If in what I should say in this place there is a seeming egotism in a frequent reference to myself, I beg that it be overlooked, as I cannot see well how to avoid it.

On my arrival here I immediately set about getting subscribers for the Northwestern Pioneer, a weekly newspaper of super-royal size, proposed to be published by my brother Joseph (who now resides at Goshen) and myself. I had preceded him several weeks, he coming with the ox-team that brought the printing materials and a supply of paper, from Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time there was no newspaper published in this State or in Michigan, north of the Wabash river, or west of Detroit. We thus had a wide field, so far at least as territory was concerned, but it was sparsely populated.

The prairies were first selected for cultivation, and, when it was possible, the log cabins of the pioneers were erected in the adjoining woods.

The press and type arrived, and my brother and I got out the first number of our paper on the 16th of November, 1831, doing all the work, mailing and delivering the paper to town subscribers. The offices was in a small, one-story brick house, belonging to Mr. Coquillard, on Michigan street (now corner of Main and Water streets), near where the Exchange Hotel was afterward built, and was, I believe, the first brick house erected in this place. We afterward occupied the upper story of a log house on the corner of St. Joseph and Pearl streets.

Since then a wonderful improvement has been made in the printing press. At that time the ink was put on the type by means of two balls, made of buckskin and stuffed with wool. Two hundred sheets per hour were all that could be printed on a hand press, and there were no power presses in use. Now, 8,000 copies of a paper of the size of the Pioneer can be printed on a Bullock press in less than an hour.

To refresh my memory, I recently looked over a file of the Pioneer, and found it very interesting. It brought to my recollection many occurrences which I had forgotten.

That the present receipts and expenditures of St. Joseph county may be compared with what they were in that early day, I present the following table of receipts and expenditures from January 1, 1832, to November 1, 1832, as published in the Pioneer:

Dec. 5, 1831, a meeting was held at Lilley’s Hotel (the second house of entertainment just opened), for the purpose of asking Congress to establish a land office at this place. Anthony Defrees was called to the chair, and Elisha Egbert was elected secretary. A committee, composed of Pleasant Harris, L. M. Taylor, H. Chapin, J.P. Antrim and John D. Defrees, was appointed to memorialize Congress on the subject. As a result of this effort, a bill passed the United States Senate, at the instance of Senator Tipton, establishing a land office here, but it failed in the House. Afterward the land office for the sale of lands in the northern part of the State was established at La Porte.

Col. Taylor was then the postmaster, and if he did not carry the letters in his hat he might have done so, as but few letters were received or sent. The following list of letters not taken from the postoffice was advertised in the Pioneer Dec. 31. 1832: Henry Augustine, Joseph Boel, Jacob Chord, Alexander Blain, Jacob Bowman, Joseph Brown, Daniel Bennett, John Bailey, Peter Kiffer, Jacob Ritter and Scott West. There may be some of these persons yet living, but I do not know it.

In the fall of 1831 a debating society was formed by a few gentlemen who had political aspirations, for the purpose of showing their speaking ability. It met in the second story of Mr. Lilley’s Hotel.

Mary 23, 1832, an express rider from Chicago to Detroit passed through South Bend giving the information that the Indians, under Black Hawk, were committing murders on Rock river, Illinois. A few days afterward it was rumored that these Indians had determined to make their way to Canada. As South Bend would be on their direct route, many of our people became alarmed and immediately commenced building a fort for protection. The panic, however, subsided before any considerable amount of work had been done. Noah Noble, at that time Governor of Indiana, was applied to for aid against the supposed danger. In response to his call, a regiment of 300 men were raised in Marion and adjoining counties. The regiment, under command of Col. Russell, of Indianapolis, marched to Chicago. When it arrived there, Gen. Atkinson was at Dixon’s Ferry, on Rock river, awaiting reinforcements before attacking Black Hawk. Col. Whistler had a company of regulars at Chicago, and proposed to Col. Russell to join his command and march to the aid of Gen. Atkinson. A council of war was held, and as a majority of the officers under Co. Russell were candidates for Congress in the District, and as they wished to vaunt their patriotism, it was determined to decline the offer, and to return to Indianapolis by way of South Bend. This retrograde movement was criticized by the Pioneer, published on the morning of the arrival of the regiment here. The article gave great offense to a portion of the regiment, who had bee indulging pretty freely in whiskey. On going into the street I was surrounded by an excited mob, who threatened personal chastisement; but is was finally thought best to retire without putting the threat into execution. In the next number of the Pioneer the regiment was called the “bloody three hundred,” in derision of their exploits, and they retained the appellation for many years. Black Hawk was soon afterward captured and the country became quiet.

During the excitement some amusement was occasioned by Esquire Haney, a German, who then resided here. At a meeting held to consider the condition of the county, some one remarked that an Indian chief by the name of Pokagon, who was known to be friendly to settlers, and who lived opposite Niles, had determined to remain neutral. The “Squire, not understanding the meaning of the word “neutral,” thought it had reference to an Indian chief of that name, and remarked: “Damn old Neutral! I believe he is mit Black Hawk now!” The boys afterward had a good deal of fun with the “Squire about his mistake.

No one apprehended any danger of the Pottawatomies of Indiana and Michigan, as they had, ever since the treaty of Greenville, been the friends of the white man. Many of them fought for us in the war of 1812. Among the number was John B. Chaudonis, a half-breed (well-known to the early settlers of this town), who distinguished himself by killing his uncle, who was a British officer, during an engagement somewhere in Michigan.

Emigration, which had ceased in consequence of the alarm from the Indian war, again commenced; or, as announced in a grandiloquent article in a number of the Pioneer which read as follows:

”As a breaking forth of a mighty river which had long been pent-up, does the emigration now pour into the St. Joseph country. From present appearance, emigrants seem determined to make up for the time lost form having the fear of Black Hawk before their eyes. One day this week nine wagons and sixty persons passed through this place for Sumption’s Prairie, six miles south; and not a day passes that does not bring emigrants with farming utensils and stock, wending their way to different parts of the beautiful St. Joseph country.”

In May, 1832, we changed the name of our paper from the Northwestern Pioneer to the St. Joseph Beacon, considering it more appropriate, as better indicating the country in which it was published. Much space in the paper was devoted to giving information in relation to the advantage of this country, so as to induce emigrants. The richness of the soil and the facility with which farms could be made were weekly themes.

Feb. 13, 1833, a number of citizens met at the school-house to form a society under the 11th commandment, which reads: “Every one must attend to his own affairs and not interfere with the affairs of his neighbor.” So read the call for the meeting. The society was called “The Anit-Tattling Society.” Peter Johnson was president and Jonathan A. Liston, secretary. Mr. Liston delivered an address making several columns of the Beacon/ The society did not long exist, having been gotten up more for amusement than anything else.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Reminiscences

Rev. P. Dillon, the second President of the University of Notre Dame, was born in the county of Galway, Ireland, Jan. 1, 1832. Immediately after his birth he was dedicated in a special manner, by his mother, to the service of God, and entered upon his studies for the sacred ministry, while yet a mere boy. After the removal of his family to America he continued his studies at St. Mary’s College, Chicago, Illinois. He entered Notre Dame in 1856, completed his studies and was ordained priest in 1858. Even before his ordination he was appointed steward of the university, and gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He was subsequently appointed president of St. Mary’s College, Chicago, and gave still further proof of his administrative talent. From St. Mary’s he was recalled to Notre Dame, where he discharged the important duties of vice-president of the university and principal of the Commercial Department for nearly three years. In May, 1865, he was duly appointed President of the university and local superior at Notre Dame. During his presidency the college buildings were entirely remodeled and enlarged, and improvements made to the value of nearly $100,000. In August, 1866, he was summoned to France to attend a General Chapter of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and, as his fame had preceded him, he was appointed secretary and assistant to the Superior General, the best evidence that could have been given of the esteem in which he was held by his religious associates. In August, 1868, he returned with Very Rev. Father Sorin, who had just been appointed Superior General of the Congregation. Filial duty, which at first appeared to require but a temporary absence, eventually rendered it necessary for him to seek a dispensation from his obligations as a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, in order to attend more freely to the sacred duties which nature herself imposed upon him. The dispensation was given, thought with much reluctance, by the Very Rev. Superior General, and Father Dillon immediately assumed the responsibilities of pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, Chicago. But a disease which had several times previously threatened his life, returned with renewed violence, and on Sunday evening, Nov. 15, 1868, he breathed his last, regretted by all who knew him, and sincerely mourned by a wide circle of personal friends.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Rev. William Corby, the third President, was born at Detroit, Mich., Oct. 2, 1833. Up to 1849 he received all the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that time. From 1849 to 1853 he was occupied with his father in business, and during that time, under his father’s experienced training, laid the foundation of that self-control and forbearance which have enabled him to fill the important positions he has since held. In 1853 he was sent by his father to Notre Dame, with two younger brothers, to continue their education. In 1854 he entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross and prosecuted his studies with vigor, under the direction of experienced teachers, till 1858, when he made his religious profession as a member of the congregation, and was appointed prefect of discipline in the university. In addition to the duties thus imposed upon him, he continued to study theology with perservering energy till 1860, when he was raised to the dignity of priesthood. He was then employed as a professor in the university till July of the following year, when he was appointed director of the Manual Labor School at Notre Dame, with the additional duty of attending the mission of South Bend, at that time too small to have a resident pastor. Was Chaplain of a New York regiment during the war, and returned to his little mission at South Bend; and finding the congregation in debt, contracted while building St. Patrick’s church, he went vigorously to work, and in a few months collected money enough, not only to free the congregation from liabilities, but also to erect a neat pastoral residence close to the church. Ths done, he was about to take some rest, and enjoy, with his little congregation, some of the fruits of his zealous labors, when he was elected vice president and director of studies in the university. This new office he undertook with the same cheerfulness and determination that he had manifested on all previous occasions, and continued to discharge its duties until August, 1866, when he was raised to the position of president.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Very Rev. Alexis Granger, the first who occupied the position of vice president of the University of Notre Dame, was born at Daon, France, June 19, 1817. He received his primary education at home, and even had made some progress in the study of Latin before his 15th year, the age at which he entered the College of Chateau Goutier. Here he remained five years, during which time, by diligence and the aid of superior talent, he completed his collegiate course. He then entered the theological seminary at Maus, France, in his 20th year. After four years of earnest application to the study of theology, he was admitted to the Holy Orders Dec. 19, 1840. The next two years he was pastor of a congregation in the diocese of Maus, and, if judged by the zeal which he has always manifested for the spiritual welfare of others since he has been at Notre Dame, his congregation lost a treasure, when in October, 1843, he entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross, at Maus, where the Mother House of the congregation was then located. After a short experience in the religious life, during which time he had proved himself worthy of the confidence of his Superiors, Father Granger, in 1844, was sent to Notre Dame, while this institution was yet in its infancy, where he was appointed assistant superior and vice president of the college. The latter office he occupied until 1851. The former he retained until Father Sorin became provincial, when he was also promoted to the office of vice provincial. From 1851 to 1861 Father Granger was, with one or two brief interruptions, director of the novitiate for the ecclesiastical portion of the congregation, and pastor of the Church at Notre Dame. In 1867 he was removed from the novitiate and appointed prefect of religion in the college, still retaining the pastorship of the Church. In August, 1868, after the election of Father Sorin to the office of superior general, Father Granger was elected provincial of the congregation in America.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Rev. Francis Cointet, the second who filled the office of vice president of the university, was born at La Roc, France, Feb. 26, 1816. At the age of about ten years he was sent by his parents to the College of Chateau Goutier, then the best educational institution in the diocese to which he belonged. Having completed his collegiate studies, he entered the theological seminary at Maus, in September, 1834. After five years of studious application to the great questions of theology, he was ordained priest in 1839, by Right Rev. Dr. Bouvier, Bishop of Maus, and was appointed assistant pastor in Chatillon, one of the most important parishes in the diocese. While at this place he accidentally saw the first letter written by his former intimate friend, and associate, Father Sorin, from Notre Dame, and the desire arose in his heart to emigrate to America and here labor for the spiritual welfare of his fellow-beings. Accordingly in 1843 he offered himself to Very Rev. Father Moreau, at that time superior general of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, as a candidate for the American mission, and in July of that same year arrived at Notre Dame. After one year spent at the novitiate, he made his religious profession as a member of the congregation, and from that moment gave himself up without reserve to the great work which he had undertaken. After five years of earnest labor as a missionary, Father Cointet in 1849, was sent to New Orleans as local superior of a branch establishment of the order in that city. During the two years which he spent in that capacity, the establishment flourished. In 1851 he was recalled by his superior to Notre Dame, and appointed vice president of the college. He occupied that position, however, but for a short time; his heart yearned for the missions, and his Superior, yielding to his wishes, gave him charge of five different missions, at that time under the care of the congregation, - Goshen and LaPorte, Ind., and Milan, Berrien and Bertrand, Mich. For three years more he gave himself up to this charitable labor, but at last his constitution gave way. In September, 1854, he returned one day from one of his missions, weary and sick; every care that love and affection could suggest was bestowed upon him, but to no purpose; and on the 19th he passed from the scenes of his self-sacrificing labors to the mansions of eternal happiness.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Rev. Richard Shortis, the third who filled the post of vice president, was born at St. Nicholas, Ireland, March 21, 1815. Of his early history little is known. In 1849, after passing a creditable examination, though not a student proper in the college, he received the degree of B. A. at Notre Dame in company with Rev. N. H. Gillespie. It may be interesting to note, that these were the first degrees conferred by the university, five years after having been granted its charter. Soon after graduation Mr. Shortis entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and while pursuing his theological studies, discharged the duties of professor of the English language and literature in the university. In 1850 he made his religious profession as a member of the Congregation, and was ordained priest. Immediately after his ordination, Father Shortis entered upon the laborious life of a missionary, and continued until 1852, when he was recalled and appointed vice president of the college. From 1853 to 1856, he discharged the duties of general secretary of the university and professor. In 1856 he was sent to take charge of the mission at La Porte, Ind., and continued until 1858. He was then recalled to Notre Dame, and subsequently, in 1860, was sent to New Orleans.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Rev. James Dillon, the fifth vice president at Notre Dame, was born in the county of Galway, Ireland, Nov. 18, 1833. He began his studies for the sacred ministry in the land of his nativity, while yet very young, continued them in the city of Chicago, after the removal of his family to this country, and finally completed them at Notre Dame. He entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in October, 1853, and after a full course of theology was ordained priest in 1858, on the same day with his brother, Rev. Patrick Dillon. In 1859, Father James, as he was familiarly called, was appointed to the office of vice president, in which position he gave evidence of that energy which was to the end one of his most striking characteristics. In 1860 he was appointed president of St. Mary’s College, Chicago. In 1861 he was recalled to Notre Dame, and appointed one of a band of missionaries which the superior contemplated organizing that year, but the war at the South commenced, and he went as Chaplain; but contracting consumption, he obtained a furlough, and was sent by his Superior to travel in Europe for his health. The trip seemed to have accomplished the end sought, and he returned to take his post amid the armed battalions but the disease only slept, and soon compelled him to retire. He was then sent to California by his Superior, with a view to revive his health. While there his zeal for the spiritual good of others made him forget his own weak condition, and instead of regaining health, he gradually sank under the influence of his disease. Finding that a longer stay from home would be useless, he returned to Notre Dame to await the final call of his Creator. When his brother, Father Patrick, retired from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Father James would not remain inactive, but, with the requisite dispensation, accompanied him, to bear his part in the work to which duty called him. But the effort was too great, and the death of his brother, to whom he was almost passionately attached, gave the final blow to his already enfeebled constitution, and he calmly departed this life, Dec. 17, 1868, just one month and two days after his brother.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Rev. Michael B. Brown was born near Plattsburg, New York, Sept. 20, 1840, and up to the age of 12 lived in the happy freedom of childhood on his father’s farm and not far from the shores of the celebrated Lake Champlain. At the age of 12 he removed with his parents to Sandusky, Ohio, where he remained for five years, attending school during the winter, and working with his father during the summer. In 1857 he entered St. Mary’s Preparatory Seminary at Cleveland, Ohio, with a view to preparing himself for the sacred ministry, for which he had manifested a decided inclination, even while yet a child. He remained in Cleveland two years, applying himself earnestly to the study of Latin, English and mathematics. In 1859 he entered the University of Notre Dame; early in 1860 he was received into the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, in March of the same year; continued to prosecute his studies with vigor, and also began his career as a teacher. In June, 1862, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in the following September began his theological studies, which he continued till June 10, 1867, when he was ordained priest. Before his ordination Father Brown taught different branches in the university, especially Greek, Latin and logic, continuing in this work until September, 1868, when he was appointed to the professorship of moral and mental philosophy.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Prof. Joseph Aloysius Lyons is the youngest of 13 children. He was born Nov. 7, 1838, in Utica, N.Y. In 1847 his parents moved West, and settled in the vicinity of Niles, Mich. Young Lyons now determined to enter the University of Notre Dame as a student, but his father dying about this time changed his prospects in this respect. Finding he could not then enter college, he entered an office in niles to learn the art of printing. Not liking the persons he had to deal with, he became dissatisfied with his position and applied to Father Sorin for admission into the Manual Labor School at Notre Dame. Father Sorin, seeing in the bright boy the future man of energy and usefulness, dispensed with the ordinary conditions of admission, and admitted him as an apprentice shoemaker. But the taste of the youth did not incline him to the last, yet he worked well and intelligently, and after a short time succeeded in making a fair pair of boots, which won the premium at the county fair, though many older workmen competed for it. Notwithstanding this devotedness to trade, the young man improved every opportunity of cultivating his mind and even began the study of Latin; went to St. Aloysius; Seminary, where he was soon appointed to take charge of the studies at the Manual Labor School and teach some of the classes there.

In 1858, having completed his classical studies and attended the class of philosophy for some time, he was appointed director of the junior and minim department of the university. For two years he had charge of the discipline of these two departments, taught various classes and established two societies – the Philomathean and Holy Angel’s Societies. In 1860 he was sent with Father James Dillon to St. Mary’s of the Lake, in Chicago, where he filled the office of prefect of discipline, and at the same time taught Latin with brilliant success, for one year. On his return to Notre Dame, in 1861, he was then engaged as a regular professor of the university. Beginning with the lower classes, he advanced by degrees to the head of the Latin department. In 1862, having studied some branches of the collegiate course to which he had not previously given special attention, Prof. Lyons received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and two years later that of Master of Arts.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Prof. Michael A. J. Baasen was born in Luxembourg, Germany, June 2, 1844. When he reached the age of six years his father was appointed Consul to the United States, and accordingly removed to this country with his family. After being relieved from the duties of his office, he settled in Milwaukee, Wis. He entered college when quite young, and with occasional brief intermissions, continued to prosecute his studies in different institutions, and finally came to the University of Notre Dame, in 1862, where he completed his collegiate studies, in 1864, receiving, at the annual commencement of the year the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After graduating he commenced teaching ancient and modern languages at Notre Dame.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Prof. Michael T. Corby was born at Detroit, Mich., Feb. 20, 1844, and received his primary education in the schools of that place. However he entered the University of Notre Dame when quite young, but his studies were interrupted for a period of time. Subsequently he studied at two different colleges in Kentucky, whence returning in 1860, he entered Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College in Detroit, where he graduated in the commercial course July, 1862. In 1863 he returned to Botre Dame to complete his classical studies and pursue the study of music. He continued this course vigorously for two years, and at the commencement in June, 1865, received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Returning the following year, Prof. Corby began his career as a teacher, and continued to apply himself assiduously to the theoretical and practical study of music. His progress was truly wonderful and in 1868 he was requested to take charge of the vocal music department in the university, which he did, his services being highly appreciated by both faculty and students.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches

Prof. William Ivers was born in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 13, 1839. While yet an infant he was taken by his parents to New Orleans, where his father soon after died. Three years subsequently his mother formed a second matrimonial alliance, and the family then removed to Iowa, and young Ivers received his first education at the school attached to the Cathedral at Dubuque. Afterward he attended the district school near where his mother resided. In 1851 his mother died and he was taken by an uncle to New Orleans, where he attended school till 1853. In 1853 he was placed by his uncle in Notre Dame. For three years he applied himself eagerly to study; then entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross. He soon began to doubt his vocation and left Notre Dame for New Orleans, but returned in 1859 and engaged in teaching. After teaching at Notre Dame, Chicago and Philadelphia, in 1865 he made another trip to New Orleans, and in December returned to Notre Dame and engaged in teaching mathematics. He then read up on some studies in June, 1866, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
Biographical Sketches