USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A standard history of Elkhart County, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development, Volume I > Part 27
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SHARITH ISRAEL
The Jewish congregation of Sharith Israel was organized Sep- tember 3, 1878, at a meeting held at the residence of Jacob Mich, and N. Caminsky was elected its first president. The old Baptist Church, at the corner of Washington and Sixth streets, was at once purchased and converted into a synagogue, wherein were held the first services of Sharith Israel on the fall festivals of the year 1878 (5,638). Rev. J. H. Cohns officiated. Soon afterward the building was moved to its present location on South Third Street and im- proved. In 1887 the Sharith Israel Cemetery was opened by the congregation, and in 1899 a new synagogue was completed. It was dedicated on New Year's eve of that year by Rev. B. C. Ehrenreich, assisted by Rev. Harris Weinstein, the rabbi in charge. Mr. Wein- stein has been pastor of the congregation since August, 1881.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The First Christian Church of Goshen was organized March 26, 1886, in the building then known as the Coliseum. The organiza- tion, consisting of twenty-five charter members, was effected after revival meetings held by Rev. Reason Davis. Among those of the original enrolment were Messrs. Solomon Ulery, V. R. Miller, Frank Burns, O. S. Compton, James Alford, Wilson Butts and John N. Perry, and Mesdames C. J. Swart, Frank Miller, Wysong, Minnie and Frank Alford, Etta Perry and Roy Miller. Rev. V. R. Miller was chairman and O. S. Crompton, secretary, at the time of organization. Of the first trustees, Frank Burns and Solomon Ulery still remain active members of the church. The building now
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occupied by the First Christian Church was commenced in the spring of 1886 and completed in the following fall. Serving the church as pastors after Rev. Reason Davis were: Rev. J. J. Copeland, Rev. Peter Winebrenner, Rev. David Hidy, Rev. V. R. Miller, Rev. W. G. Parker, Rev. George E. Hicks, Rev. W. W. Stuart, Rev. G. R. Hammond, Rev. J. A. Wood and Rev. W. P. Minton. Mr. Minton has been in charge since 1910. The church which num- bers nearly 250 is in what is known as the Eel River Christian Conference. A magnificent building is being planned to take the place of the one now in use.
MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH
The Goshen congregation of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ was organized in 1892 by Elder Daniel Brenneman. In 1894 the society purchased the site for a church building on North Ninth Street, where a house of worship was erected under the direction of Elder John Krupp. The local church, which has an active mem- bership of over 100, supports a rescue mission. The pastors of the congregation have been Elders D. Brenneman, John Krupp, H. S. Cressman, D. Brenneman, Jr., H. F. Beck, W. J. Ressler, J. J. Hos- tetler, David Hygerna, W. H. Moore, W. J. Huffman, F. A. Holder- man, Albert Taylor and S. Bartlett.
FIRST BRETHREN CHURCH
The First Brethren Church of Goshen was founded in 1897, and the organization effected under Rev. W. D. Furry and C. D. Yoder. Following Mr. Furry were Rev. J. R. Keller, who served two years ; Rev. G. W. Rench, eleven years; Rev. E. D. Burnworth, one year ; and Rev. J. L. Kimmel, the present incumbent, three years. The church building occupied by the society was completed in 1902 and enlarged and remodeled in 1908. The church has a membership of 500.
OTHER CHURCHES
St. Mark's Methodist Episcopal Church was originally the Fifth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, the last pastor of which was Rev. J. H. Pascall, who is still living in Goshen. The present pastor is Rev. J. Cook Graham.
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Although the Wells Memorial Lutheran Church (with a house of worship, corner of Third and Oak Ridge), is still alive, it does not hold regular meetings and has no settled pastor.
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES OF GOSHEN
Closely identified with the activities of the churches, lodges and clubs of Goshen, as well as with all individuals who desire to alleviate suffering in the most practical and effective ways, is the Associated Charities, an organization of comparatively recent for- mation. It was formed, through a combination of such elements, in January, 1912, with Rev. Father E. L. Roland, of St. James Episcopal Church as president and Mrs. E. E. Mummert, as secre- tary. Since 1913, Dr. C. O. Dobson has served as president of the association and the following as secretaries: Miss Minnie Wilden, Mrs. M. E. Hartzler and Mrs. William Willhide. The primal aims of the Associated Charities are to relieve want and suffering, to put a stop to house-to-house begging, to prevent fraudulent appeals and duplications, and to protect charitably inclined people. The city is divided into seven districts, with a chairman and an assistant chairman for each district, and they, in turn, report to the visiting nurse (now Miss Elizabeth Niswander) and cooperate with her in the work of investigating the worthy poor. Clothing and supplies are distributed from the store-room at the office of the visiting nurse. The Associated Charities cooperates with the trustees and prevents duplications, also temporary help often prevents many from be- coming township charges.
LODGES, SOCIETIES AND CLUBS
As the county seat, without serious danger of dispossession, Goshen has always been a prominent center of social, benevolent and literary activities. There are no cities of her size in Indiana which are, on the whole, more cultured, and whose people are more progressive or practical in such uplifting movements.
Among the secret and benevolent orders, the Masons and the Odd Fellows have been longest in the field, their organizations cover- ing the Biblical span of "good old age," three score years and ten.
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THE MASONIC BODIES
Goshen Lodge No. 12, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted dispensation September 14, 1844; organized September 30, 1844, and its charter granted May 29, 1845. In the following month its first officers were elected, viz .: Ebenezer Brown, W. M .; E. W. H. Ellis, S. W .; A. Skinner, J. W .; James H. Barnes, treasurer ; E. D. Chamberlain, secretary. A second lodge was organized in Goshen as Fravel Lodge No. 306, in 1862, and the two lodges were consoli- dated in 1886. A remarkable circumstance in connection with Lodge No. 12 was the service of E. G. Chamberlain as secretary for fifty- two years, from the date of the charter in 1845 to the time of his death in 1897. The worshipful masters of Goshen Lodge No. 12 have been Azel Skinner, Ebenezer Brown, Erastus W. H. Ellis (1846-59), Elbridge G. Chamberlain ( 1848-58), L. Brooks Parmley, Robert Lowry, Robert D. Jillson, Henry G. Hale, Joseph H. Defrees, John W. Hagans, Edward J. Wood, Albert S. Blake, George W. Gibbon, Milo S. Hascall, Samuel F. Eisenhour, Ruel M. Johnson, John B. Walk (1877-92), Aaron S. Zook (1884-96), Moses M. Bartholomew, Frank D. Finney, William C. Johnson, Lincoln H. Beyerle, Will C. Peters, Edwin H. Dunning, Israel O. Wood, Fer- man B. Leaming, William C. Charnley, Harry V. Brown, Walter C. Ellis, Thomas A. Davis, Harris Weinstein, Dwight H. Hawks, John A. Carmien, Burt Cripe, Earl C. Cissell, Adrian D. Berry, J. Dana Cramer, S. T. Hazen and Arthur E. Dewey. Besides the worshipful master, the chief elective officers of the lodge now serv- ing are as follows: Alpha E. Moseley, S. W .; Wesley Reames, J. W .; David W. Neidig, treasurer ; Harris Weinstein, secretary. The present membership is about 220.
The heads of Fravel Lodge No. 306 were : Moses M. Bartholo- new (1862-66, 1884-86), Henry C. Miltenberger, Henry Warren, William A. Woods, Warren H. Thomas, Joseph A. S. Mitchell, Thomas H. Daily, John A. Carmien, William H. Miller, Wells W. Ward and Henry V. Curtis.
Goshen Chapter No. 45, R. A. M., was chartered May 23, 1860, with E. W. H. Ellis as high priest. He served in that office from 1860 to 1862, in 1865 and 1868, and from 1868 to 1876; John B. Walk in 1880, 1881 and 1886, and from the last named year until 1890, and Edwin H. Dunning in 1895 and 1894, and from the latter year until 1897. In 1863 Doctor Ellis served as grand high priest
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of the state; Colley A. Foster held that office in 1851 and 1852. The following served as high priest of the chapter from one to three years : Robert Lowry, William B. Martin, Melvin B. Hascall, John Ginter, Henry Warren, Charles B. Alderman, James R. Howell, Josiah W. Kronk, Charles B. Harris, Aaron S. Zook, Frank D. Finney, William H. Charnley, Edward Conner, John A. Carmien, Harry V. Brown, Lincoln H. Beyerle, Thomas A. Davis, Dwight H. Hawks, Frank H. Wilcox, George W. Herr and Mark Coggan. The chapter as now organized, has a membership of ninety-five, with the following officers: Mark Coggan, M. E. H. P .; A. S. Zook, E. K .; Fred O. Thiers, E. S .; William H. Charnley, treasurer ; Harris Weinstein, secretary.
Bashor Council No. 15, R. & S. M., received its charter June 19, 1861, and its illustrious masters have been as follows: Colley A. Foster, 1861-63; Erastus W. H. Ellis, 1870-75; Ruel M. Johnson, 1876; Henry Warren, 1877-79; John K. Mulholland, 1880; John B. Walk, 1881 ; Edwin H. Dunning, 1882-90; Frank D. Finney, 1891- 97; Dwight H. Hawks, 1898-1903; William H. Charnley, 1904-06; Harry V. Brown, 1907-09, 1911 ; Thomas A. Davis, 1910; Harry V. Brown, 1912-16. Mr. Dunning served as illustroius grand master of the state in 1892, and Mr. Hawks in 1907. Bashor Council has a membership of about seventy.
Goshen Commandery No. 50, K. T., was granted a dispensation by Charles Goltra, grand commander, May 28, 1904, and chartered May 11, 1905. Its eminent commanders have been Dwight H. Hawks, William H. Charnley, Leon B. Slanghter, Lincoln H. Beyerle, William O. Vallette, Henry V. Brown, Thomas A. Davis and Frank D. Finney. Mr. Davis now holds the most exalted post.
The Order of the Eastern Star is also represented as a Masonic body at Goshen.
I. O. O. F. ORGANIZATIONS
Elkhart County Lodge No. 34 was instituted April 20, 1846, in the jury room of the old court house, its charter members being E. M. Chamberlain, J. H. Barnes, C. S. Cole, Samuel Simonton, Jr., and J. S. Brown. The first officers were : E. M. Chamberlain, N. G .: L. G. Harris, V. G .; Sam Simonton, Jr., secretary ; Charles S. Dole, treasurer. The Odd Fellows' Temple was dedicated June 15, 1870. As now constituted, the lodge has a membership of 210, with the
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following officers: R. E. Elliott, N. G .; W. W. Poyser, V. G .; D. J. Troyer, R. S .; E. E. Shoup, F. S .; George W. Rule, treasurer.
The Odd Fellows have also an encampment (79) organized in August, 1866, and Daughters of Rebekah Lodge (356) instituted in April, 1891. Mrs. W. H. Welker was the first past grand and Mrs. C. M. Douglas the first noble grand. The present member- ship of the Rebekah Lodge is over 220, with Mrs. Adolph Winkle as past grand and Mrs. Frank B. Shoemaker as noble grand.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
The Knights of Pythias are third in age of the local orders, Calanthe Lodge No. 41 having been organized since November 5, 1873, when it was instituted by Grand R. and C. S. Charles P. Carty. The lodge is strong and still growing, and among the chancellors largely responsible for its progress have been R. M. Johnson, W. A. Whippy, W. H. Miller, E. L. Barlow, R. C. Minnich, P. Conrad, M. E. Meader, L. J. Miller, G. W. Rich, J. M. Gowing, G. E. Bowser, R. E. C. Chatten, E. E. Drake, J. A. Beane, H. C. Wilson, G. B. Slate, D. D. F. Fitch, J. A. Arthur, H. N. Wider, L. B. Slaughter, G. W. Ellis, E. J. England, J. V. Morrice, F. B. Leaming, C. G. Sims, M. E. Wilson, H. H. Beers, Arthur Estes, E. A. Dausman, John Snobarger and Joel P. Hawks.
Company No. 11, Uniformed Rank, was organized June 1, 1883, but is now disbanded. Goshen Temple No. 329 Rathbone Sisters, the ladies' auxiliary, was organized in July, 1900.
HOWELL POST NO. 90, G. A. R.
The great patriotic order, which grew out of the Civil war, mustered the Goshen post mentioned on August 16, 1882; named in honor of Charles W. Howell. The charter members of the post were Charles E. Thompson, William R. Ellis, L. S. Haney, C. C. Carmien, M. B. Hascall, Jerome Allen, J. Charles Maywold, Harry M. Dean, E. L. Billings, Orrin Watts, Reuben Lutz, James D. Foster, William Stover, James Hatfield, C. D. Sherwin, George W. Rich, James R. Howell, James M. Barnes, John A. Roach, William H. Newell, Eli Davis, Frank Reith, Samuel Bechtel, Elihu R. Biggs, Josiah W. Kronk, M. L. Addler and William H. Welker. H. M. Dean was the first commander. With the passage of the years and
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decrees of nature the membership of the post has gradually de- creased, but those of the old soldiers who are spared are knit together the closer with the thinning of their ranks. James Garnett is the present post commander.
The Women's Relief Corps (Howell No. 32) was organized in March, 1886.
KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF THE MACCABEES
Maccabeeism is unusually strong in Goshen. The city is the state headquarters, and both the lodges are substantial and growing. Goshen Tent No. 4. Knights of the Maccabees, was insti- tuted in the Grand Army of the Republic Hall on the 11th of March, 1886, with a charter membership of sixteen. Goshen Hive No. 37, Ladies of the Maccabees, was organized by Lady Minnie Morris, June 25, 1895, with a charter membership of fifteen.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
Heatwole Camp No. 4,075 Modern Woodmen of America, was organized at Goshen July 22, 1896, with twenty-two charter mem- bers; it has now more than two hundred. The camp was named in honor of Major J. H. Heatwole, at that time mayor of Goshen and a volunteer officer in the United States army in the Spanish-Ameri- can war. The first officers were as follows: Dr. W. O. Vallette, V. C .; M. J. Rhodes, W. A .; William Burridge, banker; C. H. Cripe, clerk ; Dr. J. H. Heatwole (after whom the camp was named ), physician. The first death in the camp was that of its founder, who died during his service as army surgeon in the war with Spain. Present officers : O. M. Warner, V. C .; Lamar Edsel, W. A .; J. F. Lamb, banker; J. F. Cary, clerk.
OTHER FRATERNITIES
Goshen Council No. 1186, Royal Arcanum, is among the old and substantial bodies of this nature, its organization dating from Sep- tember, 1889. Tonawanda Tribe No. 130, Independent Order of Red Men, was instituted in January, 1892; Woodmen of the World (Victor Camp No. 32), in June, 1893; and at a still later period- Goshen Lodge No. 798, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks;
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Goshen Aerie No. 1526, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Goshen Lodge No. 836, Loyal Order of Moose.
There are a number of well-rounded labor organizations in Goshen. One of the first to be established was the local body (No. 18) of the National Association of Stationary Engineers, which was organized in July, 1892. In January, 1901, a Federated Union (a unit of the American Federation of Labor) was also formed in Goshen.
THE WOMEN'S CLUBS
As Indiana claims to be the American pioneer in the founding of women's clubs, so Goshen was early in the movement, These two points are well evolved in a paper written some years ago by Mrs. E. E. Mummert, ex-president of the Indiana Federation of Clubs, a native and a teacher of Elkhart County, a thoroughly edu- cated and cultured lady, and prominent locally in all the movements which are graced and vivified by her sex. The salient features of her article, as it relates to the points mentioned, are as follows :
"It is generally supposed that the Sorosis of New York was the first woman's club ever organized in this country, but upon careful investigation this honor is now claimed by our own Indiana, and that the first woman's club in the United States was organized by Mrs. Constance FauntLeRoy Runcie in 1859, at New Harmony, Indiana, and known as the Minerva Club, thus antedating the Sor- osis by nine years. Mrs. Runcie is at present a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, and says she also founded her second club at Madison, Indiana, in 1867; thus giving Indiana the distinction of having two women's clubs before the Boston or New York clubs.
"In the inception of the modern woman's club idea, we must not forget the influence of the Chautauqua movement, to which much of our present club work can be traced. As early as 1878 in the city of Goshen, Miss Mabel Hawks, still a resident, began reading the Chautauqua course and continued her reading for two years alone, when two others joined her. From the fall of 1881 to and including 1883, there were five in the circle. They met once and sometimes twice a week to compare notes and ascertain what information was to be found outside the subject matter of their reading. There was no organization ; hence no officers. In the fall of 1884 a large C. L. S. C. (Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Course) was
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organized with Mr. James Mayfield, of Goshen, now deceased, as its first president. With some change in membership the circle con- tinued its work until 1890, some few continuing a year or more afterward. There are nearly a score or more of C. L. S. C. gradu- ates in Goshen, many having completed several courses of study and thereby added one or more seals to their diplomas.
"Following this first club movement, we now have nine regularly organized women's clubs in Goshen, namely: The Philomathean, a direct outgrowth of the Chautauqua, studying literature and art chiefly ; the Bay View Circle, a Chautauqua course, as the name im- plies; Library Club, devoted chiefly to the study of travel and his- tory ; Winona, a Chautauqua circle, and the Chautauqua Club; the History Club, making a specialty of the study of American history ; the Progress Club ; an art class; and the Beacon Lights, students of history and literature, and the most progressive club in the city, as it is the only club affiliated with the State and General Federations; one of whose members is now president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs and another a member of the Educational Com- mittee of the General Federation. Goshen also deserves to be proud of its Woman's Musical Club, with its membership of nearly three hundred."
CHAPTER XIV
ELKHART'S PUBLIC MATTERS
CITY CONTROL OF PUBLIC UTILITIES-THE TOWN CORPORATION- BECOMES A CITY-THE CITY COURT-POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS-PROF. D. W. THOMAS AND THE SCHOOLS- MRS. A. E. BABB-MRS. MARGARET STEVENS-BRICK CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILT-WARD SCHOOLS ERECTED IN 1873-83-HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS-ADDITIONS AND SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS (1886-90)-HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING OF 1893-PROGRESS FROM 1894 TO 1900-GRAND HIGH SCHOOL OF 1912-OTHER SCHOOL HOUSES-SCHOOL STATISTICS-SUPERINTENDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS-GENERAL CITY PROGRESS SINCE 1905- THE NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING-ELKHART-CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY-ELKHART POSTOFFICE-PUBLIC PARKS AND CEME- TERIES-THE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL-ELKHART GAS AND FUEL COMPANY-THE ELKHART WATER COMPANY-THE INDIANA AND MICHIGAN ELECTRIC COMPANY.
The public departments and public utilities connected with either the village or city corporation of Elkhart were of gradual growth. The "bucket brigade," which was organized as a crude protection against fire even before the place became a village in 1858, did not develop into the present paid department until 1894, and the village marshal did not grow into a metropolitan force governed by a board of commissioners until about the same time. Among the utilities of general use not directly controlled by the municipal corporation, but public in all their essentials, gas was first supplied, then water, and lastly, electricity.
CITY CONTROL OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Of course, under the statutes of the state regulating the granting of franchises to private corporations engaged in furnishing public Vol. 1-20
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MUNICIPAL AND SUPERIOR COURT BUILDING, COMPLETED IN 1916
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utilities, the city is empowered to become a stockholder in any con- cern so privileged. Twenty-five years is the maximum term for such franchise. Before a contract can be entered into it must be approved by the Board of Public Works, which, in turn, must present a proper ordinance to the Common Council confirming such contract. Thus the public is protected by both the state and the city.
Although the free schools of the city are usually not classified as public utilities, strictly speaking they lead them all, and the board of education which has direct control of them is more a creature of the state and the county than of the city. Of all the institutions working for the betterment of the community, the public schools were most established as a system, crude though it was, when Elkhart was embodied as a village.
THE TOWN CORPORATION
In 1858 a petition, signed by many of the electors of the place, was presented to the county commissioners, and in response thereto the board ordered an election for voting upon the question of in- corporation. The vote was taken on June 29th and out of 216 ballots a majority of fifty-four was in its favor. Accordingly, the Board of Commissioners declared at their September session that the village be incorporated as the Town of Elkhart. The first trustees chosen were P. Morehouse, Virgil Young and A. P. Simon- ton.
BECOMES A CITY
Elkhart remained in the list of towns for seventeen years. In that period the population, the manufacturing and commercial inter- ests and the territorial area had expanded rapidly, and it was the verdict of the progressives that the old form of government had been outgrown. Therefore, on April 28, 1875, the issue of city or town government was placed before the citizens. Result: For in- corporation, 575; for a continuation of the town system, 561. On May 11, 1875, the following officials of the first municipal govern- ment were elected: Mayor, Henry C. Wright; clerks, Ben Brown and J. D. Wood; treasurer, Henry Bearup; marshal, C. J. Gillette ; assessor, B. O. Manchester ; civil engineer, C. M. Proctor ; chief of fire department, E. A. Campbell; attorney, O. T. Chamberlain.
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Councilmen : first ward, Charles Walley and John Cook; second ward, C. W. Green and S. S. Strong; third ward, D. S. Simonton and William Gravit ; fourth ward, John Salkeld and Frank Jauriett ; fifth ward, Jacob Arisman and J. S. Kinsey; sixth ward, Taylor Arisman and David Kegereis.
THE MAYORS OF ELKHART
The mayors who have served since that time have been: J. R Beardsley, 1876-78; A. M. Tucker, 1878-80; C. G. Conn, 1880-83 ;
OLD CITY HALL
P. J. Parmater, 1883; Norman Beckley, 1884; Dr. S. M. Cummins, 1885; Daniel Weaver, 1886-87; Everett Goldthwait, 1888-89; Stafford Maxon, 1890-1 ; Otis Thompson, 1892-93 ; Henry B. Sykes, 1894-8; Dr. Porter D. Turner, 1898-1902; C. T. Greene, 1902-10; Ellis M. Chester, 1910-13; Frank E. Smith, 1914 -.
THE CITY COURT
Elkhart has had a city court since 1876. It was organized by the first Common Council of Elkhart by M. F. Shuey, of that city, in
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response to a demand by lawyers who protested against the loss of time and inconvenience occasioned by going to Goshen when it was required to conduct litigation arising within the corporate limits of Elkhart which fell under the jurisdiction of justices of the peace. Between 1881 and 1891 the court was of little more consequence than as pertaining to matters usually discharged by notaries public, but its jurisdiction was adjusted and broadened by a legislative amendment engineered by O. Z. Hubbell, in 1891, and under the new municipal code of 1905, by which the term of all city officers was fixed at four years, the duties of the municipal judge were also extended in scope and importance. The city judge has now exclusive jurisdiction over all violations of municipal ordinances, and con- current jurisdiction with the Circuit or Criminal Court, in all cases of petit larceny. If a case is brought before him in which he con- siders that the punishment which he is authorized to assess is not adequate to the crime charged against the defendant, he may hold the prisoner to bail for his appearance before the proper court, or commit him to jail in default of such bail.
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
For some years a marshal was elected by the people to preserve order. Now, under a state law passed in May, 1893, there is an adequate force under the executive direction of a superintendent and under the general superintendence of the Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners, the members of which are appointed by the governor. Daniel Weaver was its first president.
In 1894 the paid Fire Department of Elkhart was organized, with Mac Dotson as chief. The central, or No. I station, is at the old City Hall on Franklin Street, and there are four other houses in different parts of the city for the protection and operation of the steam and chemical engines, hose carts and hook and ladder. For most purposes the pressure in the water mains is sufficient protec- tion against fire, but engine power is always available.
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