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, reg ulation, and fostering care, which the reg ular 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 Macinkuckee, 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 seve 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
so ul and strength.
A patrolman Mr. Buswell, the engineer of the "
Peerless" steamer, was employed to keep
good order and sanitary reg ulation, 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 car to hoim at Culver from any of the members will bring
a prompt report as to the condition og property, and the publice health and order are his greatest care.
Committees on ROads and Shade Trees, Health, Boats and Piers, Fish and Fish C ulture, 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 habe been
deposited in the alke fromt he 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 wrotew a friend that he was convinced that the
wall-eyed pike fry from the Fish commission had so sated the appetite of the gane 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 usef ul 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 acoutn. 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 tehir 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 seage 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, patic ularly 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 the
Association chose for it's fofficers: Hon.
A. C. Capron, judge of the Marshall
County CIrcuit COurt, as president; Frank R. New, esp., 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 partic ularly 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 usef ul members. Inspection of
boilers live-saving apparatus, piers, landings, running sched ules, and many like works have cheerfully come at the request of the
Committee on Boats and Piers, and there is m"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 helpf ul 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 helpf ul 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 gorw 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.