USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Logan's History of Indianapolis from 1818. Giving a carefully compiled record of events of the city from the organization of the state government > Part 14
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Lodges-Centre No. 18, December 25, 1844, Wmn. Sullivan, N. G., E. B. Hoyt, sce- retary, J. B. McChesney, treasurer ; Phi- loxenian, No. 44, July 8, 1847, Hervey Brown, N. G., W. W. Wright, secretary, John J. Owsley, treasurer; Capital No. 124, January 20, 1853, John Dunn, N. G., Wm. Wallace secretary, Geo. F. MeGinnis, treasurer; Germanis No. 129, January 24, 1853, Chas. Coulon, N. G., Julius Boetti- cher, secretary, B. H. Mueller, treasurer; | Encampments-Metropolitan No. 5, July 20, 1846, J. P. Chapman, C. P., Edwin Hed- derly, II. P., B. B. Taylor, secretary, A. C. Chrisfield, treasurer ; Marion No. 35, March 24, 1853, Obed Foote, C. P., J. K. English, H. P., A. Dereis, secretary, Geo. G. Holman,
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treasurer; Teutonia No. 57, August 13, 1855, Geo. F. Meyer, C. P., Chas. Coulon, H. P., F. H. Tapking, secretary, Alex. Metzger, treasurer.
A State convention of brass bands was held at Masonic Hall, February 22, under George B. Downie, as leader. Twelve or thirteen bands were present, and engaged in a contest for a prize banner, which was ta- ken by the New Albany band. A similar convention, eight or nine bands being in attendance, was held at the same place, November 29, 1853, under C. W. Cottam, as leader.
The fire tax amounted to $2,093, ex- penses, $2,018; clock tax, $1,005, expenses, SIS; school fund, $6,745. expenses, $6,458, in building houses, etc. $595 had been ex- pended for cisterns, five of which were finished, five in progress, and six others lo- cated. The council chamber was removed in June, from Hubbard's block to Dunlop's building, then lately finished, and in 1855, to Odd Fellows' Hall, then completed. The new city assessment in July, gave of per- sonal property. $1,239,507; real, $3,831,875; total, $5,131,682, and 1,460 polls. 35 per- sons paid tax on over $20.000 of property, and 59 on from 10 to $20,000. Until July, the marshal was the only police officer in the city, but in that month he was author- ized to appoint a deputy. The council fixed the salaries of the officers in Septem- ber; that of the mayor being $600; clerk, $600; marshal, $500; engineer, $900; street commissioner, $400; clerk of mar- kets, $350; sexton, $80; deputy marshal, $400; councilman, each meeting, $2.
The fourth Presbyterian church on Dela- ware and Market streets, was contracted for in May, and built during this and next
year, though not finally finished till within a few years past. The third Presbyterian church, on Illinois and Ohio streets, was also begun this year, but not completed for several years after. The towers are now being built. The tower of the fourth Presbyterian church, about one hundred and forty feet in height, is entirely of brick, the only one so built, and is the tallest brick structure in the city. The outside of the church is stuccoed. These were the finest and most expensive church edifices in the city when erected, but have since been surpassed by the first and second churches.
The taxing power of the council being restricted under the charter of 1847, it was John Freeman, an old and respectable colored citizen, was arrested, May 21st, as the fugitive slave of Pleasant Ellington, and taken before William Sullivan, U. S. Commissioner. The case caused great ex- citement. Crowds thronged the court room, writs of habeas corpus were issued, and successful efforts made to delay the case to get evidence. Freeman, in the mean time, had to lay three months in the jail, guarded by special marshals, while proposed in December, 1852, to adopt the general incorporation act of 1852, but much opposition arising, the project was not pressed at that time. In March, 1853, however, the council adopted the general act, and the city wns governed under it till March, 1857. The elections were changed from April to May, and all the officers and councilmen were elected annu- ally. 1450 votes were caet at the election, May 3d, under the new law. Caleb Scud- his attorney went south to get witnesses. der being chosen mayor, Daniel B. Culley, Several planters came on from Georgia, proved his freedom, and on the 27th of August he was released. This case had no small influence on political matters af- terward, and made many earnest oppo- nents of slavery among those who bad been formerly indifferent on the subject. clerk, A. F. Shortridge, treasurer, Matthew Little, assessor, Benj. Pilbean, marshal, N. B. Taylor, attorney, Wmn. Hughey, street commissioner, and James Wood, engineer. The new officers and council assumed their duties May 6th, and Joseph Little was elected first chief fire engineer. The re- ceipts of the city for the year ending May 1, 1853, were $10,005, expenditures $7,030.
The fourth of July was celebrated in the forenoon in the usual manner, by six- teen Sabbath schools, at the State House; by four fire and hose companies, with the Franklin band, in the afternoon, and by the Turners in the evening, south of the city.
A temperance excitement arose during the summer, and out-door meetings were held on the corners, and in front of the saloons, during July, August and Septem- ber. A committee was appointed in the last month, to wait on the sellers, and re- ported forty-four then engaged in the bus- iness, most of whom had agreed to quit it. The meetings were kept up at intervals for a year or two.
All the omnibuses in the city having been bought by Garner & Plant, an omni- bus company was formed on the Ist of August, and lines established from the depot, and along Washington street, but the enterprise was abandoned as unremu- nerative, after two or three months trial.
A great fire, on the evening of the 10th of August, consumned the extensive stables on Maryland and Pearl streets, back of the Wright House, and other buildings were repeatedly on fire, but by great ex- ertions on the part of citizens and fire-
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men, the fire was confined to the stables alone.
The Indianapolis Coal Co. was formed in the spring, working mines in Clay county, and the first loads of coal were sent to our market during the summer and fall. ITitherto wood had been the only fuel used here, being cheap and plen- tiful. The first horse-power wood-sawing machine was used on street during the fall, creating much excitement among the boys.
The first number of the Frie Press, a German independent weekly paper, ap- peared September 3d, and has been reg- ularly issued to the present time. It is owned by a stock company, and has gene- rally supported the republican party. The company is also publishing the Daily Tele- graph, the only German daily paper in the | city.
An auction stock exchange was started by William Y. Wiley, in October, weekly sales and meetings being held, but the city was too small to support such an en- terprise, and it was abandoned after sev- eral weeks trial. No subsequent effort has been made to revive it.
The famous dissenting Priest Gavazzi delivered two eloquent lectures on the pa- pacy, at Masonie Ilall, October 28-9, to crowded houses. Lucy Stone, at the same place, on the 24th, 25th and 26th of No- vember, and 3d of December, delivered addresses on woman's rights and wrongs. Ole Bull gave his first concert here, in : the same hall, on the 6th of December, in , foreing the liquor law. Conflicts had oc- company with Maurice Strabosch and the : curred immediately after the law took ef- now world renowned Adalini Patti, then a child of twelve or thirteen years of age. Ole Bull, since that time, has given sev- eral concerts here, the last being in Feb- ruary, 186S. During Christmas week, W. H. Howard gave several theatrical per- formances, which he terminated by run- ning off and leaving his company unpaid.
Much improvement had taken place in the city during the summer and fall, and it was supposed that $500,000 had been expended in the erection of houses.
1854. The Young Men's Christian Association was organized on the 21st of March, and has since steadily and succes- fully pressed forward in a useful work. It made efforts to collect a library, and from 1855 to the present time, has given, each winter, a series of lectures by distinguished persons. Rooms have been rented, an agency office opened, a city missionary ap- pointed, and sabbath schools organized un- der its direction.
2012 votes were cast at the city election on the 1st of May. The officers elected
will be found in the table heretofore pub- lished. A great storm occurred May 18. blowing down trees, fences and Robinson's atheneum tent, injuring several persons in the audience. Robinson, during the sum- mer and fall, fitted up the third story of Elliott's building, on the corner of Mary- land and Meridian streets, and commenced the theatrical season in the fall, ending April 14, 1855. The company was unn- sually good, comprising R. J. Miller, Yan- kee Beirce, Yankee Robinson, F. A. Tanny- hill, Mc Williams, J. F. Lytton, II. W. and D. W. Waugh, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Beiree, Miss Mary McWilliams, and others. He introduced Miss Susan Denin to an India- napolis audience. She had two engage- ments during the season, and aroused great interest among the drama-loving part of the community. She was succeeded by Maggie Mitchell and J. P. Addams.
The marshal was the only police officer until July, 1853, when he was authorized to appoint a deputy, but on the 14th of September of this year. the council estab- lished a police force of fourteen men, with a captain; Jefferson Springsteen being chosen the first chief. This force was eon- tinued till December 17, 1855, when the ordinance was repealed, and the whole squad and the deputy marshal discharged: the marshal again being left the only po- lice officer in the city. The repeal arose from the general discontent at the expense attending the maintenance of the force, and at the conduct of the police in en-
feet, between the Germans and the police, and on the Ist of August, an attempt to make an arrest on east Washington street resulted in a riot, in which several of the Germans were shot. A citizens' meeting, held immediately afterward, at the court house, sustained the police, proffered the aid of one hundred special policemen in each ward, and determined on the enforce- ment of the law, and preservation of the peace. The council also commended the act of the police. The ill feeling gradually subsided, but the general discontent over the matter resulted at last in the discharge of the force. For a month or two after- ward, the streets were much disturbed by noisy rioters, among whom (as it was charged at the time,) were a number of ex-policemen, who thus evinced their de- sire for re-employment, and demonstrated its necessity. The papers soon asked for another force, and the council, on the 21st of January, 1856, created one of ten men, one to each ward and three at large, with a captain ; Jesse M. VanBlaricum being chosen chief. This force continued till
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after the May election. when the new democratic council discharged it, and by ordinance allowed the city marshal to ap- point one policemau to each ward, with a captain; Charles G. Warner being selected for the post. The republicans repealed this ordinance, May 18, 1857, and passed another, by which the council elected seven policemen and a captain ; A. D. Rose be- ing chosen. Two additional policemen at large were appointed in 1858, and Samuel Lefever elected captain. A. D. Rose suc- ceeded in 1859. The force was increased May 11, 1861, to two men froin each ward, and on the 2d of July, 1Sol, was fixed by new ordinance at fourteen men and a cap- tain; A. D. Rose retaining the post. He held it till October, and then entered the army, being succeeded by Thos. A. Ram- sey. The two day policemen were dis- charged in November. John R. Cotton was chosen chief in May, 1802. Two day patrolmen were again added, and the men first uniformed at the expense of the city. Thos. D. Amos was chosen chief, May 19, 1803, and the force increased to one lieu- tenant, seven day and eighteen night pa- trolinen. D. 31. Powell succeeded as chief, May 25, 1863. During the fall much trou- ble was experienced in preserving the peace, in consequence of the great number of rowdies in the city, and on the 4th of December a new ordinance was passed re- organizing the force. On the 4th the mayor was authorized to appoint detect- ives, and on the 21st the military authori- ties were asked to detail guards to assist the police. The request was granted, and until after the war a strong guard mate- rially aided in preserving order in and around the city ; the guard headquarters being at the police office. A new ordi- nauce fixing police districts, was passed March 21, 1864, and amended May 9th, and Samuel A. Cramer elected chief. On the third of October, twenty-six special po- licemen were added, during the State fair. Complaints being made of the insufficiency of the force, the council, on the 5thof De- cember, 1864, authorized an addition of six- teen men until the second Tuesday in May, 1865, and raised the chief's salary to $1,- 500. The pay of the men was also in- creased once or twice during 1863 and 1864, being finally fixed at $2.50 and $3.00 per day. Jesse VanBlaricum was chosen chief in the spring of 1865, with two lieu- tenants, nine day and eighteen night pa- trolmen, two detectives, and sixteen special men under his command. lle served till April, 1866, when Thos. S. Wilson was elect- ed chief, and still holds the office. The force has been maintained for the last three or four years at an annual cost of
$25,000 or $30,000, and now consists of about thirty men.
In September, 1865, Mr. A. Coquillard organized a merchants' police force for the patrol of the business squares along Wash- ington street, and on the 16th of Oc- tober the council recognized the force, granting it police powers. A. D. Rose took the control of it in September, 1866, and is now at its head. It is composed of twelve men, paid by the parties whose property it guards. In addition to the regular and merchants' police, there is a force of three or four men at the Union Depot, appointed by the company, and con- firmed by the council, and invested with police powers.
1855. A financial panic had occurred in the West during the fall of 1854. The Free state-stock banks had very generally stopped payment, and their notes, which formed the great bulk of the circulation, were passing at a heavy discount. Rail- way and other pending enterprises, were greatly embarrassed, and nearly all those in progress suspended operations. Trad- ers and manufacturers were much cramp- ed, and general distrust prevailed among business men. A bankers' convention was beld bere on the 7th of January to classify the notes of the suspended hanks and fix discount rates according to the value of their securities. The rates were accordingly fixed, but not adhered to even by those who made them, and the discounts were raised or lowered at the eaprice of brokers, entailing great losses on the com- munity, and making large sums for the operators in the business.
The mayors of the several cities of the State met in convention at this point on the 22d of January, for consultation and mutual improvement, but without any visi- ble result.
A colored lithographic engraving of the city, as seen from the top of the Blind Asylum, was published in January by J. T. Palmatary.
A deep and lasting snow fell in Febru- ary, affording fine sleighing.
A number of cases of small pox occur- red in January, and as the disease began to spread during February, the council, on the 10th of March, ordered the erection of a hospital. Several lots were bought in the north-west corner of the plat, plans adopted, and the house begun; but the disease and panic soon subsided. funds ran low, and the house was suspended or pros- ecuted at intervals for years, and was not finished till the spring of 1859, requiring a new roof and other repairs in the mean- time. Its erection was due to Dr. Livings- ton Dunlap, councilman from the Sixth
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ward, who persevered against all obsta- cles till his object was achieved. It cost about $30,000, and remained unused, ex- cept as a rendesvous for bad characters, till April, 1861. It was proposed in Feb- ruary, 1860, to sell it, but the council committee reported in favor of renting it. During the summer it was proposed to use it as a city prison or a house of refuge, or a home for friendless women; but each of these projects was successively defeated. The Sisters of Chartiy, on the 21st of June, asked its use, under their control, as & hospital, but other christian denominations opposed the plan, and the application was withdrawn. The council finally, on the 21st of July, granted it to a society of la- dies as a home for friendless women. It was not occupied, however, for that pur- pose, and was given rent free to a keeper, who was to take care of it. After the war began and the sudden concentration of men at this point, the sick were taken there, and the council, on the 18th of May, granted its use to the government for a hospital, and it was occupied as such till July, 1865, and as a soldiers' home till No- vember, 1865, when, with the additions and improvements, it was surrendered again to the city. These improvements consisted of two large three-story ells, sev- eral outbuildings, fences, trees, gardens, &c. They had been offered for sale by the government authorities, but were final- ly surrendered to the city with the build- ing in lieu of rent. After the government vacated it, Rev. August Bessonies, Jan- uary 2d, 1866, submitted a proposition to the council to give the house to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, as a city prison for females, and also asked that the unfinished house of refuge be deeded to them, to be finished and used as a reformatory school for abandoned females. These proposi- tions were opposed by the citizens, and a subscription of $6,000 made to finish the house of refuge, and Mr. Bessonies' propo- sition was defeated. The house remained vacant till the spring of 1866, when about $2,000 were spent in buying hospital fur- niture and supplies at the government sales at Jeffersonville. A loard of direct- ors was elected, Dr. G. V. Woollen chosen superintendent, a corps of consulting phy- sicians and surgeons appointed, and the hospital opened for patients July Ist, 1866. It has since been conducted at an expense of six or seven thousand dollars per year.
Two thousand, six hundred and ninety votes were cast at the May election. The revenue for general purposes, for 1854 amounted to $20,500; school fund $10,300. The general expenditures'exhausted the re- ceipts and left a debt of $567-the bal-
ance left in the school fund was $6,880. The street improvements requiring consid- erable labor in the engineer department, the council, in July, first authorized the office of assistant engineer, at $300 salary. A wood-measurer was also appointed for the newly-established wood markets. A market house was built this year on South street, between Delaware and Alabama streets. But few markets were held there, and the house was torn down in 1858.
The first city directory was issued this year by Grooms & Smith. Directories have since been issued by A. C. Howard, Henry E. McEvoy, J. T. Talbott, Sutherland & McEvoy, J. C. Sutherland, H. H. Dodd & Co., Richard Edwards, A. L. Logan and others.
The liquor law took effect June 12th, and. the county agency was started. The law was generally observed for a few weeks, and unusual order and quiet reign- ed on the streets, but on the 2d of July R. Beebee was arrested for selling liquor, fined and imprisoned; the case went to the Supreme Court, and the impression gain- ing ground that the law would be declared unconstitutional, it was soon generally disregarded and the traffic reopened.
Blake's, Drake's, Fletcher's, Drake & Mayhew's, Blackford's and other additions to the city were made in 1854-5, and the lots mostly disposed of and their improve- ment begun. Between sixty and eighty additions and sub-divisions have been made to the city since the first one was made by John Wood, in June, 1836.
The fourth of July was celebrated by the Sabbath Schools at the State House yard, in the usual manner. Nineteen schools, comprising 2,100 children, par- ticipated. The firemen paraded in the afternoon, making a fine display. The Ilope company, of Louisville, then visit- ing here, was in the line.
The Indianapolis Building, Loan Fund and Savings Association was organized in October, and continued its existence for several years, its object being to make loans to its members at ostensibly low rates of interest, to aid in building houses. The Marion Loan Fund and Savings Asso- ciation, a similar organization, was started in March, 1856. These organizations when wound up, failed to realize the hopes of their projectors. The Indianap- olis Fuel Association was formed on the 31st October, and supplied its members during the winter, with wood and coal at but little over one-half the rates charged in the open markets.
A women's rights convention was held at Masonic Hall, October 22d and 23d, Mrs. Rebecca Swank, President. Mrs.
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Lucretia Mott, Ernestine L. Rose, Frances D. Gage, Adaline Swift, Harriet L. Cutler, and Joseph Barker, of Pittsburg, and other speakers addressed the convention. But few persons attended, and the move- ment excited no remark.
The city was well supplied with amuse. ments this year. The Black Swan, with the African Mario, sang at Masonic Hall on the 2d of May, (she again visited the place in the spring of 1568.) Du Bufe's paintings of Adam and Eve were shown May 22-6, at Washington Hall. Powers's Greek Slave, October 19-25, at College Hall; Parodi, with Maurice and Madam Strakosch and others, sang, Dec. 10th, at Masonic Hall. Brown and Commons opened the Atheneum, May 14, ending the season June 25, with C. J. Fyffe, manager, and J. F. Lytton, Beaver, and others, in the company; Harry Chapman and his wife, Mrs. A. Drake, William Powers and James E. Murdoch were the stars. Murdoch left in disgust before the close of his engagement. Commons re-opened the Atheneum, September 15th, ending the season December 8th, with Thos Puff. manager, and about the same company ; Eliza Logan, Joseph Proctor, Susan and Kate Denin, Peter and Caroline Richings, and Mr. and Mrs. Florence were the stars. Yankee Robinson had returned dur- ing the fall, and wintered here with his circus company. An amphitheatre was fitted up in Delzell's stable, on east Pearl street, and horse opera given during the winter.
The first effort at numbering the houses on Washington street, was made during the fall, but no settled system was adopted and the numbering was partial and faulty. The Council, in July, 1858, authorized A. C. Howard to number all the streets of the city, and the work was completed during the fall, but the system was defective in numbering only the houses then built, and the work was badly done, resulting in confusion as new buildings were erected. The Council, in June, 1864, adopted a sys- tem authorizing tifty numbers to the square. The work of renumbering was done by A. C. Howard, and the plan has since been followed in the numbering of new buildings.
The Young Men's Christian Association gave their first course of lectures during the fall and winter, Park Benjamin, Rev. Mr. Butler, David Paul Brown, Edwin P. Whipple, Heury B. Staunton, H. W. Ells- worth, Bishop Simpson, and Edward P. Thompson being the lecturers.
1856. The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church met on the ist of May, in the hall of the house of
representatives, and continued in session for about a month, attended by the full board of Bishops, and the leading men of that denomination. The delegates were the guests of citizens of all the churches, and the pulpits of the churches were filled each Sabbath by preachers in attendance at the conference. The session was im- portant and interesting, and drew the at- tention of the whole country to this city. It was the first national body meeting here.
The city election took place May 6th. 2,776 votes being cast. the democrats elect- ing the whole city ticket, with ten out of fourteen councilmen.
The assessment for this year amounted to $7,146,670, $1,822,152 being personal property. The receipts in the general fund for the past year were $27,889, ex- penditures S46,105. The debt on the 1st of May, 1854, was $567; May 1st, 1855, $11,000; May Ist, 1856, $15,295. It was proposed to fund the debt by a loan, and Jeremiah D. Skeen was chosen in August, by the Council, as financial agent, to sell city bonds in the New York market. He accordingly went there, and not succeed- ing in negotiating a loan for the city, hy- pothecated the bonds for $5,000, which he applied to his own use. The defalcation was discovered in the spring of 1857, and unsuccessful efforts made to recover the bonds. The money was finally paid by the city to the parties who had advanced the money to Skeen. Suit was brought against Skeen and his sureties, and judg- ment finally recovered in January, 1868, for the principal and interest of the de- falcation.
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