The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 45

October 30, 1950 1850 1950 THE KOKOMO TRIBUNE Centennial Edition Part IV, Pa get Many Noted Americans Have Visited Here They Included Generals, Poets, Famed Showmen Ingersoll, Bamum, Barrymore, Others i'The Man from Home' Based on Kokomo Characters Come to Kokomo Kokomo has been the subject of; a song a. Betty Grable movie a has been celebrated In an old-time; railroad ballad called 'The Kokomo; and the Kankakee." But, most of it was. the locale for a. hit play! of the early ISOOs called "The Man! I from Home." of the most notable The play was written by'Booth cans of their day have been in i Tarkington and Harry Leon Wil- Kokomo as visitors, lecturers, po- son and had Its tryout in Louis- litlcal candidates musicians etc. jville, Ky.

Then it was taken to After the Civil war. generals who I th Studebaker. theater in Chicago hud become national heroes did a wh as Irc TMediate success good deal of traveling, some of as political speakers. Among New York. who came to Kokomo were tneator York, Ben F.

Butler, Hugh J. Kiipatrick. John B. Gordon, Lew Wallace, and B. Buckner.

The a fought under them against! Voorh(! them were always eager to see and bacnelol towyeJ and hi3 near inem. a brother slster nan ied Simp- Butler addressed a Republican Kon The young people were mak- rilly S.ptember 28, 1872, urging nK a European tour and Pyke got the re-election of President Grant, the impression that maybe they Lecture courses brought In danger, of beinjjr. "taken designing foreijfners. went over to southern Italy, where passed even for 1 and sur- its success. G.

InfferBoll, the agnostic who was called the greatest orator of his day; Bayard Taylor. Luther Benson the Simpsons were sojourning, to great temperance speaker) andlsize up the situation for himself. others. Pyke registered everywhere as a Ingernoll spoke In the Sharp and Dayhuff hall, auditorium on the south side ot the I 1 and larsre third floor upholding Kokomo in any conver- They did not think of the part as -Stubbing in i Isation he hod with foreigners. The role was taken by William courthouse square, November 1879.

James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoos- ici- poet, was both before and ramous. The story hoax ifi told elsewhere in this tlon. Riley and BUI Kye. the "American humorist, were here s.mnghal once a dot on the map 1 Ifetber in 1889 and Joined in giving; Howard count in wost(! rn Mon-! a program. WILLIAM HODGE personal triumph in it.

The character of Pyke was that Wilson were obviously fond of him When play was in its Chicago Kokomo to Chicago in the fall of 1907, and many local citizens went to see the show. In the period between the Chicago irun and the New York opening the play, in 1908, Mr. Hodge came to Kokomo for a 10-day visit. He was the guest of Mayor William H. Arnett and other citizens.

took him for rides in the I new Haynes automobiles and on and "swimming trips. He bought a Haynes car, and i ranged for another one -to be built as a. property for "The' Man from Home." It appeared on the stage in every performance at New jYork. 1 Following its New York triumph, the play was taken on tour and Mr. Hodge brought it to Kokorno where it was presented at the Sipe ater.

On his visit here, described the- the actor was pleasant-faced young man, with hair of a cast which women call Titian I happens to might pass, man at the time, for the stroke- oar in a varsity Hodge starred in many plays besides "The Man from Home." He James Whitcomh Riley Regretted Literary Hoax Thai He and J. 0. Henderson Engineered Here One of the celebrated stories about James Whitcomb Itiley, the immortal Hoosier poet, had its setting in Kokomo. Riley knew Ko- and confiding that it was'the first real encouragement he had had. Then, to Henderson, Klley suggested, that he could write komo well in the days before he'just as well as the established poets gained attention -as a writer a the time and said he would like before Ae became a famous plat-1 to prove it by sending a poem to form speaker.

He was here often in his sign painting days, and his great talent as a storyteller was apparent then. He came here intermittently in those days and sometimes remained for considerable periods. Xiley and some of his Kokomo friends used to gather in an upstairs room on the north side of the public square to play cards and swap stories. His en- personality was -unmistakable even then. One of his early Kokomo acquaintances was Charles H.

Philips, who was associated with his father, T. C. Philips, on The Trib- Dispatch and, it was a hitherto unpublished poem of Poe's. Henderson agreed- to print the poem. The men decided to say that "Leonainie" had been found on the flyleaf of an old dictionary, with the initials E.A-P.

signed to it. They printed a story in The Dispatch that the dictionary once had belonged to a man living -near Richmond, and had remained undiscovered until an aged- Howard county resident happened to come across it be their own." He said one newspaper- ideals, created the a well known American actor, who run, special train was run from ably his best. character of Hiram "Mrs. Wisps of the Cabbage Patch," but' his role as Daniel Voorhees Pyke was prob- Pint-Sized Nellie Keeler Town, Once Scene Oil nou-di copperhead Attack Starred as Barnum's Little Lady Edgar A. Guest, the famous news- i roe township, is now a ghost town.

Nellie Keeler of Kokomo, r.t the age of 11, was billed by P. T. Burnum of circus fame as "The paper poet, appeared before thei i 1 one-time existence marked only; Smallest Lady in the World." Rotary club ladies' night party In by stone and a few old timbers--: IS-tS and drew packed audience 'all that remain of a sawmill nt the Masonic temple. stood there in early days. Maurice Thompson, the novelist, I i Civil war times an that rimt visited Kokomo in the 1370s to take part in an archery contest.

Others who spoke here included exciting there, when episode took place word was received that a band of Copperheads was on its way to Henry Watterson, famous editor on 0n terrorize the peoplo in Thr, Louisville Commercial Journal; the village. John Temple Graves of the Atlanta Journal: Prof. J. C. Ridpath, the American historian, who was heard Ht the Opera house in 1887; John English Socialist, who spoke in 1913; and Henry Ward Beecher The Quakers were n.

peace-loving people, but they were fearless when T. DeWitt preachers. Suffrage Speakers In the interest of women's suffrage. Mary A. Livermorn spoke in Kokomo In 1875.

and Bclva Lockwood and Susan B. Anthony in 1886. P. Barnum, -world Hhowman, lslted Kokomo danger threatened their homes and families. They seized their guns, mounted their horses and rode to Shanghai where they -f, 3 1 1 I I i i t.

lij tftff Tiilmadjre, noted CJnire iv inside the old sawmill U.nd surprised the Southern sympathizers na they rode into Shanghai their way London. The would-be terrorists were dispersed and rode away to the west. The settlement of Shanghai num- eight or 10 families in early famous dayg and there were two stores and scveral. a ity house in which the with his circus and Buffalo' men prepared and served dinner Bill, picturesque Western figure to thrcancra ln and showman, was here a number of times, on the stage at the opera, house, and in other years with tho Wild "West tent show. Noted labor leaders have been in Kokomo.

Samuel Gompers. for many years president of tho American Federation of Labor, visited the city, twice, appearing on the local Chautauqua platform In 1B07. In 1911 John Mitchell, head of the United Mine Workers, was a Chautauqua speaker. Eugeno V. Debs, labor leader and several times Socialist candidate spoke at tho city 1911.

Explorers who for park President, theater in have described their experiences for Kokomo audiences were Adm. Richard T. OByrd, who was hero in March, 1932; Dr. Nellie was a favorite of the great Barnum. The master showman's life revolved around the unusual and fit perfectly into his pattern of likes and dislikes, for she weighed only 11 pounds and stood only 2S inches tall.

Barnum first heard of Nellie through Charles Phillips, editor of The Kokomo Tribune, and. he promptly placed her on exhibit in his "Greatest Show on Earth." In 1879, when Nellie Keeler appeared in the exhibit, Barnum published an eight-page booklet about the Unusuul little miss. He referred to her as "a sweet girl radiant with golden hair," "microscopic bud of humanity." "a little elf." a "fairy beauty," nnd a "pocket volume of humanity," all in- keeping with Barnum's generous use of superlatives. Barnum claimed that after her birth, Nellie was presented to her mother on a tea plate and she could sleep comfortably in the timc. 'Shanghai even boasted a post- office which was established in 1854.

Mail was carried doily from Kokomo. The mail carrier, driving a hacH with a team of horses, left Kokomo. spent the night Shang- a i i a iTDfl I i hai, drove to New London the next i UlQllli O1CIJVCU. U.I Harrison's First and returned to Kokomo that night. Shanghai is said to have derived its name from the breed i ens by that name which were raised by the settlers.

By Martin Crist (Continued from 7) township was that of a. son to Mr. and Mrs. Bernhart Learner. He was named Benjamin Franklin a civic music concert audience Ec-! Learner and grew to have a splen- cember 9, 1346.

i record in the Civil war. The appearance of Gilmore's band I A water-power saw mill was in- of 50 performers in 18S6 was a great I stalled on Little Wildcat near the event of that period. Fabien the township about 1846, sky brought the Indianapolis Syra- FiederJck Cook, of Arctic fame, a phony orchestra to the city in 19-10, Chautauqua lecturer: and Sir Hubert Wllkins, polar explorer, who came In 1947. Amelia Earhart, famous woman flyer who disappeared while and Blanche Thebom, Metropolitan Opera star, sang in Kokomo in 1945. About 10 years ago the noted pianist, Percy Grainger, played a flyer who disappeared while on a Kokomo concert, and Gladys Swar- fllght around the world, spoke in khout, the opera and radio singer, tho Grace Methodist church in Oc- as here in the 1920s.

tober, 1935. includes many Schuyler Colfax. Vice-President Orville Hnrrold, Muncie tenor jang in grand opera in New first sang here, at a music Grants administration. oachor conv-ntion here on several occasions, as loacneri co1 did Charles Warren Fairbanks, Vlcc-President Theodore Roosevelt; Others were Albert J. 1905 and came again in 1912.

Carrie Jacobs of "Just A Weary in' and other memorable a recital of her own Bovcridgc William Jennings Bryan, Com 0s tions hcre in 1912 I ..1 -Then there have been others'who artistic tot by arti; sr.ts.^such Carol Lombard and Dorothy stars. on war bond tours during World War n. Some Musicians Among musicians, the visit in May, 1912. of the York Symphony orchestra, with Walter Dam- -rosch directing outstanding The Minneapolis Symphony orches-' trii here, too. In 1877, Camilla ruost noted woman violinist of-' her period, was heard.

Skovpaard, Danish violinist, played his Stradivari in -1907, and Joseph champions, and" Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb and Commodore Foote, mid- and tho Landis brothers (Charles, Fred and Kencsaw). Threo radio commentators drew Imgc audiences. Lowell Thomns lectured In Haworth gymnasium in March.

1939. Peter Grant at the ti rl American Legion home in January, 2342. n.nd Pearson, for the Talk of tho Hour club, in 1943. Mrs. Ruth Bryan Eohde.

a former minister to Denmark and daughter of William Jennings Bryan, appear-! cd on the local lecture platform in Stars of Stage Stage stars who have been Ko- komo visitors were Lotta Crabtree, Sol Smith Russell, Frank Banlels, Nat Goodwin. Maude Granger, Joseph" and William Jefferson in "The Rivals," Mrs. Scott Siddons. Minnie Maddern Flske, Maude Adams in "Peter Pan," Ian Robertson and his company of English actors in "The Passing-of the Third Floor Back." Richard Bennett in "Tho Hypocrites," and Wilton Lack'ay. William HodgOjCame here on a visit after his triumphant performance in "The Man from Home." On April 19.

1S79. Maurice Barrymore and Frederick Wardc, recognized as two of the greatest drama- Uc-stars of the period, presented "Diplomacy," tt the Opera-j House. Maurice Barrj-iaore was the father of the three great JBarry- more-stage celebrities, Ethel, John PIONEER RESIDENT Mrs. Louvisa Harrison, a a vc came to Kokomo in 1845 with her parents, Judge and Mrs. N.

R. Linsdcy. Sho became the wife of Gen. Thomas J. Harrison, Howard, county's highest ranking officer in Ihe Civil war.

She was interested in patriotic activities and particularly in the those groups that had been under her. husband's command. She died in February, at the age of 94. by Joseph Hollingsworth and Townsend Bates. This was the first mill in the township.

It was bought about by Jonathan Stratton and his' son, Samuel E. Stratton who added a grist mill, the town ship's first institution of that kind This mill was operated until 1873 when it was. abandoned. The firs steam saw mill was provided ir 1853 by Moses and John Freed. A marriage ceremony, the one performed in Harrison town- leg of her father's boot.

At birth weighed 14 ounces. At the age of 11, her hat barely covered an ordinary, teacup, according to Barnum's publication, and her tiny feet required shoes only two one-half Inches in length. Her hands were IVj inches long, the circumference of her body was 13 inches and her ankles and wrists were no larger than a man's thumb. Her face was the size of the palm of a normal hand, but her hair was of Itfur- iant growth, measuring 16 inches ir: length. Nellie was the second of four children; the others were healthy, sturdy and normal-sized.

Buth of her parents were of moTC than normal stature. Her fathnr, a native of Franklin county, was 5 feet inches tall jind weighed 1G7 pounds. Her mother. Maria, also a Franklin native, was nearly as tall as her husband and weighed 143 pounds. 'First Collegian Found Trip Long The first person Howard county ever sent to a college was Andrew Apperson," an uncle of Ed- gai- and Elmer Apperson, the famous Kokomo automobile makers.

Andrew Apperson was appointed by the board of Howard county commissioners at its June term in 1848 to be a student at Wabasn college. That was four years after tho county was organized and two years before The Tribune began publication. There were no railroads in north central Indiana in those days and no improved highxvays. Apperson made the trip to Crawfordsville on horseback, following through the forests which overspread most of the area between Kokomo and Crawfordsville. It took him two days tc make the trip.

une. They and Philips became printed close friends a number of Riley's lyrics in The Tribune. But the most memorable story about Riley which involved Kokomo was the literary hoax which he and J. Oscar Henderson, publisher of The Dispatch, concocted in 1878. This was the hoax which palmed off a poem written by Riley and.

called "Leonainie," as a newly discovered work of Edgar Allan Poe. Was Getting Rejections At the time he wrote "Lconainie," Riley was working on The Anderson Democrat. He was trying to sell some of his verse but wasn't having much luck, for editors kept returning his manuscripts. The Anderson paper printed his from time to time, and since that paper was one of the exchanges, received in The Dispatch office, J. Oscar Henderson noticed the verse.

He liked it and wrote Riley, complimenting- him. Riley replied, thanking the Kokomo man Caused Great Excitement When the poem was printed it caused great excitement, in the literary world and at first was accepted by some people as a genuine Poe production, although certain literati including William Cullen long, however, until the hoax was discovered. The Kokomo Tribune which a caustic rivaJ of The Dispatch at the time, gleefully ridiculed Riley c.nd Henderson for the resentment the hoax had caused in lite rary quarters. Riley lost his job on The Democrat, and in his later years regretted his part in 'the deception. A sensitive man.

he felt he had been guilty of a serious imposition on the public. But he also felt that he had proved his point about the quality of his own Muse, and his subsequent success and popularity seemed to amply bear him bard out. Bryant questioned it It wasn't' poetry. After Riley's authorship of nainie" had been disclosed, Henderson arranged' for him to appear before a Kokomo audience in the old op-era house in this city. The house was crowded "and Riley did a good job of entertaining.

It was his first professional appearance anywhere as a reader and delineator, and led to a platform career which almost rivaled his Taylor Planning Merged School For Township from Papa 7) Bethany Missionary Baptist, Organized in 1S49; Fairfield New Light Christian. 1S53; Methodist'at Center, 1S57; Christian church at Fairfield, I860; and Friendship Baptist, an offshoot of tne Bethanv Baptist, 1S77. Mordecai Overman built the first brick house in the township in 1S54- The- first burial ground was the one now known as the Albright cemetery, although the Randolph cemetery and the little cemetery near the Upper Kokomo church were laid out about the same time. The first deaths were those of Mrs. Richard Moon, Jerry Gibson and Mrs.

Daniel Heals, in the winter of 1S44-15. The first marriage. took place in 1S44, Paul Garner and William Ryan marrying sisters named McCIuro. Shortly after his election as county treasurer in Ashlev married Sarah 1844, Harles Garner. The township's population in 1S50 ivas 072, and in 1890' it reached a peak of 2,090.

It dropped to 1,520 1920, was 1,553 to the 1930 census, and to 1,368 in Figures from the 1950 census have I not been reported. 2 Towns Platted By Early Dreamers; Never Materialized Pioneer dreams for two. Howard county communities never materialized, but the hopes of the backers are preserved in musty county records. One- of the towns was given the name, of Caroline, A survey was made in IMS on the north bank of the Wildcat near the township lines of Ervin. Clay, Monroe and Harrison.

The plat, filed January 14, 1845, lists such streets as Penton, Jefferson, Jackson, Adams, North, Walnut, Oak, Wildcat and The second proposed town-named. Buena Vista--was surveyed at the rapids of the Wildcat, a half mile west of Alto. A man "named Snodgrass had the survey made, but meanwhile quietly completed his survey for Alto and had it recorded in Indianapolis. Snodgrass then dropped the Buena Vista project. A Tribune March The Tribune has had a march named after it, The composition is called.

"Kokomo Tribune," and it was written by Alton S. Mygrant, long the leader of the city band. Mr. Mygrant directed the first playing of the march in June, 1934, at a concert in Foster park. ship.

1843. touk place on February 28 The bride was Lcvina Heat one of the five greatest mono violinists of today, appeared before' 1931, on, and the groom was Thaddeus Baxter. Until n. post route could be established to Harrison township settlers obtained their mail at New' London. The first town in Harrison was Alto, established in 184S.

It continued to be the largest center of population until long after the Frankfort arid Kokomo railroad was built and the town of West Middlcton was founded. The first corn was grown in the township in the summer of 1 Charles Harmon cleared enough ground to put in a patch of five acres. The first -orchards were planted by Marion Crist, J. W. Heaton and Charles Harmon.

West' Middleton is tho largest community In the township having surpassed Alto in size in the early '20s when an interurban line from Frankfort to Kokomo went through the former community and made it a passenger and freight stop on the line. Within the township there is a lumber yard, an elevator and three general stores, all of them, prosperous concerns. The township also has an airport--the Ruzicka airport on U. S. 31, which was the first airport to serve the county.

In recent years a community known as "Southdowns" has been established at the junction of U. s. 31 and Ind. 26. It consists of about a dozen houses, plus a number of new homes built in the "fringe" areas Kokomo.

I In speaking of Mr. Leroy Kuhns, trustee, said, "After all, this is farm country out here. You speak of the old settlers and have read to me many names of the early families. A lot of them are still here. The land has been food, the people have, been of the best and they have remained.

Today there arc lots of Johnsons, I juess Frank is the oldest--the Beckoms, 'the the Middle- ions, the Etheringtohs, the Dimitts, Greesons and many, many more who can trace their blood lines back to those first, settlers mentioned. Howard be related to Philip IRamseyer, the first trader." Miller Steel inc. J. A. MILLER, Pres.

1221 South-Plate Street Processing Steel and Steel Products Including 48' xll" Gauge Yoder Coil Line and Shearing Facilities Complete Steel Warehouse Facilities Available Sales Agents Butler Steel Buildings Sales Agents J. Wire Rope' We Extend Sincere Congratulations To The Kokomo Tribune on your record of 100 Years of Community Service 1906 1950 For Forty-Four Years Flowers from Knipe's has been a familiar phrase in our community a phrase that has always been accepted as denoting the standard of quality in beautiful flowers of all kinds for any occasion. A brilliant array of the finest flowers potted or cut blossoms awaits your choosing Always what you want at the price you want to pay. Our Sincere Congratulations To The Kokomo Tribune Upon Iti 100th Anniversary Tom Knipe Florist 501 East Markland Ave..