USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 8
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
The intrusion of Geo. Thomas into the sylvan beauty of the spot was the signal for the advent of still more, and many a noble Burr oak fell, and many a flower was crushed under the feet of the sturdy pioneers who came to make homes and build a city. Thomas' house was constructed of slabs procured from a steam saww mill which Capt. Andrew had erected a short distance west of the town. It was in this house that the first session of the board off county commissioners was held. The first cabin soon had compan -; ions; and in 1834 there were fifteen houses on the ground whichh was to be occupied by the future town. Business was opening. Mechanics, merchants and professional men began to arrive .. Charles Fravel came in 1832. The Blakes, and a man by the name~ of Lily kept the first hotels. John and Wm. Alison, Hiramn Wheeler, John B. Fravel, Dr. Ball and Nelson Landon, were mer- chants in 1832 and 1833. Seth Way and Charles Ladd weree dwellers in tents in those days like Abraham of old, and they fol -! lowed the business of breaking up the sod of the prairie for the farmers who had fixed their homes at various points between La-
102
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Porte and Westville, and elsewhere in the county. In March, 1833, Thompson W. Francis, now of Michigan City, came to La- Porte to work as a builder and carpenter. He built the hotel which was kept long afterwards by Capt. Levi Ely.
At the September term of the commissioners' court, 1833, a license was granted to J. F. & W. Allison to keep a tavern in LaPorte, and also to vend merchandise. Licenses were granted also. to Wm. Clement and to Seneca Ball to vend merchandise. At the March term, 1834, a license was granted to H. & T. Wheeler to vend merchandise, and a license to Wm. Clement "to vend foreign and domestic liquors and groceries."
At the September term of the same year, Amzi Clark was licensed to vend merchandise, also Absalom Walters; and Noah Newhall "to keep a tavern;" and at the November term following, A. & A. W. Harrison were licensed to vend merchandise. At the- March, term, 1835, Wm. Clement was licensed to keep a tavern, and R. B. Hews and Hiram Wheeler to vend merchandise.
In 1835, licenses were further granted to McCarty & Howell, John Brown and Thomas H. Phillips; and to Daniel D. Rathbun, Oliver Shirleff, Grover & Williams, John A. Fletcher and Mordecai Cross, to keep tavern. A license was also granted at the November term in this year, to Sherwood & Hixon, "to vend wooden clocks."
In 1836, James Gibson, Arthur McClure, Samuel Darlington and Conrad Everhart were licensed to keep tavern; and McCarty & Howell and?Eli Hays to vend merchandise.
A hotel which was kept by Mr. Blake stood on Brown's corner, the one now occupied by "Eliel's drug store. Afterwards General Brown himself kept a hotel there. The old wooden buildings which were the predecessors of the present brick structure, and which were burned a few years ago, were built by Gen. Brown.
In laying out the town the original proprietors, Wilson, Todd, Walker and the Andrews, donated every alternate lot to the county for the purpose of enabling it to erect a court house and other pub- lic buildings. The lots were sold on easy terms, and during the years 1835 and 1836, the population largely increased. The Michigan City Gazette of July 22, 1835, in speaking of LaPorte
103
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
denominates it as "this flourishing village." A land office was opened here in 1834 or 1835, with Major Robb, Register, and John M. Lemon, Receiver. James Whittem was a clerk in the land office.
Among lawyers first admitted to practice in LaPorte were Wm. O. Ross June 10, 1833 ; John B. Niles, December 16, 1833; John S. Lacy, December 16, 1833; Wmn. Hawkins, December 16, 1833; Robert Merrifield, October 13, 1834; B. B. Taylor, October 17, 1834; Wm. C. Hannah, October 18, 1834. In 1835, there were Charles McCleese, and John H. Bradley; in 1836, Myron H. Orton, Jabez R. Wells, G. A. Everts, Thomas Tyrrell, N. W. Sax- ton, and A. W. Enos; and in 1837, Andrew L. Osborn, Gilbert Hathaway, J. W. Chapman, and E. A. Hannegan. Some of these lived in Michigan City.
In the month of July, 1838, the first newspaper that was estab- lished in LaPorte was sent out to the people of LaPorte and other counties. It was published by J. M. Stuart, and S. C. Clisbe, and was called the "LaPorte County Whig, and Porter, Lake, and Marshall Counties Advertiser." Stuart & Clisbe conducted it only about a year, when it passed into the hands of Capt. A. P. Andrew, Jr. It was a staunch Whig paper, hoisting in 1840 the names of Harrison and Tyler, for the election of whom, and the candidates of the Whig ticket throughout, the editor of the Whig labored with zeal and energy and much efficiency. Stuart went to Michigan City, where he obtained control of the Gazette, the politics of which he changed from an earnest advocacy of the Democratic party to become the champion of the Whigs.
Prior to 1840, a Democratic paper was established by Joseph Lomax, which was called the LaPorte Herald. The campaign of 1840 was warmly contested, and not less so here than elsewhere. The town and county of LaPorte participated fully in the political spirit and feeling that characterized the campaign. The Herald gave an enthusiastic support to Van Buren; the Whig, with equal earnestness, supported Harrison. Its columns were ornamented with a log cabin, the cut of which was made by a gunsmith of LaPorte.
In the year 1833, the first school house was built. It was a
104
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
humble beginning, but educational privileges have gone on increas- and improving until now the system of graded free schools is the pride of every citizen. The graded schools were established in 1856, in which year a school building was erected in each ward, each of them having a primary and secondary department. Four of these buildings were of brick two stories in height. After the first term under the graded system a grammar department was opened which was taught in an old frame building belonging to W. D. Farnsworth, which stood not far from the present location of the High School building. The teachers in the various schools were R. M. Johnson, A. T. Bliss, Jasper Packard, Mrs. J. Packard, Miss. O. M. Tibbits, Miss Emma Chandler, Miss M. A. Kent, and Mrs. Steele. The schools grew in strength and influence, and usefulness, under the wise management which they have fortunately always received, and a High School department was soon organized which was first taught by Jasper Packard. The first board of trustees were Gilbert Hathaway, Amzi Clark and B. P. Walker, who were succeeded by John B. Niles, James Moore and Ferdinand Roberts, and these by Wm. C. Hannah, L. Crane and Rev. Geo. C. Noyes, under whose administration the present High School building was erected.
In 1863, this commodious school building was constructed. and with its completion, and the continued successful management and conduct of the schools, the educational advantages of LaPorte are of the highest kind. So excellent have been the public schools that from the time of the inauguration of the graded system. it has been im- possible for private or select schools to be maintained for any great length of time, though several have been in operation at different times that were well worthy of support. Such were those especially ot Mrs. Holmes who now conducts a fine school for young ladies in Springfield, Illinois; of T. L. Adams, just prior to his acceptance of the position of Superintendent of the public schools ; and the Technic and Training school of W. P. Phelon, all of which had to yield before the steady upward march of the admirably con- ducted free schools. These have never been more successful than during the present year under the superintendency of Mr. B. L. Swift, with J. R. Goffe, and Misses Lyon and Crittenden as teachers in the High School, and an efficient corps of teachers in all the other
105
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
departments. The present board of trustees are Messrs. Donly Foster and Early.
In the winter of 1840-41, a charter was obtained from the State Legislature, through the exertions of John H. Bradley who was then a member from LaPorte, for a school of high rank to be called the LaPorte University. The charter was drawn by Wm. Andrew, and provided for an institution that should have a literary, a medical and a law department. The next year the law department was organized under the charge of Judge Andrew, who received quite a large class of students. The medical department was organized in 1842. The building in which classes were £.st opened stood where Davidson's marble-front store is now locatel. A good building was afterwards erected on the square immediately south of the present High School building, and here the school progressed with a fair degree of success. The medical faculty consisted of the following gentlemen :
Geo. W. Richards, M. D., Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine. John B. Niles, A. M., Professor of Chemistry.
Daniel Meeker, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology.
A. B. Shipman, M. D., Professor of Surgery.
Nicholas Hard, M. D., Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children.
E. Deming, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica.
Levi F. Torrey, M. D., Demonstrator of Anatomy.
In 1848-9, J. Adams Allen, M. D., became Professor of Materia Medica; George W. Lee, M. D., Demonstrator of Anatomy; and Tompkins Higday, M. D., Professor of Physiology and General Pathology.
Dr. G. A. Rose was the President of the board of trustees, dur- ing a large portion of the time of the existence of the school, and among the trustees were Wm. C. Hannah, Secretary, John B. Niles, Treasurer, Rev. Wm. Andrew, Daniel Meeker, Rev. F. P. Cummins and Ezekiel Morrison. Tompkins Higday was Registrar in 1848-9. The name of the institution was changed to the "Indi- ana Medical College," and there were in 1846-7, one hundred and four students, in 1848-9, one hundred and one.
The names of many of the students are familiar in Northern
106
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Indiana, and some of them have become distinguished throughout the State, and in other States.
In the year 1843, the literary department of the university was organized. There was then at LaPorte, a school called the Lan- casterian Academy of which Rev. F. P. Cummins was principal, in which, besides a thorough English course incluling Philosophy, the Natural Sciences, and the higher Mathematics, there were taught Latin, Greek, German and French. This institution had but a brief existence. It is worthy of note that the circulars issued for the purpose of advertising this academy, stated that board could be obtained in LaPorte for from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents per week. When it was determined to organize the literary depart- ment of the LaPorte University, application was made to Prof. Cum- mins, to merge his school in it, as such a move would be likely to make it successful from the start. To this proposition he assented and in connection with Rev. Mr. Marshall, pastor at the time, of the Presbyterian church, he opened this department of the Univer- sity. But it seems not to have met with the success which its friends anticipated and hoped; it languished, and died.
The medical school continued to flourish for some years; but there grew up other schools which withdrew support from it. The medical department of the Michigan University was opened, the Rush Medical college at Chicago, a similar institution at Indianapo- lis, and one at LaFayette ; and finally the managers of the LaPorte school determined to suspend the lectures. This occurred in 1851; and the suspension proved to be a final closing up of the school. The building was afterwards occupied as a literary academy, which was conducted by Prof. Churchman, a blind man, and an excellent teacher. It was a school for girls only, and it was a flourishing institution until it was burned in the winter of 1855. The institu- tion was never re-opened, and the graded free school system having been adopted in 1856, and proving so eminently successful, there has been less need for private schools of any kind. For several years, the only private schools of importance, besides those hereto- fore mentioned, have been the schools of the German Lutheran church, and the Catholic Sisters.
There has never been a time in the history of LaPorte, when
107
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
education failed to receive a large share of the attention of the leading citizens. Private schools have been at times well supported, and since the present system of graded schools came into existence, the whole people have cheerfully met the taxes necessary for the re- quired buildings, which are expensive and valuable, for the salaries of first-class teachers, and all the other incidental outlay.
The earliest physicians to settle in LaPorte were Doctors Dinwid- die, Timothy Everts, Daniel Meeker, and G. A. Rose, who arrived in, or prior to, 1835. They were followed by Abram Teegarden, who came in 1837, J. P. Andrew, Geo. L. Andrew, T. Higday, L. Brusie, Thos. D. Lemon L. C. Rose and others.
The first ministers of the Gospel who came to LaPorte, will be mentioned in connection with the history of the various church denom- inations in another chapter.
LaPorte has always been ably represente.l in the professions. The pastors of the churches have generally been men of culture, and intellectual power; and many of her practitioners of law and medicine have occupied high rank in their profession, and enjoy a reputation co-extensive with, and even beyond the State.
In the year 1835, A. W. Harrison was postmaster. This was during the presidency of Andrew Jackson, but soon after the inaug- uration of the new administration of Martin Van Buren in March, 1837, a change was made in the postoffice here, Dr. Thos. D. Lemon, being appointed. He held the office continuously until the beginning of the administration of Abraham Lincoln, in 1861, when Geo. B. Roberts was appointed on the recommendation of Schuyler Colfax, then the Representative in Congress from the ninth congres- sional district of Indiana. He held the office until after the assas- sination of Mr. Lincoln made Andrew Johnson, President.
One of the most popular and useful institutions of LaPorte is the Library and Natural History association, which has been in exist- ence since 1863. It has continued to strengthen in public favor, until the present time, and its history will not be without interest now, and in the future. In 1868 the author of this work was requested by the association to prepare a sketch which should em- body the history of the institution. This he afterwards read to the board, and it was placed on file as one of its permanent records. The
108
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
substance of that report is herewith presented; and is as follows: "On the fifth day of May, 1868, Wm. Niles, Esq., offered a reso- lution before the board of directors of the LaPorte Library and Natural History association, which was unanimously adopted, re- questing me to prepare a historical sketch on the origin, history, present condition, prospects and purposes of that association.
Various controlling events have prevented an earlier compliance with the request of the board, but now at this late day, I have the honor respectfully to submit the following facts and thoughts on the important subjects named in this resolution.
At the beginning of the year 1863, LaPorte was a city of nearly eight thousand inhabitants. As a people we claimed to be civilized, enlightened, refined and educated; and yet there was not among us a reading room of any sort, and no library except the McClure, to which but few had access; so few that it was practically without any influence on the community. A reading room, exhibiting on its tables the earnest thoughts and activities of the present in the current periodicals of the day, and a library containing the ripened wisdom of the past and the present are means of education, espe- cially to the young, whose utility cannot be estimated.
Here was a great and pressing want unfilled, and there were a few, who, seeing and feeling the need of an institution that should, in some degree, meet the wants of the people, determined to organ- ize a Library association, that would, at slight expense, furnish books and periodicals to all who might choose to avail themselves of its privileges.
It was believed that such an association would be influential in developing a literary taste, by cultivating a habit of reading. and that it would become a powerful educator of the people, positively, by stimulating the growth of the mind and promoting learning and scholarship, and negatively, by furnishing a pleasant and useful place of resort, to largely counteract the evils of vicious pleasures and associations; and on the 16th day of March, 1863, an organi- zation was effected by the adoption of a constitution, and the elec- tion of the following full complement of officers :
President, Wm. C. Hannah; Vice President. James Moore; Re- cording Secretary, Wm. Niles; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Geo. C. Noyes; Treasurer, Fred West.
109
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
Directors-Wm. H. H. Whitehead, Dr. N. S. Darling, Ezekiel Morrison, Dr. L. C. Rose, Simon Wile, James Lewis, O. Wilson and Charles Paine.
The association thus organized was incorporated under the name of the "La Porte Reading Room and Library Association."
Negotiations were entered into with the McClure Working Men's Institute, which finally resulted in the transfer by that association to this, of all the books and other property of the former. The terms of the contract were such as to convey to the new association all the property of the old, to be held and used by it forever, or during its existence, with reversion to the McClure association in case of the dissolution of the new organization, upon the payment of the debts of the Institute amounting to fifty-five dollars, and the grant to each of its members of a membership for one year in the new association. This result was highly gratifying, as it at once gave to the Library association a permanent footing, enabling it to start with seven hun- dred volumes, many of them standard works in history and English literature. With this handsome nucleus at the start, around which to gather other works, until a large library should be founded, the attempt to build up a noble educational power in our midst, ceased to be an experiment, and became an assured success.
I pause here in the course of this sketch, to notice an event that carried sadness to the heart, not only of the members of the associa- tion, but of all our people. On the 16th day of March, James Lewis had been elected as one of the board of directors, and on the fourth day of May, when the board held their regular meeting for the month, his place was vacant; death had invaded that active life, and sadly and unanimously the board passed the following preamble and resolutions :
WHEREAS, By the death of our associate, Mr. James Lewis, this board has lost a valued member, whose worth we would commemor- ate in the records of this association, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we recognized in Mr. Lewis an upright and gen- erous citizen, ever in earnest to advance the welfare of the commu- nity in which he lived, whether at the cost of money or of personal exertion.
Resolved, That we tender to Mrs. Lewis and the family of the
110
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
deceased our respectful and sincere sympathy in their bereavement.
Mr. Lewis died on the 23d day of April, 1863. He was an upright and enterprising citizen, a faithful friend, a zealous member of this association, and a devoted christian.
On the 11th day of May, the board of directors submitted their first report to the association. In it they speak very encouragingly of the condition and prospects of the work before thein, and although they find some difficulties and discouragements in the way. yet they say, and very truly, that "these difficulties ought to weigh as noth- ing in comparison with the great need and importance to the whole community of an undertaking like the one upon which we are glad to believe, we have now successfully entered."
At the meeting of the association on the 11th of May, it was necessary according to the constitution, to elect officers for the ensuing year. The election resulted as follows :
President, Wm. C. Hannah; Vice President, James Moore; Recording Secretary, Wm. Niles; Treasurer, Fred West; Corres- ponding Secretary, Rev. G. C. Noyes.
Directors .- Andrew L. Osborn, Charles Paine, Ezekiel Morrison Jacob Zook, W. H. H. Whitehead, O. Wilson, and Landon C. Rose.
The association seemed now fairly equipped for a race of useful- ness; but its early promise was doomed to undergo a blighting check. The meeting of the 11th of May adjourned with a prospect of vigorous growth before the young foundling. The members must have been too sanguine, and reposed too much confidence in the powers of the child. for they left it to run alone until the 26th of the following October, and then holding one brief meeting, a dark and impenetrable interregnum occurs of more than a year, from the 26th of October, 1863, to the 6th of December, 1864. This seems to have been the "dark age" of our association's history. It was even darker than the night of the middle ages, for then the monks in their gloomy cells did not permit learning quite to perish from the earth, and history penetrates the gloom of that cavernous night; but over those forgotten months of our society's life, whose record is forever lost, an impenetrable shadow has fallen, and nothing but the fiat of Omnipotent Power proclaiming "Let there be Light," could
111
CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
disperse the gloom. It must have seemed to the friends of the asso- ciation that its light had gone out forever. But the usefulness of such an institution had become known; and although the old officers and board of directors would seem to have been somewhat discour- aged, they determined not to stand in the way of any others who might be willing to try to give new vitality to the association. On the 6th day of December, 1864, the officers and members of the board, each and all resigned, and others were elected to fill the vacancies so created; and the organization commenced its new exist- ence with the following officers :
President, L. Crane; Vice President, C. G. Powell; Treasurer, Wm. M. Scott; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. P. Ash; Record- ing Secretary, T. L. Adams.
Directors .- Dr. Geo. M. Dakin, H. B. Weir, Dr. W. I .. Mc- Kahan, John M. Hood, Rev. J. H. Lee, Mr. Baker and A. J. Redding.
As an indication of the vigorous manner in which the new board commenced their work it is worthy of note that at this meeting a committee of one was appointed to "prepare the Reading Room for occupancy by to-morrow." The work was done, and meetings have been held regularly at the Society's rooms from that time to the present.
On the 6th day of November, 1865, the first movement was made towards renting the pleasant rooms now occupied by us; and on the 20th of the same month they were occupied and have given the association a home, and our people a useful and attractive place of resort for more than three years. At the meeting of November 20th, 1865, it was, with characteristic energy, resolved to "pledge ourselves as individuals te see the work carried through." This feeling has ever since actuated the directors, and the consequence has been the continued growth and prosperity of the association. Since the year 1864, a leading feature of the Society has been a course of lectures each winter. These have been given by the lead- ing men of the country, authors, poets, statesmen and divines. The lectures have embraced a wide variety of subjects, travels, history, national affairs, social reforms, the woman question, in fact almost every subject that engages the American mind at the present day.
112
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
These lectures. while not highly remunerative to the Society, have been an agreeable means of instruction for the people, most of them having been of a high order of merit, and worthy to have been heard by far more than availed themselves of the privilege.
The growth of the library has been constant if not rapid. Handsome donations of books have been received from Morgan H. Weir, Benj. F. Taylor, L. Crane, and others, and in each of the last four years there have been additions by purchase, of from two to three hundred volumes.
On the sixth day of April, 1868, a movement was commenced for the collection of a cabinet under the superintendence of Dr. T. Higday; and on the fifth day of May last the following preamble and resolution presented by Wm. Niles, Esq., were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, It is proposed to form a collection of specimens in illustration of the natural sciences, and those interested in the matter desire to place the collection in the rooms of the association, if the donation will be accepted,
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.