Marshall County, Indiana - Chapter 3: By A. C. Thompson, 1890 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 3: By A. C. Thompson

CITY GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS - FIRE COMPANIES AND DISASTROUS FIRES - POSTOFFICE, POSTMASTERS AND BANKS - - PERSONAL SKETCHES - RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW - WATER-WORKS.

HAT now constitutes the city of Plymouth was laid off and platted as a town by John Sering, James Blair and William Polk, and filed for record in the recorder's office of St. Joseph county, on the 20th day of October, 1834, the records of what is now Marshall county being then kept at South Bend, which was the seat of justice of Saint Joseph county at that time, and as it is a matter of some importance, as a Starting point for a chapter on Plymouth, the " reference" or description of the plat, together with the acknowledgments to the same, are copied in full, and are as follows:

Reference. - (Plymouth is), surveyed at right angles with the Michigan road, which (runs) through the town of Plymouth 5^ W. variation 6° 10'. Platted by a scale of eight rods to an inch. Michigan street is 100 feet wide, each of the other streets are sixty-six feet wide, and the alleys twelve feet in width, all the lots except fractional ones, are eighty-eight feet in front, by 126 feet in length, containing one-fourth of an acre. The square marked " Court House Square," is donated by the proprietors for public buildings necessary for county purposes. Lot No. 131 on Plumb street is donated for a school-house. One acre and (a) half adjoining Plumb street on the west is given for a county seminary, and one acre and (a) half adjoining Plumb street on the west is given for a public burying ground - end of lots numbered 49, 50 and 51 and twenty feet off the east end of lots numbered 75, 76 and 77, is added to the width of Center street for a market house.

William Polk, ) State of Indiana, ( St. Joseph County, \ Personally appeared before the undersigned, the recorder of said county, John Sering, one of the proprietors of the within

Personally appeared before the undersigned, the recorder of said county, James Blair, one of the proprietors of the within town plat, and acknowledged the within instrument to be his free act and deed for the purposes and uses expressed on its face.

Personally appeared before the undersigned, recorder of said county, William Polk, one of the proprietors of the within town plat and acknowledged the within instrument to be his free act and deed for the uses and purposes expressed on the face of said plat.

I, Lot Day, Jr., recorder of St. Joseph county, Indiana, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full and complete copy of the record of the above plat, " Reference," and of the several acknowledgments of the proprietors, as found upon record in book " B"- between pages 134 and 135, which said records are legally in my possession and on file in my office in said county.

From the above it appears that the record of the platting, acknowledging and recording of the plat of Pl^-mouth, was not properly certified to for about twenty years after it was laid out, and eighteen years after the organization of Marshall county.

The following are the names of the additions to Plymouth, but they are too numerous to describe in detail. Suffice it to say that the city, with all its additions, is about one and one-fourth miles square, the main or business portion of it being in the west half of section thirteen (13), Michigan road lands:

In the winter or spring of 1835, Oliver Rose opened the first store in Plymouth. His store room was a log building which stood upon the lot now occupied by Charles Palmer and the law office of Charles H. Reeve, on La Porte street, between Michigan and Center streets. Mr. Rose also commenced farming operations on quite an extensive scale for those days, on what is known as the Goodsell place, just north of town. When he came to the county he was accompanied by our worthy and esteemed fellowcitizen, Gilson S. Cleaveland, who still abides with us.

During the summer or fall of 1S35, Uri Metcalf and Milburn Cole became residents of Plymouth. The latter gentleman afterward erected a saw-mill which stood a little to the north of the site now occupied by the Plymouth flouring mills. During the same 3'ear Judge Grove Pomeroy erected a frame building of respectable size, on the southwest corner of La Porte and Michigan streets, which was known at that time and for a number of years afterward as the " Plymouth Hotel." Mr. Pomeroy was the landlord and carried on an extensive business in entertaining travelers, as the general land sales, which commenced about this time, brought many persons into the county from different parts of the United States. This hotel was considered the half-way house for the stage line from Logansport, Ind., to Niles, Mich. Ten years later, after the opening of the Michigan road, the stage line through this place, from south to north, was considered one of the main thoroughfares of the state, and many who read this will remember how Old Jake Rhinehart, who is still livingin West township, would blow his tin horn, crack his whip, and come dashing into town on his four-horse rock-away coach. The whole town would be out to greet him and to see who the new arrivals were. A hack also made regular trips between Plymouth and La Porte, and both of these lines furnished the only means of transportation until the completion of the railroads, in 1857-58.

Among those who were prominent citizens of Plymouth from 1836 on, for many years, the writer calls to mind James Bannon, who kept a boot and shoe shop and the postoffice, in a small wooden building on the east side of Michigan street, on the space now occupied by H. Humrichhouser's brick building. He went to California during the gold excitement of 1S49, and if still living his whereabouts are unknown. John Cougle kept a saloon in an adjoining building, but later erected a large frame building on the corner north of Packard's new bank building, which he occupied as a dry goods and notion store until his death occurred, thirty or more years ago. He drank to excess, which perhaps was the cause of his taking off. He was strictly honest and straightforward in his business transactions, but entertained some very peculiar notions. Before his death he purchased a coffin and stored it in one of his rooms, so that it might be on hand when wanted. He owned a fine bass drum, and almost every pleasant evening gave an exhibition of his skill on that detestable instrument, in front of his place of business. Later he was re-enforced by Lorenzo D. Matteson, with his snare drum. Mr. Matteson was an artist on his instrument, and the two made a full band, with some to spare. Robert Rusk, an eccentric genius, ran a tin shop on the east side of Michigan street. His establishment was destroyed by the disastrous conflagration that occurred March 22, 1857. He died long ago. Joseph Griffith was another earl}' settler well known in his da}'. He was prosecuting attorney at one time, also postmaster. He met death by the accidental discharge of his gun, while out hunting, more thaa a quarter of a century ago. Lie was always ready to offer himself as a living sacrifice for the amusement of the people. At a circus once on a time, the clown was going to perform th^ difficult act of balancing a chair containing a man in it, on his chin. Joseph offered himself as the victim. The clown turned the chair upside down, and Joseph inserted his legs between the rounds in good shape, and after being adjusted in front of the audience, the clown left him to his fate. The uproar was terrific, and became greater when the victim had to throw himself down on the ground, backward, to extricate himself.

by the Centennial opera house. Mr. A. L. Wheeler settled n Plymouth in the fall of 1836, and immediately erected a large store building on lot No. i, which he filled with an extensive assortment of goods. A man by the name of Benjamin Kress was selling goods in the north part of town, near the court house square. Chester Rose and David Steel were also merchandising on a small scale.

In 1838, five persons in Plymouth were engaged in the practice of medicine, viz., Drs. Crum, Griffin, Alvord, Jones and Jeroloman. The latter, however, who was sent out as a physician for the Indians, remained in the county but a short time. Dr. Crum had been practicing in the county for some time prior to this date.

The summer and fall of 183S will long be remembered as the " sickly season," and these doctors, poor and inexperienced as they were in the practice, had more than they could properly attend to. The spring of that year was very wet, cold and backward. About the first of June, when th<= marshes were filled, the weather became dry and oppressively hot. Cases of sickness began to appear about the ist of July, and the number of these rapidly increased as the season advanced. Entire families were prostrated. Not more than one person out of fifty was perfectly well, and many suffered for want of proper attention. The most common disease was fever and ague, but other and more violent forms of fever and malarial diseases were also prevalent. Several of the early settlers died during this season, among whom were E. B. Hobson, Oliver Rose, Julius Hutchinson, Hugh Galbraith, Simeon Taylor, Jacob Shoemaker, and many others. This sickness seriously retarded the growth of the town and count}' for many years. Many became discouraged, and left for other parts as soon as their health and circumstances would permit. But a great change has taken place since then, and no more healthy place can anywhere be found, thanks to drainage and driven wells.

The legal fraternity began to be represented here in 1S38. William Lumis settled in Plymouth in that year, and engaged in the practice of law. Some two years afterward he was elected recorder, but died shortly after his election. In the fall of that year, R. L. Farnsworth opened a law office in Plymouth, where he followed his profession for something like a year. Subsequently he removed to South Bend. William G. Tevalt and Jonathans. Harvy, attorneys, came here not far from 1840, and practiced law for near two years. But space will not permit special mention of half the original geniuses that figured in Plymouth in an early day, and the writer hastens on to matter of more importance.

population of Plymouth was 670. In the fire of 1857, all the books and records in relation to the corporate organization were destroyed, and therefore the particulars cannot be obtained. It seems, from the proceedings of the board of corporation trustees, held January 30, 1S55, that a proposition to surrender the charter had been presented. After considerable discussion, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That surrendering the charter granted by the legislature of this state, on the nth of February, 1S51, incorporating the town of Plymouth, this corporation will and does hereby become incorporated under the general law of the state of Indiana, for the incorporation of towns, defining their powers, etc., approved June 11, 1S52, as provided by the fifty-sixth section of said act.

Rufus Brown was president of the board at that time, and Miles W. Smith, clerk, both of whom are dead long since. April 7, 1857, the following resolution appears on record:

Resolved, That, whereas, on the 22d day of March, 1857, the ofhce of A. C. Capron, the clerk of this corporation, was destroyed by fire, and all the books, records, tax duplicates, assessment rolls, maps, orders, vouchers, receipts, etc., of the corporation were entirely destroyed, the clerk is ordered to replace the same as far as possible.

At this meeting, Mark Cummings, teacher of the school, was ordered to be discharged after the loth of April, owing to the small number of pupils in attendance.

The law creating incorporated towns was. loose and unsatisfactory in its workings, and the population of Plymouth being sufficient to organize under the city law, in April, 1873, ^ petition to the board of corporation trustees, requesting them to order an election of the voters of the town, for the purpose of taking the sense of the people as to the expediency of changing the government of the town from a corporation to a city, was circulated. The requisite names were procured and presented to the board, who ordered an election to be held on the 25th day of April, 1873. The election resulted nearl}' three to one in favor of "city." There were 327 votes cast, of which 244 were in favor of a city government, and 83 against it. The proper steps were then taken, and the old corporation was dissolved and the city government set in motion. In May, 1873, an election was held for city officers, in which politics was left out of the question, there being but one ticket voted for, which was composed of about an equal number of democrats and republicans, Horace Corbin having the honor of being the first mayor. The annual exhibit of the first year under the new arrangement proved to be entirely satisfactory. The old corporation was in debt about $1,000, with only $156 in the treasury to pay it with. The total receipts during the year ending May, 1874, were $10,579.22, of which about $2,000 were for fines and licenses. After paying all expenses incurred by reason of the new order of things, salary of mayor, two policemen, printing of ordinances, street work, $2,490.06, the redemption of about one-half of the outstanding orders, issued prior to the city organization, there remained in the hands of the treasurer $3,086.42. The financial condition of the city at that time was: total liabilities, $772.95; balance in treasury, $3,809.42; balance over liabilities, $2,936.47.

During that time and since valuable and permanent improvements have been made equal to any city of its size in the state. Streets have been graded; an engine house, equal to any in northern Indiana, has been built at a cost of about $5,000, and a school-house, second to none in the state, has taken the place of the old seminary building.

Fire Companies. - Protection hook and ladder company No I, was organized by the filing of its constitution in the clerk's office February 24, 1858, thirty-three years ago. The following were the original members as they appeared signed to the constitution: J. B. N.Klinger, D. McDonald, A. Vinnedge, Stephen A. Francis, H. B. Pershing, D. Lindsey, T. J. Patterson, R. M. Brown, J. E. Houghton, J. C. Leonard, L. D. Lamson, Julius Tacke, David How, E. R. Shook, H. Humrichouser, J. H. Beeber, N. B. Klinger, D. Vinnedge, Samuel Freese, J. S. Woodward, M. Becker, Adolph Meyers, H. M. Logan, W. W. Hill, William S. Vinnedge, Matt Boyd, John M. Shoemaker, George Anderson, Charles G. Tibbits,_John Noll, Henry Kuntz, Horatio B. Sellon, W. M. Kendall, Henry Botset, Christopher Seitel, Charles Ebal, J. Alexander M. La Pierre, H. Sluyter, G. H. Wilbur, Thomas K. Houghton, A. Johnson, John W. Patterson, Henry McFarlin, J. W. Houghton, Jerry Blain, D. B. Armstrong, J. L. Cleaveland, Joseph Lauer, Henry M. Hilligas, J. N. Freese, F. Mullen, D. R. Davidson, William Babington and Michael Stoll. The first officers were J. B. N. Klinger, foreman; Stephen A. Francis, assistant foreman; William C. Shirley, treasurer; D. McDonald, secretary; E. R. Shook, steward. Although the company met with considerable opposition, as all new enterprises do, yet it has served and acted well its part when occasion required.

Adriatic engine company was organized about December 8, 1865. On January 3, 1866, a fire broke out on the west side of Michigan street, which consumed the whole block. The books and papers of the company were in the law office of Amasa Johnson and were destroyed. Nothing in regard to its organization appears on the present record. Torrent hose company, in connection with the engine company, was organized December 8, 1865. R. W. Comfort was the first foreman, and Sigmund Mayer, secretary. These three companies were organized into what is

City Hall. - The city hall and engine house was completed in the fall of 1875, by R. McCance and W. P. Beaton, contractors, at a cost of $4,200. The construction of the building was under the immediate supervision of Alfred Morrison, Piatt McDonald and W. D. Thompson, at that time members of the cit}^ council. The building is thirty-four feet wide by fifty feet in length; the walls are thirty-live feet high, eighteen inches thick to the second story, and twelve inches from there to the top. The tower is nine feet square and fifty-nine feet high. The first story is in one large room, in which are kept the implements of the fire department, consisting of one hand engine, hose cart, hook and ladder, etc. The upper story is divided into two rooms, one for the fire department and one for council's chamber and Mayor's office. The building is large enough for the use of the city for many ^-ears to come. The building is the best of its kind in northern Indiana, and is one of which the citizens of Plymouth are justly proud.

Fires. - Plymouth has had its full quota of fires since its organization. The most destructive conflagration of record occurred on Sunday morning, March 22, 1857. The fire was first discovered in the rear of the building, occupied and formerly owned b}' Robert Rusk, on the east side of Michigan street, on the lot now occupied by Nussbaum & Mayer. The alarm was sounded about i o'clock in the morning. The buildings were all of wood, and there being no fire department In those days, and not even so much as a "bucket brigade," the citizens betook themselves to removing the contents into the street, knowing that any effort they might make to save the buildings would prove entirel}' fruitless. The intense heat occasioned by the burning of an entire block of buildings, aided by a brisk northeast wind, carried the fire to the west side of the street, and the goods in the street and the entire block on the west side of Michigan street, with the exception of Mr. Corbin's residence, on the north part of the block, was entirely consumed. The loss in property and business was immense and was variously estimated at from $75,000 to $125,000. Fully four-fifths of the business establishments were destroyed, upon which was an insurance of but $5,000. A careful estimate of the actual cash losses at the time footed up $62,050.

Another disastrous fire occurred January 3, 1866, consuming the entire block on the west side of Michigan street, between La Porte and Garro streets, and resulting in losses amounting to from $50,000 to $75,000, with but little insurance.

fronting on La Porte street, was entirely consumed by fire. The entire row of buildings was owned by John Hoham, who sustained a loss of about $12,000. The total loss sustained by the business men occupying the rooms was about $32,000, on which there was an insurance of only $3,000. The sufferers were J. C. Kern, O. H. P. Bailey, John Gartner, Dr. J. J. Vinall, Nicoles & Maxey, Col. Poe, A. O. Shultz, P. Stegman, C. Bergmann, B. Nussbaum, J. W. Cleaveland, Wilcox & Leonard, M. Ruge & Co. With characteristic energy, Mr. Hoham at once commenced cleaning away the rubbish, and now fine brick buildings have taken the place of the old wooden structures.

Plymouth Postofficc. - The postoffice is the most important branch of the public service, and is entitled to a passing notice in this connection. It ought to be an easy matter to sketch its history, as a record is made of all matters connected with it, but like everything else, the attempt to arrive at anything tangible from the early records, has been an entire failure. From those who ought to know, however, the following facts are gleaned, from 1S35 up to the present time:

William G. Pomeroy was postmaster from 1835 to 1837, under Andrew Jackson. Mr. Pomeroy was a whig. Amzi L. Wheeler settled in Plymouth in December, 1836, and being a democrat, and believing that " to the victors belong the spoils," relieved Mr. Pomeroy, under Martin Van Buren, from 1837 to 1841. In 1840, Harrison was elected, and Mr. Pomeroy again took the office from 1841 to 1845. James K. Polk was elected in 1844, and James Bannon took charge of the postoffice as a democrat. Under Taylor, in 1849, Joseph Griffiths served until some time in 1850, when he accidentally shot himself, from the effects of which he died. Levi C. Barber was then appointed to fill the vacancy. Taylor died July 9, 1850, and Mr. Barber served out the remainder of the term under Fillmore. The administration changed again upon the election of Franklin Pierce, and D. McDonald was appointed, and relieved Mr. Barber in the spring of 1853. He held the office a portion of the term and resigned, when John K. Brooke was appointed to fill the vacancy. On the inauguration of James Buchanan, James F. Van Valkenburgh was appointed. William C. Edwards also served a portion of the time under Buchanan. President Lincoln appointed O. H. P. Bailey, who assumed control of the office in 1S61, and served until the death of Lincoln, in 1865, when President Johnson relieved him and appointed Gideon Blain. Mr. Blain served but a short time when Mr. Bailey was again re-appointed and served until the election of President Grant. John M. Moore then received the appointment, but was taken sick and died before he assumed the duties of the office. William M. Kendall was then appointed and served out Grant's first term, was continued under his second 8 - B.

and served out his third term, having been appointed by President Haj'-es. He was also appointed by the Garfield administration and served some time into Cleveland's term, when he was relieved by Dr. G. R. Reynolds, who at the end of his term was succeeded by John W. Seiders, the present incumbent.

The first bank organized was under the free banking act of 1852. It was called the Plymouth bank, and had an authorize ' capital of $200,000, all in the name of George O. Jennings, of N York. The articles of association declared that it should com^ mence operations in Plymouth on the 5th day of October, 185 and continue until the 5th day of October, 1872. It was a Petei Funk concern and soon collapsed.

The Marshall county bank was commenced May i, 1854, and was to continue until May, 1S72, but suspended not long afterward. The capital stock was $100,000, divided into 1,000 shares, all taken in the name of L. T. Meriam and J. H. Kibbee, of Warren, Ohio. William J. Moir and John Porter were managers of the bank.

About 1858, A. L. Wheeler erected a bank building, arranged with an excellent vault and other conveniences, expressly for the transaction of financial business. A branch of the bank of the state of Indiana occupied the building for some time. After it was transferred to the Fletchers, of Indianapolis, Mr. Cressner took charge of it and removed it to the rooms, up-stairs, over N. S. Woodward's building, on the west side of Michigan street. Mr. Wheeler opened a bank in the building which he continued to operate until 1865, when he diverted his means into other channels.

A branch of the State bank was established and occupied Mr. Wheeler' building until 1S70, when the Plymouth bank was organized, with A. L. Wheeler, banker; E. R. Wheeler, cashier. Mr. Wheeler closed his bank in the early part of 1878.

The First National bank of Marshall county was organized about 1872, with a capital of $50,000, M. A. O. Packard, president; James A. Gilmore, cashier. Mr. Packard, the president, has erected a magnificent bank building on the southeast corner of Michigan and Garro streets, at a cost of probably $25,000. It is the finest business building in the county, and is a monument of the good taste and enterprise of the owner.

The Exchange bank of Buck & Toan was organized several years ago, and is managed by the proprietors in connection with their extensive hardware establishment. They occupy a new and elegant two-story brick building, erected by them in 1878, expressly for the transaction of the business in which they are engaged.

The following is an extract from a response to the toast, "Our City - Retrospective," by Hon. C. H. Reeve, at the commencement exercises of the Plymouth high school, in 1878:

Go back with me, in imagination, and look at the town as I saw it. Where stands your classic school building was a forest of great trees, and beneath them were resting the bodies of a few of the early settlers, just gone before. Where stands the commodious station of the Great Trunk railroad were the outlines of a rude burial-place in the forest. On the corner diagonally opposite where we now are was a common log house in which lived the father or uncle of Mrs. Griffin. Where is now the brick block east of us was a rough log store, and on the opposite corner a log tavern. Where are now your finest residences, the wild deer passed and re-passed in the forest without fear.

Later, there stood on the corner where Mr. Dial lives, a rude school-house of the old type, and on the lot north of Mr. Williamson's was an unsightly one-story structure, used as a church. Where Mr. Freese lives was an uncouth, one-story, unpainted building, used as a court-house.

A few poor dwellings dotted here and there, and between the tangled undergrowth of hazel, oak, hickory, sumach, blue-grapes, bitter-sweet, pigeon-berry and other growth, interspersed with large trees, covered the earth. Around was a forest and marsh, and swale and swamp.

Leading westward, a narrow sinuous path, worn deep in the ground, was the trail of the Indians to their mission on Twin lakes. Northwest, another led away to their settlement on Pine creek. Southeast, another led to the settlement on Tippecanoe. The Michigan road to South Bend, and Yellow river road to La Porte, our only open streets. The waterfowl frequented the surroundings here in numberless flocks, The long trails of squaws, papooses and ponies in single file, with the male Indians on foot, armed, wending their way in the narrow paths and along the roadside to the larger towns of La Porte, South Bend and Logansport to trade, and in and around where now the white man's skill has given us our pleasant little city, wild nature - in manj^ things as Columbus found it on our shores - held somber court and greeted all who came.

In consequence of the early opening of the Michigan and Yellow river state roads through the Indians' country while they owned it, we were always fortunate as to mails. Always one daily from north and south, and one every other day from east and west. The great coaches on good roads, and the huge mud-wagons when the roads were bad. The driver's tin horn giving notice of his coming, drew the few residents together to see who was traveling. When the road was hard the four horses came into town at a spanking gait, and at other times they moved

Where Wheeler's block is now, A. L. Wheeler had a onestory frame store, and wliere Abe Becker is now, the Carters, of Michigan City, had another, in which Gilson S. Cleaveland and Charles Palmer, severally, were educated as merchants.

Johnson Brownlee and myself were about the only young men of marriageable age at one time, and we rambled from the river to the tannery on moonlight nights, in the middle of the road, and sang songs and whistled in parts, as full of romance as if we were born princes. He clerked for Wheeler, and worked as a tailor on the counter, at least to make his own clothes, and I thought nothing of walking ten miles to attend a suit before a countrj' justice for $2 or $3, which I never got sometimes.

H. B. Pershing was a tailor, and worked in a little shop where Brooke's cigar store now is. John Cougle kept a little one-story grocer3' and lived where Humrichouser and Dial do business. James Russel had a harness-shop where Lauer's store now is. Lester, Charley Wilcox's father, had a gunsmith's shop where Becker & Wolf are, and acted as justice in the front part.

Grove Pomeroy, 1 think, Frank Dawes, John Houghton and William M. Patterson, whose descendants are among us, and others, successively "kept tavern" on Corbin's corner. William C. Edwards lived where H. A. Work does now, and was constable, and Joseph Evans, later, kept tavern where Haslanger does.

I cannot pause to go over more particulars. But few are left of those who played marbles on the streets, watched the flies buzzing about on the lazy days, sat in the sun when the ague came on, and waited for the town to grow and settlers to come in; while the amusements were hunting and fishing, and plenty of leisure for it. Messrs. Wheeler, Palmer, Cleaveland, Belangee, Edwards, Fuller, Hervey, Pershing, Houghton, David How, the McDonalds, Woodwards, Mistresses Dunham, Dawes, A. P. Elliott, Maria Elliott, How, Griffin and a few others alone remain who have seen the changes of fort3^-two to fort3'-six years, since the treaty of Tippecanoe, when the Pottawatamies gave their great inheritance to the white man, and the county was organized.

In 1852, 1857, 1866 and 1S73, sweeping fires laid our little town waste, and left our people - with their limited means - wellnigh penniless. With their accustomed energy, they sprang Phcenix-like, from the ashes, and again built up as best they could. While no effort has been made to create a manufacturing locality, our growth has been permanent and substantial, and is not ahead of the country. Little by little the forest and the swamps disappeared, the frame took the place of the log building, and the bricks the place of the frames. The mud roads gave place to the graded streets, and the winding paths to the comfortable plank walks. The steam car took the place of the mud-wagon, and the plumed hearse the place of the hand bier. One by one the most of the pioneers have gone back to dust, and the few remaining ones will soon follow.

In 1SS8 the city council determined to put in water-works, and that year, put in 18,012 feet of pipe, put in the necessary' engines and constructed the reservoirs at a cost of $17,000, and during the year 1890, 2,757 feet of additional pipe have been laid at a cost of $1,100, making the aggregate cost of our water-works only the very low and reasonable sum of $iS,ioo. The reservoirs are filled from several flowing wells that have been sunk near the engine house of the water-works. This water, which is as pleasant and wholesome as the world affords, is used by most of the wealthier citizens of the place for all domestic, irrigating and other purposes, and although the works have been in operation less than two j^ears, the water rental now goes far toward defraying the expenses of the entire system. There are thirtythree hydrants placed in the most available positions in the city, for extinguishing fires, and in every case of fire since the completion of the works they have given entire satisfaction, except in one instance, at the extreme limits of the city, and that was occasioned by an excessive use of water by customers for sprinkling purposes, and on account of not giving sufiicient power or pressure for the great distance the fire was from the engine. The works are a great success and convenience, and have already, almost, if not quite, saved the city their cost, by the timely extinguishing of fires. The old fire department consisted of " Protection hook and ladder company No. i," which was entitled to forty men; the "Adriatic engine company No. i," which was allowed sixty men; "Torrent hose company No. i," which had twenty members; " Wide Awake hose company No. 2," composed of eighteen members, and the " Alert hook and ladder company No. 2," consisting of twenty members. The above members included the officers of the respective companies, and the full membership or force aggregated 158.

Since the completion of the water-works, the department consists of 106 volunteer firemen, including the officers, who are at this time as follows: Chief, Fred. H. Kuhn; first assistant chief, A. R. Underwood; foreman Adriatic engine company, John C. Kuhn; foreman Protection hook and ladder company, Robert McCance; foreman Torrent hose company, D. B. Armstrong; foreman Wide Awake hose company, A. R. Underwood.

In the year 18S8 it was also decided to light the city with electric lights, and at this writing, August, 1890, the city has twentyfive arc lights placed in such position that ours is one of the best lighted cities in the state. Each light costs about $80, which makes the lighting of the city cost $2,000 per year. Each year additional grading and graveling are being done and at this time there are about four miles of as nicely gravel-paved streets as will be found in any city of its size in the state.

Candor compels the compiler of this chapter to say that the manufacturing establishments of Plymouth never have been, are not now, and most likely never will be, either numerous or large. In fact, the auspicious day for the establishing of manufacturing interests in the place has evidently passed. Years ago, when the best of timber was plenty and being slaughtered and destroyed, many establishments for the manufacture of furniture and all implements made of wood could have been successfully operated but nothing less than the devouring saw-mill was ever thought of, and at this day its work of destruction is almost completed, enough of valuable timber having been wantonly destroyed in the past twentj'-five years to have furnished hundreds of operatives with employment for as many years to come and to have made many others wealthy and influential citizens of the place. In fact the good citizens of Plj'mouth have been most unfortunate in every effort they have made to secure the establishing of permanent manufacturing enterprises in the city. Some ten years ago the Adams Chilled Plow company was organized under apparently very favorable circumstances and flattering prospects of success, but this only ran about one year before it " busted up," ending in litigation, many of those who had gone into the matter in good faith losing all they had invested in the enterprise and having their faith in the honesty of many of their acquaintances and fellow citizens sadl}' shaken and their ardor for assisting in enterprises of a public nature, almost entirely cooled off. But in 1 888 another greater and more general effort was made by the citizens to secure the location and establishment of an institution that would give employment to a large number of hands. This effort was made upon the proposition of the Fort Wayne Jenn Electric Light company to move a great portion of their works to Plymouth if the citizens would raise a certain amount as a donation and subscribe for a specified number of shares of stock. The poorer portion of the citizens, assisted to some extent by the richer, raised the amount asked for - $15,000 in cash and ten acres of ground in the city limits, and the building was erected, but the subscribers of the stock, for reasons that were good to them, concluded to not pay for their stock and this action on the part of the stock subscribers was seized upon by the members of the Fort Wayne company as an excuse for not complying with their part of the contract, and no machinery for the manufacture of electric light apparatus was put in, and after a time the citizens appointed a committee to look into the matter, who, after a thorough investigation, brought suit against the Fort Wayne company in the name of the citizens of Plymouth for the recovery of the amount of the donation and for damages. The suit was brought in Allen county. A change of venue was taken to the Wells county circuit court, where the citizens won the suit, but from this decision the Fort Wayne company has taken an appeal to the supreme court of the state, where the cause is now pending; but those who have watched the termination of similar cases have but little hope of the people finally winning the suit, and it would certainly be difficult to now get up anything of a boom or donation for another company or corporation.

In the building erected by the people's money and on the grounds donated by them a few individual citizens have started a factory for the manufactory of electric batteries, in which a few hands are worked a portion of the time. The truth is that Plymouth has always been cursed with a few money sharks who have gotten rich by loaning money at extortionate rates of interest, taking mortgages and foreclosing them and getting the property at from one-half to one-third of its real value. These men never invest to any extent in any kind of manufacturing interests or improvements, and when they are pressed to pay taxes on even the one-tenth of their ill-gotten gains they move away to some larger place where they are not known, and there, by making a false statement annually, avoid taxation almost entirely. Taking these facts into consideration it is not to be wondered at that our city has not prospered as it should have done in the way of manufacturing interests.

Arthur L. Thomson has for years run a very reliable planingmill, sash, door and blind factory immediately south of Thayer's grain elevator, and J. F. Behrens has also for years run a similar factory two squares east of the Lake Erie & Western railroad depot.

A few months ago Mr. Behrens died and a short time ago Mr. C. L.Morris rented the plant. The following from the Doiiocrat of August 2S, 1890, will explain the new enterprise entered into:

" A new industry which in the course of time will be familiarly known as the Acme Novelty Works, has been started in Plymouth. Mr. C. L. Morris is directly interested in the business in a financial way and has associated with him Mr. G. W. Marble as general manager, who has had wide experience in the line of manufacturing they will engage in. They have leased J. F. Behrens* planing-mill and its machinery, and as soon as new machinerycan be placed will start up with as many hands as can be conveniently used. They will work in hard and soft wood lumber and make a specialty of wood work for electric companies, automatic turned work and rods for bending- and dowels, all kinds of chair stock, table tops and legs, garden hose reels and job work generally. It is a new thing for Plymouth, and inasmuch as it is just the kind of enterprises we need to make the town grow we wish it every success."

Mr. C. L. Morris is also running a first-class saw-mill immediately west of the Vandalia depot and is using up the remnant of timber in this vicinity very fast, but he manufactures only rough lumber, and his excellent mill will soon be a thing of the past for the want of timber to work on.

The " Plymouth Water Mills," in the northeast part of the city, owned and run by William Zehner, has, within the past four years been entirely' remodeled and the " roller process" put in, and it is one of the finest mills in this part of the state, and the " Eureka Mills," now called the " M. J. Disher Mills," east of the Parker House on the bank of Yellow river, has also been quite generally overhauled and does very fine custom and merchant work.

The tannery, in the northern part of the city, on the east side of Michigan street, and owned by John Heultheiss, enjoys a good reputation for the manufacture of leather and commands a very liberal patronage not only in this but in surrounding counties.

The population of Plymouth, 1870, was twent3'-four hundred and eighty-two (2,482) ; in 1880 it was twenty-five hundred and seventy (2,570) ; and in i8qo, it is twenty-seven hundred and thirty-nine U,739), showing an increase of eighty-eight between 1870 and 1880, and i6q between 1880 and i8qo.

The following statement of the length of the different railroads in the city, and their valuation for taxation purposes, may be of Interest at this time:

Plymouth's commercial importance is not very great. One reason of this is that there are so many rival trading places within a few miles of the city.

The financial condition of the city is good, and our rate of taxation is less than that of any other city in northern Indiana, that has the improvements and advantages we enjoy. The only indebtedness of the city is a balance of $15,000 in bonds issued to pay for the water-works. Each year a bond of $1,000 becomes due. They bear five per cent, interest. The original amount of the bonds issued was $16,000, but the first one was paid the ist of July, 1S90, leaving the balance above stated.

Neiuspapcrs of Plymojitli, 1851 to iSgo. - It is with feelings of awe and reverence that we approach the task of sketching the rise and progress of our county papers, and those who have been connected with their publication since their establishment. Only think of the brains that have been racked and the fortunes that have been squandered in those nearly forty years, now passed into eternity ! All has been

Some of the old veterans have passed awa3^ and some who were in the prime and vigor of manhood have been cut down by the all devouring scythe of time. But their memories shall never fade and ther works do follow them. For them - ah, well - we drop a tear to their memory, and to the living, we promise our support and sympathy until the silver cord shall be loosed, and the golden bowl shall be broken !

The Plymouth Pilot was the first paper published in Plymouth, and although there are no more copies of it to be found, the first number must have appeared sometime in June, 1851. The legal printing was done by Schuyler Colfax in the St. Joseph Valley Register for the May term of the circuit court of that year, and the publications were made in the Pilot for the November term, 1851. The press and material were transported from Rochester to Plymouth on wagons, and we remember very well, the day it arrived. The population of Plymouth at that time, did not exceed 700 or 800, and there were few of the whole number who failed to make a personal examination of the novelties connected with it, and express an opinion in regard to the enterprise. John O. Howell was the reckless disciple of Faust, who made the venture. The novelty soon wore off, and Mr. Howell was permitted to run it in his own way without any special effort on the part of the people, to assist him. It did not prove a paying investment and Mr. Howell determined to get rid of it on the best terms he could. He succeeded in selling it to Richard Corbaley on the first of March, 1852. Mr. Corbaley changed the name of the paper, and sent out Vol. i. No. i, of the Plymouth Banner. He continued the publication of the Banner until the 28th of July, 1853. Mr. Corbaley was clerk of the court at that time, and had no particular knowledge of the printing business, and the work of publishing the paper was done by jour printers and " devils," who made the office a loafing place, and were learning to stick type for the fun of it. The rollers always worked badly, the type was badly worn and bruised, and the tympan sheets were always out of fix, and as a matter of course, when the paper made its appearance, it was not the most perfect specimen of newspaper printing. Richard was a man of an amiable turn of mind, and seldom suffered his natural equilibrium to be disturbed. On one occasion, however (we shall never forget) , he came near saying cuss words, albeit he wouldn't have done so for the world. The matter was all up for the paper, and the forms ready to go on the press. One of the hands in the office, in attempting to lift the third page, let it fall, and pied the whole form. Richard was not himself for several days. It took about two weeks to distribute the pi and get things in running order. Mr. Corbaley sold out to William J. Burns and he assumed the editorial management of the paper July 28th, 1853, and continued until December 4th, 1854. Mr. Burns was an educated newspaper man, having been engaged in the business most of his life. He told what he had to say in an easy off-hand way, and all in all, published a fair local paper.

" December 4th, 1854, the office passed into the hands of Thomas B. Thompson. Mr. Thompson was deputy sheriff at that time, and became interested in its management on political grounds. He was not a literary man, and made no pretensions as a writer. The services of William G. Pomeroy were secured to edit the paper, and he launched out on the sea of journalism in the following style: ' Omx Banner will always be found against the doctrines of slavery extension, and in favor of freedom; against drunkenness and in favor of sobriety; against vice and in favor of good order; against wrong and in favor of right.'

"James M. Wickizer became associated with Mr. Thompson in the publication of the paper December 28th, 1S54, and on the ist day of February, 1855, became the sole owner. A week later, February 8th, 1855, he sold out to J. L. and E. A. Thompson. After this date the name of Mr. Pomeroy does not appear as editor, and diligent search has failed to discover any reference to his decapitation, or what were the causes that led to it. There is a little inside history, political or otherwise, connected with the rapid changes made about this time, not necessary to repeat here, and which, perhaps, will never be written. The last named proprietors announced: ' Its politics will hereafter be independent.' The}' published the paper about five weeks and on the 15th of March, 1855, bid good bye to their readers. They said: 'When we co^mmenced its publication, we had a faint idea of the difficulties of publishing a newspaper. We now know that they are many more than we anticipated.'

" William J. Burns again became editor and publisher on the 22d of March, 1S55, ^^icl continued until July 28th, 1856. On the 15th of November, 1855, his paper contained the following notice: ' The Marshall County Democrat will make its first appearance to-day.'

"July 28th, 1856, John Greer, representing the republican central committee, purchased the office. The E. A. Thompson associated with J. L. Thompson, if we mistake not, was the wife of W. E.Thompson, and the daughter of John Greer. Mr. Greer representing the republican central committee, perhaps, furnished the money for J. L. and E. A., to pay for the paper in the first place. Mr. Burns being unable to pay for it, Mr. Greer took it off his hands. He secured the assistance of an editor during the campaign, but who he was, he did not state, and he remained subrosa until the paper passed out of Mr. Greer's hands. Ignatius Mattingly purchased the office, and took charge of the editorial department of the paper October Qth, 1856. He changed the name of the paper from the Plymouth Banner to the Marshall County Republican, and issued the first paper as No. I, Vol. I. Mr. Mattingly was an old hand at the bellows, and conducted it on the red hot principle from the first. Bitter personalities (such as would not be tolerated now-a-days) sprang up between him and the editors of the Democrat, and were indulged in for an indefinite length of time, more to the gratifica- tion of the writers than their readers. Time," however, hath smoothed the wrinkled front of these newspaper warriors, and having ' clasped hands across the bloody chasm,'

" David T. Phillips connected himself with the Republican as local editor, February loth, 1859, and continued as such until February i6th, i860. Mr. Phillips was an easy writer, and although a very quiet and amiable gentleman, could dip his pen in gall and dash off a bitter squib with as much ease and facility as any other man who flourished the quill in those days. He now resides in California. William H. H. Mattingly followed Mr. Phillips and continued as local editor until August 2d, 1866, when he became one of the proprietors, He seems to have gone entirely out of the office Februar}^ 14th. 1867. He made a good local editor, and in after years he took his place among the best writers of the local press of northern Indiana. He published the Rochester Union Spy for several years, and when the spirit moved him to speak, his trumpet issued forth no uncertain sound. John D. Devor was associate editor from June 19th, 1S62, to February 25th, 1863. He w^s the son-in-law of the senior Mattingly, and was an attorney at law. Moses B. Mattingly became one of the proprietors and also local editor, November Sth, i860, and sold out and enlisted In the Union army July i, 1861. He was connected with several papers after the close of the war, and was accidentally drowned, years ago, somewhere in Illinois.

" On the 14th day of November, 1867, I. Mattingly announced, 'The Infirmities of increasing years added to the fact that our editorial duties together with the business of the office are sufficient to require the time and attention of one person, have induced us to retire from the position we have held so long as publisher of the Republican.' Moses B. and William H. H. Mattingly became proprietors and publishers, with Mr. Mattingly still retained as editor. They continued as publishers until March 26th, 1868, after which time their names do not appear. June 4th, 1868, I. Mattingly retired, and in doing so introduced D. Porter Pomeroy, who, he said, was not only a practical printer, but a gentleman of culture and refinement, and emlnentlj' qualified to discharge the responsible duties he had assumed. Mr. Mattingly concluded his valedictory as follows: ' In conclusion we desire to say that we retire without any feelings of animosity towards any one - towards our political opponents even, we harbor no personal malice. We have endeavored to give those with whom we have had controversies as good as they sent, and If we overpaid any we freely forgive the debt, and hope they will do the same if they think they have overpaid us.' "

No man living ever labored more faithfully and earnestly for the advancement of the interests of his party than did Mr. Mattingly, during the twelve years he was engaged as editor and publisher of the Rcpubluan. In political matters he had a happy faculty of making the worse appear the better on the republican side of the question, and when speaking of the democracy, he never failed to produce the most damaging facts, carefull}- avoiding the publication of anything it ever did for the benefit of the people. He published the best republican paper north of the Wabash river, and is entitled to more consideration from his party than he ever'received. He established the Bourbon I\Iirror about fourteen j^ears ago, and is still engaged in its publication.

John S. Bender became associated in the editorial management of the Republican August 13, 1S6S. April i, 1S69, D. T. Pomeroy left the paper, and left nothing on record to show whither he went or how he fared. Mr. Bender then became sole proprietor, and continued its publication until July i, 1S66. Mr. Bender had too many irons in the fire to give the editorial department very much attention, and having no practical knowledge of the printing business, the receipts of the office barely paid the expenses. Charles F. Belangee and William M. Nichols purchased the office from Mr. Bender July 8, 1S69, and secured the services of D. T. Phillips as associate editor. Mr. Belangee died September 16, 1869. He was a young man, only twenty-two years of age, moral and upright, and having energy and some ability, had a bright and promising future just opening before him. The entire management of the office fell upon Mr. Nichols upon the death of Mr. Belangee. D. T. Phillips severed his editorial connection with the paper November 10, 1870, and H. L. Phillips became associated with Mr. Nichols as one of the publishers. March 23, 1871, Mr. Nichols bade good-bye to his readers, and the office was left to the management of H. L. Phillips. He continued its publication until April 20, 1871, when the press and material reverted to John S. Bender. John Millikan became associated with Mr. Bender in the management of the paper July 27, 1871. January 4, 1872, Mr. Bender sold the office to Mr. Millikan, and bade the dear reader an affectionate farewell. Mr. Millikan changed the paper from a folio to a quarto, and continued it in that form until he disposed of it to Hon. Jasper Packard, June 17, 1875, when the form of the paper was again changed to a folio. Mr. Packard being a resident of La Porte, and editor of the La Porte Chronicle, Mr. W. W. Smith became connected with the RcptMican as business manager and local editor. Mr. Smith was a young man, about twenty-five, six feet three in his shoes, a printer, convivial in his habits and intercourse, of moderate ability, and during his staj^ among us was looked upon by his associates, to use a slang phrase, as a "bully good boy." His head fell into the editorial waste-basket October i, 1S75, upon the purchase by Mr. Packard of the Alail and Magnet. At this Adite t\\& Mail and Magnet (of which we shall speak in another place) was merged into The Marshall County Rcpttblicaa, and Mr. Howard Brooke, editor of the Mail and Magnet, became manager and local editor. Upon the consolidation of the two papers, the Rcpitbliean was enlarged to a nine-column folio. During a portion of Mr. Packard's editorial career, Mr. Henry D. Stevens was connected with the paper. On the 2Sth of December, 1S76, David E. Caldwell purchased the paper, and continued its publication until February 21, 1S7S, when he disposed of it to J. W. Siders and Walter L. Piper, both of Illinois. Mr. Piper left the paper October 10, 1S78, and was succeeded by Howard Brooke. Mr. Brooke retired in October, 1879, and was succeeded by his brother, Mr. Ed. S. Brooke. Mr. Siders and Mr. Ed. S. Brooke continued to publish the Republican as partners, until July 18, 1890, when Mr. Siders disposed of his interest to Mr. Brooke, his former partner, and Mr. William Hendricks, who are publishing the paper at the present writing.

The Marshall County Democrat was established by Thomas McDonald and H. B. Dickson, and the first number of the paper was issued November 15, 1855, with the senior proprietor as editor. The office was situated in the building now occupied as a residence by J. D. McLaren, Esq. The building had formerly been occupied as a carriage house, and was built by Mr. Wheeler who owned the lot an which it stood. The material for the office was purchased in Cincinnati, and transported in wagons from Peru, our then nearest railroad station. Mr. Dickson having only a money interest in the paper, transferred it to T. McDonald not long after the paper was started. November 13, 1856, A. C. Thompson and Piatt McDonald leased the office and published the paper with T. McDonald as editor, until November 12, 1857. Daniel McDonald became local editor February 5, 1857, and continued as such until November 12, 1857. At this date pater faniilias disposed of the office by giving it to his sons, Daniel, Piatt and John McDonald. John was a minor at that time, and D. & P. McDonald became accountable to him for his interest, and commenced the publication of the paper in the name of McDonald & Bro., with M. A. O. Packard as editor. November 26, 1857, upon retiring from the editorial chair, Mr. McDonald said: "With an entire democratic government - with the wounds of 'bleeding Kansas' healed, and the people about to make their own government; with success everywhere of the principles we have advocated; with the worst financial crashes past, and the current of trade setting in, in our favor; with universal peace and unbounded prosperity around us, we shall leave our patrons and readers to the care of younger heads and more ready hands, and hope their 'bairns bairn may see no check to our nation's onward movement, nor clouds overshadow the brightness around us."

The paper was ensmalled to six columns, and was published in that form until June, 1S5S. Mr. Packard retired June 3, 1858. The paper up to that time had never paid expenses, and the new proprietors having no other means of support were compelled to cut off all expenses and run it themselves or go under.

McDonald & Bro. ended their connection with the paper August II, 1859. After casting up their accounts, they found their interest in the Democrat had been swallowed up in debts contracted in publishing the paper. William J. Burns purchased the effects, and being unable to pay for it, transferred it to A. C. Thompson, January 26, 1S60. No paper was published from December I, 1S5Q, until January 26, i860. Mr. Thompson changed the name from the MarsJiall County Democrat to \.\\& P/y month Weekly Democrat, No. i. Vol. i, and said: " We make our hasty bow and consider ourselves in." April 11, 1861, he sold it to T. and P. McDonald, and in his valedictory the spirit moved him to soliloquize as follows: " Coming events are casting their shadows before, and the country stands amazed, confounded and paralyzed. God only knows what is in store for us; but whatever it may be, it is certainly of such a nature that it will puzzle the brain and grieve the heart of all philanthropists and patriots. May the God of our fathers save us from the horrors of civil war."

April 18, 1861, the paper appeared with T. and P. McDonald, proprietors, Piatt McDonald, editor, and John McDonald, local editor. During the fourteen months following, the war excitement was at its highest pitch, and the editor-in-chief found it a difficult matter to criticise any of the war measures of the administration, without incurring the displeasure of some of the truly loyal, and running the chances of having his office demolished. He was the recipient of several anonymous communications through the postoffice, and one placed under his door, and one on the stairway leading to his office, one night after he had gone to bed, all of which contained warnings of the wrath to come. He was not easily frightened, and knowing that they were the fulminations of men who were too cowardly to confront him face to face, he pursued the even tenor of his way, and continued unmolested until he sold out to D. E. Vanvalkenburgh, July 17, 1862. John G. Osborne became associated with the paper as editor-inchief, the proprietor acting as local. Mr. Osborne left the paper November 13, 1S62, and Mr. Vanvalkenburgh became editor and proprietor. The war excitement was still raging with unabated fury; martial law, or what was about the same thing, had been declared in Indiana; drafting into the army had become what was declared to be a necessary war measure, and a public man, and an editor especially, hardly knew whether his soul was his own or not. In April, 1863, General Mile B. Hascall, commanding the military district of Indiana, issued " order No. 9," virtually taking away the freedom of the press, and subjecting the people to military rule. Ed. Van. gave the order the benefit of his circulation, and commented on the author in the following language: " Brig. Gen. Hascall is a donkey, an unmitigated, unqualified donkey, and his bray is loud, long and harmless; merely offensive to the ear; merely tends to create a temporary irritation!"

For this little piece of indiscretion, a dozen soldiers, under command of a captain, pounced in upon the young man about 4 o'clock one morning, a few days after the article was published. He was sleeping in the bed room in the back part of Wheeler's bank, and he was ordered to arise. He did not stand upon the order of going, but went at once, knowing that resistance would only make matters worse. He was taken to Indianapolis and confined in Camp Morton a day or two, and had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Hascall. He was taken from thence to Cincinnati and ushered into the presence of Maj. Gen. Burnside, who, after reading the article, inquired: " Why did j^ou call Gen. Hascall a donkey?" To which Ed. replied: " Because he is a donkey!" The general admonished him to never call Gen. Hascall a donkey again, and gave him permission to go hence without delay, fully discharged and acquitted. Mr. Vanvalkenburgh continued as editor until October 22, 1863, when he disposed of the office to John G. Osborne, who controlled it until May q, 1865, when he sold it to S. L. Harvey, but still remained on the paper as one of the editors. Mr. Harvey raised the price on advertising and job work fully fifty per cent., and was the first publisher who made anything beyond a living out of it. He established it on a paying basis, and left it in a prosperous condition, financially. He sold it to John McDonald, October 31, 1867, who ran it alone until July 2, 1868, when failing health compelled him to quit the business. He sold out to Michael W. Downey, A. C. Thompson and D. E. Vanvalkenburgh, and the paper was edited by themselves and others who felt inclined to write for it. Ed. Vanvalkenburgh took charge of it March 25, 1869, and so continued until December 2, 1S69, when Piatt McDonald again purchased an interest, and the new firm kept it going until June 12, 1873, when Mr. McDonald made the following announcement:

"Our connection with the Democrat, editorially and proprietary, ceases to-day. Let not the suddenness with which an editorial light has been snuffed shock your -nerves, dear reader, for the thing has been done before and may be done again. We go with no grumblings and few complaints, conscious of having labored with good intentions toward our fellow man, and in turn of being the recipient of kind treatment from all with whom our business has brought us in contact. We bequeath whatever of good name we have to our family; our fortune to our creditors, and our pencil, scissors and paste pot to our successor."

Mr. Vanvalkenburgh continued to edit and publish the paper until October g, 1873, when he sold an interest in the office to William Geddes. Messrs. Vanvalkenburgh & Geddes continued the publication until the 2d day of July, 1S74, when Piatt McDonald again purchased the interest of D. E. Vanvalkenburgh. Mr. Vanvalkenburgh then retired from the editorial chair and became a private citizen. Upon the consummation of this change, Piatt McDonald became editor, and Mr. Geddes assumed the management of the mechanical department. This arrangement continued until May 27, 1874, when Mr. Geddes sold his interest to Mr. McDonald and went to Fort Wayne to take charge of the job department of the Fort Wayne Gazette. Mr. Geddes was an excellent job printer, a rapid typo, and thoroughly understood the multifarious duties connected with country newspaper printing. The printing business having increased rapidly, it became necessary to purchase a cylinder press, engine, boiler and fixtures, and additional material. Mr. McDonald sold one-half interest in the office to Daniel McDonald, August i, 1875, since which time the paper has been conducted by the proprietors under the firm name of McDonald & Brother. September 23, 1875, the following announcement was made:

Steam Printing. - " This issue of the Democrat is printed on a cylinder press, with steam power - the first newspaper ever printed in the county with the best and latest improved machinery. Our new steam engine, manufactured expressly for us by W. J. Adams, machinist, of this city, was put in position last Saturday, and on Monday the first side of the Dcniocrat was printed. To say that we are proud of this new addition to our printing facilities is to draw it mild; in fact, all who have seen it or heard of it, are proud that our city contains an establishment alike creditable to the proprietors and the people who support it. Tne engine is of six horse power, neatly and honestly made, and is capable of driving as many presses as we will probably have use for some time to come. We are not only proud of the engine as an instrument for good, but because it is a product of ourcity, and is unsurpassed by those manufactured elsewhere. There are connected with the publication of the Democrat at this time: Piatt McDonald and Daniel McDonald, proprietors; Arthur T. Metcalf, Daniel B. Langenbaugh, Mark Tuttle, Arthur Underwood, Elmer H. Dunham, John N. Milice, compositors; Frank D. Lamson, Thomas Whitmore and Peter Kruyer, general work; G. M. Myers, extra work, and twelve 9-B.

local correspondents; in all, twenty-three persons who assist regularl}' in the publication of the paper. In addition to a large amount of job work, the following publications are printed and the work all done at the Democrat office: The Restitutioi, a six column folio weekly; the Sunshine, a Sunday-school paper, twenty-four column quarto monthly; the Farmers Monthly, four column octavo monthl}-. The presses and fixtures, engine, boiler, type, furniture, and appurtenances and good will of the office is considered reasonabl}- worth $9,000."

On the 22nd of February, 1S76, atthe solicitation of the superintendent of public instruction of Indiana, the proprietors issued a mammoth double page edition, which afterward came to be known as the Centennial Democrat. It contained the most complete historj' of the county that had been written prior to that time. It was illustrated with cuts of the court house, public school building, and engine house of Plymouth; portraits of Thomas McDonald and Ignatius jNIattingly, and a fine map of the county. A personal letter to the proprietors from the superintendent of public instruction, to whom copies of all papers in the state published on that date, had been sent, stated that the Centennial Democi'at was the handsomest among them all. The paper was issued at a loss to the proprietors over receipts, of about $200.

October i, 1877, Piatt McDonald sold his interest in the paper to Daniel McDonald, who became sole proprietor. The office was at once put into a complete state of repairs and a grand reception given on November 2Sth, following. The following copy of the invitation circular will give the reader an idea of the character of the reception:

Grand Reception. - "The Plymouth Democrat Steam Printing establishment will be thrown open to the public on Wednesday evening, November 28, from 7 to q o'clock P. M. The steam cylinder press, capable of making thirty impressions per minute, will be in operation, papers will be folded and mailed as they come from the press, showing the manner of pasting the printed mailing slips on the papers by machinery. In the composing room, the job press will be in operation and compositors will be setting and distributing t^-pe, etc. Everything pertaining to the mechanical department of the office will be fully shown and explained. The office throughout, from the editorial room to the press room below, has been thoroughly painted, renovated and repaired. It is supplied with over 150 kinds of type, and is provided with everything else to make it a first-class printing office in every respect," etc.

The reception was a grand success. The issue of the Democrat the da}- following contained the following in regard to it: " Notwithstanding the snow and wind storm that prevailed dur- ing the evening, fully i ,000 people honored the invitation extended to all to take a bird's eye view of the Democrat Steam Printing establishment in full operation. About 1,700 copies of the Rcstihiiion, a publication issued from this office, were printed on our steam cylinder press and were all folded and mailed between 7 and 9:30 P. M. Arthur Underwood, the foreman of the composing and press room, printed a circular in five different colors at one impression, keeping the little jobber busy during the evening. The job was perfectly executed and the operation gave delight to all who witnessed it. All the employes were busy, doing their work faithfully and well, and everything connected with the office was explained as fully as could be done under the circumstances. We believe all went away satisfied with their visit."

Daniel McDonald sold the office on January i, 1S79, to Hon. Henry A. Peed, of Shoals, Ind. On the retirement of Mr. McDonald, the employes of the office - eight in number - presented him with an elegant gold headed cane, suitably engraved, as a mark of esteem. On the loth day of March, 18S1, Mr. D. McDonald re-purchased or took back the office from Mr. Peed, and has been editor of the paper ever since. For the past few years the Democrat has been published by D. McDonald & Co., the company being Mr. Louis McDonald, son of D. McDonald, a young man of ability and sound democracy. He is the general business manager of the paper, and also does a good portion of the editorial work on the Donocrat.

proprietors were Cliffe M. Brooke and A. B. Clark. It was started as an independent paper with republican proclivities. The editors were both young men just merging into manhood, and the paper was run on the Young America high pressure principle. Mr. Clark severed his connection with the paper a few months after the first number was printed, leaving the entire management in the hands of Mr. Brooke. During the political campaign of 1874 it became the organ of the grangers, who had nominated a people's ticket and succeeded in inveigling the republican party into endorsing its candidates. Its columns were thrown open to any who wished to advocate the dogmas of the people's party, and during the entire campaign its columns teemed with abuse and vilitication of many of the best men in the county. The election not resulting favorably to the cause it had espoused, it soon began to show signs of weakening, and early in the spring of 1875 it was purchased by Howard Brooke, who, having experience as a practical printer, and being a gentleman of respectability, infused a better spirit into the paper, and under his management it became an average county publication, and was continued by him as such until he sold it to Jas-

The Restitution. - T\\^ Restitution is a religious paper of twenty-four columns, published by the Christian Publishing association of Plymouth, Ind. The printing and work on the paper is done by McDonald & Co., at the office of the Plymouth Democrat. The paper is now in its twenty-fourth volume, having been formerly published in Chicago, from whence it was removed to Plymouth, December i, 1874, where it has since been issued. It is published at $2 per year in advance; Hiram V. Reed, editor-inchief; Elders S. A. Chaplin, T. Wilson and J. M. Stephenson, corresponding editors. It advocates " the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." It has a circulation of 2,000, and copies of it find their way into almost every kingdom and province on the globe.

The Indiana Greenbacker. - This paper was started during the campaign of 1878, as the organ of the greenback cause in Marshall county. Later, it announced itself as the organ of the greenback party of the thirteenth congressional district, and still later as the organ of the party in Indiana. M. W. Downey and D. McDuffie were the first editors. They were succeeded by Phil Corcoran, and he by A. W. Barlow, and he by Robert Neil.

Tlie Farmers Monthly. - This was an octavo publication commenced in 1876, at Plymouth, Ind., by H. V. Reed. It started out with a subscription list of 700, and was, in every respect, an excellent paper. For want of sufficient support it was suspended some six months later.

The Church Monitor, by Rev. }. J. Faude, of the Episcopal church, Plymouth, was published about nine months, in 1877. It was a quarto, neat in mechanical make-up, edited with tact and ability, but for want of sufficient support its publication was discontinued.

Tlie SunsJiine. - This was a Sunday-school paper, started in 1876 by J. F~. VVilco.x, who at that time resided in Goodland, Ind., in the interest of the Sunday-schools of the Christian church. It was printed at the Democrat office, and lived about a year, when it expired for want of financial nourishment.

Public Schools of Plymouth. - Information respecting the schools -of Plymouth anterior to 1869, must be obtained from one of three sources, viz.: The records of the state educational department, the newspaper comments, and personal recollections. A thorough research among the dusty documents of state officials and the reports of school officers reveals the fact, that however valuable these statistics may have been to the state printer in the footings of accounts current for stationery, or however satisfactory they may have appeared as specimens of mathematical skill.

they are nearly worthless for giving any definite idea of the schools then in existence. Whether the omission of the very items which are desirable, or the gross inaccuracies of those given, are the more to be deplored, will ever be a matter of doubt with those who have occasion to use them. Reports which show the enrollment of the schools to be greater than the entire population between the ages of six and twenty-one years, must be received with some suspicion. They either prove the falsity of the saying, that " figures will not lie," or disclose a remarkable thirst for knowledge on the part of the adult and married portion of the community. Newspaper comments of that day and generation, display a notable unanimity in glorifying the common school system in theory and condemning it in fact, thus leading a latter day inquirer to conclude that the "practical workings" of the schools did not come up to the advertisements of their friends, or that the editorial comments were written in a Pickwickian sense. Besides, such statements as " Miss A.'s school closed on Friday with exercises which were highly creditable to both pupils and teachers," after the lapse of years, do not give the most satisfactory view of the attendance, studies, methods and successes of the schools. Personal recollections, like personal opinions, are found to be somewhat discordant. No better evidence could be had that " our life is a dream," than the effort to detail the circumstances and events of a quarter century ago. Like the remembrance of a dream by one who wakens, are the visions in memory, spectres of the living realities that once occupied the mind. This somewhat lengthy review of the means of information, which, by the way, is intended for the relief of the writer rather than the edification of the reader, explains the impossibility of drawing a perfect comparison between the schools of the present and those of earlier time. All that can be done or expected in this article, is to give a hasty sketch of the former condition of affairs, showing that the advancement in educational matters has been commensurate with that in material interests, and that in the advantages which Plymouth employs, her schools are not the least. The first school in Plymouth was taught by O. F. Norton, in the fall or winter of 1837. The school was held in the old court house, which then stood on the lot now owned by Mr. J. N. Freese on East Michigan street, near Adams. Mr. Norton is said, by one who knew him, to have been a man of more than ordinary intelligence, of great amiability of character, and as possessing the respect of his fellow citizens. He afterward filled the position of county clerk. The next school of which we get any account, was taught by Mrs. Erskine, who erected a building, which is now used as a residence, immediately south of the residence of Mr. J. M. Klinger, near the Catholic church. This school was commenced about 1S40, and was taught for some time between that year and 1845. A school-house was then built on Adams street, on the lot now owned by Mr. John Dial, in the rear of the Lutheran church. This building was used until December, 1S54. It has since been moved to Walnut street, and is occupied as a residence.

The first school in this building was taught by a Mr. Reed. He had a hard set of scholars to manage, if his story was true, and he was a hard man to get along with, if any dependence could be put upon the reports of his pupils. He was followed by Willoughby M. McCormick, and he by Mr. Clark, Mr. Crusan and others, all of whom closed their labors with indifferent success.

Until 1851 the schools were under the jurisdiction of the township trustee, although by the school law at that time in force, their jurisdiction was almost or entirely nominal, their school duties being little more than to make a donation to the teacher of the morsel of interest coming from the school fund. The usual custom seems to have been to apply the public school fund to the benefit of any 'teacher who chose to start a school, he making up the deficiency by tuitions from the pupils, although there were some entirely free schools during this period. The first agitation of school questions appears to have taken place about 1S53. From the time when the town was incorporated in 185 1 to the fall of 1853, the evidence shows that there was no public or private school in Plymouth, as the corporation trustees report at the latter date a larger school fund than could have accumulated in less than two years.

In the Plymouth Banner of March 24, 1853, appeared an article, signed " S. M. E.," calling attention to the need of a school, stating in most forcible language the evils and the inefficiency of the private school system, and proposing a plan for the future. The article is especially noticeable from the fact that it describes the graded school system as it now exists in all cities and towns of any educational repute. There was not then such a school in the state, and very few in the Union. If the writer is living, he has the satisfaction of knowing that the plan suggested by him, and which undoubtedly was viewed by the few who read it as chimerical and visionary, has been universally adopted as the only feasible method of public instruction. In the same paper of April i6th of the same year, was issued a call for a meeting of the people, to consider the propriety of employing Mr. and Mrs. Etter, of Rochester, who were mentioned as being teachers of a different grade from that with which the town had been afflicted thus far. The writer of the call indulged in some very plain remarks, in which he cited the people to the " humbuggerry which had been practiced upon them by the strolling quacks who called themselves teachers," and urged the economy of the management of the schools by the town authorities, and particularly of lavishing upon the teachers larger salaries. As no rejoinder to his criticisms appeared, it may be mferred that they were substantially true, or that the school masters were all abroad when the article appeared. At the same meeting the advisability of building a school-house was discussed. The population of Plymouth at this time is given as 670.

May 26th an election was held upon the proposition to levy taxes for the support of schools, at which the vote stood five in favor and eight against such tax. June 23d a township election was held for the same purpose, at which the vote stood thirteen opposed, to seven in favor. About this time Mr. and Mrs. Etter, Mr. James Thrawls, Mr. J. M. Wickizer and others, taught private schools. In March, 1S54, the lot donated to the county for seminary grounds, was sold to the town for the nominal sum of $100, and on the 30th of the same month a contract for building a school-house was entered into with Mr. S. Morgan. This building was completed in December of the same year. It contained three school rooms and one recitation room, and was a credit to the town. It is now known as the Eureka Mills. Mr. W. J. Moir was chosen principal of the schools, and had as assistants the first term, Mrs. E. Crum and Miss E. Adams. The attendance was at first about 150. The text books used were Sander's spellers, Parker's readers, Davies' arithmetic, Mitchell's geography and Clark's grammar.

Of all the teachers of former times, Mr. Moir has left behind him the most pleasant recollections. He is uniformly mentioned with great respect by those who were his pupils, and there can be no doubt that he inaugurated a new era in school matters. Mr. Moir was succeeded by Mr. C. H. Blair, who was principal but a part of one year when he was followed by Mr. H. C. Burlingame, late auditor of Marshall county. Mr. Burlingame retired from the management of the schools in 1861, concluding that he had done his share of missionary work, and that he would seek some less "promising" but more lucrative employment. Mr. Mark Cummings, who was for many years county examiner, then took charge of the schools. He was followed by Mr. D. D. Luke, who remained as principal until August, 1870, when he was elected superintendent of the Goshen schools. In 186S the building in the Third ward was erected. Upon the retirement of Mr. Luke in 1870, Mr. R. A. Chase was chosen as superintendent and has continued such to the present time.

Upon the records appear the following names of teachers who were emplo3'ed either in public or private schools within the period from 1S55 to 1870: Miss Holloway, Miss Ackermann, Miss Fuller, Miss Patterson, Mrs. Locke, Miss Woodbury, Miss Briggs, Mr. and Mrs. Comstock, Miss Howe, Miss French, Miss

J 36 History Of Indiana

Since 1870, either for better or worse, many important changes have been made in the administration of the schools. A systematic course of study has been adopted and is in use, the schools have been graded, a more exact discipline has been introduced, and from a state of comparative confusion as regards anj' settled policy of action, the business of the schools is as well and completely systematized as that of any mercantile firm in town. In 1874 a new school building was erected which is at present occupied by the schools. It is of brick, of two stories with a basement story available for school rooms. It has nine school rooms, with private and recitation rooms, is supplied with the best quality of school furniture and in Its finish and adaptation has no superior in tlic state. It has rooms for 500 pupils and is warmed by four large furnaces of the Ruttan style. It has also the celebrated Ruttan system of ventilation.

Within the past fourteen years the facilities for advanced classes have been much increased, especially hy the instruction offered in the high school grade. The position of high school teacher was held during 1872-3 and '74, by Miss Louise Cleaveland. She was succeeded in 1875 by Mr. D. E. Prescott, of Chicago, and he by Mrs. D. B. Wells, who formerly was principal of schools in Detroit. Under Mrs. Wells, the instruction in the high school has been surpassed by none in the country, and its classes would be a credit to any institution.

The schools are now divided into nine grades, and the high school with nine teachers besides the superintendent. The instruction in the grades below the high school embraces the common school branches. The high school gives instruction in mathematics as far as to surveying, in natural science, including botany, phj-sical geography, chemistr}-, physiology, astronom3^ natural philosophy - its course in the English language embraces analysis, rhetoric, and English literature, to which is added political economy, general history, and a thorough knowledge of book-keeping. Such classes as may be desired are also formed in German and Latin. The study of the constitution of the United States is required of pupils entering the high school. The exercises in literary work consist of debating, essays, declamations and readings, and are held dail}', thus affording an amount of drill which could not be had when the exercises were held monthly. A weekly recitation in the current news of the day is had in the high school and first grade. Written examina- tions are held when deemed advisable, generally monthly, and at the close of each year an annual exarnination is had. The school was honored in 1874 by being enrolled by the state board in the list of schools whose graduates would be received at the state university without examination.

It is not intended in this article to belittle or underestimate the labors or accomplishments of teachers and school officers of other days. In looking at their work, and considering the lack of buildings, of money, and often of a kind and encouraging public sentiment, the wonder is that they did so well. While to the teachers have come, in a great measure, the rewards and encouragements of success, it must be remembered that to the teachers and school men of early times, we are altogether indebted for our school system, and a large part of our school revenue. If any improvement has been secured in the Plymouth schools, within the past few years, it is due to the generous support of the public, and especially to the wisdom, forbearance, and firmness of the several boards of education. If the experience of the past twenty-five years teaches anything, it is wisdom of the policy inaugurated and pursued by these respective school boards, which may be briefly summed up in these words:

2. That a public school, to fulfill its object, as well as to justify its support, must be divorced from all party, clique, or sectarian influences or control.

3. That as high order of talent is needed in primary instruction as in higher grades, and since the majority of pupils are in the primary rooms, the employment of cheap teachers for lower grades is unjust and injurious.

4. That the worst extravagance of which a city can be guilty, is the employment of cheap teachers, entailing, as it does, the double loss of the parents' money, and the children's time.

5. That the public schools are not intended as a hospital for the sick and infirm, who may be unable to endure physical labor, nor as an asylum for distressed widows and helpless maidens, who, because they can do nothing else for a livelihood, infer that they can teach school. That nothing but her success can be taken as the estimate of a.teacher's worth.

6. That while the schools are for the people, and like other public institutions, are under the control of the people, that control must be exercisecf through the appointed legal means, viz.: the officials who have been chosen by the people for that purpose.

The City Schools. - The Democrat has just completed printing the report of the city schools for the years 1889-90, which will probably be distributed the latter part of this week. It contains much interesting and valuable information and should be carefully perused and preserved for future reference by parents and others interested in our excellent schools.

From it we learn that 655 pupils were enrolled within the year, the average membership was 554.8, per cent, of membership on enrollment 85, on enumeration 51, and the number in school at the end of the year was 523, the per cent, of attendance was 96.7, and during the year 73 pupils were neither absent nor tardy. There were only 24 cases of tardiness during the year, 22 of which were in H, I and K rooms. Besides this information of a general character the report gives the standing of each pupil attained at a final examination in each study, in which each pupil is represented by a number known only to the pupil and his parents. The volume also contains a catalogue of the school library, which contained on August 20th, 3,073 books, of which 387 are private property, leaving 2,685 belonging to the library. The library has become an important feature of the citj' schools and according to the rules established by the board of education every resident family has a right to use one book from the library at the same time and retain it for two weeks.

One of the important educational institutions of Plymouth is St. Michael's academy, founded in 1870, by the Catholics. It is a boarding and day school for young ladies, also for small boys under twelve years of age. This institution is under the direction of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, from their Mother Home, near South Bend, Ind. To quote the glowing words of one of the managers: "The course of study combines the solidity of the scientific and literary pursuits with those light and graceful accomplishments which throw a charm over domestic life, and contribute so essentially to elevate the tone of society at large." St. Michael's academy at present occupies a two-story brick building. The pupils occupy two large rooms which are well filled. Three rooms are devoted to music and are furnished with two pianos and one organ. The academy is under the guidance of five sisters, of whom Sister M. Pulcheria acts as directress.

Rcligiojis Societies. - One would naturally suppose that it would be an easy matter to gather the statistics of the churches, and trace the rise and progress of religious matters, since the organi- zation of the county; but such is not the case. Like everything else of a secular nature, the records, such as have been made at all, have been poorly kept, and the information gained from an examination of such as are at hand, is of a very indefinite and unsatisfactory nature.

Several of the earliest settlers were members of the Presbyterian church, before they came here. In May, 1S3S, a Presbyterian church was organized in Plymouth, which at the first, numbered twenty-two members, and several others joined soon afterward. Of the meeting which was held at the formation of this organization, Rev. W. K. Marshall, of La Porte, was moderator. About the commencement of 1S39, Rev. E. W. Wright became the pastor of this church and acted in that capacity about one year. Mr. Wright possessed excellent abilities as a preacher, and was apparently a worthy young man. For several years after Mr. Wright left, the church was without a pastor. During the year of 1S43-44, Rev. William Westervelt preached in Plymouth for a few months, with much acceptability, and then returned to Oberlin college, of which institution he was at the time a student. In 1845 the Presbyterian church of Plymouth, obtained a pastor in the person of Rev. John M. Bishop, who had then just graduated at Lane seminary. Mr. Bishop possessed learning, fine abilities, and other characteristics that were calculated to make him highly useful in the ministry. His stay of two years is remembered by many with great pleasure. The successors of Mr. Bishop came to Plymouth about in the following order: Rev. C. D. Meeker, Rev. N. L. Lord, Rev. J. B. L. Soule, Rev. J. H. Spellman, Rev. N. Armstrong, Rev. William Porter, Rev. Mr. Campbell, Rev. William Lusk, Rev. J. E. Chapin, Rev. A. Taylor, Rev. George A. Little, Edwin P. Thomson and Walter O. Lattimore, present incumbent, and the congregation, which numbers among its membership, some of the most substantial citizens of the place, is in a flourishing condition.

In Center township there are nine organizations - six of which are located in Plymouth: Methodist, Church of God, German Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Catholic. The Methodist society erected the first church edifice, which is now removed to the " fair grounds." It was built about 1S50, and was considered at that time, a very convenient and commodious house of worship. It was owned and occupied by that society until about the year 1S67, when the present brick structure was completed at a cost of some $12,000. The ministers in charge have been as follows: Thomas Owen, J. B. Mershong, Isaac Stagg, W. J. Forbs, Elias Daud, Albert Munson, Arthur Bradley, J. C. Robins, Thomas C. Hackney, Daniel M.Hancock, Rev. Salsbury, W.J. Forbes, Rev. Casper, J.G.Osborne, Lucas Nebaker, N. L. Brakeman, William Reeder, William Harker, W. P.

The Methodist congregation was organized in Plymouth in the year 1836. The membership was small in the beginning, but steadily increasing until 1849, the membership was sufficient to justify the erection of a building for their own accommodation. The building was erected and used until 1S67, when the present church building was erected.

The Episcopal society was formed about 1S63. From quite a small beginning, the church has increased until it now numbers about fifty communicants. Those who have been in charge of the rectorship are Rev. L. P. Tschiffely, Rev. Portmess, Rev. A. Youndt, Rev. William Lusk, Rev. Dr. Hume, Rev. J. J. Faude, Rev. S. T. Buster and Rev. Dr. Kemp.