USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 52
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The Legislature of the State, at its annual sessions of 1845 and 1846, passed resolutions urging upon Congress the claims of the St. Joseph river to appropriations for its improvement. To these appeals no response was made. To show the importance of the river a local writer in 1847 says: " We have here a river coursing through two States, and passing through, and in the vicinity of, an agricultural body of land without a superior in the West. For one hundred and seventy-five miles by the river distance, namely from Union City to St. Joseph, steamboats can navigate its waters and have done so-a length of steamboat navigation greater eveu than the Hudson. Four steamboats now ply upon it, and no one, we believe, has counted the numerous keel boats and arks which annu- ally find busy employment in its commerce. In the spring and fall one can hardly look upon this beautiful stream without secing a boat of some character, deeply laden, sailing toward its mouth.
536
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
The manufactories of iron, wool, oil, leather and other articles, which line its shores and the banks of its tributaries, and whose number is every year increasing with fast accelerating rapidity, together with the eighty run of stone for the grinding of flour, already at work or being put in operation the present season, throws upon its waters an amount of exports which would surprise those who have have not closely scanned the statistics of this fertile valley."
A river and harbor convention was called at Chicago to be held July 5, 1847. A large number of delegates were appointed by the citizens of St. Joseph county to represent the interests of St. Joseph river; but no favorable result was ever reached so far as this river was concerned.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
As illustrating the work of Cupid, the following table is appended showing the number of marriage licenses issued from 1830 to 1879, inclusive:
1830
3| 1843
70| 1856
154| 1868.
233
1831.
1844
85 1857
174
1869.
181
1832.
8 1845.
64
1858
175
1870. 216
1833
23
1846.
85
1859
147
1871. 247
1834.
27
1847.
66
1860.
163
1872.
265
1835
49
1848.
98
1861
136
1873.
289
1836.
51
1849
72
1862
119
1874. 247
1837.
68
1850.
77
1863
121
1875
235
1838.
53
1851.
103
1864
164
1876. 212
1839.
70
1852
103
1865.
200
1877
191
1840.
73
1853
120
1866.
224
1878. 222
1841.
58
1854.
123
1867
210
1879
232
1842.
72
1855.
123
The effects of climate, hard times and the war will be observed by carefully observing the foregoing table. It will be noticed there was an annual increase up to the year 1838, the year of the great malarial epidemic, while the year following an increase was observ- able. This continned with the exception of one year, till the war, when there was a perceptible falling off of licenses issned. Again, in 1865, the year the war was brought to a close, an increase is seen, the number being almost double either the year 1862 or 1863, and nearly 60 per cent. more than 1861. From 1865 to 1873 there was a steady increase, with the exception of one year. In 1874, when the hard times began to be felt, there was a falling off, which continued until 1878 when there was a slight increase, which continued in 1879, and at a greater ratio for the first eight months in 1880.
A COUNTERFEITING REMINISCENCE.
About the year 1837 there lived south of this city, in Centre township, on the farm now occupied by James Dice, an old man
537
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
James Odle. He was apparently a harmless, simple old man, who did very little farming, and ostensibly made a living by selling " cakes and beer," as announced by a sign over the door. In those early days it was an out-of-the-way place, and M. Stover, now of South Bend, who owned a farm in that neighborhood, had his suspi- cions aroused by seeing so manywell-dressed men hanging around old Odle's humble premises, that counterfeiting was carried on there. He communicated his suspicions to the authorities, and Odle, his son-in-law, Foskit, Van Amburgh, Cumnius, Dixon, Clark and others were arrested, brought to town and confined in the old log jail. Odle's premises were searched and the officers found the dics and press for making bogus dollars, a quantity of copper, and fifteen pounds of arsenic; also a few pieces of the base coin ready for the dies. These were brought to the old red court-house. Odle was told what was found, and an offer inade to clear him if he would turn State's evidence. The old man accepted and told where they would find a quantity of the metal ready for stamping -- some 250 pieces-buried under a tree. These were brought in, and with the press and dies taken into the presence of the grand jury, where old Odle showed how the milling and stamping was done, and explained the mystery of the arsenic. The metal in the dollar pieces he said was nothing but copper melted in the crucible and whitened with the arsenic. The grand jurors each took one of the pieces as a memento of the first counterfeiting in this county. After Odle's confession, the men, with the exception of Odle and Foskit, were remanded to jail for trial. They boasted that they would not stay there any longer than it suited them, and made their escape in broad daylight. The citizens turned out to hunt them, but they all escaped except Van Amburgh, who was too fecble to travel fast. He was not tried on account of some informality in the indictment.
About twelve pounds of the arsenic was sold to Dr. Rey, a drug- gist, and three or four pounds were carried to the garret of the court-house. Here, six or seven years afterward, it was found by some boy who was rummaging in the garret, and, supposing it to be chalk, he took it down where the Baptist church now stands, and where the carpenters were then hewing timber for that building. From there it was carried off by different boys, who still supposed it was chalk. The only harm that resulted from this promiscuous distribution of poison, was in a piece nearly as large as a hen's egg, which was taken home by Robert Miller. Two of Mrs. Eliza Owen's daughters, who were at the house playing, ate of it, believ- ing it to be chalk; but they atc so much that with proper attention their lives were saved. Notice was publicly given that it was ar- senic, and finally it was all got together and buried.
STILL-BORN VILLAGES.
Portage .- In July, 1834, Elisha Egbert laid off a town about two miles below South Bend, to which he gave the name of Portage.
538
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
It was just below a very sharp bend in the river, now cut off as an island; but this, bend suggested another name for the town, by which it has always been known-" Pin Hook." It is needless to say the proprietor objected to the appellation. Under the fostering care of Mr. Egbert the town grew quite rapidly for awhile and its future seemed filled with promise. It soon had two taverns, two dry-goods stores, two physicians and other business snited to the wants of a young community. A public ferry was established and quite a collection of houses built. In a year or so it became quite a snug, thriving little village. Among the noted early settlers of Portage was Rev. Abner Morse, a man of learning and eloquence, but cer- tain peculiarities. He proposed to build a college at the new town. A charter was procured. He was to be the president. A part of the professors had been selected and a college bell brought on the ground, but that was all that ever came of the prospective college. Dr. Dayton was one of the early settlers of the place, as was also Dr. Hunt. Both resided there several years ; then Dr. Hunt moved into La Porte county, and after residing there a number of years, and rep- resenting that county several sessions in the Legislature, settled in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Dayton moved to South Bend, and is well and favorably known. While the town was growing and every- ยท thing looked prosperous, the proprietor branched ont in a variety of enterprises, such as merchandising, milling and land speculations, and when the hard times of 1837-'8 strnek the country he found himself with a load he was unable to carry. His reverses had its effect upon the town; the motive power that had been pushing and keeping every enterprise in motion that tended to build up and strengthen the new town was now withdrawn, and death followed. One by one the settlers retired to other and more inviting fields, and where once stood a thriving little village, the hand of the hus- bandman gathers the golden grain.
St. Joseph .- The original county seat of St. Joseph county. The plat of this town covered portions of sections 34, 35 and 27, in German township, two miles and a half from South Bend. The re-location of the county seat at South Bend was the death of this place.
Palestine .- This village was laid out on portions of sections 29, 30, 32 and 36, township 38 north, of range east, on Terre Coupee Prairie, Dec. 4, 1834.
Williamsport .- Laid out Dec. 13, 1834, on the southeast quar- ter of the northeast quarter of section 9, township 37 north, of range 4 east.
Greensburg .- On section 25, township 37 north, of range 4 east, was laid out a town by this name, Dec. 10, 1835.
Canton was laid out on section 6, township 37 north, of range 4 east, Dec. 14, 1835.
Mount Pleasant was laid out on sections 31 and 32, township 38 north, of range 2, Aug. 19, 1836.
539
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
FLOOD.
On Friday, Jan. 15, 1847, there was a sudden and disastrous rise in the St. Joseph river. The ice daming up the river caused it to back water, and large quantities of ice coming down at the same time soon raised it to a fearful height. As soon as the danger was noticed nearly every citizen of Sonth Bend was down on the semi- circular flat where centered all the interests of the manufacturing company, and all worked in right good earnest and with a hearty good will to avert the danger that was threatening. At one time, in about fifteen minutes, the water ran fully three feet, and then nearly all despaired of saving anything. It was then at least twelve feet above the nsual water mark and flooded the second stories of several of the buildings. Everything portended a complete sweeping off of the banks of the race and the valuable buildings and factories built between it and the river. The ice ran so thickly and impetu- ously in the river and came booming with so much force against the bridge that it seemed almost impossible for it to be saved. Says a local writer: "At this moment it was a gloomy scene indeed, but yet the citizens labored through, 'hoping against hope.' Finally the ice choked up in the river, and at least the head gates of the race were strengthened; the force of the current seemed to be thrown more and more against the other side of the river, and the danger was materially lessened."
Abont the middle of June, 1855, there was a great fall of rain, which swelled the river with great rapidity, so much so that on Sunday night, the 17th of that month, the danger became so immi- nent that a number turned out, and worked all night on or about the dam at South Bend. The river still rose, reaching the highest mark it had ever attained, and still continued its upward course, increasing the danger at every hour. At about 9 A. M., Monday morning, when citizens of the town were still fighting the waters, which had risen to a point about two feet above its previous high- water mark, the head-gates of the race gave way, and the torrent poured through, with all the drift logs and other debris that it had accumulated. First it swept off the woolen factory's dye honse, then spent its severest force on Mr. Matthews' oil mill and Rose & Kimball's veneering mill, nntil at last, having torn ont the river bank of the race, it converted what was intended as the race into a portion of the river, leaving the mills and other buildings above and below the bridge as islands in the stream. After this work of destruction, the water did not rise any higher, but Monday night part of the bridge which crossed the river was washed away, cutting off communication with Lowell and the northeastern part of the county. Fortunately no lives were lost, though Silas De Camp had a narrow escape from being drowned. When the head-gates gave way, he was, with many others, at work on " the point," and was swallowed up, as the ground under him gave way, by the torrent, and swept under the tons of drift that were rushing along on its surface,
540
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
but fortunately came up below the drift, and coolly swam ashore. The damage done the manufacturing interests was immense and quite discouraging to those who had their all invested.
GOLD HUNTERS.
On the discovery of gold in California in 1849, a large number of citizens of this county determined to seek at once the new El- dorado. A joint-stock company was organized at South Bend, which on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1849, set out for the gold region. The Register of the 24th of February had the following to say of this enterprise:
"Tuesday was an eventful day in the history of our town, long to be remembered-we hope happily, though our fears struggle with our hopes. For a time everything else was forgotten. Business was neglected, and with good reason, for-we were all about to bid a long farewell to friends and brethren. The streets were filled with our population, all deeply interested in the success of the adven- turers who were just ready to turn their faces westward. At last the line of wagons was formed in Washington street; the band dis- coursed some of its'sweetest music; a brief farewell address was delivered in behalf of the citizens, at their call, by the writer (Schuyler Colfax); the notes of song were heard; the last farewell of those dearer than friends was over; the whips crack, the wheels rumble, the train inoves on; the hundreds of spectators disperse; and our adventurous citizens, taking the last look for years upon the spires of our village and the homes where dwell their loved ones, are started in earnest upon their lengthy, but they hope, pros- perous, journey.
" The joint-stock company goes out well fitted with everything they will need; perhaps better than any other of the many over- land expeditions that are forming in the Northwest. They go in twelve wagons, all but one drawn by oxen. Their capital stock and outfit amounts to over $8,000. The company consists of thirty members besides the physician who is to join them at Chicago, as is understood. The gold collected is to go into a general fund, and to be divided equally among the members, with this wise and ex- cellent provision, that in case of the decease of any of them his share is not to cease, but his heirs are to receive his thirtieth of the whole profits of the expedition. Thus it organized strictly on the associative plan, almost bordering even on Fourierism. The Sab- bath is to be strictly observed, and drinking intoxicating liquors as a beverage is prohibited under penalty of expulsion. The officers are as follows: Charles M. Tutt, President; G. W. Haines, Secretary; C. S. Fassett, Treasurer; E. C. Johnson, A. Allen, M. A. Kidwell, Directors; Dr. Lillibridge. Physician. The messes are distributed as follows: No. 1-J. E. Woodward, Tipton Lindsey, J. H. Miller, P. W. Kinsey, C. S. Fassett. No. 2-Evan C. Johnson, P. N. Johnson, John Day, A. G. Robinson, A. J. Ford. No. 3-Charles
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STJOSEPH COUNTY JAIL
543
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPHI COUNTY.
M. Tutt, David Gishi, W. W. Stewart, C. W. Lewis, Charles Traver. No. 4-W. G. Whitman, C. Caldwell, Samuel Harris, Ezra G. Carpenter, F. Donighne. No. 5-William Norton, A. Allen, L. Breset, M. A. Kidwell, E. Belangee. No. 6-G. W. Haines, W S. McCullough, S. Armstrong, G. De Graff, John Trainer."
In addition to this company, but not a part of them, about thirty others went about the same time, among whom were James I. Horrell, Joseph White, Jr., F. Lambing, Thomas Neal. Thomas Rockhill, David Leiper, William Good, William L. Earl, G. Fields, Mr. Tingler, Hiram Rush, Dr. M. Rush, D. McCoskry, Clinton Rush, John Kelley, W. C. Monson, T. McCartney, J. McCartney, B. McCartney.
On the 22d of March, 1849, another company, consisting of eleven persons, started from South Bend. They were William Miller, J. A. Henricks, D. W. C. Willoughby, E. S. Reynolds, W. L. Wood- ward, M. B. Miller, Cyrenius Johnson, W. J. Snavely, William Maslin, George Pierson, John Linderman. Before leaving, the company adopted the name of the " Dowdle Family," divided them- selves off into messes and painted their names and number upon their wagons, as follows: No. 1-Honest John; Ethan, the Daddy, No. 2-Black Bill, John, the Doctor, Cyrenius Dowdle. No. 3- George, the Lawyer, Little Bill, Big Bill. No. 4-Tall Bill, Matthew, the Upright, De Witt Dowdle.
Among others who started about the same time were S. W. Hopkins, John Grant, Jr., and Adam Bair.
In the spring of 1850 others went, to the number of one hundred and seventy, a very large emigration from the county.
MAP AND ATLAS OF THE COUNTY.
The first and only map made of this county, and issued for sale, was by M. W. Stokes, in 1863. It is a large wall map showing town- ships and sections, with the name of the owner printed upon every tract. Around the borders of the inap are views of some of the public buildings and private residences scattered throughout the county. .. These views add much to the general appearance of the map.
"An Illustrated Historical Atlas of St. Joseph County " was issued in 1875, by Higgins, Belden & Co., of Chicago. A well- executed sectional map of the county, township sectional maps, with names of owner upon every tract of land, historical sketches of the county, Notre Dame University, St. Mary's Academy, views of business, residence and farm houses, and portraits of the noted men in the county formed the leading features of the work.
35
CHAPTER XII.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY .-- OFFICIAL ELECTION RETURNS.
POLITICAL.
In a free government the people are rulers and public officers are their servants. Every four years the people of the United States are called upon to select one who shall serve them in the highest office known to them, that of President of the United States. For the same length of time the people of Indiana select one who shall serve them as Governor. Annually one or more men are chosen to serve the people of St. Joseph county, by the qualified voters living within her borders, in the various positions required for good gov- ernment. For several years after the organization of the county, party caucuses were unknown. If a man desired to run for office and had not friends who were interested enough in him to bring him out as a candidate, lie did the next best thing, announced himself. For local offices it was men, not party. Even in general elections none of that party clap-trap now in vogue was used.
The first election held in the county was in August, 1830, for county officers-a purely local affair.
In 1834 Charles W. Cathcart issued the following address:
" Fellow Citizens :- After due consideration I have concluded to allow the use of my name as a candidate for the Legislature, and in conformity with the usual custom, and at the first oppor- tunity which occurred (the meeting of the Circuit Court of La Porte county), I mounted the stump and informed my fellow citizens then assembled that they might consider my services at their disposal.
" Thus, having appeared before the public, it is my duty as well as a pleasure, to express my views upon sneh prominent matters as may be subject to Legislative action, claiming for them only that consideration which the honest convictions of one individual may entitle him to; for our whole scheme of Government has been founded on the principle that all our power is inherent in the people, and as the representative agency is made use of merely on account of the difficulty, indeed, even the impossibility, of the affairs of the public being acted upon deliberately by the people en masse, it is evident that the representative should suit his course to the wishes of his constituents, according to their views of the manner in which they may see proper to have their interests attended to, and that as near as he does this, so near will he come
(544)
545
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
to the fulfillment of the trust reposed in him. Having thus, fel- low citizens, acknowledged the entire dependence of the representa- tive upon the instructive power of his constituents, I will give you my views as frankly and briefly as possible.
" A bill, commonly called the 'ad valorem bill,' which passed during our last session, is, I conceive, unjust, and partial in its operation, bearing with peculiar hardship upon this part of the State, and is but a mocking of its title, which is made use of, apparently, to impose a disagreeable potion under a palatable name; but I am convinced that a system of taxation, based upon the principle that every man must pay to the Government that pro- tects him and his in proportion to the value of his estate, is one which is entirely reasonable and just.
"Another bill, commonly called the ' mammoth bill,' making vast and indeed unlimited appropriations to works of internal improve- ment, only failed during the last session, after a warm and protracted debate, after which a bill 'to provide for the further prosecution of the Wabash & Erie canal,' and for other purposes, and an act supplemental, passed and received the signature of the Governor, which provides for the survey of a vast scheine of canals, railroads, etc., as well as for the prosecution of the Wabash & Erie canal to the navigable part of the Wabash river. The cost of these works, should they be completed, must over-go $29,- 000,000; and of this sum not one cent is contemplated to be expended on this side of the Wabash river; and though it is more than probable that but a part of these works may be expected to be completed, still it must be evident that many of the routes which were ordered to be surveyed are of comparative insignifi- cance, when compared with a route or rontes which would have connected our Northern waters with a Southern thoroughfare, and that the neglect of the interests of the north part of this State, in the provisions of that bill, was a gross instance of partial Legisla- tion.
"The experience of other States has demonstrated the advantages to be derived from a judiciously disposed system of internal improvements, and the policy that would dictate the abandonment of such a scheme would be as fallacious as the late act is partial and extravagant.
"The disposal of the 3 per cent. fund will continue to require the ntinost attention on the part of the members from the new counties. It is no doubt known to all that the 3 per cent. fund originates from an agreement with the general Government, upon our entering the Union as a free and sovereign State, that the pub- lic lands shall not be subject to taxation, until the expiration of five years after they have been sold by the general Government, in consideration of which the United States make grants sundry to this State, among which are 5 per cent. upon the proceeds of the sales of the public lands within this State, which is to be applied to works of internal improvement, 3 per cent. being subject to the
546
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
control of our Legislature. Now, this being the case, what plan of distribution among the different counties so just as to appropriate to each the amount accruing upon the sale of land within that county !
"Thinking, fellow citizens, that we should all know at least enough of the law to keep clear of it, I am in hopes of seeing our common as well as statute law put into such a form that it may be more commonly diffused and known among us. Such a project has been in agitation before our Legislature, and, believing it would save half the litigation amongst us, it has my hcartiest wishes for its success.
"The next apportionment will also be a matter requiring the deepest consideration and attentive care of your representative, as, with an increased representation, our claims will be placed in a more coinmanding position, and we who are of the North, while we unite with the South in all judicious schemes of internal improve- ment, will be in a situation to prevent such glaring instances of partial legislation as our last session presented.
" In regard to our roads, or rather want of them, it is needless to say much here, as so many monnments of our neglected condition, in that respect, present themselves, most loudly calling for legisla- tive interference.
"There are many other subjects, fellow citizens, which are no doubt of importance, but believing I have touched, though slightly, those subjects most generally interesting to the citizens of this dis- trict, I shall detain you no longer with the enumeration of matters of less general interest.
"With feelings of peculiar delicacy, I must, fellow citizens, here remark that as regards national politics, I have ever been the unwavering friend of the leading principles of the present admin- istration. I look upon them as the emanation of the purest patriot- ism; and while I disdain the low bickerings of party strife, still I must exercise the right of every freeman to avow his sentiments. This avowal, fellow citizens, I make, not with a view of enlisting the partiality of a single voter; I do it merely because if silent on this point, I may probably be charged with the want of frankness, -a charge I must be indulged in saying, to me, peculiarly pain- ful.
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