USA > Indiana > Porter County > History of Porter County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests > Part 9
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
Vol. I-G
,
82
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
nities, and there is an annual lecture and entertainment course which furnishes both amusement and instruction to the students, always, with a view to the maintenance of a high moral standard. Mr. Brown has been called an autocrat, but in the management of his school he has never insisted upon the students' observing any system of iron clad rules. IIe does what he can to assist them in maintaining their self-respect, leaving them to be their own judges as to the minor details of behavior or personal habits. Consequently a large majority of the student body discountenances rudeness or dissipation, and it is quite certain that in no school with a similar number of students is there a purer moral atmos- phere than at Valparaiso.
George Kennan, in MeClure's Magazine for March, 1908, in writing of this university, says: "It is difficult for one who is not an educa- tional expert to form a trustworthy judgment with regard to the real value and solidity of the instruction given in an institution that carries on its rolls the names of five thousand students and that has more than three hundred recitations every day; but after watching the work in the laboratories, listening to lectures and recitations in scores of class- rooms, visiting the Medical College and College of Dentistry in Chicago, and availing myself generally of all the means of obtaining information open to me, I reached the conclusion that the Valparaiso University meets and satisfies one of the most urgent needs of American life; and that 'by fitting a large number of persons to discharge the duties of their several callings' it successfully attains the objects that its founders had in view when they opened a small school, with three departments and four instructors, thirty-four years ago. A student might carry his educational training much further in Yale, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, thau he could in Valpa- raiso; but thousands of ambitious young men cannot afford to go to the more expensive universities, and. Valparaiso gives them what they want at a cost within their means. It does not turn out great scholars or sav- ants, and does not attempt to train men for profound and epoch-making investigations in any field of scientific research ; but it does give thousands
:
·
83
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
of young men and women an adequate preparation for the duties and aet- ivities of every day life, and thus helps to raise the standard of citizen- ship and extend the area of prosperity, happiness, and general well- being."
In the above extract Mr. Kennan has described in a nutshell the character of the Valparaiso University. The education imparted at the school is of the practical, every-day type, and the policy of the manage- ment seems to be "liberal expenditures for efficiency and comfort, but none whatever for luxury or show." Hence, in carrying out this policy, the instructors receive good salaries, the class-rooms and laboratories are fully equipped with all the necessary apparatus and materials for sue cessful investigation, the library of some 13,000 volumes is purely a "working" library, the furniture in the school rooms, dormitories and general office is plain and substantial, but nowhere is there anything that could be considered a display of ostentation or wealth, merely for the sake of the display.
Prior to 1880 the school was the sole property of Mr. Brown. In that year Prof. O. P. Kinscy acquired an interest and is now the vice- president of the institution. Both these men are tireless workers in be- half of the university, and they have built up an institution of which the people of Porter county and the State of Indiana may justly feel proud. More than one-third of the county superintendents of the Indi- ana public schools are graduates of Valparaiso, and perhaps one-half of the teachers in the state attended the school at some time. Except in the departments of medicine and dentistry, students can enter at any time. In the medical and dental colleges the student must enter at the opening of the college year or within ten days thereafter. To quote again from the magazine article by Mr. Kennan: "The Valparaiso University, as it stands, is virtually the property of H. B. Brown and O. P. Kinsey. They created it and to them it belongs. They choose to regard them- selves, however, as trustees for the people, and they have already made arrangements to bequeath the property to the people when they die. It will be as noble a monument as two men could have, because it will
84
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
represent a half century or more of fruitful thought, patient labor, and unselfish devotion."
When Rev. M. O'Reilly took charge of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Paul's at Valparaiso in 1863, he found his people without the educational facilities preseribed by the church, and at once set about the establishment of a parochial school. Some delay was experienced in getting possession of the old church building, but as soon as possession was obtained Father O'Reilly opened a day school in it. His next effort was to ereet a building especially adapted for school purposes. The Catholic population at that time was comparatively small and many of the parishioners were poor financially, but Father O'Reilly persevered in his work until a school building costing $8,000 was finished, though the only contributions he received amounted to but $35. As soon as the building was ready for occupancy a school was opened with three teachers, and from that time to the present school has been taught there every year. With the increase in population, Father O'Reilly found it somewhat expensive to employ seeular teachers and began making prepar- ations to seeure the services of a religious order of teachers, especially equipped for the work. He ereeted a suitable dwelling for such teachers, the members of the congregation contributing liberally for the purpose, and in 1872 the Sisters of Providence were placed in charge of the school, opening their first term in September of that year. In 1912 the school was under the supervision of Rev. W. S. Hogan, pastor of St. Paul's parish, five teachers were employed, and the school enrolled about 115 pupils. A parochial school has also been maintained by the Catholie church for many years at Chesterton.
Along in the '50s a number of Germans settled at Valparaiso and in the immediate vicinity. Most of these people were members of the Lu- theran ehurel. In 1865 a building was erected at the northwest corner of Pink and Academy streets, to be used for religious worship and as a school house. A school was opened in this house in the fall of that year by Rev. C. Meyer, who had recently been called as pastor of the little congregation. This school has been maintained since that time and is
85
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
well attended by the children belonging to the Lutheran families of Val- paraiso. According to the report of the county superintendent of public schools for the year 1911-12, there were 261 children enrolled in the paro- chial schools of the county.
About that time the graded school system was introduced in the county, the teacher's institute also became a factor in the educational development of the State of Indiana. Under the law establishing the county institute, the teachers who attended were given credit upon the license certificates. The attendance of the teachers at the county insti- tute ledthem to become personally acquainted, ideas were interchanged, and from the instructors they learned the lessons necessary to apply a uniform method of teaching. By this means a great benefit was reflected upon the patrons of the common schools who might find it necessary to remove from one school district to another. Instead of the old hap- hazard, "go as you please" style, of teaching, the work was now done in accordance with a graded system, so the pupil who left one school to enter another could soon be correctly placed in classes where he could go for- ward with his work as though it had not been interrupted by removal. Commissioner Harris, of the United States Bureau of Education, has said that Indiana has the best and most effective system of common schools in the world. The Porter county schools, as a part of this great system, have kept pace with the educational progress of the state, and the county and township institutes have played no small part in elevat- ing the standard of education in the public schools of the county.
At the county institute of 1881 the Porter County Teachers' Associa- tien was organized with Prof. M. L. Phares as president; Miss Kate B. Cronacan, secretary ; Miss Lizzie O'Reilly, assistant secretary. The next meeting of the association was held on August 24, 1882, while the county institute was in session. Professor Phares and Miss Cronacan were re-elected, and S. E. Brayton was chosen treasurer. A committee of three-Professor Banta, Superintendent Porter and Miss Hewitt- was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. There the history
86
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
of the organization seems to have come to an untimely end, as the writer has been unable to find a copy of the constitution, if one was ever adopted, or to learn what became of the association.
During the school year for 1911-12 the Valparaiso city sehools cm- ployed thirty-six teachers, to wit: seven in the high school; eleven in the Central Building; seven in the Columbia Building; seven in the Gardner Building, and four special teachers in mannal training, domestic art, kindergarten and music. The city board of education was composed
HEBRON HIGH SCHOOL
of P. W. Clifford, president; J. R. Pagin, secretary ; J. E. Roessler, tracs- urer; A. A. IIughart, superintendent; Lu S. Brooke, clerk. The county board was mode up of Fred H. Cole, county superintendent, chairman ; P. W. Clifford, president of the Valparaiso city board; and the trustees of the several townships, as follows : Ernest E. Dilley, Boone; John W. McNay, Center; Frank L. Beach, Jackson; Charles G. Turk, Liberty ; John W. Freer, Morgan; William II. Goodwin, Pine; W. N. Anderson, Pleasant ; C. E. Fifield, Portage; Lewis W. Stevens, Porter; W. O. Me- Ginley, Union ; E. D. Cain, Washington; A. R. Gustafson, Westehester.
87
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
John W. MeNay was secretary of the board and B. F. Breyfogle, truant officer.
Outside the city of Valparaiso, commissioned high schools are main- tained at Wheeler, Hebron and Chesterton; a certified high school at Crisman; three years' high schools in Jackson township at Center and in Porter township at Boone Grove; a. township high school in Wash- ington township, and a grammar school at Porter. Center township has six school districts; Union, seven; Liberty, seven; Jackson, seven; Por- tage, four; Boone, five; Westchester, seven ; Porter, eight ; Pleasant, five; Washington, five; Morgan, seven; Pine, five. This is exclusive of the high schools above mentioned, and one teacher is employed in cach dis- trict school. Including the superintendents of the several high schools, there were employed during the school year 1911-12 a total of 160 teachers in the county and city of Valparaiso. The average daily wage of these teachers was $3.38. The total enrollment in the county was 4,002, out of a school population of 5,882, or a little less than seventy per cent. The estimated value of the public school property in the county was $359,725, and the total amount paid for teachers' salaries for the year was $94,906. The sources of tuition revenue were as follows :
Local taxation
.$64,584.20
Common school interest
23,368.00
Congressional interest
1,800.38
Liquor license 4,400.00
Surplus dog fund
1,105.12
Total, $95,257.70
This fund distributed pro rata among the school population would inake the cost of tuition a little less than $1.62 for a school term of 178 days-that being the average length of term in Porter county for the year ending in May, 1912-or less than one cent per day for cach pupil, had the entire school population been in attendance upon the public sehools. Under such conditions a good common school education does not
88
IIISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
cost much, and there is no excuse for people to allow their children to grow up in ignorance in a community where the public schools of a high standard are maintained, as they are in the county of Porter.
While the common schools, the academies and the universities are the chief educational agencies, there is another factor that wields a force in the distribution of information among the people. That factor is the press. Porter county, being situated within easy distance of the city of Chieago and connected with it by several lines of railroad, has easy ac- cess to the great metropolitan dailies of that city. And since the intro- duction of the rural mail delivery system, practically every denizen of the county can have his daily paper. Besides these great metropolitan papers, the local press has played an important part in the dissemination of information among the people of the county. The first newspaper in the county was a small folio, about 12 by 16 inches in size, called the Republican. It was started in 1842 by James Castle, who bought a small hand press and a meager supply of type from Solon Robinson, of Lake county, and removed the outfit to Valparaiso. It was "devoted to the dissemination of independent political views and the diffusion of general knowledge." Compared with the newspapers of today the Republican was an insignificant sheet, but it was successfully conducted by its founder for about two years, when it was sold to William M. Harrison, who wehanged the name to the Western Ranger. Mr. Harrison also changed the political policy of the paper and published as a straight Democratie advocate. On April 24, 1847, William C. Taleott acquired an interest in the Ranger and a new series was begun. By this time the paper had been inereased in size to a five-column folio, and under the new management the subseription price was fixed at $1.00 per year, if paid in advance, and if not paid within six months, $1.50. Although Mr. Talcott was a Free-soil Democrat and his partner was a Whig, with leanings toward the Abolitionists, their political views did not interfere with their personal relations, which were always pleasant. There is little doubt, however, that the difference of opinion had its effect upon the policy of the paper. In June, 1849, Mr. Taleott purchased his partner's
89
IHISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
interest, and on July 25, 1849, announced the change of name to the Practical Observer, the first number of which appeared the following week. Within a short time the paper was enlarged to a seven-column folio and the name Valparaiso Practical Observer was adopted, sub- seription price, $1.00 per year, if paid in advance, or $2.00 at the close of the year. In March, 1852, the word Valparaiso was dropped from the name. In January, 1853, the paper was made a tri-weekly, published on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. In addition to these issues the regular weekly edition was published on Thursdays, and subscribers re- ceived the whole four papers for the price of one subscription, which remained the same. The paper was reduced in size, however, to a five- column folio.
On September 3, 1853, Mr. Taleott began the publication of a small daily-the first daily paper in the county-and the daily, triweekly and weekly were furnished to subscribers for $5.00 per year. Near the close of the year the subscription price was changed to $5.00 for the daily, and $1.50 each for the semi-weekly and weekly, the tri-weekly being discon- tinued. The Observer began the year 1854 as a six-column, four page paper, and in the issue of January 5th the publisher claimed: 1. That it was the largest paper in the State of Indiana; 2. That it was the largest paper in the world published in so small a town; 3. That it was the only semi-weekly paper in the world published either in so small a town, so sparse a country, or at so low a price. IIe further claimed that the Observer published more faithfully and impartially than any other paper, all the local and general news, free from personal villification, and in the interest of "true Democratic principles as laid down in the . Declaration of Independence." During the next two years Mr. Talcott had several assistants, but none of them remained for any length of time. Early in 1857, Mr. Talcott having been elected to office, he sold the paper to Dr. R. A. Cameron, announcing the sale in his valedietory, April 7. 1857. At that time the Republican party was just making its appear- ance, and as Dr. Cameron was an exponent of the principles of that party, he determined to change the name of the paper to agree with his
.
90
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
politieal faith. Accordingly, he issued, on April 14, 1857, the first num- ber of the Valparaiso Republican. The following September J. F. Me- Carthy became associate editor and continued in that eapaeity until March 23, 1858, when he was succeeded by Thomas MeConnell, who is remembered as a vigorous and forceful writer. On July 29, 1858, Dr. Cameron sold the paper to Mr. McConnell and Henry W. Taleott.
William C. Taleott, who had been so long associated with or owner of the paper, bought an interest on October 14, 1858, and early in the sueeeeding year a new series was commeneed, consisting of a one-page daily, a four-page semi-weekly, and an eight page weekly. This arrange- ment continued until March, 1859, when Dr. Cameron again purchased the paper and took as an associate J. C. Thompson. The latter remained with the paper until March, 1860, the uame in the meantime having been changed to the Republic, September 8, 1858. With the first eall for vol- nuteers in 1861, Dr. Cameron offered his services to his country, and the issue of April 25, 1861, bears the name of E. R. Beebe as editor and proprietor. It does not appear that Dr. Cameron relinquished the owner- ship, for in August the Republic bore the names of MeConnell, Cameron and Beebe as editors. It is said that Mr. Beebe bought the paper, but was unable to meet the payment of his notes according to agreement. McConnell then purchased the paper, but met with no better financial suceess than did Mr. Beebe, and in April, 1862, Dr. Cameron's wife assumed control and installed Mr. Beebe as editor. This arrangement lasted until December 11, 1862, when Mr. Beebe severed his connection with the paper, which was then advertised for sale by Mrs. Cameron. No purchaser appeared and Mrs. Cameron continued to get out the paper regularly, with the assistance of her husband, who during all these vicissitudes had been "corresponding editor," sending home from the front long, interesting letters regarding his army experiences and the "progress of the war." On June 18, 1863, Aaron Gurney became joint editor and the paper continued on a somewhat erratie and uneertain eareer until in December of the same year, when publication was dis continued.
91
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
Upon being mustered ont of the service, Dr. Cameron returned to his home in Valparaiso and on January 4, 1886, revived the Republic. Just twenty days later appeared the first number of the Porter County Vidette, Gurney & Pomeroy, proprietors. In May, 1866, Thomas Me- Connell again became associated with the Republic as joint editor and publisher, and in November the entire plant was sold to Gilbert A. Pierce, who almost immediately afterward sold it to the publishers of the Vidette. The two papers were then consolidated under the name of the Vidette and Republic, with Aaron Gurney as general editor. The same month, November, 1866, Mr. Pierce started a new paper called the Republican, with Orrin E. Harper & Co., publishers, J. Harper, associate editor. After several changes in the editorial staff, this paper was merged with the Vidette and Republic in July, 1868, Mr. Pierce becom- ing joint editor with Mr. Gurney. On June 4, 1874, the paper was pur- chased by William C. Talcott, who soon afterward dropped the first part of the name and continued the publication as the Vidette, under which name it is still running, John M. Mavity being the editor and proprietor, though several changes in ownership and editorial management have occurred since 1874.
.
In June, 1856, a man named Berry began the publication of the Porter Democrat, which he conducted until February 17, 1857, when the outfit was sold to Rock & Jones. The paper was a six-column folio, and · the subscription price was $1.50 in advance, $2.00 at the end of six months, and $2.50 at the end of the year. Rock & Jones were succeeded by H. P. Lynch, who sold out to B. D. Harper in December, 1858, and soon after that S. R. Bryant became associate editor. R. C. Nash sue- ceeded IIarper, and later became the sole proprietor. The last number of the paper was issued on November 22, 1860. Shortly after that Rock & Bryant began the publication of the Porter Gazette, but it was a short-lived affair, only a few numbers being issued.
The suspension of the Porter Democrat left the county without a Dem- ocratie paper until 1871, when Engelbert Zimmerman started the Val- paraiso Messenger. Mr. Zimmerman was an experienced newspaper
-
92
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
.
man and soon placed the Messenger on a paying basis. In August, 1881, H. B. Brown, principal of the Northern Indiana Normal School, purchased a half interest, but the demands of the school were too press- ing to permit of his becoming an active journalist and he withdrew. In 1891 a daily edition was started. The Messenger is still running as au afternoon daily. and weekly, Arthur F. Zimmerman being editor and proprietor.
The first number of the Hebron Free Press was issued in September, 1878, by H. R. Gregory. It was an independent paper in its political views. Mr. Gregory continued at the head of the paper for about a year, or until in October, 1879, when he sold out to W. II. Mansfield, who changed the name to the Local News. The following year the office was removed to Lowell, Lake county. Hebron was then withont a news- paper until in 1894, when the News began its career as a weekly Re- publican paper, published every Friday. After several changes in owner- ship and management it became the property of A. R. MeAlpin, who is still running it with fair sueeess.
In 1875 the students of the Normal School (now the Valparaiso Uni- versity) commeneed the publication of the Normal Mirror, which con- tinned for about three years, when it was superseded by the Northern Indiana School Journal, with W. J. Bell as editor. A few other at- tempts have been made to establish publieations in connection with the university, but none of them has been successful. The College Current- was published for a while in the '90s by Garret W. Doty, and from 1905 to 1910 there was a journal published under the auspiees of the students and known as the College Herald.
In 1881 the Valparaiso Herald made its bow to the public. It was edited by P. O'Sullivan, was full of news and met with favor apparently, but after two or three years it passed out of existence. The next journal- istie undertaking was the Valparaiso Star, which was started as a small . daily by James A. MeConahy in September, 1889. After running it as a daily for about two years, Mr. MeConahy changed the paper to a weekly and in this form conducted it sueeessfully until 1898, when he sold it to
.
.
93
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY
the Videttc, the first number of the Star-Vidette being issued on Sep- tember 22, 1898. At that time Mr. Doty, who had been the publisher of the Cotlege Current, was connected with the paper. When Mr. Mavity came into possession of the paper on September 18, 1903, the word "Star" was dropped from the name. Soon after the consolidation of the Star and the Vidette, Mr. Doty secured the outfit formerly used by Mr. McConahy and began the publication of the Journal, which was soon afterward sold to Charles Martin. The venture did not prove suecess- ful from a financial standpoint, and the project was soon abandoned.
The Chesterton Tribune began its existence on October 28, 1882, when the first number appeared with W. W. Mikels as editor. It then passed into the hands of a company of which John T. Taylor was president. In June, 1884, A. J. Bowser and S. D. Watson acquired possession and ownership, but on September 24, 1884, Mr. Watson withdrew, leaving Mr. Bowser sole proprietor. It is recognized as one of the best local papers in northern Indiana, full of news of a bright and sparkling char- acter and given a circulation that is much larger than is usually accorded to papers published in towns the size of Chesterton. In June, 1912, there were but four newspapers published in the county, vix the Vidette and Messenger, of Valparaiso; the Chesterton Tribune, and the Hebron News, accounts of which are given above.
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.