Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-05
0 lon s. /
A Prsminese DAkesaiaa At lils old Hems
In lndlana.-
Fort Wayna Sentincl.

ceiver in the United States land Office Al
Yankton, d. r., is in the city again after q
continued absence of five years. Thinking
that an interview with 90 old and promi-
nent = citizen might be of some interest to
the people. . Sentinel reporter last evening
called upon Mr.. Bayless 1t the residence of
his son. Alex. Bayless, on West Jefferson
street, and spent an hour and half listsa-
ing to pleasant "reminiscences of early days
in Fort Wayne.
M. Baylen- came to Fort Wayne in the
neath Of May, 1882, to attead the first let
Hng of the Wabash and Eric canal contract.
HSgwsstt then living at Mianis6nrr, O., and
travelled the whole distance on horseback,
and while coming from st. Marys, O., to
this point he Wa obliged to swim his horse
i've times over swollen streams, while the
average depth of mud VA almost to the
homes knees. This latter feature is .
characteristic which Mr.. Bayless thinks the
country has never lost. At that time
Mr.. Bayless found a little cluster of houses
on Columbia street, and the total popula-
tiou of the city was not over two hundred
Inhabitants all told: There was very
little trading done here, aud what little
Indian trade there was then was soon taken
"a. Logansport.
On the old "Wayne Trace" the nearest
house to Fort Wayne was that Of
George Ayres, an old English soldier who
had settled there and built q few log cabins
for the accommodation Of an occasional
traveller. Besides being . landlord, Ayres
had the reputation of being the most ac-
complished 'swearer" in the state. He
could concentrate more oaths and incorpo-
rate more profanity into one sentence than
any man that ever lived.
The first house west of Fort Wayne was
about four miles west of where Huntington
now stands and was occupied by Captain
Elias Murray, termed one of the best men
that ever lived in this country.
At the Tins of the first letting OF the
Wabash and Erie canal, Mr.. Bsyless eecur-
ed the contract for constructing ~ miles Of
the canal, part Of which he sub-let and
traded, so that his contract was only for 2!
miles, which portion he completed within
the specified time. Mr.. Bayless returned
to Miamisburg after the letting, and remov-
ed his family to Fort Wayne in August of
that year. An old rickety court house and
log Jail were all there was Of county Offices
and public buildings.
Joe Sweeny was sheriff of the county and
Allen Hamilton was clerk of the court.
When the county seat was located at this
point Barr McCoskle donated to the city
forty-6ve lots situated in the vicinity of the
court house, which lots we're to be sold for
the purpose of raising funds to erect county
buildings. These lots were shortly after
sold, but no large sum was realized from the
sale, the whole fossy.6ve lots being purchas:
ed for $9l8 payable in county orders at SO
cents on the dollar.
Judge Hanna secured three lots on the
corner of Berry and Barr streets, for SIS.
Chas. Ewing bought two lots on the corner
of Calhoun and Main streets, for $45, and
similar prices were received for other lots.
The conun1rum now presented itself, how
we're the commissioners to erect a court
house on 1913 in county orders worth SO
cents on the dollar. However the contract
was let and the work was commenced, and
the building was erected, but not completed,
and it remained a mere skeleton until 1886
or 1887, when the people began clamoring
for its completion.
The commissioners, Of whom Mr.. Bayless
was one, met in May, and the grand jury
met at the same time and a scheme was put
on foot to have the commissioners indicted
for not completing the court house. The
indictment was returned and the commits
sioners informed of the fact.
They demanded an immediate trial and II
was granted. The commissioners retained
the Hon. Wm..H Coombs as their attorney
and instructed him what to say. A jury
was i%mpanneled and by previous arrange
ment it consisted of the heaviest taxpayers.
The trial was proceeded with and the prose.
cution was very elaborate in it's charges and
exposition Of the law: After they were
through the defense merely read one section
of the Law and added that if the commits
%sioners were found guilty they would at onct
be obliged to levya tax and they would
complete the court house even if it cost til.
county $4,000. That settled the jury ant
a verdict of mot guilty" Was returned. The
court house, which was q poorly constructed
concern from the beginning, was torn dow
and the brick sold to Henry Rudisill 70
5000, who used them to build the wooler
mill.
From the time that the canal was fri
commenced the town began building up rap
idly, but never took any decided "boom
until after it's completion, which occurre
on the 4th of July, ls43. All the provision
etc., for the laborers had to be transports
here from Dayton, Ohio, 4 distance Of IL
miles, at a cost of about $l.50 per 10
pounds.
On the 4th Of July, 1885, this division {
the canal wa finished and . grand. jollifc,
ton was had. Captain Fairfield built th
first boat ever put on the canal, and it Va
launched on that day amid great enthusi ASH
!, At the conclusion of the contract Mr.. Bal
q less found himself without any money an
$500 in. debt. He then went out into Aboi'
township and entered forty acres of lar
!, and began work with a will and his pers
verence-was rewarded, as he did not lea,
i. there until he owned 400 acres of cleare
land, The contract proved equally disa
,e trous to the other contractors as they q
# failed, and Mr.. Bayless is probably the on
one who ever recovered from the blow.
Z No class Of people ever worked under
% many hardships rs did the fret settlers
70 this part of Indiana, and 1t was only the
most commendable perseverance, that b
made this country what it is.
n. BRULE CITY.
ST. Pau1 Indonapdnnt Eormar