Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 27: Logansport, 1913

The title to the lands in and around Logansport was not acquired by the United States until the treaty of October 16 and 23, 1826, with the Miami and Pottawattomie Indians. Until this time the Indians held full sway in all the territory embraced within the limits of Cass county.

By this treaty the Indians relinquished all their rights to the government and the treaty also provided for certain reservations, one to the children of Jos. Barron, which included the territory now known as the West Side and Cicotts and Richardsvilles reserves, consisting of the present site of Logansport between the rivers and extending also north and south of said rivers. However, before the acquisition of the land by the government, a few Indian traders and stray settlers located in this territory. Probably the first white man to erect a building in Cass county was Edward McCartney, who came- from Ft. Wavne and built a trading post on the north bank of the Wabash river a short distance below the mouth of Eel river, in the fall of 1824. He was only a transient trader and not a permanent settler, and Alexander Chamberlain was the first permanent settler in the county. He came from. Fort Harrison and entered section 35, township 27 north, range 1 east, the west half of the section on December 23, 1824, and the east half on May 25, 1825, thus anticipating the Indian treaty of 1826. It was not, however, until August, 1826, that he built a small round log cabin on the south bank of the Wabash opposite the mouth of Eel river, now within the city limits but then a part of Washington township. Here, in this primitive cabin, surrounded by a dense forest, where only Indians and wild beasts contended for supremacy, Alex. Chamberlain, the first permanent settler, in the summer of 1826 began the first improvement within the present limits of Logansport. Soon after other prospectors and travelers began to make their appearance and Mr. Chamberlain's modest cabin was too small to entertain travelers, so he conceived the idea of opening a tavern and at once erected a double, two-story, hewed log house with an entry or hall way between, just west of his original domicile and opened the first hotel or tavern in Logansport and Cass county, in the fall or winter of 1826. He was accommodating and possessed a congenial spirit and ere long he became the most popular landlord on the upper Wabash. In March, 1828, Gen. John Tipton, who had previously been appointed Indian agent at Ft. Wayne, moved to Logansport and established his headquarters at the Chamberlain tavern and on April 3, 1829, purchased the Chamberlain premises, paying therefor $725 and erected other buildings to accommodate the agency, including a frame office building with a porch in front, which was occupied as the Indian agency for years. After disposing of his original tavern to General Tipton, Mr. Chamberlain erected a double hewed log house, a counterpart of the first, about a quarter of a mile to the west, where Heppe 's soap factory now stands and established the second tavern in the county. His tavern sign hung in a large oblong frame fastened upon the top of a wooden post and bearing the inscription, ''Entertainment by A. Chamberlain. ' ' This sign remained for many years after he sold out to Francis Murphy, Sr., who purchased and occupied the property July 6, 1833, having paid therefor $2000. This old log tavern was purchased about 1870 by Wm. Heppe and used for a soap factory for two years, when it was torn down. Just prior to its demolition a photograph of this old historic structure was taken, showing the roof fallen in and the accompanying cut represents it as it appeared at that time, 1872, locate in the main part of the town between the rivers. He came on March 27, 1827, and erected a log cabin east of Berkley street and south of the old cemetery not far from the present Wabash passenger station.

Jos. Barron and his family, who came from Ft. Wayne in June, 1827, temporarily domiciled in McCartney's old trading post on the north bank of the Wabash and some distance west of the mouth of Eel river until he could build a hewed log house similar to the Chamberlain tavern near where the Washington school now stands on the west side.

In the summer of 1827 Hugh B. McKeen, a son-in-law of Mr. Barron qnd an Indian trader, erected a log house and opened a trading post on the point. He built a log residence a short distance .to the east or at the south end of First street. Hugh B. McKeen was undoubtedly Logansport's pioneer merchant, and C. B. Lasselle in his reminiscences speaks of him and his business thus:

* * His day book relating to his trade with the whites commences with the date of June 24, 1827. His customers were not as numerous and extensive as were those of some of his successors. They amounted to something like a dozen and hailed from Ft. Wayne, St. Joseph and other distant stations, aa well as from this vicinity. His was a Mnd of civilized establishment, in which the familiar articles of plates, pocket knives, coflfee and sugar were found and when the traders who kept nothing but Indian goods got out of these articles by accident or otherwise, they had to make for the * Mouth of the Eel,' as McKeen designated the point of his location, and replenish their stock. Wm. Suttonfield, who prospered at Ft. Wayne in the business of a landlord, was among his customers and had some times to come down - a distance of eighty miles - to replenish his table and revive his guests with a supply of sugar and coffee. Sometimes, too, the more lively and convivial spirits of the latter place would take a kind of * spree' or trip to the 'Mouth of the EeF and then the luxuries pocket knives, silk handkerchiefs and boots would be in requisition. Major Bell and Hugh Mc- Keen were the only persons who came to reside permanently within the present limits of the city or on the reserve during the year 1827.

Antoine Gamelin and Richard Chabert came in the fall and erected a trading house on the bank of the Wabash west of town. The winter of 1828, however, brought a number of settlers and on April 10th of that year Chauncey Carter surveyed and laid out the original plat of Logansport lying between the rivers and extending east as far as Fifth street, containing 111 lots, the full sized lots being 82^^x165 feet, making 16 lots to the block. This plat was recorded September 3, 1828, in the recorder's office of Carroll county, as this was a part of Eel township, Carroll county, at that time.

Soon after the survey was made, Chauncey Carter, the proprietor, with a number of others interested, met in the shade of a big elm tree on the north bank of the Wabash near Second street and began to consult as to a name for the new town that would be at once significant and attractive. General Tipton, who entertained a reverence for the classic significance of the Latin and Greek etymologies, suggested a Latin compound which would be a synonym for the *' Mouth of Eel" commemorative of the location. Others submitted Indian names and numerous suggestions were made. Then Hugh B. McKeen, the Indian trader and the first merchant to locate in the town and who formerly resided on the Maumee river in the vicinity where Captain Logan, the Shawnee chief, lost his life while attesting his fidelity to the white people in November, 1812, proposed that the memory of this Indian hero be perpetuated in the name of the new town. Col. J. B. Durett and Chauncey Carter agreed with the idea and suggested that **port" be added as a suffix to the chief's name, as the town wa^ located at the junction of the two rivers, and all acquiesced in the suggestion, hence the name **Logansport."

Lots were soon placed in the market. The comer lots were first sold at $75.00 and in lots at $50.00, with a stipulation in the deed that a house must be erected on the lot within a specified time, not less than 18x20 feet and one story high. The first lot sold was lot No. 1 at the point where Strecker's bakery now stands to J. B. Durett, he being given the first choice in consideration of his having executed a copy of the original draft of the plat. Lot No. 51 on the northeast corner of Third and Market was sold to Geo. W. Ewing and Nos. 47 and 48, where the present Bamett House is located, to Cyrus Taber, both of whom had recently come from Ft. Wayne to engage in the Indian trade, which at that time seemed likely to become a very important element in the future of Logansport, since General Tipton anticipated moving the agency of the Pottawottamie and Miami Indians from Fort Wayne to the Mouth of the Eel and which he did the following spring.

Soon after the sale of lots, preparations were made for clearing them of the heavy timber with which they were covered, and erecting buildings. The lots contained as a rule enough timber to construct the buildings and during the summer of 1828 the forest was made to resound with the woodsman's ax, greatly to the astonishment of the wild Indians and wilder animals which had up to this time been the only occupants of the forests that then adorned the present limits of our city.

A one-story log house was built on lot 33 opposite the Barnett house and occupied by Chauncey Carter as a residence. He also erected a similar log building on lot 50, northwest corner of Third and Market, for an Indian trading post, under the firm name of Carter, Walker & Company. A double house of hewed logs was built by Cyrus Taber on lots 47 and 48, where the Barnett house now stands, so constructed that the partition wall between the two rooms was designed to fix the line of demarkation between the two lots so as to give each lot a house conforming in size to the conditions of the sale. One end of the building was used as a store room and the other occupied as a residence. This building was afterwards weather-boarded and stood for many years as a monument of the architecture characteristic of those primeval days. A large log building one and a half stories high was built on lot 51, northeast corner of Third and Market, by Geo. W. Ewing, for an Indian trading house. Gillis IMcBean erected a double log cabin on lot 30, southwest corner of Third and Market and in this log cabin Gillis McBean, Jr., was born December 30, 1829, being the first white child bom within the original plat of Logansport. Alex. ^IcAllister built a log cabin on lot 5, northwest corner of First street and Railroad and set up a tailoring shop; later Peter Langlois purchased the property and occupied it as a trading house. A story and a half loghouse was erected by General Tipton on the east half of lot 32, now known as No. 215 Market street, for Dr. Hiram Todd, who was soon expected to arrive, being the first doctor to locate in the town. Peter Johnson erected a log dwelling house on lot 71, southwest comer of First and Broadway, where the late Judge Dykeman lived. Late in the fall of 1828 a small frame building was built by David Patrick on lot 45 where St. Joseph's Catholic parsonage now stands and occupied as a tailor shop by Job B. Eldridge, the first tailor in Cass county.

On November 6, 1828, David Patrick and his friend. Pleasant Gruble, walked from Ft. Wayne. They were cabinet makers, but in those days every pioneer made his own furniture out of rough poles and split timber and they turned their attention to carpenter and joiners work, the first mechanics to operate in Cass county.

October 11, 1828, James Smith, father of Judge Anthony F. Smith, arrived in Logansport and began the construction of a brick house on lot 17, northwest corner of Fourth and Railroad. The property was later purchased by Philip Leamy, who improved it and opened a tavern, for many years known as the ** Leamy House."

John Smith, Sr., father of Benj. H. Smith, became a permanent resident and was elected the first associate judge of Cass county circuit in 1829. He lived and died here. Frederick W. and J. H. Kintner, with Harvey Heath, formerly of Corydon, Indiana, located here and started the first harness and saddlery business. Their first location was in a log building on the northwest corner of First and Canal streets and later at what is now known as 210 Market street. Frederick Kintner died about 1835 or '36. Harvey Heath many years later and J. H. Kintner filled the office of sheriff and other public positions; in 1868 was an Indian agent in the West. He died in Indianapolis in 1885.

Andrew Waymire came from Richmond, Indiana, and in 1828 erected for General Tipton the first mill in the county on the south bank of Eel river near the foot of Tenth streert. He was a first class millwright and possessed unusual skill in mechanics and did much in advancing the interests of the community and his services were in demand in all parts of the county where he erected many saw and flouring mills. He was not a financier, however, and became financially involved, was cast into our jail for debts, according to our antiquated laws then in vogue, but finally was let out and went west and was lost sight of, but the results of his genius were lasting.

Pursuant to an act of the general assembly of the state of Indiana, for the incorporation of towns, approved February 10, 1831, the matter of incorporation was submitted to the citizens of the town at an election held at the ** Canal Mansion House" on Monday, September 5, 1831. Samuel Ward acted as inspector and J. B. Campbell as clerk. There were 45 votes in favor of incorporation and but two against the proposition. It was therefore declared that the town should* be incorporated and the town, which at that time comprised only the territory lying between the rivers, and extending east to Fifth street, was divided into five districts or wards.

Notice having been given, an election was held on Monday, September 12, 1831, in the respective wards, to elect five trustees and John Ward, Jordan Vigus, Dr. H. Todd, John Scott and Peter Anderson were chosen the first trustees of the town of Logansport.

The first meeting of the town board was held on November 11, 1831. During the next few years the corporate limits of the town was extended from Fifth to Tenth street and continued its corporate existence until April, 1838, when the town assumed city airs.

During the session of 1837-38 the state legislature, by special act, authorized the incorporation of Logansport as a city, which act was approved by Gov. David Wallace on February 17, 1838. Pursuant to the provisions of this act, an election was held at the clerk's office of Cass county on the first Tuesday, being the 3rd day of April, 1838, at which election Jordan Vigus was chosen the first mayor; J. S. Patterson, recorder ; Cyrus Taber, J. B. Eldridge, Philip Leamy, W. H. Wright and S. S. Tipton were chosen councilmen to represent the five wards of the city, and Robt. B. Stevenson, treasurer. In accordance with the requirements of section 12 of the city charter, all of said officers appeared before Lismund Basye, a justice of the peace of said county, and took the oath of office prescribed by law.

The first meting of the common council was held at the office of Tipton and Patterson on Wednesday, April 11, 1838, at which time the following other city officials were chosen : Henry Chase, city attorney ; Jacob Hull, high constable or city marshal; Levin Turner and Benj. Green, collectors and assessors and also police constables; De Hart Booth and B. R. Keep, street commissioners; John Dodd, flour inspector, ganger and sealer of weights and measures; J. B. Turner, measurer of wood, lumber, grain, coal and lime ; Jos. P. Berry, weigher of hay ; Geo. Weirick, common crier. Wm. H. Wright and S. S. Tipton were appointed a committee to draft ordinances. The city government then organized in 1838, has had a continued uninterrupted and successful existence for the past three-quarters of a century and is entering upon an era of prosperous municipal government that will eclipse all its past achievements.

John Tipton, before his death in 1839, had made four additions to the original plat. After his death his administrator made two additions extending from Ninth to Fifteenth streets.

of 109 lots, standard size, in east end, June 2, 1873; D. D. Dykeman's 4J3ird addition of 319 lots, near Panhandle Railroad shops and the home of General Tipton at his death, was made May 5, 1870, and Dykeman's fourth addition, on the west side, April 22, 1874. N. S. La Rose's second addition of 103 lots, on north Sycamore street, June 26, 1872; Atkinson addition, west of north Sycamore street, June 10, 1872; Allen Hamilton and Cyrus Taber laid out 144 lots on the south side, known as Taberville, July 11, 1853. These were some of the earlier additions, but there have been dozens of additions laid out in the last forty years in all directions until Logansport lies between and on both sides of the two rivers and extends from Twenty-sixth street on the east to the Vandalia Railroad on the west, a distance of nearly three miles, with an extreme breadth from north to south of about two miles, taking in an area of about six square miles and including within its bounds a people whose activities, from the first landing of Alex. Chamberlain in 1826 down to the present day, have not been surpassed by any towns on the Wabash and in subsequent chapters we will relate some of these to show the reader a pen picture of the passing events that have been portrayed with some of the actors since the laying out of the town in the midst of the forest eighty-five years ago.