Huntington North High School - Modulus Yearbook (Huntington, IN)

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H untington--- Past and Present Q 3335 , UNTINGTON! What wonderful changes have been brought about 9 gtg 5 during its century of existence! As we gpass through the pages of its history, we marvel at the rise of a small, insignificant village, to a now prosperous industrious. well-known city. We see the passing of the redman, the conquest of the pale-face, and all those elements that cause its history to be the pageant it is. Huntington, the county seat of Huntington County and the only incorporated city in the county, is situated on the Little River near the center of Huntington Township. Long before the white man first visited this country, the site of the city was known to the Indians as We-pe-che-an-gan-ge, which means Flint Place or place of the flint. Here the Redmen were wont to gather and drink from the clear, flowing springs which the early traders called, Flint Springs . Tradition tells us that General Harrison and his army camped on the ridge where the city now stands, while on his way from Fort Recov- ery, Ohio, to the Tippecanoe River in 1811. It is almost positive that the army passed through this country, but the exact spot where they camped cannot be authentically sited. The early inhabitants of this wild, unknown country were the In- dians who were chiefly of the Miamis. They were a freedom loving tribe who roved through the forests hunting, or wandered along the rivers and fished. They were clean, well developed men and women who were considered intellectually superior to any of the neighboring tribes. Probably their first well known chief was Little Turtle who lived at the present site of Fort Wayne. His chieftainship was one of deep and careful planned deeds and at his death in july, 1812, he was succeeded by jean Baptiste Richardville, commonly called John B. Richardville, a half-breed of French and Indian blood. Catherine, one of his three daughters became the wife of Frances La Fontaine, who at the death of Richardville in 1841, became the last principal chief of the Miami Nation. Here indeed, is a man whose character we can pause over and dis- cuss for a few minutes. He is described as a tall portly man weighing about 350 pounds. He was athletic, being one of the best runners of his time. His elevation to the chieftainship came after the treaties of 1826 and 1838, which took the land from his people and humbled their pride, PAGE EIGHTEEN

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PELKS7' NEW HOTEL LAPONTAINE JAII. MASONIC TEMPLE NOI.l.

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hence he was not given a fair chance to show his ability as a leader, how- ever, he did all within his power to alleviate the trials and sufferings of his people who loved him so dearly. When the Miamig were removed to Kansas in the fall of 1845, Chief LaFontaine accompanied them, spent the iirst winter with them on their new reservation, and in the spring of 1847, set out .for his home which he had established at the forks of the Wabash River in Hunt- ington County, and which stands as a monument to him to this day, but was overcome by illness and died at Lafayette on April 13, 1847. His body now lies in the Catholic Cemetery in Huntington. Thus the Redman passed from this land never to return and the 'tpale-face took possession. The first white settler who we have authentic records of came and settled here in 1828 in the country now included in Dallas Township. The only white man who had been in this country before was the trader who floated down the rivers and traded his wares for the furs the Indians supplied. But with such a humble beginning, still within a century, our city has made some wonderful strides in progress. Probably the first boom to the town was the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The work was commenced in 1832, and on July 3, 1835, the first boat arrived in Huntington amidst much cele- bration. The canal was not completed until 1851, when it terminated at Evansville and formed the longest canal in the world. After many years of faithful service, it was discontinued because of steam competition and its bed abandoned, but today, a section of the locks can be seen at Lagro, Indiana. From this time on, the little town grew very rapidly in great strides. The old Indian trails were soon replaced by well constructed roads and the steam transportation took the place of the canal. The first train arrived in this city on New Year's day, 1856, on the Wabash line. The station built was used until 1928 when a new modern edifice took its place, marking another step in progress. The Erie line was established through here about 1880. In 1858, the corner stone for our first court house was laid, amid much pomp and splendor. The building, though quaint in design, served it purpose well and was refnlaced by the present magnificent building in 1904. Our present City Building and fire station was constructed in 1904 and did away with the old frame and brick structures. Today, we enjoy all the luxuries that are common to the metro- politan cities of our nation. We have a wonderful system of schools PAGE NINETEEN