Volume XXXI, No. 4, November 2014
Traveling Through North Manchester
in 1877
By F. S. Bash
Reprinted from The Indiana Herald (Huntington, IN), Sept. 19, 1877.
Editor’s Note: Frank Sumner Bash was just 18 years old when he made this trip.
Bash later edited the History of Huntington County (2 vols, 1914).
Endnotes have been added to provide
local details to Bash’s account.
On Wednesday, Sept. 5th,
the writer in company with A.W. Rader, started for the latter’s home near Akron,
Fulton County. We arrived at North Manchester, at 11 a.m. We put up at the
American House; the proprietor of which knows how to keep a first class hotel.
[1]
We called at some of the leading business houses and were soon convinced
that Manchester, was quite a place of business. At 1:30 p.m. we left town for
Akron. For quite a distance we had the pleasure and comfort of riding on a “free
gravel road.” Why cannot Huntington County have free gravel roads too? [2]
After having driven nine miles we came to New Harrisburg [Disko], this
town contains one dry goods and notion store, and also one drug store. After
having met some of Mr. Rader’s friends we drove on.
We noticed the farmers were generally engaged in sowing wheat, some of
whom were plowing in among the corn. We now were traveling over quite sandy
land, it being so deep in some places that teams occasionally stall with a load.
We frequently passed the churches and school houses. School was in progress in
some districts.
We arrived at the home of Mr. Rader at 4 p.m., somewhat wearied—Mr. Rader
lives on a splendid farm a short distance from Akron. A more obliging and clever
family, one seldom meets than they are. The next day was spent in hunting ducks
and fishing on the lake, which was grand sport. It is quite amusing to jerk in
the fine bass with none other bait than a piece of “deer tail”.
Akron is situated in a splendid scope of country, and it is quite a
lively little place. It can boast of having a Normal School anyhow. There are 33
students in attendance. The school is conducted by Prof. F. Bitters. On Friday,
we drove thirteen miles distant from Akron, to Mrs. J. H. Nelson’s residing near
Claypool, Kosciusko County. We spent the remainder of the day and part of next
very pleasantly with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. At 2 p.m. we started for Silver Lake.
This pleasant town derives its name from the beautiful silver lake, just out of
town. As that was the day for the excursionists to return from Chicago, we
concluded to go to the depot and meet the train. The shrill whistle of the train
was soon heard, and in a few moments we were in the car greeting some of our
friends from Roanoke, viz. A.W. Bash, C.H. Bash, Cora Bash, and John Windel. You
can scarcely imagine what a splendid time we had; however it was not a very long
duration. The bell rang, in another moment the excursionists were gone. They
left one of their party, Clemie Bash in Chicago, where she will remain a period
of time for the purpose of improving her already well developed musical talent.
We have returned to Akron. On Monday we took our departure for Roanoke.
Arrived at Manchester, about 11 a.m., we were cordially invited to dine with W.
T. Cutshall, Esq., we accepted the invitation. Mr. Cutshall has had considerable
experience in newspaper publishing [3]; he is now engaged in selling organs and
pianos [4], and is a splendid performer on the above named instruments, is the
author of several excellent pieces of sheet music, one of which entitled “Why
Shall We Die at All”. Manchester has two good cornet bands, which have received
all their instruction from him. [5]
Prof. Cutshall and lady have our sincere thanks for the hospitable
treatment we have received while there. We got to Roanoke in good season. In all
we had a long to be remembered time.
ENDNOTES:
[1] Located on the northeast corner of Walnut and Main Streets in North
Manchester, the origins of the American House date to 1839, with ownership by
Asa and Martha Beauchamp. The Beauchamps sold to Richard Helvey in 1841. Mahlon
C. Frame purchased the property in 1844, and Frame sold it to Henry Lantz in
1846. Jacob Aughinbaugh acquired the property in 1848, and in turn sold it to
John Aughibaugh. In 1863 Theodore H. Purdy came into ownership; in 1867 the
American House was bought by Christian Shively. In the 1870s James Hall and
Rufus Grimes became proprietors, as indicated by these advertisements:
The Manchester Republican, September 11, 1873--
THE AMERICAN HOUSE, JAMES HALL, Proprietor.
Northeast Cor. of Walnut and Main Streets, North Manchester, Ind.
This first class hotel is open to the traveling public at all hours. Terms
reasonable.
The Manchester Republican, February 12, 1874--
JAMES HALL
is the genuine good natured “mine host” of the American house, and we
cannot close this sketch without saying something of the many good qualities of
the establishment. The American presents a home for the traveling public,
affording all the comforts pertaining to a first-class hotel. Good rooms, a
table supplied with the very best the market affords, and every attention given
to guests that could be devised makes this house a popular one with the public,
and will ever be a favorite resort as long as Mr. H. does the mine host of the
establishment.
The Manchester Republican, March 19, 1874--
—Mr. Grimes of Millersburgh, Noble County [sic: Elkhart Co.] has taken
possession of the American House here. Mr. G. has a good reputation as a
hotel keeper, and he will doubtless meet a hearty welcome in our village. We
wish he or some other man would put up a good substantial brick, as our present
hotel buildings are not very creditable to the place, though they are well kept.
The Manchester Republican, March 26, 1874--
--Mr.
R.R. Grimes the present proprietor of the American house is from
Millersburg, Elkhart county.
[2]
In his History of Huntington County (1914), Vol. I, Frank Sumner
Bash wrote the following on gravel roads in that county:
“All these early gravel roads were built and operated by companies that were
permitted to charge toll, the rates of which were fixed by law. In 1877 the
Legislature passed an act authorizing the purchase of toll roads, upon petition
of the residents along the lines, when such petitions were sustained by popular
vote. The commissioners of the several counties of the state were also given
power to issue bonds for the construction of free gravel roads, not to exceed
$50,000, and to levy a tax upon the lands on either side of the road for a
distance of two miles for the payment of the principal and interest of such
bonds. Under the operations of this law the “good roads movement” received its
first great impetus in Indiana. As soon as the law went into effect the people
of Huntington County began organizing for the purpose of securing the
construction of all the free gravel roads that could be built under the law.”
[3] The name of W.T. Cutshall appeared frequently in the section on
“Early Newspapers” in History of Wabash County (1914), ed. Clarkson
Weesner, pp. 393-4.
“The first newspaper in North Manchester was published in 1865 by John J.
Martin, who called it the Advertiser. Within two years he sold it to
Joseph Singer, who changed the name to the Union Banner and issued it
thus for eighteen months. It then reverted to Mr. Martin, who published it as
the Exchange until 1869, when he sold to W.T. Cutshall. The latter
published the paper as the Globe for awhile, and finally disposed of the
establishment to M.E. Pleas, who founded the North Manchester Republican.
Now, however, we are to record the founding of a newspaper which has endured to
the present day [1914]—the North Manchester Journal, first issued in 1873
by a joint-stock company under the editorship of J.H. Keyes. In the following
November it went under the management of A.G. Beauchamp and D.W. Krisher, but
was subsequently sold by the company to Matthews & Kist, who had already bought
the Republican. Within the year Mr. Matthews sold his interest to N.W.
Beauchamp, and at a somewhat later date Mr. Kist disposed of his interest to
William T. Cutshall. Eventually Mr. Cutshall sold to Mr. Beauchamp,
who thus became sole proprietor. In 1877 G.H. Edgworth, of Iowa, purchased an
interest in the Journal and became associate editor, but about a year
thereafter sold his interest to Mr. Beauchamp, who remained sole editor and
proprietor until 1882.
In January of the latter year Samuel V. Hopkins bought the establishment and
conducted it until his death in 1900. His son Lloyd succeeded him, and in 1902 a
consolidation was effected with the Tribune under the firm name of
Hopkins & Billings (William E.).
Lloyd Hopkins died in March, 1913, when Ada Hopkins, sister of the deceased,
assumed an interest in the Journal as an heir of the estate. The
partnership with Mr. Billings was dissolved and in December, 1913, the Journal
Publishing Company was incorporated to conduct the newspaper and printing
business. Of that corporation Miss Hopkins is president and Rex L. Hidy is
secretary and treasurer.
The North Manchester News, of which William E. Billings is editor and
proprietor, was founded in 1876 by William T. Cutshall, who remained
editor and proprietor of it for many years. From 1904 until its suspension in
1912, it was under the successive management of J.C. Martin, Archie Gunn, Homer
Clark and H.J. Bartoo. In May, 1913, the News was revived by Mr.
Billings, who had retired from the Journal the preceding month.”
An article in the News Journal, August 16, 1973, Centennial Edition,
covered the history of newspapers in our community:
“From hand-set type on a screw-down press to offset printing over a span of 100
years is the story of the News-Journal, as it celebrates its centennial
year.
It was exactly 100 years ago this year (1973) the Journal was established
in North Manchester by a joint stock company under the editorship of J.H. Keyes.
But before the founding of the Journal, part of which has endured today in the
name News-Journal, Inc. several less successful attempts were
made.
The first North Manchester newspaper made its debut in 1865. Publisher John J.
Martin called it The Advertiser. It was destined to change names five
times in as many years.
Martin worked at his new venture in printing for two years before selling it to
Joseph Singer. Eighteen months later what was then the Union Banner
became the Exchange, once again under the care of Martin.
But Martin didn’t stick with his protege and sold out to William T. Cutshall,
1869. Cutshall soon sold The Globe to M.E. Pleas and it became the
North Manchester Republican.
Starting as a Democratic organ according to the principles of the original stock
company, it became and remained a dominantly Republican paper as November saw
A.G. Beauchamp and D.W. Krisher as managers, then Matthews and Kist, who added
the Republican. N.W. Beauchamp entered the newspaper business by taking
over Matthews’ interest. Beauchamp eventually became sole editor and remained so
until 1882 despite the coming and going of other associates.
The Journal,
in 1882, was published every Thursday by 18-year owner Samuel V. Hopkins in the
east basement of the First National Bank Building. The charge was $1.50 a year
for each of its 1,000 subscribers, 75¢ payable in advance for six months and 40¢
for three months. Advertising rates were 50¢ per column inch in the eight column
newspaper. The numerous legal advertisements which made up a great part of the
advertising were printed for a charge of $1 per 250 ems (ten lines). Anyone
wishing to put their own little bit in the editorial column paid 15¢ per line
for the privilege.”
[4] Mr. Cutshall was very active in our community. Besides the newspaper and
printing businesses, he operated a music store, selling pianos and organs. His
ads appeared in the 1870s--
The Manchester Republican, February 19, 1874--
W.T. CUTSHALL,
after selling the printing office in August 1872, obtained the agency for the
sale of the Simmons & Clough organs for Wabash and five adjoining counties; and
by untiring industry and a liberal use of printers’ ink, he has developed a
trade unequaled by any other agent in the states. Mr. C. has been very sick for
the past two months, but is now happily out of danger and rapidly recovering,
and will be looking after business again by the first of March. We understand
that Simmons & Clough intend giving him a higher seat in the spring.
The Manchester Republican, April 10, 1873--
We have a supply of Organ and Piano Stools for sale very cheap. We will furnish
any of the following articles at the lowest cash price: Pitch Pipes and Forks,
Organ and Piano Stools, Organ and Piano Covers, Violins, Accordions, Harps,
Flutes and Fifes, Instructors, Sheet Music, Strings of all kinds, Rosin, Violin
Pegs &c. Address: W.T. Cutshall, North Manchester, Ind.
The Manchester Republican, June 26,
1873
W.T. Cutshall sold a splendid Simmons & Clough Organ to Mr. Jacob Swihart, last
Monday. ...W.T. Cutshall is in the city of Detroit, selecting organs and other
musical instruments. Look out for a big show!
The Manchester Republican, December 4, 1873--
W.T. Cutshall says he is “hard up,” and intimates that the man who sticks his
nose in everybody’s business, may have told the truth when he “blowed around”
that the Musical Emporium would be closed up in a few days. But until
then, he will sell organs very low for cash or on approved paper. Another
car-load just received.
The Manchester Republican, April 30, 1874--
Drums, Fifes, Flutes, Harps and 1,000 other Musical instruments at the
Musical Emporium. Music Books of every kind, Sheet Music, and blank Music
paper, at the Musical Emporium. $5,000 worth of Musical goods, at the
Musical Emporium. Second hand violins very cheap at the Musical Emporium.
The Manchester Republican, August 20, 1874--
MUSICAL EMPORIUM...WHOLESALE AND RETAIL!
We desire to call the attention of our friends, patrons and the public at large,
to the fact that we have now in store the largest stock of goods ever known to
be in the Post Office Building.
Our stock of school and miscellaneous Books will be found fully up to the demand
of consumers, and although Jobbers in this line of Trade at a recent convention
in Put-in-Bay have passed resolutions whereby the retailer will be required to
pay them a much larger percentage for goods in this line, we shall not
advance our former price, but endeavor to purchase our Books at such rates
that we may be able to sell them for less money than ever.
Our stock of Wall Paper and Window Shades is large, and in many goods in this
line we can note quite a reduction in price on many styles. Rollers and Fixtures
for Window Shades of the latest patterns, a large stock. Please call and see
samples and learn prices.
Our stock of Stationery, Blank Books, Blanks of all kinds, Envelopes, Pencils,
Crayons, Slates, Pens, Inks, and Notions generally, is unusually large, and we
can offer extraordinary inducements to customers in this line.
Tobaccos and Segars of the best quality always on hand.
A large stock of Pocket Cutlery in store, which we will close out at cost.
Our stock of Musical Merchandise is larger than ever, and we will NEVER be
undersold by any responsible parties.
We have the agency for the Whitney, Haines, Wing & Son and other first-class
Pianos, and will warrant a saving of money to all who purchase of us.
In the Organ line we have the Simmons & Clough, Geo. Woods, Silver Tongue, and
the Smith American, either of which we will sell for ten dollars less than any
other living man in the Retail trade. Call on us and be convinced that we mean
business.
Violins, Guitars, Flutes, Fifes, Piccolos, Clarinets, Accordions, Strings of all
kinds, Violin Cases, Triangles, Bones, Pegs, Bridges and Tail pieces for
violins, String gauges, Tuning Forks and Pitch Pipes, Harps, all styles and
prices. Musical Toys, Violin Bows, from 50 cents to $20 and a thousand and one
other articles, to all of which we invite a discriminating public to call and
examine and learn prices.
The finest stock of Albums and Initial Note Paper ever brought to this city.
Drop in ladies and see us—and the Albums.
We have just a little the largest and nicest stock of Stick and Fancy Candy in
North Manchester. If you doubt it just drop in and see for yourself.
Music Books, Sheet Music, Instruction Books, Blank Music &c. &c., a large stock
always in store.
A liberal discount to Teachers, Ministers, and Sabbath Schools.
Inquiries by mail cheerfully answered.
Pianos, Organs, and other Musical Instruments Repaired and Tuned on very
Reasonable Terms.
Address all orders to: W.T. CUTSHALL, North Manchester, Ind.
[5] Two articles recall the early band activities in our community.
News-Journal, January 6, 1936--
The death of A.L. Beachley last week leaves only seven survivors of the old
North Manchester band, so far as
local people can recall. They are James Taylor, Charles Felter and George
Enyeart of North Manchester, George Shupp of Columbia City, W.H. Webber and
“Shorty” Miller of Wabash, and William Thomas of California. Mr. Beachley was a
tuba player and according to James Taylor was some fine tuba player.
Memory of living members does not recall when the bank was first organized, but
it was probably shortly after the Civil War. The original members are all dead.
A.B. McFann of Liberty Mills directed the band for a number of years and it
gradually reached its highest efficiency in the late eighties and early
nineties. The band was in demand at state and national encampments of the Grand
Army, in many political campaigns, especially the Hayes and Tilden campaign, and
for Decoration Day ceremonies.
Dr. Ira E. Perry tells of one incident of the old band. He was not a member of
the band, but remembers when he worked for Dr. Ginther and had to polish the
Doctor’s baritone horn. The band was in a competitive meeting at Winona and an
old German musician was the
judge. Clay Grube of Liberty Mills was an excellent player but could not read a
note. As the band was playing, and Clay was tooting for all he was worth, the
old German stepped up behind him, and looked at his music. When the piece was
finished the judge said to Grube, “Vy does you blay mit der music upside down.”
Grube with ready wit, answered in the same brogue, “Doh vas der vay I learned
it.” Whether or not the reply helped any, the North Manchester band won the
competition.
News-Journal, April 20, 1936--
The constitution and by laws of the Union Band of North Manchester, an
organization once famous in this part of the county, came to light last week as
Charles Sheller was going through some papers belonging to his father, H.B.
Sheller. The paper is long, yellowed with age, but is undated. Mr. Sheller
thinks it must have been written about 1877. It gives the rules of conduct,
rules for the care of instruments and music, and the order of business.
The names of the members heads the paper. They are: W.T. Cutshall, D. Ginther,
A.B. Powell, Daniel Sheller, Benton Olinger, L.W. Blickenstaff, C.E. Kinney,
Samuel Lautz, A. Taylor, John H. Knowles, E.V. Whittow, Bert Riddey, W.G.
Sheller, C.G. Frame, James F. Kinney, G.K. Toland, Homer Smith, Samuel Mills,
J.A. Cowgill, W.E. Thomas, B.F. Shilt, A.E. Williams, John Whisler, H.G.
Sheller, R.A. Schoolcraft, George Crill and Frank Lavey.
Next comes the constitution. It starts: “This society shall be hailed and known
as Union Band of North Manchester, Indiana. The officers shall consist of
a president, vice president, recording secretary, financial secretary, treasurer
and leader, who shall be elected semi-annually at the first regular meeting in
January and July of each year and serve until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.”
Rules of decorum were very strict. When the members were assembled for practice
“no one shall do any blowing upon his horn or beating upon his drum unless
ordered by the leader. Smoking “segars” or pipes, or profane language were not
tolerated in the band room. A member guilty of intoxication while on duty should
be expelled at the next regular meeting.”
Perhaps this resume of rules, decorum, and names of members will bring memories
of old days when a band was in demand for every occasion, when a band concert
was looked forward to from week to week, and when a member of a band was a
personality in the town.