As elsewhere narrated, Albion Township was created June 4, 1854, the commissioners taking sections 18, and 19 from Jefferson, and sections 13 and 24 from York, which made a tract two miles square, or four square miles. It took in the locality known in early days as "The Center," and which had been selected eight years before, in 1846, as a site for the county seat. The first courthouse here was erected in 1847. One of the early settlers of the little township of Albion was the Hon. Abel Barnum, who in 1844, purchased a tract of land about three-quarters of a mile north of the present Albion. It was he who cut the first road into the village. Other early settlers in the vicinity were David Harriman, William Skeels, Benjamin Potts, S. C. Spencer, F. A. Black, Calvin Prouty, David Hines and others. The first log cabin was built by Isaac Swarthout, at one time sheriff of Noble County. During its construction he and his assistants boarded with William Skeels, who had settled in 1844 on what was afterwards known as the Shirk or Iddings farm. Another noted pioneer, who often partook of the hospitality of the Skeels family, was Samuel E. Alvord, the journalist, lawyer and historian. Mrs. Skeels was a competent housewife, and good cook, and well knew how to entertain company. Her Husband, William, assisted in clearing off the present courthouse square, and furnished part of the lumber for the first frame courthouse.
The first settler in Albion proper is said to have been James Gillespie, who built the first frame house. The second, known as the McMeans house, was built by Samuel Clymer, who brought with him from Goshen a boss carpenter named Monroe, to superintend the building of the first frame courthouse. This, as already stated, as completed in 1847, and cost $4,045. Elijah Coats placed the cupola in position, securing and bents himself, at a height of eighty-four feet. The survey and mapping for the new Albion were done November 3, 1846. The contract for the construction of the courthouse was let to Harrison Wood, William M. Clapp and David B. Harriman, who sublet it to Samuel T. Clymer, who completed it in 1847, as aforesaid. The records were removed to the new Albion September 16, 1847. In order that the machinery of justice should lack nothing of completeness, a jail was built at a cost of $1,300.
Albion's first courthouse, however, had but a transitory existence, as on January 25, 1859, a fire broke out in the clerk's office, and the entire building was reduced to ashes, only a few records being saved. Warned by this disaster, the commissioners ordered that the next building should be constructed of brick and made fire-proof. The contract was given to two Scotchmen, George Harvey & Son, who completed it satisfactorily in 1861, at a cost of $11,000. It served its purpose for over a quarter of a century, but before the end of that time, owing to the growth of the county in wealth and population, it had become so congested that other means had to be provided to accommodate the public business. Moreover, in 1887 the grand jury condemned it and steps were taken for its demolition, and the erection of a new building, which was constructed in 1889 by Malone Brothers, of Toledo, Ohio, and which is still the pride of the county. The cost with furnishings at the time of its completion in 1889 was $113,000, but subsequent internal improvements and now furnishings, have added considerably to that figure. The building affords conveniences and safety vaults for records hardly exceeded anywhere in the state. In 1876 a safe, handsome and convenient jail was built at a cost of $27,000, and still furnishes adequate facilities for the incarceration of offenders against the law. After the burning of the old wooden courthouse, the building of Levi Thomas, on East Main Street, was fitted up and occupied by the county officers, and court was held for a while in the Lutheran Church on North Orange Street.
One of the early merchants and business men of Albion was Owen Black, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who came to Albion in 1853 at the age of thirty-eight years, and who in addition to establishing one of the leading mercantile houses of the city, erected the first flouring mill and two saw-mills in Albion. Among the leading business and professional men here in 1849 were: Hitchcock & Clapp; J. J. Helm, harness dealer; William P. Engle, plows; Lyons & Wildman, tailors; H. S. Tousley, attorney; A. C. Jacquays, wagons and buggies; Dr. T. Beecher, druggist, and Samuel Clymer, dry goods. Mr. Clymer's stock was purchased about that time by J. C. Cox, who advertised that he would take in exchange for his merchandise, "rags, feather's [sic], beeswax, tallow, hides, wheat, corn, oats, flaxseed, cranberries, ginseng and ashes." At that time money was scarce and county orders were received for produce at 75 cents on the dollar. T. Beecher was then postmaster.
In the following year A. P. Warner was assistant postmaster, James W. Cox was practicing medicine and surgery. E. A. Spencer was advertised as a tailor, and J. J. Bruner was operating a cabinet and chair factory. The Albion House was managed by George Crowl, Jr., who had succeeded I. Swarthout. The Albion Observer, of August 22, called public attention to the fact that "our village is infested with hogs and overrun with cattle and horses that roam at pleasure through the streets, and make their nightly rendezvous upon the public square."
In 1861 there seem to have been three or four hotels in Albion, as the Noble County Herald, of January 11, that year, mentions the Mansion House, with J. R. Sloan, proprietor; the Worden House, conducted by G. E. Worden, and the Tenant House, by C. Grafmiller. N. Teal & Co. were conducting a drug store, John R. Smith a harness store, R. J. Harkins was selling boots and shoes, A. Fulton was a cabinet maker, and m. H. Kimmel was in the hardware business.
By 1875 the people of Albion seem to have developed aesthetic tastes, as W. H. McMeans was advertised as a music dealer, and J. B. Leslie as proprietor of a "conservatory of music." New names had also appeared among the merchants. Thomas D. Evans was practicing law, and there were at least two dental firms in town, N. Sessions and Baldwin & Olds.
One of the early industries was a pottery, established by Elijah Wright, and which was located directly north of the John McMeans property on East Main Street. Mr. Wright was succeeded by Mr. McMeans. Not far from this pottery was established, directly west of Mr. Sunday's residence, an ashery for the manufacture of black salts by Mr. Spencer. The latter business was closed up previous to 1857.
In 1880 the Herron brothers -- Isaiah and Jerome -- erected a saw mill on the southwest corner of York Street and the Baltimore and Ohio railway crossing. The mill subsequently passed through the hands of Jerome Herron and Richard Campbell, the latter of whom converted it into an ashery, which he conducted for ten or twelve years with profitable results.
Joseph Kimmel, who died in 1907, at the age of eighty years, engaged in business in Albion as a tinsmith and coppersmith, and was the first tinsmith in Noble County. He was succeeded in the business by his son, William F. Kimmel.
Benjamin Frazure, who settled in Albion, in 1852, was the first cooper in the town. He and his brother John also established a match factory, which they carried on for a while. Caleb W. McMeans, born at Port Mitchell in 1842, started a tinsmith and coppersmith business in Albion in the '50s, but in later years became a hardware merchant at Brimfield.
During a Fourth of July celebration in 1856 or '57, while John T. Ward was superintending the display of fireworks on an elevated platform, on the east side of the court square, a terrific explosion wrecked the platform, and Mr. Ward received injuries which rendered him a cripple for life. He was boot and shoemaker, in partnership with his brother Simon T., they being successors in that business to Damon P. Coffinberry.
The first hotel in Albion, the Worden House, located northeast of the public square, was operated first by Jerry Low. Michael Kuhn was also an early landlord, his son Washington acting as clerk. The American House, south of the courthouse, was built by Isaac Swarthout and was afterward owned by Harry J. Tenant, an eccentric southern gentleman who had failed in mercantile business in the south. The Mansion House, located near the Trump brick business block, was a busy place in 1857-8. The proprietor was Eli B. Dice, who was afterward appointed superintendent of the county infirmary. The Mansion House burned down a little later. The Bradley House, by Hiram Bradley, on the north side of court square, did an excellent business for several years.
Henry Bowman established a tannery about 1847 or 1848, conducting it for a few years, selling it to John Schassweker who subsequently disposed of it to Frederick Gappinger who operated it for a number of years, finally discontinuing the business after the keen competition of the tanneries of the larger cities.
One of the most noted citizens of Albion, who had much to do with its upbuilding, was Judge William M. Clapp. He was born in Ellington, Connecticut, in 1817, and made his appearance in Noble County in 1843 as an attorney at Augusta. In 1844 he followed the county seat to Port Mitchell, and thence in 1877 to Albion. He was elected auditor in 1845, holding the office five years. He had been instrumental in the removal of the seat of justice to Albion. For about a year he was in partnership with H. H. Hitchcock in the mercantile business; then, from 1849 to 1868, he conducted it alone. Later C. B. Phillips and W. W. White became members of the firm, the latter entering it in 1873. Their three-story brick block, on the corner of Main and Orange streets, burned down, October 7, 1880. In 1875 Mr. Clapp established the first bank in Albion, now known as the Albion National Bank, of which his son, Charles M., is the head. Judge Clapp was elected to the state legislature in 1856. In 1860 he became judge of the common pleas court, over which he presided by successive re-elections, for thirteen years. He died at the age of sixty-three.
Among the early photographers in Albion were J. K. Lautzenhise, Caleb H. Skeels, who, besides mending clocks and watches, made tin-types, and a Mr. Chandler, from Toledo, who introduced the ambrotype. The subsequent invention of the dry plate, gave a new direction to the art, and the old photographers went out of business, or adopted the new method.
In May, 1875, a home dramatic association was established, and named "The Adelphians." Some excellent talent was developed by the members of both sexes, and some good plays, farces and comedies were from time to time well presented. After flourishing for a while a fire destroyed much of the association's properties, some of the leading members left Albion, the interest died out, and the association came to an end.
In 1905 Dr. J. W. Morr established a private hospital in Albion, in a three-story building, which was his own property, located on Orange Street, south of the Albion National Bank. It was equipped with a complete microscopical and X-ray laboratory, and surgical appliances, and trained nurses were in attendance. While still its proprietor he sold the property, retaining it on lease. He conducted it until 1911, when the demands of his outside practice, coupled with other business, and the difficulty of obtaining reliable help, caused him to close the institution.
The Albion Improvement Association, formed a number of years ago, and containing in its membership business men, clerks, mechanics, farmers, and others interested in the possibilities of a "Greater Albion," though recently less active, has contributed to the growth and improvement of the city.
At various times in the past Albion has suffered from fires, which proved, however, non an unmixed evil, as they swept out of existence the fire-traps which menaced the business center, and which were replaced by more modern and substantial structures. Danger from this source is now minimized by the existence of a well organized fire department, provided with adequate apparatus.
The first steps toward the establishment of a public library in Albion were taken in May, 1914, when Mrs. Riley Smith and Mrs. W. H. Nenaugh, assisted by Mrs. D. L. Baughman and others, made a canvass in Albion Township, which was later extended by Riley Smith and Orva E. Russell, in York Township, and by Mary and Ellen Moorhouse in Jefferson Township, in order to interest the tax payers in the enterprise. About two-thirds of those called on responded favorably, and turned in their subscriptions of $4.67 each. Appropriations were accordingly made by the three townships, and in due time the library was started, Judge Wrigley giving up the use of his law office, which was then located in a building on the site of the present library, on the square west of the courthouse. Some books were purchased and a number donated. On Judge Wrigley's removal to new quarters the library was removed to a room over the First National Bank. The desirability of having a special library building suggested an appeal to Mr. Carnegie, the then president of the library board making a trip to New York for that purpose. Aid was promised on the condition that the home people should furnish a suitable site, which was finally bought for $1,300, with money donated by the people of Albion. After these preliminary steps had been taken, the Carnegie corporation made a donation of $10,000 for the building, a substantial, neat and tasteful structure, which was completed in 1918. On October 1, 1919, the library contained 4,216 volumes. Until recently the library board has met at the residence of N. P. Eagles, whose daughters, Marian (long a member of the board), Eva and Hattie, have done much to promote the interests of the institution. The first librarian was Mrs. W. H. Nenaugh, who was succeeded by Mrs. Harriet C. Malony. The present librarian is Miss Lutie Earl.
Several of the leading fraternal orders have been represented in Albion by lodges for many years. Albion Lodge, No. 97, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted in February, 1853, its charter being dated May 25, the same year. There were seven charter members. A hall was rented by the lodge, and at the time the "Pinery" was burned nearly all the lodge property was destroyed. A good membership has been developed and regular meetings are held. Out of the territory covered by this lodge have been instituted lodges at Ligonier, Avilla, Wolf Lake, Kendallville and Churubusco.
North Star Lodge No. 380, Independent Order of Old Fellows, was instituted September 13, 1871, under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the state. There were five charter members. It has now from 130 to 140 members, and there is a Rebekah lodge of about 110 members. A building was bought in 1918, and the lodge meetings are held on the second floor. The other principal orders represented in Albion are the Knights of Pythias, having a present membership of about ninety-five; the Maccabees, with about 140 to 150 members, and the Modern Woodmen, with about 28 to 30 members, the last mentioned lodge having been instituted in 1898. The Sorosis Club, New Century Club, and the Historical and Literary Club, all organized by the ladies of the city furnish opportunities for culture and social intercourse.
Albion is perhaps fortunate in that it has never enjoyed what is termed in western parlance a "boom." Thus, values never having been inflated beyond a natural condition, there has been no reaction, but a gradual and steady growth. The location, at the geographical center of the county, is an ideal one for a county seat, which honor it has now enjoyed for more than seventy years. The local government is administered by three trustees, one being elected by the people for each ward. A clerk and treasurer also are elected, while the marshal is appointed by the board of trustees.
The fine well paved streets are the result of nature's product, gravel, which abounds in the surrounding hills. The old wooden sidewalks have been replaced by cleaner, smoother, and more durable walks fo cement, which material is also used for the street crossings. The city is lighted with electric lights, has good sewerage, and its waterworks have a capacity of 500,000 gallons per day. For a number of years not a saloon has been seen in the place, though formerly there were a number, well patronized, and the early records show a long list of tavern keepers.
The Albion postoffice is an international money order office, with five rural routes, and since April, 1917, has had a village carrier. The present postmaster, George W. smith, a popular official, took charge of the office in May, 1914. The population of Albion Township and town, before the latter's incorporation in 1874, was, according to the census of 1870, 430; in 1880 it was 926; in 1890 it had advanced to 1,300, and in 1900 to about 1,600.
Robert M. Waddell, History of northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1920, Noble County, pgs. 458-463.