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 42
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TRI-STATE REUNION.
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 18 and 19, 1881, a "tri-State" reunion was held at Butler, which was a grand success in point of attend- ance. Probably 10,000 persons were present, and this crowd was admirably well entertained, as far as food and lodging were concerned. The sham battle on the second day was excellent; but otherwise there was not much system in the reunion. There were no speakers, and very little attempt at a programme. On the evening of the second day a sad accident occurred. While the Butler artillery company were firing one of the guns it was pre- maturely discharged, lacerating the right hand of a member of the company named Revet in so shocking a manner that it was neces- sary to amputate it at the wrist. Pickpockets made a raid upon the meeting, and harvested a number of pocket-books.
REUNION AT GARRETT.
A successful soldiers' reunion was held at Garrett, Aug. 24 and 25, 1882. Addresses were delivered by Judge Lowry and Hon. W.
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C. Glasgow, candidates for Congress from this district. A very good sham battle was fought on the second day, lasting an hour.
AT AUBURN IN 1883.
Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 19 and 20, 1883, a reunion was held at Auburn, which was attended by soldiers and Grand Army posts from Southern Michigan, Northwestern Ohio and North- eastern Indiana. The first day was rainy, and the attendance was small. Late in the day some impromptu speeches were made, none of the invited speakers being present. Thursday the weather was more favorable, and the town was early filled with visitors. A goodly parade was held, and speeches were made by Colonel Robertson and R. Stratton, of Fort Wayne, and W. H. McIntosh, of Auburn. Afterward the never-failing sham battle was fought.
AT WATERLOO IN 1884.
The reunion at Waterloo, June 6, 1884, was not as well attended as nsual, for several reasons. The old settlers met the day before, and other meetings were held during the week that attracted more or less attention. Still 216 soldiers registered, and many more were present. A few speeches were made, and the usual sham battle fought; and all present had a good time.
A NEW WAY OF GETTING A DRINK.
A good joke is told on a Waterloo saloon keeper; the incident happened about two years after the war. A representative of the Green Isle stepped into the saloon and, with a countenance full of inquiry, said :
" An' have you got any good rye whisky?"
" Yes, very good; the best in town," said the liquor vender.
" An' have you got any half pint bottles, my good man ?"
"Yes," was the reply.
"An' will you please to fill one with your best rye whisky for me?" asked the man from the land of the shamrock and harp.
"Of course," said the obliging dealer; and after reaching the required flask and spending a full half hour in cleansing it, re- paired to the cellar, drew half a pint of his Bourbon, and presented it to the thirsty gentleman in waiting.
Pat took the bottle, raised it to his lips, swallowed about half its contents, and then, after making the appropriate face over it, said in a very confidential tone :
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"Will you please sit this to one side till I call for it ?"
The provider of liquid refreshments, " smelling a large-sized rat- trap full of mice," carefully stowed away the half-filled bottle. The son of Erin, of course, never called for it, but took this novel way of obtaining a drink.
THEY BACKED DOWN.
The following incident shows that "Young America" was, thirteen years ago, pretty much the same as now, a little inclined to do more talking than can be supported by actions. It took place at a certain school-house but a few miles from Auburn.
It was announced that a Mr. Edgecomb would give a scientific and historical entertainment at the school-house on a certain even- ing. Mr. E. generously extended complimentary invitations to the teacher and director, for favors received at their hands. This act so "riled" certain pigmies of manhood in the district that to prevent an explosion they were compelled to raise the safety valves and let off a little of their bile by giving vent to threats of violence, such as "We will go in free, or we'll bust the shebang;" while another boasted, " If he don't let me in he'll smell fresh pork," etc.
At an early hour the crowd began to gather in, and among the number a gang of those small-sonled specimens of humanity, whose stamping on the porch outside sounded like the bombardment of a fort in the distance, while the air resounded with their hideous yells and jeers. At the appointed time the door was opened, and all well-disposed persons paid their fees and passed in. But among the number were four boys, much larger in stature than in principle, who made a rush characteristic of all greenies and succeeded in crowding their way in withont paying any fees.
After all was in readiness, the proprietor went to each of these bold young men, and quietly demanded his fee. For a few mo- ments the " long-eared" principle appeared to predominate, but finally one of them borrowed 25 cents of a friend, and after receiv- ing his change, 5 cents, demanded 25 cents more, averring that he had given 50 cents; but this did not win. The other three then paid their dues, and the exhibition commenced.
It would seem, by the interest the Professor manifested in his subject, that, by himself at least, all past insults had been forgot- ten; and the way he presented his subject, together with the fre- quent and hearty applause of the audience, and the last lingering look at the " good night" piece, showed how sorry all were to have 30
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the spell broken, and fully justified the visitors in pronouncing the affair a grand success, and a rich treat to all.
But when the Professor came to gather up his effects, he found, to his surprise, that dishonorable warfare had been resorted to by the unruly ones, and that they had swindled his little son, a lad of eight years, in whose charge he had placed some candies; and that with buying a little, and stealing much more, the rogues had re- lieved the little fellow of two or three dollars worth of his stock, and given him but 22 cents to show for the trade. The Professor's polite firmness once more gained the victory, however, for the next day he made some calls on the parties, who were very glad to com- promise for $10 damages.
DISASTROUS STORM.
The years 1871 and 1872 saw many new buildings erected in Auburn. Almost every square was blockaded by building material piled up in the street and on the sidewalk. Among the finer blocks constructed in 1872 was that known as Odd Fellows' Hall. Sept. 29, 1872, between three and four o'clock in the morning, a terrible gale sprang up from the southwest and struck the new building with great fury. Its wall, which was then ready for the roof, succumbed to the face of the tempest and fell to the ground with a great crash, completely demolishing all the timber and woodwork, and damaging the Methodist Episcopal church on the east to the extent of several hundred dollars.
The scene the day after was most gloomy and desolate. For several rods on either side great heaps of broken stone, brick and cracked timbers lay in profusion, little of which indicated that it could be used again. The middle walls of Ensley's block were also badly damaged, especially the one next the hall. Had this block been completed one story higher, the other building would have been saved; but the brick work had been tardily prosecuted, and the result was a great calamity.
The Methodist Episcopal church, on the east side of the block, was badly damaged, the whole of the west side being forced in by the crushing weight of the wall, and there being nothing left of the windows, sash, shutters, etc. The people had been at great ex- pense in getting this edifice in good shape, and repairing the par- sonage, and were illy prepared to meet this severe loss. The lodge of Odd Fellows was left in a worse than bankrupt condition. They had gathered together every means, both by contributions from
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their own membership and by borrowing, to create a fund to erect this fine building.
Liberal friends were at hand, however, and in a few months work was once more resumed on the building, which, on the north side of the court-house square, has since been one of the most prominent structures in Auburn.
FALL OF THE SNYDER BLOCK.
The Ensley block seemed connected with some strange fatality, for Sunday evening, April 6, 1873, another building fell, on the west side, entailing a greater pecuniary loss than the ruin of the Odd Fellows' Hall.
The church-going people had scarcely passed the new brick block on Seventh street known as Snyder's building, on their way to their various residences, when a sullen roar fell upon the air like the sound of a mighty wind, or the escape of steam from an engiue. There was little effort required to divine the cause. All day, and the day before, the inner foundation wall of Snyder's building, just completed, gave indication of giving way; and though no one prophesied that the fall would occur so soon, it was never- theless regarded as in a most dangerous condition.
This building adjoined the Ensley block, the first division of which contained a cellar, the west wall of which, next to the Sny- der building, was the one that gave way.
Not only was the fine building destroyed, but also a large amount of machinery which the building contained, belonging to Mr. Sny- der. Reapers, mowers, plows, hay-rakes, and other implements were crushed to almost total destruction with the fall. Messrs. Martin & Rasely had occupied the second story front but a few days, and their whole stock, valued at $3,000, went down in this crash. Mr. Ensley's west building, next to Snyder's, was also to- tally demolished. The lesson was a dear one, but was not in vain, the fallen structures being soon replaced with more stable build- ings, which yet stand.
JAIL.
A necessary adjunct to the administration of justice is a county prison. May 9, 1838, the commissioners ordered the County Agent, Byron Bunnel, to erect a jail, and pay for the same by the sale of town lots in Auburn, deeded to the county by Wesley Park, "said jail to consist of one ground room sixteen feet square inside of
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the walls. The upper soil on the spot where the jail stands shall be removed, and three sticks of timber twelve inches square and twenty feet long shall be bedded ten inches into the ground twenty feet apart from the outside of the two extremes, upon which a floor shall be laid of timbers twelve inches thick, and not less than eight nor more than sixteen inches wide, and fastened to the timbers on which they rest with one and one-quarter inch pins, making a floor of twenty feet square; upon which said jail shall be built of double walls on each side of timbers twelve inches square, except such variations as may be necessary for leveling the walls at the top and bottom. And it shall be so constructed that the outside wall shall break joints with the inside wall, and shall be eight feet high be- tween the floors. The upper floor shall be made of timbers twelve inches thick and crossed with other timbers of the same thickness, and both tiers shall be laid close together. The first tier shall rest upon the inner wall, making a floor eighteen feet square, and the second or upper tier shall rest upon the first tier and outside wall, making a floor twenty feet square, upon which the roof shall be built, which shall be a good shingle roof and shall project at least eighteen inches beyond the walls. Said jail shall be lighted with one four-light window of 8x10 inch glass, and shall be se- cured by double iron grates of inch square bars and crossing at right angles three inches apart, and shall enter the wall to the distance of at least two inches and shall be firmly fixed therein. Said gates shall be inside of said window."
Mr. Bunnel proceeded to erect a jail, but he did not please the board by his methods. He was accused of selling the town lots at merely nominal prices, and this was perhaps true, as he contracted debts before having the money wherewith to pay the same, there- by forcing the sale of the lots. Accordingly, in March, 1839, Mr. Bunnel was dismissed, Thomas J. Freeman was appointed County Agent in his place, and Thomas J. Freeman, Nelson Payne and Wesley Park were named as a building committee, who were especially enjoined to get their money before they spent it. The building as completed by them was occupied about twelve years.
The old jail now standing east of the south end of the public square, and bought by Auburn for a calaboose, and a place for holding elections, was the second jail built, and occupied the site of the present structure until 1874. It was contracted for by Jefferson Wallace, Dec. 6, 1851, and accepted a year later. B. G.
G
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Cosgrove, architect, was allowed $30 for the plan. W. K. Straight was Sheriff at that time.
The present fine jail was contracted for by Wm. Crane, James R. Duncan and Harmon Lydecker, Jan. 16, 1875. T. J. Tolan & Son, of Toledo, were architects. This structure was completed Nov. 1, 1875, at a cost to the county of $28,647.78. The allow- ance for superintendent was $749.43, and the total expense was $29,397.21, for which the bonds of the county bearing ten per cent. interest, were issued to the amount of $29,000.
The Sheriff's residence is 34 x 42 feet in dimensions. The height to the top of the tower is forty-five feet, and the building is covered by a mansard roof. The jail proper is a two-story structure, 34 x 45 feet, and is covered by a flat iron roof. It contains twelve cells, each 7 x 9 and eight feet clear, bare, the ceiling and sides each of a single stone. Scandinavian locks are attached to each cell, and a combination lock to the main entrance. There are triple grates between the cell inmates and liberty, the inner grate of the win- dows being of steel. It has been supplied with all modern con- veniences for locking, feeding, heating, etc. It was occupied by Sheriff Wm. L. Meese about Dec. 1, 1875. The building is one of the finest of its kind in the State, an honor to the builders, and an object of pride to the citizens of the county. It is greatly ad- mired by visitors.
The man who first had the doubtful honor of being incarcerated in the new jail was George Hobnich, then serving a term of ninety days for larceny. The most notorious occupant of a cell was Lewis Abbott, convicted of the murder of Francis Houlton, May 18, 1878, tried the following September, and sent to the penitentiary for lifc.
COURT-HOUSE.
The first court, as previously described, was held in Sheriff Wes- ley Park's cabin at Auburn, in 1838. On the erection of a school- house, that became for a time the court-house. In this edifice, heated by a dilapidated stove, whence issued smoke so freely as to cause " eyes unused to weep," a rough platform of boards was built at the end and designated the " bench," and a space was fenced in with rough boards and dignified by the name of the " bar." Here the pioneer courts held their sessions and adminis- tered justice. Receiving an assurance that Auburn would remain the permanent county seat, Park donated one-third of the lots in the plat to the county.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
April 29, 1841, Thomas J. Freeman, Wesley Park and Nelson Payne were appointed superintendents to build a court-house on the public square. Bids were called for, and James R. Cosper bid $1,450. This was thought too high, and James Hite, a carpenter living southeast of Auburn, took the contract for $800. He was assisted by Lyman Chidsey to put up the frame. The work seems to have dragged, as Judge Mott said that when he came here, in the summer of 1843, the public square around the court-house was partially logged, but burned off, and that the frame of the court- house was up but not inclosed. The building when completed was adorned with a projection supported by four pillars. The dimen- sions were 30 x 40 feet. The court-room was thirty feet square, and fitted in style. The lawyers desks were arranged in the form of two quarter circles, and the criminals' box was placed in front of the bench. This building was paid for from the sale of town lots.
June 4, 1863, the contract for the present court-house was awarded to A. Wheelock, Wm. Valleau and John A. Mckay. Ephraim Berry and S. W. Sprott had filed plans April 20, previ- ous. The consideration was $23,372, half in cash and the balance in county orders, and it was to be completed Dec. 1, 1864. On the first floor are the county offices, ranged on either side of the hall ex- tending east and west through the center of the building. Above are the jury rooms and court-room.
SPELLING MATCH.
All will remember the spelling-school fever that swept over the country in 1874 and 1875. The epidemic struck this county in the winter of 1874-'5, and every village, every district school, had its matches. One of the most exciting was held at Auburn, Satur- day night, March 13, 1875. The affair came off at Ensley Hall, and was presided over by W. L. Penfield, a large audience of citi- zens being present. Two captains chose sides, and spelled for an hour, for amusement. Then after a recess the contest for prizes began, with fifty participants. A few rounds brought down the poor spellers, and then the interest deepened, and under excite- ment many good spellers dropped down under easy words.
At half-past eleven seven combatants were on the floor, deter- mination and victory stamped on every lineament of the counte- nances, and as the courteous pronouncer took in the situation, he very properly suggested an adjournment, rather than violate the Sabbath, and this was granted until Monday evening following.
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The contest was duly renewed on Monday evening, and the un- daunted seven ranged themselves nearly facing each other, and awaited with breathless interest the opening of the spelling book. Gradually the battle narrowed down to two spellers. The one was slow, careful and deliberate; the other more excitable, but profes- sionally skilled in opposition, keen, resolute and fearless. At first they eyed each other with savage fierceness, as if the contest was to be decided by physical strength; but that expression soon gone, gave place to timidity, and it was evident that each was afraid of the other. The hour becoming late, one of them purposely missed a word. The first prize was awarded to C. D. Hare, second to H. C. Peterson, and third to Mrs. Casebeer.
A spelling school is a good place to study human nature. The / person who rises to spell has his measure taken by his auditors. He may be a pompous man in community, a sharp talker, and a business man, but he dreads the exposure of bad spelling. A per- son may be polite, and move in society with that easy grace and re- finement that would convey the idea of scholarship and lofty enter- tainments; but let him stand up to spell, and go down on an easy word, and his prestige departs. All his easy manners desert him, and he passes current at a much depreciated value. To pass through the ordeal of a spelling school successfully requires that nerve, calmness and self assurance that few possess.
The spelling-school excitement was of short duration, and it may be many years ere we have another. But it left its lesson with us, to be studied and acted npon. The English language will never attain its full measure of usefulness until a radical change is made in our methods of spelling and pronouncing, so that two years of a child's life shall not be wasted in acquiring useless knowledge. Our scholars and thoughtful inen of all classes are fast coming to the conclusion that we have no right to leave as a legacy to pos- terity such an inexcusable orthography as we have had to contend with.
WILD GAME.
In the early days the forests of De Kalb County abounded in all the varieties of wild game that were common throughout the West. The large wild animals are now about extinct, a few solitary speci- mens lingering among the remoter settlements. As late as Octo- ber, 1874, a bear was killed in Richland Township. The following account is from the Waterloo Press of Oct. 29, 1874 :
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"On Sunday last a black bear was seen coming out of the Baughman marshes, southeast of town. It was fired upon by several parties, but none of them seem to have injured it. Monday morning early, large parties of men, with dogs and guns, turned ont to hunt the game. The animal was followed to the swamps south of Sedan, where the dogs brought it to bay, and it was shot to death by Messrs. Charles Rempis, James Booth and others. It is generally conceded that the dogs belonging to David Goodwin and William Kennedy were the most effective in running down the bear, and that these two men with A. Y. Rosenbury were the principal ones in getting track of it, and making the chase Monday. The hunters bronght in the game in trinmph, at about one o'clock in the afternoon."
FOX HUNTS.
Early in 1875 some interest was taken in fox-hunting by the athletic citizens of the county, and several circle hunts were held, with all dne formality. Marshals and other officers were chosen, hunters were detailed on the different lines prescribed, no fire- arms were allowed, all dogs were led and loosed at command of the marshals. One (the first) was held at Corunna on Saturday, Jan. 23, 1875, and six foxes were caught. An immense crowd was in attendance, and all were delighted. February 6, following, between 2,000 and 3,000 people turned ont to witness a hunt in Richland and Fairfield townships. Only three foxes were caught this time. A number escaped from the lines, owing to the inexperience of the managers. The game from both these hunts was sold at auction, and the proceeds given to the poor. Other hunts in various parts of the county met with varying degrees of success.
SINK HOLE.
When the Air Line road was first built through this county, a portion of the track, three miles west of Waterloo, and some forty rods in length, sunk through into a subterranean lake. It was then for some tinie known as " the sink hole." Immediately after the track fell through, a new track was constructed around the edge of the marsh under which the lake lay, and efforts were made to fill in the sunken track by carting earth from the surrounding bluff.
After laboring several months, however, the project was given up, as the water was found to be from forty to sixty feet in depth.
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Various plans were proposed for overcoming this ugly crook in the Air Line, from time to time, until the latter part of 1865, when it was proposed to place all the old ties that could be gathered along the line, into the sunken space, and the work was commenced early in the summer of 1866. The ties were put down in layers, cobbled at right angles, and interlaced with long timbers, so knit together as to form a continuous bridge, or net work. The result was highly satisfactory, and in a few months a track was laid across the old break, and the work, though slow in ac- complishment, was not so expensive as it was at one time feared it would be.
DARING BURGLARY.
Feb. 16, 1867, Saturday night, the county treasurer's office at Auburn was broken open and robbed of about $18,000. The outer door of the office, being iron, was drilled into and pried off, and the wooden door was forced open. The outer door of the safe was cut through the panels, above and below the lock, the inner bolts withdrawn, and the door opened. The money chest was opened by steel wedges and bars. It was evidently done by an expert. Suspicion fell upon several parties, and different arrests were made, but the perpetrators were never discovered. After some months the matter was dropped.
General Lewis J. Blair, of Waterloo, was then County Treasurer, but the greater part of the loss was finally borne by the county. A majority of the counties in the United States have, at one time or another, suffered similarly, either by robbery or defalcation, so De Kalb is no worse off than others. A great deal of litigation re- sulted from this robbery, but in 1875 the matter was settled by the county accepting a judgment for $5,800.
AN EXPENSIVE 'COON.
The old-fashioned 'coon hunt is a time honored institution, but the sport of late years sometimes involves the votaries in heavy expenses. A crowd of young men near Newville found this out in 1876 to their complete satisfaction. While engaged in a hunt late in the fall, they cut down a dry oak-tree on the premises of Dr. Emanuel. To this proceeding the Doctor took exception, and entered suit against the parties in the Circuit Court for satisfaction and damages. The defendants, at the ensuing term of court, com- promised the case by the payment of $75 in the way of costs,
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