Porter County, Indiana - Chapter 9: The City Op Valparaiso, 1912

Chapter 9: The City Op Valparaiso

BUSINESS ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED AS A TOWN POWERS CONFERRED ON THE TOWN GOVERNMENT MAIL AND STAGE ROUTES INCORPORATED AS A CITY' IN 1865 EXCITEMENT OVER PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S

Some natural feature, such as a waterfall, the power of whicli oan be utilized for manufacturing purposes, the head of navigation on a large river, a rich mineral deposit, or a safe harbor ou the coast of a laie or the sea, frequently determines the location of a city. Soiiift cities have their beginnings in the small settlement that gi-ows up around a military post. Others have been called into existence by legislative enactment, and still others have originated in the minds of j)romoters or speculators. Valparaiso belongs to the last naineil class. When Porter county was formed, it was with the understandin;: ih;i( all the territory lying between the central line of range 7, west, and liic western boundary of the state should soon be erected into a scjiaialc county. A few men of sagacity and foresight, b ;lieving that the commissioners appointed to locate a county seat would be inclined to seek such location near the center of the comity as it would ultimately be, conceived the idea of laying off a town at or near that point. Accordingly, the Portersville Land Company was organized soon after the act erecting the county was passed by the legislature of Indiana. It was composed of J. F. D. Lanier, Benjamin and Enoch McCarty, John and "William Walker, John Saylor, Abraham A. Hall and James Laughlin, aU residents of the county except Jlr. Lanier, who lived at Madison, Indiana. Benjamin McCarty was the o^\'ner of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 35, range 6, which tract was selected for the 'site of Portersville. This particular quarter section lies on high ground, giving it a good natural location for a town, and it had the further advantage of being on the road running from Laporte to Joliet at the point where the road to Chicago branch off. It is also near the center of the county. The county seat commissioners made their report on June 9, 1836, designating the site for the court-house on this quarter section ; the plat of Portersville M'as completed on July 7, and duly recorded on October 31, 1836.

In the meantime William K. Talbott had laid out a town on his farm, about a mile and a half northwest of Valparaiso on the Chicago road, and riot far from where the old Catholic cemetery was afterward located. This town he named Porterville, the only difference between that and the east town being the letter "s" in the latter, giving it the possessive form. Two other sites were also brought before the commissioners for their consideration - one in Washington township, where the town of Prattville was afterward laid out, and the other at Flint Lake. In the last some Indianapolis capitalists were interested. The Portersville Land Company, having the advantage in location and offering the most liberal inducements, secured the county seat, and in tliis way the city of Valparaiso had its birth in the schemes of a body of speculators. There is no charge that the members of the Portersville Land Company used any underhand methods, or any imdue influence, witli tlie connnis- sioaers to '<!!cure a fav )rable decision. It is said liiat they did not even tj'eat the "imTnissionen to drinks or cigars, or invite them to dinner. indii-f-ments offeri^d were wholly in the interests of the county, being the donation of one entire block for the court-honse site and the gift of ninety-six lots, with a further donation of some $1,200 for the erection of public buildings.

The orip;inp,l plat of Portcrsville included all that part of the present city of Valparaiso bounded by Erie, Morgan, Water and Napoleon streets and one tier of lots fronting east and west north of Erie street. These ten lots comprised the fractional blocks from No. 1 to No. 5, inclusive. Between Erie and Chicago streets lay the five blocks numbered 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and south of Chicago street were the blocks numbered from 11 to 35, inelnsi\e, block No. 23 being the square reserved for the court-house. Bach block was divided into eight lots. No lots north of Chicago street were given to the county liy the PortersviUe Land Company, but south of that street the lots numbered 2, 4, 6 and 8 in eacli block were deeded to Samuel dinger, as the agent of Porter count,/ to receive the same, by Benjamin McCarty, who liad been given power of- attorney by the other members of the land company, this deed bearing the date of July 25, 1836. The power of attorney, which was given to Benjamin McCarty on June 14, 1836, empowered him "to grant,' sell, alien and convey any part or parts of- said quarter section (the northwest quarter of section 24, township 35, range 5) of land and deeds make for the same, the said lots or parcels of land to Be sold by our said attorney, McCarty, in as full and ample a manner as though we held no title. Bond or claim upon the same, and he was full and absolute owner of the samg at such prices & upon such terms as he may think fit, ' ' .etc.

The north and south sti-eets iu the original to^vn of Portei-sville, beginning at the east side, are Morgan, Michigan, Franklin, Washington, Lafayette and Napoleon. The east and west streets, beginning on the north are Erie, Chicago, Jefferson, Main, Mechanic (now Indiana avenue), Monroe and Water (now Lincoln avenue). Several additions have been made to the city since the original plat was filed iu the recorder's office in 1836. The first of these were Haas' and Pierce's additions, plats of which were recorded iu April, 1854. West Valparaiso was added about a mouth later. It is bounded on the cast by the outlots 18 and 19; on the north by Third street; on the soulh by First street and the Joliet road, being triangular iu shape. East of the old town site of Portersvillo is "Woodhull's addition, extending fi-om the northern boundary of the old plat to Union street, and from the east line of the outlets to East street, containing thirty-six blocks. The plat of this addition was recorded on April 5, 1856. Soutli of Woodhull's addition, is Smith's addition, which extends to the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, and includes the site of the Valparaiso University. It was laid out about three years after Woodhull's, the plat being recorded on Jidy 18, 1859. On May 9, 1859, was filed the plat of North Valparaiso, including ten blocks of fractional blocks, extending from the original survey northward to Elm street and from Calumet avenue on the \vest to Valparaiso street on tlic east. West of this lies Powell's addition, which was added to the city on July 28, 1860. It is bounded by the old survey on the south; Calumet avenue on the east; the south line of the fair grounds on the north, and Campbell street on the west. The Institute addition, three blocks north of the Joliet road and west of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, was made to the city in March, 1864. West of Campbell street are Southwest Valparaiso, which M'as added in Novenil)er, 1864, Chaiitauqua Park, Campbell's subdivision and Emmetlslmrg. An addition of twenty-eight blocks was made to North Valparaiso in ^lay, 1869. The Council addition, on the east, south and southwest sides of the city, was made in 1883. On the east side this addilion includes Suman's, Church's, Pinney's, Bradley's and Banta's subdivisions and Brown's outlots, while on the south and southwest it is divided into large lots, suitable for factory sites, etc. With these various additions the city limits have been extended until the city of Valparaiso now embraces the east half and the northwest quarter of section 23, all of section 24, the north half of section 25, the northeast (luartor and the cast half of the northwest quarter of section 2G, all in lowuship 3r>. range 6, making a total area of two and a half square miles A\dthin t!i; present corporate boundaries.

Hubert M. Skinner's History of \^alparaiso, published in 1^70, says on page 9; "Among the early immigrants of '34 Avas a Mr. J. P. Ballard, who erected the first building upon the site of our city. It was in the valley by the stream which flows beneath the ilorgaii street bridge, that this first cabin rose, and in the grounds which are now attached to Judge Talcott's residence on Water street. The ImiUliiu' was a rude log cabin, but its location rendered it a pleasant home, and the events which transpired beneath its humble roof have attached in it a historic interest."

It was in this cabin of Ballard's that the county commissioners of Porter county lield their first session in April, 1836, and their second session was also held there the following month. Immediately after the commissioners appointed by the legislature to locate the county seat had rendered their decision in favor of Portersville, speculation in to« u lots commenced, those fronting upon the public square being in greatest demand. The first building in this part of the tovai was a rough boiid structure erected by Cyrus Spurlock - the first county recorder - on the soiAhwest corner of Main and Washington streets, where the Academy Block now stands. A little later Jolm Saylor erected a liuilding on the north side of Main street, just east of the alley and fronting the public square. On August 22, 1836, Cornelius Blachly bought the lot just across the alley from Saylor's aiid put up a building, and abor.i: the same time Dr. Seneca Ball erected a small store building on Mniii street at the northeast corner of the public square. ' Opposite Ball's and a little farther east was the store oC Jeremiah Hamell, which Axas also established in the summer of 1836. William Eaton purchased the second lot west of Fraiiklin street and fronting south on Monioe -where he erected a' one-story frame budding of tMO rooms. A small building was erected onthe northeast corner of Main and Washiugt e streets and first used for a chair- making fOiop. Subsequentl,' it was transferred to Robert Stotts, who used it as a carpenter shop, and who Avas one of the first, if not th^ first, regnlm- carpenters in Hie town. East of the public square, oi! Hi south si i of ]\Iain street William Walker began the erection oC 'urge biiildiiis, intended for a hotel, but before it was completed he sold the place to Solomon Cheney and John Herr, who finished it and opened a tavern. Later in the year Abraham Hall built the Valparaiso House at the southeast corner of Main and Franklin streets. Some authorities sa.y this hotel was known as the American Eiigle House, and that it was not opened until in 1839, but from the best evidence obtainable it was built in 18.36.

A postoffice was established at Portersville early in the town's history and Benjamin McCart- was appointed tlie first postmnster. He held to office iintil 1839, when sonje dissatisfadioji arose because he was not a resident of the village Jiiid T. A. B. Campbell was appointed in his place. In 1837 the court-lionse was built on the west side of Washington street, opposite the public square, and the postoffice was kept for some time in one of the rooms on the first iloor. Later it was removed to the house of G. W. Salisbury on the sonth side of the square, Mr. Salisbury being postmaster during the adurinistrations of Harrison and Tyler. Ampng others who served as postmaster at different times may be mentioned Joseph Lomax, John Dunning, S. K. Bryant, IM. A. Salisbury, J. F. McCarthy, Col. I. C. B. Suman and Melvin J. Stinchfield, the present incumbent. From the- small bep;inning three-quarters of a century ago the Valparaiso postoffice has grown to an office of the second class, with annual recc!i)ts of more than $32,000. In 1903 the office was located in Col. George S. Haste's building on Franklin street, where it has since remained. Thirteen men ai-e employed in handling the city mail, and Mu-re are eiglit rural i'o\itcs IVom Valparaiso which supply daily mail to a large part of the county. For the fiscal year ending on June 3'\ 1912, tlte office issued money orders amounting to .'|i85,033.14,and dni-ing the same period i)iiiil money orders amonnting to $140,607.17.

In the winter of 18.J7 a part.v of marines and sailors from the South Pacific ocean stopped one night at Hall's tavern, where they were visited by a number of the citizens of the town. True to the sailor's instinct, these men loved "to spin a yarn," and until a late hour they regaled the townsmen with tales of the old Chilean seaport of Valparaiso and other South Pacific ports. Finallj^ one of them suggested that as the coimty was named in honor of Commodore David Porter, whose famous battle while in command of the Essex was fought near the port of Valparaiso, Chile, it would be appropriate to name the county seat after that town. The suggestion was accepted and the name changed accordingly. The word Valparaiso is of - Spanish origin, signifying "Vale of Paradise." In one sense it is a misnomer as applied to the county seat of Porter county, for the city lacks a long way of being locatecj in a "vale." Instead it stands upon the crest of the moraine that divides the basin of the Great Lakes from the valley of the Kankakee. However, the name is appropriate in other respects, the neat homes surrounded by well kej^t lawns, the broad, shady streets, the general air of cleanliness and prosperity, all combine to give the visitor a glimpse of "Paradise." Hubert M. Skinner, who was born in Porter county, pays a tribute to the name and city in verse, as follows :

In 183!) three brothers, George C, Andrew J. and 11. M. Buel started a blacksmith and \vagon shop on Washin<;ton street, a short distance south of where the Academy Block now stands. This was the first establishment of the kind in Valpai'aiso, bnt it ^\as soon folloAved by another, which was located on Main sli'eet, and eojidneted by Jacob Brewer & Bros. The first brickyard was started by ,Tohn Savior, near the northeast corner of the old to\vn of Porlersville. on outlet No. 1. Among the first lawj^ers were J. S. ]\Iasters, liarlowc S. Orton, Samuel I. Anthony and George W. Turner. Dr. Sencea Ball was probably the first physician, though Dr. Miller Blachly, was one of the pioneers of , the town. Dr. Salisbury, Dr. Robbins and Dr. Kersey were also early settlers. In 1845 Elizabeth Harrison came from Tennessee and built a hotel on "West Main street, on the site later occupied by the Central House. Four years later the building was enlartrcd, and in 1855 A. R. Gould, formerly proprietor of the American Ea!.ile House, became the landlord. He continued to conduct the hotel as tlie Gould House until his death, after which the business was continued by his A\'idow until the bxiildiug was torn down in 1880. The following year the Centi-al House (now the Hotel Spindler) was erected upon the same site at the southeast corner of Main and Lafayette streets, one scjuare west of the court-house.

In 1850 the United States census showed a population of 520 in the town of Valparaiso, and an agit^ition was started in favor of incorporation. Accordingly, a sj^ecial act of the state legislature w^as approved by the governor on February !-". 1851, authorizing the ineoi-poration of Valparaiso. Section 1 of that act provided "That the president and trustees under the provisions of this act, shall lie, and the same are hereby declared to be a bodj' politic and coriioialc, by the name and style of 'the President and Trustees of (he Town of A'aljiaraiso;' and by that name and stylo shall be able and capabk' in law and equity, to sue and i.. be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defi nd and be defended, in any court of competent jurisdiction; to iiiakc, hko and have a common seal, and the same to break, alter and reiu\> at pleasure, to ordain, estalilish, and put in execution, such by-liiws ml rules as they shall deem inoper and necessary for thegood govenii!;i !U of said town, subject to the restrictions and limitations hereafter jum vided, and not inconsistent mth the laws and constitution of tliis State."

Section 2 pi-ovided for tlie election of one president and five trusi'.'v.s, one marshal and one lister, on the iirst Monday in March, 1851, and annualljr thereafter. 0. Dunham and Samuel S. Skinner were ni.nicd as inspectors of the first election. The president and trustees wci constitute the common council; the marshal was to collect the taxes levied by the council, and to "obey all orders of the connnon coun -il. and perform all other duties that may, from time to time, by ordiuau'f or otherwise, be enjoined upon him by the common council." It \var, made the duty of the lister, "during the months of April and May of each year, to make a fair list, in alphabetical order, of all persons s)ibject to a poll tax, and such personal property as the corporation maj' di rect him to list ; also all lots and fractions of lots, particularly noting the number^ the owaier's name, if kno^vn, and whether' resident or uon resident," etc.

As this act formed the basis of the first municipal government oC Valparaiso, it is interesting to "note some of the powers conferred upon the town council by its provisions. After providing for the passage >r ordinances for raising revenue and to guard against ]oss<'S by tivf through the organization of fire companies, tlie council \vas gi\eu jxiwer to restrain and prohibit all de.scriijtious of gaming and fraudulent de vices; to prohibit the sale of spirituous liquors in less quantities than ojh quart, "to be drunk in the store, shop, grocery, house, out-house, gaidi ii or yard, owned or occupied by the pei-sou selling the same, unless licinscil to do SO;" to regulate or pi'ohibit the exhibitions of common showni'ii to prevent and punish ary riot, naise, dislni''';mce ov disorderly assemblages; to repress and restrain disorderly houses, to compel the owner or occupant of any grocery, cellar, tallow I'luuidler's sliop, soap I'actory, tannery, stable, barn, or otherAvise unwlmlroinc or ii;iuseous house or place, to cleanse, remove or abate the siiiuc from tin" to time, as often as may be necessary for the health, comfort and convi iiience of the inhabitants of the town; to restrain, regulate, or prohibit Uw, running at large of horses, cattle, mules, hogs, sheep, goats and geese, and to prevent the running at large of dogs; to prohibit the rolling of hoops, playing at ball, flying kites, firing squibs, crackers, rockets or toi-pi does, or any other amusement or practice having a tendenej' to annoy pei-sons passing the sti'eets of said town, or to frighten teams and hov;,ts within the same;" to compel the owner or occupant of aii\' lot or jiuildiug to keep snow, ice or dirt from the sidewalk in front of the premises; to prevent the ringing of bells, blowing of horiis and bugks, and er^ n off of goods or other things within the town limits; to determine tli. manner and place of selling hay, wood and certain other commoditi , to regulate public pumps, cisterns and reservoirs, and to prevent ti.. unnecessary waste of water, and to regulate the burial of the dead.

The town government., administered by the presidcnl ;iud boai'd of five trustees, continued in force until the incorporation of Valparaiso as a city in 1865. As provided in the act of incorporation, eouneilmen were elected annually. As no town hall had been erected, most of the meetings of the council were held in ,the county recorder s office. During the fourteen years that this form of munieii)al government was in existence, no business of great importance was trans-ni ted, no large undei-takings involving any considerable expenditui-e of the town's funds were inaugurated. Consequently, when tlie old council went out, it turned over to the new city government a municipality li ee from debt.

At the time Valparaiso was incorporated as a tow. in 1851, the transportation facilities were wofully deficient. ]\Iai! routes had been established from Laporte to Joliet and from ]\Iicliiga)i ( 'i\y to Peoria in 1837, but it was not until July, 1853, that a stase route was esit/- VI ' tahlislied lictwcen Laporte and Viilj ii liso. The stages left Laporte at fno o'clock ill the momiug and ai'ji\iil at Valparaiso about ten. Retui-ning they left Valpaiaiso at one o "inck in the afternoon and arrived at Laporte about 6:30 iu the evein.ij^. At AVcstvilJe the stages connected with 1lie "cars running bel\\<' u Michigan City and Lafayette." The fare IVoju Valparaiso to Laporte -as one dollar, and to "Westville, fifty cents. Samuel Burns was the pi i.jirietor of the stage line.

In June, 1854, James C. Maxwell, proprietor of the Tremont House in Valparaiso, advertised that "An omnibus runs daily from here to connect with the cars on the ]\Iie!ii;;im Central and the JVIichigan Southern & Northern Indiana railroads." This omnibus ran from Valparaiso tn Calumet, {now Chestral. n ), Imt tlie fare charged carmot be learned. About the same time Mol))ii\' Carr began running a stage line from Valparaiso to Calumet, leaving Valparaiso at two o'clock in the afternoon and returning tin' same eventirr The fare on this line was sev enty-five cents and the stages ran daiiy except Sunday. Job D. Bonnell announced in March, 185.j. !hat "ha^-Jli{-' a eonti-act for carrying the mail froni Crown Point and back, I will run a two-liorse carriage for the accomodation of passengers." Bonnell s mail hacks left Crown Point at six o'clock iu the morning on Tucsdiiys, Thursdays and Saturday's, arrived at Valparaiso in time to make eomiection with Laporte and Calumet stages, and returned the same day. The completion of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago r-ih'oad in 1858 put these stage lines out of business and gave the town <iii impetus that led to its incorporation as a city in 18()5.

That year was an eveii''"al one foi ''alparaiso. It marked the close of the great Civil war and the return of the "Boys in Blue," who for four long years had upheld the nation in its struggle to prevent a disruj^lion of the Union. Closely followiii;: (leiicral Ijee's surrender to the victorious armies of Graiji al Appoiiiiiiio v, A'irginia, April 9, 1865, came the news that President Lincoln had l)eeM stricken down by the cowardly Jiaiid of an assassin, A meeting yas oiinicdiatuly cfilled at the courthouse, at which Dr. J. H. Letherma!; ju'csided and Dr. J. P. Heatou

;; 1 d as Hriretary. Resolutions expressing soirow for the tnigie and vmtiniely death of the president were adopted, and a comniiUic appointed to "investigrate charges against certain pei'sous for expressions of approval of the assassination of the president." At an adjoni'ned meeting this comniittee presenlnl tlie following resolutions, Avliidi were unanimously adopted :

"Resolved, That M'e deprecate any act of personal violence against these lueu, or their propertj'', and that we urge all good citizens to use the extent of their intiuence to prevent any breach of peace."

Palniei-, who was a clerk in tlic employ of F. W. Hunt, left the lowni almost inuiiediately after the adoption of the resolution and ret)irned to his home in the East, where he died a year or so later. Mr. Foster remained in Valparaiso, outlived the charges and the ostracism shown hy some of his neighbors, and died a few years ago a respected citizen. It is said that the man M-ho first made the cliarges against Mr. Palmer admitted a short time before his death that the whole story was a fabrication ou his part, invented under the excitement of the times, mei'cly to bring himself into notice. Peeling ran high in those days, and one could not 1>e too guarded with his tongue. A farmer named Woodruff, living a short distance east of Valparaiso, was arrested for treasonable utterances and taken to Laporte, but the judge, after hearing the charge, dismissed him with the admonition to be careful in the future.

According to the United States census of 1860, the population of Valparaiso at that time was l.fiOO. Pive yeare later, with the natural increase in population and the i-etuim of the soldiers from the war, the population was estimated at more than 2,000. Although the legislature of that year passed the general law providing for the incorporation of cities early in the session and adjourned in March, the excitement at tendant upon the close of the war and the assassination of the president was so great that no steps were taken to incorporate Valparaiso until late in the year. In November the city was divided into three wards and au election for city (fficers ordered I'oi- ;\Ionila3', November 27th. All that part "of the muoieipality lyiui; enst oi" Kraiiklin street constitiited the First ward; that portion belwecii l''r;m!din and Lafayette streets constituted the Secoii'i ward, and tin' Thii-d v.nrd embraced all that portion of the city lying west of Lafavftlc s( ictl . At the election Thomas J. Merritield was chosen mayor; John B. iiarsliall, clerk; James ii. Hawkins, treasurer; Isaac Bowman, assessor; A. IT. Goodwin, mai'shal, and J. ]M. Felton, engineer. Dr. George Porter and T. A. Hogan were elected coixncilmen for the First ward; J. 0. Pierce and Obadiah Dunliam, for the Second, and A. W. Kellogg and A. II. Somers, :5or tlie Third.

The fir.st meeting of the council was hold o)i Di'cembcr 2, ISe.T), and four other meetings were held before tlie close of the year. The fiist ordinances were promulgated on Dec^eniber 4tii. Tlie first ordinance was intended for the j>'-omotion of i)nb!ie lum-ality by i")rovidiug heavy penalties for profane swearing, notorious lewducss, the use of vulgar language, vagrancj', gambling, etc. Ordinance No. 2 gave special police powers to everj' citj' official. Other ordinances related to the perfection of the city oi'ganization, the raising of revenues, the improvement of the streets, etc. The term of the first officers exi)ired in May, 1866, when the first regular city election was held. Jlr. Mevi-ifield was reelected mayor and served until 1868, wlieu he was succeeded by Thomas G. Lytle, who served until May, 1872. lie ^^as succeeded by John N. Skinner, who held the office continuousl>- until liis death in the spring of 1882. Thomas 'G. Lytle then again was inaynr until 1886, when A. D. Bartholomew was elected. He held the office until 1888, when Mr. Lytic was again chosen as the chief executive of flic city and served four years. Frank P. Jones was elected in 1892 and was succeeded by Col. I. C. B Suman in 1894. In 1898 A. E. WoodliuU was cbM'tcd mayor and held the office for four yeais, W. F. Spooucr succeeding him in 1902. In 1906 W. H. Williams succeeded ]\Ir. Spooner ;iii,l served tmtil 1910, when Mr. Spooner was agaui elected. His tcr]ii c.\])iies in January,1914.

strong temperance sentimeut in the city. In the ^^-in1er of 1873-74 occurred the "Crusade," in Avhieh the Christinii women visited the saloons and by singinfj; and prayer endeavored 1o diseoui-age tlie sale of intoxicants. In Valpai-aiso the movement reached sueh proportions as to attract the attention of the press thi'oughout llie eouiitiy. There were then eight saloons in the cit}\ Complaint was made to ^Mayor Skinner, who, on February 23, 1874, issued the following proclamation:

"Whereas, For several days last past, large unmhei-s of persons liave been engaged in assembling on and about the premises of citizens pursuing a lawful business, and remaining on said i>reiiiises agninsl the will^ of the owners thereof, and for the avowed purpose of interfering Avith their business ; and

"Wliereas, Many of said persons declare their inlention of persisting in such con.duct. Now, therefore, all such persons so assembling and remaining, are hereby notified that such conduct is ludawful and against the ordinances of the city of Valparaiso, and they are admonished as good citizens to desist fi'om the same, and that it is the duty of the authorities of said city aud of all law-abiding citizens, in the interest of public peace and order, to enforce the said ordinances and disperse such assemblages."

The women engaged in the crusade were not backward in accepting the' gage of battle as presented by the mayor's prochimution. Within a few hours the executive committee of the "Crusaders" formulated the following replj'', which was posted in public places aud distributed about the streets:

"Why do the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The Kings of the Earth set themselves, and the Rulers lalce counsel together against the Lord, and against his Annointed, sayinu - Let us break their bands asunder, and east aw^ay their cords from us. lie that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh.; the Lord shall liaxe lliem in dci'ision. - Psalm 2, 1-4.

To The Public

"In the temperance movement we have undertaken, we have had purpose to violate the laws of the State, or interfere with ihe rii;ht oE any citizen. We have malice in our hearts toward none, bi;t ebiuiiy toward all. We believe we have the right to persuade men to from strong drink, and to plead with the liquor seller to cease froii .ui traffic. Beleiving, too, that God has called us to the liigb duty of sv. oxir fellow-men, we will not cease to pray and labor to this end. - our solemn purpose, Avith love in our hearts to God and ranu, to go ii;;ijt forward in the work we have undertaken, and if the hand of viiil' , be laid upon us, we make our humble and confident appeal to tlu- (.ud whom we sers'c, and to the laws of the State, whose faithful eif i. ii<i we are. " - jMayor Skinner's proclamation had the effect, however, to niak. Mkj women a little more cautious in carrying on their work. In time lli' movement spent its force, and the great temperance crusade is nco a matter ^of history. That much good was accomplished by the.sc hfLuiiwomen cannot be gainsaid. In a few instances saloon kcepci-s ga\c up their business and sought some other line of endeavor, and none wUl ever know how inany yoiing men were persuaded to give up strong dr uiv. In some of the Valparaiso homes may still be seen the mayor's prc" i.. mation and tlie women's manifesto, which have been preserved as Instoric relics of the crusade.

A fire department was estaljlished early in tlie year 1S7G, of four companies, with two engines, a ladder wagon and a Jjoscr i-.m;. It was thoroughly reoi-gauized by the ordinance of January 29, I^^Ss;, and at the pi'csent time Valparaiso has as good a fire department ,i.'. j usually found in cities of its class. The police department was or;janJ,.ivi by the ordiiiauce of January 25, 188-i. The city hall was built iu 1878, on the south side of the public square. In the lower story is kept i)art of the fire-fighting apparatus, and the city offices and council cliamber occupy the upper floor. Just back of the cily hall the city jivis(Jii was erected in 1881.

The first waterworks in Valparaiso were established iu ISGli, tlu' city receiving some financial assistance from the countj'. This system consisted of several cisterns, and was never adequate to the demands nf 1hc city. In the fall of 1882, Joseph Gardner made an estimate 1liat a -waterworks plant, such as the city ought to have, would cost somctliini; like $34,000, exclusive of labor. At that time the citj' was in dclit \ip the constitutional limit, having voted $50,000 iu ten per cent bomls in 1868 to secure the Peninsular (now the Grand Trunk) railroad, and incurred other indebtedness in making municipal impi-ovemeuts. rndnthese conditions it seemed imi^ossible to erect a waterworks iilant. Nevertheless, in February, 1884, (he city council entered into a cuutrarf with J\ricaiali Walker, of Port Huron, Michigan, and Don A. Sal^-er, of X'alparaiso, "to establish, construct and maintain a sj'stem of waterworlis iu the city of Valparaiso." A franchise was granted to the company for fifty years, with the privilege of using the streets and alleys, which were to be restored to their original condition and left free from obstructions. '' It was stipulated in the contract that the water shoal d come from Flint lake, and that the companj' would lay mains enough to supply evei'ybody with water who wanted it. Failure to carry out this provision meant a forfeiture of franchise rights. It was furllior slijui lated that any time after fifteen years from the completion of the waterworks, the city should have the right to purchase the same by giving the owners one year's notice, the value to be fixed by three disinterested hydraulic engineers, etc.

Iiiniicdiately after this action l)y the city council, Joseph Gardner instituted injunction proceedings in the Porter circuit court, setting forth in his complaint that the ujunicipal authorities wei'e about to Id a contract to a waterworks company for supplying the city with wjiti r f<:v a period of twenty yi;a''.s at au anmal expense to tlie municipality o! $6,000; that the ooqxrote imlebteciness exceeds five per centiun of tiie assessed value of ihi taxable property of the city and there is no money in the treasury. "

In answer to this Hi. eity admitted an indebtedness in excess of two per cent of the assessed value of the taxable property, but that the city, \wth a population of ovtr 5,000, had "no facilities iVv extiiiguislniig fires except three cisterns, which are wholly inadequate." The answer also set forth that the animal revenues Avere sufficient to pay all ordinary expenses and the $6,000 \vater rent ; that a sinking fund had been provided for as the law re(;iiirod, and that no money was to be p"^id until after water had been actually furnished. Mr. Gardner's attorneys filed a deuiliiTur to the answer and the lower court sustaiiuid his position. Tlie city then appealed tln' case to the supreme court and in November, 18S4, Chief Justice Elliott handed down an opinion in winch he carefuHv rc\ iewed all the points at issue and eoucluded by sayiuf; : Judgment is revei-sed, with instructions to overrule the demurrer to the answer, and proceed in accordance with this opinion. ' '

Thus supi)orted by the highest legal tribunal in the state, the city council, at a special session held on Monday evening, February 16, 1885, entired into a new contiai't with George P. Smith, of Bay City Michigau; Micaiah Walker, of Port Huron, Michigan; and. Dosi A. Salyer, of

\'"aiiiaraiso, to carry out the provisions oi the franchise granted the year before. A pumping station was built at Flint lake, and in the fall of 188G the water was turned into thr^ mains. Under the terms of the contract, the city liad the right to purchase the plant at any time after fifteen years. The question therefore eaine up in 1899 of giving the company the required notice that the city would buy the watenvorks the next year. A great many people were in favor of municipal ownership, but the indebtedness was so nreat that the city could nti; legally issue bonds for the purchase of the plant. It was then proposed that a company be formed to take over the city's option and op''iate the pla-iL until the revenues derived from the sale of water might be sufficient lo pay for (lie saiuu, wlien it shoiikt be turned over to the city. This question also went thrnugli tlie courts, and it was finally decided that an arrangement of this character could be made. A company Mas then formed - composed of O. P. Kinsiv, John Sieli, ]\I. J. Stinchfield, Stephen Finney and S. C. llilling-s - which bought (lie plant, with tlic understanding that at least $5,000 should be paid annually iipou the purchase price and when clear of all incumbrances it sliould be turned over to the city. As high as $12,000 have been paid in one year uiuler this arrangement, and it is estiuiated that the waterworks will become the property of the city liy 1920, or sooner. The new company has put down several deep wells and established a $16,000 filter. There are about twenty-three miles of main pipe, 137 street hydrants, and the daily consuHi])tiou of water is approximately 1,000,000 gallons.

On September 10, 1879, the city council passed an ordinance giving the gas couijiany a right-of-way through the streets, highways, piiblic gx'ounds, lanes and alleys belonging to the city, on condition that after gas pipes were laid said streets, alleys, etc., should be restored to their original condition. A gas works ^> ,is erected, and for nearly twenty years gas was the chief source of light for the residents of the city. The Messenger of October 6, 1887, said editorially: "Our city council is in\>estigating the matter of lighting the city with electricity. Of coui'se, this move will meet with stern opposition, nevertheless we hope that the council will go right on and thoro\iglily investigate the matter, and, if they find that the city will recive better service for less monej^ than they are now receiving, it is their duty to act and act decidedly. ' '

The editor admitted, however, that no action should be taken that would jeopardize the interests of ]\Ir. Stratton, the owner of the gas plant, and suggested that he slioidel be given an opportunity to o\vn both the gas and electric light franchises. Evidently the investigation of the city council at that time did not result in a favorable opinion, as more than six years were allowed to clai)se before any defijiite action Mas taken. By the ordinance of April 9, ISni. f^dwin S. Tiee, of Chicago, was granted the right to establisli and maintain an electric lighting plant in the city of

Valparaiso. In Seirtember followiug Tice sold bis I'raiiclji.si.- lo l'J::o! C. Noe, also of Chicngo. Charles II. Sweet ultimately bucainu (Ik- pi > -;.-;' s:ov of the franchise and erected the plant. Subsequently be imrcluisrij U^' gas company from Mr. Stratton and consolidated the two as the \'nli.;ii,- raiso Lighting Company, with offices at the corner of I\Iuin and l-al'; \ streets.

Telephone service was introduced into the city under tlie pr.r. i^.io'is of the ordinance of November 4, 1881, which autboi-i/cd the Cliicago Telephone Company to erect poles and maintain an exclianyc in V'aiparaiso. In this instance, as in many others in the state aliout Hii'i i':\v:, it was easier to secui-e a franchise than it was to establish a to] ),i:CM-:; system. An independent company was organized under the gran' ilu: Chicago Companj', and an exchange opened. After a timi' Ibi : < plant passed into the hands of the Bell Telephone Conqiau.w ,i new exchange and office building was erected on North LafMy<.'lte sin. i :i;!'i the system generally overhauled and improved. At the prese]il M:.!' the comjiany has in operation about 1,300 telephones, witli long djswui'.e connections to all parts of the countrj'.

Valparaiso has never achieved a wide reputation as a mannfrntiiiinj^; center. The earliest attempts in that direction were intended iiuirly (o suppl.v articles for local demand and consumption - such a-s \\,ig'.:is, harness, brick, etc. White & Kellogg started a planing null in 18.')8, jud in 1864 Daniel White built a sash, door and blind factory. In iSCf a woolen mill was started in the southwestern part of the city, and ii did a successful business for a number of j'ears. The building is now (iO.'upied by the Chicago ilica Company. A year after the woolen miJl .v;;-..; established the paper mill was built. Korn & Junker erected a lnwvery in the early '70s and in 1873 a branch of the National rin ('(iiiij)aiiy was established at Valparaiso, being the only jjin factory at that tinn \u si of New York. Among the manufacturing establishments at the ]U'C'i i.'; time the most important are the McGill Slanufacturing Coiiii)a)i\, \,]u-',. makes electrical appliances; the Chicago Jlica C/ompany, uKiniil;ii t ., i. ! insulating materials; the Chautauqua IManufacturing (*oiii|Kiiiy, ni.i! . i-.s

Just who preached the first sermon in the town of PorlersNilh' (nt/w Valparaiso) is a matter of some dispute. It is generally lielii'vcd thai. the honor heloiigs to Rev. Aljjheus Freneli, who eouducted religious siivices in the house of William Eaton, on Mechanic street. There is im doubt that JMr. French did preach there, but the date when be did so is not definite. Some authorities say it was in 1838, but when it is kno^^ n that the First Baptist Church was organized in June, 1837, it seems reasonable to presume that some jDreaching had been done befoiT that time. It is claimed by some that Rev. Asahel Neal was the fii-.st minister to ])reach in the town, and that he oi'ganized a Baptist church in Center township as early as IS35 or 183G. In 1912 the churches in the city were The First Baptist Church, at the northwest corner of Chicago and Lafayette streets; the Christian church, at the northwest corner ni Franklin and Chicago; th.e J'^irst Methodist Episcopal Church, at tin norlhwcst corner of Franklin and Jefferson; the Presbyterian Chui'eli, at the southwest corner of Franklin aud Jefferson; St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, at the southeast corner of Franklin and Erie; Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, at the southeast corner of Washington and Institute; St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Clmrch, at llie corner of Franklin and Lincoln avenue; St. Paxil's Roman Catholic Church, at the corner of Chicago andCampbell; aud the First Church <>]' Christ, Scientist, at the corner of Washington and jMonroe. (Sec Clia]iterXIII.)

As an educational center Valparaiso stands far above most cities of its size. The Valparaiso University, an account of which is given in the Chapter on Educational Develoinuent, is one of the best known edma tional institutions in the jMiddle West, and thei'c are three public school buildings, viz: The Central School, at the junction of Franklin, Etie aud lustitide streets; the Columbia School, located at the corner n\' South Locust and Iiuliana avenue; the Gardner School, located at lhe corner of Jefferson ;in'i Campboll stroets. All Ihiee iu-c iine - miples of modern school .iielii.ecture. The city high school its lo<';i1(( in the Central buildijig, and during the sehool year of 1911-12 imii]i1o> ' seven teachers, viz: Eugene Skinkel, IVlahel Benney, Sfinii' i\lr]ii!y;i. E S. Miller, Allici-t Wedeking, Mabel Yonug and Olio AV.Hy. r'Miing the same year the teachers iu the Central School II. ^L .lessee.', Fannie Mclntyre, Mary Decg.aj, Bess Slhii'lilield, Bessie "Way, Caroline Stiuchfield, Geneva Pierce, Edna Forney, Martha and Nellie "Wliile and Ida Jones. Seven teachers were employed iu the Columbia Selioul during the same period, as follows: Eslella Diefenbach, Ada Sioveis. Freda. Brims, Flora Philley, Sarah Parks, Mabel Herriek and ^largari t Pierce. In the Gardner School Margaret C. Beer was principal, and lier assistants were Pearl Miller, Cartha ('avd, Clara Crosby, Katluyne lUaney, Ella Vincent and Latira King. In addition to these regular ieachers there were four special teachejs and supervisors. AV. C. Ji. \is had charge of the manual training; Mae McKinnis, domestic ail : .\1 ... M-dvy Hemstoek, kindergarten, and Helen J. Single, music.

In 1892 a portion of Jetferson street and the soutli end of Liuust sti'eet were jiaved M'ith brick, the first paved streets in llie city. 'J'i. enwas then a cessation in making improvements of this eha)-acler liir si ^ i j;d yeare but in 1905 the woi-k of street improvement began in r^irnesf. Tii.' result is that all down-town streets and several of the alley.s arc ]);n'' ' with brick, giving Valparaiso about six miles of streets that are as l'Oou as anj' to be founcl anywhere in the country. Cement sidcAvalks b;'\e been laid upon all the principal streets.

Three great trunk lines of railway - the Pittsburgh, Fort "Wayne k Chicago, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis, and the Grand Tiini!.- furnish ample transportation facilities. The city has three baiil;s _tlir Valparaiso Nation;d, the Farmers' National, and the State 15anl< of Valparaiso - and two trust companies; three large departincnl sl.uvs and a number of other mercantile concerns, drug, jewelrj', hard\\ai.- :.h.; implement stores, etc.; several bakeries, candy factories, cigar ractm'ies. eight printing establishments, three dealers in automolulcs mikI :ui i ^s orics, etc. Put Valparaiso is preenaineutly a city of homes. 11^ iMiuid. shaded streets, the will kept lawns, the cozy I'esidences, impress the \ isiior to Porter county's cajtital with the prosperity and pi-ogii'ssi\i> s|iiii' its inhabitants.. The people are democratic, and nowhere will uiir neif with )nore genuine courtesy and politeness than in Valparai.M-. I,.,d'. of all the leading secret and benevolent organizations cultivate a i i aleniid feeling among the inhabitants. In very few cities do the pe(i|!i( sli(i\', ii-.

liigli resi^oct for law and iijorals as m \'.il)i;n;iis(i. A police force is maintained, but arrests are seldom made. !->'( ly o:.' Mcms to be inclined to mind his own business, and taken altogetli.'i- X'alparuiso is a good place in which to live and rear a, family, as flio iliniate is healthful and the environment is free from 1lic eontamimifin':- iiifhuiices usually found in larger cities. Valparaiso has never expeiiem-.i'd a "'boom. " but its growth has been steady aud subslantial. In 1850 the pojiulation was 520; in 18C0 it had grown to 1,690; ten years later it was 2,760; in 1880 it was 4,461; in 1890 it was 5,090; in 1900 it had reached 6.2.80, and in 1910 it was 6,987.