USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > A standard history of Kosciusko County, Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development. A chronicle of the people with family lineage and memoirs, Volume I > Part 26
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was then formed with the idea of providing a hall of some per- manence. The Empire Block, corner of Market and Buffalo, was completed about 1859 and for a dozen years served admirably for the conduct of lodge work and all executive and administrative affairs. The building was burned to the ground on January 31, 1871, and unfortunately the company in which it was insured failed within a week after the fire and before the insurance money had been paid. Notwithstanding this loss, which was almost complete, another build- ing fund was raised and a new hall dedicated in October, 1873.
There is probably no secret and benevolent body in Kosciusko County which is the mother of so many lodges therein as Kosciusko Lodge No. 62, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Previous to 1880, it had given birth to eight lodges of that order in the county : Pierce- ton, No. 257; Jubilee, No. 268; Sevastopol, No. 403; Lake City, No. 430; Leesburg, No. 432; Milford, No. 478; Atwood, No. 493, and Clay- pool, No. 515.
Lake City Lodge, No. 430, of Warsaw, was instituted in January, 1874, and its charter members were: H. W. Upson, James H. Carpen- ter, Ancil B. Ball, W. G. Piper, D. R. Pershing, Joseph S. Baker, Charles Wall, Hudson Beck, W. B. Funk, Edward Moon, Samuel Seachrist, Levi Zambrum and E. A. Sheffield. Mr. Upson was the first noble grand and Mr. Baker was first vice grand. For a time the new lodge shared the hall of Kosciusko Lodge, No. 62, but moved into independent quarters in September, 1875.
The Daughters of Rebekah, Salome Lodge, No. 27, organized in Warsaw in the late '70s, Hon. Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, after- ward vice president of the United States, being the founder of the women's auxiliary of the order.
Lake City Lodge, No. 442, and Hackelman Encampment, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, were organized at a still later date.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS AND PYTHIAN SISTERS
On the 18th of January, 1874, H. C. Milice and J. Silbers, then the only Knights of Pythias in Warsaw, called a meeting of those who wished to join the order at the Milice Art Gallery. P. L. Run- yan, Jr., J. W. Curtis, H. D. Hetfield, C. W. Graves and Colonel Wiltsheir, met the gentlemen named, and together they signed a petition for membership in the proposed lodge. Finally, in May, 1874, a society was instituted, and on May 22d of that month Forest Lodge, No. 4, Knights of Pythias, was chartered, with thirty-six mem- bers and the following officers: H. C. Milice, past chancellor ; Ren-
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ben Williams, chancellor commander ; W. D. Frazer, vice chancellor ; P. L. Runyan, prelate ; M. W. Mumaw, keeper of records and seals.
But two of the charter members are living-John Peterson and Charles L. Bartol, the latter having served as keeper of the records and seals for nearly forty years.
The lodge occupied rooms in Moon Block for many years, but in 1912 purchased the W. H. Gibson home on East Center Street and transformed it into an elegant and convenient Pythian home. The membership of the society is about 200. Its auxiliary, the Pythian Sisters (Temple No. 1), which also occupies the home, is a flourish- ing organization of about 175 members.
RED MEN AND MODERN WOODMEN
One of the oldest and strongest of the orders, the origin of which is of comparatively recent date, is the Improved Order of Red Men, of which the local body is Peashwa Tribe, No. 83. E. W. Baker petitioned for its charter, which was granted September 19, 1889, and organized by seventy pale faces. L. B. Weaver was the first prophet ; E. W. Baker, sachem ; Warren A. Smith, senior sagamore; J. W. Camfield, junior sagamore; Robert W. Nelson, keeper of the records; C. W. Gruesbeck, keeper of wampum.
The organization was in charge of District Deputy William Sears and the work was done by members of Pottawatomie Tribe, No. 16, of Bourbon, the third oldest body of the order in the state. When the late war commenced, Walter Bolinger was prophet of the tribe, and, with other members went into the service, which, before its strength was materially reduced, was more than 280 strong. Per- haps the most prominent of its members is L. B. Weaver, who be- sides serving as the first prophet of the local tribe is past great sachem. Charles L. Bartol has also been one of the great trustees for the past ten years.
The Modern Woodmen of America of Warsaw, Camp No. 3,555, was instituted in 1896 with seventeen charter members-F. E. Bow- ser, Abe Brubaker, C. A. Edwards, A. E. Goshert, S. D. Goshert, J. C. Grandy, C. E. Guild, John G. Graf, B. C. Hubbard, William T. Loehr, Hippolite Netter, A. G. Partridge, T. J. Shackelford, N. A. Stewart, Charles A. Strain, Joseph Neinberg and George B. Williams. The local camp carries the usual insurance feature, as well as some- thing unusual ; it mantains and operates a sanitarium at Woodman, California, for the treatment of tuberculosis among its members.
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THE ELKS, EAGLES AND MOOSE
The local Brotherhood Protective Order of Elks was organized July 31, 1903, as Warsaw Lodge, No. 802. For some time meetings were held in the I. O. R. M. hall, but in 1907 was completed the beau- tiful Elks' Temple on East Center Street. With furnishings, the building was valued at $30,000. At the opening of the World war, the lodge had a membership of 260 on the books, but of that num- ber thirty or forty were in military service, and it was not until the summer of 1918 that it commenced to return to normal strength.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles, Kosciusko Aerie, No. 1,339, was organized in Warsaw on March 8, 1906, and owns its own home on the third floor of the Indiana Loan and Trust Building, South Buf- falo Street. It has a membership of more than 200, and its average per capita holdings, $104, are claimed to be the highest in the world.
The success of the aerie has been greatly due to the energy and generosity of Robert M. Hickman, who on March 12, 1915, secured the only life membership ever issued by the local aerie. He has made provision in his will that the Hickman Building, located immediately west of the Eagles Home, shall become the property of the order at the time of his death. When all the conditions have been com- plied with and the property passes to the aerie, a considerable source of permanent income will be provided.
John A. Moon, who has been secretary of the Warsaw body since it was organized nearly fourteen years ago, is entitled to much credit for its substantial and rapid growth.
But probably Wallace J. Dillingham has attained the widest prominence of any member of the order in Warsaw. He served as state president in 1917, and since then has been junior past state president and special deputy to the grand worthy president. In the latter capacity, Mr. Dillingham is called upon to visit the aeries throughout the United States east of the Mississippi River, and see that the business and conduct of the different organizations in that vast territory are being operated in accord with the laws and pur- poses of the order. In the performance of these duties, he has not only become widely and favorably known as an individual official, but has carried the name of Warsaw far over Eastern United States.
The Loyal Order of Moose is the youngest of the really strong orders, and Lodge No. 1,423 of Warsaw was not instituted until Octo- ber 6, 1913. On opening night 167 members were initiated. Wilbur Lowman was the first man to take the work in Warsaw. In 1915 the lodge bought its present home in the Opera House Block, and soon
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after the close of the late war steps were taken to put it in shape for a modern lodge house. W. B. Yost is past dictator and Thomas J. Nye, dictator. The present membership of the lodge is about 500.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
There are other secret and benevolent organizations of more or less prominence, such as the Tribe of Ben Hur, Royal Neighbors of America, Ladies of the Maccabees of the World and the Daughters of Pocahontas, but those of whom special sketches have been given are noteworthy for their progressive spirit and substantial character. Others might have been noticed, had requests for information met with the desired responses.
CHAPTER XV
LOCAL PRESS, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES
THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS -- THE KOSCIUSKO REPUBLICAN-WARSAW DEMOCRAT AND NORTHERN INDIANIAN-LAKE CITY COMMERCIAL- GENERAL WILLIAMS RESUMES CONTROL-LATER RECORD OF THE NORTHERN INDIANIAN AND TIMES-THE WARSAW UNION-THE LOCAL BANKS-STATE BANK OF WARSAW-LAKE CITY BANK- INDIANA LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY-BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES- THE WARSAW COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Warsaw is one of the most flourishing business, commercial and financial centers of Northern Indiana outside of the great industrial belt bordering on Lake Michigan, from South Bend westward to the territory immediately tributary to Chicago. It has quite a variety of manufactures, although not greatly looming in bulk, and its banks and business houses are in keeping with the thrifty and progressive temperament of its people. The streets of the city, both business and residence, are broad and neat, and altogether creditable, as be- fitting a substantial, progressive community of 5,000 people.
THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
The newspapers of Warsaw, two in number, are well conducted, and, as is usual in small cities which would not support an unlimited number of periodicals, divide the patronage of the two dominant political parties. The elder of the two, the Times, with its weekly edi- tion, the Northern Indianian, is republican, and the Union, which also issues a daily and a weekly, is democratic. Both are evening papers.
THE KOSCIUSKO REPUBLICAN
The newspaper above named was the first to be published in the county. It was originally issued from the village of Monoquet, three miles north of Warsaw, and named after the Indian village in the reservation by that name. At the time the Republican was projected Vel. 1-19 289
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the Harrises were striving with apparent success to make Monoquet a flourishing manufacturing point and the eventual county seat. But "things" did not seem to come the way of either the new village or its projectors, and in the autumn of 1846 the Republican was sold by Charles Murray to Messrs. Bair and Runyan, who moved it to Warsaw.
The paper was continued at the county seat as a stalwart whig organ, but Peter L. Runyan soon retired from his connection with it, and for a number of years thereafter it was owned and conducted by A. J. and H. P. Bair, or the latter alone until his death. It then passed into the hands of Hon. William Williams, the able lawyer and public man, and G. W. Fairbrother. After conducting it for about a year, they passed it over to two other able and popular citizens, John Rogers and young Reuben Williams. The latter was publisher and Mr. Rogers editor. The junior partner did not retire until it became evident that starvation stared both in the face, if both re- mained on the floundering ship, and Mr. Rogers was left to weather the storm alone. The elder man kept the craft afloat for about a year, issuing the paper not according to the weekly calendar, but the con- dition of the office finances. The Odd Fellows constituted the strong- est local lodge at that time, but Rogers did not approve of them and kept at them in the Republican with such vim and persistency that they withdrew their patronage from his paper. This loss of business completely knocked the props from under the enterprise, and the Republican suspended-in fact, died-permanently.
WARSAW DEMOCRAT AND NORTHERN INDIANIAN
In 1848 T. L. Graves purchased from the Goshen Democrat the Old Sea Serpent press ; so called because every ornament connected with the castings was in the shape of a snake. From that uncanny press was soon issued the Warsaw Democrat, with D. R. Pershing and Dr. A. B. Crihfield as editors.
The Northern Indianian was established cotemporaneous with the birth of the republican party. Reuben Williams was still a young man, but more experienced than when he originally lived in War- saw, and there was a general demand in the community that he be placed behind the organ of the new politics. He was a practical prin- ter, having taken a four years' course in the Republican office when A. J. Bair was conducting it. As has been observed, he had en- joyed ( ?) a short experience as publisher of the Warsaw Demo- crat, and after that, as a journeyman printer had worked in several
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western offices. While thus employed in Iowa, with his horizon broad- ened by study and travel, the republican party was organized, and many of the old-time whigs and new republicans of Warsaw pressed him to return and assume active charge of the contemplated news- paper. This he accordingly did, in company with G. W. Fairbrother, and commenced the publication of the Northern Indianian. Its title gave an indication of the enlarged ambitions of the local publication.
George W. Copeland was political editor of the Northern Indi- anian, and George R. Thralls its local editor ; this division of editorial duties also indicating enterprise and determination to be abreast of the times. But it is said that the original cost of the entire office, including type, presses, a keg of ink, two rolls of paper and other miscellanies, was $428. The record of its first year shows, however, that every issue came out on time; which is unique in the history of newspaper enterprises, either in old or recent times.
At the close of the first volume of the Northern Indianiau, Mr. Fairbrother moved to the West and Mr. Copeland to Goshen. Then Mr. Williams became its proprietor and George R. Thralls, editor. The combination proved a success and the Northern Indianian took its stand as a leader of the state press. In 1859 it was sold to C. G. Mugg.
LAKE CITY COMMERCIAL
In December of that year Reuben Williams started the Lake City Commercial. There was not enough local patronage to sustain two newspapers at that time; moreover, there was decided personal fric- tion between Messrs. Williams and Mugg. The logical result was brought to pass-a bitter professional warfare; but before serious damage to either newspaper had been done, the disputants agreed to compromise by a consolidation of the rival concerns under the super- vision of Mr. Williams.
At the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion, Mr. Williams sev- ered his connection with the Northern Indianian for the more vital affairs of national preservation, and his splendid record of four years as a soldier brought him back to Warsaw and newspaper life as Gen- eral Williams. During that period it had been published by Car- penter and Funk, F. T. Luse, and H. C. Rippey.
GENERAL WILLIAMS RESUMES CONTROL
Early in the year 1866 General Williams resumed his control and editorship of the Northern Indianian, and in 1868 he formed a part-
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nership with Quincey A. Hossler, which continued until 1875. During the latter portion of that period they purchased the Fort Wayne daily and weekly Gazette, which was conducted by the Northern Indianian management until July, 1876.
LATER RECORD OF NORTHERN INDIANIAN AND TIMES
General Williams continued as the dominant force in the conduct of the Northern Indianian until his death, on January 15, 1905.
In September, 1881, was established the daily edition of the North- ern Indianian under the name of the Times. It is published every evening in the week, except Sunday, and strictly speaking, the North- ern Indianian should be called the weekly edition of the Times, in- stead of vice versa.
The firm of Reuben Williams & Sons, by which the papers are still published, was formed in April, 1904. Logan H. Williams, then city editor, was taken into the firm, and at the death of his father, in the following year, assumed the editorial management of both papers.
Mr. Williams started at the printer's trade in 1880, on the North- ern Indianian, founded by his father in 1856, and which was then published by Reub. Williams & Son. Mel. R. Williams was the Son, and junior member of the firm. In April, 1904, the partnership of Reub. Williams & Son was changed to a corporation, under its present style.
THE WARSAW UNION
The Warsaw Experiment lived up to its name, for it only en- dured about a year. C. G. Mugg, former proprietor of the North- ern Indianian, started that publication early in 1859, and Henry C. Rippey, who purchased it in the following year, changed its name to the Warsaw Union. Another year passed, the local democracy were not satisfied with their organ, and E. V. Long, Dr. T. Daven- port and John Foulke took over the establishment both as to its pub- lication and editorship. In May, 1864, while the country was cross- ing the bloody stream of the Civil war, the Union again changed hands, F. J. Zimmerman becoming its proprietor and publisher. E. V. Long remained its political editor. At that time, the office was in the third story of Thrall's brick building on Center Street, and com- prised one Washington hand-press, a small assortment of type and other miscellaneous material, with a total valuation of $650.
Following Mr. Zimmerman, was A. G. Wood, who assumed the
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proprietorship in January, 1866, and in the following year S. S. Baker and M. L. Crawford became the publishers, Mr. Wood being its edi- tor. In April, 1868, F. J. Zimmerman again became sole proprie- tor and editor, thus remaining for many years.
A daily evening edition of the Union (except Sunday) was estab- lished in 1904. E. A. Gast, the present proprietor and editor, suc- ceeded C. W. Smith.
THE LOCAL BANKS
The three banks of Warsaw have for a number of years handled the business, industrial and commercial interests of the city with efficiency and wisdom. While conservative, at the same time they have kept pace with every material development, and looked far enough ahead into the future to be prepared for every emergency. With the progress of the late war, new and untried duties were placed upon them, but they rose fully to every occasion, and the bank offi- cials of Warsaw both as private citizens and as financiers were always in the van of all patriotic movements which called for their services.
STATE BANK OF WARSAW
The above named is the oldest financial institution in the city. It was founded in 1863, as the First National Bank, under the war act of that year. Its articles of association bore date of August 14, 1863, and it commenced business under a certificate of authority issued by the comptroller of the currency on September 22d of that year. The First National Bank of Warsaw, the eighty-eighth of its kind to organize in the United States, threw its doors open to the public in a building on East Market Street, on the 30th of Septem- ber, 1863, and was operating on a capital of $50,000.
Its first directors were Samuel H. Chipman (president), William C. Graves (cashier), Thomas S. Stanfield, Simon Hartman, William G. Chapman, John Makemson, Andrew J. Stephenson, Silas W. Chip- man and Stedman A. Chaplin. Charles W. Graves was assistant cashier, and A. O. Catlin, teller.
In 1881 the First National Bank was chartered as a state insti- tution under the name of the State Bank of Warsaw, and its capital stock increased from $50,000 to $100,000. At the same time, the location was moved to the present site, at the corner of Buffalo and Market streets.
Since the original organization as a national institution, the bank
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has had but four presidents-S. H. Chipman, W. C. Graves, S. W. Chipman, who served for thirty-one consecutive years; and A. O. Catlin, the teller of the First National, cashier (under state control) in 1881-86 and 1902-16, and president since the latter year. Nor- man E. Haymond was also elected cashier in 1916, and L. W. Royse, vice president.
Mr. Haymond's father, the late Judge Edgar Haymond, was a director of the institution from the time of its organization as a state bank until his death, and was vice president for twenty years.
The condition of the State Bank of Warsaw is well illustrated by its statement of November 1, 1918, issued shortly before the close of the war. Its total resources amounted to $1,120,568, of which more than $708,000 consisted of loans and discounts, and $196,000 United States bonds. Under the head of liabilities were its paid-in capital stock of $100,000; surplus, $22,500, and deposits nearly $928,000.
LAKE CITY BANK
The Lake City Bank commenced business May 14, 1872, as a pri- vate institution, of which the proprietors were James McMurray, J. B. McMurray and John H. Lewis. The McMurrays were respec- tively president and cashier.
In November, 1875, the Lake City Bank was reorganized and incorporated as a state institution. There were twenty-six charter stockholders, who selected from them the following board of direc- tors: Hudson Beck (president), John H. Lewis (cashier), Moses Wallace, H. B. Stanley, John Grabner, Metcalfe Beck, Christian Sar- ber, J. B. Lichtenwalter, Hiram Hall and Albert Tucker.
The Lake City has remained a state institution since its incor- poration as such in 1875. Hudson Beck continued as its president until 1885, when he was succeeded by W. B. Funk. Mr. Funk was at the head of its affairs from that year until 1899. He was followed by D. H. Lessig, who remained in that capacity until 1912, at which time the late John Grabner was made president. Mr. Grabner was succeeded by J. W. Coleman in 1915 and he still holds the presidency, with E. B. Funk as cashier. The latter is a son of W. B. Funk, for- mer president, and some member of that family has been identified with the Lake City Bank since its origin. W. H. Kingerly is vice president.
The bank was reorganized in 1895 and again in October, 1915, as the state charters expire every twenty years. It is now capitalized at $50,000, and has deposits of about $378,000. According to its state-
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ment of November, 1918, its total resources then amounted to nearly $440,000.
INDIANA LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY
The institution named transacts not only a general banking busi- ness, but loans money on farm and city real estate, as well as on col- lateral security ; makes investments for its customers; writes fire in- surance; furnishes bonds for administrators, guardians, trustees, etc. ; manages estates and other interests and has a safety deposit depart- ment, so that in some respects it assumes activities not usually included in the scope of a regular banking institution. It was, in fact, the first trust company to commence business in Kosciusko County, which was as late as 1900.
At that time, its predecessor, the Warsaw Building Loan Asso- ciation occupied a small room south of the present location of the Indiana Loan and Trust Company on South Buffalo Street. In May, 1911, the Warsaw Improvement Company was incorporated by John D. Widaman, William D. Frazer, Jerome H. Lones and George W. Bennett. Two days later it leased a portion of the lot on the south- west corner of Buffalo and Center streets and plans were at once made for the erection of a fireproof building suitable to the pur- poses of a banking and a trust concern. The work of wrecking the old building was begun in August, 1911, and the new home of the Indiana Loan and Trust Company was occupied in the following year.
The initial business of the company was capitalized at $25,000, and its total resources in December, 1900, were $28,000; in 1905, they amounted to over $163,000; 1910, $286,000, and in the fall of 1918, $1,059,000. Its capital stock had then increased to $50,000; sur- plus and undivided profits, $27,000, and deposits, $967,000.
During the years since the company's organization, there has been practically no change in the personnel of its management. When founded in 1900, its president was John D. Widaman ; vice president, Jerome H. Lones; secretary and treasurer, George W. Bennett; at- torney, William D. Frazer. In 1912 William S. Rogers was made secretary and treasurer, and since that year William D. Frazer has been chosen vice president and Oliver R. Bodkin, cashier.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES
There are numerous evidences in Warsaw of collected wealth and successful investments of capital. Among the old business houses are the Beyer Brothers, probably the largest shippers of poultry and eggs in the state; the Warsaw Elevator Company, whose ware-
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house was built in 1872, and the Rutter Hardware Company, the business of which was founded by the late Richard S. Rutter in 1874. The Warsaw Grain and Milling Company and the Little Crow Mill- ing Company represent leading local industries, both old and new. The carriage and wagon factory of Harry Oram & Son, opposite the courthouse, have also been in the field since 1880. Even earlier of establishment (by twenty years) were the wagon works of William Conrad, who retired from business in 1909 and whose son, Earl W., has glided into the work of pushing the modern successor of the wagon, His Honor, the automobile.
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