History Of Lake Maxinkuckee, O. A. Gandy Part Five

Treading their way along the shore of Maxinkuckee, the little band of Pattawatomies under Chief Menomimee, and their escort of volunteer militia, were soon looking for the last time upon the scenes grown dear b u a liftime'saccociation.

The first stage of their journey toward their new home in th grasshopper state had begun. As long as the eye could distinguish as object, their watchfull eyes sought out each well-known and loved spot. they waved their hands in fond farwell to the gleaming waters, and the lake waved back to them.

Soon not even the towering height of the Vandalia Park lighthouse was visible, and they had only the familiar song of the mosquito to reminf them of the home they were leaving behind for all time

Progress was exceedingly slow.

One historian has given as a reason for this the rumor that those in charge of the removal had set t heir watches by the town clock before starting, b ut as we wish to adhere strictly to the truth, we will add here that the clock had not been in running order for some years previous to that time (or since, for that matter).

As weary days passed, many of the Indiana, especially as most of them were compelled to walk, were afflicted with aching swollen feet; in fact it soon decame a veritable Pilgrim's Progress - Bunions, of course. This Indiana immigration is memorable in Kansas, as it marks the introduction of the first Indiana corn into that state.

After the red men were taken away, the white settlers began to doll up a bit. With their minds freed of worry for their capillary adornment, the pioneets put more heart and muscle into making more habitable this primitive paradise.

Some of them whitewashed the woodshed yet that fall, but the big majority sought employment in the numerous yarn factories where hairbreadth escapes and exciting adventures were turned out in carload lots, to hand down to a confiding though gullible prsterity.

Thus was again proven the exceeding wisdom of SOlomon where he remarked that truth is more of a stranger than fiction.

By 1844 the number of sttlers had increased considerably, so Bayless Dickson, who owned the land where Culver now stands, paused long enought in the task of keeping his whiskers free form sandburs to plat the town of Uniontown.

Old residents have told us that it was Mr. DIckson's idea to call the place Oniontown, in consideration of that great staple of ourswhich, even in that early day, grew so luxuriantly and was one of the strongest features of the locality, as well as poesy, in the intellectual makeup of some bone-head in the probate court of the county, the name was msspelled and it was officially platted and designated as Uniontown. Sic transit gloria mundi!

Although legally laid out, the town was never a dead one. With their village on the map, the Indians gone. crops fine, and getting the top price for produce from the summer visitors to the lake, the denizens were in the best of spirots, and, occasionallu, spirits were in the best of the. The following spring Bill Riggens began to seriously consider the adviseability of becoming a candidate for sheriff

At that time there were no roads to speak of in this section - and as yet none to speak of speak of respectfully.

Automobiles and motorcycles and FOrds did not figure largley in the assessment lists of the taxpayers, but tie-trouble was perhaps as prevelent as before or since.

When a post office was established, dissatisfaction over the name of Uniontown began to be apparent. It was too long, took up too much time and ink to write, and so, after several yeara trail, the name of Marmont was substituted and everybody was happy. Just why Marmont was adopted nobody seems to know, although it is possible it may have been at that time the name of a popular brand of five-cent cigar.

But Marmont it was and so remained for several years, or until it was again changed - this time to Culver.

Along about 1880 there occured an incident that had a great influence upon the development of the lake and Culver. A party of capitalists, rustioating in the vicinity of Camden, had their attention attracted to the wonderful precocity of a young boy, who even at a tender age, had given evidence of extraordinary administrative ability and forensic eloquens. Realizing that something should be done to utilize thei great combination of capabilities, which otherwise might be wasted in following a plow or lost behind the counter of the general grocery, they planned and put into operation the Terry Hut & South Bend branch of the Vandalia railway.

This infant produgy, thus so early brought before the notice of the public, was named Samuel Jones Tilden Lenon. After a few weeks of tutoring, he was brought to Culver, and installed in charge of the affairs of the company.

From that monent on, business increase to such an extent that at the present time it is by far the most important railroad entering Culver.

That is how the Vandalia came to be built.

As soon as the railroad was finished, Lake Maxinkuckee came rapidly to the front as a summer resort. Cottages sprang up whereever a desirable spot could be found along its shore; some commodious and well built, others that had difficulty in finding space enough on the outside to permit painting on the outside to permit the name selected.

Hotels became numerous, and hundreds of people in distant places who had never even heard of the lake, began to recall the number of seasons they had spent here.

Shoe clerks in Logansport, Terry Hut and SOuth Bend began, as soon as the Christmas bills were paid, to save up money for their annual seven-day participation in the mad whirl of Maxinkuckee society.

Among the many things of interest to the stranger, aside from those at the lake front park and along Midway, are the town clock, Al Porter's peanut roaster, Otto Stabenow's poodle dog, and the City Cemetery.

The latter is one point that looks better by night than by day, and should always be shown to visitors before taking them to other places.

There seems to be a great feature ahead for the township. Laboratory experminets are not being conducted with a view of converting one of the most prolific specimens of our local flora, the sandbur, into a succulent and palatable breakfst food. WHen this has b een accomplished, there will apparently be no limit to the wealth that will pour into the community. It possesses all the necessary requisites for a popular cearl - one that the public will get stuck on from the very first trial.

In this somewaht breif account of the development of Lake Maxinkuckee and Culver, much that is germane to the upbuilding of both has necessarily been omitted.

The bane of historians has ever been the fact that hardly two people will recall an iincident or an event with anything like unamimity of opinion. Hence this work has been confined principally to such occurances as cannot readily be controverted. TO bring the story further down to date would be be merely a reptition of matter familiar to all. And no doubt, all are now ready to join in a pecan of thanksgiving. Let's sing "Hallelujah, 'ti Done"

Part One ~ ~ Part Two ~ ~ Part Three ~ ~ Part Four ~ ~ Part Five

Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

History Of Lake Maxinkuckee, O. A. Gandy Part Five