USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Hyman's Handbook of Indianapolis : an outline history and description of the capital of Indiana, with over three hundred illustrations from photographs made expressly for this work (1897) > Part 3
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The leader of the "chain gang" was one Dave Buckhart. Tradition reports him as having been a square built man of great physical strength, and very courageous. He was of a naturally jealous temper and fond of a fight, and when filled with whisky was disposed to be very ugly. Soon after his contest with the negroes he received his quietus at the hands of a Methodist preacher. The Methodists were holding a camp-meeting under the direction of Rev. James Havens, a man fully as courageous as Buckhart, and of greater physical strength. The worship- ers had been much annoyed by the conduct of the rougher ele- ment of the community. One afternoon while the services were progressing Buckhart began marching around the seats singing an obscene song at the top of his voice. Mr. Havens several times requested him to be quiet, but he paid no attention. Final- ly, when Mr. Havens saw that nothing else would do, he left the pulpit and walked directly up in front of the rowdy and ordered him off the grounds. The bully with an oath declared that he would not go, when quick as lightning the fist of the preacher shot out and Buckhart fell like an ox. Before he could recover himself the preacher had him by the throat and gave him a thrashing such as he had never had before. The next day he was arrested and heavily fined. While on trial before the jus- tice he boasted so much that Samuel Merrill, who was present, told him that he was the better man of the two, and on a trial of strength threw him violently on the floor of the court room. These two defeats broke his power with the gang and he soon left the town.
The first murder committed within the bounds of Indianapo-
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lis was on the eighth of May, 1833. William McPherson was the victim, and the murder was committed by Michael Van Blari- cum. Van Blaricum was the ferryman across White river. McPherson took passage in the ferry boat, and when it reached the middle of the river Van Blaricum purposely upset the boat, throwing McPherson into the river, where he was drowned. This took place in the presence of a number of persons who were standing on the bank of the river. The murder created the most intense excitement, but by the time the trial came off the
PENNSYLVANIA STREET.
excitement had died away to such an extent that Van Blaricum was let off with a sentence of three years in the penitentiary, but served only one-half of his term when he was pardoned out. The second murder occurred in the spring of 1836, when Arnold Lashley killed Zachariah Collins. There was some talk of lynching the murderer, but finally quiet was restored and after a preliminary trial Lashley was admitted to bail. He for- feited his bail, running away and never returning.
Murders were not of very frequent occurrence, but still a
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number have occurred in the history of the city. For many years the murderers were either acquitted or escaped with prison sentences. The first man to be condemned to death was Will- iam Chuck, for the murder of his wife. The gallows had been erected for his hanging, when, the night before it was to take place, he poisoned himself in the jail. The next notable crimi- nal trial was that of Nancy E. Clem, Silas W. Hartman, her brother, and William J. Abrams for the killing of Jacob Young and his wife in 1868. Jacob Young and his wife were found one morning on the bank of White river near Cold Springs, both dead from gunshot wounds. It developed that there had been some very mysterious money transactions between Young and Mrs. Clem, and the detectives soon arrested her and the two men. No other trial had ever caused so much excitement in Indiana. Mrs. Clem was tried first and sentenced for life. The next night her brother committed suicide in jail. Mrs. Clem succeeded in securing a new trial and was again convicted, and again obtained a new trial, until finally she wore out the prosecu- tion and the matter was dropped. Abrams served a term in the penitentiary.
The first hanging took place in 1879. A number of murders had been committed and the escapes from punishment had been so numerous that public sentiment became intensely aroused, and when John Achey, in November, 1878, killed George Leggett, his gambling partner, there was a disposition to enforce the extreme penalty of the law. Soon after the arrest of Achey the com- munity was startled by the discovery of a crime combining many most atrocious features. William Merrick had seduced a young school teacher and finally married her. One day he took her out riding and compelled her to drink liquor in which poison had been mixed. She died in the buggy in the most intense agony. He drove with the dead body several miles into the country and buried his victim with her new born babe under a pile of logs. His arrest and trial soon followed and he was also sentenced to hang. In the same year Louis Guetig shot and
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF INDIANAPOLIS, IS7I.
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killed a young lady by the name of McGlue, in the presence of a number of witnesses. He was sentenced to hang with Achey and Merrick but secured a new trial. Achey and Merrick were hanged upon the same scaffold. Guetig was again convicted and on September 19, 1879, was also hanged.
In 1834 the legislature chartered the State Bank of Indiana, with a capital of $1,600,000. Up to that time Indianapolis had contained nothing but a small private bank. The charter of the
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state bank was to run twenty-five years. The state was to take one-half of the capital stock, and raised the money by the sale of bonds. Her share of the dividends after paying the bonds was to go to the establishment of a general school fund. This was the starting point of Indiana's splendid endowment of her public schools. The state's share of the proceeds was loaned out from time to time on real estate security. The final yield of this investment by the state was $3,700,000, after paying off the bank bonds. The main bank and one of its branches were
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located in Indianapolis. The bank began business on the 26th day of November, 1834, in the building on the Governor's Cir- cle which had been intended as a residence for the governor. It was afterwards removed to Washington street. Samuel Merrill was the first president, and Calvin Fletcher, Seaton W. Norris, Robert Morrison and Thomas R. Scott were the directors. In 1840 the bank removed to its new building at the corner of Kentucky avenue and Illinois street. The Indianapolis branch was organized by the appointment of Hervey Bates, president, and B. F. Morris, cashier. At the expiration of the charter the Bank of the State of Indiana was started, with Hugh Mccullough as president. In this bank the state had no interest. It re- mained in business, with its seventeen branches, until wiped out by the institution of the national banks.
The great financial panic of 1837 proved very disastrous to Indianapolis. It stopped all work on the great enterprises un- dertaken by the state, leaving contractors and laborers without their pay. The banks were compelled to suspend specie pay- ments and private business was overwhelmed with the credit of the state. Large stocks of goods had been purchased by the merchants and remained unsold on their shelves, or had been disposed of on credit, and collections were impossible. Nobody had any money. Eastern creditors were disposed to be very liberal and extend time of payments, trusting to a revival of business to relieve their debtors from their embarrassment. The legislature came to the help of the debtor by providing that property sold on execution should not be sold for less than two- thirds of its appraised value. It also exempted a certain amount of household property from execution. These two measures proved of great benefit, but did not relieve the distress altogether. There was a lack of currency, and the legislature issued bills secured by the credit of the state, and bearing six per cent. in- terest. This "scrip" was made receivable for taxes, but from the want of credit by the state abroad the scrip passed only at a heavy discount. After awhile, when confidence was restored
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again, the "scrip" commanded a large premium, and before it was all finally redeemed it was worth about two dollars for one. It was not until 1843, when the Madison railroad was approach- ing completion, that an upward tendency in business occurred.
The city has suffered from several panics since, the worst in the carlier years being in 1840, '41 and '42. The State Bank resumed specie payment in June, 1842, but it was a year or more before business generally revived. These were the famous "hard times" following the election of William Henry Harrison. So grievous were the times that an effort was made in 1842 to
DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE.
abolish the town government on account of its expense, although the entire cost of operating the municipal government was a lit- tle less than $3,000. It might be well to note at this point the salaries paid to the municipal officers in those early days. Mem- bers of the council received $12 each a year, the secretary $200, the treasurer and marshal each $100, and the assessors $75. The other salaries were in a like proportion.
For some years after the organization of the state, a militia was maintained by requiring all the able-bodied men between certain ages to be enrolled and report at stated periods for mus-
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ter. When the danger from Indian wars ceased these musters ended. The military spirit of the people, however, did not die out, and in February, 1837, the first company of militia was or- ganized with Colonel Russell as captain. It was called the "Marion Guards." Their uniform was of gray cloth with patent leather shakoes. They were armed with the old fash- ioned flint-lock muskets, and drilled according to the Prussian tactics. Thomas A. Morris, recently a graduate of West Point, succeeded Captain Russell. In 1838 Captain Thomas McBaker organized the "Marion Rifles." The uniform of the Rifles was a blue fringed hunting shirt, blue pantaloons and caps. In 1842 the two companies organized into a battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey Brown, and Major George Drum.
In 1837 was opened the first female school of the city. It was called the " Indianapolis Female Institute," and was char- tered by the legislature. It was opened by two sisters, Mary J. and Harriett Axtell. It flourished for several years, and its reputation was so high that quite a number of pupils from other towns and states attended it. The same year a neat frame school-house was erected on Circle street, adjoining what was so long known as Henry Ward Beecher's church. The school was opened by Mr. Gilman Marston, afterwards a member of congress from New Hampshire and a distinguished general dur- ing the late war. It was called the "Franklin Institute."
In 1842 Indianapolis entertained its first ex-president. Prior to that time several distinguished men had visited the city ·
among them having been Vice-President Richard Johnson and Henry Clay, but in 1842 Martin Van Buren, who had but recent- ly vacated the executive mansion at Washington, made a tour through the west. He traveled in a stage coach over the old National road. He was received by a procession composed of four military companies, the fire companies and citizens gen- erally, who escorted him to the Palmer house where he made a speech, and in the evening he held a reception at the state-
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house. The next day being Sunday, he attended church twice, once to hear Lucien W. Berry at Wesley Chapel, and once to hear Henry Ward Beecher. On Monday he left for St. Louis. In October following Henry Clay paid the town a visit. He was accompanied by Governor Thomas Metcalfe, and Hon. John J. Crittenden. It was a semi-political occasion, in which Mr. Clay was laying the foundation for a future presidential nomina- tion. It was a great demonstration, winding up with a barbecue. The next distinguished visitor to Indianapolis was Kossuth,
H.C. BAUER-ENG-CDS.
INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
the great Hungarian patriot, who came in response to an invi- tation of the governor and the legislature. He arrived here on the 27th of February, 1852, coming from Cincinnati by the way of Madison. He was met by a large concourse of people, and escorted to the state-house square, where he made one of those remarkable speeches for which he was justly so famous. He was entertained at the Capital house, at the expense of the city. At night he was given a reception by the governor, and the next day was presented to the legislature. On Sunday he attended
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church at Robert's chapel and visited several of the Sunday- schools of the city. On Monday night he delivered a lecture on Hungary at Masonic hall.
On February 11, 1861, Abraham Lincoln visited the city on his way to Washington to be inaugurated President. The dem- onstration made in his honor surpassed all others ever witnessed in the city to that time. He came from Lafayette and left the train at the intersection of the railroad and Washington street. A magnificent carriage drawn by four white horses was waiting him, and escorted by the military, the fire department, the leg- islature, the city council, hundreds of carriages and several thousand citizens on horseback, he went through some of the principal streets. At the Bates house he addressed an immense throng. The streets along the line of parade were profusely decorated, and all classes united to pay him honor. At night a reception was given at the Bates house, attended by several thousands of the citizens. He left the next morning for Cincin- nati.
On September 10, 1866, President Andrew Johnson, accom- panied by several members of his cabinet, and by General Grant and Admiral Farragut, visited the city. It was soon after the close of the war, before the animosities of that great struggle had passed away. At that time the president and congress were in a struggle over measures of reconstructing the south and the Union men felt very bitter toward him. His reception was dis- graced by a riot deplored by all good citizens. Mr. Johnson attempted to speak, but the crowd made so much noise he could not be heard. In the confusion several fights occurred and five or six persons were wounded by pistol shots. A few minutes after the rioting had been stopped an old man by the name of Andrew Stewart was shot and killed by Howard Stretcher. The president was so alarmed that he sent for a guard of soldiers, who guarded his room all night. He attempted to speak again the next morning before his departure, and a little better order was observed, but still the unruly element was predominant.
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The greatest demonstration ever made in honor of any man, however, was that to General Grant on December 9, 1879. It was after he had completed his tour around the world. A cold rain was falling but more than forty thousand citizens took part in the grand parade, either in the line of march or lining the streets through which the procession passed. Never before had Indianapolis been so elaborately or profusely decorated. The cheers that went up from the crowds on the streets as the nation's hero passed along resembled the roar of a great battle
INDIANAPOLIS ORPHAN ASYLUM.
more than anything else. It was a non-partisan affair in which all parties united. Both Hayes and Cleveland, during their terms, visited the city and were warmly greeted, but nothing equaled the demonstration for Grant.
The nearest approach to the Grant demonstration was that made when General Harrison left the city to be inaugurated president. For many years he had been a prominent citizen of Indianapolis, and the esteem in which he was held by all prompted the citizens to unite in doing him honor on his depart- ure to accept the highest office to which any Indianian had
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ever been exalted. Great crowds came from other parts of the state and filled the streets.
Indianapolis has witnessed many notable political gatherings in its time. Indiana has always been famous for being able to turn out immense crowds on political occasions. In 1860 a short time previous to the October election the Republicans got up a monster day and night parade. The city was so thronged with people that the parade could hardly move along the streets. In the day parade were many unique features. One was an immense flatboat drawn by forty yoke of cattle; and filled with young ladies bearing streamers and banners. Another was one hundred yoke of oxen drawing an immense log wagon, on which a number of sturdy men were splitting rails. The night scene was one of peculiar beauty, the procession numbering thousands carrying torches, and along the line of march were placed hun- dreds of other torches. During the same year the Democrats got up a meeting in honor of Stephen A. Douglas, their candi- date for president, who was present on the occasion. The meet- ing was not so large as that of the Republicans, but was fully as enthusiastic.
In 1872, Horace Greeley, candidate for the presidency on the ticket of the liberal Republicans and the Democrats, visited the city, and was greeted with a turn-out that put all previous political demonstrations in the shade. Both a day and night parade were given and the crowd was estimated at forty thousand. The torchlight procession was more than two miles long. It was only a few days before the October election, and it was hoped by the adherents of Mr. Greeley that the demonstration would make the state sure for the Democratic ticket, but in that they were disappointed.
Two great political demonstrations were gotten up by the Republicans in honor of Mr. Blaine. The first was in October, 1884, when he was himself a candidate for the presidency. His party did its utmost to pour into the capital city an immense throng, to impress the people with Mr. Blaine's popularity, and
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so far as the crowd was concerned they succeeded. In point of numbers it surpassed the great Greeley meeting of twelve years before. The second demonstration in honor of Mr. Blaine was in 1888 when he came to assist the candidacy of General Har- rison. It was a great affair but did not equal the one in 1884. The last big political demonstration occurred on October 6, 1896, when William J. Bryan, democratic candidate for presi- dent, visited the city. It was a very great meeting, but in point
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of numbers fell below that of Greeley in 1872 and that of Blaine in 1884.
To go back now to the history of events as they occurred. The session of the legislature of 1842-3 was a very busy one, and did much to advance the future interests of the state. In 1839 the subject of erecting a hospital for the insane of the state had been broached, but nothing definite was done, owing to the financial embarrassment of the state and people, but as soon as business began to exhibit signs of recovery the matter was again taken up. Dr. John Evans, of Chicago, who had made a study
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of mental diseases, delivered a lecture before the members of the legislature, and the governor was directed to obtain plans for the erection of suitable buildings. At the next session of the legislature the plans were approved and a tax of one cent on each one hundred dollars' worth of property was levied to pro- vide the means for erecting the buildings. All this was but carrying out a direction in the constitution adopted at the or- ganization of the state, one of the cares of the framers of that document being to provide for the unfortunate. Dr. John Evans, Dr. L. Dunlap and James Blake were appointed a commission to obtain a site for the proposed buildings. They selected Mount Jackson, where the hospital now stands. In 1846 the legislature ordered the sale of "hospital" square, a plat of ground that had been reserved for hospital purposes, the proceeds to be applied to the work, and an additional sum of $15,000 was appropriated.
The work of construction was begun at once, and the main building was completed the next year at a cost of $75,000. Since then several additions have been made to the building, and others erected, until now Indianapolis can boast of one of the most substantial, convenient and imposing structures of the kind in the United States. The grounds are handsomely laid out, and every convenience and comfort for this class of unfor- tunates have been provided. The legislature of 1843 also began the work of caring for the deaf mutes, by levying a tax of one- fifth of a cent on each one hundred dollars of property. The first work of this kind in the state, however, was done by Will- i iam Willard, a mute who had been a teacher of mutes in Ohio. He came to Indianapolis in the spring of 1843 and opened a school on his own account. In 1844 the state adopted his school, and appointed a board of trustees, consisting of the gov- ernor, treasurer of state, Henry Ward Beecher, Phineas D. Gur-i ley, L. H. Jameson, Dr. Dunlap, James Morrison and Matthew Simpson, afterwards a distinguished bishop of the Methodist church. They rented a building at the corner of Maryland and Illinois streets, and opened the first asylum in October, 1844.
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In January, 1846, a site for a permanent building was selected just east of the town. The permanent building was completed in 1850, at a cost of $30,000.
During the winter of 1844-5, through the efforts of James M. Ray, William H. Churchman, of the Kentucky Blind Asy- lum, was brought here with some of his pupils and gave an ex- hibition or two in Mr. Beecher's church. This had a decidedly good effect on the legislature which was then in session, and a tax of one-fifth of a cent was levied to provide support for the
STONE BRIDGE IN GARFIELD PARK.
blind. James M. Ray, George W. Mears and the secretary, auditor and treasurer of state were appointed a commission to carry out the work, either by the establishment of an asylum or by providing for the care and education of the blind at the in- stitution in Ohio or that in Kentucky. In 1847 James M. Ray, George W. Mears and Seton W. Norris were appointed to erect a suitable building, and $5,000 appropriated to purchase a site. They purchased the ground now occupied, and while waiting for the erection of a building opened a school in the building
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that had been used for the first deaf and dumb asylum. The present building was completed in 1851 at the cost of $50,000.
The town but slowly recovered from the effects of the hard times which followed on the collapse of the state's internal im- provement schemes. Population did not come, and there was not much here to attract immigrants. A few attempts at man- ufacturing were made, among them being the establishment in 1843 by Robert Parmlee of a factory for the manufacture of pianos. It was not a successful undertaking as the town was too young, and the people too poor to indulge in the luxury of such musical instruments.
The year 1846 brought some excitement, and for a while made things a little more lively. The war with Mexico was on, and troops called for. Indianapolis raised one company for the first regiment. It was officered by James P. Drake as captain, and John A. McDougal and Lewis Wallace as lieutenants. Captain Drake was afterward made colonel of the regiment. The next year Indianapolis furnished two additional companies, one each for the fourth and fifth regiments. Those two com- panies were with General Scott on his march to the capital of Mexico, and participated in some of the battles of that cam- paign. They were commanded by James McDougal and Ed- ward Lander.
While the Mexican war was going on the railroad that was building to connect Indianapolis and the Ohio river at Madison was slowly creeping along. It was finally completed to the city in 1847 amid great rejoicing. This and the Mexican war, and other circumstances, had brought to the little city a large num- ber of gamblers and vicious persons, and crime was rampant. The citizens held several meetings to devise means of ridding the town of this undesirable element, and finally a committee of fifteen was organized. The committee proceeded in a vigorous but orderly manner, and soon the town was as quiet and peacea- ble as any in the country.
Up to 1847 it had been a struggle for existence in the capi-
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tal of the state. Its business was purely local. Farmers had no way of getting any surplus they might have to a market, and hence confined themselves to producing only enough to supply the local demand. Of manufacturing there was none. Several attempts in this line had been made in a small way, but as they had nothing but the local demand to depend upon they soon died. The only ambitious attempt that had been made was the steam mill heretofore referred to, and it had been a lamentable failure. With the opening of the Madison railroad a change came, and the town put on a bustling air of activity.
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