USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns and biographies of representative citizens : Also a condensed history of Indiana > Part 41
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than usual. Only 9,883 tickets were sold altogether. Que of the features this year was a balloon ascension.
RAILROADS.
De Kalb County is well supplied with means of travel. Five railroads cross the territory of the county, affording ample facilities for transportation and traffic, while developing industries and pro- moting the growth of the villages and towns. The first road to be built was the Air-line Division of the Michigan Southern and North- ern Indiana, now known as the
LAKE SHORE & MICHIGAN SOUTHERN.
Surveys were made as early as 1852-'3. Along its proposed route the villages of Corunna and Lawrence, and the towns of Waterloo and Butler sprang into life in 1855. May 27, 1856, the inhabitants of Butler, forty-one in number, heard with pleasure the whistle of the locomotive proclaiming the completion of the road to that point, and by 1858, the work was finished in this county. Its completion was the signal of progress. Markets were brought home, prices were enhanced, and cash was paid for most articles produced. Log cabins began to give way to frame and brick houses, and comforts and conveniences heretofore unknown were enjoyed.
This has in the county 20.5 miles of main track and 5.37 miles of side track, valued at $491,067. It enters the eastern side of the county, passes west through the northern parts of Stafford, Wil- mington, Union and Richland townships, striking the Noble County line on nearly the border of Fairfield and Richland town- ships. In the spring of 1870, the
GRAND RAPIDS & INDIANA
Railroad was opened. Its track crosses the extreme southwestern corner of the county-section 31, of Butler Township. It has no station within the limits of this county, but it is nevertheless a benefit, as it is a favorite route for northern travel. This road has in the county 1.07 miles of main track, valned at $10,165. The people, impressed by the necessity of having other ontlets for trade aud a connection with the lumber and salt regions of Michigan, subscribed heavily to insure the construction of the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad-the citizens of Auburn and Waterloo and vicinity raising $112,000. Auburn, which had been hereto- fore an inland town, awoke to renewed life when, Oct. 5, 1870, the
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first train rolled along the road. It enters the county from the south and passes through the townships of Butler, Keyser, Union and Smithfield. This line has in the county 19.73 miles of main track, valued at $143,515. The road has since become a part of the great Michigan Southern system.
The first railroad commenced in De Kalb County, but the fourth to be completed, was the Detroit, Eel River & Illinois, now a part of the curious aggregation of roads operated by the
WABASH, ST. LOUIS & PACIFIC.
It was projected early in the fifties, but lacked for a long time the support of the requisite capital. Every year, and sometimes every month, the news would come that the line was to be promptly pushed through; and finally, by the close of 1872, it was com- pleted from Logansport to Auburn. At the latter point it stopped, however, for another rest. It was feared by some that it would stop here permanently; for early in 1873 the report was spread that the road was consolidated with the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Sagi- naw road. This consolidation was favored by the directors, but when submitted to a vote of the stockholders, June 5, 1873, at a meeting held at Columbia City, Whitley County, the measure was overwhelmingly defeated, largely because of the efforts of the stock- holders in De Kalb County. The number of shares voted for the sale were 909, and the number against, 10,698. To attain this end, citizens' committees were sent out from Butler and Auburn. The people living along the line furnished the right of way and also subscribed $4,000 to the mile. After the defeat of the consolidation plan, the road was pushed eastward, reaching Butler Oct. 18, 1873. It was a proud and happy day for Auburn and Butler when the last rail was laid that reduced the time of travel between those towns to half an hour. The editor of the Courier wrote as follows: " Last Saturday was achieved that for which years ago the fondest hopes were indulged, and leads have grown gray in expectancy. Decades have rolled their weary lengths along, since its inception, and many of those who stood by the enterprise with willing hearts and ready hands have long since been gathered to their fathers, but the firm purpose of its projectors was caught up by those who followed, until at last, notwithstanding the many obstacles that appeared and re-appeared at every step, the grand project has been carried, through storm and trial, over a period of more than twenty years, to a successful completion.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
" And to-day far down the beautiful valley, now rising, now dip- ping among its gently undulating plains, steaming and hissing, plunges the locomotive, where once no civilized voice or hum of happy industry fell upon the ear, to fill the heart with joy. where all was desolation in the midst of nature's paradise; and the thun- dering train, bearing its harvest of commerce and trade, dashes past with the rapidity of the wind, leaving the curling smoke to descend with gossamer wings upon those that fostered and cher- ished in its infancy this grand achievement."
The intended termini of this road were Detroit and Logansport; the actual are Butler, on the Lake Shore, and Logansport. Its route from the southwest part of the county is northeasterly, crossing the B. & O. R. R. and the Fort Wayne Division of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. at Auburn Junction. The road has 18.9 miles of track in De- Kalb County, valued at $96,244.
BALTIMORE & OHIO.
The last railroad built, but perhaps the most important, in the county, was the Chicago Division of the Baltimore & Ohio. It first projected soon after the war. Mr. Garrett's original plan was that an independent company, called the Baltimore, Pittsburg & Chicago, should build a road from Pittsburg to the Garden City, on Lake Michigan; that this road should connect with and be a part of the Baltimore & Ohio system; and that the latter corpo- ration should contribute $5,000,000 toward the enterprise.
Two lines were surveyed, the first running through Steuben County, and the second, known as the Defiance line, through De Kalb County. For a long time the people were kept in suspense as to which route would be adopted. The line through this county, being the most direct, was adopted in February, 1872, to the great joy of De Kalb's prominent citizens. All the county was asked to give was the right of way, sixty-six feet only, wide. Not a dollar in money was asked. An enthusiastic meeting was held at Au- burn, and a committee of three was sent in either direction from the town to secure the right of way. Fair progress was made, but the panic of 1873, with other causes, so delayed the work that not till Nov. 1, 1875, did the first train run through the county. It passes through Garrett, Auburn Junction and St. Joe, running east and west. Its 20.72 miles of main track is assessed at $10,- 000 per mile, and its 5.5 miles of side track at $2,500 per mile. Rolling stock is assessed at $1,600 per mile, and the improvements in the county at $+3,490. Total valuation, $297,592.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
WAGON ROADS.
Few of the present generation realize the difficulty of traveling in an early day in a wooded country. Now, one can cross the county in three or four hours, over a smooth, hard, level road, and his horses can draw two or three tons with ease. The contrast is as great as possible between this condition of things and that in which the first settlers found the region included in De Kalb County. A dense forest, with thick underbrush and swampy ground, is impenetrable to any but the aborigines who spent their lives in the study of forest craft.
The hardy immigrant, with his small wagon-load of necessary furniture, followed a trail made by the Indians, when possible, and for the last two or three miles cut his own road through the brush and woods, with ax in hand. The road thus made was of the rudest character when dry, and in the spring of the year was well- nigh impassable. At times one's right fore wheel and left hind wheel would be high in air, on stumps or logs; then the fore wheels would plunge into a mnd-hole, while the rear of the wagon seemed to mount up toward the clouds. Again, he would side along in a slough, with the mud over the hubs, and suddenly run over a stump. To travel with safety in a wagon, he must brace himself with both feet in the corners of the box, with every muscle in his body in a state of tension, and use both hands to drive, leaving his face, neck and hands entirely at the mercy of the hungry mosquitoes swarming around. Wo to him whose horse mired ! Such an ac- cident, or the breaking of a wheel, was always liable to occur, per- haps far from home, on the approach of evening.
The extreme slowness of travel over a newly cut road through the forest, in the wet spring time, is told without exaggeration by a pioneer. He had been to a mill, with a wagon and yoke of oxen, and arrived within one mile of home at seven o'clock in the even- ing; but that one mile required four hours to cover. On reaching home at eleven o'clock, his wife told him that she had heard him calling to his oxen ever since seven o'clock !
The time and expense consumed in taking a load of wheat or corn to market frequently equaled the value of the produce sold; and one man tells how he sold a load of corn for just enough to pay for his own board in town, and for feeding his oxen.
No one thing is more essential to the farmer's prosperity than good roads to market. He may have good soil, well cultivated,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
good house and ont-buildings, improved machinery and cheap labor; but if he is cut off from a buying and selling point, he is helpless, and can only maintain a meager existence, like the stunted Oriental, or the degraded Mexican. The Indians, possessing no wheeled vehicles, carrying on little trade, using no machinery, found the trace or trail all-sufficient for their use. Between the villages of the Pottawatomies and the trading-posts were well- beaten trails. Two main trails traversed the land of De Kalb County. One from White Pigeon forked near Lima, one branch terminating at Fort Wayne, the other leading southeast, and at St. Joseph River intersecting a trail from the east. The other trail, from the direction of Toledo, following a southiwesterly course, crossed the Fort Wayne trail near the Lake of the Woods, south of the Tamarack House, a pioneer tavern of Lagrange. The trail was a path worn in places to a depth of six inches by moccasin and pony hoof, and making wide detours for marsh and lake. Traces remain of the White Pigeon trail in the Helwick wood-lot in Fair- field Township.
Pioneer roads followed the trails as far as practicable. Joseph Miller (first County Surveyor) cut a narrow track from the river through to Cedar Creek, below Auburn, and also from Auburn to Blair's mill. Miller stated that the logs were left in the track, and that articles were hauled by oxen attached to a sled constructed as follows : A sapling was cut, having a fork at the top, consisting of stout limbs several feet long; the limbs were used as runners, and the body of the stick formed the tongue; a box was fixed on the runners. Wesley Park and Mr. Miller afterward widened this road to admit the passage of a cart.
In July, 1837, Wesley Park, Cornelius Gilmore and Seth W. Murray were appointed Commissioners to lay out the Cold water and Fort Wayne State road, running nearly north and south through the county. They did so, making their report Sept. 1. Wesley Park and one Hostetter were to lay out the Goshen and Defiance State road, nearly east and west through the county. The work was performed by Park alone, and the Legislature afterward legalized this. Joseph Miller was the surveyor, and Henry Feagler and John Miller carried the chain. Other first roads were located as follows : The State road from Anburn to Fort Wayne via Van- doler's Mill, by T. L. Yates and Benjamin Miller; the State road from Angola to Fort Wayne, west of Auburn, by Daniel Moody, Solomon Showers and Henry Miller; a road on the southwest side
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of Fish Creek, by Simon Aldrich, Peter Boyer and Roger Aldrich; a road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph River was surveyed by R. J. Dawson, and afterward corrected by John Blair, John Webster and Hector Blake; and a road from Enterprise to Union- town by Daniel Kepler, Michael Boyer and John Farlee.
At the May session of 1838, the commissioners appropriated $2,000 from the three per cent. fund, as follows : $800 on the Fort Wayne and Coldwater road; $800 on the Goshen and Defiance road; and $400 on the State road on the northwest side of the St. Joseph River. The commissioner of the three per cent. fund was also directed to have constructed a bridge over the Big Cedar Creek north of the village of Anburn, where it was crossed by the Fort Wayne and Coldwater State road; another over the Little Cedar Creek, near the house of Joseph Stroup, where it crossed the State road; another over the Big Cedar Creek, at the crossing of Goshen and Defiance State road, near Auburn; a bridge over each of the three principal branches of the West Branch of Cedar Creek, where it was crossed by the same road; and a bridge over the Twenty-six Mile Creek, where it was crossed by the State road near the house of Byron Bunnel.
These first bridges were poor affairs, and though built at little expense, were more costly in the end than the bridges which have gince taken their places all over the county, particularly the fine bridges at Newville, Waterloo, and Auburn. In 1842 Isaac Swart- hout and J. R. Corper, while journeying to visit at Kendallville, crossed with a yoke of oxen and a two-horse wagon a bridge over Cedar Creek, which Joseph Miller had built for $300. This wagon was the first to cross the structure, and its weight broke a stringer. Hiram Iddings had previously crossed it in a one-horse buggy. But with increasing experience and growing wealth, more was done each year on roads and bridges; and now, after an expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars, highways in a good state of re- pair reach into every portion of the county. Much remains to be done yet, however, and the next ten years will doubtless witness wondrous improvements.
CHAPTER XI.
MISCELLANEOUS.
SOLDIERS' REUNIONS .- AT AUBURN. - REUNION OF COMPANY D, EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT .- REUNION OF 1879. - THE SHAM BAT- TLE. - REUNION OF 1880 .- TRI-STATE REUNION .- REUNION AT GARRETT .- AT AUBURN IN 1883 .- AT WATERLOO IN 1884 .- A NEW WAY OF GETTING A DRINK. - THEY BACKED DOWN. - DISASTROUS STORM .- FALL OF THE SNYDER BLOCK AT AUBURN .- JAIL. - COURT- HOUSE. - SPELLING MATCH .- WILD GAME .- FOX HUNTS. - SINK-HOLE. - DARING BURGLARY. - AN EXPENSIVE 'COON .- LIST OF EARLY WEDDINGS .- MANUFACTURERS .- ECONOMIC STATISTICS .- CENSUS STATISTICS. - VITAL STATISTICS .- RELIGIOUS STATISTICS .- SOCIAL STATISTICS. - EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.
SOLDIERS' REUNION.
But few meetings of the old soldiers of De Kalb County have been held. The pleasure and profit of such assemblages may be made great by proper management, but the tendency to connect them with politics, and some other reasons, have made these re- unions rare, here as well as elsewhere.
Sept. 28, 1876, at Auburn, the first attempt was made to hold a reunion of soldiers. The soldiers of all Northeastern Indiana were invited. The unfavorable weather in the morning kept hundreds away who had intended to be present; but even with this draw- back the attendance was very large, being estimated at 5,000. The number of soldiers enrolled at headquarters reached nearly 700.
At about 11 o'clock A. M. a procession was formed on Main street, the detachment of the Defiance battery, with their gun, taking the lead, followed by detachments from the Thirtieth, Forty- fourth, Seventy-fourth, Eighty-eighth, One Hundredth and One Hundred and Twenty-ninth regiments, as well as many individual representatives of other commands. The most noticeable feature of the procession was the two old, tattered flags, which had been carried by the Forty-fourth and Eighty-eighth regiments. The music, which was good, was furnished by the Angola and Anburn
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cornet bands. They added very materially to the enjoyment of the occasion. The procession moved to the Saginaw depot and re- ceived General Logan, on his arrival from Fort Wayne, escorting him to the hotel, when an adjonrnment for dinner took place. The dinner was spread on improvised tables in the court-house square, and was pronounced a substantial one by all who participated.
Atter the inner man was refreshed, those present gathered about the speakers' stand north of the court-house, and were addressed by Rev. Conway, of Wisconsin, an eloquent chaplain of one of Logan's regiments, until the arrival of General Logan on the stand, when the regular programme was commenced. The Lumbard Glee Club sang a song suitable to the occasion, prayer was offered by the chaplain, and Captain E. D. Hartman delivered the welcoming address. The Glee Club then sang " Marching through Georgia," after which General Logan was introduced, and received a perfect ovation. He essayed to speak to the multitude, but his voice was in poor condition, and as a high wind was blowing he was soon forced to retire. Some short speeches were made by citizens of the connty, and with a song by the club the reunion was adjourned sine die.
REUNION OF COMPANY D, EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Oct. 19, 1877, about thirty surviving members of Company D, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, assembled in Ensley's Hall, at Auburn. Scott Swan acted as President, and Allen H. Dougal as Secretary. A very pleasant and profitable rennion was had, and many reminiscences of former times were talked over, letters received from many absent comrades were read, which brought to remembrance their absent though once familiar faces. A roll-call showed that seventy out of 115 members were either present or accounted for. The same officers were elected for another year. The next rennion was appointed to be held at Fort Wayne, Dec. 29, 1877, the anniversary of the battle of Stone River, in which the regiment took an active part, and lost many brave men; and an invitation was extended to all other companies of the Eighty- eighth to assemble, to effect an organization of the entire regiment. The old battle flags were present and were objects of considerable attention.
REUNION OF 1879.
Perhaps the most successful soldiers' reunion cver held in the county, and certainly one of the most largely attended meetings of
S
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any kind, was held at Auburn, Sept. 19, 1879. Hundreds of teams were parked upon cross-streets and alleys, every available nook was made a depository for vehicles, and even adjoining fields were lined with stamping steeds. Long lines of wagons and buggies kept pouring in until the town was crowded. The honest old farmer, with hardened hands, was there in the full tide of enjoy- ment. The good old dame, with her modest bow string and best hat and tucker, was there. He with the heavy boots from the fresh plowed fields, shoulder to shoulder with the gaudily dressed dandy, checkered the scene with their various garbs. Every pro- fession and calling contributed to this sea of humanity, while in and around all, ubiquitous and omnipresent, stood the soldier, with his badge of honor fastened to his bosom, swelling with pride and filled with the enthusiasm that comes of brave deeds and noble actions. The occasion was his, the hour was his, and with a light heart and gladsome face he entered into his enjoyment. A thon- sand flags waving in the breeze attested the result of his bravery, and the music-ladened air bore to him the honor accorded him.
Friday morning, the eventful day, opened with a few threaten- ing clouds, but in a short time the clear blue specks began to brighten and broaden. Doubt was dispelled as the leaden canopy disappeared and the clear sunlight fell upon the scene, and from that time until the close the weather was all that could be desired. During the forenoon the time was spent in receiving delegations from various points by the soldiers present. In the afternoon a grand parade was made upon the streets, under the command of Colonel Zollinger, of Fort Wayne, after which the exercises at the stand were held. Colonel I. B. McDonald called the meeting to order, Rev. J. H. Norris offered prayer, and Hon. J. H. Baker delivered the welcoming address. The music was furnished by a glee club.
During the exercises a beautiful flag was presented to the Soldiers' Association of Auburn, by the ladies, through Mrs. Enos Casebeer, which was formally received by President Gordon. In the evening an entertainment was given at which Robert Hender- shot, the drummer boy of the Rappahannock, appeared in an excel- lent performance on the snare drum, assisted by Major Coolidge with the fife. Glee clubs from Fort Wayne and Auburn also assisted. Short and jolly speeches were made by Captain Stratton, Colonels Humphrey and Robertson, Corporal Sweet and others, after which all adjourned.
G
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The last day opened clear and beautiful, and as the last salute was being given by Captain Hopkins's battery from Toledo, teams began to arrive. So large was the attendance of soldiers that two regiments had to be formed for the grand parade. At ten o'clock the column started, marching through the principal streets, making as fine a display as ever was seen in Northern Indiana. On the arrival at the stand, Colonel Robertson, of Fort Wayne, and others delivered short addresses, mostly in response to toasts. After singing and a social recess, came dinner.
THE SHAM BATTLE.
It was evident that this was expected to be the great event of the reunion from the way all rushed to the "battle-field." The grade on Ninth street and the bridge were literally alive with people, while the woods and adjoining fields held their quota. At half past one the rebel flag was run up in the fort, the artillery was planted, and the force divided for the conflict. Captain Mc- Bride with his rifle company was in the advance of the Union forces, while Captain Pinchin held the fort with his company, assisted by a strong flanking force. During this time the batteries opened fire and kept np their music until the end. In a few mo- ments a line of skirmishers from the Union army was seen ap- proaching, and the picket line of the "rebs" was driven in. The skirmish line was rallied on a line with the advancing forces, which moved out some distance in the open field, when they were repulsed with considerable loss, to judge from the number of stretchers used on the occasion.
As yet but two had been wounded in the fort. Retreating, the Union line again formed in full view of the fort, and made another rush, but were forced to fall back from a destructive fire which greeted them in front. The Union battery now limbered up and moved close up to the fort, and almost silenced their battery. The General commanding, after a hasty consultation, determined to make a flank movement, convinced that the fort could not be taken by regular assault. Soon a large force of blue coats was seen moving on the right of the fort through the smoke, with fixed bayonets, at double quick, and as the long line came gleaming on, a cheer rose from the immense throng that made the blood tingle.
Disappearing in the woods below for a few moments, their line of skirmishers appeared, and pop, pop, here and there went a gun; faster and faster came the shots, and soon their movements were
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
revealed. Captain Pinchin promptly disposed of his forces so as to counteract this movement, and the battery in the fort was brought to bear upon the line of blues. Advancing slowly but surely to within a short distance of the works, Captain McBride's company, armed with breech-loaders, opened a heavy fire upon the exposed rebels, which was responded to in a gallant manner by the Johnnies, until the roar of musketry was incessant. But above the din was heard the voice of the Union commander, and " Forward, double quick!" was no sooner given than the blues started forward; and as that old, terrible yell broke from the line, striking dismay to the rebs, they stormed the fort and carried the day. It was a beautiful sight, and well repaid all who took the trouble to wit- ness it.
REUNION OF 1880.
June 10 and 11 the soldiers of Northeastern Indiana met at Waterloo, and the number of visitors to the sham battle on the second day was over 6,000. This year the display of uniformed and ununiformed soldiers was the largest ever seen in the county. There were uniformed companies from Bryan and Waterloo, and ununiformed companies from Butler, Auburn, Angola, Waterloo and other points. Colonel A. D. Sleight, of Indianapolis, and others made speeches.
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