Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 36: Officers of the City of Logansport from Its Incorporation in 1838 to 1912, 1913

Chapter 36: Officers of the City of Logansport from Its Incorporation in 1838 to 1912

The legislature in 1905 changed the law so that one councilman from eaclf ward and two at large should constitute the board of aldermen and the following were elected under the new law :

The duties of the city marshal were assumed by the metropolitan police force, which was established by the legislature about this time, under which act the police force was taken out of the hands of the mayor and city council and placed under the superintendency of a nonpartisan board of three police commissioners appointed by the governor.

Societies, Lodges, Orders And Clubs

If the number of social, benevolent, beneficiary and literary societies and orders is any indication of the character of our people, they must possess all these attributes in a preeminent degree for we have in Logansport nearly every society to be found in a cyclopedia of such institutions. The writer is not a society man and many of the initials of some of the societies and orders is as unintelligible to us as ** Sanscrit/' but we will endeavor to give a brief mention of every organization of which we can find mention in local directories and publications as a curious historical fact that man is gregarious in habits, charitable by nature, sociable by instinct and yet erfiibits selfishness by his actions. These societies are numbered by the score and only the briefest mention can be made of them. We cannot go into their merits, or dwell on the work they axe doing, but simply enumerate them that future generations may know that Logansport and Cass county was not lagging in the matter of secret, benevolent, protective and social societies.

Tipton Lodge, No. 33. This was the first secret order established in Logansport and Cass county. Qen. John Tipton, after whom the lodge was named, was the prime mover in this enterprise. At the time he was past grand master of Masons in the state of Indiana.

On the 28th of June, 1828, when Logansport was only two months old, a dispensation was issued by the grand master, Elihu Stout, authorizing the formation of a lodge. Under this authority, on Monday, August 25, 1828, Gen. John Tipton instituted the first lodge in Cass county. The first officers were: Dr. Hiram Todd, W. M. ; Chauncey Carter, S. W.; John McGregor, J. "W. ; Hugh B. McKeen, treasurer; J. B. Durett, secretary ; James Foster, S. D. ; D. F. Vandeventer, J. D. ; Robt. Scott and Richard Chabert, stewards; and A. Gamelin, tyler. There were 12 members at the organization and the meeting was held in an upper room of Gillis McBean's log tavern that stood on the southwest corner of Third and Market streets. The lodge met at different places until 1837, when a brick building was erected on the northeast corner of Fourth and North streets and dedicated on August 2nd of that year by General Tipton and his son. Spier S. Tipton. This brick building continued to be occupied until 1896, when it was

Fidelity Chapter, No. 58, 0. E. S., was instituted in Logansport March 4, 1885, by W. E. Engle of Indianapolis, with a charter membership of 36. The first officers chosen were: J. B. Winters, W. P.; Lydia Eldridge, W. M. ; Jennie 0 'Conner, A. M. ; Rebecca Richardson, S. ; Sallie Horn, T. Mrs. Ella Smyser is the present worthy matron and Sallie Horn, secretary. Total membership, 242.

Gotthard Lodge, No. 574, I. 0. G. T., was instituted in Logansport October 22, 1879, with a charter roll of 11 and R. Berndt became its first noble grand. At this time the officers are: Carl Bauer, N. G.;

Cass Encampment, No. 119, was instituted July 9, 1872, with W. H. Jacks, A. C. Hall, L. Smith, W. H. Ashton, R. Grim, Jos. Hartman, L. H. Shafer, Z. Hunt and A. M. Higgins as charter members.

Logansport Canton, No. 15, Patriarchs Militant, I. 0. 0. P., was instituted Pebruary 26, 1886, by Lieut. Col. J. W. McQuiddy, with J. Hawkins as captain; H. Wiler, lieutenant; Jos. Goldie, ensign; C. D. Herrick, clerk; R. Berndt, treasurer.

Jewel Lodge, No. 541, and Purity Lodge, No. 127, Daughters of Rebekah, auxiliary organizations of the I. 0. 0. P., were organized many years ago and are still active working organizations.

The Odd Pellows occupied rented quarters for many years on the southwest corner of Broadway and Pearl street, until 1908, when they erected **Odd Pellows' Hall," a handsome four-story brick building situated on the southeast comer of Pifth and North streets, with an outlay of over $40,000.

Apollo Lodge, No. 62, K. of P., was organized by N. C. Patter, G. K. R., July 30, 1875, with thirty charter members. The first officers were: J. H. Peck, C. C; A. B. Leedy, V. C; A. B. Crampton, Pre.; W. H. Von Behren, M. of E. ; M. Conover, M. of P. ; W. D. Pratt, K. of R. S. ; Philip M. Shank is now the first officer and the membership is 458.

Logan Company, No. 26, Uniformed Rank,* K. of P., was organized many years ago and have a model company of finely uniformed and well drilled men under the captaincy of Harry Pidler.

Diana Temple of Pythian Sisters, No. 30, is a ladies' auxiliary of the K. of P., with Mrs. J. L. Birch as M. E. C. All the K. of P. lodges and auxiliary branches meet in the Pythian Castle, a large and substantial structure known as the Platiron building, because of its three cornered shape, located at the southeast corner of Pifth and Market streets. This building was erected in 1896 and represents a capital of $28,000.

Logansport Lodge, No. 66, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was organized December 13, 1887, with 18 charter members and W. D. Pratt was its first exalted ruler. The present ofiicers are: H. E. Dagget, E. R.; L. Neflf, E. L. K.; G. A. Raub, treasurer; G. W. Cilley, E. L. K. ; P. Amoss, secretary; H. 6. Stalnaker, esquire; C. J. Panton, tyler. The present membership is four hundred. Logansport Lodge, No. 66, was the second Elks lodge to be instituted in the state and one hundred Elks from Chicago came down on a special train to install its oflScers.

The lodge occupied rented quarters until 1907, when they erected the handsome and commodious building known as Elks hall on the northwest corner of Fifth and North streets. This is the largest auditorium in the city at this time and represents a capital of $60,000.

Logansport Aerie No. 323, Fraternal Order of Eagles, was instituted March 12, 1903, with 123 charter members. The first officers were: J. W. Holland, president; Harry Tucker, V. Pres.; Wm. Legg, P. W. Pres.; R. Rankin, Sec'y; H. B. Smith, Treas.

The present officers are : J. D. Turley, Pres. ; F. A. Pierce, V. Pres. ; H. N. Ward, Sec'y; E. F. Keis, Treas. The lodge has rapidly increased in membership and now numbers 362. The order has recently purchased the two-story brick building at No. 211 Sixth street, ind occupies the second story as a lodge room.

Tirzah Court, No. 11, was organized many years ago. In 1912, H. L. Foust was chief ranger and G. Crum, scribe. Logansport Court, No. 233, A. Foust, chief and Emma Beroth, scribe. Their lodge room is in rented quarters at the northeast comer of Fourth and Broadway.

Wea Tribe, No. 170, I. 0. Red Men, was organized April 18, 1892, with 54 charter members. The first officers were: Sachem, J. B. Shaver ; prophet, Geo. Scharff ; chief of records, Wm. Burgman. Officers in 1913 are : H. St. Clair, sachem ; James Guy, S. S. ; A. J. Miirer, J. S. ; L. E. Nay lor, prophet; H. W. Ward, keeper of wampum. The lodge occupies a rented hall at 312^/^ Broadway. This order was first organized in 1765 under the name of Minute Men. In 1813 the name was changed to **Red Men."

Court Noble, No. 925, was organized June 14, 1892, with C. B. Longwell, chief ranger. The present chief ranger is J. Bast and E. J. Vance, deputy. The present membership is 420.

Companion Court Laurel, No. 2, I. O. F., was organized November 19, 1898, with 25 charter members. First officers: Emma Briggs, court deputy; Mary Stewart, chief ranger. Present officers: Lillie Elene, C. D. ; Josephine Tanguy, C. R. ; Anna McMackin, P. C. R. Present membership, 86. Both lodges occupy rented quarters in the Ben Hur hall.

"Wabash Lodge, No. 1831, organized in 1875. Lodge room, northeast corner of Fourth and Broadway. Ed White, dictator; J. S. Bolt, re- - porter.

Noble Court, No. 369, was instituted in Logansport about 1879, with H. Bruner, regent and C. B. Whiting, secretary. The present officers are : Regent, Jacob Herz ; secretary, A. Denbo.

This is a social and outing club, organized in June, 1904, by the business and professional men of Logansport. Rufus Magee was its first president; B. F. Louthain, vice president; Geo. P. Bliss, secretary and W. O. Murdock, treasurer. The club purchased Rock or Cedar Island, located about five miles east of the city in the Wabash river and have improved and beautified the same. Handsome pavilion and comfortable hostelry have been erected where meals and lunches are served during the summer season. Golf links and other means of outdoor sports are provided. A suspension foot bridge was built across the river at an expenditure of about $4,000. A similar amount was expended in erecting the buildings on the Island.

The Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley traction lines pass the north end of the bridge, giving hourly service to and from the grounds, which are being annually more and more improved and beautified. The club now has a membership of 150, with B. C. Jenkins, president.

This was a social club, organized about 1897, which fitted up an elegant suite of rooms on the second floor, southwest corner of Pearl and Broadway. A. P. Jenks was president. About five years later the club moved its quarters to the third story of the Magee building, northwest corner of Sixth and Broadway, where it continu^ to be the fashionable club of the city for several years, but finally yielded to lack of interest and inertia and permanently closed its doors several years ago.

Many literary and social clubs have been organized from time to time ; have served a useful purpose, then declined jand were superseded by others.

The Baldwin Club for many years held its meetings at the residence of Judge Baldwin. The Citizens' Club was organized in 1904. Both of these clubs produced high class literary entertainments, but have been replaced by more recent organizations, which are in active operation, a few of which are as follows:

Knights of Columbus. Logansport Council, No. 561. This society was organized some years ago and about 1905 they purchased the Frank Rice home at No. 607 Market street and remodeled the building and now have a commodious club house.

St. Matthew's Branch, No. 503, organized July 22, 1889. Meets in Catholic school building, southeast corner of Eighth and Spencer streets John M. Waters, president.

The following is a brief summary of the organizations of trade and labor unions in the city of Logansport. In this rather imperfect ** history*' only such unions who adhere to the American Federation of Labor are included. A number of local unions were formed during the period between 1870 and 1880, but these were for the most part of brief existence and really cannot be included in what would be considered a record of labor unions.

The first organization of what is commonly termed a ** central body*' of. organized labor, being a federation of unions of different crafts or trades, in the city of Logansport, was instituted on October 20, 1890, and was known as the Trades and Labor Assembly. This organization comprised representatives from Typographical Union No. 196, Cigar Makers Union No. 215 and Retail Clerks Union No. 6. The organization was instituted by Oliver P. Smith. The first president of the organization was Weldon Webster, of the retail clerks. The first secretary was G. Frederick Bismarck, of the cigar makers. This organization is composed of unions of all crafts and callings of wage earners recognized by the American Federation of Labor, and is the local branch of that body, being chartered by the parent body and is subject to the jurisdiction of that body. A number of unions have been organized in

Logansport at different periods and the list presented herewith is as accurate as the limited means of obtaining information on this subject will permit.

The Typographical Union No. 196 was organized on the first day of May, 1882. First president, John Redd ; secretary, A. M. Barnes. Tlus is Uie oldest labor oi^anization now in Logansport and has a membership of thirty-one.

1890. First president, John L. Kilbourn ; first secretary, Seth Weeden. Coopers Union No. (A. F. L.) was organized and received charter direct from American Federation of Labor on the 22nd day of December, 1890. The first president was Frank Smith; first secretary, Fred Bopp.

Laborers Protective Union was organized with charter direct from A. F. of L. May 5, 1891. First president, Samuel Myers; first secretary, Chas. W. Kleckner.

Federal Labor Union 1775 was organized June 21, 1891, under charter direct from A. F. of L. President, John Kilbourn ; secretary, Oliver P. Smith.

Butchers and Meat Cutters Union No. 1837 (A. F. of L.). Organized March 5, 1891. First president, William Fowler ; first secretary, Benjamin Kerr. Under charter direct from A. F. of L.

The above list of organizations gives the data of the first organizations in the respective trades and callings named. There has been considerable fluctuation in the local labor movement. By this is meant that several crafts have had unions for a period and dissolved. Of this condition no attempt has been made in the compilation of this record to give an accurate account of the number of times that some unions have been organized and dissolved, and reorganized, etc. The list is complete so far as the records of the Trades Assembly have preserved them.

The following secret, benevolent, insurance and get-rich-quick societies have operated for a season, then suspended operations, and are mentioned here simply as an historical fact and show the extreme social propensities of man and his tendency to take up with new and novel things.

Ancient Order of United Workmen, organized June 13, 1888, like many other affairs of this world, rose and flourished for a season, then died out, as did also Eureka Council No. 499, Knights and Ladies of Securit3% that was organized in Logansport about 1896-97, and the Order of American Plowmen, instituted here in 1899 by L. J. Burge.

Many other organizations have come and gone, but it is profitless and serves no purpose to record them here and we pass them by with this brief review of the principal societies, clubs and orders that have sprung up in Logansport, although we may have omitted some that were more meritorious.

Largely through the influence of W. S. Wright, who had spent several years in Boston, the **Cass County Historical Society'' was organized at a meeting of the Citizens'* Club, in Library Hall, February 12, 1907, and two weeks later, on February 25th, a constitution was adopted and officers elected as follows:

The objects of the society are: To collect and preserve historical material calculated to shed light on the natural, civil and political history of Cass county, Indiana; the publication and circulation of historical documents; the promotion of useful knowledge; the collection and preservation of the implements, utensils, and relics of the Indians and pioneers of Cass county, and to make and preserve records of current history. The society has held from two to six public meetings each year since its organization, at which interesting papers have been read on various topics of local history. They have also collected many valuable papera, documents, books, implements and relics, and if these are to be preserved a home for the society is imperative and they are now making arrangements to erect a permanent building for that purpose. ' The present officers are: