table below to view information and links specific to the township.

Please note:  Though the information on this web page is believed to be correct, the possibility of error remains.  Please notify the webmaster should an error be found.
 
 

 

Townships in Saint Joseph County
(North = Top)

Olive Township

Warren Township

German Township
Portage Township

Clay Township

Harris Township

 

Greene Township

Center/Centre Township

->                         <-

Penn Township

Lincoln Township

Liberty Township

Union Township

 ->                         <- 

Madison Township

Surrounding Counties:
 NNW = Berrien County, MI    NNE = Cass County, MI
W = LaPorte County, IN    ST. JOSEPH COUNTY    E = Elkhart County, IN
  SW = Starke County, IN    S = Marshall County, IN
See the History <-> Genealogy State Selection Index Page to visit research links for Michigan. 

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, INDIANA
Established in 1830, from unorganized land; County seat is South Bend.

+ MAPS + TOWNS + TOWNSHIPS + NEIGHBORING COUNTIES +
+ Historical Sketch of Early St. Joseph County, Indiana +
+ CHURCHES + CEMETERIES + MUSEUMS and HISTORIC SITES +
+ NEWS & NEWSPAPERS +
+ COMMERCE, TOURISM & ONLINE COMMUNITY   +
+ HISTORY & GENEALOGY: Articles & Online Databases + BIOGRAPHIES +
+ NATIVE AMERICAN: THE PEOPLE + NATURE +
+ ARCHIVES & LIBRARIES for Further Research +
+ COUNTY GOVERNMENT & Vital Records +
+ PROFESSIONAL HISTORICAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH+


Historical Sketch of Early St. Joseph County, Indiana

Primarily abstracted, by Ann Mensch, from: "An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana", compiled and published by Higgins Belden & Co., 1875.
+ Early Days, Visitors and Residents + County Organized + Townships Are Organized +
+ Early Mail and News + Early Church History + Early Roads + Ferries +

Early Days, Visitors and Residents.

     Father Marquette, in 1673, passed up the Illinois and Kankakee Rivers, and across the Portage "to the St. Joseph of the Lakes."  This was probably the first discovery of this lovely river by any European, and if tradition is true, he reached the river about 2 miles from where South Bend now stands.
     The mouth of the St. Joseph River was discovered by that distinguished French explorer, LA SALLE, in 1679, where he arrived in a vessel called "The Griffin."  He called it the "River of the Miami's," from the name of an Indian tribe living upon it.
     The Potawatomie tribe were the principal occupants of the country.  French traders at a later period came among them -- establishing trading-posts, intermarrying, and wielding great influence over them.
     At first, the only access into this area were the Indian trails from Fort Wayne and from Detroit, which intersected at Niles, Michigan, and a third trail, along the shore of Lake Michigan, to the mouth of the St. Joseph River; and when the first settlers came with their teams, they were obliged to cut their own trails.
     As early as 1820, Pierre F. Navarre came to the area, settling in Portage township, where South Bend is today.  Mr. Navarre married an Indian woman, and had a large family of boys and girls, some of whom were highly educated, and when the tribe was relocated beyond the Mississippi, he went with them, but returned, and died, December 27, 1864, and is buried in Notre Dame Cemetery.  His sons were still with the Indians, in Kansas, and, in 1875, one of them was reported to have been a chief among them.
     Alexis Coquillard, who came in the Spring of 1824, established a trading post with the Indians at South Bend, as an agent of the American Fur Company.  Coquillard was a Frenchman, born in Detroit.  He spent much of his time among the Indians.  Higgins Belden reports the following of Coquillard:  "...Being a man of large frame and powerful muscle, weighing about 250 lbs., he was held in hisgh esteem and was also greatly feared by them...They talked of electing him chief at one time, and his trading post on the banks of the St. Joseph River was a favorite resort for all the tribes in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan.  He was killed by falling from a building in 1854..."  His widow was reportedly still residing in South Bend in 1875.

St. Joseph County is Organized

     January 29, 1830, the Legislature of Indiana passed an Act, forming St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties.  In May, 1830, the county seat was located on a farm owned by William BROOKFIELD, and subsequently called the "McCartney Farm," about two and a half or three miles northwest of South Bend, in German Township, on section 27 (some reports say sections 34 and 35).  The town was called "St. Joseph", however, on May 12, 1831, the new Commissioners, consisting of Absolum HOLCOMB, Chester SAGE, Col. John JACKSON, and William M. HOOD relocated the county seat at the Village of South Bend, and St. Joseph County was organized August 27, 1830.  At that time, the population of the county was about 300.
     Adam Smith, Lambert McComb, and Levi F. Arnold were commissioned as justices of the peace by Gov. James B. Ray, and, meeting at the house of Alexis Coquillard, they were sworn in by Lathrop M. Taylor.   Col. Lathrop M. Taylor was elected the first clerk and recorder of the county, and he continued to hold prominent positions in the business and civil concerns of the county.  L. McComb was elected President of the Board, and the County was thus organized.
     This Board appointed John D. Lasly, County Treasurer; bond, $1,000; James Nixon, Assessor, and Daniel A. Fullerton, Collector of Taxes.  Benjamin Potter, Thomas Skiles and Jacob Keith was appointed Constables; Jacob Cripe and John Heag, Overseers of the Poor; Daniel Eiler and Samuel Cannon, Fence Viewers.  Samuel L. Cottrell was appointed sheriff of the county in 1831 and in 1834.
     Samuel Hanna & Co., and the American Fur Company were allowed to vend foreign merchandise by paying a license of $10 each.
     Monday, September 6, 1830:  The Board of J. P. met at the house of Alexis Coquillard.  Grand Jurors were drawn for the November term of the St. Joseph Circuit Court, and were as follows:  Samuel Cannon, Jacob White, John Clyburn, William Eahart, Adam Keith, John Bauker, Samuel Leeper, Charles Labby, Henly Clyburn, Ganriel Druliner, Zacheriah Grant, Jacob Cripe, Benjamin Potter, James Nixon, Thomas Clyburn, Philip FAil, Louis San Comb, and Joseph Adams.
     Petit Jurors were:  Paul Egbert, John Druliner, Daniel Eiler, C. B. Overrocker, John Whitaker, Benj. Coquillard, Israwl Rush, Barzilla Drulinger, Jacob Harris, John Hague, Richard Harris, Nathaniel Steele, Samuel Johnson, Jacob Egbert, John Rouleau, Jacob Ritter, Jacob Rhue, Alexis Coquillard, John Wills, John Skiles, Lewis Shirley, Joseph Rohrer, Horace Markham and Samuel Garwood.
     These juries, however, were reportedly never called into service.

+ + +
Townships Are Organized

     The first townships,  laid out by the Board of Justices of the Peace, Nov. 25, 1830, were Michigan Township, Deschemin Township, German Township, and Portage Township, as reported below ;
     On Sept. 7, 1831, the county having undergone some changes in its outlines, the following townships were re-arranged and laid out:  Portage Township, Centre Township, and Highland Township.  Note:  There is was no longer a township by the name of Highland by 1875.  The former Highland Township may have been located at/near the present-day German Township, which is north northwest of the city of South Bend, as indicated by the location of a Highland Cemetery at that place  (see map of location of the Highland Cemetery ).
     During the March, 1832 term, the Board laid off Penn Township, naming the house of Joseph PEMBERTON as the place of holding the elections; and also laid out Olive Township, appointing the house of Jacob Egbert for elections.
     On January 6, 1834, " German Township" was set off, and the place of election designated at Lot DAY's house.
     During the March, 1834 term, the Board laid off  the "Township of Plymouth", and designated the place of election at Grove POMROY's house.  During this term, the election location for Penn Township was ordered to be held at "St. Joseph Iron Works", which place (now Mishawaka) was rapidly becoming quite a town, even "eclipsing South Bend, in point of business and population."
     During the January, 1836 term, Greene Township and Harris Township were organized.
     During the March, 1836 term, Union Township was organized.
     During the May, 1836 term, Liberty Township was organized.

     Nov. 25, 1830: "Ordered, That all the district of country lying west of the range line dividing ranges two and three west of the second principal meridian of the State of Indiana, shall form and constitute a township in the aforesaid county, to be known by the name of Michigan township, and the sheriff of said county is ordered to notify the citizens of the aforesaid township by written notification to meet at the house of Lewis SHIRLEY in said township on the 18th of December, 1820, to elect one justice of the peace for said township."
     This township was not included within the bounds of St. Joseph County, but they extended their jurisdiction over it.
     "Ordered, That ranges one and two, west of the second principal meridian of the State of Indiana, shall constitute one township, to be known by the name of Deschemin township;"  sheriff is to notify the citizens to meet at the house of John DRULINER to elect a justice of the peace.
     "Ordered, That all that district of country lying and being from the second principal meridian of the state until the center of range two east, shall constitute German township, and the sheriff is required to notify the citizens to meet at the house of David MILLER to elect a justice of the peace."
     "Ordered, That all of that district of the country lying and being from the centre of range two, east  of the second principal meridian of the state, and thence running east to the eastern boundary of St. Joseph County, shall constitute Portage township."
     Aaron STANTON was appointed inspector of election in Michigan township, John EGBERT, of Deschemin township; David MILLER, of German township.

+ + +
Early Church History

     During the 1830s, two prominent Catholic missionaries ministered to the needs of the Potawatomies in northern Indiana:  Rev. L. De Seille and Rev. Benjamin Mary Petit.  Writing to his mother, on October 14, 1837, Father Petit said, "...it is I, whom the Pottawottamies call their 'father black robe'..."  Father Petit accompanied the Indians who were banished westward by the Government and on his return, died at St. Louis, February 10, 1839.  His remains were brought to Notre Dame, by Very Rev. Edward Sorin , the founder of the University of Notre Dame , in 1856.
     [To read additional history of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, which was founded in 1842 , from the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia Online, select this link.  You may also read The History of the Bascilica of the Sacred Heart, Excerpts taken from "A Spire of Faith, The University of Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Church " by Thomas J. Schlereth, or Take an ONLINE TOUR .]
     The first Catholic church, not only in St. Joseph County, but in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend, Indiana, was a log chapel erected, at Notre Dame, by Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin as early as 1831.  Known at that time as the " Indian Chapel ", it was the center of Father Badin's missionary activities throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan.
     On the 30th of January, 1831, the first Methodist worship prayer meeting was held, by Rev. N. B. Griffith, at the home of Benjamin Ross in South Bend.  Returning to the area in April 1831, Griffith gathered the people into the bar-room of a small tavern kept by Benjamin Coquillard, a Catholic.  At that time, Griffith preached and organized the first Methodist class consisting of the following:  Samuel Martin and wife, Benjamin Potter and wife, Benjamin Ross and wife, Rebecca Stull, and Simeon Mason.  Upon the arrival of William Stanfield and his wife, in June 1831, Samuel Newman and wife soon after, and Jacob Hardman, M.D., in August, they were all added to the list as well.
     The Presbyterian church was organized, July 25, 1834, at Mishawaka.  Members included:  Rev. Noah M. Wells, Elias Smith and Alma Smith, Alanson M. Hurd and Sarah L. Hurd, Levi Dean and Polly Dean, Philo Hurd and Martha Hurd and Willis S. Garrison.  By 1875, there were Presbyterian churches in Greene township, Harris and South Bend as well.
     Among the early citizens of South Bend, were those who held Baptist views of faith and practice.  By September 1836, meetings were held which resulted in the organization of the first Baptist church in St. Joseph County.  Constituent members included:  Rev. James M. Johnson, William H. Patteson, James W. Nunally, Jonathan Hardy and Rebecca Hardy.  Rev. Johnson served as pastor for about 6 months, and was followed by Rev. M. Price, of Cassopolis, Michigan, who preached 2 or 3 times a year.  It was reportedly Brother Price who preached the first Baptist sermon ever delivered in St. Joseph county.  By 1875, the Baptist church was also found represented with churches at Mishawaka (est. ca. 1840), Sumption's Prairie (est. in 1846), Walkerton(est. 1870) and Pleasant Valley.
     The German Baptist denomination was represented, in St. Joseph county, with churches in South Bend, Olive, German, Liberty, Union, Penn, Centre and Portage townships by 1875.  At that time, there were about 700 members of this denomination in the county.
     Other denominations and churches which were found in St. Joseph county early on include:  The Evangelical Association (Allbrights), which commenced about 1846 with the preaching of Revs. Kolb and Platz; The American Reformed church of South Bend, organized by Rev. William J. Skillman, March 31, 1870; The South Bend Disciple or Christian Church was organized, in 1844, on the east side of Portage prairie; a Christian church, at Mishawaka, was organized about 1843, with H. E. Hurlbut, A. Alden and Morris Hartwick being appointed Elders; a Church of Christ was organized, in New Carlisle, in March 1868; a church on Harris prairie, was organized about 1862, with James Lowery and A. McMichael appointed as Elders; and The Disciples met for worship at Lakeville.

+ + +
Early Mail and News

     The first post office in South Bend was commissioned July 14, 1829, as Southold.  The name changed to South Bend on October 18, 1830.  At the present time (2002), the Northern Indiana Center for History museum (808 W. Washington St., South Bend, Indiana) has the original, first post office box that Lathrop Taylor used in its collection.
     By 1830, weekly mail was established between Fort Wayne and South Bend, and semi-weekly mail from Piqua, Ohio to South Bend began in April 1832.
     Col. Lathrop M. Taylor was appointed the first postmaster June 6, 1829.  He was an Indian trader and agent for a Fort Wayne firm, and had arrived in the South Bend area in September, 1827.  Col. Taylor was also elected the first clerk and recorder of the county on October 18, 1830, and he continued to hold prominent positions in the business and civil concerns of the county.  Lathrop M. Taylor married to Mary Johnson.  They are both interred in the City Cemetery, in South Bend.
     In November 1831, the first newspaper, the " North Western Pioneer", was issued in South Bend, by J. D. and J. H. Defrees.  The name was changed to "St. Joseph Beacon", in 1832.  "South Bend Free Press" was established, in 1836, by William Millikin.  In 1845, it became the "St. Joseph Valley Register".  Other early St. Joseph County papers included:  "Mishawaka Bee", established in 1846; "Free Press", established in 1853, at Mishawaka; Turner's "South Bend Annual" founded in 1868; and "South Bend Weekly Tribune " was established in 1872.
     By 1860, the population of St. Joseph County had grown to almost 20,000, and by 1870, it had grown to 28,162 people.  It's growth has continued, and in 1990 had reached a bustling 247,052 (per U.S. Census demographics for St. Joseph County, Indiana ).
     The links below may be helpful as you research and explore St. Joseph County of yesteryear & present day.

+ + +
Early Roads

     The Michigan road was cut through the country in 1832.  It extended from Madison, on the Ohio River, to Michigan City, on Lake Michigan, a distance of 258 miles.  The Vistula road, running from Toledo to South Bend was put in order about the same time.  The opening of these roads had its influence upon the settlement of the country, and emigrants from Ohio, Pennslyvania and Virginia, found their way hither in great numbers, in the year 1832, and the succeeding two or three years.
     In May, 1832, the state road from Fort Wayne, via Goshen to South Bend, a distance of seventy-six miles, was surveyed by the veteran pioneer, the Hon. George Crawford, later of Laporte County.
     A state road from the crossing of the Yellow creek by the Michigan Road, via LaPorte to Michigan City, was laid out by Andrew Burnside, and in 1834, the state road through Sumption's Prairie to the west line of the state.

+ + +
Ferries

     The first ferry license across the St. Joseph River, at South Bend, was granted to N. B. Griffeth, in September, 1831, at the foot of Water Street.
     January, 1835, Alexis Coquillard established a ferry at the foot of Market Street.  The fee, per annum, was $2.00.

MAPS
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NATIVE AMERICAN
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MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
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CHURCHES
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·         Use the query form, at USGS, to map features including cemeteries, churches, populated places, and more.  Please note that the map town listed with a feature may be used as a map reference for the site, and may not be the town where the feature is actually located...Select a map to see the location of the actual feature.  This database may not be complete, and, as with any database, there may be errors.


CEMETERIES
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·         Indiana State Library.    140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o    Indiana Cemetery Locator Database 

  • South Bend Area Genealogical Society - includes
  • Use the query form, at USGS, to map features including cemeteries, churches, populated places, and more.  Please note that the map town listed with a feature may be used as a map reference for the site, and may not be the town where the feature is actually located...Select a map to see the location of the actual feature.  This database may not be complete, and, as with any database, there may be errors.
  • The Political Graveyard , for St. Joseph County, Indiana , created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum , a web site about U.S. political history, politicians and cemeteries.

 

COMMERCE, TOURISM & ONLINE COMMUNITY
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NATURE
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   25601 St. Rd. 4, P.O. Box 908 - North Liberty, IN 46554   Phone:  (574) 656-8186

NEWS & NEWSPAPERS
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·         Indiana State Library.    140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o    Newspaper Holdings: Holdings by county (in Indianapolis)

   304 S. Main Street - South Bend, IN 46601 Phone: (574) 282-4630.

 

BIOGRAPHIES
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HISTORY <-> GENEALOGY: Articles and Online Databases
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+ Early Days, Visitors and Residents + County Organized + Townships Are Organized +
+ Early Mail and News + Early Church History + Early Roads + Ferries +

   304 S. Main Street - South Bend, IN 46601 Phone: (574) 282-4630.

: "...In 1852 Henry and Clem Studebaker opened a blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana.  By the Civil War the shop was supplying wagons to the U.S. Army...As the 20th Century dawned, Studebaker began building both electric and gasoline powered automobiles..."

 

·         Indiana State Library.    140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o   Online Databases

o   Indiana Cemetery Locator Database

o   Indiana Biography Index (published before 1990)

o   Indiana Biography Index (published since 1990)

o   Index of Indiana Marriages Through 1850.

o   Index of Indiana Marriages, 1993 through 2002

o   Newspaper Holdings: Holdings by county (in Indianapolis)

o   Images of Indiana: 92 Counties // from Adams to Whitley

o   Indiana Public Libraries

o   WWII Servicemen Database

o   Indiana Plat Books

o   Vital Information Exchange (VINE)

 

 

 

 

ARCHIVES & LIBRARIES for Further Research
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   304 S. Main Street - South Bend, IN 46601 Phone: (574) 282-4630.

   209 Lincoln Way East - Mishawaka, IN 46544  Phone:  (574) 259-5277.

New Carlisle - Olive Township Public Library

   124 East Michigan Street - P.O. Box Q - New Carlisle, IN 6522-0837,    Phone:  (574) 654-3046

   808 West Washington - South Bend, IN 46601,  Phone: (574) 235-9664.

·         Historic Preservation Commission

   227 W. Jefferson Blvd #1123 - South Bend, IN 46601  Phone: (574) 235-9798.

·         Library of Congress: American Memory All Collections Search - enter topic or Indiana town and/or county location to find available online photos, maps, and more!

 

COUNTY GOVERNMENT & Vital Records
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Contacts to obtain many documents and cerified copies:

·         St. Joseph County, Indiana Government

·         St. Joseph County Health Department (For Birth & Death Records from ca. 1882)

  County-City Building, Room 825 - 227 West Jefferson Blvd. - South Bend, IN 46601-1870  Phone: (574) 235-9750

·         St. Joseph Probate Court Home Page !

   1000 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601-3426 Phone: (574) 235-5437.

·         Saint Joseph County Clerk (for Marriage and Divorce records)

    101 S. Main Street - South Bend, IN  46601  Phone: (574) 235-9679.
 Saint Joseph County Clerk
   101 S. Main Street # 30 - South Bend, IN  46601   Phone: (574) 235-9635.

·         Saint Joseph County Recorder

  227 W. Jefferson Blvd. # 321 - South Bend, IN  46601  Phone: (574) 235-9525.

·         Saint Joseph County Surveyor (For County Maps)

  227 W Jefferson Blvd #1100 - South Bend, IN 46601   Phone: (574) 235-9631.

St. Joseph County Communities

Centre/Center Township communities include:  Gilmer Park and Nutwood.
Penn Township formerly included Harris Township, Madison Township, and a portion of both Centre and Portage townships.  On Sept. 7, 1831, Centre Township was organized.  (See Townships Are Organized ).  John Egbert was appointed inspector of election for Centre Township.
From the book, "An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana", compiled and published by Higgins Belden & Co., 1875.
The text below the Center Township plat map reads as follows:
   "Andrew Milling was one of the first settlers in this township.  He located where Mr. Hildebrand now lives about 1830.  James and Ashur Palmer came at the same time and stopped on Sec. 2; John and Nathan Rose settled where John Dice now lives in 1830; Jacob Rupel came about this time; John Smith settled on Sec. 2 in 1832, and his father, George Smith, in 1833; John Henson and Thomas Jones in 1834; Isaac Lamb the same year, and Abial Hungerford, Tyra N. Bray in 1833; James and Richard Inwoods in 1835 or 6; Wm. Phillips about the same time; Wm. H. Robertson in Oct., 1836, on Sec. 2; the Odells, Vandenhoffs, Ulerys and Rushes.
   The Methodists held the first religious meetings in school-houses.  The German Baptists built the first church on Sec. 1.  The first school-house was built of logs on Melling's place.  M. Stover built the first saw-mill run by steam.  The first J. P. was Matthias Stover.  The first election was held in Col. Smith's school-house." (p. 86). 3


Clay Township communities include:  Notre Dame, Maple Lane and Roseland.  A portion of the City of South Bend extends, from Portage Township into Clay and Penn Townships.

·  University of Notre Dame du Lac

·  To read additional history of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, from the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia Online , select this link.

·  You may also read The History of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Excerpts taken from "A Spire of Faith, The University of Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Church " by Thomas J. Schlereth, or Take an ONLINE TOUR of the Basilica .

·  Biography of Very Rev. Edward Sorin , (b. 6 Feb 1814, at Ahuillé, near Laval, France; d. 31 Oct 1893, at Notre Dame, U.S.A.) the founder of the University of Notre Dame .


German Township communities include:  ---


Greene Township communities include:  Sumption Prairie (historical) and Wharton Lake.
Sumption Prairie, first settled in 1830, was located in section 36, of Greene township.

·         Sumption Prairie Church property at center of dispute in 1893 : an online story from an article, in the Oct. 2, 1893 edition of the South Bend Tribune.

 Historical Sketch of Greene Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana

     Greene township was named for John Greene who reportedly arrived in the Spring of 1832, and settled on section 36.  In April 1830, George Sumption settled on section 32, and his name was given to the prairie.  Other early settlers who arrived in 1830 included:  John Rupel and John Bird who settled on section 31; William Autrim on section 14; and Abram Whitmer on section 36.  In 1831, George Holloway settled on section 1, Stacy Garwood on section 7 and David Barrett on section 31.  The following year, Jacob Rupe, the father of Henry, Samuel, Martin, Daniel and Jacob, arrived and settled on section 7.  Also arriving in 1832 were Jonathan Wharton and M. Borton, of section 8 and George Baker, of section 5.  Gabriel Fender was on section 6 before 1832.  M. E. Hammond also settled, in section 6, in 1833.  Samuel Pearson located on section 8 and J. D. Robertson, of sections 10 and 11, located in the township by 1836.
     By 1875, there were five churches in Greene Township: a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, German Baptist and Advents.  Rev. Alfred Bryant was the first Pastor.
     The first reported death was that of Isaac Rudduck, on 13 Jan 1833, who was the first buried in the Sumption Prairie Cemetery , located on the north side of Kern Road, west of the Oak Road intersection.
     The first school-house, which reportedly burnt in 1833, was located at Cross-lane, at the center of the prairie.  Among the first teachers were Mr. Dwindle and George Pomroy.  John Green Jr. had the first saw-mill, on Potatoe Creek.
     Andrew Bird, born June 24, 1832, is the first reported birth.  The first couples reported married, in Greene Township, were:  John Rudduck and Elizabeth Rupe; Abijah Sumption and Rachel Rupe. 3


Harris Township communities include:  Granger.
       During the January, 1836 term, Harris Township was organized.  (See Townships Are Organized ).


Liberty Township communities include:  North Liberty, Rupel Lake and Potato Creek State Park.

·         Potato Creek State Park


Lincoln Township communities include:  Walkerton.


Madison Township communities include:  Woodland and Wyatt.


Olive Township communities include:  Hamilton, New Carlisle, Olive, Plainfield, Terre Coupee and Zeigler.

·  New Carlisle - Olive Township Public Library      124 E. Michigan Street - New Carlisle,  Indiana 46552  Phone: (574) 654-3046.

An 1875 biography of Job SMITH, as transcribed from the book, "An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana", compiled and published by Higgins Belden & Co., 1875. 3 :
   "JOB SMITH was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, August 13, 1813.
     His great grandfather came to America from England near the latter part of the eighteenth century, and settled in New Jersey.
     His grandfather and two of his grand uncles were in the Revolution, and continued during the war under Washington, participating in nearly all the great battles.
     His grandfather had a family of three children, one of whom was named Job.
     Job married first Rachel Rogers, and had Elizabeth, Samuel, Ann and Job.  Mrs. Smith having died he married secondly, Margaret Roe, and by her had twelve children.  He was in the war of 1812.
    In 1823 he emigrated with his family to Wayne county, Indiana, at that time a perfect wilderness.
     During his youth, Mr. Smith aided his father in clearing land and farming, and in 1832 he moved to St. Joseph county, and carved out a home for himself in Olive township.  A view of his residence may be seen in this volume.  He erected his cabin on the same spot where his house now stands.  He married first Eliza J. Lancaster, and had Mary J. who has been twice married, and lives in Missouri.
     Mrs. Smith died about 1846, and Mr. S. married secondly Mrs. Martha A. (Graves) Little, and has Horace G., Samuel, Benjamin D., Job C., Eliza A., Emma C., John J., Carrie M., and George E."


Penn Township communities include:  Mishawaka, Osceola and Pleasant Valley.  A portion of the City of South Bend extends, from Portage Township into Clay and Penn Townships.
Penn Township formerly included Harris Township, Madison Township, and a portion of both Centre and Portage townships.    (See Townships Are Organized ).

·         Mishawaka City (Penn Township) includes:

·         Mishawaka City History- "...The city is named after Princess Mishawaka, daughter of Shawnee Chief Elkhart..."

·         Local & National Historic Properties

·         The Mishawaka-Penn Public Library

   209 Lincoln Way East - Mishawaka, IN 46544  Phone:  (574) 259-5277.


Portage Township communities include:  Ardmore and the City of South Bend (the county seat).  A portion of the City of South Bend extends, from Portage Township into Clay and Penn Townships.    On Sept. 7, 1831, Portage Township was organized.  (See Townships Are Organized ).  Hiram DAYTON was appointed inspector of election for Portage Township.

·         City of South Bend

·         South Bend Tribune - online news.

·         South Bend, Indiana 1866 MAP . Drawn & published by A. Ruger.

·         South Bend, Indiana 1874 MAP . Chas. Shober & Co. proprietors of Chicago Lith. Co.

·         South Bend, Ind. 1890 MAP.   Pub. : Milwaukee.

   304 S. Main Street - South Bend, IN 46601 Phone: (574) 282-4630.

·         Western Branch Public Library

    611 S. Lombardy Drive - South Bend, IN 46619 Phone: (574) 282-4639.

·         Tutt Branch Public Library

     2223 Miami Street - South Bend, IN 46613 Phone: (574) 282-4637.

·         Francis Branch Library

     52655 Ironwood Road - South Bend, IN 46635  Phone:  (574) 282-4641.

·         LaSalle Library

   3232 Ardmore Trail - South Bend, IN 46628  Phone: (574) 282-4633.

·         Historic Preservation Commission

   227 W. Jefferson Blvd #1123 - South Bend, IN 46601  Phone: (574) 235-9798.

Union Township communities include:  Colburn, Lakeville, Midway Corners and Pine.

"An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana," Compiled, Drawn and Published from Personal Examinations & Surveys by Higgins Belden & Co., Chicago (Lakeside Building Corner Clark & Adams Sts.) : Higgins Belden & Co., 1875.
This book contains plat maps, which identify the land owners, for each township; township directories and descriptions; and an historical outline of the county with a timeline. It reports a brief history of Union Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana, as follows (pages 62-63):
     “John HENDERSON settled on Section 26, in 1833; Elijah Lineback on Section 35; John GARDNER on Section 3, the same year; John, Jacob, and Mark RECTOR on Section 1, before 1834; Hubbard HENDERSON on Section 35, in 1834; James, John, and Eli MOON on Sections 27, 28, and 34, May, 1834; James ANNIS on Section 9, before 1836; Michael HUPP on Section 34, in 1836; Abijah MILLS on Section 28, in the Spring of 1836; Wm. H. ROBERTSON, about 1836, on Section 32; Henry HARDY on Section 34, in the Spring of 1835; Esau Lamb, Spring of 1836, on Section 19; Daniel GLENN, 1835 or ‘6, on Section 1; Amos HESTON on Section 11; Henry and John RIDDLE on Section 2, in 1837; James WATSON, before 1841, on Section 19, and John SHIVELY on Section 19; Wm. HUGHES, Joseph MORRIS, Wm. NICHOLSON, David WHITINGER, John LONG, Mr. BYERS, and Mr. GIBBONS, were old settlers. The first election was held at Earl’s Tavern, in 1836, only 30 votes polled. First Justice of Peace was John HENDERSON, the first saw mill was built by Earl & Gilmore, in 1849, run by steam; the first Postmaster, John HENDERSON; the first school-house was made of split logs, on Moon’s farm; the first church, Methodist Episcopal, north of Lakeville, one mile. There are two churches in the township: Methodist Episcopal and Christian. First child born was George LINEBACK, November 9, 1834.”


Warren Township communities include:  Chain-O-Lakes, Crumstown (Crums Point), Lydick and Westfield.
A brief history of Warren Township, as abstracted, by Ann McRoden Mensch, from the book, "An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana", compiled and published by Higgins Belden & Co., 1875. 3 :
     The first non-native settlers in this township came in 1832, possibly a few might have been in at an earlier date.  It is said Judge Reynolds Dunn settled on Section 17, on November 19, 1831.  Peter BRICK, Peter WIKOFF, Goerge WHITTER and John KINGERY came in 1832 or 1833, and opened farms.  Stephen FIELD setted on Section 26, in 1832.  Jesse FRAME and his sons William, Nathaniel, Cornelius, Isaac, David and Jesse, settled on Section 22, on Portage Prairie, in 1833.  Nathaniel WILSON came the same year, or possibly the year earlier.  Isaac W. OHILLIPS settled on Section 8, about 1833.  Harvey BUCKLES opened a farm on Section 36 about 1834.  James DUNBAR came about the same time, and Joseph P. JONES took up lands on Portage Prairie in 1835.  Joseph PRICE was an early settler.  Thomas JACKSON settled on Section 22 and Calvin MYLER on Section 24. 
     The first school-house was also built on Section 24.  During the Black Hawk scare, the people built a stockade or fort at Mount Pleasant.
     The above 1875 history includes a plat map of Warren Township, and Crums Point is shown as the only settled community within this township at that time.  Crums Point was located in the southwest corner of Section 27, in southwestern Warren Township.

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PROFESSIONAL HISTORICAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH
Ann McRoden Mensch, Professional Historical Genealogist

Researching on-site, and with the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library, holding one of the largest genealogical collections in North America.  Search the Library's online catalogue to see some of the printed resources available for a location or topic.

Printed resources for this page include:

·         Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer.  First Edition, Second Printing.  Yarmouth, Maine:  Delorme.  1998.

·         School and Library Atlas of the World.  Fred W. Foster, Ph.D. (Editor).  Sycamore, Illinois:  School and Library Publishing Company.  1982.

·         3 "An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana," Compiled, Drawn and Published from Personal Examinations & Surveys by Higgins Belden & Co., Chicago (Lakeside Building Corner Clark & Adams Sts.) :  Higgins Belden & Co., 1875.   This book contains plat maps, which identify the land owners, for each township; township directories and descriptions; and an historical outline of the county with a timeline.

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Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002-2009, by Ann Mensch.  All Rights Reserved.