History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 42

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 42

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THE 'SQUIRE'S DEMOCRACY.

"'Squire Rose was, on one occasion, appointed inspector of ballot dockets, and so far as the electors marked the Democratic nominee, performed his duty with a willingness and promptitude worthy of the most impartial 'Squire in the land. For such duty he enjoyed the confidence and respect of his party; but the Whigs looked on him with a strangely peculiar eye of jealousy, and delicately hinted that in their very souls they believed 'Squire Rose would be guilty of any crime which would win a point for the success of the Demo- cratic ticket. Their belief in this connection rested on a very firm foundation; for, as revealed in later days, when the 'Squire snatched up a docket, giving a vote to the Whigs, he would presently crum- ple it to nothingness, and cast it away with unconcealed disdain, accompanying the action with a phrase: " It's a - - bogus docket anyway."

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

THE WITTY BARRISTER AND THE JUDGE.

In those gay old times, even circuit judges did not remove them- selves from an indulgence in the converse, gossip and common-place proceedings of ordinary mortals. Of all the villages upon the face of this broad earth. Goshen was pre-eminent in rendering a warm welcome to visiting lawyers, and in friendly feeling for her own; so that it may not appear strange to learn of the bona-fide existence of two dozen legal members within the limits of the village during a term of the Circuit Court. Judge Chamberlain was generally one of the number, and even his subsequent elevation to the position ot President Judge, could not alienate him from ancient friends and old fellow-gossippers. One day, while moving his large body and soul down the village street, he met one of his many dear associates, and, as usual, stayed to converse upon any subject which might present itself. The " weather " and the " crops " were exhausted, the question of metempsychosis was settled, every sublunary sub- ject was considered, until at length the speakers entered upon pur- and simple gossip. Judge Chamberlain's first subject was Coun- sellor Harris,- a clever yonng lawyer, possessing a head full of brains supported by a short but agile body. The judge thundered against the clever little lawyer for some imaginary offense, and assured his friend that on meeting Harris he should get not only a piece of the Judge's mind, but also the whole of it. He had not long to wait; the sprightly Harris came tripping up the street, and halting for a moment rendered the usual salutation to his honor. His sur- prise can scarcely be imagined, when the huge Judge opened his capacious mouth, stretched his capacions jaw and roared in thun- der tones :- " Harris, my opinion of you is very, very contemptible, sir." " Ho! ho! Judge," responded Harris; "your opinions are always contemptible, very contemptible indeed." Chamberlain's friend screamed rather than laughed, Chamberlain's walking cane made a hissing noise in its passage through the air, but it fell harmless, as the witty little lawyer disappeared round the nearest corner, leaving the ponderous Judge to dream over the retort cordiale, and make better dispositions for another and a more successful encounter with wit.

In the earlier years, when a truer friendship, a greater degree of geniality and a larger share of leisure were possessed by men, it was a very common practice to take advantage of every opportunity presenting itself for what the people termed " fun." Michigan and Indiana were far in advance of other States in their fondness for

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

innocent or practical jokes. The former State laid claim at that time to a collection of jovial characters from the Eastern States; while Indiana possessed a small population of industrious, honest and light-hearted toilers. Now, it appears that one Dr. Bronse, a lecturer on the science of phrenology, visited Michigan; but find- ing the " boys " there possessed only very few phrenological bumps, and a full knowledge of their own temperaments, the Doctor deter- mined to come down into Indiana. He arrived at Goshen all right, and soon had his glaring posters scattered throughout the village. Those posters created quite a lot of gossip with some little interest. Among the interested parties were members of the press, the legal and medical professions, and the mercantile community. Some of the wits thought they could have "fun " with Dr. Brouse, and arranged that Lawyer M. C. Dougherty be made the principal actor. Accordingly Dr. Bronse was introduced to Dougherty, who figured now as Professor Bnell, a phrenologist from Cincinnati. After a short converse Brouse saw that nothing less than a union of interests with Prof. Bnell could bring in money to his little treasury, and without any hesitation proposed a partnership with him. Buell protested, saying it was not his purpose to oppose the Doctor, particularly since his posters were placarded through town; but Brouse should have a partnership, and succeeded in carrying the proposal made to his verbose rival. The evening of the lecture arrived, the Doctor urged the Professor to give the first lecture, the audience cheered and called on him also, and to their repeated calls M. C. Dougherty himself had to respond. His lecture was com- paratively good, and everything went as merry as a marriage bell until Dr. Bronse came forward. He seemed amazed at the enthu- siasm created by Dougherty or Buell, and felt that, even with all his histrionic powers and his knowledge of the subject, the high enthusiasm created by the last speaker could not be upheld. This made him so nervous that his attempt at a lecture failed in toto, and exposed him to a series of derisive cheers. He retired cursing the day that bronght him to Goshen, and to a meeting with Pro- fessor Buell. The last named met him the following morning, examined his bumps, told him that he possessed " gullibility " in its highest form, and assured him that he was no other than Michael C. Dougherty, a Goshen lawyer!

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

LOOKING FOR POLITICAL HONORS.

The meetings of the legal fraternity of early days were merry beyond all conception. Not all the gaicty of modern times could compare with it. It was genuine mirth, ornamented at intervals with witticisms of variable character. The pitcher was an accom- paniment, and though a few lawyers never seemed to notice its presence, the greater number paid it peculiar attention, and ob- served the ebb and flow of the mirth-inspiring liquid with a rare solicitude. On one of these occasions a political form was given to the proceedings. The lawyers mingled with their clients, and made the very air ring with the recital of their own political ex- cellencies. Among them was a young advocate who, partaking of the prevailing enthusiasm, dreamt of Congressional honors, and rose to address the electors of Ins adopted county. He said :-

" If you see fit to send me to Congress I will go to the best of my ability. [Cheers.] I believe I would like to go. [Renewed cheers.] In fact, I know I want to go. [Loud cheers.] I have heard that the salary is ample, and, as I have a small family, won't insist on its increase. [Cheers.] As I am fond of vindication, I want to vindicate myself. It has been hurled at me like a thunder- bolt that I am too young. In answer to this, I say first that I can't help it, and it is not my fault. Second, I am trying to grow older every day. Third, I am succeeding. Fourth, I am afraid I will be much older than I am before I get to Congress. [Prolonged applause.]"

That young advocate has harvested the experiences of forty years. He looks back over the past with a feeling akin to sorrow, and though he could not now contrive to make such a wild politi- cal speech, he would desire nothing better than the return of the good old times when such rare addresses were not only tolerated but also applauded. He wishes in vain; those gay old times are gone never to return, nor will he be the last to wish; for other men of a coming race will look over the record of those past years, and wonder how mortals could be so admirably happy.

THE AUDITOR AND THE IMMIGRANT.

An incident, which is not only characteristic in itself, but also shows the effect a first acquaintance with republican institutions, manners and customs has upon the emigrant from European flun- keyism, took place in 1854. Some time in that year, a man of fifty

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

or sixty winters arrived in the county in his search for a refuge from the extortions and petty despotisms of Germany. One of his countrymen had occasion to visit the county seat to transact busi- ness connected with the purchase and transfer of some land, and took with him thither the German immigrant. In the rambles of the older settler through the county offices, a short stay was made in Auditor Henkel's office. That official handed his rural visitors chairs, and as the day was cold, they gladly availed themselves of that comfort which a scat near the stove afforded. The Auditor answered some business interrogatories of the independent citizen, and then, seeing that the fire was burning low, went out for fuel, and returning presently, placed it in the stove. The immigrant looked upon the whole proceeding with a curious eye, and finally asked his friend when the Auditor would come. "Why, here is the Auditor," said the citizen. The surprise of old Heinrich can be barely imagined. He confessed that during all the time he sat before the office stove and looked upon all the little chores and office duties being performed by the genial Auditor, he felt that thie master official had not yet arrived. Now he could scarcely recon- cile the manhood and democracy of the United States with the red- tapeism, effeminacy and flunkeyism characteristic of German official- ism known to the Teuton in the cradle of his race. Realizing the condition of a great and free people, he in one moment imbibed the first principles of the Republic and pledged himself one, at least, of her people.

THE FARMER AND THE LAWYER.

Recently a political discussion took place not a hundred miles from Elkhart, whereat a Democratic farmer and a Whig lawyer were the principal characters. The farmer came in from the harvest field after a pleasant day's work, elad in the habiliments of agricult- ural industry. He mounted the platform in the beautiful court- room of Goshen, and with a natural simplicity referred to the party of which he was a member, won the hearts and ears of his audience, and, following up his advantage, broke out into a terrible denuncia- tion of the principles to be advocated by the legal gentleman who was to follow. The lawyer, quite unprepared for such a formidable antagonist, became so disturbed that, in the excitement of the moment, he rose abruptly, addressed the electors as-"Gentlemen of the jury," and retired in comic confusion amidst the laughter and cheers of the people. His retreat was carried out with such pre-

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cipitancy that he forgot his exit from the court-house, and retiring to his residence to gain some repose, recognized himself next morn- ing as the conquered lawyer. However, after the lapse of a short ime an opportunity was presented wherein he could avenge the defeat and confusion of that night. He met the farmer on debat- able gronnd, came well prepared for the combat, and that son of toil never rose again from the verbose battle-field of political ora- tors.

On another occasion a gentleman was forced to the rostrum, much against his will. "I can't speak in public-never done such a thing in my life," said he, " but if anybody in the crowd will speak for me, I'll hold his hat."

THE PROFANE MAN AND JUDGE SAMPLE.

In 1833, among many indictments for betting, illicit spirit- deal- ing and like offenses is the State vs. Leonard Stilson for unlawfully playing at and betting upon a certain unlawful game called Roulette, and winning from one Wmn. Blake the sum of 123 cents. Stilson was ordered to pay one dollar and costs of court, and to remain under the paternal care of the county sheriff until such sum was paid.

In 1836 S. C. Sample was appointed President Judge, but noth- ing of importance occurred to vary the monotonous character of law causes brought before the court during that year. The year following, however, the associate judges passed judgment on an incorrigible blasphemer. They joined in an order that the prisoner should be given a pair of tongs, and placed on guard over a mouse-hole until he should capture the little animal, which now and then appeared to scan the countenances of the judges, or listen to the pleadings of counsel. The prisoner took up his position as directed, watched with eager industry, and was ultimately rewarded by getting a glimpse of the cautious little animal, now the object of his most anxious thoughts. The tongs were scientifically arranged, so that no opportunity of catching that mouse should be lost; the court cast sly glances at the prisoner, the people in the auditorium gave him all their attention, as they looked breathlessly on his ready attitude and expectant visage .. The mouse at length appeared; the tongs closed with a twang, and the impenitent prisoner, holding the crushed mouse aloft. cried out " ---! I've got'em!" The court forgot dignity, the sheriff his duty, the bailiff's were actually weighed down with laughter at the ruffian's unconquer-

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able profanity, and it is very possible that, had not the court recovered sufficient gravity, and possessed sufficient presence of mind, the first session of 1835 would be adjourned sine die. The merriment created by that prisoner did not subside suddenly. With the exception of men actually engaged in the court all were in the streets, and under the effects of liberal libations of a liquor well known and appreciated by many thoughtless people formed up in imagination the unfor- tunate monse, his captor, and even the court, filling space with the sound of their boisterous laugh and exclamation.

SEVEN CITIZENS AND THE LONG-HAIRED STRANGER.

The present can never equal the past in its genial character- istics; yet at intervals some merriment is occasioned by the assumption of an extraordinary appearance of importance, at the hands of some modern who takes a pleasure in making himself ridiculous.

Soon after dinner the other day seven politicians were smoking and chatting under the portico of the court-house, when they were joined by a long-haired, mild-looking, long-waisted stranger who seemed just dead with consumption. He leaned against one of the stone columns, and listened to the talk for a few minutes, and exhibited no great interest until one of the party asserted his belief that Garfield would carry Ohio.

" H-how much d-do you want to b-bet that he will?" inquired the stranger as he straightened up.

"O, I wouldn't mind a bet of ten dollars."

"I'll b-bet you a thousand d-dollars against two h-hundred," continued the stranger, as he went down into his coat-tail pocket and fished up an enormous wad of money.

The politician crawfished on the ground that he never bet, and the stranger looked around and asked:

"Is there anybody li-here who w-wants to b-bet that Hancock will be '1-1-lected; I'll b-bet him a t-thousand dollars to five h-hundred!"

There were no takers. 'Then he waved his wad of bills on high and said:

" I'll m-make the s-same b-bet that Garfield will be defeated !"

The crowd looked at each other, and then across the street, each man as dumb as a clam. The silence lasted for a minute and then one of the group remarked:

"Well, it will probably be a close struggle."

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

" W-will it? I'll b-bet you a t-thousand to five hundred that it won't be!" promptly replied the stranger.

No one spoke again for thirty seconds, and then the remark was made that both parties were preparing for a great struggle.

"Struggle b-be darned! I b-bet you five h-hundred to three hundred that there won't be any struggle!"

One or two men put their hands into their pockets and jingled their keys, but it ended right there. When the silence had grown painful the consumptive asked:

" Do any of you gentlemen notice any im-impediment in my speech?"

" Yes," they all replied together.

" P-put up your m-money-one t-thousand to two h-hundred that I don't s-s-stutter any more than any of y-you!" exclaimed the man as he began to untie the string around his roll of bills.

Not a hand moved, and after a minute the stranger waved his money and said :

"Or I'll b-bet you five h-hundred even up that I d-do s-s-stutter like b-b-blazes!"

One baeked softly into the hall, followed by a second and a third, and in a minute the stranger was left alone. Then he untied the string, peeled two one-dollar bills off the roll and put them in his poeket and threw away the "core," which was simply a wad of blank paper. He had bluffed the crowd over and over again on exactly two dollars.

THE OLD PIONEER.

Among the pioneers may be found a peculiar character, who makes himself heard and known everywhere within his adopted county. You may not have encountered him; but every city or village over 25 years old has an "old pioneer." He is an aged man, walks with a cane, has a bent back and scant gray locks, and he is entitled to the unbounded respect of all citizens. Many little privileges are accorded the old pioneer. IIe can open the cheese box in a grocery and help himself, hook apples, reach over for peanuts, have the head of the table when the firemen give a ban- quet, and if he crawls under the canvas on eireus day, none of the circus men strike at him with a neck-yoke. And if the old pioneer says that it is going to be a hard winter, a soft winter, a cool sum- mer, or a rainy fall, it would be like one entering a den of lions to rise up and dispute him. He prediets political events, prophesies

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

revolutions, remembers all abont how the Freemasons killed John Morgan, and confidentially expects a column notice in the local papers when he drops off. Says one:

" I met one of the old fellows the other day on the cars. He assured me that making a journey on the cars was more pleasant than riding on horseback, and he said that the country had improved some since he used to carry the mail between New York and Chicago. I was looking right at him, but he never blushed as he said he used to make the round trip on horseback in five days. I was wondering how he could have done it, when he went on to say that New York contained only 11 houses and Chicago only four at the time he acted as mail carrier. I remarked that the mail must have been light in those early days, when he replied :- Light! Why, bless you, my son, I never had less than 14 mail bags, and sometimes as high as 20! I expected to see him struck dead in his seat, but greatly to my surprise he continued to live right on, the same as if he had never told a lie.' 'Ever had any fights with the Indians in those early days?' I inquired.

"' Injin fights! I should say I had a few-ha! ha! ha! I wish you could go home with me. I've got seven dry-goods boxes filled with Injin topnots, seven boxes left, and I've been making horse blank- ets and door mats out of the pile for the last 40 years.' Is it pos. sible?' said I. 'Yes it is; I don't say this to brag, but you asked me a plain question and I answered it. I suppose I killed 11,873 Injans during my early life, though I won't say that these are the exact figures. It might have been 11,874 or only 11,872. I am getting old and can't remember dates very well.'

" ' Ever see George Washington?' I asked. 'See George Wash- ington? Why he boarded in my family over fonr years!'-' He did!'-' Yes, he did!'-' When was that?'-'Let's see! Well, I don't remember just when it was, but it was quite a while ago. Yes, George boarded with me, and I've got a bill of $40 somewhere against him now. He was a little hard up for cash when he left us.'

"' Did you ever see William Penn?'-' Bill Penn! ha! ha! ha! Why I wish I had as many dollars as the number of times Bill and I have slid down hill together! His father lived in part of our house for eight years, and Bill and I were like brothers. I conld lick him, and he knew it; but we never even had a cross word between us. Poor Bill! When I read about his being blown np- on a steamboat I said to myself that I'd rather lost a brother!' 31

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HISTORY OF ELKHART COUNTY.

"' Were you in the Revolutionary war?'-' Revolutionary war! Why you must take me for a boy! Why, I was the first man to jine! There was a week when the patriots didn't have any army but me, and there was so much marching and fighting that I almost got discouraged.'

" ' Then you must have met General LaFayette?'-' General La- Fayette! Why, on the morning of the battle of Bunker Hill, Wash- ington, LaFayette, Bill Penn and myself were playing a four-handed game of encher in an old barn just outside Boston. LaFayette was killed just as he was dealing the cards!'-' I thought he returned to die in France?'-' No sir!' -' But history says so!'-' I don't care a plum for history, young man! Didn't his blood scatter all over me, and wern't his last words addressed to me? I guess I know as much as any history.'-' What were his last words?'-' Last words! Well sir, he didn't have time to say much. A cannon ball struck him in the body, and all he had time to say was, " Don't give up the ship!" -' Poor Laif!' He was a little conceited, but when he borrowed a dollar, it was certain to come back.'

"' You never saw Christopher Columbus, did you?'-' Christo- pher Columbus! Well, no, I never did. My brother used to talk a good deal abont Chris, but I never happened to see him. They say he didn't amount to much after all: used to get tight on elec- tion day, kept a fighting dog and a race horse and was always blow- ing around what he could do. I was always careful of my character, and they can't say of me that I ever associated with low folks.'

" Amused and yet horror-struck at the man's terrible exaggera- tions, I walked off, and never since met snch another pioneer."

With that one exception the "old settlers " are incapable of speaking untruths.

THE TERRIBLE JUDGE.

Beebe was peculiarly suited to take a leading part in the life of a new settlement. Extraordinarily given to gossipping and inter- course with his neighbors, he could win a general but not an individual esteem. No one loved him, yet few hated him. He was ever engaged in inspiring petty quarrels and jealousies, and could scarcely rest content at night unless his enterprise in this direction gave birth to some little altercation between neighbors during the foregoing day. When his victims were determined to resist his insinuations at Elkhart, he wonld actually go to Goshen in search of a new subject, and having satisfied his penchant there

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·would return to his home to find fresh material. An instance of his desire for a never-ending round of fun is evinced in his disposi- tion to play practical jokes. One day while riding along the river road, he met one of his neighbors, who was engaged in hauling a huge, hollow log up the river bank. Without any hesitation he says: "Come, Silas! I'll bet a quarter that the hole in that log is not large enough to creep into." Silas accepted the bet, and crept into it. In an instant the judge was off his horse, and giving the log a push, sent it and its occupier rolling into the current. Having done this he rode off in high glee, leaving Silas to sink or swim. Fortunately a few men, passing immediately after this occurrence, heard the screams of Beebe's victimn, rescued him from his perilous position, and all went en route to interview the Judge. He, of course, saw the log roll into the stream and hastened to the town for help. This satisfied the interviewers, and Silas won the quarter.

THE "SURROGUGEON" COURT.

This tribunal did not approach that of the golden age known as the Secret Tribunal in extensiveness, though it may have equaled it in utility. In the earlier years of the county many good souls -intellectual men -- sought a vein through which the blood of pleasantry might course, and among other things formed the "Sur- rogugeon," -- so named from the fact that one of their number indulged in a lapsus linguæ, and in an attempt to name the Surro- gate Court, called it the Surrogugeon. It had its faults. Though founded, perhaps, without a thought of its effect upon the moral being of the citizens, it was no less beneficial in its tendency to nip vice in the bud by checking the passions of men. Every little social error had to be scrutinized by its officials, and this inquiry was carried out with such a demonstration of legitimacy and anthority, that not a few innocent men came before the Bar in obedience to its summons. Whatever means were taken to uphold its authority, or by whatever influence inen allowed themselves to be convicted, punished or acquitted by that tribunal is a mystery. All the terrors of the law proper surrounded it, all the findings of jurors or judges were made out in regular form, and in fact it only differed from the Circuit Court in the terrible character of its judgments which consigned its gullible victims to life-long impris- onments for some trifling crime, or perhaps imposed upon them some ridiculous penance, the performance of which on the morrow would at once amuse and delight the initiated members of the

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History of Elkhart County, Indiana; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history: portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 42

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, C. C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1192