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 4
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Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 72, 224
Women's Reformatory, 7 Woman's Relief Corps, No. 30, 190 Woolen mill, 214, 523 Woodmen of the World, 397, 464
Wrecked Home on Biddle Island (view), 305 Wright, John W., 107, 1205 Wright, Williamson, 782
Yantis, Benjamin F., 939
Yeider, Frank P., 770
York, Howard H., 1174 Young America, 568
Young America Christian (Disciple) church, 559
Young America Christian (New Light) church, 560
Young America lodges and orders, 569 Young, Charles B. E., 816 Young, Elias, 614
Young Men's Christian Association, 440 Young Men's Total Abstinence Society of St. Bridget's church, 225 Young private burial ground, 548
Zanger, Andrew J., 1196 Zehring, Dick A., 1113
Zion German Evangelical church, 433, 622 Zion Methodist Episcopal church, 468, 578 Zion M. E. church cemetery, 584 "Zouave Guards," 136
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History of Cass County
CHAPTER I
EPITOME OF INDIANA HISTORY
While we expect to confine this work, exclusively, to the local history of Cass county, yet it may be interesting to the reader to have a brief sketch of the state; we will therefore give an outline or epitome of the history of Indiana with some of its educational institutions. Indiana is bounded on the east by Ohio, on the north by Michigan and Lake Michigan, on the west by Illinois, the Wabash river separating the states in the southern third of the west boundary, and on the south by Kentucky, where the Ohio river forms the boundary line between the two states, and has an area of 36,354 square miles, of which 440 square miles is covered by water-lakes and rivers.
It lies between 37° 47' and 41º 1' north latitude and between 7º 45' and 11º 1' of longitude west from Washington. The extreme length from north to south is two hundred and seventy-five miles and the average width east and west is one hundred and forty miles.
From the time of the discovery of America by Columbus, in 1492, a period of more than one hundred and fifty years passed away before any portion of the territory of Indiana was explored by Europeans. De Soto discovered the Mississippi river in 1542-forty years before La Salle came down the river from the great lakes. In 1568 the Spaniards established a colony in Florida. The English made their first settlement in 1607 at Jamestown, Virginia. The French planted a small colony at Port Royal, Nova Scotia, in 1605, and in 1608 founded the city of Quebec, Canada. The French extended their settlements west along the St. Lawrence river and around the great lakes. Per- haps the first white men to set foot on Indiana soil were French mis- sionaries. Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon in the northern part of the state about 1670 to 1672. According to the annals of the Jesuit missionaries of Quebec the French established a line of communication from Detroit to New Orleans by way of the Maumee, St. Mary's, St. Joseph and Wabash rivers, establishing trading posts and forts at Ft. Wayne, Quiatanon, west of Lafayette and Vincennes, from 1683 to 1701. Vincennes is the oldest town in the state, being settled about the year 1755, but a trading post had been opened here as early as 1683. The town received its name from Francois Morgan de Vincennes, a French officer, who early visited this region and was burned at the stake by Indians, near Memphis, Tennessee, in 1736. Although Spain never formally possessed the territory of Indiana yet, she, for many years controlled the lower Mississippi, the outlet for the trade of Indiana, before the days of railroads, and Spanish coin was the only money in
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
circulation in Indiana from its first settlement to about 1838. Later Indiana belonged to the French and was governed from Paris. In 1763 England gained control and Indiana was ruled from London. After the Revolutionary war, England relinquished its claim to this territory to the colonies, and Virginia claimed Indiana territory and it was governed from Richmond, Virginia, being then a part of Augusta county, but in 1784 Virginia deeded its rights to the United States and the latter exercised governmental authority over Indiana and under the Ordinance of 1787 established what was known as the Northwest terri- tory, which included all territory north and west of the Ohio river, now composing the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- consin, and appointed Arthur St. Clair as territorial governor, with seat of government at Marietta, Ohio, and in 1798 he moved his head- quarters to Cincinnati. By an act of congress, May 7, 1800, Indiana territory was organized and William Henry Harrison became its first governor, with headquarters at Vincennes. The first territorial legisla- ture met at Vincennes, July 29, 1805, and Benjamin Parke was elected the first representative to congress from the territory.
The seat of government was moved to Corydon (Harrison county) in 1813, and the territorial legislature met there December 6th of that year. In the spring of 1816 the territory was composed of thirteen counties, to wit: Wayne, with a population of 6,407; Franklin, 7,370; Dearborn, 4,424; Switzerland, 1,832; Jefferson, 4,270; Clark, 7,150; Washington, 5,330; Posey, 1,619; Warrick, 1,415; Perry, 1,710; Har- rison, 6,975; Knox, 8,068; Gibson, 5,330. Total population, 63,897. Only 60,000 inhabitants being necessary to secure a representative in congress, the territory was admitted to the Union as an independent state, the president approving the bill April 19, 1816. An election was held May 13, 1816, to elect members for a constitutional. convention, which met at Corydon, June 10, 1816, and completed its work June 29th.
The first election under the state constitution was held August 1, 1816, and Jonathan Jennings was elected Indiana's first governor, re- ceiving 5,211 votes to 3,934 cast for Thomas Posey, his competitor. The first legislature of the new state met at Corydon, November 4, 1816, and November 7th the oath of office was administered to Governor Jen- nings, when he assumed the duties of his office and the state govern- ment replaced the territorial. On December 11, 1816, the United States congress, by joint resolution approved the admission of Indiana into the Union as a full fledged state, with James Noble and Walter Taylor representing the state in the United States senate and William Hendricks in the lower house of congress.
GOVERNORS OF INDIANA
Jonathan Jennings, 1816 to 1822; Ratliff Boon (acting), September to December 5, 1822; William Hendricks, 1822 to 1825; James B. Ray (acting), February 12 to December 25, 1825; James B. Ray, 1825 to 1831; Noah Noble, 1831 to 1837; David Wallace, 1837 to 1840; Samuel Bigger, 1840 to 1843; James Whitcomb, 1843 to 1848; Paris C. Dun- ning (acting), 1848 to 1849; Joseph A. Wright, 1849 to 1857; Ashbel P. Willard, 1857 to 1860; Abram A. Hammond (acting), 1860 to 1861; Henry S. Lane, 1861; Oliver P. Morton (acting), 1861 to 1865; Oliver P. Morton, 1865 to 1869; Conrad Baker (acting), 1867 to 1869; Conrad Baker, 1869 to 1873; Thomas A. Hendricks, 1873 to 1877; James D. Williams, 1877 to 1880; Isaac P. Gray (acting), 1880 to 1881; Albert G. Porter, 1881 to 1885; Isaac P. Gray, 1885 to 1889; Alvin P. Hovey, 1889 to 1891; Ira J. Chase (acting), November 24, 1891, to January 9,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1893; Claude Matthews, 1893 to 1897; James A. Mount, 1897 to 1901; William T. Durbin, 1901 to 1905; J. Frank Hanley, 1905 to 1909; Thomas R. Marshall, 1909 to 1913; Samuel M. Ralston, 1913 to 1917.
The capitol of the new state remained at Corydon until 1825, when it was removed to Indianapolis. The legislature of 1820 appointed a commission of which General Tipton was a member, to locate a new site for the capitol somewhere near the center of the state. During the summer of 1820 this commission selected the present site of Indianapolis, on White river at the mouth of Fall creek, then a dense forest, with no improvements whatever. It took four years to cut down the forest and erect necessary buildings, and it was not until December, 1824, that the capitol was removed from Corydon and the legislative assembly first met in Indianapolis, January, 1825.
John McCormick built the first house in the present limits of Indian- apolis, a log cabin, in the virgin forest in 1820. From this humble beginning Indianapolis has grown to its present magnificent proportions with a population of 240,000, and now the largest capital of any state in the Union.
NEW CONSTITUTION
In the spring of 1851, by direction of the legislature, a convention of delegates of the state met at Indianapolis and made a careful revision of the state constitution, which was submitted to the voters of the state and approved by them at an election held November 1, 1851. Many changes were made in the constitution, notable among which was a perfect system of public schools to be directed and managed by the township trustees. Prior to the new constitution, each school district managed its own affairs with but little or no public funds; but with the adoption of the new constitution our educational and other institutions took on renewed energy and the state rapidly developed along all lines of human endeavor.
Our public school system with its graded schools from the primary department on up to the high school, requiring twelve years for a com- plete course, now is surpassed by no other state.
Besides the public school system there are many state, private and denominational educational institutions for advanced learning, some of which will be briefly mentioned here.
STATE LIBRARY
From an early day it has been the policy of the state to diffuse and disseminate knowledge and in no better way can this be accomplished than through libraries.
The state library was established in 1825, and the first books placed on its shelves were a set of Benthem's works, donated by the author through John Quincy Adams, who was then minister to the court of St. James. From this modest beginning the state library has grown until it has a rare collection of books, papers and documents of great historical value. Nearly every township and city in the state also has its library, where the public can procure books on any topic of human endeavor.
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VINCENNES UNIVERSITY
This is the first institution of higher education to be provided by the state, and was incorporated by the legislature in 1807, when In- diana was still a territory, and with many ups and downs, suspensions and revivals, it has, however, continued its valued instruction to the present time.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
This is a child of the state and was located at Bloomington in 1825, as a seminary, but the following year it was raised to the dignity of a college. In 1838 it was chartered as a university. A law school was organized in 1840, and in recent years the only regular medical school in the state is now a department of Indiana University.
Indiana University with its professional schools is well patronized and ranks with the best institutions of our country.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
The demand for a better and higher class of public school teachers prompted the legislature to establish a normal school for the training of teachers. Suitable buildings were erected in Terre Haute and the school was opened January, 1870. It is well patronized and the good results are felt throughout the entire state in a higher grade and more efficient teachers.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Is located at Lafayette and was named after John Purdue, who donated fifty thousand dollars towards its erection, but is a state insti- tution, and was opened September 17, 1874. This school is more espe- cially devoted to the natural sciences, practical engineering and agri- culture, and has become one of the great educational institutions, not only of Indiana, but of the United States.
HANOVER COLLEGE-(PRESBYTERIAN )
This institution of higher learning had its origin in a log cabin, January 1, 1872, at Madison on the Ohio river, with a class of six pupils. From this humble beginning, Hanover College, a school sustained and supported by the Presbyterian church, has developed.
In 1829 a theological department was added. In 1840 the theolog- ical school was removed to New Albany and later to Chicago, becoming the great "McCormick Theological Institute." In 1834 Hanover Col- lege was given a charter by the legislature and has prospered to the present time.
WABASH COLLEGE-(DENOMINATIONAL)
This is also a Presbyterian institution, located at Crawfordsville. It was opened December 3, 1833, and soon after was chartered by the legislature. It has had a healthy growth and is one of our substantial and thorough educational institutions, and many eminent men have gone out from its walls.
FRANKLIN COLLEGE-(DENOMINATIONAL)
In 1832 the Baptists of the state began to feel the need of a school of higher education and established Franklin College at Franklin, John- son county. The college was opened in 1835. At that time the organiza- tion was poor, and it is related that the trustees purchased a bell, but had no funds to erect a bell tower and suspended the bell from the forks of a tree. The college had many discouragements, but has emerged from its financial embarrassments and is now on a firm basis and has been in a prosperous condition for many years.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
ASBURY UNIVERSITY-(DENOMINATIONAL)
This institution, under the auspices of the Methodists, was opened at Greencastle in 1840. W. C. De Pauw richly endowed the college and some years ago the, trustees changed the name, and it is now known as De Pauw University, and is favorably known throughout the state.
The Methodists also maintain a college at Moores Hill, Dearborn county, and a female seminary at New Albany, which are feeders to the great De Pauw University.
BUTLER UNIVERSITY-(DENOMINATIONAL)
This college was opened at Indianapolis by the Christian (Disciple) denomination in 1855, under the title of Northwestern Christian Uni- versity. It was later removed to Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis, and the name changed to "Butler University" after its founder and benefactor, Ovid Butler.
EARLHAM COLLEGE-(FRIENDS)
About 1837 a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land was purchased by the "Society of Friends" near Richmond, Indiana, and suitable buildings erected thereon. With some ups and downs, it has steadily grown and now holds an enviable reputation among the educa- tional institutions of our state.
NOTRE DAME-(CATHOLIC)
Father Sorin and six companions, members of the Society of the Holy Cross, left their home in France in 1841. From New York they came by the Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Toledo, and by horseback and stage coach to Vincennes. The following year they located in St. Joseph county and erected a log church and a small school house. This was the beginning of the great Notre Dame University that today has a world-wide reputation. In 1844 the college was granted a charter and has continued to prosper from that day.
ST. MARY'S OF THE WOODS-(CATHOLIC)
Identified with the highest educational institutions of the state is St. Mary's of the Woods, one of the pioneer schools, founded in 1840, by the Sisters of Providence, from Ruilli sur Loire, France, and incor- porated by the legislature in 1845. This academic institution is situated in Vigo county, four miles west of Terre Haute, and is pleasantly located, having the charms of a sylvan retreat. The buildings are spacious and furnished with every modern convenience.
St. Mary's of the Woods is the principal home of the Sisters of Providence in the United States, and they have schools in many states.
ROSE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Through the munificence of Chauncey Rose this institution of prac- tical scientific education was inaugurated. It is located in Terre Haute; the corner stone of the college building was laid September 11, 1875, but the institution was not opened 'until 1882. Today no polytechnic school in the country ranks higher than that at Terre Haute.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
VALPARAISO NORMAL AND BUSINESS COLLEGE
This institution was opened September 16, 1873, and is one of the most popular educational institutions in the state, and its students are numbered by the thousands.
CULVER MILITARY ACADEMY
Was founded by H. H. Culver, of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1894. It is beautifully situated on the north bank of Lake Maxinkuckee, in Marshall county. Here young men can secure as good scientific and military education as at any military school in the United States, and it draws students from our whole country.
CONCORDIA COLLEGE-(LUTHERAN)
This college was located at Ft. Wayne in 1850, and has had a pros- perous career.
HARTSVILLE UNIVERSITY-(UNITED BRETHREN)
At Hartsville, Indiana, was founded in 1854 and is well sustained by that church.
UNION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
At Merom was opened in 1858, and has been doing good work ever since.
BENEVOLENT AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS
ASYLUM FOR INSANE
The first hospital for the insane was erected in Indianapolis in 1847, . at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars and has been enlarged at different times until today it is as fine a building as any of its kind in the United States. This central hospital became over-crowded with the state's unfortunate and three other asylums were erected, one at Evans- ville, one at Richmond and one at Logansport, all of which were con- structed from 1884 to 1888 and opened about the latter year, each with a capacity of nearly one thousand patients.
In 1907 it became necessary to build an additional hospital and a new asylum for the insane was erected at Madison and opened for the reception of patients in 1910.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM
In 1843, Wm. Willard opened a private school at Indianapolis for educating deaf and dumb children, with sixteen scholars. In 1844 the state adopted Mr. Willard's school and continued it in a rented build- ing until 1850, when a suitable building was completed on a one hun- dred and thirty acre tract of land, east of Indianapolis. This building has been enlarged and improved to meet the increasing demands made upon it.
BLIND ASYLUM
In 1845 a school for the blind was opened at Indianapolis in a rented building, and in 1850 the state completed and opened the asylum for
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
the blind, and since that date all blind children have been given an education in this the most worthy of the state benevolent institutions.
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' ORPHANS' HOME
Soon after the close of the Civil war, when patriotism was at its height, the legislature purchased a tract of land near Knightstown and erected a commodious home, where the orphans children of the Union soldiers-could be educated and brought up by the munificence of a grateful country.
HOME FOR FEEBLE MINDED
The state, ever mindful of the afflictions of its people, in 1887 built a home at Ft. Wayne, where feeble minded children could be educated and instructed and become more useful citizens, and this institution is performing a grand mission.
TUBERCULAR HOSPITAL
Medical science has demonstrated that tuberculosis, or consumption, is a germ disease; that the germ rapidly develops in warm and bad air and that tuberculosis in its incipiency is a curable disease in pure air. The state realizing these conditions, has wisely and beneficently erected a tubercular hospital on a five hundred acre tract of rolling woodland, three miles north of Rockville, in Parke county, where tubercular patients who reside in crowded houses with bad air conditions can live in pure air and receive all necessary hygienic and medical treatment. The building is a two-story structure, nearly a quarter of a mile long with veranda and glass doors so patients can live in sunshine and pure air. The hospital was opened April, 1911, and has a capacity for one hundred patients.
STATES PRISON, SOUTH
The state prison at Jeffersonville was opened in 1822, and in 1847, new buildings were erected. This continued to be the only state prison until 1859, when increased quarters became necessary, and the "States Prison, North" was erected at Michigan City, where the life prisoners and those of the worst class are confined, while the younger and short- term prisoners are kept at the Jeffersonville prison.
HOUSE OF REFUGE
The state, always looking to reform and better the condition of its people, constructed a reform school at Plainfield and opened the same, January 1, 1868. Here incorrigible boys and girls committing crimes can be educated and at the same time be controlled by rigid discipline, taught the error of their ways and reclaimed from the downward course to destruction.
WOMEN'S REFORMATORY
In 1869 steps were taken to ameliorate the conditions of female con- victs, and a female prison and reformatory was erected at Indianapolis, where women prisoners and incorrigible girls under fifteen years of age could be placed and receive proper care and instructions with a view to their reformation; and the practical workings of the institution have not disappointed its promoters.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
To show the wonderful growth of Indiana we will give the popula- tion by decades, from the organization of the territory, in 1800 to 1910: Population in 1800, 5,000. Population in 1810, 24,520.
Population in 1816 (when admitted to Union), 63,897.
Population in 1820, 147,178.
Population in 1830, 243,031.
Population in 1840, 685,866.
Population in 1850, 988,416.
Population in 1860, 1,350,428.
Population in 1870, 1,680,637.
Population in 1880, 1,978,301.
Population in 1890, 2,192,404.
Population in 1900, 2,516,462.
Population in 1910, 2,700,876.
Indiana slopes gradually from the north and northeast toward the Wabash and Ohio rivers in the southwest. The highest elevation is 1,253 feet above sea level and 680 feet above the level of the Ohio river at the mouth of the Wabash. The lowest altitude which is at the mouth of the Wabash is 370 feet above sea level. The northern part of the state is comparatively level, but the southern part along the Ohio river is quite hilly, often reaching a height of 400 or 500 feet. The state is well watered, the Wabash being the principal river with its tributaries, the White, Mississinewa, Eel, and Tippecanoe rivers. The St. Mary's river in the northeast, the St. Joseph river in the north, and the Kankakee in the northwest.
Indiana was originally covered with heavy timber except in the west- ern sections where several counties of fine prairie land exist. The soil is productive, and immense crops of wheat, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, with fruits and vegetables are produced. Bituminous coal of a good quality is found in sixteen counties in the southwest part of the state. The whole state is underlaid with limestone suitable for building purposes, and the celebrated Bedford stone has a Nation wide market. Before the days of railroads Indiana built a number of canals to facilitate trade. The principal canal extended from Toledo to Evansville along the Maumee and Wabash rivers, but railroads have closed up the canals. The first railroad built in Indiana extended from Madison on the Ohio river to Indianapolis and was completed through to the latter place in the fall of 1847. Since then a perfect network of railroads connect every part of the state with the chief cities.
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CHAPTER II GEOGRAPHY
LOCATION-AREA-POPULATION-CIVIL DIVISIONS
Cass county is situated in the north central part of the state and lies between the 40th and 41st parallel of north latitude. It is bounded on the east by Miami county, on the north by Fulton and Pulaski, on the west by White and Carroll, and on the south by Carroll and Howard. It is twenty-four miles long on the east side by twenty-two miles wide on the north end. On the west side and south end the boundary line fol- lows an irregular course; commencing at the northwest corner of the county it runs south twelve miles; thence east three miles; thence south three miles; thence east eight miles; thence south nine miles; thence east eleven miles and includes within its limits 420 square miles or 268,- 800 acres, of which 256,174 acres are reported for taxation, leaving 12,- 624 acres included in lakes, rivers, and non-taxable area.
Population of Cass county in 1830, 1,162.
Population of Cass county in 1840, 5,480.
Population of Cass county in 1850, 11,021.
Population of Cass county in 1860, 16,843. Population of Cass county in 1870, 24,193.
Population of Cass county in 1880, 27,611.
Population of Cass county in 1890, 31,152.
Population of Cass county in 1900, 34,545.
Population in Cass county in 1910, 36,368.
RIVERS AND LAKES
Cass county is watered and drained by the Wabash and Eel rivers, both of considerable size and constant streams, together with numerous creeks and rivulets.
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