USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I > Part 38
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The same writer, addressing her sister, asks :
"What is the fashion for bonnets this fall? We sent to Cin- cinnati in the spring and got some English straw and they were very large in front. Mr. Barlow said it was the newest fashion there. Also, what is going to be worn for cloaks or dresses, and the fashion ? Mrs. Daniels sent us a dress pattern in the spring and it's all over the state of Indiana."
Miss Darrow's account is suggestive of the interesting ex- perience of Samuel S. Morss and his bride, formerly Miss Susan Clark, in 1837, as related by the daughter, Mrs. Isaac d'Isay :
"The wedding took place at Mrs. Porter's select boarding house, in Fort Wayne, at 8 o'clock in the morning, that they might take the packet, the new canal boat, which left at 9 o'clock. My mother's wedding gown was a heliotrope brocade silk, with parasol to match. This costume was considered eminently proper for travel-
FORT WAYNE'S FIRST BANK BUILDING.
This building, erected at the southwest corner of Clinton' and Main streets, the site of the building of the Home Tele- graph and Telephone company, was erected in 1837, as the first home of the Fort Wayne branch of the State Bank of Indiana. The family of Hugh Mc- Culloch, the cashier, occupied the resi- dence portion of the building. The build- ing was erected by L. G. Tower at a cost of $12,450.
SOCIAL PARTY.
You are respectfully invited to attend a SOCIAL PARTY at the House of COL SUTTENTIFID. on Thursday evening Tert, at Six o'clock
JANE T. SUTTENFIELD, SUSAN A. CLARK, Managers- REBECCA R. ROCKHILL.
FORT WAYNE, APRIL. 1, 1835
A SOCIAL AFFAIR OF 1835.
The original printed invitation to a so- cial affair in 1835 is in the possession of Mrs. Isaac d'Isay, daughter of Mrs. Sam- uel S. Morss, who, as Miss Susan Clark, was one of the hostesses of the affair. Miss Jane T. Suttenfield became the wife of Myron F. Barbour, and Miss Rebecca Rockhill married Philo Rumsey. The house of Colonel Suttenfield was a popu- lar tavern, the upper floor of which was used as a ballroom.
331
CANAL CELEBRATION-"IRISH WAR"
1835 1837
ing. The boat was new, really quite luxurious, for there was a cabin and cushioned seats. Logansport was the expected destination of the wedding journey, and here the bride's sister had invited guests to a reception to be held in honor of the bridal pair. But they could not reach the place in time to be present; indeed, not at all, on ac- count of the canal locks failing to operate; and, after getting as far as Pern, they were obliged to return to Fort Wayne."
THE PANIC OF 1837.
Hard times came upon' the people of the Maumee valley during the general panic of 1837. The years 1834, 1835 and 1836, through- out the new west, had been distinguished by the wildest methods of speculation. With rosy tales of rich prospects, speculators sold, at fabulous prices, lots in canal towns which had no existence or which could never rise to heights of commercial importance. On the Maumee, from its mouth to Fort Wayne, there was a succession of towns, most of which have never been heard of since that day. The sale of property in these "dream" towns, as well as in other parts of the west, made and lost fortunes, until, in 1837, the bubbles burst and a financial panic ensued. This condition is indicated by the prices of commodities in 1839, when oats sold for ten cents per bushel, chickens at fifty cents per dozen, flour $3 per barrel and fat cattle at $10 to $12 per head. Normal conditions were not restored until 1841.
THE FIRST MARKET HOUSE.
In 1837, Samuel Hanna donated to the town of Fort Wayne the land bordering Barr street on the east, extending south from Berry street, on which the city hall and the present city market houses stand. The city, as a part of the transaction, agreed to erect thereon a substantial market house thirty by sixty feet in size. George Bair constructed the building, and Oliver Fairfield was appointed as the first market master, succeeded in later years by James Post, Robert Hood and Peter Kiser. The stalls at the beginning were rented at five dollars per year.
In 1852, the market building proving to be too small for the demands, was abandoned and steps were taken to erect a larger building which should combine a town hall with its market facilities. James Humphrey designed the building, and the contract for its construction was let to Richard McMullan, a member of the council, for $1,599.50. McMullan assigned the contract to Mr. Humphrey and John Brown. In 1853, after the citizens had voted in favor of a tax levy of fifteen cents on each $100 of valuation, the council voted to erect the building on another site, but a storm of protest caused a reconsideration of their action. The whole matter was then laid over until January, 1855, when new plans submitted by James Humphrey and H. Nierman were adopted. Mr. Nierman then built the combined market house and town hall. The central building, a two-story structure, was of brick, with the covered stalls of the market extending to the north and south. The entire work cost $2,800. Among the men who served as market masters were John Fairfield, A. M. Webb and Henry Monning. Stalls in this market house rented at not less than forty dollars per year. This building
Mgmson bullock presents their complimento to Angmas booker + request the pleasure of their company at their house on Thursday, Trening at 6 1/2 oclock
Mr & Mrs rockhill Solicit the pleasure of the company of Mr Ho Kooper Lady on tomorrow evening at 60 clock fely ger
Anr & Mrs Hamilton's Compliments to Mr tills Cooper for Tuesday Evening at 5 0C September 7" ct
Mr. 2.2 Balerick & Lady request the pleasure of the Company of Henry Cooper Esgn & Lady this evening to Jea at half part 5. Gelach
a membership of nine. Succeeding pastors of the church were as temporary pastor, the First Baptist church was organized, with
Several important steps were taken in the formation of new church societies in Fort Wayne in 1837. With Rev. Robert Tisdale
CIIURCH AFFAIRS.
market house was built in 1910 at a cost of $20,000.
stood until the time of the building of the city hall. The present
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
332
1
WHEN THE EARLY FAMILIES ENTERTAINED.
Among the mementos of the early days in Fort Wayne treasured by the family of William P. Cooper, are the originals of the dinner invitations here reproduced. Issued by the families of Judge Hugh McCulloch, Wil- liam Rockhill, Allen Hamilton and David H. Colerick to the family of Henry Cooper, during the years from 1836 to 1840, the handwritten mementos bear the names of some of the leading residents of the day, whose descendants are active in the affairs of the present.
333
CANAL CELEBRATION-"IRISH WAR"
1835 1837
William Corbin, William Cox, William Gildersleve, J. H. Dunlap, D. H. Mason, U. B. Miller, C. W. Rees, J. D. Meeson, Stephen Wilkins, William Frary, G. L. Stephens, G. R. Stone, Stephen A. Northrup, L. L. Henson, J. N. Field, J. F. Vichert and S. H. Snashall.
Rev. Jesse Hoover, whose name is held in reverence by every Fort Wayne Lutheran of today, came to the town from Woodstock, Canada, in 1837, and organized the first Lutheran church, with Adam Wefel and Henry Trier, elders, and Henry Rudisill and Conrad Nill, deacons. This was the beginning of the present St Paul's church, the site for which was purchased in 1839. Succeed- ing pastors of St. Paul's church were Frederick Wynekin, Dr. Wil- liam Sihler, H. G. Sauer and Jacob W. Miller.
The Catholics and the Presbyterians erected, in 1837, the first church buildings to grace the soil of Fort Wayne, the former estab- lishing St. Augustine's church on a portion of Cathedral square, and the latter choosing a site on the south side of East Berry street between Barr and Lafayette streets.
In 1835, Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere, a visitor to Fort Wayne, reported that the Catholic population, composed of Germans, Irish and French, required the ministrations of a pastor who could speak three languages. Rev. Felix Matthew Ruff, who met the require- ment, arrived in the fall of that year, preceding Rev. Louis Mueller, who came in 1837 as the first regular pastor of the German portion of the congregation. In 1840, Bishop de la Hailandiere sent to Fort Wayne Rev. Joseph Hannan, who later removed to Logansport. In 1842, Rev. Joseph Francis Rudolph came. Two years later, Rev. Alphonce Munschina was assigned to the Fort Wayne parish; he remained two years. In 1846, Rev. Anthony Carins came, followed in 1849 by Rev. E. Faller. He organized the first German congrega- tion in Fort Wayne, St. Mary's.
ACTIVITIES OF 1835.
The year 1835 brought to Fort Wayne many valuable citizens : Royal W. Taylor, merchant, from Glastonbury, Vermont; Myron F. Barbour (born in Sheldon, New York. 1811), who served as a clerk in the land office and became a well-known teacher; George W. Jones (born in Manchester, Maryland, in 1831), publisher, and a clerk in the United States treasury department; Henry Pugh (born in Heresford, England, in 1810), pioneer dairyman; Byron D. Miner, who became a legislator and a partner in the trading house of W. G. and G. W. Ewing, and Louis Wolke (born in Bomte, Germany, in 1810), who operated the Summit City Woolen Mills. Ban- jamin Archer established the first sawmill; the boiler was brought from Dayton, Ohio, on a wagon drawn by eight yoke of oxen.
ACTIVITIES OF 1836.
Isaac DeGroff Nelson (born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1810), whose activities along many lines advanced the interests of Fort Wayne, came to the town in 1836. George W. Wood (born in Goshen, New York, in 1808), whom the people of Fort Wayne chose as their first mayor, also settled here. Others who came during the year were Robert E. (R. Emmett) Fleming, clerk in the office of County Auditor-recorder Allen Hamilton, whose identification with
November 2ยช 1835. On motion of Samuel Louis the Salary of the Cashier was fixed at Eight hundred dollars per annum payable quarterly, by the following voter. Meas- Lewis Nermilia Sinclear Fairfield Ewing Edsall Hanna Rockfull Hamilton Spencer & Burr-
No's Compared & morgan.
On motion of David Burn - it was unanimously resolved that the bashier be authorised and directed by this Board to Execute a Receipt to Stephen Is Hunt for four Regs of Thecie supposed to contain Twenty Thousand Dollars- forwarded to this Branch from the Branch at Richmond as part of the States forst instalments for this Branch.
The President Allen Hamilton then proceeded to appoint Ments Lewis Eurnof Morgan Sinclean and Edsalt a Standing Committee on Expense, which for his house for a Bawling house
Committed was instructed to contract with Francis Compared for one year at the rate of Jun Hundred Dollars per year and to make such repairs to the same as they might deaw necessary .
HUGH M'CULLOCH'S RECORD OF HIS FIRST BANK SALARY.
Herewith is shown a photographic reproduction of a portion of the record of the first meeting of the board of directors of the Fort Wayne branch of the State Bank of Indiana, held November 3, 1835. The handwriting is that of Hugh McCulloch, cashier. The record book is among the treasured archives of the Old National Bank of Fort Wayne. The directors referred to in the record are Allen Hamilton, Hugh Hanna and William Rockhill, named by the state, and Samuel Lewis, William G. Ewing, Francis Comparet, Joseph Morgan, Joseph Sin- clear, Isaac Spencer, Asa Fairfield, Jesse Vermilyea (misspelled in record), David Burr and Samuel Edsall.
334
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
railroad and other interests afforded him an opportunity to give valuable aid in the material advancement of the town; S. C. Free- man, Nelson MeLain, Jacob Klein, Chester Scarlet, John Majors,
Colonel J. W. Whitaker, George Kronmiller, and John Cochrane,
the latter of whom established the first planing mill. Mann (later the wife of Hugh McCulloch) and Miss Hubbell (Mrs.
Miss
basement of the Presbyterian church on Berry street between Barr
Royal W. Taylor) opened a school in the court house. Later, they joined the Rev. Jesse Hoover in the management of a school in the
335
CANAL CELEBRATION-"IRISH WAR"
1837 1835
and Lafayette streets. Referring to these pioneer women instructors, A. C. Comparet, in the Hicksville (Ohio) News, March, 1902, says : "They were competent teachers, and did away with the rawhide and hickory goads that the male teachers had in their schools. These ladies were successful and well liked by their pupils of which I was one." Peter Huling and David Rankin were elected judges of the circuit court. Lucien P. Ferry became the
judge of the probate court. Judge Samuel Hanna assumed the personal responsibility for the construction of the . Lima road, which was extended later the distance of fifty miles to the north- ward. Jesse Vermilyea also was active in the construction of this first important road out of Fort Wayne. The town trustees passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of liquors on the Sabbath day "except to travelers and in case of sickness." The annual
DR. CHARLES A. SCHMITZ.
Dr. Schmitz came to America from Germany in 1835, and spent a year and a half at Philadelphia in the practice of medicine as a graduate of the medical college at Bohn. The year 1837 found him a resident of Fort Wayne, where he spent forty-eight busy years. He served as a member of the Fort Wayne board of health, and was the first president of the Allen County Medical society, organized in 1860. The portrait is from a photograph loaned by his daughter, Mrs. William V. Douglas
GEORGE W. WOOD, FORT WAYNE'S FIRST MAYOR.
Mr. Wood was twice elected mayor of Fort Wayne, but resigned the office July 5, 1841. As the publisher of the Fort Wayne Sentinel and the Fort Wayne Times, as the manager of the first tele- graph office in 1849, as the administrator of the estate of the late Judge Samuel Hanna, as register of the land office and as the agent of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad in the sale of its lands, he became a man of wide influence.
license for liquor-selling was ten dollars. In 1836, the first cook stove was brought to Fort Wayne by travelers bound for the west ; it was purchased by Lucien P. Ferry for use in his home. The "rotary" style of stove came into use shortly afterward. "The top was round, turning on a center pin with a crank to turn the top until the openings with the cooking utensils came over the fire," is the description given by the late George W. Brackenridge. He added this bit of information: "The stoves were unloaded in front of the court house and, I believe, were stored in it for a short time. The furniture for the stoves was packed in crates of straw. When these were opened, rats were found in them which escaped. These
.
336
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
pioneer rats established the first colony, and we have never been without them since."
ACTIVITIES OF 1837.
Henry Sharp, who came to Fort Wayne in 1837, was Fort Wayne's first republican mayor. Born in Albany, New York, in 1809, he learned the hatters' trade and followed the business after locating here. Others who settled in Fort Wayne during the year were Alfred S. Johns (born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1812), who established the first saddlery business; Scott Swann, James W. Ninde, Uriah Johnson, James Devlin, William Manning, Ben- jamin F. Rice and William Boerger, men active in the life of the town; Judge William W. Carson (born in County Mayo, Ireland), who rose to prominence in judicial and legislative circles; Judge William W. Coombs (born in Brunswick, Maine, in 1808), a promi- nent member of the bar; Colonel George Humphrey, from Scotland, a contractor, who served in the Mexican war and the rebellion; James Humphrey, a brother of George, and Dr. Charles A. Schmitz (born in Borgloh, Germany, in 1809), a leading physician. The following county officers were elected: Auditor, Allen Hamilton; treasurer, Thomas W. Swinney ; sheriff, John P. Hedges; recorder, Robert E. Fleming; surveyor, S. M. Black. Charles W. Ewing was elected president judge of the circuit court; during his period of service until 1839, the following associate judges were on the bench: Peter Huling, Nathaniel Coleman, Michael Shiras and Marshall S. Wines. Thomas Johnson served as prosecuting attorney.
CHAPTER XXVII-1838-1839.
Boat Yards and Other Pioneer Enterprises-Early Hotels.
A description of Fort Wayne in 1838-The State of Indiana "goes wild" over the internal improvement program -- The canal begins to earn money -Early factories and boat yards-Names of some of the earlier boats which plied the canal-An estimate of Alexander McJunkin, schoolmaster -"Rockhill's Folly," a step in advance of the times-History of the hotel, The Palo Alto (Mayer) house-Other pioneer hotels-The Churches.
A T THIS period of the story of Fort Wayne, the town im- pressed the new settler as a place of great promise for all who were willing to enter actively into its development. We have this picture of its physical features in 1838, as re- membered by John W. Dawson, and recorded by him in 1872 :
"The first glimpse of Fort Wayne was had from an elevated part of the road, about 120 rods south of the railway [Pennsylvania] depot. The spire of the old court house [the first court house, built in 1832] and that of the old Catholic church which stood where the Cathedral now is built, were seen. All other buildings were hidden from view by the high ground, yet to be noticed at the intersection of Douglas avenue with Calhoun street. There was scarcely a house south of Lewis street, and what few there were could be called only cabins hid in deep woods, save the Brackenridge house, as it yet stands, and an old frame back from the southwest corner of Lewis and Calhoun, in which Colonel Spencer lived for many years. All was wild, save a few small fields of the Hamilton property. * * On neither side of Calhoun street from this church [where the Cathedral stands today] was there any house .. A post-and-rail fence, open at many places, ran on the west side of Calhoun street from Lewis to Wayne, which had, the year before, been the east boundary of a cultivated field the west boundary of which was Shaw- nee run, which took its rise out about where Bass's foundry now is and drained all that region known as the addition of Lewis, Hamilton Baker, Wilt, Brackenridge, Ewing's grove and Spencer, and then entering the old town plat near the corner of Spencer's addition passed obliquely to the northeast until it crossed Berry street at the intersection of Harrison street; then down it and under the canal hasin into the river into the St. Mary's river at Lee's ford." (This ford was located near the present Wells street bridge, named for the Widow Lee, who lived near by.)
Describing the heart of the town in 1838, Mr. Dawson says :
"The space bounded on the north by .Water [Superior] street, east by Lafayette street, south by Wayne street, west by Harrison street-sixteen squares-constituted Fort Wayne as a wooden town, buildings of an inferior sort, unpainted, generally one-story high, some of logs, more of frame work, just five of brick, the streets bad, many lots destroyed by standing water."
337
338
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
SECTION OF WABASH & ERIE CANAL BETWEEN "NEBRASKA" AND VAN BUREN STREET
(FROM A MAP DRAWN IN 1855)
AQUEDUCT E
WM ROCKHILL RES
CHERRY
ELM
MAIN
ST.
ST
RIVER
GEN
EOSALLS 9 REST
EDSALL ST.
JACKSON
H WILLIAMS REST
BERRY
ST.
W M HUBBELL RES
ST.
5. BRENTON RES. EZ
METHODIST COLLEGE
WAYNE
ST
CASE FIRES
MARY'S K
SECTION OF
WABASH & ERIE CANAL
WATER ( NOW SUPERIOR ) ST.
BETWEEN VAN BUREN
ST. AND MAIDEN LANE
(FROM A MAP DRAWN IN 1855)
COLUMBIA
(NOW GREELEY)
ST.
CANAL
CANALE
GRIFFITH
PEARL
ST.
MAIDEN
VAN BUREN
ROCKHILLE HOUSE E (NOW ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL)
FULTON
ST. (NOW
EWING
EDSALL" RES
E.F. COLERICK RES
R W. TOWN-
Rt FLEMING RES.
STURGIS
EWING ME RES
LEY OB RES
BERRY
ST.
20 PRESBY TERIAN CH.
P HOAGLAND
RES.
ST
J. KERTON
ST.
CON
L WILLIAMS
S. S. MORSS
RES.
C. CASE
CHURCH
WAYNE CORES
ST.
KES IM
RES
BROR TALLERTON R. W TAYLOR GET DRES.
ST.
E TR. ANDERS ON RES
DR.CE.
JUDGE
ST (NOW WEBSTER ST.)
W.C. SHOAFF
MAIN
ST.
CASS
R W. TAYLOR
BROADWAY
LANE
BLUFFTON
FAIRFIELD
ST.
EDGE
RES.
JES.
WEBSTER
AVE
EDSALLS
IS COL H B REEO RES.
ST.
VAN BUREN
ST. MARY'S
ROCKHILL ST.
UNION ST.
ST.
BRACKENRIDGE RES.
THE ROUTE OF THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL THROUGH THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE.
Each of the four maps shows a section of the city of Fort Wayne through which the Wabash and Erie canal extended. This route is identical with the right-of-way of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis railroad of today. The buildings indicated in the maps were the distinguishing features of that part of the town in 1855. At this time the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago rail- road had been completed to Fort Wayne, and its terminus touched the canal at Barr street. The line branched from the present right-of-way of the railroad northward along Lafayette street to afford freight and passenger connection with the waterway. The present City mills (C. Tresselt & Sons) on Clinton street, the Edsall (Orff) mill on the St. Mary's river and other industries were operated by water power from the canal. The two principal basins of the canal were those at Harrison street and at Lafayette street.
FRONT ( NOW W. MAIN ) ST
1838 1839
PIONEER ENTERPRISES-EARLY HOTELS
339
SECTION OF
" FARMERS' HOTEL
WABASH & ERIE
(NOW SUPERIOR)
ST
CANAL BETWEEN MAIDEN LANE AND LAFAYETTE ST. (1855)
BOWSER & STORY MACHINE SHOP
CITY MIL
E.P. BAILEY
BRUDISILL & SONS WOOLLEN 7714
BASIN
ORBISON
HILL TOWNLEY'S
COLUMBIA
ST.
COLERICK S HALL
OFFIC
LITTLE & MCCULLOCH
AMERICAN ET Hou SE Sf
HAMILTON'S BANK
PEARL
ST
HEDEKIN HOUSE
HUBRELI
OCHMIG BIRD'S MI RES HIS
MAIN
ST.
TREASURERS OFFICE
HARRISON
CALHOUN
CLERK'S OFFICE
INDIANAGE STATE BRANCH BANK
JOHN FAIRFIELD RES.
=
QUERE
CHURCH
SPENTER THE HOUSEEM
COURTHOUSE
CLINTON
BARR ST.
J. R. STRRUGHAN RES.
REPES
BERRY
ST.
RECORDER S OFFICE
WEBSTER ST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
ST
BAPTIST CHURCH
ST.
. MARKET
D H.COLERICK RES.
ST.
MAJ
WOLKE S RES
GERMAN METHODIST
CHURCH
WAYNE ST.
AUF PALO
ALTE MOUSE
ST. MARY'S RIVER
ST.
RIVER
SECTION OF WABASH &
WATER ( NOW SUPERIOR) ST.
ERIE CANAL
BETWEEN
-
LAFAYETTE AND HARMAR STREETS
BASIN
OFFKE
RIVER
M. HEDEKIN RES
COMPARET & HUBBELL
.
INDIANA HOUSE
MAIN
ST
MAUMEE
LAFAYETTE
NOURRIE
EU RES
CLAY
RES
THOS TIGAR RES
BERRY
ST.
CANAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH
ST.
WIDOW THOMPSON'S RES
ST
J.S
CITY
0 w JEFFEROS BIR KES.
HANNA
FRANCIS ST
HARMER
WAYNE
ST
Le
-
RES.
OR IL DAILEY RES
OFFNFUI
ST.
JACOBYTHIS RES.
LAFAYETTE *** ST."
COMPARE
MAIDEN
P.F.W & C. K R.
INDIAN4 HOUSE
LANE
T.R ANDERSON
HOUGH & JONES.
COURT
J.C
ORTES
RANDALL
AUDITORS
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ST JOSEPH
ROAD (NOW ST. JOH BOULEVARD)
MAUMEE=
ST. JOSEPH
ROAD ( NOW EDGEWATER AVE ).
MAUMEE=RIVER
FRAUGHAN
F P. RANDALL
CANAL ST.
MAIGRES
HOTEL
MONROE ST
Among the business and professional men were J. B. Bourie and John B. Peltier, traders; Taylor, Freeman and Company, Cap- tain Ben Smith, Colonel Joseph McMaken, proprietor of the "Man- sion House"; Paige and Fry, tanners; Mills and Taylor, proprietors of the "Franklin House"; William D. Henderson, grocer; James Post, proprietor of the "Post House"; John E. Hill, dry goods; Dr. M. W. Huxford, druggist; Allen Hamilton and Company, traders; Barnett and Hanna, traders; Wright and DuBois, merchants; James W. Deneal, canal boat builder; Dr. Lewis G. Beecher, George Fallo, the first brewer; Captain William Stewart, Joshua Housman, baker; Rev. S. R. Ball, potter; Philip C. Cook, black-
RIVERS
MARY'S
COLUMBIA ST.
P., Fw. & C. R.R
VSMNER LE RES.
COUNTY JAIL
CANAL
M.HEDEKIN GES
340
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
smith ; Philo Taylor, S. C. Freeman and Royal W. Taylor, dry goods; Freeman P. Tinkham, cabinet maker; Benjamin Smith, grocer ; Lewis Wolke, blacksmith; Tom Moore, barber; Dr. Lewis G. Thompson, Thompson and Jefferds, druggists; Thomas Johnson, at- torney ; Comparet and Colerick, traders; T. Hoagland, draper and tailor; F. D. Lasselle, trader; A. Lintz, shoemaker; Madison Sweetser, dry goods; the Ewings, S. and W. S. Edsall; Lucien P. Ferry, attorney ; L. G. Bellamy, shoemaker, and Johnson and Miller, cabinet makers.
THE CANAL A MAGNET.
Many had been attracted to the town through the reputation which the canal had brought to this central point of trade. For, in 1838, the waterway had begun to earn some returns on the money spent for the construction of the middle section of the waterway extending from Fort Wayne to Logansport.
By the time of the opening of navigation in the spring of 1837, the entire state was wild over the subject of internal improvements, and thousands of settlers poured into the Wabash valley. For a period previous to the collapse which brought on the panic, there was employment for all at good wages, and a market for all produce.
Daniel Reid was appointed receiver of the canal office in Fort Wayne, and the waterway entered upon a period of activity in the transportation of passengers and goods between Fort Wayne and Logansport.
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