USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 24
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354
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Chondonnai, of one of the lower tribes, Robert E. Forsyth, and William Suttenfield.
"Much of the season of 1815 was spent in rebuilding the fort; and when completed as with the first erected in 1794, was a most substantial affair. The timber with which it had been built was obtained principally from what is now the east end, about where stands the dwellings of H. B. Taylor, James Emery, and the late Samuel Hanna.
"At this early period, the roads leading from the fort were mere traces; one leading to Fort Recovery, and known as the 'Wayne trace,' passing through what is now Allen county, thence into Adams, to the north of Monmouth; from thence passing not far from Willshire to 'Shane's Crossing,' and so on. There was also a trace to Captain Wells' place, on the banks of Spy Run; two traces led down the Maumee on either side; and one extended in the direction of Fort Dearborn, (Chicago;) between which point and Fort Wayne no house was then visible, nor indeed in any other direction, with per- haps one or two exceptions, short of the settlements in Ohio. The two common fording places at that time, and for some years later, were above and below the Maumee bridge; the one below the bridge was better known as 'Harmer's Ford,' both of which are now most entirely obliterated.
" It was below this latter ford, near a path leading toward Detroit, under the cheerful shade of what was then and long after known as the 'Big Elm,' on the fourth of July, 1810, that Captain Ray and a few others from the fort, were enjoy- . ing themselves most agreeably, partaking of a dinner in honor of the glorious occasion, when an express came up the trace from Detroit with the private mail and government dispatches. Here Captain Ray took possession of the 'mail matter,' all gathering around to receive their favors, which were then duly distributed by first Postmaster Ray; and the old Elm was thereafter known as 'the Post Office.' What has become of this 'old familiar tree,' whose o'erhanging boughs formed the shadow of the first post office in the region of Fort Wayne, is now unknown. Perhaps some unsparing axeman long since cut it down. It was by way of Fort Wayne at this period,
JOSEPH S. BUCKLES.
356
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
and some years after, that the troops at Chicago and Green Bay
received their regular mail by military express.
.
" Major Whistler, in 1817, being removed from this point to what is now St. Charles, Mo., was succeeded by Major J. H. Vose, of the fifth regiment of regulars, who held command until permanently evacuated in April, 1819. The departure of the troops is said to have left the little band of citizens then here extremely lonesome and unprotected. The cessa- tion of the therefore daily music of the troops in the fort was supplied by the stillness of nature, almost overwhelming. The Indians were numerous, and their camp fires and rude music, the drum, made night more dreaded; but to this the inhabitants of Fort Wayne soon became familiarized. The punctilio of military life was gradually infused into the social circle, and gave tone to the etiquette and moral. habits of the citizens of the fort."
Payment season at Fort Wayne was for many years a lively business period. On these occasions, traders from Ohio, Michigan, and even New York, visited the place for purposes of trade, taking with them large quantities of whisky, which they dealt out to the Indians so freely as to keep them con- tinually drunk and unfit for business; horse racing, drinking, gambling, debauchery, extravagance, and waste, were the order of the day and night.
When Indiana was admitted into the Union as a State, in 1816, what is now Allen county formed a part of Knox county. The seat of government for the county was located at Vin- cennes up to 1818, when Randolph county was organized, including the present Allen county and a large extent of ter- ritory to the north. Winchester was the county seat until the formation of Allen, in 1823.
By an act of Congress, a land office was established in Fort Wayne in 1822. Joseph Holman, of Wayne county, was appointed Register, and Captain Samuel C. Vance, of Dear- born county, Receiver. After the survey of the lands, the President issued a proclamation for their sale, to the highest bidder, the minimum price being $1.25 per acre; and the sale began on the 22d of October, 1823, at the fort. Considerable
357
FORT WAYNE - EARLY SETTLEMENT.
rivalry having been awakened, touching that portion which embraced the town and immediate settlement-some forty acres, in the immediate locality of the fort, being reserved for the use of the Indian Agent-the most extensive purchasers thereof were Barr, of Baltimore, Maryland, and McCorkle, of Piqua, Ohio. This portion of the city is marked on the city maps "Old Plat to Fort Wayne," and originally designated as " the north fraction of the southeast quarter of section two, township thirty, north of range twelve east;" and it was on this that Messrs. Barr and McCorkle laid off the original plat of the "Town of Fort Wayne," as surveyed by Robert Young, of Piqua, Ohio. This plat was embraced in one hundred and eighteen lots.
Subsequently, Hon. Samuel Hanna purchased all the Barr and McCorkle claims, and therefore became one of the original proprietors of the town. There was a school-house erected on this original plat, at an early day, of which the Fort Wayne Times spoke as follows in 1858: "In this old school-house, many of those, then young, but now past middle life who yet live here, many dead, and others absent, had their early train- ing for usefulness; and many there experienced that joy only · once to be enjoyed in a life-time; while, perhaps, nearly every teacher, who there disciplined the youthful mind, has gone to his final account, and soon here to be entirely forgotten. * This old school-house was built of brick, in 1825, and was then quite large enough for all needed purposes. * * It was only one story in height, and served for many years, not only as a school-house, but as the place of religious worship, town meetings, masonic installations, political speeches," etc.
John P. Hedges,* one of the earliest settlers of Fort Wayne, still living, was among the first teachers in this old pioneer school-house. In the winter of 1826, he had it repaired at his own expense. Mr. A. Aughinbaugh also taught in this build- ing. The old county jail, which, until 1847, stood on the southwest corner of Calhoun street and the court-house square,
* Mr. Hedges called upon one of the compilers of this work, while he was in Fort Wayne, in October, 1874, and related many interesting inci- dents of pioneer life in the vicinity of the old fort.
358
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
was also used for several years as a school-house. It was in this building that Mr. Henry Cooper taught, who is claimed to be the first regular teacher in Fort Wayne.
Among the events of 1819, was the erection of a log house by Samuel Hanna, at the northwest corner of Barr and Colum- bia streets. In this log structure he and James Barnett opened a considerable wholesale store, which they successfully con- tinued for several years. They brought their goods from the East, by the way of Toledo and the rapids of the Maumee.
At the time of the first land sale at Fort Wayne, the pur- chasers, other than Messrs. Barr and McCorkle, were Alexan- der Ewing, who entered the east half, southwest quarter of section two-being the same land on which Ewing's and Rockhill's additions were afterwards laid out. The section of land across the river, in the forks of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers, known as the "Wells pre-emption," had been, by an act of Congress of May, 1808, set apart as a pre- emption to Captain Wells, who was authorized to enter it, when adjacent lands should be offered at $1.25 per acre; but having lost his life in the massacre at Fort Dearborn, in 1812, his heirs being authorized, entered it at the land sale refer -.. red to.
The establishment of the land office, and the influx of pop- ulation opened the way for the settlement of Fort Wayne, and in a few years quite a town sprang up at the forks, which has grown into the present populous city.
CHAPTER XLIV.
ALLEN COUNTY - EARLY SETTLEMENT.
A LLEN county was organized in 1823. Previous to that date it formed a part of Randolph county. The com- missioners appointed to determine upon a site for the county
359
ALLEN COUNTY - EARLY SETTLEMENT.
seat, were James M. Ray, of Indianapolis, W. M. Conner, of Hamilton county, and Abaithes Hathaway. In the early part of 1824, they agreed upon Fort Wayne as the proper place, and in the last week in May, in the same year, the first elec- tion for county officers for Allen county took place. The first session of the "County Board " was held on the last day of May in the same year, the Board consisting of William Rock- hill, James Wyman, and Francis Comparet. The county offi- cers, elected at the first election, were: Anthony L. Davis, Clerk; Allen Hamilton, Sheriff; Samuel Hanna and Benja- min Cushman, Associate Judges; Joseph Holman, Treasurer; H. B. McKeen, First Assessor; Lambert Cushovis, First Con- stable; W. T. Daviss, Overseer of the Poor; R. Hors, Inspec- tor of Elections; Israel Taylor, Joseph Troutner, and Moses Scott, Fence Viewers; Samuel Rood, Supervisor. At the first session of the Board, three Justices of the Peace were elected, as follows: Alexander Ewing, William N. Hood, and William Rockhill. These gentlemen assumed the position, ex officio, of the " Board of Justices," taking the place of County Com- missioners. The first session of this body was held on the twenty-second of October, 1824. On this occasion the Board gave notice of the location of a State road from Vernon, in Jennings county, by way of Greensburg, Rushville, and New Castle to Fort Wayne.
These were true pioneer days in Fort Wayne. There were none of the present fine buildings that grace the city; no lead- ing thoroughfares adorned with fancy teams; no colleges; no fine church buildings; nothing of the modern, fashionable order. But there were the rude taverns, the straggling Indian, the hardy fur-trader-in short, the unpretending pioneer. But few, if any, at this day, thought that Fort Wayne would ever become a leading city. Yet the place had its advantages for trade, and the penetrating business men of early times were not slow to improve them. Pioneer hotel life in Fort Wayne in 1824, is, to some extent, portrayed by an old bill of “ tav- ern rates" which has been preserved. It reads as follows: "Per day, 50 cts .; breakfast, dinner and supper, each 25 cts .; lodging, per night, 12} cts .; whisky, per quart, 12} cts .;
-
360
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
brandy, per quart, 50 cts .; gin, per quart, 37} cts .; porter, per bottle, 37} cts .; cider, per quart, 184 cts."
Allen county had its taxation, and, we suspect, it was both- ersome, too. Every. male over twenty-one years of age had to pay fifty cents. And for each horse, gelding or mare over three years old, thirty-seven and a half cents; every work ox, eighteen cents; every gold watch, twenty-five cents; every pinchback, twenty-five cents; every four-wheeled pleasure car- riage, one dollar. The State taxes were generally paid in wolf scalps, on which a bounty was allowed.
The first circuit court held in Allen county was on the ninth of August, 1824. The judicial circuit then included Adams, Wells, Huntington, and Whitley counties. At this time, C. W. Ewing was made prosecuting attorney, and John Tipton foreman of the grand jury. W. G. Ewing was, on this occa- sion, admitted to the bar as a practitioner at law. At this session of the court an application was made for a divorce, and, says Mr. Bryce, " some indictments were found against parties for selling liquor without license, etc., at this term of the court-each being fined three dollars and cost. In one instance, for gambling, a man was fined ten dollars." The first master in chancery of this court, was Charles W. Ewing, then a young lawyer of much ability. "To show the difference between the manner of allowances of that day and this, when six times as much service was rendered in a given time, * *
the records show that Robert Hood (well remembered by old citizens,) was allowed seventy-five cents per day for three days' service as bailiff to the circuit court; Allen Hamilton, sixteen dollars and sixty-six cents for four months' service as sheriff of Allen county; and Charles W. Ewing, for his services as prosecuting attorney, for the term, five dollars. This court, after a session of three days, adjourned on the twelfth of August, 1824, to convene again as the court in course. The following year, 1825, the board of justices appointed W. G. Ewing county treasurer; and the second term of the circuit court was convened at the residence of Alexander Ewing, on the sixth of June-Hon. F. Morris, of the fifth judicial cir- cuit, a resident of Indianapolis, presiding-Judge Hanna
361
ALLEN COUNTY - EARLY SETTLEMENT.
officiating in the capacity of associate justice. James Rari- den, and Calvin Fletcher were admitted as practitioners of law at this term-both men of considerable distinction in after years. Henry Cooper, a man of many estimable quali- ties, long since deceased, was also admitted to the bar at this term of the court, which continued only five days."
The third term of this court was convened at the house of William Suttenfield, on the twenty-first of November, 1825, Judges Hanna and Cushman presiding. It was at this session of the court that a device for a seal was presented by Charles W. Ewing. Calvin Fletcher presented his commission and was sworn in as prosecuting attorney. The term in the fol- lowing year, 1826, was held at the residence of Alexander Ewing, the same judges presiding; but at the next regular term, which was opened on the thirteenth of August, in the same year, Hon. Miles C. Eggleston, of Madison, presented his commission, as president judge, was sworn in, and pre- sided during the term. Benjamin Cushman acted as associate judge; Cyrus Taber as sheriff, and Amos Lane as prosecuting attorney. A singular story is told of the trial and conviction, on a charge of murder, of Big-Leg, an Indian, who resided near Fort Wayne, at the term of the court held in 1830. "A half Indian and negro woman, whom he claimed as his slave, had been in the habit of entering his cabin during his absence, and taking his meat. After repeatedly warning her to desist, he at length told her that if she disobeyed him again, he would
kill her. From her residence among the clan, of which Big- Leg was chief, whose village was on the Wabash, a few miles from Fort Wayne, with a view to escape the fate that she knew must befall her, after a further disregard of the commands of the chief, the woman came to Fort Wayne, and was soon employed by some of the citizens. Shortly after her depar- ture, Big-Leg came to town, too, and wandering about, he soon discovered her washing, at a house then standing about what is now the southeast corner of Clinton and Columbia streets. Stealing suddenly upon her, with his long knife ready for her destruction, he plunged it into her with such force, that it is said the blade passed through her body, and she fell
362
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
dead at his feet; whereupon he proudly ejaculated, 'Was'nt that nice!' Though no uncommon thing, at that period, for the Indians visiting here to kill each other, and for which no redress had ever been sought by the authorities, the citizens here, who were then largely outnumbered by the Indians of the region, were greatly incensed at this terrible procedure of Big-Leg, and the civil authorities at once had the chief arrested, and placed in the old county jail. His main plea was that the woman belonged to him - was his property, and that he had a right to do what he pleased with her. When told that he was to be hanged for the offense, he could not comprehend. it, but seemed to get the idea that it was some such operation as that he had often witnessed in the use of the old steelyards by the traders in weighing venison, etc., and concluded that he was to be weighed until he was dead; which fact soon became commonly understood among the Indians of his tribe and the region here; and as he was a chief much regarded by his clan, they early sought to exchange him for one of their number, whom they considered rather worthless; but without avail. Having received some explanations as to his probable fate by hanging, or weighing, as he understood it, which he seemed to regard as fixed, he, with his friends, thought to have the experiment tried upon a dog, in order to see how the animal would act. Accordingly, while the chief was still confined in the jail, a number of his Indian friends collected about the outside of the prison, in view of a small opening, where the chief could look out and see the action of the canine as his Indian friends proceeded to execute him. Placing a rope around the animal's neck, and suspending him from a pole that had been arranged for the purpose, at the height of a few feet from the ground, by means of crossed stakes driven into the earth, the dog was soon dangling in the air. Observing the animal very closely through the grates of the jail, the violent throes and contortions of the dog at once gave him a great aversion to hanging, or being thus weighed till he was dead; and when the jailor again made his appear- ance, he urged that he might be shot, rather than be killed by such a process as that he had seen tried on the dog. When
363
ALLEN COUNTY - EARLY SETTLEMENT.
his trial came on, John B. Bourie and chief Richardville acted as interpreters. He was convicted, but being recommended to mercy by the jury, the governor subsequently granted him a pardon; and in 1848, with a body of Miamis, he removed to Kansas."*
From 1823 to 1830, Fort Wayne was a scene of pioneer life. The general style of the dwellings was that of the usual log cabin, or the "hewed log house," which was quite a luxury. There were a few frame houses, but the interior of all was pretty much the same. Not a vestige of aristocracy could be seen in any quarter. Young ladies were then plain, common- sense girls. Courting was conducted in the vivid presence of a " big log fire," unaided by the soft notes of the piano, as at the present time. The lovers talked of plain matter-of-fact subjects. But little, if anything, was said of the opera. The theatre had a charm, but only as something to be talked about. But things have changed. With 1827-28, there came rumors of a canal, and finally, the canal itself. This was a vast inno- vation -an important improvement; but the advanced idea did not rest here. A railroad was agitated-nay, constructed. Brick and stone buildings took the place of log houses; the pioneer trader became a merchant ; elegant residences were erected; churches were built; society was formed; fine tastes were cultivated; elegant furniture, costly pictures and the piano were introduced. In short, a populous, prosperous city grew up with all its attendant luxuries. Pioneer life disap- peared and modern extravagance took its place.
It would be tedious to follow along the dry current of the modern history of Fort Wayne and Allen county. It has been a history of continued progress. Enterprise has marked every page, and success crowned almost every effort. We shall be content now, to notice the present condition and future prospects of Fort Wayne and Allen county, and to give a few pem pictures of the pioneers of civilization in that section.
* Bryce's Work - Recollections of Mr. Hood.
CHAPTER XLV
ALLEN COUNTY - FORT WAYNE- MODERN HISTORY.
A LLEN County was named, at the suggestion of General Tipton, in honor of Colonel John Allen, of Kentucky, a distinguished lawyer, who met his death at the Massacre of the River Raisin. The county has an area of 654.35 square miles, embracing 413,607.08 acres, and a population of about 56,000, with a taxable valuation of over $20,000,000. In 1830, the population of the whole county was only 996, and the taxable valuation of real and personal property scarcely $100,000. These statistics give some idea of the immense growth of the county in both population and wealth. The following table shows the growth of the different townships in population, from 1850 to 1875:
Townships and Cities.
1875
1870
1860
1850
A boste,
1200
906
876
539
Adams,
3000
2388
1773
1012
New Haven,
2500
912
.
Cedar Creek,.
2100
1713
1228
814
Eel River,.
1900
1217
1003
655
Fort Wayne,
25150
19460
10319
4282
Jackson,.
304
202
93
. . .
Jefferson, .
1800
1445
1061
563
Lafayette,.
1700
1471
1320
529
Lake,
1600
1309
951
578
Madison,
1500
1278
919
561
Marion,
1400
1319
1358
1095
Maumee,
500
394
164
93
Milan, .
1300
1183
786
361
Monroe,
1600
1479
610
414
Monroeville,
900
630
..
· .
(364)
·
365
ALLEN COUNTY - FORT WAYNE.
Perry,.
1400
1280
1180
842
Pleasant,
1300
1280
1207
658
Scipio,
600
420
346
173
Springfield,
2100
1749
1505
702
St. Joseph,
1500
1373
1065
748
Washington,
1900
1628
1487
1305
Aside from the city of Fort Wayne, there are no large towns or cities in Allen county. The soil is generally well adapted to agriculture, and corn and wheat are produced in abundance. For the most part, the farmers are wealthy; and within the last ten or fifteen years, the small, incommodious pioneer farm houses have been exchanged for handsome dwellings. Farmers and farmers' children are well educated. The young ladies of the rural districts are in happy contrast with the "girls " of 1850. Most of them are accomplished in music, and possess a good education.
The public schools of Allen county are in an excellent con- dition. Well furnished buildings are provided in all parts of the county, and these are generally supplied with well qualified teachers. There is, perhaps, no other county in the State, where the schools are in a better condition.
The public schools of Fort Wayne are justly the pride of the city. At the present date, there are in the city thirteen excellent school buildings, well furnished, valued at $185,000. Seventy-five teachers are employed to teach 3,500 pupils. The high school building is located on beautiful grounds, with an area of 18,000 square feet. The basement of the structure is of dressed stone, nine feet high; the main building, of brick, is two stories high, each fifteen feet in height; and the whole is covered by a "mansard," twelve feet in the clear. The tower has a porch finished with a balustrade so as to form a balcony. The interior is tastefully and elaborately appointed.
The Jefferson, or Fourth Ward, school building is also an ornament to the city. This building is of brick, three stories in height, and covers an area of 3,600 feet. It contains twelve rooms, with a seating capacity of six hundred, and is supplied with twelve teachers.
The Clay, or First Ward, school is also a fine three-story
366
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
brick building, containing eight rooms, 495 seats, and is sup- plied with eight teachers. The others are, the West German, wood, corner Webster and Washington, rented; Jefferson, brick, corner Jefferson and Griffith, $27,500; Washington, brick, corner Washington and Union, $20,750; Hoagland, wood, corner Hoagland avenue and Butler, $17,000; Hanna, brick, corner Hanna and Wallace, $16,600; Harmer, wood, corner Harmer and Jefferson, $5,650; Bloomingdale, wood, corner Bowser and Marion, $3,900; North Bloomingdale Ger- man, wood, north of Feeder, rented; North Bloomingdale English, wood, north of Feeder, rented.
ENROLLMENT FOR 1874.
Schools.
Boys. 252
255
507
High,
25
42
67
West German,
70
69
139
Jefferson,
318
300
618
Washington,
132
172
304
Hoagland,
204
211
415
Hanna,
136
125
261
Harmer, .
53
51
104
Bloomingdale, . .
85
121
206
North Bloomingdale German
13
15
28
North Bloomingdale English,
18
14
32
Total,
1495
1554
3049
The following comparative table, giving the various items concerning the public schools, for a period of ten years, will not only show the growth of the public schools, but of the city as well:
Years.
Enume- ration.
Enroll- ment.
No. of Teachers.
Value of School Prop'y
1864
5270.
.1385.
19
$ 33,150
1865
5673.
. 1400
30,000
1866
6321.
1629.
18
38,000
1867
7255.
1937.
23
58,500
1868
7846.
.2181.
34.
115,110
1869
8365. .
. . 2457 .
44.
140,000
1870
8256 .
. 2537.
49
165,000
1871
8239. ... 2640 ..
.. 54.
165,000
1872
8637. .
. . 2472. ... 55.
168,000
1873
8777 .... 2682 .... 56 ...
173,000
1874
9060. ... 3056 .... 65 ....
180,000
Girls.
Tota ..
Clay,.
CHARLES LOUDER, ESQ.
368
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
The Catholics have a large number of parochial schools, as well as the Lutherans, who have several commodious edifices. The Lutherans have also a large college within the city limits, known as the Concordia College. This is under the Synod of their church, under whose jurisdiction this district is. The Convent of the Sacred Heart, under the charge of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, is in close proximity to the city. The Methodist University occupies a large and well-arranged build- ing in the western part of the city. It has been established for a number of years, occupying their present quarters since 1850. The Rev. R. D. Robinson, D. D., has charge of it, and under his able management it is rapidly reaching success. The Methodists have a well-conducted college at Fort Wayne. The building is a fine one, and adds something to the appear- ance of the city.
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