USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 17
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There were several other fires where the loss was considerable, but no details have been secured. Among them were the Heller and Galentine flour mills, the largest in northern Indiana, and the Odd Fellows building were destroyed in 1863; the church and the public school building in 1864; the Davis mills in 1865; the Sear block in 1873; the old College building in 1884; the east side of Main street, including the Ledas block, the Matchette block, Brillhart, Bendell & Pickett block, and the Fort Wayne railroad passenger and freight station in 1885.
For thirty years or more Bourbon has had an efficient fire department, which has been the means of saving from burning buildings and property worth many times its cost.
Vigilant Hook and Ladder Company was organized July 5, 1875. The cost of apparatus complete was about $385. It started with twenty-five members. This company participated in a friendly contest at Warsaw during the fair of 1876; also in a friendly contest in Bremen in 1877 and July 4, 1877, won the second prize, $50, at the state tournament at Goshen. They ran 150 yards and sent a man over the top of a twenty-foot ladder in twenty-eight seconds. They also participated in the contest at Fort Wayne, July 6, 1880, running the same distance in twenty-four and one-fourth seconds, and winning the prize of $75. At that time this company had the reputation of being one of the best in the state.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Red Eagle Engine Company was organized April 7, 1879, and had thirty members to start with. James Lilly was the first foreman.
Red Eagle Hose Company was organized June 15, 1879, with fifteen members. T. J. Payne was the first foreman.
The town authorities have since put in a system of waterworks with direct pressure which reduces the losses to the minimum.
Secret and Benevolent Societies.
Secret and benevolent societies are well represented in Bourbon. The Odd Fellows were the first to organize a lodge in this place, which was done in 1858. This was followed by the organization of Bourbon Lodge No. 227, F. & A. M., in December, 1865. The Knights of Pythias organized a lodge in Bourbon in 1889 with thirty members and have since added largely to that number. The Improved Order of Red Men organized Pottawattomie Tribe No. 16 in 1868. It has continued from that time to the present and has a membership of about seventy-five. Attached to it is a lodge of the degree of Pocahontas for the benefit of the ladies of the male members. It is No. I and was the first organized in Indiana. There is also here an organization of the Daughters of Rebecca, and also a chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, an appendant to the Masonic order. There is also here a post of the Grand Army of the Republic, whose membership is made up entirely of soldiers of the war of the Rebellion.
Old Uncle Jo Davis, as he was called, father of the older Davises that were prominent in the early days of Bourbon's history, came to Bourbon in the early sixties, and among the first buildings he erected was a small round house that stood on the north side of the railroad near the then passenger and freight depot. It was a curious looking structure, and was the subject of many inquiries as to what it was used for. Uncle Jo had formerly lived in La Porte county, and with Charles W. Cathcart had been converted to Spiritualism, and he erected this building to be used for spir- itualistic meetings. For some time it was used for that purpose, but Mr. Davis, growing old and feeble, its use for that purpose was finally aban- doned. For two or three years it was used as a passenger station for the railroad, and telegraph and express office. After the railroad company vacated it, it went into a state of "innocuous desuetude" and has finally dis- appeared.
Bourbon Cornet Band.
In 1866, Web Truslow and Charles Jewel, amateur musicians then residing in Bourbon, succeeded in organizing the Bourbon Cornet Band, comprised of the following members in addition to themselves: Charles Rathburn, John W. Parks, Daniel Hartman, Daniel D. Haines, Jerome H. Chamberlain, William Johnson, Frank Johnson, and Henry Steinbach, leader. The instruments were purchased in Chicago at a cost of $150, of which $25 was contributed by the members, $49 donated by the citizens of Bourbon, and $76 borrowed from Caleb Davis, which was afterwards returned to him. In 1867 some changes took place, George N. Hupp and Gaylord brothers being admitted. Mr. Steinbach resigned his leadership in 1872 and was succeeded by George N. Hupp, who continued as such for several years. During the presidential campaign of 1880 the band made $520.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Owing to change of residence, etc., the organization was disbanded several years ago.
Bourbon's Colleges.
Along in the seventies the people of Bourbon began the agitation of the feasibility of establishing a college of learning in Bourbon, and it finally culminated in the adoption of the following agreement between citizens of Bourbon and the German Baptist Church of the northern district of Indiana :
"State of Indiana, Marshall County, Bourbon, May 28, 1871.
"Articles of Agreement made and entered into between Mathew Erwin, Howard Barnaby, A. C. Matchette, Newell Minard, David Wilkins and K. Heckman, of the first part, and Jacob B. Shively, Jesse Calvert and Jacob Beiby, of the second part.
"The party of the first part agrees to make a good and sufficient war- ranty deed, or cause the same to be made, of the college property in Bourbon, Marshall county, Indiana, to said party of the second part, subject to the following conditions, to-wit: That said college property is to be used perpetually for college purposes, after the order of Burber college in the state of Ohio, except the theological department, and if not so used by the party of the second part, revert back to the persons or legal representatives who have subscribed, and to pay the sum of $2,500 in a ratable proportion to the amount paid by each person so subscribing. And the party of the first part agrees to pay the party of the second part the sum of $1,000 on or before the 25th day of May, 1871, the party of the second part to assign the above-named subscriptions to the party of the first part for their own use upon the conditions that the party of the first part make deed as afore- said and become responsible for the $1,000.
"(Signed) M. Erwin, K. Heckman, H. Barnaby, N. E. Minard, A. C. Matchette, Citizens' Committee.
"Jacob B. Shively, Jacob Beiby, Chairman of Committee."
The college was incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana in the name of "Salem College" on the 24th day of February, 1871, prior to the making of the above agreement. The objects for which said institu- tion was established were for the diffusing of useful, religious, moral and scientific knowledge, under the control of the German Baptist Church of the mother Baptist church of Indiana.
The first president of the college was C. W. Miller, and the trustees were Jacob Shively, Jesse Calvert and David Shively. The amount of endowment designed to be reached was $100,000, and that they should connect with the college in land, buildings, donations and property to the value of $12,000. The work progressed for some time; scholarships were sold and the college was opened, and continued for a period of two or three years, when the organization became involved in litigation, finally dissolved and the property reverted to the original owners. The college was also known as the Dunkard College.
In the years 1875 and 1876 J. A. Reubelt tried to re-establish the defunct institution, but failed. He was followed by President Yocum, who tried for two years more without success. This ended Salem College. The building was destroyed by fire in 1880 and the ground sold to the town of Bourbon, on which was erected the present public school building.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
In 1900 the Bourbon College and School of Music was started. Presi- dent Marshall labored for one year, followed by Prof. Bish, and then by Profs. Steele, Newel and Hahn. The life of the college was four years. The building is now vacant, save one room, which is used as a primary room for the south side Bourbon school. To erect this building shares of $100 each were sold to the amount of $10,000 to farmers and men in town who still own the stock. The stockholders have a board of directors, but they have nothing to do.
Bourbon Town Schools.
Bourbon's first public school building was erected in 1865 and 1866 in the south part of town, a short distance west of the residence of Joseph W. Davis, at a cost of about $4,000. It was a commodious building, two stories in height, comfortably seated and furnished, and generally well arranged for the purposes for which it was intended. Reason Shinnebarger was the first teacher who occupied the building after it was completed. He was followed by Mrs. Hoover, Messrs. Bock, Reefy, Chrouse, W. E. Bailey, Prof. Allen, Miss Lou Borton, Mr. James, Mr .· Greenawalt, and Byron McAlpine, who prepared the first course of instruction the school had ever had, in 1877. Mr. McAlpine was connected as principal of the schools for a period of twelve or more years. Since his death occurred several years ago several have occupied the position, among them Mr. Reubelt, and the present superintendent, Prof. E. H. Rizer. Some twelve or more years ago the old school building was destroyed by fire, whereupon a new building was erected on the old Salem college grounds where the schools are now taught.
ARGOS.
Prior to the organization of Walnut township, where is now situated the town of Argos was in Green township. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a new township was held at the schoolhouse near Marquis L. Smith's tavern, then in Green township, May 21, 1859, for the purpose of selecting a name for the new township and recommending a suitable person to be appointed trustee. Merrill Williams was president of the meet- ing and Samuel B. Corbaley secretary. The names of Argos, Richland and Noble were proposed for the new township. Noble was withdrawn, and the vote resulted: Argos 13, Richland 8. For some reason not stated the commissioners ordered the township to be called Walnut. The names of John A. Rhodes and Charles Brown were proposed for trustee. The vote resulted : Rhodes 18, Brown 4. Merrill Williams, John A. Rhodes and N. E. Manville were appointed a committee to attend to the necessary busi- ness before the board of commissioners. The township was organized Jan- uary 9, 1859. Immediately after the organization of the township the fol- lowing petition was presented to the board :
Whereas, The town plats of Fremont and Sidney lie very near each other; and Whereas, The postoffice of those two places is named Argos; and
Whereas, We, the undersigned citizens and petitioners, believing that so many names are and will continue to be against the interest of citizens of said places, we therefore petition your honorable board to change the names of the above-named towns
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
and consolidate them into one name, namely, Argos, and thus in duty bound we will ever pray.
John A. Rhodes, N. E. Manville, J. W. Harris,
M. E. Richards, Joseph Lissinger,
G. W. Gordon,
N. Siple, W. Nichols,
John Tribbey,
Joseph Rhodes,
John Whitacre, J. A. Haig,
William Worthington,
J. G. Bryant,
Joseph Finney,
Martin Bucher, Thomas King,
J. J. Hough.
The petition was granted and the consolidated towns were ordered to be known as "Argos." Argos was the name of a city in Greece made famous in the Iliad of Homer. This ancient city, according to history, is long since in ruins. Her thirty temples, her costly sepulchers, her gym- nasiums, and her numerous and magnificent monuments and statues have disappeared, and the only traces of her former greatness are somne remains of her cyclopean walls, and a ruined theater cut in the rock and of mag- nificent proportions. The modern Argos, built on the ruins of the ancient city, is nothing more than a straggling village. The plain of the ancient Argos is said to be one of the most beautiful to be found. On every side, except toward the sea, it is bounded by mountains, and the contrast between these mountains and the plain and the sea is strikingly beautiful. The Argus spelled with a "u" was the name of a fabulous being of antiquity, said to have a hundred eyes, and placed by Juno to guard Io, and hence orig- inated the term, "argus-eyed."
The town of Sidney, of which Argos is the successor, was laid out by John Pleak and Marquis L. Smith, January 8, 1851. It was named in honor of Sidney Williams, who settled there probably as early as 1835. Mr. Will- iams was a prominent citizen and took an active part in the early organiza- tion of the county. He served as the first associate judge of the circuit court, from 1836 to 1843. He took the "gold fever" and went to California in the early fifties, and later returned east and settled in Illinois, where he lost the sight of his eyes, and finally died. The town of Sidney was sur- veyed and platted by Amasa W. Reed, county surveyor, and contained sixty lots.
Fremont, adjoining Sidney, was laid out by Joseph H. Rhodes, Novem- ber 6, 1856, and contained twenty-six lots. It was named in honor of Col. John C. Fremont, who was on that day voted for as the Republican candi- date for president. As he was beaten in his race for president, it was an easy matter to get the board of commissioners to change the name to Argos.
The town of Argos was incorporated under the state law in December, 1869. The first election was held December 4, 1869, and resulted in the election of the following officers: Trustees, Joseph F. Norton, Jonathan Pickerel and J. S. Leland; marshal, James Pickerel; clerk, George W. Krouse ; treasurer, A. Seely : assessor, W. R. Cook.
The Marshall County Medical Society was organized at Argos May 13, 1878, with the following charter members: Drs. Samuel W. Gould, Reason B. Eaton, J. H. Wilson, J. S. Leland, F. Stevens and J. T. Doke. The objects of the society were stated to be for the purpose of advancing medical knowledge and to elevate professional character.
The cornerstone of the public school building erected in the town of Argos was laid under the auspices of the fraternities of Masons, Odd Fel- lows and Improved Order of Red Men, on the sixteenth day of August,
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
1873. After the ceremonies of laying the stone, addresses were delivered by Rev. J. L. Boyd, Methodist minister of Plymouth ; Hon. M. A. O. Packard, of Plymouth ; P. S. Hoffman, of Richmond, and Prof. M. B. Hopkins, state superintendent of public instruction. After the close of the services an ex- cellent dinner was served by the ladies of the place, and the occasion was one in every way enjoyable. The building is of brick, forty by sixty feet, and two stories high, well finished and furnished with the latest improved furniture and fixtures.
Abel C. Hickman, whose death occurred in Argos June 11, 1877, was at the time of his death probably the oldest settler in the county, although that honor was disputed by Robert Schroeder, then living in North town- ship, who claimed to have settled in the county before Mr. Hickman. From his obituary notice the following is taken as being of historical importance : He was born in Harrison county, Virginia, September 1, 1805. He chose the profession of a farmer, emigrated to Indiana in 1832 and settled on the Michigan road two miles south of Argos, as the lands belonging to the road were the only lands in market. This was four years prior to the organiza- tion of the county. As soon as the government lands were surveyed in 1835 he moved off west of the road and settled on the farm now owned by Adam Bixel. Thus he was the first actual settler on state lands after the survey in the neighborhood. Three years after, in 1838, the first society for religious worship was organized at Mr. Hickman's house by the Rev. Mr. Owens, of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thus was Methodism intro- duced into Marshall county. His house continued a regular place of wor- ship for several years. In 1844 the first house of worship erected in the county was built on his farm. In 1875 he took up his residence in Argos and engaged in the drug business. As a man he was positive to a fault and was a good neighbor. He had been watching the developments of Mar- shall county for forty-five years, and with great satisfaction he saw the forest give way to the beautiful fields, and the solitude of the wilderness broken by the bustle of busy homes. He saw the population of the county increase 160 times. In the midst of prosperity, surrounded by friends, like a ripe sheaf he was gathered by the harvesters of eternity.
The Argos Public Schools.
The Argos public schools have ever been dear to the people of the town. Even while Argos was yet a small village, the "little red schoolhouse," which, in point of fact, happened to be the natural color of the weather- boards, put in its appearance.
Specific facts relating to this early period are scarce and have but slight serial relation. Only a few tangled threads of the warp and woof of the history then made now remain, and these are found only in the memories of some of the older citizens. These lead back to the year 1847, when the first schoolhouse was built in Argos by Walnut township, on what is now the southwest corner of the old cemetery. The land upon which this house was built was purchased of Merrill Williams. As showing something of the progressive and up-to-date spirit of the people who founded the little village, it may be stated that this pioneer schoolhouse supported a bell, a thing almost unknown to district houses until a much later period. Among
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
the teachers who taught in this first one-room house were Peter D. Lowe, Malinda Brown and Wesley Blodgett.
The second schoolhouse, built also by the township in the early seventies, was located on West Cemetery street, where now stands the residence of Mr. Ralph Schlosser. This house, too, was a one-room frame, but, unlike the first, it was painted white. It had a double front entrance, similar, in this respect, to many country and village churches. In fact, it was used as a church by the Christian denomination, which, some years later, when the growth of the town made it necessary to build a larger house for school purposes, purchased it and devoted it to church use exclusively.
Of the number of people who taught in this house, the writer of this article can namne only Mattie Beame, - - Franks, A. C. North and W. J. Benner. Before the next house was built it became necessary to provide temporarily for an overflow of pupils, and accordingly Mrs. W. J. Benner taught a part of the school in the building on North Michigan street now occupied as a residence by Isaiah Hess. These were the days of the "Old Masters," men and women, who wielded the birch and, along with very valuable lessons in spellin', readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic, taught the more valuable lessons of honor, honesty, industry, obedience to law, and, without any fuss about it, "civic righteousness" in general.
The third schoolhouse was built in 1873. It was located on Cemetery street, between Maple street and Michigan avenue. A presumably correct writer has described this house as follows:
"The school then built was almost square. It had a shingle roof, on top of which a belfry, consisting of four posts with cross-pieces, was perched. In this hung a common country dinner-bell, destined to call pupils together for many years. Across the front of the building, which faced Maple street, was a large hall with a cloak-room at each end and a stairway occupying the central portion. The house contained six not very large rooms. Each of these was heated by a stove, lighted by a few small windows and fur- nished with double seats."
At the time this building was erected Dr. L. L. Barr, Harvey Athinson and William Worthington were trustees. The cost of the building is esti- mated at $8,000. In the nineteen years of its existence the following named teachers are remembered as having served as principals: W. E. Ashcraft, L. Q. Martin, E. A. Powles, M. L. Teeples and M. L. Smith. Among the grade teachers were A. A. Homes, - Goucher, A. C. North, Belle Rich- ards, Nora Littleton, Lida Gordon, Mrs. Geo. D. Stevens, Geo. D. Stevens, Maggie Campbell, Jacob Martin, J. B. Weimer, J. D. Quivey, Etta Harris, S. N. Stevens, Louisa Humphrey, Mrs. L. Alleman, N. E. Barr, Esther Foster, R. C. O'Blennis, A. E. Wickizer and Anna Cathcart.
When the school was established in the new building, but three teachers were employed ; later, three were added. In 1883, under the supervision of W. E. Ashcraft, the school was regraded and a three-years' high school course was provided. In 1886, the first class was graduated. It was com- posed of Ola Wheatfield, née Gordon ; Minnie Bose, née Norris ; Flora Huff, Ella Ashcraft, née Boggs; Fannie White, née Bucher. While the school remained in this building, or at least before it passed into the next, twenty- seven other pupils were graduated. On March 16, 1892, this house was destroyed by fire. The schools were in session when the fire broke out, but
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
owing to the fact that a systematic fire-drill had been established in the several rooms, there was no trouble in marching the pupils out of the building unhurt. During the remainder of the school year and all of the next the churches of the town gave their auditoriums for school use, and thus the schools were maintained until the next building was completed.
The fourth schoolhouse rapidly arose, Phoenix-like, out of the ashes of the former one. More ground was procured adjoining the old site, and the present commodious nine-room building, standing in the center of as beauti- ful a campus as can be found in the state, was erected. Built on a beautiful and substantial foundation of boulder granite and constructed by skillful workmen out of the best material obtainable, this elegant edifice promises to give acceptable service until the end of the present century. To Dr. D. C. Knott, A. T. Slayter and B. C. Schoonover were due the conception. be- ginning, completion and location of the building. They built for the future rather than for the then immediate necessity, and the growth of the town and school has approved their judgment. After the lapse of only fourteen years, the necessity of additional room for the near future is plainly ap- parent. Since 1893, in addition to the gentlemen just named, Leonard Bock, Isaac Reed, M. L. Corey, Noah Leland, together with the present board, Jonathan Pickerel, J. J. Thompson and A. T. Slayter, have served as trustees.
The superintendents have been W. B. Swearingen, 1893; E. C. Peter- son, 1895; L. Q. Martin, 1896; Otis A. Hoskinson, 1900; C. L. Hottell, 1905. The school was commissioned in 1904 to certify its graduates for admission to Indiana University, Purdue University and to the State Normal School.
The present four-years' course of study is in accord with the pedagogy of the day, and from the primary room to the high school, inclusive of both, the teaching is of high order. The more advanced classes have access to a well-selected library and a good working laboratory. Argos high school takes just pride in the fact that it has furnished to the county many successful teachers, to the colleges and universities of the state many good students, and to society many worthy young men and young women, who are performing well the duties of life. Her alumni roster contains 162 names, but these show only a small part of the work she has done. Many hundred young people, who, for various reasons, were unable to complete the prescribed course of study, have entered her classes and have been in a large measure prepared for good citizenship.
BREMEN.
German township, until it was regularly organized in 1838, was a part of North township. Some South Bend parties had purchased land in that part of North township, believing that in the course of time a town would be built in that section of the county. Having this object in view, Lathrop M. Taylor and Henry Augustine, of South Bend, located a town plat about three miles east of the present town of Bremen to which they gave the name of Clayton. Its form was a diagonal cut up into gorgeous streets and avenues. But when German township was organized by cutting it off from the east end of North township, the center of gravity was too far east. and the project of building a town there was abandoned.
The town of Bremen, the present seat of justice of German township,
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
was platted and laid out by George Beiler October 21, 1851. The original plat contained forty-eight lots. Since then the following additions have been made to the original plat: Deitrick's; Heim's ; Ringle's ;. Bauer's, first and second; Foltz's continued; Mast's; L. R. Martin's; D. Ringle's; Koontz's; Vanner's, and J. P. Huff's. The town was organized under the law authorizing the incorporation of towns, at the March term, 1871, of the board of commissioners. It was divided into six districts. The officers first elected were: Lewis Theobold, clerk and treasurer; David Guyer, marshal; Chris. Seiler, assessor; John Heckaman, Charles Lehr, Chris. Hans, John Koontz, Jacob Walter and Chris. Schilt, trustees. In 1872 the town was redistricted and the number of trustees reduced to three. The officers for that year were: John Heckaman, clerk and treasurer; Robert Montgomery, marshal ; Chris. Seiler, Jr., assessor.
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