The Catholics have a large number of parochial schools, as well as the Lutherans, who have several commodious edifices. The Lutherans have also a large college within the city limits, known as the Concordia College. This is under the Synod of their church, under whose jurisdiction this district is. The Convent of the Sacred Heart, under the charge of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, is in close proximity to the city. The Methodist University occupies a large and well-arranged building in the western part of the city. It has been established for a number of years, occupying their present quarters since 1850. The Rev. R. D. Robinson, D. D., has charge of it, and under his able management it is rapidly reaching success. The Methodists have a well-conducted college at Fort Wayne. The building is a fine one, and adds something to the appearance of the city.

RELIGIOUS. There are more than twenty fine, elegant, and well-furnished churches in Fort Wayne. The architecture is generally handsome, and the material is substantial. Among them should be mentioned the Roman Catholic Cathedral. This is a very beautiful structure of brick, surmounted by two steeples. Trinity Church (Episcopal) on West Berry street, is one of the handsomest church edifices in the State, though by no means as large as some others in that city. The Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Christians have all built themselves fine and costly churches.

RAILROADS. The lines of railroad leading from Fort Wayne in eight different directions, give to the city a decided metropolitan appearance, and bring untold wealth to its doors. These roads are all important lines, that connect the "Summit City" with all the principal cities of the country. The tracks and equipments of these roads are first-class, while the accommodation for all kinds of transportation is as good as could be desired. It is estimated that thirty-four passenger trains arrive at, and depart from, the city every day, while freight trains may be estimated by the hundred daily. Other important roads are in contemplation, but even at the present day Fort Wayne is the great railroad city of Northern Indiana.

Wabash AND ERIE CANAL.-The importance of canals as a

means of inland navigation, attracted much attention in the early days of this country, and it is due to them, in a great measure, that our country has been settled and cities founded. In 1820 an act was passed by the 'Ohio legislature, appointing three commissioners to locate a route for a canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, but it was not until 1824 that a survey was made of what is now the Wabash and Erie Canal. The members of Congress from Indiana then procured a survey of the canal by a corps of United States topographical engineers. This survey was commenced at Fort Wayne, about June, 1826, and at its completion, Congress passed an act, granting to the State of Indiana one-half of five miles in width of the public lands on each side of the proposed canal, from Lake Erie to the navigable waters of the Wabash river. This grant amounted to three thousand two hundred acres per mile. It was accepted by the State legislature, during its session of 1827-28, and Samuel Hanna, David Barr, and Robert Johns, were appointed a Board of Commissioners. This grant was the first of any importance made by Congress for the furtherance of any public works, and may be considered the inception of the policy afterwards adopted, of granting so much of the public domain for public improvements. In 1828 the State granted to Ohio all the land which had been granted for canal purposes in that State, upon the condition that they would, in consideration therefor, construct the works through their territory. In 1843 the canal was opened for navigation, and two years afterwards the Miami extension was completed, thus perfecting a continuous line of canal between Maumee bay and the Ohio river at Cincinnati. The Mahon Brothers commenced running two small packets between Toledo and Fort Wayne, in 1843, but not with any regularity, and it was not until the summer of 1844 that a line making regular trips was established. Samuel Doyle and William Dickey, of Dayton, Ohio, were the pioneers in this enterprise, running ten boats and one steam propeller between Toledo and Lafayette, and Toledo and Cincinnati. In 1846, the act known as the "Butler Bill" was passed by the legislature, by which the canal was transferred to three trustees, two of whom were

appointed by the bondholders, the remaining one by the State.

is

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.- The County Court House and County Jail, both located at Fort Wayne, are substantial buildings, well adapted to the purposes sought. There is yet no commodious city hall, nor is any needed at the present day, that would impose a heavy tax upon the city. The building in which the headquarters of the fire department are located, well suited to that branch of the municipality. Further remarks on the present condition and future prospects of Fort Wayne, financially and commercially, are noticed in another part of this work, under the department of the "Great Industries of Indiana." See Index to Biographies to find interesting biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent men of Allen county.

The leading newspapers published in Fort Wayne are the Gazette and Sentinel, both well conducted and influential journals.

CHAPTER XLVI.

HUNTINGTON COUNTY

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

LEAVING Allen county by the route mentioned in the

foregoing chapter, we soon reach Huntington county, now rich in agriculture and commerce, and minerals, but once a dense forest. The county was named in honor of Samuel Huntington, a delegate in the Continental Congress from Connecticut, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A small portion of the county is hilly, but for the most part it is level, or only sufficiently undulating to constitute a natural drain. The soil is a mixture of sand and clay, is very deep and fertile, and well adapted to all the products indigenous to the climate and country. At an early day the

county was heavily timbered throughout, with the exception of a few small prairies.

The first settlement, as near as we can learn, was made in Huntington county in 1829. Messrs. Artimedee Woodworth and Elias Murray were the first settlers. They came in 1829. Mr. Woodward settled north of Silver creek, on the Wabash. Here he built a log house and began pioneer life in earnest. Mr. Murray settled a mile east on the opposite side of the river, where he also built a cabin. In 1832-3, a settlement was made on the Salamony river, near the present town of Warren. Samuel Jones erected a log house at this place in 1833, and moved into it with his family in September of the same year. James Morrison settled at the same place about the same time, and in the following winter Lewis Purviance, Lewis Richards, and George Helm, located with them.

The first settlers of the present prosperous city of Huntington were C. and J. Helvey, who came from the White river section, originally from Clinton county, Ohio, to Huntington, in 1830, with their sisters. They built a hewed log tavern, which is known in history as the "Flint Springs Hotel." It remained a tavern until 1857, and was for a long time a favorite stopping place on the old "Fort Wayne and Lafayette trace." A few now living in Huntington county remember this trace. It was nearly the same pathway over which the bold Robert de La Salle traveled with his military escort in 1680, and the same trace upon which many a zealous French priest journeyed alone, before Americans explored the head waters of the Wabash.

There was another log tavern erected near the cabin of Mr. Woodworth in 1832, but that region remained unsettled until 1847. Clear creek, two and a half miles north from Huntington, was first settled by Michael Doyle, in 1834. In that year he erected the pioneer log cabin of that section, and moved into it with his family.

The Helveys, who first settled at Huntington, sold their lands to General Tipton and Captain Murray, soon after they were located, and the latter gentlemen laid out the town in 1832. Mr. Murray moved to Huntington to reside, with his

family, about one year previous. The Wabash and Erie Canal was commenced in 1832, which may be regarded as the immediate cause that led to the settlement of Huntington. The work on this important State internal improvement prospered, and the new town of Huntington shared in the prosperity. In 1835 the permanent population of Huntington was probably two hundred and fifty, although previous to that time gangs of canal men frequently visited the place, swelling its population temporarily to four and five hundred.

Huntington county was organized in 1834, previous to which it formed a part of Grant county. The first county, election was held in the fall of 1834, as also the first court. The latter was held in the well known "Flint Springs Hotel." From this the court was soon after taken to the school house, which shows that Huntington, now so justly celebrated for her excellent schools, began the good work of education in her youth.

The first school teacher in Huntington was a Mr. Sergant. They called him a "down east Yankee," but he had considerable influence, probably because he was the son of a Presbyterian clergyman. He "boarded round," and being a little on the particular order, it is not a wonder that the old settlers of Huntington tell some funny stories of his experience of this phase of his residence in their town. It is very probable, however, that he had enough to contend with, both in the school room and in society. But we shall not tax the reader with every step in the growth of Huntington county. Such was its social and political beginning. Let us look at results— its present condition.

The Huntington of to-day has a population of three thousand five hundred, and is surrounded by well settled, well cultivated agricultural lands, in every direction. It is the county seat, and a smart, thriving city. The streets have been admirably laid off, and the general appearance of the buildings favors the substantial. The new court house is a fine building, located in the center of a spacious square enclosed by a substantial iron fence. The churches are, for the most part, fine buildings, erected in a modern style of architecture, and present