Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 21: Music and the Drama, 1913

Old Time Singing School - Missouri Harmony - ^First Pdlno - First Church Organ - First Glee Club, G. A. R. Quartette, Wachter's and Other Bands - ^Music Publications - The Drama and Dramatists.

In the early settlement of Cass county the people were occupied exclusively in felling the forest, erecting buildings, clearing and preparing the land for cultivation and maintaining themselves, and had no time for music. But when the improvements were completed, crops grown in abundance, wealth and prosperity enhansed, the pioneer was not 80 completely absorbed in securing the necessities of life and could give some time to music, literature and other walks of life that have a softening and civilizing tendency. When the country became settled, farms opened up, school houses and churches erected, we find the singing master making his appearance, and organizing singing schools in every pioneer neighborhood, village or town, this being the first kind of music introduced in Cass county.

The country log school house or village church were the regular meeting place of the pioneer singers. There were no pianos or organs in those days, so in church some one would be called on **to raise the tune." When the pioneer singing school was in flower, a steel tuning fork, a fiddle or an accordian were used to give the pitch, but these instruments, the only kind then in vogue, were not permitted to be employed in the church. The music teacher would come to a village or settlement, often heralded for weeks in advance, and give a course of thirteen lessons, closing with a grand concert.

Everybody, old and young, for miles around, would come to these meetings, more particularly the beaux and belles, and not a few country gallants selected their future companions at the old singing school. These singing schools were generaUy held on Sunday afternoons, and occasionally on one or two evenings during the week. The first singing book used in Cass county was the ''Missouri Harmany," and is said to be the first singing book used in Indiana. It was written in what was called ''Buckwheat'* notes, the notes being named by the shape and not by the position on the staff as now. The system of notation employed in this book had a tetrachord of four syllables - fa, sol, la, mi - which were repeated to form the scale. It was called the system of "Buckwheat Notes'' because, in shape, the notes resembled grains of buckwheat. The Missouri Harmony was followed by the **01d Melodean" and ** Christian Psalmist'^ with the scale syllables running from do to do, as we now have them with the ''round notes/' In the days of the pioneer singing school, the local conditions were very primitive and crude as we view them now.

The farms of cultivated lands were as small and scattered as are the timber tracts today. Forests and wild game abounded in every direction. The roads were unimproved and the people usually went to the singing school on horseback, with two or three astride the same horse, clinging to each other. Often a beau would take his best girl behind him on the same horse, she holding on to him with as much pleasure and satisfaction as though they were dashing along in a modem automobile..

Sometimes the singing master would have two schools at the same time in different neighborhoods, or possibly two rival teachers might be conducting singing schools at the same time and between these schools there would be considerable emulation, which sometimes led to joint meetings, where the rival classes, under the leadership of their respective teachers, contested for superiority. The singers were chosen very much as the spellers at the old time spelling match. Judges were selected, who would listen to all the contests and award honors. Each class would sing their best selections, first the notes, then the words. The popular instruments in those days were the fiddle, flute and accordion and occasionally one of these was used in the singing school or glee club by the singing master. These instruments, however, were not permitted to be used in ''meeting houses" and were only allowed in the school, or private house, as it was considered sacrilegious to take musical instruments into the churches by the pioneers of Cass county. The passing of the old time singing school is to be regretted. It was a sociable and pleasurable as well as profitable feature of country life that is hard to fill by any other substitute. Possibly the revolving cycle of our institutional life, may yet return to future generations the *' old-time singin' school'' in some form.

The first piano that appeared in Logansport was bought in Philadelphia, shipped by water to New Orleans and up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and came by steamboat up the Wabash to Logansport, in June, 1836 or 1837. In unloading the instrument it fell into the river and laid there until the water subsided before it could be taken out. This piano belonged to General Hyacinth Lasselle, father of Charles B. Lasselle, who then lived on the southwest comer of Pearl and Broadway, where the Trust Company Bank is now located. This piano was the wonder of the town, especially to the small boys, who had never heard a piano before and they would collect in crowds and hang around the Lasselle home to hear that marvelous sounding instrument for the first time heard within the confines of Cass county. Many years ago when Mrs. Chamberlain, who was a Lasselle, moved to Washington, this old piano was taken charge of by Burl Booth, who now resides at 1105 Broadway, where the old piano is kept, and highly prized as an historical relic. It was on display at the annual art exhibit in the basement of the Baptist church, April 25, 1912. This piano is a small instru- ment as compared with modern pianos, but is of good workmanship, and should be placed in the Historical Society's home for permanent preser- T^tion.

The first organ to be used by the Methodists of Logansport was in the new Broadway church, opened in 1859, and Amanda Goodwin, still living, was the first organist. Prior to that time instrumental music was not permitted within the church. The violin or ** fiddle,'' as it was generally called, was the principal instrument in pioneer days, and every neighborhood had its ** fiddler," who was a unique but jovial character, who played old familiar tunes, as **01d Dan Tucker,"

The oldest quartette or glee club that we have any authentic record of, was organized about 1848 and was composed of the following well known pioneers : E. S. Rice, James T. Bryer, David E. Bryer and Allen Richardson, a group photograph of whom is here shown as they appeared at that early day.

Mr. Rice was bom in New York, 1827, came to Logansport on a canal boat in 1838 and died in 1912. He devoted his leisure time to composing music and has written a number of songs and hymns of special merit : ' * Shall We Meet Beyond the River, ' ' a deservedly popu* lar hymn, has been published in all standard hymnals. His more recent songs, ** Spare the Old Homestead," ** Those Little Red Shoes'' and ''Those Good Old Days," deserve especial mention.

David E. Bryer, bom 1831, died 1904, possessed a rare poetical and musical faculty and wrote a large number of political songs for every campaign from 1856 to 1896. He also composed many church and Sunday school hymns and set the same to original music. He possessed a remarkably deep bass voice and was one of the pioneer singing masters and taught many a singing school in early days.

James T. Bryer, born 1828, died 1895, was an editorial writer on the Journal, but seldom composed music. Allen Richardson was bom in Ohio, 1830, came to Logansport 1831, died 1908. He was a contractor, but creditably filled several city and county offices. He was married in 1856 and one daughter, Mrs. Harry Case, still lives in our city.

These four pioneer musicians made the Wabash valley ring with their sweet songs. The club was deservedly popular and was called far and near to sing on all manner of occasions, in school, church and state, whether it was a religious, civic, miltary or political meeting, this pioneer glee club was always welcomed and for many years they constituted the principal musical feature of Cass county, as at that time instrumental music was entirely barred from the 'churches and but fev private families had instruments in their homes, and the people were dependent almost entirely upon singing for musical entertainment and this pioneer glee club was in great demand.

Ever since the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in Logansport, this quartette has been in existence and is composed of the following old soldiers: Joseph E. Grain, H. C. Cushman, I. N. Watkins and William S. Richardson. They are all living except Mr. Richardson, who died February 12, 1913. This musical club has attained not only a county but a state-wide reputation for its high-class singing, but since the death of Mr. Richardson has disbanded. A notice of this quartette appears in the military history.

The first band in Logansport was organized some time prior to 1858, by Graf and Wiseman, but did not blow their horns very loud or long and but little is known concerning this organization or who the members were.

The first permanent and successful band was organized by John Wachter in the spring of 1860. Herr Wachter was a German by birth and was an efficient cornetist and teacher. He was a leader in band music until his death. Mr. George Scharflf, born in Bavaria 1838, came to Logansport 1858 and is still an honored resident of our city, was a charter member of Wachter 's Band and from memory gives the following names as belonging to this band: James Winemiller, Peter Schwartz, Charles Hillhouse, Charles Hebbel, Jacob Hebbel, George Tipton, Like Vigus, Joseph Rebhan, Thomas Herring, Lewis Foster, James Vigus and George Kinsley, who owned the old tannery on the north side, where they used to practice. It was a splendid place for a newly organized band to practice, as it was well surrounded and guarded by swamp, canal and river, and thus free from attack by indignant citizens. This band became famous for its fine music and one of the best bands in northern Indiana. During the exciting days of the Civil war, Wachter's Band was a powerful factor in stirring up patriotism, and its rendition of ** Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys," **John Brown's Body*' and ** Marching Through Georgia'* never failed to bring cheers from the soldiers, home on furlough, and tears from the home folks who had loved ones at the front. And when some soldier, who had gone forth in the pride of youthful manhood, was brought home in a roughly hewn wooden box, and the band played a dirge at the funeral, there was not a dry eye along the line of march to the cemetery.. This was a splendid band and many a man, whose hair is now gray, remembers his boyish enthusiasm when the cry went up the street, **The band's out."

Since the time of Wachter's Band, many others have been organized, flourished for a season then gone to pieces or merged into others, with a different name. The Cecillian Band succeeded Wachter's Band about 1866 with William Pornhoff as leader and other members were Ed and Jud Taylor, A. Bamett, E. D. Chandler, Al Merritt, John Dunkle, Will H. Brown, Jay Powell, Hecht Powell, Chet Gridley, James Logan, George Scharff, Jim Glines. The band room was in the third story, at 222 Market street, over Geiger's present cigar store. William PonihbflP was killed on the railroad while going to play in another town and his brother, Michael Pornhoff, became leader and later this was known as *'Pornhoif's Band."

The colored people had a band which is handed down to posterity only by the name of **Coon Band." ''The Brass Band," ''Mascot Band," "Old Pellows' Band," "Logan Gray Band," "Military Band," "Big Pour Band," "St. Joseph's Band," "City Concert Band," "Concordia Band," "K. of P. Band," "Citizens Band," and, "Elks Band" and possibly others have flourished for a time and Logansport has never been without one or more first class bands of music since the first band was organized nearly sixty years ago. Several first class orchestras have been organized, probably the first was "Pornhoflf's Orchestra," organized in 1867, with Mr. Pornhoflf as leader, followed by "Gulp's Orchestra," and at present "Stinhart's Orchestra" is in active orchestral work.

The ^'Home Music Journal/' a monthly magazine devoted to music, was started in Logansport in 1892 by W. T. Giffe and in 1896 the name was changed to ^^ Choir Music Journal/' which was continued until 1903, when he sold out. Mr. Giflfe is also the author of a number of music books, the most popular of which are *' Crown of Glory/* ** Glory Bells/' ''The Wonder" and '*Nexv Favorite." All of these publications had a wide circulation in their day.

Mr. Giffe is a thorough musical scholar and taught music in the Logansport public schools from 1879 to 1886. He was bom in Portland, Indiana in 1848, served one year in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, during the Civil war, came to Logansport in 1879, married in 1889 to Miss Nannie Booth, a daughter of De Hart Booth, a pioneer of Cass county and they have one daughter. Mr. Giflfe is an honored citizen and now engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

more than ordinary ability, was born at Bluffton, Indiana, in 1872; studied music in New York and Chicago; came to Logansport in 1896 and was teacher of music in the public schools for three years and had many private pupils. He was united in marriage to Miss Edna K. Stevens in 1901. She was also a beautiful singer who has attended some of the best conservatories of music and Mr. and Mrs. Eichom both rank high in the musical world, and are the composers of a number of music books, which they use in their classes and at Chautauquas and religious revivals, where they are employed all over the country. They make their home at this time in Denver, Colorado.

Reuben Jay Powell, a Cass county boy, where he was bom 1848, served three years as musician in the army during the Civil war, was married to Mary J. Klopp of Logansport and they are blessed with one son, Edgar, now a music dealer in Ohio.

Mr. Powell studied music under Jacob Reid of Leipsic, Germany, and for many years was instructor and leader of various bands in Logansport and surrounding towns and has composed and contributed to many nmsic journals. The following pieces are of special interest: **The Songs We Hear,'' *4^rogress of Refinement,'' *VRandom Shots."

Mrs. Eva Peters Reynolds, daughter of H. B. Peters and granddaughter of Dr. Farquhar, a pioneer physician of Logansport, was bom, reared and educated in our city and now resides with her mother at 1101 High street. Mrs. Reynolds is an accomplished musician and teacher of distinction and is the author of a booklet giving a sketch of Horace P. Biddle and his musical scale, which may be found in the state library.

Wilbur D. Winters, son of John B. Winters, is a musician of some note and has composed some beautiful songs and hymns which were published in Philadelphia under the nom-de-plume of **Jack Dale.'' One of these ** Leaving" is on file with the Cass County Historical Society.

Miss McNitt, daughter of James D. McNitt, and Mrs. E. B. McConnell are musicians of note and were teachers of music in the public schools for years, as is also Cornelius Fisher.

Miss Amanda Goodwin for many years was a music teacher and had large number of pupils and was the organist to the first church organ used in Logansport in 1859. The Misses Howe, Knowlton, Lux and Stevens were charming singers and this little band of singers were in great demand a few years ago, but they have married and retired from the musical field. Miss Edna Putnam, daughter of Rev. D. P. Putnam, is a present day music teacher of some distinction, as is also Mrs. Charles McDowell and Mrs. J. B. Shultz. Mrs. Martha Powell Bickel, bom and reared in Cass county but now living in Winnipeg, Canada, has a naturally sweet toned voice which has been cultivated, and she is gaining a wide reputation as a singer.

There are many, many other musicians and singers, possessing more than ordinary musical talent, who have or now reside in Cass county and are equally deserving with those here named, but for obvious reasons cannot be herein mentioned.

In the histrionic field Cass county is well represented and has produced many amateur actors and performers on the local stage, but of these we will not speak although many of them are worthy of mention in a local history. Cass county has produced several actors of national reputation : naon pleas court from 1866-1870, was bom in Logansport about 1871, and for many years a resident of the city that gave him birth, is one of the best known and popular actors in the United States. He is married and his wife is an a^jtress of some reputation. Their home at present is in New York.

Edna Goodrich, is the granddaughter of Scott Thornton, an old pioneer family of Logansport, where Miss Goodrich was born and reared. She has more than a local reputation as a star actress. She was married to the celebrated actor, **Nat Qooclwin,'' but they experienced rough sailing on the matrimonial sea and were divorced. She is still on the stage and plays both in Europe and America.

Clarence Bennett, under the name of Richard Bennett, is one of Frohman's leading men on the stage and is regarded as a high-class actor and appears in the best theatres of the world. He was the son of Georga Bennett and was reared and educated in Cass county.