A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 22

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels
Publication date: 1904
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1273

USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana > Part 22

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LaPorte started out on her career as a town with great promise, and she did not disappoint the expectations of those who put confidence in her future. It may be well just here to transcribe a paragraph exactly as it appears in the LaPorte Herald of November 5, 1836, the first paper pub- lished in LaPorte. On page second of that issue a writer speaks as follows :-

"Three years ago it was the travel of a day from the house of a white man to his neighbor ; now our county population rises 10,000. Three years ago the borough of LaPorte could back her pretentions to the name of town with only three log cabins; now 170 buildings give her more valid claim. The whole land which but one year ago was owned by government, now on every hand presents the most thriving farms, etc."

Some of the buildings of those early days still remain, though much changed in appearance. Probably it would surprise us if we could know to just what extent this is true. As an instance, it is said that the house, No. 1202 on Jefferson avenue, now occupied by G. A. Coffin, was built by Dr. Dinwiddie about the year 1837.

In 1838 LaPorte had her daily mails by stage- coach due from the east in the afternoon, and from the west at 6 o'clock a. m. There were mails from Michigan via South Bend, Tuesdays, Thurs- days and Saturdays ; from Plymouth via Tamarac, Fridays ; and from other points on other days. And one is surprised at the large number of un- claimed letters which remained in the postoffice ; it was no uncommon thing for a list of between two and three hundred to be posted. Thomas D. Lemon at that time was postmaster. There was much legal business transacted, there were

formations and dissolutions of copartnerships, there were thefts, warnings against rogues, etc., etc., and in every respect human nature was just about the same as it is now. McCarty and How- ell were doing a large business in a general store, as was likewise J. R. Richards ; though he soon sold out and went west. Amzi Clark was dealing in general merchandise and buying wheat, which was then selling at 871/2 cents in LaPorte. John C. Reid was teaching a private school of high grade. J. M. Wilson had a tannery. James Whittem was notary public and commission agent, doing a large business and advertising for wheat, as were also Sleight and Moore. Among the lawyers were John B. Niles, Myron H. Orton, Hathaway and Chapman, William P. Andrew, Roberts Merryfield and W. C. Hannah. Doc- tors Meeker Rose and J. P. Andrew were among the physicians. As yet there was no bank, save the state bank at Michigan City; but in 1839 a loan company was established, with $200,000 capital. A select academy was opened on Mon- roe street by E. B. Hannigan, there was a lyceum, and there was also a school taught by a Miss Sawin. In short, all the departments of human life which usually go to make a thriving com- munity were well represented.

The buildings were mostly framed ones ; brick had not yet been burned in the county to any great amount. Even as late as 1845 there were only two or three brick buildings. One of them was the court-house, another a schoolhouse. At a very early day there was an effort to keep the town clean, neat and beautiful; the same effort which in general has persisted throughout its existence. Places which could not be drained were filled up, and the marshal was careful to have woodpiles, old barrels, wagons, etc., re- moved.

In the spring of 1848 there were preparations to build many nice dwellings; these were put up during the following summer, a new sawmill of great capacity was built, the question was agi- tated of building a town hall, and articles in the papers spoke of the increasing prosperity of La- Porte.

By act of the general assembly of Indiana, approved January 17, 1849, the boundaries of the corporation of LaPorte were extended very considerably, additional powers were granted to the trustees, and provision was made for the elec-

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tion of a president and marshal by the legal voters. The town authorities under their added powers took means to improve the condition and appear- ance of the streets, alleys and sidewalks, and to cleanse the town of rubbish, etc., old buildings were moved away that others might occupy the ground. frame business houses gave place to brick ones, and cross walks and new sidewalks were built. And yet, strange to say, it was not until May, 1849, that hogs were prevented by ordinance from running in the street.

The California gold fever now broke out and spread to LaPorte. This caused great excite- ment and was a constant subject of discussion. Wagons were continually passing through with those who were going overland to that then far distant country. Some eighty or ninety wagons were detained in one week by the bridge being washed away at Calumet river. LaPorte contrib- uted her quota to the procession. On Monday, March 12, 1849, teams were harnessed, men hur- ried about the streets with equipages suitable to the long overland journey, and a company set forth. Their names are given as Peter Guile, Melzor Buck, Ferdinand Barly, E. Stanton, a Mr. Wilfong, J. Hannum, J. Bartlet, J. Ridgway, William Gilliland, F. C. Pomeroy, George Lee, and D. D. Jones. On Thursday of the same week another LaPorte company took up the line of march for the California gold diggings. This was a stock company organized on principles calculated to secure harmony and promote the best interests of its members. John R. Traver was superintendent, Stephen McDonald secretary- treasurer, B. C. Harris quartermaster, Henry Mil- ler deputy quartermaster, and the additional mem- bers were James E. Degroff, William Everhart, John Hall, Samuel Miller, William Miller, Hor- ace Cram, Charles K. Weed, Anthony Rogers, and John Holland. These were industrious busi- ness men whose characters for morality and in- tegrity stood high among their fellow citizens, neighbors and friends who were sorry to lose them. On Friday of the same week another com- pany left from Stillwell prairie styled the Kings- bury Mutual Association Company, who asso- ciated together merely for the purpose of mutual protection and assistance. This company was composed mostly of young men who seemed capa- ble of surmounting almost any obstacle. The names of this company were F. D. Everts, C. R.

Patterson, G. W. Brandon, M. T. Wickham, S. F. Lane, C. Barney, J. H. Dunham, L. Finley, F. Rose, G. Pratt, and S. Walbridge. In June a letter was received and published from Lemuel Robinson one of the emigrants from this county, dated Grand Island, Platte River, May 29, 1849, which reported that four thousand wagons had passed a given point up to the previous Saturday, that many had become discouraged and turned back, that there were much sickness and many deaths among the emigrants, that his own train had lost two by death, but that the New Durham temperance mess, composed of Crumpacker, Mil- ler. Griffith and himself, were well and in good spirits. There were ministers along who preached on Sundays, held class meetings, etc. Alas, what will men not do for gold! what hardships will they not suffer! and often times how they will rob their characters to increase their possessions ! The "forty-niners" learned by sad experience that the hardest way in all the world to get gold was to dig it.

In the late forties, when the larger centers in this and other counties had become connected with each other by plank roads, a further impetus was given to business. The time had been when the housewives of the settlement would assemble on the shores of the beautiful lakes near by and engage in veritable washing bees at which they were sometimes helped by the men. This made "blue Monday" pass more pleasantly. But as business grew and the population increased and more comforts and even luxuries came in, and civilization became more complicated, the primi- tive and helpful ways were forgotten or assumed another form, and it seemed as though the people of the community acted more on the principle of each one for himself.

Long before the fifties there was much agita- tion on the subject of railroads. With character- istic energy Michigan City was striving hard to become the great railroad center of the county. Her people desired that when the railroads did come they should come there. As wheat was be- ing transported in other places, they estimated that it would cost only about one-third of a cent per bushel more to ship it to Buffalo from Michi- gan City by rail, than it would cost to ship it by water ; a very small item in comparison with the delay and risk of water transportation. But La- Porte took the argument up and contended that if

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a railroad would be such an advantage from Michigan City, it would be a still greater advan- tage from LaPorte, because it was more central and grain could be brought to the county . seat at an expense of from two and a half to three cents less per bushel than it could be taken to Michigan City. The far-seeing men of LaPorte contended that if the produce was brought to this point and shipped away by rail, it could not fail to contribute more to the growth and busi- ness of LaPorte than any other improvement that could be accomplished; because it would make an entire revolution in the commercial busi- ness of the county. The arguments did not seem to consider that railroads would create other shipping places in the county besides the two cen- ters. We see here an instance of the old-time rivalry between the two sister cities, which per- sists and is ever ready to crop to the surface.

LaPorte was incorporated as a city in 1852, with a population of five thousand persons. A city charter was granted, and in August of that year an election was held under the charter, and William J. Walker was chosen first mayor.

Occasionally this locality experiences a very severe winter like the one just passed. The win- ter of 1855-6 was an instance. The weather con- tinued cold and the sleighing lasted until the latter part of March. The ground was covered with a considerable depth of snow. March in its frigid- ity maintained a record along with December, and winter tarried in the lap of spring.

LaPorte has always been a patron of martial music. When the railroad shops were in the city there were more musicians here than there are now, and during much of the time there have been several brass bands belonging to the town, some of them of excellent ability and training. This was especially the case during the Civil War. Even before that the people were willing to do a good thing for their bands. Recently Ferdi- nand Leavitt, grandson of Ferdinand Roberts who died in LaPorte in 1860, has unearthed the following from his grandfather's papers. All the persons were well known citizens and all, are now dead, the last one to pass away being Mr. O. P. Ludlow, who died recently in his eighty-ninth year :-

We, the subscribers, agree to pay the sums set opposite our names for the use and benefit of the LaPorte Fremont band :

LaPorte, Dec. 1, 1856:

Morgan H. Weir $ 5.00

D. G. Rose 10.00

F. Roberts 5.00

James Moore 5.00

. Wm. H. H. Whitehead. 5.00

A. H. Robinson. 5.00

Chas. Fredrickson 5.00

A. Clark 5.00

E. S. Organ 5.00

A. Teegarden

5.00

Henry Lusk 3.00

Abram Hupp 2.00

Dr. Carr 2.00

O. P. Ludlow 5.00

In 1853 a free banking law was passed by the state legislature, and in 1855 a charter was given to the Bank of the State of Indiana. Governor Wright vetoed both of these bills but they were again passed. The movement was a child of iniquity. The Governor fought it bitterly; his opposition resulted in an investigation by a com- mittee who reported that many dishonorable things had been resorted to by speculators who engineered the bill, and they recommended that the charter be revoked. Nothing came of the recommendation. When the stock books were opened a few men subscribed all the stock. But they had a white elephant on their hands. They had neither the experience nor the actual capital to do a successful banking business, and finally they offered to purchase the branches of the old bank. This was consented to provided Hon. Hugh McColloch, president of the branch at Fort Wayne, should be made president of the bank of the State. This was done and the bank entered upon a career of honor. In the latter part of 1856 or first part of 1857 a branch of this bank was founded at LaPorte with D. G. Rose as president, Samuel Burson cashier, and Samuel Organ teller.

The streets around the court-house were not at first called by their present names. Michigan avenue was called East Main street, Indiana ave- nue was called West Main street, what is now Main street was called South Main, and State street was North Main. Thus there were four

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main streets around the court-house square. These names were in use until July 14, 1873, when East and West Main streets were changed respectively to Michigan avenue and Indiana avenue. But it was not until June 25, 1877, that North and South Main were changed respectively to State street and Main street. Regarding the court- house as the center, east of it is East Main, and west of it is West Main. Such were the decrees by ordinances of the city council.

Notwithstanding the stringency of the times, in 1856 and '57 there was an era of building. It has well been said that nature is rhythmical, and everything comes in waves. From time to time a wave of improvement and building has passed over LaPorte. Such was the case at the time mentioned above. Lots were offered in the An- drews additions, and the public square was beau- tified with trees. The old Fountain building on East Main street was sold and removed, and a new brick building erected in its place by H. Zahart. The old building on what was known as the "Stebbins Corner" was removed, two other buildings east of it torn down, and a block of brick buildings three stories high was built in their places. The corner building was erected by Mr. John Bartlett, and the two adjoining by A. J. Westervelt. H. Lusk put up a brick store room of three stories on the south side of South Main street, in which was a public hall.

John P. Teeple purchased the ground east of Millikan's grocery and erected a business house. Mr. Van Nest put up a two-story frame house thirty feet front and one hundred feet deep on South Main street, near the LaPorte Hotel, for his hardware business. Mr. H. Truesdell put up a new store room adjoining his livery stable.

W. J. Irwin put up a fine brick dwelling on the south side of South Main street. Luther Mann put up a fine wooden dwelling on Harrison street. W. C. Nelson put up a good brick dwell- ing on Harrison street, and there were also a num- ber of smaller houses going up. Let it be remem- bered that these were "fine buildings" for those days, and that all this and much more building were going on very nearly at the same time.

At just about this time the state legislature passed an act making changes in the law govern- ing cities. Under the old law the council did not have power to compel the construction of side-

HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY. 1 walks and the planking of alleys and streets at the expense of those whose property would be benefited thereby, unless called to do so by a petition of two-thirds of the property owners along the line of such improvements. In conse- quence of this the streets, alleys and sidewalks of LaPorte in many places were almost impassa- ble and presented to strangers the appearance of a once prosperous town going to decay ; though the liability for accidents was not lessened. Mayor F. McCullom referred to all this in his inaugural on Monday, May 11, 1857, and informed the coun- cil that under the new law they had the power by a two-thirds vote to inaugurate a new state of affairs, and soon much improvement was made.

The two papers of LaPorte at that time were. the Union and the Whig. In the Union of July. 22, 1857, the editor says that on that date he com- pletes the nineteenth volume of the paper, and that during those nineteen years there have been many changes. Then-i. e. in 1838 LaPorte did not contain a thousand inhabitants; there were no railroads, no factories, no mills, no wealth, and. little enterprise. But the town had a good con- stitution and was bound to grow. The produc- iveness of the soil was the main element of strength, water transportation affording low rates was another item. Land that was then worth $1.25 per acre was now worth $50 to $100. City property had advanced in like proportion. Busi- ness lots which were then worth $500, were now worth $10,000 to $12,000. The population ex- ceeded six thousand and there were two railroads, each doing a heavy business.

In 1857 LaPorte acquired a fire department. In April of that year the people were gazing with much pride on their new hook and ladder wagon as it dashed by, and the city was expecting the arrival of a new engine which had been ordered of the manufacturers in Providence, Rhode. Island, at a cost, hose and all, of $2,400, exclusive of freight. On May 16, a meeting of the citi- zens was held at the court-house to take steps to organize an engine and bucket company, and a. hook and ladder company. Committees were chosen to draft constitutions and by-laws. L. D. Webber, L. Crane, and K. Druliner were chosen on behalf of the engine and bucket company ; and W. E. Randall, Richard Holmes, and J. Thomp- son, Jr., on behalf of the hook and ladder com- pany. Meantime, on May 20, the new engine

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arrived. On the 23rd the adjourned fire meeting was held. James A. Bliss was president, and Jacob Wile secretary, of the meeting. An engine and bucket company was organized witn William Scott as foreman, Henry Bottum assistant fore- man, Thomas Amrod engineer, James A. Bliss secretary, L. Crane treasurer, and George Mer- chant steward. Whether the former committee did not serve, or whether the constitution and by- laws which they drafted were not satisfactory, does not appear; but another committee was chosen to draw up a constitution and by-laws, consisting of J. Wile, L. Crane, and G. W. Rich- ards. The last of May the newly organized fire company, under the directions of Mr. Jeffries the manufacturer, tested the engine, which proved to be eminently satisfactory and a thing of beauty. The company and the small boys did not wish for the destruction of property, of course not ; but they did desire to try their engine at a genuine fire.

Meantime those interested in the hook and ladder company were not idle. The first regular meeting of the company was held at the common council room Wednesday evening, May 27, and the following officers were elected : Foreman, J. Thompson, Jr. ; assistant foreman, B. F. Coleman, Jr .; secretary, Simon Wile ; treasurer, J. H. Ham- berger ; steward, A. T. Forbes. The companies were both well organized, and served the city well for many years. Other engine and bucket companies were added from time to time as de- manded, and these companies figured very promi- nently in the history of the city ; both at fires and, in a way, in social life. The city council from time to time passed such ordinances as to the number constituting fire companies, as to fire lim- · its, and as to assistance and conduct at fires, as the needs of the city demanded; and the depart- ment, even in the days of the old tub machines, was efficient and wisely handled.

But the days of the fire engine were over. In 1870 the city took measures to construct water works. The city was bonded, and operations be- gan. The water-works building was erected, mains and pipes were laid, and the present satis- factory Holly system inaugurated, which pumps the water directly into the distributing mains with force enough to carry it to its minutest ramifica- tion and with extra force in case of fire. Accord- ingly, on November 27, 1871, an ordinance was

passed disbanding the fire companies ; thenceforth only the hose companies would be needed, and the people bade a final farewell to the faithful old engines which had served them so long and so well, and to those occasions when, after fighting a fire, they would take a large fire company, num- bering some sixty or seventy men, and generally several such companies, into some hall and feed them with crackers and cheese.

· The Holly system has proved very satisfac- tory, there is sufficient pressure for any fire, and to throw streams of water over the tallest build- ings, with power to spare. The fire department is a voluntary one, and probably is as efficient as a voluntary fire department can well be. There is a system of fire alarm signals, with fire boxes, and whenever a number is rung in, the response is quick, and the hose carriages are at the scene of the fire in short notice, and the service at the fire is well- directed and brave. Already the sub- ject is being agitated of having a paid depart- ment; and if the city continues growing at the present rate, and many more factories locate here, the time will soon come when a paid department will be a necessity.

As early as March, 1857, the subject of light- ing the city with gas was agitated. Gas lighting was not reached for nearly twenty years, and elec- tric lighting for thirty; but on July 8, 1867, an ordinance was passed establishing a system of lighting the city by street lamps supplied with oil, regulation iron lamp posts were erected at a sufficient number of street corners, lamp districts were defined, and the mayor was empowered to employ a suitable person to "light, extinguish and can" the street lamps. This system was in use, and proved as satisfactory as could be ex- pected, until January 26, 1874, when an ordinance was passed providing for the laying of mains and lighting the city by gas. Ten years later, or on April 2, 1884, an ordinance was passed pro- viding for the lighting of the city by electricity, which ordinance was supplemented on April 26, 1897. From all this it will be seen that LaPorte has been well abreast of other cities in adopting up-to-date methods. Her system of sewerage was begun in 1872 ; her telephone system in 1892; she has given much care and attention to her police department and to her streets and walks, and her ordinance books show that she has been as well governed as cities of her size usually are.

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In her relations with the general government LaPorte has been well served. She has an effi- cient postal service, with letter carriers. Her postmasters have been the following: From 1833 to 1835, George Thomas, of whom mention is made elsewhere : from 1835 to 1837, A. W. Har- rison ; from 1837 to 1861, Dr. Thomas W. Lemon, a very long service, by far the longest in the list ; from 1861 to 1865, George B. Roberts, who served until Lincoln's assassination ; in 1865, six months only, Edmund S. Organ; from 1865 to 1869, John Munday, an ex-soldier of the war, and who is now living in Chicago; from 1869 to 1877, Dwight Fraser ; from 1877 to 1881, Charles G. Powell, four years and eight months; from December 19, 1881, to the same date in 1885, Samuel Bagley who is now bookkeeper in Hall and Weaver's bank; from 1885 to 1889, H. E. Wadsworth; from 1889 to 1894, John Shafer; from 1894 to 1898, S. E. Grover; from January 10, 1898, until the present, William A. Banks. These officers have given good satisfaction to the public; they have been gentlemanly and obliging and have had faithful and efficient depu- ties and corps of assistants.

It is pleasant to relate that there have been times when the fraternal feeling between the two sister cities has been very marked. A's an in- stance, in the winter of 1862 scores of ladies and gentlemen would drive to Michigan City from LaPorte, and take possession of the Jewel House. Mr. Williams, the host, would entertain them, about an equal number of Michigan City people would come and keep them company, and a gen- eral good time would be enjoyed until the wee small hours, when the LaPorte visitors with merry bells would drive home over the crisp snow. Not long after, the Michigan City people would re- turn the visit and go to the Teegarden House, where LaPorte citizens would join them, and there would be fiddling and dancing and a pleas- ant time. These visits were pronounced very beneficial. At the present time the different fra- ternal societies of the two cities are visiting each other and witnessing each other's work, which they can conveniently do now that there is an electric line between the two towns. These in- terchanges are very beneficial, they do much to promote a fraternal feeling between the two towns, and to keep down that rivalry which some- times has been carried to an unfortunate extreme.

The sources of data for writing a history of LaPorte are comparatively meagre because so many published and other documents have been destroyed. Many files of newspapers have been committed to the flames, their owners not know- ing that they were more precious than gold. Hence there are gaps of many years each, which can never be filled. Facts, events, names, and characters, interesting and useful for us to know, are lost forever. There are, however, in other publications throughout the state, scattered refer- ences to LaPorte. For instance, in June, 1862, Rev. Elijah Goodwin, editor of the Christian Record, published at Indianapolis, was in LaPorte to attend a meeting of the Christian co-operation ; and after tarrying several days. he published in his paper the following :-

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 22

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1273

Author: Rev. E. D. Daniels
Publication date: 1904
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1273