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 42

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 42


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One of the most important through lines of packets established on the canal was that of Samuel Doyle and William Dickey, oper- ating eleven boats and one steam propeller. D. F. Comparet oper- ated six boats and two steamers. The first steam-propelled boat, the "Niagara," was built for William Doyle at a cost of $10,000. It proved to be a financial failure.


The rates for conveying freight established in 1843 were as follows: Flour, pork, lard, bacon and meats, not exceeding 100 miles, 71/2 mills per mile, for 1,000 pounds; for each mile in addition, not exceeding 200 miles, 5 mills ; for each mile over 200 miles, 3 mills. On corn, rye, oats, barley and buckwheat, not exceeding 100 miles, 3 mills per mile per 1,000 pounds; for each mile exceeding 100, 2 mills per mile.


A picture of a phase of the life of the town in the early forties is given by John W. Dawson, in his "Charcoal Sketches." Says he :


THE HEDEKIN HOUSE.


In the years 1843 and 1844, Michael Hedekin built the Hedekin house, the up- per floors of which are yet used as a hotel, while the lower floor is devoted to retail business purposes. It stands on the east side of Barr street, between Co- lumbia and Main streets. Calvin An- derson became the first landlord, in 1846. Among the earlier lessees and owners of the place were J. Johnson, J. J. Knox, J. C. Gaylord, Ely Kerns, H. J. H. Mills, Mr. Wolf, Avery Freeman, Mr. Denni- son, Edward Purcell and Jacob Swaidner. The Hedekin house, a famous hotel of its time, stands as a reminder of the days of the stage coach and the canal packet.


HENRY LOTZ, FORT WAYNE'S THIRD MAYOR.


Mr. Lotz, upon the resignation of Jo- seph Morgan, was elected as Fort Wayne's third mayor, in 1843; he was re- elected in 1844. He was a prominent con- tractor and builder, one of the products of his hands being the first canal aque- duct to span the St. Mary's river in Fort Wayne. Mayor Lotz came to Fort Wayne from New Berlin, Pa. The por- trait is from an oil painting in the pos- session of the grandaughter of Mr. Lotz, Mrs. James B. Harper.


369


. THE GREAT CANAL CELEBRATION


,1843


"Behind the buildings which front on Columbia street was a space between them and the canal which was called 'the Dock,' and there all boats landed and received and discharged freight and passengers, and to 'the Dock' people resorted for pleasure and business. The boat horn announced the arrival and the departure of the packets, and it was a sweet sound to us who were locked in by swamps and distances."


To this picture we add a comment of the late David H. Cole- rick :


"And with what pleasure did we frequently repair to the dock on her [the Indiana's] arrival (an event of no small interest to us isolated beings) which was always heralded by the clarionet and violin of Ed Parker and Bill Patchin, employes, as the boat emerged from the aqueduct and rounded the bend west of town. Sweeter music I think I never heard than these two men made."


The early success of the canal brought into being many thriving towns, such as Lewisburg, Georgetown, Americus, Lockport and Pittsburgh-all located within a day's canal-ride of Fort Wayne -- towns of great promise, with prosperous warehouses and mills. All of these went down with the collapse of the canal. Others, more fortunate, were Huntington, Wabash, Lafayette, Logansport, Cov- ington and Delphi, which, although they owed their impetus largely to the canal, were saved, either by the coming of the railroad or their grasp upon other sources of strength to preserve their civic existence.


The canal gave to Fort Wayne its first daily mail service. As the result of a meeting held in 1843 at the Spencer house, over which Samuel Hanna presided, and S. C. Newton acted as secretary, with L. S. Chittenden, Jesse L. Williams and Hugh McCulloch as speakers, the canal towns secured one mail each day between Lafay- ette and Toledo.


HENRY LOTZ, MAYOR.


The voters, in the spring of 1843, chose as their mayor, Henry Lotz,1 a prominent contractor. It was he who built the aqueduct across St. Mary's river at a site between the present Nickel Plate railway bridges in Fort Wayne.


.


One of the interesting ordinances passed by the city council of 1843 fixed a penalty "for riding or driving any horse faster than an ordinary gait of traveling, except when going for a physician when some person is thought to be dangerously ill." A penalty was also prescribed for "riding or driving into any store, grocery, house, shop or other building, excepting barns and stables," or other places intended for the use of horses.


An ordinance proposed by Hugh McCulloch was adopted to pacify many irate citizens. It provided that the people might allow their swine to roam at will, but that no citizen should allow more than two to thus wander over the city streets and private property.


RURAL HIGHWAYS.


In 1843, at a meeting at the Spencer house, over which Samuel Hanna presided and S. C. Newton acted as secretary, committees were appointed to confer with like committees from DeKalb, Noble,


-


370


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


Whitley, Lagrange, Kosciusko and Wells counties, to solicit sub- scriptions for the building of the Bluffton, Lima, Goshen, Yellow River, Piqua, Winchester, Van Wert and Huntington roads, and active steps were soon taken to construct these highways which have ever since contributed in great measure to the upbuilding of the city. The Mongoquinong road was completed in 1843 by William Mitchell.


THE FIRST DAGUERREOTYPES.


The new photographic method of producing images on silver- coated metallic plates known as the daguerreotype, named for its discoverer, was introduced into Fort Wayne in 1843.


A Mr. Keith was the first to open a studio. J. L. Hubbell, a second daguerreotype artist, came in the same year. The first man to conduct a permanent "gallery" was a Polander, who called him- self Colonel Tellagher; he occupied quarters at the Hedekin house.


"He was rather an eccentric genius," observed one of the news- papers of a later date, "and did not hesitate to make savage criti- cism of the women of Fort Wayne, who, he said, were the ugliest he ever saw, but who, at the same time, wanted very handsome pictures. In spite of the wishes of the fair customers, his camera would tell the truth, and he couldn't help it." Other early daguer- reotype artists were B. G. Cosgrove, C. T. Cornwell, Yearless Day and Archibald McDonald. The latter came in 1850, and later re- moved to Canada.


"JOHNNIE APPLESEED" (JOHN CHAPMAN).


The year 1843 brought to a close the life of one of the most unique and widely known characters in the pioneer life of the mid- dle west-"Johnnie Appleseed"-whose true name was John Chap- man. To the memory of this man a tablet was placed in Swinney park, Fort Wayne, in May, 1916, and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies.


In 1801, in advance of the settlers, John Chapman, then twenty- six years of age, appeared at the head of the Ohio river, with a canoe laden with appleseeds procured from the cider mills of West- ern Pennsylvania. With these, he planted orchards in the wilder- ness, on any suitable vacant land, and in this manner entered upon the years of work which attached to him the name of "Johnnie Appleseed." A sister, Persis Chapman-Broom, lived in Jay county, Indiana, and to her home Chapman came frequently, and nearly as often did he come to Fort Wayne where he was welcomed to many of the homes of the time.


Hiram Porter, of St. Joe township, ninety years of age, with perfect memory of the pioneer orchardist, said to the writer in October, 1916:


"I have a clear recollection of this man who, as I recall it, was commonly called Tapman. He frequently stayed at our home, al- ways refusing the comforts of a bed and choosing rather to lie on the floor before the fireplace. At one time, I wrote a letter for him, directed to a man in Pennsylvania, ordering a half bushel of apple- seeds, which were received by him some time afterwards. He was a man of many peculiar ways. Never would he suffer anything to


1843


THE GREAT CANAL CELEBRATION


371


JOHN CHAPMAN- JOHNNIE APPLESEED DE


THE DAVID ARCHER BURYING GROUND


After an old woodret


Sketched Sept. 11 1913


Due John Oliver one hundred and fifty trees when he goes for them to force of my Nufsenyes on Mohocan waters


John Chapman


*NURSERIES


JOHNNIE APPLESEED, HIS HANDWRITING AND HIS BURIAL PLACE. John Chapman, known as "Johnnie Appleseed," died at the home of William Worth, near Fort Wayne, in 1843. "The historical account of his death and his burial by the Worths and their neighbors, the Pettits, the Goings, Porters, Note- stines, Beckets, Parkers, Witesides, Pechons, Hatfields, Parrants, Ballards, Rand- sells and the Archers, in the Archer burial ground, is substantially correct," wrote John Archer in 1900. "The common headboards used in those days long since have decayed and become entirely obliterated, and at this time I do not think that any person could, with any degree of certainty, come within fifty feet of locating the grave." The burying ground is located a few rods west of Stop 3, on the Robison park electric line. "Johnnie Appleseed" is the hero of many interesting works of fiction dealing with the story of his life, which was spent in planting apple trees throghout the wilderness of the middle west. The portrait and the fac simile of an order for apple trees are after engravings which accompanied an article by E. O. Randall in Vol. IX of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical society publications. A bronze tablet dedicated to the memory of Johnnie Appleseed was placed in Swinney park, Fort Wayne, in May, 1916.


372


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


be killed. A snake in his way would be allowed to escape in safety. In our home, where he partook of many a meal, he would not touch meat because he did not believe in taking the life of animals to provide food for human beings. Always he carried a testament, for, while he had difficulty in reading, he listened to the Scriptures as they were read to him. If he stubbed his toe while walking along the pathway, he would stop and remove his shoe and walk barefoot


in order to punish the foot for not performing its duty.


about three miles out of Fort Wayne on the Leo road. At one time, "I recall that he planted a number of trees on the Blake farm


I duly screwed your anudation to attend the celebration of the completion of the Waback and Ersan Canal , on Hh 4 . of the beast mouth , and 'I should be sont happy to afreak on the cusmances of ane want , which reflechi . Is much komor on the enterfrage of the States of This and Indian . But I August that I cannot leave home at this bary season of the year , the growing crops on my fason hung very much behoud , in consequence of the exchannaly unfavorable Spuren , which we have just passed


Aaccept Gentleman my respalfal ach one hdy mond


for your delaying convocation , and my worker that the proposed


celebration may ready all your exqueet al com


C.


WHY HENRY CLAY COULD NOT ATTEND THE CANAL CELEBRATION.


Attention to "the growing crops" on the Virginia farm of Henry Clay prevented his acceptance of the invitation to attend the canal celebration at Fort Wayne. "I duly received your invitation to attend the cele- bration of the completion of the Wabash and Erie canal, on the 4th of next month," he wrote to the com- mittee, "and I should be most happy to assist In the ceremonies of an event, which reflects so much honor on the enterprize of the states of Ohio and Indiana. But I regret I cannot leave home at this busy season of the year, the growing crops on my farm being very much behind, in consequence of the extremely unfavorable spring which we have just passed. Accept, gentlemen," he continued, "my respectful acknowledgment of your The obliging invitation, and my wishes that the proposed celebration may realize all your expectations." original letter is owned by Mrs. Clark Fairbank.


373


THE GREAT CANAL CELEBRATION


1843


he helped my father to transplant about fifteen or twenty apple trees from this place to our farm on the Coldwater road. He planted a great number of small orchards. Many of these extended along the Wabash river and even over into Illinois."


He died on the 11th of March, 1843, at the home of William Worth, and the body, placed in a plain board coffin, was interred in the Archer burying ground. Mr. Porter accompanied his parents and witnessed the burial. The exact location of the burial spot was forgotten and it remained unknown until 1912 when the remains, together with a fragment of the box, were discovered while digging a grave. They were replaced, and the second body was placed directly above them. The Archer burying ground is a small piece of ground located at "Stop 3" on the electric line running between Fort Wayne and Robison park.


The late George W. Brackenridge, speaking of "Johnnie Apple- seed," said :


"He was simply clad; in truth, like a beggar. His fine features, seen through the gray stubble that covered his face (for he cut his hair and beard with scissors-yet he was not a Nazarite) told of his intelligence. He was serious; his speech was clean, free from slang or profanity. He must have had money, but he never exhibited any or looked as if he had any. For undershirts, he wore coffee sacks. If he did not find 'his affinity in heaven, he was disappointed."


ACTIVITIES OF 1843.


The opening of the Wabash and Erie canal brought hundreds of pioneers to the thriving young city. Among these were John Hough, Jr. (born in Middlebury, Vermont, in 1818), attorney and leader in many public enterprises; John Orff (born in Bavaria, in 1821), merchant and miller; Nathaniel P. Stockbridge (born in Freeport, Maine, in 1821), who purchased the D. W. Burroughs book store and continued in business for thirty-eight years ; Horace Durvey, who founded the hardware house which later became the establishment of Morgan and Beach; Josiah King (born in Quebec, in 1834), John Jones (born in Wales, in 1835), W. B. Felt (born in New York, in 1823), Peter Bobay (born in France, in 1838), George W. Linden (born in New York, in 1828), and Thomas Tiernan (born in Waddington, New York, in 1828), who entered earnestly into the life of the town, and Dr. Lewis Beecher, physician and druggist. Among the industrial and commercial enterprises launched during 1843 were the tannery of Henry Work and Samuel Hanna on the north side of the canal west of Barr street; the flouring mill of Hamilton and Wines, on the canal; the linseed oil mill of Henry Rudisill and Henry Wolke; the large flouring and grist mill of Samuel Edsall, on the St. Mary's river, and the canal, known also as the Empire or "stone mill," and later as the Orff mill, and the cooper shop of Ball and Johnson. W. S. Edsall was named as register of the canal land office. The county commis- sioners purchased from Samuel Hanna the west half of the site of the present Anthony hotel on which the county jail was erected ; the price was $500. . In 1843, Dr. Lewis G. Thompson and others inaugurated the movement which resulted, in 1875, in the formation of a Universalist church. Among the ministers who as-


374


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


sisted in the organization were Erasmus Manford, who visited the


city in 1843; J. M. Day, W. J. Chaplin and M. Crossley. The con-


gregation disbanded in the early eighties.


Thomas Tigar,


in 1843, established the first German newspaper, Der Deutsche


Beobachter von Indiana, with Dr. Charles A. Schmitz as editor.


The enterprise was abandoned because of lack of support.


As the result of a redistricting of the state of Indiana, Allen county


The Memee joined to the Wabash ! Lake Erie Connecter with the Ghan & the Infrisiffin! New - York I New Orleans , rival in arbets for the products of a vask portion of the nos fertake Werk; with easy & rapid communication to either ! Certainly , you are very right in reporcip in this Event , as a " new I Glorious Era in the history of the West.


Dobreliter


DANIEL WEBSTER'S TRIBUTE TO THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL.


Among the letters received by the invitation committee of the celebration of the opening of the


Wabash and Erie canal, in 1843, was that from Daniel Webster, from which the above fac-simile extract is taken. The original letter is owned by Mrs. Clark Fairbank.


375


1843


THE GREAT CANAL CELEBRATION


became a portion of the Tenth congressional district in 1843. An- drew Kennedy, of Muncie, won the contest for re-election to con- gress, over Dr. L. G. Thompson, by a majority of 260, although Dr. Thompson carried the county by 83 votes. On October 7, Fort Wayne lodge, No. 14, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted by Grand Master John Green. The charter members were Benjamin Saunders, James McClelland, James P. Munson, Peter Rodenbaugh, Joseph Stamford and S. C. Newton. James P. Munson was elected noble grand and Joseph Stamford vice grand. Beginning November 17, 1842, and continuing until April 1, 1843, the weather maintained such a low temperature that snow remained without a thaw during the entire period. "On the 1st of April," said the late Franklin P. Randall, "Judge McCulloch, Major Edsall and I drove on the canal from Defiance to this city, and the ice was as solid as it had been at any time during the winter." Samuel Bigger, attorney, who had served as governor of Indiana, elected over General T. A. Howard, on a platform which declared for public improvements, became a resident of Fort Wayne in 1843. Former Governor Bigger died in 1846. His body was interred in the cemetery which is the McCulloch park of today. When the bodies were removed from this place to Lindenwood, Governor Bigger's remains were left in the original grave. In 1877, Colonel R. S. Robertson made an unsuccessful attempt to secure legislative action to re-inter the body. The grave was covered with a slab of Dayton stone, 31/2 by 7 feet in size. A footstone at that time lay upon the ground near by. The headstone, which has since dis- appeared, was still standing. It bore the inscription, "Samuel Bigger, late Governor of the State, died September 9, 1846, in the forty-fifth year of his age. A Patriot and Christian, he died in the full hope of a glorious immortality."


NOTE ON CHAPTER XXIX.


(1) Minor city officials elected and appointed in 1845 were: Clerk, William Lytle; treasurer, Oliver W. Jefferds; attorney, Lucien P. Ferry; engineer, Ochmig Bird; fire chief, John Coch- rane; marshal and collector, James Crumley; street commissioner, William Stewart; wood measurer, Washington DeKay; assessor, William Rockhill;


councilmen, Franklin P. Randall, Hugh McCulloch, Lysander Williams, J. B. Cocanour, P. H. Taylor, M. W. Hubbell. The board of health was composed of Drs. Charles A. Schmitz, Lewis Beecher and H. P. Ayres. The board of county commissioners consisted of Nelson Mc- Lain, F. D. Lasselle and James Hall.


CHAPTER XXX-1844-1845.


The Miamis, "Hunted Like Wild Animals," Taken to the West.


Flooded conditions in the spring of 1844-The "Post" and the "Orwick"- The first land drainage-The removal of the remnants of the Miami nation to the western reservations-"The trail of death"-Savages taken through Fort Wayne on canal boats-Deplorable scenes-Whiskey destroys the lives of many-The favored chiefs-Richardville "plays safe"-John M. Wallace, mayor-William Stewart, postmaster-The Presbyterian Acad- emy-The first Catholic school.


T HE EXCEPTIONALLY heavy rains of the spring of 1844 broadened the rivers to the extent of flooding vast areas of the lowlands, but the damage by floods in the earlier years of the history of the town consisted more in its inter- ruption of trade than in actual injury to the property of the people. A word picture of conditions is drawn by the late William B. Walter, from Emmettsburg, Maryland, a teacher who came to the town in 1844. Says Mr. Walter in his "Four Books in One," published in 1894 :


"We came by means of the canal from Toledo during a June freshet, when all the rivers of this section had spread out and covered the land so as to look like lakes. Mud on the towpath [of the canal] was knee deep in places, and the same may be said of Columbia street, which was then the principal street. We stopped at the Washington Hall, kept by old Mr. Timmons. This hotel, and a brick house called the 'Post,' at or near where Ash's stove store is now, together with the 'Orwick,' afterward the Spencer house opposite the public square, were the only places where a square meal could be had."


An interesting story of the finding of a skeleton in the base- ment of this old "Post House." mentioned by Mr. Walter, has come down through the years. John W. Dawson, in his "Charcoal Sketches," describes the place as a large brick building located on the north side of East Columbia street, about midway between Calhoun and Clinton streets, occupied by James Post, an old citizen, and was long known and still remembered (in 1860) as the "Post House."


L


The finding of the skeleton in later years brought to mind the disappearance of a land buyer, bound for the west, who stopped at the "Post House," and who was known to have had a large amount of money on his person when he came to the town. The skeleton when unearthed had a large nail driven through the eye socket. All persons who had been connected with the hotel had long since removed to the west, and no attempt was made to solve the mystery of the skeleton in the cellar.


376


377


MIAMIS TAKEN TO THE WEST


1844 1845


THE FIRST LAND DRAINAGE.


Mr. Walter's reference to the flooded condition of the neighbor- hood suggests the prevalence of swamps in some portions of the region, notably that to the southwest of Fort Wayne. Today, these sections are converted into vast fertile areas, due, largely to the enterprise and confidence of I. D. G. Nelson, who, in 1844, sought the co-opcration of Samuel Lillie who was at that time making earthenware products. It is related that Mr. Nelson, who had proven the efficacy of drains by using hollowed-out logs, proposed to Mr. Lillie the plan of manufacturing tiling. The latter declared his financial inability to turn his attention from the making of a product which the people would buy to the manufacture of a line of goods of an uncertain demand. Mr. Nelson thereupon offered to provide the money to enter upon the manufacture of drainage tiling, and agreed to receive his repayment in the finished product. Thus was introduced the system of land drainage which had reclaimed a large section of Allen county and made it a garden spot of the middle west.


THE FORCIBLE EJECTION OF THE INDIANS.


The lands in Indiana had been gradually passing from the hands of the Indians into the possession of the whites, until, in the early forties there was little left to the red man to remind him of the hunting grounds of his fathers. The time now came for the forcible removal of the savages to their reservations beyond the Mississippi, chiefly in Kansas. The stories of this period are depressing in the extreme, viewed from any point of consideration.


The popularity of President Jackson in the west was due largely to the measures he had taken to pursue the policy based on the belief that the Indians and the whites could never live peace- ably together. In 1820, the Delawares were taken to their western reservations. The national congress, responding to the appeal of the Indiana legislature to extinguish the Indian titles to all lands in the state, required the Pottawattomies to cede to the Unied States government the last of their holdings, consisting of about 6,000,000 acres. Later, the Miamis, through Colonel A. C. Pepper, the Indian agent, sold all but a small portion of their reservations to the na- tional government. In the fall of 1837, George H. Prophet, of Petersburg, and General John Tipton gathered seven hundred of the remnant of the savages and superintended their removal. The route to the west has been called "the trail of death," for many of the broken-hearted red men and their families perished on the way.


In 1823, under the terms of a treaty at St. Mary's, Ohio, August 1, 1844, had been designated as the time when all of the remaining members of the Miami nation should be taken west in a body under government escort ; but it was found, when the day arrived, that very few had made any preparation to leave. The Miami reservation ex- tended south from the southwestern corner of Allen county and included a large portion of Howard, Wells, Huntington, Wabash, Grant and Miami counties. The reluctance of the Indians to comply with the terms of the treaty delayed the departure over two years. The government found it necessary to send troops to the west under Captain Jouett, "a thoroughgoing, prompt, energetic old soldier-


378


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


CLEARANCE NO. 148


FROM FORT WAYNE. COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, May ?


1045


s. 2. Werdep


Master of bost Jan Juk toup of og am half


do houby onufy that the following is a fuit and une statement of the cargo of said boat on which Toll has not been paid, vie :




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