USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement to the present time; with Biographical Sketches and Reference to Biographies, Volume I > Part 34
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Solomon Fouts, a pioneer of Deer Creek township, has contributed to farm journals. One article of special interest was published in the Indiana Farmer May 12 and 19, 1906, describing early settlement of that township.
Theodore J. McMinn, now a prominent lawyer and politician of San Antonio, Texas, where he was a candidate for governor on the Populist ticket in 1906, was born in Logansport in 1845, educated here, and was a resident of our city until about 1880, when he located in Texas, where he is a contributor to the newspapers and magazines and has composed some poems of real merit. One short poem, entitled "Mary," was published widely, a stanza of which follows:
Then let happy birds keep singing, Singing as through time we stray, Till our souls go upward winging, To the land of cloudless day ; There my song shall never vary, There with angels I'll sing-Mary.
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CHAPTER XX ART AND ARTISTS
PIONEER ART-ART ASSOCIATION-CASS COUNTY PAINTERS AND ARTISTS
In pioneer days the people were engaged in the practical and hard work of clearing the land, with few of the luxuries of life. Anything that could not be utilized in everyday life was eschewed.
In early days the painter was a person apart from the everyday world. It was regarded as little short of lunacy for a man to attempt to live by art. There was but little demand for the work of an artist, as this was something that was not essential, yea, it was regarded as a hindrance to the woodsman's work, hence but little attention was paid to art until the country became settled, people more pros- perous, and the artistic faculty developed. In the first settlement of Cass county, photography was unknown, and the only way of perpetuat- ing the features of a loved one was by a painting; consequently the ef- forts of the early artists were largely devoted to portrait painting. The native pioneer hoosier artists had only self-training. There were no schools of art in Indiana, or even in the United States and the youth of our county in pioneer days were too poor to attend the art schools of Paris or Munich. It is the history of all countries, that, as they grew older, industries more diversified, people become wealthier, and gen- eral education assumes higher standards, more attention is paid to aesthetics, to the beautiful in nature, and to represent the same on canvas, and Cass county is no exception to the rule.
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ART ASSOCIATION
To create and develop the artistic taste and encourage its growth among our people, the Logansport Art Association was organized February 4, 1911, with Mrs. W. H. Snyder as president; Mrs. J. A. Downey, first vice president; Mrs. S. T. McConnell, second vice presi- dent; Mrs. Jennie McIntosh, secretary; Mrs. F. H. Wipperman, treasurer.
This association, which now numbers over three hundred, has been very active in creating an interest in art work and encouraging and fostering a taste and desire for the beautiful.
In the spring of 1912, the association held its first annual art exhibit in the Reporter building, which was a creditable display of the Indiana Artists' Traveling Exhibit, consisting of about forty paintings by Indiana artists, together with the works of local artists and other artistic displays. Another annual exhibition was held in the basement of the new Baptist church from April 25 to May 2, 1912, which was far more extensive than that of the previous year. It is the expectation of the
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association to secure a home and open a permanent art gallery, which is certainly very desirable, and would develop the literary and artistic . faculties of our people and be a great incentive to the students of art to further advancement.
CASS COUNTY PAINTERS AND ARTISTS
Cass county has had a number of painters and artists who will be briefly mentioned.
George Winter was the pioneer painter in Cass county. He was . born in England in 1810; studied in the Royal Academy of London; came to New York when a young man and in 1837 located in Logans- port. He was united in marriage to Mary Squier of New Carlyle, Ohio, in 1840. In 1850 he moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where he died about 1877. He had one son, George, now living in California, and one daughter, Mrs. C. Gordon Ball of Lafayette, Indiana. Mr. Winter was a prolific painter, of more than ordinary ability, and has made a greater number of pictures of real merit, more than any other artist that has ever resided in Cass county, although his paintings have been scattered and never collected in one gallery. He painted many portraits of Cass county pioneers, of the Miami and Pottawattomie Indian chiefs and of the noted Frances Slocum, the white girl stolen in Pennsylvania and raised by the Indians and who became the wife of an Indian chief. Mr. Winter also painted a number of landscape views on the Wabash. Perhaps his greatest painting was that representing the Battle of Tippecanoe. In a private letter, now in possession of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Mr. Winter speaks of six different pictures of the Tippecanoe battle ground, and of two of these covering 152 square feet each. These were painted in 1840, while Mr. Winter lived in Logans- port, and his idea was suggested by the famous Harrison campaign of that year. The whereabouts of the painting is not known.
The largest collection of Winter pictures in existence is owned by his daughter, Mrs. C. G. Ball of Lafayette. There are nine oil paint- ings and thirty-eight water colors in this collection. Among this collec- tion are portraits of Francis Godfrey, the last of the Miami chiefs and of Joseph Barron, the famous Indian interpreter who served under General Harrison. The late Judge Biddle had a collection of Winter's paintings, now owned by Mrs. Eva Peters Reynolds.
Judge M. Winfield is the owner of two oil paintings, scenes on the Wabash, and Miss Tillie Tipton also has two. There are a number of other Winter's paintings held by different Logansport residents, which should all be gathered into one collection by the Historical Society or Art Association.
Miss Mary McDonald, a sister of William McDonald, deceased, was born in Camden, Indiana; moved to Logansport in 1883, where she resided until her death in 1896 or 1897. She was educated at Oxford, Ohio, and at the Philadelphia Art School. Miss McDonald ranked high as an artist and her work consisted chiefly in illustrations for Harper's, Leslie's and other magazines. She also drew the illustrations for some of Riley's poetical works.
Margaret McDonald Pullman, a sister to Mary McDonald, was born in the adjoining county of Carroll, but was reared and educated in Logansport. Miss McDonald was united in marriage to George M. Pullman of Chicago. After her marriage she made Chicago her home and became president of the Chicago Art Club, and gained a national reputation as an artist and published two creditable books on art; one in 1889 entitled "Days Serene," containing copies of her best paintings
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and in 1891 a second art work known as "Sommerland," which was published by Lee and Shepard of Boston. This work contains a preface including a poem with poetical selections under each picture, which were favorably mentioned by eminent artists.
From about 1837 to 1845, there was a Mr. Richards living in Logans- port who was a painter of some reputation, but particulars concerning him or his productions are not obtainable at this late date.
John D. Forgy, brother of C. P. Forgy of New Waverly, where he was reared and educated; studied in Cincinnati and painted a number of landscape views in Cass county, but his chief work was sketching for books, papers and magazines. He was twice married, the last time in Des Moines, Iowa, where Mr. Forgy lived some years before his death, which occurred several years ago.
Elias H. Conner, born in Adams township about 1845, possessed artistic faculties and did some clever work with pen and pencil. He went west but returned, and, like many an artist, died in indigent circumstances about 1910.
George E. Weaver of the American Normal College, 1878, and E. A. Hall, the proprietor of Hall's Business College, were pen artists and. did some sketching worthy of record and the latter published a book of forty-two pages in 1868, entitled "Bookkeepers' Guide."
Max Keppler, a student of Mr. Swain who came from Chicago and had rooms at 4141/2 Market street from 1875 to 1878; later studied in Europe, was a distinguished artist, and illustrated for "Puck," "Harper's" and other magazines. Mrs. W. H. Snyder has some of Mr. Keppler's paintings. He died in New York in 1910.
Jacob Ackerman, about 1872-1875, had a studio in Dolan's Opera House. He was a good artist and teacher and had a number of pupils which he instructed in painting and decorating.
Scott Evans, professor of music and painting in Smithson's College about 1872-1875, was a landscape and portrait painter who had studied in Paris. He has one glass eye. He has a family and his home is in Cleveland.
Jerome McLean was a sign painter with a studio at 209 Sixth street from about 1873 to 1875. He was a portrait painter and painted a portrait of Joseph Seiter and other local men.
Samilla Love Jameson is a young artist of some ability, who was born and educated in Logansport and whose home is with her mother, Mrs. Elvira Jameson, on the north side. She has studied in Chicago and other art centers, and has painted some very fine pictures. She illustrated Mrs. Flora Neff's book of poems, "Along Life's Pathway," and is engaged largely in sketching for illustrated papers and maga- zines.
Wils Berry, a native Cass county boy, born in Miami township, 1851; traveled for ten years over thirty different states, sketching from nature, chiefly landscapes and animals, for New York and Chicago publications. He sketched the Parliament building at Ottawa, Canada, which was copyrighted and presented to Queen Victoria, and he received an acknowledgement, complementing him on its elegance. Mr. Berry has painted many local views and landscapes, and some fine portraits. He had an extensive collection of paintings, also relics of pioneer life, all of which were badly damaged, and some' practically ruined by the great flood of March 25 to 28, 1913, which submerged the old Biddle home on the island, which is now owned and occupied by Mr. Berry.
Percival E. Berry, a son of Wils Berry, who was raised in Cass . county and educated in the city high school, and taught school at Onward, where he died three years ago, was a fine sketcher from nature
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and painted some beautiful landscapes. He was married on his death bed in Onward.
Mrs. J. A. Downey is an artist of local distinction. Her work is con- fined largely to ceramics, and she is an expert in hand-painted china.
There have been, and are today, many other painters who have a local reputation as artists in different departments of art work whose names cannot be enumerated here, yet are equally meritorious. Only a few have been mentioned to show that Cass. county is well represented by artists and works of art as well as in all other lines of human endeavor and progress. Our people are learning the fact that as one learns to love and admire the beauty of nature, it enhances and develops the beauty of soul.
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CHAPTER XXI MUSIC AND THE DRAMA
OLD TIME SINGING SCHOOL-MISSOURI HARMONY-FIRST PIANO-FIRST CHURCH ORGAN-FIRST GLEE CLUB, G. A. R. QUARTETTE, WACH- TER'S AND OTHER BANDS-MUSIC PUBLICATIONS-THE DRAMA AND DRAMATISTS.
In the early settlement of Cass county the people were occupied exclusively in felling the forest, erecting buildings, clearing and pre- paring the land for cultivation and maintaining themselves, and had no time for music. But when the improvements were completed, crops grown in abundance, wealth and prosperity enhansed, the pioneer was not so completely absorbed in securing the necessities of life and could give some time to music, literature and other walks of life that have a softening and civilizing tendency. When the country became settled, farms opened up, school houses and churches erected, we find the sing- ing master making his appearance, and organizing singing schools in every pioneer neighborhood, village or town, this being the first kind of music introduced in Cass county.
OLD TIME SINGING SCHOOL
The country log school house or village church were the regular meeting place of the pioneer singers. There were no pianos or organs in those days, so in church some one would be called on "to raise the tune." When the pioneer singing school was in flower, a steel tuning fork, a fiddle or an accordian were used to give the pitch, but these instruments, the only kind then in vogue, were not permitted to be employed in the church. The music teacher would come to a village or settlement, often heralded for weeks in advance, and give a course of thirteen lessons, closing with a grand concert.
MISSOURI HARMONY
Everybody, old and young, for miles around, would come to these meetings, more particularly the beaux and belles, and not a few country gallants selected their future companions at the old singing school. These singing schools were generally held on Sunday afternoons, and occasionally on one or two evenings during the week. The first singing book used in Cass county was the "Missouri Harmany," and is said to be the first singing book used in Indiana. It was written in what was called "Buckwheat" notes, the notes being named by the shape and not by the position on the staff as now. The system of notation em- ployed in this book had a tetrachord of four syllables-fa, sol, la, mi- which were repeated to form the scale. It was called the system of "Buckwheat Notes" because, in shape, the notes resembled grains of
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buckwheat. The Missouri Harmony was followed by the "Old Melodean" and "Christian Psalmist" with the scale syllables running . from do to do, as we now have them with the "round notes." In the days of the pioneer singing school, the local conditions were very primitive and crude as we view them now.
The farms of cultivated lands were as small and scattered as are the timber tracts today. Forests and wild game abounded in every direction. The roads were unimproved and the people usually went to the singing school on horseback, with two or three astride the same horse, clinging to each other. Often a beau would take his best girl behind him on the same horse, she holding on to him with as much pleasure and satisfaction as though they were dashing along in a modern automobile ..
And thus, she did trudge along, through mud and rain and snow, On horse back, to "singin' " school, behind her gallant beau.
Sometimes the singing master would have two schools at the same time in different neighborhoods, or possibly two rival teachers might be conducting singing schools at the same time and between these schools there would be considerable emulation, which sometimes led to joint meetings, where the rival classes, under the leadership of their respective teachers, contested for superiority. The singers were chosen very much as the spellers at the old time spelling match. Judges were selected, who would listen to all the contests and award honors. Each class would sing their best selections, first the notes, then the words. The popular instruments in those days were the fiddle, flute and accordion and occasionally one of these was used in the singing school or glee club by the singing master. These instruments, however, were not permitted to be used in "meeting houses" and were only allowed in the school, or private house, as it was considered sacrilegious to take musical instruments into the churches by the pioneers of Cass county. The passing of the old time singing school is to be regretted. It was a sociable and pleasurable as well as profitable feature of country life that is hard to fill by any other substitute. Possibly the revolving cycle of our institutional life, may yet return to future generations the "old-time singin' school" in some form.
FIRST PIANO
The first piano that appeared in Logansport was bought in Phil- adelphia, shipped by water to New Orleans and up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and came by steamboat up the Wabash to Logansport, in June, 1836 or 1837. In unloading the instrument it fell into the river and laid there until the water subsided before it could be taken out. This piano belonged to General Hyacinth Lasselle, father of Charles B. Lasselle, who then lived on the southwest corner of Pearl and Broadway, where the Trust Company Bank is now located. This piano was the wonder of the town, especially to the small boys, who had never heard a piano before and they would collect in crowds and hang around the Lasselle home to hear that marvelous sounding instrument for the first time heard within the confines of Cass county. Many years ago when Mrs. Chamberlain, who was a Lasselle, moved to Washington, this old piano was taken charge of by Burl Booth, who now resides at 1105 Broadway, where the old piano is kept, and highly prized as an histori- cal relic. It was on display at the annual art exhibit in the basement of the Baptist church, April 25, 1912. This piano is a small instru-
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ment as compared with modern pianos, but is of good workmanship, and should be placed in the Historical Society's home for permanent preser- vation.
FIRST CHURCH ORGAN
The first organ to be used by the Methodists of Logansport was in the new Broadway church, opened in 1859, and Amanda Goodwin, still living, was the first organist. Prior to that time instrumental music was not permitted within the church. The violin or "fiddle," as it was generally called, was the principal instrument in pioneer days, and every neighborhood had its "fiddler," who was a unique but jovial character, who played old familiar tunes, as "Old Dan Tucker,"
OLD GLEE CLUB, ORGANIZED IN 1848 Jas. T. Bryer, Allen Richardson, Elihu S. Rice, David E. Bryer
"Possom Up a Gum Stump" or "Devil's Dance" at all gatherings of the pioneers, whether it was a "log rolling," "raising," "husking bee," fandango or wedding.
FIRST GLEE CLUB
The oldest quartette or glee club that we have any authentic record of, was organized about 1848 and was composed of the following well known pioneers : E. S. Rice, James T. Bryer, David E. Bryer and Allen Richardson, a group photograph of whom is here shown as they appeared at that early day.
Mr. Rice was born in New York, 1827, came to Logansport on a canal boat in 1838 and died in 1912. He devoted his leisure time to composing music and has written a number of songs and hymns of special merit: "Shall We Meet Beyond the River," a deservedly popu- Vol. 1-17
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lar hymn, has been published in all standard hymnals. His more recent songs, "Spare the Old Homestead," "Those Little Red Shoes" and "Those Good Old Days," deserve especial mention.
David E. Bryer, born 1831, died 1904, possessed a rare poetical and musical faculty and wrote a large number of political songs for every campaign from 1856 to 1896. He also composed many church and Sunday school hymns and set the same to original music. He possessed a remarkably deep bass voice and was one of the pioneer singing masters and taught many a singing school in early days.
James T. Bryer, born 1828, died 1895, was an editorial writer on the Journal, but seldom composed music. Allen Richardson was born in Ohio, 1830, came to Logansport 1831, died 1908. He was a con- tractor, but creditably filled several city and county offices. He was married in 1856 and one daughter, Mrs. Harry Case, still lives in our city.
These four pioneer musicians made the Wabash valley ring with their sweet songs. The club was deservedly popular and was called far and near to sing on all manner of occasions, in school, church and state, whether it was a religious, civic, miltary or political meeting, this pioneer glee club was always welcomed and for many years they constituted the principal musical feature of Cass county, as at that time instrumental music was entirely barred from the churches and but few private families had instruments in their homes, and the people were dependent almost entirely upon singing for musical entertainment and this pioneer glee club was in great demand.
G. A. R. QUARTETTE
Ever since the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in Logansport, this quartette has been in existence and is composed of the following old soldiers: Joseph E. Crain, H. C. Cushman, I. N. Watkins and William S. Richardson. They are all living except Mr. Richard- son, who died February 12, 1913. This musical club has attained not only a county but a state-wide reputation for its high-class singing, but since the death of Mr. Richardson has disbanded. A notice of this quartette appears in the military history.
WACHTER'S AND OTHER BANDS
The first band in Logansport was organized some time prior to 1858, by Graf and Wiseman, but did not blow their horns very loud or long and but little is known concerning this organization or who the members were.
The first permanent and successful band was organized by John Wachter in the spring of 1860. Herr Wachter was a German by birth and was an efficient cornetist and teacher. He was a leader in band music until his death. Mr. George Scharff, born in Bavaria 1838, came to Logansport 1858 and is still an honored resident of our city, was a charter member of Wachter's Band and from memory gives the fol- lowing names as belonging to this band: James Winemiller, Peter Schwartz, Charles Hillhouse, Charles Hebbel, Jacob Hebbel, George Tipton, Like Vigus, Joseph Rebhan, Thomas Herring, Lewis Foster, James Vigus and George Kinsley, who owned the old tannery on the north side, where they used to practice. It was a splendid place for a newly organized band to practice, as it was well surrounded and guarded by swamp, canal and river, and thus free from attack by indignant citizens. This band became famous for its fine music and
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one of the best bands in northern Indiana. During the exciting days of the Civil war, Wachter's Band was a powerful factor in stirring up patriotism, and its rendition of "Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys," "John Brown's Body" and "Marching Through Georgia" never failed to bring cheers from the soldiers, home on furlough, and tears from the home folks who had loved ones at the front. And when some soldier, who had gone forth in the pride of youthful manhood, was brought home in a roughly hewn wooden box, and the band played a dirge at the funeral, there was not a dry eye along the line of march to the cemetery .. This was a splendid band and many a man, whose hair is now gray, remembers his boyish enthusiasm when the cry went up the street, "The band's out."
Since the time of Wachter's Band, many others have been organized, flourished for a season then gone to pieces or merged into others, with a different name. The Cecillian Band succeeded Wachter's Band about 1866 with William Fornhoff as leader and other members were Ed and Jud Taylor, A. Barnett, E. D. Chandler, Al Merritt, John Dunkle, Will H. Brown, Jay Powell, Hecht Powell, Chet Gridley, James Logan, George Scharff, Jim Glines. The band room was in the third story, at 222 Market street, over Geiger's present cigar store. William Fornhoff was killed on the railroad while going to play in another town and his brother, Michael Fornhoff, became leader and later this was known as "Fornhoff's Band."
In the later '60s there was a "City Band" and still later "Father Mathew Band."
The "Forest Mill Band" was organized in the old Forest mill on Sixth street and Eel river.
The colored people had a band which is handed down to posterity only by the name of "Coon Band." "The Brass Band," "Mascot Band," "Old Fellows' Band," "Logan Gray Band," "Military Band," "Big Four Band," "St. Joseph's Band," "City Concert Band," "Concordia Band," "K. of P. Band," "Citizens Band," and, "Elks Band" and possibly others have flourished for a time and Logansport has never been without one or more first class bands of music since the first band was organized nearly sixty years ago. Several first class orchestras have been organized, probably the first was "Fornhoff's Orchestra," organized in 1867, with Mr. Fornhoff as leader, followed by "Culp's Orchestra," and at present "Stinhart's Orchestra" is in active orchestral work.
MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
The "Home Music Journal," a monthly magazine devoted to music, was started in Logansport in 1892 by W. T. Giffe and in 1896 the name was changed to "Choir Music Journal," which was continued until 1903, when he sold out. Mr. Giffe is also the author of a number of music books, the most popular of which are "Crown of Glory," "Glory Bells," "The Wonder" and "New Favorite." All of these publications had a wide circulation in their day.
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