USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
After the completion of the Wabash & Erie Canal, which passed near the agency on the opposite side of the river, floating saloons became so numerous on annuity day, which caused so many fights among the
1.
377
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
Indians, that the paymaster removed the payment ground to a place on Clear Creek, in the northwestern part of the present Huntington Town- ship. During one of the payments at this place the incident occurred that gave Silver Creek its name. The money was provided in silver half dollars and was packed in boxes, each containing $500. A thief stole one of the boxes and started away with it, but fancied that he was pursued and threw it in the creek. The money was afterward recovered and the stream in which it was found was given the name of Silver Creek.
CHIMNEY OF THE OLD INDIAN AGENCY AT THE FORKS OF THE WABASH
The last Indian payment was made in Huntington County in 1845, when 620 Miamis received their annuity money. Meshingomesia's band was the most numerous of any paid at that time. His bundle contained 42 sticks ; La Fontaine's, 21; Poqua Godfroy's, 20; La Fontaine's wife's, 16; Shappendoseah's (brother of Meshingomesia), 15; Old Mary's, 11, and Majenica's, 10. The next year the Indians were removed to Kansas.
About the time the Indian agency was established at the "Forks,"
378
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
the Government issued strict orders that no whisky should be sold to the Indians "except for medicinal purposes." The brave who was fond of fire-water soon learned that in order to get the coveted drink he must be sick. Near the Wabash County line lived an Indian named Joe Win- ter, whose fondness for fire-water was so well known the traders refused to listen to his stories of illness for fear of being punished by the Govern- ment officials. One day Joe went to a trading house at Lafontaine and waited around for some time for a favorable opportunity to make his wants known. The merchant noticing him at last, asked him what he wanted. "Me want little fire-water," said Joe. "Is somebody sick?" asked the merchant. "Child got snake bite," responded the Indian. That seemed to be a sufficient excuse for selling him the whisky, and the trader asked how much he needed. "Two gallons," promptly answered Joe. The trader refused to let him have that amount for a snake bite, when the Indian, after studying for a few moments, drew himself up in all his native dignity and explained : "Ugh! Um heap big snake." It is not known whether Joe got his fire-water, but he no doubt thought he was entitled to it on account of his artfulness.
On Wednesday, June 22, 1881, a number of workmen employed by a contractor named Donahay in the construction of the railroad yards at Andrews made a demand for an advance in wages from $1.50 to $1.75 per day. Donahay offered them an advance of 10 cents per day and some of the men were inclined to accept the proposition, but the majority, under the leadership of a young man named Daniel Daily, refused. Throwing down their tools, the men went up town, where they obtained a United States flag and plenty to drink. It happened to be pay day and Mr. Donahay had advised Noah Brubaker, the saloon-keeper, not to sell liquors to the men employed at the yards, but the saloon-keeper did not heed the warning. After Daily and his crowd had bolstered up their courage with whisky they hoisted the flag at the head of the procession, marched back to the yards and compelled the other men to quit work.
The whole force then returned to the saloon, but Brubaker had become somewhat alarmed and refused to let them in. One Tim O'Brien went to the side door and was trying to break in when the door opened sud- denly and someone struck him on the head with an ax, knocking him unconscious. When Daily discovered what had happened he ordered the saloon torn down. By this time O'Brien had recovered, and gathering up a convenient fence post began to batter the front door. Brubaker, on the inside, seized a shotgun and fired through the door, wounding O'Brien and a man named Gallagher. This directed the attention of the mob to that quarter and Brubaker took advantage of the opportunity to escape through the side door. He had not gone far when he was dis-
379
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
covered and the crowd started in pursuit, crying, "Catch him! Kill him!" etc. Seeing that he was about to be overtaken, he took refuge in the house of Doctor Lines, which was soon surrounded by the pursuers. With the assistance of Doctor Lines, Brubaker evaded the crowd and made his escape. He started for Huntington, but met Sheriff Kintz and a posse of four men and returned with them to Andrews. The sheriff made several arrests, but most of the men succeeded in secreting them- selves.
After Brubaker left his saloon the crowd forced an entrance and com- pletely wrecked the place. His loss was about five hundred dollars, but the citizens of the town showed no sympathy for him and rescued him from the frenzied mob only to prevent murder from being done. Galla- gher and O'Brien were taken to Fort Wayne and the latter subsequently died from the effects of his wounds. In this disgraceful affair none of the citizens of Andrews were interested except in the capacity of peacemakers. All those who took an active part in the strike or in the assault upon the saloon were men who had been brought there by the contractor to work in the railroad yards, so that the good name of the town did not suffer as a result of the riot.
In the winter of 1888-89 Andrews again came into the limelight on account of notices sent to a number of people signed "27 White Caps." These notices usually notified the recipient to reform or leave town within a specified time, or undergo the ordeal of a visit from the terrible twenty-seven. One of the men thus notified was William Dowell, who had the reputation of spending too much of his earnings for strong drink and not properly providing for his family. About 11 o'clock on the night of Sunday, January 13, 1889, he was found in Schnurr's saloon and the "White Caps" took him from the place with a rope around his neck. The rope was thrown over the arm of a telegraph pole and Dowell was hoisted from the ground. He was then lowered and given an opportunity to promise better conduct, but while on the ground man- aged to slip the noose from his neck and, as one of the citizens afterward said, "ran through town yelling like a Comanche Indian." His cries aroused the people and a number came to his assistance. Seeing that they were about to be discovered the White Caps fled. Dowell's neck was found to be slightly bruised from its contact with the noose, but the visit had a salutary effect upon his subsequent behavior.
Samuel Trimble, of Jefferson Township, and Edward Freel, of Andrews, also received notices advising them to improve their manner of living or take the consequences, but after the Dowell affair it seems the White Caps were afraid to undertake any more outrages, and after a time the matter quieted down and the White Caps were forgotten. Who they were still remains a mystery.
380
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
When the first white men came to Huntington County they found in the western part of Huntington and a portion of Dallas Township a mass of timber blown down by a storm at a comparatively recent period, as the branches of the trees, in many instances, were still intact. The débris was piled so thickly on the ground that even the fleet-footed and agile deer could not make their way through it, and wild beasts of all kinds avoided the place. This strip became known to the early settlers as "Fallen Timbers," and several years elapsed before the ground was cleared of the traces of the storm.
It is impossible to note every storm that has occurred within the county, but, as far as can be ascertained from newspaper files and other sources, some of the most disastrous are mentioned in this chapter, especially those of recent years.
About half-past 5 o'clock on the afternoon of June 1, 1899, it began raining in Huntington, and at 6 o'clock there was a cloudburst accom- panied by a strong wind and a great display of electricity. Shade trees were blown down ; the Erie roundhouse was severely damaged, part of the roof and a number of ventilators being carried away ; lumber at Perrine & Bartlett's mill was scattered in all directions; the engine room at the Withington handle factory was unroofed, and other buildings in the city were more or less damaged. The storm came from the southwest. Near Mount Etna considerable valuable timber was destroyed and telephone wires were so badly damaged that it was several days before normal service could be restored. Crops were beaten into the ground by the heavy rainfall, signs were blown in every direction, some of them were never found, and the ivy was torn from the Baptist Church on East Market Street.
Amos Carr's barn, south of Huntington, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The residence of Allen Helvey, in the city, was also struck, and Mr. Helvey was knocked from his chair, but fortunately the house did not take fire. Several other buildings in the county were struck. The damage wrought by this storm ran into thousands of dollars.
A heavy hailstorm occurred about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of May 7, 1900. This storm also came from the southwest and did great damage to the growing crops before it struck the city. The hailstones were large enough to break windows, and in the country a number of chickens and small animals were killed by being struck by hailstones, while the wind played general havoc in both country and town. In Huntington the Erie roundhouse was again unroofed, a corner of the train dispatcher's office was blown off, signs were carried away, chimney tops were demolished and at Spice's greenhouse about seventy-five dollars' worth of glass was shattered into fragments by the hail. The
381
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
wind and hail caused horses to break loose from the places where they were hitched and there were several runaways.
On February 19, 1909, a storm accompanied by a heavy fall of sleet did great damage to the telephone and telegraph lincs, particularly those of the Warren and Majenica Telephone companies. Miles of wire were torn from the poles and it was some time before the lines could be restored to perfect working order.
One of the worst storms in the history of the county was that of Friday, March 21, 1913, which was general over Central and Northern Indiana, Indianapolis, Richmond, Logansport, Wabash, Huntington, Elk- hart, Michigan City and other cities all suffering from its ravages. The storm began early in the morning. About 7 o'clock the steeple of the Baptist Church was blown down by the wind and piled in the alley east of the church. Part of the steeple struck the building occupied by the Huntington Company and the business college and inflicted slight damage. The fall of the steeple also broke a cable belonging to the tele- phone company, the wires fell across the traction wirc and a fire was started in the telephone exchange. Prompt work by the fire department saved the building from destruction. Part of the roof of the Barker Brown shoe factory was carried away by the wind and the ventilating blower was wrecked. The tops of the jail chimneys werc torn down; the Becker Building on West State Street was partially unroofcd; the plate- glass windows in Bechstein's drug store on North Jefferson Street were shattered; a transom was blown in at the Huntington Trust Company and the room was flooded by the rain; the wires of the Huntington Light and Fuel Company were scriously damaged, and more or less damage was wrought all over the city.
An electrical storm, accompanied by a heavy fall of rain, visited the northern part of the county on June 4, 1914. The residences of Mrs. Gers, 818 Kintz Street, and G. A. Park, 619 Etna Avenue, were struck by lightning within a few minutes of each other, but only slight damage was done in either case. At the former the shingles were torn from part of the roof and the electric light fuses were burned out. At the Park home the bolt followed the chimney into the dining room, tore a picture from the wall and broke a few dishes.
The residence of Jacob Kaiser, 862 George Street, did not fare so well. Lightning struck the house about half-past 3 o'clock and in a few minutes the roof was in flames. The fire department was summoned and succeeded after a heroic fight in saving the greater part of the house, though the roof and upper story were severely damaged. Fortu- nately no lives were lost nor no one hurt by the storm, which was one of the most violent in Huntington for some time.
From Huntington County the storm passed northward into Whitley.
382
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
W. H. Stewart, a Huntington contractor, was engaged in building a schoolhouse in Whitley County and the unfinished structure was dam- aged to the extent of some two hundred dollars, a brick wall that had just been finished being blown down by the wind.
While Huntington County is not in the storm belt, in the sense that it is subject to tornadoes or cyclones, as in some sections of the country, it has been frequently visited by atmospheric disturbances, and the storms above mentioned are types of the "rough weather" the people of the county have had to undergo. Scarcely a year passes without a storm of some character, though a majority of them do no damage, and it is only now and then that one destroys property or endangers human life.
Old settlers can recall the great flood in the spring of 1847, which was the first of any consequence after the settlement of Huntington County was commenced. Flint Creek, then an open stream, became a raging torrent, but the town was small and little damage was done.
During the next thirty years there were several periods of high water, when the Little River overflowed its banks and wrought some injury to growing crops. But no flood equaled that of 1847 until 1883. On Friday, February 2, 1883, "Groundhog Day," there was a heavy fall of snow. Late in the afternoon the snow turned to rain, the temperature rose during the night and the snow melted rapidly. The ground was frozen so that the water could not penetrate it, and by noon Saturday every stream in the county was taxed to its utmost capacity to carry off the water, and the channels of Little River, the Wabash and the Salamonie were filled with floating ice. All day Saturday the rain con- tinued to fall and before the day was over the Wabash tracks west of Huntington were under water. The lowlands along the Little River be- tween Huntington and Roanoke were inundated and several families were forced to leave their homes and seek places of safety. Flint Creek again went on the rampage and this time the population of the city was about six thousand, so that the flood had more property to prey upon than any of its predecessors. Cellars were flooded, bridges were washed away, and other property along the streams felt the effects of the high water. The temperature fell again on Saturday and on Sunday morning ther- mometers registered only a few degrees above zero. At various points along the Little and Wabash rivers could be seen little herds of live stock gathered on the high grounds surrounded by water, without food and shivering with the intense cold. Quite a number of animals were unable to reach the high ground and were carried away by the flood.
The flood of 1883 was not confined to the Wabash and its tributaries. Along the southern border of the state many people were rendered home- less by the great flood in the Ohio River, which broke all previous records. Gov. Albert G. Porter issued a proclamation calling on chari-
383
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
tably inclined people to aid the flood sufferers, and notwithstanding the distress in Huntington County caused by the local floods, a number of her citizens contributed to the funds of the general relief committee appointed by the governor.
In July, 1888, and again in April, 1890, Flint Creek caused consid- erable annoyance by flooding cellars and carrying away fences and port- able property along its banks. The flood of 1890 began on Sunday, April 13th, with a high wind and a heavy fall of rain. Within a few hours a score or more of cellars near Flint Creek were filled with water. The basement of the Opera House Block, at the corner of Market and Warren streets, was flooded; Charles Mader suffered a loss of about $800 by the water getting into the cellar under his grocery; Zeller's shoe store was damaged to the extent of $200; about fifty dollars' worth of goods in the basement of Shaefer's drug store were ruined, and the water flower down Warren and Court streets across the Wabash tracks. A large quantity of lumber was carried away from Martin's lumber yard and again the lowlands along the Little River were under water. A hole was torn in the roof of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, on the west side of the steeple, and lower down some of the bricks were knocked out of the wall. It was thought that this was the work of lightning. The damage amounted to about two hundred dollars. On East Market Street a house occupied by W. H. Shirk, a brakeman on the Erie Railroad, was struck by lightning. Mrs. Shirk was severely shocked and was also burned on the left side. It was shortly after this flood that the first steps were taken to convert Flint Creek into a closed sewer and put an end to its depredations.
On January 22, 1904, the Wabash and Little rivers began rising rapidly, owing to the January thaw, and in a little while the floating ice jammed at several points, causing the streams to overflow their banks. Lowlands were covered with water, but the flood occurred at a season of the year when there were no crops in the fields and but little damage was done in the county. In Wabash and Miami counties, after the Wabash River received the waters of the Salamonie and Mississinewa rivers, the damage was more extensive, several bridges being washed away and a number of families rendered temporarily homeless.
On Friday, April 1, 1904, another heavy fall of rain came and again the Little River broke over its banks above Huntington, flooding the low grounds and holding the farmers back with their spring plowing. Farther than this the damage wrought by the flood in Huntington County was slight, but farther down the river it was more serious. In the two floods of 1904 the wisdom of the city authorities in making a sewer out of Flint Creek was fully demonstrated. At the time the improvement was made many of the property holders were inclined to
384
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
find fault with the cost, but after the completion of the sewer and the floods of 1904, when no injury was inflicted by the creek which in the past had been such a menace to property, everybody was satisfied.
The month of March, 1913, will go down in history as the period of great floods all over the country. Dayton, Indianapolis, and numerous other cities in the Ohio Valley suffered property losses running into mil- lions of dollars. The "oldest inhabitant" can recall nothing in the way of high water to compare with the great floods of that month.
Early on Sunday morning, March 23, 1913, rain began falling and continued almost without intermission until Monday evening. Little River began rising on Sunday afternoon, but the danger point was not reached until Monday. Then the river broke over its banks at "The Ox-bow," above Huntington, ran through the fair grounds southeast of the city, and completely inundated the low grounds south of the river's regular channel. Residences along Rabbit Run were quickly flooded and many people were compelled to seek safety and comfort in flight. A few of the houses in that district were moved from their foundations and a large barn near the Huntington flour mill was anchored with ropes te prevent it from being washed down stream and knocking the bridges from their abutments.
At Markle the powder house of the Markle Stone Company, in which was stored a quantity of dynamite, was washed away. The officers of the stone company, fearing that great destruction might be caused at some point down the river by the house striking an obstruction that would explode the dynamite, sent warning by telephone and telegraph to the towns below Markle, but the powder house was never heard from.
One of the most serious inconveniences to the people of Huntington was the stoppage of railway traffic. By Wednesday evening, March 26th, the Erie was the only railroad entering the city that could run its trains with anything like regularity, and that only westward from Huntington. It was some time before the other lines had regained their normal con- ditions.
Mayor Feightner called upon the people of the city for aid and over six hundred dollars were raised within a few hours. Provisions, clothing and some money were sent to Peru, where the suffering was much greater than in Huntington. The people who had been driven out of the Rabbit Run district were cared for and furnished with provisions by the Charity . Guild. A number of families were thus supplied until the waters sub- sided so that they could return to their homes. A relief station was also established by the city authorities and a great deal of assistance was ren- dered through its operations. This was the first time in the history of Huntington that so many people had been driven from home by high water. Those who had been exiled by the flood returned to their homes as
385
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
soon as possible and began the work of cleaning up, buying new furniture, etc., in the hope and belief that such a disaster would never again be visited upon them.
Every creek and river in the county was engaged in the work of devastating bridges. A special session of the county commissioners was called to meet soon after the flood and more than eighty-five thousand dollars were appropriated for repairing bridges that could be repaired and building new ones in place of those that had been swept away entirely.
COLONEL CYRUS E. BRIANT
Both the city and county of Huntington have been unusually for- tunate in that no destructive conflagrations have occurred at any time since the county was organized eighty years ago. A few barns and houses have been struck by lightning in the rural districts and burned, a few others have been destroyed by fire through carelessness or negli- gence of the owners or occupants, a number of buildings have been burned in the city, but with one exception there has never been a fire that swept over a large district.
Vol. 1-25
386
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY
The fires at the flax mill and bagging factory have been described in previous chapters. About 1 o'clock on Sunday morning, March 2, 1890, fire was discovered in Col. C. E. Briant's large cattle barn about three miles east of Huntington, near the Little River. At the time of the fire the barn contained thirty-three head of fine Polled Angus, Durham and Jersey cattle, one imported cow having cost Colonel Briant $750. The total loss was about $7,000, with only $500 of insurance. The fire was caused by an incendiary and a man who had formerly been in Colonel Briant's employ was arrested, tried, convicted and sen- tenced to the penitentiary, but that did not restore the barn to its owner. The people of Huntington County generally sympathized with the colonel in his misfortune.
Cyrus E. Briant was born at Birmingham, Erie County, Ohio, March 2, 1829, and continued to reside there until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Michigan. A little later he removed to Allen County, Indiana, and from there to Huntington County. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and was made captain of his company. While stationed in Tennessee he was promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel, and in the fall of 1864 was commissioned colonel of the regiment. After the war he engaged in the manufacture of lumber, staves and heading at Huntington, in which he was engaged for several years. He then bought the farm above mentioned and became interested in raising thoroughbred cattle. Colonel Briant served in the Huntington City Council for many years ; was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature in 1886, re-elected in 1888, and while a member of that body took a prominent part in securing the passage of several important laws. Although an active and enthusiastic republican, he had a host of friends among his political opponents who would always vote for him whenever he ran for office. He was one of the charter members of James R. Slack Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and a public spirited citizen. His widow, Mrs. Julia Bell Briant, to whom he was married in 1852, is still living in Huntington.
On Friday, June 27, 1890, Myers' planing mill at Warren was com- pletely destroyed by fire, with some forty thousand feet of lumber. The town had no fire department, and though the citizens turned out and ren- dered what assistance they could, the flames were soon beyond control. Several buildings near by were fired by flying sparks and the people turned their attention to saving these, leaving the mill to its fate. The origin of the fire could not be learned, but it was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The mill was owned by Asa and Frank Myers, who suffered a loss of about six thousand dollars, with no insurance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.