ELKHART TOWNSHIP
It is not certainly known who was the earliest settler in Elkhart Township. Samuel Tibbot erected a cabin there in 1832, and the Knights, a Mr. Austin, and David P. Bourie were there about the same time. The Austin cabin was near the bank of Elkhart River, in the southwestern part, on land owned by Mr. Bourie, who was a bachelor, and who gave Mr. Austin permission to build and reside there on condition that he should receive him as a boarder. In the immediate vicinity Mr. Bourie erected a log storeroom, which he stocked with about $1,000 worth of goods. He seems to have been successful as a merchant, as by the end of three years he had a stock valued at $4,000. He narrowly missed losing his land through his delay in entering it. His suspicions being aroused by two men, who appeared in the neighborhood soon after his store was opened, and who, after making a close examination of his property, set off in the direction of Fort Wayne, where the land office was located, he immediately assumed the garb of an Indian, and started for Fort Wayne, himself on a swift pony. His disguise was so perfect that several friends whom he passed on the way failed to recognize him. He passed the two men, reached Fort Wayne before them, entered his land, and had the pleasure of witnessing their disappointment when they arrived and discovered that they had been outwitted. Mr. Bourie carried on a good trade, especially with the Indians, who were lavish in their expenditures whenever they had anything with which to buy, generally taking the finest goods, among which the old records mention three silk hats for the chiefs. He was a strong and hardy settler, well able to take care of himself, even in a frontier community, and on one occasion punished an Indian, who had snapped a gun at his favorite dog, thinking or pretending that it was not loaded-though it went off and killed a fowl-by butting the savage's head against a log until his face and scalp were covered with blood and bruises. The dog in question was a highly trained and useful animal, which, it is said, would bring the cows home from the woods, go across the river and bring back a canoe, and trace stolen property.
Isaac Tibbot was also a hearty pioneer, a man of strong will power and a good hunter. According to records preserved at Albion, the principal land owners in Elkhart Township in 1844, were: Isaac Arnold, William Albert, William Bradford, John P. Brothwell, Abraham Brown, James Boyd, Daniel P. Boner, Francis Brown, Moses Ball, John Bird, William Caldwell, Andrew Curry, George, Samuel and Jacob Domer, Perry Dempsey, Jacob Gerber, David Gibson, W. K. Gibson, John Gibson, Hosea Gage, Fred Hartsock, W. H. Herriman, Luther Herriman, Jonathan Hoak, Jacob Holden, Jacob Hoff, Abraham Hoff, Nathaniel Hamilton. W. H. Hall, Thomas Inks, Ralph Hardenbrook, Daniel Lower, William Mawhorter, Lewis Mills, George Moore, David Ream, Ames Scrivener, William Steinberger, Isaac Tibbot, David Tuttle, James Thayer, William, Lewis, Hiram and Wesley Waldron, Wilson L. Wells, Henry Walker, David Woodward, Nathaniel and George Woodward, and Jon Zimmerman, besides a few others.
In June, 1837, John and William Knight laid out a village on the east half of the northeast quarter, of the east half of the southeast quarter of section 30, which they called Pittsburg. Ninety-six lots were laid out in blocks of eight lots each, several being donated for public purposes. The lots failed to sell, however, and but one building was begun, which was only partially completed.
Better luck, though destined to be transitory, attended the Village of Springfield, laid out in the northern part of section 22, probably by William Pierson, who built the first dwelling there at an early day. A sawmill had been erected there in 1838 by Joseph Steinberger, and at his death came into the hands of his son William. The mill was kept busy for a number of years until finally destroyed by fire. The first store in Springfield was started by David Chapole, and later a better one by Mr. Farver. Other early merchants were Mr. Smith, John Knepper, and William Steinberger. In 1845 the village contained fifteen or more families, besides two stores, a gristmill, a sawmill, a church and a schoolhouse. A postoffice was also early established. Soon after the year mentioned, however, a progressive decline set in, and, in the words of a former historian, which are applicable today, "new buildings failed to appear, old ones became dingy and dilapidated, the streets became almost deserted, and Springfield remained but the ghost of its former frame, [sic] The ghost yet lingers, reluctant to leave the old place, so fraught with dim but cheerful memories."
The coming of the railroads gave rise to new towns in various places, and to the construction of the Lake Shore, Wawaka owes its life and existence. Isaac Tibbot had built the first house there in 1834, and in February, 1857, he seized the opportunity of becoming proprietor of a successful village by laying out eight lots, on each side of the railroad. Apparently he had hitherto been the sole resident, as it is stated that William Knepper built the second house early in 1857, while George Steinberger, the miller, erected one "about the same time." Mr. Tibbot continued his enterprising movements by putting up the first store building, in which Mr. Miles started business with a stock of dry goods and notions. The latter was succeeded after a few years by David Hale, and Mr. Hale by Elias Strous, of Ligonier. John Knepper opened the second store, selling dry goods and groceries. A drug store was opened in the Strous building by Doctor Goodson. Soon other business men and artisans appeared, and the village took on a slow but steady growth, which was stimulated about 1867, when Ellis & Mummert erected a large frame, three-storied gristmill, with three run of stone. The structure cost $15,000, and the mill drew trade from all the surrounding country, the farmers who brought in their grain naturally buying their supplies from the local merchants. As high as 100 barrels of flour were manufactured daily, much of which was shipped East. When the markets were low the owners bought considerable wheat at the board of trade at Chicago, shipping it to Wawaka, where it was made into flour, and then re-shipped to the Eastern market. They were favored in this by the railroad company, which charged them a through rate for freightage, as if it had not been unloaded at Wawaka. But all good things come to an end some time. In 1874 the mill was destroyed by fire, together with a shingle factory and sawmill, and, for some unexplained reason, was values, and gave Wawaka something of a set-back. Immediately after the destruction of the gristmill, Mr. Mummert erected a sawmill, installed with a fifty-horse-power engine and a double circular saw, and for a number of years was engaged in the manufacture of handles, "shims," and other lumber products, doing a successful business. Another successful sawmill was built by Mr. Dodge, who later added to it a planing-mill, and manufactured handles, shims, and staves. Solomon Mier, Strauss Brothers, Sheets & Wertheimer and Welt, Beck & Co. engaged in the buying of grain, and in 1880, 50,000 bushels of wheat were shipped from the village. Other losses from fire occurred, but the buildings destroyed were rebuilt, or others substituted, and the village pursued the even tenor of its way. For a number of years the population has been almost stationary, and is now about 400. To some extent modern improvements have been introduced, but there is as yet o bank, the people availing themselves of the fine banking facilities of the neighboring City of Ligonier. Telephone service is provided by the People's Mutual Telephone Company. The postoffice has one rural route.
Robert M. Waddell, History of northeast Indiana: LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1920, Noble County, pgs. 429-431.