USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
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Mr. MeJunkin was, for many years, the prominent teacher of the city. He built a house, now standing on La Fayette street, between Berry and Wayne streets, in which he taught, almost uninterruptedly, untit 1852, at wbich time he became connected with tbe Pittsburgh Railroad Company. He was the best known of any of the teachers of the times, and is remembered with feelings of gratitude by many of our citizens whom he interested in study, and for whom he labored so faithfully and so successfully. He was a fine scholar, a good instructor and a strict disciplinarian.
In the fall of 1845, Mrs. Lydia Sykes eame here, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Society, to open a seminary for young ladies. It was intended to make this school a permanent institution, but the failing health of Mrs. Sykes obliged her to abandon the school, after it had been in successful operation a year and a half. Mrs. Sykes was succeeded by Rev. James Green, who came to the
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
city in 1846. Mr. Green taught, at first, in the building on the corner of La Fay- ette and Berry streets; afterward, in a brick house on Washington street, now occupied hy Mr. Rupert, and subsequently, until 1851. in a house on the corner of Barr and Washington streets, now occupied by Mrs. Rowan.
Many other small schools were taught during these years by various persons, among whom may be mentioned Miss Susan Clark, now Mrs. Morss; Miss Waugh, Miss Sophia Henderson, afterward Mrs. Lassalle, and Miss Lotz, now Mrs. Rowan.
The Methodist College was opened in 1849, under the charge of Prof. A. C. Huestis, and has been continued, with some interruptions, to the present time.
The Presbyterian Academy, now used for the Ilarmar Street School, was opened in August, 1853, and was in charge of Henry McCormick, Principal, and Jacob Laniers, Assistant. The school was kept open most of the time until 1867.
Large and well organized church schools, under Roman Catholic and German Lutheran auspices, have heen established at various tiuies, and are now in success- ful operation.
The Public Schools .- Hugh McCulloch, Charles Case and William Stewart, the first Trustees appointed under the law of 1852, found themselves in a city of over four thousand people, with 1,200 school children, a tuition fund of $300, no building nor school appliances and uot a dollar to buy them. Renting Mr. MeJunkin's house in the cast, and one from Mr. Hurlhurd in the west end of town, they employed Mr. Mahurin and his sister and Mr. and Mrs. Hurlhurd as teachers. This was the beginning of the public school system of Fort Wayne.
In 1853, a vote, taken in compliance with a petition of the citizens, to raise a special fund hy taxation, was lost. In 1855, the Trustees determined to build a schoolhouse east and west. In 1856, the sites of the present Clay and Jefferson buildings were purchased and the contraet for the east building let in portions, from time to time, as persons were found willing to take the risks, and, on Feh- ruary 9, 1857, their efforts were crowned with success in the completion and dedication of the Clay building. The Rev. George A. Irwin was appointed Superintendent and at once proceeded to organize and grade the sehools as far as possible. In September of this year, the Trustees, with the aid of several citizens, who, for this purpose voluntarily mortgaged their private property, proceeded to the erection of a building in the west end of town, which was finished and oceu- pied in the winter of 1858-59. For eight years, these were the only publie school buildings in the city.
In 1863, Mr. Irwin resigned his position and became a Chaplain iu the. army. He was succeeded by S. S. Green, who remained two years. At the end of his term of office, the first class was graduated from the High School. It was a class of marked ability, and two of its members are among our present corps of teachers.
The new School Board, appointed under the amended school law by the City Council in 1863, selected James H. Smart, of the Toledo schools, to succeed Mr. Green, resigned June 13. He had already created a reputation for ability in teaching and organization, and immediately entered upon a thorough and syste- matie effort toward the accurate and practical grading of the schools, bringing the work within a reasonable number of years, and, at the same time, elevating the standard to the highest possible level. In this he was eminently successful. From this time, the growth of the public schools, both in numbers and popu- larity, was steady and rapid. The high esteem in which this system is now held is largely due to the wise administration of Mr. Smart, and it is with pleasure that the present Superintendent, his immediate successor, at that time one of the Trustees, avails himself of this opportunity to put upon record his high apprecia- tion of those labors.
In 1866, lots were purchased south of the railroad, and a plain frame, three- room building erected. Two rooms were opened at first, but it soon became necessary to use the third.
The following year, lots were purchased in the west, central and southeast portion of the city; the Washington and Central Schools, two substantial brick buildings, ereeted and opened in September. 1868
The Hanna School, after the plan of the Washington, followed in 1869; also the enlargement of the Hoagland huilding to twice its original size. The villages of Bowserville and Bloomingdale were soon after added to the city, the latter having a one-roomed school building to which, in 1872, two rooms were added.
During the same year, the German Reformed School was transferred to the charge of the Board, their huilding rented, and, soon after. a second story added thereto.
In 1874, districts were added to the city on the north, east and south, cach containing a small schoolhouse, and an additional building rented on the northi side for a German school. The Hoagland School was again enlarged, the three- room building of 1866 now hecoming one of twelve rooms, and the Hanna Sehool changed from a one to a three room building.
In 1875, saw the erection of a substantial and convenient eight-room brick building in Bloomingdale, consolidating all the North Side schools.
Mr. Smart, having been elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, left to assume the duties of his new office in the early spring of this year, and the present incumbent was elected the June following.
In 1876, the erowded condition of the Hanna School compelled the erection of a building similar to the Bloomingdale, and a like cause, in 1877, necessitated the remodeling of the Hanna and Washington Sehools into eight-room buildings. A large addition was also made to the Central School, and the interior arrange- ments changed so that the third story in now a hall capable of seating 1,400 persons and readily convertible into four recitation-rooms.
In 1867, Mr. Smart, seeing the necessity of training teachers with special reference to the wants of our schools, opened a school therefor, the success of which was soon evident. In 1877, the instruction in this school was limited to
primary teachers, and a second school was opened for those in the intermediate . grades. Of the one hundred and one teachers in our present corps, fifty-three have heen educated in these schools, a large proportion of the others being gradu- ates from our High School; and the character of their work gives the best evidence of the advantages derived from such training schools.
Much of our success is doubtless due to the pleasant relations at all times existing hetween the Trustees, Superintendent and teachers, and to the infrequent changes, both in the Board of Trustees and corps of teachers. The former bas been practically unehanged for many years, Mr. Edgerton having served for six, Mr. Hoagland for eleven, Mr. Morgan for sixteen, and the present Superintendent for ten years; while many of the teachers have an almost equally long record of faithful services.
The " colored " question has been satisfactorily settled by incorporating the children in the districts and grades for which their advancement fits theu.
As regards the employment of special teachers for the studies of music, drawing. reading and writing, after an experience of several years, it is found that, not only in these studies themselves. but still more in their influence on the other branches, the improved results secured more than compensation for the additional outlay.
In March, 1878, moved by various considerations, the Trustees abolished the name of High School, as exciting opposition and carrying no strength, and divided the course into primary, intermediate and grammar grades. It is not intended either to lower the standard or reduce the extent of the work. The course of study pursued, while by no means faultless, has yet proved itself a valuable one hy the success which our graduates have obtained, both in the higher institutions of learning and in the professional and business walks of life. It is the constant endeavor of those in charge to make such use of the means and appliances in their power as will be productive of the greatest good to the largest numhers.
The condition of our schools at the opening of the years 1878-79 is as follows: Buildings, 9; teachers, including pupil-teachers, 101; rooms occupied for study and recitation, 82. Course of study: 4 primary, 4 intermediate, 4 grammar-12 years. Number of pupils enrolled for year 1877-78, exeludir g transfers and re-enrollment: 2,315 primary; 854 intermediates ; 187 grammar- total, 3,356i. Graduates : High School, 156 ; Training School, 97 ; total, 253.
The following is a summary of report made by Superintendent Hillegass to the State Superintendent of the public schools for 1879:
Total number of pupils adınitted to the sehools within the year : white, male, 5,604; white, female, 5,341; total white, 10,945; eolored, male, 13; col- ored, female, 17 ; total colored, 30; grand total, 10.975 ; average daily attendanee. 7,431 ; uumber of distriets in which sehool is taught, 180 ; total number graded schools, 5 ; number of township graded schools, 2; average length of school, 174 days ; number of teachers employed, males, 134, females, 184; total, 320 ; aver- age compensation per day of teachers in townships, males, $1.63 ; female, $1.47 ; in towns, male, $3.19; female, $1.90; in eities, male, $4.94; females, $2.48 ; general average, male, 83.25 ; female, 81.95.
Account of revenue for tuition : amount on hand September 1, 1878. $65,959 65 ; amount received in February, 1878, 46,283.87 ; amount received in June, 1879, 851,806.17 ; miscellaneous receipts, $1,880 74; total revenue for tuition, 8165,930.43; amount expended since September 1, 1878, $92,332.55 ; amount now on hand, $73,597.88.
Account of special school revenue: amount on hand, September 1, 1878, $36,480.67 ; amount since received, $45.736.61 ; total, $82,217.28; amount expended sinee September 1, 1878, 837,945.96; amount now on hand, $44,271.32.
General statistics : number of schoolhouses, briek, 50; frame. 138; total, 188; estimated value of schoolhouses, including grounds, seats, etc., $348,275; estimated value of school apparatus, including maps, globes, ete., $8,530 ; total estimated value of school property, $356,805; total estimated special sehool tax, $15,847.72; number of volumes in township libraries, 3,687 ; number of volumes taken out during the year, 1,091 ; amount paid Trustees for managing educational matters, $1,970; number of schoolhouses ereeted during the year, 13; value of the same, $13,498; number of township institutes during the year, 82.
CATHOLIC CHURCH. BY REV. JULIEN BENOIT.
The old Jesuit missionaries that may have visited Fort Wayne when it was a mere trading-post have left here no record of their labors. The few Catholies that resided here were visited, for the first time on record, on the 3d of June, 1830, by Very Reverend Stephen Theodore Badin, the first ordained priest in the United States. He was then Vicar General of the Dioecses of Bardstown, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time (1830), the State of Indiana was within the limits of the Diocese of Bardstown, the Bishop of which was the Rt. Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget, consecrated November 4, 1810. Ilis first coadjutor was Rt. Rev. John B. David, consecrated Bisbop of Maurieastro August 15, 1819; and his second eoadjutor was Rt. Rev. Guy Ignatius Chabert, consecrated Bishop of Bolívia July 20, 1834, whilst his third coadjutor was Rt. Rev. Martin John Spalding, consecrated September 10, 1848, Bishop of Langone, after the See of Bardstown had been transferred to the eity of Louisville, in the same State of Kentucky.
The same Very Reverend Steven Theodore Badin repeated his visits to Fort Wayne in 1831, offered the holy sacrifice of the mass and preached in the residence of Francis Comparet, Esq., and, in 1832, when he performed the fune- tions of his ministry in the residence of John B. Bequette, Esq., whose wife is still living in Fort Wayne at the present day.
The next priest who visited this city was Rev. Picot, then Pastor of the Catholies of Vincennes, Knox Co., Ind., September 25, 1832. Then Very Rev- erend Steven Theodore Badin was again in Fort Wayne December 25, 1832
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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
Rev. - Boheme also, in 1832. Very Reverend Steven Theodore Badin in 1833 and 1834. Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere, who died when Pastor of the Cath- olies of Terre Haute, visited this place in 1835. Rev. Felix Matthew Ruff, in 1835. Rev. I. F. Terrooren, in 1835. Rev. Father Francis, stationed at Logansport, visited the Catholics of Fort Wayne in January, February, May, June, July and August, 1836.
The first priest permanently appointed Pastor of the Catholic congregation of Fort Wayne was Rev. Louis Muller, who took possession in August, 1836, and remained until the 16th of April, 1840.
In 1838, Fort Wayne was visited hy the Rt. Rev. Saintly Simon Gabriel Brute, first Bishop of Vincennes. In the beginning of 1840, Bishop Guyne- mere de la Hailanidiere, second Bishop of Vincennes, appointed Rev. Julien Benoit Pastor of St. Augustine's Church, Fort Wayne, having to attend La Gro, Huntington, Columbia City, Warsaw, Goshen, Avilla, New France, New Haven, Besancon, Hesse-Castle and Decatur. His first assistant was Rev. Joseph Hamison, a saintly young priest, who died at Logansport in the early part of 1842. His second assistant was Rev. Joseph Rudolf, who died in Olden- hurg, Franklin County, after many years of hard missionary labors. His third assistant was A. Carius, who remained but a short time, and is now Pastor of Junction City, Kan. The fourth was Alphonse Munschina, who is Pastor of Lanesville; Vincennes Diocese. The fifth was Rev. Edward Faller, who is now in Tell City, Vincennes Diocese. Under Father Faller the German speaking part of St. Augustine's congregation built a church and a schoolhouse, and that formed the first German-speaking congregation in Fort Wayne. Rev. Edward Faller was the first Pastor of the new church, placed under the patronage of the Mother of God and ealled St. Mary's. The division took place in 1849.
In 1865, St. Paul's Church (German) was huilt, on West Washington street, and formed another congregation, under the rectorship of Rev. Edward Koenig, the present incumbent.
In 1871, the Germans living on South Hanna street built St. Peter's Church, and formed a third German congregation, having for its Pastor Rev. John Wehmhoff.
The three German congregations have their own schools, and give a good religious education and training to ahout eight hundred children.
The first undertaking of the Pastor of St. Augustine's Church was the fin- ishing of the church which had heen begun hy his predecessor. He very soon after crected schoolhouses for girls and for hoys, and obtained the Sisters of Prov- idence and the Brothers of the Holy Cross to direct those schools. They have heen in a flourishing condition from the very beginning, and both schools educate now more than seven hundred pupils, when the Bishops of the Province of Cin- cinnati considered that the Diocese of Vincennes was too large, and a division should take place.
Fort Wayne was selected as the See of the new diocese. Rt. Rev. John John H. Luers was appointed first Bishop of Fort Wayne, and was consecrated January 10, 1858. He governed the diocese until June 29, 1871, when he died suddenly, in the city of Cleveland, Ohio.
The successor of Bishop Luers is Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, the present incumbent. He was consecrated April 14, 1872.
St. Vincent's Church, Washington Township, Allen Co., Ind., was huilt in 1845, and rehuilt in 1861.
St. Louis' Church, Jefferson Township, Allen Co., Ind., was built in 1847. and rebuilt in 1874.
The Pastor of the Cathedral (placed under the patronage of the " Immacu- late Conecption." and not any longer under the invocation of "St. Augustine ") is the Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, Bishop of Fort Wayne, and he has for Assistant Pastors Very Reverend J. Benoit, Viear General; Rev. Joseph Henry Brammar and Rev. James Hartnett.
The first Pastor of St. Mary's (German church) was Rev. Edward Faller ; the second, Rev. Joseph Wentz, and the third, the present incumbent, Rev. Joseph Rademacher, who has for Assistant Rev. Charles Stcurer.
The first and present Pastor of St. Paul's Church (German) is Rev. Edward Koenig.
The first and present Pastor of St. Peter's Church (German) is Rev. John Wehmhoff.
The members of the " Cathedral " Church number very near 4,000; St. Mary's, 2,500; St. Paul's, 700, and St. Peter's, 800.
The church property, be it worth $1,000,000 or $1,000 only, is all the same for us, and we leave the valuation of it to hetter judges than clergymen generally are.
All the church property in the Diocese of Fort Wayne (and in all the dioceses of the United States) belongs to the Bishop, who has a deed of trust for the same.
The Diocese of Fort Wayne, established in 1857, comprises and includes all north of, and including, Fountain, Montgomery, Boone, Hamilton, Delaware, Randolph and Warren Counties, Indiana.
Officers of the Diocese of Fort Wayne: Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, D. D., Bishop ; Very Reverend Julien Benoit, Vicar General; Rev. Joseph Rademacher. Chancellor.
Total number of priests in the diocese, 97; elerieal students, 16; number of churches, 108; number of chapels, 20; churches now heing erected, 4; hos- pitals, 3; religious institutions, 15; university, 1; orphan asylums, 2; female literary institutions, 17 ; parish schools, 54; Catholic population, 80,000.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, CORNER LAFAYETTE AND JEFFERSON STREETS.
Catholics of different nationalities worshiped in the old frame church located on the property now occupied hy the Cathedral. In 1849, the German Catholics formed themselves into a separate congregation and built a small hrick church
near the corner of Jefferson and La Fayette streets, now enlarged and used as a Sisters' House and Parochial School for girls. The large brick church now in use was huilt 1858, hoys' school in 1866. The first Pastor was Rev. Edward Faller ; reeent Pastor, Rev. Joseph Rahemacher ; Assistant, Rev. Charles Stcurer. Membership, 1,500. Children in school, 330.
CATHEDRAL SOCIETIES. BY PETER .T. FALLON.
The Young Gentlemens' Sodality was organized January 14, 1875, at Cath- olic Library Hall, by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwinger, D. D., and Rev. Joseph Brammer, P. P. The following officers were elected for one year, 1875: Frank V. Cour, Prefect ; George A. Fry, First Assistant ; William Hosey, Second Assistant ; John H. Fitzgerald, Treasurer ; William Reed, Sacristan ; Peter J. Fallon, Secretary.
Officers for 1876 .- Peter J. Fallon, Prefect; James Bowers, First Assist- ant; John H. Fitzgerald, Second Assistant ; William Kcough, Treasurer ; William Reed, Sacristan ; Martin J. Moynihan, Secretary.
Officers for 1877 .- George A. Fry, Prefect ; William Reed, First Assist- ant ; James Bowers, Second Assistant ; Peter J. Fallon, Treasurer; Patrick Quinn, Sacristan ; R. P. McCarthy, Secretary.
Officers for 1878 .- B. P. McCarthy, Prefect ; William Reed, First Assist- ant ; John Reed, Second Assistant ; Frank V. Cour, Treasurer : John Nelligan, Sacristan ; Frank MeNulty, Secretary.
Officers for 1879 .- B. P. McCarthy, Prefect ; Joseph Littot, First Assist- ant ; Anthony Golden, Second Assistant ; Peter J. Fallon, Treasurer; John Nelligan, Sacristan ; George A. Fry, Secretary.
Rev. Joseph H. Brammer filled the office of Spiritual Director and exofficio President for the years of 1875-76 and '77; the Rev. James Hartnett filled the same office for 1878-79. The Society is in a flourishing condition, numihering in memberships 200, all unmarried young men. Amount of property and money on haud, $400. Its object is to receive both spiritual and charitable benefit.
St. Vincent De Paul Society was organized December 15, 1878, at the Catholic Library Hall, by the Rev. Joseph H. Brammer. The above named Society was organized solely to relieve the poor of the city, irrespective of relig- ion, nationality or party. The Society paid out, during the winter of 1879, 8950, leaving a halance in the treasury of $125.
The following officers were elected for one year : President, John H. Bran- nan ; Vice President, Killian Baker ; Recording Secretary, John G. Noll; Cor- responding Secretary, John Mohr, Jr .; Treasurer, Henry G. Graffe. Number of members, 160.
The La Fayette Benevolent Society, organized for the mutual henefit of ils members and the widows and orphans of deceased members, was chartered Feh- ruary 16, 1861. Its charter members were the following : MM. Augustine H. Carier, Claude F. Eme, Xavier Vulroff, François Bercot, Louis T. Bourret, François S. Aveline, François D. Lasselle, Jean Baptiste Chauvey et Jukcs Albert.
The Society occupied F. D. Lasselle's hall, on Calhoun street, east side, south of Main, on Lot No. 79 [O. P], until April. 1864, when Mr. Lasselle died. Afterward, the meetings were held in Anton Fisher's hall, on East Main street, on Lot No. 88 [O. P.], until May, 1871, when they moved to John Tay- lor's hall, west side of Barr street, south of Main, on Lot 91. This was the place of meeting until January, 1876. From that time unto the present, the hall has heen in Foster's Block, on Court street, and is one of the largest and hest furnished halls in the city, having a well-selected library of French works, hy authors of known merit. It is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in Fort Wayne. A. H. Carier has been its President from the date of organiza- tion. The Society is now independent, but was formerly owned by the Union Generals. The membership is fifty-six.
The Fort Wayne Catholic Library Association was established July 14, 1871, and incorporated August 4, 1874. The Association is controlled hy a Board of Directors, namely, Rev. Joseph Brammer, John Ring, John G. Noll, George A. Littot and Philip J. Singleton, who are also the charter members. The officers are: President, George A. Fry; Treasurer, George A. Littot ; Sec- retary, John G. Noll; Librarian, Philip J. Singleton.
It is a circulating library, with nearly five thousand volumes. The hall is in Walkie's Block.
St. Joseph Benevolent Society is one of the Cathedral societies. It was organized May 2, 1874, and pays its siek or disabled members 85 per week. The charter members were Frank H. Wolke, P. S. O'Rourke, Martin A. Noll, James Fore, Thomas Morgan, William B. Walters, A. F. Schoenhein, George A. Littot, Charles A. Blee, Jerome G. Stuter, Louis Goequel, George A. Fay and William Connair.
Its present officers are : President, Thomas J. Hutchinson ; Vice President, P. O'Ryan ; Secretary, Oscar Nettelhoust; Corresponding Secretary, P. S. O'Rourke; Treasurer, William Baker.
The present membership is fifty, and the amount of stock, including money, is $800.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first services of this denomination held in Allen County, of which there is any account, were conducted hy the Rev. James Holman-a local minister of that Church, who came to this county in 1824, and owned a farm in what is now known as " Nehraska," or that part of the city of Fort Wayne on the north side of the St. Mary's River, between the aqueduct and Lindenwood Cemetery-in his dwelling- house, a log cabin. Rev. James Hargraves, who was a traveling missionary in Northwestern Ohio and Northern Indiaua, was the first regularly ordained Methodist Episcopal minister that preached in Allen County,
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
visiting Fort Wayne probably about 1827 or. 1828 the first time, and continuing luis visits until 1831. Services were conducted by hiru, wherever a convenient place could be found, sometimes in the old brick schoolhouse that stood near the corner of' Harrison and Water streets, sometimes in carpenter shops, at tiuics iu the dwellings of members, and occasionally in what was known as the " MeJun- kin Schoolhouse," that stood on the east side of La Fayette street, between Berry and Wayne streets. Under his ministrations a class was formed here, and a Church was organized. In 1832, when Miss Eliza Hamilton came to Fort Wayne, the class consisted of six members, as follows: Judge Robert Bracken- ridge and wife, James Holman, wife and daughter, and Miss - Alderman, now Mrs. Simon Edsall. Miss Hamilton illustrates the difficulty which the little Church experienced in finding a place in which to hold worship, by the state- muent that one Sabbath the entire congregation visited four different places before they found one suitable. Mr. Hargraves was succceded by Rev. - Griffin, who preached here in 1832. In 1833, Fort Wayne was included in a cirouit, and the Rev. Amasa Johnson, with some one else, whose name cannot be ascertained from the material at haud, was assigned to the charge of it. They preached here alternately, once a month, during 1833-34. The Church gradually increased in numbers and strength, and in 1840 creeted a house of worship, n frame build- ing, that was located on the same ground the present Berry Street Church stands on. Rev. Stephen R. Ball, who was the regular Pastor of the Church here in 1836-37, retired from the active labors of the ministry soou after, and located in Fort Wayne, was a very zealous worker for the Church, and to his lahors at that time the Church was largely indebted for its prosperity.
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