A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 56

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

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Many are still here to remember the first large dancing party given in this fine establish- ment. Canvas, new and white, was stretched over

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the carpets. This too, was a new feature, at least none of us had ever seen it-the contrast with the red surroundings and the bright open fires was a cheerful sight. Then add to this a room full of bright, happy women and girls, all well and many beautifully and daintily dressed, and you have a picture which those witnessing it, I will venture, have never forgotten; for be it known, many of us had vied with ourselves that no gown should surpass or eclipse our own. The result was consequently most satisfactory to all. The above effort must be made, for this was to be the party of the season, if not of many seasons.

And right here let me state the fact, a better dressed community of people could not be found than existed here in Michigan City even at the early day. People wore the best goods, made in the most approved style, and were altogether up to date in their appearance and manner of living. In many respects the town was primitive, im- provements not keeping pace, perhaps, with other places of its size; but its people were neither primitive nor rural. "The Wabash" element never reached our borders.

The generous hospitality shown to friends and neighbors, and especially to strangers so- journing in our midst, was proverbial. Had any one a guest visiting them, the first thought of some neighbor was to invite them, with several of our home folks, to dinner. This always seemed contagious : for some one else followed by giving a supper, and so the visits went on and on; and if the strangers remained sufficiently long we all became very well acquainted. The visitor al- ways left sounding the praise of Michigan City's generous hospitality as well as the generous en- tertainment. It was the saying, and a truthful one, that there were more good cooks and more perfect housekeepers in those early days in Mich- igan City than in any other place heard from.

Every one who had a garden raised their own strawberries, and such delicious berries as they were! It was during this season that the mam- moth tea parties were at their height; and Oh! the substantial and delicate articles of food that were served with fine berries, can never, I am sure. be forgotten or held in light esteem by those who sat around these tables so spread with good things to eat. while the company was noted for its happy good cheer.

The modern dinners and suppers of to-day boast of more courses, more mysterious dishes which often require the explanation of a caterer to know whether you are eating meat, fish or

fowl. But for wholesome, savory cooking com- mend me to the splendid cooks and housekeepers of Michigan City forty years ago.

For a long time our dancing hall was the din- ing room of the old Lake House, which stood on Franklin street on the corner diagonally across from L. B. Ashton's grocery store. This was a large frame building and was the best hotel in the town for many years. It was kept by Mr. Jewell. Here we held our public and private dances, given in this old dining room. To be sure, there was not too much spring to the floor, but I remember we didn't allow a little thing like that to interfere with our enjoyment. We usually danced until it was time to serve re- freshments, then retired to the parlors upstairs, and the dining room was given up to prepara- tions for supper. After supper was over, if it was not too late and the tables had been cleared away, the dancing was resumed. These parties were thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to with as much anticipated pleasure as was ever the grandest charity ball given at the Auditorium in Chicago. But when Messrs. Ames and Holli- day built Union hall at the corner of Michigan and Franklin streets, the first public hall Michi- gan City ever had, and lately occupied by the Knights of Pythias, we felt truly in the line of progression, as it was a long felt want, a place for lectures, concerts and everything of the kind.

We should like to quote several pages more from Mrs. Willits, about the entertainments given by Mrs. C. E. DeWolfe, Mr. and Mrs. George Ames, the Kreiohs, Ezekiel Folsom and family, Mrs. Bowes, and Miss Sophia Bowes, the Barkers, the Blairs, and many other leading families ; because her descriptions give such a vivid picture of society life in Michigan City in that early time, but there are other things to be noticed. The same kind of enjoyments, though perhaps of a more rural character, were in prog- ress in LaPorte and in other centers, but leav- ing these we just glance at the entertainments which were given not for instruction nor for the purposes of art or music but purely for amusement. And here we have Christmas and New Year's balls and parties given by the Horse Guards and other organizations way back in the fifties and onward. The LaPorte brass band was present, supper was served in the Parker House. On one of these occasions, in 1856, Cap-

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tain Sweet and a part of his company were pres- ent from Chicago. Many were these entertain- ments which were given for the soldiers in the time of the Civil war. Those winters were full of surprise parties in different parts of the coun- ty. Even to mention them would require several ot these columns. Perhaps some will remember the party given by Landlord Axtell at the Tee- garden on New Year's night in 1857. Not only so but there were entertainments in the different halls. Artemus Ward was here and Dollie Dutton; "Gen." Tom Thumb was here and drove throught the streets of LaPorte with his Lilliputian equipage and gave an exhibition in Huntsman's hall. Winchell and other celebrated humorists were here. Indeed, as far back as 1834 Robert S. Morrison, justice of the peace, reported a fine of $10 against a Mr. Bowers, the play actor, on a charge of performing many feats of legerdemain or sleight of hand without a license, on the evening of May 12 of that year. Add to this the clubs and other social organiza- tions, and we see that. the county has not been wanting in social activities. There are many such clubs to-day-whist clubs, social clubs, etc. So numerous are they and at times such has been the rage for clubs and fraternal organizations, that a few years ago the astounding notice ap- peared in one of the LaPorte papers, that a whole · week had passed without a new club of any kind being organized. And in connection with them should be mentioned the beautiful, unique and picturesque Hermitage on the lake shore east of Michigan City.

Society has relation to music. At a political rally in Michigan City on April 14, 1840, a brig called the "Brig Constitution" was hauled through the streets, on which there was a brass band playing Whig tunes in a true Whig spirit. In the summer of 1841 the Washington band used to give band concerts in the court house yard at LaPorte, and on Wednesday evening, Septem- ber 8, 1841, the band gave a public concert in the Presbyterian church in LaPorte, which was highly commended. The musicians were praised greatly for the excellence of their attainment after so short a time of practicing together. A similar concert was given by the Michigan City band at that place in December, 1841. A little later we find the citizens of LaPorte subscrib-

ing liberally to support a band in that city. In 1857 the band consisted of twelve or fourteen instruments. Probably the only players left are Thomas Fargher, now living in Washington, D. C., and his brother William, of LaPorte. The band was led by Joseph Pierson. In an article on "The Plymouth Sax-horn Band," the Hon. Daniel McDonald of that city refers to Mr. Pier- son as follows :-

"'Old Joe Pierson,' as he was familiarly called, who resided some place in LaPorte coun- ty, was employed as teacher and band master. He had but one eye, the other having, in some way, been put out. He came at stated intervals by stage from LaPorte to Plymouth, and gener- ally remained two or three days. He was not a very brilliant or accomplished musician, but as a teacher, as the boys used to put it, 'he was onto his job.' In those days there was no printed band music as now, and the music for the different instruments was all written with a quill pen on blank music paper by 'Old Joe.' He first selected the melody, and then composed the accompani- ments and various parts to fit the several instru- ments. Among the pieces I remember were 'Wood-up Quickstep,' 'Old Dog Tray,' 'Lilly Dale,' 'Old Kentucky Home,' 'Ben Bolt,' 'Old Uncle Ned,' 'Old Folks at Home,' 'Number 14,' and many more that were popular in those days. There was no foolishness about 'Old Joe.' When the time came for practice every member was supposed to be on hand ready to do his part. If he found a member particularly weak he would give him special attention until he was able to master the difficulties."

During the sixties, when the railroad shops were in LaPorte, there were several bands in that city, and society greatly delighted in them. Among them was Frisbee's Silver band, whose instructor afterwards went to Indianapolis and engaged in the profession of music there. Union Mills and other villages have had their bands. The Ames Union Band of Michigan City, and the LaPorte City Band are excellent musical organi- zations, and have had able bandmasters. The open air concerts given by the one at the Michigan City park, and by the other at LaPorte, are at- tended by throngs of people. The same is true of the indoor concerts given by these bands in the winter, and of the orchestral music furnished

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by their different members and by others. Socie- ty would not know what to do without these musical organizations. Not only so, but the sing- ing schools in the country districts, choruses at the centers and villages, and minstrel and other musical troupes furnished the music lovers of society much enjoyment. The Alleghenians and Swiss Bell Ringers, the celebrated. Hutch- inson Family, the Morris Minstrels, the Baker Family, the Old Continentals, and many other musical troupes used to visit both LaPorte and Michigan City. And in this connection it may be of interest to mention that B. J. Aurand, now a councilman from the second ward in LaPorte, and still a good bass singer, was once a member of the Old Continentals and traveled with them for many years. Perhaps some will remember the remarkable contralto voice of Mrs. Matti- son in concert with Franz Staab as pianist in the sixties, the "Operatta of the Forest," with its beautiful scenery under the direction of Mr. W. C. Robins at about the same time, and many other musical entertainments. Besides these there have been the musical organizations, meet- ing statedly to rehearse in the grand old masters, such as the Philharmonic Society, and the Men- delssohn Society, and others.

Last December one of the local papers of La- Porte contained the following: "LaPorte is rapidly becoming known all over the world for the talented men and women she has produced. No other city of her size, not only in Indiana, but in the entire west, can boast of having pro- duced so many who have reached fame in the fields of literature, art, science and music." This is in great measure true. Many from this county have attained to eminence in the musical world. Richard W. Pellow, for many years the organist of the Presbyterian church in LaPorte, and teacher of music in the public schools, now of Marinette, Wisconsin, is a musical genius. Miss Helen Poole, the contralto, now teacher of music in the LaPorte public schools, has traveled and sung widely, and received very favorable notice in Chicago and elsewhere. Miss Anna Claren- don Church, the pianist, who is identified with the celebrated Chicago Madrigal Club, is a favor- ite wherever she goes. Mr. Bertrand Allan Orr, also identified with the Madrigal Club, has

already achieved success, and is still rising in public esteem as a baritone singer. Miss Beulah Miles, of Michigan City, stands high as a violin- ist. Mrs. Janie Stewart Boyesen, whose sad and tragic death at Asheville, North Carolina, a year ago was such a shock to her friends, possessed some rare qualities as a teacher of music, and had done something in the line of musical authorship.

But perhaps the one who has attained to the greatest eminence of all is Miss Hazel Lucile Harrison, the young LaPorte pianist, the pupil of Victor Heinze of Chicago. And by the way Mr. Heinze is himself the son-in-law of Dr. George L. Andrew, formerly of LaPorte, and was the pupil of the world-famous teacher Lesch- etisky. Competent professors of music have said that Mr. Heinze is a born teacher and shows wonderful results. Miss Harrison has appeared several times before cultured Chicago audiences, and has received ovation after ovation. On Tues- day evening, the 15th of last December, she ren- dered Grieg's concerto, in Music Hall, Chicago. It was the first of Victor Heinze's concerts for the season and resulted in many encomiums for the young lady's excellent work from the music critics of Chicago, all of whom were present at the concert. The people were so amazed at Miss Harrison's rendition of the concerto of 87 pages without notes that she was recalled three times, finally responding to the continued ap- plause, which amounted to an ovation. Many of the persons in the audience had copies of the con- certo and followed Miss Harrison as she played, as there was some doubt as to her ability to fault- lessly render the number, but the applause after- ward showed how well she had accomplished the feat. The audience numbered about 1,000 per- sons, the majority of whom had come solely for the purpose of hearing the LaPorte girl.

Regarding Miss Harrison the Chicago Tri- bune says: "Miss Harrison, the young negro girl, again demonstrated that her talents are dis- tinctly and unmistakably beyond the common. When heard last year she convinced that her natural gifts were high, and that her schooling was being along thorough, sane lines. Last Tuesday she showed that individuality is com- mencing to make itself felt in her work. She

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begins to think and interpret for herself, and as such individuality is clearly a normal develop- ment, and is being guided by intelligence and taste, there is in its appearance subject for only satisfaction. She played the Grieg concerto with thoroughly commendable technical accuracy and surety, with no inconsiderable appreciation of tone color and nuance, and with fine rhythmic exactness. Interpretatively her work calls also for sincere commendation. There was under- standing of the poetic content of the work in hand, and unexpected appreciation of the com- position's varied and contrasting moods. It was a performance which contained much of merit, and still more of bright promise."

Miss Harrison's honors do not spoil her. She is always modest, unassuming and unobstrusive. She goes to Berlin, Germany, in September, where, on the 22nd of October, she will play with the Philharmonic Orchestra of that city, and during her stay will probably give a concert in that city herself. On the 23d of May, 1904, she gave a benefit concert in Hall's Opera House, LaPorte, assisted by Mr. Leon Marx, the violin- ist, which was highly commended. The follow- ing will show something of her capabilities and the esteem in which she is held :-

PROGRAM

Bach-Prelude and Fugue

Schuman-Sonata G Minor

a So Rasch wie Moeglich

b Andantino

c Scherzo

d Rondo MISS HAZEL LUCILE HARRISON.

Max Bruch-Schwedische Taenze MR. LEON MARX.

Chopin-a Etude Op. 10 No. 5

b Etude Op. 10 No. 5, arr. by Godowsky

Chopin-c Etude Op. 25 No. 9.

d Etude Op. 25 No. 9, arr. by Godowsky

e Etudes Op. 10 No. 5 and Op. 25 No. 9 combined in one study

MISS HAZEL LUCILE HARRISON.

Tubay-Cardas MR. LEON MARX. Strauss, Schuctt-Geschichten aus dem Wiener Walde Moszkowski-Caprice Espagnol

PATRONESSES

Mrs. J. H. Bradley Mrs. Mary T. Clarke

Mrs. S. Kramer

Mrs. Stephen Hall

Mrs. Samuel Fox Mrs. William C. Smith

Mrs. Meinrad Rumely

Mrs. Ellsworth E. Weir

Mrs. Lemuel Darrow Mrs. Francis H. Morrison Miss Emma Standring Mrs. Mary R. Scott

Mrs. Abraham P. Andrew

Mrs. Charles Bosserman Mrs. William Rumely Mrs. Louis B. Weaver

Mrs. Orrin G. Fox

Mrs. William Fisler

Mrs. Edward E. How

Mrs. Edward F. Michael

Mrs. John Wolf

Miss Fannie Long

Emerson Class

PATRONS

Mr. William Niles

Mr. John A. Wood

Mr. Maurice Fox

Mr. Harry W. Richter

Mr. Joseph Kramer

Mr. Fredrich Meissner

Dr. J. H. William Meyer

Mr. Robert Fox

Mr. Milton H. Low

Mr. Robert Sampson, Jr.

Oberreich & Arnold

The social gatherings in the smaller centers and in the country may not, perhaps, be charac- terized by all the refinement and culture of the society in LaPorte and Michigan City, but for heartiness, sincerity and good cheer they can not be excelled. Even outside the two largest cen- ters there is a large proportion of highly cultured people. Every good thing is liable to abuse, sin is in the abuse but not in the proper use ; and when our children as soon as they are in their teens must be taken by couples in cabs to society

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dances, when the period of boyhood and girlhood is jumped over and we have only children and then a lot of little old men and women, when life is spent in learning how to make and serve the latest salad, and when every week whole after- noons are spent regularly in playing at cards, are not all these things which are good in their proper use carried to an extreme? Can we fancy

Lincoln, Gladstone, or any of the great and good doing so?

"Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime; And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time."

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CHAPTER XXXII.

LIBRARY, LITERARY, AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS.

"Pleasant it was to roam about The lettered world as he had done, And see the lords of song without Their singing robes and garlands on. With Wordsworth paddle Rydal mere, Taste rugged Elliott's home-brewed beer, And with the ears of Rogers, at four-score, Hear Garrick's buskined tread and Walpole's wit once more." WHITTIER.

As early as 1838 there was an organization called the LaPorte Lyceum for the purpose of literary improvement. In the forties great ac- count was made of the Garrick Literary Institute and of the LaPorte Athenaeum. The Belles-Let- tres Club was organized in Michigan City in 1847. It met only once each month, and the chief attention of its members was given to writ- ing. Memorable addresses were delivered to this club, one by Solon Robinson, author of "The Will,"" "The Last of the Buffaloes," and other stories, in which address he paid a high compli- ment to the culture he found among the mem- bers, and told them he had met and consulted with the Indians where they themselves were now living. Later there were the LaPorte Lyceum, the LaPorte Reading and Gymnastic Military Club, the Mendelssohn Literary Associaton, and many others. In September, 1861, the literary students of the different schools were invited to attend a meeting in Allen's block for the purpose of organizing a literary and debating society which resulted in the formation of the Wide Awake Union with C. F. Kimball as president and A. C. Parsons as secretary. The exercises consisted in orations, declamations, debates, music, etc. The society met every Friday even- ing and the people of LaPorte and vicinity were

invited to join. These and many other such asso- ciations, not only in LaPorte but in Michigan City and in other places, furnished a means of social intercourse and exchange of thought and the spending of many delightful hours.

In this connection is is proper to write of the libraries other than those sustained by the cities or the county. These have a literary and educatonal side, but they also have a social side. Not to mention the many private circulating libraries, of which perhaps that of George B. Roberts was one of the largest and best patron- ized, the most important one for LaPorte is that out of which came the present LaPorte city library.

William McClure, one of Robert Owen's co- adjutors in the community at New Harmony, conceived the idea of benefiting laboring men, by which term he meant those who worked with their hands, through the instrumentality of libraries. To this end he made provision in his will so that any club or society of laborers who established in any part of the United States a reading and lecture room with at least one hun- dred volumes, might receive $500 with which to purchase more books. Under this will one hun- dred and forty-four associations received dona- tions, in eighty-nine of the ninety-two counties of

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Indiana. In many, perhaps most, of these cases the associations were hastily formed, a lot of old books were donated by the members and col- lected so as to comply with the conditions, the money was drawn, more books purchased, and after the novelty wore away the associaton lan- guished and died. Very few if any of them are alive at the present time. And yet who will say that Mr. McClure's plan was a failure? From the above figures we see that $72,000 of Mr. McClure's fortune was expended to buy books for the working men of Indiana. Those books had their influence even during the short exist- ence of the associations, and that influence can- not die. And many of those books are in exist -. ence still, having passed into the possession of private individuals or other library associations.

In the summer of 1856 a gentleman whose name is not remembered came to LaPorte to ascertain whether a library had been established there. and if not to endeavor to establish one. After trying and failing to interest the citizens generally, he appealed to the men of the railroad shops, who called a meeting, and a number of them donated books and established the Work- men's Library, and authorized the visitor to draw the money left by Mr. McClure and pur- chase books for the library. Two hundred and seventy-six volumes were bought, costing $511.27, and placed in the library. A copy of that bill of books is still in the possession of Mr. J. Zook, of Elkhart. The railroad company pre- sented the workmen with a bookcase. After two or three years the library was moved to the Allen block and reorganized under the name of the McClure Workingmen's Institute. In a few years the institute lost the support of many of its members and had incurred some debt, and it was deemed best to transfer the property to the LaPorte Library and Natural History Associa- tion. The original of the agreement of transfer is now in the possession of Mr. Jacob Zook, of Elkhart. The names of the McClure association at the time of the transfer are as follows :-

Jacob Zook, William Hill, Gavin Campbell, William Fargher, Antony Zamm, D. J. Wood- ward. Charles Paine, Stebbins Frazier, Norman D. Andrews, John McKinzie, Samuel Wilmot, W. St. A. Clark, Henry Lusk, O. Wilson, Wil- liam Crawford, J. W. Andrews.

According to the historical sketch of Mr. Will- iam Niles, the Rev. George C. Noyes, then pas- tor of the Presbyterian church, was the first mover towards establishing another library in · LaPorte. He circulated a subscription paper and obtained $500. On March 16, 1863, a prelimi- nary meeting of the subscribers was held in the grammar school building on South Main street, of which W. H. H. Whitehead was chairman, and Dr. N. S. Darling secretary. A constitution was adopted and a permanent organization formed. William C. Hannah was elected presi- dent, James Moore vice president, Fred West treasurer, Rev. George C. Noyes corresponding secretary, William Niles recording secretary, and Dr. L. C. Rose, E. Morrison, S. Wile, James Lewis, W. H. H. Whitehead, O. Wilson, and Charles Paine directors. A committee was chosen to confer with the McClure Workingmen's In- stitute, and by May 11, 1863, the two bodies had united, the institute had turned over all its prop- erty, including about seven hundred volumes of generally well selected books, and the associa- tion was occupying the rooms in Allens' block previously occupied by the institute. On the same date Judge A. L. Osborne was elected a director in place of James Lewis deceased, and Jacob Zook in place of S. Wile resigned.

The association was now left to run itself. One brief meeting was held on the 26th of the following October, and then little was done for over a year. As in all such cases, the associa- tion languished and in the discouragement which ensued all the officers and directors resigned. This occured on December 6, 1864, when the fol- lowing were elected: L. Crane, president ; C. G. Powell, vice president; William M. Scott, treas- urer ; Rev. J. P. Ash, corresponding secretary ; H. B. Weir, J. M. Hood, J. W. Baker, A. J. Redington, Dr G. M. Dakin, and Rev. J. H. Lee directors. New rooms were secured and the as- sociation took a new lease of life. On April 25. 1865, an amended constitution was adopted, and the association became a member of the Western Literary Association. On November 20, 1865, rooms for the association were engaged in the second story of the present postoffice building. May I. 1865, Dr. G. M. Dakin was elected pres- ident of the association, and remained in that office continually during the existence of the as-

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 56

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