XXI.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
PLYMOUTH,
THE COUNTY SEAT.
What
now constitutes the city of Plymouth was laid off and platted as a town by John
Sering, James Blair and William Polk, and filed for record . in the recorder's
office of St. Joseph county on the twentieth day of October , 1834, the records
of what is now Marshall county being then kept at South Bend, which was the
seat of justice of St. Joseph county at that time, and,
HISTORY 0F MARSHALL COUNTY. 101
As
it is a matter of some importance as a starting point for a brief sketch of
Plymouth, the county seat, the reference as it appears on the plat is hereby
copied in full.
Plymouth
is surveyed at right angles with the Michigan road, which runs through Plymouth
5 degrees west, variation 6 degrees 10 seconds, platted by a scale of 8 rods to
an inch. Michigan street is 100 feet wide; each of the other streets are 66 feet wide and the alleys 12 feet in width; all the lost except fractional
ones are 88 feet in front by 126 feet in length, containing one-fourth of an
acre. The square marked for the “Courthouse Square” is donated by the
proprietors for public buildings necessary for county purposes. Lot No. 131 on
Plum street on the west is given for a county seminary, and one acre and a half
adjoining Plum street on the west is given for a Public Burying ground; end of
its numbered 49,50,51 and 20 feet off of the east end of lots 75, 76, 77, is
added to the width of Center street for a market house.
JOHN
SERING,
JAMES BLAIR,
WILLIAM POLK,
Proprietors.
October
12, 1834
In
the winter or spring of 1835, Oliver Rose opened the first store in Plymouth.
His store room was a log building which stood on the ground immediately east of
the building now known as The Plymouth Inn, on LaPorte street. Mr. Rose also
commenced farming operations on quite an extensive scale for those days on what
is known as the Goodsell farm, north of town, opposite the fair grounds. When
he came to the county he was accompanied by the late Gilson S. Cleaveland, who
assisted him for some time as a clerk, afterwards became a partner, and finally
sole proprietor, in which occupation he continued for many years. During the
summer of 1835 Uriah Metcalf and
Milburn Coe located here. Mr. Coe afterward erected a sawmill which stood a
little to the north of the present site of Zehner's mill in the northeast part
of town. The race is yet visible, and where the dam stood can also be seen.
This was a poor excuse for a mill, but it was better than no mill at all, and
was the first sawmill erected in the
county. It furnished lumber for doors, and door and window casing and floors,
etc., but it was a long time before it could be made to furnish lumber
sufficient to justify the erection of frame buildings. The dam was not very
substantially built, and whenever a heavy rain fell there was nearly always a
washout, and it was not many years until it was abandoned.
During
the same year Grove Pomeroy erected a frame building, the lumber for which was
sawed by this mill, on the corner of Michigan and La Porte streets, on the
ground now occupied by the Corbin block, which he called the "Yellow River
hotel," afterwards the "Plymouth hotel." Mr. Pomeroy was the
landlord and carried on an extensive business in entertaining travelers, as the
general land sales, which commenced about that time, brought many persons into
the county from the different parts of the country. This hotel was considered
the half-way house for the stage line from Logansport to Niles, Mich. Ten years
later, after the opening of the Michigan road, the stage line through this
place from south to north was considered one of the main thoroughfares of the
state, and many who read these lines will remember how Old Jake Rhinehart, as
he was familiarly called, would blow his tin horn, crack his whip, and come
dashing into town
102
HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
on
his four-horse rock-a-way coach! The whole town would be out to greet him and
to see who the new arrivals were. A hack also made regular trips between
Plymouth and LaPorte, and both of these lines furnished the only means of
transportation until the railroads came many years later .
Plymouth
was selected as the county seat of government by the trustees appointed to
organize the county, which was done July 20, 1836. It was several years before
it had any organization by which it could be governed. There were but two
streets in the town, one the Michigan road, now Michigan street, and the other
what was called the "Yellow River" road, which meandered from the
Yellow River hotel in a northwesterly direction, along what is now LaPorte
street. These streets were only passable wagon roads, muddy in rainy weather
and dusty in dry weather. There were no sidewalks then, and the few people who
resided here at that time traveled the wagon road, leaving the space now
occupied by sidewalks to grow up in weeds. Cows and horses, hogs and other
animals had the freedom of the town without let or hindrance. Many of the cows
were furnished with bells, and after filling themselves with grass during the
day from the ranges around the suburbs of the town, they would congregate at
some convenient place in the residence part of the village, lie down in the
sand and chew their quids, and tinkle, tinkle, tinkle their bells the whole
night through, to the disgust of nervous people and those whose sleep was
easily disturbed. As has been the case ever since the beginning of the world,
is now, and ever shall be, there were numerous dogs yellow dogs and bull dogs,
shepherd dogs, bird dogs, average dogs, miscellaneous dogs, good dogs and bad
dogs, and every kind of dog that the mind of man could conceive of, yelping
dogs and howling dogs and just dogs. They ran the streets at night, and the din
these dogs raised in these nightly revels has echoed and re-echoed along down
the corridors of the past until the present time! To add to this entertainment,
the prairie wolves, which were numerous, in various places around town, chimed
in with a doleful chorus that portended the certain death of any innocent sheep
that might be wandering about the village. The killing of sheep, however ,was
not confined entirely to the hungry wolves that made night hideous with their
hungry yelps. Among the numerous dogs that infested the town there were many
that were as expert at killing sheep as the worst sheep-killing wolf in the
gang. In order to protect the sheep, the sheep-killing dogs had to be killed.
Those having guns delegated themselves public executioners and it was not long
before the sheep-killing dogs were exterminated and schemes set on foot to
capture the wolves, so that in the course of time the sheep were allowed to run
at large without much fear of being in danger of being killed.
The
writer has heard a great many people in his time wonder why it was that the courthouse
was built so far out of town as it is -- that is, from the business center.
That is easily enough explained. Where Michigan street crosses the river it was
low wet ground as far, north as the corner of Michigan and LaPorte streets, and
the proprietors were of the opinion that the business would center around the
public square, as is usually the case in new towns. So they selected the
courthouse square in the center of a splendid location for business houses in
every direction from where the courthouse would be erected. But, as is always
the case,
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 103
The best laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang
aft agley,
An'
lea' us naught but grief and pain
For
promised joy.
Immediately
after the county had been organized and the county seat located at Plymouth, an
enterprising individual, whose name has not been handed down for the benefit
for the present and future posterity, erected a small shanty on the west side
of Michigan road, on the south side of the river, where a temporary log bridge
crossed that stream, and opened what was in those days called a “grocery”, but
now universally known as “saloon.” He stocked it with a barrel of whisky which
was procured from Kentucky, and other necessary fluids to suit the tastes of the
few customers who felt that it was necessary to “take a little something for
the stomach’s sake”. The place came to be known as “Old Kentuck,” in honor of
the barrel of whisky that came from that state, and to this day the older
residents, in speaking of it, call it “Old Kentuck”! The first glass of whisky the writer ever saw drank was in this
place, somewhere in the later forties. It was kept by a man at that time well
known as one of the prominent men of the town, by the name of Anson
Shinnebarger. The writer came with his father to town that day and accompanied
him to the various places where he went on business. Joseph Evans was sheriff
of the county at that time, and Mr. Shinnebarger, being absent from town, had
intrusted the key to “Old Kentuck” to him. Mr. Evans was a Democratic
politician; so also, was the writer’s father, who was at that time a candidate
for count auditor. A.L. Wheeler was the Democratic political boss, and after
the political situation had been duly canvassed Mr. Wheeler proposed that the
trio adjourn to “Old Kentuck” for further consultation. As a matter of course,
the writer, who was only a “kid”, was permitted to accompany them, although
very properly was not permitted to participate in the several libations which
were indulged in. He remembers distinctly how Mr. Evans walked behind the
little counter, took down the old decanter and set it down before them and how
they filled up the little glasses to the brim with the distilled juice of the
corn all the way from “Old Kentuck”. They sipped it down leisurely, talking the
meanwhile about the political conditions in the various townships in the county
and what ought to be done in order to elect the whole ticket and increase the
Democratic majority in some localities that had of late shown some signs of
weakness. It is proper here to say that none of these men were habitual
drinkers and none of them ever drank to excess. In fact, in those days nearly
everyone took a little something for “their oft infirmities.” Even the
preachers who furnished spiritual food for their parishioners, at least many of
them, thought it no harm to keep a well-filled decanter on the mantelpiece, to
be used in case of “snake bites” and other maladies! During harvest time “the
little brown jug” was considered as necessary as the wooden pail filled with
fresh spring water, and generally both of them were placed side by side in the
fence corner, in the shade of a spreading bush or tree. When the harvester had
gone across the field and back he always took a drink first sampling the
contents of the jug and then washing it down with a gourd full of water. He
imagined that the liquor invigorated and stregnthened him and better enabled
him to perform the work he had to do. But not many years later this was
demonstrated to be a fallacy;
that
instead of assisting nature to do its work, in the long run it had the opposite
effect.
104 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
But
to return to the subject: Those business men who early came here to engage in
traffic and trade were not long in determining that the business of the new
town should not be too far removed from the center, and as lot No. 1 was on the
east side of Michigan street on the north side of the river and opposite the
Yellow River house on the west side of the street, that was thought to be the
proper place to begin the erection of shanties and small and cheap buildings
for the sale of such dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., as the pioneer
population needed; and as the first buildings were erected on the north bank of
the river, across from the "grocery," and as those who came later
could not draw the trade with them by building around the court house square,
they decided to join with the others and assist in building up the commercial
center down town not far from the "grocery." The town plat at that
time was an untouched wilderness, covered with trees and bushes, the only
vacant space being the blazed LaPorte road and the partially cleared Michigan
road, which had not then been opened more than twenty-five feet in width. The
courthouse square was covered with trees and bushes, and there was not even an
Indian trail leading to it, and no one could tell where it was without the aid
of a surveyor. The little courthouse, which the proprietors of the town erected
for temporary purposes, was located on the west side of Michigan road, third
block north from the little "grocery." This courthouse they knew was
only temporary, and, as they did not know whether they would remain
permanently, they concluded to build in the vicinity of the others. And that is
why the business part of Plymouth was not built around the courthouse square.
Among
the first who came here in 1835-6, and for several years later, the writer
remembers James Bannon, who kept a boot and shoe shop and the post office in a
small wooden building on the east side of Michigan street, on the space now
occupied by the Humrickhouser brick building. He went to California during the
gold excitement of 1849, and as he was in middle life then, he is probably dead
long ago. He was a Democrat in politics, and held the post office for some time
under President Tyler.
John Cougle kept a "grocery," or saloon, as they are now known, in an adjoining building, but later erected a large frame building on the corner of Garro and Michigan streets, now the handsome two-story brick building owned by C. T. Mattingly, and occupied by the post office, which he occupied as a dry goods and notion store until his death occurred many years ago. He kept liquors for sale and drank heavily, which may have had something to do with his untimely taking off. He was strictly honest and straightforward in his business transactions, but entertained some very peculiar notions. Before his death he purchased a coffin which he stored in his place of business so that it might be on hand when wanted. He was the owner of a fine bass drum and almost every pleasant evening gave an exhibition of his skill on that detestable misnamed musical instrument in front of his place of business. Later he was reinforced by Lorenzo D. Matteson, a carpenter and builder, with his snare drum. He was an artist on his instrument, and the two made a full band with some to spare. Nearly all the people of the little town turned out to hear them, and it was a pleasure and recognition to them equal to the musical concerts given by more pretentious bands in later days’.
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 105
Robert
Rusk early opened a tin shop In a small frame building on the east side of
Michigan street. His was the first establishment of that kind in Plymouth. His
building was burned by the disastrous conflagration that destroyed nearly all
the business buildings on both sides of Michigan street March 22, 1857. He died
many long years ago. Joseph Griffith was another early settler well known in
his day. He was prosecuting attorney at one time, also postmaster. He met death
by the accidental discharge of his gun, while out hunting, more than half a
century ago. He was always ready to offer himself as a living sacrifice for the
amusement of the people. At a circus, once on a time, the clown was going to
perform the difficult act of balancing a chair containing a man in it, on his
chin. Joseph offered himself as the victim. The clown turned the chair upside
down, and Joseph inserted his legs between the rounds in good shape, and after
being adjusted in front of the audience, the clown left him to his fate. The
uproar was terrific, and became greater when the victim had to throw himself
down on the ground, backward, to extricate himself. At another time a
sleight-of-hand performer came along and one of his tricks was that he could
break a half-dozen eggs in a silk hat, which was fashionable in those days,
without soiling it. He asked the loan of one to perform the trick. Mr. Griffith
promptly handed him the one he wore. The performer broke in the hat a
half-dozen eggs and with a stick stirred them up "good and plenty."
When he went to show that the hat was not injured he found that the eggs were
in reality broken, and the fine silk hat ruined! The performer handed the hat
back to Mr. Griffith, remarking that he had made a mistake in performing the
trick, and that he was very sorry indeed that he had spoiled his hat. Of course
the boys who had quietly got the performer to play the trick on him took up a
collection and bought Mr. Griffith a new "beaver ." It was not long
after this that he was accidentally killed as stated.
PLYMOUTH
ORGANIZED AS A TOWN.
Plymouth
was organized as a town corporation under a charter granted by the legislature
under an act approved February 11, 1851. Prior to the adoption of the new
constitution the legislature passed special acts for almost every conceivable
kind of purpose, among which was the incorporation of towns. After the taking
effect of the new constitution the legislature passed a general act which
enabled towns of a certain number of inhabitants to incorporate under it,
thereby saving the legislature the unnecessary trouble of passing special acts.
In
1851 an act was passed by the legislature permitting Plymouth to organize as an
incorporated town, which was done some time during that year, but precisely the
date, or who the first officers were is not known, as all the records were
destroyed in the disastrous fire of 1857. From the Plymouth Pilot, which was
started here about that time, the following information is obtained. The town
council, which had just then been created by a special act of the legislature,
passed an ordinance providing that sidewalks be built on each side of Michigan,
LaPorte and Center streets, four feet wide, of white oak or yellow poplar
plank. These were the first sidewalks built on these streets.
106 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
They
extended from LaPorte Street north to Garro Street. Ordinances were also passed
–
Prohibiting
ball playing within the limits of the town.
Prohibiting
the shooting or firing of guns upon the original plat of said town, also
Prohibiting
horse racing in the streets.
Prior
to this there was no town organization whatever and everyone did as he pleased
without let or hindrance. Town ball was a favorite game on Michigan Street
between LaPorte and Garro Streets, every day when enough of idle men and boys
were around to make the game interesting. For a time horse racing was a
favorite amusement. Old Jack Smith came here as a shoemaker. He was an all
around sport and was the owner of a swift little runner which he exercised up
and down Michigan Street almost every day, and occasionally another horse was
pitted against his horse. The track was on Michigan Street from Jefferson to
LaPorte Streets and when the horses got fairly started the way they made the
dirt and dust fly was a sight to behold. The passage of the ordinances stopped
all this, and the streets were ever after used for the purposes for which they
were intended.
The
editor of the Pilot in the issue of his paper containing this information had
this item: “We notice that one of our citizens had been mending his ways by
putting down a good, substantial pavement opposite his residence.”
In
1853 the population of Plymouth was 670. In the disastrous fire of 1857, which
swept away nearly the entire business
portion of the little town, all the books and records in relation to the
corporation organization were destroyed, and therefore the particulars in
regard thereto cannot be obtained; nor does the oldest inhabitant remember who
were the officers at the time of the organization. It seems from the report of
the board of corporation trustees, held January 20, 1855, that a proposition to
surrender the charter had been present. After considerable discussion the
following resolution was adopted:
Resolved,
That surrendering the charter granted by the legislature of this state on the
11th of February 1851, incorporating the town of Plymouth, this corporation
will and does hereby become incorporated under the general law of the state of
Indiana for the incorporation of towns, defining their powers, etc., approved
June 11, 1852, as provided by the fifty-fifth section of said act.
Dr.
Rufus Brown was president of the board at that time, and Milo W. Smith clerk.
Dr. Brown was one among the first practicing physicians who settled here in an
early day, and was also one of the best. He was one of the most genial and agreeable men there was at that time in town.
He was a public spirited citizen and was always one of the leaders in every
enterprise looking to the advancement and well-being of town. In politics he
was a Whig, later a republican, and at one time was efforts principally to
perfecting the military laws of the state militia for the ninth congressional
district, but failed to enthuse the people with the military spirit, and after
meeting with indifferent success he abandoned the effort.
107 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
He
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, sang in the choir, belonged to about
all the temperance organizations, and about all the other societies and
associations in existence here at that time; was prompt and zealous in the
discharge of all duties imposed upon him, and was, take him all in all, a man
whose like we shall never look upon again. He died, before his Senatorial term
expired, at his home in Plymouth, July 4, 1859.
Milo
W. Smith was town clerk and was an educated and cultured gentleman. He was not
a man of great force, but was methodical and competent in the work he had to
do, a good citizen, who passed away many years ago regretted by all who knew
him.
April
7, 1857, the following resolution appears of record: Resolved, That whereas on
the 22nd day of March, 1857, the law office of A.C. Capron, the
clerk of this corporation, was destroyed by fire, and also the books, records,
tax duplication, assessment rolls, maps, orders, vouchers, etc. of the
corporation were entirely destroyed, the clerk is ordered to replace the same
as far a possible.
The
law creating incorporated towns was loose and unsatisfactory in its workings,
and the population being then sufficient to organize under the city law, in
April 1873, the writer of this history, drafted a petition, and he and James W.
Maxey secured the requisite number of petitioners, which was presented to the
board of corporation trustees requesting them to order an election of the
voters of the town to be held for the purpose of taking the sense of the people
as to the expediency of changing the government of the town from a corporation
to a city. The board of town trustees acted favorably upon the petition, and
ordered an election to be held on the 25th day of April 1873. the
election resulted in nearly three to one in favor of “city”, there being 327
votes cast, of which 244 were in favor and eighty-three against a city form of
government. The proper steps were then taken, the old corporation dissolved,
and the city government set in motion. In May 1873, an election was held for
city officers. Prior to the election a conference of the leading citizens of
both political parties was held, in which it was agreed that in the new
organization politics should be left out of the question as far as possible.
The politics of the town at that time being democratic, the republicans
consented that the Democrats should be entitled to the candidate for Mayor, and
the remainder of the officers be alternated between the two parties. In this
way the two parties were equally represented in the new organization. Horace
Corbin being the first mayor elect. The following is the ticket agreed upon and
elected:
First
Second Third
Total
Office
and Name Ward
Ward Ward
Vote
Mayor -- Horace
Corbin 68
134 74
276
Treasurer
– D. B. Armstrong 69 141 74
284
Clerk
– A. L. Thomson 69
141 74
284
Assessor -- H. R. Pershing 69 141 74
284
Marshal -- James W. Logan 69
138 74
281
Council
– A. Johnson, First Ward 65 . . .. …
C. Bergaman, First Ward 55
. . .. …
A. Morrison, Second Ward ..
135 ..
…
S. Mayer, Second Ward ..
132 ..
…
J. Brownlee, Third Ward .. . . 73
…
A. O. Borton, Third Ward ..
. . 74
…
108
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The
Fourth Ward Embroglio.
The
most exciting political fight which ever occurred in Plymouth, or even in the
county for that matter, took place in the city council by the introduction of
an ordinance August 27, 1894, by
Councilman Reynolds to redistrict the city into four wards instead of three as
it had been from the organization of the city. The particular reason given for
this action was that the southwestern portion of the city had always been
neglected in its representation in the city council; that there was street and
other work in that territory that needed attending to and that it would not be
done unless the people down there were given a separate ward and two councilmen
to look after their interests. There was behind it, however, a little bit of
political maneuvering that did not appear on the surface. During the past year
the council had been composed of three democrats and three republicans George
R. Reynolds, Charles R. Hughes and Charles B. Tibbitts, democrats, and W. E.
Bailey, Z. M. Tanner and Samuel Gretzinger, republicans, which made the vote on
all political questions a tie, Charles P. Drummond, democrat, was mayor, and on
all questions of a tie voted with the democrats. At the spring election Mr.
Drummond was defeated by Joseph Swindell, republican, who was to enter upon the
duties of his office the first meeting in
September of that year. In order to relieve Mr. Swindell of the responsibility
of casting his vote to decide a tie, the democrats conceived the idea of
creating another ward, and appointing by resolution two democratic councilmen
from that ward, which would make the total number of councilmen eight, five of
whom would be democrats. So it came to pass at the last meeting before Mayor
Drummond's time expired, an ordinance looking to that end was introduced as
above stated. The ordinance was passed, James W. Maxey and William O'Keefe
appointed and sworn as councilmen from the Fourth ward, entered upon the
discharge of their duties and were recognized by Mayor Drummond during the
remainder of his term, which expired on the first of September, when Joseph
Swindell, the republican mayor, entered upon the discharge of his duties. Among
his first acts was his refusal to recognize Messrs. Maxey and O'Keefe as
members of the council, alleging as a reason that the ordinance under which
they were appointed was not legally passed. Legal proceedings were then
instituted and the matter went into court and finally to the supreme court.
But
to go back a little, it will be interesting to give the facts as established by
the evidence in the record: April 25, 1873, Plymouth was organized as a city
under the general law, and was immediately districted into three wards with two
members each, or six in all, and this status remained until August 27, 1904,
when the Fourth ward was added and the council made to consist of four wards
and eight members. A fine little parliamentary battle in the council then
ensued as is shown by the record as follows:
"Councilman
Reynolds moved that the rules be suspended and that the ordinance be placed
upon its passage by one reading. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hughes,
and thereupon Councilman Bailey moved to refer the ordinance to the committee
on ordinances and police. The vote resulted in a tie. The mayor cast his
vote in favor of the negative
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 109
and
declared the motion lost. Councilman Reynolds then, with the consent of his
second, withdrew his motion to suspend the rules. Councilman Tibbitts then
moved that the rules heretofore governing the proceedings of the council as
printed in the ordinance book be annulled and repealed. (This rule provided as
follows: ' All ordinances shall be read three times before being passed. No
ordinance shall pass or be read at the same meeting in which it was
introduced.) The yeas and nays were taken on this motion to repeal the rules
and the result was a tie-three for and three against. The mayor cast his vote
in the affirmative and declared the rules repealed. Councilman Reynolds then
moved that the ordinance as read be placed upon its passage. This vote was a
tie and was declared carried by the mayor casting his vote for it. Councilman
Tibbitts then moved that the ordinance as read be passed and adopted upon one
reading, and upon the passage of the ordinance the ayes and nays were taken
with the following result: Messrs. Hughes, Reynolds and Tibbitts voted for the
ordinance and Gretzinger against it, and Bailey and Tanner were recorded as
present and not voting. .The mayor thereupon declared the ordinance passed and
adopted.
Councilman
Bailey presented a protest against the action of the council and moved that the
same be placed upon record. Upon this motion Bailey, Gretzinger and Tanner
voted in the affirmative and Reynolds, Hughes and Tibbitts against it, and the
vote being a tie, the mayor voted in the negative and declared the motion lost.
A resolution was then introduced appointing James W. Maxey and William O'Keefe
councilmen from the new ward. Those who voted in favor of the resolution were
Hughes, Reynolds and Tibbitts, those against it Bailey, Gretzinger and Tanner.
The vote being a tie, the mayor voted in favor of it and declared it adopted.
The new councilmen were thereupon sworn and entered upon the discharge of their
duties.
At
the first meeting in September Joseph Swindell entered upon his duties as
mayor, and among his first acts was to refuse to recognize Messrs. Maxey and
O'Keefe as members of the council, or allow the clerk to call their names on
roll call. This resulted in the new councilmen bringing mandamus proceedings in
the circuit court to compel the mayor to recognize them, which it did, but on
appeal to the supreme court of the state, that court decided adversely to the
claimants to represent the Fourth ward, on the ground that the ordinance under
which they held their appointment had been passed contrary to the rules
governing the introduction and passage of ordinances through the council of
Plymouth, which it decided the council had no right to repeal in the manner in
which they declared it done. This case created a good deal of ill feeling in
the community at the time, but as the supreme court has settled it forever, and
the three councilmen instrumental in its passage are now all dead, it will only
be remembered by our people as an episode in our local history.
Street
Lighting .
For
several years after Plymouth was legally chosen as the county seat there was no
street lighting of any kind, and those who had occasion to go about at night
had to feel their way, as there were no sidewalks and darkness prevailed
everywhere, except when the fickle moon shed its pale
110
HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY,
and
some light over the little town with unimproved dirt streets. In these days the
little stores and shops were lighted with tallow candles, and lard and tallow
lamps, until time to close for the night. Then but little business was done
after sundown, and seldom 9 o'clock at night found many people out of bed.
There were no street lights of any kind for more than twenty years after the
place had grown sufficiently to be known as really and truly a town, and when
the sun went down preparations were begun for the closing up of business for
the day. After a while, glass standing and hanging lamps with cotton wicks and
a burning fluid made of alcohol and other dangerous explosives, came into use,
and proved to be a great improvement over the old system of lighting. Later
still coal oil was discovered, and was brought to Plymouth for lighting
purposes by H. B. Pershing, then in the drug business. He kept one of the lamps
filled with coal oil burning in his store to show the superiority of this oil
pumped out of the earth over all other lighting fluids that had previously been
discovered. The writer remembers distinctly of his father procuring one of
these lamps and a can of oil and taking it home with him and trying it as an
experiment. It made a beautiful, clean light, far superior to anything the family
had ever seen; but for some time there was a feeling of insecurity pervading
the household, that some day an explosion would take place that would knock
things into smithereens. But the expected did not take place, and coal oil
rapidly found its way into favor until its use became almost universal.
The
use of coal oil having been fully established, the town council determined to
devise a way by which the streets could be lighted, and about 1876 or 1877,
some twelve or thirteen posts were put up at places where lights were needed
the most, on top of which were fastened lamps that would hold about a quart of
coal oil. These lamps were lighted by contract, Ezra Barnhill having the job
the first two or three years. He sublet the work to John S. Harsh, who attended
to the lamps about three years, when Dickson Thompson took the job off his
hands and attended to it about three years, when he resigned, and was succeeded
by Jonathan Brown, who remained in charge of the "plant" until it was
discontinued to give place to electricity.
This
old-time system of lamp lighting the streets was the first effort in this
direction Plymouth had had, and it seems exceeding strange that the streets of
the town had been in darkness about forty years from the date of its organization
before the edict had gone forth from the town board, "Let there be
light," and "there was light !" The people of the town,
"without regard to race, color, or previous condition of servitude,"
hailed with joy and gladness this new process of bringing them "from
darkness to light." Of course it was better than no lighting at all, but
as com- pared with the present splendid electric lighting system it would be
considered very little better than no light at all.
In
1888, an electric light plant having been established in Plymouth, the city
decided to enter into a contract with the company looking to the. lighting of
the principal streets with electric arc lights, and this was done without much
delay. The streets are now lighted with about thirty arc lights, and with the
electric signs, and lights in the plate glass windows on the business streets,
it is as pleasant and easy getting about town in the night time as it is in
daylight.
111 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
During
the summer of 1907 a gas plant was established in Plymouth, the output of which
is mostly used for cooking and heating purposes, but when added to the electric
light, will add greatly in dispelling what little darkness there may be left.
In
1888, after long and patient investigation, the city council determined to put
in a system of waterworks for use by the citizens of the town and especially
for fire protection, and that year put in about 18,000 feet of pipe, built an
engine house, put in the necessary engines and fixtures, etc., at a total cost
of about $17,000. Since that time several thousand feet of pipe have been laid,
so that almost every part of the city can easily be reached by the fire hose,
and since the organization of the fire department to conform to the waterworks
system, the fires that have occurred have been extinguished with very little
loss, whereas those that occurred prior to that time in every case were
disastrous, so that in every fire in the main business part of town since that
time enough property has been saved in each fire to pay for the entire
waterworks system, as is shown by the losses in the great fires of 1851, 1857,
1866, 1872, before the waterworks fire department was organized.
The
editor of the Plymouth Pilot in his issue of July 18, 1851, paid the following
glowing tribute to the beauty of the town of Plymouth:
“Plymouth
was always a beautiful town. It never looked so beautiful to our eyes as at the
present time. Just bathed in refreshing showers, she blooms like a garden of
roses in the desert. Silvery voices ring upon the ear, and bright eyes peep
through the damask curtains of heat, white Bloomer palaces. Yellow River glides
on its course, laughing merrily among the greenwood shades and inviting us to
drink of its limpid waters! We were not aware that Plymouth could gather so
bright an array of celestial spirits. Many a sigh comes mourning over the green
sward from the rosy bowers of Love and tears are falling for many a lost
Adonis.”
Early
Merchants and Landlords.
For
some time after the organization of the county, merchants and hotel keepers
were required to procure a license from the board of commissioners. At the May
term, 1837, the board fixed the rate of license for these and other occupations
as follows:
“Ordered
that license for retailing spirituous liquors be taxed at $100 for the present
year.
“License
to vend wooden clocks, $100 per year.
“Each
traveling caravan, menagerie, or other collection of animals or show of wax
figures, or circus exhibited to the people for money, $50 for each day.
“That
license to vend foreign merchandise and foreign and domestic groceries be taxed
$5 for each $1,000 and $2.50 for each additional $1,000; provided that no
license shall exceed $20 for one year.”
At
the same term of court the following order was made:
“Ordered
that Pomeroy & Muncy, merchants, trading and doing business under the name,
firm and style of Pomeroy & Muncy, be granted a license to vend foreign
merchandise for the term of twelve months from this date for the sum of $10.
Their capital does not exceed $1,000.
112 HISTORY
MARSHALL COUNTY.
At the same term
licenses to vend merchandise were granted to Chester Rose, Evan B. Hobson,
Wheeler & Gregory, Hobson & Cougle. Jeremiah Grover, William M. Dunham,
Grove Pomeroy were licensed to keep tavern.
The mercantile
business was not very lively in those days. The whole county did not contain
more than 600 people, not more than half of whom were residents of Plymouth and
vicinity, and these were generally poor and had little use for dry goods and
foreign merchandise, and consequently many, who engaged in the business failed
to realize the profits that they had anticipated and went out of business. All
these old merchants and tavern keepers are long since dead – not one is left to
tell the story of the pioneer days in the wilderness.
Plymouth Fire
Department.
For
a period of twenty-two years Plymouth was without any appliances to assist in
extinguishing fires. The first effort in that direction was the organization of
what was called “Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1”, which perfected its
organization under the law by filing its constitution in the clerk’s office
February 24, 1858, about half a century ago. The following were the original
members as they appear on the constitution: Jacob B. N. Kliner, Daniel
McDonald, Adam Vinnedge, Stephen A. Francis, Henry B. Pershing, D. Lindsay,
Thomas J. Patterson, Rufus M. Brown, James E. Houghton, J.C. Leonard, L.D.
Lamson, Julius Tacke, David Klinger, David Vinnedge, Samuel Freese, John S.
Woodward, second, Meyer Becker, Adolph Meyers, Henry M. Logan, William W. Hill,
S.Vinnedge, Matthew Boyd, John M. Shoemaker, George Anderson, Charles G.
Tibbitts, John Noll, Henry Kuntz, Horiatio B. Sellon, William M. Kendall, Henry
Boset, Christopher Seitel, Charles Ebel, J. Alexander, M. La Pierre, Homer
Sluyter, George H. Wilbur, Thomas K. Houghton, Amasa Johnson, John W.
Patterson, Henry McFarlin, John W. Houghton, Jerry Blain, Daniel B. Armstrong,
James L. Cleaveland, Joseph Lauer, Henry M. Hilligas, J.N. Freese, F. Mullen,
D.R. Davidson, William Babington, Michael Stoll and William G. Shirley.
The
first officers were: Jacob B.N. Klinger, foreman; Stephen A. Francis, assistant
foreman; William C. Shirley, treasurer; Daniel McDonald secretary, and Eli R.
Shook, steward.
The
formation of this company grew out of the great fire of 1857, March 22, which
destroyed every business house on both sides of Michigan Street, between
LaPorte and Garro Streets, entailing a loss estimated at between $75,000 and
$100,000, with little or no insurance. There was no fireman’s organization here
then, not even a bucket brigade, and no waster if there had been except such as
could have been drawn from dug wells and from Yellow River, a considerable
distance away.
The
constitution and by-laws are quite voluminous and contain about everything that
could possibly be thought of in connection with the duties of members of the
organization. The hour of meeting was fixed at 7 p.m., John M. Shoemaker’s time
being the criterion – he being the town watchmaker at that time. Everything
went by sun time then, which was, and is
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 113
but
fifteen minutes slower than "standard time," which is now in
universal in this part of the country, the change having been made some thirty
years ago. There was a good deal of opposition to abandoning the good
old-fashioned sun time, but the, town clock was set forward to standard time,
the town schools adopted it at once, the railroads followed, suit, and it was
not long until the business houses, the churches and the citizens generally
turned their timepieces forward, and everybody began doing business on
"fast time," The telegraph office at the Pennsylvania station
receives the exact time every day at 12 o'clock noon; in this way the town
clock is regulated, as well as the clocks of the watchmakers and others, Each
member was required to procure the following uniform: A black glazed cap, a red
woolen sack or wamus, with black velvet collar and cuffs, and a black leather
belt."
A
two-story frame building for the use of the company was erected on the bank of
the river on the south side of Adams street, the upper story being used for
meeting purposes and the lower room for trucks, ladders, etc. Later the company
moved into the Dawes wagon shop, located where John W. Parks now has his law
office, on the south side of Garro street.
April
10, 1859, the residence of David How, on the southwest corner of the public
square, caught fire, and had it not been for the Hook and Ladder Company would
have been totally destroyed, Speaking of the fire the editor of the Republican
said :
"The
conduct of the members of Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, on this
occasion, was honorable to them in the highest degree. No set of men could have
done more efficient service with the same means. Our citizens will ever be
proud of their firemen so long as they demean themselves in this manner, and
will doubtless on all suitable occasions manifest a material regard for
them."
With
the organization of the old Hand Engine Company, and later the Hose Company,
the Hook and Ladder Company necessarily had to take a back seat, but it was the
first organization for the protection of property against the ravages of fire
in our midst and is entitled to its due meed of praise.
As
near as can be ascertained, the books having been destroyed, Adriatic Engine
Company No, 1 and Torrent Hose Company No. 1 were organized in 1865. The first
officers of the engine company were: Martin H. Rice, foreman; D. Emmit Simons,
assistant foreman; Sigmund Mayer, secretary; John W. Palmer, treasurer.
About
that time the department was regularly organized and was composed of the
following companies: Protection Hook and Ladder Company No, 1; Adriatic Engine
Company No. 1; Torrent Hose Company No. 1.
The
records having been destroyed, as stated, it is impossible to get any
information in regard to the work of the fire department until about the first
of the year 1876, when the present city building was erected and occupied by
the fire department. From that time up to the present a record of all the
doings of the department has been kept, from which it appears that the
companies took possession of the new hall February 21, 1876, and dedicated it
by a grand ball on the same night, which proved to be one of the best paying
balls ever given in Plymouth, the net proceeds being $165. At the regular meeting of the
fire department, February 22, 1876, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted and ordered printed;
114 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
"Resolved,
That the members of the fire department of Plymouth take great pleasure in
returning their sincere thanks to the citizens of Plymouth for their liberality
in purchasing tickets to the firemen's dedication ball, and to the McDonald
Brothers, printers, especially, do the firemen feel grateful for their
unparalleled liberality in donating all the printing for the occasion,
amounting to $13, consisting of tickets, cards and programs, executed on the
best of material and in a neat, artistic style."
Since the
organization of the fire department there have been but six chiefs, whose names
are as follows; James M. Confer, Daniel B. Armstrong., Andrew H. Korp, Adam
Vinnedge, James Moore and Fred H. Kuhn, the present incumbent, who has been
elected every year since his first election, the best endorsement he could
possibly have that his work has been well and faithfully done.
The
City Hall and Engine House.
The
city hall was completed about the first of January, 1876, by Robert McCance and
William P. Beaton, contractors, at a cost of $4,200. The construction of the
building was under the immediate supervision of Alfred Morrison, Platt McDonald
and William D. Thompson, all at that time members of the city council. The
building is 34 feet wide by 50 feet In length. The walls are 35 feet high, 18
inches thick to the second story and 12 inches from there to the top. The tower
is 9 feet square and 59 feet high. The first story is in one large room, in
which are kept the implements of the fire department. The upper story is
divided into two rooms--one for the fire department and one for the meetings of
the city council, and the use of the clerk and mayor. The building is one of
the best of its kind in northern Indiana, and is large enough for the use of
the city for many years to come.
THE
TOWN OF BOURBON.
Bourbon
township, in which the town of Bourbon is situated as the seat of justice, was
regularly organized January 6, 1840. The petitioners for the organization of
the township were James 0., Grayson H., John F. and Edward R. Parks; Thomas R.
McKey, Peter Upsell, W. H. Rockhill, Israel Beeber, William Taylor, John Greer,
William Elder, John Henry, A. H. Buckman, Lyman Foote, Samuel Taylor, John F.
Dukes, John Fuller, James Taylor, William Taylor, Jr., George Taylor and Samuel
Rockhill.
John
Greer and John F. and Edwin R. Parks had, a year or so prior to the
organization of the county, come to the region of where Bourbon now is from
Bourbon county, Kentucky, and James 0. Parks, as the spokesman for the others,
suggested to the board of commissioners that the new township be named Bourbon
in honor of his native county in Kentucky, and it was accordingly so done.
The
town of Bourbon was not regularly laid out as a town until April 23, 1853,
thirteen years after the organization of the township, although prior to that
time it had grown to be considerable of a village. Naturally enough the town of
Bourbon took the name of the township and for the same reason. The original
proprietors of the town were Samuel Thomas and J. S. Neidig. Since then the
following additions have been made:
HISTORY 0F MARSHALL COUNTY, 115
Martin’s
first and second; J, F, Park's addition and continued addition ; Linn’s
addition and continued addition; Boley's first and second addition ; Ball's
addition; Davis's addition; Bailey's addition: Thayer's first, second and third
and continued addition; J. W. Thomas’s addition; Borton s addition and
Staples's addition.
In
September, 1865, the town of Bourbon was incorporated under the state law
authorizing the incorporation of towns and villages for municipal purposes,
.The first officers elected. after the organization took place were as follows:
Trustees, Elias Galentine, James H. Porter and Omar Davis; Caleb Davis, marshal;
George Sears, clerk and treasurer; Lewis Gross, assessor.
The
first election held in Bourbon township was held at the house of Elizabeth Parks. This occurred in April,
1840. The town of Bourbon had no existence at that time, and for several years
afterwards had but few houses. The writer remembers having passed through what
is now the town of Bourbon in August, 1849, and his recollection is quite vivid
to the effect that there was not what could be called a town there then, The
whole country in that region, with few exceptions, was an unbroken wilderness,
and to follow the road that led to Tippecanoe town, the place he was trying to
find, without missing the way, required a close look-out for the blazes on the
trees, the primitive guide-boards as it were, that enab1ed the traveler to find
his way. Notwithstanding these precautions, on his return in the dusk of the
evening he lost his way, and some time during the night found himself the guest
of a pioneer who lived in a log cabin in the woods half way between what is now
Bourbon and Tippecanoe town.
Some
thirty odd years ago a writer gave the following glowing description of
Bourbon: "The pleasant and beautiful little city of Bourbon is in the
center border of Marshall county, in the midst of one of the finest, richest
and most splendidly developed agricultural regions in the entire state. The
vicinity of the city is beautiful and diversified by old and magnificent
forests of the loftiest and largest timber of every variety; the finest and
coziest country seats, nestled in secluded spots, surrounded by Nature's
choicest beauties; the largest and most productive farms and horticultural
plantations, the peaceful towns and sleepy villages, the schools and churches
here and there, o'er hill and vale, all in the midst of health, and abundance
of all that makes life desirable and enjoyable."
The
First College Student,
The
following order appears on the records of the board of commissioners of
Marshall county at the March term, 1837, and that was the first order of that
kind that had been made since the organization of the county:
"Now,
at this time, to-wit, on the seventh day of March, 1837, here comes in open
court James Parks and makes application for the privilege of sending a student
to the Indiana college at Bloomington, to-wit: John F . Parks, which request is
granted for the term of two years."
James
Parks was the father of the applicant and of James 0. and the other Parkses
named above. In a paper prepared by Sinclair D. Parks many years ago, he speaks
of the death of James Parks as follows :
"The
first death in the new settlement occurred on the twenty-eighth day of August,
1839, the deceased being James Parks, at the age of sixty-three years.
116 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
He
was buried in the first burying ground laid out in the township, which is now
known as Parks or Ganzharn burying ground, two miles east of Bourbon.
Considerable astonishment was manifested when it was rumored that a gravestone
was to be shipped from New York and was to be erected at the head of his grave.
It was the first gravestone ever brought to Marshall County.”
Destructive
Fires.
For
several years Bourbon was without adequate fire protection, and during that
period several destructive fires occurred, but a detailed record of them has
not been kept.
On
the twelfth of January 1854, the storeroom of W. E. Thompson was consumed,
together with its entire contents, including the books. The estimated loss on
building, goods, etc., was about
$2,500,
on which there was an insurance of $1,600. The adjoining room, occupied by
Robert Cornwall as a drug store, was also consumed, but a portion of the
contents was saved.
January
20, 1854 the dwelling house of James Miner was burned; no insurance and nothing
saved.
The
most destructive fire of which an account is given occurred October 3, 1872.
The second block north of the railroad, on the west side of Main Street, was
entirely destroyed, resulting in an
estimated loss of $10,000 to $15,000. Those who suffered by the fire were Leroy
Manville, William Sear, A.M. Davis, D. Walmer, Phil Matz, Thomas Banks,
Matchette & France, W.C. & A. C Matchett, H.A. Snepp, Mrs. Hess, A.W.
Johnson J. Oldfather, Dr. L. Johnson and Tyrrell & Chamberlain.
January
15, 1878, the residence and ax handle factory of Peter Knisely was destroyed.
The loss was estimated at $1,500. The house was one of the first erected in
Bourbon.
There
were several other fires where the loss was considerable, but no details have
been secured. Among them were the Heller and Galentine flour mills, the largest
in northern Indiana, and the Odd Fellows building were destroyed in 1863; the
church and the public school building in 1864; the Davis mills in 1865; the
Sear block in 1873; the old College building in 1884; the east side of Main
Street, including the Ledas block, the Matchette block, Brillhart, Bendell
& Pickett block, and the Fort Wayne railroad passenger and freight station
in 1885.
For
thirty years or more Bourbon has had an efficient fire department, which has
been the means of saving from burning buildings and property worth many times
its cost.
Vigilant
Hook and Ladder company was organized July 5, 1875. The cost of apparatus
complete was about $385. It started with twenty-five members. This company
participated in a friendly contest at Warsaw during the fair of 1876; also in a
friendly contest in Bremen in 1877 and July 4 1877, won the second prize, $50,
at the state tournament at Goshen. They ran 150 yards and sent a man over the
top of a twenty foot ladder in twenty-eight seconds. They also participated in
the contest at Fort Wayne, July 6, 1880, running the same distance in
twenty-four and one-fourth seconds, and winning the prize of $75. At that time
this company had the reputation of being one of the best in the state.
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 117
Red
EagIe Engine Company was organized April 7, 1879, and had thirty members to
start with. James Lilly was the first foreman.
Red
Eagle Hose Company was organized June 15, 1879, with fifteen members. T. J.
Payne was the first foreman.
The
town authorities have since put in a system of waterworks with direct pressure
which reduces the losses to the minimum.
Secret
and Benevolent Societies.
Secret
and benevolent societies are well represented in Bourbon. The Odd Fellows were
the first to organize a lodge in this place, which was done in 1858. This was
followed by the organization of Bourbon Lodge No. 227, F. & A. M., in
December, 1865.. The Knights of Pythias organized a lodge in Bourbon in 1889 with
thirty members and have since added largely to that number. The Improved Order
of Red Men organized Pottawattomie Tribe No.16 in 1868. It has continued from
that time to the present and has a membership of about seventy-five. Attached
to it is a lodge of the degree of Pocahontas for the benefit of the ladies of
the male members. It is N o. 1 and was the first organized in Indiana. There is
also here an organization of the Daughters of Rebecca, and also a chapter of
the Order of the Eastern Star, an appendant to the Masonic order. There is also
here a post of the Grand Army of the Republic, whose membership is made up
entirely of soldiers of the war of the Rebellion.
Old
Uncle Jo Davis, as he was called, father of the older Davises that were
prominent in the early days of Bourbon's history, came to Bourbon in the early
sixties, and among the first buildings he erected was a small round house that
stood on the north side of the railroad near the then passenger and freight
depot. It was a curious looking structure, and was the subject of many
inquiries as to what it was used for. Uncle Jo had formerly lived in LaPorte
county, and with Charles W. Cathcart had been converted to Spiritualism, and he
erected this building to be used for spiritualistic meetings. For some time it
was used for that purpose, but Mr. Davis, growing old and feeble, its use for
that purpose was finally abandoned. For two or three years it was used as a
passenger station for the railroad, and telegraph and express office. After the
railroad company vacated it, it went into a state of "innocuous
desuetude" and has finally disappeared.
In
1866, Web Truslow and Charles Jewel, amateur musicians then residing in
Bourbon, succeeded in organizing the Bourbon Cornet Band, comprised of the following.
members in addition to themselves: Charles Rathburn, John W. Parks, Daniel
Hartman, Daniel D. Haines, Jerome H. Chamberlain, William Johnson, Frank
Johnson, and Henry Steinbach, leader. The instruments were purchased in Chicago
at a cost of $150, of which $25 was contributed by the members, $49 donated by
the citizens of Bourbon, and $76 borrowed from Caleb Davis, which was
afterwards returned to him. In 1867 some changes took place, George N. Hupp and
Gaylord brothers being admitted. Mr. Steinbach resigned his leadership in 1872
and was succeeded by George N. Hupp, who continued as such for several years.
During the presidential campaign of 1880 the band made $520.
118
HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Owing
to change of residence, etc., the organization was disbanded several years ago.
Bourbon's
Colleges. Along in the seventies the people of Bourbon began the agitation of
the feasibility of establishing a college of learning in Bourbon, and it
finally culminated in the adoption of the following agreement between citizens
of Bourbon and the German Baptist Church of the northern district of Indiana :
"State
of Indiana, Marshall County, Bourbon, May 28, 1871. " Articles of
Agreement made and entered into between Mathew Erwin, Howard Barnaby, A. C. Matchette,
Newell Minard, David Wilkins and K. Heckman, of the first part, and Jacob B.
Shively, Jesse Calvert and Jacob Beiby, of the second part.
"The
party of the first part agrees to make a good and sufficient warranty deed, or
cause the same to be made, of the college property in Bourbon, Marshall county,
Indiana, to said party of the second part, subject to the following conditions,
to-wit: That said college property is to be used perpetually for college
purposes, after the order of Burber college in the state of Ohio, except the
theological department, and if not so used by the party of the second part,
revert back to the persons or legal representatives who have subscribed, and to
pay the sum of $2,500 in a ratable proportion to the amount paid by each person
so subscribing. And the party of the first part agrees to pay the party of the
second part the sum of $1,000 on or before the 2'5th day of May, 1871, the
party of the second part to assign the above named subscriptions to the party
of the first part for their own use upon the conditions that the party of the
first part make deed as afore- said and become responsible for the $1,000.
"(Signed)
M. Erwin, K. Heckman, H. Barnaby, N. E. Minard, A. C. Matchette, Citizens'
Committee.
"Jacob
B. Shively, Jacob Beiby, Chairman of Committee." The college was
incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana in the name of "Salem
College" on the 24th day of February, 1871, prior to the making of the
above agreement. The objects for which said institution was established were
for the diffusing of useful, religious, moral and scientific knowledge, under
the control of the German Baptist Church of the mother Baptist church of
Indiana.
The
first president of the college was C. W. Miller, and the trustees were Jacob
Shively, Jesse Calvert and David Shively. The amount of endowment designed to
be reached was $100,000, and that they should connect with the college in land,
buildings, donations and property' to the value of $12,000. The work progressed
for some time; scholarships were sold and the college was opened, and continued
for a period of two or three years, when the organization became involved in
litigation, finally dissolved and the property reverted to the original owners.
The college was also known as the Dunkard College.
In
the years 1875 and 1876 J. A. Reubelt tried to reestablish the defunct
institution, but failed. He was followed by President Yocum who tried for two years more
without success. This ended Salem College.
The building was destroyed by fire in 1880 and the ground sold to the
town of
Bourbon,
on which was erected the present public school building.
HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 119
In
1900 the bourbon College and School of
Music was started. President Marshall labored for one year, followed by Prof.
Bish, and then by Profs. Steele, Newel, and Hahn. The life of the college was
four years. The building is now vacant, save one room, which is used as a
primary room for the south side Bourbon school. To erect this building shares
of $100 each were sold to the amount of $100,000 to farmers and men in town who
still own the stock. The stockholders have a board of directors but they have
nothing to do.
Bourbon
Town Schools.
Bourbon’s
first public school building was erected in 1865 and 1866 in the south part of
town, a short distance west of the residence of Joseph W. Davis, at a cost of
about $4,000. It was a commodious building, two stories in height, comfortably
seated and furnished and generally well arranged for the purposes, for which it
was intended. Reason Shinnebarger was the first teacher who occupied the
building after it was completed. He was followed by Mrs. Hoover, Messrs. Bock,
Reefy, Chrouse, W.E. Bailey, Prof. Allen, Miss Lou Borton, Mr. James, Mr.
Greenwalt and Byron McAlpine, who prepared the first course of instruction the
school ever had in 1877. Mr. McAlpine was connected as a principal of the
schools for a period of twelve or more years. Since his death occurred several
years ago several have occupied the position, among them Mr. Reubelt, and the
present superintendent, Prof. E.H. Rizer. Some twelve or more years ago the old
school building was destroyed by fire, whereupon a new building was erected on
the old Salem college grounds where the schools are now taught.
Argos
Prior
to the organization of Walnut Township, where is now situated the town of
Argos, was in Green Township. A meeting of those interested in the formation of
a new township was held at the schoolhouse near Marquis L. Smith’s tavern, then
in Green Township, May 21, 1859 for the purpose of selecting a name for the new
township and recommending a suitable person to be appointed trustee. Merrill
Williams was president of the meeting and Samuel B. Corbaley secretary. The
names of Argos, Richland and Noble were proposed for the new township. Noble
was withdrawn, and the vote resulted: Argos 13 and Richland 8. for some reason
not stated the commissioners ordered the township to be called Walnut. The
names of John A. Rhodes and Charles Brown were proposed for trustee. The vote
resulted: Rhodes 18, Brown 4. Merrill Williams, John A. Rhodes and N. E.
Manville were appointed a committee to attend to the necessary business before
the board of commissioners. The township was organized January 9, 1859. Immediately
after the organization of the township the following petition was presented to
the board:
Whereas,
The town plats of Fremont and Sidney lie very near each other; and
Whereas,
The post office of those two places is names Argos, and
Whereas,
We, the undersigned citizens and petitioners, believing that so many names are
and will continue to be against the interest of citizens of said places, we
therefore petition your honorable board to change the name of the above named
towns and consolidate them into one name, namely Argos, and thus in duty bound
we will ever pray.
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 120
John
A. Rhodes, N, E,
Manville, J. W.
Harris,
M.
E. Richards, Joseph
Lissinger, G. W.
Gordon, II.
N.
Siple, W.
Nichols John
Tribbey,
Joseph
Rhodes John Whitacre J. A. Haig
Willima
Worthington J.G. Bryant Joseph Finney
Martin
Bucher Thomas
King J.J. Hough
The petition was granted and consolidated
towns were ordered to be known as “Argos”. Argos was the name of a city in Greece
made famous in the Iliad of Homer. This ancient city, according to history, is
long since in ruins. Her thirty temples, her costly sepulchers, her gymnasiums,
and her numerous and magnificent monuments and statues have disappeared, and
the only traces of her former greatness are some remains of her cyclopean
walls, and a ruined theater cut in the rock and of magnificent proportions. The
modern Argos, built on the ruins of the ancient city, is nothing more than a
struggling village. The plain of ancient Argos is said to be one of the most
beautiful to be found. On every side, except toward the sea, it is bounded by
mountains, and the contrast between these mountains and the plain and the sea
is strikingly beautiful. The Argus spelled with a “u” was the name of a
fabulous being of antiquity, said to have a hundred eyes, and placed by Juno to
guard Io, and hence originated the term, “argus-eyed.”
The
town of Sidney, of which Argos is the successor, was laid out by John Pleak and
Marquis L. Smith, January 8, 1851. It was named in honor of Sidney Williams,
who settled there probably as early as 1835. Mr. Williams was a prominent
citizen and took an active part in the early organization of the county. He
served as the first associate judge of the circuit court from 1836 to 1843. he
took the “gold fever” and went to California in the early fifties, and later
returned east and settled in Illinois, where he lost the sight of his eyes, and
finally died. The town of Sidney was surveyed and platted by Amasa W. Reed, county
surveyor, and contained sixty lots.
Fremont,
adjoining Sidney, was laid out by Joseph H. Rhodes, November 6, 1856 and
contained twenty-six lots. It was named in honor of Col. John C.Fremont, who
was on that day voted for as the Republican candidate for president. As he was
beaten in his race for presidents, it was an easy matter to get the board of
commissioners to change the name to Argos.
The
town of Argos was incorporated under the state law in December 1869. The first
election was held December 4, 1869, and resulted in the election of officers:
Trustees, Joseph f. Norton, Johathan Pickerel and J.S. Leland; marshal, James
Pickerel clerk, George W. Krouse; treasurer, A. Seely; assessor, W.R. Cook.
The
Marshall County Medical Society was organized at Argos May 13, 1878, with the
following charter members: Drs. Samuel W. Gould, Reason B. Eaton, J.H. Wilson,
J. S. Leland, F. Stevens and J.T. Doke. The objects of the society were stated
to be for the purpose of advancing medical knowledge and to elevate
professional character.
The
cornerstone of the public school building erected in the town of Argos was laid
under the auspices of the fraternities of Masons, Odd Fellows and Improved
Order of Red Men, on the sixteenth day of August,1873
HISTORY OF MIARSHALL COUNTY. 121
After
the ceremonies of laying the stone, addresses were delivered by Rev. J.L. Boyd,
Methodist minister of Plymouth; Hon. M. A. O. Packard, of Plymouth; P.S.
Hoffman, of Richmond, and Prof. M.B. Hopkins, state superintendent of public
instruction. After the close of the services an excellent dinner was served by
the ladies of the place, and the occasion was one in every way enjoyable. The
building is of brick, forty by sixty feet, and two stories high, well finished
and furnished with the latest improved furniture and fixtures.
Abel
C. Hickman, whose death occurred in Argos June 11, 1877, was at the time of his
death probably the oldest settler in the county, although that honor was
disputed by Robert Schroeder, then living in North Township, who claimed to
have settled in the county before Mr. Hickman. From his obituary notice the
following is taken as being of historical importance: he was born in Harrison
County, Virginia, September 1, 1805. He chose the profession of farmer, emigrated
to Indiana in 1832 and settled on the Michigan Road two miles south of Argos,
as the lands belonging to the road were the only lands in market. This was four
years prior to the organization of the county. As soon as the government lands
were surveyed in 1835 he moved off west of the road and settled on the farm now
owned by Adam Bixel. Thus he was the first actual settler on the state lands
after the survey in the neighborhood. Three years after, in 1838, the first
society for Owens, of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thus was Methodism
introduced into Marshall County. His house continued a regular place of worship
for several years. In 1844 the first house of worship erected in the county was built on his farm. In 1875 he
took up his residence in Argos and engaged in the drug business. As a man he
was positive to a fault and was a good
neighbor. He had been watching the developments of Marshall County for
forty-five years, and with great satisfaction he saw the forest give way to the
beautiful fields, and the solitude of the wilderness broken by the bustle of
busy homes. He saw the population of the county increase 160 times. In the
midst of prosperity, surrounded by friends, like a ripe sheaf he was gathered
by the harvesters’ of eternity.
The
Argos Public Schools.
The
Argos public schools have ever been dear to the people of the town. Even while
Argos was yet a small village, the "little red schoolhouse," which,
in point of fact, happened to be the natural color of the weather- boards, put
in its appearance.
Specific
facts relating to this early period are scarce and have but slight serial
relation. Only a few tangled threads of the warp and woof of the history then
made now remain, and these are found only in the memories of some of the older
citizens. These lead back to the year 1847, when the first schoolhouse was
built in Argos by Walnut township, on what is now the southwest corner of the
old cemetery. The land upon which this house was built was purchased of Merrill
Williams. As showing something of the progressive and up-to-date spirit of the
people who founded the little village, it may be stated that this pioneer
schoolhouse supported a bell, a thing almost unknown to district houses until a
much later period. Among
122 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
the
teachers who taught in this first one-room house were Peter D. Lowe, Malinda
Brown and Wesley Blodgett.
The
second schoolhouse, built also by the township in the early seventies, was
located on West Cemetery street, where now stands the residence of Mr. Ralph
Schlosser. This house, too, was a one-room frame, but, unlike the first, it was
painted white. It had a double front entrance, similar, in this respect, to
many country and village churches. In fact, it was used as a church by the
Christian denomination, which, some years later, when the growth of the town
made it necessary to build a larger house for school purposes, purchased it and
devoted it to church use exclusively.
Of
the number of people who taught in this house, the writer of this article can
name only Mattie Beame, Franks, A. C. North and W. J . Benner. Before the next
house was built it became necessary to provide temporarily for an overflow of
pupils, and accordingly Mrs. W. J. Benner taught a part of the school in the
building on North Michigan street now occupied as a residence by Isaiah Hess.
These were the days of the "Old Masters," men and women, who wielded
the birch and, along with very valuable lessons in spellin', readin', 'ritin'
and 'rithmetic, taught the more valuable lessons of honor, honesty, industry,
obedience to law, and, without any fuss about it, "civic
righteousness" in general.
The
third schoolhouse was built in 1873. It was located on Cemetery street, between
Maple street and Michigan avenue. .A presumably correct writer has described
this house as follows:
"The
school then built was almost square. It had a shingle roof, on top of which a
belfry, consisting of four posts with cross-pieces, was perched. In this hung a
common country dinner-bell, destined to call pupils together for many years.
Across the front of the building, which faced Maple street, was a large hall
with a cloak-room at each end and a stairway occupying the central portion. The
house contained six not very large rooms. Each of these was heated by a stove,
lighted by a few small windows and furnished with double seats." At the
time this building was erected Dr. L. L. Barr, Harvey Athinson and William
Worthington were trustees. The cost of the building is estimated at $8,000. In
the nineteen years of its existence the following named teachers are remembered
as having served as principals: W. E. Ashcraft, L. Q. Martin, E. A. Powles, M.
L. Teeples and M. L. Smith. Among the grade teachers were A. A. Homes, Goucher,
A. C. North, Belle Richards, Nora Littleton, Lida Gordon, Mrs. Geo. D. Stevens,
Geo. D. Stevens; Maggie Campbell, Jacob Martin, J. B. Weimer, J. D. Quivey,
Etta Harris, S. N. Stevens, Louisa Humphrey, Mrs. L. Alleman, N. E. Barr,
Esther Foster, R. C. O'Blennis, A. E. Wickizer and Anna Cathcart.
When
the school was established in the new building, but three teachers were
employed; later, three were added. In 1883, under the supervision of W. E.
Ashcraft, the school was regraded and a three-years high, school course was provided.
In 1886, the first class was graduated. It was composed of Ola Wheatfield, nee
Gordon; Minnie Bose, nee Norris; Flora Huff, Ella Ashcraft, nee Boggs ; Fannie
White, nee Bucher. While the school remained in this building, or at least
before it passed into the next, twenty-seven other pupils were graduated. On
March 16, 1892, this house was destroyed by fire. The schools were in session
when the fire broke out, but
HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 123
to
the fact that a systematic fire-drill had been established in the rooms, there
was no trouble in marching the pupils out of the building unhurt. During the
remainder of the school year and all of the churches of the town gave their
auditoriums for school use, and the schools were maintained until the next
building was completed.
The
fourth schoolhouse rapidly arose, Phoenix-like, out of the ashes of former one.
More ground was procured adjoining the old site, and the present commodious
nine room building, standing in the center of as beautiful a campus as can be
found in the state, was erected. Built
on a beautiful and substantial foundation of
boulder granite and constructed by skillful workmen out of the best
Material obtainable, this elegant edifice promises to give acceptable service
until the end of the present century. To Dr. D. C. Knott, A. T. Slayter and B.
C. Schoonover were due the conception beginning, completion and location of the
building. They built for the future rather than for the then immediate
necessity, and the growth of the town and school has approved their judgment.
After the lapse of only fourteen years, the necessity of additional room for
the near future is plainly apparent. Since 1893, in addition to the gentlemen
just named, Leonard Bock, Isaac Reed, M. L. Corey, Noah Leland, together with
the present board, Jonathan Pickrel, J. J. Thompson and A. T. Slayter, have
served as trustees.
The
superintendents have been W. B. Swearingen, 1893; E. C. Peterson, 1895; L. Q.
Martin, 1896; Otis A. Hoskinson, 1900; C. L. Hottell, 1905. The school was
commissioned in 1904 to certify its graduates for admission to Indiana
University, Purdue University and to the State Normal School.
The
present four-years' course of study is in accord with the pedagogy of the day,
and from the primary room to the high school, inclusive of both, the teaching
is of high order. The more advanced classes have access to a well-selected
library and a good working laboratory. Argos high school takes just pride in
the fact that it has furnished to the county many successful teachers, to the
colleges and universities of the state many good succulents, and to society
many worthy young men and young women, who are performing well the duties of
life. Her alumni roster contains 162 names, but these show only a small part of
the work she has done. Many hundred young people, who, for various reasons,
were unable to complete the prescribed course of study, have entered her
classes and have been in a large measure prepared for good citizenship.
BREMEN
.
German
township, until it was regularly organized in 1838, was a part of North
township. Some South Bend parties had purchased land in that part of North
township, believing that in the course of time a town would be built in that
section of the county. Having this object in view, Lathrop M. Taylor and Henry
Augustine, of South Bend, located a town plat about three miles east of the
present town of Bremen to which they gave the name of Clayton. Its form was a
diagonal cut up into gorgeous streets and avenues. But when German township was
organized by cutting it off from the east end of North township, the center of
gravity was too far east. and the project of building a town there was
abandoned.
The
town of Bremen, the present seat of justice of German township, was platted and laid out by George Beiler
October 21, 1851.
124 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY
the
original plat contained forty-eight lots. Since then the following additions
have been made to the original plat: Deitrick’s; Ringle’s; Bauer’s, first and
second; Foltz’s continued; Mast’s; L.R. Martin’s; D. Ringle’s; Koontz’s;
Vanner’s, and J.P. Huff’s. The town was organized under the law authorizing
incorporation of towns, at the March term 1871, of the board of commissioners.
It was divided into six districts. The officers first elected were: Lewis
Theobold, clerk and treasurer; David Guyer, marshal; Chris. Seiler, assessor;
John Heckaman, Charles Lehr, Chris. Hans, John Koontz, Jacob Walter and Chris.
Schilt, trustees. In 1872 the town was redistricted and the number of trustees
reduced to three. The officers for that year were: John Heckaman, clerk and
treasurer; Robert Montgomery, marshal; Chris. Seiler, Jr., assessor.
The
town of Bremen was first called New Bremen, the name being given by George
Pomeroy and Joseph Guiselman, who thought the name appropriate, as it was of
German origin and a large portion of the early settlers, were a German speaking
people. But it was not ling until the “New” was omitted, and it soon became
known as “Bremen” in “German” Township, which indicated the nationality of the
people. The first settlement in Bremen was made about 1836, and between that
date and 1848 settlement was made by several families, among whom were
hardozog, Heim, Weis, Beyler, Koontz, Youckey, Ringle, and others who
pre-empted government lands in the vicinity and here in the wilderness
established their home and began the rugged toil of pioneers. Other families
soon came in, and it was not long until a village was formed. In 1846 a post
office was established and named Brothersville, in honor of David Brothers, the
first postmaster, and on whose premises the office was held by him two years.
In 1848 George Pomeroy and John Bush bought of Mr. Brothers one acre of land.
Mr. Bush took the east half and built a log cabin, where for two years he
resided and followed the cooper’s trade, and then sold his possessions to John
Parker, a Quaker by faith and a shoemaker by trade, and thus it happened that
Mr. Parker became the first shoemaker of the new village of Bremen. He was
succeeded by Philip Kenager, who from that time until the date of his death in
the nineties occupied the old log cabin and worked his trade. George Pomeroy
erected upon his half acre a crude frame in which he kept the first store,
consisting of a miscellaneous stock of notions, dry goods, groceries, etc., and
here he held the post office, which had been changed from Brothersville to
Bremen. Mr. Pomeroy was the first notary public of the town. In 1848 Joseph
Geiselman purchased a lot where is now located the dry good establishment of
John R. Deitrich & Co., on which he built a log blacksmith shop, the first
in Bremen, and where he followed his trade several years. In 1850 he erected
the first frame building in the new town. In 1851 Gotleib Amacher built a log
cabin and opened from Stark County, Ohio, in the early fifties, purchased and
converted into the first harness shop.
Bremen
has an excellent fire department, which was organized September 8, 1874, at
which time there were issued bonds of $2,100 for the purpose of purchasing the
necessary apparatus and the erection of suitable buildings. In the beginning
there were eighty-five members of the
department, divided into four divisions:
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 125
An
engine company, a hook and ladder company and two hose companies. Hoosier Hook
and Ladder Company No.1 was organized June 5, 1874, and participated in the
firemen's' tournament at Bourbon in September, 1877, taking first prize,
running 300 yards, stacking ladder and putting a man over top in four-four and
a half seconds. September 6, 1877, the engine and hose companies attended the
firemen's tournament at Goshen, Indiana, where they made the best time, running
100 yards, laying fifty feet of hose, and throwing water fifty feet in thirty-four
and one-fourth seconds, receiving the first prize, amounting to $80. Host::
Company No.4, in September, 1885, at a tournament at Michigan City, won first
prize, receiving $100 and a water service: In August, 1887, at Plymouth, they
received $50 and the championship of Indiana. Union Engine Company No.1 in 1882
won the state championship as an engine company; and it was in 1885, at South
Bend, that Ed. Hickeman and Theo. Walter , as couplers from the Bremen
department, won the world's championship in that particular line of firemen's
duties.
Among
the most prominent citizens that resided in Bremen in the early days was Jacob
Knoblock, who was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1803. He emigrated to America in
1823, settling in Ohio, and moved from there to Bremen in 1850. He was a stone
and brick mason and plasterer by trade, and in 1865 built a hotel in Bremen,
which he kept until his death, in 1869. He was a zealous member of the Masonic
fraternity, and was a member of and the first senior deacon of Plymouth Lodge
No.149, which was organized in 1853. Many times during his life he had been
known to ride horseback from his farm east of Bremen to Plymouth to attend the
meetings of the lodge. Being a stone mason, he cut the headstone that marks his
last resting place in the Bremen cemetery, and on it he carved the square and
compasses, the emblems of the Masonic order, to which he belonged. He was a
worthy and well-respected citizen; in politics a staunch democrat, and held in
life several positions of honor and trust in the county.
Bremen
had an excellent cornet band organized in 1861, Peter Vogli leader. It was
reorganized in 1866 with Mr. Vogli still retained as leader. The members became
very skillful on their instruments and the band was at one time the best in the
county,
UNION
TOWN - MARMONT - CULVER.
The
present town of Culver has had considerable of a struggle in its original
survey and in keeping the names that have been given it from time to time.
Union Town was originally laid out and platted by Bayless L. Dickson, who owned
a farm bordering on the lake, a part of which embraced the territory now
covered by the town of Culver. This was on the 8th of June, 1844
The
following is a copy of the statement made and the certificate attached to the
original plat of Union Town :
Union
Town is pleasantly situated in the southwest quarter of section 16, town 32,
range 1 east. It is laid out in such a manner that it presents to the eye a
view of Lake Maxinkuckee, and is surrounded with as good a country as can be
found in northern Indiana. It has the advantage of three state and two county
roads running through it. The streets are all 66 feet in width and the alleys
are 161/2, feet.
BAYLESS L. DICKSON,
Proprietor.
Witness:
G. S. Cleaveland, John L. Westervelt.
Union
Town, June 8, 1844.
126 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
In
1857 Thomas K. Houghton became the owner of the town, and on the 9th day of
June, 1857, filed the following certificate attached to what purported to be an
amended plat of Union Town.
"Union
Town is situated in the southeast corner of section 16, town 32, north range 1
east, Marshall county, Indiana. The southeast of said section is the commencing
point of this town plat; the streets are all of a width, being 66 feet; the
alleys are 66 feet; the lots are 66 feet in front and 99 feet back; so planned
by the original survey. All lines running north and south bare no degrees and
ten seconds east, and those that run east and west bare south eighty-nine
degrees east. The magnetic variation at this date is 50 degrees 10' east. I, J.
B. N. Klinger, Surveyor of Marshall County, certify the above to be
correct."
Prior
to this date, to-wit: May 6, 1857, Thomas K. Houghton appeared before M. W.
Smith, a justice of the peace in Plymouth, and acknowledged that the above
survey locating and laying off said town of Union Town was done by his order
and direction for the purpose of locating a town by that name and as therein
specified by the surveyor thereof. That said survey and plat is intended to
supply the place of the old survey made by Henry B. Pershing, that being
inaccurate.
On
the 20th of March, 1890, the following affidavit was filed for record in the
recorder's office :
"I,
J. B. N. Klinger, ex-surveyor in and for Marshall county, state of Indiana,
Swear that, upon the request of Thomas K. Houghton, then Owner and proprietor
of the town of Union Town, in said county, he employed me as surveyor of said
county, April 24, 1851, to resurvey and plat said Union Town. In setting out
the location I made a clerical error, locating it in the southeast corner of
section 16, township 32, north, range 1 east, when it should read southwest
corner of said section No. 16, township 32, north range 1 east, and the same
was part of record, the error being over looked, and further deponent sayeth
not."
February
13, 1884, Peter Allerding filed what he called the "Vandalia Addition to
said Union Town." The addition is in the west half of the south forty
acres of section 16, 32, I, except Thomas K. Houghton's corrected addition;
also except three acres known as Bowles lot, and three acres immediately south
of the same. Said addition being divided into 24 lots, and numbered from 1 to
24 inclusive; also 5 outlots and numbered from 1 to 5 inclusive. The length and
breadth of said lots being indicated by figures on said plat; also the width of
all the streets and alleys.
On
the 5th day of August, 1886, Albert D. Toner made an addition to the Vandalia
addition, said addition being laid out of lots Nos. 3,4 and 5 of school
subdivision of Section 16, 32, I, commencing at the northwest corner of said
lot No.3; said additions being divided as shown on plat in 13 lots and numbered
from 1 to 13 inclusive; and also eleven outlots, numbered from 1to 31
inclusive. The length and breadth of said lots being indicated by figures on
said plat; also the width of all streets and alleys are so indicated, except
from this plat outlots 2, 7, 8, 10 and 11.
Marmont
-The name of Union Town was changed to Marmont when a resurvey was made in
1851. Dr. G. A. Durr was a resident of Union Town at that time, He was of
French descent and succeeded in having the name changed to Marmont in honor of
a French general of that name.
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 127
It
was many years after the village took the name of Marmont before it as
incorporated under the law as a town. The first election was held under the
corporation July 5, 1894; the election board being composed of J. H. Koontz, D.
C. Walter and E. M. Scates. The following was the result of the election :
Trustees:
S. E. Medburn, Marcus F. Mosher and John W. Solider ; clerk, Fred L. Carl;
treasurer, Henry M. Speyer; marshal, John F . Crumley. Crumley did not qualify,
and the board appointed Ozlas Duddleson who did not furnish bond. The board
then appointed Nathaniel Candy, who qualified and served. On October 4, 1895,
the board of commissioners changed the name from Marmont to Culver City, on
petition of 0. A. Rea and ninety-nine others, being a majority of the qualified
electors of said Culver City.
The
first election after the name was changed to Culver City was held May 6, 1896,
resulted as follows: Trustees: J. H. Castleman, E. W. Cuiselman, F. B. Harris,
of whom Mr. Harris was subsequently chosen president of the board; clerk, Charles
Zekiel; treasurer, Henry Speyer ; marshal, Nathaniel Candy. The proposition to
change the name of Marmont to Culver City met with the unanimous approval of
the citizens of the town; but when the matter was presented to the post office
department at Washington it declined to change the name of the post office to
Culver City for the reason there was already a post office in Indiana by the
name of Culver, a village by that name in Tippecanoe County on the line of the
Big Four railroad, and for the further reason the word "City" had
been eliminated from all towns bearing that annex to the regular name. Henry H.
Culver, after whom the town had been named, went to the village of Culver in
Tippecanoe County and at once entered into negotiations with the authorities of
the town of Culver to change the name so that the name of Culver in Marshall
county could be recognized by the post office department and thus secure the
naming of the post office, Culver, the same as the town. In the prosecution of
his negotiations Mr. Culver found that the town of Culver in Tippecanoe County
had been named in honor of a man by the name of Crane Culver, and the citizens
were much opposed to making any change. Mr. Henry H. Culver was one of those
sort of men that never gave up any laudable undertaking, and having for his
motto, "Where there is a will there is a way ," he concluded to use a
little financial diplomacy and proposed to pay the town authorities all
expenses of the change for the name of Culver, and suggested that they could
honor the name of the Culver for whom the town had been named by giving it Mr.
Culver's first name "Crane." These suggestions were agreed upon and
the contract fully carried out. The papers were properly made out and forwarded
to the post office department at Washington, which recognized the name of Crane
instead of Culver, and changed the name of Marmont to Culver , omitting the word "city
," and so Marmont and Culver City became Culver and will probably so
remain for all time to come.
The
government census of 1900 gave the population of Culver at 505. A census taken
January 1,1908, by the editor of the Culver Citizen shows the population to be
at that date 661.
128 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Culver
Fire Department.
The
Culver fire department was organized January 22, 1903, in accordance with a
resolution of the town board. The charter members were: 0. M. Byrd, Ed Zekiel,
Charles Medburn, F. W. Cook, Al Mawhorter Walter Byrd, Will Cook, M. H. Foss,
G. W. Smith, Thomas E. Slattery: Arthur Morris, T. 0. Saine and J. R. Saine.
First
Officers: Chief, T. 0. Saine; assistant chief, Arthur Morris; secretary, J. R.
Saine; treasurer, Thomas E. Slattery. T. 0. Saine held the position of chief
until he resigned August 9, 1906, when 0. A. Gandy was elected to fill the
vacancy, and was reelected January 10, 1907. March 16, 1905, the company
purchased a building, where it has a permanent home.
At
the time of its organization the company had no equipment save a few rubber
buckets and three ladders purchased by the town, which were so heavy it
required the combined efforts of a dozen men to erect them. With the
installation of waterworks in the fall of 1907 a hose cart and hose was
provided and the company had some real practice in the art of fire fighting,
developing a degree of proficiency surprising in view of their unfamiliarity
with fire apparatus. In November 1907, through the generosity of Chief Fred H.
Kuhn, of the Plymouth fire department, the company was presented with a hook
and ladder truck, which has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired and proves
to be ideal for their requirements.
Antiquarian
and Historical Society.
The
following notice appeared in the Marshall County Republican of February
15,1858, and indicates that the people of that part of the county, even at that
early day, were alive to the importance of preserving for future generations
the early history of the county:
"Notice
1st. That a meeting will be held at the schoolhouse in Union Town on the
evening of March 4, 1858, to take into consideration the propriety of forming a
society to be known as the ‘Antiquarian and Historical Society,' for the
purpose of collecting as many of the circumstances and incidents relative to
the settlement of this region of country from the first settlement to the
present time, that it may be read by posterity, which we believe will be of
great interest.
Union
Town, February 15, 1858.
"
Who the movers in the matter were, or whether the organization was effected,
nothing can be ascertained. Bayless L. Dickson, who :was the founder of Union
Town, and one of the earliest settlers in that region, was probably the head of
it. Isaac N. Morris, who was something of a historian and a great reader, and
who lived near by, was undoubtedly one of those who were interested in
preserving the history of that locality, but these early pioneers and many
others who resided there then have passed away, leaving no record to perpetuate
the history they helped to make.
Exchange
Bank of Culver .
Mr.
S. C. Shilling is the president of the bank and William Osborn cashier. When
Mr. Shilling took charge of the bank in 1901 the deposits were $18,000, the
loans $11,000, and the number of open accounts 100. At the present time the
deposits are $50,000, the loans $40,000 and the open
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 129
between
250 and 300. The bank recently purchased an eligible lot in the center of the
town, on which it erected and is now settled home amid surroundings luxurious
enough to place it in the rank with similar institutions anywhere in the
northern part of the building is the finest in the town of Culver, and in
addition to it houses that other leading business factor, the post office,
besides to the Masonic lodge on the second floor, and also three professional
men. Not only the owners of the bank are proud of the institution but the
community at large are equally gratified that they have in midst so important a
factor in the building up of the business of their town.
WALNUT.
The
village of Walnut is situated in Walnut township, about four south of Argos on
the Lake Erie & Western railroad. It was laid out platted by Frederick
Stair April 16, 1866, and contained eighty-three It was named Fredericksburg,
in honor of the proprietor, and that is the legal name of the village. When the
railroad was completed that place in 1868, two years after it had been
organized, the railroad changed the name of the village to Walnut, after Walnut
township, and by that name it has been known ever since. In the early years of
its organization it was given the nickname of "Possum Trot," because
of the number of opossums that were found in that section of the county. Mr.
Stair was an early settler and one of the prominent men of the county. He was a
congenial gentleman, a man of more than ordinary ability, and acted well his
part in whatever he had to do. He died in the nineties respected by all who
knew him.
PANAMA.
This
place was platted and laid out by Isaac P. Shively September 6, 1854. It is
situated on the south side of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of
section 4, town 33, range 4 east, on the Plymouth and Warsaw state road, about
five miles northeast of Bourbon. It did not grow as a town as was expected, and
a few years later Jacob Pritch and Adam Moneysmith purchased timber land there,
erected a saw mill in the later fifties and after the completion of the
railroad through Bourbon in 1856, furnishing them an outlet for their lumber,
they carried on an extensive business, and with the families connected with the
mills the little village for a time had quite a boom. For some years there was
quite a settlement there, and both political parties during exciting campaigns
always held one or more meetings in that place during the year. But with the
sawing up of the timber into lumber, the village disappeared, and now it is
only the center of one of the best farming regions in the county.
LINKSVILLE
This
village is situated about five miles northeast of the county seat, in the
southeastern part of North township. The proprietors were Simon Stough, M. J.
Link and E. J. Mosholder. It was laid out June 9, 1866, and contains twelve
lots. It is a neighborhood village, conveniently situated
130 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.,
as
to the various parts of the township, and the county seat, as well as on the
main road to Bremen and Lake of the Woods.
FAIRMOUNT
Was
situated five miles north of Plymouth on the Michigan road. In an early day
Silas Higby erected a building and opened a tavern, and called his place
Fairmount. It was too close to Plymouth for a tavern to do much business, and
as there was nothing there to attract people it soon disappeared and is now a
thing of the past.
SLIGO.
This
is the name of a place situated in West township at the outlet of Twin lakes,
where was situated the first grist-mill built in the county about the time it
was organized in 1836 by Timothy Barber; and also the old iron forge, a
description of which will be found elsewhere in this history. It had stores and
shops and other conveniences of a neighborhood village, but it did not have
sufficient business attractions to make it grow to be a town of any size. It is
in the center of a good community of farmers, and will always probably remain
about as it is at present.
At
the time of the organization of the county this place was known as
"Onondaga." It had a post office of that name, and there was a mail
route from Plymouth to that point until it was discontinued a few years later.
It probably got its name from Onondaga county, New York, from which place the
original proprietors came.
WOLF
CREEK.
This
was the name of a place on the creek of that name about five miles southwest of
Plymouth. A dam was made across the creek and a water sawmill erected prior to
1840, and about that time a grist-mill was built. Clark Bliven was the original
proprietor and during high water a few years later was carried over the dam and
was drowned. He had named the place "Bermingham" for some reason
unknown, as is shown in a petition for a road filed with the board of
commissioners from Samuel D. Taber's on the Michigan road west to Benningham
across Wolf creek and then west three or four miles to Mis-sin-ne-co-quah on
Yellow river, etc. Misinnecoquah was a Pottawattomie Indian chief to whom in
one of the treaties was assigned a section or two of land. When the whites
first settled in that part of the county she was very old-well on toward one
hundred years old. She went with those who were driven away in 1838 and was
never heard of afterwards.
INWOOD.
This
village, situated seven miles east of Plymouth on the Pennsylvania railroad,
was before the railroad was built, called Pearsonville in honor of Ezra G.
Pearson, who platted and laid out the town December 29, 1854. Mr. Pearson had
located there and built a sawmill. At that place and for miles all around it
was even difficult for men used to the "thick woods" to get through
it in places. When the railroad was built through that place two years later,
the company, looking for a shorter name than
131 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
TYNER.
Tyner
( it was originally called Tyner City) , the seat of justice of Polk township,
was laid off and platted June 18, 1855, by Jacob H. Miller, Maynard French and
Thomas Tyner. It took its name from the last named proprietor. It is located in
the west half of section 10, town 34, range 1 east, on the Lake Erie &
Western railroad, at that time known as the Plymouth & LaPorte railroad,
about seven miles northwest of Plymouth. It is laid off into twelve blocks 315
feet square, including alleys, each lot containing twelve lots each 50 by 100
feet. The streets are named Race, Vine, Main, Walnut, May, Miller French, Allen
and Boyce. The four first were named after streets in Cincinnati, where some of
the proprietors at one time resided, and the remainder were named in honor of
railroad men who were engaged in building the new railroad which was completed
the following year, 1856.
Tyner
was incorporated under the state laws for this purpose. A feud had sprung up
between the people of the town and those who resided outside of its limits. It
was carried to such an extent that no resident of the village could be elected
to a township office, and as it was desirable to have a justice of the peace a
resident of the town, the only way to accomplish it was to organize under a
corporation government, the law providing that where there was such a form of
government one of the justices should reside within the limits of the
corporation. The organization had the desired effect. A justice who resided in
town was elected and in course of time the warring elements having subsided,
and there being no apparent necessity for a town government, an election was
called to vote upon the proposition to disband the organization.
The
result of the election is embodied in the following certificate filed in the
clerk's office:
I,
George E. Leroy, do hereby certify that at an election held in the town of
Tyner City on the 29th day of. November, 1879, for the purpose of dissolving
the IncorporatIon, the whole number of votes cast were 33, and that the number
of voters in the town are 47, and that there were 22 votes cast to dissolve and
11 cast to maintain the incorporation.
GEORGE E. LEROY, President.
WASHINGTON
WILSON, Clerk.
The
incorporation was accordingly dissolved. The people of the town were law
abiding and had very little need of a corporation government, and
132 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
during
the thirty years that have elapsed since then they have maintained order among
themselves. without being required to pay the expenses of a town organization.
Thomas
Tyner, the founder of Tyner City, and from whom it took its name, died in that
place on the 18th of October, 1880. He was born in Kentucky in 1800. He was a
worthy and highly respected citizen, and during his long life filled many
important positions of trust and honor, always in a satisfactory manner to all
parties concerned. In the earlier portion of his manhood he assisted in moving
the archives of the state from Corydon to Indianapolis, after the capitol was
established there. He was one of the old landmarks, not only in Marshall
county, but of the state, and was well acquainted with many of the prominent
citizens of Indiana. He was generous, kind and charitable, almost to a fault,
and was honored and esteemed while living, and died sincerely regretted by all
who knew him.
HUCKLEBERRY
MARSH.
A
good many years ago there was a huckleberry marsh two or three miles west of
Tyner which attained considerable notoriety as a frontier village, with all
that the name implies, during the huckleberry season. Hundreds of people from
far and near located there during the time of gathering berries, giving it more
the appearance of a mining camp than a temporary village for peaceful pursuits.
Huckleberries were gathered there by the carload, and the products in favorable
seasons were a source of considerable revenue to those who engaged in the
business. Buyers were there every afternoon and evening to buy the day's
pickings and the road between Tyner and the huckleberry marsh, with the wagons
coming and going, had the appearance of a Fourth of July procession. The
village was laid out in systematic order, and the tents and temporary shanties
were built so as to leave plenty of room for streets and alleys. When the
season was at its height amusements of every description and kind known to
temporary places of that kind were indulged in by most of the inhabitants, and
hundreds of visitors who gathered there out of curiosity, and to see what they
could see. If one was thirsty and wanted a little "something for the
stomach's sake," he could find it at the " Alhambra," which
could be found on a convenient corner in the center of the village. If he
wanted to indulge in a game of "old sledge" or the more interesting
game of "poker," the appliances were at hand, and besides these there
was roulette and all kinds of games of chance; and it was a rule of the
inhabitants of the village who conducted that part of it, when a visitor
arrived to "take him in." And there was a large dancing hall where
the "Arkansaw Traveler" made music and
They
danced all night till broad daylight,
And
went home with the girls in the morning.
A
great many good citizens of the county went there and camped during the season
that took no part in the frivolities there indulged in. Very little disturbance
occurred there. The inhabitants agreed that all would unite in maintaining
peace and good order, and having all the fun in a legitimate way they could get
out of it during their short stay. The campers united in appointing watchmen
who patrolled the village during the night,
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 133
and
during the years it flourished no disturbance of any serious nature ever
occurred. During the past dozen years the drainage of the marshes and the fires
that have swept over them have destroyed the huckleberry bushes to such an
extent that there are not enough berries grown there to justify the continuance
of the village.
TEEGARDEN.
The
following is the description of the location of Teegarden, as filed by Eli
Taylor and Calvin J. Wright, the proprietors, November 18, 1873:
"Teegarden is located in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of
section 23, township 35, north of range 1 east, in Marshall county, Indiana.
The south line of said town is the section line, and the west line is the
center line of said section 23; there is fifteen feet left on the north side of
the section line for half of a street; also twenty feet on the east side of the
center section line for half a street, and forty feet on the south of the right
of way, of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad for a street, called Wright
street. The south line of Taylor street commenced on the center section
line-fifty feet north of the center of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and
runs east at right angles to the north and south center section line of said
section 23," etc. The plat contains thirty-three lots, and they are 100
feet wide by 144 feet in length. The streets are 60, and the alleys 20 feet
wide. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad runs through the southern portion of
the original town. On the 20th day of June 1874, Lewis Lemert laid out and
caused to be platted and recorded an addition to Teegarden, joining the
original plat on the west. The addition comprises fifteen lots of the same size
as those in the original town. There are two good dry goods, grocery and notion
stores, a saw-mill, a tile manufactory, coal kiln, blacksmith shop, etc. The
town is surrounded by a good farming country that is being improved by
drainage.
ELIZABETHTOWN
.
This
was a town on paper, located on the La Forte road, twelve miles from Plymouth
and eighteen miles from LaPorte. It was elegantly laid out in the shape of a
cross. There were twelve blocks, each containing twelve lots. It was laid out
May 23, 1837, by G. A. Cone. At a time it was considered to be an eligible
location for the building of a town, being about half-way between Plymouth and
LaPorte. But some way it failed to attract any settlers within its limits, and,
except the record in the recorder's office, from which the foregoing
information is derived, nothing remains to mark its untimely demise.
BLISSVILLE.
Blissville
was a place near the west line of the township, OR the La Forte road, that attained
some celebrity in the early days. It was owned and managed by Justice T. F.
Stevens, an old gentleman of commanding presence, who supplied the weary
traveler that passed that way with all the necessaries, comforts and
conveniences of life. Upon the completion of the I., P. & C. R. R. in 1856,
the current of trade centered at Tyner, and Mr. Stevens found his occupation
gone. He has since died.
134 HISTORYOF
MARSHALL COUNTY.
LA
PAZ.
This
town was located on section 5, Michigan road lands, six miles north of
Plymouth, and was laid out and platted by Achilles Hunt, August 5, 1873, and
contained 121 lots. Three years later Mr. Hunt was killed by the kick of a
horse he had been leading to water.
September
23, 1875, Edson Spencer laid out an addition to the town called Spencer's
Addition to La Paz, containing eighteen lots which are 40 X 120 feet. The
streets are forty and the alleys fourteen feet wide.
December
27, 1881, Moses Thayer laid off an addition to La Paz containing thirty-five
lots, besides blocks 2, 4 and 5, that were not subdivided. The streets are
forty feet wide. This addition is called "Moses Thayer's addition to La
Paz." On June 10, 1884, Mr. Thayer made another addition, containing
eleven lots and lying west of his first addition.
April
I, 1885, Leonard Logan and Gideon Logan laid out "Logan's addition to La
Paz," which contains sixty-four lots of varied length and breadth. The
addition lies in the southeast part of the town.
EAST
LA PAZ. .
East
La Paz is about three-fourths of a mile east of the original La Paz at the junction of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the Logansport & Terre Haute railroad,
and is described as follows by Walter Kimble, the proprietor, his plat being
filed for record February 14, 1855: "East La Paz is situated in southeast
quarter of northeast quarter of section twenty-eight (28) , township
thirty-five (35) north, range two (2) east, at the crossing of the Baltimore
& Ohio & Vandalia railroad, is bounded on the east by Vandalia
railroad, on the south, west and north by the boundary line of said southeast
quarter of the northeast quarter."
BURR
OAK
On
the 15th day of December, 1882, the following description of the situation of
Burr Oak, together with the plat thereof, was filed in the office of the
recorder of Marshall county:
"Burr
Oak station is situated on the east line of the northwest quarter of section 4,
township 32, north of range 1 east, commencing 1,255 feet south of the north
quarter-section corner of section 4, township 32, north of range 1 east, the
north line of the right of way of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis
railroad; thence north with the center section line 517 feet, thence west at
right angles with center section line 332 feet, thence south with the center
section line 422 feet, thence east parallel with north line 302 feet, thence
south 93 feet to north line of right of way of said railroad, thence
southeastwardly with said line 30 feet to place of beginning.
November
1, 1882. MICHAEL
BURNS, Proprietor."
The
above named plat contains eighteen lots, numbered from 1 to 18 consecutively.
The streets are fifty feet, the alleys twelve feet wide, and the lots are forty
feet wide by 120 feet in length.
On
the 8th day of October, 1885, Franklin Overmyer filed the plat of Overmyer's
addition to Burr Oak station, properly described and acknowledged. This
addition lies immediately east of the original plat of Burr Oak station and
contains lots from 1 to 8 inclusive, the lots being the
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 135
same
size as those in the original plat. This village is nearly in the center of
what is known as the "Burr Oak Flats," which is as beautiful and
productive a region as can be found anywhere.
A
short distance south and west of Burr Oak station were in the early days
several mounds which were supposed to have been the work of the Mound Builders
Excavations were made into them at different times by different persons to see
if anything could be found in them that would enable the prospectors to
determine what they were built for. In one or two of them what appeared to be
human bones were found, which indicated that they might have been used by the
Indians for burial places, although this was not the usual Indian mode of
burial. Those who have studied the history of the Mound Builders are inclined
to the belief that these mounds were the work of these dwellers in the ground
as they made their way from the frozen north to the tropical regions of the
sunny south.
MAXINKUCKEE.
The
village of Maxinkuckee is situated half a mile east of Maxinkuckee lake, from
which it derives its name. From this village on the high bluff on which it is
built is obtained the finest view of the beautiful lake anywhere around the
twelve miles of its charming shore line. It has never been regularly platted
and laid out as a town. It has two streets. The one that divides the place,
running east and west, is called Lake street, and the one running north and
south is called Washington street. On the north side of Lake street, about
half-way from the village to the lake, was the wigwam of the good Indian chief
Neeswaugee, about opposite the residence of Peter Spangler. The street should
have been called "Nees-wau-gee avenue," to perpetuate the memory of
the first owner of all the land east and north of the street. The village
contains a store, blacksmith Shop, a church, a lodge of Odd Fellows, and
contains a population of perhaps 150. For many years it had a post office but
with the coming of the rural free delivery system it was discontinued and the
people now receive their mail by free delivery.
NORTH
SALEM.
North
Salem, according to the plat, consisted of twelve lots laid out In the year,
1851 by Barrack Plummer, Basil Roberts and A. G. Pumphrey. It was situated some
distance southwest of Inwood. Shortly after it was platted a very large and
elegant church building for those days was built, but a few years later it
caught fire and was consumed and has not since been rebuilt. There being no
prospect that a town would ever be built there, the plat has been vacated.
DONELSON.
The
original plat of Donelson was laid out October 25, 1871, by D. W. Taft,
Cornelius Tuttle and W. I. Richardson. It is located in the corners of sections
29, 30, 31 and 32, township 34, north of range 1 east, On the line of the
Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad, and is one mile east of the Starke
county line. It contains twenty-two lots, their size being 66 feet wide by 132
feet in length. On the 14th day of September, 1875, Dc W. Taft laid out
"Taft's addition to the town of Donelson," containing twenty-one lots
of the same size as the lots in the original plat and lying north and west of
the original town,
136 HISTORY
OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
and
on the 14th day of September, 1875, Cornelius Tuttle laid off "Tuttle's
addition to Donelson," comprising twenty-two lots, being of the same size
as the original lots. It is a quiet little village and probably will always
remain so, as most of the farm products raised in its vicinity are marketed
elsewhere. It has two stores, a drug store, a grain elevator, a blacksmith
shop, one doctor, a good schoolhouse, church and all the conveniences and
evidences of civilization common to villages of its size.
Robert
J. Evans "Jons" Evans, as he is familiarly called, who lives near
Donelson, is the oldest settler in West township, having settled there in 1835,
the year before the county was organized, and has lived there almost
continually ever since. The Pottawattomie Indians were numerous there when he
came. Of them he says: "Their relations with the settlers were of the
friendliest character ."
TIPPECANOE
TOWN.
The
original proprietors of this town were Joseph Hall, Daniel C. Martin and Joseph
Serls. It was platted and surveyed December 12, 1850. It is located on the Tippecanoe
river, in Tippecanoe township, in section 18, town 32, range 4 east, and
contains thirty lots. For thirty years this place was the only town in
Tippecanoe township and during that time it became quite a business center for
that part of the country. Tippecanoe river, which meanders through this
township, entering it on the eastern boundary about the center, passing through
Tippecanoe Town and veering off to the south, furnished an excellent waterpower
at Tippecanoe Town for milling purposes. An excellent flouring mill was erected
by N. B. and P. S. Alleman, who operated it for many years. During the war of
the Rebellion they also erected a woolen factory close by the mill, which they
also operated until 1878, when they sold it to J. F. Van Valkenburg, of
Plymouth. On the night of October 25, 1878, the woolen mills were fired by an
incendiary, and before assistance could reach them were entirely destroyed. An
attempt was made to set fire to the grist mill the same night, but a watchman
being in the mill, the attempt was unsuccessful. Detectives were put upon the
track of the "fire fiends" and in course of time a young man in the
neighborhood was arrested on suspicion of having committed the deed. He was
incarcerated in the county jail and soon after gave intimation of an intention
to confess his guilt and turn state's evidence against other parties who he
said were implicated. Before the meeting of the grand jury, however, he
succeeded in making his escape from the jail. He concealed himself for some time,
but finally concluded to return and confess that he fired the property,
describing minutely how the act was accomplished. He also implicated a large
number of old and respectable citizens of the neighborhood as being particeps
criminis in the transaction. He alleged that the object sought to be attained
was the removal of the mill dam, which it was averred overflowed a large
section of country, produced stagnant water, causing malaria, resulting in
sickness and death. He stated that meetings of those in the neighborhood
affected by the dam had been held at various times, at which the question was
discussed as to the most expeditious and safest way to get rid of what
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY. 137
termed
an "intolerable nuisance." According to his statement it was
determined that if the mills were out of the way the dam would soon follow. He
was selected, he stated, to do the work, the others agreeing to protect him from arrest and punishment. Several of
the parties implicated jointly indicted with him, and. after many vexatious
delays the cases on for trial. As to all the parties but one a none-prosequi
was entered, the case went to trial as to the remaining party, mainly on the
evidence the party who had confessed that he had been guilty of the burning.
trial lasted several days, creating much excitement and ill feeling among and
parties interested, and finally resulted in the jury failing to The case was
then transferred to another county on a change of but the party implicated left
the country and has not been heard of and so the case never came to trial
again.
Tippecanoe
Town Station.
The
Nickel Plate railroad having been completed through this township from east to
west, a town was laid out on the line of that road about three-quarters of a mile
south of Tippecanoe Town by W. W. Burkett, John Kramer, John T. Hardesty,
ElIzabeth Lewallen and E. J. Martindale, February 8, 1882. It contained
sixty-two lots, and on the first of November, 1882, Kramer, Hardesty and
Lewallen laid out an addition, the lots numbering from 62 to 90 inclusive. The
town was called "Tippecanoe Town Station." in the December term,
1886, of the board of commissioners on the petition of G. W. Roberts and others
the name of Tippecanoe Town Station was changed to Ilion, by which name it was
known until the summer of 1905 or 1906, when "Tippecanoe" was
substituted for Ilion, and by that name it is now recognized by the railroad
and also the post office department. The old Tippecanoe Town, with the coming
of the railroad and the building up of a station there, lost all its vitality
and the halo of the business glory that formerly hovered over it is a thing of
the past. Sic transit gloria mundi !