USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 18
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Upon the original plat of the town Horace Root was the first to erect a building, a dwelling, and Samuel P. Beebe put up the second at the northwest corner of Main and Jackson streets. Across the street from the present site of Hotel Bucklen Mr. Beebe erected a store build- ing, and he is accredited with the honor of being the first merchant within the old village limits, although a store had been opened prior to that time on the north side of the St. Joseph by Renssaler Harris. Among the early merchants and business men were Elijah Beardsley, N. F. Broderick, Jolin Davenport. J. S. and A. Defrees. George Craw- ford was in many ways a prominent man ; not only the first postmaster in this vicinity, but also remained in charge of the postoffice after it was moved to the south side of the river, his term of service being from 1829 to 1837.
An early pioneer visiting Elkhart in April, 1838, gives the follow- ing impressions of the village: " The only manufactory was a small flouring mill, with perhaps a sawmill on Christiana creek, near the mouth. The principal citizens were Doctor Beardsley, his nephew. Elijah Beardsley, George Crawford, Samuel P. Beebe, N. F. Broderick. Col. Downing, John Davenport, Hiram Morgan. James Defrees, Dr. P. S. Kenyon, Lorenzo Scoville. Wm. Beaumont, Gen. W. B. Mitchell, Jacob Frush, John Compton, Dr. Wm. R. Ellis and Henry Crampton.
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The only hotel was kept by Col. Downing ( who died that year), on the present site of the Bucklen. He was a good man; but from the hungry look of the eagle on his sign, was dubbed by Judge Beebe as 'Col. Buzzard.' The Judge resided on the corner, northwest from the hotel, a very humble frame dwelling embowered in a shady grove, while a rough pole fence surrounded his lot. Morgan and Defrees kept the red store, and Davenport and Broderick had a store farther south. Elijah Beardsley dispensed justice to the people, as did also our vener- able friend N. F. Broderick. The constables were Hiram Morgan and Joseph Dome. Gen. Mitchell was engaged as chief engineer in the survey of the Northern canal, and completed his labors about that period. George Crawford was serving his county in the State Senate, and was interested in one of the mercantile establishments. Real estate was at a low ebb: lots ranging from $50 to $300.
" The southern and eastern portions of the town were covered with a thrifty forest, worth probably $15 an acre. The town had been christened . Pulaski,' and its postoffice still bore that name. There was no church in the place; but occasional meeting's were held by the Meth- .odists and United Brethren in the schoolhouse. Sabbath school was an unknown institution. There was no regular whiskey shop in the town: but the merchants dispensed the needful by the quart when re- quired for medicinal or other purposes : but drunkenness had no exist- ence in the community. During this year several new families arrived. Among them were the Shuey and Irwin families, Robert Sanford and the McKelveys. Judge Beebe was the character of the place. He had seen this beautiful spot as early as the year 1827 but did not locate here until after the town had been started. He was a man of intelli- gence and at that time had just been elected probate judge by three votes. He was a free thinker in religion and a practical joker."
.At a little log cabin schoolhouse. situated on the banks of the Elkhart river, N. F. Broderick wielded the birch and taught the young Elkhartians the three "R's." He was the first school master in the village. In 1837 the second school building was erected on Second street. The renowned " Tammany Hall " was built in 1836 and here for many years all classes of entertainments were given, from the tem- perance lecture to the amateur theatricals and occasionally some stroll- ing player would excite the wonder of the inhabitants by his perform- ance. This hall stood at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets. Mrs. Beehe opened a Sabbath school at her home and also gave instruction
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in English to the older boys and girls. Between 1837 and 1840 Dr. Beardsley commenced the building of several mills. Hle erected a corn mill and a woolen and oil mill on the banks of the Elkhart. \ little later when boats commenced to ascend the St. Joseph, warehouses were built along the Elkhart and there trading in farm produce and merchandise was conducted. Fifty-six dwellings constituted the total in the village in 1844. At that time there were sixty-seven voters.
As has been referred to often in these pages. Elkhart's command- ing position in the industrial world has been due in large degree to its situation on the banks of two large streams and the possibilities of immense water-power development consequent thereto. Nine of the progressive business men of Elkhart were responsible for the proper development of the immense water power of the St. Joseph river that for years had lain dormant. It was this movement that proved a strong foundation for the upbuilding of the city and added materially to its present greatness. After the hydraulics were constructed a demand was at once created for the cheap water power and factories began to seek Elkhart. Two years were required in the construction of the dam and the various races. The building was done during the years 1867 and 1868 and was under the direct supervision of Silas DeCamp. Nearly $100,000 was expended by the company in the harnessing of this great water power. The men who comprised the company were : John Davenport. president : John McNaughton, vice president and treasurer: Samuel Iloke, secretary: J. R. Beardsley. B. L. Davenport. William Proctor, Dr. A. S. Davenport, A. P. Simonton, S. S. Strong.
As early as 1832 a dam was constructed across the Elkhart river. Abner Simonton, a brother of D. S. Simonton, was the builder of this first dam. A lock was also built at one side for the accommoda- tion of the boats that then went up as far as Goshen. Several times within the succeeding years various dams were washed away by the spring floods and it was not until 1875 that a permanent dam was con- structed. Mr. Clark Lane had lived near water powers all of his life and when he gazed upon the Elkhart winding around the bottoms to the south of Jackson street, he knew that a large tract of land could be reclaimed and at the same time the water power strengthened. \c- cordingly he purchased the land and cut off 1,800 feet of winding river by a channel only 180 feet in length. A dam of stone and cement was then constructed near the site of the Indiana Buggy Co.'s plant and all of the bottom land reclaimed by the building of dykes.
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The first white child born in the original village of Elkhart is said to be John H. Broderick, who came into the world in October. 1835. The old Beardsley flouring mill, one of the most interesting landmarks of pioneer days, was built by R. D. Braden, the first millwright in the town. Dr. Beardsley erected the first brick residence in 1848. on the site of the present Beardsley home. The Morehouse block, on Main street, was the first brick business block. The business district grew rapidly during these years, and at the same time social institutions. schools, churches and other factors of civilization kept pace with the other phases of the city's development.
Shortly after the incorporation of Elkhart as a village the Elk- hart Weekly Review was established, and in the first number of that well known journal, issued February 5. 1859. with J. S. Weller as pub- lisher, there appears a " business directory " which is very interesting and instructive in the light it throws on the business personnel of that day. This list, which is not supposed to be inclusive, comprises the following: Clifton House. Newcomb & Pierce; Elk House, C. Van- derhoot : Bank of Elkhart, P. Moorehouse, president: B. D. & G. Sher- wood, dry goods and general store: J. M. Hackerthorn, general store : L. A. Alford & Son, general store : J. & A. S. Davenport, general store : C. Beardsley, manufacturer and dealer in paper; A. M. Tucker, dry goods, etc .: S. S. Strong, dry goods, etc .; C. North, hardware; J. J. Keely, merchant tailor: H. Brett, boot and shoe manufacturer: E. J. King, dentist : G. F. Jones, general dealer: A. Heath & J. W. Shafer. lawyers; Dr. W. W. Chambers, physician and dentist: M. F. Shuey. lawyer : S. D. Harris, furniture and undertaker; S. C. Conn, “ daguer- rean artist :" J. H. Rerick, physician and surgeon : Moorehouse & Babb. general store: W. E. Bonta, jeweler: Geo. Dean, barber: Thos. Hay. manufacturer and dealer in cabinet ware. In a later issue of the same paper are the following additional names: Clark House, J. R. Clark. proprietor: O. H. Main, lawyer: Drs. Winans & Lawrence: F. W. Burns, drugs: S. Shelly, hardware: H. Crampton, justice of the peace.
Elkhart, as a corporate part of the body politic, has had an exis- tence of nearly half a century. In 1858 a petition, signed by many of the electors in the village, was presented to the county commission- ers, and in response thereto the board ordered an election for voting upon the question of incorporating Elkhart. The vote was taken on June 29. and out of 216 ballots a majority of fifty-four was reported in favor of incorporation. Accordingly the commissioners declared, at
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their September session, that the village be incorporated and be known as the " Town of Elkhart." The names of the first trustees are P. Morehouse, Virgil Young and A. P. Simonton.
Elkhart remained in the list of towns for seventeen years. In this period the population, the manufacturing and commercial interests and the territorial area had expanded rapidly, and the old-fashioned form of government was felt to be an incubus to the continued prosperity of the town. Therefore, on April 28. 1875, the issue of city or town government was placed before the citizens. That the lines between the conservative and liberal element were closely drawn and that the wis- dlom of incorporation as a city was by no means universally acknow1- edged, may be inferred from the vote, which stood 575 for incorpora- tion and 561 for continuance of the town system. By the small major- ity of fourteen ballots, therefore, the first election of municipal officers was ordered, and on May 11, 1875, the following officials were voted into control: Mayor. Henry C. Wright : clerk. Ben Brown and J. D. Wood; treasurer. Henry Bearup: marshal. C. J. Gillette; assessor, B. O. Manchester: civil engineer. C. M. Proctor: chief fire department. E. A. Campbell; attorney, O. T. Chamberlain. 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.
1876. Mayor. J. R. Beardsley ; clerk. James H. State ; treasurer. .A. R. Beardsley ; marshal, C. J. Gillette ; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet ; civil engineer. C. M. Proctor : chief fire department. E. A. Campbell ; asses- sor, J. M. Ilughes. Councilmen-First ward, John Cook and J. R. Randali: Second ward. C. W. Green and R. D. Braden: Third ward, F. L. Collins and J. W. Ellis: Fourth ward. Cyrus Seiler and J. Jacob- son: Fifth ward. B. O. Manchester and H. J. Kremer: Sixth ward, J. R. Mather and A. C. Manning.
1877. Mayor, J. R. Beardsley : clerk. J. H. State: treasurer, A. R. Beardsley : marshal, C. J. Gillette : attorney. J. M. Vanfleet : civil engin- eer. C. M. Proctor ; chief fire department. F. G. Shaw. Councilmen- First ward. John Cook and J. R. Randall: Second ward, C. W. Green and R. D. Braden : Third ward. J. W. Ellis and Joseph Hollis; Fourth ward, Cyrus Seiler and J. Jacobson : Fifth ward. H. J. Kremer and B. O. Manchester: Sixth ward, A. C. Manning and M. M. Kauffman.
1878. Mayor. A. M. Tucker; clerk, J. H. State: treasurer, A. R.
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Beardsley ; marshal, .\. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet ; civil engin- eer, C. Beardsley : chief fire department, F. G. Shaw. Councilmen- First ward, Stephen A. Burrows and John Cook; Second ward, John McNaughton and C. W. Green ; Third ward, Daniel Weaver and Joseph Hollis: Fourth ward, J. P. Primley and Cyrus Seiler; Fifth ward, C. H. Watson and B. O. Manchester; Sixth ward, J. R. Mather and A. C. Manning.
1879. Mayor, A. M. Tucker; clerk, J. H. State ; treasurer, A. R. Beardsley ; marshal, A. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet; civil en- gineer, C. M. Proctor: chief fire department, Thomas Turnock and Clark Delo. Councilmen-First ward. J. R. Beardsley and S. A. Bur- rows; Second ward, C. W. Green and John MeNaughton ; Third ward, Joseph Hollis and Daniel Weaver; Fourth ward, George W. Stevens and J. P. Primley; Fifth ward, Henry Kremer and C. H. Watson : Sixth ward, Wm. Isenbice and J. R. Mather.
1880. Mayor, C. G. Conn; clerk, B. O. Manchester and J. H. State: treasurer, S. D. Devor; marshal, A. B. Miller; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet ; civil engineer, Henry Cook; chief fire department, F. G. Shaw. Councilmen-First ward, James Bigelow and J. R. Beardsley ; Second ward, John Minnich and C. W. Green; third ward, Daniel Weaver and Joseph Hollis ; Fourth ward, John McNaughton and George W. Stevens; Fifth ward, C. H. Watson and Henry Kremer; Sixth ward, John Kemberling and Wm. Isenbice.
1881. Mayor, C. G. Conn; clerk, B. O. Manchester ; treasurer, J. D. Devor : marshal, A. B. Miller ; attorney, J. M. Vanfleet ; civil en- gineer. Henry Cook ; chief fire department, David Carpenter. Council- men-First ward, Erasmus Farley; Second ward. H. B. Sherwood and J. M. Minnich®; Third ward, S. N. Jackman and Daniel Weaver ; Fourth ward, D. C. Quimby and John McNaughton ; Fifth ward. J. H. Roswell and C. H. Watson ; Sixth ward, Thomas Charles and John Kemberling.
1882. Mayor, C. G. Conn; clerk, W. D. Middleton; treasurer, J. D. Devor; marshal, A. B. Miller; attorney, O. T. Chamberlain ; civil engineer, Henry Cook; chief fire department, David Carpenter. Coun- cilmen-First ward, George Harker and Erasmus Farley ; Second ward, C. W. Green and Il. B. Sherwood; Third ward, Daniel Weaver and S. N. Jackman; Fourth ward, James Griffin and D. C. Quimby: Fifth ward, Il. J. Kremer and J H. Roswell; Sixth ward, Conrad Ziesel and Thomas Charles.
1883. Mayor, C. G. Conn and P. J. Parmater ; clerk, W. D. Mid-
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dleton ; treasurer, J. D. Devor ; marshal, \. B. Miller ; attorney, O. T. Chamberlain; civil engineer, Henry Cook ; chief fire department, J. D. Shultz. Councilmen-First ward, J. C. Erwin and William Barger; Second ward. E. R. Kerstetter and C. W. Green: Third ward, S. N. Jackman and Daniel Weaver; Fourth ward, D. C. Quimby and James Griffin: Fifth ward. W. A. Shaffer and Chas. H. Watson ; Sixth ward, Thos. Charles.
1884. Mayor, Norman Beckley: clerk, W. D. Middleton; treas- urer, J. D. Devor ; marshal, Elliott Crull : attorney, P. L. Turner ; civil engineer, Henry Cook; chief fire department, J. D. Schultz. Council- men-First ward, J. C. Erwin and H. Mclachlan: Second ward, John W. Fieldhouse and E. R. Kerstetter: Third ward, S. N. Jackman and John Linderman ; Fourth ward, J. J. Hoffman and D. C. Quimby ; Fifth ward. W. . A. Shaffer and C. H. Watson: Sixth ward, S. Bertch and E. Goldthwait.
1885. Mayor, S. M. Cummins; clerk, Andrew Schofield and W. D. Middleton ; treasurer. J. D. Devor ; marshal, Elliott Crull ; attorney, P. L. Turner : civil engineer, Henry Cook ; chief fire department, Leon- ard Jones. Councilmen-First ward, Samuel Dotson and H. McLach- lan: Second ward, P. J. Parmater and J. W. Fieldhouse: Third ward, A. Mitchell and John Linderman; Fourth ward. F. G. Shaw and J. J. Hoffman: Fifth ward, W. HI. Wagner and J. Foltz; Sixth ward, S. Bertch and E. Goldthwait.
1886. Mayor, Damel Weaver; clerk, Harry S. Chester and An- drew Schofield; treasurer, J. D. Devor and E. A. Campbell; marshal, Elliott Crull; attorney, Perry L. Turner; civil engineer, Henry Cook ; chief fire department, David Carpenter. Councilmen-First ward, Sam- tel Dotson and C. T. Green : Second ward, Peltire Hill and J. W. Field- house : Third ward, E. A. Carpenter and Charles Walley ; Fourth ward, F. G. Shaw and A. Upp: Fifth ward, C. H. Wagner and W. A. Shaf- fer: Sixth ward, E. Goldthwait and S. Bertch.
1887. Mayor. Daniel Weaver: clerk, Harry S. Chester ; treasurer, E. A. Campbell ; marshal. Elliott Crull ; attorney, Perry L. Turner : civil engineer. Henry Cook : chief fire department, David Carpenter. Coun- cilmen-First ward. C. T. Green and J. J. Newman ; Second ward, J. WV. Fieldhouse and W. J. Meader; Third ward. Guy C. Johnson and Chas. Walley; Fourth ward, F. G. Shaw and A. Upp: Fifth ward, C. H. Wagner and W. A. Shaffer: Sixth ward, C. C. Needham and E. Goldthwait
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1888. Mayor, Everett Goldthwait ; clerk, Harry S. Chester ; treas- urer. E. A. Campbell; marshal, C. C. Needham ; attorney. P. L. Turner ; civil engineer. Henry Cook; chief fire department, Frank Winegardner. Councilmen-First ward, J. J. Newman and J. W. Slear ; Second ward, W. J. Meader and L. B. Cooke; Third ward, G. C. Johnson and A. R. Beardsley; Fourth ward, F. G. Shaw and John Rinehart ; Fifth ward, C. H. Wagner and W. A. Shaffer; Sixth ward, David Moyer and Ar- thur Evans.
1889. Mayor, E. Goldthwait: clerk, Harry S. Chester : treasurer. E. A. Campbell ; marshal, C. C. Needham ; attorney, P. L. Turner ; civil engineer. Henry Cook: chief fire department, Ira Hummel. Council- men-First ward, F. W. Miller and J. W. Slear; Second ward. L. B. Cooke and J. J. Newman; Third ward. Guy C. Johnson and .A. R. Beardsley: Fourth ward, John Rinehart and C. H. Clark; Fifth ward, W. Shaffer and Mentor J. Hill: Sixth ward, Arthur Evans and David Moyer.
1890. Mayor, Strafford Maxon; clerk, George H. Fister: treas- urer, E. A. Campbell ; marshal, Cornelius Coleman ; attorney, Perry L. Turner: civil engineer. Henry Cook; chief fire department, Ira Hum- mel. Councilmen-First ward, F. W. Miller and J. W. Slear; Second ward. Philip Christman and J. J. Newman ; Third ward, Albert Kar- nell and Guy C. Johnson : Fourth ward, John Rinehart and C. H. Clark ; Fifth ward. George W. Kuhn and Mentor J. Hill; Sixth ward, Charles Miller and David Moyer.
1891. Mayor, Strafford Maxon; clerk, George H. Fister; treas- urer, Edward A. Campbell; marshal, Cornelius Coleman ; attorney, Perry L. Turner ; civil engineer, Henry Cook: chief fire department, Jake Hummel. Councilmen-First ward, J. W. Slear and W. S. Pan- cost : Second ward, Edwin W. Fobes and Phil Christman ; Third ward. Albert Karnell and F. K. Fernald: Fourth ward, John Rinehart and C. H. Clark; Fifth ward. George A. Kuhn and G. W. Huntley ; Sixth ward, Ellis M. Chester and Charles Miller.
1892. Mayor, Otis D. Thompson ; clerk, George H. Fister ; treas- urer, Philetus P. Abel; marshal, Wm. H. Dunbar; city judge, Joseph D. Arnold; attorney, Perry L. Turner ; civil engineer. Charles L. Kin- ney ; chief fire department, George B. Dotson. Councilmen-First ward, Frederick W. Miller and Wilna S. Pancost: Second ward, Isaac Nadel and Edwin W. Fobes; Third ward. A. R. Beardsley and F. K. Fernald ; Fourth ward, Jedediah M. Hughes and C. H. Clark ; Fifth ward. George
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N. Sweitzer and G. W. Huntley: Sixth ward. George W. Stuck and Ellis MI. Chester.
1893. Mayor, Otis D. Thompson; clerk. George H. Fister: treas- urer, Philetus P. Abel; marshal. William H. Dunbar; city judge. Jo- seph D. Arnold: attorney, Perry L. Turner : civil engineer, Charles L. Kinney; chief fire department. Nathan F. Smith. Councilmen-First ward, Frederick W. Miller and Wilna S. Pancost : Second ward, Isaac Nadel and Edwin W. Fobes: Third ward, Albert R. Beardsley and F. K. Fernald: Fourth ward. Jedediah M. Hughes and C. H. Clark : Fifth ward. George N. Sweitzer and G. W. Huntley: Sixth ward. George W. Stuck and Ellis M. Chester.
1894. Mayor, Henry B. Sykes; clerk. Kit Mckean; treasurer. Philetus P. Abel; city judge, Joseph D. Arnold; attorney, Perry L. Turner: civil engineer, Charles L. Kinney. Councilmen-First ward. Frederick W. Miller and Robert S. Chamberlin : Second ward, John J. Newman and Isaac Nadel; Third ward, Melvin U. Demarest and A. R. Beardsley: Fourth ward. Charles F. Jacobson and Jedadiah M. Hughes : Fifth ward. William J. Morrow and George N. Sweitzer: Sixth ward, Julius J. Shaw and George C. Stuck.
1896. Mayor. Henry B. Sykes: cleik. Kit Mckean ; treasurer. Philetus P. Abel: city judge, Joseph D. Arnold; attorney, Perry L. Turner; civil engineer, Charles L. Kinney. Councilmen-First ward. Chas. H. Murray and R. S. Chamberlin : Second ward, Herman Borne- man and John J. Newman: Third ward. Geo. Vinnedge and M. U. Demarest : Fourth ward, W. L. Collins and C. F. Jacobson : Fifth ward. Wm. Ecker and W. J. Morrow: Sixth ward, R. M. Stewart and J. J. Shaw.
1898. Mayor, Porter Turner; clerk, Kit Mckean: treasurer. P. P. Abel : city judge, Collins Blake : attorney. P. L. Turner : civil engineer. Chas. L. Kinney and D. F. Cordrey: chief fire department. Chas. . 1. Sanford. Councilmen-First ward. Benj. S. Monger and Chas. . 1. Murray : Second ward, Win. Kran. Wm. Lloyd and Herman Borne- man: Third ward, John Jones and Geo. Vinnedge: Fourth ward. W. Il. Winship and W. L. Collins: Fifth ward. A. M. Smith and Wm. Ecker: Sixth ward. J. J. Shaw and R. M. Stewart.
1900. Mayor, Porter Turner: clerk. Kit McKean: treasurer. P. P. Abel: city judge. Collins Blake: attorney. Perry L. Turner : civil engineer. D. F. Cordrey and L. E. Hitchcock: chief fire department. Chas. . \. Sanford. Councilmen-First ward. H. J. Douglass and Benj.
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S. Monger : Second ward, A. L. Burns and W'm. E. Lloyd ; Third ward. Herman Borneman and John Jones; Fourth ward, Guy C. Lemon, W. H. Winship and L. Helfrick: Fifth ward. A. M. Smith and G. . 1. Kuhn; Sixth ward. J. J. Shaw and R. J. Chester.
1902. Mayor, Charles T. Greene : clerk. Emil V. Anderson ; treas- urer, Edward A. Campbell : attorney, John M. VanFleet : civil engineer. Carl R. Beardsley : street commissioner, Frederick Poole: chief of fire department. Charles A. Sanford: city judge. Clyde C. Raymer. Coun- cilmen-First ward, E. A. Skinner, Perry L. Beck; Second ward, W. B. Pratt. J. T. Keene ; Third ward, John Jones, W. S. Hazelton; Fourth ward. A. L. Gotwalt. Fremont Thomas: Fifth ward. A. M. Smith, Geo. W. Frederick: Sixth ward, Henry W. Single, Ira H. Church.
CITY OFFICIALS 1905.
The present members of the Elkhart municipal government are thus named: Mayor, Charles T. Greene; clerk, Emil V. . Anderson : treasurer. Edward A. Campbell: attorney, John M. VanFleet ; civil en- gineer, C. R. Beardsley; street commissioner, Fred Poole. Common Council-First ward, Perry L. Beck, Charles T. Swaffield : Second ward, James T. Keene, Herbert \. Graham; Third ward, Walter S. Hazelton. James W. Ganiard : Fourth ward. Aretus L. Gotwalt, Herman O. Hart- mann : Fifth ward, Clement C. Kindy, Josephus M. Brukaker; Sixth ward, James Morrow, Charles Laudenslager. City Commissioners or Board of Appraisers-Eber Darling. Sr., president : Leander Ander- son, secretary ; J. P. Sanders, F. H. Hanson, G. C. Kistner. Concord Township Officials-Trustee. Joseph H. Grosh: assessor, E. O. Fifer. Fire Department-Chief engineer, Charles A. Sanford: first assistant chief, Charles E. Wilcox. Metropolitan Police Department-Commis- sioners : Elliot Crull, president : Francis E. Tousley, James L. Har- man: Geo. H. Whiteman, secretary: Chas. E. Silvers, superintendent of police: \. B. Miller, sergeant. City judge. Clyde Raymer ; prose- cuting attorney, Wm. B. Hile: deputy prosecuting attorney, E. . \. Bak- er. Board of Health-Dr. W. H. Thomas, secretary: W. H. Quaife. inspector. Board of School Trustees-M. U. Damarest. president : W. H. Mann, secretary: W. H. Riblet, treasurer ; D. W. Thomas, superin- tendent of schools. Board of Park Commissioners-Chas. S. Tousley. president : James \. Bigelow, secretary; Edwin Walley, treasurer : Geo. H. Sweitzer, superintendent of parks. Public Library Board -. A. P.
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Kent, president : Rev. . \. U. Ogilvie, secretary : Miss Katherine Sage. librarian. Grace Lawn Cemetery-John C. Middleton, sexton.
The following newspaper item bearing upon the city court of Elk- hart is of historical interest : "The fact that Governor Hanly is called upon. under the new law, to appoint city judges in many of the larger cities, emphasizes the fact that Elkhart has had a city court since 1876. It was organized by the city council under the law obtained in 1875, by the Hon. M. F. Shuey of that city in response to a demand by law- yers that the necessity of going to Goshen every time when litigation was required be dispensed with. Between 1881 and 1891 the court was of little consequence. The legislature in accepting an amendment, in- advertently inserted a word which, by inference, rendered the judge- ship of no more consequence than a notary public. This was rectified in 1891 by amendment by the Hon. O. Z. Hubbell, and since then the jurisdiction of the court remained unaffected until the new municipal code went into effect."
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