EARLY DAYS OF LAGRO BY DR. THOMAS COMPILED BY RON WOODWARD The following article of early days written by Dr. Thomas in the Huntington Press will prove of interest to our readers: The writer's mother has in her possession a copy of the "Lagro Express"-"The Pony Express" as it was known by those whose memory carries them back to an earlier day in the history of this quaint old village on the Wabash-at one time the metropolis of northern Indiana. The "Pony Express" was the first newspaper ever published in Lagro,(l) and the issue of which I write is dated Tuesday, July 4, 1876, the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence. The paper was, of course, a weekly, all hand set, four pages seven columns wide, and made up in a way that would be a credit to many papers of today. Typographically it is clean, and its "scarce heads" are far from sensational. Advertisements are numerous in this issue, but the economical space taken by the merchants of those days would bring tears to the eyes of the ad man of today. The largest ad is six inches, single column, being the very plain and prosaic announcement of "Colbert & Ross; Dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries: Boots and Shoes." The editor and owner of the publication was C.A. Richards, a man whom Thad Butler, the veteran newspaperman of this vicinity, knew intimately. That the sentiment of the community at the time of this issue was commendable and aspiring is evidenced by the slogan which the paper carries at its masthead "Tall Trees Have Grown From Little Acorns." The date of this issue being the centenary the paper devotes most of its space to chronology of the early happenings of Lagro and vicinity. Let it be said here that in the early times-a few years prior to the civil war only-Lagro was the most widely known and most prosperous town in many counties around. During that period, even before the advent of the Wabash & Erie Canal, which was opened for traffic on July 4, 1837, and up to the time this canal went out of commission in the fall of 1873, Lagro was at her zenith. Grain was hauled to the Lagro market from as far south as the neighborhood of Muncie, and to the north from the vicinity of Crown Point. The decadence of Lagro began with the abandonment of the canal in '73, but that it was "no mean city" from a commercial viewpoint at least, in 1876, is substantiated by the following business directory of the town, as given by the Express, which says: "The township of Lagro has today, (1876), 10 dry goods stores, 2 hardware stores, 7 grocery stores, 12 blacksmith shops, 1 wagon shop, 3 carriage factories, 1 saddle factory, 1 harness shop, 4 boot makers, 3 millinery shops, 2 dressmakers, 5 eating houses, 3 hotels, 2 bakeries, 1 watchmaker, 2 tin shops, 1 furniture factory, 2 cabinet shops, 2 butcher shops, 3 saloons, 6 grain houses, 3 grist mills, 7 saw mills, 2 tanneries, 1 printing office, 4 cooper shops, 10 physicians, 1 barber shop, 1 planing mill, 4 stave factories, 3 justices, 1 livery stable, 3 Life insurance agents, 5 brokers in live stock, 11 shoe shops. And the Express adds, "They all are doing a thriving business." (1) The Pony Express began in Wabash in 1874 and became the Lagro Express in June of 1876. The first paper was the Lagro Eagle published in the 1850s. The one drug store of the town was run by Robert Dare, father of Mrs. A.J. Stevens of this city. Among the "ads" of this centennial edition is one small card of Bell & Lawson, Butchers, who announce proudly, "We have just procured a new and magnificent REFRIGERATOR which will greatly add to our facilities for keeping meats pure and fresh." Advanced ideas in sanitation had not take hold on the people at this time and an ice box in a meat market was a decided innovation. The paper also carries the advertisements of Todd & Son, Hardware, John Watkins, Groceries, Dr. J.H. Renner, Physician, father of the Renner Bros. of this place. Four columns of a historical sketch of the township are printed. The story is told in an attractive manner, and many of the points may be interesting to note at this date. The first house in (what was then) Lagro township was built in 1828, by Joseph and Champion Helvey, near the mouth of the Salamonie river. The same year a small brick house was built by Moses Scott for the Indian chief LesGros, (for whom the new town was named) on the present site of the town.(2) The writer remembers this old building distinctly, it having remained standing in a dilapidated condition when the writer was a small boy in Lagro, and this brick building stood on the site of the building now known as the Isaac Wright building, opposite the I.O.O.F. building. Prior to the day of wagon roads and blazed trails through the forest, the site of the present town was a campsite for trappers and traders who plied their vocation by canoe, perough and raft, between Fort Vincennese and Quebec, the distance between the Wabash and St. Mary's River being made overland. The first election held in Lagro township was in 1832. The polls were on the opposite side of the river from where the town now stands. Gen. Jackson received 14 votes and Henry Clay 12. Says the Express: "Lagro was then in Huntington county, which had been struck off from Grant." The first white men to live in Lagro were Lewis Rogers, Jos. Helvey, Champion Helvey, Robert Melvin and Peter Ogan. Of this period in its history, the Express writes as follows: "In 1835 the dense forests of Lagro township abounded in wild honey and were full of wild game, such as bear, deer, wolves, turkey, raccoon, pheasants, rattlesnakes and squirrels. The reader will note the classification of rattlesnakes as "wild game." In 1835 Isaac Fowler assessed the entire county of Wabash at a cost of $22. In 1841 Lagro township was assessed at $150,635, while in 1876, according to the Express, the valuation of the property in the township was assessed at $1,777.65. The first house on the present site was built by James Osbourn and was crude in structure, posts being set in the ground at intervals and the walls and roof being of clabboards. The floor was of puncheon. John Russell and Elizabeth Ballinger were the first white couple married in the township, May 12, 1835, and Wm. B. Russell, their son, was the first baby born in the village------------------------- (2) Helm, 1884, page 343. This famous "house" was only a small affair, containing two rooms and costing less than $500. Erected by Moses Scott for the government in 1828, the brick being burned upon the ground for the purpose. The first red clover was brought to the township by John Russell, he carrying a peck of seed and driving a cow and calf home from Indianapolis, the entire distance on foot and through trails in the forests. The first mill was a crude "corn cracker" near the mouth of the Salamonie, but in 1840 Robert English started what was then considered a thoroughly modern burr mill on the Wabash just opposite the town proper. The first boat through the canal at Lagro was the "Prairie Hen" commanded by Capt. Samuel Mahon, of Mahon's Port, at that time another thriving town now the obscure town of Mahon. The Express in this historic centennial number, gives the following biographies of a number of the earlier settlers, many of them were well known in Huntington, both at that time and in more recent years. I quote from the Express as follows: Elias Murray, was born in the state of New York. Received his early education at the age of 21, and moved to Delaware, O., in 1812. Volunteered in the last war with Great Britain and was commissioned captain. Was with Gen. Harrison in the Northwestern expedition and on returning home entered the mercantile business. After that he was elected clerk of the Delaware Circuit court, and later represented the county in the Ohio legislature. In 1828 he moved to Indiana and settled where the town of Huntington now stands, and represented Huntington County in the Indiana legislature in 1830. In 1833 he moved to the town of Lagro, where he acted as agent for Gen. John Tipton. In 1852 he returned to Huntington and in 1844 was again returned to the legislature. In 1860 he was chosen a member of the Constitutional convention of Indiana. In 1848 he received the appointment as Indian agent, a position he was eminently qualified to fill. At the expiration of his term he moved to Kansas and after residing there some years concluded to return to Indiana. While on the way he was taken sick and died in the state of Illinois, his remains were brought to Huntington and buried with honors in Masonry. His life was eventful. He was a man of great attainments, a patriot, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. Thomas Hamilton, M.D., was born in Ireland in 1780, graduated in Glasgow in 1811, and begun practice in 1812. Emigrated to America in 1831 and settled at Petersburg, Pa. In 1834 he settled in Lagro, and continued to practice here until his death in 1824 (3). He left a son and daughter. The son, Col. John Hamilton, of the U.S. Regular army was in command of Sherman's batteries at Beaufort Court House during the war of the late rebellion. Dr. Hamilton ranked among the leading physicians of the Wabash valley; was an eccentric man, ardently attached to his many friends, and the old settlers hold him in grateful remembrance. Robert English, was born in Ireland, emigrated with his parents to Pennsylvania when quite young. Moved to Lagro in 1834 and held a contract on the W. & E. canal. He built the first flour mill south of Lagro, and was for many years a leading merchant. He was an enterprising citizen and died much lamented in 1869. His widow is still living in Lagro. The following article taken from the Indiana Catholic on the Catholic history of Wabash County will prove of interest to our reader: (3) Dr. Thomas Hamilton died April 9, 1856 in largo, aged 66 years according to his ob- ituary in the Wabash Weekly Intelligencer, April 16, 1856. "Indeed from Lagro came the first priests and missionaries to the town of Wabash to offer the sacrifice of the Mass for the early settlers. Lagro has not grown commercially or numerically, like Wabash, but it is proud of many things of none more than the fact that, according to history and tradition, it is the oldest Catholic settlement in the state, and the oldest town in the north valley of the Wabash. Lagro was settled long before Wabash. History fixing the date as 1800. Several French Jesuit priests came in 1799 to labor among the Miami Indians, who held say around the hills and valleys and the town of Lagro took its name from a famous old chief of the Miami tribe. Converted to the Catholic faith by the Jesuit missionaries he became a great power for good among the Miamis. In 1848 the government ordered Miamis to move to a reservation in Kansas, and it was with great sorrow they departed. Father Clark, who founded the Jesuit mission here, had been succeeded by Father Benoit as the missionary of Lagro, and the latter had so endeared himself to the Indians that they refused to leave unless led by Father Benoit. The government sent troops to compel the Indians to evacuate Indiana. Even in the face of death they refused to go unless Father Benoit went with them. Just when the situation looked most serious, one of the officers commanding the troops rode up to Father Benoit's cabin door and called him out. "Go with the Indians, good father," he said imploringly, "for unless you go with them they will not go, and I shall be obliged to hunt them down like wild beasts and kill them." "Father Benoit sent word among the tribes that he would journey to their new home with them. They immediately began preparations to leave the hills they loved. One mor- ning, with the black robed priest at their head, they left Indiana and were seen no more. Father Benoit returned to the mission at Lagro in a short while, but soon left, for he missed his old friends, the Indians. He had labored among them so long that he was loath to leave them. While Lagro was filled with post traders, ready to cheat the red men at every opportunity, Father Benoit stood between them and the trickster and saw that the savages got a square deal. He won the hatred of the traders, but was loved by the children of old Lagros. "The little town of Lagro prospered and promised to be one of the thriving towns of the nation. The Wabash & Erie Canal was built to pass it doors and Lagro became the trading center between Evansville and Toledo. With the decline of the canal came the decline of Lagro. Mr. Herchel and other historians claim that the bell of St. Patrick's church was the first bell of a Christian church to ring out over the Wabash valley. It was from this old church at Lagro that the first priest went to Wabash to hold services. The people of Lagro are, of course, very proud of this fact, particularly the Catholics of that pioneer settlement. Jesuit missionaries, on their way from Montreal, Canada, to Post Vincennes, visited Lagro as early as 1800. The venerable missionary, Father Badin, stopped here in 1833, on his way from Fort Wayne to Logansport. The construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, in 1837, opened up a general traffic, and Lagro became the chief shipping center for wheat, corn, and other crops. A number of families, of whom many were Irish Catholics, came from the east to make Lagro and vicinity their home. Lagro has no church records prior to 1846, but such names as de St. Palais, Benoitt, Clark, and Franciscans, are frequently mentioned. It was in 1838, when Thomas Fitzgibbon an Irishman donated two lots, and a frame church, 30x40 feet was erected. Beg inning with the year 1846, we have the following names of clergymen, who attended to the spiritual welfare of St. Patrick's Congregation. 1. Rev. Patrick McDermott, from May 24, 1846, to August 27, 1847. 2. Rev. Michael C. O'Flannigan from September 12, 1847 to Aug. 8, 1848. 3. Rev. John Ryan, from Sept. 9, 1848 to January 1865, who built an addition of 30 x 40 feet to the church. The church had now the dimensions of 40x60 feet to the church. He had charge also of the missions, Huntington, Wabash, Warsaw, Pierceton. On November 20, 1857, he bought two acres of land for cemetery purposes. 4. Rev. Bernard Kroeger, who bought the old priests house for $1,000 had charge of the parish from January to September 1866. 5. Rev. George Steiner from September 1, 1866 to August 1, 1868. During his absence on a collecting tour for the Orphan Asylums, from September 25 until December 22, 1866, Rev. J.A. Winter supplied his place. Father Steiner bought a frame house for $200, and opened in it the first parochial school, with Julia Cannon, the teacher. 6. The Rev. Matthew E. Campion from August 3, 1868 until October 1, 1878, who built the present brick church, with a frontage of 50 feet, a depth of 114 feet, and a height of 38 feet from floor to ceiling, and having a seating capacity of 660. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop Luers on June 15, 1870. The church being under roof September l, 18762, a fair was held in it netting the handsome sum of $1,600. Bishop Dwenger dedicated the church on March 17, 1873. This was the most flourishing period in the history of Lagro. The number of souls, belonging to the St. Patrick's Church, was 300 families. At present writing St. Patrick's has lost most of its prestige, as may appear from the following comparative statements. In 1870, forty-five baptisms, in 1906, five; in 1870, marriages sixteen, in 1906 none; 1870, deaths eighteen, in 1906, two. 7. Rev. John Grogan from October 1, 1873, until March 1, 1882, who placed oak pews in the church, a stairway to the gallery a mast ornamental communion railing of black walnut, as handsome pulpit, confessional, baptismal font, and besides all this had the church frescoed. The total cost of the church with furnishings was more that $20,000, all cash paid. 8. Rev. M.F. Kelley from April 20, 1882 until January 1884. 9. Rev. Patrick F. Rouche from Feb. 3, 1884 to August 14, 1888, who purchased the pipe organ for $700. 10. Rev. Anthony J. Kroeger from August 28, 1888 to June 1st, 1890, who reopened the school in the old frame church, and secured the Sisters of St. Francis of Lafayette as teachers. He also built the church in Andrews. 11. Rev. Jeremiah Quinlan from June 1890 to July 1891. 12. Rev. John Tremmel from July to August 1891. 13. Rev. Julius Becks from August 1891 to August 1894. 14. Rev. G.M. Kelley from August 29, 1894 to November 1895. 15. Rev. Michael Hanly from December 1, 1895 to December 27, 1897. 16. Rev. Peter Joseph Quinn January 1, 1898 to 1907. Father Quinn found the church property sorely in need of repairs. He expended over $2,000 for this purpose. The lots in the cemetery having been sold, he purchased the adjoining five acres enclosing the same with an iron fence, entailing an expense of about $600. In 1904 Father Quinn built a parochial residence with modern improvements, at a cost of about $4,000. In July, 1907, a new pastor was appointed for Lagro in the person of Rev. William D. Sullivan, previously at the Cathedral at Fort Wayne. Father Sullivan remained until 1910 when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. F. Jos. Mutch, assistant at St. Mary's, Lafayette. During these pastorates the restoration and improvement of parish property begun under Father Quinn was continued. Ann efficient steam heating plant has taken the place of the antiquated wood stoves, and the buildings will soon be lighted with electricity. St. Patrick's Congregation has no debt. The number of souls is 240, or 55 families, most of whom live in the surrounding country. St. Patrick's has the following societies. The Rosary Society, organized about the year 1858. The League of the Sacred Heart, and the Society of the Children of Mary. The Knights of Columbus are also represented. Aside from their spiritual purposes these societies assist the pastor in temporal affairs. Five girls of the parish have entered the religious life. It is asserted by those who seem to know, that the bell hanging in St. Patrick's Church town is the first bell to have swung its sweet sound over the Wabash Valley. It was purchased during the pastorate of Father Ryan and everybody, Catholic or non-Catholic, contributed toward it. -----not an easy matter to-----bell to Lagro. A young man named Pasque, drove to Toledo with a yoke of oxen. Here he waited in vain for two weeks, and concluded to go on to Buffalo, where he found the bell. In the meantime the citizens of Lagro became uneasy, wondering what had happened to Pasque, and why the bell did not come. At last, one fine day the old ox team plodded into town with the bell, and amid much singing and prayer the bell was placed in the tower. This bell now hangs in the tower of the present St. Patrick's church. Some of the oldest inhabitants say, "I don't believe we would be happy if we didn't hear old St. Patrick's bell." The bell has a clear sweet tone, and can be heard for miles. The following is a short sketch of two of the leading citizens in early days. These two men were among the live businessmen of Lagro during the canal days. MICHAEL HOGAN Mr. Hogan's parents Mr. and Mrs. John Hogan, emigrated from Ireland and located in Lagro Township in 1835. He was born March 5, 1842 and so was a resident of Wabash County for 67 years. He received a fair education in Wabash County schools and worked on a farm until entering the army with the early volunteers of the Eight Indiana regiment.(4) The 8th Indiana was stationed at St. Louis before the battle of Pea Ridge. His army record is one of which he was well proud and he always answered when duty called no difference what the duty. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge. The first day he fought bravely. The second day while in the hottest of the fighting he lost an arm being stricken down by a canister shot. As a result of his injuries then it was necessary for him to remain many weeks in the Hospital at Springfield, Mo., before he recovered sufficiently to return home. With the Loss of an arm he could not continue fighting although he desire to do so. (4) Hogan was in Co F of the 8th Indiana. He was discharged as corporal March 19, 1863 due to wounds received at Pea Ridge He commenced a mercantile business in Lagro in 1865 and for several years did a general merchandise business most successfully in the room now occupied by Rau's meat market. A good story is told on Mr. Hogan that is worth repeating at this time. During the mercantile business here he was the first one to offer for sale fresh oysters and at that time, the people were not familiar with them. He placed the tub on the sidewalk where everyone could see them and some of the boys would take an oyster and fasten it on the old fashioned door latch, and of course his customers would mash the oyster and it would splatter all over them. This was lots of fun for the boys but caused Mr. Hogan much worry and trouble before he could catch and stop them. Of later years he devoted his time to extensive farm interests, owning several farms, and also being a stockman. He was quite wealthy at the time of his death. January 7, 1867 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Fitzgibbons and they lived a happy married life. They were both members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of largo, being earnest church workers. He is survived by his widow and an adopted daughter Miss Margaret Drew. His old friends were numerous, and he will be remembered by nearly every one in the surrounding country. DR. ELIAS B. THOMAS Was born June 4th, 1822 in Fayette County, Indiana. Moved to Lagro in 1845, and was associated with the late Dr. Hamilton for some years in the practice of medicine. During the War of the Rebellion he was a Surgeon in the Union Army of the Cumberland. A feeder dam was built across the river and this made a very convenient ford. On the abandonment of the Wabash & Erie canal as a canal, there were factories and grist mills at Wabash that needed water power and the Wabash Hydraulic Co. was organized and it maintained the dam for years. This backwater covered a vast area of land and for a number of years Capt. Hunt run a small steamer up as far as the Hanging Rock which attracted a large number of excursionists and picnic parties. During and after the great flood of 1883, holders of farmland above the dam thought they were being damaged by the backwater and they employed John Campbell to undertake the work of destroying the dam. He did not succeed, though he used dynamite and blew two holes in it. The two holes proved serious, as they tore apart the foundation and though, repaired at the time, the dam became a constant care until a few years later the abutment on one side washed on and the dam gradually disappeared. Campbell who had tried to wreck it, purchased the remaining timbers. Some pieces sixty feet in length were taken out. How they were placed there by primitive means employed at that time is a marvel. One of the old landmarks that stood for years was the old burr grist mill that stood on the south bank of the river near the mouth of the Salamonie. In those days the only way to get down to the mill was by an old Indian trail and the pioneers brought their grain in on horseback. With the coming of the railroads the old canal was abandoned. The first railroad was the old Wabash & Western, it came right through Lagro and it is now called the Wabash. In those days the engines were old wood burners and great piles of wood was stacked all along the track, and when the wood run low on the engine the entire crew would get busy and put on a supply to run the engine to the next pile. John Reynolds worked on this road in those days and tells many interesting stories of railroading in the pioneer days. The Pennsylvania put a road south of Lagro, running from Bradford Junction to Logansport. The same company built a line from Ft. Wayne to Chicago; the old Eel River road was then built north of Lagro. The C. & E., was built and the final blow was dealt Lagro when the Chicago, Wabash & Michigan-the old "White Pigeon" now the Michigan division of the Big 4-was switched off from Marion and pulled over to Wabash by Calvin Cowgill and other stockholders. This line would otherwise have run through Lagro. The loss of the county seat and the coming of railroads opened new shipping points putting Lagro in the background. In the various articles we have published under the heading of "Lagro Years Ago." The following written by one of the old timers and dealing with the shipping of grain, provisions, etc., caring for the many people who visited the town and the coming of the railroads: "The time was when people came to Lagro from Anderson, Marion, Kokomo, Warsaw and other points to do their shopping back in the canal days Lagro was the greatest trade center in this section of Indiana and many were the times that the writer has seen wagons loaded with grain waiting in line extending beyond the Narrows, waiting their turn to get to the warehouses and wharfs that they might unload their cargos. With this vast army of transients in our town it was necessary that we have a place for them to eat and sleep. In those days we had three hotels, the Keller House, up on the hill and ...had a reputation that extended to New York; the Humboldt House was erected down on Washington street …the valley and nearer the canal and two years later 1843-a three store frame, the Western House was erected by Amos Stephenson, who later sold it to Andrew Egnew, who conducted it until 1890. This hotel has been remodeled and is now conducted by Mrs. Egnew and her son, Will. There were about 120 rooms in these three hotels and..night, week in and ..the rooms were crowded….overflow was provided with old fashioned pallets put down in the halls. The landlord ….the floors with….tacked sheeting down over it and turned the crowds into the rooms, sometimes there being twelve to fifteen sleeping in one room. In the good old days of the '50s Lagro had a population of 1200 and it was the greatest shipping point in this section. Wabash, Peru, Huntington and Warsaw were not in the same class with it. When the Wabash & Erie Canal was completed Lagro was made the division headquarters. Two locks were also put in and they were about nine hundred yards apart and between these were built the wharfs and elevators. Jesse Barlow was the old paymaster, and the canal office was in the room now occupied by Rau's meat market. We quote the cargo and freight rate of the boat Bullion which cleared this port, showing the cheapness of water transportation. 1300 bushels 78,000 pounds, Peru to State Line $24.96. 5 barrels of whiskey, 1800 pounds, Peru to Wabash, 14c. 12 barrels of whiskey, 4320 pounds, Peru to Lagro, 45 c. 128 barrels whiskey, 45,480 lbs Peru to Huntington, $7,73. 11 casks pork, 4550 pounds, Peru to State Line, $12,85. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) The Pony Express began in Wabash in 1874 and became the Lagro Express in June of 1876. The first paper was the Lagro Eagle published in the 1850s. (2) Helm, 1884, page 343. This famous "house" was only a small affair, containing two rooms and costing less than $500. Erected by Moses Scott for the government in 1828, the brick being burned upon the ground for the purpose. (3) Dr. Thomas Hamilton died April 9, 1856 in largo, aged 66 years according to his obituary in the Wabash Weekly Intelligencer, April 16, 1856. (4) Hogan was in Co F of the 8th Indiana. He was discharged as corporal March 19, 1863 due to wounds received at Pea Ridge. (EDITORS NOTE: An attempt was made to locate the original article but was unable to locate. Thanks for the help of the Huntington Public Library. Also thanks to Max B. Miller who had the original article in his possession and allowed it to be copied.)