IJAMSVILLE ALSO CALLED SOUTH LAKETON
                               BY RON WOODWARD

     This is a small village which sprung up on the line of the Detroit, 
Eel River, and Illinois Railroad, about a mile south of Laketon in 
Pleasant township. The first plat was made by Daniel Van Buskirk 
September 9, 1872. The town was named for the Ijam brothers, Philip and 
Thomas, who were prominent in the area. Early business there have been 
the Ijams saw mill, Jackson Parmer's saw mill and shingle factory, an 
elevator, train depot, wagon shop, John F. Reahard stock dealer, Daniel 
Van Buskirk's general store, John Donovan's blacksmith shop, Williamson 
brickyard, Green & Co. dry goods, Jacob Ohmart's grocery, tile factory, 
Charles Henry barber all by 1880. One year later D.C. Ramp was making 
wagons of all kinds, Dr. O.F. Snook had opened his practice giving 
special attention to chronic diseases and Green, Walker & Co. advertised 
as growers and dealers in fruit and ornamental trees. There were as many 
as 40 houses with nearly 250 people in the community.
     Among the early citizens of Ijamsville are I.V. Van Buskirk, E.T. 
Green, Abram Ohmart, James Platt, George Harter, Darius Crill, John 
Lindsay, Reuben Brindle, Jacob Brindle, G.W. Harter, James Downey, 
Charles Saunders, Robert Clark, Samuel Knaugh, Joseph Parrott, R.L. 
Palmer, Irwin Middlecought, William Roraker, E. Shoemaker, John Sheak, 
Silas Arnold, Martin Kimmel, William Sewall and Edwin Howland. 
     A description of Ijamsville in October of 1880 showed that life and 
prosperity were to be found in Ijamsville. Johnny Smith was the efficient 
operator and agent at this office. A new cider miller was doing a good 
business and it was run by steam power. A new school house was nearing 
completion so far as the brick work was concerned. The wheat already sowed 
was coming up. C.E. Wood had a valuable cow injured by the westward bound 
mail train one Saturday evening. Lovers of the terpsichorean tipped the 
light fantastic at G. Hupp's Saturday night. E.F. Green had a fine 
Republican flag manufactured which was fifteen feet long. It was expected to 
be raised on a long pole. Arrangements were being made to give Gen. Parrish 
a rousing reception on Monday night.
     By 1953 most businesses had left the small community. Mrs. Grace 
Shank ran Shank's Store and two churches were still in use. Sixteen 
families were still living in the community. Those families were the 
Boyer, Brubaker, Clark, Copeland, Hoffman, Roush, Shank, Shumaker, 
Sickafus, Stout, Thomas, and Warner with a population of 48 people.
     Ijamsville has two churches Ijamsville United Methodist Church and 
Disciples Church. The Disciples met in dwellings, barns, groves, and 
schoolhouses until 1871 when a church building was built at a cost of 
$2,000 in a grove south of town. By 1901 a brick structures was built for 
the Christian Church. It is now home to the First Love Baptist Church. A 
fellowship hall was recently (2008) added to the church.
     The Ijamsville United Methodist Church had its cornerstone for the 
35 by 50 foot church laid in August of 1884. R.S. Reed was the pastor. 
There was a class membership of 36 when the church was dedicated. The 
building was remodeled and added to in 1913. Throughout the last 125 
years the church has seen many changes. At its peak in 1967 there were 84 
members. Currently there are 29 – five of whom are descendents of the 
original members.
     In the 1940s the church was redecorated and electric lights were 
installed. A piano was donated in 1946. Starting in 1948, more 
improvements were made to the church, including frosted glass in all the 
windows, a parking lot, refinishing of the benches and floors and new 
carpet.
     In 1957, the small church added classrooms and kitchen facilities. 
There was also a new furnace installed and a new piano and organ 
purchased.
     To mark the 100th anniversary of the church on Sept. 11, 1983, the 
church released ballons. One was found as far away as New Brunswick, 
Canada.
     The church has had more than 65 pastors over the years, including 
Miss George, who served part-time for the church in 1934. Cletus Hirschy 
served the congregation in 1947. The church was led in 1994 by Doug Su 
Lee Korean man who traveled to the church from northern Indiana with his 
wife and two children. The church is now led by Pastor Kent Harting of 
North Manchester.