USA > Indiana > Cass County > Combination atlas map of Cass County, Indiana > Part 3
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After tho organization of tho caunty, in April following, the authority to solemnize marriages was required by application at the office of the Clerk of the Cass Circuit Court, tho partics being resideats here. The parties wbo, contemplating marriage, procured tho authority here were Alexander Wilson, son of Gen. Walter Witsoa, and Miss Matilda Thorpe, daughter of Moses Thorpe, at that time one of the County Commissioners. This mar- risge was celebrated on the 28th day of May, 1829, Associate Judge lliram Todd performing the ceremony.
Tbn next marriage under the new jurisdiction was hetween Thomas MI. Berry and Haanah Binney, nad solemnized by John Scott, as the record discloses, on the 7th day of Juno, 1829.
On the 4th day of July, 1829, the third license, in course, was issued by the Clerk, to Andrew Waquire and Almida McMillen. This twain wsa mado one flesh, on the evening of the 5th, Job B. Eldridge, one of the three first Justices of the Peace of the County, officialiag. This was Job's first effort in that line, and to guard against possible failure at the critical moment, he conned over in his mind an appropriate ritual and cammitted it to writ- ing, then to memory. Upon the evening in question, be approached the
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scone of the marriage feast, the eahin being already filled with the invited guests. Before entering, he thought it advisable to refresh his memory. IInving satisfied himself that all was right with his newly composed mar- ringe service, he entered the room, the guests sented all round in a circle, the bride and groom occupying the eanter, ready for the ceremony and awaiting his coming. At once he was ushered into the midst of the charmed circle and desired to proceed. He arose to do so, but his mind was vacant. IIe had forgotten his picce-in open sea without a composs. Escope thraugh tho erowd he could not, and to sink through the puncheon floor was impos- sible. In his emergeney, every form of ceremony within the range of his observation passed through his mind with the velocity of lightning, lcoving only blank darkness behind. Time was passing and the delay was becoming hurdensome. Job knew no such word as fuil. So, finally recovering him- self without exciting supicion, a brilliant idea struck him and he embraced his opportunity. Addressing the parties, he proceeded : " You have joined hands. That is an emblem of fidelity. I expect you have talked the matter over before. Then, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ohost, I pro- Dounce you man and wife." The agony was over and Joh was the lion of the occasion. These parties were never divorced.
The fourth pair wero Murray C. Woodworth and Abigail Branson. They were ninrried on the 11th of July, 1829, hy John McGregor, Justice of the Peace. The fiRh, John B. Duret (Clerk) and Miss Elizabeth B. Bell, daughter of Major Danicl Bell, who were married on the 23d of September, hy John Smith, que of the Associate Judges. The eixth and last, during the first year of the county's existence, were William O. Van Doren and Mar- garet Tolbert, who were married on the 20th of December, 1829, by Judgo Smith.
THE FIRST BORN.
The first white person born in Cass County was Sarah, daughter of John, better known As " Jack," Smith, on the 15th day of February, 1828. The family were then living in part of Major Bell'e cabin. Gillis J. McBeao, son of Gillis McBean, County Agent, was horn on the 30th dny of Deocinber, 1829, and was the first white child born within the limits of the " Old Town Plat " of Logansport.
FIRST DEATHS AND BURIALS.
Logansport and its immediate vicinity having been the portion of the county first settled, it was also the portion likely to be the locality where the first births and denths should occur. We have seen that the first born was here. It is also truo that the first deatb, of which we have any account, was here also. This first was a child of Jack Smith, which died in the Sum- mer of 1828. The exact place of its burial is not now known. The next was a man who died at Chamberlain's Tavern, south of the Wabash, some time after, in the Fall of the same year. His was the first burial in the " Old Cemetery."
James Foster, a resident of this jurisdiction, died at Miamisport on the night of December 28, 1828, and was third in order. He was buried on the 25th, by Tipton Lodge, his death and burial being the first in the history of that Lodge. On the night aRer the burial of Mr. Foster, Robert Hars, also a member of Tipton Lodge, died and was buried with Masonic honors on the 27th, the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist. As the county increased in population, ths ratio of mortality increased also, and further note of individual deatbe need not be made in this connection.
GINSENO FACTORY.
For some years anterior to 1830, the digging, collecting and refining the root of the gineeng plant had heen the menna of an extensive trado along the Upper Wabash bottoms. At that date, James Blake, afterward of Indian- apolis, baving had a manufactory of this article on the farm of Oen Mil- roy, in Carroll County, removed his works to this county. The business was very lucrativo, and, except the Indian trade, yielded tho largest revenue of any other calling, aud was tho means of saving a homeetead to many a poor ssttler.
OLD TOWN.
Ke-ne-pa-com-a-qua, or Old Town, was the name of an Indian village on the north bank of Eel River, covered by the reservation to Mau-ohin-e-ques, in the trcoty of October 16, 1826, with the Pottawntomies. A century or more ago, it was known as n point of considerable importance, being a kind of branoh headquarters for the Indians of the Upper Wabash, where the plans for numerous depredatory expeditions against the white settlers along the Virginiu and Kentucky frontiers were concocted. Such was the stato of publio feeling in reference to the source of these depredations, that President Washington, in 1789, directed an inquiry concerning the intentions of the several tribes along the Wabash. Tbo inquiries being unsuccessful, on ex- pedition against this and other Indian towns of the vicinity was fitted out under his direction. Accordingly, on the lat of August, 179I, Brig. Gen. Wilkinson left Fort Washington (Cincinnati) with about 525 men, directing bis march toward this village. On the 7th, at a quarter of 5 o'clock, only six days from Fort Washington, he struck the Wabash at the very point where he had aimed, 'leas than two miles ohove the mouth of Eel River. His attnok upon the town was deeisive and of sbort duration, meeting with little or no resistance. Tho destruction of this town, near a century since, eutitles our narration of it to a place in the history of Cass County.
EDUCATIONAL.
Tho first impulse of the people, upon wbom devolved the responsibility of giving form to society in primitiva Cass County, wne to inaugurate a sys- tem of eduontion which should in the futuro insure a safe foundation for permanent prosperity. Within a few months after the settlement at the "' Mouth of Eel," Gen. John Tiptou and other leading spirits set themselves about organizing an educational association, which, being perfected in a few days aRer tbe inception of the idea, received the siguificant title of the "Esl River Seminary Society," and became, almost at once, an incorpo- rated institution. The result was the erection of a suitablo brick edifice, sinco known as tho " Old Seminary." The building having heen inade ready for occupanoy, a school was commenced the first week in February, 1829, under the instruction of Mr. John Mckinney, then recently from De- troit, at a salary of one hundred dollars per quarter. This first instructor and his successors, under the auspices of the society, continued to energizs the developing intellectuality of succeeding years until 1888. Then, en- larged facilities hecoming nceesgary, the property was sold and the proceeds eventually merged with tho County Seminary Fund, and appropriated to- ward the building and furnishing of an institution of enlarged capacity. A new edifico was accordingly erected, and in due time occupied, the school heing opened in September, 1849. This building, having served its purpose, was torn down and supplanted by tho elegant public school building which now graces the city of Logausport, in the Summer of 1874.
From the organization of the Eel River Seminary Society, in 1828, when tbe cntirs population of the county numbered less than three hundred, until the present day, when our population is more than one bundred times that numher, the same spirit has pervaded society, supplying, with a liberality commensurate with tho demanda of the day, froilities for the cducotion of our youth, equal to those of almost any other locolity, East or West. To-day, in Cass County. we have 123 district, township and ward school buildings, representing the common school grades, and, in addition, Smith- son Collego and the city High School, representing the higher and advanced grades recognized by the educational system of the State, togotber with the numerous private institutions supported by the liberality of our people.
Until 1852, the utility of Normal Schools had scarcely been considered as necessary to our success. During that yoar, a large number of the emi- nent tenchers in this and other States met in Logansport, sod were in ses sion several days, considering and discussing, meanwhile, the advanced ideas on the subject of school management and instruction, ths dutics and obligations of teachers, and the menns whereby they might he enahled to seoure a better standard of qualificotions among themselves as a profession.
Among the eminent teachers present was Dr. Cutter, the author of " Cut- ter's Anatomy and Physiology," who delivered a number of interesting lectures on subjects of vital interest to teachers, and pupils as well. It was very well attended by our home teachers, and the result was much pioneer work done for the development of a better educational system.
Until 1864, however, the experiment of introdueing what is known as the Normal method of tenehing had never heen tried, and its utility tested. At that date, Prof. Joseph Baldwin, of great experience in that feld, with T. B. Helm, then County Superintendent, conceived the iden of sueb a sobool, and accordingly established one in Logansport, leasing the old lligh School building for that purposo.
The result was fully equal to the higbest anticipations of its friends ; and to the methodical instruction then and there received, many of the most successful instructors of this and neighboring counties owe their present efficiency and popularity.
This school continued in successful operation for three years succeeding, when Mr. Baldwin was called to Northern Missouri, where he founded a school which has since heen incorporated as the Second State Normal School, in that jurisdiction. Since that time, many of tho methode of instruction and school discipline then inaugurated havo been incorporated in our pres- ent system, and normal schools, as a consequence, are no longer a novelty.
SMITHSON COLLEGE.
This institution was crected hy and is the immediate outgrowth of a de- sire on the part of the Indiana State Convention of Universalists to estnb- lieb an institution of learning within the limits of the State, which should be under their patronage and subject to their control.
It takes its name in honor of Joshua Smithson, of Vevny, Ind., who he- queathed two-thirds of his entire estate, in trust, for the upbuilding and maintenance of an institution of learning abovo the grade of the common school. Mrs. Smithson, also, donated a larga proportion of her own estate for the same purpose.
Smithson Academy, to be located at Muncie, Ind., was the first step toward the attainment of the object aimed at by the Convention. Neither the grade nor the location were, in all respects, satisfactory, and both thege becamo open questions again. As a consequence, tbe cligibility of several points was canvassed.
Finally, Mrs. Elizabeth Pollard, widow of the late Pbilip Pollard. of Lo- gansport, proposed a donation of $20,000, on condition that the grade of the institution, instead of taking that of an academy, should be a college or university, whoso sphere should unite the common school with the highest grade of instruction found in the colleges, East or West, and that it sbould be located at Logansport.
Tbe proposition was accepted, and a bond executed for the future con- veyanco of ten acres of ground, embracing a most eligible site for such an institution, occupying a position overlooking the entiro city of Logansport. This, at its estimated value, with money, making the aggregate sum of $20,- 000; of which, $10,000 was to be used as an endowment fund.
These conditions having been satisfactorily complied with, the central edifice was put under contract; and, on the 9th day of May, 1871, the cor- ner stone was laid, with appropriate ceremonies. In due time the building was completed ; and on the 2d day of January, 1872, Smithson College was opened for the reception of students, with prospects seeming to warrant the commencement of a brilliant carecr. The course of instruction prepared was excellent, and the President and Faculty woro equal to the task imposed upon them, entering upon their duties with zealous interest, and with the prestige of long and successful experience, directing their energies toward the elevation of the educational standard, such as was contemplated hy its owners and projectors.
Although the number of students fin attendance 'bas at no time heen large, the instruction imported to those wbo partook of its privileges has, as a rule, heen most thorough and complete.
ORIGIN OF NAME.
By the treaties of October, 1826, with the Pottawatomie and Miami tribes of Indians, the United Statee acquired the titlo to the lands upon which the major part of this county is situated. Gen. Lewis Cass was the principal of the Commissioners on the part of the United States, through whoss instrumentality those treaties wero consummated. In addition, also, his numerous servicee on hehalf of the people of the great Northwest gave his name a significance entitling it to perpetuation ; henco its adoption by the people of Cass County.
Again, in determining an appropriate device for the seal of the Circuit Court of the county, another pbase of its significance is manifested in per- petuating the historic event of " sealing the compact" with Aub-bes-naub- bee, a principal chief of the Pottawatomies, which resulted in the treaty of October 16, 1826, with that trihe. The seal represents Oen. Cass and Aub- bee-naub-bee shaking bands.
OROANIZATION.
The county having heen organized pursuant to the enabling act of the Legislaturo approved December 18, 1828, and the act supplementary thereto, approved January 19, 1829, on tbo 13th of April, 1829, the next necessary step was the location of the " county seat."
Accordingly, on tho 12th day of August, succeeding, Henry Ristine, of Montgomery County, Erasmus Powell, of Sbelby, and Harris Tyner, of Marion, under the authority vested in them by the act of organization aforesaid, "selected the Town of Loganswort as the seat of justice of Cass County, this Court House to be on the Court Houss Square, as designated on the plat of said town."
On Friday, the 1st day of May, 1829, the first Board of Commissioners, doing county business, was organized, the session being held in the old Seminary building. The first board consisted of James Smith and Moses Thorpo; Chauncey Carter, who was elected at the same time, failing to he sworn.
The organization of townships, according to the date when their respect- ivo houndaries were prescribed and names designated occurred in the order following :
Eel Township was organized and its boundaries designated among the first acts of the County Board, on the lat day of May, 1829. These houn- daries have been modified fram time to time until they were recognized in form as they are found at present.
Miami Township was designated as a subordinate jurisdiction, on the 3d day of January, 1881.
Jefferson Township dates its organization from the 6th of September, 1881.
Clay Township was declared a separate locol jurisdiction on the 7th of May, 1832.
Clinton Township was organized March 4, 1834.
Adams Township was first recognized as a separate jurisdiction May 6, 1835.
Harrison Township was designated as such on the 7th of March, 1836. Bethlebem Towoship was declared such by a designation of its houndary on the 7th of March, 1886.
Noblo Township was organized on the 8th of March, 1886.
Boone Township had the boundary originally defined on the 8th of May, 1888.
Tipton Township dates its organization from the 3d of March, 1840. Deer Creek Township was organized on tbo 26th of July, 1842. Washington Townsbip was organized September 7, 1842. Jackson Township was organized June 6, 1847.
AN INCIDENT IN LAND BUYING.
Among the numerous incideots connected with the history of land buy- ing in Cass County, the following is a sample : Several land huyers bad an eye on a "lot," the quality of which was accepted as " first-rate," and each was making his own calculations to get to the " Land Office" ahead of
the others. Among the number was John Fletcher, who entertained a secret desire to " slip in first " and " pick up" the same lot. Suiting his actions to his intentions, he quietly put himself in pursuit of the game-"nfoot." The Land Office, where the entry of this lot must be made, was loented st La Porte, and required some sharp traveling by the best routo to get there within a reasonably short period. The motions of the prospective buyers depended very much on the amount of money each had about his person, each adopting the plan his own " shrewdness" suggested. Mr. Fletcher was Dot overstocked with money, and went on the " cheaps," and, travel- ing day and night without balting, he reached the Land Office first, and thus secured tho prize. The excitement of the raco buoyed him up, and for the time being he was unconscious of his exhaustion, uuril, having gained his point, his mind was relieved of the strain upon it. In this condition, he regnled himself with a generous supply of " fire water," and started homeward, the weather being stinging cold. That night, he " laid out," and there was snow upon the ground. The result was, his feet and legs were so badly frozen that they had to be taken off about the knee joint, making him a cripple the halaneo of his days. lle was aRerward offeu seen in Logansport, in its early days, "stumping it" around at a gnit that would do credit to modern pedestrians. He got his land, however, and that was what he went for.
EARLY PURCHASES.
After Alexander Chamberlain and William Newman, the first purchases of land were made hy Lloyd B. Harris, who, on the 10th day of September, 1825, purchased the fractional east half of tho west half of Section 34, Township 27 north, Range I east; Lemuel G. Marah, who purchascd, on the 15th of November, 1825, the fractional west half of the west half of the same section ; Christian Simons, on the 10th day of December, 1825, the west half of the northeast quarter, and the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 33, Township 27 north, Range I enst ; and on the same day, George B. Walker purchased the west half of the northwest quarter of the same section, township and range with Mr. Simons.
Theso being the first, other purchases woro numerously made soon after, thus adding rapidly to the number of land owners and the actual settlers of Cass County, who bave left their mark in the before unbroken forest, and left it a goodly heritage to their children.
MICHIOAN ROAD.
By the provisions of tho act of the General Assembly of the State of In- diana, approved January 21, 1828, " Joho McDonald, of Davicss County, and Chester Elliott, of Warwick, were appointed Commissioners to survoy and make a road from Lake Michigan to Indinnapolis, agrecahly to the late treaty with the Pottawatomio Indians, and the act of Congress in confirmation thereof."
Under that authority, work was immediately commenced and the line of rond. making Loganeport a ocntral point, was accordingly surveyed, located and marked out the succeeding Summer and Fall. As a general business thoroughfare, it was one of the most valuable improvements of its day, open- ing up a lino of trade that tended, perbaps, most largoly to develop tho vast natural resources of Cass County.
The history of this road, during the first fifteen years of its use, is full of interesting incidents, as they illustrated the oxperiences of those who, from necessity, were compelled to traverse its line through bottomless mud or endless "corduray." Its reputation was not limited to Cass or other counties along the horders hut was co-extensive with the settled districte of the entire Northwest. Indeed, its name was ahroad as far East as tho Alle- ghanies' and beyond, for the whole tido of emigration passing! from th Eastward to populate the newly acquired domain in Indiana and the more Western States and Territories, must flow along this great thoroughfare, because no other was so direct, and none affording hetter inducements for travel.
Some almost fabulous stories havo been told hy travelers of their experi- exces in endeavoring to muko timo with " a good six-horse tenm," when, at the end of a day of laborions travel, sunset would overtake them while yet in sight of the spot where tho day's journey was commenced. Such experi- ences were numerous, as many wbo may read this will readily atieat.
Traveling hy public conveyanco, along tho Michigan Road, especially fram Logansport south, in the direction of Indianapolis, has, also, its char- acteristic incidents. Among theso, the fact that " stage passengers" wero sometimes under the necessity, not only of leaving the " coach " (oRener A " mud-wagon") and walking much of the way, hut carrying each a "rail" with which to " pry" the vehicle out of the mud or to assist in oxtricating the exhausted team from the mire. Remembrances of such feats are still fresh.
WABASH & ERIE CANAL.
By the act of Congress approved March 2, 1827, provision was made for assisting the State of Indiana to opon a canal conncoting " the waters of the Wabash with those of Lako Erie," " for the more easy and cheap convoy- ance of goods, and merchandise from ons extremo thereof to the other," through the country then illy pravided with tho means of transit and inter- communication between the different sections of this and tho oldor settled 1 portions of Indiann, adjacent and more distant, thus mageifying the importance of the interests to be derived from the newly acquired purchase from the cessione of the preceding Octoher, 16th and 23d, by the Pottawat- omie and Miami Iodians.
The survey of the conal was commenced in 1833, several routes being traversed for the purpose of selecting the most available. It was not, how- ever, until 1836, that there was nny determination as to the more practicn- ble route. In order to supply the publio demand for it, tho Legislature of 1834-5 directed the survey of two proposed routes through this county ; one of these to cross tho Wabash above Logansport, passing down through the low landa on the south side until it should intersect another proposed route crossing from the north sido ; the otber, commencing at the samo point and running along the north side, through Logansport, crossing Ecl River, and thence down, on the samo side of the Wabash, 80 as to cross the Wabash ahove Delphi, and there intersect the main line. The latter routo, from considerations not then nor since generally understood or sanctioned, was accepted as the more practical.
Tbe work was subsequently let about the 15th of September, 1835, along the selected route, and the work commenced on special sections shortly therea Rer, but no part of the work was completed in Cass County until the Summer of 1838. In the Fall of 1838, water was let in and boots camo down as far as Berkley street, Logansport, about Soptemher of that year. Boats, however, did not pass through the city and cross Eel River until sometime in the Summer of 1840.
As soon as the canal was completed to Lafayette and put in operation, its utility as a means of cheap transportation for heavy freights and the products of the country began to he fully realized, and ite popularity con- tinued unohated during & period of more than a third of & century, soawer- ing fully the purposes contemplated hy its original projectors. But, in the course of time, ils usefulness was measurably superecded by the grester facilities afforded by railroads, for transportation and conveyance, than could he offered by the canal. Having completed its mission, it was aban- doncd in 1875.
THE CIRCUIT COURT
was organized on Thuradny, May 21, 1829, with Bethuel F. Morrie, Presi- dent Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana, and Hirsm Todd and John Smith, Associates. Tbe attorneys present on the occasion, wore Albert S. White, Andrew logram and Henry Cooper. The otber officers of the court were John B. Duret, Clerk, and William Scott, Sheriff. This first term of the court was held in the Seminary, and continued in session one day, no other huviness being transacted than to perfect the organization and direct the procurement of the necessary record books and to adopt a seal. The seal so adopted consists of an interior design, representing Gen. Coss and Aub-hee-naub-hee, with hands joined, in the act of ratifying the
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