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 35
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Mr. Giffe is a thorough musical scholar and taught music in the Logansport public schools from 1879 to 1886. He was born in Port- land, Indiana in 1848, served one year in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, during the Civil war, came to Logansport in 1879, married in 1889 to Miss Nannie Booth, a daughter of De Hart Booth, a pioneer of Cass county and they have one daughter. Mr. Giffe is an honored citizen and now engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
Prof. Louis D. Eichorn, a music teacher, composer and singer of
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more than ordinary ability, was born at Bluffton, Indiana, in 1872; studied music in New York and Chicago; came to Logansport in 1896 and was teacher of music in the public schools for three years and had many private pupils. He was united in marriage to Miss Edna K. Stevens in 1901. She was also a beautiful singer who has attended some of the best conservatories of music and Mr. and Mrs. Eichorn both rank high in the musical world, and are the composers of a number of music books, which they use in their classes and at Chautauquas and religious revivals, where they are employed all over the country. They make their home at this time in Denver, Colorado.
Reuben Jay Powell, a Cass county boy, where he was born 1848, served three years as musician in the army during the Civil war, was married to Mary J. Klopp of Logansport and they are blessed with one son, Edgar, now a music dealer in Ohio.
Mr. Powell studied music under Jacob Reid of Leipsic, Germany, and for many years was instructor and leader of various bands in Logansport and surrounding towns and has composed and contributed to many music journals. The following pieces are of special interest : "The Songs We Hear," "Progress of Refinement," "Random Shots."
Mrs. Eva Peters Reynolds, daughter of H. B. Peters and grand- daughter of Dr. Farquhar, a pioneer physician of Logansport, was born, reared and educated in our city and now resides with her mother at 1101 High street. Mrs. Reynolds is an accomplished musician and teacher of distinction and is the author of a booklet giving a sketch of Horace P. Biddle and his musical scale, which may be found in the state library.
Wilbur D. Winters, son of John B. Winters, is a musician of some note and has composed some beautiful songs and hymns which were pub- lished in Philadelphia under the nom-de-plume of "Jack Dale." One of these "Leaving" is on file with the Cass County Historical Society.
Miss MeNitt, daughter of James D. MeNitt, and Mrs. E. B. McCon- nell are musicians of note and were teachers of music in the public schools for years, as is also Cornelius Fisher.
Miss Amanda Goodwin for many years was a music teacher and had large number of pupils and was the organist to the first church organ used in Logansport in 1859. The Misses Howe, Knowlton, Lux and Stevens were charming singers and this little band of singers were in great demand a few years ago, but they have married and retired from the musical field. Miss Edna Putnam, daughter of Rev. D. P. . Putnam, is a present day music teacher of some distinction, as is also Mrs. Charles McDowell and Mrs. J. B. Shultz. Mrs. Martha Powell Bickel, born and reared in Cass county but now living in Winnipeg, Canada, has a naturally sweet toned voice which has been cultivated, and she is gaining a wide reputation as a singer.
There are many, many other musicians and singers, possessing more than ordinary musical talent, who have or now reside in Cass county and are equally deserving with those here named, but for obvious rea- sons cannot be herein mentioned.
THE DRAMA AND DRAMATISTS
In the histrionic field Cass county is well represented and has pro- duced many amateur actors and performers on the local stage, but of these we will not speak although many of them are worthy of mention in a local history. Cass county has produced several actors of national reputation :
Walker Whiteside, son of Thomas C. Whiteside, judge of the com-
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mon pleas court from 1866-1870, was born in Logansport about 1871, and for many years a resident of the city that gave him birth, is one of the best known and popular actors in the United States. He is mar- ried and his wife is an actress of some reputation. Their home at present is in New York.
Edna Goodrich, is the granddaughter of Scott Thornton, an old pioneer family of Logansport, where Miss Goodrich was born and reared. She has more than a local reputation as a star actress. She was mar- ried to the celebrated actor, "Nat Goodwin," but they experienced rough sailing on the matrimonial sea and were divorced. She is still on the stage and plays both in Europe and America.
Clarence Bennett, under the name of Richard Bennett, is one of Frohman's leading men on the stage and is regarded as a high-class actor and appears in the best theatres of the world. He was the son of George Bennett and was reared and educated in Cass county.
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CHAPTER XXII NEWSPAPERS
JOURNAL AND PREDECESSORS-PHAROS AND PREDECESSORS-ADVANCE ADVERTISER - BAPTIST RECORD - BON TON - CHRISTIAN CALL - CHRONICLE-COLLEGE NEWS-DEMOCRAT-HIGH SCHOOL PAPERS- NEWS-GERMAN PRESS-HERALD-MUSIC JOURNALS-KEY TO TRUTH -LOGAN CHIEF-MORNING LEADER-MEXICO HERALD-PLUCK- REPORTER-RAMBLER-SPY-S. N. REVIEW-STAR-SUN-CRITIC- TIMES-TRIBUNE-SWINE ADVOCATE-LUTHERAN HERALD-UNION LABOR-GAZETTE-REASON.
FIRST NEWSPAPER IN INDIANA
While Indiana was yet a territory, the first newspaper within its borders was the Indiana Gazette, published at Vincennes by Elihu Stout. The first issue appeared July 4, 1804. Two years later he changed the name to The Western Sun.
The first newspaper in Indianapolis was The Indianapolis Gazette, published in 1823.
EARLY PRINTING PRESSES
It is said that in pioneer days before the advent of railroads or even of wagon roads, that printers used swamp mud for ink and old cider presses for printing presses, and coarse brown wrapping paper printed on one side. The reader would return the paper to the office and have the next issue printed on the other side.
ADVERTISING
It is curious to scan the advertising columns of the pioneer press. Such articles as knee buckles, spinning-wheels, flint-lock guns, buck- skin and saddle-bag locks, candle moulds, dog irons, etc., were adver- tised by merchants. The editor would announce that he would accept as pay for subscriptions such articles as maple sugar, jeans, tow-linen, oats, corn, chickens, fire-wood, coon-skins, possum oil, etc.
NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS
The total number of newspapers and periodicals published in Cass county to date is about fifty-five. A brief notice will be made of each, but those published in the towns outside of Logansport will be men- tioned in their respective townships and only those of Logansport will be noticed in this chapter.
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FIRST NEWSPAPER IN LOGANSPORT
The Pottawattomie and Miami Times was the first newspaper pub- lished in Cass county, John Scott, of Centerville, Wayne county, In- diana, being the editor and proprietor. The size of the paper was 18x24 inches, printed on an old Ramage press. The first issue appeared on Saturday, August 15, 1829.
The printing office was located on the south side of the street at what is now known as 415 Market street, where Rice's hardware store is located.
John Scott was a pioneer printer in Indiana and began the publi- cation of the Enquirer at Brookville, Franklin county, in 1815, and later moved to Wayne county, where he published the Weekly Intelli- gencer and later the Western Emporium, until he came to Logansport and started the first newspaper in northern Indiana, The Pottawattamie and Miami Times. On November 16, 1831, the name of the paper was changed to
Cass County Times, and Mr. Scott continued its publication until May 30, 1833, when he retired and sold out to his son, James B. Scott, and his son-in-law, Wm. J. Burns, and the name was again changed to
Logansport Republican, and still later the name was changed to
Indiana Herald. Scott and Burns continued the publication until December 19, 1833, when they sold out to Stanislaus Lasselle, and he changed the name to
Canal Telegraph, and issued the first number under this title Janu- ary 2, 1834.
James B. Scott moved to Delphi and published the Delphi Journal for some years, and died there about the year 1900. Wm. J. Burns died in Logansport in the seventies.
On August 16, 1834, John B. Dillon, the historian, became asso- ciated with Stanislaus Lasselle as editor and publisher, and on Novem- ber 22, 1834, they changed the name to Logansport Canal Telegraph. On July 9, 1836, Stanislaus Lasselle sold his interest to his brother, Hyacinth Lasselle, and the firm consisting of Dillon & Lasselle, changed the name to Logansport Telegraph. The office at this time was located on Commercial Row, on the south side of Market street, west of Third. Mr. Dillon sold his interest, January 22, 1842, and Hyacinth Lasselle, as sole proprietor, continued the publication of the paper until March 24, 1849, when he sold out to Thomas H. Bringhurst and Thomas Doug- lass, who renovated the office and changed the name of the paper to Logansport Journal.
The first number of the Journal appeared on April 21, 1849, and the Logansport Journal has been published continuously since that date, under different proprietors, which will be noticed. Mr. Bringhurst was sole editor and proprietor of the Journal until January 1, 1863, when Joseph Dague bought a half interest. Mr. Dague is now and has been for many years a clerk in the pension office at Washington, D. C. In January, 1870, Bringhurst and Dague sold the Journal to Zopher and W. C. Hunt, but two years later Mr. Dague repurchased a half interest and assumed the business management.
In 1873 Daniel P. Baldwin purchased a third interest, in 1874 an- other third, and in 1875 the remaining third, and assumed entire con- trol under the firm name of Pratt & Company, Wm. D. Pratt being the business manager. September 1, 1882, Mr. Pratt became the sold owner and continued the publication until 1890, when he sold to "The Jour- nal Company," which was organized as a stock company with W. S. Wright, Bert G. and Will R. Small as editors and managers.
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The Journal was continued under this management with W. S. Wright as chief editor until 1898, when the latter was appointed a lieu- tenant in the United States signal service during the Spanish-American war, and D. P. Baldwin, who held an unpaid mortgage on the plant, assumed control and sold the Journal to Tomlinson & Torr, September 4, 1898 (D. W. Tomlinson and Thomas Torr), who managed the paper until January 22, 1902, when A. R. Keesling, E. F. and Harry Metzger became owners and proprietors.
October, 1907, B. F. Keesling purchased the Metzger interests and the Keeslings published the Journal until October 12, 1912, when it was merged with the Tribune, under the title of Journal-Tribune. . A. R. Keesling retired, but B. F. Keesling has an interest in the present pub- lication, and is its treasurer.
DAILY JOURNAL
Prior to 1876 the Journal and its predecessors were weekly publi- cations and some of the early editions in the thirties were only issued bi-weekly.
On January 1, 1876, the Daily Journal was first established and has been published six times a week continuously from that date, to- gether with the weekly, which for a time was published semi-weekly prior to the establishment of free rural mail service, since which time only the weekly edition and daily have been issued.
When Mr. Bringhurst entered the Union army in 1861, James T. Bryer became editor of the Journal, and for many years was either editor-in-chief or contributor to its columns, and the Journal never had a more able editorial writer, and the Journal was classed among the leading papers of northern Indiana. The Journal has espoused the cause of the Republican party ever since its organization in 1854, and prior to that time was a Whig paper, as was also its predecessors. The office of the Pottawattomie Times and its successors down to the Journal has been located at the following places: first at 415 Market street; second at 321 Market street; third at 416 1-2 Broadway; fourth at 316 Pearl street; fifth at 416 Fourth street; sixth at 310 Broadway.
LOGANSPORT HERALD
The Logansport Herald was started August 1, 1837, by Jesse C. and David Douglass. It suspended July 20, 1841, and the printing outfit was purchased by Moses Scott, who continued the paper, but changed the name to
Wabash Gazette, as successor to the Herald. The first issue of the Gazette appeared November 10, 1842, with Horace P. Biddle as editor- in-chief. The Gazette continued its weekly missions until April 27, 1844, when like many another pioneer paper it ceased to be published. Sam- uel A. Hall, then a young man of more than ordinary push and energy, purchased the Gazette's office fixtures and on July 24, 1844, issued the first copy of the Logansport Weekly Pharos. The Pharos has been pub- lished under different proprietors from 1844 to the present time.
Samuel A. Hall, the founder of the Pharos, was born in Ohio, De- cember 4, 1823, came to Logansport July, 1844, and died April 10, 1870. He married Marinda P. Nash, of Logansport, and had five children. Mr. Hall was a bitter Democrat, but an able representative of his party. He was appointed postmaster in 1856. Mr. Hall continued to edit and publish the Pharos until January 6, 1869, when he sold the paper to Rufus Magee, who was the proprietor until July 1, 1875. He sold the
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Pharos to a company composed of Wm. Doland, C. B. Knowlton, and Mrs. S. A. Hall, with Simon P. Sheerin as editor. Some time later Jerry Collins of Crawfordsville, assumed management of the Pharos, until November 28, 1877, when M. Y. Todisman and B. F. Louthain became exclusive owners of the paper.
March 20, 1885, John W. Barnes purchased Mr. Todisman's interest and since that date the Pharos has been successfully managed by Louth- ain & Barnes.
FIRST DAILY PAPER IN CASS COUNTY
Samuel A. Hall, then publisher of the Weekly Pharos, during the first summer of the Civil war issued a small daily paper, entitled The Daily Telegraphic Pharos, to give the daily news from the seat of war. The first issue appeared July 15, 1861. At first it was a single leaflet printed on only one side, later enlarged to a double leaflet 8x12 inches. Files of this paper were donated, by W. T. Wilson, to the Cass County Historical Society. It was not a financial success and Logansport's first daily newspaper suspended with the issue of October 1, 1861.
The Pharos was published as a weekly paper until August 10, 1874, when Mr. Magee, the proprietor, began the publication of a daily edition which has been continued to the present time, except about six months in 1879, when it was temporarily suspended.
The Daily Pharos is an energetic Democratic paper, issued every evening except Sunday. July 24, 1894, the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the paper, the Pharos issued a large anniversary edi- tion, with a fac-simile of the first number of July 24, 1844.
On May 5, 1913, the Pharos and Reporter were consolidated and merged together under the name of "Pharos-Reporter," owned and op- erated by the Pharos-Reporter Publishing Company, with B. F. Lou- thain president, treasurer and editor in chief and Victor J. Obenour secretary.
ADVANCE
The Populist or People's party established the Logansport Advance, a weekly paper, to advance the cause of that party, about 1890, with A. M. Roop as editor. The office was located on Fifth street.
Financially the paper was not a success and in November, 1892, J. E. Sutton of the Reporter, took charge of its publication and it was issued from the Reporter office as a farmer's paper until November, 1906, when it was discontinued. Mr. Roop, the first editor, moved to Oregon.
LOGANSPORT DAILY ADVERTISER
This paper was established January 5, 1881, by Arthur Williams and C. B. Longwell. In about two years Mr. Williams sold his interest to John W. Burrows, who with Mr. Longwell continued its publication until January 12, 1885, when it was supended. The first office was lo- cated in the Spry building, 429 Broadway, and George Turner (col- ored) was the power behind the printing press. Later the office was moved to 3091/2 Fourth street, over Jay Taylor's jewelry store. Mr. Williams is now a printer in Lafayette, John M. Burrows is living at Pensacola, Florida, and C. B. Longwell is a partner of Longwell & Cummings, printing firm on Fifth street.
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BAPTIST RECORD
This was a twelve-page monthly paper in pamphlet form, edited by Rev. F. M. Huckleberry, who was pastor of the Baptist church from 1895 to 1905. The first issue appeared November, 1900, but it was discontinued after about one year, for want of patronage, although it was a very creditable religious journal. A copy of the paper is on file in the Historical Society.
THE BON TON
This was the first purely literary magazine to be published in Lo- gansport. It was a weekly paper devoted to the cultivation of local literary talent, started by J. E. Sutton, November 26, 1885, first as a weekly, but later as a monthly publication in pamphlet or magazine form, and although ably edited it did not prove a success and sus- pended, after a precarious existence, in May, 1886. Many of the prom- inent business and professional men of the city were numbered among its contributors.
CHRISTIAN CALL
This was a religious monthly paper, in pamphlet form, under the auspices of the various churches of the city, started in 1886, with Rev. W. E. Loucks of the First Presbyterian church as editor-in-chief, as- sisted by all the other Protestant ministers. Although the editorials ranked high and deserved success, yet there was not sufficient demand for such pure and elevating religious literature and the paper sus- pended after two years of precarious existence.
CHRONICLE
On April 7, 1875, H. J. McSheehy, an eccentric but forcible writer, began the publication of the Logamsport Weekly Chronicle, and con- tinued its successful publication until his sudden death, February 21, 1911, since which time the paper has been continued by his son, Harry McSheehy. The Chronicle is independent in politics and a free lance to all parties that do not conform to Mr. McSheehy's ideas of propriety. For many years the Chronicle has owned its own building at No. 324 Broadway, and is said to be the only paper in Indiana that has not changed editors or proprietors since its first issue in 1875.
COLLEGE NEWS
R. G. Whitlock started this paper March 4, 1886. It was a literary college newspaper in pamphlet form, published monthly. After a few issues the name was changed to College Review, which was published in connection with the American Normal College, which succeeded Smithson College, on the north side hill. The first issue contained a poem by Judge Biddle and an article by Rev. B. B. Bigler. The paper suspended when the college closed its doors, a few years after its first issue.
LOGANSPORT DAILY DEMOCRAT
This paper was established in July, 1904, in an office at 315 Third street, by Austin Fausler and David Loftus, the late Amos Palmer being associated with them. There was not much capital behind the venture and the paper was published only for a few months.
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Mr. Fausler was the son of Dr. D. N. Fausler and was city clerk from 1900 to 1904. He is now engaged in newspaper work at East Liverpool, Ohio.
Mr. Loftus was former superintendent of the electric light plant, and Mr. Palmer is the son of ex-Councilman Geo. W. Palmer.
HIGH SCHOOL PAPERS
. The Echo was the first paper published by the Logansport high school. A committee of the senior class manages the paper, which is a monthly publication. Harry McSheehy was the first editor-in-chief. The first number appeared November, 1895, and the paper was con- tinued during the school year of 1895-6.
Red and Black is another school paper issued monthly by the high school students. The first number appeared October, 1905, and has been published regularly since that date during the school year. It gives the local and literary news of the schools. The presswork is done at the local printing offices.
The Tattler, a school journal, published annually by the senior high school class of Logansport. The first number under this title appeared in May, 1907, and has been published yearly since then. It is a pamph- let, giving sketches of the senior class, with items of interest to the students.
EVENING NEWS
In 1869 Geo. W. Fender started a small daily, the Evening News. The presswork was done by Zopher Hunt at the Journal office. At first it was only an advertising sheet for the Musodian opera house, at the northwest corner of Fourth and Market streets, but it soon developed into a regular daily newspaper. It was suspended in the early seventies.
GERMAN PRESS
About 1868-70, a German paper, The Ft. Wayne Banner, printed in Ft. Wayne, with John A. N. Frentzel as local editor, or news- gatherer in Logansport, was circulated here among the German popu- lation, but it was not a financial success and soon suspended.
THE BANNER
Soon after the Ft. Wayne Banner, with its Logansport edition, suspended, about 1871, Julius C. Kloenne, a man of considerable ability, started the Logansport Banner. Mr. Kloenne was succeeded by a Mr. Selback, who continued the publication at 413 1-2 Fourth street for a time, when Pfabe and Morrock took charge of the publication and moved the office to 410 1-2 Fourth street, where they continued to issue the paper in 1872-3, but finally suspended.
DEUTSCHE ZEITUNG
John Day, born in Bavaria, February 4, 1844, came to Logansport in 1869, purchased a small printing outfit, and on October 7, 1882, issued the first number of the Deutsche Zeitung, a weekly German paper. Mr. Day continued its publication until 1892 and sold to Peter Walrath, who changed the name to Sternenbanner.
Mr. Walrath published the Sternenbanner until 1899, when he moved to Evansville, Indiana, and established a German paper in that
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city. Mr. Walrath had his office, while in Logansport, first on Third street and then at 205 Market street. He was a Democrat in politics and his party honored him by sending him to the lower house of the legislature to represent Cass and Miami counties in 1896.
FREIE PRESSE
About the time Peter Walrath moved to Evansville (1899), John Day again embarked in the newspaper business and began the publi- cation of the Freie Presse, a weekly Democratic paper, to accommodate the increasing German population of our city, and is still successfully publishing the same at his residence, 320 Burlington avenue.
THE WECKER
About 1871-2, when John T. Musselman was publishing the Sun, he also published The Wecker, a German paper, from the Sun office, on Sixth street. John Alexander Nichols Frentzel was the editor. The paper was published for about six months and suspended. Mr. Frent- zel was a cigar maker and had a family. He died in Ft. Wayne, but lies at rest in Mt. Hope cemetery.
LOGANSPORT HERALD
The Logansport Herald was a weekly paper started by Ed Day, son of John Day, assisted by H. J. McSheehy, and printed at the Chronicle office about 1900. There were only eight or ten issues, when it was dis- continued, as it had served its purpose to advertise certain applications for saloon licenses where there were likely to be remonstrances against issuing the same if the public knew that applications for licenses had been made. The paper had no bona fide circulation and was started simply to aid certain saloonkeepers to secure licenses. When that was accomplished the paper ceased its publications.
MUSIC JOURNALS
In 1892 Wm. T. Giffe began the publication of the Home Music Journal. As its name implies it was devoted to music. In 1896 the name was changed to Choir Music Journal. These were monthly pub- lications in magazine form, and were ably edited by W. T. Giffe. They published original music with hymns and songs composed by the editor and other local composers. It had an extensive circulation all over the United States and Canada.
Mr. Giffe sold the Music Journal in 1903 and it was moved to Day- ton, Ohio.
VILLAGE CHOIR
During the years 1901-2, Mr. W. T. Giffe, in addition to other mu- sical publications, also published the Village Choir, a monthly musical journal devoted especially to church music. This was an independent publication, and the presswork was done by Wilson & Humphries, of Logansport. When Mr. Giffe disposed of his other music journals he discontinued the Village Choir, in 1903.
THE GREENBACKER
During the campaign of 1878, when the Greenback party was at its zenith, and Lindol Smith, Clem Kern and Dr. H. Z. Leonard were can-
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