USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
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LAFAYETTE POSTOFFICE.
(Compiled by A. E. Shearman, Assistant Postmaster.)
Lafayette's first postmaster was Samuel Sargent, commissioned April 24, 1826. The office was located in the cabin with the county clerk. Mr. Sargent was postmaster but a short time. He was also the first county clerk and held both offices at the same time and died in office.
Mr. Sargent's successor as postmaster was William M. Smith, who was commissioned September 15, 1826. Mr. Smith was also storekeeper and kept the postoffice in his store room which was located in a cabin on the river front.
Mr. Smith was succeeded by Samuel Hoover, who was commissioned on October 2, 1828. Mr. Hoover was also the county clerk and kept both offices in a small house where now stands the First National Bank building in the center of the block on the north side of the square, but later both offices were moved into the court house.
James Wylie followed Samuel Hoover as postmaster and was commis- sioned on March 26, 1833. He moved the office to the corner of Second and Columbia streets and afterwards to the south side of Columbia street between Second and Third streets.
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POST OFFICE, LAFAYETTE
431
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
The fifth postmaster was Rudolph S. Ford, commissioned December 26, 1839. His office was located on west side of Fourth street, near the alley between Main and Ferry streets, just south of where the present government building stands.
Mr. Ford was followed by William L. Embree, who was commissioned July 14, 1845, and who kept the office in the same location as when Mr. Ford was postmaster.
Gen. Jacob Walker was the seventh postmaster, commissioned June 14, 1847, who located the office at the corner of Third and South streets, opposite the old Lafayette Hotel, and later moved to the south side of Main street, between Second and Third streets, near the present St. Nicholas Hotel.
Daniel Brawley, who followed General Walker, was commissioned post- master April 5, 1849. Ile moved the office into Dr. Jewett's new block on the east side of Third street, between Columbia and South streets.
Robert W. Sample, now president of the First National Bank, was one of Daniel Brawley's assistants and, in fact, did almost all of the work in the postoffice during part of Mr. Brawley's term on account of illness in the postmaster's family.
Gen. Jacob Walker was again commissioned postmaster on May 4. 1853. He moved the office to the corner of Third and South streets. opposite to the Bramble House, same location he had occupied in 1847.
Thomas Wood was the tenth postmaster, commissioned May 19. 1857. While he was in charge, the office was located in Taylor's block on the south side of Main street. between Second and Third streets, west of public square.
George E. Jenks, proprietor of the paper box manufactory and the "Shears" and one of our prominent citizens, and Gen. George B. Williams, of Washington, District of Columbia, were among Mr. Wood's employees.
James P. Luce was commissioned postmaster on May 24. 1861. by President Lincoln. He first located the office in the Orth block on the east side of Fourth street, between Main and Ferry streets.
This block was burned and the office was then removed to the Lahr block, corner Main and Fifth street, in a room on alley now occupied by the Bohemia cafe, and from there to the then Opera House block on the north- east corner of Fourth and Ferry streets. Mr. Luce held the office until July 22, 1866.
Major Daniel Mace was commissioned postmaster on June 26, 1866, took charge of the office July 23. 1866. Location of the office was not changed during the time he served. Mr. Mace committed suicide on July 25. 1867.
432
PAST AND PRESENT
and William Heheman, the assistant postmaster, was acting postmaster from the date of Mr. Mace's death to November 23, 1867.
Col. William C. Wilson was commissioned postmaster August 8, 1867, to serve ont the unexpired term of Mayor Mace, but did not take the office until November 24, 1867, and served to May 7, 1869, in the same location as Major Mace in the old Opera House block. northeast corner of Ferry and Fourth streets.
John L. Miller was commissioned on April 9, 1869. Took charge of the office on May 8, 1869, and continued in office until April 25, 1877, nearly eight years. While he was postmaster in the opera house building, northeast corner of Ferry and Fourth streets, the building was burned down, and the postoffice was removed to the Hanley block on the east side of Fourth street, between Columbia and South streets, near where the present Victoria theatre building stands. It remained there but a short time and was then moved back to the northeast corner of Fourth and Ferry streets.
During Mr. Miller's term, in the fall of 1873, free delivery by carriers was inaugurated with four carriers. Carrier number one was Benny Hirsch, who had been general delivery clerk for some time. He was appointed by Hon. Godlove S. Orth. Carrier number two was Sam Sims, a one-armed Civil war veteran. Number three was James Godman and number four was Fletcher Ingram, a son of Judge Ingram. All of these men are dead now except Ben Hirsch, proprietor of the Hub clothing store on the west side of the square. Frank Terry and the Hon. Mel W. Miller were employees of the office during John L. Miller's term.
The first street letter boxes were placed in position by John C. Taylor and son. Arthur, in November, 1873. Mr. Taylor is now running the peanut wagon that stands in Fourth street, just north of Main, and his son, Arthur, is in Alaska.
William S. Lingle succeeded John L. Miller as postmaster, was com- missioned April 9, 1877. took charge on April 26, 1877, and served until September 1, 1884. Ile died in office on that date at Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Upon the death of William S. Lingle, John G. Sample was appointed acting postmaster and served as such from September 2, 1884, until Septem- ber 30, 1884. He was commissioned postmaster September 17, 1884. and served as postmaster from October 1, 1884, to November 30, 1885.
Jolin B. Ruger succeeded Mr. Sample as postmaster, was commissioned November 9, 1885, and took charge of the office December 1, 1885, serving until February 2, 1890. The office was removed by him from the northeast corner of Ferry and Fourth streets to the Dell block on the south side of Columbia street, cast side of the alley between Fourth and Fifth streets.
433
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
The postal receipts of the office for the year 1889. Mr. Ruger's last year, were twenty-eight thousand six hundred and thirty-two dollars and ninety-two cents.
Hon. B. Wilson Smith succeeded Mr. Ruger; was commissioned post- master Jannary 9, 1890, and took charge of the office on February 3, 1890. serving until October 31. 1893. During his term of office the clerks and carriers were placed under civil service rules and the government building was erected at southwest corner of Fourth and Ferry steets.
Mr. Smith was also appointed by the treasury department as custodian of the building and grounds. The government invested about eighty thou- sand dollars in the original building and grounds.
Bosicher & Moerlling. of Fort Wayne, Indiana, were the contractors and George S. Brown, of Lafayette, the superintendent.
When Mr. Smith took charge of the postoffice there was no night service. The building was closed at nine p. m. and no mails were dispatched until the next morning. Within a year Mr. Smith had arranged for additional help, made a collection at ten o'clock at night from the hotels and street letter boxes in the business section and dispatched mail on all night trains, an improvement which was appreciated by the city business men and commercial travelers. Particular attention was given to the special delivery branch of the service and this business doubled in a very short time. He also early made a personal inspection of all street letter boxes, and all in bad or leaky condition were promptly replaced by new boxes, also established agencies for the sale of stamps in different parts of the city.
Mr. Smith was quite a favorite of Mr. Wanamaker, the postmaster- general ; by Mr. Wanamaker's request Mr. Smith visited every postoffice in the county and made an inspection of the offices and advised with the post- masters as to how their business methods could be improved.
On one or more occasions Mr. Wanamaker invited some fifty postmas- ters from offices of the first class to visit Washington to consult as to the management of the large offices. He thought so much of Mr. Smith's judg- ment and ability that he invited him to meet and consult with them, which was quite a compliment, as this office at that time was second class.
The postal receipts of the office during Mr. Smith's four years were for 1890, twenty-nine thousand three hundred and four dollars and thirty-one cents ; 1891, thirty-one thousand one hundred and twenty-three dollars and thirteen cents; 1892, thirty-five thousand six hundred and fifty-four dollars and ninety-one cents ; 1893, thirty-six thousand eight hundred and sixty-four dollars and fifty-five cents.
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PAST AND PRESENT
The postal receipts for the year 1893 had increased eight thousand two hundred and thirty-one dollars and sixty-three cents over the year of 1889. By these increases in the receipts, the salary of the postmaster had been ad- vanced twice from two thousand seven hundred dollars to two thousand nine hundred dollars per annum. That Mr. Smith made a good selection of clerks and carriers is attested by the fact that nine of his old employees are still in the postoffice force, and one of them, Thomas W. Burt, is the present postmaster. None of the men he selected were ever guilty of any bad action and all that have left the service left when in good standing.
M. H. Kennedy followed Mr. Smith as postmaster, was commissioned on September 28, 1893, and took charge of the office on November 1, 1893, serving until October 11, 1897. The new government building was completed early in the spring of 1894 and the postoffice was removed to it on March 17, 1894. The office went into the list of first class in 1895.
The postal receipts during Mr. Kennedy's term were as follows: Year 1894, thirty-nine thousand one hundred and eighty-two dollars and thirteen cents ; 1895, forty thousand nine hundred and eighty-four dollars and fifty- four cents ; 1896, forty-one thousand four hundred and forty-five dollars and twenty-one cents; 1897, forty-two thousand seven hundred and seventeen dollars and fifty-eight cents.
James Lindsey Caldwell was commissioned postmaster on September 14, 1897, took charge of the office on October 12, 1897, and served until February 28. 1906.
The postoffice service was carried on during this period in a business- like way and with but little, if any, friction among employees or the public.
The force of employees were well organized and made up of competent and trustworthy men, who took a pride in their work and honestly and faith- fully tried to please the public.
Advantage was taken of every opportunity offered by the department to improve the service. During Mr. Caldwell's administration there was installed the West Lafayette station with two letter carriers, which was sub- sequently increased to three, making the same number of deliveries and upon the same schedule as in the city, thus affording West Lafayette and Purdue University splendid mail service. The mail was dispatched via the street railway.
The Soldiers' Home station was also installed with two daily dispatches via the traction line.
Four other sub-stations were located in different parts of the city for the sale of postal supplies and the issuing of money orders and the registry of letters.
435
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
The railway mail service was increased until every passenger train enter- ing and leaving the city carried mail and mail was dispatched on a freight train to Romney, Indiana.
Rural free delivery was taken up early in its history, and aided by enthus- iastic farmers' routes, were established among the first in Indiana. No. 1. on April 3, 1899; No. 2, on April 3. 1899; No. 3. on December 4, 1899: No. 4, on September 15, 1900; No. 5, on January 2. 1901. On October 15, 1902, complete county service was installed with thirty-nine carriers. Tippecanoe county being the sixth county in the state to receive this service.
It was installed by E. F. Hutches, rural route special agent, who, in company with Mr. Caldwell during the months of July and August. 1902, rode over every mile of road in Tippecanoe county.
The postal receipts increased from forty-two thousand, seven hundred seventeen dollars and fifty-eight cents to sixty-five thousand, ninety-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents during his term of office.
Thomas W. Burt was commissioned the twenty-first postmaster on Feb- ruary 19, 1906, took charge of the office on March 1, 1906. During the years of 1907 and 1908, the government building was remodeled and an addition of fifty by seventy feet was built on the west side, two stories and basement, for which the government appropriated sixty thousand dollars. New furniture and lighting fixtures were installed throughout, and the build- ing and office now is one of the most convenient in the United States. Ed Henry, of Tipton, Indiana, was the contractor, with L. W. Baker (colored), a government employee, as superintendent.
The postal receipts of the office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909. were over eighty thousand dollars, an increase of fifteen thousand dollars during Mr. Burt's term, requiring seventeen city carriers and twelve rural carriers, besides several substitute carriers and clerks. There is distributed among the postoffice employees in salaries fifteen thousand dollars per quarter.
The value of the civil service to the postoffice department can not be over-estimated. Politics no longer is a factor, efficiency and good conduct being sure of reward by increase in salary and permanency of employment. Mr. Burt has proved an earnest advocate of the eight-hour day for all em- ployees, and under his administration the hours of employment of every attache of the office have been reduced to the minimum. The personnel of the Lafayette office is not excelled by that of any other in the country in its class. With an office force of fifty-six attaches, the fact that no fines, sus- pensions or dismissals have been necessary speaks highly for the moral char-
436
PAST AND PRESENT
acter of the force. In volume of business transacted it is a cause for just pride that Lafayette ranks sixth in the state, preceded only by cities of many times its population, viz. : Evansville, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Indianapolis.
TAX LEVIES BY YEARS FROM 1853 TO 1905.
On $100.
On $100.
1853.
$ .40
1879
$ .80
1854
.40
1880
.80
1855.
55
1881.
.50
1856.
.50
1882.
.75
1857
.50
1883.
.75
1858
.50
1884 1.00
1859
.50
1885. 1.00
1860
.70
1886 1.00
1861.
.70
1887 1.00
1862.
.75
1888 .1.00
1863
.80
1889
1.00
1864.
1.00
1800
1.00
1865.
1.00
1891
.75
1866
1.00
1892
.75
1867
1.00
1893
.76
1868
.90
1894
.90
1869.
.90
1895
.81
1870
.90
1896.
1.00
1871
1.00
1897
1.00
1872.
1.00
1 898.
1.00
1873
.90
1899.
1.00
1874
1.00
1900
1.00
1875
1.00
1901
1.00
1876
1.00
1902
1.00
1877
1.00
1903.
1.00
1878
.Sc
1904.
1.00
Lafayette had an indebtedness of three hundred thousand dollars in way of out-standing bonds in 1907. according to the state's report.
The taxable property in the city of Lafayette in 1908 was: Lands, three hundred ninety-eight thousand, four hundred and thirty-five dollars :
437
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
improvements, five hundred sixty-two thousand, seven hundred dollars ; value of lots, three million, twenty-four thousand dollars ; value of improvements, four million, three hundred and thirty thousand dollars; personal property, three million, seven hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ; railroad prop- erty, four hundred and forty-seven thousand dollars: telephones. telegraph and express companies, ninety-seven thousand dollars. And after deducting the mortgages against this property, it leaves the large sum of twelve million, three hundred and sixty-nine thousand dollars for a grand total of valuation.
The library fund, a special levy of six mills on a dollar of property valu- ation, in 1908 produced the amount of seven thousand, three hundred and seventy-two dollars. Of this amount, about four thousand dollars was trans- ferred to the school board, leaving a balance in the treasury of the library of three thousand, three hundred and thirty-six dollars. This is used to main- tain and operate the public library.
INDUSTRIES OF LAFAYETTE.
According to the United States census of 1905 for "Industries," Lafay- ette had eighty factories in operation, and employed a capital of three million, six hundred sixteen thousand, eight hundred and forty-one dollars. The average number of wage earners was placed at one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-six, while the value of goods produced was figured at four million, six hundred thirty-one thousand, four hundred and fourteen dollars.
While Lafayette has in no wise ever been accounted a large industrial center, yet if one looks back at her past history it will be observed that it has from time to time had many important factories. While it will not be the province of this chapter to enter the names of all the institutions which have in the past. or are now operating in this city. it may be noted that among such industries was the Lafayette Car Works, established in January, 1880. with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, the same occupying the old Purdue Agricultural Works building. B. F. Master was president. H. W. Chase secretary, and R. A. Bunker treasurer. Six hundred men were em- ployed, and they built about ten cars per day. The works were removed, or disbanded about 1890.
The Lafayette Hominy Mills were started in 1881 by a company whose capital was fifty thousand dollars. In 1884 the main building was burned, but was rebuilt at once. While the business has been merged with other con- cerns of the country, shipments to and from this plant are carried on in an extensive manner.
438
PAST AND PRESENT
In 1887 the Lafayette Milling Company had a fine brick milling plant; the Douglass Pump Factory on Ninth street; Biggs Pump Factory ; a target factory, employing seventeen hands, produced several thousand targets daily, the same being shipped to all parts of the country.
Lafayette has now forty factories of various kinds, employing three thousand men and women.
Number of telephones in use, four thousand, five hundred.
Number of miles of electric railways in city, eighteen; cars in service, forty-one ; men employed, one hundred and fifty.
Among the important industries of Lafayette may be named the Levy & Rice Co., manufacturers of ladies' wash skirts, at No. 903 Main street. Here all kinds of cotton fabrics are made into ready-to-wear garments. The busi- ness was established here in 1900. They occupy two stories of a brick busi- ness house and employ about seventy-five people, three-quarters of whom are women. The output of their factory finds a ready sale as far east as Buffalo, New York ; and as far west as Nevada ; to Atlanta, Georgia, and Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky ; also to Minnesota and the western states. A large trade has been built up on the real merit of the goods produced. This plant ranks seventhi in the United States in its line of industry. The annual out- put of this factory is from one hundred thousand dollars to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Among the more important industries of Lafayette in 1909 may be enumerated the following :
Architectural iron works-Barbee Wire and Iron Works; McGrath Foundry and Machine Company and the Wallace Machine and Foundry Company.
Art glass manufacturers-Walter T. Lockwood.
Beef packers-Dryfus Packing and Provision Company; Kern Pack- ing Company.
Blank book manufacturers-Burt-Haywood-Wilson Company ; Murphey- Bivins Company.
Bridges-Lafayette Engineering Company.
Carpets-Lafayette Carpet Company.
Electric manufacturers-Duncan Electric Company ; Lafayette Electric Manufacturing Company ; Sterling Electric Company.
Flour mills-Lafayette Milling Company : Holdt & Son.
Lafayette Gas Company.
Artificial ice manufacturers-Kern Packing Company; Lafayette Arti- ficial Ice Company.
439
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
Medicine manufacturers-Cochran, Hugh L .; Comstalk Remedy Com- pany ; George H. Everhart; Wells Medicine Company.
Paper boxes-George E. Jenks.
Pumps-Fred Reule.
Fire proof safes-Schwab Safe and Lock Company.
Sash, doors and blinds-Henry J. Kessner Lumber Company ; Henry Taylor Lumber Company.
Straw Board and Paper Company.
Soap manufacturers-The M. & J. Schnaible Company.
Tile manufacturers-Jacob May & Sons.
Wagon makers-Indiana Wagon Company.
Wire works-Barbee Iron and Wire Works.
WHAT THE CITY IS IN 1909.
Area of city, square miles. 4.6
Tax rate. . .95
Population .23,000
Sinking fund. .05
Assessed valuation. .$12,300,000
Improved streets, miles.
.52.1
Asphalt streets, miles
4.17
Unimproved streets .91
Brick streets, miles. 2.50
Cement sidewalks 1.7
Sanitary sewers, miles. 1.4
Brick alleys. 9.10
Loan and trust companies 2
Number banks. 7
Number churches. 34
Building and loan associations. 2
No. W. C. T. U. associations. I
No. Y. M. C. A. buildings. . .
2
Hotels
13
Libraries
Newspapers, daily.
2 Theaters
7
Other newspapers
4
Steam railways. 4
Public parks.
2
Schools of Music 2
Passenger trains, daily
40 Cemeteries
5
Flouring mills.
I
Interurban roads operating. 3
Policemen
21
Total $1.00
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The Home of the Friendless Women and Children was among the first true charitable institutions of the county and city. It was organized in 1870. The first officers were William H. Levering, president : Mrs. Melissa L. Bar-
440
PAST AND PRESENT
bee and Mrs. Cyrus Ball, vice-presidents; Mrs. Cora S. Nourse and J. C. Brockenbrough, treasurers. This home was located in Linwood, at the south- east corner of Howell and Sixteenth streets. It achieved great success. The first matron was Mrs. S. E. Boulton and she was followed by Mrs. Hannah Chapman.
There are now three hospitals-the Home, having a capacity of fifty per- sons; St. Elizabeth's, with a capacity for one hundred and seventy-five per- sons; and the Detention, with a capacity for fifty.
OLD LADIES' HOME.
Prompted by the true spirit of Christianity in 1905, Mrs. Alice Stuart, wife of the late Charles B. Stuart. wishing to place some of her fortune where it would directly benefit others less fortunate than herself, donated a resi- dence property to the east of Columbian Park, to be converted into a home for aged ladies. This was really given as a memorial for her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Adams Earl, pioneers of Lafayette. Ilere are received as many old ladies as can be cared for. the house being far too small for even present needs. By the payment of three hundred dollars, one secures a home in this insti- tution as long as they live. They also allow old lady boarders, providing the place is not full of those who are unable to pay, but at this writing ( 1909) of the five inmates, but one is a boarder. the balance having secured quarters there for life.
The home is ably managed by a board consisting, at present. of Mrs. Stuart, chairman : Mrs. Dr. Vinnedge, secretary; Mrs. Bennett, treasurer ; Mrs. Adam Wallace, Mrs. Joseph Beck. Mrs. Henry Rosenthol, Mrs. David Murphy and Mrs. Emma Ritchey.
When hospital service is required, or medical attention, this home is affiliated with the Home Hospital, near by.
The Old Ladies' Home was opened in the month of February, 1906.
Mrs. Stuart, the generous founder. takes great interest in this institution, which is a splendid home as all who are there placed will testify. The rooms are cared for and the cooking looked after by a competent matron. All that can be done to cheer and brighten the latter years of the lady inmates is done and that after the most up-to-date manner.
The ages of the present women who call this their home are as follows : One is past ninety years ; one eighty-three years ; one eighty-one ; one seventy- six ; and one ( who calls herself the baby of the house ) is sixty-eight years of
441
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
age and is the only boarder, while the others will doubtless remain there during the balance of their lives. She is a granddaughter of Col. Benjamin Wil- son, of Revolutionary fame.
This home is the most practical monument to the loving memory of Mrs. Stuart's parents that she could possibly have erected.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME.
The people of this county and city are humane and considerate of the unfortunate poor, especially of the children who from one cause or another have been left without suitable homes. This home was established in 1886 and thrown open to the public January 15, 1887. It was started by the Chris- tian impulses of a few worthy citizens. The first building used was three rooms in the old Milwaukee block. The first children given over to their keeping were four in number. They commenced operations with but one single dollar in the treasury. After three months, through the negotiations of Ralph Moore and James Reynolds, a frame house at the head of Twelfth street was rented, and by the kindness of friends it was fairly furnished. The first year thirty-four children were cared for, sheltered and clothed, and the bills all paid in full, and had a balance of over eighty dollars in the treas- ury. November 12, 1890, the home was changed to its present site, No. 1132 Tenth street. The same was bought for four thousand dollars, and to it was added and improvements made to the sum of two thousand, seven hundred dollars. It was purchased on ten years time at four per cent. inter- est. The managers paid for it, however, in six years. To the labors and fine executive management of Col. C. G. Thompson. the president, aided by Mr. Moore and James Reynolds, who all gave much of their time to the insti- tution, much credit should be given.
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