People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1896 — GOOD-BYE, Old Court House! GOOD-BYE. [ARTICLE]

GOOD-BYE, Old Court House! GOOD-BYE.

The farewell services of the old court house were held in the court room last night, under the auspices of the Woman’s Relief Corps, who charged a small fee to be used for charitable purposes. Addresses were made by Hon. M. L. Spitler, Hon. S. P. Thompson, Hon. E. P. Ham mond, Capt. J. A. Burnham, Capt. B. R. Faris, Hon. M. F. Chilcote and Capt. R. W. Marshall; recitations were rendered by the Misses Gail Wasson and M. Edith Marshall. The band played several selections. The following is the address of Hon. S. P. Thompson: My Friends: On this ocoasion let us renew our devotion as we recall the history of Jasper county, and Rensselaer to a constitution and Statutes that fosters and encourages free schools and courts to protect the loyal and good against ignorance and other crimes. In old Jasper no slavery ever prevailed that was not based on personal habits. Our public officers and teachers, as well as our Judges, Jurors, Prosecutors, Sheriffs, Constables and Policemen have patriotically drawn their salaries from the treasury to make us wise, and to keep the bars in the legal fence around our life property and honor.

These free public means of tuition and care for the children, aged and unfortunate have done their most perfect iyork so that there has been little need for the reform influences of courts, churches, jails and prisons. The men of Jasper have never taken life by mob law, and have tried no man before Judge Lynch. It is true in our early days the regulators under Captain Simon Phillips used to hold court in this vicinity and choke the truth out of a few scoundrels. The state’s formula for its campaign against crime was well understood, and applied however, in a war without armistice or peace. The regulators and the Dodd said were mere guerilla manifestations. /

The ballot is wisely committed to us without distinction as to sense or disposition. Experience teaches us that there is much that goes on in the'human heart and mind of which no picture can be taken. Our scheme for taxing wealth to procure comfortable public court houses, school- houses and pub lie servants has done so much for those in need in Jasper county that we have a special reason to feel grateful that we are citizens of so good a state and country. Those not content with the free tuition of our common, normal and agricultural institutions have succeeded at their own expense in procuring collegiate, technical and professional training. The free schools, however well patronized have fitted its patrons to follow almost any of the honest avocations of life.

The preachers working in the human vineyard have scared off many of the little foxes that might spoii the vines. Most of our true citizens have sought wisdom, have formed good habits, and honor liberty and law. It was on December 1, 1862, within these walls I looked into the faces of the parents and school children of Rensselaer. I came bearing a normal diploma as an instructor of youth. The school term was then four months, costing one hundred dollars per month. Then there were three teachers and now there are sixteen. The public school had been boarding around where ever rents happened to be cheapest. Now the old frame court house, then in the ark in liberal corner, and'in the Sayler building. I set about persuading the,school officers the free needed a home. The next spring a frame school house was erected in the triangle

bounded by Milroy, Front and Susan streets. A wing was added in 1865, since giving place to two Large beautiful brick edifices, a Credit to the educational progress of Rensselaer. In 1862 the civil town was asleep, and had been for years without officers.or revenue; but on a petition the incorporation was awakened, and a tax of just $518.75 for all purposes was levied and collected in 1863. The town has now blossomed into a beautiful city. There was then but two, and now nine beautiful houses of worship, the pride of all, lift their spires toward heaven. This court house was then (in 1862) the crowning edifice of the town and county. It was the best court house north■jvest of the Wabash. It was used for schools, churches, theatres, shows and all kinds of meetings. In 'three short years came the fife destroying the inner soul of this structure, leaving the body and walls intact. On January 18, 1865 calamity scattered the court house officers to various places in town, as prosperity now compels them to vacate awaiting the new stone court house to be erected where we now stand. The contract then went to a Ft. Wayne man, Daniel J. Silver, at the lowest bid of SIO,OOO in greenbacks—We then had cheap money. . Within six months after the letting of the contract the repairs all complete, and in September 1865 the court and officers of the county returned to enjoy the resurection. For thirty-one years the ■renewed court house has served its purpose. 'The proper preservation of the written titles to our lands and highways has out-grown its vaults. The number of officers have so increased that not all can have a home. A new structure is coming ten fold better to keep pace witn the new school houses and churches.

This is our farewell assembly in this room. Many matters of importance in war and peace have been discussed and determined within these walls which others will mention. The bell in this building sounded the alarm of war in 1861. Recruiting meetings and banquets to visiting soldiers were frequent. I wish to bear testimony to the Calliope, a debating society which met in the Auditor’s office every Monday night, except the first Monday night of each month, when public contest was waged in this room with the Philomatheans or Erudites. These societes discussed and dissected all great questions, up to date questions of school, church and state. They gave valuable advice to legislators and congress, and upon the management of the war. In the roll call were lawyers, doctors, merchants, preachers, teachers and our very best citizens be yond school age. We met on a basis of perfect equality as neighbors to speak and act in public on the stage. Our little town was secluded from the outside world. A stranger became common property for analysis as to whence he. came, whither he went, who he was, and what was his business. Our Professor NcChull, Moxey, William Hopkins and Norman Warner were a quartet of nightingales who warbled for us freely those old songs like “Three Blind Mice.” I can hear them yet. The members of the Calliope have scattered until now there are but two or three in our villiage. Marion L. Spitler and Ezra L. Clark, whose worthy records as public servants, soldiers and citizens are known to all of us like a book. John Thompson, then a general merchant, and now the same bland, happy gentleman as he ever was. Our poet recorded him thus in 1864:* Of all the merchants in the place John Thompson, he’s the man. He meets you with a smiling face And takes you by the hand.

No evil genius prompteth him. Nor love of worldly gain. In sunshine bright, or midnight dim. , John Thompson's still the same. ‘ These three and myself are all that reside in our city. The gallant Grey Eagle, Major General Robert H. • Milroy, was a member who now sleeps near the blue waves of the Pacific. The reaper with his sycle keen has cut down many of our band. In Weston’s cemetery and the graves of the successful lawyer William Hopkins and the honest and brave Col Joshua Healey, the chivalrous and enthusiastic Alexander Rowen, the poet and wit Isaac N. S. Alter, the versatile Eldridge T. Harding, the renowned surgeon James H. Loughridge and the quiet business man Alfred Thompson, each living and dying in Jasper true to his pol emic training. David T. Halsted, then county Auditor, Robert S. Dwiggins then a lawyer, and John H. Cissel have since gained distinction and fame preaching the gospel. Bro. Halsted is in North Dakota, bro, Cissel is an active member of the Methodist Conference, while Bro. Dwiggins is living at ease on the left bank of the broad Hudson. The pioneer editor, Daniel F. Davis, laid down life’s burden, but his resting place I cannot recall The scholarly Reuben B. Jones sleeps in Kansas. William J. Larue is still plying his business as a merchant in Burlington' Kajisas. Horace E. James, the soldier and republican editor is now asking to run for congress on the democratic ticket. While Edwin P. Hammond, tired of the debate with the Calliopes, went to the battle field and helped settle the question that human rights were paramount to state rights in this nation, returned unscathed, and rose to the greatest honor as a jurist and is here to speak for himself. Not one Calliope ever forgot to gftre credit for the training he received in the discussions held within these walls. Let us, in saying farewell tn this temple of justice, resolve through our children to honor the new temple when built with the broadest application of the law of self defense applying in the wisdom thatbuildeth brotherly kindness and patriotism. From the, sea of childhood faces meeting me here on that December (lay thirty-four years ago has sprung the manhood and womanhood I see tonight. As a member of the bar I have grown old with this building. I regret to see it pass away.