| Background
History on St. Joseph County |
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| St.
Joseph County by John Marvin |
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| Sections |
Intro
Costly Victory
Changing Times
County Government Inaugurated
Historical Firsts
Early Background
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Historical Firsts
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 The
first marriage in the county, of actual residents, was
that of John W. Fletcher and Sarah Knox. performed by
Justice of the Peace Samuel Stewart on September 18, 1831.
The first divorce occurred in 1834.
The first two children were born to the Reichert and Cutler
families during 1829. The first deaths were those of George
Buck and Levi Waterman who were buried in a well they
were digging in 1829. The first cemetery was established
at White Pigeon in 1830.
The first stock of goods for sale in the county was transported
by wagon to White Pigeon and transferred to Mottville
Stewarts Store and consisted of codfish, one keg of tobacco
and five barrels of whiskey. The business of the pioneer
merchant was entirely conducted by exchange, as money
was scarce and dealers took wheat, had it made into flour,
and shipped to eastern creditors.
The first hotel Old Diggins and the first post office
were established at White Pigeon during 1828; the first
mail route was from Tecumseh to White Pigeon during 1829
(providing mail each way twice a week in summer and once
in two weeks in winter); and John Winchell of White Pigeon
was the first mailman in the county. The first stagecoach
operated on Chicago Road (1831-32) between Tecumseh, White
Pigeon and Niles. The Year 1851 saw the first railroads
in the county.
St. Joseph County led the United States in production
of mint oil and, in fact, any section of the world of
equal area. Cultivation of mint started in 1835. After
1850, the county became noted for the raising of peaches,
cherries and plums in abundance. |
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| DATE
FOUNDED |
| Nov.
4, 1829 |
| FOUNDING
LOCATION |
| White
Pigeon |
| POPULATION |
| 62,422 |
| SIZE |
| 520
Sq. Miles |
| QUICK
FACT |
| The
first Marriage in the county was that of John Fletcher
and
Sarah Knox on September 18, 1831 |
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