Collamer, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Collamer is an unincorporated town in Cleveland Township
, Whitley County
, Indiana
, United States
located on the Eel River and at the intersection of Indiana State Road 14 and Whitley County road 900 W. Smith Rambo platted the town February 9, 1846. Collamer is named after Jacob Collamer
, 13th United States Postmaster General
.
. In the 1895 U.S. Atlas Indiana Collamer had a population of 163.
Potawatomi
and Miami
Indians
signed a peace treaty with the United States government to open lands north of the Wabash River to white settlers. These negotiations, led by Michigan Governor Lewis Cass
, resulted in the Paradise Springs Peace Treaty. The Potowatomi before that point were located on the Eel River, which they called the Kenapocomoco (KE-NA-PE-COM-A-QUA), in a series of villages named Pierrish’s Village, located at present day North Manchester
, southwest of Collamer. The Miami, led by Chief Little Turtle before that point had their villages located on the Eel River between South Whitley
and Columbia City
, northeast of Collamer.
Settlement of Collamer began in 1845, which was originally called Millersburg, after the town's first merchant Elias Miller. The location was selected because of the convenient location to the Wabash and Erie Railroad and the Eel River. When the town wished to established a post office, they discovered that the post office name Millersburg, Indiana
had been taken. After some frustration and consideration, on September 18, 1849 they choose the name Collamer, after President Zachary Taylor
's Postmaster General Jacob Collamer
.
Built along the north side of the Eel River, the community by 1880 had a "gristmill, a sawmill, two general stores, a drug store, a boot and shoe store, a grade school, a Christian Church, a physician and a post office." In the early 1870s the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad was built alongside the east side of Collamer and began operations in 1872.
The rail line was abandoned between 1954 and 1977. Today only the Christian Church, the Collamer Church of God, the pillars of the railroad bridge, and the dam built for the mills remains.
, the four story Collamer Grist Mill was built in 1845 by (Elias) Miller and Harder the summer before the official platting of the town. The mill first grind corn then wheat and other small grains. "The Eel River provided a remarkable constant supply for the water powered millstones. Early writers tell of the Eel as one of the best power streams around." Improvements were made to the mill in the late 1800s, with the removal of original millstones for a roller mill. Henry Hauptmeyer installed an electric generator to the mill and some years between 1918 and 1934 the mill and dam powered Collamer and neighboring community Sidney
. After overloading problems and a wash out of the mill race the mill stopped operation. On May 19, 1934, the mill collapsed.
Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Indiana
Cleveland Township is one of nine townships in Whitley County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,398.-Geography:Cleveland Township covers an area of . The Eel River flows westward through the township. The streams of Clear Creek, Spring Creek, Sugar Creek and Sycamore...
, Whitley County
Whitley County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,707 people, 11,711 households, and 8,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile . There were 12,545 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
located on the Eel River and at the intersection of Indiana State Road 14 and Whitley County road 900 W. Smith Rambo platted the town February 9, 1846. Collamer is named after Jacob Collamer
Jacob Collamer
Jacob Collamer was an American politician from Vermont.-Biography:Jacob Collamer was born in Troy, New York. He graduated from the University of Vermont at Burlington, served in the War of 1812, studied law in St. Albans, Vermont, was admitted to the bar in 1813, and served as an officer in a...
, 13th United States Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
.
Geography
Collamer is located at 41°04′33"N 85°39′53"W (41.0758,-85.6647).Demographics
Because the town is unincorporated, no exact information is available from the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
. In the 1895 U.S. Atlas Indiana Collamer had a population of 163.
History
On October 23, 1826 in what is now Wabash, IndianaWabash, Indiana
Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wabash County....
Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
and Miami
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
Indians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
signed a peace treaty with the United States government to open lands north of the Wabash River to white settlers. These negotiations, led by Michigan Governor Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
, resulted in the Paradise Springs Peace Treaty. The Potowatomi before that point were located on the Eel River, which they called the Kenapocomoco (KE-NA-PE-COM-A-QUA), in a series of villages named Pierrish’s Village, located at present day North Manchester
North Manchester, Indiana
North Manchester is a town in Chester Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. Peter Ogan, acting as the town’s founder filed for recording the 'Original Plat of Manchester' on February 13, 1846...
, southwest of Collamer. The Miami, led by Chief Little Turtle before that point had their villages located on the Eel River between South Whitley
South Whitley, Indiana
South Whitley is a town in Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,751 at the 2010 census. South Whitley is a town in the Midwestern tradition of red brick buildings and tree-lined streets.-Geography:...
and Columbia City
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
, northeast of Collamer.
Settlement of Collamer began in 1845, which was originally called Millersburg, after the town's first merchant Elias Miller. The location was selected because of the convenient location to the Wabash and Erie Railroad and the Eel River. When the town wished to established a post office, they discovered that the post office name Millersburg, Indiana
Millersburg, Indiana
Millersburg is a town in Clinton and Benton townships, Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 903 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Millersburg is located at ....
had been taken. After some frustration and consideration, on September 18, 1849 they choose the name Collamer, after President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
's Postmaster General Jacob Collamer
Jacob Collamer
Jacob Collamer was an American politician from Vermont.-Biography:Jacob Collamer was born in Troy, New York. He graduated from the University of Vermont at Burlington, served in the War of 1812, studied law in St. Albans, Vermont, was admitted to the bar in 1813, and served as an officer in a...
.
Built along the north side of the Eel River, the community by 1880 had a "gristmill, a sawmill, two general stores, a drug store, a boot and shoe store, a grade school, a Christian Church, a physician and a post office." In the early 1870s the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois Railroad was built alongside the east side of Collamer and began operations in 1872.
The rail line was abandoned between 1954 and 1977. Today only the Christian Church, the Collamer Church of God, the pillars of the railroad bridge, and the dam built for the mills remains.
Grist Mill
A structure similar in statue to the Stockdale Mill near Roann, IndianaRoann, Indiana
Roann is a town in Paw Paw Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. The population was 400 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Roann is located at ....
, the four story Collamer Grist Mill was built in 1845 by (Elias) Miller and Harder the summer before the official platting of the town. The mill first grind corn then wheat and other small grains. "The Eel River provided a remarkable constant supply for the water powered millstones. Early writers tell of the Eel as one of the best power streams around." Improvements were made to the mill in the late 1800s, with the removal of original millstones for a roller mill. Henry Hauptmeyer installed an electric generator to the mill and some years between 1918 and 1934 the mill and dam powered Collamer and neighboring community Sidney
Sidney, Indiana
Sidney is a town in Jackson Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. The population was 83 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sidney is located at ....
. After overloading problems and a wash out of the mill race the mill stopped operation. On May 19, 1934, the mill collapsed.