SOLON ROBINSON, 1847 65 



joyment of such privileges, a stranger who had seen the 

 community then, and again now, would unhessitatingly 

 say that there were more professing christians at that 

 time, than at this, in proportion to the population. Indeed 

 there were settled around here in that year (1837) a 

 goodly number of very zealous & exemplary christian 

 professors; but as they belonged to different denomina- 

 tions, there were not enough of either to attempt the for- 

 mation of a church at this place, though I think that the 

 Methodist organized several classes this year ; one at least 

 at pleasant grove, and also had occasional preaching 

 there, being included in the Porter County mission. I 

 mention these things that you may see the commencement 

 and progress of religious matters in this community. The 

 Baptist people at Cedar Lake also held frequent meetings 

 this year, and I think had preaching at Judge Ball's who 

 settled there this year — 



John Hack, the patriarch and leader of the large Ger- 

 man Settlement we now have in the County, came in and 

 settled where he now lives in the fall of this year. 



The two bridges on the prairie North of Crown Point 

 were built during this summer by Daniel May & Hiram 

 Nordyke at an expense of $500. Also one across West 

 creek by Nehermiah Hayden, near Judge Wilkinson's for 

 $400; one across Cedar Creek near Lewis Warriner's by 

 Stephen P. Stringham & Robert Wilkinson, for $200— 

 one across Deep River at Benajah Wilkinson's by A. S. 

 Ball for $400, besides several smaller ones, by means of 

 the 3 pr. ct. fund. 



Walton's saw mill on Turkey Creek, Wood's & also Dus- 

 tin's on Deep River & Taylor's on Cedar Creek, were all 

 building during this year. But with the exception of 

 Wood's they might as well never have been built for the 

 good they have done. The same may be said of the one 

 called "Miller's saw Mill" on Deep river. Dustins, Millers 

 & Waltons have been in utter ruins for years on account 

 of the dificulty of making a dam of dirt stand, and Tay- 

 lors is about half the time without water, and the other 

 half without a dam. 



