Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

213 Mill Street - Cherry Villa



Has been simply refered to as Willow Point, Cherry Villa and over the years it has bore several different physical addresses - such as 121 Willow Point, 121 Mill St., 221 E. Mill Street Street, 220 Cherry Villa Lane, 220 Cherry Villa , Cherry Villa Street

This point was also called 'Wolf Island' the 1870's and was one of the favorite embarking points for fisherman.

When Judge Maurice] Winfield took posession he changed the name the accounting found as follows in the 31 Jul 1918 issue of the Citizen:

    Judge Winfield says that when he bought the location for his house it was known the country ‘round as Stingy Point, from the alleged character of its then owner. The Judge promptly rechristened his purchase, calling his summer home “Cherry Villa” from the great wild cherry trees that stand guard on either side of it.


But this cottage which was probably first known as 'Willow Point' but the term "Willow Point " I was told because of the abundance of a large willow trees that stood on the property and along the shore of the point.

There is legend that an Indian descendant of one of the chiefs of this area was brought back from Georgia to be buried here on Willow Point. It is said he refused to go to the reservations so went to an Indian village in Georgia. In one of the Indian mound parks it is said there is a plaque that the tells of him giving his name and burial location. I have not found proof of this as yet. - it was to have been on the south section or what became Villa Primavera and then Willow Point

This property for years had the railroad between them and the lake till about late 1970's or early 1980's when it was abandoned and the property owners bought the railroad right-a-way back. This is indicated by a a stip of land decribed as generally: "PRT W1/2 NW1/4:COM W1/4 COR E1030.15'

1835


1835-1837 Plat Map
    Section 21 Lot 1 - 52.41A
    Section 21 Lot 2 - 41.92A
    Section 21 Lot 3 - __.__A [41.49]


James F. D. Lanier of Jefferson county, Indiana on 30 June 1837 was issued the certificate #7339 the East half of Section twenty; Fractional Section of Twenty One; Fractional Section of Twenty Seven and Fractional section of Twenty eight containing 793 32/100 acres.

1872 Plat Map
J. Miller 18.32A A. Foot 21.60A
J Robbin 27.90A James G Robbins
J. Filer 10A
J. Smith 61.40A


1876 Plat Map - no names on it for this section


1880 Plat Map
W. J. Myers 17.85A
M. G. Gould 23.92A; 56/57A
E. Parker 27.42A
J. Filer 10A C. Filer 39.40A
G. A. Durr - Lot 2
A.C. Shepherd Etal
J. Green [James Green ]


From the Logansport Daily Journal page 3 dated Aug. 27, 1882:
    All the preliminaries for the extension of the Logansport branch of the Vandalia railway to Lake Michigan have been satisfactorily adjusted, and upon compliiance with a few easy conditions the contact will be closed, and the work will be commenced and pushed to completion.

    Readers of the Journal are familiar with the route of this line to Marmont (Maxinkuckee), and will have no difficulty in following it to South Bend and the lake...
    With these advantages before them, our citizens are asked to consider one of the conditions above named, which condition is that the right of way shall be furnished free to the new line thorugh our county. The estimated cost of this right of way is from $7,000 to $10,000 and it is proposed to raise the amount by subscription. A consideraable portion of this subscription has already been secured, and a committee appointed for that purpose will make an effort to raise the remainder during the present week...


1883 - Oct 6 - The.Vandaiia railroad company commenced laying iron at Marmount a d ay or two ago, and-withln a short time the tract will be completed from Maxinkuckee lake to the Nickle Plate railroad, a distance of about three miles,- Logansport Pharos Tribune

?-1896 - Giles W. Burrows and Maria Burrows

? - 1896- 1922 - Cherry Villa - Judge Morris [Maurice] Winfield
    1896 - Feb. 19 - Hon. M. Windfield has arranged to have his coattage at Lake Maxinkuckee remodeled. Architect Rgods is perparing the plans - Logansport Pharos Tribune

    1896, Apr 2 - Judge Winfield is having his cottage at Lake Maxkinckee repaired and enlarged - Logansport Pharos Tribune

    1896, JUl 4 - Judge Winfield's Cottage
      Culver City Herald: Judge Winfield of Logansport, is having a privae driveway consructed from the cottage he recently purchased of Burrows at the point.

      Since the judge came in possession of this very desirable property he has made extensive improvements,and today there is no cottage upon the lake better situated from an architectural standpoint, being simply immense in point of convenience and comfort.

      The grounds surrounding this cottage are high above the lake, commanding an extensive view in all directions, and when the contemplated improvements are all completed, will be the embodiment of perfection


    1896, Oct. 16 - D. A. Smith and Company are building a stone wall upon the lake front of the Winfield property at “Stingy Point. ” - Friday, Oct. 16, 1896 Culver City Herald

    1897 - April 16 - Judge Winfield is having a fine horse barn built on his cottage grounds.

    1898
    Areas in corporated into Culver
    N. Gould
    M. Grubbs 10A +
    B. Easterday 38.40
    MR. Smith
    J. Green [James Green ]
    Rochester Club
    Long Point
    South Long Pont


    1907 - Feb 21 - Judge Winfield commenvrf work this week on two new cottsgrss near the grist mill 1907 June 6 Judge Winfield has moved into his $4000 cottage. It one of the finest around the lake

    1908 Plat Map


    A view of the Willow Point area in 1914; tho it shows it was not subdivided down in this map it does depicts the area at the time it comes from the Vandalia-Castleman lease

    Some time at this point in time Willow Point was subdivided into 2 properties "Cherry Villa" and the cottage next door was built sometime after June 1915 by Judge Winfield

    Just when the cottage was built has yet to be determined

    It would be eventually sold to T. B. Hamilton who occupied it for several seasons before his purchase of it and became known as "Villa Primavera" and later "Willow point"


    Judge Morris Maurice Winfield died on 1 Dec 1921 and his will provided that the cottage at the lake shall be sold after the death of the widow, and the proceeds placed in a trust fund.; Mrs. Winfield died on 3 Sep. 1922

    1922


    The 1922 plat map still lists the property under Judge Morris [Maurice] Winfield and shows that "Willow Poiint has been subdivided down into two lots as 2 house are now on it.


    The "point" was never included in the 1906, 1914, 1924 or 1937 Sandborn Maps only the areas "across the Tracks" and up tovshowing the railroad tracks exisiting at the time.

    1923, Aprl 18 - The Winfield cottage, Lake Maxinkuckee. Good location, large lot. Strickly modern. For information phone 203 or write either First National Bank or Winfield Office, Logansport, Ind.

    1924 - Apr. 30 - The Winfield cottage south of town has been sold to Peru People
      1924 - June 25 - The Winfield Estate has sold the WInfield Cottage to Marjory Rasamer of Peru. The consideration was $7500.


    1924, May 21 - D. H. Rassner from Peru is making arrangments to open his cottage, "Cherry Villa" for the season.

    1924, Jul 13 - Notice of Non-Resident (1620 4)
      State of Indiana, Marshall Couty, SS;
      In the Marshall Circuit Court, September Term, 1924 (1620 3)
      Marjorie Rassner vs. James F. D. Lanier, et al.
      Complaint to Quite Title
      The plaintiff in the above entitled cause, by W. O. Osborn and S. N. Stevens, her attorneys has filed in my office a complaint against the defendants to determine or quiet the title to real estate situated in Marshall County, in the State of Indiana, and described as follows, towit:

      All of the following described real estate situate in Marshall county in the State of Indiana, conveyed by Giles W Burrow and Maria Burrow his wife, to Maurice Winfield, recorded in the Recorder's office of Marshall county, Indiana in Deed Records Number 55, on page 351 towit:
        All of the North two-thirds (23) of Lot One (1) of the Fractional Northwest Quarter (1/4) of Section Twenty-One (21), Township Thirty Two (32) North, Range One (1) East, lying east of the Right of Way of the T. H. & L Railroad, as now located, and South of the East and West Center line of the North One-third of said Fractional Northwest Quarter containing One (1) acre, more or less and being all of said land lying between the railroad and Lake Maxinkuckee:

        But, excepting and excluding therefrom all the part of said described Real Estate situated in said Marshall county sold and conveyed by Maurice Winfield in his life time to Thomas B. Hamilton by Warranty Deed dated October 12, 1920, in which his wife Mary J. Winfield joined, and described as follows towit:

        All that part of Section Twenty One (21), Township Thirty Two (32) North, Range One (1) East in Union Township, Marshall County, State of Indiana, which lies East of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad and which tract is bound and described as follows:
          Beginning at a point on the Eastern right-of-way line of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Co. 730.1 feet East and 662.2 ft. South of the Northwest corner of Section 21, Township 32 North, Range 1 East, in Marshall County, Indiana, which said point is 7.0 feet south of an iron popr monument installed by the county surveyor of Marshall county, State of Indiana, on the 13th day of September, 1920; thence southwardly along said Railroad companys Eastern right-of-way line and shore line of Lake Maxinkuckee, which iron pipe is 49.5 feet Eastwardly at a right angle, from the center line of the main track of said P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad Company; thence in a Northeasterly direction and following the meanders of the Shore Line of Lake Maxinkuckee a distance of 248.7 feet to a point of 1.5 feet Northeast of an iron pipe set by the county surveyor aforesaid on the Shore line of Lake Maxinkuckee; thence North 76 degrees 8 minutes West a distance of 154.9 feet to the place of beginning, together with the right of ingress and egress, over, upon and across the lands of the grantor herein and over, upon and along a certain road or driveway 16.5 feet in width, the center line of said road entering the lands of the grantor herein from the West at a point 733.6 feet East and 454.0 feet South of the Northwest Corner of said Section 21, and which point of entry lies 16.5 feet South of the Northwest corner said grantor's land as evidenced by an iron pipe monument set and created by the county surveyor of Marshall county, Indiana in his official capacity as such county Surveyor on the 13th day of September, 1920, which iron pipe monument is situate 733.6 feet East and 437.5 feet South of the Northwest corner of Section 21 aforesaid; the said road running from the above point of entry in an easterly and Southerly direction and following a curved line to the right of varying radii a further distance of 91 feet to the Northern boundary line of the tract or parcel herein conveyed at a point bearing S. 76 degrees 8 minutes East and 85.2 feet distant from the Northwest Corner of the parcel to be conveyed above described.


      And it appearing by the affidavit of the competent person that the Defendants:

      James F D Lanier. The unknown heirs devisees and legatees of James F D Lanier, deceased. Elizabeth G. Lanier, wife or widow of James F D Lanier, deceased if she be dead or living. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of Elizabeth G. Lanier if she be dead.

      James Mitchell. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of James Mitchell, deceased.

      James Lyon. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of James Lyon deceased. Joanna Lyon, wife or widow of James Lyon, deceased. The unknown heirs devisees and legatees of Joanna Lyon if she be dead.

      Joanna Debolt. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of Joanna Debolt if she be dead. __ Debolt, husband or widower of Joanna Debolt, if he be living or dead. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of __Debolt if he be dead.

      J. F. D. Lainer. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of J. F. D. Lanier, deceased.

      Charles M. Heaton. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of Charles Heaton, deceased.___ Heaton, wife or widow of Charles M Heaton, if she be dead or living. The unknown hers and devisees and legatees of __ Heaton if she be dead.

      Adrian Foot. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of Adrian Foote, deceased. Philomela A Foote, wife or widow of Adrian Foote, if she be dead or living . The unknown heirs, devisees, and legatees of Philomela A Foote if she be dead.

      Robert Blakely. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of Robert Blakely, Mary Blakely, wife or widow of Robert Blakely, if she be dead or living. Robert Blakely The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of Robert Blakely, of Robert Blakely deceased. Mary Blakely, wife or widow of Robert Blakely, if she be dead or living. The unknown heirs, devisees and legatees of May Blakely if she be dead.

      Are non residents of the State of Indiana; they are therefore hereby notified of the filing and pendency of the complaint against them to quiet the title to the lands above described, as against all demands, claims and claimants whatsoever; and unless they appear and answer thereto on or before the calling of said cause on the 22nd day of September, 1924 being the 7th judicial day of the September Term of said court, to begun and held at the Court House in Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana, on the third Monday of September, A. D. 1924, said complaint and the matters and things therein alleged will be heard and determined in their absence.

      Witness, the Clerk and Seal of said Court at Plymouth, Indiana this 9th day of July 1924.

      Glenn L. Underwood Clerk Marshall Circuit court

      W.O. Osborn S. N. Stevens Plaintiff's Attorneys


    19__ David H. & Margery Ellen (Guynn) Rassner Beatrice (Rassner) Bigley (Mrs. John F) stated in a biography
      Later, my father bought the "Cherry Villa" cottage, a larger one with inside plumbing, a fireplace, and a furnace. It had belonged to a Judge Winfield of Logansport. It was located the first cottage around the bay from the depot on the west side of Lake Maxinkuckee.


    1934 - Mar 15 - Cottage for Sale - At Lake Maxinkuckee, Culver, Ind. 320 ft. lake front; eleven room cottage; modern except hot water. D. H. Rassner, Peru, Ind. Indianapolis News

    c1936 - 1961 - Dr. Donald & Edna (Crump) Reed
      From the biographical on them comes: They bought a large home, Cherry Villa, on the lake and rebuilt it for their permanent residence.


    1976 - The Pennsylvania Railroad track was abandoned and lot owners on South Street and the west side of the lake purchased the right-of-way between their property and the lake.

    The Maxinkuckee West Side Property Owners, Inc. was formed to procure and buy up the railroad prperty along the shore of Lake Maxinkuckee from Plymouth St. to the end of South Street ending at West Shore. Dr.

    1973-9, 1992, May - Homer Mahl & Dorothy C. Barnes
      David Burns constructed the seawalls in front of this cottage which was only one block south of his residence 419 South Main and I would walk down with Little David and Dorothy was in awe that I had had sewed all of little David's baby clothes by hand (thread & needle, no sewing machine) - and demanded of David that he purchase me a sewing machine - since I loved to sew - and done such a great job with hand sewing.




    1992, May - 2009 - William Mahl & Linda R. Rathje Barnes

    Willow Point as a whole in 2005


    Cherry Villa portion of Willow Point in 2005


    In front or back depending on how one looks at it of this property was this is the area in 2005 and the Standard Bulk Plant which was the Grist Mill and also the Vandalia later the Pensylvania railroad-right-of-way into the 1970's of the cottages known as 'Cherry Villa' and 'Willow Point' aka Villa Primavera.

    This area was acquired by Dean "Skip" Smith" in the mid 1980's and is/was now owned by Yellowstone Corp, who at the time owned 206 E. Mill St.


    Some pictures of the back lot area from Mill street



    1993 - 2005 - William Mahl & Linda R. Rathje Barnes

    2013, Jun-2014, Jun. - William Maul Barnes

    It was on Jun 26, 2013 subdivided down and replatted into three seperate lots Continued history at 213 E Mill