USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 45
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THE ELKS
A few years after the close of the Civil war a few "good fellows" formed the habit of meeting of evenings at a public house in New York, where they could pass a few hours in friendly intercourse. After a time a permanent club was formed and given the name of the "Jolly Corks." A young Englishman, Charles S. Vivian, then presented a plan for the formation of a secret order and some one suggested that the name was hardly appropriate for an organization of that character. Consequently a committee was appointed to select a new name. The members of this committee visited Barnum's museum, where they saw a large elk and learned something of the habits of that animal. At the
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
next meeting the committee proposed as a name the "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks," which was adopted. The motto of the order is "The faults of our brothers we write upon the sands; their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory."
Peru Lodge, No. 365, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was organized in 1897, with Milton Kraus as the first exalted ruler. In February, 1900, the lodge purchased the Frick property on North Broad- way, remodeled the building at a cost of about $10,000, and on Septem- ber 5, 1900, the Elks' Home was dedicated. In 1912-13 more extensive alterations and additions were made. In this building the Peru lodge has one of the best appointed club-houses in the state. The lodge now numbers about three hundred members, among whom are many of the representative business and professional men of the city. The officers for the year 1914, are: J. Ross Woodring, exalted ruler; Ray Adams, leading knight; Clayton McElwee, loyal knight; Albert Rentz, secretary ; C. M. Charters, treasurer. This lodge was active in relief work at the time of the great flood in March, 1913, and furnished window shades for the Dukes Memorial Hospital. It is the only Elks' lodge in Miami county.
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN
This order is based upon the historic incident of the destruction of the tea in Boston harbor just before the beginning of the Revolutionary war. The patriots who disguised themselves as Indians and threw the tea overboard were the first of the order of "Red Men." After the independence of the United States was established a secret order was founded upon the affair and has become one of the strong fraternal societies of the country. Lodges are called tribes. There are two tribes in Miami county, viz. :
Meshingomesia Tribe, No. 235, was instituted at Peru in 1897, with Charles Lamb as the first sachem and a charter membership of forty- seven. At the close of the year 1913 the tribe numbered about one hundred members, with Dennis Holland, sachem; John Kester, secre- tary, and William Fowinkle, collector.
Mongosia Tribe, located at Miami, was organized some time after the institution of the tribe at Peru and now has a membership of over two hundred.
MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS
Peru Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 258, was organized on November 10, 1902. On February 24, 1905, the aerie purchased the old
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Constant home on East Main street for $5,000 and converted it into a club house, the dedication and opening taking place on July 14, 1905.
Peru Lodge, No. 249, Loyal Order of Moose, was instituted on April 28, 1910, with more than fifty charter members. The lodge has com- modious hall and club rooms on West Third street, between Broadway and Miami streets, and at the close of the year 1913 numbered over seven hundred members in good standing. S. A. Pond was elected dic- tator for the year 1914 and Jesse Murden secretary.
The Independent Order of Foresters was founded at Newark, New Jersey in 1874. Court Miami, No. 661, was instituted at Peru on March 3, 1892, with twenty charter members and George W. Miller as high chief ranger. Companion Court Olive, No. 26, composed of the wives and daughters of members, was organized on August 12, 1897, with Maggie Kenworthy as chief ranger.
Other lodges in Peru are Aldebaran Court, No. 16, Tribe of Ben Hur; Mississinewa Council, No. 462, Royal Arcanum; Bee Hive Tent, No. 8, Knights of the Maccabees; Peru Hive, No. 33, Ladies of the Mac- cabees; the Pathfinders, No. 21, and the Order of the World. The Knights of the Maccabees also have a lodge at Bunker Hill. The Knights of Honor, the Independent Order of Good Templars, the Order of Equity and the Sons of Veterans once had organizations in the county, but the writer has been unable to learn anything of their his- tory. While the Sons of Veterans' camp was in existence a state encamp- ment of the order was held in Peru.
CATHOLIC SOCIETIES
A division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized at Peru in the latter '80s, with John Coyle, county delegate; G. B. McEvoy, president; Joseph Ryan, vice-president; Patrick Burns, financial secre- tary ; Edward M. Lang, recording secretary ; Patrick Hassett, treasurer. The division is still in existence with about forty members, and the officers for the year 1914 are Thomas H. McAllister, county delegate; Charles B. Cannon, president; John T. McAllister, secretary ; Bernard Brennan, treasurer.
The Knights of Columbus were founded in 1882 by Rev. Michael McGivney, of New Haven, where the national headquarters were estab- lished. Catholics eighteen years of age and not engaged in the liquor business are eligible for membership. Local organizations are called councils. Peru Council, No. 718, was instituted on November 30, 1902, by ten members belonging to the councils at Logansport, Kokomo and Fort Wayne. They were Joseph and John Brennan, Peter Kelly, Pliny M. Crume, Charles B. Cannon, Hugh McCaffrey, Patrick H. McGreevy,
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
John W. O'Hara, Thomas J. Milet and Daniel S. Long. At the begin- ning of the year 1914 the council numbered 187 members. The officers at that time were as follows: Michael P. Costen, grand knight; William Welsh, deputy grand knight; Dr. Joseph M. Doyle, chancellor; C. J. Burke, recorder; Frank Kramer, secretary; Joseph Becker, treasurer. Charles B. Cannon, one of the charter members of this council now holds the office of state secretary.
DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION
Peru Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organ- ized on January 10, 1902, at the home of Mrs. George Kenny, 77 East Second street. The charter members were Mesdames George Kenny, J. J. Skinner, S. F. Porter, John H. Ream, Welthea Crume, Alpheus Kling, Walter Nisbet, and Misses Jessie, Marie and Pearl Cox, and Florence Henton. Membership in this society is restricted to women whose ancestors served in the Continental army in the war for Amer- ican independence or otherwise rendered service to the Colonies. The objects of the organization are to collect and preserve documents and other historic relics relating to the Revolutionary period, and to mark with suitable monuments or tablets such places as have been the scene of historic events. The Peru Chapter is the only one in Miami county.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
About the beginning of the present century a movement was started in Peru for the organization of a branch of the Young Men's Christian Association. State Secretary Stacy gave all the encouragement possible to the undertaking, the Wabash Railroad Company agreed to contribute a substantial sum toward the erection of a building, and in March, 1901, arrangements were practically completed for a building to cost $10,000. Some delay was experienced in raising the necessary funds, but in March, 1902, the railroad men reported that they had raised the $1,800 assigned to them; the Wabash Company gave $6,000; Helen Gould, $3,500, and the citizens of Peru contributed $5,700, making a total of $17,000. The lot at the southeast corner of Eighth street and Broadway was pur- chased for a site and handsome building erected thereon. It is equipped with a large reading room, billiard room, bowling alley, tub and shower baths, sixteen beds and has a library of about three thousand volumes. The Wabash Railroad Company contributes $100 per month and the Chesapeake & Ohio $25 per month for the association's support. When
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
first established the association was intended as a railroad men's organ- ization, but after two or three years the privilege of becoming members was extended to others. The association now numbers about three hun- dred and fifty members with C. Y. Andrews as president; A. S. Mead, vice-president; W. B. Baker, recording secretary; John W. Hogue, gen-
PERU Y. M. C. A.
eral secretary ; George H. Carpenter, assistant secretary, and George Bradford, treasurer.
Thirty years ago or more a Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Peru, but it did not live long. During its brief existence it occupied a room on East Main street, between Court and Wabash streets. Charles L. Reyburn was one of its most active members.
CHAPTER XXI
STATISTICAL REVIEW
INCREASE IN POPULATION AND WEALTH-CHRONOLOGY-EVENTS LEAD- ING UP TO THE ORGANIZATION OF AND CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY-OFFICIAL ROSTER-A COMPLETE LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1834 To 1914.
On January 2, 1914, exactly eighty years had elapsed since the passage of the act of the Indiana legislature providing for the organ- ization of Miami county. Figures are not always interesting reading, as they are neither romantic nor poetical, though they often tell the story of a country's progress better than any thing else. So it is to figures the historian must look for a true account of the development of Miami county. Most of the early records were destroyed in the burning of the county courthouse on March, 16, 1843, so that the actual statistics for the first few years of the county's history cannot be obtained. It is a matter of record, however, that at the first election for county officers in August, 1834, only sixty votes were cast, and it is probable that the entire population of the county at that time did not greatly exceed one thousand persons. From the United States census it may be seen that the population has gradually increased from the first organization of the county to 1910. Although a few townships show a decrease in population since the year 1890, the county at large, the city of Peru and a majority of the townships have gone steadily forward. The first census taken by the United States after the erection of the county was in 1840. Since that time the increase in population has been as follows :
1840
3,048
1850
11,304
1860
16,851
21,052 1870
24,083 1880
1890
.25,823
1900
28,344
1910
29,350
429
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
The increase in wealth has fully kept pace with the growth of popu- lation. The earliest figures available on this subject are those of 1841, when the value of taxable property in the county was $401,350. In 1844, ten years after the organization of the county, this value had increased to $668,745, but it did not pass the million dollar mark until about 1852. The tax duplicate for the year 1913 shows the value of tax- able property to have been at that time nearly $17,500,000, which was distributed among the various townships and corporations as follows :
Allen township
$ 508,855
Butler township
837,285
Clay township
944,125
Deer Creek township
915,940
Erie township
609,700
Harrison township
976,485
Jackson township
834,935
Jefferson township
1,181,250
Perry township
919,380
Peru township
1,414,250
Pipe Creek township
1,069,280
Richland township
1,081,660
Union township
551,710
Washington township
845,910
City of Peru
3,799,640
Amboy
157,335
Bunker Hill
226,340
Converse
252,895
Macy
107,950
North Grove
32,170
Ridgeview
59,715
South Peru
117,420
Total
$17,444,230
In 1841 there were in the county five hundred and fifty-nine persons who paid poll tax and in 1913 the number of polls were three thousand six hundred and forty-nine.
CHRONOLOGY
The organization of a county is the outgrowth of a chain of cir- cumstances that sometimes has its beginning many years before and at some point far distant from the county itself. Following is a list of the principal occurrences that had an influence in shaping the events
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY .
that led up to the organization of Miami county. In some instances these occurrences may seem somewhat remote from the direct or actual history of the county, yet each one formed a link in the chain.
July 3, 1748, Miami Indians first mentioned in history, when some of their chiefs signed a treaty at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
November 2, 1778, Frances Slocum taken from her home in Penn- sylvania by Delaware Indians and carried into captivity. In this year George Rogers Clark conquered the British posts in Illinois and Indiana and by this conquest the boundary of the United States was fixed at the Mississippi river five years later.
July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory established by act of Congress.
November 4, 1791, General St. Clair defeated by the Indians com- manded by Little Turtle.
August 20, 1794, Indians defeated by General Anthony Wayne at the battle of Fallen Timbers, thus paving the way for the acquisition of Indian lands in Indiana.
August 3, 1795, Treaty of Greenville.
May 7, 1800, Indiana Territory created by act of Congress and General Harrison appointed territorial governor.
November 7, 1811, Battle of Tippecanoe, in which some of the Miami Indians took part.
December 18, 1812, Battle of the Mississinewa; some of the Indian villages in what is now Miami county burned by the forces under Colonel Campbell:
December 11, 1816, Indiana admitted into the Union as a state.
October 6, 1818, Treaty of St. Mary's by which the Miami Indians cede to the United States their lands in Indiana south of the Wabash river, except the "Big Reserve."
June, 1823, Francis Godfroy established a trading post on the Mis- sissinewa river not far from the present city of Peru.
October 16, 1826, Pottawatomi Indians cede to the United States all their claims to certain lands north of the Wabash river. Ten days later the Miamis relinquish their claims to the same lands. These treaties were concluded at the mouth of the Mississinewa river.
February, 1827, John McGregor, the first actual white settler in Miami county, built a cabin within the present city limits of Peru.
1827, Samuel McClure established a trading post in what is now Erie township, Miami county.
February 2, 1832, Miami county established by act of the Indiana legislature.
1
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Following is a list of the principal events in the history of the county since its erection by the above named act :
February, 1832, Work on the Wabash & Erie canal commenced at Fort Wayne.
January 30, 1833, Indiana legislature passed an act more clearly defining the boundaries of the county.
January 2, 1834, act of the legislature providing for the organiza- tion of Miami county and the location of the county seat.
February 1, 1834, the legislature ordered the construction of a state road from Miamisport (now Peru) to Strawtown, Hamilton county.
June 4, 1834, first session of the county commissioners.
January, 1835, Frances Slocum's identity discovered by Colonel George W. Ewing.
June, 1835, first steamboat ascends the Wabash river as far as Peru and to Godfroy's village near the mouth of the Mississinewa.
July 4, 1837, first canal boat arrived at the head of the lock, about a mile above Peru.
July 22, 1837, first newspaper at Peru-the Peru Forester-makes its appearance.
November 6, 1838, treaty at the forks of the Wabash river, which opened Miami county to settlement.
May 1, 1840, Francis Godfroy, last war chief of the Miamis died at his home near Peru.
November 28, 1840, last treaty with the Miami Indians in the state of Indiana.
August 13, 1841, John B. Richardville, principal chief of the Miami nation of Indians died.
March 16, 1843, Miami county courthouse destroyed by fire.
July 4, 1844, great celebration at Peru; first flag in Miami county used on this occasion.
-, 1846, first county poorhouse built.
June 16, 1846, Captain John M. Wilson's company reported at New Albany for service in the war with Mexico. In the fall of this year the Miami Indians removed to their new reservation in Kansas.
March 9, 1847, Frances Slocum died.
1854, Peru & Indianapolis Railroad completed between those two cities.
July 14, 1856, corner-stone of the second courthouse laid. The Wabash Railroad was built through the county in this year.
June 19, 1861, first Miami county company, Captain John M. Wil- son commanding, mustered into the United States service for three years.
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
February 25, 1867, Peru incorporated as a city. The Pan Handle Railroad was completed through the southern part of the county in this year.
1871-72, the Eel River Railroad built through the northern part of the county.
January 3, 1875, Miami County Medical Society incorporated.
June 13, 1881, first telephone opened in Peru-likewise the first in Miami county.
October 30, 1884, great Democratic barbecue at Peru; first ever given in Miami county.
1889, Peru & Detroit Railroad built from Peru to Chili, where it made connection with Eel River road.
July 19, 1897, first oil well in the Peru field.
January 3, 1900, gas explosion wrecked one of the small buildings at the county asylum in Washington township.
May 17, 1900, monument unveiled at the grave of Frances Slocum in the presence of more than three thousand people.
March 8, 1901, Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 for a public library at Peru.
July 27, 1901, first trolley car arrived in Peru over what is now the Fort Wayne & Northern Indiana traction line.
December 29, 1901, first passenger train arrived at Peru over the Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie (now the Chesapeake & Ohio) Railroad. In this year Broadway was paved with brick-the first paved street in the city of Peru.
December 5, 1904, James N. Tyner, a Miami county man who served as postmaster-general for a short time during the administration of President Grant, died in Washington, D. C.
October 7, 1908, corner-stone of the present courthouse laid; F. M. Stutesman marshal of the day.
October 17, 1910, corner-stone of the Peru postoffice building laid.
April 6, 1911, new courthouse formally dedicated. In the fall of this year the present high school building at Peru was opened.
March 24-25, 1913, greatest and most disastrous flood in the history of Miami county.
OFFICIAL ROSTER
Below is given a list of persons who have held office in the county of Miami, with the year in which each was elected or entered upon the duties of his office. This list is as complete as it is possible to compile from the records. Where a number of years are indicated as having elasped between the election of one man and that of his successor it Vol. I-28
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
shows a reelection of the first named officer, as in the case of Charles R. Hughes, who was twice elected clerk and served from 1894 to 1902. In order to understand such evidences of reelection it is well for the reader to remember that clerks, auditors and recorders are elected for terms of four years ; treasurers, sheriffs, coroners and surveyors for two years ; representatives to the state legislature for two years and senators for four years.
Clerks-Benjamin H. Scott, 1834; James B. Fulwiler, 1848; Alex- ander Blake, 1855; Darius C. Darrow, 1862; John A. Graham, 1866; Jesse S. Zern, 1870; Charles A. Parsons, 1878; Joseph H. Larimer, 1886; Charles R. Hughes, 1894; William H. Augur, 1902; Aaron S. Berger, 1910. Benjamin H. Scott, the first county clerk, also dis- charged the duties of county auditor until 1841 and those of county recorder until 1848 ..
Auditors-James M. Defrees, 1841; Ira Mendenhall, 1851; Elam Henton, 1855; Thomas Jay, 1859 (died before the expiration of his term and Franklin T. Foote appointed to the vacancy in 1862) ; Elam Henton, 1862 (died in office) ; Charles Pefferman, 1864 (resigned) ; Milo D. Ellis, 1865; Louis B. Fulwiler, 1870; R. B. Runyon, 1878; William B. Miller, 1886; Thomas G. Stewart, 1890; Michael Bappert, 1894; Clarkson W. Macy, 1898; Charles Griswold, 1906; Frank K. McElheny, 1910.
Recorders-William C. Buchanan, 1848; George Wilkinson, 1854; Abel T. Hurtt, 1858; William S. Todd, 1862; William F. Ege, 1870; William F. Gibney, 1878; Michael Bappert, 1886; Eli Jameson, 1890; B. Mckinstry, 1898; J. Homer Jenkins, 1906 (reelected in 1910).
Sheriffs-John McGregor (appointed June 4, 1834, and served until August of the same year) ; Jacob Linzee, 1834; A. Leonard, 1838 (died in office and Louis D. Adkinson appointed for the unexpired term) ; John A. Graham, 1840; Noah S. Allsbaugh, 1844; Coleman Henton, 1846; Jonas Hoover, 1850 (reelected in 1852, but resigned before the close of his second term and Hiram Moore appointed to the vacancy) ; John Wertz, 1854; Joseph Hiner, 1856 (resigned and John F. Miller appointed) ; Oliver H. P. Macy, 1858; Wesley Wallick, 1860; Oliver H. P. Macy, 1862; Wesley Wallick, 1864; Samuel Ream, 1868; Willard Griswold, 1872; Vincent O'Donald, 1876; A. J. Parks, 1880; Edward T. Gray, 1884; James B. Rhineberger, 1888; Thomas Mckinstry, 1892; James J. Dunn, 1896; Abraham Shilling, 1900; Frank Skinner, 1902; John L. York, 1904; John W. Volpert, 1906; Frank Hostetler, 1910 (reelected in 1912).
Treasurers-Abner Overman, 1834; A. M. Higgins, 1836 (served but a short time and was succeeded by Albert Cole in the same year) ;
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Zachariah W. Pendleton and William R. Mowbray, 1837; Samuel Glass, 1842; Carlton R. Tracy, 1848; Daniel Brower, 1852; Silas Enyart, 1854; Henry Dutton, 1856; David R. Todd, 1858; James T. Miller, 1862; Otto P. Webb, 1864; James T. Miller, 1866; Charles Spencer, 1870, (died in office and William B. Deniston appointed in 1873) ; Ira B. Myers, 1874; John R. Porter, 1878; Ebenezer Humrickhouse, 1880; Joseph Clymer, 1884; Azro H. Wilkinson, 1888; William H. Zimmer- man, 1892; Albert T. Miller, 1896; Harry F. Masters, 1900; Frank Spaulding, 1904; Daniel W. Condo, 1908; Aaron B. Zook, 1912.
Surveyors-Joseph B. Campbell, 1835; Alphonso A. Cole, 1840; S. Holman, 1841; Ira Mendenhall, 1843; George W. Goodrich, 1847; Milton Cook 1852; H. Beane, 1854; J. M. Moorhead, 1856; Henry Krauskopf, 1858; C. J. Kloenne, 1860; Henry Klauskopf, 1861; Andrew J. Phelps, 1863; George W. Goodrich, 1864; Dewitt C. Good- rich, 1866; Samuel C. Haacken, 1868; W. W. Sullivan, 1872; Richard H. Cole, 1876; Michael Horan, 1880; Clarence S. Jackson, 1888; Noah W. Trissal, 1892; Allen G. Trippeer, 1896; Peter Kelly, 1898; Arthur W. Smith, 1904; Earl B. Lockridge, 1906; Berne Welch, 1912.
Coroners-James Crowell, 1836; James Mowbray, 1846; William S. White, 1848; Robert Meller, 1854; James Crowell, 1862; Adam Beck, 1868; Joseph Oldham, 1874; Joseph C. Ogle, 1876; Charles Broadbeck, 1878; A. B. Scott, 1879; Abner D. Kimball, 1880; George Nelp, 1882; Eli Jameson, 1886 ; Frank Grandstaff, 1888; N. O. Ross, Jr., 1894; William F. Lenhart, 1896; John E. Yarling, 1898; David C. Ridenour, 1904; Clayton E. Goodrick, 1906; John D. Malott, 1910; M. L. Wagner, 1912.
Commissioners-First District: John Crudson, 1834; William M. Reyburn, 1835; Zachariah W. Pendleton, 1838; Daniel R. Bearss, 1840 ; John Hiner, 1841; George Wilson, 1844; George C. Smith, 1847; Samuel Jameson, 1850; David A. Carr, 1853; Cornelius Cain and Enos B. Massey, 1854; Nathaniel D. Nicoles, 1856; John Hann, 1861; Thomas Dillard, 1864; William Zehring, 1867; Joseph B. Mills, 1873; Stephen Cranor, 1876; D. H. Cain, 1880; George S. Evans, 1882; (reelected and died before the expiration of his second term, Daniel Duckwall being appointed to the vacancy) ; Jesse W. Knox, 1888; David Stitt, 1894; Jesse W. Miller, 1896; Moses Heusler, 1900; Alfred Ramsey, 1904; Thomas M. Busby, 1906; David T. Kessler, 1912.
Second District : John W. Miller, 1834; James Tillett, 1839 ; Henry Zern, 1848; Frederick S. Hackley, 1851; George Wilson, 1854; Allen Skillman, 1857; David Charters, 1860; Paul Burk, 1863; David Charters, 1866; Reuben C. Harrison, 1869; Absalom Wilson, 1875; George Eiken- berry, 1878; Frederick Myers, 1884; Benjamin Wilson, 1886; George
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Eikenberry, 1890; Daniel King, 1894; John Tomey, 1898; John C. Davis, 1902; Jacob Casper, 1904; Timothy M. Ginney, 1908; Jacob Casper, 1910.
Third District: Alexander Jameson, 1834; Luther Chapin, 1840; Samuel Jameson, 1841; Martin M. Scruggs, 1842; Hiram Butler, 1849; Ethan A. Deniston, 1855; James R. Leonard, 1861; Reuben K. Charles, 1864, (resigned soon after his election and James R. Leonard appointed to fill the vacancy) ; Benjamin Graft, 1870; John C. Davis, 1876; J. W. Hunt, 1882; John C. Davis, 1884; Noah Miller, 1886; E. V. Robbins, 1890; Lewis Bond, 1894; Robert W. Clendenning, 1896; James S. Bair, 1902; James W. Hurst, 1906; Charles J. Ward, 1908 (reelected in 1912).
Senators-At different periods Miami county has been attached to some of the adjoining counties to form a senatorial district. From the organization of the county to 1847 it formed part of district com- posed of the counties of Cass, Miami and Fulton; then until 1860 the district consisted of the counties of Miami and Wabash; from 1860 to 1864 Miami and Fulton counties constituted the district; it was then composed of Miami and Wabash until 1874, when Miami and Howard were joined for senatorial purposes. Consequently, in the list of sena- tors are the names of a number of persons who were not residents of Miami county, but who represented it in the upper house of the legisla- ture by virtue of its forming part of the district in which such senator lived.
George W. Ewing, 1837; William Wright, 1840; William M. Rey- burn, 1843; Cyrus Taber, 1846; Jacob D. Cassatt, 1847; Benjamin Henton, 1850; John Schellenberger, 1852; Daniel Bearss, 1854; Samuel S. Terry, 1864; Stearns Fisher, 1868; Robert Miller, 1870; Daniel Bearss, 1874; Milton Garrigus, 1878; Louis D. Adkinson, 1882; B. F. Harness, 1886; Robert Loveland, 1890; James O'Brien, 1894 ; , George C. Miller, 1898: J. W. Johnson, 1902; Samuel T. McMurray, 1904; Edgar P. Kling, 1906; David E. Jenkins, 1910.
Representatives-Miami and Cass counties formed a representative district in 1834-35; then Miami and Fulton to 1842; then Miami and Wabash to 1846; the county then constituted a representative district by itself until 1874, when it was also given a joint representative with Howard county; from 1880 to 1886 Miami had one representative; then a district was formed of Miami and Cass counties. In the following list, where two representatives are mentioned as having been elected in the same year, the first is Miami county's representative and the sec- ond is the joint representative from the district.
Gillis McBain (or McBean), 1835; William N. Hood, 1836; Alex-
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
ander Wilson, 1838; William M. Reyburn, 1840; Daniel R. Bearss, 1841; Gabriel Swihart, 1842; Daniel R. Bearss, 1843; John U. Pettit, 1844; Benjamin Henton, 1845; George W. Holman, 1846; Alphonzo A. Cole, 1847; Nathan O. Ross, 1848 ; Alphonzo A. Cole, 1849 ; Richard F. Donald- son, 1850; Benjamin Henton, 1852; Nelson W. Dickerson, 1854; Reuben C. Harrison, 1856; William Smith, 1858; Richard, F. Donaldson, 1862; Jonas Hoover, 1864; Nathan O. Ross, 1866; Jonathan D. Cox, 1868; J. W. Eward, 1872; David Charters and Samuel Woody, 1874; Wil- liam Zehring and W. H. Thompson, 1876; A. C. Bearss and G. I. Reed, 1878; Charles A. Cole, 1880; Nott N. Antrim, 1882; H. V. Passage, 1884; Jabez T. Cox and Charles T. Cox, 1886; W. W. Robbins and Charles T. Cox, 1888; W. W. Robbins and W. W. Kilgore, 1890; H. V. Passage and John M. Blair, 1892; Truman Grimes and James M. Stutesman, 1894; David Haifly and Peter Wallrath, 1896; John Cunningham and Orlando A. Somers, 1898; Henry V. Passage and Lewis S. Conner, 1900 (the district now composed of the counties of Grant, Miami, Howard, Wabash and Huntington) ; Frank W. Bearss and Lewis S. Conner, 1902; Ethan T. Reasoner and Henry M. Haag, 1904; Burton Green and James J. Moss, 1906; Ira A. Kessler and James P. Davis, 1908; William A. Hammond and William A. Bren- ing, 1910; Jacob A. Cunningham and James P. Davis, 1912.
Prior to 1850 representatives were elected annually, but since the adoption of the present state constitution they have been elected bien- nally. Benjamin Henton was the first man to represent Miami county in the lower branch of the general assembly under the present constitu- tion.
County Assessors-The office of county assessor is a comparatively new one in Miami county had been held by only two men up to the beginning of the year 1914. Henry B. Sams was elected county assessor in 1896 ; was reelected in 1900 and held the position until 1906, when he was succeeded by George W. Miller, who was reelected in 1910.
County Council-The county council was created by act of the legis- lature of 1899 as a body to have supervision over the appropriations and expenditures of the board of county commissioners. In Miami county the council consists of seven members, three of whom are elected from the county at large and one from each of four districts. The first council, which was elected in 1900, consisted of Samuel W. Ream, Alfred Zehring and Oliver Armantrout, councilmen at large; David T. Kessler, first district; John Isler, second district; William Shell- hamer, third district; Richard W. Butt, fourth district.
In 1902 Robert M. Daniels, Britton L. Runyan and Charles J. Ward were elected councilmen at large; Thomas M. Busby, first district ;
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Jacob Marsh, second district; Philip V. Graf, third district; Hezekiah Tombaugh, fourth district. This council served for four years.
The council elected in 1906 was composed of Lewis Bond, Albert A. Campbell and Britton L. Runyan, members at large; W. N. Albright, first district; Jonathan Isler, second district; Philip V. Graft, third district; Hezekiah Tombaugh, fourth district.
In 1910 John C. Davis, Joseph S. Boswell and Wilson M. Garland were elected councilmen at large; A. A. Miller, first district; Jacob A. Cunningham, second district; Jacob Theobald, third district; Lewis Bond, fourth district.
In every community or country where public officials are chosen by the people, it sometimes happens that men are elected to positions of trust and responsibility more on account of their influence with the voters than for their capability and integrity. It is not surprising that officials of this character occasionally proved to be guilty of malfeasance in office, or when they retire the affairs of the office are found to be in a shape that furnishes conclusive evidence of their incompetency. Fortunately for the interests of the people of Miami county such instances in the management of her affairs have been extremely rare. The men who have been elected to public positions have not been lack- ing in political finesse and acumen, but practically all of them have dis- charged their duties in a manner to reflect credit upon themselves and with satisfaction to the public. A glance at the above list of the men who have conducted the public business of the county throughout its entire history will disclose the names of many who are remembered as men of sound judgment and unimpeachable integrity, who in the exer- cise of their official functions used the same careful and conscientious methods that marked them as successful men in their private business enterprises. To win enough friends to be elected to public office is well, but to retain those friends after the office is relinquished is better. And few, indeed, are they who have administered any of the affairs of Miami county that have forfeited any of the esteem and confidence of their fellow citizens.
BOUND TO PLEASE THE Heckman Bindery Nc.
DEC.65
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
7
HH
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