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 50
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
upon the military service of the United States-marked the dedica- tion of this beautiful spot.
John W. Doswell became the superintendent of the cemetery at the time of its opening.
FRANKLIN P. RANDALL, "WAR" MAYOR.
Franklin P. Randall, the successful candidate for mayor in the campaign of 1859, served until the close of 1864, and has been com- monly called Fort Wayne's "war" mayor.2
The legislature in 1859 amended the city charter to extend the term of the mayor's tenure and that of other city officers from one to two years, and the terms of councilmen from one to four years.
ACTIVITIES OF 1857.
The "silver palace" sleeping cars manufactured at the shops of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad attracted the attention of the railway world. The coaches were valued at $20,000 each. Among the prominent men who came to Fort Wayne in 1857 were Alfred P. Edgerton (born in Plattsburg, New York, in 1813), lawyer and political leader ; James A. Fay (born at Northamp- ton, New York, in 1813), judge of the criminal court; John Morris (born near New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1816), judge of the supreme court and a foremost citizen ; Louis Rastetter (born in Baden, Germany, in 1834), manufacturer, and John H. Ungemach (born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1843), prominent Lutheran instructor. Judge James W. Borden, on receiving the appointment of resident minister of the United States to the Hawaiian Islands, resigned his position as judge of the court of common pleas and took up his residence in Honolulu; he returned to Fort Wayne in 1863 and again was elected judge of the same court. At the time of his resignation, Joseph Brackenridge was appointed to complete Judge Borden's term; he was elected to the office in the following year and served until 1863.
ACTIVITIES OF 1858.
C. S. Williams, of Cincinnati, represented by H. T. Bennett, pub- lished, in 1858, the first city directory of Fort Wayne. The work contains 2,668 names. At this time the system of house numbering had not been adopted, and all locations were indicated by descrip- tions. The present corporation seal of the city of Fort Wayne, designed by Franklin P. Randall, came into use in 1858. It bears the design of a pair of scales, beneath which is a sword and Mercury's wand. Above the scales is the word "Kekionga," and around the outer edge of the design are the words, "City of Fort Wayne, Indiana." Previous to 1858, some legal documents were attested by the use of a scroll, drawn in ink, within which were the words, "Seal of the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana." Others at a later time were given legality by the use of the designed seal in circular form, with an American eagle in the center, surrounded by the words, "Seal of the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana."
The Scotch residents of the city organized the Caledonian society, with the following officers: President, John Cochrane; vice presi- dent, Alexander Stewart; treasurer, James Humphrey; secretary, James Scott; directors, Kerr Murray, Thomas Hood and Hugh Ben-
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1857 1859
"REGULATORS"-LINDENWOOD CEMETERY
nigan. · The luxury of a public bathhouse came to Fort Wayne in 1858, when Edward F. Colerick opened an establishment which appears to have been greatly needed. "Some few of the more wealthy have provided for this necessity by having bath rooms in their residences," observed the Sentinel, "but the great mass of our citizens have been utterly deprived of the luxury except as they might take a chance to plunge into the canal or the rivers." · Prominent new-coming residents of the year 1858 were Edward O'Rourke (born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1841), judge of the circuit court for thirty-six years (1876-1913) ; Allan H. Dougall (born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1836), prominent in political affairs, govern- ment representative in the Philippines and in one of the departments at Washington; Bernard O'Connor (born in Ireland in 1817), the third telegraph operator in the United States and a construction contractor ; Joseph S. France (born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1824), attorney ; Dr. George T. Bruebach (born in Grossalmerode, Germany, in 1830), physician; William M. Crane, from St. Mary's, Ohio, an attorney; Frederick C. Weber (born in Germany), mer- chant; William T. Abbott (born at Farmington, Maine, in 1828), founder of the Abbott Sanitarium, merchant, county auditor, and a real estate dealer, and William Borgman (born in Stemmorn, Ger- many, in 1837), canal boat captain, policeman, contractor and mem- ber of the Brown Trucking Company, and Dr. H. Van Sweringen (born in Navarre, Ohio, in 1844), for many years a leading member of the medical profession.
ACTIVITIES OF 1859.
Governor Willard, after a visit of inspection, declined to act favorably on the recommendation of a board of commissioners to
WILLIAM KING.
William King, in 1859, became the champion marksman of America in his defeat of James Shannon, and Colonel Blanton Duncan. Frere, the European champion, then challenged King, who went to England, and made a record superior to the challenger. Queen Vic- toria awarded to him a medal, and for a considerable period the Fort Wayne man held tightly to his honor. The portrait is from a photograph loaned by George W. Bourie.
FOR
CITY
KE-K
ON-GA
E
N
THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE.
The corporation seal of the city of Fort Wayne was designed by Franklin P. Randall and brought into use in 1858. It bears the design of the scales of justice, beneath which are the sword and Mercury's wand. Above the scales is the word Ke-ki-on-ga, the Indian name of the ancient village which oc- cupied the site of Fort Wayne.
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
locate the northern state prison at Fort Wayne. Michigan City later was selected as the site. In the summer of 1859 the citizens raised a fund of $419.22 to engage "Prof." W. D. Bannister to make a balloon ascension, the first exhibition of the kind ever made in Fort Wayne. The balloon landed eighty miles to the east- ward in Ohio. William King won in a pigeon-shooting contest with James Shannon, at St. Louis, and claimed the American championship, a position which was justified by the defeat of Colonel Blanton Duncan, shortly afterward. Mr. King then received a chal- lenge from Frere, the great English marksman, who claimed the world's record. King went to England and defeated the British claimant and was for a considerable period the holder of the world's championship honors. In 1859, the county constructed the first iron bridge across the St. Mary's river at Wells street, at a cost of $3,200, designed by Mosley and Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1860 this bridge collapsed while under the burden of a large herd of cattle. Many of the cattle were drowned. A large part of the iron of the ruined bridge is yet buried beneath the bank of the stream near the plant of Jacob Klett and Sons. A lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars was officered by W. S. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Ninde, Mrs. Eliza J. Allen, J. D. Werden, William H. H. Hull, Rev. R. D. Robinson, Miss Imogen Smith and Douglass Phelps. The town already had a flourishing lodge of the Total Abstinence order. Prominent men who dated their resi- dence in Fort Wayne from 1859 included Robert S. Taylor (born in 1838, near Chillicothe, Ohio), judge of the court of common pleas, member of the Mississippi River commission, prominent attorney and public-spirited citizen; William Ranke (born in Diehlengen, Westphalia, in 1838), baker and manufacturer of cooperage stock; George Geller (born in Koenigsberg, Germany, in 1827), and Captain Robert H. Harrison (born in Ireland in 1834), railroad shopman and city councilman.
NOTES ON CHAPTER XXXVI.
(1) Other city officials elected and appointed were: Clerk, Christian Tres- selt; treasurer, Conrad Nill; fire chief, George Humphrey; marshal, Patrick McGee; street commissioner, Christian Cook; engineer, Samuel McElfatrick; assessor, James Howe; councilmen, H. N. Putnam, W. Boerger, C. D. Bond, John Orff, Christian Orff, E. Vorder- mark, William T. Pratt, William Mc- Kinley, A. M. Webb and C. Becker; board of health, H. Wehmer, John Cochrane and O. W. Jefferds; state rep- resentatives, Pliny Hoagland and I. D. G. Nelson.
County officers elected in 1857 were: Auditor, John B. Blue (succeeded by
Francis L. Furste; surveyor, William Mclaughlin; judge of the circuit court, James L. Worden; prosecuting attorney, circuit court, S. J. Stoughton; prosecut- ing attorney, court of common pleas, William S. Smith.
(2) Other officers elected and ap- pointed were: Clerk, Moses Drake, Jr .; treasurer, William Stewart; marshal, Joseph Price; street commissioner, Henry Tons; assessor, H. Bossler; coun- cilmen, J. Burt, B. H. Tower, B. D. Miner, O. D. Hurd, Daniel Nestel, J. Trentman, M. Cody. H. Nierman, S. McElfatrick, A. C. Beaver; fire chief, James Humphrey.
L
CHAPTER XXXVII-1860-1861.
Ovation to Douglas-Knights of the Golden Circle- Enlistments for the Civil War.
Vast crowds greet Senator Stephen A. Douglas, opponent of Abraham Lincoln -The parade-Nature's amphitheatre-Douglas pleads for "half slave, half free" policy-Opposition to the war-"We re-affirm our adherence to the doctrine of state rights"-Knights of the Golden Circle-Patriotic demonstrations-"Indiana for the Union!"-The news from Fort Sumter- Allen county's pledge-The first enlistments-Flag-raising at the Wabash shops-Hugh McCulloch's address-Camp Allen-Henry W. Lawton-An exciting city election-Building of the fourth courthouse-Troubles of the builders.
M EMORABLE among the stirring events of 1869 was the great political demonstration attending the visit of Senator Stephen A. Douglas-the "little giant"-democratic candi- date for the presidency opposed to Abraham Lincoln.
Senator Douglas came to Fort Wayne from South Bend, Indiana, on the evening preceding the larger demonstration. The route from the station to the Rockhill house, where the visitor was entertained, was lined with cheering masses of people, the larger number of whom regarded him as the savior of the country from impending civil war. The senator rode in the carriage of Frederick Nirdlinger, and a great parade of torch-bearers followed the leader, who expressed his gratitude for the show of loyalty in a brief address from the hotel balcony. But the greater event was reserved for the following day. A parade which required two hours to pass the reviewing stand was the most remarkable in the history of the town. The towns of Huntington, Warsaw and New Haven were represented by marching clubs, each member dressed in a "hickory shirt and a glazed cap." Four brass bands and four fife and drum corps, as , well as floats and marchers representing the industries of the town, appeared in line. Among the local organizations were the Douglas Hickory club, of which Byron D. Miner was the president; Edward Slocum, vice president; William Lytle and B. H. McCrary, secre- taries, and Caspar Schoepf, treasurer, and the Young Men's Demo- cratic club, of which A. H. Hamilton, J. W. McArthur, L. M. Bowser, John Tigar, A. Nettlehorst and Clement A. Rekers were the officers.
Thousands followed the parade to the speaker's stand, which had been placed on or near the present Thieme drive, between Main and Berry streets. Looking southward, the speaker faced a natural amphitheatre which since has been converted into beautiful streets and home sites. The crowd which faced the candidate was esti- mated at 60,000.
"Let me ask you," said the speaker in the course of his address, after quoting Lincoln's assertion that this nation could not exist half slave and half free, "why cannot this nation endure forever as our fathers made it, divided into free states and slave states, with the right
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
on the part of each to have slavery as long as it chooses, and to abolish it when it pleases ? * * * Why cannot we allow the new states and the new territories to do the same thing?"
A band concert and evening torchlight procession closed the day's celebration. Allen county cast 3,224 votes for Douglas, 2,552 for Lincoln, 42 for Breckenridge, and 32 for Bell.
These figures stand as mute evidence of the strong opposition to Lincoln and his policies, but the record of the activities of oppos- ing individuals and organizations of the period reflect still more strongly the difficulties through which the supporters of the presi- dent were required to pass in the display of their loyalty to the national administration. Especially during political campaigns- local, state and national-was the acrimony of the strife manifested, and the terms "copperhead," "butternut," "knownothing," "traitor," and similar epithets-some of which terms became incor- porated into the language with new meanings, were hurled from one party to another. Frequent fistic encounters occurred in public places and the entire war period was marked by regrettable episodes which were characteristic of the times in many portions of the north. An example of the public declarations is that of the Order of the Sons of Liberty (or Knights of the Golden Circle) of Allen and adjoining counties, assembled in Fort Wayne on the 13th of June, 1864, who, in the course of resolutions denouncing a draft of 500,000 men, declared : "We re-affirm our adherence to the doctrine of state
L
JAMES D. NUTTMAN.
- Mr. Nuttman was a native of Eliza- beth, New Jersey, born in 1816. He came to Fort Wayne in 1839, but remained but a short time, when he removed to Deca- tur, Indiana, and engaged in a manufac- turing enterprise. In 1861 he returned to Fort Wayne and opened a private finan- cial institution known as the Citizens' bank. In 1863, soon after the passage of the national banking law, the insti-
tution was reorganized as the First Na- tional Bank of Fort Wayne and Mr. Nuttman became the president of the in- stitution, with which he remained for twenty years. He established the pres- ent private bank of Nuttman and Com- pany in 1883.
COLONEL HUGH B. REED.
In 1845 Hugh B. Reed came to Fort Wayne from Cincinnati, Ohio, and opened a drug store. He was a successful mer- chant at the time of the breaking out of the civil war, but his outspoken loyalty brought to him the appointment of Gov- ernor Morton as commandant of post, with camp at Fort Wayne. He aided in raising several regiments, and was made colonel of the gallant Forty-fourth regi- ment. Failing health prevented Colonel Reed from accepting the nomination of brigadier general by President Lincoln and he returned to Fort Wayne. After the close of the war he removed to New Jersey.
453
DOUGLAS-SONS OF LIBERTY-CIVIL WAR
1860 1861
rights. *
* We will never give any aid to this unholy and unconstitutional war!" The Sons of Liberty were of two branches, the civil and the military. The latter contemplated the formation of a Northwestern Confederacy composed of Indiana, Illinois, Wis- consin and Michigan, and, failing in success, to cast their power with the South.
THE PATRIOTISM OF THE PEOPLE.
The opponents of the patriotic policy of the government, how- ever, were largely in the minority. The great mass of the people of Allen county rallied with enthusiasm about the national govern- ment, regardless of party affiliations. The best evidence of this loyalty is the record of the county in the great struggle for the preservation of the union. During the period of the war the county sent 4,103 men to fields of battle; of this number 489 lost their lives in the defense of their country. The county paid $550,145 in war bounties, gave $73,863 for the relief of the families of the soldiers, and to this added $2,000 for miscellaneous expenses, making a total of over $630,000-truly a magnificent substantial evidence of the truest patriotism.
The bounty paid by Allen county for service was $20 per month, to which was added $25 by the United States and $2 by the state. The county commissioners also paid to every married enlisted man $4 per month toward the support of his family, and $1 for every child under fifteen years of age. Soldiers were paid $13 in advance of their entrance into the service.
A PATRIOTIC MASS MEETING.
Soon after Lincoln's election-on December 15-a great com- pany of citizens of all classes and political beliefs assembled at Colerick's hall to declare the will of the people in support of the government. Upon the motion of Smalwood Noel, B. W. Oakley was called to the chair, and William R. Nelson, whose name was presented by Lindley M. Ninde, was made secretary of the gathering. John W. Dawson, called upon to state the object of the meeting, declared that "secession is upon us, the country is convulsed and we are holding an anxious breath for news of every day pregnant with evil! Our influence is small," he continued, "but it will be by just such meetings as this all over the land that the union will be saved. Politics have made the difficulty, but they cannot settle it. It remains for the people to do it, and they, alone, can do it."
A committee named to prepare resolutions declaring loyalty to the government was composed of William S. Smith, Lindley M. Ninde, Warren H. Withers, David H. Colerick, I. D. G. Nelson, Samuel Hanna, Allen Hamilton, George W. Ewing, John W. Dawson, Jesse L. Williams, Sion S. Bass and Franklin P. Randall-six demo- crats, five republicans and one whose political views were unknown. Others who participated in the proceedings were Peter Kiser, John B. DuBois, Samuel Edsall, Madison Sweetser, William W. Carson, Joseph Brackenridge, Dr. Isaac Knapp and John Morris.
"Indiana for the union, first, last and always," was adopted as the slogan of the Allen county patriots.
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
EFFECT OF THE NEWS FROM FORT SUMTER.
The fearful news of the firing upon Fort Sumter at daybreak of the 12th of April, 1861, thrilled the entire north with the highest degree of patriotism. On the evening of April 15, three days after the beginning of hostilities, Mayor Randall called to order a mass meeting in Hedekin hall, adjoining the Hedekin house on the north. Men of all political beliefs crowded the place of assembly. Allen Hamilton and Jesse L. Williams were appointed vice-chairmen, with Warren H. Withers secretary. A committee composed of Hugh McCulloch, A. P. Edgerton, Samuel Hanna, Hugh B. Reed, Joseph Brackenridge, Pliny Hoagland and Lott S. Bayless was appointed to prepare resolutions, which declared that, "in the present crisis of our national affairs, there should be but one party in the state of Indiana, and that party should stand pledged before the country to uphold and sustain, by all the means in its power, the national
DOO
BAKER
THE "PENNSYLVANIA" STATION.
The brick station of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago (Pennsylvania) railroad, abandoned in 1914, was built in 1860. The illustration is from a woodcut owned by the contractors, Kanne and Company, and shows the building as it stood originally. During the half century of its use it was changed but slightly in form. For a considerable period the McKinnie house occupied the upper rooms and the ground floor dining-room.
administration, enforcing obedience to the laws preserving the public property and vindicating the honor of the flag."
Enthusiastic addresses, with patriotic songs by the Messrs. Kim- ball, together with national airs by the band, completed a program which closed when the gathering declared that Allen county would guarantee to assist the state to provide three times as many men as the first call might require. Major William H. Link, Captain George Humphrey and Captain William P. Segur then went forward and commenced the enrollment of volunteers by heading the lists with their own names. These lists were afterward placed in the offices of Withers and Morris, Judge Hanna and the collector of the canal office, where they were liberally signed.
Fort Wayne troops of Co. E, Ninth Indiana, under Capt. Wil- liam P. Segur, were the earliest in the field. Organized three days after the fall of Sumter, they were first on southern soil, and en- gaged in the first battles of the civil war at Philippi, West Virginia, .Tune 1, 1861, Bealington and Carrick's Ford. Henry W. Lawton was orderly sergeant of Co. E.
455
DOUGLAS-SONS OF LIBERTY-CIVIL WAR
1860 1861
Five days after the firing upon Sumter a second patriotic dem- onstration was staged at the Wabash railway shops. Amidst the playing of the bands and the booming of cannon, the Stars and Stripes were raised to wave in the breeze until the close of the war. This flag remains among the effects of the late Oscar J. Wilson. Addresses were made by William S. Smith, Warren H. Withers and others.
JULY 4, 1861.
Another demonstration, on the Fourth of July, following the departure of some of the Allen county soldiers, included an oration by Hugh McCulloch, during the delivery of which he said: "Let the storm blow-let traitors rage, and the despots of Europe 'imag- ine a vain thing'-liberty is still with us, a living principle, the union, though assailed, a reality-and, bound together and cemented as they were by the blood of the Revolution, may we not hope that they are indissoluble and imperishable?" The Declaration of Inde- pendence was read by Mayor Randall. The features of the parade
A WAR-TIME PORTRAIT OF HENRY W. LAWTON.
The portrait of Henry W. Lawton was made in 1864, when he was a captain, at the age of twenty-one years. No citizen of Indiana has risen to greater heights of military fame than did General Law- ton, who was proud to call Fort Wayne his home to the end of his eventful life. This loyalty is feelingly exhibited in a letter dated August 8, 1899, five months before his tragic death in the Philip- pines, addressed to A. S. Covell, of Sion S. Bass post, G. A. R., at Fort Wayne. General Lawton wrote: "I have never wavered in my allegiance to the state of Indiana, and have never for a moment contemplated a change of residence- Fort Wayne, Ind., is the only place where I could legally cast a vote or where I could have voted since I attained my majority," and then he adds the pathetic words which seemed to indicate his knowledge of the events of the near future: "I have heard of the death of many of the old comrades, and feel often that the time is close at hand when I, too, must join the great majority as they go marching along." Within a few weeks the body of Henry W. Lawton reposed in state in the Allen county courthouse and his home city united in the highest trib- ute to his honored memory.
COLONEL GEORGE HUMPHREY.
Colonel Humphrey was a native of Irvine, Ayreshire, Scotland, born in 1825. With his brother James, who also be- came prominently identified with the his- tory of Fort Wayne, he came to the frontier settlement in a pirogue by way of the Maumee river. He served in the Mexican war as a lieutenant. Returning to Fort Wayne, he established himself in 1852 in the manufacture of doors, blinds and sash, and so continued until the outbreak of the civil war, when he organized a company and reported at In- dianapolis. The early war record of Col- onel Humphrey was such as to raise him to the colonelcy of the celebrated Eighty- eighth regiment of volunteers, which was recruited in Fort Wayne. After seeing severe service with his regiment, Colonel Humphrey returned to Fort Wayne, tem- porarily, to place on a firm footing his business, which had suffered from the burning of his factory, but he was soon in condition, though suffering from a severe wound, to accept the proffered ap- pointment as colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Indiana volunteers. Following his war service, Colonel Hum- phrey became a prominent contractor, as a member of the firm of Cochrane and Humphrey.
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
were the artillery company of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad, under command of Captain Joseph Stillwagon, the St. Joe Rangers, the Washington Invincibles and the fire depart- ments. Samuel Edsall served as marshal of. the day.
Immediately upon the outbreak of hostilities in the south a number of companies were formed in Fort Wayne, ready for the president's expected call. Among these were Captain George Hum- phrey's company, of which Joseph Stillwagon and Joseph Price were chosen lieutenants; Captain W. H. Link's company, with W. W. Angell, A. F. Reed and Jeremiah Ettinger lieutenants; Captain Orrin D. Hurd's company; the Fort Wayne Rifles, with W. P. Segur captain and H. A. Whitman and S. W. Story lieutenants ; the Randall Guards, under Captain George W. Fitzsimmons, with Henry W. Lawton and E. B. Stribley lieutenants; Captain J. M. Silver's com- pany, with Joseph Price and Isaiah McElfatrick lieutenants ; Captain Tanneyhill's company, with U. B. Davis and Philip Grund lieuten- ants. However, many of these organizations were not retained in their original form, though the period of their initial existence served as a vigorous training time and the air rang with martial music as the young patriots prepared to respond to the president's call for volunteers.
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