USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 6
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Fire of March 22, 1857.
This block was again destroyed by fire March 22, 1857, the alarm being sounded about I o'clock in the morning. The buildings were all of wood,
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
and there being no fire department in those days, and not even so much as a bucket brigade, the citizens betook themselves to removing the contents into the street, knowing that any effort they might make to save the buildings would prove entirely fruitless. The intense heat occasioned by the burning of an entire block of buildings, aided by a brisk northeast wind, carried the fire to the west side of the street, and the goods in the street and the entire block on the west side of Michigan street, with the exception of a single building on the north corner of the block, were entirely consumed. The loss in property and business, considering the size of the town, was immense, and was variously estimated at from $75,000 to $125,000. Fully four-fifths of the business establishments were destroyed, upon which was an insurance of but $5,000. A careful estimate of the total cash losses at the time footed up $62,050.
Fire of January 3, 1866.
January 3, 1866, another disastrous fire occurred on the west side of Michigan street, destroying all the buildings fronting on that street. The fire started in the rear of Hewett & Woodward's three-story brick build- ing, which stood in the center of the block, and spread so rapidly that the little fire protection Plymouth had at that time could do practically nothing towards stopping it, and the entire block, both north and south of that build- ing, was entirely destroyed. The estimated loss in buildings and goods was something like $100,000, with very little insurance. Those who lost, either in buildings or goods, or both, were the following :
Hewett & Woodward, building and goods.
James M. Dale & Co., dry goods.
Davidson & Co., clothing.
Mrs. Dunham, millinery.
Phillips & Johnson, attorneys-at-law.
Dr. J. E. Brooke and Dr. Long.
John Paul, boots and shoes.
In Corbin's block-
T. A. Simons, groceries.
G. Blain & Co., drugs.
A. Becker & Co., groceries.
A. Loehnberger, clothing.
M. A. O. Packard, attorney at law.
A. C. Holtzendorff, barber.
Public Hall, second floor.
North of Hewett & Woodward's building-
Jacob Weckerle, saloon.
WVm. W. Hill, bakery.
Drs. T. A. and O. A. Borton.
Aaron Renbarger, harness.
Mrs. C. O. Smith and Mrs. Shook, milliners.
A. Reiseker, merchant tailor.
Mr. Nichols, bakery.
On La Porte street-
Coons & Co., meat market.
David Hartman, harness.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The fire started in the rear of the Hewett & Woodward building and had made considerable headway before it was discovered.
The Hoham Block Burned August 1, 1872.
August 1, 1872, John Hoham's block, containing eleven business rooms, situated on what is known as the bank lot on the river, fronting on La Porte street, was entirely consumed by fire. The entire row of buildings was owned by John Hoham, who sustained a loss of about $12,000. The total loss sustained by the business men occupying the rooms was about $32,000, on which there was an insurance of only $3,000. The sufferers were J. C. Kern, O. H. P. Bailey, John Gartner, Dr. J. J. Vinall, Nicoles & Maxey, Col. Poe, A. O. Shultz, P. Stegman, C. Bergmann, B. Nussbaum, J. W. Cleaveland, Wilcox & Leonard, M. Ruge & Co. The little hand fire engine, which was a poor excuse at best, was stowed away in a barn on the south side of Yellow river, and those who went after it were delayed some time in getting it out. Before the hose was attached and placed in the cistern and the pumpers got to work the whole block was practically de- stroyed.
B. Nussbaum, who was engaged in business in the block, died and was buried the day following the fire.
The Fire of February 6, 1895.
One of the most destructive fires Plymouth has had was that which occurred February 6, 1895, destroying the brick buildings of Horace Corbin and John C. and Fred H. Kuhn, on the west side of Michigan street. The weather was extremely cold, and when the fire hose was attached to the hydrant and the water turned on it quickly froze so that no water could be forced through the hose. Another hydrant was tried with the same result. Then torches were lighted and applied to the hydrants, which soon melted the ice and the engine began at once to do effective work, but the fire by that time had made such headway that it could not be got under control, and the consequence was that the goods of all those occupying the rooms below and above were completely destroyed.
The following were the losers in this fire:
Gus Wolf, dry goods and clothing.
C. M. Welch & Co., jewelry.
Frank Nicholay, barber.
Charles Kellison, attorney-at-law.
Wise & Seiders, attorneys-at-law.
Corbin & Co., abstracts, etc.
H. Corbin, attorney-at-law.
J. A. Anderson, merchandise.
Plymouth Telephone Company.
C. Firestone, harness.
Horace Corbin, building.
103 cigar store.
John C. Kuhn, building and merchandise.
James K. Houghton, groceries.
R. B. Oglesbee, attorney-at-law.
E. E. Kuhn, merchandise.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
L. M. Lauer, attorney-at-law.
George Paul, merchandise.
Fred H. Kuhn, building and merchandise.
John R. Losey, jewelry.
Martin Ehrdall, merchandise.
Fire of September 20, 1858.
Speaking of the destruction of the French mills near the old Fuller mill, then owned by Richmond & Wilbur, September 20, 1858, the Plymouth Democrat said :
"Although every effort was made to save it, the fire had so far ad- vanced before assistance arrived that both mills with their contents fell a prey to the flames. The mills had not been in operation more than six months and were in complete running order. The Richmond and Wilbur mills, situated about fifty feet from French's, were saved by the superhuman exertions of the firemen and citizens. The firemen acted nobly, every man of them, and the amount of property saved by them is more than the organi- zation of the hook and ladder company has or ever will cost. Messrs. Rich- mond and Wilbur manifested their appreciation of the services of the fire- men by treating them to a fine oyster supper in the evening."
Since that time there have been many fires in Plymouth, but none which are of historical importance.
Culver Military Academy.
On February 4, 1885, Culver Military Academy, then just starting on its most successful career, was totally destroyed by fire. The buildings were of wood, and, there being no fire apparatus at that time in connection with it, nothing could be done to save it, and in a short time it disappeared in smoke and ashes. The loss was estimated at about $10,000. Possibly its destruction was a fortunate affair for the future of the great institution, as Mr. H. H. Culver, the proprietor, at once set about rebuilding on a much larger scale than he had originally intended, the material, instead of wood, being cement, brick and stone.
In 1905 the new gymnasium, complete and perfect in all its parts, and thought to have been fireproof, caught fire, supposedly from spontaneous combustion, and was completely destroyed, entailing a heavy loss on the academy management. Another gymnasium has been rebuilt, even better than the one destroyed.
LXXI. BANKS AND BANKERS.
It was many years after the organization of the county before a bank was opened in Plymouth, or any other place in the county. The first bank organized was under the free banking act of 1852. It was called
The Plymouth Bank.
It had an authorized capital of $200,000, all in the name of George O. Jennings, of New York. The articles of association declared that it should
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
commence operations in Plymouth, Indiana, on the fifth day of October, 1852, and continue until the fifth day of October, 1872. Mr. Jeremy L. Taylor was sent to Plymouth to open up a room in which the bank was to be kept. He rented an upper room in H. B. Pershing's frame building, which was on the corner now occupied by the Packard bank building. He had a couch, table, chairs and other furniture, and generally made the bank his headquarters. The notes of the bank which had been printed for circu- lation were scattered all over the United States as far away from the location of the bank as possible, as it was not the intention of the founder to redeem any of the outstanding notes as long as he could help it. He opened an office here which he called a "bank" simply to comply with the law in that respect. Mr. Taylor, who was called the "cashier," was sent here to open the room, sweep out and make a show of running a bank. Lit- tle or no business was transacted there. It was a "Peter Funk" concern, and the people generally had nothing to do with it.
The following from Lord's Detector of May 21, 1857, shows what kind of a concern it was:
"We put forth a special caution against the above named 'Cat.' In the long list of frauds this one ranks as the most fraudulent of them all. It professes to be located at Plymouth, Indiana, but our correspondent at that place informs us that he has no knowledge of such banking house at that place. Plymouth is quite a small place, a few dozen houses, and is it not strange that its oldest and most noted citizens are ignorant of the local- ity of its banking houses? The bank of Plymouth must have a habitation somewhere, and that somewhere must be at Plymouth, Indiana, for it has firstrate quotations in certain 'detectors,' and it would be uncharitable to say that the proprietors of these detectors would lend their countenances to fraud quarterly. Therefore, as the citizens of Plymouth know nothing of such bank, our patrons will continue to refuse its issues as heretofore, and in the meantime we will quote it among the feline institutions without a place of abode."
Jeremy L. Taylor, the cashier, remained in Plymouth until 1857. Dur- ing his stay here he became acquainted with Miss Louise Smith, daughter of M. W. Smith, a prominent citizen, long since deceased, to whom he was married in 1857, and removed to South Bend, where he resided until his death occurred in 1905.
The Marshall County Bank.
This bank opened for business May 1, 1854, and was to continue until 1872, but the free banking system then in operation in Indiana beginning to show signs of collapsing, this bank failed not long after it commenced business. It was organized under the free banking law of Indiana with a capital stock of $100,000, divided into 1,000 shares, all taken in the name of L. T. Meriam and J. M. Kibbee, of Warren, Ohio. William J. Moir and John Porter, both also of Warren, Ohio, came here the latter part of April, 1854, and took charge of the bank on the first of May of that year. It was opened in a frame building which stood on the ground now occupied by the Plymouth State bank. It is yet the pride of these gentlemen that under their management no patron of the bank ever lost a cent. The bank having been closed, Mr. Porter went to Eldora, Iowa, where he engaged in the prac-
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
tice of the law. Mr. Moir taught the Plymouth schools until 1856, when he went west and also settled in Eldora, Iowa, where he and Mr. Porter still reside.
Branch of the State Bank.
In 1858 A. L. Wheeler erected a bank building on the lot adjoining the Masonic temple on the north, with an excellent vault and all the necessary conveniences arranged expressly for the transaction of banking business.
A branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana first occupied the build- ing about 1859, and occupied it until about 1861, when it was transferred to the Fletchers of Indianapolis, who placed it in charge of Theodore Cress- ner, Sr., and the bank was moved to the rooms on the second floor of the N. S. Woodward building, on the west side of Michigan street, where it remained until it went into liquidation about 1866.
After the state bank left the Wheeler bank building, A. L. Wheeler started a private bank therein, which he named Wheeler Bank, and placed Daniel McDonald in charge of it as cashier. This bank he continued until December, 1864, when he closed it and placed the money in other and more profitable channels.
Shortly after Wheeler's bank was closed the Plymouth Branch Banking Company was organized, with Theodore Cressner in charge, which was con- tinued until it went into liquidation in 1870. Mr. Wheeler then organized what he called the Plymouth Bank, with himself as banker and his son, Ed- ward R. Wheeler, cashier. This bank continued until the early part of 1878, when it went out of business, all indebtedness having been fully paid.
First National Bank.
The First National bank of Marshall county was organized in 1872 with a capital stock of $50,000; M. A. O. Packard, president, and James A. Gilmore, cashier. It is somewhat remarkable that after the lapse of thirty-six years both these officers are occupying the same positions they were chosen to fill in the beginning. The bank occupies the corner rooms in Mr. Packard's bank block, corner Michigan and Garro streets.
The Plymouth State Bank.
This bank was organized March 22, 1892. It has a capital stock of $50,- 000 and a surplus and undivided profits of $63,500. The officers are: David E. Snyder, president ; Charles T. Mattingly, vice-president ; Oliver G. Soice. cashier ; Miss Carrie E. Reeves, assistant cashier. The directors are : David E. Snyder, Charles T. Mattingly, Henry Humrichouser, Theodore Cressner, Samuel Gretzinger, John Blain (since deceased), and Oliver G. Soice. The bank purchased the south part of lot No. 39 on the northwest corner of Garro and Michigan streets, on which it erected, about 1893, a fine stone building at a cost of $15,000, which is furnished throughout with all modern conveniences, and the funds are well protected by a Hall's Safe Lock Com- pany safe, fire and burglar-proof time lock.
The lot on which this bank is located has a bank history which is of local interest in this connection. Going back into the misty mazes of the past it may be stated that it was in the early history of America, owned and occupied by the Miami Indians. It was also claimed and controlled by France from the time of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi river
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
by La Salle in 1682 to 1763, when France relinquished it by treaty to Eng- land, and it was held by it until 1779 as a part of her colonial possessions in North America. The state of Virginia then extended its jurisdiction over it until 1783, when it came by treaty of peace and by deed of cession from Virginia the property of the United States. In 1787 an ordinance was passed by congress creating the territory northwest of the Ohio river, em- bracing this lot as well as the entire state of Indiana. In the meantime the Pottawattomie Indians became possessed of it 'by occupancy and by treaty with the United States. In a treaty made by Gen. Lewis Cass, Gen. John Tipton and James B. Ray, October 16, 1826, and the chiefs of the Potta- wattomie tribe of Indians, the said tribe ceded a tract of land for a road from Lake Michigan to the Ohio river, which was afterwards named by the Indiana legislature the Michigan road, to be 100 feet in width, and also one section of good land contiguous thereto for each mile of said road. After this treaty was made the land was surveyed by the government and desig- nated as the north part of the northwest fraction west of the Michigan road of Section 13, Michigan road lands. The land was entered by James Blair, Joseph Orr and William Polke. It later came into the possession of Polke, Blair and Seering, who platted and laid off the town of Plymouth, this par- ticular lot being designated as No. 39. The lot was purchased from the original proprietors by A. L. Wheeler November 18, 1837, for $26, the ac- knowledgment being taken by Stephen Marsters, justice of the peace, one of the earliest pioneers of the county, who resided on the Michigan road near the Fulton county line.
Mr. Wheeler sold the lot August 9, 1854, to John Porter for $2,600, who came here from Ohio as one of the managers of the Marshall County bank, organized under the free banking law of Indiana, which aided in the financial disaster of 1857 and the closing of this and about all the other banks organized on the same plan not long afterwards. Mr. Porter erected a frame building on the corner, in which the business of the bank was trans- acted until it collapsed. The lot then passed into several different hands and finally back into the ownership of Mr. Wheeler, who erected on the north half of the lot, in 1859-60, a building especially for banking purposes, which was the finest and best in town at that time. A vault was built in it costing $600 or $700, with a patent Yale lock with a combination of several millions, and the whole outfit was considered fire and burglar-proof. It was erected especially for the use of the Bank of the State of Indiana, a branch of which was located here at that time. It occupied the building for some time, when it was transferred to the Fletchers, of Indianapolis, and moved to another building. Mr. Wheeler then started a bank of his own in the building, which he continued to operate until 1865, when it was closed and the capital invested in other business. The branch of the State Bank then went back into the building and occupied it until 1870, when it was discontinued. Mr. Wheeler then started the Plymouth bank with himself as president and his son, E. R. Wheeler, as cashier. This bank was continued until 1878, when it was closed and the depositors paid in full. When the Plymouth State bank was organized it occupied this building until the completion of its pres- ent bank building. In 1880 Mr. Wheeler gave this lot, with considerable other property, to his son, E. R. Wheeler, who sold it to David E. Snyder for the bank in 1892.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Marshall County Trust & Savings Company.
Believing there was a need of more banking facilities in Plymouth, a number of the leading citizens organized, September 20, 1907, the Marshall County Trust & Savings company. The following are the names of the board of directors for the first year: C. A. Reeve, L. J. Hess, Emanuel Shively, John Morelock, C. W. Baker, F. E. Garn and H. L. Singery. The following are the first officers: C. A. Reeve, president; L. J. Hess, vice- president ; H. L. Singery, secretary. The company purchased the Sear block, on the southwest corner of Michigan and La Porte streets, and the corner room is the home of the company, which has been arranged with all the appliances for the convenience and safety of the business to be trans- acted therein.
The First State Bank-Bourbon.
The First State Bank of Bourbon commenced business April 10, 1902, in the "model" business room on the northeast corner of Main and Rich- mond streets, and continued its operation in that building until October I, 1904, when it moved into its own banking house on the southeast corner of Main and Center streets. It is provided with a large vault, the walls of which are two feet through and the top is covered with railroad iron. It also is provided with a fire and burglar-proof safe, both of which are pro- vided with the latest and best time locks. The bank was started with a capital stock of $25,000, which was later increased to $40,000. The deposits average about $200,000, nearly all of which is deposited by the business men of Bourbon and the farmers in that section of the county. The capital stock and surplus is now $75,000. The officers now are the same as when the bank was first organized with the exception of vice-president; for the first term Jacob Pritch filled that office. The officers are: President, H. F. Bowman ; vice-president, J. W. Davis, Jr .; cashier, C. C. Vink; bookkeeper, Bessie Vink. The organizers of this bank, Mr. Bowman and Mr. Vink, are both long residents of Bourbon. Mr. Bowman was for several years connected with the banking business in South Bend and later with the Matchette bank in Bourbon; and Mr. Vink served over two terms as treasurer of Marshall county, giving them an experience which is very valuable in the management of their bank.
The Bourbon Banking Company.
This company was recently organized in the town of Bourbon for the purpose of doing a general banking business in conformity to the laws of Indiana on the subject of banking. Its officers are as follows: Dr. B. W. Parks, president; William Erwin, vice-president; C. M. Parks, cashier ; Owen S. Gaskill, assistant cashier. Directors: Dr. B. W. Parks, William Erwin, C. M. Parks, O. S. Gaskill, Gilbert Coar, Charles Hillies, Robert Erwin, John Thomas, and C. B. Harris.
State Exchange Bank of Argos.
The State Exchange Bank was first organized in 1884 as a private bank by William Railsback and T. O. Taber, and was named the Exchange Bank of Railsback & Taber. In June, 1890, it was organized into a state bank with
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
a capital stock of $25,000, under the name of the State Exchange State Bank of Argos, Indiana, receiving a charter under above name, which so remains. The first president was William Railsback and the first cashier T. O. Taber. The bank has at present a capital stock of $25,000; surplus. $5,000 ; deposits, $85,000. The officers are: William Railsback, president ; L. N. Barr, vice-president ; C. D. Chapman, cashier ; Earl R. Taber, assistant cashier.
LXXII. MARSHALL COUNTY'S MILITARY RECORD.
Marshall county has always been patriotic and has always furnished its quota of soldiers in the different wars in which the country has been engaged since the organization of the county. The Mexican war infused a military spirit into the patriotically inclined, and a few veterans who took part in the Mexican campaign were instrumental in setting the military fires ablaze.
In 1854 the Bourbon Light Infantry was organized through the efforts of Capt. John C. Hedrick, a Mexican war veteran, who voted for Andrew Jackson for president. The articles of association are in the well-known handwriting of Capt. Hedrick, on the thirteenth of May, 1854. Those who "enlisted" pledged themselves to continue in the "service" for a period of six years unless sooner discharged. Each member was required to uniform himself with a pair of fine boots with red top fronts, white drilling panta- loons, a red sash at least six feet in length, a black or deep blue frock coat, a black stock, a black glazed cap, plait and plume. The company was required to meet at Bourbon for drill on the last Saturday of April, May, June, August and September in each year, and on the Fourth of July of every year.
It was provided that each officer who should behave in an "unofficer" like manner while on parade should be fined $1, and each noncommissioned officer and private who should behave in an unsoldierlike manner while on duty should be fined 50 cents. Any member who should get drunk while on duty, if a commissioned officer, should be fined $5, and all others $2, and be liable to be discharged by the captain. Fines collected were to be applied to the payment of the musicians and other necessary expenses of the company.
On application of Rufus Brown, colonel of the Fifth regiment of the Indiana militia, the board of commissioners ordered the necessary arms and accoutrements to be forwarded to the company hy the governor. The following were elected officers of the company: John C. Hedrick, captain : John E. Mooney, first lieutenant ; William Bennett, second lieutenant ; William McWhorter, sergeant; Ralph Curry, second sergeant; William Brown, third sergeant; E. G. Mulser, fourth sergeant; Oliver Morris. treasurer ; John McWhorter, John Sharley and John Nidig, drummers ; Isaac Noel, first corporal ; Ben Johnson, second corporal; Zachariah Senior, third corporal: William Gillespie, fourth corporal. Whether the company lived out the alloted time specified in the articles of association is not stated. and the information at hand is confined to the above narrative.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The Plymouth Greys.
This was a company organized under the state militia law, in June, 1854. William Rudd-"Dick" Rudd, as he was familiarly called-was the captain. Col. Rufus Brown procured seventy-five rifles and the side arms for the officers. The company was partially uniformed, armed and equipped for the fray, but was never called into active service. No data of its organization remain of record, and hence its history must forever remain hidden from all prying eyes.
Another company was attempted to be formed about that time, but military ardor having somewhat subsided, it died in course of incubation. It was a cavalry company and was called the "Marshall County Rangers." At the meeting called for its organization David Vinnedge was chosen chairman and Rufus Brown secretary. On motion of Dr. Brown, the uniform was made to consist of the following gorgeous outfit: Kossuth hat, with ostrich plume, citizen's frock coat (black), sky-blue pants with stripes (satinet), red sash, and spurs.
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