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 40

Author: Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs. The story of the townships of Allen County
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : R.O. Law Co.
Number of Pages: 760


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 40


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Mayor Wood was re-elected in 1841.1 The second council was composed of Hiram T. Dewey, Philo Rumsey, Henry Sharp, A. S. Johns, Charles G. French and William L. Moon. The mayor's per- sonal affairs, however, appear to have claimed so much of his attention that he asked the council to release him on the 5th of July, 1841.


JOSEPH MORGAN, MAYOR.


A special election resulted in the choice of Joseph Morgan. Fort Wayne's second mayor, like his predecessor, was a man of activity and public spirit. He had removed to Fort Wayne from Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1832. His son, Oliver P. Morgan, became a leading hardware merchant, a bank director and a school trustee.


CANAL TROUBLES IN INDIANA AND OHIO.


The year 1840 brought its serious problems connected with the construction of the Wabash and Erie canal. While the state of Indiana was now beginning to experience difficulties, Ohio, on ac- count of its sparse settlements along the route of the waterway in that state, was in a still worse condition and did not push forward the completion of the northern end of the canal. This proved em- barrassing to Indiana, for, unless the outlet into Lake Erie were provided, the great thoroughfare would fail of its mission. The Indiana legislature, becoming impatient over the delay, passed a joint resolution "that it shall be the duty of the chief engineer


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[Jesse L. Williams] to proceed immediately to the seat of govern- ment of the state of Ohio, and in a respectful manner to urge upon the consideration of the members of the legislature of that state the necessity of speedy completion of the Wabash and Erie canal from the Indiana state line to the Maumee bay, in compliance with the compacts heretofore made between the two states in relation there- to." Mr. Williams performed his mission. The work was renewed on the Ohio end of the canal, but sickness among the workmen and the want of building stone delayed the progress of the operations.


Other difficulties now presented themselves in Indiana. The state had borrowed, for the extension of the southern portion of


C


CHIEF FRANCIS LAFONTAINE.


The original oil painting from which the pen drawing was made hangs on the wall of the home of Chief LaFontaine's daughter, Mrs. Archangel Engelmann, who lives in the house built by her fa- ther in 1841, on the reserve west of Huntington, Indiana. LaFontaine be- came the chief of the Miamis on the death of Richardville, in 1841. He was born near Fort Wayne in 1810. His wife was Catherine (Po-gon-go-quah), daugh- ter of Richardville. The death of La- Fontaine occurred in 1847 while he was on his return home from the trip to the western reservations to which the Mia- mis had been transferred. He was the last of the reigning chiefs of his tribe. About two years after his death the widow became the wife of Francis D. Lasselle, but she lived only a short pe- riod thereafter.


CHIEF LAFONTAINE'S CHAIR.


In daily use in the home of his daugh- ter, Mrs. Engelmann, west of Hunting- ton, Indiana, is the walnut rocking chair made for the especial use of Chief Fran- cis LaFontaine. "My father was a large, robust man," says Mrs. Engelmann, "usually weighing about 360 pounds. The chair was made for his comfort, and was provided with a drawer beneath the seat in which he kept his tobacco and pipes." Two persons of ordinary stature may sit side by side in the chair.


the canal, the sum of $241,742.58, and $950,000 more had been raised through the floating of a bond issue. To these amounts was added, in 1837, $1,650,000, for the general system of improvement, and for the Wabash and Erie extension east of the Tippecanoe river, $400,- 000. In the next year the market was flooded with bonds to a total of $1,800,000, and in 1839 with $1,632,000. The rapid sale of the bonds for the general system seriously affected the market for the Wabash and Erie canal bonds, and this condition is considered as primarily responsible for the ultimate failure of the single project which could have been made a great and permanent success.


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Already the credit of the state had been extended beyond rea- sonable limits. Then came the failure of the Morris Canal and Banking company, of New York, which owed the state on bonds which it had purchased on credit $2,112,200. The estimated total loss to the state in the negotiation of the sale of bonds on credit was $3,183,461. By 1841, the state had piled up a debt of $13,148,453. Unknown to all except those in close touch with the stupendous work, the general system of improvement was already wrecked, and from this time forward the Wabash and Erie canal experienced a futile struggle for existence.


However, the people of the west realized but little the true condition, and the entire region looked forward with hopefulness and enthusiasm to the time of the completion of the waterway.


THE FIRST BANDS OF MUSIC.


The bustling town, in the midst of the activities preceding the opening of the canal to Toledo, showed its advancement in various ways. One of these-the organization of the first band of music- developed in 1840. This pioneer organization was called Chamber-


SOL D. BAYLESS.


The name of Sol D. Bayless is perpet- uated in that of one of the leading fra- ternal societies of Fort Wayne, the Sol D. Bayless lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 359. Mr. Bayless was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1814. From the beginning of his Masonic career in 1841 he was recognized as an ardent student of the principles and work of the order. He was the editor of the Indiana Freemason for two years, and then became the manager of the Mystic Star, another Masonic publication. Mr. Bayless was an attorney of note, but gave much attention to real estate and insurance. He was the government's first pension agent of the Fort Wayne district. Referring to his funeral, in 1875, the Fort Wayne Sentinel says it was "the grandest Masonic pageant ever witnessed in this state, and probably the finest ever seen in the west."


JUDGE PETER P. BAILEY.


Judge Bailey came from New York to Fort Wayne in 1842 and established a hardware store at the northeast corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, and later became interested in various other enterprises, including the Merchants' National bank, organized in 1865, of which he was the president. He became president of the Fort Wayne and Cincin- nati railroad projected by way of Bluff- ton and Winchester, Ind., and Hamilton, Ohio. In 1858 Judge Bailey became the editor of the Fort Wayne Republican. In his later years he removed to Mis- sissippi and was chosen to be chancellor of a large area of the state. In his early years Judge Bailey was a prominent church man; he was one of the founders and staunch supporters of Trinity Epis- copal church. His children now living (1917) are General Clarence M. Bailey, U. S. A., retired; Colonel Hobart K. Bailey, U. S. A., retired; and Mrs. Charles D. Gorham, of Fort Wayne. Judge Bailey died in Fort Wayne January 26, 1899. The portrait is from a photograph loaned by Mrs. Gorham.


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lain's band of martial music; its members were Orff Chamberlain and William Chamberlain, snare drummers; Henry Chamberlain, bass drummer, and Henry Smith and John Waters, fife majors.


The first musical organization, aside from the players of martial music, was the Kekionga, or Kekiogue, brass band, organized two years later. Citizens purchased the instruments for the members, who, under the direction of a Mr. Hoffman, developed into credit- able musicians. The first public appearance of the band was on the 24th of June, when they delighted a large audience. J. J. Snyder was the president of this pioneer organization, while T. K. Lewis served as vice-president, F. P. Randall as treasurer and H. W. Jones, secretary. Among the members were Peter Kline, George De Wald, Jacob Foellinger, Frederick Beach, John Rekers, William Gronauer, John G. Maier and Henry Behler, all well-known men in the affairs of the town. A notable event in the history of the Kekionga band


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CALHOUN ST.


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COURT ST.


MAIN


1-Court House


2-Offices of Recorder and Sheriff 3-Office of Clerk 4-Offices of Treasurer and Auditor


THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE IN THE FORTIES.


The view is from a drawing made under the supervision of the late N. C. Miller, attorney, who was familiar with the appearance of the courthouse square in the '40s. The first courthouse on the public square was erected in 1832 and abandoned in 1841. In the latter year a building was erected at the northeast corner of the public square for the use of the county auditor and treasurer, and a clerk's office was established at the northwest (transfer) corner. At the south- west corner was the recorder's office. The second courthouse was built in 1847. Then a temporary courthouse-that shown in the sketch-was erected at the southeast corner of the square, and the second courthouse torn down. The view shows the appearance of the square at this time. In 1853 steps were taken for the erection of a courthouse which was dedicated in 1861, at which time all other buildings on the square were removed. In 1897 the contract for the present courthouse was let.


was the honor bestowed upon the organization in an invitation to head Governor James Whitcomb's inauguration parade at Indian- apolis. The band was considered to be the best in the state. The journey of two hundred and forty miles to the capital and return was made in two wagons, each drawn by four horses. The single trip required three days and three nights.


In 1845, Charles Strubey organized Strubey's band. Among the members were Henry Orff, Martin Foellinger, Frederick Uebel- hoer, Henry C. Graffe, Roman Ehinger and John Powers. About the year 1857, Henry Orff organized a band which included among


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CITY INCORPORATED-FIRST OFFICIALS


its members Fred J. Reineke and Fred Goebel. In 1861, Mr. Orff retired. Mr. Strubey then organized the Union band. Christ Horstman served in this latter organization as a drummer and cymbal player. Some time later, Prof. Joseph Leiffels organized Leiffels's band, with Charles M. Jones as the leader. In 1868, this band gained the supremacy, and the Union band passed out of existence. Later, Leiffels's band was known as Jones's band. It was composed at one time of Charles M. Jones, director; J. Barrie, J. Cook, Orrin T. Powers, W. V. Douglass, Albert Mayer, J. Baxter, C. Horstman, S. C. Stapleford, L. H. Karns, S. D. Makepeace, Henry Stapleford, Harvey P. Jones, W. Beals, C. Mart, Charles Morris, W. D. Schiefer and A. S. Johns. In 1874, Philip Kintz succeeded Charles M. Jones as the director; he continued in the work for


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PETER KISER.


Peter Kiser (born in Grant county, Ohio, in 1810) was one of the unique characters of the early history of Fort Wayne, whose life extended into modern days. He came as a pioneer butcher, and remained in business until about 1886. He was a man above six feet in height and weighed over 300 pounds. Mr. Kiser could neither read nor write, and yet, as a member of the state legis- lature during two sessions, he did much to establish the present school system of Indiana.


CHIEF LAFONTAINE'S HOUSE. In 1841 Chief Francis LaFontaine, of the Miamis, erected the substantial frame house here shown on the reserv- ation west of Huntington, Indiana. It is still occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Archangel Engelmann, her children and grandchildren. The house is located on the route of the Fort Wayne and North- ern Indiana traction line, directly oppo- site the clubhouse of the Huntington Country club, which organizaztion leases its tract from Mrs. Engelmann. The house is roomy, well furnished and a delightfully hospitable home.


thirty-one years. During most of this time, the organization was known as the City band. In 1902, when John L. Verweire assumed the leadership, the name was changed to the City Packard band; latterly, it was known as the Packard band, but since its connection with the order of Elks it has been called the Elks' band.


Notable among the earlier musical organizations were the First Regiment band, organized in 1888 as a part of the First Artillery regiment, and afterward of the National Guard, and Gart Shober's band, which was disbanded in 1904.


Among the later musical organizations were the Citizens' band, B. Heller, director; Electrotechnic band, Gart Shober, director; Arion band, C. P. Draeger, director ; Boy Scouts' band, William D.


1840 1842


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Kyle, director; Indiana School band, B. J. Thompson, director ; Mystic Shrine band, John L. Verweire, director; Polish band, B. Celmer, director; Concordia College Military band, Paul Schuelke, director, and the Bowser band, D. A. Corey, director.


THE SECOND AND THIRD COURTHOUSES.


The builders of the first Allen county courthouse, in 1832, failed to provide a structure of enduring qualities. (See Chapter XXIV.) Already, it had been abandoned as unsafe for use. Therefore, on the 10th of September, 1841, the county agent was "authorized and re- quired to sell the Allen county courthouse to the highest bidder, the


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DR. HENRY P. AYRES.


. Dr. Ayres came from New Jersey to Fort Wayne in 1842 to practice medicine. Previous to entering upon the practice of his profession he spent some time as a teacher in Ohio. Among his pupils at that time was he who later became Bishop Luers, of the Fort Wayne diocese. Dr. Ayres was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church and a man of wide Christian influence. The portrait is from a photograph loaned by Mrs. James B. Harper, a niece.


JOHN B. DUBOIS.


"Squire" DuBois was one of the best- known men of his time in Fort Wayne. Active in the affairs of the period, he held the office of justice of the peace of Wayne township for many years. Dur- ing his earlier years he lived in the historic council house, on the present East Main street. The portrait is from a photograph loaned by George W Bourie.


building to be removed from the courthouse square in thirty days after sale." John Spencer was allowed $300 and the courthouse in ex- change for his own buildings, which had been erected on the court- house square at the present "transfer" corner. One of these was the original home of Colonel Spencer. During the existence of the old courthouse after it became unfit for use, a small, one-story frame building had been erected at the southeast corner of the square; it contained a court room and two offices. It has been termed Allen county's second courthouse. The builders were Benjamin Mason, Charles French and John Cocanour. In 1841 a further order caused the erection of a frame building at the northeast corner of the square for the accommodation of the treasurer and auditor. The clerk's office had been established on the northwest corner, in Colonel Spencer's former home, and the recorder's office and jail on the southwest corner. Samuel Edsall was the successful bidder in


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response to the request for estimates for the erection of a new court- house to occupy a central location in the square. This structure was not completed until 1847.


During a period of six years the court sessions were held in the temporary courthouse at the southeast corner of the public square. In 1847 the third courthouse-if the temporary structure may be included in the reckoning-was completed by Samuel Edsall, the contractor. The building was two stories in height, built of brick and surmounted with a steeple; it stood on the east side of the square and cost about $15,000. Acrobatic and other perform- ances were given in the court room by such traveling entertainers as came to the town. The place was yet without an amusement hall.


The condition of the buildings on the square, previous to the erection of this third courthouse, is reflected in a report of the grand jury of 1842, of which I. D. G. Nelson was the foreman :


"What are termed county buildings, in addition to the court- house and jail-if such they may be called-are a mass of worthless trash, unsafe and unfit depositories of public records. The court- house itself is comparatively a heap of ruins and the jail most essen- tially a nuisance. The only place in the county that can be obtained to hold court is a [Presbyterian] church used for religious worship, the privilege of which was granted with reluctance and is now about to be refused, and the county is likely to have a less suitable place, if possible, for holding court than it has for holding prisoners."


In connection with the passing of the original courthouse, an amusing incident, and one which might have been attended by tragic results, is related concerning Edward Griswold, who had contracted to raze the building. The cupola, or steeple, was first removed, leaving a square hole in the roof. Props were then arranged so that by the removal of a last binding stay the entire building would collapse. Mr. Griswold, so the story goes, failed to consider his own safety, and stood within the structure when the last prop was removed. The building came down with a crash. When the cloud of dust floated away it was found that the supposed victim happened to stand in the spot over which the roof dropped is such form as to allow his escape through the hole left by the re- moval of the cupola.


JUDGE WILLIAM POLK.


President William Henry Harrison, in recognition of the pa- triotic services of Judge William Polk, appointed him, in 1841, to serve at Fort Wayne as register of the land office. Judge Polk was at this time sixty-six years of age. He was a native of Virginia. As a boy, he, with his mother and three sisters, was captured by the Indians at their later home in Kentucky, and carried captive to Detroit, where they were held for an entire year before being allowed to return. Always with the memory of this experience before him, Polk gave his life to his country's service. He was with Wayne at the battle of Fallen Timber, and assisted in building the original Fort Wayne. He enlisted with General Harrison in 1811, and re- ceived severe wounds at the battle of Tippecanoe. As a member of the legislature and in other responsible positions of trust, he served well his state. He died in Fort Wayne in 1843.


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THE WAYNE GUARDS.


The year 1841 gave to Fort Wayne its first military organization, the Wayne Guards, if we may except the Fort Wayne Light Infan- try which had been summoned hastily to suppress the outbreak among the canal workers in 1834. The officers of the Guards were : Captain, S. C. Freeman ; first lieutenant, Henry Rudisill; second lieutenant, B. B. Stevens; ensign, Philo Rumsey ; first sergeant, R. McMullan; second sergeant, P. H. Oliver; third sergeant, T. B. Cocanour; fourth sergeant, Francis Aveline; first corporal, H. T. Dewey; second corporal, R. Chute; third corporal, S. M. Black; fourth corporal, E. Stapleford; standard bearer, Peter Kiser; clerk, Franklin P. Randall.


THE SECOND NEWSPAPER, THE TIMES.


In this year also was established Fort Wayne's second news- paper, the Times, founded by George W. Wood, who had disposed of his interests in the Sentinel to one of its founders, Thomas Tigar,


RT. REV. JULIAN BENOIT.


Born in France in 1808, Monseigneur Benoit came to America for the diocese of Vincennes in June, 1836, remained a short time at St. Mary's seminery, Balti- more, and was ordained a priest in 1837. After a brief period in southern Indiana and in Chicago, he came to Fort Wayne in 1840, secured valuable church prop- erty, and opened the first sisters' school in 1845. Although he made valuable personal investments in Fort Wayne lands and was counted as a man of wealth, he died with scarcely enough to purchase a pine coffin; all of his means had been used to upbuild the benevolent and educational institutions of the church. He visited Europe in 1841, 1865 and 1874. In 1847 he accom- panied the Miamis from their Indiana lands to their western reservation. In this same year, with the establishment of the diocese of Fort Wayne, he was appointed vicar general. In 1883, Pope Leo XIII gave him the purple and the title of monseigneur. His labors car- ried him to points throughout northern Indiana, and these journeys were made in large part on horseback. He was a man of benevolence and kindliness, be- loved by all who knew him. He died in Fort Wayne December 26, 1886.


MRS. ENGELMANN, DAUGHTER OF CHIEF LAFONTAINE.


Mrs. Archangel Engelmann, with her children and grandchildren, occupies the house erected in 1841 by her father, Chief Francis LaFontaine, on the Miami reservation west of Huntington, Indiana. Born in 1844, Mrs. Engelmann, with two elder sisters, was brought to Fort Wayne r at the age of three years and placed in the care of the Sisters of Providence, under whose instruction she remained for ten years. This training is reflected today in her culture and refinement, which has made her home a delightful place of entertainment. The mother of Mrs. Engelmann was Catherine, the daughter of Chief Richardville. She is the last of the line of Miami princesses of the Richardville stock, as Kil-so-quah was the last of the Little Turtle branch of the royal line. Mrs. Matilda Hender- son Wheelock, writing in the Indianapo- lis Star of August 22, 1909, says: "Older residents of Huntington remember Arch- angel LaFontaine as one of the hand- somest girls of the county, and the havoc wrought by this Indian belle in the hearts of the town's white swains is one of the traditions of the place." The hus- band of Mrs. Engelmann, now deceased, was a native of Germany. The portrait is from a photograph by Tobias, of Hunt- ington.


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in order to secure the funds to embark in the enterprise. Mr. Wood sold the Times to Henry W. Jones, who served as its editor until 1845. Mr. Wood afterward established a campaign paper called the People's Press, which later was merged with the Times. Subse- quent publishers of the paper were T. N. Hood, Warren H. Withers, George W. Wood and John W. Dawson.


ACTIVITIES OF 1840.


Bernard O'Connor (born in Ireland in 1820), builder of the first telegraph line in America-that extending between Baltimore and Washington-promoted by Henry O'Reilly and his associates, settled in Fort Wayne. Other citizens who came during the year were Frederick Graffe (born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1809), cabinet maker and merchant ; Patrick S. O'Rourke (born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1830), superintendent of the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad; Henry Schone (born in Germany, in 1813), mer- chant ; Oliver Blystone, Louis Aman, A. Oppenheimer, John Greer and Herman Nierman, active and enterprising men; Moses Jenkin- son (born in Cincinnati, in 1810), attorney and legislator, and Bernard Trentman (born in Hanover, Germany, in 1816), wholesale grocer. An interesting incident-one which pictures the perils of the times-is given in connection with the coming of Daniel Nestel to Fort Wayne. Mr. Nestel was the father of the midgets, Charles and Eliza Nestel, known throughout the world as "Commodore Foote" and "The Fairy Queen." Mr. Nestel was a native of Carlsbronn, Prussia, born in 1818. When he arrived at New York he had eight cents of his money left. He walked nearly the entire distance to Fort Wayne, accompanied by Fred Foellinger, who had come with him from Europe. When within about thirty miles of Fort Wayne the young men camped for the night, after having walked all day with no food but unripe nuts found in the woods. The wolves prowled about them, and, fearing they might be destroyed, Mr. Nestel carved these words in the bark of a small tree : "D. Nestel and Fred Foellinger, died from hunger and eaten by wolves." The sentiment of the "epitaph," like many another, failed to record the facts, for the wanderers found themselves alive the next morning and managed to reach the town. For twenty-six years Mr. Nestel was a blacksmith in Fort Wayne, and later traveled with his son and daughter. The following county officers were elected in 1840: Auditor, Philip G. Jones; treasurer, George F. Wright; sheriff, Joseph Berkey; recorder, Robert E. Fleming; surveyor, S. M. Black; commissioners, Christian Parker, R. Stark- weather and H. B. Wright. J. W. Wright, of Logans- port, was elected judge of the circuit court. The associate judges during his period of service were Nathaniel Coleman, Marshall S. Wines and J. H. McMahon ; Lucien P. Ferry and William H. Coombs served as prosecuting attorneys. In November Samuel Stophlet succeeded Reuben J. Dawson as judge of the probate court. Excitement during the presidential campaign ran high. William Henry Harrison received 640 votes in Allen county as against 399 for Martin Van Buren A new and short-lived industry came into existence in 1840-the culture of silk. After many citizens had entered extensively into the venture, it was found


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