About the Author Vicki L. Comstock was born and lived 46 years in Olive Township, Elkhart County, Indiana. She graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1960, and began living in Wakarusa shortly after graduating on an 80-acre farm 1-1/2 miles northwest from Wakarusa. Vicki completed a Paralegal Studies Program at Indiana University at South Bend, Indiana. She was Co-Chair of the Quasquecentennial for the 125th birthday celebration of Wakarusa in 1977 and was also the Assessor for Olive Township between 1977-78. Vicki was a volunteer with the Elkhart County Division of Court Services between 1985 and 1986. She has previously taught genealogical workshops and courses for Elkhart County Historical Society and the Goshen Parks Department. In September of 1992 she began research and writing the History of Olive Township and completed the project in March of 2001, this includes over 200 sources. Currently Vicki is a member of the Elkhart County Genealogical Society and the William Tuffs Chapter of the D.A.R.

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Wakarusa History

This book is available to view at the Wakarusa Library, and to purchase at the Christian Light Bookstore in Nappanee, The Wakarusa Tribune, or the author (for $55 plus shipping and handling). The book is an 8 1/2" x 11" hard bound book with 592 pages includes a Every Name Index.

Three days after Wakarusa’s one hundred and fortieth birthday celebration in the fall of 1992, I, Vicki Comstock, began researching the history of Wakarusa (Salem) and Olive Township.

With eighteen of my direct ancestors having settled in Olive Township, Elkhart County, between 1848-1871, I felt an overwhelming duty and desire to write a book detailing the history of the land so many of my progenitors called, "home."

My historical odyssey took me hundreds of miles to varied destinations. One day, my journey would take me to a dimly lit room, pouring over dusty ledgers, which had been untouched by human hands for decades. Another day could find me strolling through a cemetery I refer to them as quiet public parks full of people with no verbal discord.

And then there were all those newspapers. I had concluded at some point in my project that I could gain further insight and knowledge of Wakarusa and Olive Township by reading all local newspapers. When I had finished, I discovered I had read over 210 combined years of the Wakarusa Sun, Wakarusa Tribune, Nappanee News, and the many Goshen papers.

As a youngster and young adult, I listened with interest to the many stories related to me by my elderly neighbors and relatives. Additionally during my research period, many individuals shared their stories and information with me. To these people both the living and those since deceased I owe a debt of gratitude. And it goes without saying, without my husband's support, this undertaking would not have been possible.

Eight years and seven months from the time I started, for the most part, I had completed the research and writing. This followed by months of gathering pictures and designing maps and charts. Then it was time to compile an every name index over 5,100 names.

Do I think mistakes were made in writing and compiling this book. I know mistakes can be found, but I did my utmost to minimize them. In the end, the index posed my biggest challenge, as there were a number of persons with the same name. Without personal knowledge of these families, it became difficult to differentiate between them. Caution should be exercised when using the index.

When it came to deciding which information to include or leave out, I did my best to give a well-rounded, accurate, and unedited view of life in and around Olive Township.

In conclusion, it is my sincerest hope in writing this book that the material found upon it’s pages will be interesting and informative to most and history inspiring to the rest.