KOSCIUSKO COUNTY —In January of 1966 the Kosciusko County Historical Society was formed. One hundred sixty-five persons attended the first meeting held at the courthouse.  From that beginning fifty years ago, the society has grown to nearly 500 members and has become the caretaker of the Old County Jail (now a museum), the Chinworth Bridge (Greenway Trailhead), and the Pound Store in Oswego (oldest commercial building in county).   But the society does not only preserve historical sites, they also are the caretakers of the official county records, and business, family and personal histories.

Seward Township was organized in 1859 when Milo Barbour and Elias McClure petitioned the commissioners to form the township out of 36 sections in Franklin Township. The Kingman Bros atlas of 1879 records that William Davis and James Carvin were among the very first in the county to erect cabins in the area in 1837. The United Brethren built Fairview church in 1873, and the Church of God was built in 1863. The first township library was in the home of Joshua Tucker. 

Yellow Creek flows from the northern extremity of Yellow Creek Lake through Seward and Franklin townships. Beaver Dam Lake, lies to the southwest, and in the very early times was a haven for many beavers. 

The town of Burket was surveyed by Amos Kist in the spring of 1862. The plat had 62 lots all north of the new Nickle Plate railroad.  The original name of the village was Belleview; believed to mean beautiful view. The name was changed in 1882 to Burket in honor of Elias Burkett, an early settler.  Other early pioneers were S.A. Byers, J. Weirick, S Vandermark, L. Latimer, J. Hartman, D. Williams, Blackmore, W.E. Sarber, and Porter. Burket was incorporated as a town in 1928.

Etna Township’s population, as of the 2010 census, was 1,503 and it contained 540 housing units. Etna Green was founded on July 4, 1853. David Carr built a mill in the area in 1852 and in 1853 Levi Keeler platted the town as a station on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, which was then being constructed through the county. In its early days it supported three sawmills, a hotel and a drugstore. At various times through the years there have been saloons, factories and several general stores. The post office was established in 1854. The United States post office department has no other town in any state by that name, and mail back then addressed simply to Etna Green would reach its destination. 

Banking was supplied by the private institution of S. P. Iden, established in 1900.  Later it was known as the Etna Bank. The first school was built in 1854, and was taught by Miss Stallard. The school was considered to be one of the leading schools of the county.  It is now the location of Heritage Park. A contest for the name of the park was held and Mrs. Theodore Good submitted the winning name.  Etna Green now belongs to Triton School Corporation. 

Church of Christ was organized in the home of Samuel Manley in 1859. The Methodist church organized in 1865 and the United Brethren in 1855.  In 1923 Don Poulson secured the Ford franchise and established a car agency there. In 1976 Etna Green was named a Centennial Town by the State of Indiana.

The two townships were linked together in 1930 when the Seward Bank at Burket was robbed of $500 by four men who then attempted to rob the Etna Green Bank.  The newspaper accounts relate that the robbers ate in Warsaw, went to Burket then to Etna Green where they attempted to burn their way through a safe using a torch. Their plan failed, so they kidnapped Mr. Pressnal, who they later tied to a bridge near Talma and promised to come back for him.  When the bandits were driving toward Mentone they ran off the road and hit a tree.  Etna Green officers engaged the bandits in a shootout.  Before the men surrendered, two officers were shot in the leg with buckshot and one bandit was mortally wounded. The robbers were given 10 to 15 years in prison.

The Kosciusko County Historical Society is celebrating its 50 year in preserving county history. Help support the Society’s efforts by becoming a member. Send name and address along with $25 for a family membership to KCHS, PO Box 1071, Warsaw, 46581. With your membership comes our quarterly publication, The Thaddeus Magazine, which contains fascinating stories of our county’s history.