USA > Indiana > Marshall County > History of Indiana : containing a history of Indiana and biographical sketches of governors and other leading men. Also a statement of the growth and prosperity of Marshall County, together with a personal and family histry of many of its citizens, Vol. II > Part 7
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The geological position of the remains of the mastodon has long been and still is a subject of dispute among geologists; in a few instances, they are said to have been found below the drift. in the pliocene, and even in the miocene; but they have gener- ally been obtained, from the post-pliocene or alluvial formations, at a depth of from five to ten feet in lacustrine deposits, bogs and beds of infusorial earth. Some have thought that the mastodons became extinct since the advent of man upon the earth, like the dinornis and the dodo; according to Lyell, the period of their destruction, though geologically modern, must have been many thousand years ago. The same causes prob- ably acted in their extinction as in the case of the fossil elephant- perhaps partly climatic changes, but more probably some great convulsion on the surface of the globe at an epoch anterior to
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man. According to Owen, the mastodons were elephants with molars less complex in structure and adapted for coarser veg- etable food, ranging in time from the miocene to the upper plio- cene, and in space, throughout the tropical and temperate latitudes. The transition from the mastodon to the elephant type of dentition is very gradual.
Fredericksburgh .- On the 16th day of April, 1866, Fred'k Stair, as proprietor, filed a plat and the following description of " Fredericksburgh":
" Frederick Stair, being desirous of laying out a town in Marshall county, Indiana, called 'Fredericksburgh,' has caused the same to be surveyed and platted, the same being situated in center part fractional southeast Qr. Section 31, town 32, north, of Range 3 east, on the Indianapolis, Rochester & Chicago rail- road. Said town containing an 'area' of 1,008 feet, north and south, and 1,256 (feet) east and west, which is laid out 'in to' lots, depot grounds, streets and alleys. The lots are all regu- larly numbered from 1 to 72, inclusive. Each lot is 66 feet by 150 feet, except the following, namely: 7, 8, 24, 25, 35, 36, 54, 55, 61 and 62, which are made fractional by the angle of the depot grounds, which angle is at N 22° W. Said fractional lots have their front and width marked in red ink on the 'platt.' Said depot grounds are 150 feet in width. The streets are all 66 feet in width, except first street on the east side which is 33 feet. The alleys are all 20 feet, which will all appear and more fully show by reference to the plat hereto attached, which is platted on a scale of 100 feet to an inch," etc.
(Signed) FRED'K STAIR.
On the 18th day of May, 1869, Andrew W. Calhoun and Regulus Tucker, laid out and caused to be platted an addition to Fredericksburgh, described as follows:
" Calhoun & Tucker, being desirous of making an addition to the town of Fredericksburgh, have laid out and platted, immed- iately south and adjoining the original plat (as does appear of record) the following area of ground, viz .: Commencing at the s. w. corner of said town plat, of Fredericksburgh, running thence south 170 feet; east 990 feet, N. 170 feet, west to beginning, di- vided into lots, streets and alleys. Lots numbering from 73 to 83 inclusive," etc. (Signed)
ANDREW W. CALHOUN, REGULUS TUCKER.
The lots, streets and alleys are of the same dimensions as those of the original plat. Fredericksburgh, like many of the other small towns in the county that depended upon the lumber business for support, has seen its best days. It still has a general store, drug store, grain elevator, boarding house or hotel and a postoffice. It has a good farming district around it and will
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continue to be a good country trading place. The name of the postoffice is Walnut Station.
Plymouth was permanently established as the seat of justice of Marshall county on the 20th day of July, 1836, as set forth in the proceedings of the board of commissioners, which appear in full elsewhere. The court house, stipulated in the agreement between the proprietors and the board, was completed according to contract. Its dimensions were 20x30 feet, one story high, and was erected on lot No. 22. This building was used for the pur- poses for which it was intended until the county built the wooden court house which gave way, in 1871, to the magnificent building now adorning the public square. The old building was used as a carpenter-shop, cabinet-shop and other purposes, and was after- ward moved "down town," and later, on to the lot where the new engine house now stands, where it was used for a place of worship by the Presbyterian congregation. Still later it was con- verted into a dwelling and occupied as such until its purchase by Arthur L. Thomson, for the sum of $10, and by him removed to his premises, west of the court house, where it has been so com- pletely overhauled as to lose its identity.
The contract for the building of the first court house erected by the county. was awarded to Levi C. Barber, May 8, 1840. As compensation for building the same, it was agreed by the board of commissioners that he should have all the lots donated by the proprietors of the town, unsold at the time the contract was made, except the lot on which the court house was to be built. He was also to receive a small amount of money and notes, except about $517 in notes in the hands of the county agent.
From an estimate of the value of the lots at that time, it is thought the probable expense of building the court house was about $5,000. The lumber of which it was built was manufact- used at the saw-mill at Wolf Creek, five miles southwest of Plymouth. The old mill has long since gone to decay, and the frame-work only remains as a sort of historical landmark of the beginning of civilization fifty years ago. The rising generation and those who may come after them, will be interested in know- ing that the court house in question was the finest temple of jus- tice at that time in northern Indiana. Its dimensions were about 50x80 feet, two stories in height, with a cupola and wind- ing stairs to the top. Offices about 14x16 on the first floor "were provided for the clerk, treasurer, auditor, recorder and surveyor. The second floor was used entirely for court purposes. This building was sold at auction in 1871, for $150, to A. C. Thompson, and by him transferred to M. W. Downey, who removed it to a vacant lot on the I., P. & C. R. R., west of the present school building, where it was converted into a stave and barrel factory. During a heavy thunder-storm one evening in July, 1874, it was
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struck by lightning, caught fire, and in less than an hour was a mass of smoldering ruins.
Marshall County Court House, 1880 .-- If the public buildings of a county are in anywise an index of the enterprise and intelli- gence of its people, the county of Marshall may fairly claim a front rank for her citizens, for no other county in the state of the same population can boast of as fine and complete a court house as that belonging to Marshall county at the present time.
It is an elegant brick and stone structure, complete in all its parts; with all the offices fire-proof, and the court room, halls, offices, jury and other rooms beautifully frescoed. The furniture, desks, counters, etc., were designed and finished by home work- men, and made in the most substantial manner from native ash and black walnut. All the rooms and offices are furnished in the most substantial manner. The judge's desk in the court room is pronounced by all who see it, as one of the finest, if not the very finest, in the state.
The walls of the building are of great thickness and look won- derfully solid, the heavy rough ashlar of the foundation giving them the appearance of being built on a solid ledge of rocks. A visit to the basement story, in which the foundation and division walls are plainly seen, will convince any one that "the building ought to stand a thousand years." Architect Randall, of Chi- cago, pronounced the brick work the "best public work of the kind he had ever seen."
As far back as 1865, the people of the county began to urge upon the county commissioners the necessity of erecting a new court house, and at the June term, 1865, of commissioners' court a court house tax was levied, which levy was kept up until the building was finished. In 1869, Alexander C. Thompson, John C. Cushman and Albertus C. Capron were appointed a building committee, to procure plans and get in readiness to commence work. Mr. Thompson acted with the committee until after the adoption of the plans and specifications, but resigned at the Sep- tember term, 1869, on account of a disagreement with the other members of the committee as to the manner of paying for said plans and specifications, and he donated his services as commit- teeman, up to the time of his resignation, and Johnson Brownlee was appointed in his stead. The plans and specifications pre- pared by G. P. Randall, Esq., of Chicago, were adopted by the committee, and approved by Herman A. Ranck, Jonas Miller and Henry Crause, then constituting the board of commissioners, and the contract was let to Epperson & Favorite, of La Fayette, Ind., under whose direction the work was commenced in April, 1870, and from that time pushed vigorously forward.
On the 25th of August, 1870, the corner-stone of the build- ing was laid with appropriate and imposing ceremonies. The
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occasion was made one of general celebration by the people of the county, who gave a free basket dinner at Seminary Grove, near by, at which there were, to use the language of an enthusi- astic spectator, "miles of tables and acres of provisions." The corner-stone was laid under the immediate supervision of the Masonic fraternity, which was represented by a large number of lodges, headed by Martin H. Rice, grand master of the state. The Odd Fellows and other associations, fireman, town council, etc., were also in attendance. Hon. Andrew L. Osborn, who was then judge of the court, was selected as orator of the day, but owing to sickness was unable to attend. Hon Charles H. Reeve was then selected by the committee, and although he had but a short time to prepare himself, made one of the finest efforts of his life.
The following "done in vacation," appears on the order book of the circuit court:
"Be it remembered, that, on the 11th day of June, 1872, the records, books and papers of the several county offices were re- moved into the new court house just completed at a cost of $105,000. The officers of the county at this time are: Daniel Mc Donald, clerk; Hiram C. Burlingame, auditor; John Soice, treasurer; John W. Houghton, recorder; Daniel K. Harris, sher- iff; Morgan Johnson, surveyor; John Bauer, Jr., coroner; Hiram A. Ranck, Jonas Miller and Henry Krause, commissioners."
Judge Thomas S. Stanfield, of South Bend, presided at the first term of court held in the new building, and Daniel K. Har- ris, sheriff, first opened court therein with the usual "Hear ye! hear ye! hear ye! the honorable Marshall circuit court is now in session, pursuant to adjournment, and all persons having busi- ness herein can now be heard." The clerk of the court spread upon the order book of said court the following entry:
"Be it remembered that, at a term of the circuit court of Marshall county, state of Indiana, began and held at the new court house in Plymouth, Ind., on the first Monday of August, 1872, and on the first judicial day of said term, the same being August 5, 1872, there were present the Hon. Thomas S. Stanfield, judge of the ninth judicial circuit of said state, and ex-officio judge of the circuit court of Marshall county; William B. Hess, deputy prosecutor of the ninth district; the clerk, and Daniel K. Harris, sheriff of said county, and court opened in due form of law."
This was August 5, 1872. The names of the Marshall county bar who were in attendance at the opening of said term were: Charles H. Reeve, James O. Farks, Horace Corbin, A. C. Cap- ron, M. A. O. Packard, D. E. Van Valkenburgh, John G. Osborne, Amasa Johnson, A. B. Capron, William B. Hess, John S. Bender, J. Darnell, S. D. Parks, Z. D. Boulton and R. D. Logan.
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The entire cost of the building, including furniture, heating apparatus, grading the square and superintendency, was $105,000; and the entire county indebtedness for the same was, at date of completion, only $50,000, for which bonds had been issued and sold at par, which, two years later, were fully paid.
Although finished twenty years ago, the building in its new coat of paint and frescoing, appears as new and fresh as if completed yesterday. Its beauty and harmonious proportions strike even the most careless observer, and every day it " grows in grace" in the eyes of those who oftenest look upon it.
First County fail .- The first county jail was built of hewn logs, and was completed August 1, 1838. From the plans and specifications it appears that the building was "to be 16x20, of white or burr oak timber, to be well hewed, and counter-hewn, twelve inches square; the foundations to be three sills, 12×20 inches, let into the ground twelve inches; the lower floor to be laid with timbers hewn as above, twelve inches square, to be well laid and perfectly level; the walls of the first story to be made of timbers twelve inches square and hewed as above, to be built seven and a half feet high; then the second floor to be laid with timbers hewn as above, twelve inches square, to be laid in a com- plete, workman-like manner; the above-said wall to be raised with a half 'duff-tail,' so as to fit down close and tite! to be two windows, twelve inches square and eighteen inches long; the grates to be let in the centers of the timbers at equal distance; the said lower floor to be covered with inch boards, well seasoned and well matched, and spiked down with spikes two inches in length, and the spikes to be two feet apart one way and six inches the other; the said walls to be well lined with good white oak plank, well seasoned and matched together, two inches thick, spiked on with four inch spikes, twelve inches apart one way and four inches the other, the whole building to be weather boarded with good half-inch boards; the door of entrance to be five feet high and two and a half wide; said door frame not less than two inches thick, to be made of good timber, well seasoned, and hung with good strong hinges in the upper story of the north side, near the east end; one trap door, made of good oak timber, five inches thick, two and a half feet square, to be hung with good iron hinges, made for the purpose; the said door to be let down even with the floor, in a place cut through the floor for the pur- pose, to rest on two iron bars, three feet long, one inch square, with a good and sufficient hasp and staple, lock and key, to be placed three feet from the wall of the west end."
The contract for erecting this magnificent building was let, in 1837, to Oliver Rose and James Currier, for the sum of $399. The building was completed according to contract, and many who read this will remember the trap-door aforesaid, through which
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prisoners were let down to the "bottomless pit" in the regions below. This structure was used until the completion of our pres ent (1879) old brick jail, which in time has given place to our elegant brick and stone jail, and sheriff's residence, completed as stated further on.
Second County Jail .- The plans for the second county jail, which stood in the southwest corner of the public square, were drawn by William M. Dunham. The contract for its erection was let, through a mistake in reading the bids, in 1849, to A. M. La Peere, E. Compton and W. G. Norris. This was afterward corrected, and the contract let to Albert Bass for $2,380. The building was completed according to contract, and delivered over to the county June 1, 1851. The building proved to be a very poor one, and of late years it has been almost impossible to keep an expert thief from escaping through the tumble-down walls. Some five or six holes, or places where holes were made through the walls, could be seen on the east, north and west sides. Sev- eral years ago, one end was knocked down by a stroke of light- ning, but no serious damage resulted. It was recently demol- ished by Enoch Belangee.
Third fail .- In the early part of 1879 the board of commis- sioners resolved to build a new jail, secured plans and advertised for bids. The plans adopted were drawn by J. C. Johnson, of Fremont, Ohio, and the contract let to William H. Myers, Fort Wayne, for the sum of $16,970. The heating apparatus, furnish- ing, painting, fencing, etc., will probably bring the total cost to $22,000.
County Asylum .- The first county asylum property was pur- chased in 1849, of John Murphy, for the sum of $1,671.11. It was situated on the Plymouth and La Porte road, about three miles west of Plymouth. For some cause which does not appear of record, it was ordered sold June 19, 1853, for not less than $1,350, and the auditor was authorized to sell to Joseph Evans for $900 in Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad stock, and $450 in two equal annual payments. The record of its sale does not ap- pear, but the offer of Mr. Evans was probably accepted, as he afterward owned the property. The present "Poor Farm" is located about one mile from Tyner City. The building is of wood, 34x36, two stories, and was erected in 1862. William B. Kyle is the present superintendent.
The poor of Marshall county are humanely but economically cared for. The county asylum or poor house, and the poor farm, are not what they should be, for a county like ours. The build- ing is a wooden one, is old and has not the accommodations and modern conveniences it should have, and the farm is not near enough to the county seat and railroad center of the county, and it is only a question of time when a new farm will be bought and
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a new building of modern style and improvements built, that will be a credit to the county, but, considering the present building and surroundings, the poor of no county in the state are better cared for than ours.
Within the last two years, the orphans' home has been abol- ished and the children are being kept and homes found for them by the Northern Indiana Orphans' Home at Mishawaka, at a saving of from $1,200 to $1,500 per annum to the tax payers of the county, and the children are all being placed in good homes and becoming the heirs of well-to-do and respectable citizens, instead of being raised and finally turned out upon the world ignorant, vicious and worthless paupers.
Judges, Circuit Court .- Samuel C. Sample, October 25, 1836, to October 16, 1843; John B. Niles, October 16, 1843, to April, 1844; Ebenezer M. Chamberlain, April, 1844, to May 15, 1852; Thomas S. Stanfield, May 15, 1852, to February 8, 1858; An- drew L. Osborn, February 8, 1858, to February 6, 1871; Thomas S. Stanfield, February 6, 1871, to April 23, 1873; Elisha V. Long, April 28, 1873, to January 28, 1875; Horace Corbin, January 28, 1875, to December 18, 1876; Sidney Keith, December 18, 1876, to December 18, 1882; Jacob S. Slick, December 18, 1882, to Febru- ary 3, 1883; William B. Hess, February 5, 1883, to November 14, 1884; Isaiah Conner, November 14, 1884, to November 14, 1890;
Common Pleas Fudges .- Elisha Egbert, October 26, 1852, died November, 1871; Edward J. Wood, November 13, 1843, to No- vember 4, 1872; Daniel Noyes, November 4, 1872, to March 6, 1873.
Associate Judges .- Peter Schroeder, October 26, 1836, to Octo- ber 16, 1843; Sidney Williams, October 25, 1836, to October 16, 1843; Samuel D. Taber, October 16, 1843, to October 28, 1851; David Steel, October 16, 1843, to April 19, 1850; Elias Jacoby, April 19, 1850, to October 28, 1851.
Probate Judges .- Grove Pomeroy, November 14, 1836, to No- vember 13, 1843; Austin Fuller, November 13, 1843, to Novem- ber 18, 1850; James A. Corse, November 18, 1850, to October 26, 1852.
State Senators .- 1835, David H. Colerick, from the counties of Allen, Wabash, Huntington, Elkhart, La Grange, St. Joseph and the territory thereto attached; 1836, J. A. Liston, St. Joseph, Mar- shall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1837-39, Thomas D. Baird, St. Joseph, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1842-44, John D. Defrees, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1845-47, William G. Pomeroy, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1849-50, Norman Eddy, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1853, Augustus P. Richardson, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1855, A. P. Richardson, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1857, Hugh Miller, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton. 1858, Rufus Brown, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1861, John F.
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Miller. St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1863-65, Horace Cor- bin, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1867-69, John Reynolds, St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton; 1867-72, Lucius Hubbard, St. Jo- seph, Marshall and Fulton; 1873-75, Milo R. Smith, Marshall, Fulton and Pulaski; 1876-80, Charles H. Reeve, Marshall, Fulton and Pulaski; 1880-84, William H. Davidson, Marshall and Fulton; 1884-88, Valentine Zimmerman; 1888-92, P. O. Jones.
Representatives .- 1836-37, Joel Long, Marshall and Kosciusko; 1839, Amzi L. Wheeler, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1840, Peter L. Runyan, Marshall, Kosciusko and Stark; 1841, William Rannels, Marshall and Fulton; 1842, Amzi L. Wheeler, Marshall and Fulton; 1843, Joseph Robbins, Marshall and Fulton; 1844, William G. Pomeroy, Marshall and Fulton; 1845, Anthony F. Smith, Marshall and Fulton; 1846, James O. Parks, Marshall, Fulton and Stark; 1847, John B. Shryock, Marshall, Fulton and Stark; 1848, Enos S. Tuttle, Marshall and Fulton; 1849, Hugh Miller, Marshall and Fulton; 1850, William M. Patterson, Mar- shall and Fulton; 1852, Thomas Sumner, Marshall and Stark; 1853, Eli Brown, Marshall and Stark; 1855, Amzi L. Wheeler, Marshall and Stark; 1857, Eli Brown, Marshall and Stark; 1859, James O. Parks, Marshall and Stark; 1861, Marcus A. O. Pack- ard, Marshall and Stark; 1863, M. A. O. Packard, Marshall and Stark; 1865. Lloyd Glazerbrook, Marshall and Stark; 1867, D. E. Van Valkenburg, Marshall and Stark; 1869, Amasa Johnson, joint representative of St. Joseph and Marshall; 1869, Daniel McDonald, Marshall; 1871, Milton M. Galentine, Marshall; 1873, Reason B. Eaton, Marshall; 1875, Designy A. Snyder, Marshall, 1877, Joseph W. Davis, Marshall; 1877, John W. Houghton, Mar- shall and St. Joseph; 1879, James M. Confer, Marshall; 1880, Thomas Sumner, Marshall; 1882-84, William Shaw; 1884-88, Charles Kellison; 1888-90, Dr. Jac. W. Eidson.
County Clerks .- Jeremiah Muncy, May 22, 1836, to Feb- ruary 23, 1839; William G. Pomeroy, February 23, 1839, to April 17, 1843; Oscar F. Norton, April 17, 1843, to February 10, 1844; William G. Pomeroy, February 10, 1844, to March, 1844; Isaac How, March 14, 1844, to January 7, 1848; Charles Palmer, January 6, 1848, to January 7, 1848; Rufus Hewitt, January 8, 1848, to March 29, 1849; James Buffum, March 29, 1849, to Sep- tember 4, 1849; Richard Corbaley, September 4, 1849, to April 30, 1855; Newton R. Packard, November 1, 1855, to November I, 1859; Hezekiah Pershing, November 1, 1859, to November I, 1863; John C. Cushman, November 1, 1863, to November 1, 1871; Daniel McDonald, April 3, 1871, to November 1, 1879; Oliver P. Klinger, November 1, 1879, to November 1, 1887; D. A. Snyder, November 1, 1887, to November 1, 1891.
Auditors .- Jeremiah Muncy, May 2, 1836, to February 23, 1839; William G. Pomeroy, February 23, 1839, to June 29, 1844; Will-
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iam M. Dunham, June 29, 1844, to March 4, 1850; Thomas Mc- Donald, March 4, 1850, to March 7, 1859; Austin Fuller, March 7, 1859, to March 14, 1863; Alexander C. Thompson, March 14, 1863, to March 14, 1871; Hiram C. Burlingame, March 14, 1871, to March 14, 1875; A. C. Thompson, March 14, 1875, to 1879; Keim K. Brooke, March 14, 1879, to March 14, 1883; Morgan Johnson, March 14, 1883, to March 14, 1887; Charles H. Lehr, March 14, 1887, to March 14, 1891.
Treasurers .- John Houghton, May 3, 1836, to August 5, 1850; Joseph Evans, August 5, 1850, to December 6, 1854; David Vin- nedge, December 5. 1854, to December 6, 1858; Nathan H. Oglesbee, December 6, 1858, to December 6, 1862; Daniel O. Quivey, December 6, 1862, to August 12, 1867; Michael W. Dow- ney, August 12, 1867, to August 10, 1871; John Soice, August 10, 1871, to August 10, 1875; A. L. Thomson, August 10, 1875, to Au- gust 10, 1879; Frederick Tescher, August 10, 1879, to August 10, 1883; John K. Lawrence, August 10, 1883, to August 10, 1887; Oliver G. Soice, August 10, 1887, to August 10, 1891.
Sheriffs .- Adam Vinnedge, March 16, 1836, to August 31, 1836; Abner Caldwell, August 31, 1836, to August 17, 1838; Patrick Logan, August 17, 1838, to August 17, 1842; Joseph Evans, Au- gust 20, 1842, to August 26, 1846; Jacob K. Hupp, August 26, 1846, to August 26, 1850; Seth Hussey, August 30, 1850, to February 25, 1852; William C. Edwards, February 28, 1852, to November 10, 1852; John L. Thompson, November 10, 1852, to May 5, 1856; J. F. Van Valkenburgh, May 25, 1856, to November 10, 1858; Obed M. Barnard, November 12, 1858, to November 12, 1862; Henry M. Logan, November 19, 1862, to November 12, 1863; David How, November 21, 1866, to November 19, 1870; Daniel K. Harris, November, 1870, to November 19, 1874; L. C. Fink, November 19, 1874, to November 19, 1878; John V. Astley, No- vember 19, 1878, to November 19, 1882; William B. Kyle, No- vember 19, 1882, to November 19, 1886; John N. Wilson, Novem- ber 19, 1886, to November 19, 1890.
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