Northwestern Indiana from 1800 to 1900A regional history written by Timothy H. Ball . . . .
Source Citation:
Ball, Timothy H. 1900.
Northwestern
Indiana from 1800 to 1900 or A View of Our Region Through the Nineteenth Century.
Chicago, Illinois: Donohue and Henneberry. 570 p.
NORTHWESTERN INDIANA FROM 1800 TO 1900
421
CHAPTER XXVII.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.
It is probable that quite early in the history of the world
men learned the benefits of uniting, for better self-protection and for
improving their condition, in organizations or compacts which bore various names
and had various purposes. Whether from the first
age of civilization, before the time of what is known as Noah's flood, living
through that period of destruction, any traces of man's earliest organizations
have come down to us is not easily proved; nor yet can it be entirely disproved.
In well-chosen words Professor John Russell in 1852, before a "large and highly
intellectual audience" declared: "Long before the period of written history,
there existed an order of men, known only to the initiated." "It is the oldest
human society in existence. The dim twilight of the early ages rested upon its
broad Arch, yet through every period of its existence has it been the agent of
onward progress." While some may question these statements, it is true that some
forms of organization, some societies, are sufficiently old, while others are
distinctly modern, very, very new.
The pioneers in these beautiful wilds retained their recollections of the old
homes and of the associations and of the ties which had been pleasant to them
there; and so, along with civil society and the new formed
422
ties of social life, along with schools and Sunday
schools and churches, they soon began to organize literary societies and to form
lodges, Masonic and Odd Fellows, to organize library associations, agricultural
societies, temperance societies, and then Sons of Temperance Divisions and Good
Templar Lodges; and in later years study clubs and reading circles and the new
orders of the present day came into existence in all our larger towns. No full
account of all these need be here expected, but some mention of these
organizations belongs very certainly to our history.
One of the earliest, so far as appears, the earliest organization, was formed
before we had much civil government. It has been incidentally mentioned in an
early chapter.
It was called the "Squatters' Union of Lake County;" was organized July 4, 1836;
and the original record says, "At a meeting of a majority of the citizens of
Lake County, held at the house of Solon Robinson." The constitution adopted
consists of a preamble and fourteen articles, is quite lengthy, is well written,
and speaks well for the moral sentiments of these squatters. "Attached to it are
476 signatures."*
No evidence has been found that any other of our counties had a similar
organization.
Literary societies and temperance organizations were among the earliest in these
counties; although in 1838 was organized the Porter County Library Association,
elsewhere mentioned.
In June, 1841, by the efforts of Solon Robinson, Rev. Norman Warriner, and
Hervey Ball, was organ-
__________
*The Claim Register, the oldest document of Lake County, containing the
constitution of that Union and the names attached, is in my possession. T.
H. B.
423
ized the Lake County Temperance Society. It continued in existence about nine
years, was for its day a grand organization, and gave place to a Division of
Sons of Temperance.
That this organization succeeded well financially is evident, for over the door
of the Court Street school house, a brick structure, on a memorial stone, may
now be read: "In memory of Crown Point Division, No. 133, Sons of Temperance,
who donated $1,000 to the erection of this building, 1859."
The number of literary societies, organized in the course of these many years,
has surely never been counted. In nearly every township of Lake County one or
more has had an existence, and probably the same has been true in the other
counties; and for many of the young people, they accomplished in former years
much good. Other organizations now take their places, or the public schools
furnish for the pupils greater means of improvement, and, in some communities,
the young people are now without the means of self-cultivation which these
societies furnished. These belong largely to the past, and valuable as they
were, and dear as their memories are in the hearts of some yet living, useful as
they were to many who are now in active life, their names, even, cannot be
recorded here. If some names were given, others would of necessity be omitted;
and so only this tribute of praise and this record of the sure fact of much
enjoyment and much benefit having been derived from
our scores and probably hundreds of literary societies, existing in the
first thirty or forty years of settlement, are all in regard to them that can be
placed on this page. Bright on "memory's walls" some of their scenes will linger
long.
424
One exception to the statement above is here made as a record appears, on a page
that is "out of print," of a memorable discussion on Saturday evening, Feb. 5,
1870, considered at the time a grand discussion of a grave and great question.
The question was Ought women to exercise the right of suffrage? The Orchard
Grove Literary Society met that evening with the South East Grove Society.
"Orchard Grove took the affirmative, represented on the floor by Messrs.
Blakeman, Curtis, Jones, and Warner. South East Grove supported the negative,
and was represented by Messrs. Benjamin, W. Brown, John Brown, and B. Brown. * *
The house was densely packed, standing room being scarcely found for the crowds
that assembled. Excellent order was observed nevertheless during the entire
evening." The judges for that evening decided in favor of the negative.
Many such interesting discussions of important questions may no doubt be
recalled to mind by some who are now on the shady side of life's meridian.
SECRET SOCIETIES OR ORDERS.
Of these called "secret," although not with entire propriety, as their places of
meeting and members are known or may be known, the Lodges of Free Masons stand
first. In Valparaiso the first one was organized about 1840. It was "No. 49."
There were ten charter members. Nine charter members, about 1850, united to form
Porter Lodge. Of this Rev. Robert Beer of Valparaiso, says, "the order has been
very flourishing and has kept itself very pure." Since 1840, masonic lodges have
been organized in all our larger towns; and they have been followed by the
lodges of Odd Fellows, of Foresters, Modern Woodmen, Knights
425
of Pythias, Catholic Foresters, Daughters of Rebecca,
Eastern Star, W. C. T. U., and other temperance organizations, Rathbone Sisters,
Daughters of Liberty, Maccabees, Imperial Guild, and many others, for men and
for women; and then by the various clubs, not altogether what are called secret
societies, but organizations that usually have present only their own members.
Among these are many ladies' clubs for various purposes. One of these at
Michigan City has a name that belonged to an organization in Lake County many
years ago, which was, so far as known, the first of its kind in
Northwestern Indiana. It
was called The Cedar Lake Belles-lettres Society. The one at Michigan City is
the Belles-lettres Club. That Society -- young people did not form clubs in
those days -- was organized in 1847. It met only once each month, and the chief
attention of its members was given to writing. One of the memorable addresses
delivered before these belles-lettres students and their friends was by Solon
Robinson, author of "The Will." "The Last of the Buffaloes," and other stories,
in which address he paid a high compliment to the culture he found to be among
the members, and referred to his having met the Indians for some consultation
where they were living then.
The corresponding secretary at that time was noted for her beautiful penmanship.
Thus old names in time come round again as though they were new.
Study Clubs, Reading Clubs, Pleasure Clubs, Music Clubs, Commercial Clubs, and
various kinds of clubs, are in our towns and cities now.
426
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
The Lake County Agricultural Society was organized by the adoption of a
constitution, August 30, 1851. The committee reporting constitution were, Hervey
Ball, John Church, and David Turner. The first
officers were, Hervey Ball, President; William
Clark, Vice President; J. W. Dinwiddie, Treasurer; Joseph P. Smith, Secretary.
For six years the same President and Secretary were re-elected. The society was
strictly agricultural. The first county fair was held Thursday, October 28,
1852. The first directors were: Henry Wells, A. D. Foster, Michael Pearce, H.
Keilman, Augustine Humphrey, and William N. Sykes.
The Porter County Agricultural Society was organized, so far as adopting a
constitution, June 14, 1851, committee on constitution being, William C. Talcott,
David Hughart, W. W. Jones, H. E. Woodruff, Aaron Lytle. In September directors
were appointed and probably other officers. The first fair was held on
Wednesday, October 29, 1851. About four hundred persons were present. First
Directors: W. A. Barnes, William C. Talcott, Azorien Freeman, H. E. Woodruff, H.
A. K. Paine, W. M. Jones, A. B. Price, Walker McCool, and Ruel Starr.
The White County Agricultural Society organized December 7, 1857. The first
county fair held in 1858.
The Pulaski County Agricultural and Mechanical Society was organized in 1872.
For other Agricultural Societies dates or data have not been found.
GRANGES.
In August, 1867, there was formed in Washington
427
City an organization called "Patrons of Husbandry." It
may quite safely be claimed that this organization came into existence through
the efforts and influence of a citizen of Lake County, the founder of Crown
Point, Solon Robinson. The following statements are offered in evidence of this
claim.
Being interested in agricultural matters he commenced to write articles for the
Cultivator, a leading agricultural journal, one, perhaps the first, being dated,
Lake C. H., July 12, 1837. In 1838 and 1839 other communications followed, in
1840 as many as twelve, and in 1841 fifteen, and still others in other years. He
also wrote for other agricultural papers.
"These various articles, by their style and from
their locality, secured many readers, gained for their author much celebrity,
and made his name familiar to very many farmer homes."
In March, 1838, he proposed to form an "American Society of Agriculture." In
April, 1841, he wrote an address "to the farmers of the United States," sending
it out through the columns of the Cultivator. He proposed to make, that same
year of 1841, an extensive agricultural tour, and made it, passing through
several states, calling on many agricultural men. In October of 1841 an
editorial in the Cultivator said: "It gives us great pleasure to state that our
friend, Solon Robinson, Esq., the zealous and able promoter of industry, and the
original projector of a National Agricultural Society, has safely arrived at
Washington, and that on the fourth of September a meeting was held in the hall
of the Patent Office, at which the incipient steps for the formation of such a
society were taken." Much more the editor adds, not needful in supporting this
claim, only the closing words may
428
be given, "and we cannot doubt his reception among his
agricultural friends in the East and North" -- Mr. Robinson had made a tour of
some extent before reaching Washington -- "will be such as to convince him that
they will not be behind those of any portion of the Union in a cordial support
to his great undertaking." This effort for a National Agricultural Society, the
credit for which belongs to Lake County, did not accomplish much. The country
was not ready then for a permanent organization; but in other years friends of
the farming community took hold of the same idea, and out of their suggestions
and plans grew the Patrons of Husbandry and the Grange movement.
The plan includes a National Grange, State Granges, and Subordinate Granges.
In Lake County there were organized, June 28, 1871, Eagle Grange No. 4, members
in 1872 eighty; October 12, 1871, Lowell Grange, No. 6, also with eighty members
in 1872; Le Roy Grange in 1872 with twenty-six members. And before September,
1873, five others: Winfield, 41 members, Center, 57; Hickory, 40; West Creek,
25, and Ross, 27. Total membership in Lake County, 388. In September, 1873, was
held at Crown Point, a Grange celebration. The gathering was large and
from nearly all parts of the county. Some probably
came from Porter. The procession of teams in close
ranks, each Grange by itself with its banner, was reported to have been over two
miles in length. This movement extended into the Southern States, where a great
interest at first was taken in it, others besides farmers and planters finding a
place in its ranks. Some other celebrations were held in Lake County, and a
large one at Hebron. Yet
429
in a few years the organizations ceased to be kept up. About two years ago,
about 1898, the interest revived and there is now a flourishing Grange at Crown
Point, organized in February, 1899, and also one was organized or reorganized at
Plum Grove.
How many are now in these counties has not been ascertained.
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS.
Besides the annual county institutes held by the county superintendents
according to the provisions of the Indiana School
Law, the teachers in the counties have formed voluntary associations subject
only to their own regulations. These were organized: In Pulaski County, in 1876;
in Jasper, in 1879; in Lake, in 1883; in Starke, in 1886. The dates of
organization in the other counties are not at hand.
According to the Third Annual Report of the Public Schools of Pulaski County,
sent out in 1898, J. H. Reddick, County Superintendent, and N. A. Murphy,
Secretary. "The twenty-first annual session of the Pulaski County Teachers'
Association," was held at Winamac "November 26 and 27, 1897." This would bring
the first one back to 1876. According then to one mode of reckoning this
association was organized in 1876.
The enrollment for 1897 was 118. The receipts as reported amounted to $129.67,
and the expenditures to the same sum. Among the expenses as reported are, to one
instructor $35.35, and to another $29.70, and for room rent $5.00. Of the
instructors one was from Purdue University.
Devotional exercises were conducted each morning by resident ministers.
Secretary of the Association Grace Wharton.
430
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATIONS.
1. The La Porte County Association was organized November 20, 1869.
2. The White County Association was organized at the court house August 16,
1873. A residence of only twenty-one years required for membership.
3. The Lake County Association was organized at the court house July 24, 1875. A
constitution was adopted and the names of members enrolled. The first meeting
was held at the Old Fair ground, September 25, 1875.
4. The Jasper County Association was also organized in 1875, the first meeting
of the settlers being held in a grove October 9, 1875, which was probably the
day of organization. The first president was William K. Parkison, the Secretary
was John McCarthy of Newton County. Names of the original members are the
following, all settling between 1834 and 1840, the figures following each name
denoting the number of years of the residence of each in the county: "David
Nowles 41, A. W. Bingham 40, Jackson Phegley 40, Stephen Nowles 39, W. W. Murray
39, S. P. Sparling 39, S. H. Benjamin 38, W. K. Parkison 38, Thomas Robinson 37,
Jared Benjamin 37, S. C. Hammond 37, H. A. Barkley 37, Joseph Spalding 36,
Thomas R. Barker 35, Nathaniel Wyatt 35, Willis J. Wright 35, William Dougherty
35, Malinda Spitler 40, Jane Nowles 40, Mrs. Augustus Bingham 40, Mary Welsh 39,
Julia R. Sparling 39, Amze Martin 38, Rhoda Ermin 38, M. Robinson 38, Phebe
Nowles 37, Mary Parkison 37, Sarah Boice 37, Pamelia Cockerill 35, Minerva
Wright 35, Elizabeth Benjamin 35." Some of the above named persons are citizens
of Newton
431
County, and this seems to have been an organization for
the two counties. An examination of the list of signatures shows that the men
signed first in the order of their dates of residence, and then the women in the
same order.
5. The Porter County Association was planned May 26, 1881, at a gathering of old
settlers to celebrate, at the home of George C. Buel of Valparaiso, the
seventieth anniversary of his birthday. It was there decided that persons over
forty-five years of age, residents for twenty-five years of Porter County,
should be considered "old settlers."
The organization was still further perfected by a committee of thirteen citizens
who met June 25th, and adopted five articles of association, restricting
membership to those who had been residents twenty-five years before July 1,
1881, and that all such who were over forty-five years of age, should by signing
the articles of the association be entitled to all its benefits along with their
children. September 17th was appointed for the first public meeting. On that day
some five hundred met on the public square, where there were large forest trees
to give shade, and then completed their organization by the election of
officers. The public exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. W. J. Forbes. An
address of welcome was given by Hon. J. N. Skinner, and singing and short
addresses, eighteen in number, followed.
At the second meeting, September, 1882, the opening prayer was by Rev. Robert
Beer, the address of welcome by Mayor T. G. Lytle, many short addresses were
made, the list of old settlers who had died was read by H. Hunt, and the
officers were re-elected. "A large crowd was present," much interest was mani-
432
fested; but, for some reason, the organization has not
nourished.
6. An Association was organized in Pulaski County, September 15, 1879, but it
was not kept up.
7. A separate organization, an Association for Newton County, was organized at
Mount Ayr, July 25, 1899. It is likely to prosper and to live.
A more extended notice of the La Porte County Old Settlers' Association, the
oldest, the largest, the most complete of all, as a social organization, has
been reserved for this page.
A call for a meeting of "old settlers" was issued in 1869, to which fifty-five
names were attached, names of well known, reliable, substantial citizens of the
county, requesting old settlers to meet November 20, 1869. One hundred and eight
met that day in Huntsman Hall, in the city of La Porte, registered their names,
place and date of birth, and date of settlement in the county, in a book which
had been prepared for that purpose, perfected an organization, and elected
officers for the coming year. Thirty-three years resilience in the county was
required for membership, no restriction as to age being made. Not only was
membership restricted to this term of residence in the county, but also
attendance at all the annual gatherings, except that husbands might bring their
wives, and also wives their husbands, and at length the privilege of attending
the annual meetings was extended to ministers and editors and a few invited
guests. It was designed and carried on very exclusively by old settlers and for
old settlers. General Joseph Orr and Hon. C. W. Cathcart were, among others,
very active and earnest in making the association a true success. The latter was
the first president and the former the
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first treasurer. The organization took place forty years after the first
settlement. At the meeting in 1870, which was on the 22d of June, five hundred
were present.
Their "second annual re-union," some one knew how to count -- was June 22, 1871,
about seven hundred were present. Those who arrange for the meetings endeavor
usually to meet on the longest day of the year, either June 21st or 22d. Besides
singing, prayer, short addresses, and sometimes orations, the list is read by
some one, of those who have died during the year. In June, 1875, sixty names
were read from the death roll, a few of them,
however, not having been reported the year before. In 1876 only thirty were
reported. In 1877 the record is: "The Hon. C. W. Cathcart and General Joseph
Orr, who had been for so long filling the offices of President and Treasurer,
respectively, declined a re-election." In 1874 eight pioneers had appeared upon
the platform, all of whom were over eighty years of age. Among these was General
Orr. His death was reported in 1878.
The Lake County Old Settlers' Association differs in one respect
from all the others. Besides the officers which
the others have, President, Secretary, Treasurer, it has another called
Historical Secretary, who is expected to keep a record of all events during the
year, supposed to be of interest to the members of the association, and these he
reports each year. Then, every five years, these reports are printed for the
members, and thus Lake County history is recorded as well as made, year by year.
It is believed that Lake County now has in print the most complete local history
of any county in Indiana.
There is an organization, belonging to Porter and
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Lake Counties, that is, perhaps, unique. It is known as the Dinwiddie Clan. It
is composed of members of the Dinwiddie families, some of whom were pioneer
settlers in La Porte, in Porter, and in Lake Counties, who trace their descent
up, through four David Dinwiddies -- in some of the lines there are six in
succession -- to an ancestor known as David Dinwiddie the first. Then through
him they trace, but without the historic records, back to John Din of Scotland,
who received from his king for a meritorious act
one hundred pounds in money and the addition to his name of woodie, so that his
name became John Dinwoodie, written afterwards in various forms.* Or, if not
surely to him, then they trace to Allen Dinwithie of Scotland, the chief of
whose clan, Thomas, was slain in Dinwiddie's tower in 1503 by the Jardins, by
whom also it is supposed, the Laird of Dinwiddie was assassinated in Edinburgh
in 1512.
Further facts in regard to this organization can be sufficiently obtained
from the following published notice, with only
this additional statement that the "Clan" in Lake and Porter Counties owes its
existence as an organization to efforts and researches of Oscar Dinwiddie of
Plum Grove; and that the members of the organization have made arrangements for
the preparation of a book giving the Dinwiddie family records.
"THE DINWIDDIE REUNION.
On Saturday, September 4, 1897, the members of the Dinwiddie Clan met at Plum
Grove for their
__________
*I have seen a list of forms of this name, one hundred and thirty in number,
which list was sent by Thomas Dinwiddy, an architect of Greenwich, London, to
Oscar Dinwiddie of Plum Grove. T. H. B.
435
fourth annual reunion. The grove in which they met between the home of Mr. E. W.
Dinwiddie and the home of Mr. I. Bryant, is a delightful place for such a
gathering. The shade is abundant, and yet the grove is quite open and airy, the
trees, many of them hickory, are quite tall and thrifty, and the ground was
clean and neat in its appearance. There were nice places for hammocks, for
swings, and smooth and open places for croquet grounds. The table for the dinner
was one hundred and twenty-five feet in length and provided on each side with
seats, seating comfortably one hundred and twenty persons. There were present
this year one hundred and forty, among them those who may be called the
chaplains of the Clan, Rev. J. N. Buchanan, of Hebron, and Rev. T. H.
Ball, of Crown Point, with their wives, also, as
an invited guest, Mrs. Crawford, of South East Grove. The members had beautiful
badges, green and golden, from Newark, New Jersey,
furnished with a golden pin and a center piece representing a log cabin in a
wood. The weather was delightful, although the roads were quite dusty. The sun
shone warm and bright, yet under the shade of the trees the air was cool and
comfortable. It was a day for the enjoyment of nature, just as autumn is
beginning, and for those who live on farms as well as for those whose homes are
in the towns it is well, it is more than well, to go at times into the groves,
which "were God's first temples" and "in the darkling wood, amid the cool and
silence," to rest, enjoy, commune with nature, and to worship.
In social intercourse, in resting and enjoying, greeting kindred, and in the
sports of children, this day was mostly spent. Some business was transacted,
officers for the coming year were elected. Mr. L. W. Vilmer was present with his
camera and took a fine picture of the assembled group, and as the evening hours
drew near the families left the delightful retreat to return to their duties and
their homes. It is needless to say how abundant and excellent was the dinner,
how delightful the social enjoyment of all."
NAVIGATION OF
NORTHWESTERN INDIANA FROM 1800 TO 1900
FRONT MATTER AND DEDICATION
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
- GENERAL OUTLINES
CHAPTER 2
- THE INDIANS
CHAPTER 3
- THE EARLY SETTLERS
CHAPTER 4
- WHAT THE EARLY SETTLERS FOUND
CHAPTER 5
- PIONEER LIFE
CHAPTER 6
- COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
CHAPTER 7
- OUR LAKES AND STREAMS
CHAPTER 8
- LAKE MICHIGAN WATER SHED
CHAPTER 9
- TOWNSHIP AND STATISTICS
CHAPTER
10 - RAILROAD LIFE
CHAPTER
11 - POLITICAL HISTORY
CHAPTER
12 - THE WAR RECORD
CHAPTER
13 - RELIGIOUS HISTORY
CHAPTER
14 - RELIGIOUS HISTORY
CHAPTER
15 - RELIGIOUS HISTORY
CHAPTER
16 - SUNDAY SCHOOLS
CHAPTER
17 - TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF NEWTON AND JASPER
CHAPTER
18 - TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF WHITE, PULASKI AND STARKE
CHAPTER
19 - VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES OF LAKE
CHAPTER
20 - VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF PORTER
CHAPTER
21 - VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES OF LA PORTE
CHAPTER
22 - EARLY TRAVELS
CHAPTER
23 - PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CHAPTER
24 - PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
CHAPTER
25 - LIBRARIES
CHAPTER
26 - OTHER INDUSTRIES
CHAPTER
27 - SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
CHAPTER
28 - THE KANKAKEE REGION
CHAPTER
29 - DRAINING MARSHES
CHAPTER
30 - ANIMALS AND PLANTS
CHAPTER
31 - MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
CHAPTER
32 - COURT HOUSES
CHAPTER
33 - ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS
CHAPTER
34 - BIRTH PLACES OF PIONEERS
CHAPTER
35 - McCARTY
CHAPTER
36 - ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE
CHAPTER
37 - ALTITUDES
CHAPTER
38 - MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
CHAPTER
39 - SOME STATISTICS
CHAPTER
40 - WEATHER RECORD
CONCLUSION
Transcribed by Steven R. Shook, April 2012