Adams County, Indiana - The whole text, 1907 (part 5 of 16)

The veteran newspaper man of Adams county is without doubt Edward A. Phillips. He in partnership with Winfield S. Congleton started the Decatur Free Press, which was the immediate predecessor of the Decatur Weekly Journal. In November, 1883, in an edition of the Journal, while owned and operated by Mr. Phillips, appeared a sample of his journalistic composition that will give some idea of him as a writer. That was about the closing year of the newspaper battles in Adams county and was entitled : "A Sad Scene. - Last Friday just as the court house clock had ceased to strike the hour of twelve a solemn orocession might have been seen emerging from the courthouse door. In front and the saddest of ail marched ex- Auditor Christen and ex-Clerk Blackburn, who had just then turned over the keys of their offices to their successors. They were followed by a number of our most prominent citizens, among whom were S. S. Roth, of the Democrat; our reporter, W. S. Congleton; R. B. Allison, president of the Old Adams County Bank ; John King, Jr., and a number of others who sympathized with the bereaved. They started thence sonth to Court street, thence west to Third street, thence north to Madison street, thence to the own pump. This line of march was repeated three times, making about four miles traveled. The procession then moved with uncovered heads to the abstract office of John Schurger for the purpose of learning whether the titles of Christen and Blackburn were clear to 'mansions in the skies.' Schurger seemed to realize the awful responsibility resting on him and with a downcast look began searching the records. Hero was the most trying scene of our life. * * * Never did we witness such scenes as occurred in the space of one hour. Congleton became speechless and fainted away and laid in the back room for dead. Tears rolled down over the cheeks of the hard-hearted Roth until it became necessary to secure a sprinkling can. King turned as white as a sheet and was not known by his best friends. The desperately wicked and hardhearted man of the Journal was forced to secure stimulants, bathe his temples and fan himself in order to keep in a condition to sit up. All this time Christen and Blackburn sal upon the sofa embraced in each other's arms. with their heads resting upon each other - shoulders. Soon a bright smile was sren t' 1 cover Schurger's countenance, which caused his inouth to spread from ear to ear. The Journal man was first to take in the situation. He then knew that ail was right; that the records were clear and title good. Schureer who seemed to he all covered over with glory, then read the abstract in a loud, clear and sweet voice. It was: 'After a careful and complete search of the records kept by both of you I find that they are all correct in every particular. Your conduct while in office has been such as to make ycur title clear to mansions in the skies or anywhere else you may see fit to emigrate to.' Here the joy of all became so expressive that Schurger's voice could net be heard. And from the awful stillness, which could be heard for squares away, the scene was changed to a regular pandemonium. Christen tried to climb the ceiling. Blackburn persisted in standing on his head and turning double somersaults. Allison was on his knees before Schurger trying to pray. Roth was determined to make a speech like unto a jollification meeting, but the noise was so great that he could not be heard. He then danced a double clog dance and kicked over the stove, hugged the stovepipe and the Journal man at the same time. Congleton, <ur reporter, who had been considered dead, came rushing out into the room, shouting at the top of his voice, 'By jeru, ain't I happy !' He undertook to imitate Roth in his double clog dance, but corked himself the first break he made and had to be hobbled. The Journal man started on the run up the middle of the stuet to carry the news to Alary. He : as not since been heard from. It is probable that the excitement was such as to cause ---n\ tn ],-,se foj§ sen?eS) if hc e% er had any, and ->i his carcass has become food for the fishes of the raging Saint Mary's ere this time. The marshal was sent for, restored order and marched them all to the town pump for a drink."

Edward A. Phillips is the oldest resident newspaper man in active service in Adams county. In 1876 he first came to live in Decatur. The next year he and W. S. Congleton started the Decatur Free Press, the second Republican newspaper published in the county. In 1S80 Mr. Phillips became the owner and editor of the Decatur Weekly Journal, which then was less than a year old. The Journal dates from the starting of the Free Press and is in its NNXI volume. In 1884 Mr. Phillips sold his interest in the paper to Shaffer Peterson and started the Geneva Enterprise, which was issued under his direction for over two years, when he disposed of his interest in that publication and returned to Decatur. At the age of twelve years he commenced his career as a typesetter in the Celina Standard office and subsequently worked on the Wabash Plaindealer, the Peru Sentinel and the Fort Wayne Sentinel and severai other publications. For forty-three years he has found employment in a newspaper office, the last thirty years of which has been in Adams county. He is at this time foreman of the circulation and mechanical departments of the Decatur Weekly Journal Edward A. Phillips was born on the 14th day of Jul}'. 1852, at Saint Mary's, Ohio. On the 31st day of July, 1877, he was married to Miss Isabel H. Miesse, a daughter of William Miesse, an early tavern-keeper of Decatur. To them were bom two sons - William C, who is general manager of the Manhattan Hotel at Lorain, Ohio, and Charles A., who is engaged in the confectionery and restaurant business at Van Wert, Ohio. All are Republicans in politics and Methodists in religion. Mr. Phillips has seen man}- of his early associates in the profession, or trade, come and go while he has lived for thirty years in the same house in Decatur.

The Adams Couxty Times

It has been said that the Adams County Times entered the newspaper field ?.s a local representative of one of the town trustees in the corporation of Berne; that there were some differences as to the town's management of paving the streets and constructing the sidewalks. John G. Hanna was the first publisher of the Times, but soon yielded the editorial chair to Calvin Whitwer, who in turn gave place to O. V. Borden, its last editor. The Adams County Times was a spicy six-column folio, semi-weekly for the first three months then changed to a weekly publication. It dates from March 19, 1901, and suspended publication after a continuance of about seven months. Its subscription list of perhaps about two hundred was filled out by the Berne Witness. This paper was printed at the Mennonitc Book Concern at Berne, which in 1901 was under the control of John A. Sprunger, who then was also interested in the orphanage in that town. The young men who edited this paper show evidence of good newspaper ability, but their cause was not one of great interest to the general reading public and the paper was discontinued on the iSth of October, 1901.

The Bekxe News

which was started on the 21st day of November, 1903, in the second story of a little frame building on the oouth side of the main street in Berne by Hamilton Mercer as editor and S. W. Miller as general manager. The present location of the News office is on the first floor in one of the rooms of the People's State Bank building near Main street. In the spring of 1904 the News became the property of Otto M. Ryf, who has successfully operated it for more than three years. It now has a subscription list of between se\ en and eight hundred and is steadily growing in volume. Mr. Ryf is a young, energetic, intelligent resident of Benie, who closely guards the interests of the town as well as his own, and under his management doubtless the News will continue to grow in circulation and usefulness.

The Bekne Witness

The Berne Witness office, as that of many other great publishing centers, had a modest and unassuming beginning. On the 3d day of September, 1896, the first Witness came from the press. John Nix, as pressman, and Fred Rohrer, as editor and publisher. Tin's, the first paper published in Berne, appeared as a seven-column folio. Within a year it was enlarged to a five-column quarto. In April, 1S99, it was changed to a six-column quarto. The next year a German edition was published and continued until November, 1 901. ai which time the two united and issued as a semi-weekly, in which form the paper is now delivered to its readers. The Witness office was first on the second floor of the Sprunger & Lehman Company clothing store building, where it continued for several years. Its newspaper press at first was a second-hand Washington hand press, a good press of its kind, but very slow in its operations. In June, 1900, the Mennonite Hook Concern had most of its printing done at Elkhart, Indiana. A satisfactory proposition was made this company by Mr. Rohrer and he secured the work of printing its publications, consisting of a large list of tracts, weekly and semi-weekly and monthly publications. That this work be done properly the Witness plant was enlarged by the addition of about three thousand dollars' worth of new material and machinery. The office was then removed to the Champion block, the business office, presses, folders, stitchers, etc., on the first floor and all the large upstairs part of the building is used as a composing room. In November, 1900, Mr. Rohrer formed a partnership with Henry M. Reuser, William Narr and David C. Welty, he himself retaining a half interest in the property. In 1895 a book bindery was added 10 the equipment, and one without any qualification can say that the Berne Witness plant is now the best equipped for newspaper and general printing of any office in the county. By those who have had an opportunity to know it is said that it is the best equipped office between Richmond and Fort Wayne. In May, 1906, the firm heretofore existing was dissolved and the enterprise was incorporated with a capital stock of twelve thousand dollars. At present the business is under the management of three directors - David C. Welty, Henry M. Reusser and Fred Rohrer. The force of the «i rtrqess office, exclusive of its directors, is eighteen employes at this time. On a recent ' --»( to this office the writer hereof noticed a 1 if of printed newspaper sheets just from the pu'ss. Upon inquiry he was told that this was one quarterly seventeen thousand five hundred edition of a certain paper printed at this office. In a recent report of the postmaster general as to the largest mailing postoffices in the United States it was shown that there were four hundred and twentyseven given a very high rating. Of the twenty-two in Indiana Berne was given as one of' the number. This may not be wondered at when it is said that the Witness alone uses from two to four carloads of piper each month in the publication of its papers. The list of its periodical publications and their circulaton as given us by their editor is as follows :

The Berne Witness as one of the papers named is printed partly in German, using the German type, and partly in English. In local matters the Witness is a staunch Prohibition advocate. But in other elections, particularly state and congressional matters, it has strong Republican tendencies. Fred Rohrer, the editor and publisher, is very frank in the expression of his beliefs, which constantly arouse his enemies and make his friends more firm and ardent in his support.

Daily Newspapers

The daily newspaper field in Adams county has but a short history. Although the reading public could scarcely spare its daily papers it has not bestowed the patronage upon them that their efforts merit. The free rural delivery system has brought to their patronage quite an additional list of readers. The earliest daily publication in Adams county was started in September, 187S, by Winfield S. Congleton, who then was publisher of the Decatur Free Press. The general election time was approaching and there seemed to be a demand for a daily paper to advance the political interests of certain Republican and independent candidates for county offices. This daily ran for a month or six weeks and was discontinued after the October election of 1878. The next daily publication was the Geneva Triumph, which was started in December, 1880, by C. S. Thompson and continued until the middle of June, iSSi, at which time the paper was suspended and the plant, which was operated by a small steam engine, was removed to Shane's Crossing, Ohio. This was a six-column, non-political daily publication operated in the old Gallery building on the east side of High street, perhaps on inlot No. 153. The Weekly Triumph preceded this publication sever;:! years. The files of these publications were left with Charles D. Porter when the office removed from the countv, but were destroyed in the Geneva fire of 1805. In 1884 there was a daily issue of the Decatur Journal, published during the Richards- Baxto-Worst murder trial by E. A. Phillips, and the next year the Decatur Democrat issued a daily during the county fair week. In 1900 the Democrat again issued a daily edition for a short time, la 1891 William E. Ashcraft published a daily issue of the Decatur Journal during the trial of Lige Holland, the negro charged with the murder of Daisy Reynolds. The first effort at a separate and distinct daily publication was that of the Daily Evening News, which began on the 3d day of June, 1891. This paper was a six-column folio, was published by Patrick J. Bobo and Edward Martin in one of the rooms in the Niblick block at the corner of Madison and Second streets. The firm of Bobo & Martin was soon dissolved and Mr. Bobo became owner and editor. The plant was then removed to the Wei fry building east of the public square, new machinery was added and the daily regularly issued until May, 1893, at which time the daily was discontinued and the Weekly World began publication, which continued until November, 1896, and suspended publication. On the 1 6th of September, 1895, Norval Blackburn, then owner of the Decatur Democrat, began the publication of the Daily Democrat, which was continued until the 9th day of January, 1897, and suspended for "want of sufficient patronage and support." In May, 189S, a special edition of the Democrat was published as a daily during the Methodist Episcopal conference which was in session in Decatur at that time. Late in the fall of 1897 the Decatur Evening Journal was started by Frank E. Everett, then the owner and editor of the Decatur Weekly Journal. The weekly was and is a Republican paper, but the daily was usually independent in it^ expressions and at once secured a good circulation and by many of the daily readers it wras considered the best daily yet published in Decatur. In February, 1S98, it was sold u> C. M. Kenyon, who directed its publicatj';n until June, 1900, at which time Harry Daniels became its owner and editor. He iiuide some valuable improvements and published also a morning edition, which was intended to meet the demands of the rural route patronage. In the columns of his publications appeared from time to time his "Minor Observations," which were commonly witty satires on the extieme fads of the community in its various social and business phases. This young editor is now holding a good position with the Chicago Inter Ocean. In 1903 C. M. Kenyon again became the owner and editor of the Journal plant ; put in a linotype typesetting machine and made other changes in the mechanical department of the office. He continued the publication of the several editions of the Journal until the 3d day of July, 1906, at which time, from various combined causes, the dailies suspended publication. On the 12th day of January, 1903, the Decatur Daily Democrat was started by Lew G. Effingham, its present owner and publisher, and it has since been regularly issued. At its starting it was a six-column folio, and so continued until the nth day of March, 1907, at which time it was enlarged to a seven-column folio. It has a good rural route circulation and its share of advertising. This paper is superior m print and appearance to most daily papers published in the smaller cities. Its politics, Iikc the Democrat,' is commonly Democratic, "ut at times it expresses some very liberal views on the political issues between the two Jl'cai political parties.

The Geneva Enterprise

In July, 1885, the Geneva Enterprise was started by E. A. Phillips, formerly of the Decatur Journal. Since 18S3 the Independent, then published by H. S. Thomas, had circulated from its Geneva office. This publication was very unsatisfactory to a certain part of the reading people of Geneva and vicinity and the Enterprise received its share of support at the start. Its first issue had hardly left the press when a spicy controversy began as to individual rights and political views of the two contending editors. In the following November Mr. Thomas sold his plant to E. B. Detter and a young . man from Hartford City and gave up the fight. The new proprietors gave the paper a new name, the Geneva Herald, changed its policy and continued its publication until early in 1887, when the Enterprise sold out to them and suspended publication. Within this year Lew G. Ellingham became the owner of the Geneva Herald.

The Geneva Triumph

The Geneva Triumph was the first newspaper started south of Decatur in Adams county. It was a weekly at first, but the last six months of its publication it was a daily paper. This printing outfit was also the first steam power press in the county and dated from April, 1876. It was located in the Watson gallery building on irifot No. 154, on High street in Geneva. Its publisher, C. K. Thompson, brought this printing plant from Fountain City, Indiana, at the instance of the citizens of Geneva, largely through the influence of William Fought and Jerry Cartwright, who aided materially in seeming the required donation for its removal to Geneva. This publication was successfully operated for over four years and suspended in June, 1SS1, and removed to Shane's Crossing, Ohio. The paper gained a good subscription list and had its publisher devoted the proper attention to his paper he might today be operating the largest publication in the county. It was independent in politics, but usually gave the news of the day without fear or favor. This publication will be remembered as the second daily and the first steam power plant in the county.

The Geneva News

The Geneva News was started soon after the suspension of the Triumph in the summer of 1 881. Its first issue appeared in August with Alva Roberts and William H. Fought as editors. The editorials, locals and advertising matter were sent each week to Fort Wayne for composition and press work, and the printed paper sent to Geneva for publication. In the fall of 18S2 Mr. Roberts sold his interest in the paper to Adam Cully and the News office was thereafter in the Cully building, then used as an agricultural store. Mr. Cully placed his son, J. C. Cully, in charge of the paper and until its sale was one of its publishers. In May, 18S3. the paper, good will and subscription list was sold to a newspaper publisher of Wiltshire, Ohio, by the name of H. S. Thomas, who at once removed his plant from Willshire to Geneva, discontinued the News and started the Independent. The News was a seven-column folio, news)- and aggressive in its editorials and when discontinued had about three hundred and fiftv subscribers.

The Independent was a fcur-column quarto at first, but subsequently changed to a six-column folio. It was started in the spring of 1883 by H. S. Thomas in one of the Pyle buildings on High street. For a time it had a good patronage, but its editor seemed to have some "high" ideals on morals, temperance, etc., that gave offense to a large number of the readers of his paper. So much dissatisfaction in time developed - that the Enterprise was started that some of his editorials be answered. His patronage diminished until in the fall of 1885 he sold the plant to E. B. Detter and a young man from Hartford City, whose name we have been unable to learn. This new firm changed the management of the paper and named it the Geneva Herald, a name it still retains.

The Geneva Herald

The Geneva Herald was built upon the "ruins" of the Independent and the Geneva News. The successive owners of this paper are E. B. Detter, Lew G. Ellingham, W. Fred Pyle, O. G. Rayn and C. O. Rayn, the- present owner and editor. The Geneva Herald was started as an independent weekly newspaper and has so continued to the present time. It has somewhat expressed the views of its editors in their preferences toward the leading political parties, but has always been an advocate of strict morality and regard for the state and national laws. This property has been in the possession of the Rayn brothers for more than fifteen years and has never in that time missed an issue. The present owner has steadily improved the me- chanicai department with new and modern this time the Herald is a six-column quarto, machinery. In 1896 a simplex typesetting with its share of advertising and a good genmachine was added to the equipment. At eral circulation.

City And Towns

At this time there are four incorporated towns in Adams county. In relation to their size they are Decatur, Berne, Geneva and Monroe. They are all situated on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, which was opened for passenger traffic on Christmas day, 1 87 1. Monroe and Decatur are much older than the others, as they were both platted towns before 1850. Geneva is of more recent date. The fiist mention of Geneva upon the town plat records of the county appears in an addition of nineteen lots platted by George W. Pyle and put on record March 29, 1877. The town of Alexander, on the Limberlost, a half mile south cf Pyle's addition, was laid out in July, 183S, and contained twenty-eight lots. The town of Buffalo, which is immediately west and north of Alexander, was laid out in July, I^53> by David Studabaker about the time that the Cincinnati, Union City & Fort Wayne Railroad was cut out through the county. Mr. Studabaker subsequently laid out several additions to Buffalo. The original plat of Buffalo contained thirty lots. The town of Monroe had its beginning in December, 1847. This town is situated on the township line just twelve miles from the north and the same distance from the south end of the county. It was platted by John Everhart and had eighty lots in its original plat. In 1850 it was in a lively contest for the county seat. The vote of the county standing Decatur 474, Monroe 343, Monmouth 14 and Pleasant Mills 2 votes. Berne is the youngest of the four towns and has the largest number of fine residences and good business rooms of any town of its age in the county.

The City Of Decatur

Decatur is situated on the west side of the Saint Mary's river, six miles south cf the Allen count)' line and about six miles west 01 tne east line of Indiana. Its original plat contained one hundred and seventy-seven tots, which were sixty-six by one hundred MM thirty-two feet in size. There are four and west streets - Monroe, Madison, .» rfftrsoti and Adams - and five streets extending north and south. They were Front, Second. Third, Fourth and Fifth streets. This town was laid out by Thomas Johnson and Samuel L. Rugg, as proprietors, and the plat recorded on the 23d day of June, 1S36. The southern addition was platted in 1844 and other additions were soon made. The county seminar)' lot is south of the water works park and in 1871 was laid out in lots from i to 12 to Marshal! street and known as the Seminary addition. North of the Seminary- addition to the meeting of Third and Fifth streets is a part of the ten acres of land donated to the county in 1836 by Samuel L. Rugg to secure the location of the county seat at Decatur. In June, 1S75, this ground was platted in town lots by County Commissioners George W. Luckey, George Frank and Benjamin Runyon. At the present time the city 01 Decatur is about a mile wide and two miles in length. It has now arrived at a point in its growth that it can. offer more and better inducements to capital and manufacturing interests than it has ever before been able to do. There were forty-three families in Decatur in 1850, with a total population of 231 persons. In i860 there were 483; in 1870, 947: in 1880, 1,905; in 1890, 3,142; in 1900, 4,142, and at the present time about 4.S00. Until 1846 the residents of Decatur had to ford the river or go to Willshire to cross on a bridge to reach the Piqua road. In 1852 the plank road company erected the north river bridge and Decatur experienced its first good roads. Then its real commercial life began. It had the county buildings, but Monmouth and Pieasant Mills had the advantage of the wonderful wave of emigration that was coming in over the Piqna road. Decatur at once began a period of growth it had never before known.

The town of Decatur was surveyed and platted by Jacob Hofer. who built the first " - residence in the town. It was located on inlot No. 291, at the comer of From and Jackson streets, just east oi the Bosse Opera House. It was a log cabin of the pioneer type. The first stoic building was also a log structure, and was erected at the corner of Monroe and Front streets, on inlot No. 274, where the Waring mitten factory is situated. The storekeeper was Henry Reichard, who came to Decatur from Willshire. Ohio, about 1838, and began a store when there were but two or three other buildings in the town. He did not long remain in Decatur as J. D. Nutman, then a young unmarried man, came in and chose Decatur as his field of operations. Fie bought out Mr. Reichard's interests and began the store business. His energy and business ability soon brought him a good trade. In a few years, perhaps in 1845, he built a twostory frame building at the corner of Second and and Monroe streets on inlot No. 57, where the Holthouse & Schulte clothing store is situated. He eventually accumulated a fortune, sold his store interests and engaged in the banking business. As a remembrance of the store furniture used in Mr. Nutman's last store in Decatur the reader has but to step into the grocery department of the Niblick & Company's store on. Second street and see some of the broad ash board counters and grocery drawers used in the Nutman store over fifty years ago. Another of the early merchants in Decatur was James Crabbs, whose store was started in 1845 or 1S46. At that time there were no steam mills in the county and lumber was scarce and high priced from the slow process of making it on the small muley water mills along the smaller streams. On inlot No. 273. on the north side of Monroe street, just west of the Burt Flouse corner, may be seen one of the oldest store buildings in Decatur. Its joists, studding and rafters are hewed out. Its plastering lath has been rived as was then the custom to rive shingles and clapboards for roofing. In 1S72 the lower story of this building was raised and the structure otherwise remodeled. The first tavern in the town was started about 183S by James Crabbs, whose first tavern, building was logs, but later built some frame additions. Its location was the present site of the Burt House. Along in the forties Chester Burt became the owner of this property and in 1852 erected a two-story frame hotel building. His first hotel experience, however, was in Monmouth. When the plank road was built through Decatur Mr. Burt changed locations. The first Miesse tavern was situated at the corner of Front and Monroe streets on inlot No. 297 and was the second tavern in town. It was a two-story frame that was subsequently removed from the lot to the northwest part of town in 1864, when George A. Dent erected the present two-story brick residence known ,as the Dorwin property. This was the second brick residence built in Decatur, the Samuel L. Rugg residence on lot No. 62, where Scheimann's meat market is located, being the first, which was built in 1840. The Closs tavern, erected in 1844, by Jacob Closs, was the next tavern stand in Decatur. This was built at the corner of Second and Monroe streets, where the Niblick & Company store and the Old Adams County Bank buildings are located. This tavern was removed in 1S72, the one part of which is now a residence on Monroe street just west of the Christian church and the other part is used as U. R. Cramer's wagonmaker shop on lot <6 on the north side of Monroe street near the river bridge. The first brick business room was erected by Joseph and Perry t rafebs on the west end of inlot No. 273 at Hie comer of old Second and Monroe sercete in 1856 or 1857. This building was remodeled and another story added about five or six years ago and is now used by the Winnes Shoe Store, with a hall and office rooms above. Another one of the oldest residence buildings in the city and a fine one in its day, is the Joseph Crabbs residence, a two-story frame, covered with brackets, shutters and ornaments, and located at the corner of Second and Jackson streets and now occupied by James Niblick. It was built in 1855 by Mr. Crabbs. Some other buildings are the jails and court houses. The first jail was a hewed log building built in 1S39 at a cost of about three hundred and twentyfive dollars. The first court house was a twostory frame, court room below and offices above, built at a cost of about one thousand six hundred dollars. There were two brick buildings erected in 1849, one at the southeast corner of the public square and used as offices for the county auditor and county treasurer, and one at the northeast corner of the public square, where the "Whittier's Barefoot Eoy*' fountatin is located, that was used as the offices of the county recorder and the county clerk. These buildings v. ere onestory in height and about sixteen by thirtytwo feet in size. They remained in use until the records were removed in 1874 into the present court house. The present court house was completed in the fall of 1873 at an estimated cost of about one hundred thousand dollars. Its corner stone was laid on the 4th day of July, 1872. under the directions and ceremonies of the Odd Fellows and Masonic orders. The present county jail was built in 1S86 at a cost of about twenty-five thousand dollars. In the original proposition the owners of the town site of Decatur if granted the county seat ottered to donate four suitable town lots to the four church de- nominations that would first improve them by the erection of church buildings. The Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and the German Reformed Zion Congregation availed themselves of this offer. In 1851 the Methodist congregation erected its first church building in Decatur on inlot 280, at the corner of Jackson and Front streets. It was a large frame structure and is still standing, however it was remodeled and rearranged by William Bosse and made into an opera house about 1S9S. In 18S1 a new brick structure was begun at the coiner of Fifth and Monroe streets and this structure was completed the next year. In 1891 a neat parsonage was erected. In 1896 a large addition was made to the church building and class rooms and gallery added. At the present time this is the second largest church building in the city. The first Presbyterian church building was erected in Decatur in 1854, was a frame and stood about eight years and was destroyed by fire. In 1862 this building was replaced by the first brick church building in the county. It was located on lot 330 at the "five points" of the intersection of Second, Adams, Mercer and Winchester streets. In 1905 fire again visited this congregation's church buiiding, destroying most of the furniture and greatly injuring the inner walls of the building. The structure was then removed and a new and commodious building was erected in its stead. The preacher then in charge, Rev. E. A. Allen, furnished the one-tenth part of the cost of the structure and its equipment and furnishings. The first Catholic church building in Decatur was put up in 1846-7: was a substantial frame at the corner of Madison and Fourth streets on inlot No. 129. The present massive brick church was begun in 1872 and completed the next year. The Catholic church property consists of the church building, the priest's house, the sisters' house and the several school buildings. A new two-story addition was built in 1907.

In 1861 the German Reformed Zion Congregation began its organization in Decatur. Within the next year its church building, a frame, was erected. Its membership increased and at the present time its church building is located near the corner of Jackson and Third streets and is a comfortable frame structure, with a school room built as an addition at the side. It has recently undergone some remodeling that materially adds to its appearance. This church has also its parsonage, a frame structure, that provides for the home of its minister. The Evangelical Association organized its church in Decatur about 1870 and in 1873 had its church building erected on inlot No. 347 on the east side of Winchester street. In 1887 the church property was remodeled and greatly improved in appearance. This church has its parsonage, which is a comfortable two-story frame structure. The Baptist church organization was formed in Decatur in 18S4 and in 1887 it erected a neat and commodious brick church building on the east side of Fourth street near Adams street. This is one of the best small church buildings in the city and in a large degree owes its existence to the untiring efforts of its previous pastor, Rev. D. B. Reckard. The Christian church class began its organization in Decatur about 18S0. Within the next two years it purchased the old Methodist church property on Front street and within the next five years had secured sufficient funds to buv a lot at the corner of

Fifth and Monroe streets and erect a commodious frame church house. As yet it has no parsonage. The next church building erected was built at the corner of Ninth and Madison streets by the United Brethren congregation. This building was erected in 1S96 and in 1902 was remodeled and much improved in appearance. It as yet has no parsonage. The last church building erected in the city is the Evangelical Lutheran Zion church, at the corner of Eleventh and Monroe streets. It is a good sized, tasty brick edifice, with stone trimmings. As yet it has no parsonage, but maintains a parochial school and has a comfortable frame school house in connection with the church property. Doubtless Prof. Henry Lankenau has had more to do in securing the erection of these buildings for the use of the church and school than any other member of the Decatur congregation. Though Decatur has been reasonably fortunate, it has had some very destructive fires. In 1878 that part of the east side of Second street from east of Court street to Madison street was burned out. In 18S2, in September, all of that part of the east side of Second street from Madison to Monroe street was consumed by fire. The buildings were all frame with the exception of Nutman's office building, which was brick. The Decatur city council house was burned on the evening of a primary election of 1899; the log county jail was burned in 1879. The "Big Store" June 28, 1903. loss about seventy-five thousand dollars; the New Fornax mill, 1905; the Burt .louse in December, 1906, loss twenty thousand dollars. Some others of much earlier date are: The' Charles Schermyer's tannery on Market street; the Theo- <J,,re Rolivar brewery on East Monroe street; Clever, Weeks & Vail's factoty in 1S83; D. O. Jackson's lumber yard and planing mill at comer of Madison and Front streets in 1884. At the present time the city has a good fire company, city water works and some other means for fire protection. Its first effort toward protection from fire was in 188S, when a hand engine by the use of city cisterns was used. Decatur has three steam railroads and an electric traction line to Fort Wayne. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad has a neat little modern depot built of brick, the other steam roads use their first depot buildings. The Fort Wayne & Springfield Traction Company have their power house in Decatur. It is a cement block structure, large, neat and commodious. Its car barns are also of cement blocks. These buildings are located in the north part of the city.

It was not until about 18S0 that any of the streets of Decatur were paved or graveled. About that time sand and gravel were placed on Monroe street, and Second street was paved from Madison to Monroe streets with niggerhead rocks and a rougher road would be hard to find. Monroe street in 1883 was cut so full of holes that travel was nearly abandoned. Then some of the sidewalks were bricked, but many of the principal walks along Second street were old boards. In 1888 the work of macadamizing the streets was agitated, and the contractors began the work within the next year. Rice & Bowers and Robinson & Gillig were the principal contractors. Then for the first time the stone quarries north of the city were extensively operated. A period of five or six years from 1S90 to 1895 was one °f rapid development in Decatur. Water works and electric light plants were started, natural gas was brought in for fuel. The telephone and rural route systems were put in operation throughout the county. The first brick streets and cement walks were built in Decatur. The first brick street in the city was built from Monroe to Jefferson street in 1S93 ; this was on Second street, which was the first paved street in the county, having been paved with niggerhead stone ten years prior to this time, was also the first bricked street in the county. The next year the bricking was extended to Mercer and Winchester streets at the "Five Points." Decatur now has about two miles of brick streets and a large amount of cement sidewalk. In 1906 the city council required all of Second street north of Madison street to put in cement sidewalks at least five feet in width. In 1892 the Edwards electric light plant was started ; it supplied the private consumers and operated a number of arc street lights for the city. The next year the city water works plant was put in operation and the city electric light plant was ready for operation in 1895. In 1892 the natural gas was piped in from the Camden field and is yet in use. The Citizens' Telephone Company was organized in 1894 and has grown to all of the rural districts of the country. In 1836 the town of Decatur was laid out right in the woods ; the nearest residence was over two miles distant down the river. On the last day of December, 1853, there was an election held to incorporate Decatur and place its management under its own town officers. In that election there were sixtyfour votes cast. Then the town had two hundred and eighty-seven population. There were five trustees elected; a treasurer and clerk combined ; a marshal and assessor combined. The trustees were: James Crabbs,

James Stoops, Thomas J. Pearce, Jacob Crabbs and Parker L. Wise. The clerk and treasurer was William G. Spencer. The marshal and assessor was Hamilton I. Wise. After the incorporation the first regular election was held on the 12th day of May, 1855. As a result the five trustees elected were: J. D. Nutman, Simon Friberger, James Stoops, Jacob Bodle and David Mc- Donald; as marshal and treasurer combined A. Eollman ; as clerk and assessor combined William G. Spencer. On the 5th day of September, 1882, the town of Decatur became, a city by incorporation and its city officers were: James T, Merryman, mayor; L. J. Gast, city clerk; Hairy H. Bremerkamp, city treasurer; Robert Malonee, city marshal ; J. T. Simccke, city engineer, and J. T. Archbold, street commissioner. Its first councilmen were: D. O. Jackson, George W. Patterson, J. H. Voglewede, Solomon Linn, William P. Moon and Jesse Niblick. The present city officers are : David D. Coffee, mayor ; Edward Green, citymarshal ; Carl O. France, city clerk; William J. Archbold, city treasurer; James D. Stults. street commissioner; William H. Fulk, water works superintendent; H. C. Vocht, city engineer; Lewis C. DeVoss, city attorney. City councilmen are: Jacob Martin, Millen Burns, Isaac Chronister, Eugene Christen and Anson VanCamp.

The first council house and fire department building was on the east end of inlot No. 87 on Monroe street. The council room is at present in the Decatur Library building. Decatur's first school building was round log and was situated east of Second street near Jackson street. The second was a small frame building at the corner of Jackson and Second streets on inlot No. 267.

When the town was incorporated it took the school matter in its own hands and in 1854 built a six-room two-story frame building <.n inlots Nos. 109, no and in on Jefferson and Fourth streets. This building was used until 1886, when it was removed and the Central school building was erected in its stead. This is a commodious two-story structure, with basement, sanitary plumbing, electric lights and modern heating and ventilation. Besides the Central school building there are three two-story, fourroom buildings known as the ward schools. These are all fine structure?, made of cut stone and brick, with slate roofs, and are commonly called the West ward, the North ward and the South ward schools. In 1906 a large addition was built to the south of the Central building to meet the growing demands of the higher grades of the school. The old school house, which is the second frame building, is now located at the corner of Jefferson and Second streets and is used as a grain, feed and seed store by J. D. Hale, one of the pioneer grain men of the county. Superintendent G. W. A. Luckey was the first city superintendent that conducted school in the new building. His assistants were Bertha M. Luckey. his wife; Mattie A. Wolf, Helena Parrott, Lucy Vail, Belle Merris, Kate Jackson, Nettie Moses and Dink Miller - nine teachers in all. Prof. C. A. Dugan was the second city superintendent in the new building. The present superintendent is Superintendent William Bcachler,with twenty-two assistant teachers. I he Decatur city school enumeration for the year 1907 is one thousand three hundred and ' eighteen. The attendance would be much greater were it not "Or the parochial schools conducted by the several religious organizations in the city.

The present school board is composed of A. H. Sellemeyer, Fred Mills and Robert D. Patterson. The first postoffice in Decatur was located in the Nutman store room at the corner of Front and Monroe streets. Mr. Nutman was the first postmaster. Then two mails a week was all that was expected. More mail is now delivered in Decatur in one day than there was then in a year. The postoffice has rambled nearly all over town, but has now gotten within a hundred feet of its starting place. It is now on the west end of inlot No. 274, when at first it was on the east end of this same lot. It is now kept in the Fritsinger building, which was erected about 1903 under the special contract with the United States government as to the required specifications, etc. It is a twostory brick, with plate glass and cut stone front. The present postoffice force consists of: Maynard A. Frysinger as postmaster; John S. Peterson as first assistant; George W. Everetts and S. E. Schamp as mailing clerks; James A. Beery, stamping clerk, and Faye Smith as money order clerk. Since 1904 Decatur has had free city mail delivery. Its present city carriers are : Fred S. Vaughn. Wid R. Dorwin and O. P. Mills. From Decatur there are twelve rural routes. The rural route carriers at this time are: Earl Butler, William Engle, Homer D. Lower, Henry A. Fuhrman, Mell J. Butler, Elmer E. Archer, Samuel S. Magley, Maud L. Magley, William P. Biggs, Warren A. Hamrick, Roy D. Christen and Roy Wolford. Some of the earliest assembly rooms wrere the old court house and Rover's hall. Later the Meiber's opera house. At present the court room and the Bosse opera house are used. These will comfortably seat about four hundred and fifty to fi\e hundred people. Some of the church build-

In 1903 tbe Decatur public library building was erected at a cost of about fifteen thousand dollars on inlot No. 97 on the west side of Third street. It is one of the prettiest buildings in the citv and is used for literary club meetings and a city council assembly room as well as for library purposes. It is built of brick, two stories high and faced with gray pressed brick of a fine quality, trimmed in cut stone and sanded iron work. Its two massive front columns are supported by blue limestone steps and colonades. It is lighted by electricity, heated by a low-pressure steam furnace and has sanitary plumbing, with city water. This building was dedicated in July, 1906, and opened to the reading public at that time. The present librarian is Miss Annetta Moses, who is thoroughly conversant with the details of the many books and magazines that may be found upon the shelves and tables of the library proper for the use and perusal of the general reading public. Besides a genera! description of the beginning and growth of the various phases of Decatur's advancement from the beginning to the present time we herewith give a brief outline of her present industries, etc. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows owns it own building. The Masons, Knights of Pythias, Elks, Knights of Columbus and Eagles have lodge halls.

Number of brick residences in Decatur in 1907, 20; church houses, 9; hotels, 3; restaurants, 5 ; grocery stores, 3 ; drug stores 4; cigar and tobacco stores, 3; dry goods stores, 4; clothing stores, 4; millinery stores. 4 ; hardware stores, 3 ; banks, 2 ; agricultural implement stores, 2 ; furniture stores, 3 ; shoe stores, 3 ; butcher shops, 5 ; tinner shops, 2 ; second hand stores, 2 ; ten-cent and novelty stores, 3 ; candy and fruit stores, 1 ; coal - yards, 3 ; feed and seed stores, 1 ; junk dealers, 1 ; cut stone works, 1 ; marble shops, 2 : undertakers, 3 ; saloons. 1 5 ; bottling works, 3 ; lumber yards, 2 ; bakeries, 3 : barber shops, 6 ; blacksmith shops, 4 ; foundries, 1 ; cigar factories, 5 ; furnace factory, 1 ; tile and brick mills, 3; saw mills, 3; planing mills, 1; cider mills, 1; grist mills, 3; cold storage plants, 1 ; grain elevators, 2 ; packing houses, 2 ; whip stock factory, * ; incubator factory, 1 (had a baby shoe factoiy, but it has been removed) ; machine shops, 1 ; stone quarries and crushers, 2 ; cut stone works and lime kilns, connected with the quarry, 1 ; egg case filler factory, 1 ; slack barrel heading factories, 2; wagon maker shops, 3 ; opera houses and halls, 2 ; livery stables. 4; jewelry stores, 3; tailor shops, 3; new stand, 1 ; green houses, 1 ; traction lines, 1 ; steam railroads, 3 ; abstractors, 3 ; dentists, 3; doctors, 10; lawyers, 20; photograph galleries, 2 ; printing offices, 3.

The Town Of Berne

ing and mercantile interests. The original passing them from east to west. The origipl.it of this town contained ten lots sixty-six nal town plat of Berne was made on the i5'-n v of August, 1871, but was not recorded until April 5, 1872. Its founders were \br;iham Lehman and John Hilty. The hrs! addition was made March 13, 1873, by [( '.:, Hilty and Christian Leichty and recorded on the 17th day of April, 1875. The -own of Berne is located on the township line of Wabash and Monroe townships, six miles from the south boundary of the county and about two miles from the Wabash river. This town has had more addi- :;>::> than all of the other towns in the county put together. The fifty-seventh addition to the town was made in 1906 of fifteen lots on Compromise street by Christian C. Sprunger. As its name indicates, Berne's founders were Switzers, or Swiss-Germans, as they arc sometimes called. However, there are few residents of the town who cannot understand some English and most of the English can speak some German. There is no locality in the county that has made more rapid advancement in many ways than Berne and its immediate surroundings. The modern ideas in business in its many phases seem to have saturated its financiers. Its younger business men are striving for trade by the methods unknown to Berne twenty vears a^o. There are at least four or live old residences - two-story frame farm buildings - now in the town of Berne that were built long before a town in that vicinity was thought of or begun. The Lehmans, the Sprungers and the Hiltys were early residents. Today one is pretty safe in calling every other resident he meets in tterfie by one or the other of the above names '--"id having him correctly named. In Aui,">M, 187 1, Thomas Harris built a single- -"y. small plank store room on the north to side of Main sti eet near the railroad crossing, which was the first business room in the village. He started a little general store which was the predecessor of the J. J. Hifschy & Co. store, one of the first extensive general stores in the town. One of the early grain merchants was Philip Sheets, who was also a storekeeper. Mr. Sheets was the first postmaster of Berne. Until January, 1S72, the mails were carried through from Winchester to Fort Wayne on horseback or by special earner. The postoffices in the south part of the county at that time were the Limberlost at Alexander, or Old Buffalo, as it was later known, and the Canoper postoffice, which was kept at the residences of farmers east and northeast of the present town of Berne. Some of the postmasters of the Canoper postoffice were Jacob Ruble, John R. Burdge, Lewis Mattax and A. B. McClurg. When the passenger trains began to run«on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad the mails were carried by the railroad and Limberlost and Canoper postoffices were dropped from the list and Geneva and Berne postoffices came into existence. Those who have followed Mr. Sheets are Andrew Cotschalk, William Sheets, Joel Welly, Harvey Harruir, William Waggoner, H. S. Michaud and J. F. Lehman, the present incumbent of the office. This office has five rural routes. Its present carriers are Amos Burghalter, Bertram Parr, Simon P. Lehman, Otto Franz and Elmer Eley. Berne is one of the largest mailing offices of second-cla^s mail matter in Indiana. It has also a great many stray foreign letters, as they are addressed in the German hand and not all of Uncle Sam's mail railroad clerks can read the German

The mailing lists at Berne are largely increased by the nine or ten newspapers that the Witness Company prints for the various organizations and associations and are mailed from the Berne office. The postoffice pays a salary of about sixteen hundred dollars a year. For ten years after its beginning the town's transient people had to be content with boarding house accommodations. Though good they may have been, they were hardly what was demanded by the transient public. In the summer of 1S82 the Eagle House was built east of the railroad on Main street. This name was changed in 1S93 by Mrs. Rose, its landlady, to the Cottage Flotel, a name it still retains. Its promoters were formed into a joint stock company, composed of John A. Sprunger, J. F. Lehman, D. S. Whitwer and Aaron Neuenschwandcr. D. S. Whitwer was the first landlord. This hostelry soon gave a good account of itself and is now well patronized by the traveling public in general. This hotel was originally a two-story frame structure with about twenty rooms. Berne has improved very rapidly within the last few years, and its buildings arc generally of modern construction, many of which cannot be excelled in the larger towns and cities. There are a number of large and new brick and cement block business rooms; three brick residences and twelve cement block dwellings, many of which are models of taste and beauty. At the present time there are four church organizations that have their own church buildings. The Mennonite, German Reformed. Evangelical Association and the Missionary church. The

Mennonite congregation erected its lirst church, which was a small frame, just north of and across the road from their present large frame church, which is situated on the south side of West Main street. The Mennonite church in Berne has perhaps the largest seating capacity of any church in Adams county. This church building was begun- in 1879 and since has been remodeled and enlarged by several additions. Its foundation is perhaps about sixty by seventy feet in size, and the church has a gallery on three sides; it is said that this church can comfortably seat about fifteen hundred people. Until 1S90 this property was outside of the corporation, but is now within the town limits. This church has a large membership, perhaps the largest of any one church in the county south of Decatur. Rev. S. F. Sprunger has for more than thirty years been the minister of this church. In 1903 Rev. J. W. Kliewen came and is now the minister in charge. The German Reformed people have a small frame church a few miles south of Berne. This was erected perhaps as early as 1863, and as the town of Berne grew more of this religious denomination came in until 18SS, at which time the new brick school house was erected. They then bought the old frame school property and remodeled it and used it for their church until 1896. One of the first local preachers was Rev. Bader, who was succeeded by Rev. R. Ruf, who was largely instrumental in the erection of the present elegant brick structure on West Main street, which was built in 1896. This church is modern in all respects and makes a fine outward appearance. Its membership at the present time is about two hundred and eighty-five. The Evangelical Association began its or- ionization at Berne in 1882. Its assembly room was the school house until 1SS7, when the Hocker's Hall was completed and used until the completion of their present church building, erected in 1900. This is a fine brick edifice, situated in South Berne, on one of the principal streets, and is one of the attractive and substantial public buildings of the town. The seating capacity of this church and auditorium is about six hundred and fifty. The present pastor is Rev. Frank Hartman.

The Missionary church building is the property formerly owned by the German Reformed church people and was originally the township school house built in 1S79 by Trustee Robert E. Smith, of Monroe township. This was remodeled for church purposes in 18SS. The Missionary church was an adherent to the doctrines of John A. Sprunger, who formerly was a member of the Mennonite church at Berne. It is of recent origin, having been started about 1888 or 1890. West of Berne about Ihree miles, in French township, there is another church of this denomination. It has a large frame structure. If not the founder of this church society, at least one of its ardent adherents was J. A. Sprunger, who was also the founder of the "Light and Hope" Society that built and operated an orphanage at Berne for some time. In 1898 it abandoned Us work in Berne and removed to a larger town or city to have a more extensive field for its labors. The Mission church at Berne at this time has between fifty and seventyfive resident members, with Rev. Alfred M. C iauser as its pastor. On the farm of Daniel W elty, which is now a part of the incorporated town of Berne, is an old log twostory building that was once used as a school room. In 1879 the frame school building on North Jefferson street was erected. In 1888 a two-room, two-story brick school building was erected in South Berne. It was the first addition. As of the town, this school building has had several additions. When this building was erected there was a wave of public sentiment in Berne that rather opposed women teachers and especially those from German neighborhoods. Another sentiment seemed to have taken possession of some of the prominent families, which was that the modern styles, be they in clothing, carriages or in architecture, was a useless expenditure put upon what they termed "style," and in a sense was a phase of wickedness that was unnecessary and should be discouraged. It seems that Berne has now found its way out of those ideas fatenough to keep their scholars in school until graduation from the high school course of study. Some of the very best school teachers the county ever had were German girls. And still they continue to learn and teach. At present there are eight teachers employed in the town schools. Frank G. Haecker and Lila G. Schrock were the first teachers after the town was incorporated. The succeeding town school principals and superintendents are: N. C. Hirschy. John H. Bryan, J. H. Anderson, B. A. Winams, H. B. Kizer and Frank D. Huff, the present principal. The present school enumeration of Berne is three hundred and fifty-six. The town school board of Berne at the present time is Charles Schug, Levi Sprunger and Fred Schafer. The village of Berne was incorporated on the 30th day of March, 18S7, with Daniel Welty, J. F. Lehman and John C. Lehman as town trustees ; F. F. Mendenhall, as clerk; David Bixier, trcas- urer, and J. F. Lachot. as marshal. On the 2d day of May of the same year occurred the regular time for city and town elections and the first officers were re-elected, with the exception of town trustees. Samuel Simmerson and Harvey Harruff were elected in the places of Mr. Lehman and Mr. Welty. The present town officers are: Christ Stengel, town clerk ; Eugene Runyon, town treasurer; William Tucker, town marshal. The trustees are: David Eckrote, Howard Parr and Norman Jacobs. The town attorney is Frank Cotleral. Within the last few years there have been perhaps a mile and a half of brick streets constructed, drainage sewers built and cement sidewalks made. The streets of Berne cease to be a continuous "chuck hole," but the main and several of the cross streets have been bricked. The supervisor of public utilities did finally have to give his consent to remove the wind pump and overflowing watering trough from the main street right in the center of the town. With it went the mud and the mire, a'n eyesore to the cleanliness of the village.

Berne has a number of business enterprises of general utility to the public that are not really mercantile in their nature. The Beme Electric Light Company was organized in 1904, furnishes thirty street arc lights and about three thousand incandescent lights for the town. The officers of this company are William Baumgartner, president: Henry S. Michaud. vice president; C. A. Neuenschwander, treasurer, and F. K. Schafer. secretary and manager. The S. & H. Tablet Company, the Berne Manufacturing Company and the Condensed Milk Factory are industries such as are found nowhere else in the county. The Sprur.ger & Hahbeger Tablet Company occupies the "Orphanage" building with its manufacturing plant and employs a number of hands. It devotes its attention principally to the manufacture of writing tablets, such as are commonly used in counting rooms, schools and business offices. It is said that the usual output is about three thousand tablets a day or eighteen or twenty thousand a week. It consumes several carloads of paper a month, has its salesmen on the road to dispose of its products. The condensed milk factory began its operations April 1, 1907, and is just fairly under headway. However, it consumes five thousand pounds of milk each day and at present pays fifty dollars a day to the farmers for the milk with which to operate. The Berne Manufacturing Company does an extensive business. Its location is on the. south side of Main street toward the west part of town in a fine twostory cement block Dividing that is said to be about one hundred feet long and forty feet wide. This business industry was started in 1S9S with eighteen or twenty sewing machines, but in 1902 the capital stock was increased and a large amount of machinery was added and the amount of help increased. This company's pay roll is large, its employes at present consist of five men and nearly sixty girls. It manufactures socks, mittens, overslrirts and overalls for working men chiefly.

Berne has several secret orders that are in a thriving condition, as the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen, etc.

Some of the other items of interest in rotation to the town may be mentioned as: Brick residence properties, 3; cement blockdwellings, 12; church, houses, 4; hotels, 1: restaurants, 2; grocery stores. 1; general

While there have been no fires of a general nature that swept the streets for blocks, as in Geneva and Decatur, the town of Berne has had some very severe iosses by fire. In the spring of 1883 occurred the destruction of the Hoosier mills, owned by the Sprunger Brothers, on the north side of East Main street. Next the cultivator factory and saw mills at the north of town. By these fires over twenty-five thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed. The Berne and Bryant stave and heading factory, in the southern part of town, was destroyed in 1895. The large dry goods and general store cf Simmerson & Soldner, at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, was destroyed in February, 1905. Perhaps the most serious of all the fires was that of one of the "Orpiianage" buildings in April, 1S99, at which time three of the inmates were burned to death in the flames.

Berne has a very large temperance society that enumerates a membership of between three and four hundred. Its purpose is said to be to compel liquor sellers to keep within 'he limits of the statutory law in the handling of liquors. It has developed into iwarly what may be considered a total ab- -tii.cuce society - the only safe temperance society. It has been stated that a number of the ministers and particularly Rev. S. F. Sprunger, of the Mennonite church, long favored such a society in the German neighborhoods before this society was started and put in operation at Berne; that J. Christian Rohrer, his son, Fred Rhorer, and Edward Ray are and have been some of his aggressive advocates. In 1902-3 the saloons of Berne were discontinued. Later there were two or three started again, but soon discontinued. In 1904 the town was dry and so were some of its residents. But the town still continues to grow and flourish in its drouth. It has not been so many years since where Berne now is located was the home of wild animals. The days of domesticated animals now prevail in Berne and Adams county. There was once a time when there were more deer than sheep now in the county ; more bears then than hogs in the county. It is a historical fact that the last wild bear in the county was killed in 1846, near the Bolinger school house, in Monroe township, a short distance northwest of Berne. However, there was a domesticated bear killed between Decatur and Pleasant Mills on the 3d day of June, 1907. This was one given to Elmer Johnson as a present from a northern Wisconsin friend of his. "Billy" was almost full grown and plump and usually friendly, but became dissatisfied and cross, broke his chain and in true bruin style started after the pigs and lambs for his dinner. All efforts to capture him were useless, as he became dangerous and had to be shot. In February, 1907, O. G. Brown, of North Decatur, captured a live bald eagle that was feasting on the carcass of a dead sheep. It was caged and carried in the Order of Eagles' parade in De- catur. About six miles northwest of Berne, on the faun of J. B. Corson, may be seen five or six domesticated fallow deer. They pasture with the cattle in the fields and make no effort to escape. These animals ah remind us of a much earlier day when their screams or bleats could be heard in every direction. It has been related that along in the nineties there was an animal of some kind heard and seen in the neighborhood of Berne. It became a terror to the young and many of the old people of that locality. "Dad" Michaud's hounds refused to trail it, and most of the other dogs of the town were afraid of its threatening howls. Whether it was an escaped menagerie specimen was a subject of general discussion. However, none of the traveling shows ever sent representatives to effect its capture. Though no lives were actually lost, its threatening howls disturbed the peace and quiet of the evenings in the town so that the matter was brought to the notice of the newspaper men, who at once gave extended notices of its prowlings. They even suggested that before the lives of children be sacrificed that a circle hunt be instituted. That the swamps along the Canoper and forest down the Wabash river bottoms be thoroughly scanned and the lynx, panther or wildcat be captured. Frederic Rohrer, the editor of the Witness, as starter of the circle hunt idea, was made commanderin-chief by common consent. Some of his aids were sure shots and able hunters. A circle was formed for the hunt and it was found to contain not only farmers and newspaper men, but mechanics, ministers, storekeepers and many others, all bent on extermination of the beast. General Fred and Captain Ed extended their lines so that the center field would be Berne. The lines began to move, the farther they went the more compact they became. Along the Canoper and above the Price bridge at "Turtle Soup Camp," the trail was struck. Captain Ed passed along the lines on a gallop, standing partly up in his stirrups, hallowing at the top of his voice through a megaphone to the commanding general, "Keep to the right. We've hit a scent." The lines moved steadily on. The beast was started from its lair in the Canoper swamps and headed for Hirschy's woods. Again the sergeant bore the tidings to the general, "Keep to the right. We've seen its tail." Then the lines moved rapidly on. A brave and animated hunter stumbled on a "hop cream" bottle and lost his head. The captain dismounted and while reviving this brave veteran was left in the rear and on the field. An hour afterward he galloped into town hunting his lines, inquiring, "Have they run him in? Have they got him yet?" Some one, perhaps Dad Mischaud, suggested that he was treed under Sprunger's barn. "Let your watchword then be to the right," said the captain, as he nudged his horse along. The barn was surrounded. General Fred was vigorously punching with a pole. The crowd cheered, "it's in there. We've got it treed." The captain quickly alighted without tying his horse, peeped under and looked again. "Say, Fred, give me your pole. I think I see its tail." Captain Ed then gave one of his usual crawls and under he went. Just as he poked it he didn't poke it, for it turned and looked at him face to face. He then gave two pokes and it charged him out. when he then gave one of his customary craw's when in a tight place. Fred took the pole and poked and poked. It crive a chirping growl at each poke. After much delay a consultation was held and it was agreed that the sheriff should be sent for and have the militia called out lest it actually get away. Sheriff Myers came, gave it iust one poke, showed his gun, but the gnashing of teeth continued and the animal howled as before. Captain Ed suggested a little salt for its tail. Dad Stopher thought that perhaps a nice young lamb might bring it out. A telegram was received that the militia was at the lakes on an outing and couldn't come. Prosecutor Heller then showed up and Fred punched it some more with a pole. It moved a little. Captain Ed yelled out, "Stop, Fred, I think I can get a hold of its tail." After persistent pokes it again attempted to escape. But as it passed its head beyond the structure the prosecutor brought it a tremendous stroke with a limb of the law. Captain Ed just hopped for joy, yelling at the top of his voice, "Now I can grab it by the tail. The first time I saw it I didn't see it at all. The next time I saw it just as plain as I saw it the first time. Now I think I see it." One more stroke from Mr. Heller's Blackstone and the poor old "blind tiger" was no more.

The Town Of Geneva

What is now known as the town of Geneva is composed of three separate towns united in one by incorporation. Near where the Godfrey trace crossed the Fort Recovery & Flint Springs, or Huntington, road, was the cabin home of one Alexander Hill. The original town of Alexander was laid out by Charles Lindley, and the plat recorded on the 23d day of July, 1838. The town had three north and south streets - Main, Jackson and Van Buren - and two east and west streets, which were North street and South street. It contained twenty-eight lots - some of the smallest in the county - they were forty-one by eighty-two and a half feet in size. At the crossing of Main and North streets was the business part of town. The town well was on the west side of Main street in the center of North street, where it is today. On the two corners to the south and the southeast were the first store buildings. Some of the early storekeepers were:

Darias Carr, Samuel Linton, James Childers, Zedric Wheeler and others. The first tavern in the town of Alexander was on the east side of Main street, just on the batiks of the Limberlost creek. It is said to have been built about the time the town was laid out and the town named after its landlord. Alexander, who was Alexander Hill. Jacob Conkle was an early resident and a stirring citizen from a business point of view. He burned the first brick kiln in Wabash township along about 1S52 and a year later had the first steam saw mill in operation in Alexander. This mill was placed on the Thompson prairie, east of Berne, by John R. Burdge a few years before it was purchased by Mr. Conkle. The old tavern building was a two-story hewed-log structure, planked up in front with rough boards. The old mill blew up in 1866 after having cut lumber to build two towns - Alexander and Buffalo. Some of the early mechanics of these towns were: Caleb Penock, a blacksmith and gunsmith; Joseph Wilson, manufacturer of spinning wheels and buckeye splint and braided rye straw hats for men. He was also a noted hunter. George Cokerly, a blacksmith and wagonmaker; William Bears, a silversmith or watchmaker. Then mails were carried through from Winchester to Fort Wayne on horseback. Jesse Conner 'was one of the early mail carriers and Jacob Conkle was the first postmaster after Limberlost postoffice was established. Riesen Todd was the last one before the name of the office was discontinued and Geneva given its place. The original town of Buffalo contained thirty lots that were sixty by one hundred and twenty feet in size. The original streets were Van Buren and Ringgold streets north and south, crossed by Kossuth street. The town of Buffalo was laid out by David Studabaker and the plat was recorded on the 28th day of July, 1S53. In August of the same year C. A. Wilkinson laid out an addition of twenty-nine lots, which extended the town to the then proposed Cincinnati, Union City & Fort Wayne Railroad right-of-way, which had recently been located. The first church building erected in the south port of the county was built on what was later inlots Nos. 20 and 21, facing Kossuth street, in Buffalo. This was a large hewed-log struct- .ure. Alexander was about sixteen years old when this was built. It was heated by stoves, something rather uncommon throughout the country then, and had tin candlesticks on the pulpit and tin pans for reflectors behind the caudles set in wooden blocks tacked at convenient height against the walls. This church was favored with four windows and had a bell. This bell was

The first regular passenger trains began to run on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad on Christmas day, 1S71. About that time the railroad station, nearly a half mile north of Buffalo, received its name - Geneva. The station was located at the crossing of the railroad by the east and west public road that is now Line street. As there was not a house or any building for use as a station house or wareroom, the company made arrangements with J. D. Hale, who is now a resident of Decatur, to provide a suitable building and to serve the road as station agent at Geneva. Mr. Hale expended just one hundred dollars on the station house, letting the contract and having a two-room plank building about fourteen by twentyeight feet in size built and made ready for use as a granary for small grains and one room for railroad purposes. This building was completed in 1872 and was the first building in Geneva, and served until the Hale grain warehouse and elevator was built five or six years later. For a time a room in this was used for a ticket, express and telegraph office, with Mr. Hale and his brother, S. W. Hale, as agents and operator. The first reference made by the town plat record was that of Pyle's addition to the town of Geneva that was filed for record on the 29th day of March, 1S77. Additions filed previous to this date are shown as additions to the town of Buffalo. The town of Geneva became an incorporation on the 27th day of January, 1874, and then included the three towns as a municipal corporation. The first town officers were: J. Q. Anderson,

U>wn clerk: Charles D. Porter, town treasurer; Michael M. McGriff, assessor and ntarshal combined. The town trustees were : Riesen Todd, John B. King and N. }\ Heaston. The first general election was held in May, 1875, at which time the following named officers were elected : Town trustees, S. W. Hale, William Bair and B. F. I Vrry ; for clerk and assessor combined. N. 1'. Heaston; for treasurer, John S. Nelson; for marshal, Jacob Bricker. The present town officers are : Andrew Miller, Byron Ault and Charles Brown, as trustees; for town treasurer, Samuel Acker ; for town clerk, Bert Redout; for town marshal, E. M. Adklnson ; town attorney, Jacob Butcher. The present town school board is composed «f Nathan Shepherd, Charles Reicheldeffer raid M. E. Hutton. As soon as convenient office room could be secured at Geneva the postoffice was removed to the new part of town. Charles D. Porter and Emerson Kern built store houses down south on Main street in Buffalo, but as the station was located farther north and the buildings began going up, they abandoned their first store rooms and built on Line street. Mr. Kern was the first postmaster at Geneva. He was followed by W. W. Roberts, W. H. Fought, S. F. Beitman, M. M. Herr, Lafayette Rape, Marshal Aspy and Samuel H. Teeple, the present incumbent. The next buildings erected in the present town of Geneva were some small plank business rooms on the south side of Line street, west of the railroad. Another that was among the first was the George Iholt.s store room that occupied the ground where the I. O. O. F. building is located. In 1876 Jerry L. Cartwright hitiit a two-story store room to the east of "us and furnished the amusement-lovine people their first opportunity to see shows by theater troupes in Geneva. The lower rooms were for store purposes and living rooms and the entire upstairs was arranged for hall purposes. At that time there were a great many strangers in and about the timber towns and the dances and masquerades were well attended. There w-as a wellarranged stage in this building and some good show companies held the "boards"' for a week or more at a time. Perhaps the third building in the new town of Geneva was the Heaston Hotel. It was located just east of the railroad on Line street. This was built about the latter part of 1872 and had a good patronage. The Watson House was the next in the line of taverns or boarding houses. This occupied the place of the present Shamrock Hotel on Line street.

About this time the Shackley Wheel Company started a spoke and heading factory at Geneva. Several saw mills were put in operation and employment was given to a large number of men in the timber industries. Baldwin & Rayn built a two-story store room on the south side of Line street and were succeeded in the store business by Ashdale & Son, of Portland. Abram Herrod erected a two-story frame that he occupied with a furniture store on the north side of the street. Charles D. Porter and Emerson Kern each erected store buildings on the south side of Line street which they used for a number of years. For many years the church people of Wabash township and vicinity used the old log church house that was erected at Buffalo in 1855. In 1877 the Methodist congregation built a new frame church at the comer of Line and Main streets. This was the first church built in the town of Geneva. It was in service for more than twenty years, when it was removed and a modem, tasty brick edifice built in its place. The old log church was used by several church denominations, but the Methodist members were in the majority at the time it was built. Some of those most interested were : Samuel Linton, Henry S. Juday, Harper Tyson, Lyman Bears and Arthur McIIugh and their families. It was not until 1855 that the neighborhoods could muster sufficient strength to build such a building as they desired. At that time camp meetings were held each year along the Limberlost on the lands south of Henry S. Juday's farm. At these meetings large crowds would assemble and camp out for a week or more. 1'he second church, the frame, was built largely through the united efforts of the church-going people of Geneva and vicinity, and was used by other denominations until the United Brethren church was built at the corner of High and Bradford streets in 1S81. Among the active promoters of the frame Methodist church were William Burke, 'John D. Hale, Joseph Anderson, Christian Burris, B. F. Perry and David B. Linton. In 1902 the United Brethren congregation remodeled and greatly improved their church house in North Geneva. New furniture was put in, the building enlarged and the outer walls brick veneered that it now has all the appearance of a brick structure throughout. The first United Brethren class in Geneva was organized with less than a dozen members in 1875. 1h>s church has had a steady and continuous growth to the present time. Among its first most active members were: Daniel McCollum, George W. Pyle, Adam Cullv and their fanlilies. Some of its earlv pastors were: Revs. Baber and L. F. Johnson. The last church house erected in Geneva was built by the Catholic people during the times of oil prosperity in that locality, perhaps in 1900. Then this church was well attended and the regular services were conducted by a priest from Portland. This building is a frame structure, of ample size to meet the wants of a small congregation. Of recent years many of the Catholic people have removed from Geneva and regular sendees at this church have for the present been abandoned. This church is a frame building, well located, in West Geneva, on one of the principal streets. Before their incorporation as a town with Geneva the residents of Alexander and Buffalo sent their children to the township district school. The school house was located at the present corner of Railroad and Bradford streets in North Geneva, on the corner now occupied by the residence of Dr. L. Mattax. This school house was a small frame building, with five little windows, two in each side and one at the end opposite the door. The inside walls were ceiled with rough oak and ash boards when the lumber was unseasoned and the openings between the boards furnished plenty of ventilation in winter and a fine escape for wasps and lizards in the spring and summer time.

We are told that the frame work of this old school house is a part of a residence building on the east side of Railroad street at the east end of Bradford street. In 1873 the township trustee built a frame school house on West Shackley street, near Main, perhaps on inlot No. 102, in Geneva. In 1876 and 1S77 the attendance could not be accommodated in a sinHe-rocm house and school in the old log church building. The first brick school house was built in 187S. This was also the first brick school house w itli more than one room in the county. The first brick school house in Root township was a district school building of one room, built in 1S73. The Geneva graded school building was a large two-story, four-room building, with seating capacity for about two hundred pupils. This building was destroyed by fire in 1904 and has been recently replaced by a large and commodious structure not excelled in appearance or convenience by any in the county. The cost of this building is not far from twenty thousand dollars. It is located on the north side of Line street, in West Geneva. Besides the church and school buildings Geneva has some valuable halls and business rooms that are the property of secret societies. The Masons and Odd Fellows each own their lodge halls and properties running away up into the thousands of dollars in value. Five or six years ago the work of drainage, with adequate sewerage, and building brick streets received the attention of the town board. High street, Bradford street and Line street, from the railroad west, are bricked, which «dds much to the cleanliness, beauty and sanitary conditions of the town. In some respects Geneva excels all other towns in the county. It has near two miles of sawed stone sidewalks, and also has the largest and finest log residence house in the county and perhaps in eastern Indiana. This house is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Porter. He is a financier and banker and she (Gene Stratton Porter) an author of numerous recent publications that have met with ?:u-at favor by the reading public and genera! recognition by those pursuing scientific lines of investigation. This building is in no respect similar to or like the "Palace of the Pioneer," as heretofore spoken of, but is an elegant rustic two-story log structure, furnished and supplied with all of the modern conveniences of the present day. It has over a dozen large rooms, none of which is less than fourteen feet square, and there are three rooms eighteen by twenty-two feet in size. Its walls are built of red cedar logs that were brought from the state of Wisconsin on special order for this building. The intention of its builders was to give it a rustic appearance, and their efforts have been fully rewarded. The grounds, which are large, are tastefully laid out and nicely set with shrubbery and potted plants - in season. The front is fortified with an uncut limestone wall about four feet in height, laid up in open work, giving it the appearance and effect that might have been produced by Nature's hand. It matters not as to the financial conditions of an individual or of a city, the fire fiend is no respecter of persons. It is sometimes stated that a few good fires will do more for the looks of a town than all the sermons and local enactments of the town for years. In this respect it would seem that Geneva is no exception. On the night of June 11, 1895, a fire started on the south side of Line street and all of the business part of the town on both sides of the street to the railroad east was destroyed by fire. This fire destroyed the railroad depot, the grain warehouse and elevator and about twenty other business houses. It was but a very short time until the town was again visited by fire. This time it was the west part of Line street, the fire starting near Decatur street. All of the business buildings to the east to near where the Shamrock Ho- In addition to the various incidents contel and hank building are situated were de- nected with the town's history we herewith houses in which to carry on its business This fire occurred on the 21st day of November, 1895. It is evident that these fires were a heavy stroke to some of the property owners, but the spaces made vacant were soon filled by modern brick structures that give the streets quite a metropolitan appearance. In the last fire the Grand Army Hall was destroyed and William H. Fought came near losing his life in the flames, as the fire reached the stairway and cut off his escape stores. 2 ; banks, 1 ; clothing stores, 1 ; millinery stores, 2 ; hardware stores, 3 ; agricultural implement stores, 2 ; marble shops. 1 ; saloons, 3 ; blacksmith shops, 3 ; tile and brick works, 1 ; lumber yards, 1 ; grain elevators. 1 ; harness shops, 1 ; junk dealers, 2; furniture stores, 1 ; plumbing and gas fitting, 1 ; livery stables, 1 ; butcher shops. 2 ; shoe stores, 3 ; coal yards, 2 ; tin shops, 1 ; grist