Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 20: Societies and Fraternities, 1914

Chapter 20: Societies and Fraternities

Agricultural Societies and Pair Associations - Social and Literary Clubs - Miscellaneous Societies - Detective Association - Annoy Civic and Industrial Club - Masonic Fraternity - Independent Order of Odd Feu.ows - Knights of Pythias - Grand Army of THE Rei'ublic - Benevolent and Protkctive Order of Elks - Improved Order of Red ]\Ien - Other Fraternal Orders - Catholic Societies - Daughters of the Revolution - Young Men's Christian Association.

One of the first societies of any character in Miami county was the Peru Lyceum, which was organized as a literary anci debating society in the summer of 18:^7. An account of this organization, as well as of the Workingmen's Institute, also of a literary nalnrc. may lie foun<l in the chapter on Educational Development.

In the early TiOs (the exact date cannot he ascertained) the I\Iiami County Agricultural Society was organized under the provisions of a law enacted by the legislature of Indiana some years before. A fair ground on the farm of William Smith, a short distance east of the city of Peru, was leased by the society and fairs were held there for a number of years. The records of this old society cannot be found, though old settlers remember that the fairs were well attended, as a rule, and did a great deal of good in stimulating a spirit of friendly emulation among the farmers of the county, many of whom tried every year to make a better showing of field products and live stock than their neighbors.

After the old society went down the county was without a fair association or agricultural society of any kind until 1871, when the Xenia Union Agricultural Society was organized with L. M. Reeves, president; R. K. Robinson, secretary ; J. AV. Eward, treasurer; J. M. Wright, superintendent. Soon after the organization was perfected a tract of land large enough to accommodate all classes of exhibitors was leased for a fair ground and the first fair was held in September, 1871. The interest manifested was such that the society felt .justified in going to considerable expense in the erection of buildings and the construction of a race track. Fairs were held annually for a number of years, when the society api:)arently lost interest iu its work and allowed itself to sink into a state of inactivity.

On September 20, 1873, the Peru Driving Park and Fair Association was incorporated with an authorized capital stock of $22,000, divided into shares of $100 each. Among the promoters of this eutei'jjrise were William Rassner, J. T. Stevens, J. C. Kratzer and G. W. Conradt, who became the largest stockholdei-s when the association w-as incorporated. The ob.iects of this association, as set forth in the articles of incorporation, were "to promote the agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and household interests of the county." After holding a number of fairs the interest waned and the association's affairs were ultimately liquidated.

The next effort to organize a society for the purpose of conducting fairs w^as made at Macy in 1884. A number of the leading citizens in the northern part of the county joined in the movement and the Macy Fair Association started oft' with brilliant prospects. At first a small tract of ground, about two and a half miles north of the town, was purchased for a fair ground. This location was found to be inconvenient and the gi-ouuds were too small to accommodate the attendance. In order to provide more room for the display of products a tract of twenty acres immediately west of Macy was purchased. Here a good halfmile race track was constructed. The fencing of the grounds, the construction of the track and the erection of buildings threw the association into debt, the fairs held upon the new gi-ounds did not meet with the success anticipated, and instead of clearing oft" the debt the association became more deepl.v involved. In December, 1896. the stockholders made a voluntary assignment and Joshua Coffing was appointed trustee to sell the property for the benefit of the creditors. At the time of the assignment the assets were given as $900 and the liabilities as $2,200.

The Miami County Driving Park and Agricultural Society was incorporated on February 10, 1890. As stated in the articles of association the purposes of the society were "to establish and maintain an association for promoting agriculture and kindred pursuits ; also to encourage mechanical, manufacturing and scientific enterprises, and the care, training and breeding of live stock."

The incorporators were iloses Rosenthal, U. A. Ager, Fred. W. Conradt, Link Lieurauce, Jesse S. Zern, Julius Falk and Josiah Farrar. The society leased the old fair grounds and held fairs in the fall of 1890 and 1891, after which it was disbanded for some rea.son not made plain, leaving the field to the Macy Fair Association.

an agricultural society until the spriii;^ of 1908. On April :}. U>08, a number of persons interested in the agricultural welfare of the county met at Converse aud took the preliminary steps to organize a county fair association. Four days later the Miami County Agricultural Association was organized iu the Converse opera house, with a capital stock of $10,000. Valentine Hatfield was elected president; Fred Green, vicepresident ; W. W. Draper, secretary ; L. D. Lamm, treasurer, and the control of the association's aft'airs was vested in a board of fifteen directors, three of whom were the three principal officers above named. The other directors chosen at that time were E. Pefferman and Frederick Ream, of Peru; Glen Graves, of Bunker Hill; F. H. Stephens aud O. M. Erumtiel, of Richland township; B. F. Agness, C. C. Crandall, William Middlesmith and ^lorton Darby, of Jackson townsliip ; George A. Lewis, of Amboy ; J. A. Strebiu, of AlcGrawsvillc ; and Jack Friermood, of Grant county. The association leased the grounds of the old Xenia society for ten years and the first fair was held on September 22 to 25, inclusive, in 1908. Since then the fairs liave been held every year aud so far every one has been a success. The location of Converse is such that a fair at that point can draw largely from the counties of Gi'ant aud Howard and hundreds of citizens of those counties are annually in attendance.

In 1879 a number of the old settlers in the southern part of Miami county and the adjoining counties of Cass and Howard held an old settlers' meeting at the village of Aliami. The interest was so great that the projectors determined to form a permanent organization aud the Tri-County Old Settlers' Association was the result. Ebenezer Hunirickhouse was the first president; William Lane, secretary, aud Joseph P. Coulter, treasurer. The presidents of the association have been, after ;Mr. Humrickhouse, William Zehring, Robert W. Todd and Edward L. Wilson. In 1913 J. M. Hatfield was secretary aud A. E. Zehring, treasurer. Meetings are held annually, usually in the month of August, at Miami aud people come for miles to reuew old ac(iuaintauces aud talk over bygone events.

In the northern part of the couuty there is also an old settlers' association that holds its aunual picnic at Chili. This association has been iu existence for more than a quarter of a century aud numbers among its members some of the representatives of the pioneer families of Richland and the adjoining townships.

on the first Saturday in August. These isicnics have been held evei'y year for nearly forty years and partake largely of the nature of old settlers' meetings.

In October, 1878, the Peru Lecture Association was organized with a capital stock of $500. R. P. Etifinger was the first president and G. E. Leonard the first secretary. It continued in existence until some time in 1883 and during that time furnished some twent.y-five or thirty lectures or musical and literary entertainments. Among those who visited Peru under the auspices of the association were Mary A. Livermore, Theodore Tilton and James W. Riley. When the Emerick opera house was completed and opened in the winter of 1882-83, it proved to be too formidable a competitor for the association, which then wound up its affairs.

In the early part of 188-1 a literary society was organized in the pastor's study of the Presbyterian church "for the study of the best authors." with Rev. L. P. Marshall as president. In October, 1885, it was reorganized under the name of the "Hoosier Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle," and Miss Eileen Ahem was chosen president. It continued in existence for some time, when the interest waned and the society perished. Some time in the winter of 1884-85 the Episcopal Literary Society was organized under the presidency of Rev. William Burke for the purpose of studying Shakespeare's plays. The organization nu't at the homes of the members for some time and was then discontinued.

The Peru Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle had its beginning in October, 1886, when it was organized by Bishop John H. Vincent, and was first known as the Vincent Reading Circle. The first officers were Edwin T. Gregg, president ; Mrs. Giles W. Smith, vicepresident ; Mrs. Emma Davidson, secretary ; Mrs. G. C. Miller, treasurer. The object of the club is the self-improvement of its members and its plan embraees a four years' course in Englisli and American literature. Those who complete the course receive a diploma. At the beginning of the year 1914 the circle numbered twenty members with Miss Mary B. Waite, president ; Mrs. Henry Crites, vice-president ; Mrs. E. B. Wetherow, secretary ; Mrs. John Spooner, treasurer.

The Peru Reading Club was organized in 1886, with R. A. Edwards as the first president. It was first intended as a club for the study of history, but literature was afterward added. The membership is limited to twenty-eight persons. The elub meets at the homes of the members. Among the works that have been studied by this club are Guizofs History of FraiuH', .Motlt'y".s Dutch Kcpublic, Robertson's Charles V, Campbell's Puritans in England, Holland and America, Makers of English Fiction, and in the winter of 1918-14 was engaged in the study of Justin McCarthy's Four Georges and William IV. The otificers for 1914 were Edgar P. Kling, jn't'sident ; R. A. Edwards, vice-president; ]\Hss Kate Cox, secret;ir.\- ; .Mis, .M. Putcrliawgh, treasurer.

Nearly contemporary wilh the above the Peiu Litcrai'y Club, a society composed exclusively of men, was organized and continued for a number of years. Among the members were twenty or more of Peru's leading business and professional men, including Judge James M. Brown, E. T. Gregg, W. C. Bailey, Judge J. T. Cox, E. J. Dukes, Robert -!. liOveland, Charles R. Pence, Dr. Frank Fetter, W. E. Mowbray, A. L. Bodurtha, Judge Tillett, W. E. Henry and W. A. ^Voodring. The program usually consisted of the reading of a carefully prepared paper upon some topic assigned at the beginning of the year, followed by a general discussion. One season the club entered the lecture field and had Professor Swing, of Chicago, deliver a lecture at the Emerick opera house.

AVhat is now known as the .Monday Night Literary Club had its beginning in February, 1892, when iMrs. \V. .\. ^Voodring, Miss Emma; Porter and ^liss Nellie Harris agreed to meet together one evening of each week and spend an hour or two in the study of United States history. Others soon became interested and by the early summer a club of some forty members was formed. The first formal meeting of the oi'ganization was in October, 1S92, when a constitution was adopted, a programme for the year's work outlined, and IIip name of the Susan E. \Vallace Club was adopted, in honor of the wife of General Lew Wallace. The first officers were .Miss Emma Porter, president: .Mrs. J. (i. lirackcnridge, vice-president; Miss Jessie Cox, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. .Morgan Butler, assistant secretary and treasurer. An executive committee, consisting of ^Mesdames F. M. Talbot, A. A. Ream, S. J. ^fatthews, W. A. Woodring, and Jliss Emma Porter, was appointed to administer the alfairs of the club. In 1908 the name was changed to its present form and in 1912 the twentieth anniversary was celebrate<l in a S|)ecially pi-rparcd jirogi'ani, all the surviving charter members being invited to attend.

The Peru Drama League, a branch of the Drama League of America, was organized in December, 1911, by Miss Harriet Ilenton, who served as first president of the organization for two years. The other officers for the finst year were Mrs. Joseph 11. Shirk, first vice-president; Miss Kate Cox, second vice-president; Miss Clara Kilwards, secretary;

-Airs. C. \V. Miller, treasurer. The object of the club or league is study of the best in both aucient aud modern drama a ud the eueouragement of the better class of theatrical productions. ' " Lecturers on the drama and kindred subjects are brought to Peru through the iuflueuce of this club, one of the most successful during the season of 1918-14 having been the lecture on ibsen by Mrs. Demarchus C. Brown, of Indianapolis. There is an active and an associate membership and meetings are held during the winter mouths on alternate F^-iday afternoons. The league is a member of the Indiana aud National Federations of clubs. In l!)l;j the organization assisted in the movement for the opening of the Dukes Memorial Hospital and appropriated seventy-five dollars from its treasury for the purpose of furnishing a room in that institution, to be known as the Drama League Room. The officers for I'JlS-li are as follows: Mrs. E. W. Shirk, president; Mrs. M. C. Nixon, first vice-president; Miss Harriet Henton, .secoud vice-president; .Mrs. John Crume, secretary: Miss ^lildred Keyes, treasurer.

In September, 1918, the Peru ^Mothers" Club was organized with sixteen charter members "for the study and discussion of problems of interest to mothers aud housewives. ' ' The officers elected were : ;Mrs. J. AV. Little John, president; Mrs. Oscar Theobald, secretary; Mrs. Forest Boals, treasurer; Mrs. Edward Shock, :\lrs. Ernest Theobald and .Mrs. C. Y. Andrews, executive committee.

One of the youngest clubs in Peru is the Parent-Teaeher Club, which was organized at a meeting held in the high school building on January 1-1, 1914. Such clubs have been organized throughout the state during the winter of 1913-14 for the jiurpose of bringing parents in closer touch with the work of the public schools. Since the organization of the parent club branches have been formed in connection with every piiblie school in the city, ileetings of these branches are held monthly and there is a general meeting every three months.

About the beginning of the year 1914 a movement was started for the organization of the Peru Country Club. The plan embraced one hundred .stockholders and the capital stock Avas fixed at .$1.5,000, two-thirds common stock and one-third preferred. Charles E. Cory, H. J. Haas, Joseph Shirk, A. P. Tudor, N. N. Antrim and JM. A. Edwards were elected as board of directors and a tract of seventy acres of ground, three miles northeast of the city, on the Winona interurban line, has been bought as a site for the club house.

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Among these iiuiy lie ineiilidneij ihr Miami ('luh, n meiTs social club organized in ISiKi, whieli at one time was a |)ios|)erous organization that gave a number of i)leasantly I'emenibei'ed I'litertainments ; tiie Peru Choral I'liion, a musieal organization under the leadership of J. W. Shields; the Peru Musical Association, with W. E. M. Brown as director, and the Philomathean Chautatii|iia circle, which was organized by Kev. Dr. li. F. Cavin.s while pastor of the First Baptist church.

Some thirty yeai-s ago or more the .lewi.sh Ladies' Aid Society was organized for the i)ui-pose of assisting in raising funds for the erection of temple or synagogiie in Peru. Unable to accomplish their primary object, these good women devoted themselves to general charitable work, frequently giving relief in times of flood, fire or other misfortune. In 1S!)5 the society was reoi'ganized with nineteen ehartei- iiiembers, only three of whom are now living. Thi-ee new membei-s have been added and the organization now consists of six women, with ;\Irs. David Kittner as president and I\Irs. Felix Levy, secretary and treasurer. Altliougli few in numbers this society was one of the first to ri'spond to the call for aid in furnishing the Dukes Memorial Hospital and one room in that institution was comjiletely equipped by the .lewish Ladies' Aid Society.

The German Aid Society is another old organization that was founded for general charitable work, especially among its members. For many years regular meetings were held on the fii-st ^Monday of each month, .\mong the members of this society are (|uite a inimber of the most substantial German citizens of Peru.

On September 18, 1900, the Miami County Detective Association was organized with twenty-seven charter membei-s and the following officers: John W. X'olpert, president and organizer; Timothy Ginney, first vicepresident: Jacob Cunningham, second vice-president and treasurer; Charles R. Tlughes. secretary; Frank C. Phelps, assistant secretary; William A. Sutton, captain. Since that time branches have l)een organized at Gilead, Converse, Miami and Chili, though the headquarters are in Peru. The society since its establishment has enrolled aliout 800 members. It is affiliated with the Xatioiud Horse Thief Defective .\s.sociation. though its operations are not confined to running down and capturing horse thieves, and among the members are many bankers and business men. some of whom "never owned a horse." as one member of the society expresses it. Each branch has a captain ami lieutenant, whose dutv if is to notifv the members when infoi'inafion is received that some criminal is to be hunted and a general drag net is thrown out and gradually drawn around the offender by the members of the association. In one case, when a horse valued at $120 was stolen, the thief was tracked and captured, although his capture cost the society more than four times the value of the horse. Annual picnics are held by the society on the first Saturday in September. John W. Volpert has lieen president ever since the organization. The other officers for 1914 were: 0. A. King, vice-president; Frank Hostetler, general secretary ; Pliny M. Crume, financial secretary ; J. A. Cunningham, treasurer. Late in the year 1913 the Amboy Civic and Industrial Club was organized "to upbuild in every way conditions in and around Amboy and to conduct meetings wherein propositions of value to the community are to be generally discussed." The club numbers some fort.y-five members, including the leading business and professional men of the town, and the officers elected for the year 1914 were : H. G. Ballard, president; Merle Agness, corresponding secretary; Roy Melton, financial secretary and treasurer; Dr. V. E. Baldwin, chairman of the entertainment committee.

In Peru and the principal towns of the county the leading secret and fraternal orders are represented by lodges, and there are also a number of organizations belonging to what might be considered the minor societies of this character, as well as a number of trades unions, such as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Locomotive Firemen, Cigar Makers, etc. The first secret order to establish a lodge in Miami county was the

Miami Lodge No. 67, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in June or July, 1844, in the second story of a brick building near the bridge over the Wabash, the lower story of which was used as a toU house. The first officers were: William M. Reyburn, worshipful master ; Isaac Marquiss, senior warden ; Richard L. Britton, junior warden ; George L. Dart, secretary; John M. Jackson, treasurer. Besides these officers there were six other members. Moses Falk was the first man to receive the degrees in this lodge. The lodge continued under dispensation until May 29, 1848, when it received a charter from the gi-and lodge.

No. 482. Peru then had two lodges until the spring of 1908, when they were consolidated under the uame of I'eru-Mianii Lodge No. 67. This consolidation took place in March and a little later the lodge purchased the old high school building at the southwest corner of Sixth street and Broadway and converted the building into a Masonic Temple. At the close of the year 1912 the lodge had 358 members in good standing. The last gi-and lodge report gives the names of Harvey M. Replogle as worshipful master and Albert 0. Gallahan, secretary, for the year 1913. The lodge is in a prosperous condition and holds regular meetings on the second and fourth "Wednesdays in each month.

Xenia Lodge No. 267, the second Masonic lodge in the county, was organized a year or more before the beginning of the Civil war, and held meetings regularly until the destruction of its hall by fire in the fall of 1872. For about two years no meetings were held, but in 1874 the lodge was revived, another hall rented and again it started upon an apparently prosperous career. In 1878 the hall, with all the records and other property of the lodge, was again destroyed by fire and soon after that the lodge surrendered its charter. Xenia (or Converse) was then without a Masonic organization of any kind until a few years ago, when Converse Lodge No. 601 was instituted. This lodge has been active and successful from the start. According to the last report of the gi-and lodge, its membership at the close of 1912 was 110. In 1913 George Jardine was worehipful master and Charles G. Roby, secretary. This lodge recently donated $47 to the Masonic home.

Crescent Lodge No. 280, located at Miami, was established about the same time as the lodge at Xenia. Those who were most active in securing its institution were A. Armstrong, Warren Truax, Allen Hatfield, M. T. Norman and Eb. Humriekhouse. The first meeting place was in a hall over the Christian church, but in 1882 a brick hall was erected. Ira A. Kessler was worshipful master in 1913 and Alonzo M. Zehring was secretary. The membership at the beginning of that year was seventy-eight. Crescent Lodge gave $20 to the Masonic home in 1913.

Mexico Lodge No. 347 was organized shortly after the close of the Civil war. At one time it had a strong membership of sixty or more, and while in that condition erected a hall at a cost of about $1,200. The lodge also owned other property. Deaths and removals weakened the lodge somewhat, and at the close of the year 1912 it reported to the' grand lodge only thirty-three members. It is in good financial condition, however, and the members show no lack of interest in the ' ' landmarks. ' ' In 1913 Lewis Prick wa.s worshipful master and J. G. D. Bender, secretary.

village on February 9, 1866, when a petition was prepared for presentation to the grand lodge asking for a dispensation to organize a Masonic lodge. The petition was gi-anted, and on June 28, 1866, the lodge was formall.y instituted with James L. jMcKim, worshipful master; Jacob Smith, senior warden ; Jesse Elliott, junior warden ; J. H. Waite, secretary; William H. Wright, treasurer. A charter was obtained on May 29, 1867, and the lodge was duly instituted with about fourteen charter members. At the close of the ,vear 1912 it reported fifty-four members and donated $54 to the Masonic home. Cordie 0. Heddleson was then worshipful master and J. Fred Sommer, secretary.

Lincoln Lodge No. 532 was organized at Macy (then Lincoln) on August 16, 1875, with eleven charter members and the following officers : J. W. Hurst, worshipful master; Daniel Musselmau, senior warden; Valentine Thompson, junior warden; F. B. Hart, secretary; Frederick Hoffman, treasurer. The lodge has had a fairly prosperous career, occupies a well furnished hall, and at the close of 1912 reported to the grand lodge a membership of fifty-three. Charles A. Davis was master in 1913 and Will H. Day was secretary.

Chili Lodge No. 568 was organized in September, 1882, with ten charter members. The first ofScers were : J. Q. A. Robbins, worshipful master ; J. C. Belew, senior warden ; David Ridenour, junior warden ; James C. Davis, secretary. Although this lodge has never been strong in numbers, its members are loyal and firm believers in the principles and landmarks of the order. Regular meetings are held on Saturday evening of each month on or before the full moon. The last grand lodge report gives the membership as twenty-four, with Earl II. Boswell as master and Joseph H. Martindale, secretary.

Harrison Lodge No. 660 was instituted a few years ago at North Grove and is the only Masonic lodge in Harrison township. It has prospered from the beginning and at the close of 1912 reported to the grand lodge forty-three members in good standing. Silas Stout was then master and Burr E. York, secretary. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month.

The youngest Masonic lodge in Miami county is Bunker Hill Lodge No. 683, which is in a healthy condition, reporting thirty-seven members at the close of the year 1912 and donating $10 to the Masonic home". For the year 1913 Max F. Mertz was master and Elbert E. Day, secretary. The stated meetings of Bunker Hill Lodge are held on the first and third Mondays of each month.

Besides the nine Masonic lodges above enumerated, Peru has Peru Chapter No. 62. Royal Arch Masons, and Peru Council No. 58, Royal and Select Masters. Several chapters of the Order of the Eastern

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Star - a degree to which the wives, mothers and sisters of Master Masons are eligible - have also been instituted in the county, the strongest ones being Ruth Chapter No. 120 and the one at Macy.

This order originated in England in the closing years of the eighteenth century, though it is not certain just wlicrc the tirst lodge was formed. In 1812 several lodges sent delegates to Manchester, where a convention was held and the "^Mancliester Unity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows," was organized and soon came to be recognized as the ruling body in Great Britain. About the year 1818 Thomas Wildey and another Odd Fellow came to America and located at Baltimore, IMarjland, where the first lodge in the United States was instituted in 1819, under a charter granted by the Manchester Unity. On February 1, 1820. "AVa.shiiigton Lodge and Grand Lodge of ^laryland and the LTnited States" was establishcil and soon afterward severed its connection with the Manchester organization.

Odd Fellowship was the second benevolent order to find a foothold in Miami county. Miami Lodge No. 52 was instituted at Peru on January 13, 1848, with seven charter members. The lodge now owns the upper story of the building at Nos. 13 and 15 South Broadway, where it holds regular meetings every Monday evening, and according to the last grand lodge report had cash resources of $2,700. During the year 1913 it expended $503 for relief. Earl "Wilson was then noble grand and F. W. Bender was secretary.

The .second lodge in the county was Deer Creek Lodge No. 256, which was organized at IMiaiiii in ]\Iay. 1866. with five charter members. Two years later the lodge purchased a hall, which was sold in 1875 and a new one erected at a cost of about $700. During the next ten years the membership decreased and tlie lodge lingered along until 1891, when it surrendered its charter and disbanded.

Chili Lodge No. 302 was instituted a year or two after the one at Miami, and like Deer Creek Lodge, started off with five charter members. William Tubbs was the first noble grand and A. B. Andrews the first secretary. In 1872 a comfortable hall was erected, the lodge then having about fifty members. That seems to have been the zenith of its greatness. A few years later the membership began to decline in numbers and the lodge finally passed out of existence.

Beacon Lodge No. 320. located at Converse, was instituted in March, 1868. with six charter members. The following were the first officers: J. M. Kunyiui, iinlile grand; Henry Thomas, vice grand; R. K. Robert- son, secretary ; J. W. Eward, treasurer. Rented quarters were occupied for several years, but in 1879 a substantial brick building was erected by the lodge, the upper rooms being intended for lodge purposes and the lower floor leased for business. Some years before that the lodge had established a cemetery near the town. According to the grand lodge report for November. 1913, Beacon Lodge owns real estate valued at $11,750. has 228 active members, and during the preceding year paid $461 for relief. The noble grand was then David A. Job, and W. A. DePoy was secretary. This is one of the most prosperous lodges in the county.

On June 16, 1871, E. H. Barry, then grand secretary and acting as a special deputy, instituted Bunker Hill Lodge, No. 369, with ten charter members. James A. Meek was elected the first noble grand; Noah W. Trissal, vice-grand: Peter Keegan, secretary; William B. Patterson, treasurer. This lodge, while never strong in numbers, as compared with some other lodges, has always been prosperous. In 1873 a comfortable hall was built at a cost of about $1,500. Forty-two members were reported to the grand lodge in November, 1913. at which time W. T. Barber was noble grand and Elmer Mort, secretary. Regular meetings are held on Friday evening of each week.

Mexico Lodge, No. 400, was instituted in July, 1872, with five charter members; G. P. Kvinse, noble grand; W. D. Allen, vice-grand; C. H. Kline, secretary, and W. V. Beecher, treasurer. Nine members were initiated at the first meeting and at the end of ten years the membership numbered about seventy-five. In 1880 a fine brick building' was erected by the lodge, the lower floor being rented for business purposes and the upper occupied as a lodge room. Upon the completion of this building the lodge at Mexico had one of the finest halls in the state. Some years later a decline began and in 1913 the lodge reported only nineteen members. At that time T. T. Millinger was noble grand and J. G. D. Bender was secretary. The regular meetings of the lodge are held on Saturday evenings.

Lessing Lodge, No. 452, was organized at Peru in April, 1873, and was composed entirely of Germans, the lodge work being conducted in the German language. It continued in existence for about twentyfive years, when it disbanded, the members uniting with other lodges.

Denver Lodge, No. 537, was instituted on August 14, 1876, with fourteen charter members. During the first few years of its existence this lodge was prosperous and in 1880 or 1881 a fine hall was erected. According to the grand lodge report of November, 1913. Denver Lodge had thirty members, property valued at $1,730, with I. W. Miller as noble grand and Charles Bell, secretary. Monday evening is the regular meeting night.

Pt'i'u l-otlgt'. Xo. 5;51), was instituted in 1876 and is now tlie strongest lodge in Miami county, having 304 members and owning property valued at .^20,916, according to the hist report to the grand lodge. At the time ol' the great tlood in March, 1913, this lodge donated over $1,600 for the relief of the Hood sufferers. The ofiBcers in 1913 were Thomas "W. Kester, noble gi-and and Jolin F. Smith, secretary. Regular meetings are held on Tuesday evenings in the hall on the northwest corner of Main and Wabash streets - the building erected by the Methodist church several years ago, but now owned by the lodge.

On November 23, 1871!, Allen Lodge. No. 540, was instituted at Macy with six charter members: W. R. ^Marshall, noble grand; Oliver Jenkins, vice-gi'and : A/.i-o Wilkinson, secretary, and ililton P^nyart, treasurer. For a few months meetings were held in rented qiiarters, but in 1877 the lodge built a hall of its own. Tt has been reasonably prosperous thi-oughout its cai'ccr. Tn 1913 it reported to the grand lodge a membership of 102 and property valued at !)<2,900. F. P. Bemendorfer was then noble grand and S. See was secretary. During the year the sum of $168 was expended in relief work among the members. Regular meetings arc licld on Saturday evening of each week.

Deedsville Lodge, No. 650, is one of the young Odd Fellows' lodges of the county. It is a strong, prospei-ous organization, however, and in 1913 reported a meml)ersliip of sixty-five, ])ropei'ty valued at $2,560, and during the year had paid for relief the sum of $196.50. Grant Brown was tlieii iiolile grand and J. F. Leedy was secretary.

The youngest lodge in the county is located at Amboy and is designated as Amlwy Lodge, No. 664. It is also one of the strongest lodges in the county, having a membership of 105, property valued at $12,610, and expended for relief during the year ending on June 30, 1913, the sum of $128. In the last grand lodge rejjort appears the name of B. A. Kelly as noble grand, and C. B. French, secretary.

Peru Encampment, No. 58, was organized in connection with ^liarai Lodge, and Eureka Encampmeiit, No. 187, in connection with Peru Lodge. Encampments are also located at Converse and Denver. Peru Canton, No. 20, an organization known as the Patriarchs Militant, or uniformed rank of Odd Fellowship, was organized at Peru in August, 1886, with twenty-six charter members and W. K. Armstrong as captain.

The Daughters of Rebekah, composed of Odd Fellows and their wives, mothers and sisters, is represented in connection with the lodges at Amboy, Bunker Hill, Converse, Deedsville, Macy, Mexico and both the Peru lodges.

On February 15, 1864, Justus H. Ratlibone, William H. and David L. Burnett, Edward S. Kimball and Robert A. Champion, tive clerks in the government departments at "Washington, D, C, met and listened to the reading of a ritual prepared by Mr. Rathbone, founded upon the friendship of Damon and Pythias. Four days later Washington Lodge. No. 1, Knights of Pythias, was organized. For several years the order grew very slowly, owing to the fact that the Civil war was at its - height at the time the first lodge was established. On August 5. 1870, the supreme lodge was incorporated by an act of Congress and from that time the progress of the organization was more satisfactory to its founders. In a few years lodges were organized in practically every section of the Union and every new knight was an active missionary of the order, whose watchword is Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.

There are four Knights of Pythias lodges in Miami, located at Peru, Bunker Hill, Converse and Denver. The statistics concerning these lodges, given below, are taken from the report of the grand lodge of Indiana, which met at Indianapolis on October 7 and 8, 1913, and show the condition of the lodges on June 30, 1913.

Hercules Lodge. Xo. 127. located at Peru, was instituted on August 14, 1885, with eighty-four charter members. The first meeting place was in a hall over the postoffice, wliich was then located at No. 62, South Broadway. Three days after the institution of the lodge a uniform rank was organized with thirty-eight members and Louis N. Andrews as captain. According to the grand lodge report above mentioned Hercules has 241 members, real estate valued at and personal property worth about $1,700. It is the strongest and wealthiest lodge of this order in the county. In 1913 J. E. Haney was chancellor commander and Henry S. Bailey keeper of records and seal. Regular meetings are held on Wednesday' evenings.

Bunker Hill Lodge, No. 299, was instituted on February 24, 1891, with J. H. Neff as chancellor commander and Orlando Finney, keeper of records and seal. Within three months after it was instituted the lodge numbered fifty -five members and now has one hundred and nineteen. Its real estate is valued at $1,000 and its personal property at $1,216, indicating that it is in a prosperous condition. Friday, evening is the time for holding regular meetings. The oflieers for 1913 were J. Frank Sutton, chancellor commander; Fred S. Freeman, keeper of the records and seal.

Lodgi'. showing' only uiic jiu'IiiIht lirliiinl on -liiiii- :!(). IHI:]. Its real estate is valued at $4,500 and its personal property at $1,925, its membership is 240. and it is one of the active, entei-prising organizations of the eounty. K. il. Oshorn was ciianeellor eonnnander ia 1!J13 and Claud MeDaniel. keeper of the records and seal. The lodge meets every Tuesday i^veninfj:.

Denver Lodjie. No. '.il'A. was instituted on ()ctoliei' 28. 1S!)2. It is the youngest and weakest lodge in llie county, altliouirh it is in a irood eondition, having forty-seven nu>niliers in good standing. The lodge owns no real estate, hut its furniture and other pei'soiud proi)erty is valued at $825. Regular meetings are lield on Friday evenings. Charles Gruell was chaneelloi' eonnnander in litl:}, and Charles 0. Derek was keeper of records and seal.

Some years ago a Knights of Pythias lodge was instituted at Maey, hut after n short existence it was disbanded, most of the members affiliating with the lodge at .Akron, F'ulton eounty.

The (irand .\rniy of the Republic is an organization of soldiers who served in the war of 1861-65 and was organized in 1866. For several years the growth of the order was I'ather slow, liut about 1880 it underwent a reorganization and from that time it sjjread rapidly until posts were organized in almost every town in the I'nited States. In the year 1882 five posts were organized in ]\liami connt.v.

"William B. Reyburn Post. No. 56. the only one in the eounty at the close of the year 191:}, received its charter on Api'il 10, 1882, and was instituted in Kumlei''s hall with a charter membership of fiftyseven. The fii-st commander was Louis B. Fulwiler. When the new court house was built a hall was provided for this post on the ground floor, on the west side of the building, where the veterans have a place to meet at all times and en.joy the jirivileges of a club house. The post nundjcrs at the i)reseiit tinu- about one hundred members. For the year 1914 Clark Latta was eonnnander and William F. Gibbons, ad.jutant. W. F. Dal.v, of this post, was at one lime junior department eonnnander foi' the Depai-tment of Indiana. The [lost has i)artiei|)ated in numerous memorial ilay exercises and lias attended soldiers' reunions at various towns.

John S. Summers Post, Xo. 59, was organized at Converse (then Xenia t on Ai)ril 12, 1882, with thirty-eight charter mendiers. Five years later the membershi]) was about si.xty. which was the highest nundier ever enrolled. .After a number of \-ears the post became so

The next post to be organized in Miami county was Josiah Brower Post, No. 66, which was located at Denver. William Trout was the first commander and il. Bappert, adjutant. Brower Post at one time had a membership of about fifty, but as time pa.ssed and the old veterans answered the last roll call the number decreased until meetings were discontinued and the organization was finally disbanded.

Charles Waite Post, No. 71, was located at Macy. It was mustered in with nineteen charter members. F. D. Hart was the first commander and he was succeeded by Abner Waite. Five years after the post was organized the metnbership was over forty. Then dissensions arose and a number withdrew. This checked the growth and prosperity of the post and after a few yeai-s more it passed out of existence.

John M. Wilson Post, 'No. 112, was organized at Bunker Hill on November 1, 1882, and was mustered in with about thirty charter members. Timothy Scott was the first commander and W. W. Robbins officer of the day. This post was named in honor of Colonel John M. Wilson, one of Miami count.v's best known volunteer soldiers and a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil wars. The post continued in existence until about the close of the nineteenth century, when it surrendered its charter.

The Women's Relief Corps, an organization composed of the wives and daughters of the members of the Grand Army of the Republic, was at one time rather strong in the eoiinty, but with the disbanding of the smaller posts the relief corps maintained in connection with these organizations were also discontinued and the only organization of this character ,in the county at the close of the .vear 1913 was the one at Peru, connected with the W. B. Reyburn Post. It is known as the Ladies of the Grand Army.

A few years after the close of the Civil war a few "good fellows" formed the habit of meeting of evenings at a public hou.se in New York, where they could pass a few hours in friendly intercourse. After a time a permanent club was formed and given the name of the '"Jolly Corks." A .young Englishman, Charles S. Vivian, then presented a plan for the formation of a secret order and some one suggested that the name was hardly appropriate for an organization of that character. Consequentl.y a committee was appointed to select a new name. The members of this committee visited Barnum's museum, where they saw a large elk and learned something of the habits of that animal. At the next meeting tlir coniiuitti'i' jn'oposed as a nanie the "Benevolent and Proteetive Ordei- of Elks," which was adopted. The motto of tlie order is "The faults of our hrothers we write upon the sands; their vii'tues upon the tahlets of love and memory."

Peru Lodge, No. 365, Benevolent an<l Protective Order of Elks, was organized in 1897, with IMilton Kraus as the first exalted rulei-. In Felii'uary, 1900, the lodge purchased the Frick property on North Broadway, remodeled the building at a cost of about $10,000, and on September 5, 1900, tlie Elks' Home was dedicated. In 1912-13 more extensive alterations and additions were made. In this building the Peru lodge has one of the best appointed club-houses in the state. The lodge now numbers about three hundred members, among whom are many of the representative business and professional men of the city. The officers for the year 1914, are: J. Ross Woodring, exalted ruler; Ray Adams, leading knight: Clayton ]\IeElwee, loyal kniglit ; Albert Rentz, secretary; C. JM. Charters, treasurer. This lodge was active in relief work at the time of the great flood in March, 1913, and furnished window shades for the Dukes Memorial Hospital. It is the only Elks' lodge in Miami county.

This order is based upon tlie historic incident of the destruction of the tea in Boston harbor .just before the beginning of the Revolutionary war. The patriots who disguised themselves as Indians and threw the tea overboard were the first of the order of "Red Men." After the independence of the United States was established a secret order was founded upon the affair and has become one of the strong fraternal societies of the country. Lodges are called tribes. There are two tribes in Miami county, viz. :

Meshingomesia Tribe, No. 235, was instituted at Peru in 1897, with Charles Lamb as the first sachem and a chart^-r memlifrship of fortyseven. At the close of the year 1913 the tribe numbered about one hundred members, with Dennis Holland, sachem; John Kester, secretai-y, and William Fowinkle, collector.

iI()ngo.sia Tribe, located at Miami, was organized some time after the institution of the tribe at Peru and now has a membership of over two hundred.

Peru Lodge. No. 249. Loyal Order of Jloose. was instituted on April 28, 1910. with more than fifty charter members. The lodge has commodious hall and club rooms on West Third street, between Broadway and I\liami streets, and at the close of the year 1913 numliered over seven hundred members in good standing. S. A. Pond was elected dictator for the year 1914 and Jesse Murden secretary.

Tlie Independent Order of Foresters was founded at Newark. New Jersey in 1874. Court ]Mianii, No. 661, was instituted at Peru on ]\Iarch 3, 1892, with twenty charter members and George W. ^liller as high chief ranger. Companion Court Olive. No. 26, composed of the wives and daughters of members, was organized on August 12, 1897. with Maggie Kenworthy as chief ranger.

Other lodges in Peru are Aldebaran Court, No. 16, Tribe of Ben Hur; Mississinewa Council. No. 462. Royal Arcanum: Bee Hive Tent. No. 8, Knights of the Maccabees : Peru Hive. No. 33. Ladies of the ;\laccabees; the Pathfinders, No. 21. and the Order of the World. The Knights of the Maccabees also have a lodge at Bunker Hill. The Kniglits of Honor, the Independent Order of Good Templars, the Order of Equity and the Sons of Veterans once had organizations in the county, but the writer has beeu unable to learn anything of their history. While the Sons of Veterans' camp was in existence a state encampment of tile order was held in Peru.

A division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized at Peru in the latter '80s, with John Coyle, county delegate ; G. B. McEvoy. president ; Joseph R.yan, vice-president ; Patrick Burns, financial secretary; Edward M. Lang, recording secretary; Patrick Hassett, treasurer. The division is still in existence with about forty members, and the officers for the year 1914 are Thomas H. McAllister, county delegate; Charles B. Cannon, president; John T. McAllister, secretary; Bernard Brennan, treasurer.

The Knights of Columlius were founded in 1882 by Rev. Michael McGivney, of New Haven, where the national headquarters were established. Catholics eighteen years of age and not engaged in the liquor business are eligible for membership. Local organizations are called councils. Peru Council. No. 718, was instituted on November 30, 1902, by ten members belonging to the councils at Logansport, Kokomo and Fort Wayne. They were Joseph and John Brennan, Peter Kelly, Pliny M. Crume, Charles B. Cannon, Hugh McCaffrey, Patrick H. ilcGreevy,

-Joliii W. O'llara, Thomas J. IMilct and Daniel S. Long. At the beginning of the year 1914 the couneil iiuiiiln'recl 187 members. The officers at tliat time were as follows: Miehael P. Costen, grand knight; William Welsh, deputy grand knight; Dr. Joseph M. Doyle, ehaneellor; C. J. Burke, recorder; Frank Kramer, secretary: Joseph Becker, treasurer. Charles B. Cannon, one of tiie ciiartci- iiiciiilicrs nl' tliis council ii(>\v holds the office of state secretary.

Peru Chapter. Daugliters of the American Revolution, was organized on January 10, 1902, at the home of Mrs. George Kenny, 77 East Second street. The charter mend)ers were ilesdames George Kenny, J. J. Skiiuier, S. F. Porter, John H. Ream. Welthea Grume, Alpheus Kling, Walter Nisbet, and Misses Jessie, Marie and Pearl Cox, and Florence Ilenton. Jlemhership in this society is restricted to women whose ancestors served in the Continental army in the war for American independence or otherwise rendered service to the Colonies. The objects of the organization are to collect and preserve documents and other historic relics relating to the Revolutionary period, and to mark with suitable monuments or tablets such places as have been the scene of historic events. The Peru Chapter is the only one in .Mijinii county.

About the beginning of the present century a movement was starteil in Peru for tlie organization of a brancii of the Young Men's Christian As.sociation. State Secretary Stacy gave; all tiic encouragement possible to the undertaking, the Wabash Railroad Company agreed to contribute a substantial sum toward the erection of a building, and in JMarch, 1901, arrangements were practically completed for a building to cost $10,000. Some delay was experienced in raising the necessary funds, but in March, 1902, tile railroad men reported that they had raised the .-tsl.SOO assigned to them; the Wabash Company gave $6,000; Helen Gould, $3,500, and the citizens of Peru contributed -$r),70(i. making a total of $17,000. The lot at the southeast corner of Eighth street and Broadway was purchased for a site and handsome building erected thereon. It is ecjuipped with a large reading room, billiard room, bowling alley, tub and shower liaths, sixteen beds and has a library of about three thousand volumes. The Wabash Railroad Company contributes $100 per month and the Chesapeake & Ohio $25 per nuinlli for the association's support. When first established the association was intended as a railroad men's organization, but after two or three years the privilege of becoming members was extended to others. The association now numbers about three hundred and fifty members with C. Y. Andrews as president; A. S. Mead, vice-president ; W. B. Baker, recording seeretarj' ; John W. Hogue, gen-

Thirty years ago or more a Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Peru, but it did not live long. During its brief existence it occupied a room on East Main street, between Court and Wabash streets. Charles L. Reyburn was one of its most active members.

Statistical Review

Increase in Population and Wealth - CuiKJNoiiOGY - Events Leading UP TO the Organization op and Connected with the History OF the County - Official Roster - A Complete List of County Officers from 1834 to 1914.

On January 2, li)14, exactly ciglity years had elapsed since the passage of the act of the Indiana legislature providing for the organization of ]Miami county. Figures are not always interesting reading, as they are neither romantic nor i)oetical, though they often tell the story of a eoiuitry's progress better tlian any thing else. So it is to figures the historian must look for a true account of the development of Miami county. ;\lost of the early records were destroyed in the burning of the county courthouse on March, 16, 1843, so that the actual statistics for the first few years of the county's liistory cainiot ])e ol)tained. It is a matter of record, however, that at the first election for county officers in .August, 1834. only sixty votes were cast, and it is probable that the entire population of the county at that time did not greatly exceed one thousand persons. From the United States census it may l)e seen that the population has gradually increased from the first organization of the county to 1910. Although a few townshii)S show a decrease in po])ulation since the year 1890, the county at large, the city of Peru and a majority of the townships have gone steadily forward. The first census taken by the United States after the erection of the county was in 1840. Since that time the increase in population has been as follows :

The increase in wealth has fully kept pace with the growth of population. The earliest figures available on this subject are those of 1841, when the value of taxable property in the county was $401,350. In 1844, ten years after the organization of the county, this value had increased to $668,745, but it did not pa.ss the million dollar mark until about 1852. The tax duplicate for the year 1913 shows the value of taxable property to have been at that time nearly $17,500,000, which was distributed among the various townships and corporations as follows:

In 1841 there were in the county five hundred and fifty-nine persons who paid poll tax and in 1913 the number of polls were three thousand six hundred and forty-nine.

The organization of a county is the outgrowth of a chain of circumstances that sometimes has its beginning many years before and at some point far distant from the county itself. Following is a list of the principal occurrences that had an influence in shaping the events that led up to the organization of Miami county. In some instances tliese occurrences may seem somewhat remote from tiie direct or actual history of the county, yet each one formed a link in the chain.

November 2, 1778, Frances Sloeum taken from her home in Pennsylvania by Delaware Indians and carried into captivity. In this j^ear George Rogers Clark conquered the British posts in Illinois and Indiana and by this conquest the boundary of the United States was fixed at the ilississippi river five years later.

August 20, 1794, Indians defeated by General Anthony Wayne at the battle of Fallen Timbers, tluis paving the way for the acquisition of Indian lands in Indiana.

December 18, 1812, Battle of the Mississinewa ; some of the Indian villages in what is now I\Iiami couiity burned by the forces under Colonel Campbell.

October 6, 1818, Treaty of St. IMary's by which the Miami Indians cede to the United States their lands in Indiana south of the Wabasli river, except the "Big Reserve."

October 16, 1826, Pottawatomi Indians cede to the United States all their claims to certain lands north of the Wabash river. Ten days later the ^liamis relin(|uish their claims to the same lands. These treaties were concluded at the mouth of the ilississinewa river.

June 16, 1846, Captain John M. Wilson's company reported at New Albany for service in the war with Mexico. In the fall of this year the Miami Indians removed to their new reservation in Kansas.

Febi-uary 25, 1867, Peni incorporated as a city. The Pan Handle Railroad was conii)leted through the southern part of the county in this year.

Deeeml)er 29. 1!)01. first passenger train arrived at Pern over the Cincinnati, Richmond & Jluncie (now the Chesapeake & Oiiio) Railroad. In this year Broadway was paved with brick - the first paved street in the city of Peru.

December 5, 1904, James N. Tyner, a iliami county man who served as postmaster-general for a short time during the administration of President Grant, died in Washington, D. C.

Below is given a list of jjcrsons who have held office in llie county of Miami, with the year in which each was elected or entered upon the duties of his otifice. This list is as complete as it is possible to coiii|)ile from the records. Where a lunnber of yeans are indicated as having clasped between the election of one man and that of his successor it shows a reelection of the first named officer, as in the ease of Charles K. Hughes, who was twice elected clerk and served from 1894 to 1902. In order to understand such evidences of reelection it is well for the reader to remember that clerks, auditors and recorders are elected for terms of four yeai-s ; treasurers, sheriffs, coi-oners and sui-vevors for two years ; representatives to the state legislature for two years and senatoi-s for four years.

Clerks - Benjamin H. Soott, 1834; James B. Fulwiler. 1S4S : Alexander Blake, 1855; Darius C. Darrow, 1862; John A. Graham, 1866; Jesse S. Zern, 1870; Charles A. Parsons, 1878; Joseph H. Larimer, 1886; Charles R. Hughes, 1894; William H. Augur, 1902; Aaron S. Berger, 1910. Benjamin H. Scott, the first county clerk, also discharged the duties of county auditor until 1841 and those of county recorder until 1848.

Auditors - James M. Defrees, 1841 ; Ira Mendenhall, 1851 ; Elam Henton. 1855: Thomas Jay, 1859 (died before the expiration of his term and Franklin T. Foote appointed to the vacancy in 1862) ; Elam Henton, 1862 (died in office) ; Charles Peffermau, 1864 (resigned) ; Milo D. Ellis. 1865: Louis B. Fulwiler. 1870; R. B. Runyon. 1878; William B. Miller, 1886; Thomas G. Stewart, 1890; Michael Bappert, 1894; Clarkson W. Macy, 1898; Charles Griswold, 1906; Frank K. McElheny, 1910.

Sheriffs - John McGregor (appointed Ju)ie 4. 18:^4. and served until August of the same year) ; Jacob Linzee, 1834; A. Leonard. 1838 (died in office and Louis D. Adkinson appointed for the unexpired term) ; John A. Graham, 1840; Noah S. Allsbaugh, 1844; Coleman Henton, 1846; Jonas Hoover, 1850 (reelected in 1852, but resigned before the close of his second term and Hiram iloore appointed to the vacancy) ; John Wertz, 1854; Joseph Hiner, 1856 (resigned and John F. Miller appointed); Oliver H. P. Macy, 1858; Wesley Wallick, I860; Oliver H. P. Macy, 1862; Wesley Wallick, 1864: Samuel Ream, 1868: Willard Griswold, 1872; Vincent 0 'Donald, 1876; A. J. Parks, 1880; Edward T. Gray, 1884; James B. Rhineberger, 1888: Thomas McKinstry, 1892; James J. Dunn, 1896; Abraliam Shilling, 1900; Frank Skinner. 1902; John L. York, 1904; John W. Volpert, 1906; Frank Hostetler, 1910 (reelected in 1912).

Commissioners - First District: John Crudson, 1834; William M. Reyburn. 1835; Zaehariah W. Pendleton, 1838; Daniel R. Bearss, 1840; John Hiner. 1841; George Wilson. 1844; George C. Smith, 1847; Samuel Jameson. 1850; David A. Carr, 1853; Cornelius Cain and Enos B. Massey. 1854; Nathaniel D. Nicoles. 1856; John Ilaiin, 1861; Thomas Dillaid. 1864; William Zehring. 1867; Joseph B. Mills. 1873; Stephen Cranor. 1876; I). II. Cain, 1880; George S. Evans. 1882; (reelected and died before the expiration of his .second term, Daniel Duckwall being appointed to the vacancy); Jesse W. Kiiox, 1888; David Stilt, 1894; Je-sse W. Miller, 1896; Moses Heusler, 1900; Alfred Ramsey, 1904; Thomas M. Busby, 19(J6; David T. Kessler, 1912.

Senators - At different periods Miami county has been attached to some of the adjoining counties to form a senatorial district. From the organization of the county to 1847 it formed part of district composed of the counties of Cass, Miami and F'ulton; then until 1860 the district consisted of the counties of Miami and Wabash; from 1860 to 1864 Miami and Fulton counties constituted the district ; it was then composed of Miami and Wabash until 1874, when Miami and Howard were joined for senatorial purposes. Consequently, in the list of senators are the names of a number of persons who were not residents of iliann county, but who represented it in the upper house of the legislature by virtue of its forming part of the district in which such senator lived.

Representatives - Miami and Cass counties formed a reiiresentative district in 1834-35; then Miami and Fultnn to 1842; then Miami and Wabash to 1846; the coinity then constituted a representative district by itself until 1874, when it was also given a joint representative with Howard county; from 1880 to 1886 Miami had one representative; then a district was formed of Miami and Cass counties. In the following list, where two representatives are mentioned as having been elected in the same year, the first is Miami county's representative and the .second is the joint representative from the district.

ander Wilson, 1838; William .M. Reyburii, 1840; Daniel R. Bearss, 1841; Gabriel Swihart, 1842; Daniel R. Bearss, 1843; John U. Pettit, 1844; Benjamin Henton, 1845; George W. Holman, 1846; Alphonzo A. Cole, 1847; Nathan O. Ross, 1848; Alphonzo A. Cole, 1849; Richard F. Donaldson, 1850; Benjamin Ilentoii. 1852; Nelsuii \V. Diekerson, 1854; Reuben C. Harrison, 1856; WMlIiam Smith, 1858; Riehard F. Donaldson, 1862; Jonas Hoover, 1864; Nathan 0. Ross, 186G; Jonathan 1). Cox, 1868; J. W. Eward, 1872; David Charters and Samuel Woody, 1874; William Zehring and W. H. Thompson, 1876 ; A. C. Bearss and G. I. Reed, 1878; Charles A. Cole, 1880; Nott N. Antrim, 1882; H. V. Passage, 1884; Jabez T. Cox and Charles T. Cox, 1886; W. W. Robbins and Charles T. Cox, 1888 ; W. W. Robbins and W. W. Kilgore, 1890 ; H. V. Passage and John M. Blair, 1892; Tniman Grimes and James M. Stutesman, 1894; David Ilaifly and Peter Wallrath, 1896; John Cunningham and Orlando A. Somers, 1898; Henry V. Passage and Lewis S. Conner, 1900 (the district now composed of the counties of Grant, Miami, Howard, Wabash and Huntington) ; Frank W. Bearss and Lewis S. Conner, 1902; Ethan T. Reasoner and Henry M. Haag, 1904; Burton Green and James J. Moss, 1906; Ira A. Kessler and James P. Davis, 1908; William A. Hammond and William A. Brening, 1910; Jacob A. Cunningham and James P. Davis, 1912.

Prior to 1850 representatives were elected annually, but since the adoption of the present state constitution they have been elected biennally. Benjamin Henton was the first man to I'epresent Miami county in the lower branch of the general assembly under the present constitution.

County Assessors - The otifice of county asscs,sor is a comparatively new one in Jliami county had been hehl by only two men u]) to the beginning of the year 1914. Henrj- B. Sams was elected county assessor in 1896; was reelected in 1900 and hehl the ])osi1i()ri until 1906, when he was succeeded liy George W. Miller, who was reelected in 1910.

County Council - The county council was created by act of the legislature of 1899 as a body to have supervision over the appropriations and expenditures of the board of county commissionei's. In Miami county the council consists of seven memliei's. thi-ee of whom arc eli'ctcd from the county at large and one from each of lour districts. Tiie first council, whicli was elected in lOOD, consisted of Sanniel W. Ream, Alfred Zehring and Oliver Ariuantrout, councilmcn at large; David T. Kessler, first district; John Isler. second district; William Shellhamer, third district; Richard W. Butt. foui-th district.

The council elected in 1906 was composed of Lewis Bond, Albert A. Campbell and Britton L. Runyan. members at large; W. N. Albright, first district ; Jonathan Isler, second district ; Philip V. Graft, third district ; Hezekiah Tombaugh, fourth district.

In 1910 John C. Davis, Joseph S. Boswell and Wilson M. Garland were elected couneilmen at large; A. A. Miller, first district; Jacob A. Cunningham, second district; Jacob Theobald, third district; Lewis Bond, fourth district.

In every community or country where public otifieials are chosen by the people, it sometimes happens that men are elected to positions of trust and responsibility more on account of their influence with the voters than for their capability and integrity. It is not surprising that officials of this character occasionally proved to be guilty of malfeasance in office, or when they retire the affairs of the office are found to be in a shape that furnishes conclusive evidence of their incompetency. Fortunately for the interests of the people of Miami county such instances in the management of her affairs have been extremely rare. The men who have been elected to public positions have not been lacking in political finesse and acumer but practically all of them have discharged their duties in a manner to reflect credit upon themselves and with satisfaction to the public. A glance at the above list of the men who have conducted the public business of the county throughoiat its entire history will disclose the names of many who are remembered as men of sound judgment and unimpeachable integrity, who in the exercise of their official functions used the same careful and conscientious methods that marked them as successful men iu their private business enterprises. To win enough friends to be elected to public office is well, but to retain those friends after the office is relinquished is better. And few, indeed, are they who have administered any of the affairs of Miami county that have forfeited any of the esteem and confidence of their fellow citizens.''