USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial history of Grant County, Indiana, 1812 to 1912 : compiled from records of the Grant county historical society, archives of the county, data of personal interviews, and other authentic sources of local information > Part 63
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
Brownlee was such a lover of musie that he would make any sacrifice to help the cause along. We boast today of our musical energy, but think of those two flights of steep, narrow stairs, with no appliances for moving pianos except stout straps held by men at the top of the stairs. They must take off the legs of those big, old-fashioned pianos and then about all the available men and boys in town assisted. I wonder which was the hardest task, getting it up or down.
Around the academy and college centered the band music of Grant county for a time. Ernst Guenin was the teacher, and Edward Gnenin his brother, the conductor of the Academy Band, so called because it was composed largely of students of the academy. It was more of an orchestra than a band, said one lady, being composed of stringed as well as wind instruments. Marion was proud of that band. Frust Guenin allowed nothing but a good class of music to be played, composing and also arranging classical pieces to suit the players. Professor Kel- sey, a mmisie teacher of the college, also taught band music, and when the call came for troops, many young men from these two schools enlisted as musicians. And the motto on the wall above the academy platform, "We Are the Nation's Hope," fashioned out of evergreen branches, came to have a meaning far different from that first intended of merely inspiring the boys and girls to diligent study. From records left by the late J. Warren Stout, I find the names of Morgan ZeHar, Edward Guenin, All Thornburg, Weaver Thornburg and Mr. Stout as belonging to the band of the Eighth Regiment. Later these men re-enlisted with others in the Thirty-Fourth Regiment, whose names are: Daniel Mowrer, Mr. Stont, Rufus Stout, Harve Mark, Ed. Harry, George Mellheny, Frank Hedrick, John Johnson, Charlie Jones, All Lenox, Joe Burk and Jim Work. Harve Mark, with the assistance of Charlie Jones, or- ganized this Thirty-fourth Regiment Band. They came home from the war in 1865, and in August formed the Marion Silver Band, with, of course, additional members. Through the kindness of Mrs. Warren Stout I have learned much, she having preserved the oldl records of this band, which became quite famous locally. They had fine uniforms for that day, and were so extravagant as to have a band wagon buitt. Rou- ben Barley and Ephraim Zahn were the builders, and the bed extended over the wheels, the seats running long ways. All Lenox painted it yellow (as memory has it). This was in the good old days before the band wagon had become a subject of jest and any one with a right to a seat was much in evidence. Will Stout was president of the organiza- tion, and Harve Mark leader of the band. The names on the old record are: Warren Stout, Will Stout, Rufus Stout, All Lenox, Gib Mellheny. Prank Hedrick, John Johnson, Ed. Harry, George Webster, Jr., Simon Goldthait, Lester Norton, Watt Swayzee, Bert Mowrer, John Rouss, Fisher Blinn, and John Barley, They played in neighboring towns on all sorts of occasions, and kept up the organization until about 1876. A nearby town in those days often meant twenty or thirty miles, and one can guess the state of the roads at times.
One lady from recollections of her childhood tells of the New Cum- berland band, organized by Mr. Jeff Dun, and perhaps first taught by a Mr. Updike. This band soon became the pride of the community, and filled many engagements. She remembered then preparing to come to Marion a distance of twenty miles on so cold a night that the towns- people predicted their violent illness or sudden death and helped to pack them into the bob-sled with heated bricks and comforts. They must have arrived in Marion able to perform their parts, for they came home at three or four next morning covered with glory. Mr. John O. Spurgeon has given me valuable data concerning the Banner Brass
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Band of Sweetser. He has sent me clippings, press notices and old concert programs. I see that the Peru Sentind says, with becoming modesty, that, except their own, there is no better hand in the state. The Marion Chronicle thanks them for a splendid serenade. W. Il. St. Clair was instructor of this band and Joe W. Spurgeon, business manager. It was organized in 1882. This band maintained a vocal quartet, whose members were: Professor St. Clair, Albert S. Spurgeon, Jolm O. Spurgeon and Joseph W. Spurgeon. The first Funeral this band played for was that of Captain Jolin Reuss of Marion. Thad Butler hired them to tour the country to advertise the business of the Butler car- riage factory. Mr. Henry Fields is an old band conductor. His work dates back many years. He organized and instructed a number of bands.
Following the Silver Band, which stayed together, as I have before said, until about 1876, was organized the Helicon Band, named from instruments of that make used by the players. I am indebted to Mr. Hiram Beshore for information and incidents describing this band. Ile has given me the names of the most permanent members, saying that it was impossible to give a complete list of all who played with them, as they dropped in and out. Blanch Hockett was the leader, and it was often referred to as Hockett's band. He played the Eb cornet. Robert MeKinney, Eb alto. Robert Jones, Eb alto. "Dick" Daniels, Bb tenor. John Baldwin, Bb tenor. AH Thornburg, baritone. Ihram Beshore, tuba. George Marsh, snare drum and Scott Young, bass drum. Said Mr. Beshore: "What a difference in organizing a band in these days. Then there were perhaps a few who had a fair knowledge of music, men who had played in other bands, perhaps, but a large major- ity of the boys we took in almost without experience, and with a slight idea of any kind of music. Our band room was the old Tibbits Hall on the west side of the square, and every one knew when we practiced, as the discords at first were sometimes car-splitting. The most of our musje we had to copy by hand. We were given blank books for the purpose. And I remember copying pieces from the book that George Webster of the old Silver Band had used. Hand copied music is hard to use at best and added no little to our difficulties. Our leader had great trouble in getting the younger members to be punctual at prac- tice. Some of them having 'girl on the brain,' and anxious to display their noble figures in the attractive uniforms, they would dress up in their finery and then slip out to make social calls, coming back tardy. The leader finally told them they must either give up the girls or the musie."
Mr. Beshore related a laughable incident of their first public appear- anee. The least proficient of the players, after some practice, became so proud of their progress that they suggested a publie street perform- ance. Some of the older members (more wise) thought they were hardly ready yet, but finally consented. They went down on the street just below the practice ball and lined up in brave array, and commenced playing the "Mountain Maid," a very simple little polka. Before they were half through, one by one, and finally by twos and threes, the boys began disappearing; part of them took refuge in a nearby stairway leading to the basement of the building, and part of them to the stair- way leading up to the band room. They were seared into a regular panie and before the last strains of the "Mountain Maid" there were remaining only Mr. Hockett, Mr. Beshore and Mr. Thornburg. Mr. Beshore said that after Dahl Elliott came to Marion about 1878, there was new life put into the Helieon Band. He was a master player on the Eb cornet. Almost one in a thousand. so great was his musical ability, and skill in playing this most difficult instrument. He played
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our lead and we now took up a higher class of music. We were an organization for . about eight years. The Eb cornet is not in as general use as of old, the Bb becoming more popular and the clarinet also as a lead instrument, being easier to handle. The Point Isabel Band was a strong organization many years ago. J. V. John was at one time leader, as also was Lee Lightfoot. Mr. Ralph Bailey who has been connected with band music in and around Marion for some years, organized the Newsboys' Band about thirteen years ago, It has since "disbanded." The old Jonesboro Band of years ago was led by Mr. M. V. Whitson. Some of the members were : Robert Jay, Robert Horne, J. M. Barnard, M. L. Barnard, Sam Spence, Tom Nottingham, John Meck, George Zeek, Chris Hill and Ben Rothing- house. This was in the early seventies. For over twenty-five years Edward Reasoner, a blacksmith of Upland, was conductor of the dif ferent band combinations of that vicinity. He taught all the boys of the country round who had musical aspirations and blew a horn, as he himself expressed it, until his teeth gave out. When asked if one should not call him "Professor" Reasoner, he said, "no, Blacksmith Reasoner." Four of his sons are musical, all of them attending the Boston Conservatory of Music. One is now teaching violin and the other three are yet studying. In 1908, the Second Regiment Band of Marion was organized by J. M. Reeves. It was then known as Reeves' Military Band. On April 23rd Colonel Smith and Captain Bixler were sent to Marion to mister the band into service. With the Fol- lowing officers appointed, J. M. Reeves, chief musician; J. W. Kelley, drum major; II. W. Baker, quarter master sergeant. Mr. Baker was also appointed manager of the band. It has twenty-eight members, and is called the Second Regiment Band of the Indiana National Guards. Their equipment is furnished by the government. They must attend camp once each year at Fort Benjamin Harrison near Indianapolis. There is no need to describe to Grant county people the excellence of this band. Too high a tribute cannot be paid to the Soldiers Home Band. It has afforded pleasure to thousands of people. Excursions come from a distance to see the home and hear the splendid music. Its first conductor was Captain John Pitt Stack, Sr., father of the present conductor, John Pitt Stack. One who has attended them cannot forget the evening concerts. The band stand with its red, white and blue lights, the well selected music, played by artists on their several instruments. A large crowd is nearly always in attendance. The afternoon and evening concerts alternate. In the winter they are held in Stimson Memorial Hall. Captain Stack has been a successful leader and the band an educational accession to Grant county. As in Germany, where such stress is laid upon the best class of music being pul within the reach of rich and poor alike, this band and the Sweetser Memorial concerts give to all who will attend free of cost a feast of music;
On April 25, 1898, when Company A, One-hundred-and-sixtieth Regiment, left for Indianapolis to be mustered into the United States service to serve in the Spanish-American war, they took a special train on the Big Four railway at about one o'clock, p. m., the station at that time being where the freight office now stands. The Fourth Regiment Band then stationed at Warsaw was already on the train. Our street car officials had offered to the veterans of the Soldiers' Home free transportation to the public square. About eight hundred of these came down to see the boys off. This so crowded the street ears that the Soldiers' Home Band could not reach the square in time to march with the boys to the station. As a consequence one of them
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has told me they had to count step all the way. The Home Band, however, came down later as far as the depot, and as the train pulled out played, "The Girl I Left Behind Me." The G. A. R. was out with life and drum about the public square to see the boys off. Professor Mershon organized the Marion City Band in about 1900, also the Drum and Bugle Corps. A newspaper clipping of that time says: "The Drum and Bugle Corps is a new thing for Marion, and when the young men appeared in their stunning uniforms, with the new drums and trumpets, they created a good impression." Their leader was, perhaps, the most famous drummer in the United States, being known as "The drummer boy of Shiloh." There have been many other band organiza- tions in Grant county, some of them in connection with fraternal orders. But in a short review I cannot name them. Sometime near 1880 there was perhaps the most complete band organization in the history of Jonesboro. The manager was Robert day, who played Ro cornet, instructor and leader, W. IL. St. Clair (Billy St. Clair). Mr. deff Dunn, of New Cumberland, who was a fine musician, was a member of the Jonesboro band, acting as assistant leader and playing Eb cornet ; Ode Roush, Bb; Dan Roush, Bb; Harmon L. Dailey, Bb; AArthur Hussey, first alto; Lew Elleman, second alto; Lee Long, second alto; Norman Wright, first trombone; George Brumm- ley, second trombone; George Norton, baritone ; George Lotteridge, tuba ; Wallace Lotteridge, tuba ; Sam Spence, snare drum; Wiek Spence, snare drum; Ben Rothinghouse, bass drum; Ed Morgan, piccolo; Clark Moore, vornet : George Bryson, bass and "Billy" day, clarinet. Mr. Ben Scales, an English musician from Boston, was the instructor of this band for a time. "Unele Mack, " or in other words, Rev. J. S. MeCarty, was a loved and honorary member of this band. The members with no intention of disrespect, called " Unele Mack" their mascot. He came faithfully to hear them practice, and often marched in front on parade, willing always to carry overcoats or baggage of any kind that would accommodate the boys. Austin Jay was also an honorary member. This band divided a prize (consisting of a set of 0. 4. Conn's silver band instruments), with a German band of Fort Wayne, at a tourna- ment at Rochester. They mounted the platform in their citizens clothes, having only band caps to distinguish them as musicians, among the many finely uniformed bands present. But when they began to play "Pop Corn" and the "Old Log Cabin Quickstep" all else was for- gotten. Billy St. Clair, their leader, had two hobbies, one was harmony and the other strict discipline. It is said that without ever being unpleasant, he maintained the order of a school room, almost, during practice hours. This band kept up a quartet organization and gave many benefit concerts in the old town hall in the Dailey block. Madam Clara Lonise Kellogg was brought to Jonesboro at one time to sing at one of these concerts. She was elaborately dressed and took no notice of any friendly courtesies extended by Mrs. St. Clair, who was there plainly dressed, being on the program for one voral mimber. Mr. St. ('lair was to accompany his wife on the cornet, and forgot to change the taming slide to a lower key after playing the preceding piece. She handed her baby ( whom she had been holding) to a friend and stopped ont on the platform, all unconscious of the change of key and sang the song through, which in its right key had several high notes. Her voice was almost untrained. She herself said : " If I had known of the mistake I could not have done it." Madam Kellogg came to her afterward and said : "Yon certainly sing high notes beautifully." Mrs. St. Clair, mind- ful of the discourteous treatment of so short a time before, said : "Thank
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you, Madam Kellogg, if you find a song too high for you, I will try and sing it."
"Billy" St. Clair was the organizer of the Indian Band, which was almost altogether composed of Indians originally, with from fourteen to sixteen members. It centered around the Indian village and was well known. Mr. St. Clair composed many pieces for his bands and arranged other compositions. It was in Converse, playing the bass drum in the band where he first became interested in music, learning there to play the cornet. In 1888, when very ill, he was taken to Converse to the home of his wife's people. About two weeks before his death the Converse band, many of them members of the same old company he had learned with, came in the evening to serenade him. He was carried on a cot into the yard. They had not played long until he raised his hand. Jim Dale stepped out of the ranks and went forward, leaning down to catch the whispered words: "You are out of harmony." " Why Billy," said Mr. Dale. "I played a cornet long before yon did." "That may be." said Mr. St. Clair, "but you are out of harmony." He meant it in a general sense of course. This band followed him in a short time 10 the cemetery on the hill. Mr. St. Clair was descended from the early day Bronson family, from whom Bronson street takes its name.
Mrs. Ralph Warner has loaned me an old dance program that is a relie indeed. Only a few days ago she found it between the leaves of an old book, put there by no one knows whom or when. It looks like a sheet of tine note paper with an embossed or stamped border all around the edge of the front page, on which are these words:
Independence Ball The company of yourself and lady is respectfully solicited at Spencer Hall in Marion, Ind. on Friday Evening, July 3, 1863. COMMITTEE
11. S. Mark W. Mitchell D. B. Sweetser C. N. Barley
FLOOR MANAGERS
C. S. Barley J. W. Eward
MUSIC By Ernst Guenin Tickets to Dance and Supper $2.00.
It may seem a bit tiresome to musicians to read at length about them- selves, as they are already familiar with the facts and incidents narrated. Yet how can one give to the general public an idea of what we have done, are doing and about to do, musically, without telling what our profes- sional and semi-professional people have accomplished. It was a courage born of ignorance as to the responsibility of the task that led an amateur historian to attempt even a synopsis of so complex a subject, especially that of the music of the present day. One thing was positively certain, either Grant county had gone to bed one night a nonentity, musically, and awakened the next morning famous, or its musical prominence was the result of the growth of well spent years, at least a part of which must be told. However, I am not writing for musicians but about them. Rather than that any musician should read this chapter, I should prefer that some toiler from field or factory may sean it through and say : "Well, well, I did not know Grant county was so full of music. I am sure it is a great place. There is no need to go far From home for musical advantages."
Mr. Kent Gage was born in Jonesboro. His parents moved to Indiana.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY
polis and afterward to Marion. When a young boy he took piano les- sons, but his mother says he always wanted a harp, after hearing them in Indianapolis. Finally, when about twenty-three years old, he got his first harp from Lyon and Healy of Chicago. He bought harp instructions and was his own first teacher, having a good knowledge of piano music as a foundation. Afterward he took lessous of Erico Tremonti, the noted Italian teacher of Chicago. He now has his fourth harp built expressly for him by the Lyon-Healy Company. A good harp is a very expensive instrument, this one costing one thousand dollars. I was interested to hear about the mechanism of the harp, with its eight pedals which are worked by pressure of the feet. The pedals make the occidentals and half tones by being connected with wires in the big upright frame of the harp. These wires grip the strings, which on a harp are red and white instead of black and white as are the keys of a piano. In playing a difficult piece the pedals must move rapidly. I had always fancied it quite easy to just run the hands gracefully over the strings and bring forth "Annie Laurie" or "Yankee Doodle" at will, but not so. One must have trained feet as well as hands to play the harp. Mr. Gage is one of the comparatively few American harpists, most of them being Italian. He is one of the best, and a great addition to Marion, musically. lle tills many concert engagements out of the city. He plays with the Soldiers' Home Band. and on Saturday for the sick soldiers in the Home Hospital. He is a composer of music, songs and piano selections, and is now arranging to publish some selections for the harp.
Wanamaker's pipe organist of New York City complimented Miss Mildred Dilling by saying that he knew of no young harpist of so much promise. She is now employed at one hundred dollars per month in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church of New York. Miss Charline Dilling is studying the violin. She first took lessons when living in Marion, being then so young that Mr. Nussbaum, her teacher, made three attempts before getting a violin small enough for her to handle. At the time of the concert given by these sisters in Marion in October last, there occurred the death of a very dear friend of their childhood, Mrs. John Butler. Miss Mildred and Miss Charline furnished beautiful music for the funeral services, with the harp and violin, Miss Mildred singing "Abide With Me," "Asleep in desus," and also the favorite song of Mrs. Butler "Nearer My God to Thee, " accompanying her voice with the harp. As little neighbor girls they had played in and out of the Butler home, always calling Mr. Butler "Daddy." Their music was a touching tribute to early childish memories.
Mrs. Emma Hutchinson, superintendent of the Orphan's Home, has told me of the interest of the children in music. At the holiday the just passed the members of the Morning Musical Club asked Mrs. Hutchinson for the Christmas wishes of the children. She had them write out their requests and some of them were very amusing (if not too pathetic); billy goats and rabbits figuring in the list. But as the musical tastes of the children are encouraged by Mrs. Hutchinson, a large number of the girls of the Home asked for French harps in order that they might play with the piano and phonograph accompanying them. The phonograph is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Raymond, and is in perfect tune with the piano. Some of the boys already had harps and now the general ensemble is an orchestra to be proud of. In addition to this they enjoy chorus singing, sometimes, with all the instruments accompanying the voices of those not busy with the harps. At other times Mrs. Intehin- son plays the piano accompaniment and all sing. On Christmas morning the girls of the Home at day break marched through the halls singing carols. In the evening, Madeline Thompson, one of their sweetest sing-
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ers, sang Christmas words to the air of Mendelssohn's beautiful Spring Song, the chorus of voices joining in. She was not well that evening and in a week had gone from the Orphans' earthly home to that heavenly home of orphans, we have no doubt. The nightly bed time song and chant of the Lord's prayer, sung with bowed heads, the piano accom- panying and the repeating afterward of David's prayer, are a tender touch at the close of day.
There has been a constant exchange of courtesies among our musi- cians, different musical combinations being formed, sometimes with the assistance of players from nearby towns, who are pupils of Marion's innsieal institutions. In orchestra work this is especially true and because of the changing nature of this kind of music, I can but give a bare synopsis, a few examples at best. About 1891, Mr. Albert and Mr. Ben barrimer organized a mandolin club, having from ten to twenty mem- bers, composed of mandolin and guitar players, all of them volunteer local talent. This was almost the introduction of mandolin music, which became very popular. These players were in great demand and as Mr. Ben Larrimer said: "Yes, we played for charity, always helping in the Nickel concerts so often given in that day."
About 1899 some of our very young folks .just learning to play you might say ) formed an orchestra and played for the Christian church (now Congregation ) Sunday school. There were Hubert, Frank and Guy Leas, mandolins; Marie Morris and Catherine Carr, violins; Carlos Rigdon, flute; Barry Moore, cello and Hattie Care, pianist. This was one of the very early Sunday school orchestras. The Leas Mandolin Club was composed of the three Leas boys and one or two others. Mrs. F. G. Leas was accompanist. In 1902, or near that time, the Presby- terians organized perhaps the first paid orchestra connected with any Marion Sunday school. Delbert baird, a clarinet player, was first leader and Merle Dee Elliott, pianist. This orchestra consisted of from tive to eight pieces, and the expense of from two to four dollars per Sunday, was collected by special arrangement from the Sunday school. The first orchestra song books in use in Marion were purchased by this orchestra. Mr. Nussbaum had charge of the Sunday school orchestra in later years and the present orchestra is composed of men, and Mr. Earl Riley is director and pianist. Aboni thirty years ago, when Elkanah Hulley was elected superintendent of the First Methodist Sunday school. an orchestra was formed. Arthur Winters and Ed Beek played cornets, Gertrude Smith, a granddaughter of Ernst Gnenin, the violin, and Hartley St. John the bass viol. Mrs. Jennie Watson accompanied on the organ. This must have been the first Sunday school orchestra in Marion. Since then for a good part of the time there has been an orchestra maintained. In 1908 a paid orchestra was organized; the conductor is Mrs. Dolores Kersey Nussbaum. Some of the Sunday school orchestras of other churches have been mentioned in connection with church music. The Methodist church at Point Isabel has a Sunday school orchestra, first led by Delbert Johnson and at present by Ward Kilgore. One of the best remembered stringed quartets playing in public and for a length of time, was composed of the following members: Mr. Paulsen, violin ; Miss Alma Patton, violin ; George Steffens, viola ; and Ben Larrimer, cello. Many other players have combined for a time, playing publicly. Mrs. Catherine Carr Moore and Miss Ida Dobson, violinists, Mr. Steffens, viola, and Mr. Moore, cello, played for enter- tainments. The Franklin and Polly orchestra has always played dance programs. Miss Dolly Spurr and Allen Spurr were managers of an orchestra some years ago, furnishing dance music. There have been ofher combinations playing this class of music.
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