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 36
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 36
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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
PROFESSOR ALLEN WRITES OF THE SCHOOLS
The present system of eity schools, which has brought such thor- ough advantages to the young people of Bluffton, was born in 1868, when all the schools and scholars were first brought under the su- pervision of one superintendent ; but thirty years of struggles and slow advances were to be recorded before that consummation, so much to be desired, should be reached. Albeit the system was born in 1868, it would never have been recognized as that of the present until 1881, when the high school was organized by Prof. P. A. Allen. No one living is better qualified to write the history of the system than this same Professor Allen, present superintendent of the Bluffton schools, and the following facts are condensed from a paper which he con- tributed to a local publication several years ago, as well as from sev- eral personal interviews accorded to the writer.
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TEACHER LOST IN BLUFFTON WILDS
Rev. Asa Cohoe, already mentioned as the first teacher in town, went hunting one day, and was returning in the dusk of the eve- ning. In trying to find his home, which was located at the corner of Market and Marion streets, he became hopelessly lost and came to the conclusion that he was in the depths of the forest, he knew not how far from his home. Despairing of being able to find his home that night, he decided to make the best of the situation and prepared to spend the night in the woods. He crawled into a hollow log, and barricaded the entrance with logs and chunks, to protect himself from the wolves, which were very plentiful at that time. He thus spent the night in safety, and in the morning was awakened by the crowing of roosters at the home of Nelson Kellogg, at the corner of Main and Cherry streets, only a block away. The log in which he had lain was where the First Baptist Church now stands, on Cherry Strect.
EARLY DISCIPLINARIANS AND SCHOOLS
In 1843 Nelson Kellogg taught a school in a shed-roofed building at the north end of Johnson Street, on the banks of the Wabash. J. B. Plessinger had occasion to remember that year, as he froze his feet while gathering firewood with which to keep the rest of the school from freezing to death. Ann Maria Hubbell, a niece of Adnah Hall, taught school in the same building later. The next winter George Brown taught school in the log schoolhouse, which was the first temple of learning built in the county. Robinson MeKinney taught school the next year in a double room, which stood on the present site of the Studabaker Bank. Several men still living in this city, who were boys under the tuition of George Brown, can tell interesting stories of that gentleman's unsuccessful attempts to use formidable bundles of willow gads on the backs of the larger pupils. James Donaldson and James McQuade taught school at one time in a building at the east end of Market Street, on the river bank. Both these gentlemen are remembered, not only for their profound scholastic attainments, but for the severe means of discipline to which they resorted.
Another of the early school buildings was a brick structure which stood on Miller Street, just north of the old Baptist Church. This is still standing, and forms part of the Linn residence. In this build- ing, R. H. Jackson and wife were among the early teachers. Mr. Jackson was a Presbyterian minister and his wife was the first music teacher in town.
THREE OLD BLUFFTON BUILDINGS
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THE "HIGH" SCHOOL
The third brick schoolhouse to be erected in the city was the two- story building at the corner of Marion and Cherry streets, which was called the High School, not only because of its imposing ap- pearance, but for the reason that the larger scholars attended there. Two teachers were employed in this building. This was used for school purposes until the erection of the old Central Building, after which it was used as a corn-planter factory, and then as a residence. It also served as the home of the free kindergarten for one year.
Among the early teachers in Bluffton, remembered by our oldest citizens, were Elizabeth Jane Bnrwell, who became the wife of Cyrns Burgan; Mrs. Wilson M. Bulger; Miss Belle Ilanna, of Wooster, Ohio; Mrs. Martha Wilson, John J. Cooper, John Foreman, Jack Drummond, Crawford Marquis, Charles Cruickshank ; Cynthia Parker, of Huntertown; Elizabeth Blackledge, now Mrs. E. M. C. Ninde; Lizzie Cozier, of Pennsylvania; T. A. R. Eaton, John S. MeCleery, Mrs. II. C. Arnold, Newton Burwell and Nelson Kellogg. Lewis S. Grove, the first county auditor, taught a school in a building on the hill where the Henry Oman house once stood. The present imposing structure of the First Reformed Church, corner of Marion and Cherry streets, ocenpies the site of the original building.
THE CENTRAL BUILDING AND SUPERINTENDENT REEFY
In 1868 the first six rooms of the Central Building were erected, and the other three school properties disposed of. In the erection of the new building the School Board came in for very sharp criticism. It was pronounced by many a very foolish piece of extravagance, and it was predicted that the time would never come when it would all be . needed for school purposes. But time has justified the wisdom of those who planned and built at that time, for it was not long until the six rooms were overcrowded, and it became necessary to build more rooms, making it a ten-roon building.
After the erection of the Central Building, in 1868, all the pupils were brought together and were placed under the care of Professor Reefy, the first city superintendent. He was an excellent man for the place, and soon had the school system of the city in satisfactory operation. The magnificent maples, which adorned the campus of the High School and Central buildings were monuments to his mem- ory, as he planted them with his own hands the first year of his school work in Bluffton.
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HIGH SCHOOL ORGANIZED BY PROFESSOR ALLEN
The High School was organized by Prof. P. A. Allen in 1881, and in 1883 graduated its first class. It was commissioned in 1885, and its courses have been strengthened from year to year by the addition of studies, and its work has been made more effective by the equip- ment of good chemical, physical and biological laboratories. Its dis- tinetive departments now comprise Manual Training, Domestic Sei- ence, Art and Music, each under a supervisor. The High School has nine other teachers on its faculty. As an institution, it is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and its graduates are admitted to all colleges without re-examination. The teaching force of the Central School comprises thirteen; of the Columbian, four, and the Park. four. The total number of teachers within the city system is thirty-four. The enrollment is 1,125, of which the average attendance is about 90 per cent.
COMPLETION OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The increase in school accommodations has kept pace with the growth of the city, and its juvenile population. As stated. the six rooms of the Central Building were erected in 1868, and four rooms were added in 1879. The old Central Building was razed in 1910, and the fine sixteen-room structure of the present erected in its place, at a cost of $55,000. Perhaps the most striking feature of the school- house is its magnificent assembly hall. It is modern in every way ; and that tells the story to the average American.
The present High School Building was erected in 1890-91. Two rooms of the Washington Park Building were completed in 1883, and the other two in 1886. The Columbian Building was completed in 1893.
SUPERINTENDENTS
The city superintendents of Bluffton have been, in succession : F. S. Reefy, Samuel Lilly and Mr. Thomas, from 1868 to 1878; E. A. Buckley, E. C. Vaughn, G. W. Gunder and W. Ernst, 1878-81; P. A. Allen, 1881-91; W. P. Burris, 1891-97 ; E. D. Walker, 1897-99; W. A. Wirt, 1899-1907; P. A. Allen (second term), 1907 --.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The latest addition to the municipal utilities which have been an- plied to the intellectual and moral uplift of the community is the
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Bluffton Public Library. Its nucleus was formed when Prof. P. A. Allen organized the High School in 1881. Year by year funds were raised by means of entertainments and voluntary donations of books and money, until the collection had reached several thousands of volumes.
As a distinctive publie institution, the library dates from 1902. In that year its first Board of Trustees was organized, as follows: Charles C. Deam, president ; Mrs. W. H. Eichhorn, vice president ; Delia W. Hale, secretary; Mrs. Abram Simmons, Mrs. Dana Brown, Samuel E. Hitchcock and W. H. Tribolet. The meeting at which the organization was completed, was held at the home of Mrs. Hale, May
BLUFFTON'S PUBLIC LIBRARY
15, 1902. Rooms in the courthouse were secured for library use, and the library placed in charge of Miss Bertha Craven.
Some years later, steps were taken looking toward a permanent library building. After some correspondence with Andrew Carnegie, a donation of $13,000 was secured. This fund was supplemented by more than $5,000, subscribed by citizens of the community. A lot was purchased, and the present building erected. The total amount expended in building, furnishings and lot was $18,909.20. The build- ing is an unusually artistic and well-planned structure, and has served well even the growing needs of the institution and the public. It was thrown open to the public on May 15, 1905, a general reception and an art exhibit marking the occasion.
From a small beginning, the collection of books has grown to
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9,620 volumes. For the year 1916, the report showed a cireulation of 39,040, a gain of 12,000 during the year. There are more than three thousand card holders.
In 1912, the library was reorganized, and the work of cataloging the books was undertaken. This has since been completed, and a card catalog of the modern type furnishes a complete index to the resources of the library. Since 1914, rural extension work has been in operation. At the present time, HIarrison and Lancaster townships have service from the Bluffton Library. Books may be borrowed di- rect from the central library, and from twenty deposit stations and branches throughout the territory served. In 1916, 15,000 loans were made in the townships, outside of Bluffton. Books are delivered to the stations by automobile, a new supply being sent out every six weeks or two months, and the books which have been read returned to the library. These rural stations, with two stations in the ward schools of Bluffton, make in all twenty-two lending agencies besides the Cen- tral Library.
The library building has been equipped in a manner to make it suitable for use as a social center. Assembly and committee rooms, comfortably furnished and made free to all community organizations, greatly increase the usefulness of the building. About 200 meet- ings are held in the building each year, with an attendance of several thousand persons. This brings the library into close touch with the people. Special work with children, schools, clubs and other organizations, and co-operation with all movements for community betterment are considered an essential part of the work of the libra- rian and her assistants.
The members of the board at the present time are W. L. Kiger, president ; Mrs. W. II. Eichhorn, vice president; Mrs. Abram Sim- mons, secretary ; Mrs. M. W. Walbert, Chas. G. Dailey, C. E. Sturgis, P. A. Allen, F. M. Buckner, Frank Heckathorn and N. D. Klein- knight. The librarian is Miss Nannie W. Jayne, and the assistants are Mrs. Ida Ashbancher and Miss Vera Sturgis.
THE LOCAL PRESS OF BLUFFTON
For nearly seventy years Bluffton has had an established place as a newspaper town in the journalistic annals of Indiana. The Banner Publishing Company, of which George L. Saunders is editor, issues the veteran of the local press. Its weekly reverts to 1850, when Sam- uel G. Upton and Lewis S. Grove commenced to publish the Bluffton Banner, successor to the Republican Bugle, the first newspaper in
BLUFFTON FROM THE EAST
THE CITY FROM THE SOUTH
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Wells County, whose editor, Thomas Smith, had but recently died. Until 1884 the Banner waved very fitfully, as it changed ownership on an average every two years. The transfers oceurred in the fol- lowing order: T. J. McDowell, George MeDowell, James G. Smith, D. J. Callen, T. B. Gutelius, J. H. Smith, Theodore Horton & Company, J. G. Smith again, William J. Craig, Homer L. Martin, E. A. K. Haekett, Martin & Roth, Samuel S. Roth, Sturgis, Gorrell & Gorrell and E. Y. Sturgis. The paper was enlarged and other- wise improved in 1881 and Capt. E. Y. Sturgis did mueh to bring it forward. Mr. Crain, who edited the paper at an earlier date, served as clerk of the court for eight years, and was afterward appointed receiver of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, and still later was placed in editorial control of the Indianapolis Sentinel. Mr. Haekett, after making an indifferent suceess of his editorship of the Banner, raised the Fort Wayne Sentinel to substantial prosperity and influence. Not a few other influential, even brilliant demoerats, were identified with the Banner and assisted to establish it as an influential organ of the party in Eastern Indiana. By 1899 the affairs of the paper warranted the establishment of an evening daily edition, and three years later George L. Saunders, its present editor, added his inspiring personality to its forees. He had been trained and edueated as an editor and printer in the Portland ( Indiana) Sun, and the Government Printing Offiee, Washington. Mr. Saunders had also had an interest in that publication, had done much to improve it and was therefore well qualified to assume the editorial management of the Banner. In January. 1902, he purchased an interest in the Bluffton Daily and Weekly Banner, which he retained after the formation of the Banner Publishing Company, which has sinee condueted both editions, as well as the job printing plant.
The Evening News, of Bluffton, and its weekly edition, The Chron- icle, are published and edited by David H. Swaim, an old and able member of the loeal bar, as well as of the newspaper eraft. He has been identified with republican journalism, in this connection, for thirty years, during the earlier portion of that period with his younger brother, William T. T. Swaim. The Chroniele and its immediate predecessors had already spanned thirty-five years of newspaper un- certainties and trials when the Swaim Brothers ventured to assume the enterprise. The story runs in this wise: In 1853 the People's Press, a republican organ, was established in Bluffton by John Wilson and Michael Karnes, who employed as editor a Mr. Knox, a newspaper man of considerable experience and a fair writer. Subsequently, James Branigan and James Gorrell served as editors, and under their
.
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management the paper continued to make its weekly appearance until 1857, when the plant was purchased by T. N. Kellogg and a Mr. Bixler, Nelson Kellogg taking charge of the editorial work. Messrs. Kellogg and Bixler conducted the paper with fair success until 1861, when it passed into the hands of W. J. Bright. He changed its name to the Wells County Union, under which title it was issued until the stringent financial conditions of the time caused its temporary sus- pension.
After a time the enterprise was revived by Cephas Hogg, who, as editor and proprietor, labored against many obstacles until suc- ceeded by J. H. Smith, under whose management the name of the paper was changed, in 1866, to the Wells County Standard, the edi- torial department in the meantime being in charge of James Sewell. Subsequently A. Callon and J. Sewell became owners, and in 1869 the title was a third time changed, the name of Bluffton Chronicle being substituted and S. Davenport becoming editor. Under the proprietors named, the Chronicle was issued until 1873, when the pub- lication again suspended, but after a short time, J. W. Ruckman took charge of the plant and brought the business to a paying standard. In 1877 he sold it to C. A. Arnold; in 1878 George Arnold & Son be- came proprietors, and conducted the business for ten years. This brings the history of the enterprise up to the time when the Swaim Brothers became connected with it.
David H. and William T. T. Swaim were both born near the Town of Ossian, on a farm. When the former was five years of age, and the latter two years old, their father was killed in the Civil war, and the widowed mother moved into the village, in order to give the boys better educational advantages than could be enjoyed in the district schools. About the time of reaching his majority, David H. Swaim became associated with Prof. P. A. Allen in the management of a select school at Ossian. In 1880 the brothers entered Fort Wayne Col- lege. William graduated and taught in the Bluffton Schools, while David became a teacher at Ossian. In 1882 they both entered the law school of the University of Michigan, and gradnated two years later, moving to Bluffton for practice in September, 1884.
Swaim & Swaim, the law firm, established a substantial and high- grade business, but in May, 1888, withdrew from the legal field and, in partnership with Asbury Duglay, purchased the Bluffton Chronicle, in May, 1888. Mr. Duglay died in August, 1891, after which the Swaim Brothers bought the interest of the deceased from his estate. William T. T. Swaim died October 6, 1895, and since his death, David H. has remained sole proprietor of the business. In 1893 the Evening
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News had made its appearance as the daily edition of the enterprise, so that Mr. Swaim has a double title to prominence in the newspaper field. He had a monopoly in the daily field until 1899, when, as stated, the Banner became a competitior.
THE BANKS OF BLUFFTON
The banks of Bulffton, three in number, are well managed and supported by the merchants, manufacturers and citizens of the place. The origin of The Studabaker Bank, the oldest and strongest of them all, has been noted in the modest finaneial venture of John Studabaker in 1856. Founded as a National Bank in 1863, it was afterward re- organized by its founder as the Exchange Bank. That was in 1869, when Peter Studabaker and Hugh Dougherty became identified with it. The history and substantial career of The Studabaker Bank com- mences in 1903, when it was organized as a financial institution under the state laws, although it had assumed that name three years pre- viously. Its original directors were Hugh Dougherty, Henry C. Arnold, Samuel Bender, Fred Ashbaueher, Albert B. Cline, James W. Sale and Herman D. Cook. Mr. Dougherty was elected president and Mr. Arnold, vice president, while John S. Gilliland was chosen cashier. After being at the head of the bank's affairs for a year, Mr. Dougherty was elected president of the Marion Trust Company and moved to Indianapolis. Henry C. Arnold was elected president of The Studabaker Bank in place of Hugh Dougherty, in July, 1904, and held the position for five years. He resigned the presidency in July, 1909, and R. S. Todd was elected in his place, John S. Gilliland, the cashier, being advanced to the viee presidency. W. W. Rogers, the present incumbent of that office, at the same time succeeded Mr. Gilliland. The Studabaker Bank is now the largest state institution of the kind in the state outside of Indianapolis. Its total resources amount to $1,942,753.77. The capital of the bank is $200,000; surplus and undivided profits, $52,603, and average deposits (fall of 1917) nearly $1,700,000.
The Wells County Bank has been organized for thirty years. On June 7, 1888, the following gentlemen met at the law office of Dailey, Moek & Simmons, at Bluffton, to discuss the project of establishing a state bank: Amos Cole, Frederick Engeler, J. W. Goodyear, G. A. Ilarnish, J. F. Krehl, G. F. MeFarren, Levi Moek, Eugene Morrow, William Mertz, John North, Abe Simmons, Thomas Sturgis, J. E. Sturgis, G. T. Williamson and L. A. Williamson. On the 23d of the month the direetors were elected and they chose from among their
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number L. A. Williamson as president, Eugene Morrow and F. F. Engeler, vice presidents, and J. W. Goodyear, cashier. There was no change in that management until 1905, when Mr. Goodyear re- signed the cashiership and E. B. Williamson was selected to succeed him. The bank opened its doors in its own home at the corner of Market and Main streets, and these quarters were occupied con- tinuously for over twenty years, when the constantly increasing busi- ness rendered them inadequate, and on October 30, 1909, the banking room was vacated for the purpose of being thoroughly remodeled. The Wells County Bank began business with a capital of $45.000; in 1902 this was increased to $100,000, as at present. It has a sur- plus of $25,000, with demand deposits of over $303,000 and demand certificates of $724,000. Its total resources (fall of 1917) amounted to $1,254,000.
The Union Savings & Trust Company was organized in July, 1906, with L. C. Davenport as president, W. A. Kunkel, vice president, and Fred J. Tangeman as secretary and treasurer. Soon after the death of Mr. Davenport in January, 1917, D. A. Walmer was elected presi- dent, and still holds the position. Harry Swisher is vice president and Mr. Tangeman retains his position as secretary and treasurer. In January, 1918, the financial status of the company was represented by the following items: Capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $5,000 ; average deposits, $175,000.
BLUFFTON INDUSTRIES
The industries of the city include manufactures of wood, furni- ture, gloves, machinery, cement and flour and, specially, include the following establishments: H. C. Baye Piano Company, employing some 300 hands; the Boss Manufacturing Company (D. A. Wilkins, manager) and the Great Northern Glove Factory, both makers of gloves, and the former employing about 200 hands; Bluffton Cement Products Company, manufacturers of blocks and tile, and North, Frazier & Company, whose output is clay tile alone; Red Cross Manu- facturing Company, the products of which are lawn swings, wind- mills, pumps and towers, with a galvanizing department which is one of the largest in the state; George W. Grimes' Foundry, which turns out power oil machinery and ships it to Oklahoma and other points in the United States and abroad; W. B. Brown Manufacturing Com- pany, the products of which are chandeliers and novelties; Will H. Ditzler, manufacturer of hard lumber ; Bluffton Milling Company, N. E. Stafford, proprietor, and the large interests controlled by the
WEST MARKET STREET, BLUFFTON
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Studabaker Grain and Seed Company. The last named include ele- vators, with capacities named, located as follows: Bluffton, 45,000 bushels; Liberty Center, 20,000 bushels; Toesin, 18,000 bushels, and Keystone, 18,000 bushels. For a number of years previous to the sale and junking of the Bluffton, Geneva & Celina Traction Line in 1917, the Studabaker Grain and Seed Company also owned and operated elevators at Vera Cruz and Linn Grove, with capacities respectively of 10,000 and 18,000; but when the road was closed and these points were left without adequate shipping facilities, the business of the elevators naturally came to a standstill.
WELLS COUNTY HOSPITAL
A handsome and substantial two-story red brick building with stone trimmings at the south end of Main Street, represents the new Wells County Hospital which is not yet (March, 1918) entirely completed. During the month of this writing an additional $12,000 was appropriated and added to the original contract price of about $28,000 and the intention now is to have the hospital completed by May. The project was placed under way, in the spring of 1916, when a number of Bluffton citizens, who had long recognized the desirability of establishing such an institution, met to consider the proposal of Dr. J. E. Allport, of Cleveland, who undertook to lead the campaign to draw a sufficient sum of money from the County Board for the erection of a County Hospital under the state laws providing means for establishing such institutions. Previously, there had been considerable sentiment in favor of a hospital, but Dr. Allport's proposal served to crystallize it and lead it toward accom- plishment.
The preliminary procedure involved the signing of a petition by a stated number of freeholders resident in the county, and this was accomplished without difficulty by a number of physicians and other interested citizens, working under the direction of Dr. Allport. After the petition was completed, the County Council and the county com- missioners took favorable action upon it, and the latter appointed a Board of Hospital Trustees to take charge of the erection and operation of the building. The members of that board were: Carl Bonham, president ; J. A. McBride, Levi Huffman, A. H. Knight and W. H. Lipkey. The order appointing the board and thereby establishing the hospital was entered by the county commissioners March 6, 1917.
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