USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume II > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
3 1833 01814 7162
GENEALOGY 977.201 ALSR V.2
VALLEY
OF THE
UPPER MAUMEE RIVER
WITH HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF ALLEN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA. THE STORY OF ITS PROGRESS FROM SAVAGERY TO CIVILIZATION.
V.2.
VOLUME II.
Gc 977. 201 AlEr 1.2
ILLUSTRATED.
MADISON, WIS .: BRANT & FULLER, 1889.
.
Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis.
1 i
1519233
INDEX TO VOLUME II.
GENERAL HISTORY.
Page.
Amusement, places of. 284
Architectural growth. 223 Evangelical Association .. 315
Assembly, members of. 384
Lutheran, English. 311
Dispatch
322
Asylum. 225
Methodists
306
Freie Presse.
322
Attorneys, prosecuting (see
Courts).
Banks. 246
Bench and bar (see Courts).
Berghoff brewery
166
Breweries. 165, 166
Buildings, government.
224
College, Fort Wayne. 307
Staats Zeitung 319
319
Canal Era.
165
Common Pleas 460
county
276
Organization of Allen county 374
281
St. John the Baptist
432
St. Joseph's.
432
St. Joseph's hospital.
427
St. Leo's.
429 430
St Mary's
416
t. Patrick's.
433
St. Paul's ..
422
Gas, natural. 286
Railroads
51
St. Peter's.
423
Hospital. 284
Manufacturing enterprises. 86
Medical college. 335
Medical profession 330 War record. 391
Churches, Protestent 296
Medical societies 334
Water-works.
259
Wayne Hotel.
228
Y. M. C. A. building.
224
PERSONAL HISTORY.
Page.
Adkins, A. W.
Bard, Samuel.
193
Benoit, Rev. Julian 423
Albrecht, Martin L ..
133
Barnett, W. W.
345
Bensman, Rudolph. 98
Alden, S. R.
502
Barnum, George P
293
Bensman, William J 114
Amnes, Geo. W.
292
Barr, William J. 193
Maderson, Calvin .. 47
MIdderson, J. R. 84
35
Barrows, Frank R.
174
Bitner, John R. 111
Blair, Solon K 74
Muger, Charles
52
Bastian, Jacob
194
Blair, Thomas W 279
Neit, Moritz ..
49
163
Beaber, Abraham G. 194
Beaver, A. C .. 139
Boerger, A. H 178
Boester, F. H 234
Niefer, John
243 46
Becks, Rev. Julius
427
Boltz, Ferdinand F. 100
Ninger, Kilian ..
45 Becquett, John B
40
Boltz, Fred. C 124
Niswes, M ...
241
Begue, John C
50
Bond, Charles D.
252
Noridt, Fred.
236 Beighler, John 195
Bookwalter, E. H 329
Borden, James W 476
ta, H. F.
113 Bender, Louis
Page.
Page.
Bigger, Samuel 487
Bitler, Samuel D 139
. Mucher family.
Muger, Benjamin L.
192
Bass, John H. 93
Baxter, Thomas .. 271
Blakesley, Lyman. 77
Bobilya, Louis J 178
Nes'es, Henry P.
339 46
Newer, B. H.
Beaver, Charles B 85
Becker, Frederich. 50
Bohne, Carl . 117
Nieder, John.
Barrand, John B. 39
Bierbaum, F. R. 74
Barrand Peter F. 38
Barrett, James M. 502
Street railways .. Transportation, local 288
288
St. Vincent's orphan asylum 428
Church, Hebrew 314
Baptists 301
Christian. 315
Churches. Protestant.
Page.
Page.
Congregational 315
Newspapers
317
American Farmer. 319
Presbyterian, First .. 296
Gazette ..
320
Presbyterian, Second .. 300
Journal .. . 321
Presbyterian, Third. 301
Miscellaneous. 319
News 322
Reformed . 313
Poultry and Pets.
322
Sentinel 317
255
Centlivre brewery
Circuit, first session
440
Criminal.
463
Probate . 458
Superior. 465
Under first constitution 440
Under second constitution 460
Dentistry. 370
Finances in 1825 376
Postoffice building. 224
Public buildings.
378
First election. 375
Public enterprises.
281
Parks.
Physicians licensed. 336
Physicians, Monroeville. 369
Police, The
256
Population 390
St. Louis
County infirmary 381 Times.
Officers, city
383
federal
Churches, Catholic. 411 Cathedral 415
St. Aloysius 434
Business interests 145 17 Courts 439
Protestant Episcopal. 310
United Brethren. 316
Fire department 257
382 Statistics, financial St. Rose of Lima. 433 Improvements, aid to 381 political .. 385 St. Vincent's. 431
Beverforden, Henry F 195
Mddersen, Peter 115
Nell'es, Henry B.
Nusiks, Creed T 362 Bell, R. C. 498
Milling interests. .
23
Municipal and federal. 251
195 | Boseker, Christian 228
INDEX TO VOLUME II.
Page.
Boswell, Asa C. 361
Boswell, A. J .. 360
Bowen, George W 342 Dwenger, Rt. Rev. Joseph. 436
Bowser, Sylvanus F. 135
Brackenridge, Joseph
486 34
Edgerton, Joseph K. 63
Hayden, John W.
279
Brackenridge, G. W
Brackenridge, Robert. 34, 507
Brames, Louis 141 Ehrmann, Charles. 198
Brammer, Rev. J. H .. 429 Ellison, T. E .. 503
Brandt, Diederich 96
Brannan, John H 405
Braun, John
142
Entemann, Christian 199
Ersig, William A 199
86
Henderson, Zenas.
40
Ewing, Charles W.
472
Henry, James M.
232
Hensel, Peter
236
Herber, J. F.
226
Herbst, Otto P
278
Hetrick, Jacob
356
Hettler, C. F.
265
Brinsley, Jolın C ..
295
Fink, Frank H. 97
402
109
Brossard, John 196 Fisher, Abel.
Brown, Seneca B.
370
Fisher, R. J ..
95
Higgins, Frank P
82
Hilbrecht, Henry .
266
Bruebach, George T.
343
Bruns, C. W.
244
Fleming, Thornton J. 169
Hild, Henry.
242
Hilgemann, H. F. 206
118 Hill, Thomas. Hilton, Charles S 120
Hinton, John C. 206
Hoagland, Pliny 62
Hoffman, Henry A 232
Hull, Lewis O. 165
Busching, Henry. 197
Byrne, Rev. M. J.
416
Frank, Mendel
201
Franke, A. H ..
271
Frankenstein, Max L
200
Hyman, Philip H. 139
Iten, Frank 269
Jaap, George 235
Jackson, Thomas 72
Jackson, William T .. 81
Jenson, James O
Case, Charles
509
Chambers, John D 352
Fulton, Charles W.
294
Jones, Fremont }
Jones, Joseph H.
350
Jones, Maurice L.
174
Colerick, David H.
482
Colerick, John
485 Gallmeier, William 240
350
Judy, G. H.
15
Connolly, William A.
366
Coolman, John H.
237
Geake, William
230
Geller, W. F
203
Cooper, Henry
473
Cosgrove, Franklin K
364
Cosgrove, F. D
400 70
Cox, Enoch.
Cramer, Matthias . 103
96
Cratsley, Frank C.
162
Craw, Edward L
191
Crawford, Jolın T
238
Cressler, Alfred D
115
Cromwell, Joseph C.
137
Cromwell, Joseph W
246 41
Dalman, Frederick
Dawson, C. M. 476
Dawson. John W. 324
Dawson, Reuben J. 474
De Haven, Perry N.
172
Delaney, Rev. J. F
416
Derbyshire, Samuel W
360
Detzer, Martin 179
Greenwell, Franklin 367
Greenawalt, George L. 350
Koerdt, Rev. Ferdinand
Kollock, Fred. N ..
Korn, August
Dills, Thomas J.
351
Dinnen, James M
354
Dittoe, Albert J.
167 Haller, Gottlieb. 204
Kreite, Charles F
Doehrmann, William 268
Hamilton, Allen. 250
Krock, John
Doswell, George W 197
Doswell, John H 283
Harding, D. L.
262
Krusy, H. F. W
Dougall. A. H. 188
Harrison, Robert H. 107 Kryder, John L
Dreibelbiss, John. 191
Harrison, Walter S. 2.15
Kuhne, F. W
Dreibelbiss, Robert B
191 | Hartman, Rev. B. 431 Kunkle, E. B
Page
Dudenhoefer, George P. 131
Hartmann. Henry. 405
Hartman, Jacob. 205
Hartman, John H. 205
Hartman, Joseph H. 206
Edgerton, A. P. 33 Hartman, S. B. 372
275
Heaton, Owen H.
507
Hedekin, Michael
42
Ely, George W 267
Heimroth, Andrew
112
Hench, S. M .... 497
Henderson, A. R.
132
Henderson, S. C ..
40
Breidenstein, Simpson 192
Breimeier, Ernst 233
Brimmer, Joseph 242
Brenton, Samuel
406
Fay, James A.
487
Felts, George F.
401
Ferguson, John
128
Fischer, Henry E.
106
Higgins, C. R.
277
Brown, William H
39
Fitch, Charles B.
121
Fitzpatrick, Bernard .. 105
Fletcher, Charles P .. 76
Fletcher, Josiah F. 292
Buckwalter, Louis
111
Foellinger, Jacob. 45
Buhr, Henry .
197
Foster, David N. 149
Foster, Samuel M. 151
Fox, Louis, and Bro
160
France, Joseph S.
488
Caldwell, James 355
Campbell, Daniel 113
Carnahan, William L 159
Freeman, Samuel C ...
44
Carpenter, Warren 270
192
Freiberger, Ignatius 200
201
Carson, W. W. 478
Fre stoffer, Henry. Fremion, Joseph
143
French, Brooks.
118
Jocquel, John J.
175
Chapin, A. A. 500
Gage, Robert 145
Gale, George A 202
Gallmeier, Ernst 240
Johnson, A
18
Colerick, Walpole G 483
Geake, J. J.
231
Kabisch, Rudolph 20₽
Kalbacher, Anton
Kaough, William
Keefer, Christian. 211
Keel, Aurora C. 169
Keil, Frederick W.
Kelker, Anthony . 79
Keller, Henry. 1.40
Kendrick, Frank B.
Kendrick, William H 231
Kern, Jacob J. 402
Kerr Murray manufacturing company 115
176 Kintz, A. W
Klett, Jacob 13
Knecht, F. J 2.
Knight, William
Knothe, Charles F 12
Koehler, John A 14
Koehler, Paul
Koenig, C. F.
Koenig, Rev. E.
Dickinson, Philemon 163 Diehl, Hugh M. 272
Gregg. James S. 341
Gruber, John Michael. 203
Hackius, G. L .. 116
Haiber, Charles F. 204 Kortee, Frederick
Haiber, George W 204
Hanna, Samuel.
Krohne, H. H. L
Diether, Jolm H.
127 127
Diether, Louis
Korn, John
Graffe, Frederick, jr 160 Kline, C. W 2
Granneman, H. C.
179
Gray, James P 78
Griffith Levi .. 234
Griswold, Crawford. 74
Green, M. France: 44
164
Gilmartin, Edward.
173
Glenn, Thomas M
187
Cran, Robert.
Glenn, William M
80
Gocke, Anthony
51
Gocke, Louis H ..
51
Golden, Edward J.
171 75
Gordon, George P.
Gotsclı, Theodore O
161
Graffe, Henry C ..
Graham. James A. 105
202
Gibson, David N.
406
Gilbert, John ..
200
Freese, August
Carrier, A. H .
351 73
Buck, Charles W
Bullerman, Henry F. 404
Bursley, Gilbert E 157
Hunt, John T. 207
Hunter, Lewis C. 403
Cartwright, Charles 102
Cody, Maurice 42
Johnston, William, jr
Gard, Brookfield
Coombs, William H. 474
Gessler, Albert F
31
Brink, John J. 178
Brinsley, George C. 184
Brooks, William H 338
Hewes, James C ..
Hilbrecht, Henry, jr 269
Buchman, A. P.
Eme, Claude F. 47
Breen, W. P 505
Essig, Charles O.
Ewing, W. G. and G. W.
Hazzard, Louis.
Ehle, August N 199
Page.
Dunham, Frank W. 104
Eckhert, John C. 198
Kraft, Frederick
INDEX TO VOLUME II.
Page.
Laubach, A. J .. 354
O'Brien, Dennis.
265
Seibold, H. J. 180
Shafer, Edward A. 358
Shambaugh, William H. 402
Lauferty, Isaac 253 O'Leary, Rev. T. M 415 Shea, Michael F. 83
Lang, Rev. J. F. 415
Law, C. D 67
O'Rourke, Patrick S
68
Shrimpton, Alfred 232
Shryock, William W. 373
Shuman, E. 183
Siemon, A. F. 161
Simonson, James H. 126
Singleton, Michael T. 273
Singmaster, Joseph. 49
372
Siver, Emett L.
359
Slater, John.
274
Smaltz, Francis M.
218
Loag, George W.
396
Paulus, Frank D
183
Loesch, George H. 180
Long, Mason. 167
Longacre, M. P 138
Lowry, Robert. 496
Luers, Rt. Rev. J. H 426
McCaskey, George W. 357
Pierce, Ogden.
182
McCausland, John W .. 358
Mcclellan, Charles A. O 408
McClure, Andrew. 83
McCormick, Thomas H. 362
Pressler, John.
134
McCulloch, Hugh 248
269
McDonald, R. T.
120
McIntosh. William.
53
Randall, Perry A
501
Mckay, James M.
157
McKinnie, W. M., & Co.
228
McLain, Nelson W.
403 76
McMullen, John.
235
McNamara, Washington
103
Reinewald, Rudolph C.
263
McNiece, Nicholas R.
212
Reiter, George
214
McNutt, L. D.
288 52
McQuiston, John W
Renfrew, Robert G
104
McQuiston, Wilson.
124
Madden, James D. 244
Mark, Rev. J. A. 433
Markey, A. C .. 212
Martz, Christian 358
Matsch, J. Christopher 96
Robinson, James H. 46
Robinson, James M. 506
Rockhill, William. 406
Rockhill, William W.
328
Metcalf, S. C.
348
Meyer, Diedrich. 264
213
Romer, Rev. C. M.
421
Meyer, Henry William
95
Romy, Robert L. 190
Thieme, J. G.
170
Meyer, John F. W.
152
Meyer, William D. 267
Meyers, Charles F.
289
Rosenthall, Isaac M.
344
Ross-Lewin, Edward A
132
Miller, Cassius A
235
Rossington, R. B. 71
216
Moffat, D. W 298
Rudisill, Henry 36
367
Monning, Henry.
419
Monning, John B .. 127
Moran, Peter A. 212
Morgan, Joseph D. 365
Morgan & Beach. 149
Morris, John. 480
Morris, Samuel L. 499
397
Schiefer, Christian 49
Schlatter, Christian C. 176
Schmueckle, Frederick 267 Virgil, Thomas S. 348
Volland, Henry 50
Wagenhals, Samuel 312
Wagner, John C .. 175
Wahrenberg, Fred 274
Weber, Andrew 107
Weil Brothers 185
Weisell, David D. 371
Wenninghoff, Christian. 221
Ninde, L. M 508
Schust, George A
271
Wheelock, E. G. 341
Niswonger, Henry W 359
Northrop, S. A. 304
Seaton, John ... 345
White, James B. 154
Nusbaum, Peter.
142 | Seavey, Gideon W
162 | Wichman, A. C. F. 124
137
Thompson, Nelson W 73
Thompson, Richard G. 70
Tinkham, John P. 220
Torrence, George K 190
Tower, Alexander M. 112
Trautman. John. 274
Tresselt, Christian 48
Trentman, August C 147
Trentman, Bernard 148
Underhill, Elliot S. 141
Urbine, James 181
Van Buskirk, A. E 353
Vesey, William J .. 504
Veniard, Rev. Felix 431
Moynihan, A. J. 328
Muldoon, John W 242
Munson, Charles A. 399
Murphy, George ... 364
Neireiter, Conrad. 189
Schroeder, Henry
239
Nestel, Daniel.
53
Schultz, Henry ... 243
Schulz, Adolph F. 118
Schulz, William Fred. 185
Schust, G. Adolph 116
Schweir, Henry. 217
Page.
O'Connor, Bernard. 66
Lauer, Gregory .. 240 O'Connor, B. S. 67
O'Rourke, Edward. 489
O'Rourke, W. S. 505
O'Ryan, Patrick 273
Leonard, Nelson
143
Oechtering, Rev. J. H 421
Lepper, Charles O 180
Leykauf, John N 211
Liebman, E. F
233
Liggett Bros .. 291
Lillie, John. 129
Lindlag, Philip J.
142
Pape, Charles ... 123
Pape, William C 126
Pearse, James W
289
Smaltz, John
217
Smead, Frank K 218
Smith, Cornelius S. 343
Smith, F. M 177
Smith, J. L 366
Smith, J. Sion 270
Sommers, H. G. 181
Souder, Daniel W 396
Sosenheimer, C. J. 264
Spereisen, Jacob A. 218
177
Spiegel, Gottfried E. 219
173
Stapleford, L. P.
41
130 Stellhorn, Charles. 172
Stemen, Christian B. 352
Stemen, George B 357
Stephan, William 107
Stier, Jacob J. 97
Storm, J. A. M 177
Strodel, John George 219
Studer, Himerius L. 219
Stultz, Charles E. 362
Sturgis, Charles E 338
Stutz, John A. 361
Suelzer, John . 238
Sullivan, Andrew 220
Summers, James 220
Sweet, Samuel B 68
Sweringen, H. V. 346
Tagtmeyer, David. 137
Tapp, Herman W
236
Taylor, John M.
398
Taylor, Robert S.
488 171
Thieme, Frederick
Thomas, William A 125
Thompson, M. M .. 401
Thompson, Nelson.
Meyers Frederick C. 98 182
Miller, Frederick Moellering, William.
226
Rowe, Nicholas B ..
Ruhl, Wm. DeLa
Rurode, E. C. 158
Ryan. Patrick. 265
Sallot, Victor A .. 102
Sarnighausen, J. D 324
Sauvain, Samuel H. 216
Schaper, Charles H. 238
Scheid, Peter J .. 268
Viberg, George H. 398
Schneider, Matthias 216
Schone, H. H. 184
Schroeder, L. S. C. 280
Newton, Charles H. 71
Niemann, Gottlieb 213
Niezer, John B. 397
Page.
Landenberger, John M 131
Lenz, Frederick. 211
Leonard, Nathan R. 326
Ogden, Robert .. 243
Olds, N. G., & Sons 98
Oids' Wagon Works 114
Orr, John W 164 Sites, E. F 372
Page, William D 325
Perrin, A. C ...
294
Peters' Box Co. 123
Peters, John C
122
Pfeiffer, Henry.
175
Pixley, George W.
153 355
Porter, Miles F.
Powers, Emmet W 290
Quinlan, Rev. W. J
433
McDonald, P. J
Racine, Aime
135 37
Randall, Franklin P.
Ranke, Wm .
Rastetter, Louis
129
Read, H. A.
291
McMahan, Sylvester
Rehling, Ernst
113 52
Remmert, H. J
117
Rhinesmith, John 125
Rich, Sanford. 227
Rippe, Frederick 237
Robertson, R. S. 493
Robinson, H. H. 499
Mentzer, Simeon E 369
Mergentheim, A 168
Messman, Rev. A 423
Rodahaugh, Thomas J 110
Rohan, John H. 119
Meyer, Frank H.
Rose, Charles .. 215
Rose, Henry A. 214
Ross, James P. 215
Monahan, Dennis 171
Reidmiller, John M.
Spice, John ...
Spiegel, Gustave
Sites, Henry C.
Lintz, Anthony. 43
Shordon, Daniel. 183
Wheelock, Kent K. 342
Mowrer, Isaac ..
Nelson, Isaac DeGroff 409
1
INDEX TO VOLUME II.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Wilder, Joseph H.
99
Winch, Calvin J.
133
Woolsey, Hiram B. 103
Wilkens, Jacob V
221
Wise, William.
202
Worden, James L.
465
Wilkinson, Frank.
272
Withers, W. H. 479
Worley, George N
368
Williams, Jesse L.
61
Wolf, Louis .. 158
Yergens, William 130
Wilson, John ..
221 Wood, George W.
322
Zollars, Allen 490
Wilson, Thomas W
506
Woodworth, Alonzo L. 110
Winbaugh, George W.
144
Woodworth, B. S.
340
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Bass, J. H
96
Griebel, A. L.
Old Fort.
Frontispiece.
Benoit, Rev. Julian
424
Hackett, E. A. K.
320
Page, William D.
320
Boseker, Christian.
192
Leonard, N. R .. 320
Sarnighausen, J. D. 320
School for Feeble Minded 224
Brooks, W. A
336
Lowry, Robert 496
Thompson, M. M 400
Carson, W. W
480
Moellering, William
256
Tillo, Charles D 320
Colerick, David H.
448
Monning, Henry
416
White, J. B 160
Edgerton, J. K.
64
Mowrer, Isaac. 468
Zollars, Allen . 464
Ferguson, John
128
Zurbuch, Joseph F. 222
Brackenridge, Joseph. 304
Loag, George W 384
THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE, BY W. P. COOPER.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, BY B. S. WOODWORTH, M. D.
ORGANIZATION.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES, BY REV. JOHN F. LANG.
COURTS OF ALLEN COUNTY, BY JUDGE ALLEN ZOLLARS. 1
THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE.
THE CANAL ERA.
HILE journeying from east to west on the New York, Chicago & St. Louis railway, the traveler experiences in western Ohio an uninteresting ride through heavily-wooded districts until, a half hour after crossing the Indiana line, he comes suddenly to a noble river, along whose precipitous banks he is whirled for several miles. Houses multiply, and are seen to be aligned in streets; the smoke of many factories curls about the train, shutting out the glimpses of stately churches, tall business blocks, tasteful residences and the other abundant evidences of a rich and prosperous city.
The journey is now along an abandoned water way. Suddenly, close to the railroad, but high above it, comes in view a modest little park. On a tall staff floats the American flag and from the well kept enclosure a cannon looks out, as if to keep watch and ward against assailants, who may be expected to swarm up from the valley below. In a moment more the train halts and the passengers for Fort Wayne alight.
The river whose meanderings he has followed is the Maumee; the abandoned water way is what remains of the Wabash & Erie canal; the little park with its flag-staff and cannon mark the site of old Fort Wayne, and the traveler stands upon a bustling depot platform which has taken the place of a part of the canal dock along which the business of the town was for many years transacted.
The stores that line the old dock in solid rank have made a right- about face from the line of the canal and front upon a handsome street, but over what are now the back doors of the oldest of them may yet be seen signs of quaint and indistinct lettering advising the world that West India goods, sugar, rope, provisions, rum, and what not, are to be had within.
Not until the days of railroads did the commerce of Fort Wayne begin to forsake the old waterway, and then the city passed forever from an interesting era that people love to chat about. The event of the day, the day of forty years ago, was the arrival of the gorgeous packet. It was drawn by better-whipped mules than those that tugged at the slower freight boats; and was a craft of larger size and fitted with comfortable accommodations for a passage of many days and nights. A packet's approach to a town was always heralded by a great
II
·
IS
VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE.
blowing of horns from the deck, followed by a prodigious bustling of the tradesmen on the wharf, and the hurrying to the dock of no small portion of the population. The passengers, having debarked, were refreshed at the public houses, made purchases, were questioned about the places they came from, the object of their journeys, and were thoroughly interrogated for the news that mail and telegraph now supply.
Then the horn summoned on board those who were to continue their voyage, the swaggering driver, in slouch hat and top boots, cracked his whip, away trotted the mules toward the next stopping place and the bustle on the wharf was over until the approach of the next packet boat was sounded.
Though the Wabash & Erie canal has long been a thing of the past, it was the most important factor in the development of Indiana and the northwest, and the accomplishment of its construction will always remain a monument to the memory of a few far-sighted and energetic pioneer citizens. It was a most stupendous work of internal improve- ment-the largest continuous line of artificial water communication in the world, and did more to give to Fort Wayne its early impetus than all other agencies combined. All of the more important towns of the northern Indiana counties, through which it passed, have similarly pros- pered, and have grown to be large and wealthy county seats, viz .: Fort Wayne, Huntington, Wabash, Peru, Logansport, Delphi and LaFayette, and by reason of the earlier advantages derived from the canal, have easily outstripped all neighboring places in both population and business. Indeed the first car of progress was not drawn through the Maumee and Wabash valleys by the shrieking locomotive, but by the patient and plodding mule.
The plan for uniting by canal the waters of Lake Erie, with those of the Ohio river is said to have been entertained by Gen. Washington, a practical surveyor, but the glory of the accomplishment of the great undertaking rests principally with Hon. Samuel Hanna and Mr. David Burr of Fort Wayne. It is related that in a familiar conversation had in a summer house, attached to his then residence at the northwest cor- ner of Barr and Berry streets, Judge Hanna first broached the subject to David Burr. The latter was a man of broad character and great ability and much influence. He entered into the spirit of the undertak- ing with great ardor and in frequent meetings the plans were matured which bore such grand fruitage. For some time before this the project of an artificial waterway from the Ohio river to Lake Erie had been agitated in Ohio, and a survey of the Miami canal was made in 1824, under the direction of Micajah T. Williams, an elder brother of Jesse L. Will- iams, who was connected with the party of surveyors. This survey was carried to Defiance, on the Maumee and thence to the lake, forming a southern branch of the great system. The canal was anticipated in the treaty of 1826 with the Miami Indians, in which, where the reservations were mentioned, it was stipulated, that the state of Indiana may lay out
-
19
THE CANAL ERA.
· a canal or road through any of these reservations, and for the use of a. canal, six chains along the same are hereby appropriated.
Messrs. Hanna and Burr supplied themselves with facts touching the length and direction of the proposed canal, and became acquainted with the engineering difficulties in the way of the undertaking, and they began a correspondence with the representatives of Indiana in congress, and so impressed upon their minds the importance and feasibility of the pro- ject that a survey of the canal by a corps of the United States topo- graphical engineers was ordered. As has been previously mentioned, this corps, under Col. James Shriver, worked heroically on the survey from the mouth of the Tippecanoe to the head of the Maumee rapids, though Shriver and Moore, his successor, fell victims to malaria. The survey was completed to the Maumee bay by Col. Howard Stansbury, who was one of the original party. This work was begun at Fort Wayne in May or June, 1826, and completed in 1828.
Then followed an act of congress, approved March 2, 1827, grant- ing to the state of Indiana "every alternate section of land, equal to five miles in width for six miles on both sides of the proposed line and throughout its whole length for the purpose of constructing a canal from the head of navigation on the Wabash at the mouth of the Tippecanoe river to the foot of the Maumee rapids. This munificent grant of land, amounting to 3,200 acres for every one of the 213 miles of the proposed work, was the first of any magnitude made by congress for the promotion of public works, and initiated the policy of land grants afterward so liberally pursued. A subsequent act approved May 24, 1828, provided for a similar grant to Ohio for the southern branch, and also for the cession to Ohio by Indiana of the territory granted to Indi- ana within the Ohio boundary. Commissioners were appointed by each state, W. Tillman on the part of Ohio, and Jeremiah Sullivan on the part of Indiana, who arranged a treaty between the two states, by which Ohio agreed to construct the part of the Wabash & Erie canal in her territory in exchange for the land granted to Indiana between the lake and the Ohio boundary.
The prominence into which Messrs. Hanna and Burr grew as the champions of such an important work appears to have excited a strange and powerful opposition, but Judge Hanna, in a hard-fought contest, was elected to the legislature as the special champion of the canal policy. The grant of land was accepted by the Indiana legislature in the session of IS28, and the sum of $1,000 was appropriated to purchase the nec- essary engineering instruments and make a survey of the summit level. Samuel Hanna, David Burr and Robert John were appointed a board of canal commissioners, and ordered to make the survey mentioned.
Mr. Hanna went to New York, purchased the necessary outfit of instruments and returned by way of Detroit, bringing the instruments from the latter place by horse-back to Fort Wayne. John Smythe, the engineer, accomplished no more, after arriving at Fort Wayne, than to gauge the river and adjust his instruments when he became a victim to
20
VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE.
the diseases of the region, and Judge Hanna and Mr. Burr were com- pelled to take it up, with the aid of a surveyor and finish it without the assistance of the engineer. They provided for the construction of a dam on the St. Joseph river six miles north of the town, from which point a feeder canal led an abundant supply of water to a point a mile west of the town, where the main line was intersected. During the year 1830, the middle or summit division was located and prepared for con- tract by Engineer Joseph Ridgeway. At the legislative session of 1831-2, the canal commissioners were authorized to place the middle division under contract, creating a board of fund commissioners, and authorizing a loan of $200,000 on the credit of the state. At the first meeting of this board at Indianapolis, in the spring of 1832, it was found that the total amount realized from the sale of canal lands was $28,651. During this spring Jesse L. Williams was appointed chief engineer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.