Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 14: Educational Development, 1914

First Schools in Induna - Congressional School Fund - State Endowment Fund - Pioneer School Houses - Character of the Early Te/chers - The Three R's - County Seminaries - Peru Collegiate Institute - AVilliam Smith's School - Denver College - First High School in Peru - Present High School - Value op School Property in the County - Vocational Education - County Superintendents - Distribution op School Funds - Parochial Schools - The Press - Briep Histories op the Various Newspapers - John A. Graham - Early Library Projects - Peru Public Library - School Libraries.

As in the case of the industrial progress and social structure of Indiana and Miami county, the educational development has been a gradual evolution. The first instruction given to the scattering white inhaliitants along the Wabash river came from the Catholic missionaries, who were among the first to penetrate the western wilds in their efforts to convert and civilize the natives. As early as 1719 Father Marest wrott' from one of the French posts to his superior:

"As these people have no books and are naturally indolent, they would shortly forget the principles of religion, if the remembrance of them was not recalled by these continued instructions. We collect the whole community in the chapel and after answering the questions put by the missionary to each one, without distinction of rank and age, prayers are heard and hymns arc sung."

After resident priests came they made efforts to instruct the children to read and write, but the progress was slow for some time, owing to the many obstacles to he overcome. Probably the first regular .school in the state was that taught by Father Rivet at Viucennes in 1793.

The act of congress, under which Indiana was admitted to the union as a state, donated Section IG in each Congressional township as the basis for the establishment of a permanent school fund. This land, or the proceeds arising from its sale, was placed in charge of three trustees in each civil town.ship, up to 1859, since which time there has been but one trustee. For mauy years the value of the school lands was so small that the growth of the permanent fund was slow and the people were compelled to pay a portion of the cost of maintaining the schools out of their private means. Congress also gave to the state certain swamp and saline lands, and two entire Congressional townships - 76,080 acres - were donated for the support of state seminary or university. In 1836 the general government distributed to the states the surplus in the United States ti-easury, when Indiana received i);860,254. of which $573,502.96 went into the permanent school fund. In addition to these donations from the United States, the state, by its constitution and various acts of the legislature, has provided a permanent endowment fund for the schools, which fund is derived from several dift'erent sources. At the present time the Congressional fund is, in round numbers, about $2,500,000, and the state endowment fund is approximately $9,000,000. By a wise provision of the founders of the public school system, this fund may be increased, but it can never be diminished, only the income being available for the current expen.ses of the schools.

The ])ioneer school house was nearly always a building of round logs, with a clapboard roof and a rough door hung on wooden hinges. Sometimes a puncheon floor was provided, but in many cases the only floor was "mother earth." At one end was a huge fireplace and a chimney constructed of stones, sticks and clay. In real cold weather, when a roaring fire was maintained, those near the fireplace would get too warm, while those in the rear of the room would be suft'ering with cold, hence the pupils were constantly asking permission to change seats in order to overcome this unequal distribution of warmth. On each side of the house, about four feet above the floor, one log would be left out and the opening covered with oiled paper to admit light. If the school district was fortunate enough to afford some window glass, eight by ten inches in size, the school house could boast the luxury of real windows. The "furniture" consisted of benches made of split saplings, smoothed with the draw-knife and supported by wooden pins. Under the window was a wide board resting upon large pins driven into the wall, which constituted the wTiting desk for the entire school. Here the children would take turns at writing, using a goose quill pen and ink made of pokeberry juice or a solution of maple bark and copperas. The "copybooks" were generally home-made, consisting of a few sheets of foolscap paper covered with a piece of heavy wrapping paper. At the head of the page the teacher would write the "copy," which was usually some proverb intended to convey a moral lesson as well as a knowledge of penmanship - such as "Evil communications corrupt good manners"; "Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well," etc.

Coinparril willi tlir ifiu-licrs of tlie |)i-csi'iit day, tlic schoolmaster of three-quarters of a ecntiiry ago would be considered illiterate and incompetent. If he could "do all the sums" in Pike's arithmetic as far as the "rule of three," read and spell fairly well, and write well enough to set copies for the children to follow he was equipped for his work. As reading, writing and arithmetic were the only branches taught, and as these w'ere referred to as "lieadin', Ritin' and Rithmetic," the curriculum of the early schools gave rise to the expression - the three R's - which were considered all the necessary elements of a practical education. As there was not much money to be had Irom the public funds prior to 185D, the schools before that date were known as "subscription" schools, the teacher receiving from one dollar to two dollars for each pupil for a term of three months. Most of the teachers were adventurous Yankees from the East, or Irishmen, who would teach one term in a neighborhood to provide means to get thciii to another. As a rule they were unmarried men, who "boarded round" among the patrons of the school, thus giving the parents an opportunit.y to pay at least a part of their children's tuition by lioarding the teacher. There was one (lualification in the teacher that could not be overlooked, and that was he must be able to "lick" the big boys into submission in case they became unruly. Conse(|Ucntly. in every early schoolhouse could be seen a bundle of beech, willow or hazel rods, waiting for some youngster to Iireak one of the rules laid down by the pedagogue.

and two short recesses - one in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon. The first thing the child was required to learn was his "A B C's." When he knew all the letters by sif^ht he was taught to spell simple words, and when his vocabulary had increased to a certain point he was given a First Reader. This process was slow but sure and many of the great men of the nation received the rudiments of their education in this old-fashioned manner.

But times have changed. Tlie old log schoolhouse has gone, never to return, and in its place has come the stately edifice of stone or brick, with plate glass windows, steam heat and scientific methods of ventilation. The rude, backless benches have been supplanted by varnished desks, the goose quill pen and home-made copy-book have disappeared, and corporal punishment is only a dim recollection. Almost every school has its reference library and hundreds of dollars are annually expended for globes, maps, charts, or other paraphernalia to aid the teacher in imparting instruction.

In the historical sketches of the several townships in Chapters VII and VIII will be found accounts of the early schools in the rural districts, as well as statistical information showing the condition of the public schools of each township at the present day.

The Indiana legislature of 1828 passed an act providing for the building and maintenance of county seminaries in the several counties of the state at the public expense. These seminaries were to be supported, in part at least, by the fines levied against offenders for violation of the penal laws and commutations for military service. It was further provided that the county commissioners in each county should appoint a trustee, whose duty it shoud be to invest the money properly and in all other ways act as custodian of the "seminary fund." This law had been in effect about seven years before Miami county was organized. Not long after the county government was placed in operation, the commissioners appointed William N. Hood, one of the proprietors of the town of Peru, as trustee. Other citizens who served in this capacity during the next eight years, or up to 1845, were Daniel R. Bearss, Eli Pugh, William Cole, E. P. Loveland, Albert Cole, I. R. Leonard and G. W Goodrich.

There were not many fines collected in the county during the first few years of its history, nor were there many receipts from military commutations. Consequently the accumulation of a fund for the establishment and support of the seminary was necessarily slow. To supplement the workings of the law and hasten the day when the seminary could be built, it was proposed to solicit private contributions. It was -plain that there was a demand for some institution in which some of the higher hi-iiiirhcs oi' learning shoukl be taught aiul it was Ijelieved that the people wouhl elieerl'ully donate toward its establishment. The citizens of Peru promised to contribute, iu mouej' ami building materials, something over !|!2()(). At that time Mexico was a rather ambitious town and the people there agreed to give real estate and building materials to the value of .$l,l)OU to secure the seminary. The oft'er of Mexico was accepted, a selection of a site was made, and the contract for the erection of a brick building, 35 by 45 feet and two stories in height, was let at public auction. AVhen the walls were completed to the top of the first story, the people of Mexico failed to provide the necessary material for the completion of the building, and the work was suspended. The seminary fund amounted to about $1,700 and when the seminary project failed wliat was left of that sum was merged into the common school fund.

In the Mieanlime the Peru Collegiate Institute had been chartered by the state legislature. Rev. John Stocker, a Presbj'terian clergyman, was the first jirincipal and his wife, who was an accomplished woman, was associate principal. The school opened about 1837, with a good patronage and promise of a bright future. Among those who served on the board of directors were James B. Fulwiler, William N. Hood, Richard L. Britton and A. S. Keiser. After a time financial difficulties arose and the school was discontinued, much to the regret of many of the citizens, who had lioped that it might become a permanent institution.

There had been a school taught in Peru, however, before the opening of the Collegiate Institute. In the fall of 1834 William Smith erected at his own expense a log house, 18x24 feet, and upon its completion taught a subscription school, the tuition charge for each pupil for a term of three months being $2.50. The average attendance was about ten scholars, which paid Mr. Smith the princely sum of $25.00 for his three months' work, and in addition to his labors he furnished the house and the fuel. This might be considered the beginning of the city's school system. The second sclioolhouse was built on the north side of Third street, between Cass and Miami streets, and the third was erected on Broadway, but it was used only a short time.

The seminary estalilished in 184!) or 1850 by Rev. Milton Starr, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was quite a pretentious institution of learning for Peru. Mrs. Starr, who was the principal, was an educated woman from the famous seminary at Mount Holyoke, -Massachusetts, and her sister was also one of the teachers. The seminary was located on the north side of West Third street, between Broadway and Miami streets. Its exact location was on the middle lot between the alley and Miami street. The school was continued for a short time under the direction of Rev. F. S. McCabe after he beeame pastor of the ehureh. For many years after the school was discontinued the building was used as a double tenement house and one-half of it is still standing.

In 1876 a joint stock company was organized at Denver for the purpose of establishing a private school to be known as Denver College. A good brick building was erected at a cost of $3,500 and the school was opened in the fall of that year with Professor J. A. Reubelt in charge. Although the institution started off under promising circumstances, the anticipations of the founders were not realized. After teaching two terms .Mr. Reubelt resigned and Professors Hershey and McGinley took control of the school. They failed to make it a success and the company was disbanded. The building was then turned over to the proper authorities and became the Denver public school.

The first exclusive high school building in the city of Peru was located at the southwest corner of Sixth and Broadway. This building had formerly been occupied as a livery barn, but after it was acquired by the city it was thoroughly renovated and remodeled for school purposes. Here the high school was located until the erection of the present magnificent building on the northwest corner of Sixth and Miami streets, where the old central sehoolhouse formerly stood and which was used both as a graded and high school. The school board that erected the present high school structure ,was composed of Charles R. Hughes, president ; Joseph A. Faust, seci-etary ; Lorenzo Hoffman, treasurer, and John F. Unger. The building was designed by Griffith & Fair, a firm of Fort Wayne architects, and the contractor was Frederick J. Bump, also of that city. The total cost was about .~|5lOO,000 and it was opened for school at the beginning of the fall term in 1911. In this building Peru has one of the model high schools of the state and the course of study is in keeping with the best schools of that nature in Indiana. It is an institution of which the people of Peru and Miami county may justly feel proud. In addition to the high school the city has four other public school buildings, the total value of school property being over $200,000. Dviriug the school year of 1912-13 there were fifty teachers employed in the city schools, nine of whom were in the high school, and the amount paid these instructors in salaries was $33,334.50.

The estimated value of all the school property in the county at the close of the school year that ended in the spring of 1913 was $445,225 ; the number of teachers employed in all the schools was 207, and the amount paid in salaries to teachers was $101,479.41. The total nuinber of pupils enrolled during that school year was 5,732.

effort to cnt'oi'cc tlir new vocMtional riliicatioii law. Agricultufc is taufrlit to all boys ill tlu' eighth year in the township sehools, and in most of the iiigh si'hools. Sewing is taugiit to ail girls in the seventii and eigiitli years and in soiiu' iiigii schools. Cooking is taught in grade Imildiiigs at Hunker Hill and Deedsville. Manual training is taught to seventh and eighth year hoys at Waupeeong. North Grove, Denver, Mexico, (Jilead, Ridgeview, Bunker Hill, Nead, Chili and Deedsville - and in seine of these sehools it is tautilit in tlie high school. We are attempting to use the same outline of work in these subjects in the township schools. By visiting the sehools the parents and taxpayers may learn what is being accomplished in these subjects."

The township sehools referred to in the report include all the public schools in the county e.\cept those in the city of Peru and the towns of Amboy and Converse. The school at Aiiiboy is a joint school between the town and Jackson township.

In 1873 the Indiana legislature passed an act establishing the otifice of county superintendent and defining his duties. The law became effective in Juue of that year and the first incumbent of the office in Jliami county was AV. Steele Ewing, who seiTcd for six years. He was succeeded by N. W. Trissal, who held the office but a single term. Since then the superintendents have been A. J. Dipboye, W. A. AVoodring, John P. Lawrence, John H. Runkle, E. H. Andrews, P. S. Sullivan and E. B. Wetherow. The last named was elected in June, 1907, for a term of four years and at the close of that term was reelected. His present term expires in June, 1915.

The total amount of money collected on the common school fund mentioned in the opening of this chapter is apportioned to the different counties of the slate, according to the number of children between the ages of six and twenty-one years living in the county. In January, 1914, the auditor of ^liaini county made the following distribution of school funds to the townshijjs, towns and cities.

Some time during the pastorate of Rev. M. J. Clark, of St. Charles Catholic church a school was established in connection with the parish. The attendance was not confined to the children of Catholic families. People of other denominations recognized the ability of Father Clark and sent their children to his school. When he left Peru the school was discontinued and was not revived for a long time. Father Bernard Force came to the parish in April, 1860, and just before that a term of school had been taught by a Badinese student named Volkert. Father Force opened a school in the church building, Franz Edtler being the tirst teacher. When the new church was built the old one was converted into a schoolhouse. Prior to 1870 the boys and arirls were taught together, but in that year Father Kroeger induced the I'rsuline nuns of Louisville, Kentucky, to send some of their order to teach the girls' school. Four years later they were succeeded by the Sisters of Providence, who also took charge of the boys' school in September, 1881.

The Lutheran parochial school was established in 1865, with F. Kohrs as the first teacher. When the new chui'ch at the corner of Main and Fremont was completed in 1876 the old church on West Second street was taken for school purposes. With the growth of the congregation and increase in population of the city of Peru, there came a greater demand for better educational facilities and in 1905 the present school building on West Second street, just west of Hood street, was erected. It is a large brick building, of modern design, two stories in height and will doubtless be of sufficient capacity to meet all the needs of the parish for several years to come.

As a factor in the educational development of any community the newspaper plays an important part. It disseminates information of general character, keeping its readers in touch with what is going on in the world and giving them a broader view of life. Numerous short articles ill the <'oliiiiiiis of the newspaper have liceii of great Iteiietit to the reader, wlio, it might be said, almost unconsciously absorbs new ideas that prove valuable to him in his daily vocation. Hints to farmers on planting and harvesting in these latter days supplement the work of tlie agi-ieultural college, and many a housewife has read with pi-olit some well written item on domestic economy.

The first printing pi'ess in .Miami county was I)rought to I'eini in 1837. It had been used at Richmond for the publication of the Richmond PaUadiiim. Three years before the outfit was brought to Peru Sanuiel Pike came from Leesburg, Ohio, with a stock of merchandise for James B. Fulwiler. He had been engaged in the newspaper business in Ohio and persuaded some of the citizens that what the town needed was a newspajiei- to advertise its merits and advantages abroad. Accordingly, an a.ssociation was formed ; the pi'ess and other materials were brought from Richmond : Pike was put in charge as editor, and on July 22, 1837, the first number of the Peru Forester made its appearance. It was suspended in January, 1839, and from that time to 1848 no less than six papers were printed on the old press.

First came the Peru Gazette, which was started by James B. Scott and Augustus Banks as a Wliig organ, the first number making its appearance on July 20, 1S39. John H. Scott bought a half interest in the paper on April 16, 1842, and, as he desired to conduct his part of the paper in the interests of the Democratic party, the paper, which was called the Peru Gazette-Peru Demoerat, was half Whig and half Democrat. The last issue of this peculiar publication was dated October 15, 1842. Then came the Cork Screw, a humorous publication, the editors of which announced themselves as "Nehemiah, Ilezekiah and Obadiah." It lasted but a few months, when James B. Scott again acquired the plant and started the Peru Ohserrcr. It was a Whig paper and continued until June 28, 1845. Next John H. Scott published a Democratic paper called the Peru Herald from November 28, 184(5, to some time in May, 1848. About a month later John A. Gi-aham bought the press and type and on June 28, 1848, published the lii'st number of tlie Minmi County Sentinel.

As ^Ir. Graham founded the first newspaper to endure for any length of time, he might be termed the Nestor of Miami county journali.sm. He was born at Baltimore, Maryland, Januaiy 8, 1817, his parents having come from Ireland two years before. After residing for a short time in Pittsburgh and Wheeling, the family returned to Baltimore and in 1830 removed to Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Two years later the parents to Indiana, but the son remained in Harper's Ferry as a clerk in a store until the spring of 1835. Taking passage on a steamboat at Wheeling, he descended the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, where he was put ashore at midnight. Not finding a town, as he had expected, he sat on the bank of the river until daylight, when he climbed to the top of the bluff and discovered a house not far away. He was fortunate enough to find a steamboat about to ascend the Wabash and took passage as far as Clinton. From that point he took the stage to Lafayette and from there walked to Peru. He entered the employ of Alexander Wilson and was sent to Logansport, where he worked in a store until 1838, when he returned to Peru. In the fall of 1839 he became a partner of Mr. Wilson. In 1841 he was elected sheriff of Miami county and in February,

1846, he was appointed as a clerk in the canal land office, where he remained until the office was removed to Logansport the succeeding year. He then bought the printing outfit and began the publication of the Sentinel, as above stated. Mr. Graham was a representative delegate to the constitutional convention of 1850 ; was a special agent of the United States to pay the Miami Indians their annuities in 1858. 1859 and 1860 ; was elected county clerk in 1866 ; was mayor of Peru from 1882 to 1888, and in 1877 wrote the first published history of I\Iiami county.

1850 the office was rclitttd, with the excc]itic)ii of tlie pri'ss. and on June 1!), 1854, -Mi', (iiahani hcjjan the issue of a daily edition - the first daily to be puhlisiied in tlie couuty. He soon learned, however, that the town was not yet large enough to support a daily and on July 25tii it was suspended. Wilson H. Lough I'iilge succeeded Mr. Graham, hut soon sold out to T. J. .McDowell. In 1867 Lougliridge again became the owner and in 1S74 J. C. Foley became his partner. A year later the lirni was eoni))oscd of Foley, Jameson & Conner. J. A. Miller l)ought the interests of Jameson and Conner, and a little later Foley sold his interest to J. C. .Maxey. Wiiile these changes were taking place, the daily and weekly Times, which was started by T. J. .MeDowell & Sons in 1874, was consolitlated with the S()ili,H(l, under the name of the I'imrs-lSoitiHel, and conducted about a year hy the firm of ilaxey & JI(d)owell. when the latter withdrew and resumed the publication of the Times as a separate j)ai)er. The Sentinel was then continued by Ewing & Ma^t'.v i'or a short time, when Ihey were succeeded by Sanniel F. Winter, who pul)lishe(,l the paper until about 1879. Then Louis B. Fulwih'r and Kiehard A. Cole purchased the plant and conducted the Sentinel until IS.s;).

C. N. Kenton succeeded Fulwiler & Cole and published the paper from April to Xovemher, 188'J, when he sold out to F. 1). & F. A. Haimbaugh. Al)out eighteen months later F. D. liaimbaugh sold his interest to his partner and T. .1. Finch. The latter 's inteivst was represented by R. -!. Conner until his death on July 21, 18!)5.

In the politii'al campaign of ISIMi the Sentinel, which had always been a Democratic paper, refused to support the platform and candidates of the Democratic party, on account of the "free silver" doctrine espoused by the national convention at Chicago, and advocated the election of i'almer and Ducknei'. This (lej)arture from established party traditions resulted in the loss of patronage from the regular Democrats and soon after that campaign the i)aper i)assed into the hands of W. H. Zimmei-man. who incorpoi'atcd a company for its publication. Associated with yiv. Zinnnerman was Frank K. ^IcElheny, the present county auditor. .Mr. Zimmerman was fatally injured in an automobile accident on Xovemher 2, I'JlJi, and since his death the paper has been conducted by Mr. McElheny. For several years it has been published as a semiweekly.

Two attemi)ts were made by the publishers of the Sentinel to establish a daily i)aper. The first contiinied from September, 1890, to April, 185)1, and the second from December, 181)2, to .luly, 189;j. Some years before this time (in 1887) Edward Cox started the Daily II( ralil, which ran for about three mouths, when it was suspended and the plant was removed to Marion, Indiana.

The Peru Republican, the sec-oud oldest paper iu Miami couuty and the oldest, if the suspension of the Sciitiiiil in 1861 be considered, was founded by E. P. Loveland, a proiuineut member of the ]\liami eouuty bar. The first number apj)eared on Oetober 9, 1856, as the organ of the newly organized Republican party. It was not long, however, until Mr. Loveland sold out to \V. S. Benham and S. C. Chapin, who published the paper until March, 1868, when G. I. Reed and James ^l. Brown became the proprietors. After aliout a year Mr. Brown sold his interest to his partner, who conducted the paper until May, 1873, when he sold a half interest to il. R. Sinks. In JIarch, 1878, W. W. Lockwood purchased the interest of Mr. Sinks and the publication firm became Reed & Lockwood. ^Ir. Reed removed to Kansas City in 1886, but retained his interest in the paper until the following year, when he sold the ma.ior part of his holdings to his partner. In 1890 ]\Ir. Lockwood bought the remainder of Mr. Reed's interest and became sole proprietor.

One evening in November, 1905, while driving to his home in Ridgeview, Mr. Lockwood 's buggy was struck by a cab and he was seriously injured. He managed to continue the publication of the Republican, however, until January 6, 1906, when he employed Omer Ilolman. formerly connected with the Ftrn Journal, as manager, ilr. Lockwood 's death occurred on February 14, 1906, as a result of his injuries, and Mr. Holman continued to publish the paper for the Lockwood estate until January 1, 1912, when he leased the plant for a period of five years.

In connection with the history of the Peru Republican, it is worthy of note that the original paper was printed upon the second press ever brought to iliami countA-. After the Miami County Sentinel, under ]Mr. Graham's editorial management, became the mouthpiece of the Democracy, the "Whigs decided to start an organ of their own. Accordingly, an outfit was purchased and brought to Peru in 1852 and the first paper published as a Whig paper was the Free Press, with J. H. Smith as editor. The following year E. & E. R. Trask bought the plant and established the Wabash Olio. A year later the Republican Argus, published by J. H. Shirk & Company, succeeded the 0/w>, and in turn was succeeded by the Peru Neus in 1855, published by H. & E. Holderman. The News lived but a short time, when the press and materials were purchased by Mr. Loveland for the publication of the Republican.

The Peru Evening JoiirnaJ was founded as a neutral afternoon daily by Crowder & ]\Iiller, in 1884, and was the first successful daily paper ever established in Peru. Mr. Jliller soon afterward sold his interest to Ezra Roe. Subsequently Riciiard Kilgore l)ought the paper and conducted it for about a year. On January 1, 1887, Crowder & Brenton nought the Journal. The senior member of the firm was one of the original founders of the paper. In January, 1SS)1, \V. A. Woodring purchased the interest of ^Ir. Breutou and tlie following April Arthur L. Bodurtha acquired a half interest, Mr. Crowder at that time retiring, and the firm became Woodring & Bodurtha. Under this finn's management the Journal became an independent Republican paper and continued so until the split in that party in 1912, when it resumed its neutrality Early in November, 1913, Mr. Bodurtha sold his interest to J. Ross Woodring and in December W. A. Woodring died leaving J. Ross Woodring as sole manager. The Journal is published every week day in its own biiilding at Nos. 19 and 21 West Third street and is one of the leading newspapers of the county.

In 190G Woodring & Bodurtha established the Peru Morning Journal for circulation in the country towns and on the rural delivery routes. It proved to be a successful venture and the paper now has a daily circulation of 1,500 or more. It is published every morning except Sunday.

The Miami County Record, the first number of which was issued on July 3, 1894, at Peru, was the outgrowth of the Bunker Hill Press. In January, 1892, John H. Stephens bought the Bunker Hill paper and about two years later removed the plant to Peru, where thp Record was started as a Democratic paper. Dr. H. V. Passage was connected with the paper for a time in an editorial capacity and when the Sentinel declined to support the Democratic national ticket in 1896, the Record built up a considerable subscription list. It was merged with the Sentinel after that paper was acquired by Mr. Zimmerman's company.

On June 28, 1894, the first number of the Peru DuUij Chronicle, was issued by J. H. ^loore and Charles Winter, two practical printers employed on the Journal. Aliout 1880 the same two men had started a paper called the Peru Daily Enterprise, but after a variable career of a few months it was forced to suspend. The Chronicle, however, has proved to be a profitable newspaper venture. Its quarters on East Third street are well equipped, it has a good circulation, and in appearance is a neat and attractive paper. 'Sir. Moore retired from the firm soon after the paper was started and the Chronicle is now issued every afternoon except Sunday by Charles H. Winter.

From the foregoing it will be seen that at the present time the city of Peru has five newspapers - three dailies and two weeklies. In addition to those mentioned that lived for a time, other newspapers have been published in the city at different times, none of which is now in existence. When Samuel F. Winter retired from the Sentinel in 1879 he established the Waha.sh Valh ij lUmU . .Mr. Winter is one of the veteran jouraalists of the Wabash valley and during the political campaign of 1880 acquired considerable prominence. Soon after that campaign its publication was discontinued.

The Daihj Bulhiin, an independent morning paper, was published for some time in 1893 by Brenton & Holman. It was the successor of the Comet, a small, unpretentious, non-political weekly, which was started by John Diehl and Omer Holman. The Bidktin is said to have been a good paper, but the field was not large enough to support a morning daily and it gave up the ghost.

About 1898 or 1899 a paper called the Peru Xcws was started as a weekly, but afterward became a daily. During its existence of about two years it changed owners a number of times. Among those who served as editors of the pai)er were Arthur Kling and Charles Griswold. When the supply of natural gas began to decline and the question of charging consumers b.y meter for their gas the News espoused the meter system, which caused it to lose prestige. Before this time the paper had passed into the hands of a man named Ray - a non-resident - and a little later its publication was brought to a close.

Outside of the city of Peru, the first newspaper in the county was the Xenia Gazette, which was started by Charles P. Thew in 1868 and published by him for about two years. Mr. Thew then sold out to R. K. Robinson, who pul)lished the paper for about four years, or until the plant was destroyed by fire some time in the year 1871. At the time of this disaster the Gazette had a fair circulation and was doing a good work for the interests of Xenia and the vicinity.

The next paper to l)e established at Xenia (now Converse) was the Times, which was started by Cleveland J. Reynolds in 1879. About eighteen months later the paper was leased by Ward & Prank, who conducted it for one year, when Mr. Reynolds resumed control and a little later removed the outfit awa.v from Xenia. Just about that time the WabeisJi Valley Blade, which had been published at Peru I)y Samuel F. Winter, was suspended. J. 0. Frame, of Xenia, induced Mr. Winter to remove his printing outfit to that tovm and continue the publication of the Times. A partnershij:) was accordingly formed and the firm of Frame & Winter issued the paper every week until September 8, 1886, when it was finally discontinued.

In the meantime A. L. Lawshe and Ro.scoe Kimple had formed a partnership for the publication of a paper called the Xenia Journal, a Republican weekly, the first number of which was issued on December 12, 1883. The proprietors of this paper were two energetic young men, who secured a guaranteed subscription of 400 and a good advertising patronage before the first issue of the paper came from the press. At the fiiil of one yvnv .Ml'. Lawsln' purchased his partner's interest and soon won tlic distinction of beinu: one of the most iilih- and successful news- ]iaper men in Miami county. In IS'JG he was a deh'gate to the Republican national convention and not loni; after President McKinley's inauguration the next year hr appointed .Mr. Lawshe to an important position in the I'nited States treasury (le|)arlment. Snlise(|uently he held a position of great trust and responsibility as auditor of the Philippine Islands. When tlie name of the town was changed to Converse the paper became the Coitvi isi Ji)iinntl. whieli is now issued every Friday by Charles B. & L. IT. Ryder.

About ISTl' tlie Villarir News was started at Bunker Hill by Jasper II. Keyes, who conducted it for about a year, when the plant was turned over to a stock conii)any. In 1874 E. M. Howard, one of the stockholders, assumetl the manafremenl, enlarged the paper to an eight page sheet and changed the name to the Hunker Hill News. A little later John P. Busby l)0ught the otlice and changed the name to the Independent Press, with George T. :Metzgei' as (nlitor. During the next few years the paper changed owners several times, but in 1880 it came into the hands of Oliver A. and Josei)h Larimer, who adopted the name of the Bunker Hill Press. The following decade witnessed a number of changes in the ownership and management, the editors being successively Charles Jerrel, John W. O'llara, C. W. Jones, J. E. Smith and Thomas J. O'Hara. On January 20, 1890, the printing office was destroyed by fire, liut it was immediately rebuilt by C. W. Jones, who was at that time tlie proprietor, only a few issues being missed. In January, 1892, John II. Stephens leased the plant and soon afterward purchased it outright. In August, 1893, .Mr. Stepliens began the publication of an agricultural pai)er called .SVoi/,- and Fartn in connection with the Press, which was continued until llie removal ef the office to Peru in June, 1894.

About two nmnlhs after .Mr. Stephens took the outfit to Peru, 1). U. S|)angler issued a small four-|)age paper called Tlie Sword at Bunker Hill. This i)ublieation survived for about three montlis, when C. A. Kne])per purchased the press and type and on February 28, 1895, issued the first nundier of the new Hunkir Uill Press. W. O. Oden soon afterward liecame as.soeiated with .Mr. Knepper and the Pre.is forged rapidly to the front as one of the best newspapers in the county outside of the county seat. Since that time the paper has changed hands several times. It is now issued every Thursday by Fred S. Freeman, editor and proprietor.

when Mr. Wertz withdrew. In 1892 the paper was sold to Benjamin G. AVhitehead, who became financially embarrassed and made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. Dr. M. M. Boggs then published the Monitor for about four months, when the plant and good will were sold to the original founder, M. L. Enyart, who continued in control for some time. The Monitar is now published every Thursday by W. H. !Myers.

The Denver Tribinie was founded in 1897 and is still published every Thursday by L. H. & Mrs. Delia Lacy Dice. It is a neat, newsy paper well edited and has a good circulation through the northern part of the county.

The Ainboij Inelependent, the youngest newspaper in Miami county, began its career in 1902. As its name indicates, it is an independent weekly paper and is published every Friday by J. F. Jlelton & Son.

In connection with the history of journalism and literature in Miami county, it is apropos to observe that in 1902 George Browning Lockwood, a son of the late W. W. Lockwood, for many years editor of the Peru Kcpuhlicaii, published a book entitled "The New Harmony Communities," of which he was the author, and which has been accepted as a classic on the subject of socialistic communities. Shortly after it appeared it was adopted as one of the books of the Indiana Teachers' Reading Circle and the work has received a large circulation, both in this country and Europe.

In 1837 the "Peru Lyceum" was organized and in connection with it a library was established. Among those who belonged to this society during the ten years or more of its existence, the old records show the names of N. 0. Ross, John A. Graham, L. D. Adkinson, J. B. Fulwiler and J. S. Fenimore. It is said that no subject was too weighty for the Lyceum to discuss, and that its library consisted of a good selection of standard books. After the society disbanded the books became scattered, but in 1881 a few of the good ones and a large number of public documents were collected and placed in the high school at Peru, where they remained for several years, some of them becoming so badly worn that they were useless and those that were worth preserving were turned over to the Peru public library.

The records of the town council for 1856 contain mention of a "corporation library," but no one can be found who knows anything of such an institution. In that year the Miami County Workingmen's Institute was organized in accordance with the will of a -Mr. McClure, of New

Harmony, Iiuliaiiji, whicli provided tliat wlu'iicver a society of persons, "who labor with their hands and cai'ii tlieir living by the sweat of their brow," should organize and contribute 100 volumes as the nucleus of a library, such society should be entitled to receive $500 from his estate. The institute and the town council employed Ira Myers to collect books for the library and he succeeded in collecting 140 volumes, when tile organization received $500 worth of books from the McClure estate. The instil nte was disbanded in March, 1860, the libraiy then passing into the liands oi' H. (J. Fetter, who some years later turned it over to Dr. W. 11. Gilbert, after which the books became scattered. John W. Shields, the veteran music dealer of Peru and who is still living, was a member of the institute and tells some amusing anecdotes of how professional men, desiring to share in the benefits of the library, would attempt to show that they were workingmen and ''earned their living by the sweat of their brow."

The present public library at Peru was organized under the act of the Indiana legislature, approved by Governor Matthews on March 11, lSi)5, which provided that whenever a library was organized by the people and established by private donations, under certain conditions, the local authorities might levy and collect a tax of no more than six cents upon each !{>100 worth of taxable property, etc. Shortly after the passage of that act the school board of the city of Peru took the necessary preliminary steps for the establishment of a public library in accordance with its provisions. A few books were collected, some of which were donated and some acquired by purchase, and these were placed in the high school building at the corner of Sixth and Broadwa.v streets, with ^liss Martha G. Shirk as librarian.

It soon became evident that the high school building was inadequate to the demands of both school and libraiy and early in 1901 Dr. L. 0. IMalsbury, of the school board, and Rev. Harry Nyce, pastor of the Presbyterian church, appealed to Andrew Carnegie for a donation, with which to erect a suitable building. D. H. Strouse had previously written to Mr. Carnegie on the subject. Mr. Carnegie replied under date of March 8, 1901, offering to give $25,000 provided the city would obligate itself to raise ten per cent of that amount annually for the library's support. The offer was accepted and plans for the building were approved in the following May by ilr. Carnegie.

An effort was made to secure the location of the building on the city lot at the northw-est corner of ]Main and Miami streets, but this failing the lot at the northeast corner of Main and Huntington streets was secured. About this time a controversy arose between the city council and the school board as to which body should control the funds donated by Mv. Carnegie and assume the responsibility for the erection of the building. A compromise was finally effected by the appointment on August 16, 1901, of a library board, part of the members of which belonged to the council and the others to the school board. This board organized on August li2nd by the election of William Odum, president ; I. W. Kurtz, secretary ; and Dr. H. P. McDowell, treasurer. Bids were advertised for on September 12, 1901, and about this time, Mr. Carnegie made an additional donation of $2,000 to the library fund.

The corner-stoiu' of tin- Imildiiio: was laid on Wednesday, February 26, 1902. On the Huntinoton street side of the stone is the inscription: "1902. Crapsey & Lamm, architects; J. B. Goodall, contractor," and the inscription on the Main street side reads: "Library Building Board - W. A. Odum. William A. Canther, I. W. Kurtz, H. P. McDowell, M. A. Reilly, C. Smith, L. 0. Malsbury." The building was completed before the close of the year and was opened to the public with Miss ^lai'tha G. Shirk as librarian and ^liss Gertrude H. Thie])aud as assistant. Miss Shirk resigned a little later and Miss Thiebaud was promoted to the position of librarian, which she still occupies. At the close of the year 1913 there were about ] 0,000 volumes in the library, exclusive of a large number of pamphlets and newspaper files. The city has levied a tax each year, in accordance with the law, for the support of the library and with the fund thus provided new books are being constantly added. On the second floor on the library building is an a.ssembly hall, in wiijcli lectures and entertainments are given in connection with work in the library and school board.

Although the Peru library is the only free public library in iMiami county, the trustees of the various townships have been somewhat liberal in the establishment of libraries in connection with the public schools, the number of volumes in the school lil)raries at the close of year 1913 have been approximately 15,000.