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STORY INDEX Population of Indiana's
northeast counties Tracking railroads: Longtime area auto dealers have 'seen it all' Amish continue long-held
traditions Cars accelerate lives of Noble County residents The price of cars: How much did it cost to drive one off the lot? Electric Interurban connected area to Fort Wayne, beyond LaGrange residents rally to save historic brick streets U.S. 6, Ind. 3: Kendallville's routes to growth Agriculture ever-changing, advancing in Noble County Comparisons: How far did the dollar stretch? Growing onions, peppermint made 'scents' in early 1900s The Gaby farm: A changing culture impacts 4-H County fair continues to be a big social event Thriving through the times: Downtown Kendallville adapts to a century of changes Dekko's philanthropy remains a 'valuable resource' Rinkel family still at the wheel of Greenfield Hills Commerce nothing new to Shipshewana: Town thrives as one of fastest-growing tourist areas in state Making do during the Great Depression: Retired hatchery owner recalls tough times, bright moments Mill a 'Star' business in Ligonier: Firm has been grinding wheat into flour for 113 years Elmer E. McCray had a major impact on Kendallville Richard R. Cole has long legacy Female executive has seen many changes in workforce Working women: From assisting war effort to competing in global markets Wolcottville a center of commerce, industry in 1800s Mongoquinong area was early LaGrange County commercial center 'The cheapest hired hand we ever had.' Electricity made life brighter, easier down on the farm Monument company's history set in stone Historic Corn School dates back to 1906
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Wolcottville a center of commerce, industry in 1800s By TARA KITCHEN The News-Sun WOLCOTTVILLE - The town of Wolcottville
might look small today, but that wasn't Wolcottville was settled in 1832 by two French traders sent from Fort Wayne by a trading company. A small cabin was built, then a double log building made of tamarack poles, called the Tamarack House. Later, a dam and sawmill were built near Tamarack House; a store and a grist mill opened; and the first village in the area was settled. The town wasn't always called Wolcottville. It was once referred to as Wolcott Mills because of the mills built there by a man named George Wolcott. Born in Torrington, Conn., one of 12 children, Wolcott moved with his family to Tallmadge, Ohio, at age 16. After his father died, he and his youngest brother cared for the family's farm until the spring of 1828. Wanting to get into business himself, Wolcott went to Wadsworth, Ohio, where he bought on credit 100 acres of untamed land at $4 per acre and began clearing it. The same year he married Margaret Hine of Tallmadge, Ohio, and they began married life in a one-room log cabin. In Wadsworth, Wolcott signed a job contract to provide planks for a large bridge. This job provided him with the first of his money earned as a self-employed businessman. Wolcott did this for four years, until he bought a saw mill and began manufacturing fanning mills. However, in 1836 he sold his possessions at Wadsworth and made arrangements for finding a home and facilities for water power farther west. He left Wadsworth in March 1837. When he came to the area now known as Wolcottville, he was attracted to the fact that it was at the headwater of the north branch of the Little Elkhart River, and he chose to settle there.
George Wolcott's influence on the community was evident not only in the businesses he promoted and built, but in the education the settlement received. Although he did not build the first school, Wolcott was very concerned about the education of the local children. Miss Nancy Barnes was the first public school teacher in the area. However, the curriculum was very basic at best, and in 1851 Wolcott wrote to the National Board of Education in the East to request a Christian governess-teacher for his own children. Miss Susan Griggs responded and was hired to teach the one school-age child in the Wolcott family. As other families became interested, Griggs began teaching other children as well. In 1852 Wolcott became inspired to build the Wolcottville Seminary and a boarding house for out-of-town students. Student enrollment at one point totaled as high as 15. Basic education was offered as well as Latin, German, French, painting, and music.
However, when the state authorized secondary schools as part of the public education program, the seminary began losing its students and the school closed its doors in 1868. Wolcott did not live to see the disbanding of his school. He died March 31, 1857, at the age of 51. As the industrial age began to reach the community, manufacturing plants were established, but the community failed to attract enough companies to locate in Wolcottville to insure continued growth. Instead, it has become a trading area for large numbers of seasonal lake dwellers. Today, Wolcott's headstone can be seen in the town cemetery, as well as the imposing frame house which he built, a shed and part of a house which was a portion of the Wolcottville Seminary.
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always
so. In fact, Wolcottville has its roots in commerce and industry,
and was once the center of business in the LaGrange County area.
