Columbia Township (part 1 of 6)

Columbia Township

On the 14th day of May. 1842, a postoffice was established at the seat of justice of Whitley county. The citizens asked that it be called Columbia, but the department replied that there was already a postoffice by that name in the - state. A controversy then arose over a name. Richard Collins renewed his effort to call it Beaver, the name he tried to give the town. But during the dispute, the department named it Whitley Court House, and changed the already existing Whitley postoffice to South Whitley.

While Whitley Court House postoffice was established May 14, 1842, there was no mail service to the place until July 1st of the same year. During these six weeks or more, mail for the place was supposed to lie in the Fort Wayne postoffice till called for by the postmaster or some one for him, and outgoing mail had to be carried to Fort Wayne in the same manner. Then came a confusion between the two Whitley postoffices, that was very annoying and lasted until long after Whitley Court House had become Columbia City postoffice. Letters intended for either place often went to the other, and many found their way to the dead letter office and were never received by the party intended. As the business of the offices grew, this became SO' annoying that something had to be done. The long name was never popular and was not chosen by the people. Agitation for a change kept up from the first, but did not take definite form till the winter of 1853 and 1854. Finally, somebody called a meeting or election to be held in the new Court House, December 16, 1853, to decide the name. Richard Collins renewed the fight for the Indian name Beaver, and Dr. Swayzee led the fight for Columbia City. If it could not be Columbia, it could be that name with city attached. It would give the place a big name. Considerable acrimony was manifest before and during the caucus, but Columbia City won out, was certified to the department at Washington as the choice of the people, and on the 16th day of January, 1854, the day Lewis Dowell took the office, the name was changed. The railroads carried the name Columbia until recent years when they, too, changed to Columbia City. From Jul}- 1, 1842, to July 1, 1846, there was a weekly mail, onte round trip a week from Fort Wayne to Whitley Court House and back. The next year, on the establishment of Coesse postoffice along the route, it was included.

From July 1, 1846, to July 1, 1850, this route was maintained and also one from Columbia to Plymouth, by way of Warsaw and intervening towns, making a round trip once a week, distance fifty-one miles. Also the branch line from South Whitley ; a branch from La Gro to Warsaw.

A route was also established July 1, 1850, from Metea to Columbia, 55.36 miles, but October 1, the same year, this route did not come farther north than North Manchester. On same date, two more routes were established out of Columbia. One to Elkhart, one round trip a week. One to Wolf Lake and back, eighteen miles, one round trip a week, and July 1, 1853, one to Albion and back, twenty miles, one round trip a week.

Then came the Pennsylvania railway, and from July 1, 1858, to July 1, 1862, we had only the La Gro-South Whitley route and the Wrilmot and intervening offices route, and these were the only ones up to 1866.

From 1866 to 1S70, the Wilmot route was extended to Cromwell and we had the route to South Whitley and Collamer, this latter continued to the completion of the Eel River Railroad, and the Cromwell route

The next office established in the county was Summit, December 21, 1846. It was at the old town of Summit, half a mile west of present Larwill. where the Columbia and Warsaw state road crossed the Goshen and Huntington state road. Alexander S. Mc- Nagny, still living at the same place, was first postmaster, from December 21, 1846, to August 6, 1850. Then Henry McLallen took it and held it till December 30, 1851. He kept it at his house on the Kerr farm, eastern edge of present Larwill. It was not a desirable office and went begging to any one who would take it along the post road, the Warsaw state road. Alonzo Rodebaugh kept it from December 30, 185 1, to June 11, 1853. George D. H. Harris held it from June 11. 1853, ^11 February 18, 1854, when Henry McLallen was again induced to accept it and held it till August 17, 1861. During McLallen's last incumbency, the Pennsylvania Railwav was built. McLallen had moved down to the new town of Huntsville and the office had become desirable, attracting trade to the place where kept. The Republican part)- having come into power. Edwin L. Barber secured the office. Barber held it till November 4, 1865, when Abram J. Whittenberger was appointed, holding it till November 2, 1866, when Andrew Johnson's change of front gave it to Samuel S. Bonar, a Democrat.

Up to March 28. 1866, the name remained Summit, though many letters addressed to Huntsville reached the proper destination. On that day, the name was changed to Larwill, and so remains. It was on the Columbia-Plymouth route from its establishment till the route was discontinued when the railroad was completed. Mail once a week each way. Bonar held the office until March 26, 1869, when Edwin L. Barber was again appointed, and held it till October 9, 1871.

postmaster, near the north line of Troy township, each early incumbent keeping the office at his home. April. 4, 1849, lames Blain took the office and kept it till June 30, 1851. Rufus D. Keeney took the office from Blain June 30. 185 1, and kept it till June 23, 1855. On the "th of October, 1 85 1, Keeney removed it across the line into Noble county (now Etna township), and on same day the name was changed from Popano to Etna ; and on May 22, 1852, the name was changed from Etna to Hecla. Eafavette Lamson having laid out the town of Etna and living there, took the office June 23, 1855, and held it till Daniel H. Chandler took it December 6, 1859.

On the change of county, by which Etna township fell to Whitley county in 1859, the office again came into Whitley county. The following is a full list of postmasters from Chandler's time :

On the 29th day of February, 1904, the office was discontinued, the patrons being supplied by rural delivery from Columbia City, route fourteen. From the establishment of the office April 11, 1848, to July 1, 1850, there was no delivery of mail to the place. Mail for Popano remained in the Columbia City office until called for by the postmaster or some one for him. Also outgoing mail had to be carried to Columbia.

July 1, 1850, Popano was put on the route from Fort Wayne to Elkhart, but in October, 1851, it was put on the Columbia City and Wolf Lake route. From that time until the discontinuance of the office, it was on some route from Columbia City, with various terminations.

Though the Goshen road through Smith township was the earliest' thoroughfare, and the settlements among the verv earliest, there was no postoffice in the vicinity until the establishment of Churubusco September 11, T848.

Thomas B. Cunningham was the postmaster and kept the office at his house on the Goshen road, northwest of the present town of Churubusco. The name was taken from the place in Mexico, made famous by the Mexican war. Just how it got the name, remains in dispute. Some say an old fiddler in the neighborhood was constantly sawing off a tune, Churubusco, and that he was making his home with Cunningham at the time. When the town of Churubusco started, there were two plats and two towns, Franklin and Union. There was considerable controversy as to which of the three names should survive, but Churubusco won out, and both the town and postoffice settled down to it many years ago.

From the date of its establishment to Jul}- t. 1854, it was on the mail route from Fort Wayne to Elkhart. July 1, 1854, the terminus of the route was Goshen instead of Elkhart and continued till July 1, 1858, when it was on the route from Fort Wayne to Albion and so continued until July 1. 1870. when the old route was cut in two parts. Two round trips per week from Fort Wayne to Churubusco, and also two round trips per week from Albion to Churubusco, and so continued until the completion of the Eel River Railroad. -

This postoffice was established September 18. 1849. The town was then of fully as much importance as to-day. It was called Millersburgh, in honor of Ellis Miller, the merchant and proprietor. The petition asked the postoffice be called Millersburgh. but as there was already an office by that

Reed kept the ofrite in a small log cabin, on the spot where Ross' store now stands. Puffenbarger kept it in a building torn down. Haines in a cabinet shop. Since that time it has been kept in some business house.

The office, when established, was on the La Gro- Warsaw route, and on that being discontinued was from and to Columbia City, until the completion of the Eel River Railroad.

Loran

A postofnee was established at the little village in north-east Richland (then Troy township), called Steam Corners, or Buzzard's Glory, July 28, 185 1. We cannot ascertain the reason for the name, but William A. Clark was the postmaster and kept the office in his little store. He sold the store to James Grant, April 14, 1854, and the office went with it. The store burned March 24. 1855, and the office was discontinued.

The office was discontinued February, 1904, on establishment of county rural service. It was first on the Columbia City-Wolf Lake route, and until its discontinuance was on some route out of Columbia City.

South Whitley The Newspapers

Up to 1853 not a word of printing had paper, and especially the people of Columever been executed in Whitley county, but bia City and more especially the politicians, for three or four years there had. been a In May, 1853, Joseph A. Berry, of Steuyearning demand by our people for a news- benville, Ohio, visited the place on a tramp westward in search of a location. He met with the proper encouragement and $200 was given him as a bonus to establish a newspaper. Consequently on the 13th day of July, 1853, the first issue of the Columbia City Pioneer came from the press to the joy and gratification of the people. It was a strictly Democratic organ and had a circulation of about four hundred nearly from the first issue. Prior to this time all our legal advertising required by law was published mostly in Fort Wayne, but an occasional legal notice found its way into a Warsaw or Huntington paper.

Berry was a very noisy and blustery individual with little ability of any kind, not even a good compositor. He, however, blundered along, scarcely missing a weekly issue until August, 1856. His conduct of the campaign was not satisfactory to the Democrats, nor was he satisfied with them or with the proceeds of the business.

P. W. Hardesty came from somewhere in Ohio and purchased the office and closed the campaign more radically than his predecessor. He was a man of considerable ability but lazy and shiftless and soon became involved in trouble with the county officers and outside creditors and soon after the November election of 1856 he moved the office to Paulding Center, Ohio.

For nearly two years Whitley county was without a Democratic paper. In the summer of 1858, Col. I. B. McDonald bought at sheriff's sale, from William Fleming, of Allen county, for $625 the office of the defunct "Jeffersonian."

McDonald at once moved the office here and established the "Columbia City News." He assumed editorial control but put Thomas L. Craves in charg'e of the office. McDonald was then clerk of courts. William C. Graves, a brother of Thomas L., lived in Warsaw and was in the banking business and he occasionally wrote an article for his brother and being interested in him came over often to see him. This gave rise to the old story that Graves owned an interest. Neither of the Graves brothers ever owned a dollar in the News.

In November, 1859, McDonald retired from the clerk's office and assumed entire management and control and Thomas L. Graves moved to Kendallville. Englebert Zimmerman was the foreman printer and gradually grew more and more in favor with the proprietor until in May, 1 861, when McDonald was preparing to go into the service of his country he sold Zimmerman a small interest and turned the entire business over to him. On Mc- Donald's return from the army in 1864, he again assumed control of the paper and though relations were most cordial between them, Zimmerman retired to take charge of the Fort Wayne Sentinel. Frank Zimmerman then took his brother's small interest and took charge under McDonald and after a couple of issues the name was changed to the "Post" and is continued to this day under that name and with the identical first head. In November, 1865. McDonald sold the office to Eli W. Brown, a Whitlev

Brown continued sole owner and proprietor of the Post until April, 1879, when he. sold a half interest to John W. Adams. In April, 1881, Brown, having moved on his farm just west of town, sold the other half interest to Mr. Adams, who still owns, edits and publishes the paper. September 30, 1896, a daily was started in connection with the weekly which still continues. There had been earlier issues of a daily during county fairs and during the trial of Butler, the wife murderer, in 18S4. The Post and its predecessors have always been the Democratic organs of the count}'.

In July, 1854, the opposition to the Democracy, crystalizing into the Republican party, felt the necessity of a newspaper to combat the influence of the feeble Pioneer and secured a printing office and placed Henry Welker, another Ohio man, in charge, and the Whitley County Republican made its appearance.

The outlook was not promising and the road on which it traveled was a thorny one, though for a couple of years its competitor was out of business. Adams Y. Hooper had in some way become responsible for the material and soon was obliged to pay for it and became the owner and really was the owner during all its vicissitudes until sold to John W. Baker in 1868. At times he thought himself out of the business, but the sales did not stick or the payments were not made. After acquiring the office, he sold to Welker. lint he could not pay and the office reverted, and Hooper worried along with migratory assistants. In 1859 he sold it to J. O. Shannon and W. T. Strother and they changed the name to the Columbia City Argus, hoping the change of name might be beneficial. These parties soon failed, and Mr. Hooper again had the office on his hands, and installed S. H. Hill as publisher and part editor. After one issue the name was changed back to the Republican. In February, 186 1, Hill retired and George W. Weamer took his place. In September of the same year Weamer tired of the place and went to war and was killed. During the war Hooper managed the paper and edited it himself. In 1865 he sold it to John Davis and after a few issues it again passed backto Hooper and then for a few months it was under the control of O. H. Woodworth and Hooper sold to W. B. Davis and Henry Bridge in 1866, and it again passed back to Hooper. In 1867 it was operated by A. T. Clark and later in the same year by Frank J. Beck, who continued until January, 1868, when it was sold to John W. Baker and passed finally out of the hands of Hooper.

Mr. Baker successfully edited, owned and published it weekly until January. 1005, and daily from 1888 till its close when, having been appointed postmaster at Columbia City he sold it to W. W. Williamson and the 'ild Commercial ceased publication, being incorporated into the Mail, the other Republican paper under the name of the Commercial-Mail.

When Mr. Baker bought it he called it the Whitley County Commercial, which name it retained until about January I, 1879, when it was changed to the Columbia City Commercial.

March, 1876, J. W. Torrey and W. J. Dugar came to Larwill to establish a business college. After an effort of some weeks Torre}' retired but Dugar remained and by midsummer had a commercial school in operation in Shorb's Hall, but it languished, and lang-uishing did live about a year.

In order to help his waning fortunes Dugar bought a small printing office that had failed at Kewanna. Fulton county, and brought with it the failing editor, O. W. Snook. The first issue of the Larwill Review appeared Christmas day, 1876. S. P. Kaler had secured Dugar on a note for part of the purchase money and by the first of March had the note to pav and a printing office on his hands. His name appeared as editor and Snook continued as publisher until the 1st of May, 1877. when Kaler sold a half interest to George J. Holgate from Ohio, a practical man. The paper ran under the names of Kaler and Holgate until the 1st of January. 1878, when finding the business unprofitable, they leased it to W. E. Grose, an employe, and had it moved to Churubusco and the Churubusco Herald appeared the second week in January, 1878. Holgate returned east and Kaler looked after it. Grose, like many others under the same conditions, soon swamped and gave up. when Chase Millice, of Warsaw, took the lease and his management was worse than his predecessor's.

In July. 1878, Kaler sold the office to D. M. Eveland from the mining districts of Pennsylvania. Eveland soon swamped but by making some political deal secured assistance and the chattel mortgage was lifted and Kaler and Holgate received full payment.

Eveland pretended first to run an independent Republican paper, then, in the same campaign, sought to make it the organ of the Greenback "party then at the very zenith of its existence. It was savagely personal ami its pages were read with interest. Eveland was a man of mature years and exceptional ability but rash and vindictive.

Having run through the campaigns of 1878 and 1880. being on all sides of all questions as promised support; Eveland was as glad to shake the Whitley county dust from his feet as his enemies were glad to have, him do so. In December, 1880, he sold the Herald to I. B. McDonald and Henry Pressler, the latter taking but a small interest which McDonald soon after acquired.

McDonald leased it to William Hall and son and it became a straight out Democratic sheet. The elder Hall was a Baptist minister and a man of decided ability. Plis editorial management was superb, his articles as able as any in the country, temperate and argumentative yet thoroughly Democratic. The venture was not sufficiently remunerative and the elder Hall soon retired. The younger Hall was. like many others of his profession. a good enough printer but unsuccessful, and McDonald soon had the paper back on his hands. It was then leased to Charles T. Hollis and son and Erank M. Hollis took charge of the office. It remained radically Democratic and for the first time self-supporting until November, 1S81, when it was moved to Columbia City. Hollis retired and McDonald took personal charge and successfully edited and published the Columbia City Herald, a Democratic paper. In May,

1883, McDonald having purchased the Huntington Democrat and having other interests demanding his attention, ceased publication, selling a part of the material to the Post and moving the balance to the Huntington office.

Prior to the appearance of the Churubusco Herald, about the first of the year 1877, Anes Yocum, the postmaster at Churubusco, owning and operating a small job printing outfit, began publishing the "White Elephant," a small quarto semi-monthly, more as a pastime than anything else. It never assumed to be a newspaper of pretensions, but ran for some four or five years.

After the removal of the Herald from Churubusco, Virgil A. Gieger began in a modest way the publication of The Truth, which has grown under his management to be a first-class weekly newspaper, noted all over northern Indiana for its wit and spiciness. It is independent in politics with Republican leanings.

About the 1st of June, 1878, R. B. Locke, a nephew of the celebrated "Nasby," opened an office at Larwill and began the publication of the Larwill Blade, but in about three months it passed into the hands of Charles T. and Frank M. Hollis, who published it for a time when the material was sold to I. B. McDonald, moved to Churubusco and was merged into the Herald when the Hollises took charge of that paper.

April 1, 1889, Eli W. Brown, after eight years, retirement from the profession, bought a new newspaper plant and, locating "ii the west side of the square, began the publication of the Columbia City Times, a weekly Democratic newspaper. After

In about a year these gentlemen sold it to A. R. Thomas, who soon after sold it to John C. Wigent and son. These parties at once began the issue of a morning daily, in connection with the weekly and failed financially in 1895. A receiver was appointed who ran it a few. issues, when it was sold at public auction. J. W. Baker, proprietor of the Commercial, bought the material and it ceased publication.

In January, 1896, W. W. Williamson, with a new office, began again the publication of "The Mail," a weekly, and August 14. 1904. began the daily Mail, which has still continued, absorbing the Commercial as before stated.

"The South Whitley Magnet," the first paper published in South Whitley, started in November, 1882. by W. A. Myers. In 1883 Mr. Myers also started "The Beacon," a publication devoted to the home and household. The former was a weekly and the latter a monthly publication. Both were suspended in 1885 and the entire equipment was moved to Kalamazoo. Mich.

On April 1, 1887, William E. Ashcraft started the "Whitley County News," which he sold in February, 1889. to O. H. Downey, of Churubusco. Downey soon after sold an interest to Webb Emerson and Emerson later acquired the entire interest. Emerson sold to George Bumgardner. under whose ownership it was edited by Dr. W. O Stauffer.

Post and Commercial-Mail, are both daily and weekly, while the Whitley County News at South Whitley and the Truth at Churubusco are weeklies only.

Indian Incidents

Mention is made in several publications of Coesse having" delivered a very eloquent address at Fort Wayne on the memory of his distinguished uncle, Little Turtle. Some writers have said it was at the funeral of the great chief, while others have said it was on the Fourth of July, and the time or times stated vary from the death of Little Turtle in 1812, up to 1850. This is entirely erroneous, and shows the disposition of writers to start with a very small imagination, and each to add to it. The few persons yet living who knew Coesse know that he was entirely unfitted by disposition, education, training and general intelligence to deliver an eloquent or any other oration. Richard Collins (shortly before his death in 1884) l-elated to the writer that he had investigated and found the truth. On July 4, 1846, the people of Fort Wayne held a large celebration and gathered as many Indians as they could. Coesse was invited, as the guest of Byram Miner, and accepted. As a nephew of the great Little Turtle, he was given a seat on the speaker's stand and after the eulogy on the chief by one of the orators, Coesse was asked to get up and say something, but all he could do was to stand up and show himself.

near the mouth of the Mississinewa, October 23. 1826. all the lands north and west of the Wabash, in Indiana, the Miamis ceded to the United States, leaving out the following reservations in Whitley county. "Seek's Village," "Beaver's Reserve," "Chapiene's Reserve" and "Raccoon Village."

The "Beaver," as he is styled, lived near Peru. As far as can be gathered, no white man in Whitley county ever saw him, and from the records, we feel sure he died as early as 1830, if not earlier. There was never any occupancy of his lands by Indians, except as they may have wandered into the public domain. His heirs or descendants conveyed it to white settlers.

About the year 1881 quite an excitement was raised in Whitley county on the rumor that the Indian title was not extinguished by failure of the United States to issue the patents. Third-rate lawyers from different parts of northern Indiana swarmed to the recorder's office, with troops of dilapidated looking Indians behind them, deluded into the hope that they might secure a second payment for their lands from our people. The record of every transfer and the signatures to it were carefully gone over, and at least pretended preparation was made for

As early as 1826, at least, a Miami Indian named Chino lived near the center of section 17, Columbia township, on the northwest quarter of that section. He had two daughters and one son. John Turkey fell desperately in love with one of the daughters. so much so that it seemed almost the entire subject of his conversation. He told the Mosher boys that he would have the squaw, in some way, or would never have an}' other. She refused to accept his attention, and when he pressed his suit to the point of being offensive, she went away to Logansport, and remained a long time. She finally came back on a visit, thinking that perhaps time had cooled Turkey's insane, jealous love, but not so. While he did not molest her at her home, on New Year's day, 1844. he found her some distance from her mother's cabin. It was well toward night and she fled from him and tried to hide. A man named German lived on the northwest quarter of section 18, Columbia township, where John Betzner now lives. After he had gone to bed, about nine o'clock, she came tc his cabin and called as if in distress. He was a German in fact as well as in name and could not understand her language of English badly mixed with Indian, and supposing it to be some prowling Indian, perhaps bent on mischief, would not open his cabin to her. Very soon he heard her cries of agony and springing out of his cabin found her lying with her head smashed in with a tomahawk. Turkey beside her with the weapon in his hand and making no attempt to deny it. German took the tomahawk from Turkey and ordered him to leave which he did. German then aroused his neighbor. Sterns, and they cared for the body until Indian friends came and took it away. Turkey did not attempt to flee the country, and was soon in the hands of the authorities at Columbia City. The Turkeys were Miamis and lived at the village in section 17. Penimo was a bad Pottawattamie, who stayed about the two villages. If he had a home it was at the same village with the Turkeys. There was a deadly feud between them.

On July 4, 1843, Sanford Mosher and Joseph Pierce went to the village in section 17. at about nine or ten o'clock in the morning. As they came down the trail, near where the wagon road runs, and up the hill in front of the village, they heard loud noises and the terrible Indian "Whoop, Whoop," which meant bloody fight. Coming in sight they saw the fight in progress between the Turkeys and Penimo, and the squaws dancing wildly round. The boys ran up. when Penimo pulled off his coat, showing his calico shirt covered with blood. Turkey was lying stretched out and the squaws disarmed Penimo, and requested the boys to help carry Turkey up to his wigwam, which thev did. laving him on the regulation couch of a piece of timber driven in the wall, the outer end supported by a peg to the floor, and covered with skins and blankets. The squaws swarmed around, and the bovs went to the door. Penimo came riding up on a black pony, as if to ride over the boys. Pierce shrank back, but Mosher raised his hickory club and said: "You black devil, go awav or I will kill you."

He then rode away. They then went and got his coat, which they found literally cut to pieces by Turkey's knife. Soon the Indian bucks began to swarm up from the south, among them Mozette Squawbuck, a Pottawattamie. He and another Indian, and the boys, tracked Penimo for some distance. Soon Orrin Mosher, George Mosher, Old Chestee and several other Indians came up. Chestee grabbed a bow and arrow from John Turkey and drew the bow to kill Squawbuck. thinking that he was the murderer of Turkey, but being told that he was mistaken, he dropped his bow and arrow and extended his hand to Squawbuck, which meant in the words of the white man, "I take it back." Penimo did not again show himself in this neighborhood until he shot old Turkey's squaw, John Turkey's mother. When Benoni Mosher came he paid his attention to Old Turkey. The squaws first protested against his going into the cabin, saying that it was "not good for white man to see Indian die." He was finally admitted and found Dr. Komota, the medicine man, fanning him with a feather, waiting' to see the last breath. The knife had penetrated one lung, and with each breath the blood gurgled out. Finally Komota saw some sign that gave him hope. He took a small stick and probed the wound and got its exact depth ; then going out he secured a small piece of yellow bark of some kind, made a plug the exact length and large enough to fill the incision and stuck it into the wound. While he was out Dr. McHugh, from Columbia City, chanced along and was called in and looking at Turkey, said : "He is stabbed in the lung and will die," but he soon recovered.

In the spring of 1843, as Mrs. Turkey and another squaw were riding ponies to visit friends south of the river, when near Squaw Point, in section 32, about a half mile northeast of the present Eberhard church. Penimo came suddenly up to Mrs. Turkey and grabbed her pony by the bridle and bit. She gave it the whip, tore loose from him, and rode on into the river. When well into the river he shot her with his pistol and she fell off of the pony dead in the water. The pony stayed with its mate, carrying the other squaw. Penimo ran through the waters, caught the pony and rode away. Allen Hamilton, the Indian agent, offered a reward of two hundred dollars for the capture of Penimo. William Thorn, of North Manchester, followed the latter into northern Michigan, caught and brought him back. He and John Turkey were both incarcerated in the Whitley county jail, and both were indicted for murder. Each plead "not guilty" and took a change of venue. The cases were sent to Allen county for trial, but before the prisoners could be removed they escaped. To prevent escape as'well as to keep them from fighting each other, Penimo was chained to the floor in the corridor, and Turkey was confined in a cell or apartment. Turkey succeeded in setting fire to Penimo's straw tick, determined to destroy his enemy, though he should perish with him, but the fire was extinguished. In the dusk of one evening Sheriff Simcoke went to feed them. He went in leaving John Wrashburn in the door. Penimo had loosed his chain and, dashing past the sheriff, knocked Washburn out of the door, and both Indians escaped. They ran to the river, swam it near where the

During' the winter of 1843 and 1844, Minshaw, a Pottawattamie, died at the village in section 23, and on the spot where is now Korts' garden. He was set upright on the ground, with a blanket over his drooping head, and beside him was placed his bow and arrow and a dish. Around him was built a pole pen perhaps eight by ten feet, where his body was left to rot and did rot down and the pen with it. After George Helms bought the place he warned the widow several times to take the bones away, but she would not, until Helms subjected the skull to great indignity, when Komota, the medicine man, gave Helms one dollar to bury the bones. The Whitley county Indians never buried their dead in the ground until white people taught them to do so ; the practice first began at "Seek's Village."

John Wauwaessa became enraged at Chestee's daughter on section 20, Columbia township, and tried to kill her. This time at the knoll southeast of the home on Peabody's farm, on the road running north and south. His brother, Bill Wauwaessa, and others interfered, and she fled to the swamp. In the fall at the paying of the annuities, between Huntington and Roanoke, he finally struck her on the head with a club and killed her. He was never arrested, and stayed at the village, section 17, until the Indians were removed.

Bambookoo was a bad Pattawattamie. who did kill Chino, and who once tried to kill Turkey and before the latter's daughter had been killed by John Turkey, but we cannot learn the facts. Mrs. Chino offered fifty dollars to any one who would kill

Bambookoo. After Chino's murder, Mozette Squawbuck lived with Chino's squaw at section 17. He was old, but a good hunter and provided well for her. He too was a Pottawattamie. In the spring of 1845, Mrs. Chino and Mozette were making sugar near Eberhard's schoolhouse. Mozette was helping her lug the sugar home one bright warm day in March, and he became lazy and laid down along the trail and fell asleep. Bambookoo came along, but having no knife himself slipped Mozette's from his pocket and tried to get a hold of his tongue to cut it off. Mozette awoke, regained his knife, and killed Bambookoo, stabbing him eighteen times in the breast. Mozette was not hurt at all. His squaw. Mrs. Chino, paid him fifty dollars.

There is an old tradition of quite an amount of silver being buried by Chino on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 17, now owned by S. T. Mosher. Chino's wife tried to find it.

Out of curiosity Mr. John R. Anderson twice attended when the Miami Indians were paid their annuity. The place of payment was in the thick woods about a mile east of Huntington. The government paymaster was there with the money. He had erected a small stockade, or rather a pole pen, and had a guard of several persons about him. Indians came in squads or by families, and received their cash. There was nothing striking about this. There was, however, a regular train of traders with a stock of groceries, dry goods, trinkets, notions, and not a very scarcity of whiskey. There were also ponies and horses. All with the result that the bulk of the money paid the Indians was not taken away with them. John Wauwaessa received three hundred and fifty dollars, perhaps not all his own, and paid two hundred of it for a pony that did not live over winter.

The Squaw Buck trail from Whitley county to Leesburgh Prairie, where also the settlers went for corn and other supplies, is here described. Beginning at Leesburg, it ran southeast past "Bone Prairie," crossing the Tippecanoe river between the town of Oswego and the lake, thence south, skirting the west side of Round lake, thence southeast, nearly touching the south end of Barbee lake, thence south to nearly the present Columbia City and Warsaw road, striking Whitley county at Haydens Lake and nearly following the said road eastward to within a half mile of present Larwill, at the McNagny farm, section 4, thence angling to the southeast across the east half of section 4, on lands now owned by Thompsons and James B. Kaler. then to the northwest quarter of section 10, across the lands now owned by the Patterson brothers, thence southeast through section 10 and 11, crossing the creek near the west line of section 13, land now owned by John R. Anderson, thence nearly east through sections 17 and 18 and part of 16, Columbia township, to Beaver Reserve, thence southeast to the Island. From the Island another trail ran northeastwardly, until it struck Turtle's trail and on to (Kekionga) Fort Wayne.

The Midland Telephone Company

The first telephone service in Whitley county was in November, 1880, by the Midland Telephone Company, a branch of the Bell Telephone Company. At this time, the Bell company controlled patents which gave it a complete monopoly of the business. Toll offices were established at Lanvill and Columbia City, the line ran from Fort Wayne to Warsaw, and is the same line now owned by the Central Union Telephone Company.

charged for the rental of a telephone instrument, with toll of twenty-five cents for a message to Larwill and larger amounts to other towns. Our people at first patronized it quite liberally, but as the novelty wore off, the excessive rental became a burden, and the subscribers dropped off until the exchange was scarcely self-supporting. The legislature of Indiana, in January, 1885, limited the right of a telephone company to charge not exceeding $36 a year, and soon after this law went into effect the company withdrew its exchange and local service, but maintained a toll line by which our people could communicate with the outside world, and this was maintained until the Central Union Company, successor to the Midland, effected an arrangement with the Farmers' Mutual Company. The legislature of 1889 repealed this act, but the Midland did not take advantage of it here or in other towns of about the same size from which it had been driven.

The Whitley County Telephone Company, as the successor of the Home Telephone Company of Columbia City, had its inception from a desire of the incorporators to enjoy the benefits of telephone service rather than with the idea of making it a distinct business. A few local gentlemen, in the latter part of the year 1895, determined to run a few lines connecting their homes and places of business. Upon investigation, it was found that this plan was impractical without a central switchboard. It was then determined to establish a small exchange, and it was figured that $1,500 would supply the working capital. But in order to meet any possible demand there might Ix- for telephone service, it was decided to incorporate with an authorized capital stock of $3,000. Articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state on the 10th day of February, 1896, and on the 1 2th day of February, the city council granted the new company a franchise to operate in Columbia City. The incorp irators were S. J. Peabody, A. A. Adams. A. A. Pontius, W. H. Magley, A. W. North, A. II. Foust and J, A. Ruch. The officers were: A. A. Adams, president: W. II.

At this time there were but few exchanges in northern Indiana outside of the large cities where the Bell company continued to operate. There was a small exchange at Bluffton and one at Plymouth, before the home company was ready to give service. The switchboards and instruments used at the time were rather clumsy efforts to get around the Bell patents. The Bell company was claiming to have a patent on the principle of the transmission of sound by means of an electric current, which, if well founded, made every user of any other instrument guilty of infringement. It was not a business that appealed strongly to the investor, but the local incorporators were willing to take the chances. The Bell claim was subsequently held to be unfounded by the courts, and from that time the business grew by leaps and bounds.

The $3,000 which the incorporators at first thought to be sufficient to meet the future growth of the business, was soon found to be insufficient, and on the 26th of May, 1896. the company was authorized to increase its capital stock to $10,000. On the first of June, 1896, it began giving sendee to about seventy subscribers with a switchboard of one hundred "drops." This was soon found to be inadequate to meet the demand, and an additional board of two hundred drops was installed. The central office was in the Rhodes' building, and the entire business was at first looked after by Air. Ruch. the superintendent, and his wife. Soon after opening for business, the company constructed t"ll lines to South Whitli" , < liurubuso 1 and Etna.

The new capital stock of $10,000 was soon used up, and on the 7th of June, 1901, the secretary of state authorized an increase to $25,000. About this time a demand for farm telephone service sprang up, and to meet this demand and to rebuild the Columbia City exchange, required the full authorized capital.

In 1900, an exchange had been established at South Whitley, and in order to take over the properties of the home company and the South Whitley company, the Whitley County Telephone Company was, on the 8th of October, 1903, incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. The incorporators were the principal stockholders of both companies, and all the property and contracts of both companies were assigned to the new company. The directors of the Whitley county company were S. J. Peabody, A. A. Adams, G. A. Pontius, F. H. Foust, W. F. McLallen. T. R. Marshall, J. E. Remington, Robert Wiener and A. H. Krieg. With an ample capital and a large demand for telephone service, the company has had a phenomenal growth. Exchanges have been established at Larwill, Etna and Laud, and all the exchanges of the company are connected and free service is given between exchanges. At this writing (August 1, 1906) the company has in actual service 1,447 telephones, representing an approximate investment of $100,000. Twenty-two young ladies are employed at the different exchanges as operators. W. H. Magley is the manager of all of the company's properties. The business rate at Columbia City is $24 per year, and at South Whitley $18 per year. The residence, farm and village rate is $12 per year.

The Churubusco Company

The Churubusco Company, or rather the Geiger Company, first began operations at Churubusco in the fall of 1900. It was owned, built and operated by AVilliam A. Geiger and his son Virgil, and is still owned and operated by them and has a large patronage. The Whitley County Company has run four wires to Churubusco and has an exchange arrangement by which the Geiger Company gives its patrons the service of the Whitley County Company and the Whitley County Company's patrons have free service over the Geiger lines. A like exchange has been effected by the Whitley County Company with the Wilmot Company, giving service to many patrons in the north-west part of the county. The Geiger company has over 600 instruments in use and its service extends into Noble and Allen counties.

The Luther Company

A company was organized at Luther, on the Whitley and Huntington county line, in 1902. It is properly a Huntington county local company, and is not connected with our companies and has less than half a dozen subscribers in Whitley county.

The Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company

A large number of the farmers of Whitlev count)- met at Tuttle's Opera House, in Columbia City, August 25, 1903. and organized by electing L. W. Dunfee temporal^- president, and Robert R. Scott tern- porary secretary. It was determined to build a telephone system by popular subscription, for the purpose of giving the farmers communication with each other and with the towns. The capital stock was put at 1,000 shares of $25 each, and 150 of the shares were sold at the first meeting.

On September 8th, the company met for permanent organization, adopted rules, regulations and by-laws and elected a board of seven directors, as follows : Robert R. Scott, Henry Norris, Charles R. Banks, John C. Pentz, Irvin J. Krider. Frank Briggs and Lewis W. Dunfee. Scott was elected president, Dunfee and Stoner vice presidents, and John C. Pentz secretary and treasurer.

Work began in November, by planting the first pole just south of the Nickel Plate Railroad at the town of Raber. A line was quickly built to Laud and an exchange was installed at that place March 16. 1904, with fifty patrons, all that could be accommodated, while double that number were waiting for service. A line w-as then run from Laud through South Whitley to Larwill. and an exchange put in Larwill in June. The South Whitley exchange was installed September I, 1904.

A franchise was granted the company to enter Columbia City October 1, 1904, and lines and cables were quickly built and the first farmers' phone in Columbia City was installed in democratic headquarters, on the evening of the presidential election. 1904, and gave the news, which, of course, was not satisfactory. Reference here is made to the news, and not to the telephone service. The connection was made by way of the South Whitley exchange, or over the line to South Whitley.

The following day an exchange was installed in Columbia City, and on the same day the Central Union Company abandoned their toll office in Columbia City and connected their toll line into the Fanners' Mutual exchange. It was the policy of this company, from its inception, to abolish all t<ill service within the county. This had already been done by the Whitley County Company, and since November 1, 1904. all service is free within the count)' and to many patrons outside; except regular phone rental which is uniformly $1.00 a month to residences and $2.00 a month to business houses.

It had, November 20. 1906, 1,152 phones in operation in all parts of the county, except that it has but two in Smith township. Four hundred and five of these are operated from the Columbia City exchange. The present officers are Albert Bush, president ; William H. Carter, secretary : John C. Pentz, superintendent of construction ; Charles R. Banks, treasurer. Robert R. Scott has charge of the business as general manager. There are now over 3,150 telephones in actual use in Whitley county.

Our people can sit in home or office and converse with any one of more than threequarters of the homes and places of business in the county and the number of phones is rapidly increasing. If it is desired to send sad intelligence or good tidings to any part of the county, if the exact place cannot be reached, at least a near neighbor can, and our people are practically at home with each other at all times.

The Old Settlers' Association And Historical Society

At different times during the last thirty years, there have been efforts made to form an Old Settlers' organization in Whitley county, and a number of old settlers' picnics have been held and always attended by large crowds of people ; but it was not until the autumn of 1904 that anything like a successful effort was made to organize a permanent Old Settlers' Association and Historical Society. A meeting for the purpose of forming such an organization was called to meet at Loon Lake, on Saturday. September 17, 1904, and the meeting was a success in ever}' sense of the word and was attended by a great crowd of people. A permanent organization was effected, and Judge Joseph W. Adair was chosen president and Samuel P. Kaler, secretary and historian. The second annual meeting of the society was held at the court house and on the court house lawn, in- Columbia City, on Thursday, August 17, 1905, and was attended by one of the largest crowds of people ever seen in Columbia City. Hon. John W. Baker was chosen president. R. H. Maring, secretary, and S. P. Kaler, historian. Judge Otis L. Ballon, of La- Grange, delivered the oration of the day.

A registration of all persons who had lived in the county for thirty years or longer, was taken, which revealed that Mrs. Mary Gould, of Smith township, who was born in Maryland, on January 30, 1814. was the oldest person in the county to register, and William Leslie, of Cleveland township, who had lived in the county continuously since 1 83 1, was the person having the longest residence in the county, while Mrs. Rosanna Krider was the oldest person to register who had been born in Whitley county. Mrs. Krider was born in Smith township, September 15, 1834.

John R. Anderson, of Richland township, was presented with a gold headed cane, for being the oldest tax payer in the county, he having the distinction of being a continuous tax payer since the county was organized in 1838, and never being delinquent.

At a meeting of the officers of the association, September 30, 1905, it was voted to fix the third Thursday in August, in each year, as the date for holding the annual Old Settlers' reunion, and at a later meeting it was voted to hold the reunion for 1906 at Columbia City.

The meeting was accordingly held on Thursday. August 16, 1906, and again brought a great crowd of people to Columbia City. An interesting feature of the meeting was the presence of Kil-so-quah, the noted Indian squaw, ninety-six years old. and her son, Anthony Revarre, (White Loon) of near Roanoke, Ind. The Indians were brought to Columbia City, in the morning. by S. J. Peabody. in his large automobile. and were returned in the evening by Fred Welshimer, also in an automobile. Judge Lemuel W. Royse, of Warsaw, delivered the oration of the dav, and Dr. |ohn W. Morr.

of Albion, and Hon. Clarence C. Gilhams, of LaGrange, democratic and republican candidates for congress, respectively, in the twelfth district, were also present and addressed the crowd.

A registration revealed the fact that Mrs. Mary Gould, of Smith township, who was ninety-two years, six months and sixteen days old, was the oldest person to register, but as she had taken the prize last year, the prize this year, a silver loving cup, was awarded to the next oldest person to register, which proved to be James Davis, of Richland township, who was ninety-one years, five months and twenty-eight days old.

The second prize, a large Bible, was awarded to the person who had lived the longest in Whitley county and this proved to be Mrs. Jane Hull, of Smith township, who had lived in the county since January 22, 1836, and was eighty-five years, seven months and twenty-four days old.

The secretary reported that there had been eighty-five deaths of old settlers since the meeting one year ago, and a suitable memorial was adopted.

The association elected the following officers for the next year : President, Henry McLallen secretary. Melvin Blain; treasurer, James Wasburn ; historian, S. P. Kaler.

Previous to this organization, a number of Old Settlers' meetings had been held in the county, mention of which may be made of the one held in Columbia City in the autumn of 1877; the one in Troy township, in September, 1881, and the one at Blue Lake, in 1896.

21, 1888, a committee of Old Settlers had charge of a part of the exercises of the day. The committee was composed of the following well known citizens, nearly all of whom are now dead :

Judge Adair'S Address

\\ e meet to-day to live over again some of the days of the past, and though many of us are near the dead line of the psalmist's reckoning, we say, "Come, grow old with me: the best of the days are" yet to be."

We are joined by bright and dutiful sons, beautiful and loving daughters, but all these who come with their good cheer and all their wealth of affection to bid us good speed and happiness as we near the end of our race, can only renew our grief for those who have gone before.

There is one common, wholesome cry springing eternal in the human soul, "Remember me." The most careless soldier, in his weary march, feels the road shorter and better and his load lighter, when he thinks of a home some place where he is remembered. Amid the din and roar of the great battle brave soldiers are asking' : Is mother praying for me to-day? Is wife appealing- to the great White Throne to spare me? Is tlie dear girl I parted with at her cottage home with no word, but a sigh, still waiting for my return ? When this struggle lias ended, when this roar of battle has ceased, when the evening shadows fall, and I am left on this bloody field, will they miss me? When men and women talk of wars and battles, will they speak of me as one who loved his country and gave all he had to save it? This is all the reward that the good soldier asks or ever expects of men, and hopes that the God of battles will overturn and overturn, till he whose right it is shall rule and give rest to his soul.

Men of high commercial instinct will plan and plan, squeeze and squeeze, wreck and wreck, and bring to nought all opposition, and rob the thoughtless and improvident, that they may be remembered in the endowment of colleges or the erection of a stone library ; and, as helpful as their gifts may seem, we cannot resist the conviction that it is unwarranted flattery to call such a man a thief. The widow with her mite will live longer than the man with his name etched on a granite slab.

forget to think of friends separated, but are never willing to confess that we have forgotten them. We have unbounded sympathy for any human being who can return to his old home and hear all the people say : "We have forgotten you." Perhaps you have all read the beautiful story of Rip Van Winkle, and some of you have seen the master artist represent him on the stage. After twenty years, he returns to his native village to learn that no man, woman or child remembered him, nor his dog Snyder. When Jefferson exclaims in deep pathos, "Are we so soon forgot?" the audience must break forth in tears as it beholds the true picture of human sadness and disappointment. This world has many Rip Van Winkles in it and some, perhaps, deserve no better fate.

Your committee requested that this address be in writing and largely historical. This was the first time that I had ever been accused of being a historian and I believe it will be the last time. But, a few things I have learned and will tell them to you in a very few words.

Whitley county was named in honor of the great and brave Col. Whitley, of Kentucky, who fell at the battle of the Thames, in Canada, in 1812. Peace to his brave soul and may the sons of little Whitley ever emulate his honor and patriotism.

We belonged to Old Allen county from 1824 to 1837 - thirteen years - when the good county of Huntington took charge of us and nursed us till the first day of April, 1838, when we began business for ourselves. Richard Baughan was appointed first sheriff. by Governor Wallace, and ordered to give notice and designate suitable places for hold- at the house of Louis kinsey, now in Cleveland township; one at the house of Andrew Compton, now in Richland township; one at the house of Richard Baughan. now in Thorncreek township: and one at the house of John M. Moure, now in Union township.

The tally sheet of this election was never filed with the clerk, but there were not more than sixty votes cast. There being no organized townships, for the election of clerk, recorder, associate judge and commissioners. Sheriff Baughan gave notice of another election, to fill these offices, by posting on trees along Indian trails and on cabin doors, of an election to be held at the house of Calvin Alexander, near what we n< iw call "Beech Chapel," in Thorncreek township. Fifteen persons met, selected and unanimously elected Abraham Cuppy, clerk and recorder: Jacob A. Vanhouten and Benjamin F. Martin, associate judges; Otho \V. Gandy, Nathaniel Gradeless and Joseph Parrett, county commissioners.

The first term of court held in Whitley county was at the saw mill of Richard Baughan, in Thorncreek township, on the ijth day of April, [839.

Whitley county is one of the best counties in Indiana, now the best state in our union of states. All [ndianans will admit this. If the stranger denies it. we will convince him with ready proof.

The present generation of men and women living in northern Indiana ought I" In- the best that any state can show, for yon sprang from noble men and women coining from the east and from the southland. I he reason for the possession of nobility of character and steadfastness of purpose of the pioneer of this county is easy to find. They were men of courage for the coward heard of the savage men and the savage beast had not yet left, and said: "I guess I will remain awhile," and he remained in some quiet peaceful home among the Xew England hills, or in the cotton fields of the south. They were men and women with a purpose in life, and when they reached the conclusion to come, thev put their children in the wagon and started. Xo lazy, thriftless couple started, or, if they did, they never got through the Black Swamp.

They were not men of any considerable amount of money - only enough to buy a little home at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre and support the wife and children until they could see the corn silk and potato bloom on their own lands; the old man of the barns remained at home and said, "Soul, take thy ease." What a fool he was. This was no country to attract the worshiper of gold or the idle dreamer of visions of ease and pleasure, but the hard stern facts faced them that they must labor and wait.

It is written in history that at the battle of Gettysburg, when the Confederate line was thrown into confusion and retreat and the whole Confederate army was in danger of stampede, their greatest commander, Lee, stood on the retreating line and simplv said, "All good soldiers will stop here." The soldier in gray heard the words and turned his face to the enemy, and order was restored in the Confederate army. So, it is no miracle or incident of chance that the best men and women should come to settle this land, or that their children should be men and women of real worth and bonor, for it is a fulfillment of the laws that- God has ordained.

I feel that I am but a boy yet, but remembering back almost sixty years, 1 can think of some of the things that I now feel that the pioneer might complain about without being charged with ingratitude. Those of us who were raised on ague and mosquitoes would naturally think of these as the first hardships. I cannot explain to these young ladies and gentlemen what the ague was, but you old settlers know what it was. When the chill first came on we were afraid we would die. but when the fever took hold of us we were afraid we would not die. Talk about discouraging conditions. Go to my home fifty-eight years ago. Mother almost dead from the bite of a rattlesnake, fourteen children with the ague and father away from home hunting for bread. These were not altogether unusual conditions found in the homes of this count)' sixty years ago.

Roads - well, we had none, in the sense which you now talk about roads. Think of going from here to Columbia City or Fort Wayne, through an undisturbed forest, with only here and there a tree blazed or a small sapling cut away. Well, we have no time to talk about these things to-day, and, that they are now past, no disposition to complain, for they might have been much worse.

Our opportunities to acquire the most common education were meager indeed. Sixty davs school in the year, often a subscription school ami many of us our parents too poor to pay for more than half their children of school age. There were no red schoolhouses in those days - only the log schoolhouse with stick chimney. I can describe to you my first school and my teacher, which I believe a fair sample of teachers and schoolhouses in this county fifty-four years ago. The house stood about half way between this point and my home, four miles from here and was called the "Scott schoolhouse" - a plain log house with inverted slabs for seats and greased paper for lights, situated on the margin of a beautiful swamp : and, remember, the builders were no respector of persons, for they built all seats of the same height. My first teacher was Elder Fuller, who had his blacksmith shop at the other end of this lake, who pounded iron the most of the time, preached the gospel on Sunday, and pounded the bad boys for sixty days in the year, and with all his preaching and pounding I do not think he realized three hundred dollars per year. Oh, how well I remember my first recitation - if I dare call it that - "Come here, lad," he said, pointing to me. I arose and approached. Taking from my hand the old elementary speller and, pointing with a tuning fork to the first letter of the alphabet, he said, "What is that?" I meekly confessed I did not know. He said, "That is the letter A. it looks for all the world like the gable end of your father's barn. Say "A." I said "A" and he said. "Take your seat." And I have ever after known the letter "A" when I saw it. Elder Fuller was a noble specimen of good manhood, a preacher of force and learning. Peace to his soul and may we meet more like him.

Young friends, you have a right to be proud of your ancestry and of your county. I pit}- the man who has ever found a better woman than his own mother, or a better country than his own country. You begin life in the very morning of the world's history. I would rather live the next fifty years than to live the nine hundred and sixty-nine years of Methuselah, who did nothing but watch oxen eat grass.

Do your duty. This is the only way to success. When the boy boarded the man of war, the old captain said, "Lad, we have only two things aboard this ship : one is duty and the other is mutiny."

You remember the story from "The Tales from the Wayside Inn,'* where the devout monk prayed for the higher and better life, and as he prayed the angel of the Lord appears, and as he listened to the words of the angel the convent bell rang out calling him to feed the beggars ; he hesitated, but the angel said, "Go, do your duty." He went and fed the beggars, and on his return found the angel still there, who said, "If you had remained I must have left."

"How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood When fond recollection presents them to view : The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood and every Fond spot that my infancy knew. The broad spreading river, the mill that stood near it; The bridge, the rock where the cataract fell, The cot of my father, the dairy house by it. Even the rude bucket which hung in the well. The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket, The moss covered bucket that hung in the well.

The moss covered bucket I hailed as a treasure When often at noon returning from the field I found it a source of exquisite pleasure. The sweetest and best that nature can yield. How ardently I received it with hands all aglow : Soon to the white pebbled bottom it fell. Soon returning with the emblem of life overflowing, All dripping with coolness it rose from the well. The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket. The moss covered bucket that hung in the well.

As it poised on the curb and inclined to my lips. Not a full flowing goblet would tempt me to leave it Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips. Now far removed from the scenes of my childhood

W hitley count}7 has an organization that is unique, and the only one of the kind in the state, as far as the writer has been able to learn. It is the Whitley County Officials' Fraternal Association, and all present county officers and their deputies, all ex-county officers, their deputies and all persons who have held an official position in the count}'. are entitled to membership.

In the spring of 1903, it was suggested that there be held a reunion of the exsheriffs of \\ "hitley county, and a meeting for that purpose was called to be held at Sheriff Gallagher's office on the 19th of March. At that time, ten ex-sheriffs of Whitley county were living, namely: John W. Wynkoop, who had served from 1 8( >J to 1S66, Oliver P. Koontz, 1866 to 1870, Jacob W. Miller, 1870 to 1874, William H. Liggett, 1874 to 1878, Franklin P. Allwein. 1880 to 1884, Leander Lower, 1884 to 1888. William W. Hollipeter, 1888 to 1890, John W. McNabb, 1890 to 1S94, Thomas N. Hughes, 1894 to 1896, and Benjamin F. Hull, 1896 to 1900; Edward L. Gallagher being sheriff at that time.

At the meeting, it was voted to organize a permanent association and invite all other county officers and ex-county officers to become members, and afterwards it was voted to extend the invitation to all persons who had occupied an official position in the county, whether principal or deputy, and it was arranged to hold an annual meeting of the association on the second Thursday in October in each year, to be followed by a banquet in the evening.

The first annual meeting of the association was held at the circuit court room on Thursday, October 8, 1903, at which time Oliver P. Koontz was re-elected president and E. L. Gallagher, secretary-treasurer.

An incident of this meeting may be mentioned here: Rev. A. J. Douglas, who had served as county superintendent of schools for ten years and who at that time was in quite feeble health, was reported to be in the basement of the building and very desirous of attending the meeting, but unable to ascend the stairs. Accordingly, the president appointed Frederick Nei, ex-commissioner, and Richard H. Maring, ex-clerk, to assist Mr. Douglas up stairs. He was placed in a large chair and carried up stairs where he enjoyed the meeting very much.

\ banquet was held at the Clugston house in the evening, Hon. A. A. Adams. ex-representative, acting' as toast master. Judge Adair. C. S. Williams, coroner, W. H. Liggett, ex-sheriff, and S. P. Kaler, ex-clerk, making the principal speeches.

The next meeting of the association was held on Thursday, October 13, 1904, when Col. I. B. McDonald, who had served as clerk of the court nearly fifty years before and also had served the county as representative, state senator and county school superintendent, was chosen president, and Jesse A. Glassley, present clerk, was made secretarytreasurer.

A banquet was held in the evening, the ladies of the United Brethren church serving the supper, Benjamin F. Menaugh, exmayor of the city and ex-deputy sheriff, acting as toast master, and Henry McLallen. ex-treasurer, W. H. Liggett, ex-sheriff and George H. Tapy, present county superintendent, making the principal addresses.

The third meeting of the association was held on Thursday evening", October 12. 1005, when Jacob W. Miller, ex-sheriff, was elected president, and Charles E. Lancaster, present auditor, was made secretary-treasurer. The ladies of the I'nited Brethren church again served the supper at the banquet in the evening, and Hon. Thomas R. Marshall, ex-notary public, was toast master. Judge Olds responded to the toast: "Early Recollections of the Bench ;" Col. Mc- Donald spoke on "Early Recollections of County Officers;" R. H. Maring spoke on the "Pioneer," and John W. Baker responded to the subject, "Republican Newspapers."

"I am only human, and that is the reason nothing pleases me better than to see my name in the paper. When 1 saw my name in the paper the other day. as one of those who were to talk to you this evening about "1 874," I felt first rate - better than I do now that the time has arrived to do the talking. There is more pleasure, it is said. in anticipation than in realization.

Beforehand. I always imagine a good many things that don't come' to pass, and I get puffed up over the nice things I think I am going to say, and the nice things that will be said about the nice things I have said. I make amends, by feeling extremelv humble for some time after, however.

Imagine how I felt thirty vears ago when all the newspapers of one side anyway heralded my virtues far and near. I felt pretty good. Did I step high? Yes. sir: I could have stepped over a bank barn. That is, along at first; but when I saw what the Post said about me, I shrank up like one of those rubber balls you buy on show days that are full to bursting when yon buy them, but as_ soon as you squeeze them a little, thev collapse on your hands to about the size of a walnut.

1 don't see how the newspapers can take just a common man - or, well, a mule, and make a lion of him. and by punching him a few times turn him back into a mule again - but thev can. This remark is not intended to reflect in any way upon myself or any one else. Perhaps the newspapers can get some consolation out of it and will comment on it.

memory, for in 1874 I emerged from obscurity and became great. Some men are born great - some achieve greatness and some, like myself, get into the hand wagon bv accident, the team runs away and carries them to the front of the procession.

Becoming great is like getting rich - it is no sign of mental superiority - but mostly luck. Many a man gets all skinned up in his efforts to become rich or great. The chances are that if I got into the hand wagon now, the mules would run away in the wrong direction and break my neck ; and I should be greatly missed ; something, too, I should greatly regret.

There have been great changes in Whitley county since I burst like a comet on the horizon of politics. The swamps and swales that were then the abode of the mosquito and the home of the perfumed cat, now produce thousands of bushels of oderiferous onions - not very much difference in the perfume perhaps, though the "cents" are in favor of the onions. But I will leave this matter to be discussed by some of the other speakers. I could talk to you for an hour on skunks and onions, but that would be too much like discussing politics, and I do not want to do that this evening.

When one has become great, either by accident or design, he writes - or has somebody write for him - a minute history of his life, beginning with his childhood and gradually leading up to his magnificent manhood, when the newspapers, for consideration, take him up and so advertise his virtues that a deluded public makes him its idol.

They were born poor, but always burn honest, they tell us. 1 am not an exception. 1 was born in Ohio, in a log cabin, pour but honest. I remained honest until 1 was two years old - or until 1 cut my first set of teeth, when I became wobbly. I am still reported wobbly by those who know me best. The dentists say I can even get wobblyer and wobblyer every time I cut a new set of teeth. I believe, however, if the other fellow would always do right by me as I look at it. I'd meet him half way and be good. That is, if there is any money in it for me, I'd be good. At my time of life, I cannot afford to be good for nothing. Honesty is the best policy in everything except politics.

It seems to me I am not able to stick to my text this evening - get to talking about myself and forget it. But I want to say before I get to rambling again, that I can truthfully say, as I lay my hand on the place my heart used to be - before I was married - if there is any virtue in poverty, I am IT. I inherited most of my poverty from my folks : but by hard work and close attention to business and by some assistance, I got into politics, I have added something to the original stock of "no assets" I inherited, until now in my old age I have quite a stock of calamities on hand which I would like to exchange with Mr. Carnegie for some of his cash. He could have his wish perhaps and die poor and I would dye - my whiskers.

But about 1874. I have forgotten some of the mean things I did in 1874, and since I have cultivated the habit of forgetting them until now distance has lent such enchantment to the view, that I complacently look upon myself and the campaign of 1874 as being perfectly delightful. Among other things it did this for me - it made it possible for me to know most of you gentlemen present here this evening - something that perhaps I am prouder of than you are. But your friendship and good will are something I value highly. The honors of office are nothing. if to get the office you must sacrifice friends or self-respect to succeed. Ingratitude is not one of my faults, and I never turn my back to a friend. We joke each other a great deal during a campaign, and accuse each other of many things we do not mean, but so far as I know. I have never lost a friend by anything I have done or said about him because he was not of my political faith. I never intend to let political matters interfere with business or friendship. If I have ever unwittingly said anything at any time you don't like, you may, if you wish to do so, apologize to me for it after the entertainment is over this evening; though it is not absolutely necessary.

But I must get to talking about 1874 pretty soon. In 1874, on the 25th day of July, the People's party of this county nominated a ticket. I was one of the number the People's party drew as a prize on that day. I was nominated to run for sheriff and I began to run that same evening.

My diary, if I had one, would read like this : July 25th, nominated for sheriff, 6 p. m. ; shook hands with about two million people; got home late; didn't tell my wife about it - no use for her to get stuck up about it - she can't be sheriff anyway. July 26th, Sunday, lot of people here to-day to congratulate me: wife knows all about it now, but don't seem to be puffed up any - not as much as I am, in fact. July 27th, still running for office; wife says to me, "see here, why are you strutting around so much anyway ; why don't you go out and split some wood ; you haven't got sand enough to split kindlings, let alone being sheriff." August 2nd ; still running for office - been at it a week now. I like it better than plowing corn ; feeling pretty good. August 9th; still running; don't feel so good; the Post said some things about me this week I didn't know anyone knew about ; think I'll resign. August 16th, running some: been notified to drop $50 in the political slot; dog-gone politics anyway; August 23d, the Post is still at it and I don't feel well; am not running much this week; if the Post proves the things it says it can,. I'm a goner: weather pretty warm. Think I'll resign and go some place where it is not so hot all around. August 30th, moving along, but pretty slow ; getting too hot to run. If all the Post says is true, I am dog-gone lucky if I don't land in jail without being elected. September 3d. running yet, feeling some better, our paper has been giving it to the Post like Sam Hill ; dropped another $50 in the slot; wife needs a new calico dress; she'll have to patch the old one again. September 10th, still running. September 17th, ditto; September 24th, ditto, October 1st, slowed down again. The Post has proved all the mean things it said about me and I am expecting to be arrested any minute. If ever I get out of this thing without being hung, I'll bet nobody will get me to run for office again. October 15th. election over: I'm IT. Just got word. I owe the committee $25 more: I've a notion to let the committee sweat for the money. I've been worried enough. October 20th, dropped $25 as per request in the political slot; just like losing it. Now if ever any one suggests to me to run for office again, I'll take him by his soft white hand and gently lead him out behind the barn and brain him with the meat axe."

This is the last entry in the diary. In 1876 I had forgotten all this and entered myself for a three minute trot against a lot of ringers, and came pretty near being left at the quarter pole.

After the election they had a big jollification at South Whitley. I went with some fear and trembling, felt it my duty to go, but was afraid maybe I would have to make a speech or get my hat burnt. Thought, though, if I had to make a speech, I'd deliver my inaugural and be done with that duty. There was a big crowd and everybody yelled, and everybody tried to burn everybody's hat but his own. Finally they burnt my hat and I yelled some too. Then they ran a big wagon out in the street, and I was caught and thrown into it - lit mostly on my head and kind of on all fours. As soon as I got on my feet and got the straw out of my mouth, I yelled some more and then waved my hands and arms and shook my head and kicked. Everybody was yelling and the crowd thought I was making a speech. About all I said was : "It gives me great pleasure (nit) to be here to-night and get my best Sunday hat burnt and have to go home bareheaded. If during my term of office any of you fellows have to be could get onto and make capital out of. I don't think I shall ever go into another campaign as the people's idol; it's too risky; they say things about you you would rather they wouldn't, and make you uneasy.

There are but four left of those who composed the ticket of 1 874 ; James Rider, John Richards, Levi Adams and myself. The others are gone. The history of theii lives is part of the history of Whitley county. The ticket of 1874 made some history, and it did its share in clearing up the political atmosphere of Whitley county. The survivors of that ticket are getting to be old men. It will not be long until the closing chapter of their lives will be written. and at the bottom of the page will be written the two words - The End.

The subject assigned me by the programme committee is rather indefinite. I might assume that they had in mind J. Fenimore Cooper's famous book: "The Pioneers," or the early settlers of the Lnited States, or the state of Indiana, or Whitley county, or I might infer that they desired me to say something about the pioneer county officers of Whitley county. Volumes might be written upon these subjects, but in the very brief time at my command T will only allude to some of the early county officers, and especially to some of the men who in the long ago have occupied the office of clerk of the circuit court in this count)-.

Of the thirteen men who have occupied that position of trust, eight are still living, and there has not been a death in the ranks in ten years. The work of the clerk's office is said to be quite laborious, yet it cannot be compared with that of the governor of the state : only one ex-governor of Indiana is living to-day, I believe. The clerk's work is n« it all play, yet it has never killed anyone in this county.

\\ hitley county was organized in 1838 and Abraham Cuppy was the first clerk. Mr. Cuppy was a man of considerable ability, and afterwards represented the county in the state legislature and was a member of the state senate at the time of his death at Indianapolis, in January, 1847. Mr. Cuppy held the clerk's office four years and was succeeded by Richard Collins who, according to the records, served thirteen years. This would not be tolerated to-day.

The third clerk, who filled the office from 1855 to 1859, fifty years ago. was our worthy president. Col. I. B. McDonald. Mr. McDonald was followed by William E. Merriman. who served four years and was succeeded by James B. Edwards, who was a two termer and served from 1863 to 1871. Eli W. Brown was Mr. Edwards' successor and filled the office four years.

These men can truly be called the pioneer clerks of Whitley county. How different were the conditions then from now. Then, court was first held in private houses, then in a two-story building that stood on the west side of the public square, then in the massive brick structure that preceded the present temple of justice. In 1838 the count}- was sparsely settled, the roads were mere Indian trails, the streams were not bridged and many of the townships were not organized. Then the records were copied in inferior books with quill pens, and it is said that when Richard Collins was clerk,

In after years as the business of the courts increased, the clerk was obliged to w( irk at nights and on Sundays to keep up his records. Now the records are made with the latest improved writing machines and the clerk can keep regular office hours. Then if the sheriff desired to serve notice on a juror living in a remote part of the county, it meant an all day's drive. Now he can call up his man by telephone and transact the business in a few moments.

In the beginning, the clerk also filled the offices of auditor and recorder, and the sheriff's office had to seek the man as the compensation of the offices was not enough to induce any man to seek the office. In an adjoining county, it is said that after a certain man had been elected sheriff and qualified, he traded the office for a shot gun, and perhaps the consideration for the transfer was adequate.

In the early days, time evidently hung heavily upon the clerk's hands, and I find that one in order to pass the time, perhaps while some attorney was delivering a tiresome argument before a suffering jury, amused himself by executing a pencil drawing on the margin of an old order book. The drawing represented a noble red man, and under the portrait he had written these lines :

Medical Profession

It must be remembered that the surface of Whitley county was originally half or more covered with lakes, swamps and marshes, the remainder with heavy timber and fallen and decaying' trees and vegetation. The rivers and streams were obstructed and in the heat of mid-summer malaria held high carnival. Bridges and culverts were few and almost altogether of the corduroy type. The homes were -cabins, swarming with mosquitoes and other insects. Screens for doors and windows were for years after unknown. Everything was unsanitary and conditions for health very bad. the property of the inhabitants consisting of their unimproved lands and scarcely anything else.

Nearly all the physicians were from eastern Ohio and other eastern states, since it could scarcely be presumed that there were at that time any parties engaged in the study of medicine preparatory to the practice of it. It might be proper under these circumstances to give a brief resume of the condition of the profession in these states east of us. in order that we may become better acquainted with the history of the pioneer doctors of the country. The greater number of physicians in the east were what is called regulars - those who bled, blistered.

gave mercury, antimony, quinine and mandrake root, etc., etc.. secundem artem. Homeopathy was scarcely known this side of the Atlantic, Thomsonianism was in its infancy, and hydropathy, phisiopathy, electicism, chronothermalism and other isms had not been born to the world. In the year 1822, the celebrated Dr. Samuel Thomson, having already invented a system of medicine, had it patented, as the following document will show :

Thomson Patent. This may certify, that we have received of Thomas M. Greene twenty dollars in full for the right of preparing and using for himself and family the medicine and system of practice secured to Samuel Thomson by letters of patent from the President of the United States, dated January 28. 1823, and that he is hereby constituted a member of the Friendly Botanic Society and is entitled to an enjoyment of all the privileges attached to membership therein.

The great joke was in being entitled to enjoyment of the system. Several settlers came to Whitley county up to 1845 armed with this deadly weapon against disease. The holder, for the consideration of twenty dollars, who became possessor of this document, agreed in the "spirit of mutual interest and honor" not to reveal any part of said information to any person, except his fellow purchasers, to the injury of the proprietor, under the penalty of forfeiting their word and honor and all right to use the medicine. Accompanying the letters patent was a 241110 book of one hundred and sixty-eight pages of texts and a supplement of twentyeight more, which was supposed to contain all that was necessary to know in the department of anatomy, physiology, materia medica, practice of surgery, midwifery and chemistry. While Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," wrote many aphorisms, Thomson had but one: "Heat is< life, and cold is death," and as a result, all that was necessary to treat a case was to keep the patient warm - in fact, hot. This was mainly accomplished by pepper, lobelia, and steam. Thomson and his confreres used six preparations in particular, which were applicable to almost any disease and in any stage of it, which were numbered from one to six, in order to avoid confusion. No. T, lobelia. Xo. 2, cayenne pepper. No. 3, bayberry root, bark, Whitepond lily root, and the inner bark of the hemlock. No. 4, bitters, made of bitter herb, bayberry and poplar bark, one ounce of each to a pint of hot water, and a half pint of spirit. No. 5. cough syrup. No. 6, tincture of myrrh and cayemu' ] >c'i >i >er. These six preparations, with a steaming, were supposed to be competent to cure any form of disease curable or incurable, - everything from consumption to the itch. This system has its victims in nearly all the early burying-grounds of the county. The following case actually happened in Smith township, Whitley county, in 1839, and will serve to illustrate the treatment of rheumatism : The doctor ordered a large iron kettle to be filled with water and brought to the boiling point, the kettle being removed from the fire, and the patient being divested of most of his clothing, a couple of sticks placed across the kettle for him to sit on, and a blanket thrown around him to hold the steam. Either from the quality of the sticks or weight of the patient, the sticks gave way and the unhappy subject of treatment found himself a posteriori at the bottom of the kettle. This sudden, excessive and untimely application of the principles of health heat - as might be inferred - aroused all the evil passion of the patient and the fears of the doctor, who beat a hasty, retreat, followed by the victim, and the race was only concluded when old Eel river separated the pursuer and the pursued. It need not be remarked that the treatment was so successful that the doctor needed not to come back.

As time progressed, other vegetables were added to the materia medica, until it became fairly extensive. These worthies went about the country abusing the calomel doctors, who were killing people, as they said, by blisters. bleeding, opium, tartar emetic, etc. Clearly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Dr. Thomson believed, with the ancient philosophers, that there were only four ele-

"My system's founded on the truth, Man's air, and water, fire and earth. And death is cold and life is heat, These. tempered well, your health's complete."

Dr. Thomson, of course, condemned nearly, if not every remedy used by the regulars, especially saltpeter, which he said had the most certain deadly effects on the human system of any drug used as medicine. In its nature cold, there cannot be any other effect than to increase that powerful enemy to heat. An elderly physician, still in the practice, says he heard a celebrated professor of this system boast that he never graduated a young man in less than six weeks, but this was seemingly too long a course, when the average boy of twelve years might familiarize himself with the system in a few hours. This aged professor was also a preacher and was charged with being somewhat prodigal in his statements and reckless in handling the truth. On being remonstrated with, he confessed to the weakness, and said that he had shed barrels of tears on account of it. But this system has gone the way of many others.

Another "hoodoo" of the early days was the Uroscopian, or water doctor. These gentlemen did not subject the urine to a chemical or any other test, but pretended to diagnose all kinds of disease, without seeing the patient, requiring only a sample of the water. This he shook, smelled, felt of, and, when he wanted to make the case appear very grave, and thought the pay was good, actually tasted it. This, with a few slightof-hand performances, sometimes putting a drop on the window pane, and looking through it, and varying his performances to create mystery, constituted the examination. These worthies were frequently the victims of pretended bearers of samples. For many years there was a current joke about Columbia City referring to an unfortunate female and a certain county official in which the samples became disarranged.

The great panacea with this school was "blood physic," made up of juniper berries, epsom salts, senna leaves and often some other herb of practically no medicinal value. An ordinary dose of this, properly prepared, would nearly fill a gallon pot. The late Dr. Firestone once related to the writer that he was attending a case in Troy township, of a low grade of fever. The family had been persuaded that the doctor was incompetent, and sent for a water doctor over south of Pierceton. On Firestone's next trip he found a pot of this mixture ready for administration. He advised that it would be fatal, but after he left it was given and two hours afterward the poor patient ceased to require the services of a physician. He had gone to that place "where few physicians go." Many so called regular doctors were the veriest frauds. Young men, who thought they might as well be doctors, would spend a few days, weeks or possibly months in the office of some physician, "then go out west" to practice. The only requisites for this kind of practice was a horse, a few bottles and jugs and fewer medicines and a goodly amount of what the Arkansas doctor called the three "Fs," ignorance, independence and impudence.

Two young men brought up in \\ ayne county, Ohio, happened to meet not many miles from here. Mutually recognizing each other, one of them cried out. "For God's can purge 'em and puke 'em as good as any body." The other replied: "Don't you think I'll tell, for the people would then find out what scamps we both are, for I am practicing below here at ."