Early History of Lake Maxinkuckee - The Maxinkuckee Lake Association  

by W. T. Wilson
In America the Civic League has become an institution. To aid the officers of the law by intelligent organized action, backed by consevative public opinion, private citizens can do much to advance neighborhood improvement, in highways, in good order, in health, in reputation and in social pleasures of like.

Tis is partic ularly true of a community like that about Lake Maxinkuckee. The natural beuty of the place its growing repute as a summer pleasure resort, the fish supply, the large number of transient vistors as excursionists and the number of residents who are away from their summer lake homes during part of the year, all call for protection, regulation, and fostering care, which the regular township machhinery can not easily supply

To fill such a want the Maxinkuckee Association, afterwards called the Maxinkuckee Lake Association, was organized by the residents of Union Township, about the lake, in the summer of 1897. Tresspassing tramps, in that part of the year when many summer homes were vacant had given trouble. Fish c ulture and protection, sanitary reg ulation and local improvements in roads, trees, walks and piers, all called for united action.

In such an organization much depends upon its first officers. The Maxinkuckee Association was fortunate in this respect. Mr. Otto Stechan, of Indianapolis, presidnent for 1897, 1898 and 1899, while a busy manufacturer at the State capital, was, and is an enthusiastic lover of Maxinkuckee, and as sailor, fisherman and home builder, had done much to advance and improve the community. His "Indiana" home on the east lakeshore is a picturesque and attractive place, worthy of the banks of the Rhine or Lake Geneva. With the energy, enthusiasm, and thoroughness of his nature, and the force of his excellent example, Mr. Stechhan did much to put the Association in a position to comman the respect, and serve the wants of the community.

Mr. Franklin Vonnegut , also a busy merchant of Indianapolis, secretary of the Association in 1897 and 1898, perhaps more than any other, by his publice spirit, devoted industry, and organizing capacity, gave life to the organization in its early efforts which is still felt in its work. The Association met a serious loss when Mr. Vonnegut's family and business cares preventer his longer coming to the lake.

Mr. W. F. Kuhn, of Indianapolis, treasurer in 1897, 1898 and 1899, was a trusty, "keeper of wampum,".

These officers with the verteran Capt. Edward Morris, who. ever since the days of the "Nancy Lee", has been one of the lake's guardians, and Mr. D. G. Walter, an enterprising citizen of Culver , constituted an executive committe, which gave the Association organic life and the generous support of the membership and the community gave it soul and strength.

A patrolman Mr. Buswell, the engineer of the "Peerless" steamer, was employed to keep good order and sanitary regulation, and did excellent work policing the neighborhood. In 1899 Mr. Buswell was suceeded b. Mr. L. C. Wiseman, of Culver , who still continues very efficiently the patrol work. A card to him at Culver from any of the members will bring a prompt report as to the condition of property, and the public ' health and order are his greatest care.

Committees on Roads and Shade Trees, Health, Boats and Piers, Fish and Fish Culture, Law and Order, Membership, Entertainments and Regattas, Finance, History and Literature were appointed and did excellent work.

In 1899 Mr. Franklin Vonnegut, being absent by reason of business and the health of his family, was succeeded as secretary by Mr. W. T. Wilson of Logansport, Ind., who served one year as secretary, and in 1900 and 1901 served as president for those years. In 1900 Mr. A. Herz, of Terre Haute, was chossen vice-president and served two yeasr. In 1900 Mr. Kuhn retired as treasurer and Mr. J. G. Mueller, of Indianapolis was elected and served in that office faithfully for two years.

For two years Dr. Everman amd his assistants studied the fish life and food at Maxinkuckee - classified its fish - found two new varieties among its darters, surveyed the banks and bottomes and prepared a map showing the depths of water, shore outlines and feeding grounds. Dr. Everman has used the organization to help his work and has been a pleasure factor in the work of the Association. In 1900 at the annual meeting he delivered an exceedingly interesting lecture on the methods of the FIsh commission work, and was followed by his friend Dr. Scovell, of Terre Haute, also a member of the Association, on the fish foods, illustrated by the vegetation of Lake Maxinkuckee. Through the kind effort of Dr. Everman millions of fish have been deposited in the alike from the Government hatcheries. In this work the Association has aided by collecting money for frieght, and through its members, Captains Morris, Crook and Knapp, with their steamboats, in putting the fish in proper waters. In this connection a good story is told by himself on out late excellent treasurer, Mr. J. G. Mueller.

Mr. Mueller had enthusiastically collected money to pay friehgt on the fish spwan for the lake. The next week he spent a day at the lake, fished all day and had never a bite at his hook. Thoroughly disgusted he wrote a friend that he was convinced that the wall-eyed pike fry from the Fish commission had so sated the appetite of the game fish that the would not touch his bait and that the whole ten million then deposited must have been eaten.

Dr. Everman, in his Govenment work, has studied the fish of Porto Rico, Hawaii, California, and Alaska, but he turns to Lake Maxinkuckee in our own State as his first love. Like our Hoosier poetess, he see,s by his returning footsteps each season say

"the wind of heaven never fanned, The circling sunlight never spanned The borders of a better land Than our own Indiana

The Vandalia Railway, which follows the west lake shore, has also been a valued and useful member. Through its efficient superintendents, Messrs. F. T. Hatch and J. O. Crockett, it has done much to advance the genral work, besides making many handsome improvements on its own acount. The Lake View Hotel and the handsome grounds, extending to the depot, are its property. It has for years maintained a landing pier at the depot shore, and has put its road tax work on the roads adjoining its lake properties. It has carried the Government fish cars over its lines without charge and has aided the Fish Committe by placing a screen over the outlet to keep the fish from escaping down stream.

It all our members would do as will in porportion to thtir opportunites we should soon have a marked improvement at Maxinkuckee.

Culver Academy is also a member of the Association. Besides the handsome showing of its buildings and its work proper it has done nuch to improve lake sanitation, draining the shallows on the shore into beautiful canals and moats drawing off sewage into the fields, working its highways into drives, aiding the social features of lake life by the charming hospitality, not only of the institution, but of its commander, Col. A. F. Fleet, and of the corps of professors and students. Long may its saluting gun at morning and sunset greet the flag and its "Star Spangled Banner" give music to the patriotic teaching of our youth. The Culver family are hih in the esteem of the people who love and know Lake Maxinkuckee. To Mr. H. H. Culver , now deceased, the founder of the Academy, and to his widow and sons, who follow his example in enterprise and public spirit, we look as to out best friends.

Our newspaper, particularly the Culver Herald and Citizen, have ever been kind, publishing reports of meetings and accounts of regattas and urging good roads and public work and improvment on their readers.

In 1900 Mr. John C. Capron, of Plymouth was elected and served two years as secretary, with much efficiency. In. 1902 t Association chose for it's officers: Hon. A. C. Capron, judge of the Marshall County Circuit COurt, as president; Frank R. New, esq., of Indianapolis, vice-president; Henry M. Speyer, Culver , for secretary; Richard E. Edwards, of Peru, Ind., treasurer; and for its Executive Committee with these officers: Capt. Edward Morris; Mr. A. N. Bogardus, Trustee of union township; Mr. J. O. Ferrier, of Culver ; Mr. A Hertz, of Terre Haute, and W. T. Wilson of Logansport. These officers still continue, with the exception of Mr. Edwads, who was called away by business interests and was succeeded at his own request, by Mr. H. R. Bliss, of Indianapolis, in 1903.

The Association is particularly fortunate in these officers. Jude Capron is know as a fair-minded gentleman, who has been and can be trusted by his neighboprs with their best interests. The judge's love for the lake is of long standing and grows out of his love of nature herself. Mr. Speyer, the secretary, is a merchant of Culver, known to the whole community for his public spirit and high character. Mr. Bliss the tresurer, has a beautiful home on the east shore of the lake, and is enthisiastic in his love for the place. The resident members of the Executive committee, Captain Morris and Messrs. Bogardus and Ferrier, are good citizens, who needn on introduction to Union Township people. The Association is equally fortunate in having members who are able to aid it in its work. Prof Barton W. Everman, honorary chairman of the Committee on Fish Protection, is the Ichthyologist of the United States Fish Commission. He has long been an admirer of Lake Maxinkuckee and selected it as a specimen study of our Indiana Waters.

The steamers and their captains, Edward Morris, Oliver Crook and A. H. Knapp, have been food and useful members. Inspection of boilers live-saving apparatus, piers, landings, running sched ules, and many like works have cheerfully come at the request of t he Committee on Boats and Piers, and there is more to follow".

The work of the Road Committees, aided by Mr. A. N. Bogardus, the township trustee, and a member of the committee, has brought our road tax into several miles of beautiful drives, and a good road all around the lake is one of the promises of the near future.

Sailing on the lake is one of its pleasures and attractions. To encourage such entertainment the Association, in 1901 appropriated fifty dollars for the purchase of challenge cups for regattas and assited in the organization of the Aubbeebaubee Yacht Club.

That veteran mariner Mr. Henry C. Adams, of Indianapolis, a leader in this as in all good works, became its first commodore, and the club has become a permenant feature of the place. Regattas have been held frequently in the seasons of 1902, 1903 and 1904, and the fleet of white-sailed yachts is a beautiful sight.

The history and literature of a place like this is interesting and the Committe of History, headed by the late lamented Judge John Mitchelll, and with efficient aid of Hon. Daniel Mc Donald, who has been been for so many years an authority on Marshall County historical questions, has supplied the principal sketch herewith presneted.

Of our members who have been conspicuously helpful and who are known throughout Indiana, but whose modesty has kept them from offical mention hitherto, it is right to name Messers.

Charles H. Brownell and R. A. Edwards, of Peru;

John M. Judah, A. M. Ogle, B. and C. Vonnegut, J. C. Schaff, Simon P. Sheerin, Armin Koehne, J. H. Vajen, Hervey Bates, and John Twiname of Indianapolis;

Joseph Strong, W. H. Albrecht and Louis Duneweg of Terre Haute;

M. W. Simons of Plymouth;

A. J. Murdock, J. E. Barnes, F. M. Harwood, W. H. Snider, and H. J. Mc Sheehey, of Logansport.

The Association has also a lamented roll of honor in its deceased members. Messrs

L. B. Martin, of Terre Haute;

Milton Shirk and Judge John Mitchell of Peru;

E. R. Wheeler, of Chicago;

A. B. Gates and W. E. Vajen of Indianapolis,

all of whom have left the memory of good neighbors and helpful citizens, and who are missed in the places which once knew them with so much respect and esteem. In a sketch such as this it is, of course, impossible to note all of the future. All such a narrative can do is to give outlinees which may lead inquirers to a closer knowledge.

The Association has about sixty members. Those anmed herein before are by no means all who have aided its work. No slight is intended for the unnamed. Their work will yet praise them, for all have done well. There should be several hundred members. When the work it can do is well appreciated, it is hoped that the Association will include every substatantial and enterprising citizen of Union Township, as well as every lover of the beautiful Lake Maxinkuckee in the state of Indiana.

Lake Maxinkuckee is the best and most atractive feature of Marshall COunty, and the epole who want to see the neighborhood grow in beauty, in health and in fame, should all unite in the common work oo forwarding such ideas by united effort. During the season of a similar association was organized at Wawassee. Throughout the United STates civic leagues have been the instruments of improvements, as we trust will continue to be the Lake Maxinkuckee Association.

Among the members now enrolled are such well known citizens as

Dr. O. A. Rea,

A. N. Bogardus,

Ed Morris,

George Peeples,

J. O. Ferrier,

H. M. Speyer,

L. T. Van Shoiack and

Peter Spangler,

and it ought to be understood that every citizen of the community who wishes to see it grow can become a member.

In united action there is strength.