Huntington Township (part 1 of 3)

Huntington Township

cipline in every department. A continuance of the liberal methods of school government pursued during the past, will no doubt, secure a lasting prosperity to the schools.

Chapter Vii

City of Huntington - The Red Man's Resort - The Helvey Beothkes - Other Early Comers - Gen. John Tipton - Securing the County Seat - Early Records - Eirst Election - Early Trade and Commerce - Some of the Old Settlers - Wabash & Erie Canal - Indian Agency - Incorporation - List of Officers - Changes in the Business Center - Additions -- The Cholera Scourge - Churches op the Town - Seceet Societies - The Press - Banks - Manufacturing AND Other Industries - Fire Department - Gold and Natural Gas Excitements - Coming of the Railroad.

THE present site of the city of Huntington was known among the Indians as Wa-pe-cha-an-gan-ge, mea,ning " Flint Place," ' owing to the abundance of flint at the mouth of Flint Creek; and among the Indian traders, white men and half breeds, who traded with the Indians long before any permanent settlements were made, as "Flint Springs," from the fine springs of pure water that flowed from the flinty ground at the foot of the little hill near the mouth of the creek. The ground was white with the hard flint for many rods around the springs, and was a noted camping ground with both Indians and traders, the flint being always dry and solid and nearly clear of underbrush. There is a tradition that Gen. William H. Harrison and his army encamped here on their march from Fort Recovery to Tippecar oe, in 1811; but the late Samuel Jones, of Warren, this county, who was a soldier in Gen. Harrison's army in the campaign, could not recollect the place as a camping ground of the army, although well remembering passing through the county with the army at or near this point.

It was upon this then well known camping ground near the springs, on the banks of this little creek, now walled in and built over by the business houses and streets of our flourishing city, but then surrounded by a dense forest, that the first white inhabitants located the new settlement. Their names were Joel Helvey and Champion Helvey, brothers, natives of Tennessee. They built a large double log cabin and gave entertain- ment to " man and beast," their house being known as the " Flint Springs " Hotel, and was for many years a popular resort for the traveling public. The old log building remained standing, a monument of the past, until a few years ago, when it was torn down by the present owner of the property. Its legitimate successor in the hotel business being the present Exchange Hotel, situated on the adjoining lot. The land selected by the Helveys, upon which the original plat of the town was afterward laid out, is the fractional northeast quarter of Section 15, in Township 28 north, Eange 9 east; and the date of their settlement, the year 1831.

The land was a portion of the grant made by the United States Government, in 1837, to the State of Indiana, to aid in the construction of the canal, afterwards known as the Wabash & Erie Canal, connecting the navigable waters of the Wabash River at Terre Haute, Indiana, with Lake Erie, at or near Toledo, Ohio. The records do not show how the the interest of the Helveys in this tract of land was transferred to Gen. John Tipton, of Logansport, but the transfer was doubtless made in a manner satisfactory to both parties. Gen. Tipton obtained the patent for the land from the state, and by his agent, Capt. Elias Murray, platted and laid out the town, in the year 1833; Capt. Murray giving the new town the , name of "Huntington," in honor of Samuel Huntington, one of the signers of the Declar- ation of Independence, and Capt. Murray's uncle.

The Helveys removed to the tract of land east of the town, afterward known as the Gephart farm, now nearly all included in Whitestine's, Grayston's, Bippus' and Gephart's additions to * the city. But the advancing tide of civilization was not suited to their manner of living, and being strongly suspected of dealing in counterfeit money, a suspicion that has since been confirmed by finding, upon the premises last occupied by them, the dies and instruments used in the manufacture of counterfeit coin, they removed west, keeping on the borders of the new settlements until their death, several years afterward.

Gen. Tipton, through Captain Murray, donated a large number of lots in the new town to the county to aid in the erection of county buildings, and Huntington became the county seat of the county upon its organization in May, 1834.

Gen. Tipton also erected at his own expense and donated the same to the county, the frame building now standing on the corner of Jefferson and Franklin Streets, owned by George J. Bippus, Esq., for the use of the county as a court house; this building, however, was not completed until about 1840. There are but few landmarks remaining of the early settlement of the town.

Flint Springs, near which the Helveys built their cabin, still flow with pure water, and are situated on the rear of the lot lying between Purviance's livery barns and Flint Creek, on the south side of State Street.

City Of Huntington

Flint Creek flows through the centre of the city in essentially the same channel it flowed in when the Indians and Indian traders camped on its flinty banks.

Little River, or more properly speaking, the Little Wabash, remains the same it was at the date of the first settlement, except that the dense growth of willows and underbrush that then lined its banks has long since disappeared, and the further exception that at that time there were no bridges nor mill dams to obstruct the view of the river or the flow of the water.

The records of the town, if any were kept, before its incorporation in 1848, have been lost or destroj^ed and we are unable, therefore, to glean from them any matters of interest in the early history of the village, but it is known as a matter of tradition and from the recollections of the oldest inhabitants, that soon after the location of the county seat that additions were rapidly made to the citizenship. Among the earliest were Capt. Elias Murray, Dr. George A. Fate, William Delvin, James Delvin, William S. Edsall, Dennis O'Brien, Townsend G. Bobo, Obediah Brown, Henry Brown, Jonathan Keller, David Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Martin Roche, Samuel Moore and others.

The first election held in the town was to elect two .Justices of the Peace for the county. It was held on the first Monday in June, ] 834, and the votes polled for the whole county were only 134. The last survivors of those voting at that election were the late Samuel Moore of the city, and Patrick Johnson of the township. We have been very materially aided in the collection of the facts and incidents of the town's early history by a number of the older citizens.

Dr. Greorge A. Fate opened the first business house, a general store, situated on the property now occupied by Daniel Shepper. William S. Edsall followed with a store nearly opposite the present residence of John F. Fulton, afterwards taking William Delvin into partnership with him. Dennis O'Brien opened a grocery store in a building situated on the site of the late residence of Mrs. Hannah Halle. Jonathan Keller built a second hotel on the property now owned by John Beiceman, a large two story hewed log house, which was destroyed by fire about the year 1836 or 1837. The little stone building situated on the corner of Mayor Day's residence property, was early built and occupied as a general store, all on West Market Street.

The principal articles of trade were pork, from wild hogs, furs, pelts, coon skins, deer skins and "sich like " varmints. Hunting was as much of a business as any other avocation. It was more uncommon to see a man without his gun than with it. Game was So abundant that the first meat market, kept by a man named Denand, was supplied from the woods and kept up as regularly as the butchers do now-a-days, but venison was the principal meat instead of beef. To give some idea of the extent of the fur trade, the following is a list cf the kinds and quantities shipped by one merchant in May, 1834: 1452 Deer Skins, 3141 Coon Skins. 76 Wild Cat Skins. -Z Wolf Skins. 135 Muskrat Skins. 10 Fisher Skins. 6 Mink Skins. 15 Otter Skins. 28 Bear Skins. The Miami Indians yet remained in the county in large numbers, and it was no unusual thing to see more Indians in town than there were white people. The Indians remained in the county until 1846, when they were removed to Kansas by the United States Government, with the exception of a few families, who were privileged to remain.

The first white child born in the town was Bridget Kennedy, daughter of Michael and Mary Kennedy, on the 11th of March, 1834. The first wedding was that of Champion Helvey to Mary Barrett in May, 1834.

The first term of court began on the 5th of May, 1834, and was held in an upper room of .Jonathan Keller's tavern. Hon. Gustavus A. Everts was the presiding judge and Jonathan Keller and Murdoch McLane were the associate judges, the law then requiring a court to consist of one presiding judge "learned in the law," and two associate judges chosen from the citizens of the county. William S. Edsall was the first Clerk, Champion Helvey the first Sherifi", Capt. Elias Murray the first Treasurer, and his salary for the first year was the munificent sum of $4.50.

Mr. Roche says the town at that time, in 1834, consisted of only a few houses, nearly all of which were log cabins, the streets were full of stumps and logs, the greater portion of the town as then laid out was covered with the primeval forest, the largest cleared space in any one spot being a field cleared on the side of the hill between where the canal was afterwards dug and the present residence of Jesse Davies, containing a few acres. The two acre out lot on which are the present residences of Dr. F. S. C. Grayston, William McGrew, William H. Hessin, William Ewing and others, sold for §40 in 1834, as did the two-acre lot immediately north of it, occupied now by James H. Ewing, Mrs. BarLlett and others, while he, John Roche, paid $82 for the two acre out lot on which he now resides on the opposite side of the street two years afterward.

County Sheriff James M. Bratton came here in 1839; the town had grown somewhat at that time but the stumps and logs yet remained in the streets in many places, and the streets were without gutters and with but few sidewalks, and those mostly of puncheons or hewn loa;s, and were filled with mud and mire after every wet spell, Mr. Bratton did his first work in the town in helping: to build the new court house on the corner of Jefferson and Franklin streets.

Mr. John Kenower came here in January, 1841, with a Baptist Colony, consisting of between twenty-five and thirty persons. They were Charles Taylor and family, of whom Mrs. A. Q. Kenower, of this city is the only surviving member, William Taylor and family, Mr. Taylor is still residing in the city, H. J. Betts and family, none of whom survive, Hugh Montgomery and family, of whom Mrs. Samuel H. Purviance, of this city is the only survivor, and four young men, John Green, Sewel P. Barnes, John Sheets and John Kenower, of whom John Kenower is the only survivor. This colony established the Baptist Church of this city, a history which is given with the other churches of the city.

At the date of his arrival in the city, Mr. Kenower says there were only fourteen resident families in the platted portion of the town, although there were a number of families residing within a radius of a few miles.

Sheriff Bratton then resided up the river, on the Thompson farm. There were however, a number of young, or unmarried men here, of whom the late Gen. James R. Slack was one, then the village school master.

The business part of town was on West Market Street, and the dwelling houses, log cabins, were scattered over the original plat, with forest trees, brush, logs and stumps filling the unoccupied lots. There was no bridge over Little River and the ford for horses and wagons was from near the mouth of Flint Creek to the opposite bank, near Young's Factory, while an old dug-out canoe served the purposes of a ferry boat for foot passengers, to and from the south side of the river.

_ The roads into the country were mostly only " blazed " traces with the underbrush cut out, and the means of travel through the country was almost exclusively by horseback or on foot.

The first " boom " the new town received came from the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal. In the year 1837 the United States, by act of Congress, granted to the State of Indiana, every alternate section of land five miles in width, to aid in the construction of a canal connecting the waters of Lake Erie with the navigable waters of the Wabash River.

By the terms of the grant work had to be commenced on the canal within five years from the date of the act. The formal beginning of the work was near Fort Wayne, on March Ist, 1832, just within the time allowed by the grant.

Work became general along the line of the canal in Huntington County in the year 1834, large numbers of men being employed in its construction. These men were paid off at Huntington at stated times, and a large part of the money spent here, making times easy and money plenty, and the population and business of the town increased very rapidly. The work was completed and water let into the canal to the upper lock at Huntington, then known as Burke's lock (its ruins may yet be seen opposite the residence of John Mi shier, in the Second ward) on July 3d, 1835. The event was the occasion of an enthusiastic naeeting of the citizens. The canal boat "Indiana" had come down from Fort Wayne with the waters, having on board a large number of the citizens of Fort Wayne, who were greeted on their arrival, by the people, with loud cheers, and salutes from a cannon which Dr. George Fate had brought across the country from Dayton, Ohio, expressly for the occasion. The Fort Wayne guests were given the hospitality of the citizens of Huntington, and early on the morning, the fourth, returned to Fort Wayne, accompanied by a large number of Huntingtonians and Dr. Fate's cannon, and celebrated the completion of the canal between the two places, and the glorious fourth, in a manner long remembered by the participants. Although completed to the town, the canal was not completed through the county until the following year, 1836, and not finished to Terre Haute, its western terminus, until 1843. It gave the first means of communication with the older settled portions of the country, other than the old trace and wagon road, and although afterwards killed by its more expeditious competitor, the railroad, the canal was a great boon to the early inhabitants in its day, and gave to Huntington and other towns and cities along its line a business advantage and supremacy they yet maintain over other points off of its line.

After the completion of the canal large warehouses were built on its banks to accommodate the rapidly increasing trade of the town and county, and for many years large numbers of boats plied up and down on its waters, carrying grain, lumber and produce to the eastern markets and returning with merchandise and other freight. Owing to the competition of the railroads, the decay of the locks and the gradual filling of the channel, the canal was abandoned in 1874.

Scarcity of money is one of the greatest obstacles against the development of a new settlement, felt a great deal more severely at that time than it is in the new settlements of the West at the present day. But for many years Huntington enjoyed an advantage in this particular over her adjoining settlements and towns, in the annual payment by the United States Government of between $60,000 and $70,000 to the Miami Indians at and near Huntington. These payments were made in compliance with the provisions of tho several treaties between the Indians and the General Government, and were in payment for the Indian title to the lands of this part of the State and the interest on the deferred payments, and were continued until the fall of 1845, which was the last payment made here to the general body of the Indians, as they were removed to Kansas by the United States in 1846, excepting a few families that were permitted to remain. These families and their descendants continued to draw their proportion of the payment annually until the year 1880, when the last paymfent of principal and interest came due and was paid by the Government. But the sum thus distributed in the early settlement of the town and county went a long ways toward keeping ofE the hard times that usually pressed so hardly upon the new settlements, and to that extent gave Huntington an advantage over her neighbors.

Of the Indians who were privileged to remain, the most noted was Francis ta Fontaine, or Chief La Fontaine as he was generally called. La Fontaine's Indian name was To-pe-ah. He was born near Fort Wayne in 1810. He was married at about the age of twenty or twenty-one to Catharine the daughter of JohnB. Richardville, whose Indian name was Pin-ge-ugh.

Manifesting great interest in the welfare of his tribe, he became very popular, so that in 1841 he was elected principal chief of the Miamis, after which his principal residence was at and near Huntington.

In 1846 when the Indians removed to Kansas in accordance with the provrisions of their treaty with the United States, La Fontaine went with them, although privileged to remain; he stayed with his people until the following spring, 1847, when he started to return to Huntington. The route of return was at that time from Kansas Landing, now Kansas City, on the Missouri River, down that river to the Mississippi River, down that river to the mouth of the Ohio River, thence up the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, and thence up that river to Lafayette, by steamboat, and from Lafayette to Huntington via Wabash and Erie Canal. At St. Louis on his return La Fontaine was taken sick; he continued his journey, however, until he reached Lafayette, when the disease had made such progress that he was unable to proceed further, and died there on the 13th of April,, 1847, aged thirty-seven years. His body was embalmed at Lafayette and brought to Huntington for burial, and was interred in the burial ground of the Catholic Church.

He was a large, tall and robust man, weighing about 350 pounds and generally dressed in Indian costume. He left a widow andseven children, of whom two children, Mrs. Archarigle Engleman, of this city, and Mrs. Esther Washington, of Kansas, are still living.

The town was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature of the State, February 16, 1848. The territory included within the corporate limits, consisted of the original plat, and the additions of Helvey, Johnson, Murray and La Fontaine.

Henry Drover was elected Mayor in March, 1857, but served for only two' months, when he resigned, and William C. Kocher filled the remainder of the term, until March, 1858.

Samuel F. Day served as Mayor for one year from March, 1865, and William C. Kocher for one year, from March 1866, and Samuel F. Day from March, 1867, to March, 1868.

On the 17th day of September, 1873, the town having the requisite population therefor, and the people having voted in favor of the same with only two dissenting votes, the town was re-incorporated as a city, under the general laws of the state authorizing the same, and Mr. Stultz was re-elected and continued to serve as Mayor of the city until May, 1878.

Lawrence P, Boyle was elected Mayor in May, 1880, and served four years until May, 1884, when Samuel F. Day was again elected and is still serving the city as its Mayor to the very general satisfaction of its citizens.

The principal business part of the town was first located on West Market and State Streets from the store of Dr. Fate, (Daniel Shepper's property) eastward to Jefferson Street.

After the completion of the canal, " boat stores " and other places of business sprung up along the canal between the middle and upper locks; the middle lock was just below the basin at Shearer's warehouse, and as the county improved and grain began to be brought in for sale, to be shipped on the canal, a large portion of the business was done by the stores near the canal, the business houses extending northward on Jefferson Street from the Market Street crossing and eastward along Matilda street with a few stores on Washington Street.

The erection of the stone hotel, known for many years as the " Rock House, " on the southeast corner of the present school house lot in the year 1835, by Gen. John Tipton, and of the large brick building, yet standing, on the opposite corner of the street in the year 1841, and the two large wareho'ises on the canal on. opposite sides of Warren Street, gave that portion of the town a large share of the business for many years, the business houses, at the lower end of West Market and State streets being gradually abandoned, with the exception of the brick hotel knowm as the American House, owned at the present time by the Misses. Ayer, which had been erected in 1844, and still continues to compete for the hotel business. The location of the Wabash Railroad on the then south side of town, together with the gradual decay of the canal turned business southward along Jefferson Street, giving that street the business supremacy it still maintains. The construction of the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad and the round house shops, yards etc., in the east end of the city has extended the business portion of the city eastward along Market, Franklin and Warren Streets. The many manufacturing establishments located in different parts of the city are referred to under their proper headings.

The continued growth of the city is shown by the large and numerous additiorfs that have from time to time been made to its platted territory and corporate limits.

The first addition to the original plat was laid out by David Johnson, August 29, 183r3, and lies eastward from the original plat along the river and south of State Street.

On April 2i, 1837, Champion Helvey platted that part of the city lying north of State Street and south of the Wabash Railroad and Briant street, east of the original plat, and it is known as Helvey's addition.

Louis Hitzfield's first addition was laid out on the east side of the original plat in the northwest corner of Section 14, in January, 1856.

The first addition south of the river in the Third Ward, or Drover's Town, was laid out by Henry Drover, August 23, 1857, on a part of the fractional southwest quarter of Section 15, and included about twenty acres.

March 1, 1859, John Roche laid out Roche's addition west and north of La Fontaine's Addition, WiUiam Paul and Christian Koster platted Paul and Koster's addition out of a part of Lot 4, in Tract 2, of the Richardville Reserve, February 11, 1860. And John Roche laid out his railroad addition east of the original plat and north of the Wabash Railroad, Feburary 16, 1861.

October 27, 1862, John Hough, of Fort \Vayne, laid out his addition of out lots, in the northwest quarter of Section 11, on a part of which the round house and shops of the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad are now situated. And February 10, 1863, Josiah S. Sabin laid out his addition of out lots in the northeast quarter of Section 11.

January 34, 1864, Swing's addition of out lots were laid out east of the then city limits, now nearly all included in Col. Briant's factory, saw mill and yards, and in Briant & Beppus' subdivision's, and the Chicago & Atlantic depot grounds, yards and right of way. Daniel Kitt's addition in the southeast part of the city, adjoining Drover's additions was laid out in September, 1865.

George J. Bippus' addition of out lots in the southwest quarter of Section 23 was laid out February 29th, 1872, and his second addition of out lots in the northeast quarter of said section, April 37th, 1873.

Louis Hitzfield's second and third additions were laid out in January, 1877, and are now wholly included in the yards of the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad.

B. Eisenhauer's addition was formed from a part of Lot 1, in Tract 2, Eichardville Reserve, in the northwest part of the city. May 13, 1883.

Dr. F. S. C. Grayston's addition to the city was laid out upon a part of the northeast quarter of Section 14, in the east part of the city, June 13, 1883.

Timothy Collins' first addition is in part of Tract 7 of the Eichardville Reserve, was platted September 7, 1883, in the north part of the city.

John A. W. Kintz's addition, including and replatting a part of Nix's Addition, was laid out in Section 10, north of the city, December 4, 1883.

Dr. D, S. Leyman's addition, on a part of Tracts 2 and 22, in the Eichardville Reserve, in the north part of the city, was laid out July 25, 1885.

George J. Bippus' Englewood addition, on Mt. Etna Avenue, south of J. W. Purviance's addition, was laid out September 28, 1886, and his addition of a part of the northeast quarter of Section 14, east of Ewing's addition, September 28, 1886.

Drover's Sixth addition south of Drover's other additions was laid out in October, 1886 and Catherine Giphart's addition east of Grayston's addition, December 3, 1886.

lots and other parts of the above additions that are not given. The territorial area of the city is about 2.500 acres, extending for two and one half miles east and west, up and down Little River, and about about two miles north and south.

The little town was almost depopulated in the summer of 1849, by that dreadful scourge of the East, the Asiatic cholera. Its dreadful approach gave rise to the first Board of Health. The Board was appointed by the Common Council of the town, and consisted of Drs. C. D. Thayer, A. M. Lewis and F. W. Sawyer, and Messrs. John Eoche and M. Crum, and they were given authority to take such necessary measures as they might deem best to prevent the appearance of the cholera, or to mitigate its severity if it should appear; the records do not disclose how faithfully the Board discharged its duty, but we readily believe they did all that could be done under the circumstances. But no human power could prevent the dread disease, and it is of record that two members of the Board of Health, Dr. Thayer and Mr. M. Crum were among its victims.

On the first appearance of the disease a great many of the citizens of the town who could do so fled to the country or to other places where the disease did not exist, business men closed their places of business, and families left their dwellings in terror of a disease that literally wasted at noonday, and for the time being the little town was a place of mourning. Those who could not leave, and a faithful few who would not leave the sufferers to their fate remained in the town, but trade and business were almost entirely suspended.

There were thirty-two deaths in the town, among whom were J. S. Hendryx, an attorney-at-law, and a member of the town council. Dr. Thayer and M. Crum, above named, of the Board of Health, and others. A sad romance is related of the last victim who died of the disease, a Mr. Charles FoUett, of Ohio. He was a young man of wealth and high social position and had come to the town to fulfill a marriage engagement with an estimable young lady residing here; he arrived in the town on Wednesday, the marriage ceremony having been fixed to take place on the following Sabbath, but on Friday night, after his arrival, he was taken sick with the prevailing disease, at his hotel, died on Saturday, and was buried on the Sabbath that had been set apart for his happy union with the bride of his choice.

After the epidemic had ceased, the citizens who had left the town during its prevalence returned, business houses were reopened and the vacant dwellings again occupied, people from the country who had avoided the town came again to trade, and gradually the prosperity and progress of the town, that had been temporarily eclipsed, returned, and the fearful scourge was a thing of the past.

former scenes of death, suffering, terror and flight were repeated; the faithful few again remained at the post of duty. The victims from the citizens of the town numbered twenty-eight, but among the laborers at work on the Wabash Railway, then in course of construction through the county, the disease was more fatal and upwards of one hundred of them fell victims to its ravages.

After the subsidence of the disease in the early autamn the citizens who had fled from its approach again returned, business was resumed and the town again entered upon its course of prosperity, which happily was not again interrupted by any epidemic until in the winter of 1872, when the small-pox in the course of a few weeks, caused the death of twenty-two citizens of the city, of whom was Dr. John G. Williams, the physician who was called to attend the first case, but through the prompt, energetic and efficient efforts of the Board of Health and the municipal authorities, the disease was rapidly quarantined, and soon ceased to exist. Since then there has been no attack of any epidemic disease.

Baptist Church. - The First Baptist Church, of Huntington, was organized in May, 1811. In January preceding twelve members of the Baptist Church, of ISTew Carlisle, Ohio, came together as a Baptist Colony from that place to Huntington. They were: H. J. Betts and Nancy P. Betts, his wife; Ctiarles Taylor and wife, Hugh Montgomery and wife, and their daughters, Lucy and Elizabeth; S. P. Barnes and John Kenower. In the organization of the church they were joined by brother and sister Holliwell, lately removed from Milton, Wayne County, Ohio, and the church organized with these fourteen members.

Of these fourteen constituent members three are still living in the city and are members of the church they helped to organize, namely: Mr. William Taylor, Deacon; John Kenower and Mrs. Ehzabeth Purviance, formerly Elizabeth Montgomery.

H. J. Betts was the first clerk and one of the most active members of the little church from its organization until his death which occurred in September, 1841. His widow afterward married the late Judge William Shearer, father of Postmaster Maj. Shearer, and continued an active member of the church until her death in 1885.

The first pastor was Rev. David Lewis, and services were held the first and third Sabbaths in each month, the church to pay the pastor "whatever they could;" the amount expected was probably not large.

The pastor resigned in November following and the church was supplied with preaching occasionally, until July, 1842, when George Sleeper, a young man not yet ordained, was called to preach to the church. His compensation was to be $150 in money and boarding for himself and horse. He to give half his time to the church.

In April, 1843, Charles Taylor, John Kenower and H. J. Betts were appointed a committee to take measures to secure the erection of a house of worship. The house was built of brick, was 34x45, one story, but was not completed until 1847, and cost $700. The building is still standing where it was originally built, nearly opposite the American House, on West Market Street.

The little brick building was occupied by the church until,. 1867, when it was sold and the proceeds invested in the present spacious church building on East Market Street.

This building was begun August 12, 1866, and was dedicated August 9, 18h8. It is of brick, 40x66, with a tower and spire in front 127 feet in height. There is a frame addition to the church in the rear, 34x45, for Sabbath School and social meetings, with a wing, 19x22, for the pastor's study and infant class room. Th& whole property is worth $10,000.

In the erection of the new church and parsonage, while each member of the church did all he reasonably could, it is but fair to state that to Deacon John Kenower belongs the credit of bearing the larger portion of the expense, and for their successful completion. It may, indeed, be truthfully said of the now white haired old deacon that during all the forty -six years he has been a member of this church, that he "he has done what he could."^

The Sabbath School connected with the church was organized soon after the formation of the church and has always received the earnest care and support of the membership. It is now presided over by Mr. John Mangus with an average attendance of over 100.

Presbyterian Church. - The First Prebysterian Church was or ganized in Huntington, November 11, 1843, by Rev. Samuel Steele and Rev. Thomas Anderson, in the old court house, with William Steele, Nancy L. Steele, James C. Best, Jane Best, Catherine McClellan, Phebe Anderson, Belinda Anderson and Philander Anderson, as constituent members. Of these eight, two are yet living in the city and are members of the church, namely, Mrs. Nancy L. Steele and Mrs. Belinda Moore, nee Belinda Anderson. William L. Steele was ordained the first Ruling Elder, Jacob Kenower, who had united with the church upon letter from the church at New Carlisle, Ohio, was elected and ordained as the second Ruling Elder in December, 1843. The church for a time used the court house for church services, afterward, through the generosity of the Methodist Church, they were permitted to use their house of worship until the increasing membership of that church made it impracticable for two congregations to occupy the same house.

The church then occupied a second story hall on Jefferson Street for about two years, when the owner of the building converted the hall into other uses.

The congregation for a time then accepted the use of the Christian Church, until that organization demanded the use of their house for all the time.

Houseless and homeless, the little band resolved to put their efforts together and build a house of worship for themselves. In 1844, Judge Hanna, of Fort W ayne, had given the society a lot in the city. This was sold, and in 18G1 the present site of the church building was purchased, and by the aid of the Church Erection Society, the present neat and convenient church building was erected thereon and dedicated in July, 1864. The building is brick, has a seating capacity of 400, and cost $i,000.

It is related of old Elder Kenower, who throughout all the changing locations of the congregation, had carried hymn books, communion service, and whatever else was needed, to the different places of worship, when he brought the books, and other things that had been his care so long, into the new building, that he exclaimed with tears in his eyes, "Thank God I am done carrying books; we are at home now and I have lived to see it."

Father Kenower, as he was familiarly called, was for a time the only male member of the church residing in the town, and the church was spoken of as " Father Kenower and his flock.'" He was Elder and Sexton during all this time and chorister for twenty-three years before his death, in August, 1866.

The church history would be incomplete without a short notice of another of the old members of the church who is yet faithful in her attendance, and teacher of the infant class in the Sabbath School.

Mrs. B. A. Moore is one of the original eight members and throughout all the years since its organization has been one of the most active and efficient of its members. She helped in the organization of the Sabbath School in 1844, was one of the first teachers and has taught a class ever since, being at present and for a number of "years past teacher of the infant class. Fortythree years a teacher and still at her post, beloved and honored by all who know her.

The church at its organization was 'New School and Antislavery. It was connected with the Logansport Presbytery, which at that time embraced all Northern Indiana. The Presbytery was afterward divided and the Huntington Church was connected with what was- then and is yet known as the Fort Wayne Presbytery.

The first pastor. Rev. Thomas Anderson, served the church faithfully until 1848, wben he was compelled to resign on account of failing health, but he continued to occasionally preach for the church until near the time of his death in 1853.

After the union of the old school and new school churches was decided upon by the general assemblies, the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Huntington, and the Trustees of the Rock Creek Township Church of Huntington County, agreed upon a plan of union of the two churches which was unanimously adopted at a general meeting of the two congregations.

The Sabbath School of the church has always been watched over by the members with tender care. It was organized in 1844; Elder Jacob Kenower was Superintendent of the school from its organization to the date of his death in 186B. Since then Elder H. B. Sayler, Dr. A. H. Shaffer, Elder Henry Hessin, U. D. Cole, William H. Much, Theodore K. Caldwell and S. M. Sayler, the present eflicient incumbent, have successively held that office.

The school has an average attendance of 125. The infant class alone, taught by Mrs. B. A. Moore, having a large membership. The present membership of the church is 156.

Methodist Church. - The plan of general government controlling the Methodist Churches, necessarily connected that church in Huntington, with other Methodist Churches, with which it was at different times joined in " the circuit."

In the spring of 1839, the Presiding Elder, Rev. George Buswick appointed Revs. S. Reed and Enoch Holdstock, to supply this circuit, and the first preaching was had by this denomination in Huntington, in the old log school house, in May, 1839. There were no Methodist families here at the time, and the preachers went four miles north of the town, to Clear Creek, to stay over night; whether they did this from choice, or because the good people of the town would not entertain them, is not stated. Several Methodist families having moved into the place a class was formed in 1840.

In 1846, Lewis W. Byron, John S. Hendryx, John R. Snyder and Samuel Moore, were the Board of Trustees of the church, and purchased Lot No. 17, in the original plat of the town, upon which the society erected a neat and commodious frame church building, which was occupied until 1867, when it was sold and the property purchased, upon which their present large and well arranged house of worship stands. The new building was completed and dedicated, in 1869, and has been occupied by the society ever since.

Since the occupancy of their present building, the church has been blessed with great prosperity; numerous additions have been made to the membership from time to time, until at the present time they rejoice in the largest membership and congregations of the Protestant Churches of the city.

The church membership is now 310, and the value of the church property is $15,000. The Sabbath School connected with the church, is justly the pride and hope of the church, and has always received" the active, zealous and intelligent support of the membership; a veritable nursery of the church. It is at present under the efficient superintendency of Peter W. Zent, Esq., aided by an able corps of teachers, and has the unusually large average attendance of 350.

preached at private houses and in school houses in the country around Huntington without any regular organization, in the year 184i. He was followed by two missionaries of the Muskingum, Ohio, Conference, Revs. John Hill and John Hoffman, in 1843 and in 1844. Rev. John Terrell, another missionary, blazed his way through the woods from North Manchester, in Wabash County to the Slusser neighborhood in Warren Township, this county, and from there soon afterward came to Huntington and organized a church in that year.

The original members were Michael Houseman and Mary, his wife; Nancy Houseman; John Houseman and wife, and Mary Ann their daughter; George Whitistine and Catherine, his wife; Mary Whitistine; Mahala Whitistine; John Morrison; Philip Anmock an d wife; George Anmock and wife, and their daughters, Lydia and Mary; John Anmock and wife; Martin Hull and wife; David Miller and wife, and their daughters, Mary and Lucinda. John Houseman was the first class leader.

Although the number of members was large at the organization of the church for that day, yet the church thus organized continued to exist but a few years; death and removals being the principal causes of their disintegration.

In the winter of 1874-5 Rev. George Sicafoos, of the St. Joseph Conference, and a man of great ability and influence held a series of meetings in the interest of this denomination, which resulted in gathering together of some seventy -five members, including converts, and the re -organization of the church in the spring of 1875.

The church shortly afterward purchased the building formerly occupied by the Methodist Church on West Matilda Street, which, after some repairs were made, is a neat and commodious house of worship with a seating capacity of 250.

Rev. A. W. Snepp was pastor from 1879 to 1881; Rev. J. H. Simons from 1881 to 1884; Rev. J. L. Goshert from 1884 to 1886, when the Rev. A. M. Cummins, the present incumbent, began his labors with the church. The church property is valued at §3,000. The present membership is over 100 and steadily increasing. The Sabbath School has an average attendance of seventy-five and has been for a number of years past under the superintendency of James M. Hatfield, Esq. Mr. Hatfield is a prorhinent member of the Bar of the Huntington Circuit Court.

Christian Church. - The first organization of this chuich took place on the 13th of April, 1845, with the following members, namely: Ebenezer Thompson, Mary A. Thompson, Elizabeth M. Bagley, Miss Mary Ann Thompson, Ann P. Slack, AmziD. Meese, Rebecca Ann Meese, Susanna Wilcox, Elias Croft, Maria Croft, Persis Croft, Ann Boles and Melinda Boles.

tion in this vicinity. He removed from Bracken County, Kentucky, in 1839. Elder Evan Thompson, a nephew of Ebenezer Thompson, preached for the new church, part of the time occasionally and part of the time regularly, as the church was able to pny him, until about 1852. From 1852 to 1860 the church had preaching for the greater part of the time regularly, by Elders

Daniel Franklin and Benjamin Franklin, assisted occasionally by Elders Samuel Shortridge, James Hadsell and R Faurot, who did effecient service for the church. From 1860 to 1864 Elders W. B. Hendryx and Zeph W. Shepherd served the church regularly for the most of the time.

On the 12th day of August, 1866, Elder L. Berry Smith, the present pastor in charge, entered upon his duties, and has remained at his post continuously ever since, with the exception of the year 1873 - thus giving us living evidence that a preacher can remain twenty years with a congregation and in a community with a constantly growing confidence and influence.

We wish we could truthfully record more such instances among the churches and pastors of our city. Bro. Smith, like the Shunamite mother, " lives at home with his own people," beloved by his own congregation and respected by the whole community. His familiar form and pleasant smile have almost become a part of the religious life of the city, and we are sorry to see him growing old.

The flrst church building was erected in 1851, and was occupied by the society until 188-, when it was sold to the Temperance Organization and removed to the rear end of their lot, where it yet remains in the possession of that organization. The present substantial and convenient brick house of worship was erected and dedicated in 188-. It is situated on the corner of Frankin and Guilford Streets and is an ornament to the city.

German Reformed Church. - -St. Peter's Congregation, of Huntington, was organized in January, 1857, the first-officers being Henry Drover, Sr., Frederick Blum, and William G. Faust, Elders; Harmom Borchers, George Fahl, and Jacob Shearer, Deacons; Conrad Peipenbrink and Daniel Shearer, Trustees.

In May, 1859, Henry Drover, Sr., presented them with the grounds upon which their present church buildings stand, and in December following their handsome brick church was dedicated.

In 1869 a school house and parsonage were erected; the property of the congregation being now worth $10,000, and is all situated in the Third Ward of the city.

Catholic Church. - The missionaries of the Catholic Church have always been among the earliest to penetrate the wilderness, in all parts of our country, and sow the seeds of religion that paved the way for civilization, regardless of personal danger and hardship. Regarding the " labor of love" as paramount to a systematic record of their doings, their deeds are for the most part, known only by tradition. In the early history of the church at Huntington and in fact, long before there was any established church here, the early missionaries visited the place from time to time; among the earliest of these was Rev. Stephen T. Badin, of Bardstown, Kentucky, who was here in 1834. At that time there were but five Catholic families in the neighborhood, namely, the families of David Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Michael Kennedy, Martin Roche and Michael Doyle. During the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal through the county, many Catholics were employed, a few of whom purchased property and became citizens.

Father Badin while here, procured the donation to^the church, of the lot of ground on which the present church buildings stand, from General Tipton.

At that time the nearest resident priest in the State was at Vincennes, from which place the Catholic families here, were visited the year following by Father Lalumier: and afterwards by Fathers Ruff and Miller, from Fort Wayne.

In 1839 Father Julian Benoit came to Fort Wayne, and shortly afterward, through his efforts, arrangements were made, by "which he or one of his assistants, Fathers Rodolph and Faller, attended here regularly at stated times.

From ISlfJ to 1857 this parish was attended by the residentpriests at-large in the following order: Rev. Patrick McDermot, Rev. Michael O'Flanegan, and Rev. John Regan.

In 1857 Rev. Dr. Shippert became the first resident pastor of Huntington. He was succeeded by Father Fachs, and he by Father Mayer, and he by Rev. Father Steiner, who died while pastor of the church iji 1880. He was succeeded by the present beloved pastor Rev. lather Hueser.

lu 1838 a hewed log church building, about 25x40, was built, but not completed until 1844, when it was plastered inside and "weather-boarded outside, presenting the appearance of a frame building.

Previous to this time services were held from house to house chiefly, but sometimes in school houses. In 1849 the church was enlarged by a frame addition to one end and used for a church and school house until the present edifice was erected. The present elegant brick structure -which replaced the old church building, was finished in 1866 at a cost of $30,000. It was erected

City Op Huntington. 423'

The large clock at the base of the tower is a present to the church from the business men of Huntington. The interior of the church is elaborately ornamented, the main altar and pulpit being unusually handsome. The station pictures are done in oil and handsomely framed. They were purcha-sed in Germany. The organ is powerful and melodious.

The church is named for Saints Peter and Paul; is 60x140 feet,, with a seating capacity of 1,000; is in the Diocese of Fort Wayne and under Bishop Joseph Dwenger.

The Catholic School is taught in connection with the church, is graded and of the highest order, and teachers are selected with great care and the whole under the direct supervision of the Pastor. A neat and commodious parsonage is erected near the church. The whole property belonging to the church is worth $75,000.

The growth of the church from its earliest days has been and is continuous; many of its members being among the ablest and wealthiest business and professional raen in the city.

Evangelical Lutheran. - This church, known as St. Peter's, was organized March 2d, 1849. The first trustees were Jacob Waber, George Eicker and Gotlieb Pobler. The first members were the said trustees and Henry Erk, Nicholas Schumaker, Henry Schwartz, Fred Mohn, John Haunestein, Ernst Kuhlman, Henry Kirchoff and David Heike) .

The congregation began building immediately after their organization and completed a small frame building on their lot on LaFontaine Street by the close of the first year, at a cost of S200. The present brick church was built on the same lot in 1873, at a cost of $13,000, with a seating capacity of 300. The present membership is nearly 200 persons, with a good Sabbath School. The church maintains its own school, which is held in the old church building, and is taught by the pastor.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (English Lutheran). - This church was organized in May, 1876, by Rev. 0. S. Oglesby, its first pastor.

Among those who were prominent in its organization may be mentioned the names of Eurias Dumbauld and Warren Dumbauld and Jacob Miller. The church, when organized, only had twelve communicants. Rev. Oglesby continued as pastor of the church until 1880. The church was without regular services after Mr. Oglesby's departure until August, 1882, when the pr'es-

In 18S3-4 the church purchased a lot in Foust's addition to the city, and erected thereon a neat parsonage and an elegant frame church building at a cost of $3,500.

The membership and congregation have steadily increased since Pastor Cooperrider's location with them. The church membership is now fifty-three communicants with a congregation of 100 or m®re.

A Sabbath School was organized two years ago and is increasing in members and efficiency, pastor and people working together in harmony in Church and Sabbath School.

Evangelical Association. - This church was organized June 10, 1882, with a membership of thirteen, with Rev. W. H. Mygrants as local preacher.

The first pastor was Rev. D. J. Pontius, who served the congregation for one year. He was succeeded by the Rev. L. B. Fisher, who continued with them for three years, and he was succeeded by Rev. J. Fisher, the present incumbent, who is now on his second year. The last two pastors have been very successful, the present membershii) numbering 108, with a flourishing Sabbath School, averaging an attendance of ninety, under the successful supervision of Mrs. Henry Kenner.

The Society, since its organization, has erected a neat brick church building, at a cost of $4,000, and a frame parsonage, at a cost of $800.

A.F. & A. M. - The petition for dispensation to organize the first Masonic Lodge, in Huntington, was signed by the following brethren : A. G. Perkins, H. C. Skinner, M. J. Purviance, J. W. Spiller, S. J. Johnson, S. H. Purviance, S. Cassady and J. H. Swail. The petition was received and dispensation granted, dated January 24, Anno Lucis, 6851, signed E. Demming, G. M.

The above named brethren met February 6, A. L. 5851, in the hall of La Fontaine Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and accepted the dispensation from the Grand Lodge, and organized. Bro. A. G. Perkins, as Master, Bro. H. C. Skinner, Senior Warden, Bro. M . J. Purviance, as Junior Warden, and commenced work.

W. H. D. Lewis was thefirst petitioner for degrees; his petition was received, and he was the first elected to receive the degrees of the lodge.

At the May session of the Grand Lodge, a charter was granted, dated May 30, A. L. 5851, constitutmg them a lodge under the name of "Mystic Lodge, No. 110," A. F. & A. M., with the following officers : J. M. Spiller, W. M.; A. A. Hubble, S. W.; W. H. D. Lewis. J. W.; J. Alexander, Treasurer; J. H. Swail, Secretary; W. Hicox, S. D.; S. Cassady, J. D.; S. W. Hawley, Tiler; and for Stewarts, S. J. Johnson and J. W. Purviance. The

In 1874, Amity Lodge, No. 483, was organized in this city, from members of Mystic Lodge, with George Emerickas, W. M.; LaGrange Severance, S. F. Day, R. Simonton, J. M. Bratton and S. D. Baker, have also served the lodge, as Master.

Huntington Chapter No. 27, Royal Arch Masons. - This chapter was organized on the 27th of June, 1854, at Masonic Hall, in Huntington. The organized members were John R. Coffroth, A. A. Hubble, Joseph Wiley, S. J. Johnson, William Stewart, Samuel McCaughey, John Alexander, James High and JamesM. Bratton.

The first degrees were conferred upon Dr. F. S. C. Grayston, W. B. Lyons, George Corlew, Jesse Davies, W. H. D. Lewis and Joseph W. Purviance. Companion John R. Coffroth was appointed first High Priest and continued in charge of the chapter until 1858, when Dr. W. B. Lyons was elected High Priest, and continued to serve with credit to fraternity and honor to himself for twelve years.

June 3rd, 1868, Dr. J. G. Williams was elected first officer and served until his death in March, 1872. On the 14th of June, 1872, Dr. LaGrange Severance was elected High Priest, and has filled that position ever since, except during 1875 when John Mangus served.

Huntington Council No. 51, Royal and Select Masons. - This Masonic Society held its preliminary meeting, January 11, 1878, and prepared a petition to Illustrious Grand Master Butterfield for a dispensation, which was granted. The signers were Dr. LaGrange Severance, Robert Simonton, William B. Lyons, Daniel D. Swafford, S. S. Levy, Leopold Levy, George W. Stults, Samuel D. Baker, U. D. Cole and Alfred Moore.

Dr. LaGrange Severance was appointed Illustrious Master, who was succeeded by Robert Simonton, and he by James M. Bratton who is the present incumbent.

Odd Fellowship. - This great benevolent institution was estabhshed in Huntington County by the institution of LaPontaine Lodge, Ko. 42, in Huntington, on April 22d, 1847. The charter was granted by Joel B. McFarland, then Grand Master. This lodge had Joseph Wiley, a former County Clerk, as its first E". G. Among the persons who have passed the chairs of this lodge in its early days are Joseph Wiley, Judge J. R. Slack, J. R. Coffroth, L. P. Milligan, Samuel Davies.

The lodge was organized and held its first meetings in what was known as the old Rock House, the old-time stone tavern north of the old Wabash & Erie Canal. It afterward met for some years in the northwest corner room of thfe second story of the old brick American iiouse.

The lodge existed with varying success until July 5, 1859, when, on account of internal dissensions growing out of questions just preceding the V^ar, of a political nature, it surrendered its charter and was ddrmant for the next six years, but in 1865 a petition was sent in for a restoration of the charter, which was granted, and the lodge has had great prosperity ever since, until now it is one of the substantial institutions of the county. There are now only two of the original members living; these are Joseph Elder and W. N". D. Lewis, who are in-good standing and honored members of the lodge.

The lodge owns property and assets worth $35,000, and has 150 members in good standing, composed of the best and solid men of the county. They own and control the beautiful Mt. Hope Cemetery, in the west part of town, which is the only public cemetery in the city.

Erom this splendid lodge the following lodges have sprung, viz.: Little River, Roanoke; Salamonie, Warren; Loon Creek, Andrews; Mt. Etna, Mt. Etna; Markle, Markle; Star of Hope, Brown's Corners. From La Fontaine Lodge has been furnished two members for high positions in the Order. John Morgan has served as Grand Patriarch for the Encampment Branch of the Order in Indiana, and represented the State in the Sovereign Grand Lodge for two years; also, J. B. Kenner was elected Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of the Order in the state and served during 1886, bringing to the order a great revival of interest. He is now a Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge.

Knights of Pythias. - Huntington Lodge No. 93, K. of P., was organized at Huntington on April 20, 1881. Grand Chancellor William N. Gillum, of Rockville, Indiana, being the instituting officer, and was assisted in the work by members of the order from Logansport, Bluffton, Richmond and Decatur. The charter members were thirty-one in number and the first officers were: E. G. Thomas, P. G; Dr. L. Severance, C. C; W. A. Jones, Y. C; J. M. Hatfield, Prelate; Henry Hilgenberg, M. of C, Mathias Sukes, M. of F.; L. T. Bagley, K. of R. & S.; S. T. Cost, M. at A.; Emmet Shanks, I. G.; D. C. Anderson, O. G., and John I Dille, Jacob Levi and Charles Mades, Trustees. The members who have served in the office of Chancellor Commander, in the order of their election, are: Dr. L. Severance, W. A. Jones, J. M. Hatfield, D. C. Anderson, T. G. Smith, John I. Dille, L. T. Baglev, J. M. Hatfield, H. M. Purviance, S. T. Cast, M. B. Stults, and Jacob Dick. These have all attained the rank of Past Chancellor except Jacob Dick, who is yet serving as Chancellor Commander, and in addition two others have attained that rank.

City Op Huntington

E. G. Thomas elected at the organization of the Lodge and Milton Slates, elected at the end of J. M. Hatfield's second term as Chancellor Commander, Hatfield being already a Past Chancellor. The Lodge has been represented in the Grand Lodge by the fol- Past Chancellors: In 1883. by E. G. Thomas; In 1883, by W. A.- Jones; in 188i, by J. M. Hatfield; in 1885, by D. C. Anderson; in

The lodge is now strong in membership, its roster containing the names of many leading citizens, is out of debt and has a little hard cash laid by for a rainy day, while the castle hall now occupied, at the corner of Market and Jefferson Streets, is one of the most elegant lodge rooms in the State.

On April :^0, 1883, a number of the members assisted by Mesdames Emmet Shanks, as Calanthe, and A. A. Adams as Nermion, and Master George Adams, gave a rendition of the Dream of Damon and Pythias, to a very large Huntington audience. Much interest was created in the order by the acceptable manner in which the play was given.

From the membership of the lodge Huntington Division No. 16, of the Uniform Rank, was organized January 30, 1884. Gen. James R. Carnahan being the instituting officer. This branch of the order has added much to the prosperity of the lodge in this place.

The lodge has had a fortunate career in its six years' history, so far no death having occurred among the members, although two, viz.: J. K Gesamon and E. A. Ramsey have followed their wives- to the grave. A number of the members have learned the value of a brother's watchful care while languishing upon beds of sickness, and the flood sufferer has been made to know the effect of the teachings of the great principles of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.

After the location of the Chicago & Atlantic Railway shops, and a division headquarters of the road at this city in 1883-3, flourishing lodges of the order of Railway Conductors, and of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Brotherhood of Railway Brakemen were organized by the employees of the Chicago & Atlantic and the Wabash Railways.

The Press. - The first newspaper printed in Huntington was the Republican Bugle, in 1817. It was published by Thomas Smith, who did all the work himself. In politics it was Demo-

In 1859, Alexander C. Thompson, then editor and proprietor of the paper, changed its name to the Huntington Democrat, which it still retains.

Mr. Winters was a clear, forcible writer and gave tone and character to the local Democratic organization during his connection with the paper.

In 1877, William J. Craig, the present editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, and William J. Hilligas, purchased the paper of Winters, and continued its proprietors until 1884, Mr.'Hilligas having the active management, when the interest of Mr. Craig was sold to Col. I. B. McDonald, of Whitty County, and in 1885 the whole paper was sold to Messrs. William R. Emery and Benjamin F. Biliter, the present proprietors.

The paper has a circulation of 1,700; is the recognized organ of its political friends; its editors and proprietors are young men of good social standing and influence, and the paper is bright and newsy.

Isaac De Long soon retired from the active management of the paper and the entire control of the same was taken charge of by his son A. W. De Long, who continued to own and edit it until 1869, a period of twenty-one years, covering a period of .great political excitement.

Mr. De Long's political writings upon the topics of the day able, original and pointed. He stated his convictions in plain language and without equivocation, moved by neither fear, favor nor affection.

In 1869, U. D. Cole and M. G. Main became proprietors, Mr. Main retiring a few months afterward and Mr. John F. Moses taking his interest. Messrs. Cole & Moses continued to manage the paper until 1875, when Mr. De Long, assisted by Alfred Moore, Esq., again took charge of it. This firm continued until October 1878, when Charles F. Filson took Mr. Moore's place, and the paper continued in their hands until in 1 882, when it was sold to Hon. James B. Kenner and Alonzo and 0. E. Mohler, who continued to own and edit it until the present stock com-

The Lime City News was established by W. T. Catchall, Esq., in 1878. It was devoted to local interests, was for a time independent in politics, but afterwards afiliated with the National Greenback Party.

In 1883 it passed into the hands of D. B. Hoover, Esq., and was continued as a local Independent paper, until January 1, 1886, when Mr. Hoover and Thad Butler, Esq., publisher and proprietor of the Andreiv's Express; consolidated the two papers under the name of the News-Express, and issued the same from the News' office in Huntington.

In May, 1887, the paper was consolidated with the Indiana Herald. Mr. Butler, its principal editor, taking the same position in the consolidated paper.

The consolidated paper has by far the largest circulation of any paper heretofore published in the city, and. is issued in daily and weekly forms.

Banks. - The first banking institution in the city was the "Huntington County Bank," which began business in 1854 with a capital of §50,000. The principal part of the stock was held by James R. Weldon, of Mansfield, Ohio. The resident stockholders were John Roche, Samuel H. Purviance, Samuel Moore and Benjamin Orton. John Roche was President, James R. Weldon, Cashier, and and Thomas Roche, Assistant Cashier. The circulation was about §45,000. It did a general banking business until the financial crash in 1857, when it closed its business , redeeming its outstanding circulation in full, dollar for dollar.

The First National Bank was organized September 26th, 1863, and chartered December 12th, following. The incorporators were Charles B, Culver, Samuel H. Purviance, William McGrew, John R. Coflfroth, John Roche and Thomas S. Stanfield. The capital stock was $50,000. Samuel H. Purviance was elected President, a position he held until his death, in April, 1873. , William McGrew was the first Cashier, filling that position from the organization of the bank until 1878, when he was chosen President, and is still at the head of the bank. Joseph W. Purviance became President in 1873, and held the office until 1878. The capital stock was increased in 1871 to $100,000. In 1883 the bank was re-organized, its first charter having expired. Mr. McGrew was continued as President; his daughter, Mrs. Frank

Dick, was selected for Cashier, a position she has ably and successfully filled ever since, and Mr. B. Eisenhouer was made Vice President; he, Mr. McGrew, and Mrs. Dick, having the active management of the bank. The bank is one of the best managed of the National Banks, has undoubted credit, and does a general banking business throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.

The Citizens' Bank was organized September 1, 1871, with the following stockholders: Frederick Dick, Enos T. Taylor, U. D. Cole, James B. Cole, Charles H. Nix, A. W. DeLong, Matthias Ludwig, and John Morgan.

Fredrick Dick, Enos T. Taylor and John Morgan were chosen the first President, Vice President and Cashier, respectively, positions which they still occupy.

Since 1877 the capital stock of the bank has all been held by Frederick Dick and Enos T. Taylor. The original capital stock was $50,000, but this has been largely increased by the addition of surplus earnings. The financial standing of the institution is above question, and its managemenb is careful, energetic and successful. The bank does a large business and is deservedly popular in the community.

As the County of Huntington was originally heavily timbered with the largest growth and best qualities of hard wood, lumber and timber in various manufactured forms, have been the princicipal resource of manufacturing enterprise.

Probably the pioneer effort in exporting lumber from Huntington, was made by the late John Lewis, who is said to have shipped lumber to an eastern market, via the Wabash & Erie Canal, as early as 1847-8, the amount shipped however was not large.

John Kenower begun the lumber trade in 1853 and has been engaged in it almost continuously ever since. His first efforts were made in the black walnut lumber trade, then first becoming an important item in the trade. He continued to make a specialty of this branch of the lumber trade, until 1875, during which time he bought and shipped an immense quantity of that kind of lumber, amounting at times to 1,500,000 feet per year.

Mr. Kenower did not confine himself to the black walnut lumber trade alone, but in 1865, in connection with George S. Brinkerhoff, he built a sawmill, near where his mill now stands, purchasing Mr. Brinkerhoff 's interest two years afterward, and with a slight intermission, continuing the business until the present time.

In 1868 a planing mill was added, and in 1878 new machinery, and again in 1880, other machinery was added, which has been still further increased, as the wants of the business required it.

-east end of the city, was located here in 1870, and has been in almost constant operation ever since, at times running two sets of hands, keeping the factory in operation day and night. The capital invested is $40,000, and the annual output 6,000,000 staves and 1,000,000 set of heading, the manufacture of which gives employment to seventy-five workmen. The manufactured material is shipped to Buffalo, N. Y., on the east, to Lincoln, Neb., on the west, and to St. Louis, Mo., and Sherman, Texas, in the south, including all the principal intermediate points east, west and south.

In 1882 a saw mill was erected in connection with the other factories, with a capacity of 2,500,000 feet of lumber per year, which gives constant employment to fifteen men.

And in 1884 the bending factory was established, with a capacity of 8,000 feet of lumber per day, which is manufactured into all kinds of rims for buggies and wagons, and is operated with a working force of twenty-five men.

The whole establishments are under the active personal supervision of the proprietor. Col. Cyrus E. Briant, and is the most important manufacturing industry of the city.

The plow handle and barrel hoop factory of G. V. Griffith & Son, is located on the south side ofthe Wabash Eailway track in the east part of town.

This industry was established in 1869, by the senior Mr. Griffith, was removed to its present site and enlarged in 1875, and has lately been supplied with a band saw mill, the only one in use in the county.

With the exception of the saw mill, all the machinery used in the factory is the invention of Mr. G. V. Griffith. The business gives employment to forty men.

The lumber yard and planing mill of Slack & Ayres was in 1875, and is located on the banks of the river in the east part of the city.

They are also making a specialty of a wire and slat picket fence, having lately fitted up machinery for manufacturing the -same to a large extent.

Spoke and Bentwood Factory. - This establishment is located on the south side of the river and was first operated by the late Henry Drover, in 1868.

The raw material is supplied from the east, of hard wood native timber, and is manufactured into all kinds of spokes and bentwood materials.

The value of the annual output is about $40,000. This is one of the solid establishments of the city, is owned by John J. Young, Esq., and gives work to a considerable number of employees.

Furniture Manufactory. - This business was established in 1846 by John Kenower. In 1863, he took his brother A. Q. Kenower into partnership, who in 1869 became sole proprietor, and has continued to operate it ever since.

The material is obtained from the native woods. The trade is confined to the local demand. The value of the annual output being from $15,000 to $20,000.

Coopering. - This industry was established in Huntington by Eobert Black upward of thirty years ago, and is still carried on by him at his factory in the west part of the city.

Wagons, Carriages and Buggies. - Henry Beaver is the pioneer wagon maker, begining that line of business thirty-five years ago in connection with his blacksmith shop, and has continued that line of business successfully from thence to the present time; giving the business his own personal supervision. Messrs. Hall & Hendricks started their carriage and wagon establishment in 1869. They make a speciality of hand made vehicles, strong, durable and elegant, giving employment to an average of five men.

The Craumer Carriage Co. was first started in Andrews in 1883; removed to this city in 1886. They do a wholesale and retail business in all kinds of wheeled vehicles. Have a capacity of 200 carriages per year. The proprietors are Messrs D. M. Craumer & Sons.

Heading Factory. - In August, 1882, George Myers and Eli E. Allen, engaged in this business, confining their business solely to the manufacture of heading setts for the cooperage trade.

The business has been fairly renumerative, and the proprietors are gradually increasing their stock and their facilities for working the same. They are located on the south side of the river, just east of the Chicago & Atlantic Railway tracks.

Mills and Foundries. - The first blacksmith shop in Huntington was built and carried on by William G. Johnson. It was of logs, and stood on the rear end of the jail yard lot on the banks of Flint Creek. This shop was built in 1835, and to it was added a foundry on a small scale. An open fire was built of charcoal, and a blast supplied by two bellows of the ordinary kind used by blacksmiths, and worked by horse-power, each alternately, so that a constant draft was kept up.

In 185S, Morris Drummond and Avery Drummond, erected a foundry on Lot 55, vsrhich they afterward sold to P. W. Moffitt, who conducted the business with different partners until 1869, when he formed a partnership with James McCurdy and M. V. B. Gotschall, and the business greatly enlarged, and the new brick buildings erected on Lot 54. Gotschall and McCurdy afterward retired from the firm and Thomas Roche became a member, and the new firm engaged largely in the manufacture of stoves and machinery.

In 1883, the whole plant passed into the hands of the present proprietor, E. G. Clayton, Esq., who has added greatly to the facilities for turning off work and largely increased the business of the concern.

After selling - their foundry on Lot 55, to Moffitt, the Drummond Bros, erected another foundry on the banks of the canal, at the crossing of Warren Street, which they continued to operate by themselves, and by other parties in connection with them, until 1873, when they were succeeded by Messrs. Cook and Speaker who operated the foundry, engaging principally in the manufacture of plows, until 1881, when the plant was sold to Messrs. Dorn & Gemmer.

These gentlemen have added largely to the business, and in the spring of 18S7 built a large and commodious foundry on the banks of Flint Creek, in the northeast part of the city, and have added new and improved machinery and facilities lo meet the wants of their increasing business.

The old foundry on Warren Street has been refitted by Messrs. Newman & Yoght, two young men of enterprise and ability, and new machinery added in the early part of the present year, 1887, and already command a fair share of the business in their line.

Flouring Mills. - The first mill in Huntington was owned and operated by William G. Johnson. It was a " corn cracker, " and was situated on the rear end of the jail lot over the creek.

It was a small affair and was in the basement of the proprietor's blacksmith shop. It was run by water power furnished by a dam over Flint Creek, about where the First National bank building now stands. This mill was soon after enlarged so as to grind wheat, and was the first "grist mill " in this part of the country. This was in 1837, and was operated in this way until 1849, when Johnson tore away the old shop, foundry and mill, and built a complete flouring mill on the same site, with three runs of stones, which was operated by different parties until 1861, when it was destroyed by fire.

The Huntington Flouring Mills were built in 1861, by James Taylor, at a cost of $15,000. The mills passed through se"veral hands until they were purchased by the present proprietors, Arnold, Thomas & Co., 1870, who have made important additions to them and added new and improved machinery, making a specialty of "New Process Flour."

The City Mills were built in 1869, by Uriah Fink; they were built for custom work, and have always commanded a good business. They are now in charge of Mr. John Minnick, who has put in additional facilities, and manufactures "New Process Flour " for the city trade as well as attending to the large custom trade that the mills have built up.

Marble Works. - The establishment now owned and operated by N. A. Myres, near the river on Jefferson Street, was established in 1851, by Augustus Kellog, afterward passing into the hands of A. D. Turtlott, and from him to the present owner. The output is $3,000 worth per year, and is increasing.

Jacob Becker & Son's marble works are situated on the banks of the old canal on North Jefferson Street; were established in 1872 and have always received a fair share of the public patronage.

White Lime. - The white lime trade of the city has become one of its most important industries. The first lime was burnt along the old Wabash & Erie Canal, west of the city, and shipped principally to Fort "Wayne. Large quantities of this lime was burned and shipped before the present kilns east of the city were opened. The present limestone quarries were opened in 1865.

Adam Beck, James Fulton, Hawley Brothers, E. S. Wheeler, W. A. Berry, John Lillie, Michael Boltes, James Lillie, and others, were among the early operators in the east part of town, the most of whom are yet in the business. The lime manufactured is of a superior quality in strength, durability, and particularly in its pure white color.

The market is to all points that can be reached in reasonable time, and rates, by rail, principally Chicago, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The principal part of the trade is controlled by the White Lime Association, composed of the leading operators in the business, under the active supervision of Wesley W. Hawley, Esq., of the firm of Hawley Bros. The output of the kilns is an average of thirty car loads per day, and the industry gives employment to about 200 men.

Flax and Jute Bagging Factory. - This establishment was started in the summer of 1876, by John Niblock, the original plant costing about $15,000. The raw material at first was almost entirely flax straw, purchased from the farmers of the surrounding country, of which an average of 1,000 tons per year was used.

In 1880 Niblock's interest passed to Messrs. William McGrrew, President of the First National Bank, and William H. Hessin, Esq., the latter having the active management of the business. In 1886 the entire buildings and machinery were destroyed by fire.

The capacity of the mill is 2,500 yards of bagging per day. The mills are kept in constant operation, giving work to an average of fifty employees, and is one of the substantial enterprises of the city.

Brewery. - In 1866 Jacob Boos and George Phaler started their brewery. In 1869, Boos became sole proprietor, and has operated it ever since.

Potash Factory. - This establishment was started in 1873, by Frederick Lushing, and has been in active operation ever since. The raw material is obtained from wood ashes.

Fire Department. - There is perhaps no organization so taxing on the energies and pockets, as a volunteer fire department, and none deserving of more gratitude.

The equipment is two steam engines, 2,500 feet of hose, and a full supply of ladders, hooks, buckets, carts, etc., etc., and a team of trained horses.

One cistern in the Second Ward, with Flint Creek traversing diagonally the entire ward, furnishing a constant supply of water, and the river on the south end of the ward.

An episode in the city's history was the organization of the Huntington Mining Company, in 1866, for the purpose of prospecting for gold in the limestone quarries west of the city. The company was organized by several citizens of the town, and large tracts of land leased. Experts examined the limestone formations for traces of the precious metal, and several barrels were shipped to eastern assayists to discover the percentage of gold in the rocks, a number of speculators from abroad were induced to take stock, machinery was purchased, and work begun under the supervision of one of the aforesaid experts. But the dividends were on the wrong side of the ledger account and the scheme was finally abandoned, after an ineffectual attempt to strike oil, the gold having failed to "pan out," by boring on the farm of Thomas Moore, west of the city. And this oil hole that flows with pure water is all that remains of the gold excitement, except the recollections of the stockholders, whose only dividends were assessments to pay expenses.

The natural gas and petroleum oil excitement that has developed so wonderfully since the summer of 1886, caused the organization of a company in Huntington for the purpose of boring for gas and oil. The company was organized in the fall of 1886, and early in 1887 sunk two wells some fifty feet into the Trenton Rock, at a cost of about S3,500, but the only effect was to denaonstrate that our city did }iot lie in the natural gas belt.

The railroad interests of our city are rightly considered among the greatest of its many advantages and a short history of the inception, construction and business of the two roads that intercept each other here is necessary to a full history of the city's business interests.

When the road was first proposed, as in the case of nearly all proposed railroads, there was no well defined line laid out, except the general proposition to connect Lake Erie and the Mississippi River by railroad. The line was finally selected up the valley of the Mauniee River from Toledo, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, but from thence to Logansport, Indiana two lines were proposed; the first line was from Fort Wayne via Liberty Mills, and thence down the Eel River Valley to Logansport. This line was several miles the shortest and ran through, at that time, a far better improved country than the other proposed line, from Fort Wayne down the Little River and Wabash Valleys, through Huntington, Wabash and Peru to Logansport. The Little River swamps and the unimproved condition of the country along the latter line were arguments used with great force by the advocates of the first line against the location of the road along its present line.

Comstock, of Liberty Mills, and other influential citizens along that line, as well as the greater portion of the business interests of Fort Wayne. The first meeting to consider the matter was held at Logansport, June 33 and 24, 1852. It was attended by representatives of both proposed lines, as well as by the friends of the road from Toledo, Ohio, and Lafayette, Indiana, and other intermediate points. The delegates from Huntington were: John Roche, Samuel Moore, David L. Shearer, L. P. MiUigan, Jesse Davies and John Zeigler, and George W. Chapman, from Roanoke. No final action was taken as to the location of the road, but general resolutions indorsing the enterprise, and pledging it financial support were adopted.

The resolutions as reported to the meeting did not designate upon which of the two rival routes the road should be located, and on motion of Col. Milligan an amendment to the resolutions was adopted, to the effect that the road should be located along the Little Wabash River route. And the articles of incorporation so designated the route. The friends of the Eel River route immediately began taking measures looking to a re-organization of the company, with the intention of locating it upon their route. As the expense of a re-organization would have been comparatively light, Mr. Roche was especially fearful that they might succeed in finally obtaining the road. To prevent which he immediately went to work with characteristic energy to obtain subscriptions to aid in the construction of the road, provided it should follow the Little River route. In these efforts he was ably seconded by Col. Milligan, Samuel H. Purviance, and other influential citizens, Mr. Roche taking it upon himself to make a thorough canvas of the town and county to secure such subscriptions, and so successful were they that at a subsequent meeting, also held at Logansport, to finally determine upon which of the two lines the road should be located, Mr. Roche was able to lay before the meeting subscriptions to the amount of $22,000, at that time a very large sum of money, and much larger than any amount presented from any other point on either of the two lines. The sum was so exceptionally large that Mr. Azariah Boody, who was present representing the New York capitalists, who were proposing to advance the money for the construction of the road, when Mr. Roche made his statement of the amount, turned to Mr. Allen Hamilton, of Fort Wayne, and inquired if it was possible that such a subscription could be good. Mr. Hamilton's prompt reply was that if Mr. Roche said it was good he could rely upon it as being good. Mr. Boody then turned to the representatives of the Eel River route and asked the amount of their subscriptions; the showing on their part was very unsatisfactory, but they dilated largely upon the highly developed state of the country along their line and upon the low^ wet and undeveloped lands along Little River, and of Huntington County generally. But Mr.

Source changes here: from History of Huntington County, Indiana : a Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests, by Bash, Frank Sumner, B. 1859. 1n, published 1914; 6,032 words in this source stream.

Huntington Township

Location - Traditionary History - The Helyeys - Flint Springs Hotel - General Tipton - Early Traders and Pioneers - Markets and Prices in Early Times - Incorporated as a Town - Becomes a City in 1873 - List of Mayors and Other City Officials - Fire Department - Waterworks - Streets and Sewers - Board of Trade - Commercial Association - The Postoffice - Miscellaneous Facts - Municipal Finances - General Conditions . 131

Location - Traditionary History - The Helveys - Flint Springs Hotel - General Tipton - Early Traders and Pioneers - Markets and Prices in Early Times - Incorporated as a Town - Becomes a City in 1873 - List op Mayors and Other City Officials - Fire Department - Waterworks - Streets and Sewers - Board of Trade - Commercial Association - The Postoffice - Miscellaneous Facts - Municipal Finances - General Conditions.

Huntington, the county seat and only incorporated city in the County of Huntington, is situated on the Little River, near the center of Hunt¬ ington Township, and a little northwest of the geographical center of the county. Long before the first white men came to the county, the site of the city was known to the Indians as We-pe-che-an-gan-ge, which means "Flint Place," or "place of the flints." Here the natives were wont to assemble and drink of the pure water that flowed from the fine springs, which the early Indian traders named "Flint Springs," and to the little tributary that entered the river near this place they gave the name of Flint Creek.

There is a tradition that General Harrison 's army, while on the march from Fort Recovery, Ohio, to the Tippecanoe River in 1811, camped upon the ridge where the city now stands. It is certain that the army passed through the county on that occasion, but it is not certain that a camp was made near the mouth of Flint Creek.

The civilized history of the city begins with the settlement of two brothers, Champion and Joel Helvey, in 1831, when they selected a tract of land in what is now the northeast quarter of Section 15, Township 28, Range 8 east, and built a large double log house, two stories in height, with additions of one story, which extended the length of the building to nearly 100 feet. This rambling structure afterward became known as the "Flint Springs Hotel," one of the first houses of entertainment between Fort Wayne and Logansport. Champion Helvey had come to the Wabash Valley some years before locating on the site of Huntington. In the report of the surveyors for the Wabash & Erie Canal, in 1826, the statement is made that between Fort Wayne and the mouth of the

Tippecanoe River they found but six white settlers, "one of whom is Champion Helvey, whose cabin is situated near the mouth of the Salamonie river."

The land upon which the city stands is a part of the grant made by Congress to the State of Indiana by the Act of March 2, 1827, to aid in the construction of the canal, and the knowledge that the canal was to pass near this point may have had some influence upon the Helvey brothers in locating their establishment in 1830. At that time the official surveys had not been completed through this part of the Indian session of 1826, and about two years later Gen. John Tipton obtained a patent for the land from the state. The records do not show how General Tipton acquired the interest of the Helveys, but it was evidently in a manner satisfactory to all parties concerned, as the two brothers went a short distance east and selected another tract, which is now within the city limits.

Shortly after the passage of the Act of February 2, 1832, which fixed the boundaries of Huntington County as they are at present, General Tipton conceived the idea of laying out a town, with a view to having it declared the seat of justice of the new county. Accordingly, in 1833, Elias Murray, acting as the agent for General Tipton, laid out the Town of Huntington. The statement has been made that Captain Murray gave the town the name of Huntington, ' ' in honor of Samuel Huntington, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Captain Murray 's uncle." But the Act of thd Legislature above referred to, which was passed more than a year before the town was platted, expressly provides that the county should be called Huntington, in honor of Samuel Hunt¬ ington, who was a member of the Continental Congress from Connecticut at the time the Declaration was adopted. Hence, the state had already recognized this distinguished patriot, and it is quite probable that the name of the county was adopted for the future city, without especial regard for Captain Murray's uncle.

Among the trading firms in early days was that of William G. and George W. Ewing, whose headquarters were at Fort Wayne. As early as 1829 they established a trading house at Logansport, and about 1831 or 1832 they founded the first mercantile establishment in Huntington, under the firm name of Edsall, Ewing & Company, with William Edsall as the resident partner. Mr. Edsall soon became a prominent figure in local affairs. When the postoffice was established in 1832 he was ap¬ pointed the first postmaster, and when the county was organized in 1834 he became the first clerk of the Circuit Court. Col. George W. Ewing, of this firm was the man who discovered in 1835 that Frances Slocum was a white woman - a discovery that led to her identity by her relatives in

The second mercantile house in Huntington was founded in 1833 by Dr. George A. Fate, who came from Dayton, Ohio, as the representative of and manager for S. T. Harker. He put in a larger stock of goods than that carried by Edsall, Ewing & Company and soon built up a thriving trade. Dr. Fate was a public spirited citizen and at his own expense brought a cannon from Dayton to fire a salute to the first canal boat that ever arrived at Huntington. In 1842 he was elected county treasurer, which office, as well as that of postmaster, he held at the time of his death in 1843.

The patronage of these early merchants came principally from the Indians, who were numerous in the locality, and from the contractors and laborers upon the Wabash & Erie Canal. Much of the goods they sold were paid for with coon skins, deer skins, etc. In May, 1834, one of these firms shipped 1,452 deer skins, 3,140 coon skins, 135 muskrat skins, 28 bear skins and about 100 skins of other animals. In this year 1914, of the twentieth century of the Christian era, much is said and written of the high cost of living. A comparison of prices now with those of early days shows the pioneer of Huntington did not enjoy very great advantages in this respect over the inhabitants of the present gen¬ eration. From an old account book of one of the early trading establish¬ ments it is learned that the early settlers were paying much higher prices for staple articles than are paid now. The merchants of that period handled mainly the necessaries of life, and before the completion of the canal these had to be hauled long distances by wagon before they could be placed on the shelves and offered for sale. One of the old account books shows that in 1837 brown sugar sold for 20 cents per pound ; loaf sugar, 25 cents to 30 cents; candles, 25 cents; nails, 10 cents to 15 cents, according to size; tea, $1.00 to $1.25; coffee, 20 cents to 30 cents; calico, 20 cents to 50 cents per yard; unbleached muslin, 16 cents to 25 cents; bleached muslin, 20 cents to 30 cents; flour, $11.00 to $12.50 per barrel. Men's boots (few men wore shoes in those days), from $3.00 to $5.00 per pair, and women's shoes from $1.00 to $2.50 per pair. Most of the boots and shoes were made by local shoemakers from leather tanned in the country tanyards. They were built for rough usage, rather than appear¬ ance, and would hardly pass muster at an evening reception or social function in Huntington society at the present time.

On the other hand, the things the farmer had to sell, because of the restricted market, commanded low prices. Owing to the great scarcity of currency, the merchants gave long credits and accepted in payment only such produce as they could haul away and exchange for goods. Beef sold at from 5 cents to 7 cents per pound ; pork, 6 cents to 8 cents ; butter, 18 cents to 25 cents ; eggs 10 cents to 12^ cents per dozen, and chickens from 15 cents to 18% cents each. The workingman fared equally as badly as the farmer. Laborers received from 50 cents to 75 cents per day, and mechanics, such as carpenters and stonemasons, from $1.00 to $1.25.