Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 53

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416

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HISTORY OF

pensively fitted up during the summer, and the first fair held there in October. It was not very successful pecuniarily ; many of the premiums were left unpaid, and for a number of years the board was much embarrassed financially, being re- lieved at last by State appropriations and damages received from the general govern- ment. The fair of 1861 was announced, but the war intervening, it was aban- doned.

With the first rush of troops to this point, the fair ground was occupied,cal- led Camp Morton, and used at intervals afterward until the capture of Fort Don- alson, when it was selected as a prison camp, and used as such till after the close of the war-having, often, 5,000 inmates. Its use as a camp and prison injured the grounds exceedingly and destroyed nearly all the trees. It is now being improved, the city having voted $3,000 for that object ; and when the improvements are completed will again be used by the board. The State fairs have all been alike in their es- sential features, and are now what they were at the beginning. Gov. Wright, Jos. Orr, A. C. Stevenson, G. D. Wagner, D. P. Holloway, J. D. Williams, Stearns Fisher and A. D. Hamrick have been the presi- dents of the society; and J. B. Dillon, W. T. Dennis, Ignatius Brown, W. H. Loomis and A J. Holmes the secretaries.

Nine hundred and fifty-five votes were cast at the city election, April 26th. H. C. Newcomb was elected mayor, but resigned November 7th, and the council elected Ca- leb Scudder for the balance of the term. A tax of five cents was authorized at the April election for the fire department and purchase of engines.

John B. Gough made his first visit to this city in May, and gave a series of temper- ance lectures in Masonic Hall. He has lectured here many times since before dif- ferent societies, but never equalled the impression he then made, when he was in his prime, and before his English trip injured his voice and manner.

A violent storm of wind and rain oc- curred on the 16th of May, blowing down fences and trees, and prostrating the M. & I. R. R. car house, and on the 22d a heavy hail-storm broke thousands of panes of glass. On the 28th of May Gov. Reuben Wood, of Ohio, visited the city and was suitably received by the authorities.

The papers in May stated that there were then two foundries, three machine shops, and a boiler factory in operation ; fifty steam engines had been built, and the manufacture of threshers had been commen- ced at the Washington foundry. Charles Mayer was also building a three- story bu-

siness house with an iron front, the first one in the city. An "old resident," in a communication, asserts that "nobody is crazy enough to think the city will have 30,000 inhabitants during this century." The receipts of the city treasury for the year ending May 1st, 1851, were $10,515 ; expenditures the same; debt $5,407; school fund from last year $3,308, amount col- lected $2,851, expended $5,935 on build- ing; balance $221. The number of chil- dren in the city was stated to be 2,126.

W. McK. Scott started the first com- mercial college here in March, 1851, continuing it for several years, and in Oc- tober 1851, he originated a library and reading room association. Rev. N. W. Camp, president, A. M. Hunt, secretary, and W. McK. Scott, treasurer and librari- an ; but the enterprise lived only about a year. He also started the first real estate agency that had existed here for many years. Commercial colleges have been founded since that date by Bryant, Hayden, Gregory, Purdy, and others, graduating many young men for active business pur- suits.

It being proposed to light Washington street with gas, and to buy a town clock, a vote was taken September 13, to author- ize a gas tax of eight cents, and clock tax of one cent. The first was heavily de- feated, and the last authorized. It was levied, and a sufficient fund having accu- mulated, Jno. Moffatt was employed in April, 1853, to build the clock for $1,200, and after much dissension as to where it should be placed, it waslocated in Roberts' Chapel steeple in 1854, and remained there till July 1868, when it was removed and put in charge of the chief fire engineer.

The first express office here was opened September 15, by the Adams Express Co .. the line being over the Madison road, and Blythe & Holland, agents, till December, when Charles Woodward was appointed. He was succeeded a year or two after by John H. Ohr, who held the office till it was discontinued in March, 1868. Offices of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, of the Uni- ted States Express, of the American and Merchants' Union have been established here at different dates. Since the consoli- dation of the companies in March, 1868, the Merchants' Union and American have been the only offices open here.

The county agricultural society was formed in August, and held its first fair in October. Fairs have been held nearly ev- ery year since with moderate success, do- ing, well when the State fairs were held elsewhere.

On the 23d of September, twenty-two members the First Presbyterian

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

church formed the third church. Rev. Da- vid Stevenson was called to the pastorate Nov. 17. He has been succeeded by Rev. Geo. Heckman, and Rev. Robt. Sloss. The church building on the corner of Illinois and Ohio street, was begun in 1852, and partly completed in May, 1859, at a cost of about $25,000 for house and lot. The towers have not yet been built. The con- gregation occupied College and Temperance Halls till January, 1864, when they went into the basement of the church, using it till 1859. The United Brethren Church was built during 1851-2, on the corner of Ohio and New Jersey streets.

Washington street had formerly been planted along portions of its sidewalks with trees, but they had gradually been cut away, and on the first of October the old locust trees in front of the present Dun- lop corner, the last ones in the center of the city, were cut down.

Madame Anna Bishop and Bochsa, the first noted musicians who visited the place, gave a concert at Masonic Hall, on the 24th of November.

In November the experiment was tried of having markets at noon instead of at daylight, but it was abandoned after a short period. The weather in December and January was excessively cold.

1852. On the 10th of January a fire broke out in the old frame and brick houses extending east of the Capital House to the alley, utterly consuming them, and burning up nearly all the records in the City Treasurer's office. The pres- ent buildings were erected there during the summer and occupied in the fall.

P. J. Ash opened a theatre with a small company at Masonic Hall, in February, 'but failed and discontinued shortly after- wards.

The Assembly, on the 20th December, 1851, had invited Kossuth to visit the city, and at a subsequent public meeting, fifty citizens had been appointed a commit- tee of reception. They met him February 26th, at Cincinnati, and on Friday, the 27th, he arrived here via Madison, and was escorted by a procession across the muddy valley of Pogue's run to the State House, where he was welcomed as the guest of the State by Governor Wright, and replied in an address of some length, to the vast crowd assembled in the yard. The party was quartered at the Capital House, (now the Sentinel office, ) then the best and largest hotel in the city. A re- ception was held at the Governor's resi- dence at night. On Saturday he was re- ceived by the two houses of . Assembly, and received delegations, and contribu- tions for Hungary. Sunday he attended

Roberts Chapel and the Sunday schools. On Monday he received delegations and contributions, and at night delivered a long and elaborate address, at Masonic Hall, before the society of "The Friends of Hungary." On Tuesday he left for Louis- ville, after collecting about $1,000.

Dr. C. G. McLean built, during this summer, a three-story brick building, on the corner of New York and Meridian streets, and opened the first session of the McLean Female Seminary at that place in September; one hundred and fifty pupils were in attendance during the first year, and the school soon took high rank. Dr. McLean died in 1860, and the school was continued until 1865, under Professor C. N. Todd, Professor Sturdevant, and others. It was then discontinued, and the property bought by the Indiana Fe- male College, which was located there till June, 1868, when it was discontinued, and the property sold to the Wesley Chapel congregation for about $16,000, as the site for their new Church.

The North Western Christian Univer- sity was chartered by the Assembly, Feb., 1852. A meeting of the commissioners was held June 22, and stock subscriptions reported, amounting to $75,000. Twenty- one directors, with Ovid Butler as Presi- dent, were elected July 14th. A site of twenty acres of fine woodland was donated to the institution by Ovid Butler. Plans by Wm. Tinsley, architect, were adopted, and the contracts were let in July, 1853, for the west wing of the building. It was erected in 1854-5, at a cost of $27,000, and dedicated November 1st, 1855, by Horace Mann, who delivered an able ad- dress on the occasion. John Young, J. R. Challen and A. R. Benton were the first Professors. John Young, S. K. Hoshour and A. R. Benton have been the Presi- dents. The institution has been prosper- ous under an able corps of instructors. Three societies, Pythonean, Mathesian and Threskomathian, are sustained by the students. Pupils of both sexes are in at- tendance at the institution. The College buildings are still incomplete.

The City Assessor returned the popula- tion of the city in July, at 10,812. The fourth of July was celebrated with more display than usual. The Sabbath School procession, embracing about two thousand children and teachers, marched to the State House square. The firemen and military, comprising the City Guards, the Marion, Western, Independent Relief and Invincible fire companies, and the O. K. bucket company, headed by Downie's band, (which had been formed in August, 1850,) also paraded the streets, with the

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HISTORY OF

fire engines and hose reels fancifully dec- orated.

The first balloon ascension here, was made at 4 o'clock p. m., July 29th, at the State House square, (which had been en- closed for the purpose,) by Wm. Paullin. The balloon rose to a great height, re- maining above the clouds for an hour, and lighting in the evening near Greenfield. At night, Diehl of Cincinnati, gave a fine exhibition of fire-works inside the en- closure. The show was gotten up by Jas. HI. McKernan, and the ascension was wit- nessed by over 15,000 persons, nearly all of whom held curb-stone tickets. Since that time balloon ascensions have been made here by Pusey, Bannister, Bellman, and a number of others.

Much improvement was made in the place this year, and many buildings erected or begun; among these were the Bates House, Morris (now the Sherman) House, McLean's Seminary, three brick school houses, Lafayette and Union depots, Terre Haute shops, Washington foundry, Sinker's boiler factory, Osgood & Smith's peg and last factory, Geisendorff's woollen factory, Drew's carriage factory, Shella- barger's planing mill, Macy's pork-house, Blake's Commercial Row, Blackford's building on Meridian street, and others. The railroads were being actively con- structed, streets improved, and cisterns built for the fire department, as voted for in October by a small majority. The first State and county fairs were held by the present societies, drawing large crowds ; great conventions were also held during the summer, by the political parties.

1853. Among the side shows in atten- dance at theState fair, in October, 1852, had been Yankee Robinson's atheneum, or tent theater, placed where Gallup's building now is, east of the State House. He returned here during the winter, and on the 21st of January opened in the Washington Hall, (which had been fitted with stage and rais- ed seats, ) with the Alphonso troupe of vo- calists, the concert being a blind for the theatrical performance which followed. Af- ter ten days or two weeks, he announced himself as manager, and continued the performances till March 7th, drawing very good houses, and employing a good compa- ny; among them were Henry W. Waugh, J. F. Lytton, D. W. Waugh, Robinson and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Wilkens, and others. After Robinson left, H. W. Brown opened the hall as a theater, with Sidney Wilkens and wife, Meehen, and others, forming a good stock company. The season lasted from July 1st to the 26th, and Uncle Tom's Cabin was first represented here to crowded houses. Sidney Wilkens

again opened it as manager, on the 10th of August, and continued for a short time with nearly the same company. Wilkens was an actor of considerable merit.

The first old settlers' meeting was held at the State house, January 31st. Speeches were made, anecdotes of the early settle- ment related, and an organization effected with arrangements for annual meetings. These were subsequently held till 1860, at Calvin Fletcher's and James Blake's, and at the fair grounds, but were abandoned during the war, and have not since been revived.

The Odd Fellows had determined to build a grand lodge hall here, and during the winter had organized a stock company .- Subscriptions to about $45,000 were taken by the grand and subordinate lodges and encampments, and by individuals, and in February the lot at the corner of Pennsyl- vania and Washington was bought for $17,000. A plan was adopted, afterward modified by F. Costigan, architect, and du- ring 1854-5 the present building was erect- ed on the site of the two-story brick and frame houses which had formerly occupied the lot. It cost about $30,000, and was oc- cupied in the summer of 1855, the city coun- cil room and city offices being on the sec- ond floor, where they remained till the present offices were occupied in Glenns' block, in May, 1862. The style of the hall is peculiar, probably unlike any other on earth. The lower floor is occupied as bu- siness rooms, the second as offices, and on the third are two large halls and ante- rooms, used by the lodges and encamp- ments, who occupy them each secular night of the week. The house is stuccoed inside and out, and is surmounted by a dome, de- signed by D. A. Bohlen architect. The' hall was dedicated, with appropriate cere- monies, May 21, 1856-

The dates of organization of the several lodges and encampments, and the names of their first officers are as follows :

Lodges-Centre No. 18, December 25, 1844, Wm. Sullivan, N. G., E. B. Hoyt, sec- retary, J. B. McChesney, treasurer ; Phi- loxenian, No. 44, July 8, 1847, Hervey Brown, N. G., W. W. Wright, secretary, Jolın J. Owsley, treasurer; Capital No. 124, January 20, 1853, John Dunn, N. G., Wm. Wallace secretary, Geo. F. McGinnis, treasurer; Germania 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, H. 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,

INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.

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 taxing power of the council being restricted under the charter of 1847, it was proposed in December, 1852, to adopt the general incorporation actof 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 was 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 cast at the election, May 3d, under the new law. Caleb Scud- der being chosen mayor, Daniel B. Culley, clerk, A. F. Shortridge, treasurer, Matthew Little, assessor, Benj. Pilbean, marshal, N. B. Taylor, attorney, Wm. 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 $10,905, expenditures $7,030.

The fire tax amounted to $2,093, ex- penses, $2,018; clock tax, $1,005, expenses, $18; school fund, $6,745, expenses, $6,458, in building houses, etc. $895 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, $3,891,875; 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, $800; 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.

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 his attorney went south to get witnesses. 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 had been formerly indifferent on the subject.

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 1st 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, consumed 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-

HISTORY OF

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. Hitherto 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 Masonic Hall, 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 company with Maurice Strakosch and the 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, 1868. 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 13, 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 unu- sually good, comprising R. J. Miller, Yan- kee Beirce, Yankee Robinson, F. A. Tanny- hill, Mc Williams, J. F. Lytton, H. W. and D. W. Waugh, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Beirce, 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 con- 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- forcing the liquor law. Conflicts had oc- curred immediately after the law took ef- fect, between the Germans and the police, and on the 1st 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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Logan's Indianapolis directory, 1868, Part 53

Author: Publication date: 1868 Publisher: Logan Number of Pages: 416

Author:
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: Logan
Number of Pages: 416