USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 35
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The original plan of Logansport, the seat of justice of Cass County, embraced a small area situated in the southeast corner of the reservation granted to George Cicott by the treaty of October 16, 1826, with the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians. This plan was an unpretentious plat in the shape of a right-angled triangle, with a base (Canal Street) having five, and perpendicular (Fifth Street) having four squares on its front, and intervening streets and alleys, the whole area including 111 standard lots and fractions. The base ran parallel to the general course of the Wabash River, north 77 degrees east, from the southwest corner; the perpendicular at right angles therewitli, north 13 degrees west; and the hypothenuse (Eel River Street) extending from the northwest corner of Lot No. 1, along the general course of Eel River, north 34 degrees, 7 minutes east, to its intersection with High Street. The standard lots were five by ten rods in size, alleys, parallel with the base, sixteen and a
10
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half feet in width, and those parallel with the perpendicular, ten feet in width; streets all sixty-six feet in width, except Broadway, which was eighty-two and one-half feet wide. At the first sale of lots, those occupying the position on the corner of a square, were offered and sold for $75, the others for $50 each. Many of the lots first offered were on the condition that the purchaser should, within a prescribed period, erect on the lot purchased a house not less than eighteen by twenty feet in size and one-story high.
Chauncey Carter was the proprietor of the original town plat, which was surveyed and the lots staked off April 10, 1828. Subse- quently this plat was duly recorded in the office of the recorder of Carroll County September 3, 1828, this territory, at the time, being legally within the jurisdiction of that county. In connection with the name by which the town has since been known, the following characteristic incident is narrated:
"The survey had just been completed, and it only remained to give the new town a name, which would be at once significant and attractive when placed on the plat and recorded. The employes, the proprietor and others, immediately or remotely interested, with a few lookers-on who were present, began severally to offer suggestions touching the matter, having assembled under one of those big branch- ing elm trees that bordered the banks of the Wabash in that vicinity, for the purpose. Gen. Tipton, who entertained a reverence for the classic significance of the Latin and Greek etymologies, intimated his preference for a Latin compound which would be a synonym for the 'Mouth of Eel,' of cherished memory, commemorative of the location. Another submitted an Indian name by which the place had before been known. Meanwhile, numerous other propositions had been presented, and canvassed without effect. Then Mr. Mc- Keen, who had formerly resided on the Maumee River, in the vicin- ity of which Capt. Logan, a Shawanee chief, lost his life, while attesting his fidelity to the white people, in the month of November, 1812, proposed that the memory of this Indian hero be perpetuated in the name of the new town. Col. Duret agreed with the idea, and thought the addition of 'port' to the chief's name would be both appropriate and euphonious, which was accepted by common con- sent; hence the name Logansport."
Afterward, on the 12th of August, 1829, soon after the organi- zation of the county, by the consideration of the commissioners ap-
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pointed by the Legislature for the purpose, Logansport was selected as the seat of justice of Cass County, pursuant to the provisions of the act authorizing the organization of the county. At the time the town was laid out, and for several years succeeding, its importance was chiefly recognized in the light of a central " trading post " for a large extent of Indian territory surrounding, and because of that fact it acquired a well merited fame. The consequence was that, as soon as the course began to be diverted from this point, the produc- ing population outside the town being inadequate to the demands of consumption, the growth of the town was greatly retarded for sev- eral years, until, indeed, the products of the country equaled, over- balanced the consumption account of the non-producers in town, and the avenues of trade were opened with other markets.
" The increase in population and facilities for business during the several years succeeding the season of greatest depression in 1836-37, when everything was at a stand-still, was gradual, uni- form and certain. Prior to 1860-65 the spirit of improvement and enterprise was scarcely developed. At a later period, however, new life and vigor began to be infused into the elements of progress, and more rapid advances in the prospects of trade were foreshad- owed. Activity in every department of industry was the rule rather than the exception; and capital, before withheld from pro- fitable investments-as if a dollar out of sight was forever lost- began to seek investment in public and private enterprises, which have since yielded liberal profits.
"From that time the character of the improvements was no longer uncertain, but continued to assume a more healthy and permanent aspect than was ever before known, and the population, therefore, increased in an equal or greater ratio during the succeeding dec- ade." At this time the railroad and other facilities for communi- cation with the great points of trade East, West, North and South, are equaled by a few, surpassed by a far less number.
Sale of Lots-Improvements .- When the survey had been com- pleted and the plat of the town prepared, lots were offered and sold at private sale. The first sold was Lot No. 1 to John B. Duret, to whom was given the first choice in consideration of his having exe- cuted a finished copy of the original draft of the plat; Lot No. 51 was sold to George W. Ewing, and Nos. 47 and 48 to Cyrus Taber, both of whom had recently come here from Fort Wayne for the pur-
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pose of establishing themselves in the Indian trade, which was likely to become an important element in the future of Logansport, since it was understood that Gen. Tipton contemplated the removal of the agency of the Miami and Pottawattomie Indians from Fort Wayne to this place.
"Soon after the sale of the lots above mentioned, preparations were made for clearing them off and putting up buildings; and by the approach of summer the forests were made to resound with the stroke of the woodman's ax and the falling trees. During the sum- mer and fall of that year the following houses were erected on the original plat, to wit: A single-story log house on Lot No. 33, now [1851] occupied by John F. Bruggaman, which was erected by Mr. Carter, and intended as a future family residence. A similar build- ing on Lot 50, by same, for the purpose of an Indian trading es- tablishment, conducted under the firm of Carter, Walker & Co., which was, a few years since, torn down to make way for the more stately stone edifice of Dr. Jerolaman now erected upon its site. A double-house of hewed logs was built by Cyrus Taber on Lots 47 and 48, so constructed that the partition wall between the two rooms of the building was "designed to fix the line of demarkation be- tween the two lots, so as to give to each lot a house conforming in size to the conditions of the sale, and one story in height. One end of the building was used as a residence, and the other as a store- room or 'trading house.'" This building was afterward weather- boarded, and stood for many years as a monument of the architecture characteristic of those primeval days.
" A similar house, one and a half stories high, on Lot 51, was erected by George W. Ewing for an Indian trading house," now occupied by Martin Frank. " Another double cabin was built by Gillis McBean, on Market Street, occupying a position very nearly, if not quite, on the line separating Lots 30 and 31, now [1875] the middle section of the late Barnett House. It was built with a hall between the two rooms, and a well was dug so that it was directly, or nearly so, opposite the hall, on the south side of the building. My informant says, the well referred to, is now under the back part of the Barnett House-the part formerly known as the 'Ex- change.' "
During the same year, Alexander McAlister built a log cabin on Lot 5, situated at the northwest corner of Canal and First Streets,
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at first used for a tailoring shop, but subsequently purchased by Peter Longlois and occupied as a trading house. A story-and-a half log house was erected on the east side of Lot 32, near the alley, by Gen. Tipton, for Dr. Hiram Todd, previous to the latter's arrival during the same summer. Later, in 1830, a brick residence was erected on the front of the same lot. In the fall of that year (1828) a single-story log house was also erected on the southeast corner of Lot No. 71, by Peter Johnson, for a dwelling, but not completed until the following year. The premises are now occupied by D. D. Dykeman, Esq., whose residence is situated on the north end of the lot. Late in the fall of 1828, a small frame building, to be used as a tailor's shop, was put up on Lot 45, by David Patrick, for the oc- cupancy of " J. B. Eldridge, Tailor," who immediately established himself in business at that point.
Other Settlers in 1828 .- On the 6th of November, 1828, David Patrick arrived in Logansport, having left Fort Wayne the day suc- ceeding the election for President of the United States, and trav- eled the whole distance on foot, accompanied by Pleasant Grubb, his friend and shopmate. They were of the class of mechanics known as " cabinet-makers," but since there was little call for.that species of handicraft, their attention was early directed to the cultivation of the kindred branch designated as " carpenter and joiner work," in which they found steady and lucrative employment.
Not far from the same date, Job B. Eldridge came here from the neighborhood of the " Treaty Ground " where he had been for some time previously employed by Gen. Tipton in making clothes for the Indians. Shortly after his arrival, as soon as suitable quar- ters could be obtained, he set up the first tailor's shop in Logans- port, and successfully pursued that avocation for many years, Thomas J. Cummings, who came about the same time, or later, working with him under the firm name of Eldridge & Cummings,
October 11, 1828, James Smith, father of Judge Anthony F. Smith, settled here, and shortly after his arrival commenced the construction of a brick house on Lot 77, at the northeast corner of Canal and Fourth Streets, being the west section of the building. Afterward the property was purchased and improved by Philip Leamey, who built the section east of and adjoining the other, and opened a tavern, which for many years was known as the " Leamey House." The buildings and improvements are now owned and oc-
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cupied by the Panhandle Railroad Company as a depot. About the same time, John Smith, Sr., father of Maj. Benjamin H. Smith, came here with his family and became a permanent resident.
During the fall of the same year, Frederick W. and James H. Kintner, with Harvey Heth, all of whom had formerly been resi- dents of Corydon, Harrison Co., Ind., but more recently from Fort Wayne, though immediately from the vicinity of the Treaty Ground, at Paradise Springs, in Wabash County, located in Lo- gansport and commenced business as saddle and harness-makers. Here they soon worked up a good trade and continued business for many years. Their first location was on the northwest corner of Canal and First Streets, in the building subsequently occupied by Peter Longlois. Afterward, for several years, their shop was on the southeast corner of Lot 48, immediately west of the residence of the late Chauncey Carter. Frederick Kintner died more than fifty years ago, and Harvey Heth at a much later period. James H. Kintner continued to reside in this city until about the year 1868, when, having received a position in connection with the Indian agency in the Western Territory, he left here. A few years later he went to Indianapolis, and thence to Dayton, Ohio, where he died in the summer or fall of 1885.
Andrew Waymire, from the vicinity of Richmond, Ind., came here in the early part of the year 1828. Possessing great ingenuity and skill in different departments of mechanics, he made himself a very useful member of society, and did much toward advancing the interests and in adding to the welfare and prosperity of the whole community. The works of greatest moment that were wrought out by him were in the construction of the saw-mills and the grist-mill for Gen. Tipton, to whose early enterprise and foresight the people of Cass County, and especially Logansport, owe so much, and whose efforts in their behalf were so little appreciated during his lifetime. Mr. Waymire was not only an excellent mill-wright, but a house- carpenter and cabinet-maker of no mean ability. There are yet specimens of his mechanical skill to be found among the relics of the past in this city. He left here in the spring or summer of 1837, and when last heard from was in one of the Western territo- ries.
James Wyman, formerly of Fort Wayne, came and settled here in the fall of 1828. After a residence in this place for a few years
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he returned to Fort Wayne, and made that place his permanent home. Francis Aveline, also of Fort Wayne, made a temporary settlement in Logansport, some time during the same season, but subsequently returned to his former home, having remained here for five or six years. Robert Hars, another citizen of Fort Wayne, but formerly of western Ohio, came here some time in the summer of 1828, and in the fall of that year, with his family, made this his home. He died, however, on the evening of December 25 follow- ing, but his family continued to be residents of the place. His widow, the mother of Mrs. John F. Dodds, died at the residence of her daughter, in this city, only a few years since.
When Cyrus Taber came from Fort Wayne and settled in Lo- gansport, his brother, Samuel D. Taber, came also, but after a resi- dence of a few years he moved northward, and settled permanently on the Michigan Road, not far south of Plymouth, in Marshall County, Ind., where he kept a tavern, or place of entertainment, during a long series of years, and his house was one of popular re- sort for all who passed that way. In addition to those already named, John R. Hinton, Moses Randall, Edward McCartney, Jacob Woodcock, Moses Chilson, Samuel Edsal, Reuben Covert, Jonathan Crago, Moses Barclay, Peter DeJean, and perhaps others, settled and resided here, temporarily, at least, during the year 1828. If there were others, the number was few, and their identity at this late day would be exceedingly difficult to establish.
Town Corporation .- Pursuant to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, for the incorporation of towns, approved February 10, 1831, the inhabitants of Logansport, desiring to ascertain whether public sentiment was in favor of erect- ing and maintaining a town corporation, assembled at the Canal Mansion House, in said town, on Monday, September 5, 1831, and having organized by the election of Samuel Ward as president and James B. Campbell as clerk, submitted the question to the deter- mination of the legally qualified voters present. At that election, upon counting the ballots so cast, it was found that there were forty- five votes in favor of incorporation, and but two against. It was therefore declared that the town should be so incorporated, and to that end the territory was divided into five districts, as follows: First District-Bounded on the north by Eel River, east by Second Street, and south by the Wabash River. Second-Bounded on the
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north by Broadway Street, east by Bridge Street, south by the Wabash River, and west by Second Street. Third-Bounded on the north by Market Street, east by Fifth Street, south by the Wabash River, and west by Bridge Street. Fourth-Bounded north by Broadway to Fourth Street, west by Fourth Street to the alley between Carter and Ward's lots, north by said alley, east by Fifth Street, south by Market Street, and west by Bridge Street. Fifth-North by Eel River, east by Fifth Street to alley between Carter and Ward's Lots; south by said alley to Fourth Street, east by Fourth to Broadway Street, south by Broadway, and west by Second Street.
Notice was then given, dated September 6, 1831, to hold elec- tions in said several districts for the choice of five trustees, on Mon- day, September 12. At the election so held, Jolin Ward, J. Vigus, Hiram Todd, John Scott and Peter Anderson were chosen trustees to represent said five districts. From the record of their proceed- ings, the first meeting of the town board was held on November 11, 1831. Logansport, as thus incorporated, was embraced within the limits of the original plat only. During the existence of the corpo- ration, however, the limits were extended east to Tenth Street. The town corporation terminated in April, 1838.
Incorporated as a City .- During the session of 1837-38 of the Legislature of the State of Indiana, a special act was passed authorizing the incorporation of Logansport as a city, which act was approved by the Governor, David Wallace, on the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1838. Pursuant to the provisions of the third and fourth sections of said act, an election was held by the qualified voters residing in said city, at the office of the clerk of Cass County, on the first Tuesday, being the 3d of April, 1838, at which election Jordan Vigus was chosen the first mayor, John S. Patterson, re- corder ; Cyrus Taber, Job B. Eldridge, Philip Leamey, W. H. Wright and S. S. Tipton were chosen aldermen to represent the five wards of the city; and Robert B. Stevenson, treasurer. In accordance with the requirements of Section 12 of the charter, all said officers appeared before Lismund Basye, Esq., a justice of the peace of said county, and took the oath prescribed by law. The first meeting of the boaad of aldermen or common council was held at the office of Tipton & Patterson, on Wednesday, the 11th of April, 1838, at which meeting and the one succeeding (April 12) the following
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other officers were chosen: Henry Chase, city attorney ; Jacob Hull, high constable; Levin Turner and Benjamin Green, collectors and assessors, and also, police constables; DeHart Booth and Barton R. Keep, street commissioners; John Dodd, flour inspector, gauger and sealer of weights and measures; John B. Turner, measurer of grain, lumber wood, coal and lime; Joseph P. Berry, weigher of hay; George Weirick, common crier. Wm. H. Wright and Spier S. Tipton were also appointed a committee to draft ordinances. The city government as then organized, modified from time to time by the law-making power of the State, has since maintained a succes- sive existence, greatly enlarged her territorial area and the measure of her population. In June, 1870, the boundaries of the city were extended, east, west, north and south, so as to embrace an extent of territory equal to nearly eight square miles; but subsequently the general area was diminished to the extent of two square miles, or more.
Additions .- At the time Logansport became clothed with the powers incident to a city government its boundaries were designated by Eel River on the north and northwest, by the Wabash River on the south, and by Ninth Street on the east, that territory including only the original plat laid out by Chauncey Carter, and the several additions laid out by Gen. John Tipton in his lifetime. Aside from the original plat, the following principal additions have been incor- porated with and become a part of the city of Logansport, as now known.
Tipton's First Addition, consisting of forty-eight lots lying immediately east of, adjoining, and of uniform size north and south with the original plat, was laid out by Jolin Tipton on the 3d of August, 1833, and extends east to Seventh Street, between Market and High.
Tipton's Second Addition, consisting of fifty-five lots, lying im- mediately east of the First Addition, and the lots of uniform size with those in the preceding addition, was laid out by John Tipton on the 8th of June, 1835, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, and between Market and High, and from the canal to the Wabash River between Oak and Berkley Streets.
Tipton's Third Addition, consisting of sixteen lots, bounded north by Eel River, south by High and Eel River Streets, and east by the Canal, was laid out by John Tipton on the 5th of October, 1835.
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Tipton's Fourth Addition, consisting of fifty-four lots, lying im- mediately east of the Second Addition, and extending south of Market Street, on both sides of Spencer Street, and east to Ninth, was also laid out by John Tipton on the 27th of October, 1835.
Administrator's First Addition, consisting of fifty-five standard and fifty-one out-lots, each equal to two standard lots, lying imme- diately east of Tipton's Fourth Addition, between Ninth and Twelfth Streets, extending from High Street to the canal, was laid out by the administrators of the estate of John Tipton, deceased, pursuant to the order of the probate court of Cass County, on February 13, 1840.
Administrator's Second Addition, consisting of twenty-seven out-lots, each equal in area to eight standard lots, lying immediately east of the Administrator's First Addition, between Twelfth and Fif- teenth Streets, extending from High Street to the canal, and be- tween the canal and the Wabash River, westward to Berkley Street, was laid out by the administrators of John Tipton, deceased, pur- suant to the order of the probate court of Cass County, on June 3, 1843. The out-lots embraced in the two preceding additions were subsequently subdivided by the purchasers thereof at different pe- riods, and designated on the records as additions laid out by the sub- dividing proprietors.
(Original) West Logan, consisting of 201 lots, lying on the northwest bank of Eel River, in George Cicott's Reserve, and east of Barron's Reserve, was laid out by William F. Peterson and Ed- ward H. Lytle on September 28, 1835.
W. L. Brown's Addition, consisting of eighty lots, in the east part of Barron's Reserve and adjoining the original plat of West Logan, on the west, was laid out by William L. Brown on Novem- ber 20, 1853, and comprises that part of the city of Logansport, known as "Brownstown."
Harvey Heth's Addition, consisting of twenty-four lots, lying west of and adjoining William L. Brown's Addition, between Lin- den and Bates Streets, was laid out in Lot 2 of the partition of Barron's Reserve, by Harry Heth on April 27, 1863.
Mary Ann Heth's Addition, consisting of forty lots, lying im- mediately west of and adjoining W. L. Brown's Addition, between Wheatland Street and the Wabash River, was laid out by Mary Ann Heth on April 2, 1866.
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John P. Usher's Addition, consisting of 139 lots, lying east of Fifteenth Street and between Spear Street and the canal, was laid out by John P. Usher on May 26, 1863.
George T. Tipton's First Addition, consisting of seventy-two lots, lying east of Fifteenth Street, between Eel River and Spear Street, was laid out by George T. Tipton on July, 1853.
Noah S. LaRose's First Addition, consisting of eighty lots, ly- ing between Eighteenth and Nineteenth Streets and between High and George Streets, was laid out by Noah S. LaRose on July 6, 1867.
Sarah M. Tipton's Addition, consisting of 109 standard and nine out-lots, lying east of N. S. LaRose's First Addition, and extending from Eel River south to Spear Street, was laid out by Mrs. Sarah M. Tipton, widow of the late George T. Tipton, deceased, June 2, 1873. George T. Tipton's Second Addition lies immediately south of this.
D. D. Dykeman's Third Addition, consisting of 319 standard and ten out-lots, occupying the grounds adjacent to the shops of the Panhandle Railroad Company, the area known as the homestead of Gen. John Tipton, was laid out by D. D. Dykeman on May 5, 1870.
D. D. Dykeman's Fourth Addition, consisting of ninety-two lots, lying between the west line of West Logan and Heth Street, and between Wheatland and Pratt Streets, was laid out by David D. Dykeman on April 22, 1874.
Noah S. LaRose's Second Addition, consisting of 103 lots, ly- ing immediately north of the Wabash & Erie Canal, between Hanna's Addition to West Logan and Josephus Atkinson's Addition, was laid out by Noah S. LaRose on June 26, 1872.
Josephus Atkinson's Addition, consisting of 144 lots, lying south of the College grounds and west of College Street, was laid out by Josephus Atkinson on June 10, 1872.
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