USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 61
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 61
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venient to live without some form of government for the place, to make needed improvements and to keep the disorderly classes in some kind of restraint. Hence a movement was immediately made to reincorporate the town, or to obtain a city charter if upon the taking of a census a sufficient number of inhabitants were found. A brief extract from one of the papers published at that time will serve to show the feelings of the citizens with reference to the trials they were undergoing, and to illustrate the fact that under a Republican form of government it is frequently impossi- ble to secure order and protection to peaceful people:
"Our citizens have tried the beauties of a corporation for some time past, and have found to their sorrow that it was impos- sible to find men for the various offices that would see the law strictly enforced. A seeming dread that they would get into difficulty, or that the corporation was not sound, would take pos- session of their minds, and violations of the law were disregarded by the officers and the law set at defiance by rowdies. We hope that a census of the population of Washington and its additions will be taken, and if we have sufficient population to entitle us to a city charter let us have it; and if not, revive the corporation and 'grin and bear it' until we are entitled to a city charter. By all means let us have law and order in our town!"
Whether the proposed census was taken or not does not ap- pear, but at all events a meeting of citizens was held April 18, 1867, at the court house, for the purpose of taking steps toward the reorganization of the corporation. The result of this meet- ing was that a petition was circulated, and, having received a suf- ficiently large number of signatures, was presented May 13 to the board of county commissioners, praying for an election on the question of corporation or no corporation. An election was or- dered to be held May 29, at which 229 votes were cast for the re- incorporation of the town, and forty against it. An election was then held June 18 for trustees and other officers, under the new organization. This resulted in the election of the following offi- cers by the vote appended to their respective names:
Trustees .- First Ward-J. H. O'Neall, 293; Second Ward- J. C. Spink, 297; Third Ward-S. D. Wright, 302; Fourth Ward -J. E. Thompson, 314; Fifth Ward-Elisha Hyatt, 314; Sixth
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
Ward-Wilson Keith, 314; Seventh Ward-A. B. Bruner, 304; clerk-William E. Thompson, 305; assessor-W. W. Feagans, 85; treasurer-George Kauffman, 301; marshal- John McCarty, 96. There were eight other candidates for the marshalship. On the 25th of June the trustees met and organized by the election of Elisha Hyatt as president. On the 6th of August William Sanford, treasurer of the old corporation, turned over to the new treasurer, George Kauffman, all the money belonging to the town, $76. September 3 W. W. Feagans, assessor, resigned, and John McCarty was appointed to fill the vacancy. January 10, 1868, James C. Spink succeeded to the presidency of the board of trus- tees. March 14 T. R. Palmer became assessor, and on May 11 clerk. November 10 J. H. O'Neall became clerk, and on May 11, 1869, W. J. Puett.
THE CITY CHARTER.
In the spring of 1871 Washington had so grown as to be en- titled to a city charter, and to have a mayor and six councilmen. D. J. Hefron was elected mayor, and J. C. Spink, William Trauter, Sr., Albert Logan, Henry Walter, John Hyatt and Elijah Esk- ridge, councilmen, the city having been divided into three wards, and two councilmen having been elected from each ward. The First Ward embraces that part of the city north of the railroad and east of Fourth Street; the Second Ward all north of the railroad and west of Fourth Street, and the Third Ward all south of the railroad. W. D. Bynum was elected clerk. In the spring of 1875 W. D. Bynum was elected mayor; in the spring of 1879, James W. Ogden; in 1882, Arthur Beddoe; and in 1884, William P. Ellis, the present mayor. In the spring of 1875, James W. Ogden was elected clerk; in 1877, Thomas B. Laycock, who served until August, 1881, when he was succeeded by Eugene O'Brien, who served until September, 1885, when he was suc- ceeded by George F. Signor, the present clerk. The treasurers of the city have been as follows: Philip Spink, 1867-71; C. W. Levings, 1871-75; George A. Foster, 1875-77; Hiram Hyatt, 1877-81; and William R. Thompson, from 1881 to the present time. The population of the city in 1857 was 1,500; in 1870, 2,901; in 1880, 4,323; and in 1885 it is estimated to be 5,000.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Charity Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., is one of the oldest Ma- sonic lodges in the State. The Grand Lodge met at Salem, Ind., October 2, 1826, and on the next day, upon the presentation, by Joseph Warner, Worshipful Master of Charity Lodge, then un- der dispensation, of the workings of said lodge, and upon his pe- tition for a charter, the charter was granted to the lodge as Char- ity Lodge, No. 30. The officers named by the Grand Lodge for Charity Lodge were Joseph Warner, W. M .; Nathan Bascomb, S. W .; and Cornelius Berkshire, J. W. The names of the other of- ficers do not appear. In 1829 this lodge had fifteen members. During its earlier history it did not prosper, and in 1833 it was stricken from the list of lodges by the action of the Grand Lodge. On the 25th of May, 1842, upon the petition for a dispensation by Joseph Warner and others, such petition was granted, and Jo- seph Warner made First Master; John Van Trees, S. W., and James Calhoun, J. W. One year afterward, May 23, 1843, a charter was granted free of cost to Charity Lodge, No. 30, and thus after the lapse of ten years was the lodge revived. The of- ficers appointed were Joseph Warner, W. M., James Calhoun, S. W., and Stephen Belding, J. W. From this renewal of the char- ter, Charity Lodge, No. 30, has been in continuous existence, and though experiencing varied fortune, has been on the whole pros- perous. In 1860, while occupying a room in the Cruse Building, a fire occurred which destroyed the building, and a similar calam- ity occurred in 1866 while the lodge was domiciled in Commer- cial Row. While it has suffered from these misfortunes it had the good fortune to receive from Joseph Cruse, after his death, by his will, nearly his entire property, consisting of real estate and money to the aggregate amount of from $15,000 to $20,000. With this money and other moneys previously saved, the lodge erected on the lot bequeathed to it by Joseph Cruse, what is now known as Masonic Building, on the north side of Main Street, between Second and Third Streets. This building is worth about $22,000, and is rented for stores and other purposes, bringing in a hand- some annual income. In their lodge room in this building ap- propriately hangs a portrait of Joseph Cruse. The membership is now upward of 100, and the following are the officers: J. J.
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Glendenning, W. M. John D. Wilson, S. W .; Hiram Hyatt, J. W .; J. F. McGhee, Secretary ; S. J. Kelso, Treasurer; Robert Russell, S. D .; James Carnahan, J. D .; and C. M. Prentiss, Tyler. Thus, after years of vicissitude, has Charity Lodge, No. 30, by the pa- triotism of its members, attained. to a condition of prosperity, financial and otherwise, seldom reached.
Liverpool Lodge, No. 110, I. O. O. F .- A meeting was held July 8, 1852, at Washington, Ind., to organize an Odd Fellows Lodge. The meeting was presided over by Edward S. Hussy, D. D. G. M. The first members were Charles Childs, James D. Riggs, Thomas A. Baker, John S. Ledgerwood and Joseph W. Briggs. The following officers were appointed: James D. Riggs, V. G .; Joseph W. Briggs, R. S .; John L. Ledgerwood, Warden; Thomas A. Baker, O. G., and Charles Childs, I. G. The first member initiated was William Helpenstine, and on the same night (July 8, 1852) the following officers were elected: Charles Childs, N. G .; Thomas A. Baker, V. G .; William Helpenstine, R S .; John Beckett, Treasurer. Ever since that time the lodge has been in active operation, and notwithstanding numerous vicissi- tudes, has succeeded in accumulating property to the amount of $17,686. It has 131 members in good standing, and has the fol- lowing list of officers: Joseph Gill, D. D .; James E. Waller, N. G .; John Hyatt, V. G .; James W. Ramsey, R. S., and Albion Horrall, P. S. Meetings are held regularly on Tuesdays each week. The property owned by this lodge consists of the Opera House, Oak Grove Cemetery, and a lot on the corner of Main and Second Streets.
Mount Nebo Encampment, No. 70, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted July 18, 1865, by D. D. G. P., J. A. Skinner, assisted by the members of Mount Olive Encampment, No. 10, I. O. O. F. The Encampment worked under dispensation from this time until November 21, 1865, when the charter was granted by the Grand Encampment. The following were the charter members: J. Covert, G. T. Barr, James R. Clark, E. Shaner, William Tate, W. E. Hop- kins and Zelick Hopkins. The following officers were chosen for the first term: J. Covert, C. P .; George T. Barr, H. P .; E. Shaner, S. W .; W. E. Hopkins, J. W .; James R. Clark, Scribe; William Tate, Treas .; Zelick Hopkins, Sent. Petitions for mem-
43
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
bership were received on the night of the institution from the following persons: T. Jones, W. T. Prewitt, W. Keith, W. Hel- penstine, W. P. Hixon, George A. Waller, L. Heinzman, A. W. Meredith, G. T. Hayes, H. H. Hyatt, G. Beitman, James Mount, Isaac Rothschild, John Kempf, James Cosgrove, Josias Allen and J. H. Seny, all of whom were admitted, making the total member- ship,. at starting, twenty-four. The present membership is fifty, and the present officers as follows: Albion Horral, C. P .; Charles Colbert, H. P .; John W. Dunbar, S. W .; Robert Schofield, Scribe; Joseph Gill, Treas. The assets of the Encampment according to the report made June 30, 1885, was $1,402.06.
Eureka Lodge of the Independent Order of the Daughters of Rebekah, No. 78, was organized May 29, 1865. The first officers were Elizabeth Hoffmaister, P. S .; Mary Clark, V. P. S .; Carrie Hopkins, Sec .; Maria Covert, Treas. This lodge was re-organized and chartered February 10, 1872, the following being the charter members: S. R. McCormick and Mrs. L. M. McCormick, Joseph and Mrs. Mary C. Gill, John T. and Mrs. Annie Sparks, George T. and Mrs. Nancy Barr, H. C. and Mrs. E. F. Hall, James and Mrs. Lucinda Cosgrove, George Barber and George A. Waller, Sen. The first charter officers were as follows: S. R. McCormick, D. D .; George Barber, N. G .; Mrs. Lucinda Cosgrove, V. G .; H. C. Hall, Sec .; Annie Sparks, Treas. The present officers are J. A. Rodarmel, D. D .; J. W. Dunbar, N. G .; M. E. Ellis, V. G .; Robert Schofield, Sec .; Hannah Schofield, Treas., and Joy Han- nemeier, F. S. The lodge has now a membership of about sixty, and is in excellent financial condition.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized March 2, 1874. The first members were Patrick McAdams, Neal O'Kane, Charles McGinaghy, Patrick O'Kane, Archie McCleran, John McFall, Charles O'Neils, Patrick Curran, Martin Cahill and Owen Mooney. The first officers regularly elected were as follows: County Delegate, James E. Maher; President, P. T. Garaghan; Vice-president, Patrick Grimes; General Secretary, Martin Cahill; Assistant Secretary, Eugene O'Brien; and Treasurer, Stephen Ma- loney. The order meets in the Mooney Building, on the corner of Main and Third Streets. Its present officers are as follows: County Delegate, Martin Cahill; President, Hugh McGuire; Vice-
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President, John Flannagan; General Secretary, James Farrell; Assistant Secretary, John Downly; and Treasurer, John P. Cava- naugh. The society now has fifty members, has benevolence for its object, and is in a prosperous condition in all respects.
Washington Chapter No. 92, R. A. M. was instituted under dispensation January 7, 1875, and was chartered October 21, 1875. The following were the charter members: C. M. Prentiss, I. W. McCormick, D. M. Wilson, Hiram Hogshead, W. W. Lem- mon, A. H. Doherty, William Helpenstine, J. Q. Davis, J. E. Brad- ford, S. J. Kelso, J. W. Bartlett, Robert Russell, J. J. McLauch- lin and W. T. Fry. The first officers were the following: W. T. Fry, H. P .; B. T. Meredith, King; A. H. Doherty, Scribe; Robert Russell, C. H .; Stephen Belding, P. S; James Carnahan, R. A. C .; E. F. Meredith, G. M. Third Vale; M. L. Bonham, G. M. Second Vale; S. J. Kelso, G. M. First Vale; Edward Wise, Sec .; S. J. Kelso, Treas .; Hiram Hogshead, Guard. The present offi- cers are as follows: Robert Russell, H. P .; Hiram Hogshead, King; S. H. Ragsdale, Scribe; R. M. Carr, C. H .; J. J. Glen- denning, P. S .; James Carnahan, R. A. C .; J. L. Moore, G. M. Third Vale; George Signor, G. M. Second Vale; John -- , G. M. First Vale; J. F. McGhee, Sec .; S. J. Kelso, Treas; C. M. Prentiss, Guard. The chapter is in excellent condition, and has a membership of forty-four.
The Ogeechee Tribe No. 58 of the Improved Order of Red Men was instituted on the 18th day of the traveling moon, G. S. D. 385, and received its charter on the 27th day of the cold moon, G. S. D. 385 (January, 1877). The charter members were S. White Chappell, J. J. Glendenning, Joseph Bogner, Peter Flim- wal, B. F. Kilgore, Robert Schofield, John Walls, W. T. Fry, Hamlet Allen, James H., R. W. and B. T. Meredith, James Cos- grove, Hiram Hyatt, M. G. Bonham, Lucius F. Corning, James V. Whitten, Charles W. Thomas, James M. Campbell, E. G. Bon- durant, Hiram Hogshead, O. H. Brann, John A. Rodarmel, S. D. Belding, Samuel H. Taylor, John Hawkins and John Q. Traylor. The present officers of the Tribe are the following: J. H. Akers, Sachem; Joseph Small, Sr. Sagamore; Joseph Church, Jr. Sagamore; Robert Schofield, Chief of Records; Willis Dunbar, Keeper of Wampum, and Signor Eckhouse, Prophet. This is a .
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
beneficiary and social order, and meets every Friday evening in its own hall. It has forty-nine members in good standing, and is in a prosperous condition.
The German Independent Benevolent Society was organized June 5, 1879, with sixty-four members, the leading spirits in the movement being George M. Myers and Philip Schuck. The first officers of the society were George M. Myers, President; Charles S. Peterman, Vice-president; Stephen Peterman, Treasurer; Theo- dore Himburg, Secretary; J. H. Willman, Financial Secretary ; Trustees-Philip Schuck, Andy Kocher and Henry Herr. The present officers are Louis Keller, President; Henry Klohr, Vice- president; Claude Schwartz, Treasurer; Philip Schuck, Secretary. Trustees-William Reckes, Adam Walter and Peter Mangin. The society meets on the first Monday in each month in the city hall, and has now a membership of fifty. Each member pays an initiation fee of $2, and a monthly due of 25 cents. In case any member needs assistance from the society, such member is al- lowed $3 per week. The society has no property except cash, of which there is $500 in the treasury.
Linden Lodge, No. 2351, Knights of Honor, received its char- ter August 2, 1881. Following are the names of the charter members: William D. Bynum, Francis A. Anderson, John C. Billheimer, John W. Dunbar, William H. Farris, Ernest Grief, Elisha L. Hatfield, James M. Haynes, Joseph D. Feirs, Simon Joseph, Jackson L. Moore, Samuel H. Mulholland, Alonzo Mills, Joseph F. Nichols, James K. Page, John A. Soudder, John T. Sparks, William F. Trantor, John W. Sullivan, and Edward F. Waller. The first officers of this lodge were the following: Will- iam D. Bynum, P. D .; J. L. Moore, D .; E. L. Hatfield, V. D .; J. C. Billheimer, R .; S. H. Mulholland, F. R .; William Farris, Treasurer; John T. Sparks, Chaplain; S. Joseph, Guide; Joseph Heirs, I. G .; J. W. Dunbar, O. S .; J. A. Scudder and J. L. Moore, Physicians, and Alonzo Mills, E. L. Hatfield, and William B. Trenter, Trustees. The present officers are John H. Akers, Dictator; John W. Dunbar, Vice-dictator; John A. Scudder, Re- porter; Alonzo Mills, Financial Reporter; William P. Ellis, Treas- urer; Jackson L. Moore, Chaplain; Joseph Gill, Guide; Joseph Nichols, Sentinel; Elisha Hatfield, Past Dictator. The lodge at
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the present time has twenty-nine prompt paying members, and is consequently in a prosperous condition. Two members died in 1884-Frank A. Anderson and J. J. Routt-each of their widows receiving without unnecessary delay the amount of insurance ($2,000) they were carrying upon their lives. The lodge meets regularly on Wednesday evenings in Redmen's Hall.
Catholic Knights of America, No. 206, were organized in 1881. The charter members were Rev. J. W. Doyle, William M. Hayes, M. J. Hayes, George Kauffman, Jeremiah Agan, Michael Madden, Alexander Mattingly and Stephen Ryan. The first offi- cers were Jeremiah Agan, President; William M. Hayes, T .; M. J. Hayes, R. S .; Stephen Ryan, F. S., and Alexander Mattingly, S. at A. The present officers are Alexander Mattingly, President; William M. Hayes, T .; John D. Kelly, R. S .; M. J. Hayes, F. S., and Stephen Ryan, S. at A. The society now consists of ten members, and meets on the first and third Sundays at St. Simon's Schoolhouse. The main object of the society is to insure the lives of its members, each member being permitted to carry $2,000 upon his life.
The Charles Howard Lodge, No. 2284, G. W. O. of O. F., was chartered November 17, 1881. The charter members were as follows : George Washington, Elias Washington, Eli Washington, James Washington, David Howard, William Hawkins, William Washing- ton, Andrew Hatwood, Enoch Baskin, Jesse Washington, William C. Stewart, Christopher Clayborn, Samuel Spencer, Moses Gates, William Ballow, Ames Ballow, Charner Hawkins, Joseph W. Stewart, Washington Hawkins, Jackson Carr, Henry White, William W. Corten, William A. Grigsby and Amos Hawkins. The first officers were Elias Washington, N. F .; Washington Haw- kins, P. N. G .; George Washington, N. G .; Eli Washington, V. G .; Amos Ballow, E. S .; W. C. Stewart, T .; J. W. Stewart, P. S .; James Washington, Chaplain, elected December 19, 1881. The present officers are Stephen Clay, N. F .; Hayden Culbert, P. N. G .: John W. Berryman, N. G .; Jefferson T. Nubles, V. G .; Warren Nichols, E. S .; J. W. Stewart, P. S .; George Washing- ton, T .; Eli Washington, Chaplain. The present membership of the lodge, which is in a flourishing condition, is forty-three. Its assets, according to the last report, made July 31, 1885, amount
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to $532.88. Meetings occur regularly, on the second and fourth Monday nights, in Murphy's Block.
U. S. Grant Post, No. 72, G. A. R., was organized May 25, 1882, as Garber Post, after Col. Garber, of Madison, Ind., who was colonel of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Regiment during the war of the Rebellion. After the death of Gen. Grant the name was changed to U. S. Grant Post. The charter members were William P. Ellis, S. F. Horrall, H. H. Hyatt, B. McCafferty, P. B. Kellenberger, Joseph Bogner, John A. Scudder, J. L. Moore, T. C. Meredith, Joseph Kendall, R. E. Hawley and Will- iam Cox. The first officers were William P. Ellis, Com .; J. H. Akers, Sr. Com .; P. B. Kellenberger, Jr. Com .; James Ram- sey. Adj .; George W. Moran, Quar .; Joseph Bozner, Officer of the Day; George W. McBride, Officer of the Guard, and R. E. Hawley, Chaplain. The present officers are James Ramsey, Com .; William P. Ellis, Sr. Com .; Willis Dunbar, Jr. Com .; Edward Kennedy, Adj .; George W. Moran, Quar .; James A. Barr, Chap- lain; J. H. Akers, Officer of the Guard, and F. M. Haynes, Offi- cer of the Day. The post has 133 members, is in a flourishing condition, and meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Redmen's Hall.
Knights and Ladies of Honor were organized May 20, 1884, by D. W. Bennett, of Brazil, Ind., Deputy Grand Protector. There were thirteen original members, as follows: J. H. and Mrs. Sallie Akers, George W. and Mrs. Mary E. McBride, William and Syrena Ingram, Mrs. Mary E. Conlin, Mrs. Mary Tommy, Mrs. Amanda Yager, Richard Yager, Richard Summers, John Kellems and Mrs. Carrie E. Smith. The first officers were as follows: Mrs. Carrie E. Smith, P. P .; George McBride, P .; Sy- rena Ingram, V. P .; Bent McCafferty, Guide; J. C. Robertson, Chap .; Miss Dora Henry, Sec .; J. H. Akers, Finan. Sec .; Mrs. Mary Tommy, Treas .; Richard Yager, Sentinel. The present officers are J. C. Robertson, P. P .; George McBride, P .; Syrena Ingram, V. P .; Mrs. Sallie Akers, Chaplain ; Edward Kennedy, Sec. and Finan. Sec .; Mrs. Mary E. McBride, Treas. The meet- ings of this society take place on the second and fourth Saturday nights of each month, in Redmen's Hall. The benefits are of two classes, A and B. Members in Class A are permitted to carry
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a benefit of $1,000. Those in Class B. are permitted to carry a half-rate benefit of $2,000, or a full rate of $3,000, at their op- tion.
Pythagorean Lodge, No. 118, Knights of Pythias, was organ- ized May 20, 1884. The charter members were the following: Louis P. Beitman, H. H. Hyatt, C. P. Scudder, C. S. Slayback, A. C. Barber, C. H. Jones, Harry Bray, J. W. Clark, G. C. W. Geeting, O. E. Bondurant, Frank Colyer, Isadore Beitman, Louis Hess, Cliff Murkle, Nathan Beitman, Gus Levi, John T. Neal, W. F. Hoffman, E. J. Yager, W. W. Marmaduke and John P. Mathew. The first officers were as follows: Louis P. Beitman, P. C .; H. H. Hyatt, C. C .; C. P. Scudder, V. C .; C. S. Slayback, P .; A. C. Barber, K. of R. & S .; C. H. Jones, M. of E .; W. F. Hoffman, M. of F .; J. W. Clark, M. at A .; G. C. W. Geeting, I. G. and O. E. Bondurant, O. G. Trustees were J. T. Neal, Nathan Beitman and Gus Levi. The present officers are H. H. Hyatt, P. C .; S. C. Eskridge, C. C .; W. F. Hoffman, V. C .; Fred A. Mills, P .; A. C. Barber, K. of R. & S .; O. E. Bondurant, M. of E .; G. C. W. Geet- ing, M. of F .; E. B. Ginckle, M. at A .; John M. Sweeney, I. G .; J. H. Sullivan, O. G .; Trustees: C. G. Sefrit, Nathan Beitman and J. T. Neal. This lodge has now forty members, is in a flour- ishing condition, and meets in Redmen's Hall every Tuesday evening.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper published in Washington was the Phil- anthropist, by William C. Berry & Son. It was established in 1836. The Chronicle was the second paper, succeeding the Phil- anthropist, and was published by William C. Berry & Son until 1840. The Harrisonian was the third, published by Terry & Smith. This was, as its name implies, devoted to the principles of the Whig party. The Jacksonian Democrat was published also during the Harrison campaign by Jeremiah Young. The Hoosier was published during the year 1842 by James J. Marts. The Pilot was established in 1843 by Charles G. Berry. This paper was succeeded during the same year by The Saturday Morning Expositor, which was published by Jones & Trowbridge, which was also succeeded in 1843 by the Literary Journal, published by John Brayfield & Co. This paper was continued until 1853,
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.
when upon the death of Mr. Brayfield, it was sold and the name changed to the Washington Telegraph, J. M. Mason, editor. In 1855 the Telegraph was sold to James Stell, who published it in support of the principles of the Know-nothing or American party until 1858, when he sold it to S. F. Horrall. Mr. Horrall pub- lished it until 1861, when it passed into the hands of Lewis & Gardiner. It is now necessary to trace another line of newspa- pers down to this time.
The Sun was started in Washington as a Democratic paper by the Rev. Hamilton Robb, a Baptist minister. Soon after its establishment James Wilkins obtained possession of it and changed its name to The Bee, and in 1856 sold it to Upton & Schaffer, who shortly afterward left the office in charge of Oliver F. Baird, who changed the name to the Washington Democrat and in 1858 sold it to T. T. Scribner, who published it until 1861 when he sold it to Lewis & Gardiner. Lewis & Gardiner con- solidated the Democrat and Telegraph on an independent basis and called the new paper The Washington Conservator. The first number of this paper was issued October 11, 1861, and the last number March 7, 1862. In the last number of the paper the editor promised to fill out the unexpired term of the five or six. who had paid for the paper either with the numbers of a new po- litical paper he expected would be started in a few weeks, or re- fund them their money.
The Washington Telegraph was revived soon afterward by Dr. W. A. Horrall and William Chapman, the former retiring March 28, 1863, Jake Covert taking his place. Mr. Chapman retired September 9, 1863, and Mr. Covert ran it alone until September 28, 1864, when E. A. Lewis became the editor, and in 1865 J. M. Griffin became the proprietor. Mr. Griffin moved the paper and material to Mitchell, Ind., when it ceased to be a Washington institution.
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