USA > Indiana > Cass County > Pastime sketches : scenes and events at "The Mouth of Eel" on the historic Wabash with papers read before the Cass County Indiana, Historical Society at its spring meetings, 1907 > Part 8
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and dressing was in order came the derisive cry "chaw beef" as teeth were used to loosen the hard knots tied in the clothing by schoolmates on the bank.
While there was an abundance of water around Logansport, there was quite a choice in bottoms and locations. "Sandy bottom" was all that its named implied. A gurgling pool in Eel river just below the water works dam was "The Tumbles," and a turn in the race to the Forest Mills near the present water works house was "The Bend." "Flat Rock" was an immense stone in Eel river above Riverside Park and "Little Dam" was on the Southside, an escape for the overflow of the race, near the Seventeenth street bridge. These two later were the "Old Swimmin' Holes" of Saturday after- noons in school days and of the hot, long summer vacation days. There, far from the watchful eye of the law, the rising generation learned to float, and dive, and swim. The canal had its devotees after dark, but there also was epicurean taste dis- played and less than half a dozen spots had the sandy bottoms necessary to meet the requirements of the rising generation. Then the canal was sluggish, and shallow, and commonplace. No danger lurked in its silent waters and its swimming holes were not even honored with a name. The water never sparkled, or bubbled, and the boy who managed to get drowned in the canal was thought to have come to a sad and ignoble end. And while boyish ambition pictured the glorious life and uni- form of a policeman no one ever wanted to grow up to be a canal-boat captain. The canal was very "tame" and even the fish caught in its muddy waters were thrown back.
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The first boy who had been in swimming in the spring time was famous, and his positive assertion that the water was "not a bit cold" carried convic- tion to the more timid. Nor was an oracle more honored than he who solemnly warned against dangers of going in in "dog days" the hot, sultry days of August-why they were "dog days" and what "dog days" were and what the dogs had to do with swimming no boy knew, except in a general way that dogs went mad in that month and there- fore it was dangerous to go in swimming. The logic of it he could not fathom, but he blindly ac- cepted the fact. And he who was so venturesome as to disregard the superstition was thought to recklessly take his own life in his hands-and if sickness should, by chance, follow such impru- dence it was whispered about that it was the re- . sult of going in swimming in "dog days." The earliest frosts of winter made swimming a thing of the past and then the average boy took a bath at home only as a result of compulsion. Instead the attic was searched for last winter's skates, and the toolchest for a file to sharpen them.
"The "Frog Pond" was the earliest point of interest as winter approached. It was a marshy pool where Riverside Park now is and it got its name from the nightly concerts held there in the summer time. The water was back water from the dam. It was stagnant and froze quickly. Nor was the pool deep and therefore it was best adapted for early winter tests of ice. The youth who broke in got only muddy feet and a whipping when he got home. Trying the ice on the canal was a much more serious matter and so the ice was tested with rocks, long before there was a chance of it holding
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any one. When the ice became thick enough for skating it was tolerably well paved with rocks that would not come off.
Then the snows came and Spear street hill and Market street hill became the centers of interest. And bob-sleigh parties to some distant farm house were gotten up. Great was the disappointment when a southern wind melted the snow and put to an end some plans for a bob-sleigh party.
The chilly days of early spring found the future presidents of banks and railroads gathered under the projections of the canal warehouses, where, with red and benumbed fingures, they "knuckled down" on a piece of fur, or sheepskin, and opened up the marble season.
The changes have been great since boyhood days. The canal is gone, the races are gone, the "old swimmin' holes" have been filled in, or changed by later improvements. And, saddest of all, some of the voices of old-time playmates are stilled for- ever.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
A SUGGESTION OF A HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOME.
Logansport was the home of one of the great characters of pioneer Indiana days. Indiana for many years was part of the great Northwest Ter- ritory at a time when it was ungoverned and the Indians held undisputed sway.
Indiana Territory was formed in 1800 by an act of Congress, the bill providing for two capitals, one at Vincennes, and one at Chillicothe, now in Ohio. General William Henry Harrison was the first gov- ernor.
John Tipton was born in East Tennessee, Aug- ust 14th, 1786. In the fall of 1807, when just of age he moved to Indiana Territory, settling at Brinley's Ferry on the Ohio river. In 1811 at the age of 25, he was an ensign in the battle of Tippecanoe and was made a captain for his bravery, his superior officers being killed. He gradually rose to the po- sition of Brigadier-General. He was elected sheriff of Harrison county, member of the legislature 1819-20 and was on the commission selecting Indi- anapolis as the State capital. He was re-elected at the next election and was a member of the com- mission fixing the boundary line between Indiana and Illinois. In 1823, he was appointed Indian agent by President Monroe and removed to Ft. Wayne, the seat of the agency. This agency was moved to Logansport in 1828 and he took up his residence
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here. In December, 1830, at the age of 45 he was elected United States Senator to Succeed Hon. James Noble and again, in 1832-3 was elected to the full term of six years. He died April 5th, 1839, just after completing his term as Senator, at the age of 53.
General Tipton was a natural leader, of vigorous mind. There were no schools in the early wilder- ness and nothing to read so that he had no school education. It is said he learned to read late in life, being taught by his oldest son. He kept a journal of his active public life which is one of the valuable documents of State history, strong in expression and detail accuracy, though on account of the lack of schooling facilities somewhat unique in spelling. No public monument in Logansport attests his greatness, though his name is perputated in the Masonic Temple, Tipton lodge being named after him. The appropriation of $12,500 by the State and $12,500 by Congress to erect a monument at the Tippecanoe battle ground will secure for him a monument there. In this connection the Biddle home would be a suitable home for the Histori- cal Society. It is old, historic and central. It is not otherwise valuable and could be paid for in time out of the annual dues of one dollar of the' Historical Society, if the membership were large enough, as there are practically no expenses other- wise. A caretaker could be found for the use of part of it at no expense to the Society and it would form a nucleus for the gathering of interesting his- toric data and relics. The houses in New England pay all the expenses of the society from the volun- tary contributions of dimes and nickles by visitors, but there is in reality only a nominal expense for
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repairs, heating, etc. Judge Biddle was a jurist, poet and author and his home for many years was the mecca of visitors in Logansport. General Tipton first owned the island and some day the State will erect a monument to him there if it is owned by the Society. Whatever may be thought of these sug- gestions the Historical Society now has an ex- istance and will preserve at no expense much of the early history of the county conspicious in which will appear the name of General John Tipton.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
IN LIGHTER VEIN-ABOUT BRASS BANDS.
While there is a saying that "music hath charms to sooth the savage breast," there is no record of the early Indians organizing any brass bands. Whatever may be said of the early Indian this crime was never laid at his door. This remark ap- plies to the organization and early training, not to the fine music blown out of the horns by a well disciplined body of players. Band music has al- ways been a great inspiration in war and in peace, and the songs written about "When the Band Be- gins to Play" and the "Little German Band" are innumerable. In the dark days of the Spanish- American war when many Logansport boys were fighting mosquitoes on the arid plains of Florida the general in command forbade the playing of "On the Banks of the Wabash" because it made the men homesick. Lively airs only were played, and in Cuba "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" was played with such frequency that the Cubans mistook it for the National air.
History is not complete without band history. The first band was organized some time in the fifties, by Graf and Wiseman, but they did not blow their own horns loud enough to be heard at the present time. Little is known about the or- ganization.
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Logansport had old fashioned singing schools and church choirs but musical talent was not thoroughly awakened until Herr John Wachter, of Germany, came to town. He had learned to play the cornet and probably had to leave Germany on that account. The authorities sometimes act firmly in matters of this sort. America, however, was the land of the free and so Herr Wachter opened Mozart Hall on Third street and organized a brass band. He got air for his cornet from the zephyrs that blew through Mozart Hall and prac- ticed the cornet between meals. When Herr Wagner played "Die Wacht on der Rhine" on the cornet one thought he was in Germany.
When the band was organized it practiced at the tan-yard on the canal just north of the aqueduct over Eel river. There was a swamp just north of it, the canal was on the west, and Eel river on the south, so that the only danger of attack by indign- ant citizens was on the east. It was a splendid place for a newly organized band to commence prac- tice.
The band progressed rapidly under the tutel- age of Mr. Wachter and soon became quite pro- ficient. Soon after its organization it received its first employment, by the Masons, to play at the funeral of a prominent member and at once learned a dirge which it executed with skill and frequency on the way to the cemetery. It became famous later, however, for its fine music and was soon the best band in Northern Indiana, there being no other.
During the exciting days of the Civil war the Wachter band was a powerful factor in stirring up patriotism and its rendition of "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" and "John Brown's Body" never
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failed to bring cheers from the soldiers home on a furlough, and tears from the home folks having loved ones at the front. And when some soldier who had gone forth in the pride of youthful man- hood came home in a roughly hewn wooden box and the band played a dirge at the funeral there was not a dry eye along the line of march to the cemetery. It was a splendid band and many a man whose hair is more than tinged with gray re- members his boyish enthusiasm when the cry went up the street, "The band's out."
The Wachter band was organized in the spring of 1860 with John Wachter, leader and cornetist. There is no record of its membership and during the years of its existence there were changes which make it difficult to determine its membership at any one time. George Scharf, of this city, is prob- ably the only living member and he recalls the first organization as composed of James Winemiller, snare drummer; Charles Hillhouse, base drummer ; George Tipton, Jacob Hebel, Charles Hebel, "Like" Vigus, Peter Schwartz, Joseph Rebhan and George Kinsley, who owned the tan-yard where the band practiced. Thomas Herring was an early member and Fred Petting and Jacob Rhinehammer were also members, they seceding in 1864 to start another band which did not last long. William Fornoff and Michael Fornoff, afterwards band leaders, belonged at one time. George Scharf, the surviving member, came to Logansport in 1859 and has lived here most of the time since. He was born in Bavaria, June 16th, 1838. W. H. Brown succeeded James Wine- miller as snare drummer and George Dunkle suc- ceeded him.
The Cecillian band was organized in the spring
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of 1866 and the Wachter band after that gradually went to pieces. This band made its first public ap- pearance on July 4th with a repertoire of three pieces which it played with pride, if not with har- mony, throughout the day. William Fornoff was leader, and other members were Ed and Jud Taylor, At Barnett, E. D. Chandler, Al Merritt, George Dunkle, Will H. Brown, Jay Powell, Hecht Powell, Chet Gridley, James Logan, George Scharf and Jim Glines. The band room was on the third floor of the building on Market street below Third, where Geiger's Cigar store is. Other players joined at various times and the full list is long. "Bill" For- noff, the leader, was killed on the railroad while the band was going to play in another town and Michael Fornoff afterwards became the band leader of the town. There was also a "City Band" in the sixties but it did not long survive.
Along in the early seventies Logansport went wild over band music. There were five bands, practicing every night and some of the members took their horns home with them and practiced Sundays. Many of the citizens moved away from town that year for this, or some other reason. Be- sides the Cecillian there was a band in the Father Matthew organization known as the Father Mat- they Band. The Forest Mill band was organized at the mill of that name on Sixth street and Eel river but it did not do much but disturb the neigh- bors. It practiced at the mill behind barred and bolted doors and had a sentinel outside to keep some one from firing the building. John Dunkle or- ganized a band that year and the colored people had a band which is handed down to posterity only by the name of the "Coon" band. It was a great
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year for bands. Jay Powell and Michael Fornoff were the band leaders for many years following and Logansport always had good bands. Nineteen bands in all have livened the hearts of the people with their music. Most of them had orchestras for ball and entertainments. H. J. McSheehey was one of enthusiastic band players, being a member of the Concordia and other bands.
Of the later bands several sprung up under the name of City band and died again. There were also several "Military Bands," playing for the Lo- gan Grays, or for the Cass Blues, and at public functions. Besides these there were the Mascot band, the K. of P. band, the Big Four band, the St. Joseph band, the Odd Fellows' band, the City Concert band and the present Elks band. It speaks or rather blows for itself. An old time musician, however, makes this criticism, "When we got through with a piece we played it over again but when the Elks band gets through it stops." It is a compliment to the band that the public wants more of its music. It is not thus with all bands.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
AND BASE BALL ALSO.
The story of Logansport is not complete with- out a history of its early ball days when live balls were used and the scores ran up into the hundreds. Nor in the history of sports should Logansport's only professional club be forgotten.
Base ball was introduced to the boys of Lo- gansport by Professors Luther Roberts and J. P. Hughes of the Logansport Presbyterian Academy, which stood at the corner of Market and Seventh streets. This was about 1869 or 1870. Prior to that time town-ball, one-old-cat, two-old-cat and bull-in-the-pen engrossed the youths in their leisure moments, the ball being a piece of car-spring whittled round with a dull knife.
Under the careful instructions of these early fans, grounds were laid out in Browntown at the west end of Market street bridge. The first club was naturally like Adam, a little lonesome, having no other clubs to play, but as fast as players were taught to play they were organized into opposition clubs, or picked nines, and "single nine" was soon a possibility. This club was organized at the Academy. Besides the two professors there were Will I. Brown, Will H. Brown, Frank Green and others not now recalled, probably Roswell Post, Charles McCarty and the Taylor brothers.
The early instruction thus given at the Academy
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resulted in the organization of the famous Athletics, the pride of Northern Indiana. Many men now grown gray remember with what pride they carried water or chased the ball for the famous Athletics. Charles Jones played first base, Will "H." Brown, second, Charles Stuart and Oscar Goodwin were change pitchers and Joe Kreider and John Barn- hart change catchers. Third base was held down by one of the extra pitchers or catchers and Charles Conrad was short-stop. The fields were filled by Jim Logan, left field, John Talbott, center field, and Seth Pratt, right field.
The Athletics played at Lafayette, Peru, Marion, Anderson, Ft. Wayne and other towns, and won every game. They played clubs from these towns at home and were equally successful. There was not a small boy in town who would not take off his hat when an Athletic passed. But there came a downfall and it was great. There was a Sunday School excursion-they were given every summer in those days by the various Sunday schools-and the Athletics went along to play an alleged club at Burnettsville. They called it a "Picked Nine" and it was made up of players who worked in a saw mill. The Athletic bats were turned out by Jim Henderson at the Henderson factory in Logans- port, while the Burnettsville bats were sawed out by a buzz-saw at the saw mill and trimmed down with a jack-knife. The diamond was laid off in a ploughed field near the mill. The Athletics had natty white flannel suits, the Burnettsville boys played in blue flannel shirts, blue overalls and bare feet.
The Athletics went to bat first and made a few runs. The highest score they had made before that
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in any game was 127 to 25. Live balls were used then and the ball had to be pitched with the hand below the waist line.
The captain passed the word along not to make any more runs as it would scare Burnettsville out, and so the players struck out.
The first batter for Burnettsville knocked the ball over the saw-mill and made a home run. He could have made several while they were looking for the ball. The second batter did likewise. Pitchers were changed with no better result. The score piled up with no one out until the fielders were exhausted chasing balls and the game was called. The hearts of the Athletics were broken and the club never played again.
The Independents were organized shortly be- fore the Athletics went to Burnettsville and played them several losing games. It was composed of other home players and won many hard fought games. Clubs were numerous later, but they played mostly at home. The Rough and Readies was also a strong home club.
Logansport entered the professional field in 1886, when the famous Ottos were organized. It was the first salaried club and it was a member of the Northern Indiana League, composed of the clubs at Logansport, South Bend, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Marion and Frankfort. The League did not last long after the Fourth of July, the expense of maintaining a salaried club being too great. The Logansport club won the pennant, but it was never officially presented, the clubs disbanding before the close of the season. Many of the players won dis- tinction in other leagues. Frank Bowerman is still a catcher for the New York National League Club.
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George Cuppy was a pitcher for the Cleveland Na- tional League club when it won the pennant. Frank Stapleton played in the Texas State League and the California State League. Wallace Taylor was manager and captain of the Toronto, Canada, club, William Niles was third baseman of the Pitts- burg National League club and William Betenus was short stop of the Toledo Club in the Western League. William York played short stop for the Pelicans of New Orleans.
Logansport has had many amateur clubs in the last few years but the base ball fever has never attained the height it did in the eighties.
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATION OF THE CASS COUNTY, INDIANA, HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
At a meeting of the Citizens' Club held at Li- brary Hall, February 12, 1907, the subject of or- ganizing a Historical Society in Cass county was discussed.
Dr. J. Z. Powell, president of the club, opened the subject by calling attention to the importance of such a society, in view of the approaching centennial of Indiana's admission to the Union.
. W. T. Wilson stated that he was in thorough accord with the suggestion and that he knew of instances where valuable data had been lost which should have been preserved. He urged that proper steps be taken toward such an organization.
The chair on motion, appointed a committee of three to report at a future meeting on organ- ization and constitution as follows: W. S. Wright, W. T. Wilson and James McMillan. The paper of W. S. Wright, suggesting such an organiza- tion as a result of observation in New England, was as follows :
"History has been described as the unwritten scroll of the future by some philosopher, as fiction with the truth left in, by another. Whatever the attraction, the fascination, we delve in ancient lore
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and gaze with awe at ancient landmarks. History is more entrancing than any fiction in the hands of a Macaulay and is likewise deep philosophy when discussed by Hume or Gibbon. Every great states- man and every profound philosopher has been a student of history while youth delights in the ro- mance of it. As students we wonder at the west- ward course of empire and try to learn the reason of it all, why Japan, after slumbering a few hundred years whipped the greatest nation on the face of the earth and why China with its immensely greater population still slumbers. And we wonder when China will awake. Fortunately for us, we are to the westward, the extreme westward, as regards these nations, and will probably know more on the subject before we are called to defend our shores against the Mongolian.
"History becomes more interesting as the com- munity grows older and so we find the United States reaching an era of historical societies and Daughters of the American Revolution.
"I was impressed with this idea by reason of a recent residence in New England, where organ- izations of that character occupy a prominent place. This led me to suggest to several citizens the wisdom of organizing such a society in Lo- gansport before many records and valuable his- toric documents are forever lost. The State of Indi- ana has a State society, organized in 1830 and re- organized once or twice since. Logansport has had one or two similar societies now defunct. Chicago has the best organization in the West where by subscriptions amounting to $190,000 a suitable building has been erected. The Chicago association has been through two fires and much valuable mat-
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ter was destroyed, but today it is in a prosperous condition. These facts are merely mentioned to show that there is a natural interest in such or- ganizations in every community and it merely needs crystalization. There are only five or six local his- torical societies in Indiana. Many more have been organized but have fallen by the wayside as is usual with a new movement. There is, however, a strong State society, of which local societies should be branches. There is also published an Indiana Magazine of History which is publishing and preserving much valuable matter. The tend- ency in the state at the present time is toward the organization of local societies and the probabilities are that they will be of greater prominence as the time for the State Centennial approaches, an event which will no doubt be celebrated in a fitting man- ner by Indiana.
"The history of the growth of the New Eng- land associations may be interesting and sugges- tive. Almost every town and hamlet has them and of course there is a wealth of material of national interest. The societies were organized originally to preserve at nominal expense, matters of local his- tory. Some of them have grown in scope by gifts and donations and many of them are self-support- ing. The necessary expenses are nominal and are met by a small annual due, usually one dollar. All other expenses are created only by reason of volun- tary gifts and donations. To prevent any mis- understanding no assessments are permitted. Such donations are not necessary for the successful or permanent existence of the organizations. Briefly, the New England societies began with an effort to record and preserve details of history and grew
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