Marshall County, Indiana - The whole text, 1908 (part 11 of 12)

McDonald & Brother ended their connection with the paper August II, 1859. William J. Burns purchased the office and, being unable to pay for it, transferred it to A. C. Thompson January 26, i860. No paper was published from December i, 1859, to January 26, i860. Mr. Thompson changed the name from The Marshall County Democrat to The Plymouth Weekly Democrat, Vol. i, No. i, and said: "We make our hasty bow and consider ourselves in." April 11, 1861, he sold the office to Thomas and Piatt McDonald, and in his valedictory the spirit moved him to soliloquise 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."

That was a remarkably correct forecasting of coming events. Fort Sumter was fired on about that time, and "the horrors of civil war" were immediately upon us. Everyone knows the death and destruction that occurred during the next five years, and the disastrous effects of the Civil war which are felt even to this day, now nearly half a century since.

July 17, 1862, D. E. \'an \'alkenburgh purchased the office, and John G. Osborne became associated with the paper as editor-in-chief, the proprietor acting as local editor. Mr. Osborne left the paper November 13, 1862, and Mr. Van Valkenburgh became editor as well as 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 especially an editor who criticised in any way the acts of the military authorities, hardly knew whether his soul was his own or not. In April, 1863, Gen. Milo B. Hascall, of Goshen, had been appointed to command the "district" of Indiana, and as such commander issued what was called "Order No. 9," virtually taking away the freedom of the press and subjecting the people to military rule. As the editor of the Democrat, Mr. Van Valkenburgh gave the order the benefit of his circulation and commented on the general 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 !"

This was more than Gen. Hascall could stand, and not long afterwards he sent a squad of soldiers to Plymouth and one morning, about 4 o'clock, Mr. Van Valkenburgh was found in his sleeping apartment, arrested and taken to Indianapolis, and from thence was ordered before Gen. Burnside at Cincinnati, who after a few minutes' examination decided that the offense was not very serious, and discharged Mr. Van \'alkenburgh with the admonition never to call Gen. Hascall a donkey again.

Mr. Van Valkenburgh continued as editor until October 22, 1863, when he disposed of the office to John G. Osborne, who controlled it until May

9. 1865, when he sold it to S. L. Harvey, but still remained on the paper as one of the editors. Mr. Harvey sold it to John McDonald October 31, 1867, who conducted it until July 2, 1868, when failing health compelled him to abandon the business. He sold to Michael W. Downey, A. C. Thompson and D. E. Van Valkenburgh. Mr. Van Valkenburgh took charge of the paper J^Iarch 25, 1869, when Piatt McDonald again purchased an interest, and the new firm kept it going until June 12, 1873, when Mr. AIcDonald made the following announcement :

"Our connection with the Democrat, editorially and proprietary, ceases today. 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. Van Valkenburgh continued to edit the paper until October 9, 1873, when he sold an interest in the office to William Geddess. Messrs. Van Valkenburgh and Geddess continued the publication until July 2, 1874, when Piatt ^McDonald again purchased the interest of Mr. Van \'alkenburgh, who then retired from the editorial chair and to private life. Mr. Geddess sold his interest to Mr. McDonald, In 1874 Mr. McDonald sold one-half interest to his brother, Daniel McDonald, June sth. Xew material was added, including a cylinder press, steam boiler, and other fi.xtures, and on September 23, 1875, the following announcement was made:

"This issue of the Democrat is printed on a cylinder press by 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 William J. Adams, machinist, of this city, was put in position last Saturday, and on Alonday the first side of the Democrat 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. The engine is of si.x horsepower, neatly and honestly made, and is capable of driving as many presses as we will probably have use for 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 our city, and is unsurpassed by those manufactured elsewhere."

On the twenty-second day of February, 1876, at the solicitation of the superintendent of public instruction of Indiana, the proprietors issued a mammoth double-page edition which afterwards came to be known as "The Centennial Democrat." It contained the most complete history of the county that had been written prior to that time - in fact it is the basis on which the present history is being writen. It was illustrated with cuts of the courthouse, public school building and engine house of Plymouth ; photogravures of Thomas McDonald and Ignatius Mattingly, the first editors of the Democrat and the Republican, 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 at that tlate had been sent for exhibition at the centennial exhibtion at Philadelphia in 1876, stated that the centennial Democrat 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 in a complete state of repairs, and a grand reception given on November 28th. The following copy of the invitation circular will give an idea of the character of the reception :

' ' The Plj-mouth Democrat Steam Printing Establishment will be thrown open to the public on Wednesday evening, November US, 1877, from 7 to 9 0 '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 type, 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 1.50 fonts of type, and is provided with everything else to make it a first-class printing office in every respect. ' '

"Notwithstanding the snow and wind storm that prevailed during the evening, fully 1,000 people honored the invitation extended to take a bird'seye view of the Democrat Steam Printing Establishment in full operation. About 1,700 copies of the Restitution, a religious paper 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 L^nderwood, the foreman of the composing and press rooms, 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."

About January i, 1879, the office was bargained to H. A. Peed, who published the paper a short time, but failing to pay for it, it was not transferred to him. About 1883 an interest in the office was transferred to Louis McDonald, son of the proprietor, who became business manager and assistant editor, and the management of the paper was continued as such until March 20, 1902, when the paper was sold to Hon. Clay W. Metsker, proprietor of the Plymouth Independent, who, since that time has published both papers, the Democrat as a weekly and the Independent as a daily. Upon the sale of the Democrat to Mr. I\Ietsker, Daniel McDonald, after nearly thirty years continuous service as editor, retired to private life, and his son, Louis Mc- Donald, to other pursuits in Chicago.

The Mail and Magnet. This was the title of a paper started in Plymouth in 1874. The 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 Amer- ica 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 Air. Brooke. During the political campaign of 1874 it became the organ of the grangers, who had nominated a "People's Ticket," and succeeded in securing the endorsement of its ticket by the republican party, which made no nominations that year. 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, and the publication was continued by him until he sold it to Jasper Packard, October i, 1875, when it was consolidated with the Republican, and ceased to exist.

This paper was started in Plymouth during the campaign of 1878, as the organ of the greenback cause in Marshall county. Later it announced that it was the organ of the greenback party of the thirteenth congressional district, and still later as the organ of the party in Indiana. Michael W. Downey and David McDuffie were the first editors. They were succeeded by Phil Corcoran, he by A. W. Barlow, and he by Robert Neil. About the time this paper was started the greenback party was in the ascendancy and bid fair to become the dominant party in the county, but, failing to elect any of the ticket in 1878, the party began to show signs of going to pieces, and about 1882 the Greenbacker suspended.

A short time afterwards A. R. Zimmerman purchased the material of the Greenbacker, and started the Plymouth Independent as politically a neutral paper. During the campaign of 1896 overtures were made to Mr. Zimmerman by the republican county committee to issue the Independent as a republican daily, but the negotiations were not consummated. These negotiations coming to the knowledge of the editor of the Republican, that the making of the Independent a daily issue in the interest of the republican party would be the deathknell of a republican daily issued from his office, concluded to take time by the forelock and issue a daily at once, and that was how the Daily Evening Nczi's came to be issued without previous announcement.

Mr. Zimmerman disposed of the material of his office to A. D. Smith, and not long afterwards Silas H. Joseph became proprietor; then John C. Jilson ; after him Clinton H. Grube, and then J. C. Cully. Clay W. Aletzker became proprietor in July, 1897, and employed Charles S. Price as city editor for some time. March 20, 1902, Mr. Metzker purchased the Plymouth Democrat, with which he consolidated the weekly and daily Independent, continuing the daily Independent as the daily edition of the Democrat.

The Restitution is a religious paper of twenty-four columns, published by The Christian Publishing Association of Plymouth, Indiana. The printing and work on the paper for many years was done in the office of the Plymouth Democrat. It is now in its fifty-fourth volume, having formerly been published in Chicago, whence it was removed to Plymouth December i, 1874, where it has since been issued. H. V. Reed, who brought the paper here from Chicago, was for a time the editor. He was followed by the late Elder S. A. Chaplin. It advocates "the restitution of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." For several years it has been published by and under the editorial management of A. R. Underwood, and is so published at the present time.

The Farmer's Monthly. This was an octavo publication commenced in 1876 at Plymouth, Indiana, by H. Y. Reed. It started out with a subscription of 700, and was in every respect an excellent publication. For want of sufficient support it was suspended some six months later.

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

The Sunshine. This was a Sunday-school paper started in 1876 by J. F. Wilcox, who at that time resided in Goodland, Indiana, in the interest of the Sundayschools of the Christian church. It was printed at the Democrat office, and lived about a year, when it expired for want of financial nourishment.

The first issue of the Plymouth Weekly Chronicle was published December 3, 1902. The paper was started by Will M. Cochran, who came here from the Marion, Indiana. Chronicle. He had been a teacher in Tippecanoe and Walnut townships, Marshall county, and had an acquaintance which served him advantageously from the start. It was started as a republican paper, loyal to its party ticket, whether its editor happened to like the nominees or not, and has succeeded in securing its recognition by the leaders of the republican party as the organ of the party in Marshall county. The subscription price was fixed at $1, or $1.50 if not paid in advance. It was an eight-page, six-column paper, all printed at home. A daily was also started soon after the weekly, but was only published for a few months on account of an effort to run it on too high a standard to be supported by the people of the city.

In May, 1903, Mr. Cochran formed a stock company of some twenty or more republicans of the county, and this company continued the publication until May, 1904. A few months prior to this Mr. Cochran left the paper as editor and was succeeded by Mr. Greely Davis, a former Marshall county man, who conducted the paper for the company until May.

On May 9, 1904, the plant and paper were acquired by Samuel E. Boys, of Shoals, Indiana, formerly of South Bend. Since that time he has conducted the publication of the paper, and no other person has had any ownership in it. The paper has been enlarged to a seven-column quarto, all printed at home, and January i, 1908, the price was raised to $1.50 per year. The plant has always occupied the basement of the Sear block, at the corner of Michigan and La Porte streets, now owned by the bank of the Marshall County Trust and Savings Company.

This was the title of a paper started at Mishawaka, and afterwards removed to La Porte. It was started by Wilbur F. Story, who later distinguished himself as the editor of the Chicago Times. A copy of the Tocsin for February 5, 1847, has been inspected by the writer. It was a democratic paper, and catered to the democrats of Alarshall county for patronage. C. H. Reeve's card as attorney at law appears in the paper and a non-resident notice signed by Isaac How, clerk of Marshall county. In a somewhat lengthy article the editor announced that after the issue of two more numbers of the Tocsin, for divers and sundry considerations the paper would be moved to Michigan City, where its name would be changed to the .Michigan City Nc-ii's. The article is interesting as showing the condition of the newspaper field at that time, and as the editor tosses a bouquet at "glorious Marshall," the remainder of the article is copied as follows :

"Everyone must know that it is absolutely impossible for three papers to be supported in this county. As this paper gets nothing from the public crib, and there are but three or four business men here from whom but little job work and advertising is obtained, to live or not to live was the question presented to us. This is the only democratic paper in the three most northern counties in the state. We have nailed the democratic flag to the mast, and there we are determined it shall float as long as we have a shot in the locker. We are not willing to have it strangled by the Philistines. The peculiar situation and circumstances of this paper should induce every generous democrat who would contribute his mite for the support of the principles of his party to subscribe and pay for it. With the exception of glorious Marshall - may her sunlight never be less - we are in an infected district ; whiggery, although at the last gasp, has a small majority, but large enough to deprive us of all public printing. There is not a political paper in this section but has from $200 to $500 worth of county printing, which, as it is cash, is equivalent to 200 subscribers, as there are ten chances to one if more than a fifth pay promptly. They think the printer can live altogether on faith. Some three-fourths of our subscribers are badly troubled with that kind of fever so famous for hanging on to newspaper patrons - the i/;;-remitting fever we mean. But 'hope springs eternal in the human breast,' and we may get something yet !"

The Bourbon Independent was established in 1865 by J. Frank Beck. It was a weekly paper, eight-column folio, independent in politics, with a leaning towards republicanism, although it announced that it was "independent in all things - neutral in nothing." It was conducted on the "pitch in" principle, and as a consequence it received only a meager patronage, and after a short and somewhat eventful career, it succumbed to financial embarrassment, and the press and material were boxed up and shipped to Pierceton. Mr. Beck died November 29, 1875, at Cottonwood, Kansas, of consumption, at the age of lliirty-nine years.

The pubHcation of the Bourbon Mirror was commenced by Ignatius Mattingl_v, formerly of the Marshall County Republican, and WilHam Geddes, his son-in-law, December 2, 1871, Mr. Mattingly assuming the editorial management of the paper. In his introductory' to the reader he announced that the paper would be independent republican, but while it would firmly defend the principles of that party it would advocate purity of government, local and national, and would be prompt to expose all forms of corruption and dishonesty in the republican as well as the democratic party. And it was also promised that cliques and rings whose object might be to plunder the people or thwart their will in the selection of honest and competent nominees for office, would receive no favor or countenance. William Geddes retired from the paper October 24, 1872. Mr. JNIattingly continued its publication as sole proprietor until June 28, 1877, when his son, I. M. Mattingly, became associated in its publication and assumed the duties of local editor in addition to management of the mechanical department. Announcing the fact he said :

"With this number the imdersigned becomes assistant local editor of the Mirror. He does not flatter himself that the announcement will create much sensation, or be telegraphed to the city papers as an event marking an era in Bourbon journalism, but promises that he will devote his spare time to his new duties, and hopes to add somewhat to the interest of the paper, as well as an increase of patronage which is respectfully solicited." He continued as local editor until November 13, 1879, when he retired, having secured an interest in the Rochester Republican. The publication of the Mirror was continued by the elder Mattingly until about 1900, when he died. The Bourbon Nezus, which had been started some time previously, absorbed the Mirror and the consolidated papers have since that time been published under the name of The Bourbon Neics-Mirror.

The Bourbon News was started by C. M. and S. E. Harris some time in the '90s. Diligent inquiry has failed to elicit any information in regard to its history. It was consolidated with the Mirror as above stated, and is now edited and published by S. E. Harris.

was started in 1882 by Homer Melick and W. W. Mikels. It was also published for a time by Hillis & Langdon, and later by Peter Hahn, who discontinued it some time in 1884, since which time it has not been published.

The Bourbon Advance was started about 1903 by A. R. Zimmerman, who continued to publish it until January, 1908, when he made the following announcement:

"The Advance will wind up its early existence on January 14, 1908, when we propose that its 'glim' shall be e.xtinguished in a halo of glory; for at that time we will issue a souvenir edition that in our humble opinion will be the finest ever issued in Bourbon or Marshall county. Each of our subscribers will receive a copy of this edition as a souvenir.

'Tn the meantime we have completed arrangements with Mr. S. E. Harris, of the Xcics-Mirror, to take all subscriptions paid in advance, continuing them until the amount paid is liquidated. This was the only method we could see our way clearly to adopt, giving those who have upheld our hands a full return for their money.

"When we make our final bow, January 15th, we hope to cover our retreat in a manner befitting the fight we have made during the past five years."

Owing to many changes of proprietors, and being unable to find any one from whom the necessary information could be obtained upon which to write a connected history of the newspapers which have been published in Bremen since the first paper was issued from that town, the following sketch - the information gathered from many sources - must suffice :

The Bremen Clipper. The first newspaper published in Bremen was the Bremen Clipper, published by the Macomber brothers, the first number of which was issued some time in 1872. It did not prove to be a paying investment, and after being published a short time was discontinued for want of sufficient patronage to enable the publishers to pay expenses.

was started in 1876 by Charles W. Sweeney, in the interest of the democratic party, but there did not seem to be a "long felt want" for a political paper in that region at that time, and, not receiving sufficient encouragement to justify its continuance, it was suspended not a great while afterwards.

The Bremen Banner was started in 1878 by George and Lee Sunderland. Up to that time it was the first newspaper of any consequence that had been published in Bremen, and was fairly well patronized, but not svifficiently so to make it a paying investment, and after struggling along for about ten years it finally ceased to exist.

was established in the spring of 1886 by Brook H. Bowman, who had learned the printer's trade in a Fort Wayne office. It was commenced as a seven-column folio, half printed at home ; and this form was retained for several years, when it was changed to a six-column quarto, half printed at home. After conducting it a few years Air. Bowman sold the office to Cale Sinninger, who conducted it until 1893, when he sold it back to Mr. Bowman. Of all the editors Bremen has had Cale Sinninger has left the most vivid recollections of his editorial career of any that have flourished the editorial quill before or since his time. His peculiar style of editorial work was the sensational line, and he never let a good juicy piece of news pass without making the most of it. In his peculiar line he was a racy writer, and worked up a considerable circulation for his paper among those who delighted in that sort of literature and who did not care for the more prosaic way of writing up passing events. In 1893, Sinninger sold it back to Bowman again, who conducted it until 1902, when he sold it to Charles Scott, who conducted it as an independent paper until November 4, igo/, when he sold it to Otto Fries, who is now continuing it as a neutral paper. Politically the Enquirer has always been neutral, but has enjoyed a good measure of popularity as a local newspaper. It has kept pace with the march of improvement, and is now equipped with power presses and all the other machinery necessary to carry on the business in a satisfactory manner to its patrons.

In the early history of the newspapers of Marshall county it was the custom of the editors to have a carrier's address prepared and published as a new year's gift to their subscribers. Before the writer is a carrier's address clipped from the Marshall County Republican of January i, 1858. In those days the papers were delivered to town subscribers by a carrier boy, and to recompense him for his services the publisher secured someone to write a lot of doggerel, which was supposed to be poetry, and called it "The Carrier's Address." The particular address in question was run olT in colors on paper of convenient size for framing ; and on January ist of each year the carrier boy visited the subscribers living in town and offered his address for sale. He. usually received twenty-five cents apiece for them, and when he had gone the rounds he generally had his pockets full of quarters as pay for his year's labor.

This address gave a review of the noted occurrences, foreign, in the nation and state, and so on dow-n to county and town. It was a very prolific document ; in fact it was so lengthy that it required more than a column of fine type to contain it all. The author, whose identity was carefully concealed, opened his poem in the orient, where he picked up a harp, which prior to that time had been untouched by any mortal hand. and. having "sighed into music." "diffused sweet accents through the favored land :" he then turned his lyre (liar) to the "overthrow of kings and the downfall of Greece and Rome, and the march of the Pilgrim band" to "where Columbia's waters wash her smiling strand !" Here he built up a great nation, and then passed on rapidly to the consideration of the "pigmy statesmen" of that time who were said to belong to the democratic party. That was in the palmy days of Gov. Ashbel P. Willard. than whom the state never had a more distinguished statesman, whom the poet called "Bloated Willard." and Graham N. Fitch and Jesse D. Bright, and "Old Buck" (Pres. Buchanan), and Stephen A. Douglas, and wound up with a tearful reference to "Bleeding Kansas."

From here the poet turned to nobler themes and paid a glowing tribute to "our sweet, lovely village." and ofifered his annual tribute to "our illustrious village!" He spoke feelingly of the great fire of 1857 that destroyed much of the town "with liquid flame consuming!" But the most interesting part of this most interesting address was directed at the Democrat, which seems from some cause to have been the particular object of the poet's animosity. As a matter of great historical importance it is given here in full, as follows:

The first editorial meeting ever held in northern Indiana, or more than likely in the state, was held at Plymouth, Indiana, June 14, 1859. In the Democrat of May 12, 1859, the following announcement appeared:

"At the request of the editors at La Porte and Valparaiso, and other places, there will be a convention of the editors of northern Indiana, held at Plymouth, June 14, 1859."

Editorial Convention. The undersigned respectfully request the editors and ex-editors of northern Indian* to meet in convention at Plymouth, June 14, 1859, for the purpose of consulting upon and adopting such measures as may be thought necessary for the benefit of the crafi. It is earnestly hoped that every press in northern Indiana will be represented:

The issue of the paper following the holding of the convention stated that "it proved to be a more interesting gathering than was anticipated by the fraternity. There were twenty-eight delegates in attendance, representing twenty-three papers."

Dr. E. W. H. Ellis, of Goshen, delivered an address replete with good, wholesome, practical truths, which was spoken of in the highest terms of praise. The proceedings were stenographically reported by W. H. Drapier, of the South Bend Forum.

From the stenographic report of Mr. Drapier the following extracts are made as being of special historic interest to the newspapers everywhere :

"Agreeably to an understanding between them, a number of editors and publishers residing in the northern portion of the state of Indiana assembled in Westervelt's hall, Plymouth, the county seat of Marshall county, on Tuesday, June 14, 1859. 'Ihe convention was called to order by I. Mattingly, of the Marshall County Republican, upon whose motion Col. John

On taking the chair Col. Walker made an excellent speech of a column in length, after which, on motion of Dr. Cameron of the Valparaiso Republican, I. Mattingly of the Marshall County Republican, was elected vice-

On motion of Schuyler Colfax, of the St. Joseph \'alley Register, the names of delegates were called for and the following gentlemen reported as present:

"Resolved, That we, the editors of northern Indiana, for the first time assembled in a convention, irrespective of party, and recognizing that much of the influence and position of the profession depend on our own conduct, do hereby recommend to each other, and to all our associates, the practice of the courtesies and virtues so admirably delineated in the oration we have this day heard."

They also recommended the members to curtail as far as possible the credit system, and urged settlements of accounts at least annually ; that patent medicine advertisements should be charged same rates as local advertise- ments, and pay in advance exacted ; that the legislature should provide for the publication of all laws which affect the people in all the papers of the state at such rate as the legislature might determine ; and that it was expedient to form a permanent organization to be composed of the editors and publishers of northern Indiana; and thereupon a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws was appointed, consisting of D. T. Phillips, P. P. Bailey and W. H. Drapier.

Schuyler Colfax offered a resolution of thanks to Col. Walker, the presiding officer, for his able address and the impartial manner in which he had performed his duties, upon which he made one of his happiest offhand speeches, the report of which covered half a column. The resolution was adopted, after which the association adjourned to meet in Fort Wayne the first Monday in May, i860.

Culver City Herald. The first regular issue of a newspaper in Culver appeared in 1884, under the ownership of George Nearpass, who was also the editor and general manager. It was called the Culver City Herald. Mr. Nearpass continued its publication until May, 1903, when the plant was purchased by J. H. Koontz & Son, who changed the name of the paper to The Culver Citi::en. In April, 1905, Arthur B. Holt, of Kankakee, Illinois, one of the publishers of the Daily and Semi-Weekly Gacettc, bought the property, and is now conducting the paper on its former lines as a local, non-partisan weekly.

Argos Newspapers. Argos Globe. The first newspaper, so-called, was started by Charles Riddle, in 1867, and called the Argos Globe, and appeared as a semi-monthly until about 1876. It was owned a short time also by W. T. Cutshaw.

The Argos Reflector. In 1878 A. C. Firestone established the Jrgos Reflector, and the publication has continued until the present time with the following owners: J. H. Watson, 1880 to 1898; J. C. Lockiier and O. J. McClure, 1899 to 1901. C. E. Carter owned the paper a few months and sold to John R. Jones, who published it until sold to R. McNeal in 1903. E. O. Wickizer purchased it in 1904, and later, in partnership with O. J. McClure, published the Reflector, with F. M. Wickizer as editor, until September, 1907, when the office was purchased by F. M. Wickizer and his son, Donald J. Wickizer, who are now the editors and publishers.

Lv. Temperance Organizations

The Sons of Temperance have the distinction of being the first secret organization established in Marshall county. The writer has before him the records of Plymouth Division No. 107, Sons of Temperance. On the first page is this entry :

At that time and for several years later the Sons of Temperance were pretty much the whole thing in Plymouth, and in fact in the entire county, as it took men from every part of the county into its membership, "there being no other organizations of the order in any other part of the county. Neither the Alasons nor the Odd Fellows had an organization in the county then, and none of the fraternal organizations now so numerous all over the country had an existence at that time, nor were they even thought of. But few more than 100 divisions had been organized in Indiana prior to the organization of the division in Plymouth. It is likely, therefore, that the organization of the Sons of Temperance in this state took place about 1846.

The object of the order was to promote temperance, but, being a secret order, it became more of a social organization or club than otherwise, and many, in fact most of those who were charter members, were temperate men who were not in the habit of using spirituous liquors as a beverage or otherwise. Many of those who drank moderately, and even to excess, kept right on after being initiated, just the same as if nothing had happened. In the minutes of December 11, 1847, the following appears:

"On motion that the case of Brothers Si. Pomeroy and M. L. Sutphen in relation to drinking cider be indefinitely postponed, which was agreed to unanimously, on account of ignorance in the matter."

At first tile place of meeting was in the upper room in the house of Frank Daws, which stood on the southeast corner of Center and Garro streets. Frank Daws was a wagonmaker and had a shop on his lot about where John W. Parks' law office now stands.

The committee appointed to procure a suitable room made the following report October 23, 1847: "On motion of Brother Charles Crocker a select committee of three was appointed to select a room for the use of this division and furnish the same, and to report the amount necessary this evening." The committee reported, recommending the renting of the upper story of Mr. Daws' wagon shop at $10 a year, and that it would cost $30 to furnish and put it in order for use, which was agreed to.

Charles Crocker, named above, at that time had charge of the old iron forge at Sligo, at the outlet of Twin Lakes. After the discovery of gold in California he went, about 1850, overland to that Eldorado: assisted in building the Union Pacific railroad, and died a number of years ago a multi-millionaire, one of the richest men on the Pacific coast. He seems from the records to have been a very active member of the order, nearly always filling some office during his connection with it. At one of the meetings the following entry appears :

He also introduced a resolution which was adopted that they sincerely lament the fact that the division had in several instances acted contrary to the letter of the constitution, and that they would not in the future be governed by any precedent thus established.

lie also introduced a lengthy preamble and resolution thanking Miss Matthews, of South Bend, for presenting the division "a very neat and appropriate bookmark elegantly embroidered, thereby evincing unusual sympathy and interest for one of her age in the cause in which we are united to advance."

There was another division at Plymouth at that time called Marshall Division No. 203. They did not seem to work in harmony and several efforts were made to unite the two divisions. Finally a joint committee was appointed to perfect a union, and May 3, 1850, reported that they met and placed thirty-four ballots in a hat, thirty-two blank, and one with Marshall division on it and one with Plymouth. These were placed in the hands of Brother Fairchilds, and that he was told to draw one ballot at a time from the hat until he drew one with the name of Plymouth or Marshall division upon it. He drew, and the result of the first draw was favorable to Plymouth. Thereupon the necessary proceedings were had to consolidate both into Plymouth Division No. 107, and thereafter harmony prevailed.

Cadets of Temperance. There was also a public organization known as the "Washingtonians," which held public meetings weekly, or whenever some temperance speaker came along and wished to address the people on that subject. 'For a time during the year 185 1 the temperance question was the one which occupied the attention of the people of Plymouth more than any other. There was no particular reason for this, as there were only two saloons in Plymouth at the time and there was not more drinking than might be expected in a new town like Plymouth then was. In July of 1851 the editor of the Pilot said:

"An evidence that Plymouth will one day be the abode of virtue and wisdom is the absence of all intoxicating drinks, which law has been carried into effect by some of its worthy citizens. Their names shall shine with resplendent luster in the archives of immortality! Blessed spirits! Where do they dwell ! We have wreathes for them ! Having leaped this formidable barrier and killed the seven-headed monster, Plymouth shall rise from her weeping couch and assume the garb of purity and brightness !"

That did not last long and the temperance advocates kept right on "storming the citadel of the rum power" just the same as if Plymouth had not "risen from her weeping couch and assumed the garb of purity and brightness!"

At the April election in 1851 there was a local option liquor law which permitted voters lo vote whether there should be license or no license. At that election the question of licensing liquor dealers in Center township was voted upon and resulted as follows: Against license, 116; in favor of Hcense and blanks, 65; majority against license, 51.

This was the vote that made Plymouth a "dry town," that inspired the editor of the Pilot to state in the above paragraph so eloquently in regard to "the absence of all intoxicating drinks, which law had been carried into effect by some of its worthy citizens." This local option law.

however, proved to be unsatisfactory, and in 1853 the legislature passed a law putting the sale of all liquors, and that only for medicinal purposes, upon the prescription of a practicing physician, in the hands of a county agent. That necessarily put the temperance organization out of business, as the state had legalized its sale and authorized the appointment of an agent whose business was to sell liquors for the state as provided by the law. It was soon found, however, that there was as much drunkenness and as much liquor drank as at any period previous to that time. Those who drank, and many who did not, supplied themselves with bottles and little brown jugs and hid them away in their cellars and garrets, where they had more frequent access to it than they had when it was regularly on sale as provided by law, and there was fully as much inebriation, if not more, than previously, and so it came to pass that the temperance advocates kept right on "storming the citadel of the rum power." just the same as if Plymouth had not "risen from her weeping couch and assumed the garb of purity and brightness."

The agent for the sale of liquors in Alarshall county was William E. Thompson, son of John L. Thompson, who was afterwards sheriff of the county. He kept his liquor store in the second story of a wagonshop that stood on the lot on Center street about where William Everly's dwelling house now stands. He stocked up in good shape and had all kinds of liquors supposed to be necessary for "all the ills that flesh is heir to," including "snake bites !" He was an honest, straightforward, kind-hearted man, who wished to live in peace with all men, and it was hard for him to refuse any of his friends a "little something for the stomach's sake," and it was sometimes thought that an occasional half-pint bottle went out without the required physician's prescription certificate ! Be that as it may, those who wanted it never failed, by hook or b}- crook, to get it in some way or other. The consequence was that the state's record in conducting the saloon business proved to be worse than the saloon itself.

In 1855 the legislature passed an act which was prohibitory in its nature. The first section provided that no person should manufacture, keep for sale, or sell any intoxicating liquors, except such persons as were licensed by the state to manufacture and sell to authorized agents of the county, and then only for medicinal purposes. The third section provided as follows: "That no person in this state shall drink any whisky, beer, ale or porter as a beverage, and in no instance except as a medicine." Shortly after the act was passed the constitutionality of the law was taken before the supreme court on a writ of habeas corpus, and that court, in an elaborate opinion by Judge Perkins, declared the act unconstitutional for reasons which they set out in full in their opinion in Herman vs. The State, 1855.

Praying Bands - Blue Ribbon. The temperance organizations kept on trying to do something to eradicate the evil of intemperance. Finally over in Ohio, in the early '70s, the women organized what they called praying bands. They visited the saloons wherever they found them, and kneeling down on the floors sang and prayed for the saloonkeepers and those who were present. The women of Plymouth, Bourbon, and perhaps some other places in the county caught the inspiration anc' also organized praying bands who visited the saloons, but the excitement soon died away and no good came of it. This was followed by the blue ribbon excitement, which appealed to the individual to sign the pledge, quit drinking, and don the blue ribbon. The craze swept over the country like a prairie fire before a high wind. But like everything born of excitement, it soon spent its force and disappeared like the morning mist before the rising sun. L'pon the ruins of all these organizations sprang up the Women's Christian Temperance L^nion, devoted primarily to the cause of temperance, which still maintains organizations in most of the county seats and larger towns. It is a conservative organization, its work being mostly on educational lines. It has never taken part in any spasmodic elYorts to suppress the liquor traffic, its members knowing from past experience that such efforts would be futile.

At every session of the legislature since the adoption of the new constitution in 1850 there has been more or less legislation on the liquor question introduced and passed, none of which has been sufficiently satisfactory to "let well enough alone." What was known as the "Baxter Bill," which created much excitement when it was passed in 1873, was at the next session modified and finally repealed. It provided among other things that the saloonkeeper should file with his application for license the petition of a majority of the voters at the last election in the township or ward where he desired to sell, asking that he be granted license. During the continuance of this law various ways were devised by which the law could be evaded, and as no one was enough interested to appear before the board of commissioners and point out these evasions, licenses were granted the same as if no petitions had been filed. In Plymouth that year the town was merged into a city, and both parties united on a citizens' city ticket, in which the saloonkeepers heartily concurred. The consequence was the friends of the saloons refrained from voting, as there was no politics in the election, so that there was not more than half the total vote polled, which made it comparatively easy for the applicants for license to get a majority of the total vote as indicated by the vote polled.

The Nicholson bill then followed, and with slight amendments has been in force ever since. This law, if the state continues to legalize the sale of liquors by issuing license authorizing its sale, is probably as good a law as the legislature can be induced to pass for some time to come.

An epoch in the history of Marshall county occurred by a prize fight at Baugherville, on the Lake Erie & Western railroad, about nine miles northwest of Plymouth, between Lou C. Allen, of Chicago, and H. C. Hanmer, of Michigan City, middleweights, on the evening of April 30, 1891, which was to have been a fight to a finish, and would have been had it not happened that Sherifif Henry L. Jarrell was informed of the affair and with two deputies, Eugene Marshall and Wm. T. Leonard, and William Klinger, marshal of Plymouth, pounced upon them and put a stop to the fun just as the first round was being finished, the particulars of whicli will be related hereafter. The writer of this history cannot afford to allow as important an historical event as this to go unrecorded as showing the trend of public opinion in regard to this particular line of amusement. It will not be necessary to mention the names of any of the spectators, a large number of whom were present, and therefore only the names of the principals are deemed necessary to be given in this connection.

On the afternoon of the eventful evening a number of the "boys" in the county seat were let into the secret that a prize fight was to take place at Baugherville, northwest of Plymouth, between ii o'clock that night and 3 o'clock next morning, and the favored few who were let into the secret were on tip-toe of expectation, and preparations were made to pull out quietly by livery teams about 9 o'clock. The secret was to be kept from Sheriff Jarrell, and from those who would likely give him a pointer in that direction. L'p to a certain point in the proceedings everything worked like a charm, and in birdological parlance "the ornithological webb-footed specimen of stupidity was altitudinally elevated." The night was dark and the corduroy road through the woods was more than ordinarily rough. Some of the drivers lost the direct road and went a considerable distance out of the way ; others ran into "chuck holes," breaking a spring or single-tree or something of that kind, but where there is a prize at the end of the goal there is always found a way to reach it. On they went, helter-skelter, an occasional lighter vehicle and a faster team passing those in the lead, and in this way, after an hour and a half of intense expectation the place was reached. The prize ring was in a large barn near a saw mill and a lumber yard near the Lake Erie & Western railroad, a short distance northwest of Tyner. Lumber was piled up and scattered about everywhere, and there were acres of sawlogs and slabs and log wagons ; and there were no lights about to indicate that there was anything unusual going on, and those who were not familiar with the lay of the land had to feel their way in the dark. The Lake Erie fast train from the north had arrived at 11 o'clock, bringing the pugilists and about 150 sports from Chicago, Michigan City and other points along the line, and it was but a short time until the preliminary arrangements had all been completed. A twenty-four-foot ring had been measured off, the building was gorgeously lighted, and in the glare of the kerosene the lamp of Aladdin would have cast but a faint glimmer. The 175 spectators who had each paid an admission fee of $5 were seated about the ring as conveniently as circumstances would permit, and the remainder were stowed away in the haymow, in balcony rows, one above another, from which elevated position they were enabled to look down upon the interesting spectacle before them through the large opening in the center.

The gladiators were stripped to the skin and took their places in the ring, accompanied by their backers, trainers, seconds, umpires, spongers and assistants, and nearby were a couple of reporters for two of the leading Chicago dailies. The doors of the barn were locked and guarded, and the doorkeeper was ordered not to admit anyone under any pretext whatever. Time was called and the pugilistic pounders came smilingly to the scratch. They knocked away at each other with all the strength they possessed, and from the appearance of the bruises on Hanmer's face there was no doubt but they meant business from the word "go." The first round was a success, and applause greeted the bruisers as they retired to their corners to be rubbed down and catch their wind.

It was late in the evening when Sheriff Jarrell was informed of what was going on. He and his deputies pulled out from the county seat shortly after 9 o'clock and drove rapidly toward the seat of war. He had the misfortune to break his buggy, which delayed him several minutes, and he did not arrive until just as the first round had been fought. The sheriff' and his deputies alighted, hitched their horses and asked the doorkeeper to be admitted. That distinguished dweller in the tents of iniquity informed them that under no circumstances could they be admitted, whereupon the sheriff jerked the latch off, opened the door, and he and his deputies rushed in upon the pugilists and their assistants, who were standing in the ring ready to commence the second round. Then ensued a scene of consternation which no pen can describe. There was a general stampede for the door and in the rush and confusion several were run over and knocked down ; some of the lights were turned out and for a few minutes it seemed that pandemonium had been turned loose. Both principals escaped the ofificers and got out of the building with only their thin fighting suits on. In the melee that ensued Ed Corey, trainer, and Con Cavanah and Dick Ford, seconds, were captured. The remainder got away. Hanmer, one of the principals, found it was so cold with only his tights on that he could not stand it, and in returning in search of his clothes was captured by the sheriff. Allen, the other principal, took the railroad track north as fast as he could run and never stopped until he reached M'alkerton, where he boarded a freight train for Alichigan City, and thus made good his escape.

The spectators - well, they were panic-stricken, and, if anything, were worse frightened than the fighters. When the sheriff and his party entered, the rapidity with which that audience dispersed has never been equaled in this part of the country. They did not stand upon the order of their going, but they went at once. It was every fellow for himself and the devil take the hindmost. As soon as they got out of the building they took to the woods as fast as their legs could carry them. They tumbled over one another, went head over heels over saw logs, log wagons and lumber piles, skinned their shins and bruised themselves up generally. Those who were in the hay loft, and most of them happened to be Marshall county fellows, were all captured without an eft'ort. They had climbed up on a ladder which had been removed when the fight began, and there they were, prisoners and unable to make a move for liberty. So they scrambled back as far as they could and covered themselves with hay, except their feet, which stuck out in irregular sizes all around the first row, and waited further developments. The suspense did not last long. One of them came near smothering in the hay and yelled out, "Put up that ladder; I can't stand it with this d - d gang any longer." The ladder was put up, and you would have just died laughing to have seen capitalists, merchants and business men, old men and young men, bald heads and gray heads, married men and single men, backing down that ladder with hayseed in their hair, and on their hats and all over their clothes. As he reached the floor one of relieved when Sheriff Jarrell informed them that he had no use for them and that they could go about their business. The fun was over, the procession re-formed, and, headed by the sheriff and his four prisoners, slowly and solemnly wended its way homeward.

The ne.xt morning Hanmer, one of the principals, and the three others who had been arrested, appeared before Justice Harley Logan, waived examination and were bound over to court in bonds of $300 each, which was furnished, and all were released. When court convened Dick Ford was released ; the others pleaded guilty, were fined $50 each, which was promptly paid, and thus ended the only prize fight ever witnessed in Marshall countv.

The first musical band in jMarshall county was what was called The Plymouth Sax Horn Band, which came into existence in the winter and spring of 1853. The members at the time of organization as near as can be remembered were William H. Salisbury, leader, Daniel and Piatt McDonald, David Vinnedge, Rufus Brown, A. C. Capron, Thomas K. Houghton, Rufus Mert Brown. There might have been two or three others in the original organization, but if there were their names cannot now be recalled. Later on from time to time new members were admitted until the band consisted of about sixteen pieces, among whom were Alex Thompson, John McDonald and Charles H. Reeve. Mr. Reeve was not a permanent member, but met with the boys frequently and was useful in writing music and in helping them to learn to play.

"Old Joe Pierson," as he was familiarly called, who resided some place in La Porte county, was employed as teacher and bandmaster. He had but one eye, the other having, in some way, been put out. He came at stated intervals by stage from La Porte to Plymouth, and generally remained two or three days. He was not a very brilliant or accomplished musician, but as a teacher, as the boys used to put it, "he was onto his job." In those days there was no printed band music as now, and the music for the dift'erent instruments was all written with a quill pen on blank music paper by "Old Joe." He first selected the melody and then composed the accompaniments and various parts to fit the several instruments. Among the pieces remembered are: "Wood-up Quickstep," "Old Dog Trav," "Lilly Dale," "Old Kentucky Home," "Ben 'Bolt." "Old Uncle Ned," "Old Folks at Home," "Number 14," and many more that were popular in those days. There was no foolishness about "Old Joe." When the time came for practice every member was supposed to be on hand ready to do his part. If he found a member particularly weak he would give him special attention until he was able to master the difficulties. Then all the instruments would be started, and such music as was made in the beginning was not such as is said to have "charms to soothe the savage beast; to rend the rock, or split the knotted oak." But it was not' long before the members became quite proficient and were able to follow the score fairly well. The leader of the band was William H. Salisbury, who was an accomplished ccrnetist, who had learned the mysteries of that instrument at La Porte before coming here. He was employed as bookkeeper for the firm of Pomeroy, Houghton & Barber, the principal business firm in Plymouth at that time. He was a most pleasant, genial gentleman, and has many delightful memories clustering around his life while a resident there.

The band began to play in the political campaign of 1854, but did not get down to real business until the memorable presidential campaigns of 1856 and i860, and it played for most of the local entertainments and picnics, of which there were many in those days, -nearly always without money, or anything else but thanks ! During the wartime the band went to pieces, many of those belonging to it enlisting in some of the several companies recruited in Plymouth: the instruments which belonged to the individual members were sold or given away - at least none of them have ever been seen since. Since then many bands have been organized, flourished for a time, and gone to pieces as their predecessors have done. In 1900 Ben M. Seybold organized a band, which has developed into the best one Plymouth ever had.

Music is the grandest and most sublime of the seven liberal arts and sciences. It is the only thing earthly of which there is any account of in heaven. Shakespeare put it none too strongly when he said :

And is not moved with concord ot sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils - The motions of bis spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus - Let no such man be trusted. ' '

' ' How sweet the moonlight Sleeps upon this bank. Here will we sit, and let The sound of music creep into our ears. Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. ' '

Music is the only universal language in existence. The confounding of the languages at the tower of Babel did not destroy the language of music. It speaks the same language to every inhabitant of the earth that it did when the loud timbrels sounded the grand chorus o'er Egypt's dark seas. The German who cannot understand a word of English will go into ecstacies over the playing of "The Blue Danube" or "The Watch on the Rhine," and the Frenchmen in a strange land will weep tears of joy on hearing "The Marseillaise Hymn," and our own American, when among peoples whose language he cannot understand, will shout for joy when he hears played "America," "The Star Spangled Banner," "Hail Columbia," or "Yankee Doodle," because they speak to him a language which he understands.

Life is motion, and motion, or vibration, is music. The whole world is full of music. , The gentle zephyrs that stir the leaves of the trees ; the tornado that fells the forests in its mad career; the roar of the ocean's waves as they dash against the rock-bound coast ; the cannonading and rumble and crash of the thunder ; the dashing of the raindrops on the roof : the continual hum of the great cities ; all these in one is the basis and founda- tion of tlie music as we have it in its present form. The universe is a magnificent operahouse in which the combined music of the earth and air is the grand anthem that is continually being heard by all the inhabitants of the world. The standard keynote, the "tonic" on which all instruments are keyed, is derived from the basic sound of all this music of nature and of the spheres.

This band was organized in 1868, under the control of the republican party, the money for the purchase of the instruments being contributed by that party. It was, however, refunded by the members of the band about the end of the campaign of 1868. It was composed of twelve members originally, but soon fell to ten, which kept it going about ten years. Those who composed the band after the reorganization in the '70s were : Charles Haslanger, Frank Smith, Charles Chapman, Edward Quivey, Wm. W. Davenport, Daniel B. Armstrong, James M. Confer, H. B. Miller, Thomas Noss, William Moore.

The present Plymouth band was organized out of the remnants of a former band, which had been organized out of still another band. Under the leadership of Ben M. Seybold it is considered one of the best band organizations in northern Indiana.

In an interview not long ago with the only survivor of the original members of the old band he said: "In my time I have heard many world famous bands, such as 'The Washington Marine Band,' "Sousa's Great Chicago Band,' "Pat Gilmore's Band,' 'The German Prussian Band," "The French Band,' 'The Mexican Military Band' of seventy-five pieces. And yet," he said, "in the language of our own Hoosier poet, slightly changed to fit the occasion, 'I want to hear the old band play!' "

" It 's good to go back in mem 'ry to the days of yore, Coiisiderin ' it 's been fifty year an ' more Since then ! Oh dear ! I see a wonderful change ; And many tilings have happened that's new and strange; Especially at evening when yer new band fellers meet. In fancy uniforms and all and play cut on the street. * * What's come of old Dave Vinnedge aud the sax horn fellers - sayf I want to hear the Old Band play.

"What's come of Alex Thompson, an' Mert Brown, an' where 's Bert Capron at? And Piatt and John McDonald, Charley Eeeve, Gene Hutchinson an' that Air Doc Brown who played the drum twict as big as Jim ; An' William Henry Salisbury - say, what's become 0' him? I make no doubt yer new band now's a compenter band An' plays their music more by note than what they play by hand, An' stylisher and grander tunes; but somehow - any way, - I want to hear the Old Band play.

"Such tunes as 'John Brown's Body' and 'Sweet Alice,' don't you know. And ' The Camels is A-eomin ', ' and ' John Anderson, ily Joe, ' And a dozent others of 'era - 'Number Nine' and 'Number 'Leven' Was favorites that fairly made a feller dream 0' heaven. And wlion tlic boys 'u'd serenade I've laid so still in bed I've even hcerd the locus-blossoms droppin ' on the shed When 'Lilly Dale,' or 'Hazel Dell' had sobbed and died away - I want to hear the Old Band play.

"Your new band ma 'by beats it, but the old band's what I said - It alius 'peared to kind o ' chord with sumpin ' in my head ; An ' whilse I 'm no musicianer, when my blame eye is jes ' Nigh drowned out, an' memory squares her jaws an' sort o' says She won 't an ' never will f orgit, 1 want to .ies ' turn in An ' take the light right out o ' here and git back West a 'gin And stay there, when I git there, where 1 never ha 'f to say - I want to hear the Old Band play. ' '

Lviii. Weird And Strange Happenings

The i\Iarshall county watchmen ran down and captured a horse thief, who first gave his name as Pierce, but it turned out afterwards that his real name was Henry Walters, or at least that was the name under which he was indicted, tried and sentenced to the penitentiary at the October term of the circuit court in 1877. In that year Charles Palmer, one of the pioneers of Plymouth, resided at his country residence a mile or so west of town on the La Porte road. On the twelfth day of May of that year, as shown by the indictment, there was stolen from his bam on the premises a black horse of the value of $100. The matter was made known to the watchmen and the sheriff, who immediately went in pursuit of the thief. They got track of him somewhere in La Porte county, and after a hard struggle, in which the thief was shot, he was captured, brought back to Plymouth and placed in jail. He was indicted by the grand jury in the name of Henry Walters, and at the October term of the court was tried, convicted and sentenced to twelve years in the penitentiary. From the time of his arrest until his case was heard in the court, the wound he had received when he was arrested grew worse and worse until, at the time of his trial, he was barely able to appear in court.

A peculiar incident in connection with the length of his sentence was the fact that a man was tried at the same term of court before the same jury for murder, to which he plead guilty, and was sentenced to only two years in the penitentiary. Walters, or "Old Pierce," as he came to be known, had been under the doctor's care for some time before his trial, and after his conviction gradually grew worse and finally died in jail without the sentence being executed. Before his death, knowing that he could not live, he told the doctor that he wanted to do some good to humanity as a slight recompense for all the harm he had done, and he wanted him to have his body for dissecting purposes. There was no law at that time authorizing a proceeding of that kind, and so the township trustee took charge of the remains and buried it in the potter's field in Oak Hill cemetery, Plymouth. ' That same night the doctor employed a couple of men who went to the graveyard and dug up his remains and carried them back to town and put them in a room on the second floor of the Corbin building, on the corner of La Porte and Michigan streets, which had been used as a photograph gallery, having a skylight in the roof.

Not long after this one of the Hghts of glass in the skylight was broken, causing the rain to leak down through the floor. A tinner was sent on the roof to make the needed repairs, and when looking down through the glass he discovered the remains lying on a table, cut and carved to a finish. The tinner was badly frightened and hurrying down as fast as he could go, gave the alarm, and soon there was a general furore of excitement and all sorts of speculation as to who had killed the man and how he got there. It was not long, however, until it was surmised that it was a "stiff,"' and that some of the surgeons about town could explain the matter satisfactorily if they would, but they did not. The township trustee was sent for and, suspecting whose corpse it was, took the remains over to the cemetery and buried them in the same grave from which they had been resurrected. By the time night came around the facts became generally known and the excitement died down.

That night after midnight the same parties that had resurrected him in the first place took him up again, and this time placed him in the back room of the doctor's office, where his remains were subjects of the surgeon's skill for several weeks without molestation. When the flesh had all been taken off the skeleton was taken apart and carefully placed in a barrel with the head fastened tightly, into which and in the bottom auger holes were bored for the purpose of letting water pass in and out. The barrel was then taken to the mill dam north of town and fastened underneath the water that flowed over the dam, so that the skeleton in due time would be thoroughly cleansed of every particle of flesh that might have adhered to it.

After a time the barrel in some way broke from its fastenings and floated down the river, lodging in a tree top near the old brewery. One day a man was fishing down there and, happening to spy the barrel, concluded to make an investigation of its contents, and when he did so and found they were human bones, he ran off to town as fast as his legs would carry him, sounded the alarm that he had found a man that had been murdered and put in a barrel and sent floating down the river, where he had accidentally found him.

The barrel was brought to town and placed on exhibition, and after the scare and curiosity had subsided, the doctor and others let the secret out, and after a short consultation the barrel and contents were turned over to the doctor, who had the bones properly mounted and put on shelves in his private office, where they remained until his death, when they were divided among his medical friends in various parts of the county, the skull remaining in Plymouth. The writer has seen it many times, and as he has looked upon this "striking memento of mortality" he could not help but recall the many tragic scenes and incidents through which he whose vitality was encased therein during life had passed.

A Terrific Explosion. The most destructive boiler explosion which ever occurred in northern Indiana took place on the farm of William Johnson, in Green township, on Saturday, October i, 1876. A steam threshing machine, known as the Feary machine, but which at the time of the accident was the property of John J. Thompson, exploded, carrying death and sorrow to many homes. The machine had been set and about sixty bushels of wheat threshed when the explosion took place. A belt had broken, and after it had been repaired and the word had been given to start up, Feary turned on steam, and while in the act and before the motion was obtained, the explosion took place with a noise and a crash which no pen can portray or imagination picture, scattering death and destruction in all directions. The only one killed outright was a boy named Isaac Jones, aged fourteen. He was standing near the firebox of the engine, warming himself, the day being cold. He was blown a distance of no feet against a rail fence, the top of his skull down nearly to his eyebrows being blown off, and his brains running off on the ground. His clothing was nearly all torn from him and his body badly scalded.

Standing by the boy near the engine was William Hughes, about thirtyfive years of age, who was blown the same distance that the boy was, being found near where he lay. He had one arm and one leg broken, was injured internally and was badly scalded. He died on Monday following the accident. Thomas H. Wirt, band cutter, was struck by one of the heavy wheels of the engine and so badly injured that he died in about two hours. W. W. Johnson, son of William Johnson, the owner of the farm where the accident occurred, was pitching sheaves from a stack. The boiler struck the stack in its course through the air, throwing Johnson about lOO feet, breaking his skull and otherwise injuring him. He died about six hours after the explosion, having been in an insensible condition all the time. Joseph Dudgeon was on the stack with Johnson at the time the boiler struck it. He' was thrown about fifty feet, had both bones of the right leg broken and the right hip bruised. David Logan, the feeder, had an arm broken and was otherwise injured. S. P. Feary, the engineer, had his arm broken in two places. Ezra Jones, father of the boy killed, was badly scalded and otherwise injured. Clem Newhouse had his arm broken in two places. IMarvin Louden wa« slightly injured. William Johnson received internal injuries, not of a serious character, however.

No imagination could picture the scene of the disaster as it really was. The boiler, with engine attached, was thrown a distance of i6o feet, alighting on the ground in a reversed position from that in which it started, having gone through the side of a wheat stack, thrown two men fifty and one ICO feet, stripped the harness from a span of horses and smashing a twohorse wagon. It was said by some who were present that the engine turned three and a half times round while flying through the air. An examination of the boilers showed that the material was of the very best. The explosion was undoubtedly caused by lack of water.

A Bold Robbery. During a considerable period before and after the completion of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Cliicago railroad, the town of Bourbon was infested with a gang of counterfeiters and robbers who kept the inhabitants in a constant fever of excitement and fear. Their operations, however, were not confined entirely to Bourbon ; it was simply headquarters, from which radfeted the deviltry they concocted when alone in solemn conclave assembled. Their operations were confined principally to the putting into circulation of counterfeit money of various kinds. It was not thought, however, to have been manufactured in that place, but manufactured else- where and carried there, and from thence distributed in such manner as was thought the safest and most expeditious. The existence of this organization and many of those connected with it were well known, but the evidence of their guilt was not sufficient to warrant legal proceedings. Some of them were, however, finally arrested on suspicion, but the law's delay and the many technicalities brought into requisition enabled all of them to escape the penalty they undoubtedly deserved.

One night in the summer of 1867 a large number of housebreakers and robbers entered the residence of Joseph W. Davis, going through the house and taking everything of value that suited their fancy. Before entering they blackened their faces and otherwise disguised themselves. They procured a large scantling and, using it as a battering-ram, drove it with such force against the front door as to break it open the first blow. Two of the robbers rushed into the bedroom where Mr. Davis and wife and infant child were sleeping and laid violent hands upon them before they realized the true condition of aft'airs. A pistol was under Mr. Davis" head, and in making a desperate effort to procure it, he was struck several times on the head and face, making the blood run profusely. The burglars secured the pistol and holding Mr. Davis down by the throat, the remainder of the robbers went through the several rooms in the house, taking them one by one. Before they entered the house they had taken the precaution to give the watchdog, a very fine Newfoundland, a dose of strychnine, which had put him eft'ectually out of the way. In one of the rooms they found the hired girl ; in another the hired man. At each of these rooms they placed one of their number on guard, and now having everything arranged safely, they began to "rummage" every part of the house. They made Mr. Davis open his safe, from which they took all the money and papers and other valuables contained in it. They prepared an excellent supper from the supply of cooked provisions they found in the kitchen and buttery, of which they partook with evident relish. They remained about two hours, and having finished their work, bade the occupants an affectionate good-night and hastily took their departure.

When the robbery became known early the next morning the whole town was in a furore of excitement and threats of lynching suspected partie.s were freely made, but as nothing definite could be ascertained as to who the guilty parties were, nothing was done. Some time afterward the pocketbook and papers were found close to the railroad track near Bucyrus, Ohio, and shortly after returned to the owner. Several of the suspected parties soon left town and others were not slow to follow, and this was the last trouble Bourbon ever had with housebreakers.

Some time ago Postmaster J. A. Yockey and wife, of Plymouth, were taking a vacation at the home of T. N. Peddycord, in Polk township, near Koontz's lake. Mr. Yockey, early one morning, went to dig for worms for bait for the day's fishing he expected to indulge in. He was digging under an old log near the house when, in removing the decayed leaves, he turned up a bogus Mexican dollar of the date of 1875.

There is quite a bit of local history connected with this and other similar coins manufactured in that place many years ago. In the '70s and prior to that time the farm on which Mr. Peddycord now hves was owned by a man by the name of Francis Hungerford. Although lacking in education, he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and had his elTorts in life been directed in the proper channel he would have been a useful man in any community in which he might have lived.

The place in question at that time was in the "back woods," the locality being sparsely settled and the neighbors few and far between. Seldom anyone visited the Hungerford family, and for weeks at a time they saw no one except an occasional hunter and fisherman passing and repassing that way. Kocntz's lake was near there, and surrounding it were thick woods, underbrush, swamps and marshes, in which was an abundance of wild game, not counting the barrels and wagonloads of fish that were playing around the shores waiting to be taken out of the wet. It was in this .sort of environment that Francis Hungerford conceived the idea of procuring dies and operating a bogus money manufacturing establishment, thus enabling him to earn a living a good deal easier than in chopping down trees, grubbing out the roots, plowing up the sod, splitting rails, building fences and such like drudgery. Accordingly he procured a set of dies for the manufacture of various coins, the principal ones being Mexican dollars. At that time Mexican dollars were in general circulation, and as tlie Hungerford spurious dollars were a very good imitation of the genuine, they passed quite readily in the ordinary course of trade. He built a milkhouse near his residence with a lookout on top. In the floor was a trap door, underneath which was a large cellar conveniently arranged for the purpose. Here he placed his machinery, dies and metal, and forged out his bogus coin by the bushel without let or hindrance.

The greatest difficulty in regard to the success of the scheme was to devise ways and means of putting the bogus money into circulation. Hungerford started a good deal of it into circulation by paying it out for such purchases as he made in Plymouth and the surrounding towns. But that was entirely too slow a process, and other individuals whose consciences did not disturb them were let into the secret, and in the course of time Hungerford had several assistants who helped him to dispose of the bogus coin.

For a considerable time everything went lovely and the financial goose honked high. Nearly every business man in the towns and villages round about had his pockets full of Hungerford's dollars, most of which had been taken as good Mexican money without making any examination or without any thought that it was spurious, when upon a close examination it was ea.sv to detect the good from the bad, and it was not long until it was hard to pass any of them in current business transactions.

It was then that the people generally began to try to find out where the spurious coin came from and who was the manufacturer of it. Suspicion finallv settled upon Hungerford. A detective was sent for, who, after many difficulties, succeeded in working himself into the good graces of Hungerford, and finally arranged to assist him in coining the bogus money. He worked away for some time until he got all the information necessary for his arrest and conviction, when he swore out the necessary papers and the officers made a raid on the mint, arrested the old man and his son, confiscated his dies, plates and machinery, metal, retorts, and stock in trade generally, and delivered him up to the United States authorities.

He was taken to Walkertoii, where he was put on the Lake Erie & Western railroad train for Indianapohs. A trunk containing several hundred coins was left behind on account of not having room for it in the conveyance. After taking Hungerford to Walkerton the wagon was sent back after the trunk. When it was returned and opened at Walkerton to repack it the coins were found to be missing and brickbats had been substituted. The old lady who had been left behind said the coins had been emptied out into Koontz's lake, and if the authorities wanted them they would have to go over there and get them. It is needless to say that they are probably still there.

The old man and his son were tried, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary. On account of his age, after a few years the old man was pardoned, after which he took up his residence in Missouri. It was not long after he settled there until the old desire to dabble in counterfeit money came over him. and he was again arrested, convicted and sent to the government prison at Lawrence, Kansas, where it is said he died several years ago. His son probably served out his sentence, but his whereabouts since that time is unknown. Others in the neighborhood who were suspected of having a hand in the business managed to get out of the country without being arrested, and so ended the only counterfeiting manufactory known to exist in this section of the country.

Lix. Cemeteries And Seminaries

The first cemetery in which those who died in Plymouth were buried was what is known as the "Stringer Graveyard," although its real name, as legally laid out and platted, is "Lake Cemetery," about two miles southwest of Plymouth. In the early settlement of the county, in that locality and farther west, there were quite a number of people from among whom the first death occurred in 1836, which necessitated the selection of a graveyard, as they were called in those early days. Joseph Stringer had settled on the land near there early in 1836, and on a high rise of ground a short distance east of his log cabin residence a burial place was selected, and to designate where it might be found it was named after Mr. Stringer. Many of the early settlers of Plymouth procured lots there, and they and their posterity continue to be buried in that place. It is a beautiful spot of ground for the purposes for which it was intended, and has been placed in a good state of repair. To the west and southwest it overlooks a splendid farming country covered with hills and dales, meandering in every direction, through which runs the beautiful Indian river, "Wi-thou-gan," known as Yellow river, and nestled in among the hills is the charming little Dixon lake, and still further away to the west the glassy surface of the ever beautiful Pretty lake peeps out from among the hills and tree tops, a veritable "thing of beauty and a joy forever," while to the east and northeast, Plymouth with its courthouse, and schoolhouses, and numerous cliurch spires and manufacturing establishments, and the beautiful farm and county infirmary, presents a picture of beauty and grandeur that takes away much of the dread of passing over the great divide to "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns."

The first burial ground in Plymouth was on the lot where now stands the Washington school building, west of Plum street, and between Washington and Adams streets, and it was used as such for a number of years. It came about in this way :

In the early history of Indiana the United States government set apart certain sections of land (section i6) in every township for the support of public schools. Provisions were made for the donation of grounds on which were to be built county seminaries. The lot on which the Plymouth school building now stands was so set apart by the original proprietors of the town ancf was shown on the city records as the "Seminary Lot." The adoption of the present school system by the state under the constitution of 1850 made unnecessary a county seminary, and in 1854 the lot in question was sold to the town of Plymouth for the nominal sum of $I03, and the town thereupon erected the first schoolhouse which was the "seminary building," in time for the winter school of 1854.

Plymouth was organized and the first settlement made in 1836, the county having been organized July 20th of that year. Owing to the sickly condition of the country at that period, it was but a short time until several deaths occurred, necessitating the selection of a burial ground or "graveyard," as they were called, as they did not seem to know much about "cemetery" or "seminary." It is quite evident that there was great need of a seminary at that time, as it turned out that those who selected the location for the graveyard mistook the meaning of "seminary" for "cemetery" and established the town burial ground on that lot. A large number of people, )-oung and old, were buried there, very few of whom were known to the present generation. There were no marble or tombstone factories here in those days, and few of the graves had any headboards to tell whose remains the narrow house contained. A few headboards made of thick oak plank bore the names, dates of birth and death of the deceased, but that was all. Nobody paid any attention to the graveyard, and at that time hazel brush and blackberry and raspberry briars had full possession. Sunken ground was all that denoted the last resting place of the one who slept beneath.

Before the old seminary building was erected as many of those who were buried there as could be foiind were resurrected and re-buried on the grounds now occupied by the Pennsylvania railroad for station purposes, the ground having been set apart by the original proprietors of the town as a public burial ground. At this time these grounds were a long distance out of town, and the coming of a railroad was not thought of as one of the possibilities. So many of the bones of the sleepers on the seminary lot were taken up and buried there. IMany, however, were left where they had been buried, the ground smoothed over, and the memory of them left to rot with their bones. The old seminary building was occupied for school purposes until the erection of a new and larger building became necessary in 1874, when the old building was sold and removed and the new brick building erected on the ground where it had stood. Several years later it became necessary to erect a large addition to the Washington school building, and in excavating for its basement many skulls and human bones were found scattered around in various places. They were boxed, carried away and buried in the potter's field. In digging further along and deeper, for a furnace, a considerable number of skulls and bones in a fair state of preservation were dug up. One afternoon the writer happened on the grounds while a wagon was being loaded with dirt from the excavation on the south side. While waiting one of the workmen dug up a skull in almost a complete state of preservation, many of the teeth being fast in the jawbones. Perpetrating a ghastly joke about it being "chap-fallen,"' etc., the workman threw it over among the other dry bones. It had the appearance of being a young woman, and the query was who she might have been? The performance recalled vividly the graveyard scene in Shakespeare's play of "Hamlet." The grave digger throws up a skull and Hamlet says : "That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once ! How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain's jawbone that did the first murder!"

' ' Behold this ruin ! 'tis a skull ! Once of ethereal spirit full! This narrow cell was life 's retreat - This space was thought 's mysterious seat ! What beauteous visions filled this spot - What dream of pleasure long forgot! Nor joy, nor grief, nor hope, nor fear. Has left one trace on record here ! ' '

The sight to the writer was a sickening one, and as he turned away these words rang out loud and clear: "To this sad end must we all come at last!"

When the preliminary survey had been made, and it became known that the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad was to be built through Plymouth, and that the depot grounds were to be located about or on the grounds then used as a burial place, steps were taken by the town authorities to procure suitable grounds and far enough away so that the bodies would not again have to be taken up and removed. Grounds were therefore purchased just outside of the extreme southern limit of the town, platted and regularly laid out, the lots numbered, and drives and walks laid out, shade trees set out, grass sowed and everything done to make it a creditable place to bury the dead. The dead bodies in the old graveyard were then taken up, or at least as many of them as could be found and re-buried in the new cemetery, which was called "Oak Hill Cemetery." But it can readily be seen that with the miscellaneous removal that took place from the "seminary" "cemetery" it was impossible for those having charge of the removal to tell anything about what were the names of the persons whose bodies were being removed, and so they were taken up as the workers came to them, except such as had friends to look after their remains, and there were few left here at that time to perform that duty. This was twenty-five years after the county was organized. Many had died during the first years here, and many of their relatives, becoming discouraged, had moved away to find more inviting fields for future homes. The town authorities did the best they could under the circumstances, to give the remains of those removed a respectable burial, but throughout, up to the time of the opening of Oak Hill cemetery, the whole thing was little less than a "graveyard vaudeville."

Since that date, now fifty odd years ago, with the deaths that have occurred during that time, and those that were removed from both of the old cemeteries, or graveyards. Oak Hill now contains about 4,000 who have "taken their places in the silent halls of death."

Since Oak Hill was first purchased several additions have been made to it, and the whole has been kept in excellent repair, and it is one of the most beautiful parks of its kind in northern Lidiana.

And as the living wander through this "silent city of the dead," what a lesson in right living should it teach them. Here as many as living and walking the streets of Plymouth are quietly sleeping side by side in that sleep that knows no waking. Here political antagonisms are lost in forgetfulness ; church creeds and religious differences are unknown ; bickerings and backbitings, and tattling and gossiping about one another is unknown ; here there is no hunger nor thirst, nor heat nor cold. Peace and tranquillity reign supreme, and there is nothing to molest or make them afraid.