XIII. OLD TIME TAVERNS.

 

In the earliest settlement of the county what is now known as "hotel" or "house," as applied to places of public entertainment, was at that time universally called "tavern," every one of which, before the proprietor could open up for business, was required to apply to the board of commissioners for a license, for which he was charged $10 a year, more or less, according to the amount of business done. There was no state law at that time governing the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the tavern license was in reality a license to sell liquor, as every tavern keeper was supposed to keep a little brown jug with something in it for the stomach's sake!

The first license granted for keeping tavern was to Grove Pomeroy for one year from April 1, 1836. His tavern was the building on the southwest corner of Michigan and La Porte streets. It was built of logs and lumber two stories high. For several years it had quite a run of travel, the stagecoaches from the north and south on the Michigan road and the hacks on the La Porte road stopping there. Mr. Pomeroy does not seem to have taken out tavern license after that, and it is likely that Robert Beattie succeeded him in 1837, judging from the following petition for license and the order for the same. A copy of this is reproduced here to show how the tavern business was conducted in those days.

 

Now at this time, to-wit: on the 3 day of January 1837 comes Robert Beattie and files in open court a certificate for divers freeholders, citizens of Plymouth and vicinity for a Tavern License to keep a house of public entertainment in the town of Plymouth in the following words and figures to wit:

 

To the Honorable the Board of Commissioners: The undersigned citizens of Plymouth and vicinity certify that Robert Beattie is a man of good moral character and well qualified to keep a house of public entertainment, and that we believe a Tavern to be highly necessary in the town of Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana;

 

E. B. Hobson               Adam Vinnedge             William Bishop             Daniel Roberts

Peter Schroeder             Silas Morgan                        Joseph Griffith             Thomas A. Packard

Milburn Coe                 W. G. Pomeroy             Allen Leach             Edward R. Parks

John E. Woodward             John Hall                  G. 0. Pomeroy             Grove Pomeroy

E. G. Collins                Timothy Barber             Tanner Currier             Samuel D. Taber

John Anderson             Resin Packard             Abner Caldwell             David VanVactor

David Steel                  Jeremiah Muncy             Thomas Erskin

 

There was nothing stated in the petition as to where the tavern was located, but the fact that Grove Pomeroy, the owner of the building and, signed the petition, is almost conclusive evidence that it was the Pomeroy building. Prior to the organization of the county in July 1836, the board of commissioners granted several "tavern licenses," among which were the following: Gustavus A. Cone, tavern license in North township for one year from April 1, 1836. This was probably the place afterwards owned by the Sherlands, and was a regular stopping place for the stagecoaches passing that way north and south.

 

July 19, 1836, Charles Osterhaut was granted license for one year to keep tavern. His place was about two miles south of Plymouth, on the west side of the Michigan road. He was a member of the board of commissioners, and the board met at his house until the first courthouse was erected after the county was organized, when it began holding its meetings in that

 

60                                            HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.

 

building. That building is still standing. It is the second house east of Michigan Street on the north side of Adams Street, in Plymouth.

 

Sidney Williams was granted tavern license in 1836, his building being about where Argos how stands.

 

Thomas Singleton was granted license for a tavern on the La Forte road between Plymouth and Lemon's bridge.

 

Abel C. Hickman was granted tavern license at his home on the Michigan road near the Fulton county line.

 

There were several other taverns in various portions of the county, so that wherever people happened to be when night came on, they were pretty sure to find a tavern where they could obtain food and shelter for the night, although they might have for a bed a quilt on a puncheon floor to sleep on.

 

After the Pomeroy tavern the next house of importance was the old American House, still standing at the south end of the river bridge on the east side of Michigan street. It was built by Adam Vinnedge, Sr., about the time of the organization of the county, but its location was not desirable, and at no time since it was first erected has it been self-sustaining.

 

The Baldwin House was on the southwest corner of Michigan and Washington streets. It was kept by Ayers Baldwin for several years, but after his death was used as a dwelling house.

The Doddridge House, also known as the Edwards House, and the Parker House, was erected in the early '50s, and for many years was one of the most pretentious caravansaries of its kind in this part of the country. During its existence it had a great many landlords, among those best remembered being William C. Edwards, O. H. P. Bailey, Joel Parker, U. S. Dodge, George B. Steadman, W. K. Swallow and others. In 1858 Mr. Steadman, who was then proprietor of the hotel, got into an altercation with a man who kept a livery barn nearby, and in the melee was so badly stabbed that he died not long afterwards. Several years ago it caught fire and was partially consumed, after which the remains were purchased arid removed to the north part of town, where it was worked over into a dwelling, and thus ended Plymouth's first real house of entertainment.

 

A. Gambrill, or "Gabe" Gambrill as he was familiarly known, erected a hotel and eating house on the north side of the Fort Wayne railroad opposite the elevator, about 1857-8 which he continued with indifferent success for a few years, when it caught fire and was burnt to the ground.

 

The Ross House, one of the two principal hotels in Plymouth, was erected a quarter of a century ago by Robert H. Cox, long since deceased.

 

There are few people in Plymouth who know how the Ross House happened to be called by that name; it was built in its present form by Mr. Robert H. Cox, who died several years ago. About the time it was ready to be opened to the public Mr. Cox was in a quandary as to an appropriate name for the new caravansary, not wishing to perpetuate his own name by calling it the Cox House, because he was fearful the traveling men would nickname it the "Coxey House" after Coxey and his army of "ragamuffins" who were just then marching on to Washington.                                                    HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.                                61

 

About that time, too, the country was greatly excited over the kidnapping of Charley Ross, which is still well remembered by the older citizens. One evening Mr. Cox was talking to a traveling man about the difficulty he had in selecting a suitable name for his hotel, when the gentleman suggested, "Why not call it the 'Ross House,' in memory of Charley Ross, the kidnapped boy?"

 

It appealed to Mr. Cox's sympathy for the bereaved parents of the boy, and from that day to the present it has been known as the "Ross House."

 

The building is of frame, well arranged, and is supplied with all modern improvements. At this time it is managed by Frank D. Lamson.

 

The Grand Hotel is owned by Charles Kellison and was erected about 1890. It is modern in all its equipments and its management is kept up to the highest standard.

 

George Pomeroy was probably the first tavern keeper in Bremen, as he was one among the earnest residents there. In 1859 John Prottsman erected the American House, and kept really the first hotel in that place. In 1865 Jacob Knoblock erected in Bremen a large and commodious hotel, which was the pride of the town. Mr. Knoblock managed it until 1869, when he died. It was afterwards kept by his son-in-law and H. M. Garver until 1879, when it caught fire and went up in smoke.

 

In Bourbon, so far as is known, Henry H. Baxter was the first tavern keeper. That was in the early '50s, and he continued as such for many years. In the later' 50s, prior to the civil war and after the completion of the Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, Henry Sheets erected a hotel building on Main street, near the railroad, which he called the Railroad House and later the Sheets House, which he kept for many years. Several years ago it was removed and the present splendid brick and stone structure erected by Mr. Ringenberger. Prior to this the "Central House," erected one block north of the railroad in the center of the town by S. E. O'Brien, was the first really first-class hotel structure erected in the town. The American House, located one the block north of the railroad, was kept by Andrew Rice for many years, and later by M. C. Henshaw. It is now used as a residence.

 

In Argos which was then called Sidney the first tavern was erected by Sidney Williams, and by him sold prior to 1850 to Clark Bliven, who continued to keep the tavern until about 1845, when M. L. Smith purchased the property and managed the place until his death many years ago. A new hotel was then erected on the street leading to the Lake Erie railroad station. It is a large and commodious structure, having the modern improvements, and in every way is first-class.