USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 50
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
structures, of creditable styles of architecture, some of which are still standing, mementoes of the early settlement. The population was possibly some 500.
Even at this early date the town had its contentions and neigh- borhood jealousies. The leading spirit on one hand was A. M. Hurd, President of the Iron Company, and on the other his name- sake of the hotel. A. M. Hurd was a strenuous advocate of temperance and the moralities, while the views of the hotel pro- prietor and his friends had a strong leaning toward what was called liberality. Two Churches were already organized, the Presbyterian and the Methodist. Over the first presided Rev. A. Kellogg, a most excellent man, who for a score of years afterward worthily filled the position of pastor. The Methodist preacher in charge was Rev. H. B. Beers, a man of strong mind and the requisite essentials for a pioneer preacher, who has now gone to his reward. "Don't you think he preaches well, considering his being only six months from the Bench?" inquired my friend Hudson. A vision of judi- cial ermine, cast aside for the branches of palm and olive of the Gospel of Peace passed before my eyes, as I eagerly asked, " What bench?" " Why, the shoemaker's bench," was the earnest and truthful reply; and I really thought he preached well under the cir- cumstances. Neat and commodions buildings were erected during the season for these denominations, and all took pride in assisting at their raising.
Among the citizens whose names I recall, in addition to those from Brockport, were John H. Orr, a member of the Iron Company, William Sisson, their estimable book-keeper, Dr. G. W. R. Fowler, whose widow afterward became the wife of the reverend poet, John Pierpont, Mr. Bancroft, Alonzo Delano, Nathan Russ, C. W . Pom- eroy, J. E. Hollister, Judge Deming, Dr. J. A. Stiles, D. J. Cooley, Dr. Mallett, H. E. Hurlbut, A. M. Wing, Mr. Childs, Samuel B. Romaine, Philo Hurd, Monroe and John Sherman, E. A. Sher- wood, a bright boy even then anticipating his future blindness, Frank Taylor, Nicar, Goldsmith and Wilson.
The election just terminated returned to the Legislature Jona- than H. Liston as Senator, and Thomas D. Baird as Representative, both prominent leaders of the Whig party. Conventions and party caucuses were then unknown. If a candidate had no friend to announce him for office, he did the next best thing, which was to nominate himself. Coming from a land of caucuses and con- ventions, the writer endeavored, through the columns of the South Bend Free Press, to persuade the native Hoosiers of the excellen- cies of the system, but for quite a period these efforts were unavailing. Party lines were not closely drawn, and, under the system in vogue, not unfrequently a dozen candidates ran for the same office, and a small minority of votes was sufficient to elect.
My first visit to South Bend was early in the fall of 1836, when curiosity attracted me to the court-house, a plain, square-built structure of brick, of the original value of $4,000, said to be alike
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
as two peas to the court-house " in yonder, by Dayton." Court was in session, an important trial being on hand, in which His Honor, Judge Samuel C. Sample, was interested, and his place was therefore temporarily occupied by some disinterested member of the Bar. The court was in tumult, an important paper in the case having disappeared, which was more than suspected to be in pos- session of Hon. J. A. Liston, one of the attorneys. After much wrangling, Judge Sample ascended the benchi, called the court to order, and addressing Mr. Liston very emphatically, told him he must produee the missing paper or be committed to jail for con- tempt. Wherenpon Mr. Liston very promptly produced the document from his pocket, with a request to the opposing attorneys to hereafter take care of their own papers, and the ease proceeded.
In the spring of 1837 the writer became a resident of South Bend, and entered into business in the practice of medicine with his father, Dr. W. R. Ellis. Other physicians in the town were Dr. Samuel Finley, a man of fine reputation and an elder in the Presbyterian Church, of the utmost rigidity; and Dr. Jacob Hard- man, also an eminent physician of mueh worth and integrity. To these members of the faculty were added during the year Dr. Har- vey Humphreys, a man of splendid abilities and acquirements, whose nntimely death occurred 13 months after his arrival; and Dr. E. S. Sheffield and Dr. George Rex, who soon after returned to his home in the East. With Dr. Humphreys came his brother, Lonis Humphreys, who soon afterward entered the profession, and whose ability as a physician, and whose worth as a eitizen have done honor to the place of his adoption. Dr. Daniel Dayton resided at that time at Portage Point, or "Pin Hook," as it was popularly termed, as did also that popular and eccentric Presby- terian divine, Rev. Abner Morse.
South Bend at this time had a population of perhaps 800. The principal merchants were A. R. & J. H. Harper, whose first invoice of goods had been shipwrecked, but who were now doing a flourish- ing business; John Brownfield, a careful, methodical business man; Lathrop M. Taylor, a substantial citizen who had dealt largely with the Indian tribes; L. P. Sawyer, who occupied the old brick store erceted by A. Coquillard; and Horatio Chapin, whose store-room was nearly opposite the Dwight House; Christopher Emrick had his bakery and beer house; Christian Wolf dispensed fire-water to the thirsty.
The town possessed two modest frame buildings known as the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Mr. Bryant, an eloquent and able man, officiated in the former, having for his ruling elders Dr. Finley and Horatio Chapin; at the Methodist church about this period, preached the well and widely known Elder Hargrave.
BY JOHN D. DEFREES.
About the middle of an afternoon of a bright day in August, 1831, nearly fifty years ago, two young gentlemen might have been
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
seen riding up to the door of the only house of entertainment in the then village, now city, of South Bend. The gentleman who, at that early day, was the only landlord in the place, was Peter Johnson, Esq., who continued to reside here until a few years ago, when he died, much regretted by all who knew him. One of these young gentlemen referred to was Dr. Jacob Hardman, and the other was the writer. The Doctor had been a resident of Spring- field, and I, of Piqua, Ohio. Each determining to settle in South Bend, we accidentally met on the route without having any previous acquaintance.
If in what I should say in this place there is a seeming egotism in a frequent reference to myself, I beg that it be overlooked, as I cannot see well how to avoid it.
On my arrival here I immediately set about getting subscribers for the Northwestern Pioneer, a weekly newspaper of super-royal size, proposed to be published by my brother Joseph (who now resides at Goshen) and myself. I had preceded him several weeks, he coming with the ox-team that brought the printing materials and a supply of paper, from Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time there was no newspaper published in this State or in Michigan, north of the Wabash river, or west of Detroit. We thus had a wide field, so far at least as territory was concerned, but it was sparsely populated.
The prairies were first selected for cultivation, and, when it was possible, the log cabins of the pioneers were erected in the adjoin- ing woods.
The press and type arrived, and my brother and I got out the first number of our paper on the 16th day of November, 1831, doing all the work, mailing and delivering the paper to town sub- scribers. The office was in a small, one-story brick house, belonging to Mr. Coquillard, on Michigan street (now corner of Main and Water streets), near where the Exchange Hotel was afterward built, and was, I believe, the first brick house erected in this place. We afterward occupied the upper story of a log house on the corner of St. Joseph and Pearl streets.
Since then a wonderful improvement has been made in the print- ing press. At that time the ink was put on the type by means of two balls, made of buckskin and stuffed with wool. Two hundred sheets per hour were all that could be printed on a hand press, and there were no power presses in use. Now, 8,000 copies of a paper of the size of the Pioneer can be printed on a Bullock press in less than an hour.
To refresh my memory, I recently looked over a file of the Pio- neer, and found it very interesting. It brought to my recollection many occurrences which I had forgotten.
That the present receipts and expenditures of St. Joseph county may be compared with what they were in that early day. I present the following table of receipts and expenditures from January 1, 1832, to November 1, 1832, as published in the Pioneer:
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
RECEIPTS.
For balance in treasury 66
Received for license to sell merchandise. 47 70
Grocery permits. Duplicate of taxes.
1 00
287 12
Donations for county seat.
973 00
Total.
$1,313 48
EXPENDITURES.
By amount paid premiums on wolf-scalps. $ 12 00
S associate judges. .. 4 00
=
.4 Hiram Dayton for assessing. 25 00
J. D. & J. H. Defrees for advertising. 13 00
Total
$54 00
Dec. 5, 1831, a meeting was held at Lilley's Hotel (the second house of entertainment just opened), for the purpose of asking Congress to establish a land office at this place. Anthony Defrees was called to the chair, and Elisha Egbert was elected secretary. A committee, composed of Pleasant Harris, L. M. Taylor, H. Chapin, J. P. Antrim and John D. Defrees, was appointed to memorialize Congress on the subject. As a result of this effort, a bill passed the United States Senate, at the instance of Senator Tipton, establish- ing a land offiee here, but it failed in the House. Afterward the land office for the sale of lands in the northern part of the State was established at La Porte.
Col. Taylor was then the postmaster, and if he did not carry the letters in his hat he might have done so, as but few letters were received or sent. The following list of letters not taken from the postoffice was advertised in the Pioneer Dec. 31, 1832: Henry Angustine, Joseph Boel, Jacob Chord, Alexander Blain, Jacob Bowman, Joseph Brown, Daniel Bennett, John Bailey, Peter Kiffer, Jacob Ritter and Scott West. There may be some of these persons yet living, but I do not know it.
In the fall of 1831 a debating society was formed by a few gentlemen who had politieal aspirations, for the purpose of showing their speaking ability. It met in the second story of Mr. Lilley's Hotel.
May 23, 1832, an express rider from Chicago to Detroit passed through South Bend giving the information that the Indians, under Black Hawk, were committing murders on Rock river, Illinois. A few days afterward it was rumored that these Indians had deter- mined to make their way to Canada. As South Bend would be on their direct route, many of our people became alarmed and immedi- ately commeneed building a fort for protection. The panie, however, subsided before any considerable amount of work had been done. Noah Noble, at that time Governor of Indiana, was applied to for aid against the supposed danger. In response to his call, a regiment of 300 men were raised in Marion and adjoining
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
connties. The regiment, under command of Col. Russell, of Indianapolis, marched to Chicago. When it arrived there, Gen. Atkinson was at Dixon's Ferry, on Rock river, awaiting reinforce- ments before attacking Black Hawk. Col. Whistler had a company of regulars at Chicago, and proposed to Col. Russell to join his command and march to the aid of Gen. Atkinson. A council of war was held, and as a majority of the officers under Col. Russell were candidates for Congress in the District, and as they wished to vannt their patriotism, it was determined to decline the offer, and to return to Indianapolis by way of South Bend. This retrogade movement was criticised by the Pioneer, published on the morning of the arrival of the regiment here. The article gave great offense to a portion of the regiment, who had been indulging pretty freely in whisky. On going into the street I was surrounded by an excited mob, who threatened personal chastisement; but it was finally thought best to retire withont putting the threat into execn- tion. In the next number of the Pioneer the regiment was called the " bloody three hundred," in derision of their exploits, and they retained the appellation for many years. Black Hawk was soon afterward captured and the country became quiet.
During the excitement some amusement was occasioned by Esquire Haney, a German, who then resided here. At a meeting held to consider the condition of the county, some one remarked that an Indian chief by the name of Pokagon, who was known to be friendly to the settlers, and who lived opposite Niles, had deter- mined to remain nentral. The 'Squire, not understanding the meaning of the word " neutral," thought it had reference to an Indian chief of that name, and remarked: "Damn old Neutral! I believe he is mit Black Hawk now!" The boys afterward had a good deal of fun with the 'Squire about his mistake.
No one apprehended any danger of the Pottawatomies of Indiana and Michigan, as they had, ever since the treaty of Green- ville, been the friends of the white man. Many of them fought for us in the war of 1812. Among the number was John B. Chaudonis, a half-breed (well-known to the early settlers of this town), who distinguished himself by killing his uncle, who was a British officer, during an engagement somewhere in Michigan.
Emigration, which had ceased in consequence of the alarm from the Indian war, again commenced; or, as announced in a grand- iloquent article in a number of the Pioneer which read as follows: " As a breaking forth of a mighty river which had long been pent-up, does the emigration now pour into the St. Joseph country. From present appearance, emigrants seem determined to make up for the time lost from having the fear of Black Hawk before their eyes. One day this week nine wagons and sixty persons passed through this place for Sumption's Prairie, six miles south; and not a day passes that does not bring emigrants with farming utensils and stock, wending their way to different parts of the beautiful St. Joseph country."
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
In May, 1832, we changed the name of our paper from the Northwestern Pioneer to the St. Joseph Beacon, considering it more appropriate, as better indicating the country in which it was published. Much space in the paper was devoted to giving infor- mation in relation to the advantage of this country, so as to induce emigrants. The richness of the soil and the facility with which farms could be made were weekly themes.
Feb. 13, 1833, a number of citizens met at the school-house to form a society under the 11th commandment, which reads: "Every one must attend to his own affairs and not interfere with the affairs of his neighbor." So read the call for the meeting. The society was called "The Anti-Tattling Society." Peter Johnson was president and Jonathan A. Liston, secretary. Mr. Liston delivered an address making several columns of the Beacon. The society did not long exist, having been gotten up more for amuse- ment than anything else.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Rev. P. Dillon, the second President of the University of Notre Dame, was born in the county of Galway, Ireland, Jan. 1, 1832. Immediately after his birth he was dedicated in a special manner, by his mother, to the service of God, and entered upon his studies for the sacred ministry, while yet a mere boy. After the removal of his family to America he continued his studies at St. Mary's College, Chicago, Illinois. He entered Notre Dame in 1856. com- pleted his studies and was ordained priest in 1858. Even before his ordination he was appointed steward of the university, and gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He was subse- quently appointed president of St. Mary's College, Chicago, and gave still further proof of his adminstrative talent. From St. Mary's he was recalled to Notre Dame, where he discharged the important duties of vice-president of the university and principal of the Commercial Department for nearly three years. In May, 1865, he was duly appointed President of the university and local superior at Notre Dame. During his presidency the college buildings were entirely remodeled and enlarged, and improvements made to the value of nearly $100,000. In August, 1866, he was summoned to France to attend a General Chapter of the Congrega- tion of the Holy Cross, and, as his fame had preceded him, he was appointed secretary and assistant to the Superior General, the best evidence that could have been given of the esteem in which he was held by his religious associates. In August, 1868, he returned with Very Rev. Father Sorin, who had just been appointed Superior General of the Congregation. Filial duty, which at first appeared to require but a temporary absence, eventually rendered it necessary for him to seek a dispensation from his obligations as a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, in order to attend more freely . to the sacred duties which nature herself imposed upon him. The
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
dispensation was given, though with much reluctance, by the Very Rev. Superior General, and Father Dillon immediately assumed the responsibilities of pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Chicago. But a disease which had several times previously threatened his life, returned with renewed violence, and on Sunday evening, Nov. 15, 1868, he breathed his last, regretted by all who knew him, and sincerely mourned by a wide circle of personal friends.
Rev. William Corby, the third President, was born at De- troit, Mich., Oct. 2, 1833. Up to 1849 he received all the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that time. From 1849 to 1853 he was occupied with his father in busi- ness, and during that time, under his father's experienced training, laid the foundation of that self-control and forbearance which have enabled him to fill the important positions he has since held. In 1853 he was sent by his father to Notre Dame, with two younger brothers, to continue their education. In 1854 he entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross and prosecuted his studies with vigor, under the direction of experienced teachers, till 1858, when he made his religious profession as a member of the congregation, and was appointed prefect of discipline in the university. In addition to the duties thus imposed upon him, he continued to study theology with perservering energy till 1860, when he was raised to the dignity of priesthood. He was then employed as a professor in the university till July of the following year, when he was appointed director of the Manual Labor School at Notre Dame, with the additional duty of attending the mission of South Bend, at that time too small to have a resident pastor. Was Chap- lain of a New York regiment during the war, and returned to his little mission at South Bend; and finding the congregation in debt, contracted while building St. Patrick's church, he went vigorously to work, and in a few months collected money enough, not only to free the congregation from liabilities, but also to erect a neat pas- toral residence close to the church. This done, he was about to take some rest, and enjoy, with his little congregation, some of the fruits of his zealous labors, when he was elected vice president and director of studies in the university. This new office he undertook with the same cheerfulness and determination that he had manifested on all previous occasions, and continued to discharge its duties until August, 1866, when he was raised to the position of president.
Very Rev. Alexis Granger, the first who occupied the position of vice president of the University of Notre Dame, was born at Daon, France, June 19, 1817. He received his primary education at home, and even had inade some progress in the study of Latin before his 15th year, the age at which he entered the College of Chateau Goutier. Here he remained five years, during which time, by diligence and the aid of superior talent, he completed his col- legiate course. He then entered the theological seminary at Maus, France, in his 20th year. After four years of earnest
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
application to the study of theology, he was admitted to the Holy Orders Dec. 19, 1840. The next two years he was pastor of a congregation in the diocese of Mans, and, if judged by the zeal which he has always manifested for the spiritual welfare of others since he has been at Notre Dame, his congregation lost a treasure, when in October, 1843, he entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross, at Maus, where the Mother House of the congregation was then located. After a short experience in the religious life, during which time he had proved himself worthy of the confidence of his Superiors, Father Granger, in 1844, was sent to Notre Dame, while this institution was yet in its infancy, where he was appointed assistant superior and vice president of the college. The latter office he occupied until 1851. The former he retained until Father Sorin became provincial, when he was also promoted to the office of vice provincial. From 1851 to 1861 Father Granger was, with one or two brief interruptions, director of the novitiate for the ecclesiastical portion of the congregation, and pastor of the Church at Notre Dame. In 1867 he was removed from the novitiate and appointed prefect of religion in the college, still retaining the pastorship of the Church. In August, 1868, after the election of Father Sorin to the office of superior general, Father Granger was elected provincial of the congregation in America.
Rev. Francis Cointet, the second who filled the office of vice president of the university, was born at La Roc, France, Feb. 26, 1816. At the age of about ten years he was sent by his parents to the College of Chateau Gontier, then the best educational institu- tion in the diocese to which he belonged. Having completed his collegiate studies, he entered the theological seminary at Maus, in September, 1834. After five years of studious application to the great questions of theology, he was ordained priest in 1839, by Right Rev. Dr. Bouvier, Bishop of Maus, and was appointed assistant pastor in Chatillon, one of the most important parishes in the diocese. While at this place he accidentally saw the first letter written by his former intimate friend, and associate, Father Sorin, from Notre Dame, and the desire arose in his heart to emigrate to America and here labor for the spiritual welfare of his fellow-beings. Accordingly in 1843 he offered himself to Very Rev. Father Moreau, at that time superior general of the Congre- gation of the Holy Cross, as a candidate for the American mission, and in July of that same year arrived at Notre Dame. After one year spent at the novitiate, he made his religious profession as a member of the congregation, and from that moment gave himself up without reserve to the great work which he had undertaken. After five years of earnest labor as a missionary, Father Cointet in 1849, was sent to New Orleans as local superior of a branch establishment of the order in that city. During the two years which he spent in that capacity, the establishment flourished. In 1851 he was recalled by his superior to Notre Dame, and appointed vice president of the college. He occupied that position, however,
34
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
but for a short time; his heart yearned for the missions, and his Superior, yielding to his wishes, gave him charge of five different missions, at that time under the care of the congregation,-Goshen and La Porte, Ind., and Milan, Berrien and Bertrand, Mich. For three years more he gave himself up to this charitable labor, but at last his constitution gave way. In September, 1854, he returned one day from one of his missions, weary and siek; every care that love and affection could suggest was bestowed upon him, but to no purpose; and on the 19th he passed from the scenes of his self- sacrificing labors to the mansions of eternal happiness.
Rev. Richard Shortis, the third who filled the post of viee president, was born at St. Nicholas, Ireland, March 21, 1815. Of his early history little is known. In 1849, after passing a credit- able examination, though not a student proper in the college, he received the degree of B. A. at Notre Dame in company with Rev. N. H. Gillespie. It may be interesting to note, that these were the first degrees conferred by the university, five years after having been granted its charter. Soon after graduation Mr. Shortis entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and while pursuing his theological studies, discharged the duties of professor of the English language and literature in the univer- sity. In 1850 he made his religious profession as a member of the Congregation, and was ordained priest. Immediately after his ordination, Father Shortis entered upon the laborious life of a missionary, and continued until 1852, when he was recalled and appointed vice president of the college. From 1853 to 1856, he discharged the duties of general secretary of the university and professor. In 1856 he was sent to take charge of the mission at La Porte, Ind., and continued until 1858. He was then recalled to Notre Dame, and subsequently, in 1860, was sent to New Orleans.
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