Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 59

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976

USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 59
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the discontinuance of the Observer, a small local paper called the Noble County Expositor, devoted exclusively to the financial and official affairs of the county, was issued by S. E. Alvord, and continued about three months, the last issue being in March, 1853. It was not a partisan paper, and dealt independently with matters in Noble County. From this time until the summer of 1854, there was no paper published in Albion ; but, at the latter date, John W. Bryant came from Warsaw, Kosciusko County, with an old-fashioned Franklin press and old printing material, and commenced the publication of the Albion Palladium, a Democratic paper. Shortly afterward, Theodore F. Tidball became a partner with Bryant in the publication and editorship of the Palladium, and the paper was issued from an office then located just east of the present site of R. L. Stone's drug-store. The building belonged to William M. Clapp. In the spring of 1855, the press and types were seized under a writ of replevin or attachment from Kosciusko County. Deprived of his press,

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

Bryant went to Columbia City, Whitley County, with his compositors, where, by "doubling teams," the Palladium and the Democratic paper of Whitley County were both issued weekly from one press. The Palladium was folded and addressed and brought over to Albion in a buggy every week, and pub- lished and distributed there. S. E. Alvord accompanied Bryant, and gratui- tously gave his services as assistant editor during the Whitley County episode, which lasted until the autumn of 1855, Tidball being in the meantime engaged in organizing a stock company of Democrats for the purchase of a new press and materials. This was accomplished, and, in the fall of 1855, the paper was re-established in Albion under the name of the Noble County Palladium, Tidball & Bryant, editors and publishers. It was a decidedly Democratic sheet, and engaged with great activity and vim in the somewhat bitter partisan discussion of that time. The Palladium lived through the campaign of 1856, and stopped near the close of that year.

The press and types of the Palladium were purchased of the stockholders by S. E. Alvord, and in February, 1857, was commenced the publication of the Noble County Democrat. The proprietor, S. E. Alvord, was editor, and at first associated with himself, as publisher, G. I. Z. Rayhouser, of Fort Wayne.

The Noble County Democrat, under the successive foremanship and management of W. T. Kimsey, George W. Roof and John W. Bryant, and under the editorship of S. E. Alvord (except during the summer and fall of 1858, when George W. Roof was editor as well as publisher), completed two volumes, and was then discontinued until September, 1859, when a new series, still under the name Noble County Democrat, was commenced by Edward L. Alvord, a printer from the New York Tribune office. Subscriptions were lim- ited to four months-none being received for a longer period, and at the end of four months, being about the 25th of December, 1859, the Noble County Democrat became finally defunct.

During the latter part of 1860, Joshua R. Randall, having bought of S. E. Alvord the printing press and material of the Noble County Democrat, commenced the publication of the Albion Herald. He had associated with him at different times a Mr. Starner and W. W. Camp, an ex-Methodist preacher. Starner was chiefly distinguished, and is mentioned, as the man who, on a small bet, ran about 160 rods, barefooted, in the snow on a cold winter day. The result of the exposure was natural-but he pulled through. Camp was (externally) a polished little fellow, generally wearing well-fitting gloves and a nobby air. Randall, the proprietor, was a man of some literary ability and of good sense. Shortly after the commencement of the last war, he removed his office and paper to Ligonier. About the beginning of 1866, A. J. and William F. Kimmell, hardware dealers, started a small periodical called the Albion Advertiser. The paper, though small, was bright and promising. In it was published a series of articles on the history of Noble County by Nelson

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

Prentiss .* W. F. Kimmell, getting the Nebraska fever, discontinued the publi cation the next year. The press and types of the little Advertiser were pur- chased by C. O. Myers, and by him put away in a corner of his office. Several years of destitution followed until the fall of 1872, when S. E. Alvord once more entered the newspaper business. In September, he purchased a small press and types for the purpose, at first, of printing cards and small bills for advertising purposes ; but, being strongly importuned by many citizens, con- sented to issue a small paper called the New Era. For about three months the New Era was published on a quarter medium sheet with a Novelty press, after which time it was enlarged to a half medium and printed for a time on a com- mon hand press. A few weeks later it was enlarged to a six-column folio. The paper met with abundant success, and in the fall of 1874 was enlarged to eight columns, and a Fairhaven power press added. The subscription ran rapidly up until, in the fall of 1875, it numbered 1,200. It was an independent journal, and was published by S. E. Alvord until January, 1876. On the first of Jan- uary, 1876, Jacob P. Prickett and Thomas A. Starr purchased the New Era of Samuel E. Alvord, and commenced its publication as an independent Repub- lican paper, under the firm name of Prickett & Starr. It was at that time enlarged to a nine-column folio. On the 25th day of April, 1878, the partner- ship was dissolved, J. P. Prickett retaining control of the paper as editor and proprietor. On the 17th day of October, 1878, in the face of an overwhelm- ing defeat of the Republican party in the county, the New Era became no longer non-partisan, but became an advocate of Republican principles. On the 1st day of January, 1879, it was reduced in size to an eight-column folio, and continued as such until the 1st day of January, 1881, when it was enlarged to a six-column quarto.

CHAPTER IV.

BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION, OF 1812 AND OF THE MEXICAN WAR-LOYALTY AND DISLOYALTY SHOWN WHEN SUMTER FELL-MASS MEETINGS OF IN- DIGNANT CITIZENS-THE FIRST CALL FOR TROOPS-THE PROGRESS OF EN- LISTMENT-COUNTY BOUNTY AND RELIEF FUND-THE ENROLLMENT AND THE DRAFT-INTERESTING INCIDENTS-CELEBRATIONS-SKETCHES OF THE REGIMENTS-AID SOCIETIES-NOBLE COUNTY'S "ROLL OF HONOR"-STA- TISTICAL TABLES.

N OBLE COUNTY has had but little to do with any war in which the United States has been involved, either with foreign nations or with rebellious subjects, except the great rebellion of 1861. No resident citizen of the county, so far as known, except one, had any participation in the Revolu- tionary war. This one was Nathaniel Prentiss, father of Nelson Prentiss, of Albion. When the colonies threw off the galling and burdensome yoke of

*These articles, some thirty in number, have been very useful to the writers of the county history, who hereby return many thanks for the use of the same.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

Great Britain, Nathaniel Prentiss was a youth of but twelve years of age. He entered the service of his country as servant to one or more continental officers, and continued thus three years, at which time, being large and strong enough to carry a gun, he enlisted as a soldier proper. He fought at the battles of Sar- atoga, Princeton, Trenton and Monmouth ; was present at West Point when Maj. Andre, the British spy, was captured, and witnessed his lamented execu- tion ; was with Gen. Washington during his encampment at Valley Forge; was shipped on board a continental privateer, and finally captured by the British and confined one winter in the hold of the renowned prison-ship "Jersey," which bears about the same relation to the Revolution that Ander- sonville Prison does to the rebellion of 1861. He was then, with others, taken to the Island of Jamaica and kept in confinement until the close of the war, and then came to the United States, via South Carolina, walking thence to Connecticut, and arriving home on Sunday ; whereupon he was arrested by the authorities, and fined by the barbarous laws of the Nutmeg State for vio- lating the Sabbath. He was a Revolutionary pensioner from about 1824 until his death, in 1839. He lived about two years in the county, and now lies buried in the cemetery at Ligonier. His wife drew his pension from 1839 until her death in 1861.

The following residents of the county, among probable others, whose names cannot be learned, served in the war of 1812: Andrew C. Douglas, now dead; Niah Wood, dead; James McMann, dead ; Adam Kimmell, Sr., who served six months in Pennsylvania ; he was a pensioner of the Govern- ment for a number of years ; he came to the county in 1852; died in 1870 ;* Andrew B. Upson, dead; James Mael, living in Iowa at last accounts ; Henry Kline, dead ; John Johnson, dead; Alexander Montroth, died about a year ago; Peter Black, dead; Daniel Wiley, dead, was at the battle of· Plattsburg ; Daniel Johnson, dead ; Mr. Wilson, died a few years ago within a few days of the age of one hundred years; was with Lewis and Clarke on their expedition to the Pacific coast, and was on board the Constitution when it defeated and sank the Guerriere; and Sheldon Perry, dead. Nothing further could be learned of soldiers in the war of 1812.

The knowledge obtained of the soldiers of the Mexican war is no better. The following is the brief record : Joseph Braden, yet living ; James C. Rid- dle, living ; James J. Knox, living, who went from Mansfield, Ohio, in the Third Regiment of that State; James Hinman, living, who also served at the age of about sixty-three years in the last war; he enlisted but was rejected ; he then employed a barber and a tailor, who succeeded in making him appear about forty years of age ; whereupon he was accepted as fifer in the Thirtieth Regiment, and served his country through the war; Aaron Field, living ; George Hart, living; J. H. G. Shoe, died in the service ; Jefferson Smith, dead ; Mr. Gibbs, dead; Harvey McKinney, died in the service ; Stark Bethel,

* From information furnished the writer by Adam Kimmell, Jr., Albion.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

dead; James Galloway, died in the service; Joseph Crow, dead ; and George Carlyle, dead. Of these, J. H. G. Shoe, Jefferson Smith, Mr. Gibbs, Stark Bethel and James Galloway went from Noble County. The most of the others went from Ohio or other portions of Indiana. It is said that a partially-formed militia company at Ligonier, Rochester and that vicinity offered their services as a body for the Mexican war, but were refused, as the quota was already more than full. Several of the Noble County boys resided at or near Wolf Lake. They were in the Second Regiment Indiana Volunteers, commanded by Col. Lane, and served along the Rio Grande River, participating in no en- gagements of note. In common with all northern troops who went into the hot and peculiar climate of the "Land of the Montezumas," they suffered ter- rible hardships from privation and disease. Some of them lie buried under a tropical sun in the far-off land of Mexico; and their graves, like the tomb of Moses, are unknown. The brave boys who fought in Mexico must not be forgotten.

It is unnecessary to give a summary of the causes which led to the war of the rebellion. Historians persist in calling it the " Irrepressible Conflict," meaning thereby, that the antagonism which had slowly developed through a long period of years between the North and the South by the questions of slav- ery, State sovereignty, the tariff, and all their kindred attendants, could never be peaceably settled. Occurring, as the war did, but twenty years ago, its weary marches, dreadful sufferings from disease, daring achievements on the field of battle, and the fearful thought that the South might be successful, are yet green in the recollection of maimed and honored participants. Continued and extensive preparations for war were made in the South long before the North ceased to believe that the differences which bitterly divided the two fac- tions of the Government might be amicably adjusted. Armed and hostile bands of the rebellious citizens of the South seized, at every opportunity, large quan- tities of military stores, and took forcible possession of important strategic points ; but still, the North was hopeful that peace would prevail. Statesmen in the North viewed with reluctance or contempt the steady and extensive prep- arations for war in the South, and refused to believe its presence until the first blow fell like a thunderbolt upon Fort Sumter, and, at the same time, upon the faithful hearts of loyal people. President Lincoln, with that kind forbearance, that sublime charity, which ever distinguished him, wisely hesitated to begin the contest. Hot-blooded Abolitionists in the North urged him repeatedly to strangle the hydra of secession in its infancy ; but still he hesitated. Even when Sumter fell, the North still believed that the rebellion would be quelled in ninety days. But, as time passed on, and the large bodies of troops failed to control or quell the aggressive and daring movements of the confederate armies, and the sullen tide of steady reverses swept over almost every field of battle, the hope of the North for peace died out, the gloom of probable national disaster and disunion filled every heart, and for many desolate months the out- look was dark and forbidding.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

When the news of the fall of Sumter swept over the country like a flame of fire, in all places the most intense excitement prevailed. Men everywhere forgot their daily employment, and gathered in neighboring villages to review the political situation and encourage one another with hopeful words. The prompt call of the President for 75,000 volunteers the day succeeding the fall of Sumter, sent a wave of relief throughout the anxious North ; and in every State more than double the assigned quota of men, without regard to political views, tendered their services and their money to the suppression of the rebell- ion. Fiery and indignant mass meetings were everywhere held, and invincible determinations of loyalty prevailed. There was not a town in Noble County in which the citizens did not gather to listen to loyal and eloquent words from Re- publicans and Democrats. The War Democrat was a good fellow. His senti- ments toward the South were undergoing a change ; and like all true converts he entered, heart and soul, into the wrathful public gatherings that were held to indignantly denounce the rebellion. The Abolitionist fairly boiled over with fiery determination to avenge the shameful insult offered to the "glorious old flag." Here and there in the county was found a man who soberly shook his head and remarked, "Well, I suppose if the South is determined to go out of the Union, we'll have to let it go. I don't think the Government has a right to compel the Southern States to remain. I am opposed to the war." But such sentiments were speedily borne down by the intense loyalty everywhere prevailing.

One of the first public meetings in the county in response to the news of the fall of Sumter and the call of the President for 75,000 volunteers was held at Wolf Lake, and is thus described by Colonel Williams, who, at that time, resided there :

" The citizens of Wolf Lake and vicinity assembled at the old hotel in the village, then kept by 'Uncle George,' as everybody called the proprietor, George W. Matthews ; everybody was excited, indignant and boiling over with a consuming desire to do something. During the campaign of the year before, the two political parties had erected each its distinctive political pole on the public square in front of the hotel, the one flying on its flag the names of Lin- coln and Hamlin, the other the names of Douglas and Johnson. The Demo- cratic pole was cut down during that winter, but the Republican pole, being an unusually tall and shapely one, was allowed to stand, and on the fall of Fort Sumter, the maul and wedges (the rail-splitter emblems of the Republican party at that day) were still dangling from the top. 'What shall we do ?' The writer hereof was urged by all to 'say something.' I proposed, after briefly reciting the exciting news of the hour, that we take down the Republican pole, remove the maul and wedges and other political emblems and mottoes attached ; that I would remove the names of Douglas and Johnson from my large Demo- cratic campaign flag, and as we were now neither Republicans nor Democrats, but Union men and hot for fight, we would as Union men hoist the pole as a

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

Union pole, with a Union flag. It was then agreed that on the morrow the work should be done. The morrow came and quite an earnest and patriotic little crowd had gathered, Republicans and Democrats. The Republican pole was soon taken down, the emblems, etc., removed, and up it went again amid the cheers of the little crowd, and soon after the large flag was rolling out its beautiful folds to the sunny breeze of that April day. After three times three hearty cheers for the flag of our Union, in response to the call of the crowd, the writer mounted a goods box and delivered perhaps the first (certainly among the first) war speech made that year in the county. That speech often recurs to the writer when reviewing the memories of that stirring year. I spoke about twenty minutes or longer, and then informed the crowd that men must look their duty in the face and like men meet it. There was but one feeling, one resolution, one purpose. Old men and young men, Republicans and Democrats, each and all, then cried out for vengeance on the heads of the traitors who had insulted and defied the majesty and power of the Government. Old Uncle George Matthews, old himself, without a tooth in his head, was the first man to offer himself as a volunteer ; he had, he said, half a dozen sons who could go, and if they did not go and fight rebels he would disown them. His sons need- ed no urging; several of them entered the service that summer, and efficient and gallant soldiers they made, as the writer can testify from ample knowledge. I should like, if I could, give the names of all who composed that patriotic little crowd, which did not exceed one hundred, perhaps. But I remember some who took an active part in the proceedings that day. I call to mind Andrew Humphreys, Dr. Elias Jones, Francis R. Davis, David S. Scott, Dr. W. Y. Leonard, Charles V. Inks, Edwin W. Matthews, James C. Stewart, John P. Kitt, Jonathan W. Elliott, Jacob Mohn, Billy Holiman, Jacob and Oliver Matthews, Samuel Beall, Allen Beall, Uncle Joe Inks, Tommy Gray; and I could think up and recall other names, if it were important to do so. Steps were commenced at that particlar time to organize a military company, under the laws of that day organizing military companies, and it was the intention to offer the services of the company to the Governor. Correspondence was at once opened by the writer with Gen. Lazarus Noble, the efficient Adjutant General of the State, as to the mode of procedure, etc. Quite a number of names were enrolled, and in a few days it looked as if Wolf Lake would be the first to be in the field with a military organization and off for the war. Some hitch or technecal difficulty, I don't now recall, with the Adjutant General, threw a damper on the boys, and on offer to be mustered into any regiment, un- der a three months' call, not then full, word was received from the Adjutant General that the quota of the State was full and enough offers on hand to fill up twenty more regiments. The boys were informed by the Adjutant General that they would all have a chance before winter, and urged them to keep up their organization, as new troops would be called out inside of three months. This was not satisfactory to the boys, for they went elsewhere and enlisted,

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

some to Michigan, some to Illinois, and a number to other parts of the State where they heard and hoped that there was yet a chance to get into the three months' service. Finally new arrangements were made: The Thirtieth In- diana, under the second call for troops, was making up its quota at Fort Wayne, and two of its companies, 'C' (Captain Joseph E. Braden, of Ligonier), and 'F' (Captain William N. Voris) were raised in Noble County. Company ' C' was made up at Ligonier, and uniforming themselves in a neat and con- venient rig, the gallant fellows marched afoot to Fort Wayne, a distance of some forty miles. They stopped at Wolf Lake en route and partook of a public dinner in the old Baptist Church, prepared by the citizens of Wolf Lake and vicinity. Company ' F' went into camp on the old fair grounds at Albion, and having been joined by quite a number from the east side of the county, and their ranks being full, they, too, started for Fort Wayne. Hardly had the Thirtieth Indiana got under good headway at Fort Wayne, and before it was near filled up, the Forty-fourth Indiana was ordered to be organized. Such of the original roster of Wolf Lake of April, that had not gone into the Thirtieth Indiana or other regiments of the State, or elsewhere, now again signed the roll of the writer undersigned, for service in the Forty-fourth Indiana. This organization became Company ' G,' Forty-fourth Indiana."

The first speech made in Kendallville after the fall of Sumter was deliv- ered in the street to a large crowd of townsmen and countrymen, by a commer- cial traveler, who was stopping at the Kelly House at. the time. Like all men of his occupation, he was well posted on the issues of the day, was naturally a bright fellow and a fluent speaker, and was loyal to the core. He made a rous- ing speech that was listened to with rapt attention and tumultuous applause. This was probably on the day following the one on which 75,000 volunteers were called for. Speech-making was very popular about that time, as the masses sought a leader-one who could present their views in eloquent words, and could direct them in their efforts to suppress the rebellion. The second speech was probably delivered by a drayman named Hogan. He stood on his wagon and made a humorous and thoroughly loyal speech to a large crowd that surrounded him. The first speaking of note was held in the Methodist Church within about a week after Sumter had fallen. The principal speaker was Judge Tousley. He briefly reviewed the causes which led to the outbreak, and finally said that, in order to see how many volunteers, if necessary, could be secured at Kendallville for the war, he asked all those who were willing and ready to go to rise to their feet. Instantly eight or ten brave fellows sprang up, the first, it is said, being Charles Dunn, and the second Lute Duel. Either the latter, or Capt. Voris, was the first one from Noble County to enter the service. Many others at this meeting signified their readiness to go if they were needed. Judge Tousley told the young men not to be rash, but to squarely face the situation, as all would have an opportunity to go before peace was secured. An early war meeting was held at Ligonier. J. R. Randall,

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

editor of the Ligonier Herald, was one of the speakers, and Joseph Braden, who had served in the Mexican War, was another. The latter had a phrase, a relic of the Mexican war, which he had been heard to use very often. It was, " I'm in favor of this war and the next one." When he delivered that old sen- tence, by which he was so well known, from the stage on the occasion of this war meeting, it seemed so fitting and appropriate to the occasion that the audi- ence burst into tremendous cheers. Many at this meeting asserted their read- iness to go out to fight their country's battles. The war spirit at Albion did not take a strong public course until somewhat later. Clusters of loyal men could be seen here and there, on the streets and in the stores, very early, soberly discussing the probable continuance of the pending struggle. Vigorous denunciations of the course of the South could be heard from every quarter. Mr. Denny, who had been a strong Democrat, came boldly out for a rigorous prosecution of the war against those who dared to trail the old flag in the dust, and by his earnest speeches and pronounced loyalty did a great deal to turn his fellow Democrats back from the pitfall of asserted sympathy with the South. The same is true of Mr. Alvord. At the session of the Literary Society held at the Lutheran Church in Albion, shortly after Sumter was fired upon, Mr. Alvord recited a poem of his own composition on the subject of "Maj. Ander- son and the Old Flag." When troops were called for, he traversed the county, delivering speeches and encouraging the citizens to volunteer. At one of these meetings, while his muse was above the clouds, he was suddenly confronted by a large, angry woman, with a baby under her left arm and her right hand clenched into a fist of formidable size. Her "man " was in the army, and she demanded, as she shook the aforesaid fist threateningly at him : "Why don't you go and volunteer yourself, instead of coming out here and trying to get other men to go?" That was the last of the muse that had soared so high and well. The question remained unanswered-a shocking violation of etiquette. In response to the second call for volunteers (May 3, 1861), a large war meet- ing was held in the new court house at Albion. Among the speakers were Samuel Alvord, Nelson Prentiss, J. H. Stoney, Judge Clapp, Judge Tousley, Oliver McMann, James Denny and Dr. Dunshee. Here it was that the first attempt to enlist troops at Albion was made. Early mass meetings were held at Rome City, Avilla and other places.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 59

Author: F.A. Battey & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 976

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976