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 44

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 44


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D ISTANT rumbles of impending war with Mexico penetrated to the middle west and the young men of Fort Wayne listened with expectancy for the call to arms. Martial music filled the air when the newly-organized Fairfield's band, with John Fairfield, Charles Edwards, James Humbert, Steven Sythers and David Lunsford, equipped with fifes and drums, ap- peared on parade.


The call was not long delayed, and Allen county, drawing its volunteers from the town and the busy farming district, was soon ready to send its first two companies of volunteers, in 1846, followed by a third in 1847. In the spring of 1846, Company F, under Captain D. W. Lewis, and Company I, under Captain John McLain, were ordered to report at New Albany, Indiana, on the Ohio river. On June 16th the untried soldiers formed in marching order and, led by Fairfield's band, proceeded to a spot on the canal five miles east of town, known as the lower dock. Accompanying the soldiers were nearly all of the residents of the town. The horse-drawn boats were soon out of sight of the parents and friends, who returned to their homes to await news of the adventures of the young volunteers.


The entire trip from Fort Wayne to Mexico was made by water. The canal boats carried the troops to the Ohio river ; steamboats were used from there to New Orleans, and the remaining distance was covered by the use of sailing vessels. Both companies were assigned to the First regiment of Indiana volunteers, under command of Colonel James P. Drake. The service of the first two companies in Mexico was arduous in the extreme, because of long and needless marches, unsanitary camp conditions and the prevalence of disease. Nine men of one company and several in the other were either killed by sharpshooters or died of fever. Many were discharged for disability. The remnant reached home in June of 1847. The third organization, Company K, under command of Captain Lewis, was mustered into the service in January, 1847, and did guard duty in the neighborhood of Vera Cruz. This company returned in 1848.


The officers of the Allen county companies which served in the Mexican war were: Company I: Captain, John McLain; first lieutenant, Thomas Lewis; second lieutenants, Charles Colerick, George Humphrey. Company F: Captain, David W. Lewis; first lieutenant, Brad B. Stevens ; second lieutenants, Samuel H. Chapman, 388


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TROOPS TO MEXICO-COLLEGES


1846 1847


William Hunter; first sergeant, David W. Magee; sergeants, John Keiser, Peter McGowan, Daniel Edgerly ; corporals, William Trude, David Eades, Abijah A. Cox, Moses U. Ross. Company K: Captain, David W. Lewis; first lieutenant, Thomas K. Lewis; second lieuten- ants, John B. Sawtelle, Ira G. Williamson; first sergeant, Joseph H. Weaks; sergeants, George A. Gorman, Albert U. West, Luther M. Swartout; corporals, James Barter, David C. Coleman, John P. Bales, Israel Horner.


THE METHODIST COLLEGE.


While some of her young men were sent to the front to fight for their country, Fort Wayne took two important forward steps in 1846 to provide to the greater body of the youth of the middle west the convenient means of attaining an education. In this year, the foundation was laid for the great work of the Fort Wayne Methodist college and for the primitive institution of learning which developed into the Concordia college of today.


For some time previous to 1846 many of the public-spirited peo- ple of Fort Wayne had been working in sympathy with the Northern Indiana Methodist Episcopal conference to establish in Fort Wayne a great institution of learning. At the session of the conference held at Laporte, Indiana, in September, the initial steps were taken, followed by an enthusiastic and decisive meeting of citizens at Fort Wayne. As a result of this session, over which Samuel Bigger, for- mer governor of Indiana, presided, it was determined to establish the Fort Wayne Female college without delay on grounds donated by William Rockhill at the end of West Wayne street, facing College street, as the thoroughfare was afterward known.


On the occasion of this meeting David H. Colerick, John W. Dawson and George Johnson drafted resolutions pledging the co- operative interest of the legal fraternity, and a committee composed of Samuel Edsall, P. H. Taylor and William Rockhill was named to prepare the building plans. Other participants in the meeting of organization were Samuel Hanna, John Hough, Jr., Rev. Mr. Bay- less, Rev. Mr. Dickson, Hugh McCulloch, P. P. Bailey, J. B. Hanna,


State of Indiana, Allen County, City of Fort Wayne, ss. To Any


Constable of said City, GREETING:


You are hereby commanded to summon


to appear before me Menhans-HH Husband day of Any ust 184 € at


Mayor of said city, at my office. on the


Dilas Bland


o'clock M. on said day, to answer


of a plea of Grifpap


damages not exceeding


dollars:


and of this summons make due service and return.


Giren under my hand and scal, this 15. day of August 184 €


{ SEAL >


MAYOR.


AN ORDER FROM MAYOR HUXFORD'S COURT.


The above summons issued by Mayor Merchant W. Huxford, in 1846, com- manding "any constable of said city" to bring into his presence an offender for trespass against Silas Hand, probably was never served, as it fails to bear the name of the alleged culprit. The original is loaned by the daughter of Doctor Huxford, Mrs. Frances Baldwin.


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


Henry J. Rudisill, Hugh Miller, Rev. Mr. Boyd, Benjamin Mason, G. R. Hartman, Thomas Hamilton and J. K. Edgerton. The cornerstone was laid June 19, 1847.


Dr. Alexander C. Huestis served as the first president of the Methodist college. Succeeding him came G. H. Rounds, Cyrus Mc- Nutt, S. T. Gillett, Samuel Brenton, R. D. Robinson, W. F. Hemen- way, J. B. Robinson, W. F. Yokum, H. N. Herrick and Dr. C. B. Stemen. In the beginning, the institution admitted young ladies only, but in 1852, a separate school, the Fort Wayne Collegiate Institute, was organized for young men. The two schools soon united under the name of the Fort Wayne College, commonly called the Methodist College. In 1854, two hundred and fifty-six students were enrolled, ninety-seven of whom were young men. The faculty at that time consisted of Rev. Samuel Brenton, Rev. R. D. Robinson, Rev. J. A. Beswick, Miss Maria Freeman, Miss Julia C. Steele, Miss Isabel Kilgore and Rev. D. P. Hartman. The graduates from the female department of the college, in 1854, were Mary F. Wood, Margaret A. Hartman, Adeline E. Leonard, Cornelia B. Meharry, Nancy E. Bryan, Mary Barnes, Sarah Holloway, Hannah C. Todd, Julia A. Brenton, Louisa W. Cooper, Sarah A. Thompson and Eliza- beth J. Morgan. To the earnest regret of the people of Fort Wayne of today this school, which became a powerful factor in the educa- tional work of the middle west, was allowed in later years to suc- cumb beneath the weight of debt. The site of the extensive campus is now a handsome residence section of the city, and all traces of the college long since have been effaced except in the hearts of its many students and friends who remain.


The institution is now known as Taylor university, having as its seat the town of Upland, Indiana.


DR. B. S. WOODWORTH.


Dr. Woodworth became a resident of Fort Wayne in 1846, and during the re- mainder of his active life was one of the city's most progressive men. Born at Liecester, Mass., in 1816, Dr. Wood- worth settled at Providence, Ohio, be- fore entering upon the practice of medi- cine at Fort Wayne.


CALVIN ANDERSON.


In 1846 Calvin Anderson came to Fort Wayne to take charge of the celebrated Hedekin house. In 1855 Mr. Anderson engaged in the grocery business and continued in this line until the time of his death. The portrait is from a photo- graph loaned by a daughter, Mrs. George W. Ely.


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TROOPS TO MEXICO-COLLEGES


1846 1847


BEGINNINGS OF CONCORDIA COLLEGE.


The Lutherans of America, because of Fort Wayne's growth in power in the affairs of the church, selected the Indiana town as the seat of an important theological institution known as the Fort Wayne Lutheran Male Academy. Rev. William Loehe, of Bavaria, a churchman of means, gave of his influence to the choice of the Fort Wayne site.


In August, eleven students from Germany, under the care of Carl August Roebbelen, a theological graduate, reached Fort Wayne. Rev. Dr. William Sihler, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, gave the school much attention, with Prof. Roebbelen as his assistant. The first regular professor in charge was Rev. A. Wolter. Successors to Rev. Mr. Wolter include Prof. Adolph Biewend and Prof. August Craemer. The first building, which stood on the present Concordia college site, consisted of four rooms.


Fourteen years later-in 1860-this institution was removed to St. Louis, and, in its stead, came Concordia college, transferred from the Missouri metropolis to the growing town on the canal.


Although I have been here 12 days I am not near through with my business yet . I have a greater practice in the Supreme Court than any other lawyer in the state. And although this is my birthday I have hardly the time to write you a letter.


I hope you will keep The boys at home, and prevent them from going to the canal river or Edsall's mill. I bought them another set of little bookswhich I will bring them.


you must Keep Edward at home and not let him go down street among the Indians: I am your loving husband Henry Cooper


EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTERS OF A PROMINENT PIONEER LAWYER.


Three fragments of letters written at Indianapolis by Henry Cooper to his wife, about the year 1846, are reproduced from the originals in the possession of Mr. Cooper's son, William P. Cooper. "The boys" referred to in the extracts were. Edward B. Cooper, who became a prominent business man and a city official of New Orleans, and James Henry Cooper, a fleet captain in the Lee line of packet boats plying between St. Louis and New Orleans; later this son was a member of the important shipping firm of Cooper, Howard & Co., of Memphis, Tenn.


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


The members of the faculty who came to Fort Wayne in 1861, in company with seventy-eight students, were Professors Schick, Saxer, Lance and Kleppisch. The growth of the school has been substantial and continuous, until, today, it stands pre-eminent among the Luth- eran educational institutions of America. Dr. Martin Luecke is the honored head of the college.


THE HEDEKIN HOUSE.


The widely-known Hedekin house, one of the best of the early places of entertainment in the middle west, was erected during 1843 and 1844 by Michael Hedekin. Still standing, it is used for commercial and hotel purposes. The building is located on the east side of Barr street, between Columbia and Main streets. Beginning with 1846, Calvin Anderson served as its landlord, and his extended administration was marked by the absence of a bar for the sale of liquors. On the occasion of the opening of the hotel a grand military ball, one of the memorable social events of the period, was given, with the Silver Greys, a crack Detroit military organization, in at- tendance. Mr. Anderson was a native of Manchester, Vermont, born in 1803. In his later years he was a successful merchant.


DR. M. W. HUXFORD, MAYOR.


The voters re-elected John M. Wallace as the city's chief execu- tive in the spring of 1845, but on the 8th of May, the mayor resigned his office. Dr. Merchant W. Huxford1 was elected to fill the place.


THE DECLINE OF THE CANAL.


Comes now the story of the decline of the great Wabash and Erie canal. Outwardly, an air of prosperity brightened the activi- ties of a people filled with a vision of a glowing future. But the state was conscious of a burden of debt on account of its lavish program of public improvements, a condition made more painfully impressive by the appearance of Charles Butler, of New York, who came to press the claims of the American and British bondholders. "It is really amazing," he wrote to his wife, "to see what a paralysis hangs over the people." In the face of the financial difficulties, the state issued white paper scrip based on the canal lands east of Lafayette, which became generally known as "white dog," while the terms "blue dog" and "blue pup," the latter a fractional currency, were applied to colored scrip issued on the canal lands west of Lafayette. Various "promises to pay," both public and private, with depre- ciated values, were in general circulation. The word "dog" came into nse in this connection as Indiana's companion phrase to "wild- cat," which had been adopted in Michigan as descriptive of the depreciated currency of that state.


"My first notice of it [ the canal scrip] was when I was employed in the commission house of Comparet and Kiser," wrote A. C. Com- paret, in 1902. "A man with a yoke of cattle drove up and bought a barrel of flour, and handed me five dollars in scrip. We rolled it onto his cart and he pulled out. Kiser soon returned from an absence from the store, and I handed him the bill I had received. He said, 'We cannot sell flour for white dog!' using the nickname. Kiser started out and overtook the man on Berry street and got


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TROOPS TO MEXICO-COLLEGES


1846 1847


other money for his flour. The 'white dog' was worth only forty cents on the dollar."


By the summer of 1847, the voices of the creditors of the state of Indiana, demanding the payment of their dues, mingled with the rumble of the approaching locomotive, sounded the doom of the canal. In 1846, the legislature had passed the Butler bill, providing for the payment of the state's debts and the placing of the canal under the control of a board of trustees composed of Charles Butler as presi- dent, Jesse L. Williams, chief engineer, and J. Ball, of Terre Haute, resident engineer.


In 1862, the state made a contract with a Fort Wayne company composed of A. P. Edgerton, Hugh McCulloch and Pliny Hoagland to maintain the central portion. The plan failed, as, also, did the proposal of a company of three hundred and seventy-nine business men to finance the waterway until 1878. The canal was practically abandoned in 1874.


GOVERNOR BIGGER AND HIS GRAVE IN M'CULLOCH PARK.


An unmarked, horizontal slab in an unfrequented portion of one of Fort Wayne's public recreation spots-McCulloch park-marks the resting place of the mortal remains of former Governor Samuel Bigger. Born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1802, Samuel Bigger received his education at Athens university and began his career as a lawyer at Lebanon, Ohio. He removed to Indiana and practiced law in Union and Rush counties. In 1834 he was elected a member of the legislature from the latter county, and at a later date became the president judge of the circuit court, a position he held until his election as governor of Indiana in 1840. He was a strong advocate of public improvements. Following his term in the governor's chair he removed to Fort Wayne and practiced law until his death in 1846. His remains were placed in the city cemetery and were not removed to Lindenwood at the time the cemetery was abandoned and con- verted into McCulloch park.


394


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


In July, 1875, after a bitterly contested hearing in the United States circuit court at Chicago, Judges Drummond and Davis issued a decree ordering the canal to be sold to satisfy the demands of the bondholders, and appointed Judge Gookins, of Terre Haute, as a commissioner to conduct the sale. The canal was sold in sections to investors, who made no attempt to operate it, although they received a good income for a time from water-power rentals. The section of the canal extending from the eastern boundary of Indiana to the lower locks at Lagro, in Wabash county, was purchased in the name of William Fleming for $44,500, though Mr. Fleming was joined by Oscar A. Simons, John H. Bass and others, and R. T. McDonald was latterly interested in the ownership. These men also secured the feeder canal. It was the design to use the feeder as a means of con- veying water to the city when the matter of waterworks first came up for consideration.


In 1881 the right of way of the canal was sold to the Nickel Plate railroad, and the last boat on the waterway was seen in 1882, when the water was drained out and the bed graded for the ties and rails of the east and west trunk line of the New York, Chicago and St. Louis road.


ACTIVITIES OF 1846.


An organization known as the Young Men's Literary Society, which later brought to the city some of America's most noted men and women and advanced by active work the educational welfare of the town, was brought into existence at a meeting over which L. S. Chittenden presided and John Hough, Jr., acted as secretary. Trinity English Lutheran church, with S. Cutshall and E. Rudisill, elders, and Henry Rudisill and C. Raugh, deacons, was organized.


SAMUEL BRENTON.


In 1849, Samuel Brenton, lawyer and preacher, was appointed register of the land office at Fort Wayne. He became the president of the Methodist college, but gave up the position to accept a term in congress, beginning in 1850. He was re-elected, and served until 1858. Mr. Brenton was strongly opposed to slavery.


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SAMUEL S. MORSS.


Mr. Morss was Fort Wayne's first town marshal, elected in 1840. Later he served as county auditor and member of the city council. His election as mayor of Fort Wayne in 1847, as a candidate of the "free" schools faction, was a hotly contested victory. The picture is from a photograph loaned by Mrs. Isaac d'Isay, a daughter.


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TROOPS TO MEXICO-COLLEGES


1846 1847


Rev. W. Albaugh served as the first pastor. Succeeding pastors of Trinity church were A. S. Bartholomew, W. P. Rathrauff, A. J. Kunkleman and Samuel Wagenhals. Rev. Dr. Wagenhals was called to the pulpit in 1868. Elza A. McMahon succeeded Robert L. Douglass as prosecuting attorney for the circuit court.


Christian Parker was elected state representative. County officers chosen were: Auditor, Henry W. Jones; treasurer, T. K. Brackenridge; recorder, Edward F. Colerick; coroner, Peter Tim- mons; surveyor, Henry J. Rudisill; school commissioner, Thomas DeKay; commissioners, Rufus McDonald, James S. Hamilton and Zeru Pattee. Among the prominent men who settled in Fort Wayne in 1846 were John G. Thieme (born in Saxony, in 1821), pioneer tailor; William Paul (born in Hanover, Germany, in 1824), canal boat captain and contractor; Christian Schiefer (born in Ham- burg, Germany, in 1829), pioneer shoe merchant; Christian Tresselt (born in Thuringin, Germany, in 1823), miller; Calvin Anderson, from Ohio, landlord of the Hedekin house, and his son, E. G. Ander- son, coffee and tea merchant; Frederick J. Beach (born in Berlin, in 1832), hardware merchant; Fred Altekruse, from Germany, Wil- liam Boone, from Ohio; David Brundige, from New York, and J. H. Neff, from Pennsylvania.


ACTIVITIES OF 1847.


New arrivals among the permanent citizenship in 1847 included Platt J. Wise (born in New York in 1815), county recorder and sheriff; Alexander C. Huestis (born in Perry, New York, in 1819), a prominent educator and wholesale merchant; J. F. W. Meyer (born in Holden, Westphalia, Germany, in 1824), who with his brother, established the extensive wholesale and retail drug house of Meyer Brothers Company; Moritz Axt, from Germany, a con- tractor ; Herman Wilkin, Henry Bullerman, Louis Scherer and Lud- wig Schlaudroff, from Germany; Elias Hire, from Elkhart, and E. J. Bulger and William Smith, from Ireland. One of the most destructive floods in the early history of the town tore out the bridge over the St. Mary's river and caused many families to flee from their homes. During a warm political fight, William G. Ewing, whig, was accused of owning and employing slaves on one of the southern trading posts operated by the Ewing brothers. Although he proved the error of the story, he was de- feated in the race for congressman by William Rockhill, democrat, who received 6,617 votes as against Ewing's 6,441. In Allen county Mr. Rockhill received 866 votes and Judge Ewing 878. Franklin P. Randall was elected state senator, and Peter Kiser and Christian Parker state representatives. A warm fight on the saloon question resulted in the casting of 332 votes for "no license," and 51 in favor of licensing grogsellers. As a result of the county election, S. M. Black succeeded T. K. Bracken- ridge as treasurer; county commissioners elected were W. M. Par- ker, James S. Hamilton and Zeru Pattee. . .. Joseph Brack- enridge was elected prosecuting attorney, and R. E. Fleming, county clerk.


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


NOTE ON CHAPTER XXXI.


(1) Other city officers chosen in 1846 were: Clerk, William Lytle (suc- ceeded by J. B. Dubois); treasurer, Oli- ver W. Jefferds; attorney, John W. Dawson; engineer and street commis- sioner, S. M. Black; marshal, C. S. Silver; assessor, Joseph Morgan; coun- cilmen, James B. Hanna, Henry Sharp, Richard McMullan, James Humphrey, S. S. Morss and Charles Fink. Coun- cilmen Hanna, McMullan and Morss re- signed, and James P. Munson and Sam- uel Stophlet were named to fill the vacancies. S. S. Morss was elected county sheriff and W. M. Parker and Peter Kiser state representatives. Dr. Huxford was re-elected in 1847, togeth-


er with the following minor officers: Clerk, John B. DuBois; treasurer, Oli- ver P. Morgan; marshal, C. S. Silver (succeeded by Jacob Hull); assessor, Samuel Stophlet; councilmen, Jacob Lewis, Henry Sharp, John B. Cochrane, James P. Munson, John Cocanour and Charles Fink. With the re-election of Mayor Huxford in 1848 the following minor officers were elected: Clerk, Oli- ver P. Morgan; treasurer, N. P. Stock- bridge; marshal, T. J. Price; assessor, Charles G. French; councilmen, Charles F. Muhler, John Conger, John Coch- rane, Henry Sharp, John Cocanour and Alexander McJunkin.


CHAPTER XXXII-1848-1850. The First Telegraph Service-The Scourge of Cholera.


Fort Wayne secures telegraphic connection with the outside world-Chester .Griswold the first operator-Wire troubles-A week of "no service"- The cholera scourge brings death to hundreds-Heroes of the epidemic- The cause-The Black swamp-California "gold fever" is contagious- Fort Wayne victims-Some of the "Forty-niners"-William Stewart, mayor -Arrival of the steam propeller, "Niagara"-Samuel Stophlet, postmaster -The earliest dentist.


T HE CONNECTION of Fort Wayne with the outside world by the establishment of the first telegraph line was among the great progressive steps of the eventful year of 1848. The Ohio, Indiana and Illinois Telegraph company, organized by Henry O'Reilly, planned the building of a single wire line from Cincinnati to Toledo, and from Toledo to Evansville, Indiana, follow- ing the line of the Wabash and Erie canal, with side lines from Lafay- ette, Indiana, to Indianapolis and Chicago. Many Fort Wayne citizens bought shares at $50 each; the company was capitalized at $200,000.


Late in 1848, the line was completed from Toledo to Fort Wayne, and George W. Wood was appointed the local representa- tive of the company. As he was not a practical operator Chester Griswold, who came from Dayton, Ohio, was engaged to serve in this capacity. The office was located in the editorial room of the Times, of which Mr. Wood was the editor, situated at the north- west corner of Clinton and Columbia streets. The building was owned by Barnett and Hanna.


Said the late William E. Hood :


"I knew Chester Griswold, the operator, very well. The tele- graph was a new thing, and the office was an attractive place for some of us who spent a good deal of time there. Sound reading was unknown in those days; the message came in and left its record on a long strip of paper. I remember that the president's message made a big pile of paper on the floor. No one but Gris- wold could read it."


In the beginning there was but a single wire, strung between flexible poles which easily were blown down or prostrated by the weight of sleet in the winter periods. The instruments used were the original Morse invention, which indented a strip of paper with a series of dots and dashes, that were read after the message had been recorded.


The operation of the line was attended by distress and worry, as is shown by one of many like instances recorded in the news- papers of the day. At one time, when the line between Fort Wayne and Toledo was out of service, Mr. Wood sent out a repair man to ascertain the cause. Says the Times: "He found a pole chopped down and 200 or 300 yards of wire gone. It had been down nearly a week. It is some eighty miles from Fort Wayne."


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.


During the year following the establishment of the line to Fort Wayne, the company encountered financial difficulties, and Ezra Cornell, of New York, was enabled to purchase the stock at $2 per share; soon afterward, he transferred his holdings to the Western Union Telegraph company, and thereby laid the foundation of the fortune which enabled him to found Cornell university. J. MeNutt Smith, then an operator at Cincinnati, came to Fort Wayne; he remained here as an operator until 1860. Subsequent local managers of the office of the Western Union office in Fort Wayne have been Charles Jones, Charles H. Currier, Oliver L. Perry, W. E. Black, John Hayes, C. W. Mason, F. B. Bradley and J. B. Freeman.




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