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 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
TABLET TO "JOHNNIE APPLESEED."
On the 5th of May, 1916, a bronze tablet in commemoration of the life work of John Chapman ("Johnnie Appleseed") was un- veiled in Swinney Park by the Indiana Horticultural Society. The tablet reads : "'Johnnie Appleseed' (John Chapman), born in Massachusetts, 1776; died near Fort Wayne, 1843; buried in David Archer cemetery ; pioneer apple grower of Indiana and Ohio. The Indiana Horticultural Society and all those who are endeavoring to carry on the work he nobly commenced join in dedicating this monument to the memory of his deeds." William Walton, of La- Porte, Indiana, president of the Indiana Horticultural Society, de- livered the principal address, followed by Mayor William J. Hosey, and Dr. Alfred Vivian, dean of the Ohio Agricultural College. Songs by the school children included a composition by Miss Ruth Cald- well -entitled "Johnnie Appleseed"; Edward R. Smith, president of the Indiana Apple Show Commission, and Prof. C. G. Woodbury also participated in the ceremony of dedication. (See Chapter XXIX.)
THE VOCATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
During the incumbency of Thomas R. Marshall as governor of Indiana a special commission appointed to investigate the educa- tional situation of the state recommended that free agricul- tural, trade and homemaking courses be made a part of the public school work, this to be for the special benefit of those who do not complete a high school course and enter upon professional training. It was discovered that only eleven per cent. of all pupils of the schools enroll in the high schools. Fort Wayne grasped the new idea with enthusiasm and, in 1913, was established, even before an appropriation for the work was available, the first vocational school. Beginning with clases in the Washington school, the needs soon required the use of larger and more appropriate quarters for the widening demands. The year 1916 found the schools in a flourishing condition, located as follows, under the guidance of Walter E. Gor- don, M. A., and a corps of assistants :
In the old high school: Men's vocational courses, including mathematics for machinists, architectural drafting, mechanics for machinists, drafting for machinists, automobile construction and re- pair, and English for foreigners.
In the former plant of the Kerr Murray Manufacturing Com- pany : Bookkeeping, stenography and typewriting, applied electric-
567
1916 1917 CENTENNIAL (1916)-COLISEUM-Y. M. C. A.
ity, automobile construction, airbrake construction, printing for ap- prentices, English for foreigners, carpentry for apprentices and ma- chine shop practice.
In the Washington school: Home cooking, home millinery, plain sewing and dressmaking; girls' gymnasium.
As an instance of the general co-operation of the people, the Fort Wayne Typographical Union and the Carpenters' Union require apprentices to attend the night vocational classes.
An all-day trade school for boys and girls who have passed the 5A grade and are between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five is provided. An evening school is open to men who are at least seventeen years of age and who are employed during the day. Night courses in household arts and commercial courses are also open to all women seventeen years of age. Part-time classes provide train- ing for boys and girls in the day school who are between fourteen and seventeen.
In the beginning day classes in the Washington school under the instruction of one man teacher as principal and four lady assist- ants showed an enrollment of eighty-five, forty-five boys and forty girls. The third year the boys' school was moved to the basement of the Harmar school, and this department, in turn, was removed to the Kerr Murray plant.
The United States government's appropriation of $45,000,000 for vocational work shows the nation's faith in this department of education, and Fort Wayne. "This kind of education," says Di- rector Gordon, "is provided free for the eighty per cent. or more who will never get into professional vocations but who have just as much right to be trained for life work as their more wealthy cousins."
THE INFANTILE PARALYSIS EPIDEMIC.
During the summer of 1916 an outbreak of infantile paralysis which cost the lives of hundreds of children in the eastern portion of the United States, and which spread to the west with devastating effect, caused the observance of drastic rules governing the conduct of the people of Fort Wayne. The authorities issued an order for- bidding the congregation of persons of sixteen years of age and under and placed a ban upon their attendance at school, Sunday school, theatres and all other ordinary places of assemblage. News- boys were forbidden to sell papers on the streets, and all young persons were required to remain at home. The original order defer- ring the date of the opening of the schools at October 1 was later changed to September 11, when the disease appeared to have passed the threatening stage. Several cases of the malady were developed in Fort Wayne. On September 8, three days before the opening of school, a circus audience contained no children.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1916.
Following a warm presidential campaign Allen county, in No- vember, 1916, cast 9,134 votes for Woodrow Wilson (democrat) and 10,082 for Charles E. Hughes (republican).1 Judge Hughes had vis- ited the city and made an address at the Palace Theatre. President Wilson made a brief address to the people who gathered about his train as it passed through the city en route to the west.
568
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
STRIKE OF STREET RAILWAY MEN.
A strike of the conductors and motormen, as well as others employed by the Fort Wayne and Northern Indiana Traction Com- pany on its city street railway lines, beginning in October, 1915, was continued until May 12, 1916. During this period many persons declined to use the street cars, although there was but a small amount of violence shown on the part of the sympathizers of the men, and the "jitney" grew in popularity. The traction company reported a deficit of $32,000 for the year, due largely to the prolongation of the strike.
THE BOY SCOUTS.
Fort Wayne, in 1916, adopted the Boy Scout idea with perma- nent enthusiasm. Although a partially successful effort was made, in 1913, to effect an organization, it remained for L. O. Wetzel, of Fort Wayne, state field scout commissioner of Indiana, to begin, in January, 1916, the work which has attained to such large propor- tions. The first organization to endorse the movement was the Ministerial Association. During the first year of effort, fourteen Boy Scout troops, with a total enrollment of about four hundred and twenty-five members, were formed in Fort Wayne. In the spring of 1917 a council composed of representative business and profes- sional men was formed to promote the work along moral, business and financial lines.
CIVIC HEALTH PARADE.
On the 22d of June, 1916, 3,500 school children of Fort Wayne participated in a notable "civic health parade." The children were taken in automobiles over a route which exhibited to them all portions of the city in which the results of gardening and beauti- fication of home properties would suggest to them means of adapting modern principles to their own home surroundings. Two hours were consumed in the trip, after which the children were taken to the Majestic Theatre, where a series of moving pictures in colors exhib- ited the results of beautification of the city of Dayton, Ohio.
THE NEWS-ROTARY SWIMMING POOL.
Through the combined efforts of the Fort Wayne Daily News and the Fort Wayne Rotary Club funds for the establishment of a municipal swimming pool were collected during the summer of 1916. Lawton Park was selected as the site of the pool.
ST. JOE RIVER DAM AND PARK.
As the result of a popular subscription campaign in February, 1917, the people of Fort Wayne gave the sum of $26,000 for the purpose of placing a dam across the St. Joseph river just south of the State street bridge, in order to bring the water to a sufficient depth to provide facilities for boating, fishing and bathing and the creation of a park about four miles in extent along the river banks, this park to be under the care of the board of park com- missioners. Owners of the property fronting the river contributed the land for park purposes. The improvement will prove of incal- culable benefit to coming generations in creating recreation facil- ities and the advantages provided only by the lake resorts. William Breuer, a member of the park board, led the movement.
569
CENTENNIAL (1916)-COLISEUM-Y. M. C. A.
1916 1917
FORT WAYNE'S POPULATION IN 1917.
The Fort Wayne City Directory of 1917 contains 44,250 names, "which, multiplied by two (the lowest multiple used in any direct- ory in the United States) gives Fort Wayne a population of 88,500, an increase of 1,140 over 1916," says the introduction to the volume.
In July the war department in its estimate of population of Indiana cities, adopted as a basis of apportionment for military conscription, gave the population of Fort Wayne as 83,637. Evans- ville's population was placed at 76,427.
ACTIVITIES OF 1916.
Edward G. Hoffman was chosen a member of the national demo- cratic central committee. William Breuer succeeded Prof. Louis W. Dorn (resigned) as a member of the board of park com- missioners. The Tabernacle Baptist church, in Blooming- dale, was organized, with Rev. E. E. Howe pastor. . City Engineer Frank M. Randall reported, at the close of the year, that Fort Wayne had 96.3 miles of paved streets, of which 59.4 were asphalt, 31.6 brick, 1.7 tarvia, 1.5 concrete, 1.2 bituminous macadam, 0.5 wood block and 0.4 macadam. The board of school trustees purchased eight lots in Harrison Hill (south side) and other property in preparation for the needs of the city's rapid growth. In January No. 1 fire station was ordered com- pletely motorized. The plan has been extended gradually toward a complete use of motor-driven apparatus. The University Club was organized with the following officers: President, Edward G. Hoffman; vice-president, Dr. Albert E. Bulson, Jr .; secretary, Harry W. Muller; treasurer, J. Ewing Bond. The Leopold Frei- burger residence, 327 West Berry street, was leased for a period of years as the club home. The organization has been a power for good in the community. The Quest Club, composed of busi- ness men interested in salesmanship, advertising and modern com- mercial methods, experienced the most profitable year of its history. The club was organized in 1913 with the following officers: Pres- ident, Charles B. Fitch; vice-president, Arthur F. Hall; secretary- treasurer, Charles R. Lane. The One Hundred Per Cent Club, composed of young business men, was organized in 1916 with the following officers: President, Gordon L. Eby; vice-president, E. P. Ruf; secretary, George W. Fishering; treasurer, Willard M. Thomas.
ACTIVITIES OF 1917.
As the result of the co-operative efforts of the school authorities, the Commercial Club and the University of Indiana, in June, 1917, a branch of the extension department of the university was estab- lished in Fort Wayne. The old high school building on East Wayne street forms the center of the new educational work in Fort Wayne. The report of Supt. D. O. McComb, of the county schools, in June, showed a total enrollment of persons of school age in Allen county to be 28,186, of which number 19,393 were in Fort Wayne. Nicholas Klug, in January, gave three acres of ground to the city to be known as Klug Park. Edward C. Miller was elected president of the Commercial Club. The Kiwa- nis Club was organized with the following officers : President, How-
-
570
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
ard Benninghoff; vice-president, H. P. Fletcher; secretary, Henry C. H. Hoffman ; treasurer, Charles H. Buesching; sergeant-at-arms, Charles E. Pask. Judge Samuel M. Hench was elected de- partment commander of the Indiana Grand Army of the Republic at the annual encampment in Indianapolis. The Allen County Civic Forum, organized for purposes of education of the people in the needs of the state of Indiana to be met by the proper construction of a new state constitution, held many public meetings which were addressed by prominent students of the subject.
The Senate Club, composed of young business men, was organ- ized with the following officers: President, A. S. Bowser; vice- presidents, Glenn Mather and Dr. D. G. Mertz; secretary, Howard Benninghoff; financial secretary, Lester Frank; treasurer, Dr. M. B. Catlett; sergeant-at-arms, William Harber. The following candidates were nominated by the voters of Fort Wayne at the pri- mary election held March 6, 1917: Democrats-Mayor, Maurice C. Niezer; city clerk, Otto W. Koenig; city judge, John C. Hoffman ; councilmen, Jacob Hartman, E. J. Ehrman, Dr. A. H. Macbeth, Willard M. Thomas, Charles H. Young, J. E. Wolf, Frank H. Schle- becker, C. O. Lepper, Peter M. Certia, Henry A. Miller, Henry G. Jacobs, M. J. Reilly, Frank A. Schramm, Peter A. Deitschel, Herman Korte. Republicans-Mayor, W. Sherman Cutshall; city clerk, Wil- liam T. Jefferies; city judge, J. Frank Mungovan; councilmen, Jacob Bill, B. F. Bennett, Fred D. Wehrenberg, F. W. King, Samuel Henline, Charles King, H. U. Dehm, Albert O. Pape, Tom Snook, Harry H. McMillen, F. M. Price, John W. Reynolds, Ralph R. Wil- kening, James A. Liggett, Charles A. Fissell. Adolph Jaenicke, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, succeeded Carl J. Getz as city forester and superintendent of parks.
NOTE ON CHAPTER XLIX.
(1) County officers elected in 1916 were: Joint senator, Allen and DeKalb counties, Glenn VanAuken; represent- atives, Francis E. Moore, Dick M. Ve- sey, Melville N. Clapp; treasurer, Wil- liam F. Ranke; recorder, Elias H. Book- walter; sheriff, Dr. George W. Gillie;
coroner, Dr. Charles J. Rothschild; sur- veyor, Asa W. Grosvenor; commission- er (First district), Adolph W. Lepper. Upon the death of Recorder Bookwalter Christian G. Vonderau was appointed to complete the term.
L
CHAPTER L-1917.
Fort Wayne's Answer to the Call to War with Germany.
Patriotic response to the President's call to service-Fort Wayne mili- tary district leads the nation in number of men who enlist for the war- The Lexington Day demonstration-Resolutions of loyalty-Enlistments for the Regular Army -- The departure of Battery D-Battery B, the second unit-Company E, First Infantry-Company B, Signal Corps- Recruits for the navy-The Navy League branch-The Motor Reserve Corps-The Officers' Reserve Corps-Council of Patriotic Service-Allen County Council of Defense-Splendid response to Red Cross Appeal- Central Red Cross supply depot-Fort Wayne Red Cross chapter-The Red Cross hospital unit-Selective constription registration-The "Lib- erty" parade-Registration of "Alien Enemies"-The "Liberty" bond sale -Y. M. C. A. fund over-subscribed-Catholic War Fund-The "War" gardens-The adoption of "Eastern" time-War activities-Conclusion.
W AR, the most stupendous, the most bloody, of all history, rages on the continent of Europe. Already, thousands of American boys, answering heroically the appeal of the Pres- ident to entwine the Stars and Stripes with the standards of Great Britain and France and fight the hordes of the German kaiser, have responded to the call to foreign battlefields to do their share to "make the world safe for democracy." Other thousands await the call and the awful, glorious task goes forward.
In common with the cities of all other portions of America, where sorrowing hearts beat within hopeful breasts-where tear- dimmed eyes gaze ever toward the light-the people of Fort Wayne place before the national government their lives, their energy, their intelligence, their talents, their wealth, for service in the world's greatest struggle for humanity.
To meet the necessity of closing the written history of Fort Wayne in the midst of a time when the setting sun of each succeed- ing day spreads its benediction over the new and ever more mar- velous sacrifices of its thousands of tireless patriotic men and women is the first painful task in the preparation of this story. But the supreme glory of the narrative-incomplete as it must remain- tempers the feeling of regret, for Fort Wayne and Allen county have given to all America an example of intelligent loyalty at the time of the nation's greatest peril, unsurpassed by any other com- munity in the land.
An indescribable feeling of patriotic emotion gripped the hearts of the people when, on the 6th of April, 1917, Congress declared the existence of a state of war between the United States and the impe- rial German government, following a period of ruthless and unre- stricted submarine warfare. One impulse, that of personal service to his country, immediately claimed every individual, and the con- fusion of the earlier days, as each citizen endeavored to find his place in the scheme of the new order gave way promptly to an orderly, systematic plan of action. With bewildering rapidity, the 571
572
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
people grasped every possible means to declare their loyalty, and while much of the permanent work was performed with quietness, the visible evidences of patriotism took the form of flag raisings, parades and public gatherings in which thousands participated. Old Glory floated over the homes of the people and their public and commercial buildings.
As early as the 17th of May the many avenues of activity were so fully occupied as to merit this observation of one of the news- papers :
"There never has been a time when this section of the state failed to respond to the call of the colors, and never a time when she has responded more spontaneously and enthusiastically than now. In every field of patriotic activity she has taken a foremost position. Her percentage of enlistments in the regular army is greater than that of any other section. She is splendidly and abun- dantly represented in the Officers' Reserve Corps at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Her citizens have taken more seriously to the suggestion of the government that every available foot of ground be turned to production, and her organization to encourage this expression of loyalty is more active and efficient than in any other city in the state. Her women have responded to the call of the Red Cross, and an impressive number of her best physicians and surgeons are preparing now to sacrifice their personal interests by going to the hospitals of France. If every city in the country could present a record of response as admirable as that of Fort Wayne, there would be no occasion to doubt the spirit of the republic." (Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette).
From the same publication, two weeks later, the following is quoted :
"The nation turns to Fort Wayne today and salutes. The government at Washington has given national publicity to the fact that in the matter of enlistments between the Boston Harbor and the Golden Gate, and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, the Fort Wayne district leads the procession! Not another district in the entire country has approached our record close enough to be looked upon as a rival. By the end of April this district had a remarkable lead, with 75 per cent. of her quota filled, and since then the work has been completed. Our nearest competitor for the honor is Port- land, Oregon, with 70 per cent. Then a notable fall to the third district, Salt Lake City, with 49 per cent. Wichita, Kansas, follows, with 39 per cent. Then comes Indianapolis, the fifth district in the country, with less than 37 per cent., as against our more than 75 per cent .! Then follow San Francisco, Chicago, Terre Haute, Harris- burg and Detroit."
LEXINGTON DAY.
Thirty thousand loyal citizens united, on the 19th of April, the one hundred and forty-second anniversary of the battle of Lex- ington, in the greatest street pagcant ever staged in Fort Wayne. A crowd of monster proportions witnessed the parade and the at- tendant ceremonies. The celebration was opened at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when Frank A. Martin, impersonating Paul Revere, rode a horse at high speed sonthward on Calhoun street, through the business district, and gave the signal for the movement of the
-
573
1917
FT. WAYNE'S ANSWER TO THE CALL TO WAR
parade. For a period of one hour and twenty minutes the proces- sion-great sections of which were composed of persons marching sixteen abreast-passed the reviewing stand at the courthouse, which was occupied by members of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Daughters of the American Revolution and other patriotic orders. In addition to the military features of the parade, provided by Concordia College cadets in full uniform, Company E, Battery B, Battery D and Company B, Signal Corps, prominent features of the event were the representations from the public and parochial schools, many lodges and fraternal societies, labor and church organizations, Boy Scouts, "Uncle Sam" girls, Red Cross girls, high school cadets, Spanish-American War veterans, University Club, Rotary Club, One Hundred Per Cent. Club, Mizpah Patrol, Western Union messenger boys, Rotary newsboys, Turner athletes, the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club, and others. The multiplicity of flags, many of them of immense size, was a remarkable feature of the parade. Many bands and drum corps were in line.
One by one, the units of the parade disbanded at the corner of West Main and Webster streets, where, on the grounds of the Fort Wayne and Northern Indiana Traction Company, the day's flag-raising ceremony ensued. Prof. William Miles led in the sing- ing of patriotic songs, accompanied by the Elks' band. City Attor- ney Guy Colerick, chairman of the day, presented Attorney Stephen A. Callahan, who read the following resolutions which bore the sig- natures of Mayor William J. Hosey, Charles L. Biederwolf, Dr. A. G. Emrick, Edward C. Miller, Frank E. Stouder, Edward G. Hoff- man, Prof. J. N. Study, Capt. George L. Byroade, Harry W. Muller, B. J. Griswold, Robert E. Kelly, Capt. E. H. Kilbourne and William H. Scheiman, composing the committee of arrangements of the Lex- ington Day celebration :
"Fort Wayne, Indiana, April 19, 1917 ..
"Whereas, the United States of America is now in a state of war with the imperial government of Germany and Central Powers, and, whereas, it is the desire and purpose of fifty thousand citizens in mass meeting assembled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the anni- versary of the battle of Lexington to give expression to the loyalty of the people of this city; be it
"Resolved, by the entire citizen body of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and of this county of Allen, and of this Twelfth congressional dis- trict of the state of Indiana, That we loyally and sincerely approve, sanction and indorse the action taken by the President and Congress in declaring the existence of a state of war, and in the avowed purpose of prosecuting this war to a successful conclusion, to the end that the honor of our country shall be upheld and the rights of its citizens and of humanity be protected and secured; be it further
"Resolved, That the plan of selective universal military training and service, as proposed by the Honorable Woodrow Wilson, Pres- ident of the United States, be enacted into law by Congress without delay ; and be it further
"Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the President and to each senator and member of Congress from the state of Indiana."
574
THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE
Prolonged cheers followed the unanimous adoption of the reso- lutions. Addresses were made by Mayor W. J. Hosey and Dr. James E. Jayne, of Wabash, Indiana, and, at the close, while the buglers of the Concordia College cadets sounded "to the colors," Capt. George L. Byroade, U. S. A., raised a large flag to the top of a ninety-foot flagstaff. Then the vast crowd, with heads bared, united in singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Among the speakers who addressed evening meetings were Rev. Arthur J. Folsom, pastor of Plymouth Congregational church; Rev. John F. Noll, of Huntington, Indiana ; Harry H. Hilgeman, Charles M. Niezer, E. V. Emrick and Judge John W. Eggeman.
FORT WAYNE LEADS THE NATION IN REGULAR ARMY ENLISTMENTS.
From the beginning, the Fort Wayne recruiting district of the United States army, in charge of Capt. Thomas F. Ryan, U. S. A., claimed the attention of the military authorities throughout the country because of its leadership in the matter of the number of men enrolled for war service. From April 6, the day of the formal declaration of war, up to May 23, when Indiana's original quota of 5,500 men was secured, 3,000 of these-or 55 per cent. of the whole- were sent from the Fort Wayne station to Fort Thomas, Kentucky. During April, alone, one full regiment was recruited at Fort Wayne and sent to Fort Thomas by special train. During one day, May 1, a total of 223 men was enlisted, while the greatest number of men accepted for the United States army in a later day was 278. From the 1st of April to the first week in June, a grand total of 4,000 men was sent from Fort Wayne to the United States army camps. The recruiting station was located at No. 115 East Main street.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.