USA > Indiana > Adams County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 18
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 18
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
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ter Robinson, Decatur; George J. Rollison, Vicksburg (Mississippi ; Frank Schultz, Decatur; Lloyd Shackley, Decatur; Fred Sheets, De- eatur; Lynn Shoemaker, Indianapolis ( Indiana) ; Giles Smelzer, Berne; Harry B. Smith, Bluffton ( Wells County) ; George Sprague, Monroe ; Clarence Statler, Magley ; James K. Staley, Decatur; Harry Steed, Geneva; Harve Steele, Monroe; Clarence Stevens, Decatur : Roscoe Stout, Bluffton ( Wells County) ; Tony Uher, Decatur; Bernard Ulman, Deeatur; Glen Venis, Decatur; James Ward, Decatur; Marion L. Watkins, Monroe: Clarence Weber, Deeatur; Vaughn Weldy, De- eatur; Otto Wilson, Berne; Charles Wise, Decatur; Medford Wynne, Bluffton ( Wells County ) ; Edward F. Yaney, Decatur; and Frank Young, Decatur.
MEN IN SERVICE, SPRING OF 1918
The "Adams County roll of honor," embracing those who were serving their country in the spring of 1918, was as follows. When it appeared in the local press in March of that year it was pro- nouneed somewhat incomplete and, as time went on, doubtless other names were added; but the list is the best that is available and is therefore reproduced, as follows :
MEMBERS OF BATTERY "A," 139TH FIELD ARTILLERY
Andrews, Hosea; Bacon, Carroll; Bacon, Frank; Bair, John ; Beery, Lloyd; Bogner, Leo; Borne, Gust; Bovine, Edward; Brown, Dallas; Bryan, Chester; Burrell, Racy; Butler, Irvin; Cole. Jesse; Cross, Virgil; Crozier, Earl; Darwechter, Elmer; Dettinger, Ernest : Ehinger, Leo; Elzey, Fred; Emery, Herman; Enos, Floyd; Gallogly, Melvin : Flanders, Carlisle; Fonner, Heber; Garard, Lawrenee ; Gass, Leon ; Gay, Fred; Ginley, James; Haag, Herman ; Hammond, Walter; Helmrich, John : Hiteheock, Hugh ; Hooker, Dewey; Hoover, Garth ; Hower, Burt; Jaberg, Edward; Keller, Bernard; Kern, Herbert; Knavel, May; Kreutzman, Edward; Laurent, Joseph; Lord, Law- renee ; Malony, Charles ; May, Lee ; Meibers, Engene; Merryman, Rob- ert ; Miller, Chalmer; Miller, Hubert; Miller, Otto; Monday, Floyd ; Morgan, Charles; Mummaw, Morris; Muntz, John; MeConnell, Joe ; MeIntosh, Lonas; Owens, Arbie; Parr, Harry; Parrish, Homer; Pat- terson, Donald; Shackley, Lloyd; Smelser, Giles; Staley, James; Steele, Harve; Ulman, Bernard; Venis, Glen; Ward, James; Wat- kins, Marion ; Weldy, Vaughn ; Wilson, Otto; Weis, Charley ; Wynn, Melford ; and Yahne, Edward. .
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"SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE"
Ball, Clelland, Q. M. C., A. E. F .; Burdg, Joe L., Battery D, 150 F. A. D., 42nd Div. ; Corbett, John D .; Teeple, J. H., Co. K, 16th I .; McConnell, Fred; Gass, Raymond, 2nd Co., 1st Div., M. G. Bt .; John- son, Byrl, Hdq. Co., 150 F. A .; Thornburg, Chalres R., I. M. C. Sup- ply Co. 305 ; Buckmaster, Leland, 77th Aero Squad .; Schultz, Geo. F., Hdq. Co., 150 F. A .; Railing, Jesse, Co. C, 23 Inf .; Sheets, Fred, Hdq. Co., 150th F. A .; Daniels, Harold; Neptune, Glenn, Q. M. C., 1st Div .; and Kerr, Lieut. R. C.
IN OTHER DIVISIONS
Beery, 1st Lient. Arthur ; Lenhart, Robert E., Co. C, 42 I .; Potts, Ralph E., Co. E, 151st Ind. I .; Billman, Flavius E., M. O. T. C .; Haines, Chester L., Co. D, 113th E .; Battenberg, H. B., 27th Cav .; Smith, C. R., Co. C, 4th Div., 5th F. B. S. C .; Briggs, W. C., 46th Reg. I .; Adler, William C., Bat. A, 10th F. A .; Harvey, Harold G., Bakers Co., 310; Miller, Bernard; Ehinger, Herbert, Base Hospital, Camp Green; Rabbitt, Edwin, Co. B, 126 M. B. Baty .; Kintz, Eugene G., Co. 2, M. P .; Magley, Dr. L. J .; Davis, Elso R .; Roop, Rufus S., Co. E, 151st I .; Christen, Jesse F., Hdq. Co., F. A .; Colter, Earl D., Q. M. C .; Parr, H. E. G., 339th F. A .; Woods, Ulysses B., 113 E. Corps; Eley, Howard; Hirschy, Menno; Peterson, E. W., C. O. T. Bri., 165th Depot Bri .; An- drews, Harrison, Co. C, 113th F. S. Corps; Merriman, Ralph M., Baty. D, 322d F. A. M. A .; Miller, Lawrence, Co. C, 113th F. S. Bri .; Miller, Bennard J., 377th Squad., 4th Platoon, 13th Co .; Miller, Harry F., Co. 113th F. S. Bri .; Miller, Herman F., 182 Areo Squad., Aviation Field; Chronister, Fred, 8th Bat., R. O. F. C .; Hard, Otto F., Co. F, 46th I .; Gehrig, Tillman Henry ; Fuller, Ralph E. H., Corps H. A., 2nd Class Naval Base Station ; Fuller, Mel- ville W., Eng. Detach .; Behout, Harold; Colchin, Joseph A., Aero Sta., Co. 24; Holthouse, Norbert, Ordnance Dept .; Mills, Edgar M .; Burger, Paul; Grandstaff, Francis; Blackburn, Lieut. R. M., Q. M. C .; Decatehent, T. A .; Enos, Roy; Myers, Fred; Wisehaupt, Howard; Jahn, Roy; Steigmeyer, Lieut. Clem., Q. M. C .; Steigmeyer, Lynn ; Fruchte, Ernest; Long, Taylor; Lord, Lawrence; Everett, Harvey ; Miller, Ralph; Areher, Lloyd; Graham, Harold ; Hower, Burt; Miller, Roy; Porter, Chalmer, 139th F. A. Band; Rider, Sumner; MeCul- lough, Charles; IIunter, Floyd; Baltzell, Dent : Falk, John; Carper, Beauford; Hammond, Herman; Gessinger, Albert; Atz, Carl; Smith, Nolan A .; Weisling, Edward Daniel; Barcher, Floyd; Gaffer, John
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E .; Mattox, Harold ; Kolme, Raymond; Rash, Philip A .; Clark, Var- lando; Warren, Charles E .; Piekett, Frank Pierce; Johnson, Ralph Lee; Burris, Fred ; Gerber, George L .; Gerber, Abraham O .; Bunner, Forest Zeno; Koos, Vernon; Zeser, Timothy Herbert; MeKean, Harve Wesley; Gillig, Leo Theodore; Zeaser, Daniel Joseph; Hower, Chal- mer Otis; Ileath, Harland Wellington; Smith, Elmo; Springer, Sy- lan; Barton, Wm .; Wells, Orville; Johnson, Ellery Edward ; Lehman, Elmer M .; Miller, Harry Francis: Woodruff, Parker Curtis; Neuenschwander, Omer; Christener, Albert; Neuenschwan- der, Abraham; Reusser, Omer; Walter, Robert Kenyon; Sprunger, Walter; Debolt, William P .; Christen, Jesse F., HIdg. Co., 189th F. A .; Nesswald, Anthony John; Halberstadt, George Glen; Eichen- berger, Edward; Debolt, Rudolph Floyd; Long, Archie A .; Coffelt, Roy ; Wood, W. B. ; Rumschlag, Albert Henry ; Liechty, John P .; Zeser, Edward Conrad; Jahn, Roy Gideon; Parent, Omer; Gerber, Joseph Emanuel ; Baxter, E. ; Bruehy, Daniel ; Grey, Rolan C .; Sprague, Floyd Joshua ; Brunner, Herman; Andrews, Harrison; Hammond, Lewis; Callihan, Thomas F .; Miller, Peter Lawrence; Omlor, Lawrence Dyonis; Murphy, James F .; Soldner, Tilman ; Ziegler, Clifford; Leh- man, Christian ; Bailey, John L .; Mazelin, Jacob; Stucky, Jacob; Yoder, Levi; Herman, Bert Floyd; Baker, Ivan William; Hains, Chester ; Liechty, Elmer ; Fiske, Forest A. ; Reinhart, Ilenry ; Christy, Russell ; Nussbaum, Willie; Durbin, Lawrenee John; Schng, Carl ; Mayer, Marcus; Ehlerding, Albert U .; Frisinger, J. F., 515 Eng. Plt. ; Lee, William W .; Duff, Ross Forrest; Buckmaster, Albert A .; Case, Marion ; Conner, Earl D .; Meibers, Robert E .; Nolan, Frank; Johns, Joe; Kortenbrer, Clem ; Bremerkamp, Eugene.
STATE UNIVERSITY'S HONOR TABLET
An item of interest, which may be ealled a side issue of the war even as it relates to Adams County, is the movement set afoot hy the management of Indiana University to ereet on the campus, on Foundation Day, a great bronze tablet bearing the names of all stu- dents and graduates who shall have been in any way honorably identi- fied with the war. The tablet will be an immense one, as each in- dividual inseription is to embrace the name, rank and record of the soldier up to the time of its erection, with a space left to record later data. In November, 1917, the Adams County contingent in- cluded the following: Lieut. Robert Peterson, of Decatur, who would have been a senior at that time; Lieut. Clem Steigmeyer, a graduate ; Ilarvey Everett, private (not in the alphabetical list), who would have been a sophomore, and Harold Wegmeyer, who was then in the hospital corps in Franee.
CHAPTER XI
CITY OF DECATUR
ORIGINAL TOWN PLATTED-FIRST HOUSE AND STORE-J. D. NUTMAN LOCATES-A GROWING DECADE, 1840-50-VILLAGE OR TOWN GOV- ERNMENT ORGANIZED-GENERAL PROGRESS AS A TOWN-DECATUR A CITY-FIRE DEPARTMENT. ORGANIZED-MUNICIPAL ROSTER COVER- ING THIRTY YEARS-IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS-PUBLIC UTILITIES OF THE '90S-CITY PARK-CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATERWORKS- THE ORIGINAL PLANT AND SYSTEM-ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT IN- STALLED -- NO. 2 RESERVOIR BUILT-COMBINED WATER AND ELECTRIC SERVICES-WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION-COST AND DISTRIBU- TION OF ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT-SUPERINTENDENTS OF WATER- WORKS AND ELECTRIC SERVICE-THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS- SUPERINTENDENT WORTHMAN'S HISTORY-THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY-PIONEER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS THE ADAMS COUNTY DEMOCRAT - THE LIVELY EAGLE - THE DECATUR . DEMOCRAT -DECATUR EVENING HERALD-BANKS OF DECATUR-INDUSTRIES - HORSE SALES - HOLLAND-ST. LOUIS SUGAR WORKS - THE CHURCHES-ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-METHODISM IN ADAMS COUNTY-DECATUR'S FIRST METHODIST. RESIDENT PASTOR-FIRST METHODIST MEETING HOUSE-PROGRESS OF DECATUR M. E. CHURCH -THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-DECATUR BAPTIST CHURCH-ZION REFORMED CHURCH-FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH-OTHER RE- LIGIOUS BODIES-SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-THE ODD FELLOWS-THE MASONS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-THE ELKS' CLUB -KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS -- THE MOOSE LODGE-OLD HOME WEEK.
Decatur, the metropolis and the county seat of Adams County, is situated on the physical slope and in the water system which are trib- utary to the Lake Erie region. Its early progress was vitally affected by this fact, as many of its pioneers and builders either came from the East, by way of Fort Wayne, or from the St. Mary's and Maumee valleys of Northwestern Ohio. As a rule, they were substantial, in- telligent citizens, who had enjoyed a good taste of pioneer life, and were earnest and capable members of the newer communities in which
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they settled, fully prepared to make worthy contributions to the gen- eral advancement. In the very early days, the tide of immigration threatened to assume fixed channels along the old Piqua Road on the eastern side of the St. Mary's River toward Fort Wayne, passing to the east of the Decatur site, but when it became evident that there was no immediate danger of a transfer of the county seat, travel set in strongly to the most promising center of settlement, and Decatur grew apace. In 1850 when the difference of a few miles in the geo- graphical position of the several towns had much more bearing on the county seat question than after the railroads wiped out that consid- eration, there was a spasmodic attempt to snatch the seat of justice from Decatur and give it to Monroe. But the attempt and the danger passed and when the railroads commenced to enter the doors of the town in the '70s, and did not rest until three lines had been estab- lished there, the seenre position of Decatur was assured. Soon after- ward the village became a city, and, since that other transformation, has grown into one of the most prosperous municipalities in North- eastern Indiana.
ORIGINAL TOWN PLATTED
Decatur was named in honor of the American naval hero and the original town was platted June 23, 1836, occupying a northern por- tion of section 3 in Washington Township. Thomas Johnson and Samuel L. Rugg were the proprietors. Their plat contained 177 lots, each 66 by 132 feet in size. The four east and west streets were Monroe, Madison, Jefferson and Adams, and those which run north and south, Front, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth. In the spring of 1838 the residents of Decatur numbered Messrs. Rugg and James Crabbs; Jacob Hofer, who had surveyed and platted the town and built the first residence on the site; George Fittich and Jacob Closs. Previous to 1839 the structures which had been erected in Decatur comprised three log cabins and two unfurnished frame buildings.
FIRST HOUSE AND STORE
The first residence in Decatur and the first store are thus described in "Snow's History of Adams County": "It (the Jacob Hofer house ) was located on in-lot No. 291, at the corner of Front and Jack- son streets, just cast of the Bosse Opera House. It was a log cabin of the pioneer type.
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J. D. NUTMAN LOCATES
"The first store building was also a log structure, and was erected at the corner of Monroe and Front street on in-lot No. 274, where the Waring mitten factory is situated. The storekeeper was Henry Reichard, who came to Decatur from Willshire, Ohio, about 1838, and began a store when there were but two or three other buildings in the town. He did not long remain in Decatur, as J. D. Nutman, then a young unmarried man, came in and chose Decatur as his field of operations. He bought out Mr. Reichard's interests and began the store business. His energy and business ability soon brought him a good trade. In a few years, perhaps in 1845, he built a two-story frame building at the corner of Second and Monroe streets on in-lot No. 57, where the Holthouse & Schulte clothing store is situated. He eventually accumulated a fortune, sold his store interests and engaged in the banking business."
A GROWING DECADE, 1840-50
The southern addition to Decatur was platted in 1844, and ex- tensions of the town site were soon afterward made toward the west and, eventually, toward the northwest into section 4 and northward into section 34, Root Township. During the decade from 1840 to 1850 the population slowly increased, until, by the latter year it con- tained forty-three families and 231 persons.
The decade mentioned was a period of many local improvements. James Crabhs and Jacob Closs had taverns, which were in full swing -the former since 1838 and the latter since 1844. Mr. Crabbs had also opened a store in 1845, in competition with the Nutman concern, and since 1840 Mr. Rugg had been residing in a sure-enough brick house, the first of the kind in Decatur. At the close of this decade of local note Mr. Nutman, whose business had so extended that he had opened a branch at Pleasant Mills, commenced to furnish banking accommodations to the residents of the St. Mary's Valley and Northern Adams County. Mr. Nutman was Decatur's first postmaster. About 1845 he built a two-story frame store at the corner of Monroe and Second streets, and a few years afterward a little one-story brick office just south of his store on Second Street. Some called it a bank and others "Nutman's Shaving Office," as its owner was known to in- dulge quite industriously and profitably in the occupation of "shaving notes."
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VILLAGE OR TOWN GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED
Under the bright circumstances, it is little wonder that the people of Decatur commenced to look with sheep's eyes at town or village organization as an outward sign of local progress. A small frame schoolhouse stood at the corner of Second and Jackson streets and the frame house of worship which the Catholics occupied stood at the corner of Fourth and Madison streets. The Methodists were talking of put- ting up an even larger frame church to accommodate their increasing numbers. These two denominations had already availed themselves of the offer made by the owners of the original town to donate four lots to the religious bodies which should first improve them by the erection of church buildings. Decatur, in 1850 and the early '50s, was therefore buttressed about by noticeable advantages of material things and educational and religious accommodations.
Though formally laid out and named (in honor of the well-known naval hero) in 1836, it was some years later before it was even much of a village. Previous to 1839 there were but three cabins and two unfurnished frames here. The residents in the spring of 1838 were Samuel L. Rugg, James Crabbs, Jacob Hofer, Fittick and Closs. Dur- ing the decade from 1840 to 1850 the population slowly increased to about 250.
After considerable agitation, the State Legislature authorized the voters of Decatur to decide whether or not they desired to become an incorporated town. The matter was decided in the affirmative, at an election held on the last day of December, 1853. The town then had a population of 287 and sixty-four votes were cast in the election. Jacob King, David Humbert and William G. Spencer were inspectors of election, which resulted in the choice of the following trustees : Dis- triet No. 1, James Crabbs ; District No. 2, James Stoops ; District No. 3, Thomas J. Pearce ; District No. 4, Jacob Crabbs ; District No. 5, Parker L. Wise. William G. Spencer was chosen clerk and also treasurer ; and Hamilton J. Wise was elected marshal and assessor. In May fol- lowing the first regular election was held, and the officers elected were : Trustees, J. D. Nutman, Simon Friberger, James Stoops, David Mc- Donald and Jacob Bodle: treasurer, A. Bollman ; clerk and assessor, William G. Spencer ; marshal, A. Bollman.
GENERAL PROGRESS AS A TOWN
Deeatur remained under town government for nearly thirty years, and that period was the one of its greatest changes. For some twenty- Vol. 1-12
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five years of that era about a dozen local newspapers had come and gone, leaving at last only the Democrat and the Journal. The latter had been alive only a few years in 1882, while the Democrat was the virtual successor of the old Eagle of 1857.
The churches had also had a varied experience. The Presbyterians had early come into the field with a new church building, and both the German Reformed Society and the Evangelical Association had organized at a later period. Still later, in the early '80s, the women had rallied to the standard of the Christian Temperance Union, and
TWO DECATUR PIONEERS
the Masons organized a lodge. The Adams County Bank had been in business for nearly ten years and the First National was to open its doors about a year after Decatur was incorporated as a city. Not long previous to the assumption of that dignity, it had been twice chastened by fire-in 1878 and 1882-and those who have ever ex- tracted good from such happenings hold that they cleared away "quite a-many" inferior, if not disgraceful wooden buildings, in order that those of a better grade, mostly brick, might replace them. The fire of 1878 swept along the east side of Second Street from east of Court to Madison, and that of September, 1882, along the same side
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of that thoroughfare from Madison to Monroe. It may be that the better class of buildings which appeared after the conflagration of 1878 had something to do with the general demand for better streets; at all events, in 1890 its main streets commenced to be graveled and paved and, within a few years, the city assumed the work and ma- eadamized streets appeared.
By 1860 there were 500 inhabitants in Decatur; by 1870, 1,000; and in 1880 the enumeration footed up 1,905. The construction of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad in 1871 fixed Decatur as the county seat, so that the present substantial courthouse was built soon after, and raised the place to the dignity of an important town. The building of the narrow gauge road in 1878, and the Chi- cago & Atlantic in 1881 and 1882 added greatly to the prospects of the growing county seat, which now has an assured future, as a resi- dence, business and manufacturing town.
The dozen years preceding the incorporation of the city brought large additions to the original town site. The County Seminary Ad- dition in North Decatur, south of the Waterworks Park, was laid out into lots, from 1 to 12. North of the Seminary Addition to the juncture of Third and Fifth streets is a part of the ten acres donated by Samuel L. Rugg to secure the location of the county seat at De- eatur. In June, 1875, this ground was platted into town lots by County Commissioners George W. Luekey, George Frank and Ben- jamin Runyon.
DECATUR A CITY
Decatur was incorporated as a city on the 5th of September, 1882, and the officers elected and appointed to serve during the following year (1882-83) were as follows: James T. Merryman, mayor ; L. J. Gast, eity elerk; Henry H. Bremerkamp, treasurer ; Robert Malonee, marshal : J. T. Simcoke, city engineer : J. T. Archbold, street commis- sioner : E. A. Huffman, attorney. Members of the first city council : First Ward, D. O. Jackson and George W. Patterson ; Second Ward, .J. H. Voglewede and Solomon Linn ; Third Ward, William P. Moon and Jesse Niblick.
The officers for 1883-84 and 1884-85 were the same, except that B. HI. Dent served as mayor, H. C. Stetler succeeded Solomon Linn as councilman in the Second Ward and S. Spangler was elected in place of W. P. Moon, in the Third Ward.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZED
A department for protection against fire was organized in De- catur before the end of the year 1885. James Hurst was its first chief, and the apparatus included a hand-engine, hose-cart with 800 feet of hose, and a hook and ladder truck, each manned by a volun- teer company. Since that year the department has developed into one of the most efficient organizations of the kind in Northern In- diana, although much of the responsibility for the protection of prop- erty has devolved upon the waterworks system. The present chief of the fire department is Henry Dellinger and the apparatus, which is housed in fine quarters in the city hall building, comprises a hand- some and powerful auto-fire-engine, a hook and ladder, hose-cart and an abundant supply of hose. All but two of the twenty members of the department are volunteers.
MUNICIPAL ROSTER COVERING THIRTY YEARS
.
In 1886-87, thirty-two years ago, the following officers were serv- ing the city : Mayor, D. D. Heller ; clerk, J. C. Patterson ; treasurer, H. H. Bremerkamp ; marshal, Robert Malonee; attorney, E. A. Huff- man ; engineer, J. W. Tyndall. The city council : First Ward, W. S. Congleton (succeeded by A. L. De Vilbiss, in October, 1886) and Henry Krick; Second Ward, James II. Stone and H. Stetler; Third Ward, S. Spangler and Jesse Niblick.
The mayors who served the city during the twenty years from 1887 to 1907 were as follows: B. H. Dent, elected in May, 1887, and re-elected in May, 1889, but died on December 29, 1890; W. H. Reed, elected at a special election held on January 23, 1891, served out Mr. Dent's unexpired term, was re-elected for the full term, 1891-93, but served until September, 1894, on account of change in law as to the time of choosing municipal officers; B. W. Quinn, 1894-98; A. P. Beatty, 1898-1902: D. D. Coffee, elected in 1902, 1904 and 1906-on January 15th of the last named year for a four-year term.
In 1907 the municipal officers were: Mayor, David D. Coffee; city marshal, Edward Green; Carl O. France, city clerk; William J. Archbold, city treasurer; James D. Stults, street commissioner; Wil- liam H. Fulk, superintendent of the waterworks; H. C. Voght, city engineer ; Lewis C. DeVoss, city attorney; city councilmen, Jacob Martin, Millen Burns, Isaac Chronister, Charles N. Christen and Anson Van Camp.
Mr. Coffee was impeached as mayor in 1907, and was succeeded
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by C. O. France. Judson W. Teeple was mayor in 1909-13 and Charles N. Christen from the latter year until 1917, when Charles W. Yager was elected.
Thomas Ehinger was appointed city clerk to succeed Carl O. France, in 1907, the latter having been elected mayor of the city. In 1909 Mr. Ehinger was succeeded by H. M. De Voss, who continued to serve as eity elerk until 1917, when R. G. Christen was elected to the office.
As to the councilmen-at-large, Jacob Martin has served since 1907. Levi L. Baumgartner held the postion from 1913 to 1916, when he resigned to accept the position of city engineer, which he still holds. J. M. Miller was appointed in Mr. Baumgartner's place and elected for the full term in the fall of 1917.
W. J. Archbold was city treasurer from 1897 to 1913, and Joseph D. McFarland since the latter year. He was re-elected with almost the entire democratie ticket in the municipal election of 1917.
The ward councilmen now serving as a result of that election are : First Ward, H. Fred Linn ; Second Ward, John Logan ; Third Ward, L. C. Helm. Councilmen-at-large : Jacob Martin and Dr. J. M. Miller.
L. C. Helm was chief of the fire department in 1907; Louis Ham- mond served from 1909-13, and O. B. Wemhoff was its head until January, 1918, when II. Dellinger succeeded him.
Edward Green, now sheriff of the county, was city marshal for many years preceding 1909. He was succeeded by Frank S. Peterson in the year named. Mr. Peterson served until 1913, when Sephus Melchi was appointed by the city council. Fred Hancher was ap- pointed January 7, 1918.
The city hall, which is the headquarters of the municipal officers and the city council, with the fire department, is a large modern two-story brick building, completed in May, 1912, at a cost (including the fire apparatus) of about $26,000. The accommodations for both the fire and police departments are on the ground floor, while the council chamber and the offices of the city clerk, treasurer, engineer and superintendent of the waterworks and electric department are in the second story. It is a handsome structure, a real credit to the city. Before it was completed the council room was in the library building, and the central fire station at No. 87 Monroe Street.
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