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 58
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In the spring of 1887 the Salamonie Mining and Gas Company was organized to pipe natural gas from Blackford county to Fort Wayne, a distance of forty-five miles. R. C. Bell was elected pres- ident and W. W. Worthington secretary-treasurer. After a long debate in the city council a franchise was granted this company in 1888, and the corporation was reorganized with a capitalization of $600,000, of which about $250,000 was subscribed by New York capitalists. William Fleming was elected president and Henry C. Paul treasurer and general manager of the reorganized company, and contracts for laying pipe were let for $400,000. G. Max Hof- mann installed the system. There were in all ninety-eight miles of pipe. In 1905 the supply of gas became exhausted and the service was cut off in November. The Fort Wayne Gas Company, successor to the Salamonie Company, installed an artificial gas plant to meet the need. The Indiana Lighting Company (now the Northern Indi ana Gas and Electric Company) succeeded to the business.
CHARLES F. MUHLER MAYOR.
The municipal election in May, 1885, resulted in the choice of Charles F. Muhler as mayor. Mr. Muhler was a native of Fort 516
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Wayne, born in 1841, the son of Charles M. Muhler, of Sulzdorf, Bavaria, who came to the city in 1840. He served in the city council in 1876, 1877 and 1878. He was twice elected mayor.1
BEGINNING OF THE BOWSER WORKS.
The immense plant and business of S. F. Bowser and Company, manufacturer of oil handling and measuring apparatus, had a begin- ning in 1885, when S. F. Bowser invented a self-measuring oil pump. With indomitable will and energy the inventor began the manu- facture and sale of the original article which laid the foundation for the success which has raised the enterprise to fame throughout the civilized world. Although the plant was twice destroyed by fire, the energy which has characterized the management gave to the project larger and better factory and office equipment. The concern employs thousands of persons in its plant, and its great force of traveling salesmen is managed through its many branch offices in America and foreign countries.
CAPTAIN JAMES B. WHITE CONGRESSMAN.
A hotly fought race for congress in 1886 resulted in the election of Captain James B. White over Robert Lowry by a majority of 2,484. The latter contested the election unsuccessfully on the ground that Captain White was not a naturalized citizen.
THE ROBERTSON EPISODE.
Colonel R. S. Robertson, on the resignation of General M. D. Mason as lieutenant governor of Indiana in 1886, was elected to the position, but the democratic majority of the legislature, at its 1887 session, forbade Colonel Robertson the right to assume the duties of presiding officer. An injunction suit brought the ruling of the supreme court to the effect that in the legislature was vested exclusive jurisdiction in the premises. Colonel Robertson was forc- ibly excluded from the senate chamber and the action caused the wildest excitement, but the subject of the controversy counseled his friends to refrain from retaliatory acts. Aside from serving as presiding officer of the senate Colonel Robertson fulfilled the duties of his office. (For details of this affair see Colonel Robertson's account, "The Indiana Rebellion of 1887;" Fort Wayne Public Library).
DESTRUCTION OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
The explosion of the boiler in the basement of St. Mary's Cath- olic church on January 13 destroyed the church and adjoining school building and brought death to two persons, Anton Evans, the sexton, and Alberta Willard, thirteen-year-old daughter of B. L. P. Willard. The latter was passing the church at the time and was crushed by the heavy doors as they were thrown into the street by the force of the explosion. The present St. Mary's church was erected in 1887.
INDIANA SCHOOL FOR FEEBLE MINDED YOUTH.
The history of the great state institution known as the Indiana School for Feeble Minded Youth, a model of its kind, dates from
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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
the year 1879, when by a legislative act an asylum for feeble minded children was made an adjunct of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' home at Knightstown. In 1887 a separate institution was decided upon and Fort Wayne was chosen as the site, after a lively legis- lative controversy. The board of trustees, of which E. A. K. Hack- ett was the president, chose the present location, and in the follow- ing year the first appropriation of $50,000 was expended for the site and the erection of the main building. John F. Wing and M. S. Mahurin were the architects of the structure.
The present magnificent institution has developed as a result of superior management and the earnest co-operation of the state authorities.
The superintendents of the Indiana school from the beginning are John G. Blake, James H. Leonard, Alexander Johnson, Albert E. Carroll and Dr. George S. Bliss.
THE WAYNE HOTEL.
The Wayne hotel, located on West Columbia street between Calhoun and Harrison streets, one of the best-known places of enter- tainment in northern Indiana, was opened in 1887 by J. C. Peters. For a number of years William McKinnie served as the landlord of the Wayne.
SOUTH WAYNE INCORPORATED.
The present residential district of South Wayne was incor- porated in 1888 as a regularly organized town, governed by a board of trustees composed of William J. Vesey, Harry W. Ninde, Owen N. Heaton and Ernest W. Cook. The latter held the position of town clerk and treasurer. The South Wayne town hall was located at the corner of Indiana and Lincoln avenues.
As early as 1872 Judge R. S. Taylor, S. B. Bond, C. D. Bond, Judge John Morris, Dr. Isaac Knapp, G. E. Bursley, H. C. Hartman, Judge James A. Fay, the Fort Wayne Organ Company, Daniel Markley, Judge L. M. Ninde and fifteen others presented a petition to the county commissioners asking that a settlement south of the city of Fort Wayne containing 350 voters be incorporated as the town of South Wayne. The city of Fort Wayne, by its attorney, appeared before the board to object to the application, and induced the board to defer action in the matter until its next session.
Meanwhile, the city council took action to annex the territory, making it a part of the city of Fort Wayne and ordering the newly acquired property to be assessed for city taxes. On the same day, previous to the action of the city council, a suit was begun in the circuit court by Judge R. S. Taylor et al. against the city of Fort Wayne, to perpetually enjoin the council from passing such an ordinance. After the council had taken action a supplemental com- plaint was filed in the circuit court by the citizens asking that the ordinance be set aside.
In the meantime, the county commissioners dismissed the appli- cation to incorporate the town of South Wayne. An appeal to the circuit court was taken. The original case of Taylor et al. against the city came before Judge J. R. Slack, of Huntington, Indiana, who rendered a decision in favor of the city. An appeal to the supreme
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court, however, set aside the action of the council in annexing the territory. Thus the matter rested until 1888, when the suburb was incorporated as a distinct town government.
After the suburb had been bonded for public improvements, in 1894, the city annexed the territory and assumed its financial obli- gations.
THE 1888 ELECTION.
In 1888 Allen county polled 9,692 votes for Grover Cleveland, democrat, for the presidency, as against 5,456 for General Benjamin Harrison, republican.
Judge C. A. O. Mcclellan, democrat, defeated Captain James B. White for re-election to congress by a majority of 1,311. In 1900 Captain White declined the nomination for congress and Judge McClellan won a second term with James N. Babcock, of Lagrange county, as his opponent.
Fred J. Hayden was elected joint state senator, and James M. Barrett and W. H. Shambaugh state representatives.2
WESTERN GAS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
The Western Gas Construction Company, now grown to large proportions, had its beginning in 1888 in the efforts of Olaf N. Guldlin, a mechanical engineer of wide experience, who formed a partnership with F. D. Moses and W. A. Croxton for the manufacture of gas- making machinery.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Former President Rutherford B. Hayes headed a delegation of distinguished citizens of Ohio who joined with many from Indiana in 1888 in the annual gathering of the Maumee Valley Monumental association in Fort Wayne. A parade was followed by a great demonstration in "Mad Anthony" park (in the present Lakeside), during which time addresses were made by Mr. Hayes, Colonel R. S. Robertson, Judge Joseph Cox, Stephen G. Johnson and James McGrew. Former Chief Justice Waite, of the United States supreme court, was the retiring president of the association. A miniature reproduction of the old fort was displayed in Old Fort park.
FIRST LABOR DAY DEMONSTRATION.
Although Labor Day was not recognized by the state of Indiana as a legal holiday until 1891, the people of Fort Wayne joined in the first celebration of the day on Monday, September 2, 1889. A large parade was followed by an immense gathering at the fair grounds (Swinney park), where Mrs. E. C. Williams, a Chicago newspaper writer and an organizer of the Knights of Labor, deliv- ered the principal address of the day.
DANIEL L. HARDING MAYOR.
The city election of 1889 resulted in the choice of Daniel L. Harding as mayor. Mr. Harding was a public-spirited citizen and his administration was marked by many permanent projects for the general good. He was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1865. He located in Fort Wayne as a civil engineer for the
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Nickel Plate railroad. Later he was connected with the Pennsyl- vania railroad. During his latter years he was engaged in the insurance business.
THE FIRST FOOTBALL GAME.
The first game of football ever played in Fort Wayne took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1890, between the Electrics, of the Jenney Electric Light Works, and the Athletics. A. L. Hadley and James B. White, Jr., were the managers of the contending teams, the personnel of which was as follows: Electrics, Dr. Crouse, Dr. Hines, Tompkins, Sessions, William Stemen, John Dalton and Arthur L. Hadley ; Athletics, Edward White, Longacre, J. B. White, Samuel C. Moffat, Joss and W. H. W. Peltier. The Electrics carried off the honors.
THE FIRST GOLF CLUB.
The present Fort Wayne Country club, with its extensive links and modern clubhouse southwest of the city, on the line of the Fort Wayne and Northern Indiana Traction Company, had its beginning in 1890, when a few enthusiasts played the game on the Hamilton field. Grounds in Lakeside were secured the following year. In 1893 the White grounds east of the city were leased by the organ- ization, which was then known as the Kekionga Golf club, and were occupied until the opening of the present grounds in May, 1911.
THE CAPTURE OF MARVIN KUHNS.
Officer John Kennelly, of the Fort Wayne police force, was severely wounded in a hand-to-hand revolver fight with Marvin Kuhns, the noted desperado, when Kennelly, Sheriff George H. Viberg, Chief of Police Frank Wilkinson and Deputy Sheriff Thomas Wilkinson overtook Kuhns and James Mease on the highway near Churubusco, Indiana.
Kuhns was a desperate criminal, born eight miles from Churu- busco. At the age of eighteen he had served a penitentiary sentence. Later he broke jail at Albion, Indiana, but was arrested at Hunting- ton, Indiana, and made his escape while the officers were attempting to place him in jail. At Prospect, Ohio, Kuhns was arrested for horse stealing, but while his trial was in progress he drew his revolvers, scattered the crowd and escaped. He then murdered for money a companion, William Campau. On December 6, 1890, Kuhns came to Fort Wayne and, after a talk with acquaintances, he disappeared and drove toward Churubusco in a road cart with James Mease. They were overtaken by the Fort Wayne officials. In the fight which ensued Kuhns received four bullets, but he man- aged to escape after shooting Kennelly, and made his way to a farmhouse where he was later taken into the custody of the officers.
Before the close of his eventful life, after serving a term in the Ohio penitentiary, Kuhns figured in several criminal enterprises, the most notable being his escape from the Columbus prison and his recapture near Lafayette, Indiana. He was killed at Van Wert, Ohio, in a running battle with officers.
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THE MORNING PRESS.
In 1890 Ferd W. Wendell and Joseph A. Davis established a daily republican newspaper called the Morning Press. The office of publication was located in the Foster block, now occupied by the German-American National bank. In the spring of 1893 the pub- lication was changed to an evening daily, and in this year was discontinued. Among the well-known newspaper men connected with the Press were Harry M. Williams and H. H. Paramore. Mr. Paramore, writing under the nom de plume of "Alas P. Yorick," earned a reputation as one of the most popular newspaper humorists of the day.
ACTIVITIES OF 1885.
Judge Robert S. Taylor, John H. Welch, John H. Waldo, Willis Meier, Alexander Muirhead, G. P. Gordon, W. D. Page and others organized the Northern Indiana Poultry association and gave the first poultry exhibition ever held in Allen county. The enforcement of an ordinance to prevent cows running at large caused much trouble for Fred Woenker, poundmaster, who was compelled to file affidavits against angry cow owners-chiefly women-who assailed him during the performance of his duties. George F. Felts succeeded Jerry Hillegass, county superintendent of schools. Joseph C. Straughan was appointed surveyor general of the state of Idaho. The Rich hotel was opened by Sanford Rich. The Fort Wayne Rifles, with Frank Wise captain, was organized.
ACTIVITIES OF 1886.
Under appointment of President Cleveland, William Kaough was made postmaster of Fort Wayne. During the reunion of thirty-six posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the gathering of numerous bodies of cadets and newly organized com- panies of troops, a sham battle, illustrating a portion of the action on the field of Shiloh was witnessed by 30,000 people. . The first park area donated to the city was McCulloch park, the gift of Hugh McCulloch and wife; it contained 4.07 acres. The city in 1886 also secured the site of Hayden park by purchase from H. W. Hanna, S. D. Hanna, Jessie E. Bond and C. H. Hanna (six lots, for $4,500), to which was added one lot by Mrs. Eliza Hanna-Hayden.
The Business Men's Exchange was organized, with James B. White president, E. C. Rurode vice-president, J. B. Monning financial secretary and Charles McCulloch, A. C. Trentman and Charles S. Bash trustees. Although Battery B, Indiana Na- tional Guard, was not given the name until 1900, its predecessor, the Zollinger gun squad-later the Zollinger battery, and still more recently the Twenty-eighth light battery-was formed in 1886. The organization became prominent in the military life of the state and made a good record during the Spanish-American war. . St. Vincent's Orphans' home was founded in 1886, the cornerstone of the first building being laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dwenger on Sep- tember 27.
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ACTIVITIES OF 1887.
Captain James B. White camp, Sons of Veterans, was organized, with T. W. Blair captain. The Salvation Army established barracks on Holman street, in charge of Mrs. Greaves, captain.
The Berghoff Brewing Company's plant was established. The Fort Wayne Humane society was organized with Charles McCulloch president, Miss M. V. Hamilton vice-president, Dr. E. J. McOscar secretary, F. H. Bernard treasurer and M. L. Graff attorney. Moses Read served as the first humane officer. St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church was organized as a mission in 1887. Rev. M. C. Cooper was the first pastor (1888), succeeded by Henry Bridge, J. W. Paschall, J. M. Stewart, B. Saw- yer, Lewis Rehl, H. S. Nickerson, C. M. Hobbs, C. W. Jeffras, F. H. Cremean and L. M. Krider.
ACTIVITIES OF 1888.
Judge Samuel M. Hench was appointed by President Cleveland to serve as chief of the law division of the comptroller's office in the United States treasury department. Company L, Third regiment, Indiana National Guard, was organized by German vet- erans of the Franco-Prussian war, with Herman Hohenholz captain. William J. D. Hunter was appointed collector of internal revenue. John Morris, Jr., served as deputy clerk of the United States district court and of the United States circuit court. Elmer Leonard was appointed United States commissioner.
ACTIVITIES OF 1889.
With the return of the republican party to power C. R. Higgins was appointed postmaster of Fort Wayne, to succeed William Kaough. The Tri-State Building and Loan Company was organized with a capital stock of $50,000, with George W. Pixley president, A. D. Cressler vice-president, C. A. Wilding secretary and J. W. Bell treasurer. A spirited controversy arose over the question of the abandonment of the site of the East Main street bridge over the Maumee river and constructing a new bridge at Columbia street. In 1890 the present iron bridge at the latter site was erected. Major Henry W. Lawton was named by the president as inspector general of the American army, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. The railroad known as the Findlay, Fort Wayne and Western, later absorbed by the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton and Dayton road, was built to connect Fort Wayne with the main line in Ohio. After a prolonged controversy the Hay- den farm northeast of the city was leased by the Fort Wayne Trot- ting association, of which H. C. Rockhill, W. W. Rockhill, William Fleming, D. N. Foster and P. A. Randall were the principal stock- holders. This organization continued to use the grounds until 1891, when the Fort Wayne Driving club was organized, with William H. Watt president, H. C. Rockhill secretary and S. M. Foster treasurer. The club expended $40,000 on the improvement of the grounds. Various reorganizations of the management of the Driving park took place during succeeding years. In 1913 the entire tract was converted into one of the city's most attractive residence sections.
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St. Patrick's Catholic church was organized, with Rev. Thomas O'Leary as pastor, succeeded by Rev. Joseph F. Delaney. Williams park at Calhoun street and Piqua avenue was donated to the city by Henry M. and Mary Hamilton Williams.
ACTIVITIES OF 1890.
The Allen County Building and Loan association was organ- ized, with Gottlieb Haller president, C. W. Orr vice-president, E. W. Cook secretary and H. A. Keplinger treasurer. The Morn- ing Musical was organized through the efforts of Jennie Ninde Brady and Essie Preble Myers. The heavy hardware firm of Moss- man, Yarnelle and Company was organized; in 1908 the present large building was constructed.
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NOTES ON CHAPTER XLIV.
(1) Other city officials elected in 1885 were: Clerk, W. W. Rockhill; treasurer, Henry C. Berghoff; attorney, Henry Colerick; marshal, Diedrich Mey- er; assessor, Charles Reese; street com- missioner, Dennis O'Brien; chief of po- lice, H. M. Diehl; fire chief, Henry Hil- brecht, Jr .; city engineer, Jacob S. Gos- horn; councilmen, John C. Kensill, C. Kramer, Christian Tresselt, John Mohr, Jr., James Woulfe, Henry A. Read, George W. Ely (succeeded by M. N. Webber), Anthony Kelker, Herman Mi- chael, J. A. M. Storm, Edmund Lincoln, Fred Schwartz, J. Wessel, P. J. Scheid, Frank Gocke (succeeded by C. H. But- tenbender), William Doehrmann, Jo- seph Racine (succeeded by Charles Haiber), Amie Racine; board of health, Councilmen Kramer, Lincoln and Pren- tiss, Dr. Samuel C. Metcalf (secre- tary); board of police commissioners, Councilmen Doehrmann, Scheid, Ely and Kramer; waterworks trustees, J. F. W. Meyer, Thomas B. Hedekin, Charles McCulloch; P. J. McDonald (secretary).
The city council of 1887 was com- posed of John C. Kensill, Daniel Shor- dan, James Woulfe, M. N. Webber, H. Michael, Levi Griffith, J. Wessel, C. H. Buttenbender, Charles Haiber, C. Kra- mer (succeeded by William Meyer), Daniel Monahan, Henry A. Read, An- thony Kelker, J. A. M. Storm (succeed- ed by Daniel Lahmeyer), William Schwartz (succeeded by J. J. Wil- liams), P. J. Scheid, William Doehr- mann and Aime Racine (succeeded by Louis Hazzard).
Upon the election of D. L. Harding mayor in 1889, the following minor of- ficers were elected and appointed: Clerk, W. W. Rockhill (succeeded by Rudolph C. Reinewald); treasurer, H. C. Berghoff (succeeded by Charles J. Sosenheimer); attorney, Henry Cole- rick; marshal, Henry C. Franke; as- sessor, Charles Reese; street commis- sioner, Dennis O'Brien; chief of police, H. M. Diehl (succeeded by Frank Wil- kinson) ; fire chief, Henry Hilbrecht, Jr .; city engineer, Charles S. Bracken- ridge (succeeded by O. B. Wiley) ; weighmaster, William Ropa; secretary of the board of health, Dr. S. C. Met- calf; police commissioners, W. D. Meyer, Henry Hilbrecht, Sr., Charles
Haiber and F. W. Bandt; waterworks trustees, Christian Boseker, Henry Monning and Charles McCulloch; coun- cilmen, John C. Scheffer, W. D. Meyer. Maurice Cody, H. Michael, Joseph L. Gruber, W. F. Meyer, George W. Ely, Henry F. Hilgeman, Henry Hilbrecht, Louis P. Huser, Frank Dalman, Robert Cran, P. J. Scheid, G. B. Gordon, John Smith, H. P. Vordermark, Ferd C. Boltz, Louis Hazzard, Valentine Ofenloch and J. E. DeLagrange.
County officials elected and appointed in 1886 were: Judge of the superior court, Augustus A. Chapin; clerk, Dr. George W. Loag; prosecuting attorney, James M. Robinson; sheriff, DeGroff Nelson; recorder, T. S. Heller; treas- urer, John Dalman; auditor, A. L. Griebel (succeeded by J. B. Niezer) ; surveyor, O. B. Wiley; engineer, W. H. Goshorn; coroner, Henry C. Stellhorn; commissioners, Henry Hartman, John H. Brannan and Jerome D. Gloyd, at- torney, R. C. Bell; school superintend- ent, George F. Felts; state senator, J. M. Barrett. Other officials were: Regis- ter in bankruptcy, John W. Hayden; United States deputy marshal, James Wilkinson; collector of internal reve- nue, Louis S. C. Schroeder.
(2) Other officers elected in 1888 were: Judge of the superior court, A. A. Chapin; prosecuting attorney, James M. Robinson; sheriff, George H. Viberg; treasurer, Isaac Mowrer; recorder, Milo Thompson; coroner, Henry C. F. Stell- horn; surveyor, O. B. Wiley; commis- sioners, Henry Hartman, John H. Bran- nan and Jerome D. Gloyd; attorney, R. C. Bell; school superintendent, Geo. F. Felts.
In 1890, the following county officials were elected: State senator, J. D. Mor- gan; representatives, S. M. Hench and John Biegler; joint representative, W. S. Oppenheim; judge of the superior court, Charles M. Dawson; prosecuting attorney, James M. Robinson; clerk, Daniel W. Souder; auditor Clarence Ed- sall (died in office, succeeded by L. J. Bobilya); recorder, George W. Fickel; treasurer, Edward Beckman; coroner, A. J. Kesler; surveyor, Henry E Fischer; commissioners, Jasper W. Jones, H. F. Bullerman and J. H. Stell- horn; sheriff, George H. Viberg.
1
CHAPTER XLV-1891-1894.
"Trolley" Cars-Strike of Street Railway Men-City Building-Public Library.
Electrically-driven street cars supersede horse-drawn cars-The development of the system-The Slattery storage battery drives the first car by electric power around the "belt" line-Wayne Knitting Mills-The City Building- Allen County Orphans' Home-Strike of the street railway employes- Prominent deputy sheriffs-The Public Library-Early efforts to establish the library-The new city charter-Chauncey B. Oakley mayor-Dedica- tion of the Soldiers' monument-The Women's Club League-The Wayne Club.
F ORT WAYNE'S system of electrically driven street cars dates from 1892, when the Fort Wayne Electric Railway Company was formed to purchase the property of the Fort Wayne Street Railway Company, over whose lines the horse-drawn cars had been in operation for twenty years.
Two years afterward, in 1894, the C. L. Centlivre Railway Com- pany's horse-car line, extending from the corner of Calhoun and Superior streets to the plant of the Centlivre Brewing Company on Spy Run avenue, was acquired by the Fort Wayne Electric Railway Company. The latter company was succeeded by the Fort Wayne Consolidated Railway Company in 1895. In 1899 John H. Bass and H. C. Rockhill, receivers, conveyed the property to the Fort Wayne Traction Company. In 1900 Albert L. Scott, receiver of the Lakeside Street Railway Company, which operated an electric car line from Calhoun street east on Columbia street and Columbia avenue to Crescent avenue, sold this property to the Fort Wayne Traction Company, which, through this final transfer, became the owner of all the street railway property in the city of Fort Wayne. In 1904 the Fort Wayne and Wabash Valley Traction Company suc- ceeded the Fort Wayne Traction Company, and the latter, in 1911, gave place to the Fort Wayne and Northern Indiana Traction Com- pany, which also operates two important interurban lines out of Fort Wayne. The pay-as-you-enter cars were first used on the city lines in the spring of 1913.
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