A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 62

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

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Gladly would the writer trace out and give a brief account of the several bodies of soldiers, and even of the individuals, who went to the war from LaPorte county, but this would be out of all due proportion to the present work, it would re- quire a volume in itself, and would be the history of LaPorte county in the war, not a history of

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patriotism in LaPorte county. For such an ac- count, as well as for the names of those who en- listed from LaPorte county, he refers the reader to Packard's History, which is a most valuable catalogue and magazine of facts and statistics on this subject. Suffice it here to say that no state did more valiant service in the Civil war than Indiana, and no county in the state was more patriotic and served the nation more faithfully than LaPorte county, for proof of which let this fact alone testify-that over seventy pages of Packard's History are taken up with the mere catalogue of names of those who enlisted from this county.

While the regiments and different bodies of soldiers were drilling and recruiting preparatory to going to the seat of war, there were great pic- nics held at their camps, at which patriotic speeches were made, often by the best speakers in the state. Great were the preparations which were made for such occasions. Meetings were held, generally at the court house, and large and influential committees were appointed to make arrangements. These committees contained the names of the best citizens of the county. And when the appointed day came to visit the boys in their camp, the locality for miles around was a scene of busy life. Crowds attended the dress parades of the regiments, and witnessed their drilling exercises. This was quite the popular thing to do. And that the young reader may have some idea what it means to be a real soldier, even in the preparatory drilling camp, we here give the daily programme which governed the Ninth Regiment in Camp Colfax in August, 1861 :-

CAMP COLFAX, 9th REGIMENT.

Ist Reveille 5 o'clock a. m.

2d Roll call at once after.

3d Squad drill .5:30

4th Signal for breakfast. 5:30

5th Ist Sergeants' call. .7:20

6th Surgeons' call .7:40

7th Guard mounting .8:00

8th Officers' drill .9:00

9th Company drill . 10:00

10th Signal for dinner . 12:00 m

IIth Squad drill .2:00 p. m.

12th Officers' drill .3:30

13th Company drill .4:30

14th Dress parade .5:30

15th Signal for supper. 6:30

16th Retreat Sunset

17th Tattoo .9:00

18th Taps . 10:00

Musical practice 11 a. m. till I p. m.

Orders and passes regulated at head quarters.

R. H. MILROY, Col. Commanding.

M. C. Brown, Acting Adjutant.

Not only so, but there were great excursions of LaPorte county people to the camps in other counties, and great excursions from other coun- ties to LaPorte and Michigan City. Occasionally the commandant at Camp Colfax or Camp Jack- son or Camp Anderson would march his regi- ment through the streets of the town, and then there would be a scene of enthusiasm which can not adequately be described. Bands played, cheers were given, handkerchiefs were waved, and hats went high in air.

But the saddest scenes were when the regi- ments left for the seat of war. After the Ninth Regiment had received orders to leave, the friends of the soldiers came to bid then goodby. In one tent was an old mother heaping prayers and benedictions on the head of a dutiful and courageous son who when his mother ceased talking said, "Mother I shall pray for you and sister." In another tent a mother and sister were sewing buttons tighter upon the shirts and pants of the boy who sat beside them and who was to leave at once for the war. In another tent were sitting a boyish-looking soldier, an elderly lady, and a little boy about ten years of age. The soldier lad was a beardless boy, yet he was going to the war. The lady, who proved to be the mother of the boys, had finished her kind admonitions, when the soldier pulled out his purse and began to count his money which was all in small change. Said he, "I have nine dollars and ten cents. I wish I had just :en dollars." In an instant the little chap thrust his hand into his pocket and said, "Here, Sam, I have two dollars, take enough to make it up." The soldier hesitated but finally, by over-persua- sion, counted out ninety cents. . "Oh, take it all, Sam!" said the boy, "you are going to fight and can't get any more for a long time, and I shall be at home to earn some. I wish I was going with

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you, Sam." Sam finally took all but twenty-five cents, and with tears in their eyes the three sep- arated. Such were the incidents which were transpiring everywhere on the ground. Mothers were taking leave of their sons, sisters of their brothers, wives of their husbands, daughters of their fathers, sweethearts of their betrothed, and hundreds were engaged in writing the last letter to absent ones who could not come to say fare- well.

When the regiment left, in September, '61, they gave three rousing .cheers for the county, three more for the city, both led by Colonel Milroy, and departed in two trains ; one at 12:45, and the other at I P. M. They went east to Toledo where they were fed by the citizens, then to Cleveland, and Pittsburg, then to Wellsville on the Ohio, which they reached at 12 noon on Sunday, and where the boys took a swim, then to Bellaire, where they took the B. and O. to Grafton, West Vir- ginia.

It is difficult to refrain from following them further, and from following other troops in the same manner. Indeed, to handle all the data which at this moment lie spread out in jottings before the writer, would require a large volume.

The war went on; reverses came, then vic- tories, and so one followed the other. Some times the hearts of patriots rejoiced, at other times they were sad. Then Vicksburg came, then Gettysburg, which really broke the back bone of the rebellion, then Grant was placed in command and took the rebellion by the throat and contin- ually tightened his grip until he had strangled the life out of it and peace was declared. Then LaPorte county rejoiced ; but the sky was soon clouded again. Men's faces were pale. They told the news of the assassination of President Lincoln, the best friend the south and the nation ever had. There was a panic over the whole county. People could not rest. They knew not what was coming next. People thronged the streets and waited for news, but there was no hope. The sister cities and towns were draped in black. Solemn memorial meetings were held. The passing of the funeral cortege bearing the remains of Lincoln back to his old home in Springfield, was a triumphal funeral march, a sad ovation. Great preparations were made at

Michigan City to receive the remains. The train had to wait there for some time for the arrival of the committee sent out from Chicago to meet it. The committee stood together forming a com- plete tableau as the generals in charge came for- ward to receive the funeral cortege. The officers in charge-General Hooker and others, were in full dress uniforms; the Chicago delegation was in black, wearing heavy crepe bands and badges of crepe on their arms. Arches had been erected in the streets. A pyramid composed of thirty- six school girls dressed in white, one of whom represented the Goddess of Liberty, sang the national airs. A number of young girls had been selected to lay a cross of flowers on the casket. These girls wore long black skirts and white waists, and with uncovered heads they carried their offering to the funeral car where lay the remains of the martyred president. This cross was composed of trailing arbutus gathered from our native hills. In the funeral car were wonderful offerings of flowers and mementos which had been given all along the way. One was an immense harp which had been given in Cleveland. Guards kept their watch over the mortal remains, who never moved as the throngs of people passed along to drop a tear over the great heart which lay quiet there. Nor were the temporal needs of the people forgotten, for the ladies of Michigan City served a breakfast in the New Albany and Chicago freight depot, many notable housewives devoting their time to its preparation, and using their best linen and silver. Do not such scenes bespeak a patriotism which is both profound and intense?

LaPorte county in the Civil war was one of the most patriotic counties in the nation. This is predicated on the ground that he is the good moral man who has much evil to overcome in himself and who succeeds in overcoming it. LaPorte county had much secession sentiment to overcome and succeeded in overcoming it. Even when the news came that the first gun had been fired at Sumter, amidst the excitement which it caused there were those who expressed sympathy for the rebellion. One was heard to say, "Well, do you think the south will fight? You'll have a good time conquering the south." These ex- pressions were a sample of many. By and by these men waxed bolder. In 1861 there were

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those who had in their possession the rebel flag, and who on occasions did not hesitate to display it. Many exciting incidents might be related in this connection, for names and circumstances are at hand. We had intended to write some of them, withholding names and places. But perhaps even this had better not be done, for it is not the purpose of this history to revive bitter feelings. Time has assuaged the animosities of those years, and this is well. Of course there were those who went much too far in their expressions of south- ern sympathy. And on the other hand drastic measures were adopted to quiet them, and make them show at least outward loyalty. There were about forty cases of men being taken and forced to swear the oath of allegiance, and sustain the government and fly the American flag. It cul- minated in the case of one of the most distin- guished citizens of LaPorte, which created a great furor. Even the Hon. C. W. Cathcart could not stand this. For though he threw him- self heart and soul, with all his force, into the struggle to maintain the Union, and though on one occasion he threatened to shoot when a party of men demanded an American flag which was in his possession, and though attempts were made to burn his home because of his avowed Union sentiments, yet he could not endure to see what he termed a citizen's right of free speech taken from him. There were others who sided with him. On one occasion a great meeting was held at the court house to protest and take meas- ures against the drastic means which had been adopted to quiet those who sympathized with the south. The meeting was attended by some of the best and most loyal Democrats. It was decided to keep a book at the court house in which any loyal citizen might on oath record any case of dis- loyal speaking or acting, with the name of the offender and all the circumstances, that these utterances might be preserved and go down to posterity. But little ever came of it.

On the other hand it was contended by those who used extreme measures that though on gen- eral principles such measures were wrong, yet the need was urgent, the country was "in danger, and at such a time these measures were expedient. Probably both sides can look back upon those days and see many mistakes. The great fact has been settled that this is one country, all are only

too thankful for it, and past animosities should not rankle in the hearts of any. Some of our best fighters in the field and most loyal citizens at home, who did most in every way to sustain the Union, were Democrats, which is a fact to be given due weight. There were troubles, of course ; the draft caused trouble, but it was over- come. Right nobly did Michigan City, even as a municipality aside from individual aid, give of her means to satisfy the demands for men which were made upon her. Right nobly did La Porte and other places, and right nobly did the county in her official capacity do the same thing, as might be shown by extracts which are at hand from official records. Not the least factor in the sum of loyalty was the work of the ladies. The boxes and bales of necessities and delicacies which they sent to the soldiers were simply amaz- ing. Their busy fingers were always at work for their relief societies. The pulpits spoke out, en- tertainments for the benefit of the soldiers were given by the different social, fraternal, literary. military and religious organizations, private in- dividuals gave liberally of their means, and pro- fessional men gave not only their means but their time and efforts, many of them going south to nurse the sick and wounded, and our unenlisted surgeons lent a free hand in army hospitals.

Coming to the Spanish war, the official record of Indiana volunteers in that war shows that Company L, a volunteer company organized at Michigan City, contained seventy-three men who enlisted from LaPorte county. There were five others from the county who enlisted in Company A, which was organized in Starke county. There was one who enlisted in Company D of Wabash county. Many others who enlisted from other counties now reside in LaPorte county. These did good service.

Besides these, there were hundreds of others who wanted very much to go but had no oppor- tunity. In the latter part of May, 1898, after the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Indiana Regi- ment had been mobilized at Camp Mount, Orrin Z. Hubbell, of Elkhart-formerly a representa- tive, afterwards senator, and a leading lawyer, who died in 1902 in California while a senator of that state-and R. B. Oglesbee-formerly a cap- tain in the state militia, then a lawyer at Plymouth, now of LaPorte-met by agreement

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at Indianapolis to discuss the organization of a regiment for service in the Spanish war. Re- ceiving encouragement from Governor Mount, they took up the work. Robert E. Morrison, of LaPorte captain in the state militia, a gradu- ate from the Chester, Pennsylvania, military academy, a thorough military man, known to be exceedingly eager to devote himself to the cause -was conferred with and entered heartily into the project. Others from other cities and towns were then called to a meeting at Elkhart, where it was agreed to organize a regiment. Officers were elected at this meeting as follows: O. Z. Hubbell, colonel; R. E. Morrison, lieutenant col- onel; R. B. Oglesbee, first major; Rev. E. D. Daniels, chaplain; and others. In two weeks, fourteen companies were organized, in a district north of Rochester and west of Goshen. Robert E. Morrison organized a full company at LaPorte. The companies were filled, officers elected, drilling was begun, battalions were formed, and all was inspected by the regimental officers. The regiment was offered to the gov- ernor first by wire, and then Hubbell, Morrison and Oglesbee went to Indianapolis to urge the governor to accept the regiment. Two weeks in June were thus consumed. The regular militia establishment went into the federal service first, and another call was expected. Winfield T. Dur- bin, then paymaster general for Indiana, now governor, organized a regiment in central Indi- ana ; and chiefly for geographical reasons, north- ern Indiana being already more fully represented in the accepted militia, the Durbin regiment was chosen to respond to the call when it came. The Hubbell regiment was kept intact and ready for instant mobilization until all hope of another call was gone. But every man would certainly have gone as planned if the opportunity had been

given. It was not their fault that they did not go. In the latter part of June, Oglesbee was of- fered an appointment in the signal corps, which he accepted, and he reported at Washington bar- racks, Washington, D. C., and was made ad- jutant of that historic post. He was then at- tached to the Twelfth Company of United States Volunteer Signal Corps, an Iowa company ; he was in service at Chickamauga twice, at New- port News, Fortress Monroe, and Lexington, Kentucky, and was then attached to the Four- teenth Company, an Indiana company, on special service on the staff of General Fitzhugh Lee. The company was then sent to Camp Mount, Indianapolis, and mustered out. Oglesbee was on the dock at Newport News with the Twelfth Company under orders to embark for Porto Rico on the ship then ready, when the peace proctocol was signed, and thus failed of the op- portunity for foreign service.

There have been many military organizations in the county, which have had a patriotic influ- ence, but nothing serves to fan the fires of pa- triotism, especially in the public schools, more than the influence of the Grand Army of the Re- public. Its members keep in touch with the schools, and on patriotic occasions are invited into them where their very presence and also their words are an influence for loyalty. It is largely through their influence that a company of high school cadets has been organized at La- Porte. They have rifles and are uniformed, and through the efforts of Professor J. L. Criswell, who is an excellent tactician, they are well drilled and present a fine appearance, and the influence of the organization is very patriotic. The hope of the country is in the young, and if they form and stand by correct principles a glorious future is assured.

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CHAPTER XXXV.

MORALS.

"If we offend the law

The law may punish us, which only strives To take away excess; not the necessity Or use of what's indifferent, and is made Or good or bad by its use."

NABB'S Covent Garden.

The term "morals" is used here in its broad sense, as including all the laws, rules and regu- lations which pertain to the enjoyment of Mine without injury to Thine. Some one has said, "Show me the laws on a people's statute books and how they are administered, and I will tell you their character." The saying is a true one and LaPorte county has no cause to be ashamed of the general history of her jurisprudence.

In the Indiana state constitution of 1816 it was provided that the judiciary power, both as to matters of law and equity, should be vested in the supreme court, in circuit courts, and in such inferior courts as the legislature might from time to time direct and establish. Circuit courts were established, each having a presiding judge who must reside in the circuit, and two asso- ciate judges in each county of the circuit. The presiding judge alone, or he and one of the associate judges in the absence of the other, were competent to hold a court. The two associate judges in the absence of the presiding judge were competent to hold a court, except in capital cases and cases of chancery. This arrangement held until the adoption of the new state constitution in 1852. Up to this time the presiding judges of this circuit were Gustavus A. Everts, Samuel C. Sample, John B. Niles, Ebenezer M. Cham- berlain, of Goshen, and Robert Lowry. The as- sociate judges during the same time were Jacob Miller, 1832 : Judah Leaming, 1833 ; Gustavus A.

Rose, 1836; Clinton Foster, -; C. W. Henry, 1839; Willard A. Place, -; Abner Bailey, 1845; and William Andrew, 1845.

The records of the county commissioner's court at the November term of 1832 show that a session of the LaPorte circuit court was arranged for to be held at the house of Joseph Pagin, where the old brewery afterwards stood, near Clear lake. Pagin was allowed one dollar for getting his house ready, and the jurors who had been empanelled were allowed seventy-five cents each for attending. The reason why the session was not fixed for George Thomas' house was, that the county commissioners were to meet there on the same day. Oral tradition says that the circuit court convened according to programme, and that William Polke, the father of Mrs. John B. Niles, presided as judge ; that there was no busi- ness, and the court adjourned. In harmony with this, Order Book A is entitled, on the inner fly leaf, "Minutes of the LaPorte Circuit Court, commencing at the November Term, 1832." But there are no entries for that term, the court record being absolutely blank except that a place was entitled for it. We leave the reader there- fore to draw his own conclusions. The descen- dants in the family testify to hearing William Polke refer repeatedly to having presided at that term of the court, and going through the form of opening and adjournment. It would seem that if this were so some record would have been

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made of it; but perhaps the clerk, who at that time was George Thomas, neglected to perform his duty.

Order Book A, first page, begins with the minutes of the June term, 1833, "holden at the house of John Redding, in the town of LaPorte," "being a convenient place as near the centre of said county as can be had," Monday, June IO, 1833; present, Hon. Gustavus A. Everts, pre- siding judge of the eighth judicial circuit, and Jacob Miller and Judah Leaming, associate judges, George Thomas, clerk, and Adam C. Polke, sheriff. The said judges and officers presented their commissions and they were re- corded. The grand jury (the second empanelled in the county) was sworn and sent out to delib- erate, in charge of Christopher McClure as bailiff. This jury was composed of the fol- lowing names: Arthur McClure, foreman, John Stanton, Emory A. Brown, Noble McKinster, Garvis Munger, John Carter, Jonathan Sher- wood, Peter White, Josiah Bryant, Martin Baker, Elijah Stanton, Aaron Stanton, William Thomas, William Stanton, and James Higby.

On motion of C. K. Green, a name not found in any other connection, the following attorneys were sworn and admitted to practice: Samuel C. Sample, Martin Ray, Jonathan A. Liston, David H. Colerick, John B. Chapman, Albert S. White, William O. Ross, Hugh McCulloch. These were mostly from South Bend, Logans- port and Fort Wayne, except Ross, who was lo- cated in LaPorte. Of these, Hon. G. A. Everts went to Texas and became one of the supreme judges of that state. Jacob Miller, Esq., re- mained in the county for many years. Judah Leaming, Esq., went to the county of Wapello, Iowa. George Thomas died January 19, 1835, and William Hawkins was appointed by the associate judges to fill the vacancy of clerk caused by his death for the balance of the term, and afterwards, in August, 1838, elected for seven years. A. G. Polke. Esq., the first sheriff, died while on his way to Oregon, in 1847.

The first criminal case was that of the state against Jacob Coleman, indicted for an affray with John Knapp. John B. Chapman was pros- ecutor, the plea was "not guilty," the trial was by jury, the second petit jury impanneled in the county, and the verdict was "not guilty." John

B. Chapman presented his commission as prose- cuting attorney for the eighth district and was sworn. There was a divorce case, the first in the county-Nathan Allen against Sylvina Allen. An order for publication was entered and the divorce was granted at the October term in 1834.

There was also a petition for naturalization- the first in the county. Peter White, an English- man, mentioned in former chapters of this work, was granted citizenship on the evidence of Sam- uel Walker, who said he had known him eighteen years, and James Andrew, who had known him five years ; both spoke highly of his qualifications. He signed the oath by mark and was described as "a man a little rising of five feet, fair complexion, about forty-five years of age, heavy built, and rather fullfaced;" he had lived in Indiana about one year.

Some other business was transacted, includ- ing an order to pay the associate judges $4.00 each per day for the term, and court adjourned.

Christopher McClure, afterwards county commissioner, was bailiff to this grand jury. Two of the attorneys of this court were afterwards honored with seats in the councils of the nation -Hon. A. S. White was elected to the senate, and Hon. S. C. Sample to the house of represen- tatives.

The first judgment rendered was on June 10, 1833, on appeal from a justice's court; it was affirmed, and the amount was $70.44 ; the parties were Jacob Coleman against Hugh McGiven.

At the December term, 1833, begun Decem- ber 16, at the house of William O. Ross, John B. Niles, Thomas D. Baird, John S. Lacy, Will- iam Hawkins and Henry Cooper were sworn as practitioners. Other civil business was trans- acted, including an order to pay William O. Ross five dollars for the use of his house and for build- ing fires for the court during the three days of the term.

The April, 1834, term, was held at the house of Calvin Lilley, who had been fined at the pre- ceding term and who was indicted on several charges at the present term, and was also prose- cuted by the state for failure to pay certain stayed judgments. There were several prosecutions for affrays, selling spirits to Indians, selling without license, and gaming, the latter including some of the leading business and professional men of the

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Laporte County Indiana, Part 62

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