St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 17, Number 6, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 22 August 1891 — Page 8

[continued from page I.] zen of the Russian empire and brave soldier of her armies, from Jan. 1853 to 1855. he fought at the Crimea and other points, looking with unconcern at the storming of the “Malakoff” and after living “to fight another day”— transferred his nerve and allegiance to Uncle Sam through the civil war, carrying scars that entitle him to honorable citizenship and a pension which he now enjoys. Gentle Tourist, this man will show you Koontz’s Lake, and explain its beauties, together with the surrounding country, which you will enjoy. ’ The land immediately surrounding this lake, on every side, but one, is owned by Mr. Samuel Koontz Jr., and his father and embraces a territory of some Btlo acres or more. Besides, these same proprietors of the land, are also sole patentees or owners of the lake, and this by virtue of a special ]intent from the government away back. To the huntsman, or the sportsman from a general standpoint, we commend the section of country north or south of Walkerton, as a resort where bushels of pleasure can be found from the beginning- of the year until the close of the same. For instance, think of the quail, snipe, wild duck and other shooting! as it opens up here every fall! None but the true sportsman can appreciate its approximate glories. CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. The broadest toleration of religious exercise is here to be observed. All । nobly aiming to arrive at a common and soul-saving centre, hence do we I find the following denominations in ' active operation, viz:— The Roman Catholic church, ' Reverend Father Kroll, pastor; I * the Presbyterian church—Rev. O. ! L. Prentice, pastor; the M. E. church ■ —(). L. Berry, pastor: the U. B. church —G. L. Mattox, pastor; the Seven day Adventists—No regular pastor at present—“ Sunday school every Saturday.” Also the “Come Outs,” a numerous and respectable section of this community who are ardent and devout followers of the “Meek and lowly Nazarene” after their own construction of Holy Scripture. Thus do we find religious toleration as practised in Walkerton, and a pleasing obedience to the letter and spirit of our country’s constitution doe. it present. On the other hand, the educational facilities are very ample here for the population. One graded school with five departments, meets all the requirements of the demands of this advanced age, and happy results are being produced.

MUNICIPAL MAKEUP. There is a board of Trustees, consisting of three members, who supervise, the municipal welfare of the town with one city Marshal to execute the disciplinary code thus laid down by the city fathers. The town is lighted by gasoline lamps, which will soon be a thing of the past, as the general demand is now for electric lights and a modern system of water works, which all acknowledge, must now come, as a demand of our increased necessities, and a tribute to modern progress, which will no longer, tolerate the old order of things. There are three saloons in this town payiny SIOO license each annually, and such is the orderly condition of society here, that not any peculiar indications of their presence can be discerned from any other legitimate traffic in town. We have two thoroughly equipped hotels, two first-class livery stables, a solid bank, butchers, bakers and grist mill; dry goods, clothing, millinery and drug stores; shoemakers, shoe stores, lawyers, physicians, undertakers, furniture and hardware stores; merchant tailors, carpenters and contractors, barbers, jewelers, laundries, a first class cornet band and every variety of trade and traffic that goes to make a city metropolitan in aspect and truly American in energy. To sec the hundreds of farmers’ teams of a Saturday that line the streets of Walkerton, and fill the adjacent vacant lots, at once proves that this is truly, the great agricultural central point of this portion of St. Joseph county, and at the same time, explains why the merchants of Walkertan are so prosperous, and are compelled to carry such extensive and firstclass stocks of merchandise. A RETROSPECT. With all these splendid and undevel- , oped resources, is it to be wondered at that the people of Walkerton confidently send out a message of peace to the intelligent speculator, who most assuredly, if he will investigate our revealed and prospective resources, will find here a fruitful field worthy of his careful attention' The H. J. Heinz pickle and salting fictory which settled here some nine

years ago. has grown and prospered mightily. The Knott Milling Company who came here from North Liberty over two years ago, have since doubled their capacity and are still increasing. The agricultural—natural gas—crude petroleum, and mineral spring possibilities of this region, are of a most glowing and cheerful character. Near Koontz's Mill, at the southwestern extremity of the lake, are palpable evidences of three distinctive springs: One emitting a sure lubricating oil, one a perfect mineral water, as good, and just like that which bubbles up in the wells at Waukesha, Wis., or any others of the famous watering places, in the country, suddenly raised to fame on a less basis than these beautiful waters now afford. Again there is a third spring that unmistakably shows the existence of iron and coal in abundance.

The investigating mind of the capitalist, who will “seek and you shall I find,” is alone required to unearth the hidden treasures of this hitherto unexplored and peculiarly inviting field. With taxation low, and nature's treasures lying around in abundance, we cannot see why Walkerton should not soon become an object of interesting concern to the intelligent speculator who is as likely to strike a new [ “Eldorado” here as anywhere we know ; of. SAMUEL KOONTZ, SR. In the year 1847, Samuel Koontz, Sr., came from Richland township, : Ohio, to his present location, near' what is familiarly known for nearly the 1 past half century, as “Koontz’s Lake” s and Koontz’s Mill. The old gentleman originally came ’ from Northampton county, Pa., where I he was born in the memorable year of ■ 1814, when General Jackson and the brave men of that, day were gallantly defending their country, against the second invasion by our hereditary enemy—Great Britain. The Koontz’s were well represented in that struggle, as they had also been under Washington in a previous family । dispute, duly recorded in history. These were the genuine old line I Pennsylvania Dutch who never failed to come to the front when the flag of their country was menaced by a foe, nor did they ever desire, or seek a truce until all the enemies of that flag were either shot dead, hanged, strangled, banished from the country, or compel 1ied to sue for peace. They were—par excellence—the old-time, true blue “Revolutionary Stock,” determined and dogged fighters—for a principle, to the death. Such in brief, was the character of the stock from which came Samuel Koontz, Sr., the King of Koontzville, the proud possessor of broad domains, and in common with his son Samuel, Jr., Monarch, and sole possessors of the beautiful waters round about, with most of the abutting teni- ; tory verging on the shores of Koontz’s Lake. Mr. Koontz, Sr., remained under the parental roof until 21 years of age, and had acquired a practical training as a tanner, which business he afterwards pursued in Ohio, from the time of bis arival there, in 1835, until he came to Koontz’s Lake, in 1847. He was then a stalwart young man, । being only married a few years previi ous to leaving Ohio, and coming into i [ that portion of Stark county on the I banks of this beautiful “Koontz’s Lake,” ' just as the Pottawatomie tribe of Indians, had quietly folded their tents and moved on further west, he saw the ideal spot on which to make a stand, and here we find him and his generation to this day, in undisputed possession of the land, the waters, the | riparian rights—in fact, monarch of ' all they survey over territory by land I and water that represents over 2000 i acres. Mr. Koontz turned his attention first I to farming, having “entered” 600 acres, j then built a saw mill; and after a time, 1 recalling his early training as a “TanI ner,” ho erected a tannery, near the I \ site of the present grist mill, but after ■ an experiment, in which he lost several hundred dollars, this project was hope- • lessly abandoned, as being impracticable owing to the worthlessness of the “tan bark” in this part of the country then. < The settlers gradually increasing, in the adjacent and distant surroundings, with opportunities few and far between to grind their “daily bread” Mr. Koontz, in 1850, established the present grist mill at the southwestern extremity of the lake, which will bear his name doubtless, until the end of time, as will this historic mill also. The erection of this mill was a God- i ' send to the early settlers for 40 miles I 1 around, for in those days, going to the : mill, was equivalent to making a pil- I j grimage to some “Mecca” of Oriental fame, as in some instances, it took the . “pilgrim” with his patient team of oxen from three to four days and nights be- 1 i fore he finished the round trip. Every j ’ man in the good old halcyon days of ■ ; yore, had to await bis turn, and hustle , 1 i

r -■ ' .. — — T ‘ *'■ A * '■ - ; Ji -G -■ 7•• KOOStz’S mill.

out over the primitive roads aa best he could —“geeing” and “hawing” as he went “with sinuosity along” j n a kind of falsetto voice that startled the guileless coyote, as he heed'e^ly slumbered in the sylvan shades of man’s primeval domain. The United States government, ,d e . sirous of facilitating the domestic conveniences of the settlers, and in irder to stimulate the efforts, of Mr. K^tz in establishing so beneficial an iu^tJ' 1 tion as this grist mill, sent its surveyors to the scene, who, after due process, and after settling the proper “head” (which here is a 12 foot) of water for running this mill, afterwards conferred on Samuel Koontz, Sr., his heirs, and assigns, forever, the sole right and ownership of all the waters ■ known as Koontz’s Lake, in consider- 1 ation of the fact that this said grist mill shall be kept in active operation for the convenience of the then pres- j ent and incoming settlers, ad infinitum. ' : These conditions were carefully car- ; tied out by Mr. Koontz, Sr., as long as he actively superintended this mill, and just now as faithfully by his son, Sam Koontz, Jr., who has been in active charge since 1862. During the late i ivil war Samuel , Koontz, Sr., was an ardent and aggressive defender, and advocate of the j Union. The blood of his fighting ances- ; tors seemed to bubble up and boil wilhiin him, nor could ho tolerate the ! thought, or bear patiently, the sight,of ' any one whom he judged to have sinister j designs on the flag of his country. In all of which he was ably seconded by his son, Samuel, Jr., who although roly a lad of 16 years, he would defenl with his young life, the cause of freedom, for which his forefathers in fee! stirring times of the past, had fought so valiantly, and shed their hears blood without regret. Mr. Koontz, Si, is the venerable father of 12 1 (being married twice) five of whore survive, two boys, Samuel, Jr., and . Daniel Koontz, by his first wife, and | three daughters, of four children fron , the second marriage. Two of thesi ladies are married, and live in Walker ton, one the wife of Attorney 11. A. Woodworth and another the wife of P, C. Woodworth, merchant. The other lady is the wife of Jacob Paul, a sue- ! eessful and wealthy farmer of Marshall county. Daniel Koontz lives on a farm near Walkerton, and Samuel, Jr., the apple of his father's eye, holds the fort at the old stand, and credit- , ably fills his father’s shoes in every particular. Although Mr. Koontz has ■ been a very kind father to his children and has liberailly endoawd each of them with lands and money, yet fie possesses in bis own right, his old time pleasant and comfortable home with about lObO acres of the finest land in : America, in the adjacent portions of ; Stark, Marshall and St. Joseph conn- ' ties. He is yet a picture of health and vitality, although in his 77th year. i The rheumatism a few years ago, gave I him some trouble, but this he says was cured by his frequently standing up to bis neck in a mineral spring which is j still in active operation, near his home This is a strange phenomenon, but \ neverthless, true, for the waters are : there now bubbling up out of theearth, as no doubt they have been since the dawn of creation. This is a and bewitching region. Woul^ [q a t we possessed the capital we should dig j down toward the source of those sparkling mineral waters and those strange oil springs that do numerously abound in this quiet, but beautiful vale, now so agreeably presided over by the heir and pride of his father. SAMUEL KOONTZ, JR., was born in Ohio, and came with his parents to Koontz’s Lake in 1847 when he was only three years of age. He grew to be a sturdy boy, andatthe age of 18 took charge of his father’s mill : and afterwards ran it most successfully even up to the present time. Sam, as he is familiarly called, has always stood high in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens. R e p as been township trustee, four Veav school director repeatedly. R e r last fall, lor county treasurer of Stark i and although the county is overwhehnjingly democratic, Mr. Koontz, C ame : very near running under the wire ahead ! | of every competitor. His own town-1

ship always stood by him, with greater majorities than any other man has ever carried it. We refer with pride to the above “cut” of “Koontz’s Mill” which was first erected 41 years ago. The magnificent water power by which it has ever been, and is now run, corues from the lake in its immediate front, and is a rare picture to gaze on as we stand oi^^m banks of that famous “mill ar^V^aml watch the gay and festive bass as he strolls down that run on exploring expedition toward the mill. But woe to him ! he never, hardly evr> returns, for the “spear” of the “wateter” is soon on him, and ever and anon, a mess of beautiful bass weighing from fmr to seven pounds, is dulv landed, md soon served at the hospitable table of Samuel Koontz, Jr., than whom, uith his estimable wife and in telligent family, no more whole-souled, j kindly people, can be met with anv- । where. Inis mill has been eulargtd ; by the addition of a top story, and new . machinery of the “Rolling’ slill process” has been put in last December. i Every one of the very latest patents in this kind of machinery, is t<> be seen in this mill, for instance, such machines as the “Sjccess Bolter and Dresser,” j “Allfree’s Aspirator,” the very latest, , and not yet in use in many other mills. “ Die Cranson Scouring, polishing and Separating machine.” “The Allfree I - Scalper” also “Allfree’s Centrifugal , Reel and Climax Bran Duster.” It is no wonder, that with this mod-! ern and perfect machinery, this mill > lias now the reputation of turning out a grade of flour second to none in the I nited States, and equalled (if at all) . by very few. Its capacity is 40 barrels every 21 hours, and sm-h is the demand, that the mill has to be run unceasingly and then the demand cannot be supplied. Notwithstanding tlm hitherto high reputations of such mills ns those of ! South Bend. Lal’orte ami Hannah, ! here is a mill not equal to their eapaeitv j in quantity turned out, but far superior to any of them in ability to turn out a

" ’ ~7~| t- ... ■•■IBMBa tJaatog - S . J ■ " 1 .... 1! RESIIH.M E <>l >AMI EL KOONTZ, JR. f' _ _ _

superior quality of flour every time. The adjacent towns of Walkerton. i North Liberty, Tyner City, Donaldi son, <hovertown and Hamlet, read ly f absorb the product of this mil), and i deeply grieve because they cannot get more of the same quality. 1 Tiie pleasant home of Mr. Koontz, as the above cut shows, located near the .mill, on one of the most romantic spots, possibly in Indiana, perched on a beautiful knoll, surrounded by 1 : apple, peach, cherry and other trees Hand fruit bearing shrubbery, with a natural forest in the back-ground, . gently sloping down to the sparkling '[ waters of the lake, it is a rural retreat ! r fit for monarchs, and none too good for Mr. Koontz and his interesting ^family which consist of his wife, a jWsughter, Miss Laura, a highly acompTished young lady of about lb summers, and son, E Iward Koontz, just over twenty, and like his father a precocious genius in the milling world as he has been running his father's mill for more than three years past, and no.v the reputation of the flour which he turns 1 out, caps the climax, and proves that 'he is simply a first class miller. He had an excellent training under his father, though, and could not very well help beI ingatthe top of the ladder in the milling : business. Samuel Koontz, Jr., virtual- • lv owns the entire lake and its surrund- . ing territory bordering thereon, as I within a short radius from his mill and house, he owns over 500 acres mostly j a |] i n “Section 12, Township 34, Range I j ” This land skirts the lake on every • side but one, and is richly wooded f down to the waters edge. The differ- : ent springs near his mill, are a fit sub- ' ject for the geologist and mineralogist. Thev afford food for reflection, and present ominous tokens of bidden wonders. If those who love nature in all its original grandeur will take the trouble to call down at, Koontz’s mill we will assure th ception at the hands of Mr. Samuel I Koontz, Jr., who will show them the I beauties of the erstwhile home of the

now forgotten tribe of “Pottawatomies,” who once held this as a happy hunting and fishing ground, which in truth it was, and is to this day. As a summer resort, its attractions are soon bound to come to the front, and we have reason to believe that ere ano'her season rolls by. the merrv laughter of thousands of happy tourists will be heard on the lake shore and in the adjacent “wild wood” withits leafv canopy so temptingly inviting. Mr. Koontz Las had recent tempting offers for his entire property, but even at such a figure as $25000, he does not evince any hasty desire to sell. The future is ominous and big with results. THE KNOTT MILLING CO. The late Mr. Asa Knott, founder and 1 । head of the “Knott Milling Cc.” until his death some six months ago, was born in Ohio, and when but a child of three years, came west with his parents in 1837, settling in that part of Marshall county, familiarly known as “Knott’s Crossing” named in honor of that family who first pitched their tent in what was then the primeval forest, just three miles southeast of the present city limits of Walkerton. Here the elder Knott, after a time, i

I _ kg ' ~' CHEEK - "' ===^-- " ..... ' ' A I :• > ~. . v THE KNOTT FLOURING MILL.

with his several boys, erected and oper- | ated the first saw mill in this section of country. For 20 years, did Mr. Asa Knott, the subject <>f this sketch, help to run this saw mill, after which he moved over near North Liberty ami settled down to the life of a farmer on an extensive and modern scale. Here he prospered in every way—being blest with a good wife and an interesting fa mily of children, as well as a goodly share of the world’s goods in the shape of 1200

acres of the finest agricultural land in this county, with an abundance of । stock, and all the improved farming ! paraphernalia usually attached to a first-class farmin this progressive age in > ' which we live. Some four years ago he purchased the old time grist mill in North Liber- | ty an inland town, six miles north-; east of Walkerton. This property he : ' soon put in modern condition, introducing necessary and modern reforms until he made it a model institution of its kind, with a capacity for turning out ; 50 barrels of A 1 flour,every 24 hours. This condition of things regarding I this mill, continued until some two ; rears ago, when the superior shipping facilities enjoyed by Walkerton, to--1 gether with a bonus of S7OO given by , the people of this town, induced Mr. ■ Knott to remove his mill to this place, ; where we now find it in active and increased, operation. It has been literally rebuilt, re modeled and enlarged—more powerful machinery placed therein —a 50 horse power engine for instance, and all the latest devices known to the founders of ‘ Roller mill’’ machinery, thus doubling the former capacity at North Liberty—enabling the management now to turn j out 100 barrels of flour which under ■ their special brand known as “Tip Top” successfully competes with any-1 thing in the flour market of America j anywhere. The location of this mill, for ship- . ping and other purposas, is a very hapI pv one. being situated at the intersec I . r - , ) , % . • •. • . f I traffic north, svuiu, eusi .... . thus brought in direct shipping com-

munication therewith; and from tl fact also t iat this is the central poi of the grandest wheat growing sect of the great State of Indiana the fa ities to obtain supplies, are unequal anywhere else. The wheat is of a perior quality, and brings a big price in the leading markets than th from most any other section of tl country. Hence one strong reaso’ why the quality of flour manufacture here maintains its exceptional hi; standard. Ihe possibilities lor increasing t capacity of this mill, and the facili to handle ten times the quantity wheat usually shipped from and grom thereat, aremost’excellent. The prese company handled 100,000 bushels h year, and every succeeding seaso? brings increased demands. Very fe men have left a brighter record behir than has Mr. Asa Knott, a pionr from away back; he always led in upbuilding of all modern improvem amongst the early settlers of this tion, and was looked up to by then counsel, advice and guidance. । Drainage Commissioner of St. Jos

county for several years, he renders most excellent and intelligent servh to the people—the results of which tiii generation so beneficially now enjoHe was president, and one of th founders of “The Farmers’ Mutual la 1 surance Company of St. Joseph cmin- , ty,’ and was a director and stockholder of “Ihe Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan fair Association” which . bis energy so much helped to first cre- ■ ate and afterwards foster by bis sage ! advice and wise counsel. These are grand practical monuments to the memory of one of Indi ua’s best citizens in the broadest sense of that term. But a greater and grander memento yet hallows the memory of Mr. Asa Knott:—ln 1861, when his country was in danger, he lingered not, nor did be tarry on the order of going. He was amongst the earliest troops that responded to tbe first call, enlisting in Co. 13, 48th Indiana Infantry as Ist Lieutenant, remaining 18months in the thick of the fight, and bearing the brunt of battle nobly, until stricken down with disease, contracted in the march, which compelled him to return home, bringing in his system the seeds of the disease that finally proved fatal causing his comparatively early demise on February 23d, 1891, at the age of 5 17 years. His two sons Charles and WiL j liam aged respectively 22 and 21 years, i both intelligent young men, with & keen and appreciative sense of business, have since, attended to their father's : extensive estate—William, the younger i son, remaining on their 1,200 acres of land near North Liberty with mother and sister, wh.ist Charles ably attends | to the mill and the buying and shipding of wheat on quite an extensive scale. This is now a very valuable property, j and its future prospects are indeed of a j most encouraging nature—A most competent corps of employes are here emi ployed:—lsaac McDuffie, miller, 12 j years experience; Geo. Dougherty, en- ' gineer, 20 years experience; O. L. Dougherty, flour packer, etc.; David j Tingley, “hustler;” C. L. Granger, book keeper and general utility man — was literally reared in a grist mill—came of a family of millers. Walkerton people are very proud of this mill, and are well pleased with the investment they made in this particular instance. LICENSE NOTICE. NOTICE is hereby given to the citizens of the i town of Walkerton, in Lincoln Township, of St. Jo- : seph County, in the State of Indiana, that I will i m^e application to the Board of Commissioners of sam county at their September term cf 1891, for perI mission to sell spirituous, vinous and malt liquors in ; a less quantity than one quart at a time, m a certain I one story frame building situated on sixteen feetJn ' width of the north side of thirty feet in width of lot j number sixty-nine in the original plat of the town of i Walkerton, in Lincoln Township, of St. Joseph counI ty. Indiana, and for permission to allow said liquors, to be crank on the premises here sold under a li~ ! c_'" g ,:Aed me ?• said Board Ccmm’ssioners at -■/ -h cf i : t- sbu. so-r:reous. vinous n, , c : .y frame buildl which bu;idm o at- ..A.y dejt: •• /•- Jby ure. AXBERT C. HaRDENBROOK. ! Aug. 8, 1891.