Maxinkuckee Village Preservation A report on historical and environmental preservation, restoration, and interpretive opportunities for the promotion and protection of the history of the unincorporated Village.
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT - Committee - Documentation - Research COMPOSITION OF THE REPORT - Historical Record - Resource Identification - Interpretive Plan/Improvements - Building “Community”
History of the Village Daniel McDonald’s account of the village in his 1881 History of Marshall County , states “Maxinkuckee…has not been regularly laid out as a town, but, as the merits of the lake as a summer resort become better known, it is destined to grow into considerable importance.” McDonald includes that the streets dividing the town east/west and north/south were called Lake and Washington, respectively. Since the lake is what gives the village its name, it should be noted that in Native American terms, “Maxinkuckee” is interpreted as “clear water” or “diamond lake.” However, one account by Niago, a Native American said that Maxinkuckee meant “stone or stony, for the numerous stones and pebbles on the shores and in the bed of the lake.” Regardless of the meaning, it is a far better name than what it was first referred to as: “ Fizzletown ”.
Lake Street (18B) Washington Street (old alignment/Queen)
Village founded on Reservation The earliest history of the region that is recorded is tied to the Nis-waug-ee and Quash-qua Indian reserves established by treaty in 1832. They were but a few sections of land, each, on the east side of the lake with 18B Road, also a section line, being the dividing line between the two. Nis-waug-ee on the north side and Quach-qua on the south; the two chiefs were brothers. Together they shared a village, and encampments dotted the east shore of the lake. According to McDonald, Nis-waug- ee’s residence and main village site was located on the Bigley property, across the north side of the road from the Allegheny House. William Thompson, an early settler of Union Township “kept house” for the chief when he traveled to receive payment on the treaty, and references are made to the Chief’s residence being a cabin. It has been stated that homes were constructed in the village for Native Americans by Moses Scott on behalf of the Federal Government in 1828. The removal of these Native American bands occurred about 1838 and the lands were sold by the George Winter’s painting federal government.
VILLAGE OF MAXINKUCKEE POPULATION IN 1880 As identified in the 1880 census, the Village of Maxinkuckee had 13 households, shown in the following order over two pages; the village is not recorded separately under any other census: Bigley, Thomas family. Farmer. Mother, Amelia Smith living with family. Wise, Jonathan family. Retail merchant (in partnership with Parker) Parker, Eli family. Farmer & Merchant Benedict, Aaron family. Farmer & Miller (saw/grist) Stevens, Oliver P. family. Physician. Son, Adin, was a teacher South, William family. Farm laborer Hissong, Samuel family. House carpenter Hay, Susan family. Housekeeper, included two boarders Foss, William family. Shoemaker Edwards, Edward family. Hotel keeper, included five hired hands for hotel Spangler, Peter family. Farmer, included Abraham Bogardus and William Easterday (farm laborer) Miles, John C. family. Farmer Miles, Daniel family. Farmer
VILLAGE OF MAXINKUCKEE RESOURCES The resources identified in the Village of Maxinkuckee are varied. The term “resource” here includes buildings, structures such as stone walls, foundations and fences, and landscape features such as glacial hills, fauna, and streams. Though varied in their construction dates and details, all work in unison to create the “feel” of the village. This is the fabric, if strengthened, can provide the sense of community in built form and ultimately lead to its preservation. Natural landscape Man-built resources
Natural Landscape Wildflowers are abundant at the west end of 18B Road, near the wetlands at the golf course. Glacial “kames” characterize the east edge of the village and rise 50’ from surrounding farmland. Ravines, woods, and streams are counted among the natural resources of the Village.
Man-Built Resources Walls, Fences, and Buildings
Corner posts of concrete and stone
1908 Plat Map of the Village Notable Buildings of the Village Of approximately 36 total
Overmyer Store & I.O.O.F Lodge, c. 1913. The building was located southeast of 18B and Queen Road. Only foundations remain.
Maxinkuckee Disciples of Christ Church, c. 1888. A church building is identified on the 1898, 1908, and 1922 plat maps of the village.
Maxinkuckee School-Wooley House, c. 1875 This house was the old Maxinkuckee School, located here as early as 1880. An earlier schoolhouse was located on Queen Road, some 1000’ north of the intersection with 18B Road, by about 1852. That was likely the first school in the village, this was likely the second and may have served for religious services for both the Disciples of Christ and Methodists until the church was built. This building was sold to the highest bidder in 1908 after the new brick school was constructed. G. D. and Ida Wooley purchased the property that included a one- story frame building and converted it to their house.
Maxinkuckee School, 1908. The township school was constructed in 1908. The contract was let to Fred Thompson, local builder, though he in turn let it to John Gill for $2569.00. Mrs. Elizabeth Marmon directed the creation of a playground and beautification of the school site in 1916. The schoolhouse, after consolidation and ordered closed by the state in 1936, was used by the Bigleys as a cold storage facility for apples.
Allegheny House, c. 1855 The early hotel was constructed just as people were beginning to visit Lake Maxinkuckee for recreational opportunities. Notable people, like Lew Wallace, stayed in the home and it is purported that he wrote a portion of Ben Hur at the house while vacationing. The house has sleeping rooms and a “ballroom” area on the second floor, and a second story front porch for guests. The house was likely constructed as a tavern/inn by Abraham (Abram) Wicks (and Frances) Bogardus, then owned by Peter & Harriet Spangler. Harriet was the daughter of Abraham and Frances Bogardus. Spangler had settled in Union Township in 1865. By 1881 and as early as 1870, the Spanglers were assisting with operations of the old inn, now called the Spangler Hotel, until Harriet died in 1909.
Parker Farm & Store (1881 engraving) The farm was probably first developed by Eli Parker, who came to Union Township in 1856. He had a small stock of general merchandise and opened a store just west of the house. He married Catherine Spangler, the daughter of Samuel Spangler of Fulton County, in 1860. Through his business, he amassed enough capital to increase his land holdings to 400 acres. His son, Francis M. Parker, continued on the farm and became the township trustee during the early 1900s. Parker had several partnerships, beginning with James Dale, then Harvey Atkinson, and finally John Wise by the 1880s. Parker & Wise opened a second store location at Maxinkuckee Landing. The village post office was maintained in one corner of the store above. This building later served as the Oddfellows Hall and burned in 1903 after it was purchased of Parker in 1899.
Parker-Mahler House A fire in 1932 destroyed the 2-story Italianate residence of Eli Parker, however, it appears that Francis Parker reconstructed this house using much of the original foundation. The c. 1870 barn remains, as does the stone wall and portions of the original iron fence.
Bigley Farm, 1875. This was part of the 80 acre farm owned by A. (Amelia) Smith, shown on both the 1881 and 1908 plats. Edward Bigley and Amelia (Fisher) married in 1850, in Marshall County. The Bigley and Fisher families were early pioneers of the area. In 1837, Amelia’s oldest brother John came to Lake Maxinkuckee and built a cabin. In 1844, John purchased the tract of land on which the Bigley farm was established. After Edward and Amelia were married, they lived on the Fisher farm. Thomas Jefferson Bigley was born a year later, in 1851, but Edward died by the late 1850s. Thomas J. Bigley married Sarah Jane Benedict (daughter of Aaron and Rose Benedict) in 1875 and constructed this house and barn at that time. The timbers came from the Benedict saw mill at Maxinkuckee.
John Bigley, the grandson of Edward, built the bungalow in 1929 and established the orchard, then later built the apple storage barn and store.
Dr. Abram Stevens House, c. 1890 The house was owned by Abram E. Stevens in 1908, then shown as P. E. Stevens in 1922. This Stevens was also a physician. He is shown at this location in 1900. Abram was the son of Oliver Stevens, also a physician in the village. Abram lived and practiced in Monterey prior to coming to Maxinkuckee, then moved on to Argos by 1930.
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