USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of Fort Wayne, from the earliest known accounts of this point, to the present period. Embracing an extended view of the aboriginal tribes of the Northwest, including, more especially, the Miamies with a sketch of the life of General Anthony Wyane; including also a lengthy biography of pioneer settlers of Fort Wayne. Also an account of the manufacturing, mercantile, and railroad interests of Fort Wayne and vicinity > Part 37
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But all marks of these donations have long since been destroyed- the pointt alone remaining to remind the reader of the thoughtful character of the donors.
In subsequent years, Judge Hanna having purchased all the Barr and McCorkle claims here, and the lots donated, as in the foregoing, being laid off by Mr. Hanna as a part of the place, for general building purposes, the dead of the grave yard, were, in 1838-9, re- moved, at public expense or by loved friends, to the general ceme- tery, west of Fort Wayne.
Of the seminary or school-house erected on the donation of Barr and McCorkle, the " Fort Wayne Times," as late as 1858, in some sketches of the place by the editor, says : "In this old school- huose, many of those, then young, but now past middle life who yet live here, many dead, and others absent, had their early train- ing for usefulness ; and many there experienced that joy only once to be enjoyed in a life-time ; while, perhaps, nearly every teacher, who there disciplined the youthful mind, has gone to his final ae- count, and soon here to be entirely forgotten. This old school-house was built of brick, in 1825, and was then quite
* Running north to Water street, on the bank of the slough, where the water from the City Mills now discharges, south to the alley south of the first Presbyterian Church, west to Calhoun street, and east to a line running just east of Barr street. The reason, for the peculiar direction of the streets, as variant from a north and south line, is this, that some buildings had been put up by the set- tle s and temporary streets thus adopted, which caused the proprietors to adopt the sur- vev to the convenience of those squatters, who would, it was thought, buy the lots on which their improvements should happen to fall .- " Fort Wayne Times," 1858.
+ Just west of the connty jail, on Calhoun street, and north of what is now Water treet.
295
GREAT QUANTITIES OF FISH IN THE MAUMEE.
large enough for all needed purposes. * * ** It was only one story in height, and served, for many years, not only as a school- house, but as the place of religious worship, town meetings, Ma- sonic installations, political speeches, &c."
J. P. Hedges, who still survives as " one of the old ones of the old ones," of Fort Wayne, was among the first teachers in this old pioneer school-house. In the winter of 1826, he had it plas- tered at his own expense, that it might be the more comfortable and neat. A Mr. A. Aughinbaugh also taught in this old school- house at an early period. Mr. A., previous to 1833, had charge of the county seminary, at which latter period, it is presumed he took charge of a school in the old brick school-house. It will not be out of place here to remark that the old county jail, which, up to 1847, stood on the south-west corner of Calhoun and the court-house square, was used for some time as a school-room, in which Henry Cooper, Esq., taught ; and Mr. Cooper is claimed as the first school- teacher of the place.
The Indians, perhaps for centuries, had been accustomed to look to the streams here for much of their food in the form of fish, so abundant were they from Lake Erie to this point, and for some distance up the St. Mary's and St. Joseph. During seasons of fresh- ets, in great quantities, and some of them very large, they would find their way up the Maumee from the lake, and when the high water subsided, they were often so numerous, that it was difficult to ride a horse or drive a team across the streams here without the animals or the wheels of the vehicles running over some of the finny tribe ; and some years ago, a company from Cincinnati began, and for several years carried on, the manufacture of oil from the fish caught here. Many boys and Indians made very good wages by catching the fish for the company. The Indians had always been of the belief that the Great Spirit had thus filled these streams with fish for their special benefit, and when, a few years subsequent to the period in question, a dam was built near the mouth ot the Maumee, at the Lake, and the fish prevented from getting into this stream, as their number gradually diminished, and the company compelled to cease its operations thereby, the Indians expressed great displeasure, and considered it a direct encroachment upon their rights, and the designs of the Great Spirit.
Among the buildings erected here in 1819, was a log house, by Samuel Hanna, at the north-west, corner of Barr and Columbia sts., where his brick block was some years ago erected, and still stands .* In this log edifice, he and James Barnett opened a considerable store, for wholesaleing to traders, in which business and building they continued for several years-their goods reaching here from the east, by way of Detroit, Toledo, and the Rapids of the Maumee, from which point they arrived here in pirogues, a kind of " dug out," though usually quite long, and of one solid tree.
* See sketch of Mr. Hanna in latter part of this volume.
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296
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
At this period, the north-west was yet a comparative wilderness. On the Wayne trace, already alluded to on a former page, not a house was to be met with between this and "twenty-four mile Creek." At this point, there resided a man by the name of George Ayres, near Willshire. By the St. Joseph trace, the nearest was the house of a Colonel Jackson, on Elk Hart Prairie; and it was not until a few years later, that a house appeared, in which Joel Bristols lived, about three miles south of Wolf Lake, in what is now Noble county. At a later period, about four miles north of Kendallville, a man by the name of Norris settled ; where Lima is now located. On what was known, at an early day, as the " Quaker trace," a few miles this side of Richmond, Indiana, there was an occasional house to be seen ; a man by the name of Robinson lived on the Wabash; about thirty miles south of Fort Wayne ; and a few Quaker missionaries had a small settlement at the forks of the Wa- bash, where they gave the Indians instructions, as at Wa-pa-kon- netta, Ohio, in the art of agriculture .*
At the sale of lands at the fort, as already mentioned, " the south half of the south-east quarter of the section referred to, and im- mediately south of that on which the original town was laid off, was also purchased by Barr and McCorkle, running to the section, line, and also the south-west quarter of section one, just on the east of the fort ; while Alexander Ewing got the east half south- west quarter of section two-same on which Ewings' and Rockhill's addition were laid out afterwards. *
* The section of land over in the forks of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph, known as the ' Wells pre-emption,' had been, by an act of Congress, May 18th, 1808, set apart as a pre-emption to Captain Wells, who was authorized to enter it, when adjacent lands should be offered at $1.25 per acre; but having lost his life, as the reader has already seen, in 1812, his heirs were thereafter authorized to, and entered it, at this land sale, at $1.25 per acre."t
By an act of the legislature of 1823, the present county of Allen was organized, as then forming a part of Randolph and Delaware counties ; and James Ray, of Indianapolis, W. M. Conner, of Ham- ilton county, and Abaithes Hathaway, were commissioned to deter-
* John Stratten, Esq , now residing some six miles north of Fort Wayne, came here about 1824-5, from Wayne county, near Richmond, mainly by way of the Robinson trace, with a load of boots and shoes, which he then sold to the Messrs. Ewing, tra- ding here. At that time, he says, there were not more than six or eight houses to be seen between Fort Wayne and Richmond.and the best house to be seen here at that period was a hewed log house, one and a half stories high, kept as a tavern ; besides which, he says, there were but about eight ordinary pole cabins. Besides the Ewings, he met Peter Kiser here at that time, who is still a goodly citizen of Fort Wayne, and, as for many years past, still engaged in the sale of Dry Goods, Groceries, &c.
+ "Fort Wayne Times," 1858.
* The first Masonic organization here was formed in this year, (1823) and known as " Wayne Lodge, No. 25, F. A. M." The place of meeting was within the pickets of the fort, in the room of General John Tipton, at which place the order regularly net, until finally removed to the old Washington Hall building, on the southwest corner of Columbia and Barr streets.
297
FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS OF ALLEN COUNTY.
mine upon, the county seat, which they agreed upon in the early part of 1824 .*
In the last week of May, in this year, the first election for county officers occurred ; and the first session of the " County Board" was held on the 31st of May, the same month ; the Board was constitu- ted of the following persons : Wm. Rockhill, James Wyman, and Francis Comparet.
The county officers were : Anthony L. Davis, Clerk ; Allen Hamilton, Sheriff; Samuel Hanna and Benjamin Cushman, Asso- ciate Judges; Joseph Holman, Treasurer; H. B. McKeen, first Assessor ; Lambert Cushoois, first Constable of Wayne township, then embracing the entire county; W. T. Daviss, Overseer of the Poor ; R. Hars, Inspector of Elections ; Israel Taylor, Joseph Trout- ner, and Moses Scott, Fence Viewers ; Samuel Hanna, Road Su- pervisor for the township.
At the first session of the Board, an election for three Justices - of the Peace, for the township, was ordered, which resulted in the choice of Alexander Ewing, Wm. N. Hood, and Wm. Rockhill, who then assumed the position, ex officio, of the "Board of Justices," taking the place of County Commissioners. Their first session was held October 22d, 1824, at which time the commissioners gave notice of the location of a " State Road from Vernon, in Jen- nings county, by way of Greensburgh, Rushville, and New Castle, to Fort Wayne."
The following were the tavern rates at that early period : Keep- ing horse, night and day, 50 cts ; Breakfast, Dinner and Supper, each 25 cts. ; Lodging, per night, 12} cts .; whisky, per quart, 12} cts .; Brandy, per quart, 50 cts .; Gin, per quart, 37} cts .; Porter, per bottle, 37} cts .; Cider, per quart, 182 cts.
In matters of taxation, the rates were arranged as follows : For every male, over 21 years of age, 50 cts. ; for a horse, gelding, or mare, over 3 years old, 37} cts. ; every work ox, 182 cts. ; stallion, prices of the season ; gold watch, $1.00 ; silver watch, 25 cts .; pinchback, 25 cts. ; four-wheeled pleasure carriages, $1.00. The report of Mr. Holman on taxable property for 1824, was $112.62, embracing delinquents, errors, &c.
The State, at this period, and for some years later, granted cer- tificates of bounty on all wolf scalps taken, which certificates were received by the collector for taxes. "So small was the tax," it is said, " that the State revenue due from this county, was near- ly all paid off in these certificates, which were usually sent up to Indianapolis by the representatives." }
The first circuit court held in Allen county, was on the 9th of August, 1824, which then embraced what is now Adams, Wells,
* The original plat of Fort Wayne, as laid out in this year, was duly recorded at Winchester, in Randolph county, which, as the records of the Recorder's office here exhibit, were subsequently transferred to Allen.
+ " Fort Wayne Times," 1858.
298
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
Huntington, and Whitley counties. C. W. Ewing, was at this time prosecuting Attorney. John Tipton was made foreman of the grand jury, which was composed as follows: Paul Taber, William Suttenfield Alexander Ewing, James W. Hackley, Chales Weeks, John Daviss, Win. Probst, Horace Taylor, James Wyman, James Conner, Cyrus Taber, and W. N. Hood, Peter Felix being discharg- ed. The first case found on the docket was that of Richard Swain, vs. Joseph Troutner, for trespass ; and continued. At this time, W. G. Ewing was admitted to the bar as a practitioner at law.
The first application for a divorce in the county, occurred during the first session of this court. The names of the party were A. Canada and Nathaniel Canada; which was continued. The near- est paper at that time, in which such matters received publicity, was the Richmond, Ind., Enquirer, about one hundred miles from Fort Wayne.
Two applications for license, to open taverns here, were also made at this term of the court, by Wm. Suttenfield and Alexander Ewing-the former on the corner of Barr and Columbia streets ; the latter on the southwest corner of Barr and Columbia. An ap- plication was also made for citizenship, during this term, by Fran- cis Aveline, or St. Jule, as then known, father of Francis A Ave- line ; which was granted. The St. Jule family, (French) came from Vincennes to this place.
Some indictments were found against parties for selling liquor without license, &c., at this term of the court-each being fined $3 and cost. In one instance, for gambling, a man was fined $10. The first master in chancery of this Court, was Charles W. Ew- ing, then a young lawyer of much ability. "To show the differ- ence, between the manner of allowances of that day and this, when six times as much service was rendered in a given time, * the records show that Rob't Hood,* (well remem- bered by our old citizens,) was allowed 75 cts. per day for three days' service as bailiffto the Circuit Court ; Allen Hamilton $16.66 for four months service as Sheriff of Allen county ; and Charles W Ewing, for his services as Prosecuting Attorney, for the term, $5. This court after a session of three days, adjourned on the 12th of August, 1824, to convene again as the Court in course."; The following year, 1825, the Board of Justices appointed W. G. Ewing county treasurer ; and the second term of the circuit court was convened at the residence of Alexander Ewing, on the 6th of June-Hon. F. Morris, of the fifth judicial circuit, a resident of Indianapolis, presiding-Judge Hanna officiating in the capacity of Associate Justice. James Rariden, and Calvin Fletcher were admitted as practitioners of law at this term-both men of consid-
* A very kind hearted man, always ready, in those early days, to entertain the stran- ger and aid the western mover, when ever occasion presented ; and many were the in- teresting adventures and laughable stories he related to his old friends and the many strangers then often gathered about the big fire of the log-eabin in winter.
+ " Fort Wayne Times," 1858.
299
COURT SESSIONS.
erable distinction in after years. Henry Cooper, a man of many estimable qualities, long since deceased, was also admitted to the bar, at this term of the court, which continued only five days. The third term of this court was convened at the house of Wm. Suttenfield, on the 21st of November, 1825, Judges Hanna and Cushman presiding ; and it was at this term that a device for a seal was reported by Charles W. Ewing. Calvin Fletcher having presented his commission, was also sworn as Prosecuting Attorney at this time.
The term which convened 13th February, the year following, 1826, was held at the residence of Alexander Ewing, Judges Han- na and Cushman presiding, Hiram Brown, of Indianapolis, and Moses Cox, being sworn in as attorneys, and Calvin Fletcher re- ceiving the appointment of prosecuting attorney.
But two indictments were issued by the grand jury at this term -one against an Indian, known as Sa-ga-naugh, for murder, and the other against a man by the name of Elisha B. Harris,* familiar- ly known as " Yankee Harris," for larceny, neither of which, how- ever, came to trial.
At the next regular sitting, August 13th, of this year, Hon. Miles C. Eggleston, of Madison, then pronounced one of the best nisi prius judges of the west, presented his commission at the court here, as president judge, was sworn in, and presided over the third term, Benjamin Cushman acting as Associate Judge, Cyrus Taber, (afterwards of Logansport, where he died some years ago,) sheriff, and Amos Lane, of' Lawrenceburgh, father of Hon. James H. Lane, of Kansas, was sworn in as prosecuting attorney.
The report of the grand jury, at this session, of which John P. Hedges, now among the last of the old pioneer stock yet remain- ing, was foreman, relates to the county jail, and runs as follows :
" We, the grand jury, empannelled for the county of Allen, and State of Indiana, after examining the county jail, are of the opinion that the criminals' rooms are not a place of safety for persons committed thereto; that the debtors' room, upper department of said jail, is not in a suitable condition for the reception of debtors, from the want of locks, floor, and bedding. "JOHN P. HEDGES, Foreman."
As this report clearly attests, imprisonment for debt was a com- mon custom at this period, and continued for some years after to be a common law in the land. At this session, Judge Eggleston presented a report relative to the mode of keeping a marriage record by the clerk. No marriage record having been previously kept, it was thereafter determined to keep such a register.
The next session met at Wm. Suttenfields', August 27th, 1827, Messrs. Eggleston, Hood and Cushman, presiding, Abner Gerrard, acting as sheriff, Oliver H. Smith, being sworn in as prosecuting
* Harris was a singular character. He lived on the St. Mary's, about seven miles from Fort Wayne. Had early adopted for his life's motto-"To be as honest as the na- ture of the circumstances would permit." He seems to have possessed a considerable amount of common sense, but his main failing was, to engage in as many law suits as possible, and ir that way, in part, gained a very unenviable reputation.
300
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
attorney. At this time, Wm. Quarles, of Indianapolis, was licensed to practice as an attorney.
The next term began May 12th 1828, at the residence of Ben- jamin Archer, and was presided over by Judges Hood and Cush- man, at which time, Charles H. Test, and Andrew Ingram were sworn in as attorneys, and Mr. Test, late Secretary of State, re- ceived the appointment of prosecuting attorney for the term.
It was at this session that the first will was recorded in Allen county. The party thus recording, was Abram Burnett.
At the next term, November 10th, 1828, Messrs. Hood and Cushman, presiding. David Wallace, subsequently Governor of the State, was sworn in and appointed special prosecutor. It was at this term that the first conviction of felony occurred-the State vs. Joseph Doane, who was sentenced to the penitentiary for three years.
The next term began May 11th, 1829, Judges Eggleston and- Hood presiding; Martin M. Ray sworn in as prosecuting attor, ney. At this term Joseph Carville, for larceny, was sentenced for three years to the state's prison. During the vacation that fol- owed, Anthony L. Davis having resigned the clerkship, on the 14th of October, 1829, the Associate Judge met and appointed Jo- seph Holman thereto, but to which position Robert Hood was subsequently elected, to assume the duties of the office from Febru- , ary 15th, 1830. On the 10th of May, of this year, C. H. Test, presenting his commission as President Judge, began the term of 1830, with Wm N. Ilood, Associate Judge ; Robert Hood as Clerk ; James Perry as prosecuting attorney ; Thomas J. Evans being sworn in as attorney, while David H. Colerick, Esq., was sworn in as attorney, ex gratis, for the term.
At this term a case of murder came up for trial. A Miami In- dian, known as Ne-we-ling-gua, or (Big-Leg,) being the accused. A half Indian and negro woman, whom he claimed as his slave, had been in the habit of entering his cabin during his absence, and taking his meat. After repeatedly warning her to desist, he at length told her that if she disobeyed him again, he would kill her. From her residence among the clan, of which Big-Leg was chief, whose village was on the Wabash, a few miles from Fort Wayne, with a view to escape the fate that she knew must befall her, after a further disregard of the commands of the chief, the woman came to Fort Wayne, and was soon employed by some of the citizens.
Shortly after her departure, Big Leg came to town, too, and wandering about, he soon discovered her washing, at a house then standing about what is now the southeast corner of Clinton and Columbia streets. Stealing suddenly upon her, with his long knife ready for her destruction, he plunged it into her with such force, that it is said the blade passed through her body, and she fell dead at his feet; whereupon he proudly ejaculated, "was'nt
301
TRIAL OF BIG-LEG.
that nice !" Though no uncommon thing, at that period, for the Indians visiting here to kill each other, and for which no redress* had ever been sought by the authorities, the citizens here, who were then largely outnumbered by the Indians of the region, were greatly incensed at this terrible procedure of Big-Leg, and the civil authorities at once had the chief arrested, and placed in the old county jail.
His main plea was that the woman belonged to him-was his property, and that he had a right to do what he pleased with her. When told that he was to be hanged for the offense, he could not comprehend it, but seemed to get the idea that it was some .such operation as that he had often witnessed in the use of the old steel yards by the traders in weighing venison, &c., and concluded that he was to be weighed until he was dead; which fact soon be- came commonly understood among the Indians of his tribe and the region here; and as he was a chief much regarded by his clan, they early sought to exchange him for one of their number, whom they considered rather worthless ; but without avail.
Having received some explanations as to his probable fate by hanging, or weighing, as he understood it, which he seemed to re- gard as fixed, he, with his friends, thought to have the experiment tried upon a dog, in order to see how the animal would act. Ac- cordingly, while the chief was still confined in the jail, a number of his Indian friends collected about the outside of the prison, in view of a small opening, where the chief could look out and see the action of the canine as his Indian friends proceeded to execute him. Placing a rope around the animal's neck, and suspending him from a pole that had been arranged for the purpose, at the height of a few feet from the ground, by means of crossed stakes driven into the earth, the dog was soon dangling in the air. Observing the animal very closely through the grates of the jail, the violent throes and contortions of the dog at once gave him a great aversion to hanging, or being thus weighed till he was deal; and when the jailor again made his appearance,he urged that he might be shot, rather than be killed by such a process as that he had seen tried on the dog.t
When his trial came on, John B. Bourie and chief Rich- ardville acted as interpreters. He was convicted, but being re- commended to mercy by the jury, the governor subsequently granted him a pardon; and in 1848, with a body of Miamies, he removed to Kansas.
The first restraining case that came before the court of Allen county, was that of Maria Caswell, vs. Wm. Caswell, to prevent the latter from selling certain property during the pendency of a
* Indian usage guaranteed the right to kill one another, if they saw proper, as a mat- ter of revenge, or for other reasons, without any other punishment than that often sought to be inflicted by way of common retaliation for the murder of friends.
+ Recollections of T. W. Hood, 'Squire John Dubois, and others, then residing here.
302
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
suit for divorce. This case came up at the September term, 1830, Judges Hood and Cushman presiding.
But little was now done in court matters until the latter partof 1831, when Judges Test, Hood, and Lewis G. Thompson, (the lat- ter of whom had then but recently been elected,) presided as Judges. Allen Hamilton was now clerk, and David Pickering, sheriff. As clerk, Mr. Hamilton had been commissioned for sev- en years, beginning with June 14th, 1831, all of which period he served. David H. Colerick was also again sworn in as attorney for the term.
The 'first case, that of H. Cooper, vs J. Wheeler, sent down from the Supreme Court, occurred at this time. The case had been reversed.
The spring term of 1832 began April 9th, and was presided over by Judges Hood and Thompson, W. J. Brown acting as prosecut- ing attorney. Gustavus A. Everett, and John S. Newman ap- peared as attorneys, and David H. Colerick, Esq., having produced a license, signed by Judges Test and Morris, was then fully ad- mitted as a practitioner at the bar.
In 1826, Samuel Hanna was elected a representative to the Leg- islature, the district then being composed of Randolph and Allen counties-Jay, Adams, Wells, and Delaware, having since been formed out of these, the limits of Allen then embracing the terri- tory of about all of these latter counties, west to the Illinois line. Mr. Hanna's opponent, at this time, was John Right,* of Winches- ter, formerly a representative from Randolph, and the adjoining district. As representative Mr. Hanna now served but one term.
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