USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 73
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
The Knights of Pythias are represented by Crusade Lodge No. 14; O. B. Lancaster, cap- tain; Roscoe Cullar, record keeper. Uniform Rank K. of P., South Bend Co. No. 12; Cad- mus Crabill, chancellor commander; A. W. Hildebrand, keeper of records and seals. Moon- light Temple. Rathbone Sisters, No. 255; Bes- sie Snoke, most excellent high chief; Louise Davies, most excellent past chief; Lizzie Tag- gart, financial secretary.
The Order of Elks is represented by South Bend Lodge No. 235, B. P. O. E. They have built a fine Elks' Temple on West Colfax avenue, opposite the Commercial-Athletic building. The temple is one of the archi- tectural ornaments of the city. The lodge meets every Monday evening. James B. Me- Cance is exalted ruler; David A. Westburg, secretary; Edward J. Fogarty, treasurer; Edward T. Staley, Edward F. Gaffney and John C. Barrett, trustees.
The Tribe of Ben Hur is represented by South Bend Court No. 41. which meets the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month ; and by Beech Tree Court No. 211, which meets on the evenings of the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The of- ficers of the South Bend Court are Edward E. Carr, chief, and Lillian Stoekwell, scribe; and of Beech Tree Court. Arthur Miller, chief, and Orpha Elliott. scribe.
The Order of Eagles meets every Wednes-
462
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
day evening : Michael F. Calnon, past worthy president; Charles Keller, present worthy president : Charles Miller, worthy viee-presi- dent; Fred H. Lutzen, secretary; J. Lott Losey, worthy treasurer; W. A. Wahl, L. F. Connell, Joseph Horne, trustees; Dr. Charles H. Taylor, aerial physician.
The Catholie Order of Foresters, St. Ed- ward Court No. 1424, meets on the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month. The Rev. John F. De Groote, S. Director: Charles H. Taverneer, D. H. C. R. ; H. M. Fritzen. chief ranger; John J. Gehring, V. C. R .: Amos C. Oberley. recording secretary: Charles A. Schubert, F. S .; Frank J. Zeiger, treasurer : Lonis H. Coquillard, Sr .. conduetor: William Kelly, Jr., conductor; Dr. Daniel W. Me- Namara, medical examiner; Frank Gooley, Peter Scheibelhnt, Jacob A. Fisher, trustees; John C. Buezkowski. inside sentinel: Peter Schuler. outside sentinel.
The Independent Order of Foresters. Court St. Joseph No. 1576. meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. The officers are: Chief ranger, James MeGregor: record- ing secretary, Dr. A. P. F. Gammack : deputy. Sidney Thornton.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 1, of St. Joseph county. founded in January, 1885, meets on the first and third Sunday afternoons of each month. The of- fieers are : John J. Hayes, county president : James Nelson, division president ; James Casey, recording secretary ; Edward Johnson, financial secretary; Dr. Robert F. Lncas, treasurer.
The St. Joseph County Federation of Catholic Societies meets on the last Sunday of each month: John J. Schindler, Misha- waka, president; John C. Hiss. South Bend. secretary.
The Catholic Knights of America are rep- resented by St. Paul's Branch No. 408. C. K. of A., founded in September. 1885, by the Rev. Michael Ph. Fallize, which meets on the first Sunday and the third Friday even- ing of each month ; John C. Hiss, commander;
Kathryn Hiss, recording secretary; Maude Crepeau, financial secretary : Charles Breeh- enser. treasurer. St. Boniface Braneh No. 701, C. K. of A., meets on the third Sunday of each month; Michael Mathis, president ; Jacob Jahn. secretary. St. Mary's Com- mandery, U. R. of C. K. of A., meets on the first Monday of each month : Eugene Hausler, president : Michael Haas, secretary.
The Knights of Columbus. South Bend Council No. 553, meet on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month. The present officers are : Grand Knight, John B. Weber: treasurer, Arthur Wolfe; recording secretary, Robert F. Lncas; finaneial seere- tary, Frank J. Schumacher.
Knights and Ladies of Columbia, supreme officers : Supreme counsellor, Ormond Ken- nedy : supreme seribe, John Roth; supreme cashier, Elmer Crockett : supreme medical di- rector. Cornelius H. Myers; supreme at- torney. Daniel Rieh. Executive board: John Roth, Ormond Kennedy, Elmer Crockett, Cornelius H. Myers. Daniel Rich. Supreme deputies : Anna M. Wright. John D. Roberts. Loval Workers, K. and L. of C., meet on the first and third Mondays of each month; Wil- liam J. Wright. secretary and treasurer. Knights and Ladies of Columbia, Interurban Association, meets onee a month. South Bend Council No. 1. K. and L. of C .. meets second and fourth Wednesdays of each month : Jacob E. Henry, counselor; William B. Wright, seribe. Winona Council No. 39, K. and L. of C., meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month; Stephens Smith, counselor ; William J. Wright, scribe.
The Knights of the Maeeabees is repre- sented by the following societies: Pixley Di- vision No. 2. U. R. K. O. T. M., meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The officers are: Benjamin F. Berger, colonel of the second regiment; Harry F. Mitchell. brigadier general : D. W. Keefer. adjutant : Calvin Black, sergeant major; C. B. Matthews, captain; Edward L. Stickler, first lieutenant : Jesse B. Hawkins, second
463
IIISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
lieutenant : Frank W. Bailey. record keeper: Levi Nave, treasurer.
South Bend Tent No. 1. K. O. T. M., meets on the first and third Monday of each month. The officers are: Levi Nave, commander; Samuel R. Thomas, secretary: Edward L. Strickler, treasurer. South Bend Hive No. 4. L. O. T. M., meets every fourth Friday of each month. The officers are : Anna Secor. lady commander: Alice Mountain, lady record keeper. Schiller Tent No. 20. K. O. T. M., meets every second and fourth Friday of each month. The officers are: Ernest C. Heinrichs, commander : George K. Rohr, record keeper. Schiller Hive No. 84, L. O. T. MI .. meets every first and third Friday of each month. Miss Seifert is the record keeper.
The Knights of the Modern Maccabees are represented by two societies: St. Joe Valley Tent No. 1108, which meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month: F. M. Cald- well, commander: C. S. Handley, record keeper: Daniel Pyle. finance keeper; and St. Joe Valley Hive No. 900. which meets every first and third Tuesday of each month: Lib- bie Bloom, Commander : Lulu Penwell, record keeper: Dora S. Raybuck, finance keeper.
The Order of Owls was recently established at South Bend and is chiefly the work of John W. Talbot. The officers of the Supreme Nest are: John W. Talbot. supreme president ; Burrell Cramer, supreme past president : George D. Beroth. supreme secretary ; J. Lott Losey, supreme treasurer: John J. Johnson, supreme invocator: John D. Burke, supreme warden : Joseph E. Talbot, supreme counsel. The Supreme Trustees are : Dudley M. Shive- ly, South Bend: Frederick Cook, Niles, Mich- igan ; Lemuel Darrow, Laporte, Indiana: T. .J. IIewson. Chicago, Illinois: William Vis- scher, Chicago. Illinois. The Supreme Or- ganizers are Bert Overly and J. M. Culler. The Home Nest meets every Tuesday evening. the officers being: John W. Talbot. president ; George D. Beroth, secretary: J. Lott Losey, treasurer. Ladies' Nest No. 1 meets every Friday evening: the officers are: Carrie F.
Clark, president : Carrie B. Long. secretary ; Sarah Colby, treasurer. This order has dur- ing the short time of its organization experi- eneed a phenomenal growth, having flourish- ing nests from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It evidently supplies a need in fraternal club life.
Among other fraternal orders now flour- ishing in the city are: The Order of Patri- cians; the Protected Home Circle: the Red Men. Leota Couneil No. 44, Degree of Poca- hontas, and Montauk Tribe No. 426; the Roy- al Areanum, South Bend Council No. 347; Sons of Herman; the Turn Verein; the Po- lish Turners; the Sokel Polski, M. R .: Royal Neighbors of America: Modern Woodmen of the World; the Woodmen of the World. Fi- delity Camp No. 28. Linden Camp No. 42. Harmony Camp No. 78: Woodmen Circle, Live Oak Grove No. 1, Olive Grove No. 12. Linden Grove No. 29; and the National Union.
The neighborhood, social. musical and church clubs and soeieties are almost without number. Some of the principal of these are: The Choral Club, and numerous other musi- cal associations, orchestras. bands and drum corps : the Country Club of the St. Joseph Valley : the Coneord Club : the Indiana Club: the La Salle Club : the Per Se Club : the Sun- nyside Golf Club; the Bismarck Club; the Press Club : six Building and Loan Associa- tions; seven Military Organizations, includ- ing Grand Army Posts. Women's Relief Corps, Company F. Sons of Veterans and Spanish War Veterans.
VII. THE PRESS.
The history of our newspapers is coeval with that of South Bend itself. The editors, in the main, have been intelligent and broad minded. and have acted on the assumption that their readers were also people of refine- ment and intelligence. Appeals to passion and prejudice have been the exception. The appeal has rather been to reason, morals,
464
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
patriotism. good citizenship and the general welfare of the community.
It is a compliment to the intellectual and moral character of the first inhabitants of the St. Joseph valley that our first newspaper was not only first in South Bend and St. Joseph county, but first in northern Indiana and in the whole region of the extreme northwest. north of Indianapolis or west of Detroit but that published at South Bend. Even Chicago was without a newspaper. It was here, in St. Joseph county, that the intelligent editor sought out the intelligent reader.
See. 1 .- THE PIONEER .- It was on Wednes- day. November 16. 1831. that John Dougherty Defrees and his brother Joseph H. Defrees published the first number of the Northwest- ern Pioneer and St. Joseph's Intelligeneer. The prospectus of the paper was as follows :
"Prospectus of the North-Western Pioneer ; and St. Joseph's Intelligencer.
"We have commenced the publication of a weekly newspaper, bearing the above title, in the town of South Bend, Ind.
"Among the many causes which have con- tributed to the happiness of the human family, the influence of the press must be acknowl- edged. It is the grand means of disseminat- ing useful information of all kinds. literary, religious, politieal and scientifie. It is the chief engine of knowledge, one of the strong pillars of our liberty, one of the safeguards of the republic. Destroy the Press, and to what are we reduced? Take away its liberty, and you sap the foundation of one of the happiest features of our government. To the influence of the Press, is attributed the prog- ress of the liberal principles. which now pervade all ranks among many nations of Europe. It gave impulse to the glorious achievements of our forefathers, and to the revolution of July. 1830. in France. The 'Spirit of Liberty' is abroad-its banner nas been unfurled, and spread its blessings to the world. Its course may for a time be impeded, it may for a moment be trampled upon by
unhallowed despots: but the command is given, Onward !- and it will, if the source of intelligence is left open. eventually triumph.
"INFORMATION is conveyed through the medium of newspapers, much cheaper than by any other means. This being the case, and recollecting that 'knowledge is power,' we cannot see how any family, where there is In 1831 there was no newspaper published . one that can read, can do without a news- paper.
"The principles which shall govern us in conducting this paper, shall be purely NA- TIONAL. We unfurl the Standard of 'LIBERTY and UNION' - 'INTERNA- TIONAL IMPROVEMENT, and the PRO- TECTION of DOMESTIC INDUSTRY'; and everything having a tendency to infuse a love and adoration for our inestimable federal compact, and the 'American System,' into the minds of the people, shall be published.
"ALL important state papers, and the pro- ceedings of our NATIONAL and State Legisla- tures, during their respective sessions, will be laid, with all possible dispatch, before our readers.
"As a Literary paper, it shall be our aim to combine in its columns 'instruction and amusement.'
"TALES of 'feeling and fancy' shall ocea- sionally find a place in our paper. Nor will the spirit of chastened humor be 'frowned austerely' from our pages.
"POETRY in all its variety-
"INTERESTING Anecodotes, Scraps, Extracts, d.c., d.c., &c.
"The people who have emigrated to the St. Joseph country, are enterprising and intelli- gent : and we confidently look to them for a liberal patronage.
"CONDITIONS: The PIONEER' i printed on a large super-royal sheet, with entire new materials. and contains as much (if not more) matter as any paper in the state. at $2, paid within three months after receiving the first number, $2.50 within the year, or $3.00 at the expiration.
"J. D. & J. H. DEFREES.
465
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
"AGENTS FOR THE PIONEER. The following gentlemen are requested to act as agents for us, in procuring subscribers, &c .: E. PEN- WELL, EsQ., Pleasant Plain; MR. BRISEL, Goshen; CHARLES EGBERT, Terre Coupee; AARON STAUNTON, Door Prairie; M. C. WHIT- MAN, La Grange ; MR. STILSON, Niles ; ROBERT CLARK, EsQ., White Pigeon; MAJOR EDWARDS, Beardsley's Prairie; SAMUEL HANNA, ESQ., Fort Wayne; T. J. LARSH, EsQ., Richmond; JAMES DEFREES, Piqua, Ohio : MIR. BRITTAIN, Newberryport,a M. T .; MR. HARRIS, Christiana Mills: GEORGE KESLING, P. M., Lebanon, O .; WILLIAM STEVENS, Eaton, Ohio."
Not considering its politics, which were Whig, it is doubtful whether any newspaper starting in a new country today could put out a more comprehensive, manly and patrio- tie prospectus than that issued for the North- western Pioneer by its enterprising editors and publishers.
The Pioneer was at first published "on Water street, South Bend. opposite A. Coquil- lard's store :" that is, on the southeast corner or what is now La Salle avenue and Michigan street. This was one of the centers of the original town. Alexis Coquillard's trading post was on the northeast corner of the same streets: while the original ferry and steam- boat landing were at what was then the foot of Water street, where the beautiful concrete bridge now spans the river.
After seven months the place of publication and the name of the paper were both changed. In the issue of May 23, 1832, the change of place was announced as follows: "Removal ! The printing office has been removed to the second story of the house formerly occupied as a tavern by Mr. Lilley, on the corner of St. Joseph and Pearl streets." The locality is now known as the southwest corner of Vistula avenue and St. Joseph street. This was at what might be called the original center of the town, near the site of the first trading post of Alexis Coquillard, and near the point where Lathrop M. Taylor estab-
a. At present St. Joseph, Michigan.
lished his second trading post." The change in the name of the paper is best shown in the new prospectus published also in the issue of May 23, 1832, as follows :
"PROSPECTUS of the St. Joseph Beacon : And Indiana and Michigan Intelligencer.
"SIX MONTHS ago we commenced the publi- cation of a weekly newspaper in the St. Jo- seph country, entitled the 'NORTHI-WESTERN PIONEER.' Various considerations have in- dueed us to change its title to that of the ST. JOSEPH BEACON. One of the principal rea- sons of this change is a wish to associate the name of the country in which the paper is published with its title.
"In establishing a newspaper in so new a country as this, we knew that we had many difficulties to encounter-many deprivations which are not known in the old and densely populated parts of the 'West' with which to contend. One main difficulty when we com- menced, was the want of mails. People were not willing to subscribe without being certain of receiving their papers regularly. This diffi- eulty has been greatly remedied since the first number was issued. There is now a mail twice a week to Ft. Wayne, twice a week to Detroit. via Niles, and once a week to Chicago, besides several others will yet be established ; -thus giving the people throughout the whole St. Joseph country an opportunity of regn- larly receiving the paper. This, then, can be no longer urged against subseribing for so valuable an acquisition to every family as a weekly newspaper. That more valuable and essential information is disseminated through this medium than any other way, cannot be denied. Who that is desirous of acquiring a just knowledge of the times in which he lives-of the prosperity or the adversity of the nation of which he is a member-or is anxious to place within the reach of a rising family the means of rendering them useful and intelligent members of society, would re- fuse to take a newspaper? It has been our
a. See Chap. 4, Subd. 4, Secs. 1 and 2; and see this chapter, Subd. 6, Sec. 14.
30
466
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
aim-and shall continue to be our highest ambition-to render this paper useful and interesting to ALL, of whatsoever political faith they may be :- but never to become a vehicle for retailing the party slang of the day.
"The inhabitants of the St. Joseph country should support a paper somewhere within its limits. The interests of the whole country are so closely connected that it can make no difference whether it is published in Indiana or Michigan."
The sentiments expressed in the prospectus of the Beacon, as also in that of the Pioneer, do credit to the head and heart of the writer, or writers: and the people of the "St. Joseph country" will always have good cause to honor the memory of the editors and publish- ers of their first newspaper.
It is easy to detect in the prospectus of the Beacon a note of disappointment. The coun- try,-even the whole St. Joseph country, in- cluding also all northern Indiana and south- western Michigan,-was evidently not yet ready to support a newspaper of the high standard adopted by the Defrees brothers. Joseph H. Defrees sold his interest to his brother in 1833, and removed to Goshen. In 1834, John D. Defrees removed the paper to White Pigeon, Michigan, where he disposed of it to a Mr. Gilbert. This town was also in the "St. Joseph country," and according to the prospectus of the Beacon it was imma- terial whether the paper was published in the state of Indiana or in Michigan territory, pro- vided only it was published in the St. Joseph country.
It is pleasant to add, that although the Defrees brothers failed in permanently estab- lishing a newspaper in the St. Joseph country, yet each of them attained to success in after life. Joseph H. Defrees, through the kindly help of Col. Lathrop M. Taylor, became a dis- tinguished merchant in Goshen. He also represented his constituency in both branches of the state legislature and in congress. John D. Defrees returned to South Bend, studied
law. obtained a lucrative practice, was elected to the state senate, became editor of the Indi- anapolis Journal and was appointed public printer by president Lincoln.
Sec. 2 .- THE REGISTER .- South Bend did not remain long without a newspaper. The Free Press was established by William Milli- kan in 1836. The paper was fairly successful for a time; but after nine years was discon- tinued. In September. 1845, the plant and fixtures were purchased by Albert W. West and Schuyler Colfax. On September 12, 1845, the first copy of the St. Joseph Valley Register was issued by Albert W. West and Schuyler Colfax as publishers. Schuyler Col- fax was the editor. Thus came into existence the famous Register, for so many years a wel- come visitor to hundreds of families in St. Joseph county. It was at first a weekly, six- column folio. 22×32 in size. In politics, the paper was whig. On the subject of slavery. the editor took "the middle ground between the two dangerous extremes." "We shall be opposed," said he, "both to Calhounism and Birneyism, viewing them as ultra- isms." "To the first we shall be hostile because it holds that outrageous doctrine that slavery is a national blessing." "To the other we shall be opposed because its course. we think, tends to rivet the chains of the slave more firmly, to prevent a calm and argument- ative discussion of the whole question through the south." "Without regard, therefore, to these two extremes, we shall be fixedly op- posed to enlarging the borders of slavery even one inch, either so far as soil or power and weight in the national councils are concerned. and shall hail with happiness the day when the southern states, after calm examination. shall in a constitutional and legal manner adopt a feasible plan of emancipation, either gradual or immediate." Such was the states- manlike position taken by Schuyler Colfax on his first stepping before the footlights on that stage where he was destined to play so impor- tant a part in the history of his country. Well would it have been for that country, north
467
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
and south, if these moderate views of the future vice-president of the United States had been adopted, rather than appeal to the dread- ful arbitrament of war. After seven months, Mr. Colfax became sole proprietor of the Register.
The paper prospered under the business management and editorial supervision of Schuyler Colfax, and with the beginning of the third year it was enlarged to a seven- column folio. Early in the year 1848, as we have seen, the first telegraph line was built from New York to Chicago.ª The enterpris- ing editor of the Register of course made in- stant use of this new means of receiving in- formation from the outside world. The fol- lowing, from the issue of December 27, 1849, while in a half humorous vein, is now of his- torical interest, both as to what had then been done, and, even more, as to what was to be done through the marvelous discoveries of Samuel Finley Breese Morse :
Dispatches appeared in the Register of that date which were sent from New York at four o'clock in the afternoon, and, by reason of the difference in local time between New York and South Bend, were received at South Bend at three o'clock and thirty-five minutes,- apparently twenty-five minutes before they were sent. The editor had this to say of the strange feat: "If Morse ever gets a line across the ocean, by way of Iceland, we shall expect him to furnish European news up to Thursday night every week for our Thursday morning's paper." Morse did not get a line across the ocean ; but Cyrus West Field did, -to Ireland, however, and not by way of Ice- 'land. Mr. Colfax's humorous prediction, like that of Puek, that he would "put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes," has been more than fulfilled, and Thursday even- ing's European news is now published every Thursday morning; and this Mr. Colfax and the Register both lived to see.
Another historical telegraphic item ap- peared in the same issue of the Register. a. See Chap. 7, Subd. 5, Sec. 1.
"Last Saturday," says the editor, "the atmos- phere being dry, cool and pure, and every- thing else propitious, the proper communica- tions were made, and the operator at Buffalo wrote through beautifully to Milwaukee, eight hundred miles, without re-writing at Detroit. We received our report of that afternoon direct from Buffalo. This is the first time that this has been done, and we believe eight hundred miles is as far as writing has ever been sent by any of the operators on any of the lines of the world." It would seem that the world was still dazed with the marvels of the electric telegraph; and yet, like the vivid anticipations of the Queen of Sheba, the half of its glories were not then made known.
In 1851, Mr. Colfax received his first nomi- nation for congress, but was defeated. Dur- ing the campaign James Davis, a talented lawyer and writer of the day, occupied the editorial chair. In July, 1853, a Northrup power press, capable of printing a thousand copies of the paper per hour, was placed in the Register office. This was a great advance. In 1854, Mr. Colfax was again nominated for congress, and was this time elected. Alfred Wheeler then became editor; and in April, 1857, the partnership of Colfax and Wheeler was formed, under which firm the paper was continued until Mr. Wheeler became sole owner. Mr. Hall afterwards became a part- ner of Mr. Wheeler.
In November, 1865, Archibald Beal, who for eight years had been the proprietor of the Mishawaka Enterprise, purchased the Regis- ter, in partnership with C. E. Fuller. Two years afterwards Alfred B. Miller and Elmer Crockett, who had been engaged on the paper, purchased the interest of Mr. Fuller, and the firm became Beal, Miller and Company. In January, 1872, Mr. Beal purchased the inter- ests of Mr. Miller and Mr. Crockett; and 1873 Daniel S. Marsh became associate editor. In February, 1874, D. J. Benner purchased a half interest in the Register, and became one of the editors, Mr. Marsh remaining but a short time longer in that capacity. In
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.