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 4
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ENTRANCE CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
This furnished an opening to the Ohio river, and by that stream to Cincinnati and the south. Business at once revived and new stores were opened, and new factories started while others were projected. Up to that time the stores kept a little of every- thing, but a railroad demanded a division of trade, and stores for dry goods and stores for groceries were opened. The price of property advanced, and a new city government organized. At the first settlement of the town, lots along or near the river front were the favorites in the market. The sickly seasons soon drove business and the settlements further east, and the open-
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ing of the railroad attracted everything toward the south, so as to be near the depot.
In February, 1847, the legislature granted a city charter to Indianapolis, and on the 27th of March an election was held to determine whether the people would accept or not. It was ap- proved by a vote of 449 to 19. An election for municipal offi- cers was held on the 24th of April, and Samuel Henderson was elected the first mayor of the city. The population of the city was estimated at that time at 6,000. Practically there were no streets, except Washington, and it was still full of stumps. Some of the other streets had been partly cleared, but no attempt had been made to improve any of them. Here and there on Wash- ington street were patches of sidewalks, some of brick and some of plank. Dog fennel covered the streets and all the vacant ground, and there was a good deal of ground vacant. When it rained mud predominated on the only streets that had been opened and used, while in the summer the dust was thick enough to be almost stifling.
The new city council at once determined to enter upon a systematic and general system of street improvements. Stumps were pulled out, the streets in the central portion of the city graded and graveled and sidewalks were made. This first effort at improvement caused a good deal of friction and litigation, the property owners objecting to the expense entailed upon them. Bowldering for streets was not introduced until 1850, when Washington was so paved from Illinois to Meridian. Free schools also made their appearance soon after the formation of the city government. The state had provided a small fund, but it was only large enough to keep the schools going for three or four months of the year. It was decided to levy a small tax on the citizens to provide funds for the erection of houses and to pay teachers, and by 1853 this tax furnished enough to make a more permanent organization of the schools necessary.
The year 1847 brought also the first hall erected for the use of the public. The Grand Lodge of Free Masons determined
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to erect a building that would contain rooms for lodge purposes and a large hall that could be used for entertainments, public meetings, etc. The location decided upon was the southeast corner of Washington and Tennessee streets, now known as Capital avenue. The corner-stone was laid on the 25th of Oc- tober, but the building was not finally completed until 1850. The convention to revise the constitution of the state held its sessions in the public hall in 1850.
Among other improvements in business was the opening of
CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
the first wholesale dry good store in Indianapolis, by Joseph Little & Co. The three or four years following were uneventful, in the main, the city showing slow but steady growth, and an- other railroad or two began to make pretentions to public utility, and the Union Railway Company was organized, with the idea of bringing all the railroads into one central station. In 1848 the first telegraph line to the city was constructed, reaching to Dayton, Ohio, Two or three attempts were made to organize a merchants' exchange, but one after another failed from one
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cause or another, until 1866, when the Chamber of Commerce was organized on a permanent basis. In 1851 a company was chartered to furnish gas light to the citizens, but it was not until 1854 the city took any gas for the streets, and then only for a few lamps. In 1852 the legislature granted a charter for the Northwestern Christian University, and plans were adopted to raise funds for the construction of the necessary buildings. The same year the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows began the erection of a building on the northeast corner of Washington and Penn- sylvania street, and in the same year the city again changed its form of government, surrendering the special charter and ac- . cepting the general law. This change was mainly occasioned because the special charter limited the power of taxation to fif- teen cents on the one hundred dollars, and it had been found totally inadequate to the needs of the city.
The year 1854 was made locally memorable by the intense excitement created by the attempt to take from the city a colored man by the name of John Freeman, on the ground that he was a fugitive slave. This case demands more than a passing notice from the fact that it displayed upon the part of certain public officers an overzealous effort to rob a man of his freedom. Free- man had lived in this city for a number of years and had been known as a sober, industrious citizen. One Pleasant Ellington, of Missouri, came here and claimed that Freeman was his slave and had escaped from him in Kentucky. He was arrested and hurried before the United States commissioner who for some- time refused to listen either to him or to attorneys who had vol- unteered to defend his cause. Freeman claimed that he had been born and raised in Georgia, and if permitted to send there could easily prove he had always been a free man, but it was determined to hurry him off to slavery.
The citizens, however, determined that this should not be done, and filled the streets with an angry mob. The United States marshal, John L. Robinson, armed himself and his depu- ties and declared his determination to escort Freemen to Mis-
VIEW ON FALL CREEK.
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souri, but the temper of the citizens soon convinced him that he and his deputies would more likely become victims of their in- dignation. A stay of proceedings was at last forced, but Free- man was committed to jail where he had to employ guards to prevent his being run off south. Ellington's own brother, who was well acquainted with the real fugitive, gave his testimony that Freeman in no manner resembled him; that the fugitive was tall, straight, and a very robust man. Freeman, on the other hand, was a very short man with extremely bowed legs.
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ENTRANCE TO CROWN HILL CEMETERY.
Even with this testimony the court would not release him, and General Coburn, one of his attorneys, went to Georgia and got the evidence of a number of planters and others as to Freeman being a free man, and then went to Canada where he found the real fugitive.
Freeman was kept in jail from May until August. The Georgia planters then came here to give their evidence. Their presence increased the excitement, and a meeting of citizens was held in Masonic Hall, where speeches were made severely
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arraigning the judge, who still refused to release Freeman. This meeting was attended and participated in by the Georgia plant- ers, who were honorable men. At last the grand jury, on the evidence given by the Georgia planters, indicted Ellington for perjury. While the warrant was being prepared he fled from the city. Then, when there was no longer any one here to claim him, the judge reluctantly released Freeman. By his in- dustry he had been able to get a little property, but the exac- tions forced upon him by the officers of the United States had caused him to expend it all.
The year 1854 was one of almost continued rioting. The legislature had enacted a law prohibiting the sale of liquor, and, in attempting to enforce it, a terrible riot occurred between the police and a large number of German citizens, in which quite a number of Germans were wounded, but none fatally. The police force conquered, but all during the year riotous demonstrations were kept up, and there were nightly conflicts between the po- lice and the supporters of the traffic. The law was finally overthrown by the supreme court and quiet was restored.
In the earlier history of the city, at almost every recurring election, fights would occur, in which blood was shed to some extent, but they were seldom followed by any riotous demon- strations, the fighting at each occasion being confined to a few of the rougher element. In fact, Indianapolis has been pecul- iarly free from disturbances such as have cast blots upon the good name of so many cities. Political excitement has always run high, and it is a matter of wonder that many campaigns have not been accompanied by serious disturbances of the peace. The only serious election riot was on the evening of May 2, 1876, at the close of the election for municipal officers. For days the excitement had been most intense, and the contest for control of the city had been fought with much more than the usual feeling. The colored people had been admitted to the right of the ballot, but those who had opposed that innovation had not grown used to seeing them exercise the right, and a
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great deal of irritation followed. On the evening referred to, after the close of the polls, a riot occurred and one man was killed and several more or less injured. The riot would not have occurred had it not been for the police, and that depart- ment was wholly to blame. On several occasions when strikes were in existence the city has been filled with angry men, but the coolness of the better element of the citizens has always prevented any disastrous consequences.
Beginning with 1855 and continuing until 1860, the whole state,
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H/ BAUER
MARION COUNTY JAIL.
and Indianapolis especially, suffered from "wildcat" money. The destruction caused by that wild experience in banking would have practically closed the doors to the growth and pros- perity of the city for at least ten years had not the war inter- vened. There had been a demand for more currency and the legislature had enacted a law to provide for the establishment of banks of issue, without any adequate security, and it was not long until the state was flooded with bills issued by irresponsi- ble persons, and an explosion soon came. Beautifully printed
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and engraved bills were issued, but when the holders went out to find the banks and have the bills redeemed no banks could be found. They never had any actual existence. When the crash came nearly all of the free banks closed their doors within the space of a few weeks. For some months their money had been hawked about at a discount that changed every day. A workingman would be paid off in money quoted at a certain dis- count by the note reporter of that day, and on the next morn- ing, when he would appear at his grocer's or butcher's to pay off his weekly bills, he would find that his money had been shaved five or ten per cent. more.
This crash almost destroyed business. New enterprises were paralyzed, and there was a general want of confidence. The distress was even greater than that which followed the panic of 1837. The free banks were weeded out, and business began to brighten up a little before the war began.
Indianapolis had been generally fortunate in its selection of men to conduct its business, but in 1856 it had an experience which proved that all men could not be trusted. At that time the city debt had slowly increased until it had reached the sum of $15,000. To meet the pressing obligations it was deter- mined to fund the debt, and Jeremiah D. Skeen was appointed an agent to negotiate the sale of $30,000 worth of city bonds in New York. Sometime afterward the banking firm of Winslow, Lanier & Co., of New York, notified the city that it had the bonds, purchased from Skeen. He had sold the bonds and kept the money. The city, of course, had to pay the bonds. It was charged that Skeen used the money to bet on the election.
By 1860 more railroads had been completed and Indianap- olis was already attracting attention as quite a railroad center. The population had increased to about 18,000, and persons hunting for a location for some manufacturing enterprise or an- other began to consider the claims of the Hoosier capital. The state had gotten rid pretty generally of the wildcat money, and what was in circulation was considered as pretty good. Some
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VIEWS ALONG THE CYCLE PATH.
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of the streets had been improved and a better class of buildings were being erected. The state also was getting a better name abroad. Its good name had suffered first by the disastrous fail- ure of its internal improvement schemes, and again by the de- struction of our school system by a decision of the supreme court. This latter had been rectified by a new opinion, but it took several years for the state to recover the good name it had lost by the first reckless decision. Indianapolis suffered with the state, but in 1860 it witnessed the dawn of a prosperity that
DAM AT BROAD RIPPLE.
has shone brightly ever since, meeting with a few clouds, but they did not long check the march of progress.
The year 1860 was marked by the most exciting political campaign that up to that time the city had witnessed. It was early seen that the issue of the contest might probably be civil war, and the feeling was intense. Three political parties were in the field, with Abraham Lincoln as the leader of the Repub- licans, Stephen A. Douglas of one wing of the Democratic party, and John C. Breckinridge of the other. The threat of
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civil war had aroused the military spirit of the people, and early in the year 1860 it could be seen that the people were beginning to prepare for war. Several military companies were organized and began drilling in an active manner. The Mexican war had left a little of the military feeling, but by 1852 it had died away, and was not revived until 1856. In February of that year the St. Louis Guards visited Indianapolis, and made such a showy figure that it at once fired the hearts of the young men of In- ! dianapolis and they immediately organized the National Guards. The uniform was of blue with caps and white plumes. It main- tained its organization until it went into the civil war as a part of the Eleventh regiment. The next year the City Grays or- ganized. It also went into the Eleventh regiment. Two years afterward the Grays organized an auxiliary artillery company, but an explosion of a gun crippled its commander and the com- pany soon went down. A cavalry company was organized in 1858, but, like that of the artillery, did not long survive. 1
On the twenty-second of February, 1860, the Montgomery Guards of Crawfordsville, under the command of Captain Lew Wallace, came to the city, and in connection with the city com- panies gave a parade. The Montgomery Guards used the zouave drill and its strange tactics created great enthusiasm, and at once a zouave company was organized, and afterward became a part of Wallace's Eleventh regiment. In June a mili- tary convention was held here and an encampment decided upon to be held in September. Two or three new companies were at once organized, and the military spirit began to pervade all classes. The result was that when Mr. Lincoln called for troops in April, 1861, Indiana was ready to furnish more than a regi- ment of well drilled men.
After the election, as one state after another seceded and began to prepare for war, the tension on the public mind was so great that nothing was talked about but the probabilities of war. Governor Morton sounded the key-note of opposition to secession in a speech at a great meeting of the citizens to jollify
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over the election of Mr. Lincoln. His patriotic words fired all hearts, and but one sentiment was manifested, that of armed re- sistance to secession.
When the news came that Major Anderson in Fort Sumter was being bombarded by the troops of South Carolina, the feeling grew in intensity. Business was abandoned, and the people gathered on the streets to wait for the bulletins and to discuss the situation. The question of the moment was what course the president would take. The people could not remain quiet, but moved around the streets in a feverish excitement. Party feel- ing was forgotten for the time. At night a meeting was held in the Metropolitan theater and several patriotic speeches were
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SOUTHWEST SECTION MONUMENT PLACE.
made while waiting for the news. A little before ten o'clock the news came that Major Anderson had been compelled to submit to the inevitable and had surrendered. "War" was shouted from every lip, and the meeting broke up, the people crowding out on the streets, and all night long anxious crowds thronged around the newspaper offices to get every particle of news that came over the wires. Early the next morning the military companies began the work of recruiting, and it was kept up all day Sunday without intermission. The drum and the fife were heard everywhere, and the names of recruits were fast added to the rolls of the various companies.
On Monday came the proclamation of President Lincoln
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calling for 75,000 volunteers. It was accompanied by an order of the war department assigning six regiments as the quota of Indiana. The next day the governor issued his proclamation and the Indianapolis companies at once hastened to camp, and companies from other towns and cities came pouring in. The change was like magic. From the restless, feverish anxiety of uncertainty all was changed to the bustle of armed men rushing to the defense of the imperiled Union. The trains came into the city loaded with men anxious to serve their country. Gov- ernor Morton and his staff were busy in preparing to accommo- date the arriving hosts, and to procure clothing and arms for them. The government had neither, and if it had there were calls from other states. Governor Morton did not wait. He realized, more than any one else, the urgent need of promptness, and while his staff was busy in arranging for the new troops, and assigning them quarters where they could be housed and fed, he appealed to the patriotic citizens for aid in clothing them, and dispatched agents to eastern cities and to Europe to pur- chase arms and equipments. All Indianapolis was a military camp. Instead of six regiments Governor Morton offered thirty, and he had the men in camp.
Gen. Lew Wallace was adjutant-general of the state, but asked for a command that would take him to the field, and he was made colonel of the Eleventh regiment, the first regiment organized. It was made up mostly from Indianapolis recruits. It adopted the zouave drill and uniform. The Geisendorffs were then operating a large woolen mill here, and Governor Morton purchased all the gray jeans they had on hand, and hundreds of women of Indianapolis were soon busy changing it into short, baggy breeches and jackets for the regiment. Just before the Eleventh left for the front the regiment was marched to the state- house to witness the raising of the stars and stripes over the dome. It was an impressive scene. Miss Caroline Richings sang "The Star Spangled Banner," thousands of citizens join- ing in the chorus. After the flag was raised over the state-
GREEN HOUSES INN ELGARFIELD- PARK
GARDEN IN GARFIELD-PARK
ILITARY PARK
FOUNTAIN . MILITARY - PARK'
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house, the ladies of Indianapolis presented the regiment with a magnificent silk banner bearing the coat of arms of the United States, while the ladies of Terre Haute gave them a fine silk flag. It was received on behalf of the regiment by Colonel Wal- lace, who at the close of his speech ordered the men to kneel and raise their right hands and swear never to desert the flag, and then gave them as their battle cry, "Remember Buena Vista." At the battle of Buena Vista an Indiana regiment was broken by a charge of Mexican lancers, and Jeff. Davis had
MASONIC TEMPLE.
affixed the stigma of cowardice on the regiment, and it had fol- lowed Indiana ever since.
The Eleventh regiment went first to Evansville and then to Maryland. In June a mounted squad of the regiment, doing scout duty, had a fierce battle with Ashby's black horse cavalry, and John C. Hollenbeck, of Company B, was killed. He was the first soldier from Indianapolis to offer up his life for the per- petuity of the Union. It has been claimed for him that he was the first soldier from Indiana killed in the war, but that honor belongs to Carroll county. A member of the Ninth Indiana,
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Colonel Milroy's regiment, was the first soldier to fall in actual battle for the cause of the Union. The other five regiments of the state's quota were soon organized and hurried to the front, where they took part in the battles in West Virginia. They were under the immediate command of Gen. Thomas A. Mor- ris, of Indianapolis, who was the real moving power of that campaign, but the credit was given to his superior, Gen. George B. McClellan.
Governor Morton, after having filled the quota of the state, did not dismiss the excess of troops that had offered, but put them into camp to be drilled for future service. He was not one of those who believed the war would end in a flurry, but saw that a long and desperate struggle was ahead of the gov- ernment, and was determined that Indiana should not be a lag- gard in the contest. Several camps were formed in different parts of the city, and from the 22d of April, 1861, until after the surrender of the last of the Confederate troops, Indianapolis had the air of an armed camp. Regiments were either form- ing and being sent to the front, or were being received on their return home. On the 20th of April, 1861, the city of Indian- apolis appropriated $10,000 to aid the cause, and before the war closed the city had given until its expenditures had reached more than $1,000,000. This vast amount had been raised mostly by taxation, but such was the spirit of patriotism that the people cheerfully submitted to the heavy burdens imposed. The war left the city with a debt of $386,000. It should be remembered that the city then had a population of less than 20,000. Nor did this vast sum of $1,000,000 represent all that the citizens of Indianapolis gave to the war, for large sums for the sanitary and Christian commissions were raised by private subscriptions.
Even a cursory history of Indianapolis would not be com- plete without referring to some of those who so ably seconded the efforts of Governor Morton. Especially should the services of Isaiah Mansur be mentioned. He was appointed commissary
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by Governor Morton. The state had no money, nor had the general government furnished any for the maintenance of the troops. Mr. Mansur did not wait. He served without pay, but threw his whole soul into the work, and his activity and energy were boundless. He furnished meat from his own pack- ing houses, advanced his own money to purchase fresh bread, and other supplies, taking the chance of being reimbursed by the legislature. The recruits were not used to camp fare, and expected to have the same delicacies furnished them they were
HARRISON MONUMENT.
used to in their own homes, and many complaints were made. So loud were these complaints that the legislature, without ex- amining into the facts, passed a resolution of censure on Mr. Mansur, but it was afterward revoked and he was complimented for his efficiency and patriotism. Mr. Mansur was not the only one who advanced money to the state during the war, but on several occasions the bankers furnished large sums. Notably was this the case when Kentucky was invaded by Bragg and Kirby Smith. The government had offered a bounty and ad- vanced pay to troops, but the call from Kentucky was urgent,
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and there was delay upon the part of the government in sending the money necessary. The facts were reported to the banks by Governor Morton, when they promptly stepped forward and supplied the funds, and the troops were hastened to Kentucky to join in rolling back the tide of war.
The State Fair grounds, north of the city, were taken for camping purposes, and there the first regiments were organized. It was used for that purpose until the twenty-second of Febru- ary, 1862, when it was first used as a rebel prison. The first prisoners were from those captured at Fort Donelson. About three thousand were brought here first, many of them suffering severely from pneumonia and camp diarrhea, induced by ex- posure in the ditches around Fort Donelson. On their arrival they slept the first night on the floor of the union depot. They were in a pitiable condition. The next morning the humane physicians of Indianapolis were attending on them, fully one- fifth of the whole number needing medical attendance. Two hospitals were established, and the men and women of the city acted as nurses, and greatly added to the hospital supplies from their own homes. Notwithstanding all this care several hundred died. For some time before their capture they had been insuf- ficiently fed and clothed, and during the inclemency of the win- ter had been compelled to be a good deal of the time in the ditches around the fort. The dead were first buried in a part of Greenlawn cemetery, but were afterward removed to Crown Hill.
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