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 1879 > Part 26
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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 determi .. e upon a site for the county
377
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 Roek- 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 faney 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 .;
378
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
brandy, per quart, 50 cts .; gin, per quart, 37} cts .; porter, per bottle, 37} cts .; cider, per quart, 182 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 cach 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
379
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 elan, 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
380
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 songht 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 faet 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 exeente 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
381
ALLEN COUNTY - EARLY SETTLEMENT.
his trial came on, John B. Bonrie 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 scen 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 pioncer 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 pen 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
Aboste,
1200
906
876
539
Adams, .
3000
23SS
1773
1012
New Haven,
2500
912
. . .
. . .
Cedar Creek,
2100
1713
1228
814
Ecl River,.
1900
1217
1003
655
Fort Wayne,.
25150
19460
10319
42S2
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
Manmec,
500
394
164
93
Milan, .
1300
1183
786
361
Monroc, .
1600
1479
610
414
Monroeville,
900
630
...
...
382
383
ALLEN COUNTY - FORT WAYNE.
Perry,.
1400
1280
1180
S42
Pleasant,
1300
12S0
1207
658
Scipio, . .
600
420
346
173
Springfield,
2100
1749
1505
702
St. Joseph,
1500
1373
1065
748
Washington, .
1900
162S
14S7
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 arca 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, cach fifteen fect 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 arca 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
384
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
brick building, containing eight rooms, 495 seats, and is sup- plied with cight 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
Girls. 255
507
High,
25
42
67
West German,
70
69
139
Jefferson, .
31S
300
618
Washington, .
132
172
304
Iloagland,
204
211
415
Hanna, .
136
125
1
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:
Ycars.
Ennme- 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
S256.
.2537.
49
165,000
1871
S239.
2640 ..
.54 ..
165,000
1872
8637 .... 2472 .... 55.
168,000
1873
S777.
.. 2682 .... 56 ..
173,000
1874
9060 .... 3056 .... 65 ....
180,000
Tota ..
Clay,
CHARLES LOUDER, ESQ.
25
386
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.
RELIGIOUS .- There are more than twenty fine, elegant, and well-furnished churches in Fort Wayne. The architecture is generally handsome, and the material is substantial. Among them should be mentioned the Roman Catholic Cathedral. This is a very beautiful structure of brick, surmounted by two steeples. Trinity Church (Episcopal) on West Berry street, is one of the handsomest church edifices in the State, though by no means as large as some others in that city. The Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Christians have all built them- selves fine and costly churches.
RAILROADS .- The lines of railroad leading from Fort Wayne in eight different directions, give to the city a decided metro- politan appearance, and bring untold wealth to its doors. These roads are all important lines, that connect the "Summit City " with all the principal cities of the country. The tracks and equipments of these roads are first-class, while the accom- modation for all kinds of transportation is as good as could be desired. It is estimated that thirty-four passenger trains arrive at, and depart from, the city every day, while freight trains may be estimated by the hundred daily. Other important roads are in contemplation, but even at the present day Fort Wayne is the great railroad city of Northern Indiana.
WABASH AND ERIE CANAL .- The importance of canals as a
387
ALLEN COUNTY - FORT WAYNE.
means of inland navigation, attracted much attention in the early days of this country, and it is due to them, in a great measure, that our country has been settled and cities founded. In 1820 an act was passed by the Ohio legislature, appointing three commissioners to locate a route for a canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, but it was not until 1824 that a survey was made of what is now the Wabash and Erie Canal. The members of Congress from Indiana then procured a survey of the canal by a corps of United States topographical engineers. This survey was commenced at Fort Wayne, about June, 1826, and at its completion, Congress passed an act, granting to the State of Indiana one-half of five miles in width of the public lands on each side of the proposed canal, from Lake Erie to the navigable waters of the Wabash river. This grant amounted to three thousand two hundred acres per mile. It was accepted by the State legislature, during its session of 1827-28, and Samuel Hanna, David Barr, and Robert Johns, were appointed a Board of Commissioners. This grant was the first of any importance made by Congress for the furtherance of any public works, and may be considered the inception of the policy afterwards adopted, of granting so much of the public domain for public improvements. In 1828 the State granted to Ohio all the land which had been granted for canal purposes in that State, upon the condition that they would, in consideration therefor, construct the works through their territory. In 1843 the canal was opened for navigation, and two years afterwards the Miami extension was completed, thus perfecting a continuous line of canal between Manmee bay and the Ohio river at Cincinnati. The Mahon Brothers commenced running two small packets between Toledo and Fort Wayne, in 1843, but not with any regularity, and it was not until the summer of 1844 that a line making regular trips was established. Samuel Doyle and William Dickey, of Dayton, Ohio, were the pioneers in this enterprise, running ten boats and one steam propeller between Toledo and Lafay- ette, and Toledo and Cincinnati. In 1846, the act known as the "Butler Bill " was passed by the legislature, by which the canal was transferred to three trustees, two of whom were
388
IHISTORY OF INDIANA.
appointed by the bondholders, the remaining one by the State.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS .- The County Court House and County Jail, both located at Fort Wayne, are substantial buildings, well adapted to the purposes sought. There is yet no commo- dious city hall, nor is any needed at the present day, that would impose a heavy tax upon the city. The building in which the headquarters of the fire department are located, is well suited to that branch of the municipality. Further remarks on the present condition and future prospects of Fort Wayne, financially and commercially, are noticed in another part of this work, under the department of the " Great Indus- tries of Indiana." See Index to Biographies to find interesting biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent men of Allen county.
The leading newspapers published in Fort Wayne are the Gazette and Sentinel, both well conducted and influential journals.
CHAPTER XLVI.
HUNTINGTON COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
L EAVING Allen county by the route mentioned in the foregoing chapter, we soon reach Huntington county, now rich in agriculture and commerce, and minerals, but once a dense forest. The county was named in honor of Samuel Huntington, a delegate in the Continental Congress from Con- nectient, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. A small portion of the county is hilly, but for the most part it is level, or only sufficiently undulating to consti- tute a natural drain. The soil is a mixture of sand and clay, is very deep and fertile, and well adapted to all the products indigenous to the climate and country. At an carly day the
389
HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
county was heavily timbered throughout, with the exception of a few small prairies.
The first settlement, as near as we can learn, was made in Huntington county in 1829. Messrs. Artimedec Woodworth and Elias Murray were the first settlers. They came in 1829. Mr. Woodward settled north of Silver creek, on the Wabash. IIere he built a log house and began pioneer life in earnest. Mr. Murray settled a mile east on the opposite side of the river, where he also built a cabin. In 1832-3, a settlement was made on the Salamony river, near the present town of Warren. Samnel Jones erected a log house at this place in 1833, and moved into it with his family in September of the same year. James Morrison settled at the same place abont the same time, and in the following winter Lewis Purviance, Lewis Richards, and George Hehn, located with them.
The first settlers of the present prosperous city of Hunting- ton were C. and J. Helvey, who came from the White river section, originally from Clinton county, Ohio, to Huntington, in 1830, with their sisters. They built a hewed log tavern, which is known in history as the " Flint Springs Hotel." It remained a tavern until 1857, and was for a long time a favor- ite stopping place on the old "Fort Wayne and Lafayette trace." A few now living in Huntington county remember this trace. It was nearly the same pathway over which the bold Robert de La Salle traveled with his military escort in 1680, and the same trace upon which many a zealons French priest journeyed alone, before Americans explored the head waters of the Wabash.
There was another log tavern erected near the cabin of Mr. Woodworth in 1832, but that region remained unsettled until 1847. Clear creek, two and a half miles north from Hunting- ton, was first settled by Michael Doyle, in 1834. In that year he erected the pioneer log cabin of that section, and moved into it with his family.
The Helveys, who first settled at Huntington, sold their lands to General Tipton and Captain Murray, soon after they were located, and the latter gentlemen laid out the town in 1832. Mr. Murray moved to Huntington to reside, with his
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