THE TOWN PLATTED--EXTENSION OF THE SITE-- FIRST STORES AND INDUSTRIES--[no text] MOMENTOUS YEARS, 1866-67--INCORPORATION OF TOWN--MARKED STEPS IN PROGRESS--INDUSTRIES OF THE PRESENT--BANK OF BROOKSTON--TOWN COMMISSIONED HIGH SCHOOL--PRAIRIE TELEPHONE COMPANY~-THE METHODIST CHURCH --THE BAPTIST CHURCH-- THE [i.e., BROOKSTON] PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH--SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES--[no text]PROBABLY THE OLDEST MASON IN THE UNITED STATES.
Brookston, which is among the largest of the incorporated towns of the county, is on the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) main line, and is the commercial and banking center of a large and productive area which extends into adjacent counties to the east and south. It is beautifully located near the center of Prairie Township, in the edge of the timber bordering on Grand Prairie, and Moots Creek, a pretty tributary of the Tippecanoe, flows along its southern and western borders, adding to the natural attractiveness of its position and affording ample facilities for drainage and sewerage. With a fine grain, fruit and stock-raising country all around it, the town has provided elevators, canning factories and other industries, as well as good shipping facilities, for the benefit of the agriculturists and citizens who co-operate in the progress of their section of the county.
Brookston was named in honor of James Brooks, who was president of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad at the time it was constructed through the county and the place laid out. It was platted by Benjamin Gonzales, Isaac Reynolds and Dr. Joel B. McFarland, on the 26th of April, 1853. Mr. Gonzales was the chief engineer of the railroad company, Mr. Reynolds the honored citizen of Monticello, and Doctor McFarland a leading physician of Lafayette; so, in a way, the projectors of Brookston were "foreigners," but very honorable and enterprising ones.
Originally all of Brookston was included in section 22, and the bulk of its site is still thus confined. Subsequent additions have so extended its area that the site now not only covers about a half of the western and northern portion of that section, but smaller tracts in the southwest quarter of section 15 to the north, and in the northeast quarter of section 21 to the west.
As laid out in the original plat, the north and south streets were Prairie (bounding the town on the west); Railroad, South and Wood (eastern boundary). Railroad Street was 130 feet wide, and other thoroughfares 70 feet each. The east and west streets were numbered from First to Seventh, inclusive, fixing the northern and southern limits of the plat.
The main additions made, by which the town has spread over so large a portion of section 22 and into sections 15 and 21, have been as follows: By Solomon Hayes, December 29, 1853; James C. Moore, January 28, 1857; J. W. Robinson, August 26, 1868; Obed Barnard and Edward H. Brown, August 10, 1868; William T. Alkire, December 25, 1897; Mrs. Emeline M. Russell, April 10, 1899.
Eli Meyers built the first house erected within the town plat, and a man named Kane opened the pioneer store, before Brookston was laid out; but they both knew the town was on the way, hence their forehandedness. But Kane was too sanguine, and suspended about the time the town went on paper. Soon after John Bross opened another store, and John Best built a blacksmith shop. Other merchants and mechanics followed, and in 1860-61 the Farmers' Warehouse was built by a joint stock company. The latter was a building 40 by 80 feet and was in use for many years. It was used for the storage of grain and other agricultural products and was a great convenience to the farmers and merchants of the town and neighborhood. In 1864 another enterprise was established which added to the good standing of Brookston; that is, a grist mill with three runs of burrs; John Allen operated the mill for five years and it was subsequently run by Parish & Godman. The old Farmers' Warehouse was bought by T. G. Chilton and Adam Vincell in 1868, who had purchased the interests of the late Edward Mendenhall and Alexander Patterson. The later proprietors were John Allen, John Parrish and Richard Godman.
The years 1866-67 were really momentous to not a few important interests of the town. Both religious and educational matters took an upward turn. The Methodists erected a church building, and the new Baptist organization arranged to meet therein in the advancement of its own cause. That was also the period when the Brookston Academy was built and the labors of that able and good citizen, Dr. John Medaris, commenced to bear fruit. Such various establishments as have been mentioned made Brookston quite a marked center of commerce, trade and learning, and its increase in population and general standing induced its citizens to adopt a village form of government.
The first election for corporation officers in the Town of Brookston was held at the schoolhouse March 23, 1867, and resulted in the choice of the following: Trustees, A. L. Patterson, first district (president of the board); S. H. Powell, second district; C. D. Staton, third district; Moses L. French, fourth district, and D. U. Rice, fifth district. Mr. French was chosen clerk and treasurer, and Mr. Staton marshal and assessor.
Since the incorporation of the town, especially, Brookston has made substantial advances. Within six years the local newspaper field was invaded, and by the early '80s a tile factory and two elevators were in operation. The latter were owned and operated by T. S. Hayes and Parish & Godman, proprietors of the mill. The Christian Church was also added to the other good influences. To a somewhat later period belongs the founding of the canning industry and the establishment of the local banks; and, in line with the railroad, the construction of substantial roads and the extension of mail facilities, was the organization of a telephone company, with Brookston as its headquarters, which has brought the town into advantageous connections with every section of the country.
At the present time the two elevators which demonstrate Brookston's claim as a growing grain center are operated by Halsted Brothers and Bell & House; also in the line of industries are the novelty works of Thomas Bostick and the canning factories, owned by E. P. Mason and Dr. D. M. Kelley and by James F. French and the widow of the late William French. The former plant is known as the Brookston Canning Factory, and the latter as the Eagle Canning Works.
The Eagle Canning Company was organized in 1889 to place tomatoes and corn upon the market. The business went into the hands of a receiver in 1904, and was bought by James F. and William French, brothers, who devoted their plant to the canning of corn. William French was accidentally killed in 1911, and the ownership has since been divided between the surviving brother and the widow. The business is conducted in connection with the farming interests owned by the firm, which cover 1,400 acres of land. All the corn which is canned at the factory is raised on the company farms, the combined enterprise also embracing a silo industry.
The Bank of Brookston was organized as a private institution April 14, 1894, by John C. Vanatta. In January, 1896, it became a state bank under the foregoing name, with a capital of $25,000, and the following officers: William E. Morris, president; William T. Wagner, vice president, and John C. Vanatta, cashier. In July, 1904, the capital of the bank was increased to $35,000, with the same officers and the addition of John J. Nagle as a second vice president. Mr. Norris resigned as president January 1, 1910, and was succeeded by Mr. Nagle. There has been no change in the officers since. The statement of the bank, issued March 4, 1915, showed the following financial condition: Deposits, $206,666.98; loans, $187,688.46; cash on hand, $60,823.90; assets above liabilities, $45,300.
Brookston has another financial institution—the Farmers Bank, whose president, Joseph H. Kious, is of an old family. His grandfather, Adam Kious, was of Pennsylvania nativity and came West to Dayton, in 1843. In the following year he settled in White County and held several public offices.
The old Brookston Academy, built in 1866, in a remodeled and modern form, and the property of the township since 1873, is now occupied by the Town Commissioned High School, of which W. F. Neel is superintendent, and Lida Moody, principal. Ten teachers altogether comprise the force. Manual training for the boys and sewing for the girls are included in the curriculum, which embraces all the branches usually taught as related parts of the public school system. The high school has an average attendance of seventy-seven and the other departments of 180. Outside of the Town Commissioned High School, there are nine schools in the township, all of which send their representatives to the central institution at Brookston.
The Prairie Telephone Company was organized as a corporation in August, 1898, by D. E. Ross, as president, Ira Bordner, as secretary, and John H. Kneale, treasurer and superintendent. There has been no change of management or ownership, although there has been a great expansion of the system. The exchange was opened for business, with the initial line from Brookston to Round Grove Township, in January, 1899, thirty-five subscribers patronizing the line. At first the people were skeptical as to the success of the enterprise, but their confidence gradually was secured and now nothing could shake it. The operations of the Prairie Telephone Company cover 425 subscribers, with toll lines not only into the western sections but to Lafayette, Monticello, Delphi and Chalmers. In other words, Brookston is in close telephonic connection with all out-of-doors.
Methodists, Baptists, Christians, Universalists and Presbyterians have churches. The honor of being the religious pioneers of the place is accorded to the Methodists, who held their first services at the house of J. C. Moore, the farmer and inventor, probably about 1840. The meeting house was near the residence which he built later, after Brookston was platted. Near his cabin, in a hewn-log schoolhouse, which he also built, was organized the first class in the township. In 1844 the Methodists erected their first church building. It was a little frame building, 36 by 42 feet, and was located about two miles southwest of Brookston, near the Tippecanoe county line. The Reverend Mr. Stallard was the first minister to hold services in it. With the founding and growth of the Town of Brookston it became evident that the center of the Methodist activities should be there, and the church of 1866 was therefore erected at that place. The organization has been maintained since, Rev. E. O. Chivington being the pastor both of the Methodist Church at Brookston and that at Chalmers.
The Baptists organized a church in 1866, and for nearly a year thereafter held services in the new Methodist building. In the following year they leased the old schoolhouse at Brookston, and in 1870 bought the property for $600, the town school having been moved to the Brookston Academy. The building was remodeled to meet its new requirements, and the house of worship, which replaced the old one, was erected on the original site of the schoolhouse. Among the original members of the Brookston Baptist Church were Mr. and Mrs. William Ripley, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. William Stewart, David French, Joseph French, and William Lawrence, and the following may be mentioned as pastors of an early day: B. C. Craig and David S. French, its first and second; Joseph Porter, J. G. Tedford, J. M. Kendall, I. W. Bailey, T. J. Morgan and C. J. Bunnell. S. H. Powell was the first deacon, and both he and C. C French, the editor of the Brookston Reporter, were connected with church and Sunday school work for many years. The present organization is in charge of Rev. C. C. Curtis, who is also pastor of the Badger Grove Church.
There being a number of Presbyterians living in Brookston and vicinity, it had long been their desire to have a church of their own faith and order. Occasional sermons had been preached in the town by Presbyterian ministers during previous years, but it was not until in the summer of 1888 that steps were taken looking toward an organization.
During that summer and fall Rev. S. C. Dickey of Monticello, Indiana, now of Winona Lake, visited the field several times, and it was largely through his influence that the little band was encouraged to go forward. Sermons were also preached by his father Rev. N. S. Dickey, and Rev. E. S. Scott, then of Logansport, and these combined efforts resulted in definite action in the direction of an organization, and a committee was appointed by the friends of the movement, and early in December sufficient money was raised to purchase the building formerly used as a church by the Baptist denomination. It was moved to a lot donated by Dr. John Medaris, and remodeled.
The Home Mission Committee of Logansport Presbytery was asked to organize a Presbyterian Church in Brookston. They sent Rev. H. H. Wells, D. D., a Presbyterian evangelist, to conduct a series of meetings to prepare the way more fully for the proposed organization. Doctor Wells began his work December 30, 1888, preaching morning and evening on that day and continuing each night excepting Saturday for two weeks.
On Wednesday evening, January 2, 1889, a commission of Logansport Presbytery was present, consisting of Rev. E. S. Scott, chairman, and Rev. S. C. Dickey. The way appearing to be clear, after a sermon by Doctor Wells, they proceeded to the organization of a Presbyterian Church. Upon the call of the chairman the following persons presented themselves as candidates for charter membership, coming by letter from other churches: Prof. J. H. Gildersleeve, Mrs. Flora N. Gildersleeve, Mr. Henry F. Hagerty, Mrs. Sarah E. Hagerty, Mr. James Wallace, Miss Elizabeth Hay, Miss E. Anna Hay, Miss Margaret Hay, and Mrs. Jennie Kent. The following persons presented themselves for admission on confession of faith: Mrs. Elizabeth Medaris, Miss Alta M. Medaris, Mr. Kilburn J. Mills, Mrs. Susanna Ross, and Clara E. Hagerty. After prayer by Rev. W. S. Peter of Remington, these fourteen persons entered into a covenant and, with their baptized children, were constituted the Brookston Presbyterian Church.
The following persons were elected ruling elders: Professor Gildersleeve and Henry F. Hagerty. They were immediately ordained and installed. J. H. Gildersleeve was the first clerk of the Session, and its first meeting was held in the church at the close of the service January 3, 1889.The following ministers have served the church: Rev. N. S. Dickey from January 3, 1889, to January, 1892; Rev. C. L. Bevington, April, 1892, to October, 1892; Rev. W. S. Peter, November, 1892, to October, 1896; student supply from McCormick Seminary to September, 1897; Rev. A. G. Work, September, 1897, to April, 1901; Rev. J. W. Findley, April, 1901, to July, 1903; Rev. James Omelvena, September, 1903, to July, 1906; Rev. D. C. Truesdale, May, 1907, to September, 1910; Rev. John E. Wolevcr, September, 1910, to April, 1911; Rev. A. J. Marbet, April, 1911, to March, 1912, and Rev. J. T. Mordy, April, 1913, to November, 1914. The present pastor, Rev. J. D. Murphy, began his work in June, 1915.
In 1901 the congregation bought the lots on the corner of Second and Wood streets and built the present handsome brick, stone-trimmed structure, which they dedicated, free of debt, in May, 1902.
This body was organized April 10, 1881, and among its ministers have been Ira B. Grandy, J. B. Fosher, James Houghton, W. W. Slaughter and Maurice Linton. The Universalist Church has a present membership of about 100.
Brookston has several firmly organized lodges, representing the secret and benevolent work of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Masons and Modern Woodmen of America. The oldest body is Brookston Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., which was first organized at Pittsburg, Carroll County, in 1848, and was moved to Brookston in 1857.
Among the leading members of the Masonic Lodge was Spencer Hart, who came from Ohio in 1863 and settled on a farm of 250 acres near Brookston, where he lived for nearly half a century, engaged during his active life in agricultural and livestock pursuits. At attaining his majority in Ohio, he had joined the Masonic fraternity and continued to be identified with it until his death at Monticello, April 23, 1915. About four years previous to his decease, he had moved from the old homestead to the county seat, where one of his married daughters resided. At the time of his death Mr. Hart was in his ninety-sixth year and was said to have been the oldest Mason in the United States, having been carried on its rolls as a member in good standing for sixty-five years. His remains were taken to the Battleground cemetery, where the burial was conducted under Masonic rites.