USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol I > Part 23
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by yanking the pulley bone." Turpin was an indefatigable worker, arising at five o'clock in the morning, and was soon thereafter at his desk. He worked through the day, and then long after the sup- per hour. He wrote all his matter with a pencil, and the enormous amount of copy he produced was a marvel to his younger associates. Had he had an early education he would have made his mark in the higher fields of journalism.
One of the humorous personals he published in The Tribune was copied in The New York Sun because of its rich flavor of humor. Turpin's early life had been that of an orphan, he finally being cared for by the Shakers, of Ohio, and learned the trade of a broom maker. He naturally held many of the beliefs of the people by whom he was raised, but never gave expression of his heartfelt sentiments save to intimate friends. While with this people he learned much about herbs and flowers and their medicinal values. This knowledge helped him greatly in his newspaper work. Turpin was an optimist of the first order. The financial side of his life was filled with discouragements and trials, but he educated his family and lived well. Regardless if half an hour before he had met with a serious reverse his whistle resounded through the corridors of the court house as he went in quest of news and in the streets as he passed along them. Asked once how he could be so jolly in the midst of what would depress other men he said: "Well, it can't be helped, and what is the use to be thinking about it all the time? There will be another day dawn." An enthusiastic baseball fan. and a poło enthusiast, his enjoyment of a game coming his way was a sight worth while to see, but his disgust was savage if the home team played "rotten." His reports of sporting events were charac- teristic of his unique personality. His friends were legion, he was "foxy," and few men have been more keenly missed than he from his paper and his old haunts, where his friends saved him choice tips
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and good jokes. Turpin, after having worked twenty-two years as a broom maker in all the principal cities of the west, settled in New London, Howard county, in 1868, where he married. He was cor- oner of Howard county six years, street commissioner of Kokomo nine years, and engrossing clerk of the lower house of the Legisla- ture in 1887. His service with The Gazette began in 1883, and ter- minated with the consolidation in 1884, when he went to Richmond to become writer on The Richmond Palladium. He was well known over the state as a local writer, and was connected with the Chicago Tribune and Inter-Ocean and other city newspapers as correspond- ent. Turpin was also engaged in newspaper work at Tipton and Elwood, and returning to Kokomo worked on the Kokomo News- Dispatch, and lastly Tribune, in which later service he was em- ployed when his death occurred in 1907.
Mr. L. C. Hoss was finally associated with his father, P. E. Hoss, in the ownership and control of The Tribune, the elder Hoss purchasing the interest of A. F. Philips, who left the city to engage in newspaper labors in foreign fields. In the departure of Mr. Phil- ips. the last of the noted pioneer family departed, and the name was henceforth known historically only. The Hosses sold the paper to Mr. B. B. Johnson, once county treasurer, and later of the Richmond Item. He operated the paper for several months, selling to J. A. Kautz and H. E. McMonigal, of Wabash. Mr. McMonigal retired and the Tribune has become one of the most valuable plants of its size in the state under the management of Mr. Kautz, and has reached a wide influence.
THE KOKOMO MORNING TIMES.
In 1893 S. E. Nicholson, who had been editor and owner of the Russiaville Observer, came to Kokomo and established The Ko-
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komo Morning Times, a daily paper. The outfit of the Industrial Union was purchased and installed in the Sharp room, south side of the court house square. In a few months the paper reached a high water mark in subscriptions, and, encouraged by this properity, the owner moved the plant into the old Tribune corner. The paper as- sumed an important place in the municipal election, and its. influence did a great deal for the election of A. B. Kirkpatrick as mayor and Harry Bennett for marshal, upon a strict law enforcement platform. Mr. Nicholson was an ardent temperance man and the town was soon "tight," as the word is used in liberal circles. The ambition to become a member of the general assembly of Indiana soon seized Mr. Nicholson, and this ambition was realized, he working for the temperance enactment bearing his name. The actual life of his paper was little short of a year. He struggled bravely against the panic of 1893 and was reduced to pathetic and sore straits in the hope of weathering the storm, but was finally forced to give up the struggle.
THE GREENTOWN GEM.
The Russiaville Observer was founded a number of years ago, and is a permanent addition to the county newspapers, to all appear- ances. The Greentown Gem is a bright and prosperous publication representing the interests of eastern Howard county, being pub- lished at Greentown.
THE WATER CURE ERA.
One of the earliest of magazine publications devoted to special interests was The Water Cure Era, published at New London in the forties. It was a monthly paper of sixteen pages, devoted to an explanation of the doctrines of the water cure, being edited by Drs.
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T. P. Albertson and A. V. Talbert, and was issued from the Pioneer office. A similar publication was, for several years, published in Kokomo at the Invalids' Home by Dr. T. V. Gifford. Aaron Walk- er published the Christian Foundation, devoted to the doctrines of the Disciples' church.
THE VOLAPUCK.
A newspaper intentionally short lived was that published by WV. S. Armstrong, called The Volapuck, appealing to the Kokomo public against the Indiana Natural Gas and Oil Company, and for the municipal ownership of a water works plant. During the Roose- velt campaign Mr. Armstrong published The Protest, in which he urged the defeat of Judge Parker for the presidency.
THE KOKOMO NEWS.
The Kokomo News, a daily publication, was established in 1896, occupying the old Tribune corner, at the intersection of Mul- berry and Buckeye streets. The proprietors and editors of this paper were W. H. Staley and son, E. T. Staley, who came here from Frankfort. The property finally fell in to the hands of W. J. Spruce, and later into the ownership of a syndicate of which R. L. Williamson was the responsible head. The Kokomo News com- pany was finally formed, an organization composed chiefly of Koko- mo capital, and the property was taken over by the new organiza- tion. L. R. Naftzger was placed in editorial charge, and The News took on an extensive growth and a wide importance. W. L. Austell was business manager. In time the company passed into a receiver- ship, the management falling to W. B. Westlake, of Marion, Ind. When the paper was legally sold it came into the management of Trowbridge & Harris, Mr. Trowbridge finally succeeding to sole
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direction and ostensible ownership. He ran the paper for several months, finally disposing of it to The Kokomo Dispatch. In the death of The News, 1908, perished the last of the third paper enter- prises of Kokono. Many have floated upon the sea of newspaper- dom and all failed in turn.
Freeman Cooper, who had published a paper at Russiaville, founded The Kokomo Journal, and, after he relinquished that pub- lication, Milton Garrigus took charge of it. The plant was well equipped typographically, but the actual printing was done at The Dispatch office. Mr. Garrigus sold the plant to a company interested in propagating the Populist doctrines. The paper was called the Industrial Union. In the end the paper ceased publication and the outfit was bought by S. E. Nicholsan, who had conducted the Russiaville Observer, and who decided to establish a daily paper in Kokomo.
EARLY DAYS OF KOKOMO.
BY OTIS C. POLLARD.
"The present site of Kokomo," says an authority," was covered with immense trees and a thicket of underbrush, through which a bird could scarcely fly. There was no improvement here then, but Foster's log house, log barn and a small patch of clearing around them. Where the Frances hotel stands, upon the site of the old Clin- ton hotel, was once a swamp and fish were caught a few yards north of it. Justice Henry L. Moreland saw a team drawing a load of wood stall upon Main street."
Choice lots in an early day were along High street. They sold for five dollars and seven dollars each. The Howard National Bank and Frances hotel corners could have been bought for a few skins. The Nordyke (or R. G. Smith) quarter section, near the city, was worth three hundred and twenty dollars.
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When the original survey of the Foster donation was made, a mistake of one chain was made, and as a result Mr. Foster's yard was encroached upon. On this account the commissioners refused to accept Mr. Foster's deed. The discrepancy was rectified, one of the chief witnesses being John Moulder, one of the locating commis- sioners of the county seat. Several lot owners were awarded damages.
The original survey of Foster's donation was bounded by Tay- lor, Union, High and Washington streets. The tier of lots on the north side of Taylor street, on the west side of Washington street and on the south side of High street were afterwards laid off. The cost of the survey has been preserved by the county records. To Austin C. Sheets, county surveyor, was made the following allow- ances at the December term, 1844: Surveying donation, $1.50; plat of same, 50 cents ; survey of public square, $1 ; plat of town, 50 cents ; thirty-two lots at 25 cents each, $8.50 ; total, $11.50.
George Gay and Silas Fawcett, chainmen, for cutting off the public square, were allowed $6.121/2 each. Christopher Cromer, marker, was allowed $4.371/2. March, 1845, the record contains an allowance as follows: Surveying donation, $1.50 ; plat of same, 50 cents ; sixty-eight lots at 25 cents each, $17; plat of town, $1 ; total, $20.
David Foster was one of the most conspicuous characters in the life of Kokomo for many years. He generally wore a fur cap, a blue army coat and carried a basket. When he spoke he had a peculiar way of lifting his right hand to the level of his head and whistling. and then uttering whatever he had to say. His financial acumen was ever uppermost.
Having one afternoon bartered with S. C. Moore, a pioneer lumber dealer and sawmill man of Kokomo, for the sale of a cow, he returned by Moore's lumber yard, at the foot of what is now
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South Union street, at the north creek bank, after his evening meal. and was informed that "Fort Sumpter had been fired upon and civil war was imminent." Foster threw up his hand and whistled. "Ah! Ah! Trying to get my cow cheaper?" He disbelieved the truth of the report. Learning that a friend had sold his farm, and was pur- chasing many things for his children, Foster observed: "Going ! Going! A gold watch! A set of furs! This and that! Going! Going !"
The growth of the town he had seen develop from his log cabin finally drove his family from the double frame house he had occupied for years and which stood originally in what is now Main street. The notable structure was moved to the west of the newly laid-out street and finally given over to other occupancy until torn down.
In his day Foster was a heavy landowner, being proprietor of five hundred and fifty-two acres in the reserve section in 1846, on which he had improvements assessed at one thousand five hundred and fifteen dollars. The land was returned for taxation at two thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars. He owned sixty-seven lots, most of which were returned at ten dollars each, but which aggregated one thousand and three dollars. He had seven hundred and eighty-six dollars' worth of personal property. His total as- sessment was six thousand and sixty-four dollars. His total tax was fifty-three dollars and twenty cents, which he was not able to pay at once, handing over to the treasurer twenty-one dollars and twenty cents as the first payment.
EARLY CITY AND TOWNSHIP LIFE.
There was not much to mark the difference between the city and farm life surrounding Kokomo in that pioneer day. The snow
DAVID FOSTER, Founder of Kokomo.
CORYDON RICHMOND, M. D.
OF HOWARD COUNTY. 321
was knee deep when Dr. Lewis Kern reached the home of George Snodgrass, on the banks of Little Wildcat creek, Harrison town- ship, April 18, 1846, in company with his brother, Jacob Kern. The (loctor was then fourteen years of age. Here and there a patch of ground had been cleared. The country was one wild sweep of woods. The next morning he was awakened by Mr. Snodgrass calling his son : "Newton! Have you fed the cattle yet, Newton?" "No," answered Newton. "You had better feed them," came the response. The son shouldered liis ax and advanced into the depths of the forest. He fed the cattle by cutting off the limbs of trees and the cattle ate of the tender part of the branches, "browsed" or "budded." The inhabitants of the county in the winter time lived mainly upon cornbread, venison, wild turkey and various game.
The cabin of Judge N. R. Linsday, the first resident lawyer of the county, and the cabin of Dr. Corydon Richmond, then a prac- ticing physician, in 1845, faced each other on Union street, between Sycamore and High streets. In clearing the woods for gardens the men threw the brush in front of the cabins, and for the families to be neighborly the women had to travel a long way around to reach either home. . Wildcat creek, a short distance south, was then a clear, clean stream, with a swift current. In the deed of the Miami reserve the "rapids of Wildcat creek" were mentioned. Alas! what changes.
MALARIA.
Malaria was the bane of the city and county. To stay its rav- ages a tea was made of roots of rhubarb, as bitter a decoction as ever passed human lips. After Judge Linsday moved onto the W. B. Smith farm on West Sycamore street, his oldest son, James Lins- day, and daughter, Mrs. L. E. Harrison, were critically ill with malarial fever, the son dying. In that day they had strange ideas
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about medical treatment. In cases of measles the cabin was to be shut up as nearly airtight as possible, and it is now to be seen that the construction of the cabins, which was so that the air was not entirely excluded, is what saved many a sick person's life. In fevers the patients were denied water to drink. When Mrs. Harrison was so sick with the malaria, she piteously begged the hired woman to get her some water, and employed every expedient to secure it, but without success. Watching a favorable opportunity when not her- self observed, she left her bed and staggered to the spring on the side of the hill, where she drank all the water she desired. There chanced to be a tub of warm rinse water near the house, and prompted by an impulse she enjoyed a bath. Finally seen by the hired woman, the servant's piercing screams set the whole household into a state of perfect terror. Mrs. Harrison was hustled to bed and it was a solemn and agitated family that tearfully gathered about her bedside. The sick young lady's death was expected at any moment, but her experience was her life salvation. She per- spired as never since her illness and recovery at once began.
Mosquitoes were very bad in an early day in Kokomo, as they were in the year 1908-history repeating itself-but the pioneers triumphed. A Swiss dress was often serviceable at night to en- able people to sleep. They had no mosquito bars, and even if they had these might have proved as unsuccessful as those of 1908.
EARLY SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
Upon social occasions, which consisted for the most part of husking bees, the pioneers gathered in to help a farmer husk his corn. Cabin and barn raisings were stellar events, as were log- rollings, when city and town folk mingled to perform the necessary labors of the forest. Oxen were used in preference to horses by the
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pioneers. They were more patient to plow through the deep mud and horses were easily snagged by the fallen timber. Going to church was a social treat and the arrival of Methodist circuit riders always welcomed.
At the pioneer parties in Kokomo partners were selected in a peculiar manner. Some person was seated on a chair with a girl and the guests approached singing :
"Here we come, three frogs are we, Courting your daughter, so rare so fair. Can we have lodging here, oh! here? Can we have lodging here, oh! here?"
"This is my daughter, sitting upon my knee; Neither of you there, can have lodging here, oh ! here. Neither of you there, can have lodging here, oh! here."
The seekers then sang a retort :
"We will go farther, and find fairer than you, We will go farther, and find fairer than you."
On the next round the daughter was given to one of the three named by the donor, and so on until the entire company was given partners.
The women did not have the conveniences of gas and electricity with which to cook. The pioneer women cooked in the fireplace, which was equipped with a crane, and had skillets with legs and covers, the hot coals being placed upon top of the covers to assist the fire below in cooking. Preparing the meals in this manner meant red faces in winter and physical suffering in August, although out-
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side ovens and fires were often used with more convenience and com- fort. Judge Linsday was the aristocrat of the place. Before com- ing to Kokomo he drove with a load of wheat from Pendleton, where he lived, to Cincinnati, sold it, and bought not only a law library, but his wife a cooking stove, the first in Kokomo, and the envy of all the town.
FIRST APPLES IN KOKOMO.
The first load of apples ever brought to Kokomo-in fact, How- ard county-was hauled here by Colonel T. J. Harrison, son-in- law of Judge N. R. Linsday, the first being brought from the home of Colonel Harrison's father in southern Indiana. Fruit was scarce and none grown in this locality, in the first settlement of the coun- try, in the nature of the case. Colonel Harrison was studying law with Judge Linsday and desiring to pay his old home a visit, he agreed to with Judge Linsday to bring him a load of apples if the Judge would lend him a team and wagon in which to haul the load. Had Colonel Harrison driven with a wagon bed of gold into the yard of Judge Linsday, he would not have been half as welcome as he was when he crossed the premises with the luscious and mellow fruit. The wagon bed was loaded to the very top, first with a layer of straw and then a depth of apples in turn, so it was difficult to see how Colonel Harrison had any seat upon which to make the return trip. Aaron Linsday clambered upon the wagon wheels and passed . around the treasures to mouths which fairly watered. With his pockets filled and munching a golden specimen of orchard fruit, he started with rapid strides to invite the Bohans and the Fosters to take all they wanted. The news of the arrival of the apples spread. and they were divided among farmers in all parts of the county.
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FIRST DEBATING SOCIETY
The first literary and debating society in the history of the county and in which Kokomo citizens were the leading spirits, was known as the Richardville County Lyceum. Its initiation fee was twelve cents, and two-thirds of those present, at any meeting, could admit a new member. The same vote was required to levy a tax. Every member was to be heard in his defense before fined by the president, and an appeal from the chair to the house was allowed. Any one could retire from membership by paying all the "pecuniary arrears." Leading members were John Bohan, afterwards county auditor and for years a justice of the peace in Kokomo; H. C. Stewart, Dr. Corydon, Richmond, who died at an advanced age at his home in Kokomo; A. North, J. M. Harlin, W. C. Johns, G. W. Poisal, N. R. Linsday, N. Harding, Thomas Lamborn, J. S. Thomp- son, D. Foster, J. L. Jones, A. C. Sheets, J. T. McClintock, C. J. Allison and D. Bates. The jolly and joking crew of Kokomo were Dr. Richmond, David Foster, Charles D. Murray, Harles Ashley and John Bohan. In getting off jokes, telling side-splitting stories, and in provoking his listeners with laughter, lawyer Murray was an expert with few equals, and no superiors. A notice appearing in the New London Pioneer. July 11, 1849, for a camp meeting to be held at Kokomo, August 17, 1849. discloses the extent of Kokomo's growth, in a large measure. The notice read: "The ground is se- lected within a quarter of a mile of this town, Kokomo. We have two taverns and one grocery, hence no huckstering."
The early day roads leading to and from Kokomo, with few exceptions, had no direction in particular. In many months of the year their condition was uniformly bad. The president judges, ac- companied generally by several lawyers, journeyed from county to county to attend court. As late as the sixties wild flags grew upon
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the public square two feet high. In the earliest days of the town the inhabitable portion was almost entirely included within the public square. The houses were constructed of rough hewn logs. Stores were few in number. Merchants were compelled to secure licenses to sell their commodities. The license to sell clocks was fixed by the board of commissioners, 1849, at twenty dollars. David Foster obtained the first merchant's license by the payment of five dollars, and was to sell his wares in Kokomo. Charles Warren and Phillip Ramsayer, in March, 1845, obtained licenses as merchants in the city, while permission was granted Jonathan Haworth to sell in Monroe township. Mr. Foster's license was granted at the De- cember term of the commissioners, 1844. The county abounded in deer about Kokomo. A dense forest surrounded the whole of Ko- komo. The first two-story frame building in the county was hewn out of the logs of the surrounding forest, and occupied by Justice Bohan, in this city, with a store. It was here that pioneer lawyers and others assembled to exchange experiences and discuss various topics.
In December, 1851, a meeting of the qualified voters was held at the court house for the purpose of incorporating the town, with Levi Birt as chairman and H. B. Havens as secretary. These two persons afterwards divided Kokomo into five districts. An election was subsequently held and the following persons selected trustees :
First district, C. D. Murray : second district, L. M. Harland ; third district, Levi Birt; fourth district, C. Richmond ; fifth district, Adkins James.
INCORPORATING THE TOWN.
At the June term of the board of county commissioners, 1855. Henry A. Brouse presented a petition for the incorporation of the town of Kokomo. He showed that a proper survey had been made and that the map, as required by law, had been filed with the treas-
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urer, for the inspection of the public. An election was ordered and held at the office of the city clerk of Kokomo on the twenty-second day of the same month. Perhaps the notice was too short. But be that as it may, the election was not held, a showing to that effect being made to the commissioners subsequently by Attorney J. W. Robinson, who pleaded for another chance. This was afforded. The election was held October 1, 1855, as ordered. There were sixty-two votes for incorporation and three opposed. Thereupon the incorporation was duly and legally ordered.
A writer says: "The infant city grew very slowly for several years. The heavy timber and underbrush, and the swampy condi- tion of the soil, combined to retard the growth and prosperity of the town. When the timber was cut down, so that the sunlight could penetrate to the earth, vegetation became very profuse and luxuriant. This decaying vegetable matter created chills and fever, ague and incidental diseases. For many years quinine was an article as staple as flour. It was no uncommon thing for all the mem- bers of a family to be confined to bed at the same time. Many moved away because of sickness, and other feared to come for the same cause. In 1852, the number of inhabitants of the town was only one hundred and fifty-two, after eight years of existence." The ague was terrible, and Drs. C. Richmond and his brother, Orse- mus Richmond, were truly heroes, compelled to travel about on foot, of nights, being unable oft times to travel even horse back. The shakings and chills of ague were a positive terror to the pioneer residents of the town and country.
THE BANK.
Kokomo's first bank-the Indian Reserve Bank-was organ- ized April 1, 1854, and the articles of incorporation were acknowl-
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edged before C. D. Murray, March 27, 1854. Its existence was to continue until April 1, 1874, but, after 'a few years, it ceased busi- ness. The institution was located on the Darby corner. A robbery was perpetrated and the bank never recovered from the shock. The capital stock was for three hundred thousand dollars, and there were three stockholders, David Foster, John Bohan and Harles Ash- ley. Foster's private fortune was impaired by the break.
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