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 43
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HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
always rapidly or gracefully, yet strongly and surely. While Judge Hanna was not a scholar, he was a great reader, and had learned ranch from books, as well as from men and things, and if without the aptitude or genins to produce what was elegant in literature or in art, he was an intelligent admirer and judge of both.
Judge Hanna belonged to the higher type of the pioneer class of men. He was a planter and builder, more than a legislator. He had the hope, the courage. the forethought, the fertility of resource, the un- faltering, purpose and will that characterise the planters of colonies and founders of cities. He was a fine type of many of the unlearned, but nevertheless wise and able men who were the pioneers of the north- west. With high elements of statesmanship in his nature, he was not altogether adapted for legislative or even administrative statesmanship. He had rarely sought for or held political office. He was not a politician, he moved in a higher sphere of life. It has been said of Manasseh Cutler, one of the pioneers of Ohio, 'He was more than a statesman, he was the founder of a State. In the covered wagon in which he left his village home in Massachusetts to found Marietta, the imperial State of Ohio was wrap- ped up.' The same sentiment may be applied to Judge Hanna. He was more than a statesman, for ho bad in him the elements and powers of the men who build cities and found States.
With all his mental strength, and public usefulness, it was perhaps in his domestic life and social relations that Judgs Hanna appeared to the best advantage. I have never heard a whisper against the purity of his private morals. He . was a temperate, well controlled man. He was the idol of his family. Ile was of a genial, social nature, full at times of a quaint, homely, simple humor, that had about it the freshness of childhood. He loved his children and his grandchildren, and children and young folks generally. He was pleased to have them with him and around him. In the gallery of our accomplished young artist, Mr. J. A. Shoaff, I have lately scen the stereoscopic views of Judge Hanna's homestead, himself, and his household. They will remain as vivid pictures, not only of the person, bnt of the habits and character of the man. Among the pleasing mementoes that will remain of him. none can be more pleasing than these miniature scenes, portraying Judge Hanna, the strong and earnest worker through a life of public care, as a pleased spectator and actor in the scenes of his own home. .
When such men as Judge Hanna die. not only the public heart is filled with sadness and an abiding sense of loss, but there is within the sanctuary of his own household a depth of sorrow that cannot be fathomed."
Judge HANNA accepted the Presidency of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Rail- road Company, to which Mr. Edgerton alludes in the foregoing passages, with extreme reluctance. He seemed to have a foreboding that his life's work wasdraw- ing to a close. The position had been strongly urged upon him, but he had stead- ily declined it. When he was about leaving home to attend a meeting of the direc- tors at Grand Rapids, less than two months before his decease, the remark was made to him that he would return President of the Company. He replied " No, that can- not be," and added with a mournful cadence, " the responsibility is too great, I can not accept it." The result showed, that although a man may be a ruler among men, he cannot always govern his own actions. He returned President of the Company. His desire for the success of the road, and the benefits its construction would confer upon a city whose interests he had cherished and fostered for a life-time, overcame any objections he had entertained to accept the laborions and responsible position. Judge HANNA's efforts for the improvement of both town and country, were, not confined to those of a public nature, but his means were always frecly advanced for the promotion and encouragement of private and individual enterprise. The Woolen Factory of French, Hanna & Co., the extensive Foundry and Machine Shops of Bass & Hanna, and the largo Hub, Spoke and Bending Factory of Olds, Hanna & Co., may be cited as the later instances of the kind, and attest his liberality in this regard. They were all essentially aided in their earlier stages, by the use of his capital.
With the utmost charity and good-will towards all Christian denominations, Judge Hanna's " religious training was in the faith and spirit of the Presbyterian Church, of which his father was an elder for some fifty years." The organization of the first Presbyterian Church at Fort Wayne, in 1831, had his cordial co-operation and support, although he did not become a member until 1843; soon after which he was chosen a Ruling Elder, a position which he retained during the remainder of his life.
Upon the announcement of his death, in addition to the meeting of condolence, before alluded to, and other manifestations of public grief and sorrow, the Common Council of the City convened and unanimously adopted an appropriate preamble, and the following resolutions, as expressive of the universal bereavement that per- vaded the whole community :
Resolved That the Mayor and Common Council of the city of Fort Wayne have received, with the deepest sensibility, the announcement of the death of our great and good fellow-citizen. Hon. SAMICEL. IIANNA.
Resolved. That, as a mark of our respect and esteem to the memory of him we mourn, the Mayor, Common Council and officers of the city attend in a body tho fuuural obsequies, and that the municipal ffices be closed for business during the funeral.
Resolved, That to the widow and family now borne down by the weight of this affliction, we tender our
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SAMUEL HANNA.
heartfelt sympathies and condolence, together with the assurance that we share with them their sorrow and their tears.
Resolved, That these proceedings be spread upon the minutes of the Common Council ; that a copy of the same be furnished the daily papers of the city for publication. and the City Clerk be directed to trans- mit to the bereaved family a certified copy thereof, and that the citizens, in accordance with the procla- mation of the Mayor be requested to close all places of business between the hours of two and four o'clock on to-morrow afternoon.
Resolved, That, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the lamented dead, the Council do now adjourn for one week.
The last illness of Judge HANNA was of brief duration. He was taken ill on Wednesday, June 6th, 1866; on Thursday his case was regarded as dangerous ; on Friday he was partially relieved, and on Saturday he was decidedly better, so much so that he was up a portion of the day and walked about the house. But during Saturday night he was seized with a violent relapse, soon succeeded by uncon- sciousness which continued until Monday A. M., the 11th, when the community was startled and shocked by the intelligence, which flashed over the city with electric rapidity, that Judge HANNA was dead. No other event has caused so universal a gloom and sadness. Every one had lost a friend, and every one was in mourning.
The funeral took place on Wednesday, June 13th. The arrangements were under the charge and direction of the Masonic Fraternity, of which Judge HANKA had long been a consistent and honored member. A discourse was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Warsaw. The attendance was, undoubtedly, by far the largest ever witnessed, on a funeral occasion, in Northern Indiana. It was, in fact, n spontaneous outpouring of the whole people. The procession extended from the Court House to the Cemetery, a distance of nearly two miles, while the street for almost the whole distance was lined with thousands of spectators. The bells of all the city churches tolled their sad notes simultaneously. All business was suspended in accordance with the resolution of the Common Council. Many houses were draped in mourning, and a deep sorrow pervaded the minds of the whole people. The Railroad shops and buildings, if not, literally, the works of his hands, the emanation of his fertile mind and effective purpose, were gracefully festooned with evergreens, wreathed into ingenious and tasteful devices, among which were in- wrought, in large evergreen letters,
SAMUEL HANNA, THE WORKING-MAN'S FRIEND.
Every man in and about those shops and buildings knew him as a friend and loved him as a father.
In contemplating the many estimable qualities of Judge HANNA, integrity and industry appear as prominent characteristics-an integrity that no personal or other consideration could swerve, and an industry that knew no rest while any- thing remained undone. When a given task was accomplished, he would throw off all care and become cheerful, even mirthful-a rich vein of mirthfulness permeating his whole nature-or he would retire to his home and devote himself to domestic and social enjoyments, for which he had the keenest zest and relish. His temper was calm and equable, seldom sroused, even under severe provocation, but when it was aroused, it was swift and terrible. His manners were emphatically, those of the old school gentlemen-plain, simple, dignified-despising sham and pretense of all kinds. Passing the carly part of his life on the frontiers, and his whole life in the rough experience of a new country, he possessed none of the sycophancy and false polish of the courtier. His devotion to every duty was intense, while his percep- tion of truth and worth was almost intuitive. In his estimate of these he was sel- dom mistaken. His opinions were positive and strong ; but he was always open to conviction, and when satisfied that they were erroneous, his concessions were grace- ful and unqualified.
Judge HANNA's mental endowments and reasoning powers were of a high order, and he had cultivated them through many years of close observation and intense thought. His far-seeing sagacity and prescience in the solution of great financial problems were remarkable. His experience in such questions had been extensive, and he had profited by it to the utmost. He stood among the great rail- road managers of the country, and the great financiers of Wall street, the ac- knowledged peer of the ablest, and he was always listened to with deference.
Judge Hanna was a life-long student. His love of nature and of books, and his thirst for knowledge, were ardent. His mind was wonderfully retentive, and he hal accumulated a fund of information on all the current topics of the day, that was rarely surpawed. Particularly in agriculture, horticulture, and pomology,
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HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
which, for years, he had made a specialty, his knowledge was varied, extensive, and exact, as the many who have listened, with delight, to his discourses on these subjects, will remember. Though approaching the limit allotted to human life, his capacity for labor was undiminished ; his mental acuteness, undimmed ; his vigorous man- hood, unabated. He was just entering upon a new and arduous field of labor and responsibility, when he was suddenly called from all earthly cares to a final ac- count. Like one of America's greatest statesmen, he may be said, literally, to have " died in the harness."
SuchBis a brief and imperfeet outline of the life and services of one of the pio- neers of Fort Wayne; a bright exemplar, worthy the imitation of our young men, and whose fitting epitaph would be: "A Noble, Honorable Christian Gentleman .??
GEN HYACINTH LASSELLE, FIRST WHITE MAN BORN AT KE-KI-ONG'A.
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GEN. HYACINTH LASSELLE.
THE FIRST WHITE PERSON BORN AT KE-KI-ONG-A.
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The first white person born at Ke-ki-ong-a, or in this portion of the State, was the late Gen. Hyacinth Lasselle, of Logansport, Ind. His father, Col. James Las- selle, of Montreal, Canada, having been appointed an Indian Agent, for the tribes of this vicinity, removed with his family, to the village then, and for many years after, opposite the present site of Fort Wayne, in the fall of 1776. On the 25th of February following, the subject of this sketch was born at this point. He continued here with his parents until the fall of 1780, when the sudden assault upon the vil- lage by La Balme and his troops caused a very precipitate retreat by the few white, as well as all the Indian inhabitants. Col. Lasselle made his escape, with his family, down the Maumee by means of boats, with a loss of an only daughter, who, in the confusion of the flight, fell overboard and was drowned. He afterwards returned to Montreal, where he placed his son, Hyacinth, at school. The latter remained here at school until about sixteen years of age, when he was taken into the em- ploy, as a clerk, of his older brothers, James and Francis Lasselle, who were then extensive traders at Detroit. After ascending the St. Lawrence, and crossing the Lakes, by means of battaux,-then the ordinary mode of travel-his party reached Detroit in the fall of 1793, after a journey of two months duration. Here he remained as a clerk in the establishment of his brothers for about a year.
The Indian war having been closed by the victory of Gen. Wayne, in 1794, and peace being fully restored, he was sent by his brothers to trade with the Indians at Fort Wayne, which had been erected in October following the battle at the rap- ids. He arrived here in the month of May, 1795, and continued to trade with the Miamies, and other tribes visiting the Fort, for about a year and a half. After this, he descended the Wabash, and traded at several points on that river, until the year 1804, when he removed his establishment to Vincennes, Ind., and located perma- nently at that place.
Upon the inauguration of Indian hostilities, by the battle of Tippecanoe, in 1811, he discontinued the Indian trade, and entered the military service. He served for a period of four years as a Lieutenant and Captain of a company of Mounted Rifle- men, or Rangers,-aservice of great hardship and danger,-and eventually attained the position of Major-General of the Militia. In the Spring of 1833, he removed from Vincennes to Logansport, and died at the latter place on the 23d of January, 1843, in the 66th year of his age.
In person, Gen. L. was about 5 feet 6 inches in height ; erect, full-chested, and muscular. In his prime he was rather rotund and weighed about 160. His complexion was light, inclining to florid ; his eyes of a light-grey color, and full; and hair dark. His features were regular, inclining to the Roman cast, and indicated intelligence, generosity and firmness. The accompanying portrait represents him as he appeared in 1812.
From the year 1795 until 1804 he was almost a constant resident or visitant of Fort Wayne in his character as a trader, and was very intimately acquainted with the various tribes visiting the Fort, and with their character, manners and customs. His relations of the many incidents connected with Indian life at the Fort here, would be highly entertaining; but their recital would necessarily occupy a very large space in this volume to detail all the interesting reminiscences of life here,
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HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
as seen and often recounted by Gen. L. He was held in high esteem by the Indians, and especially by the Miamies, who, on account of his birth among them. always called him by the name of Ke-ki-ah, or the little Miami. He was very active and fleet of foot, and they took great pride in claiming him as their champion in that line; for, in early times athletic sports of all kinds, and especially foot-racing, were in great favor with the Indians and white pioneers here. It so happened, on one occasion, that the Miamies sent a challenge to all the neighboring tribes to meet him in the race. The Winnebagoes, of Lake Michigan, accepted the challenge, and sent a deputation with their champion to Fort Wayne to contest the palm. The race was run. But the Winnebagoes, exasperated at the prospect of defeat, let ily their arrows at him, just as he was in the act of winning the race, one of which pierced his thigh. This net of bnd faith caused great excitement among the Miamies, who were about to proceed to acts of violence towards the Winnebagoes, that might have produced trouble between the tribes; but through the intercession of their favorite, the matter was finally dropped. His wound did not prove serious, and the arrow was readily extracted; but he beat the Indian.
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HENRY RUDISILL.
One of the early pioneers of North-eastern Indiana, the subject of this brief memoir, was born in Lancaster, Pa., in 1801. His father subsequently moved to Franklin County, Pa., and, at the age of 14, Henry was placed in a mercantile establish- ment in Shippinsburg, Pa., to be thoroughly educated in all the different branches of that business. Three years afterward he removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, (then on the borders of Western civilization ) as an employee of Messrs. Barr and Campbell, who were then largely engaged in the mercantile business at that and other points, east and west.
He remained with this firm till 1824, when he moved to Lancaster, Ohio, where he engaged in business on his own account, and was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Jolins, who still survives him. In 1829 he moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., and, as the agent of Messrs. Barr and McCorkle, the original proprietors of Fort Wayne, had charge of their interests here until 1837; and while acting in that capac- ity. cleared and cultivated a large portion of what is now the " Old Plat " and "Han- na's addition " to Fort Wayne.
Mr. Rudisill was of active and energetic temperament, and a true representative of the men, who, under Providence, have made the Western country what it now is; and, with unselfish aim, always took an active and important part in every movement that tended to advance the interest of the county and city in which he lived. As early as 1836, he, in connection with his father-in-law, Mr. Johns, com- menced the improvement of the Water Power of the St. Joseph river, at the point where the St. Joe Mills are now located, one mile north of Fort Wayne, and built there a saw mill and the first flouring mill capable of manufacturing merchantablo flour in Northern Indiana. A few years later, he put in operation the first machine for carding wool that was ever used in Allen county; and, some years subsequent, in company with Mr. L. Wolkie, he started the first oil mill for making oil from flax seed; and also established the first woolen factory of North-eastern Indiana. So, too, in church and educational matters, and in such public improvements ne tended to develope the resources of the county, he was always ready and willing to aid, and contributed freely to their support, according to his ability.
Being of German descent, and for a number of years the only one in the city who could speak both languages, he soon became the counsellor, friend, and helper of many who came from the Old World to make this portion of the New their home ; and there are many in the county to-day who can date their first steps in their course of prosperity to his assistance and advice.
He was not a partisan in politics, though voting and acting with the Democratic party on all State and National questions, till 1854, when he began more especially to reserve the right to vote for men, on loon! questions, regardless of party caucuses
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MRS. LAURA SUTTENFIELD.
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or conventions. He served as Postmaster at this point eight years under Jackson's administration, and a term of three years a Commissioner of Allen county; and probably · did more than any other man, through his personal influence with the Germans, to make the Democratic party the ruling power in the county.
Injured by a fall while superintending some work at one of his mills, his spine became affected, causing partial paralysis and subsequent death in February, 1858.
His uprightness, kindness, and affability in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens, early won for him a host of friends, who will ever cherish for him a kindly mem- ory and regard.
In his more private, social intercourse, he was no less happy in winning the regard and esteem of every one with whom he came in contaet, and we have the consola- tion of knowing that his true piety and earnest Christian faith have prepared for him a rich reward in that better world to which he has gone.
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MRS. LAURA SUTTENFIELD.
But few of the pioneer mothers of Fort Wayne still survive among us to tell the adventures of the past, one of whom, is Mrs. Laura Suttenfield; who is now in her 73d year. Mrs. S. was born in the city of Boston, Mass., in 1795, and, as the reader will already have seen, came to Fort Wayne as early as 1814, by way of the St. Mary's river, then much navigated by " flats." It was soon after the arrival of herself and husband here, with some friends, that the old fort, built by order of Gen. Wayne, in 1794, was removed, and a new one erected on the site of the old one, by order of Major Whistler; in the building of which, her husband took an active part. From the time of her first arrival here, she, with others, made the fort their home, and continued to reside in the garrison several years after.
Ever attentive and amiable in her disposition, she early won the esteem not only of those within the garrison, but strangers visiting the post, then so famous in the northwest; and her recollections of the brave men who participated in the struggles peculiar to those carly times are ever elear and interesting, as many can well attest among us to-day. Indeed, during many years fast, if any question of special im- port came up for consideration, about which any doubts were entertained as to accu- racy of date, name, etc., as one of the early pioneers of Fort Wayne once remarked to the writer, an appeal was at once had to the memory of Mrs. S .; and all felt confident and satisfied when she gave her decision on the point under consideration. Such was her memory in other days, and a few moments conversation with lier upon early pioncer life in the west, at her present advanced age, will be sufficient evidence of her wenderful memory. Her husband, Col. Wm. Suttenfield, who has now been dead some years, was a most patriotic, kind-hearted man. For some time after his removal to this point, he was a non-commissioned officer of the fort herc. At an early period of the struggles in the west he was engaged in the re- cruiting service, and for many months after his arrival here, he was mainly employed in bringing provisions and other articles needed by the garrison from Piqua and other points, on pack-horses, and usually had three or four men to accompany and aid him in his perilous and burdensome duties back and forth to the settlements. Be- ing short and slender of form, and very active on foot, he would often say the In- dians could'nt catch him, and that he was not afraid of them. And, as during the period of his recruiting service, in his labors as superintendent of "packs " and general provision contractor for the fort here, he was long and early a most service- able man to his country and the little band of settlers and sojourners at Fort Wayne at the carly period to which this sketch more especially refers. The first house (a substantial log edifice) that was built in what is now the "old plat," was erected by Colonel Suttenfield, at the northwest corner of Barr and Columbia streets, just opposite the grocery store of T. B. Hedekin, in which Mr. Suttenfield and family resided for many years after its erection, and were ever esteemed for their many kindly traits of character.
Mrs. S.'s recollections of Major B. F. Stickney, who often sat at the same table
(B)
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HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
with them, are still quite fresh. Mr. Stickney was a sterling pioneer and soldier, and did much for the alleviation of his country during its infant struggles in the west, ever attentive to the wants and sufferings of the red children of this locality, as will have been seen elsewhere in this volume, who, in many instances, came to sad destitution and debasement through the use of intoxicating liquors, a few years after the struggles of 1812-14. Also of Colonel John Tipton and Colonel John Johnson, two most patriotic, intelligent, energetic, and serviceable pioneer, soldiers and citizens of the west-the former, for some years after the war of '12, a resident at this point, and more or less constantly in the society and at the resi- dence of Mrs. S. and family; while the latter and family were long among her warmest and best friends, and at whose house she resided while living in Piqua, Ohio, before coming to Fort Wayne-of these and many others that might be men - tioned, would the space allow, including also many interesting incidents of those early days, with some of which the reader is already familiar, her memory is yet most clear.
In view of the vast improvement that has taken place, within a few years, in what to her and others of the early pioneers here, was an uncultivated field, strewn with vast quantities of underbrush, with occasional heavy timber, knowing, and known by every one in the region, Mrs. Suttenfield now finds herself in the opposite extreme; and says she "knows no one now, and but few know her " among the great throng of new-comers in and about Fort Wayne; while the immense improve- ment in building, general culture, and industrial pursuits, have conspired to sur- round her with a busy air and tread that
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