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GUIDE TO 
 ALLEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE 
 
 COMPILED BY 
 
 GEORGIANA W. BOND 
 ADA C. FENTON 
 
 FORT WAYNE. INDIANA 
 
 PRESS OF 
 MASTER PRINTING COf 
 FORT WAYNE, INDIAN. 
 
Copyright. 1913. by G. W. Bond 
 
 *;...■ 
 
 CCLA332409 
 
TABLE OF HEADINGS 
 
 Page. 
 
 History of the ('oiirt House 1 
 
 Placing the County Seat 1 
 
 First Allen County Court House 2 
 
 Second Allen County Court House 4 
 
 Third Allen County Court House 5 
 
 Fourth Allen County Court House 7 
 
 Exterior 10 
 
 Facades 12 
 
 Artesian Well 13 
 
 Interior 14 
 
 First Floor 16 
 
 Tablets 16 
 
 Second F'loor .■ 18 
 
 Third Floor 18 
 
 Law Library 19 
 
 Rotunda 19 
 
 Inner Balcony 24 
 
 Superior Court Room 24 
 
 Court Room No. 3 28 
 
 Court Room No. 2 34 
 
 Circuit Court Room 36 
 
 Dome and Balcony 43 
 
 Clocks . 44 
 
 Artesian Well 44 
 
 Tunnel 44 
 
 County Seal 44 
 
 Conclusion 45 
 
 Statistics 46 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 1. County Seal. 
 
 2. Frontispiece. 
 
 3. Heading to Beginning. 
 
 4. Sketch of Court House Number 1. 
 
 5. Court House Number 3. 
 
 6. Court House Number 4. 
 
 7. Facades. 
 
 8. Lower Corridor. 
 1). FIooi' Plans. 
 
 10. Commissioners Court Room. 
 
 11. Rotunda. 
 
 12. Superior Court Room. 
 
 13. Panel — Literature. 
 
 14. Panel — Art Industry. 
 
 15. Panel— Music. 
 
 16. West Wall Court Room No. 3. 
 
 17. Battle of Fallen Timbers. 
 
 18. Panel — Naming County Seat. 
 
 19. Panel — Finance. 
 
 20. Panel— Burial of Little Turtle. 
 
 21. West Pediment Circuit Court Room. 
 
 22. Panel— Call to War. 
 
HE Court House of Allen County, Indi- 
 ana, in the City of Fort Wayne, stands, 
 in its noble proportions and magnifi- 
 cence of detail, a monument to the 
 profound genius of its architect, Brentwood 
 S. Tolan, and to the wisdom, foresight and 
 judgment of the people of Allen County, and 
 its Board of County Commissioners. It can 
 also be claimed as the largest, most beautiful, 
 costly, safe, and most splendid structure de- 
 signed for County uses, of any in Indiana, or 
 indeed, in the entire West, a work of combined 
 arts that present and future generations must 
 behold with just pride and admiration. 
 
 Before entering upon a detailed description 
 of this splendid building, the fourth Allen 
 County Court House to be erected on this site, 
 a short history of its three predecessors may be 
 in order. 
 
 PLACING OF THE COUNTY SEAT. 
 
 When, in the evolution of a State, a new 
 
 County w^as to be formed, and its boundaries 
 
 permanently defined, it was customary for the 
 
 larger and more pretentious towns in that sec- 
 
 1 
 
tion, foreseeing- all the advantages inevitably 
 following the placing of a County Seat, to 
 strive, by offering substantial inducements to 
 obtain this benefit. When therefore, in 1823, 
 a new County was formed in Northern Indiana, 
 from parts of Randolph and Delaware Counties, 
 and called "Allen," in memory of the heroic 
 Colonel John Allen, who lost his life in the 
 battle of Raisin River, January 22, 1813, two 
 astute business men, John McCorkle, Esquire, 
 of Piqua, Ohio, and John T. Barr of Baltimore, 
 Maryland, owning property in the rising town 
 of Fort Wayne, offered to give the piece of 
 ground owned by them, as a site for the County 
 Court House, should the thriving tow^n with its 
 population of 300 be selected as the seat of 
 justice. This property, in 1822, had been plat- 
 ted, and called "The Public Square." 
 
 This proposition having been accepted, these 
 two public-spirited men added to their gift of 
 land $400.00 in cash, a rather large sum for 
 those days, and thus it w^as that Fort Wayne 
 became the County Seat of Allen County. The 
 "Public Square," 149 feet wide, by 314 feet 
 long, which then, as now, was bounded on the 
 north by Main Street, on the east by Court 
 Street, on the south by Berry Street, and on 
 the west by Calhoun Street, w^as recorded in 
 1833. 
 
 During the next seven years, however, no 
 public building being provided. County busi- 
 ness w^as transacted in the ofHce of Alexander 
 Ewing, Esquire, at the southeast corner of Barr 
 and Columbia Streets, or in that of William 
 Suttonfield, at the northeast corner of these 
 streets. 
 
 FIRST ALLEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 
 
 In 1831, Fort Wayne having doubled her 
 2 
 
First Allen Countv Court House. 
 
 population, claiming some 800 in round num- 
 bers, the County Board, consisting of Francis 
 Alexander, William Casswell, and James Hol- 
 man, ordered as a preliminary step, the brush 
 and stumps removed from the public square, 
 and definite measures were adopted and a con- 
 tract let for the erection of the first Court 
 House of Allen County, at a cost of $3,321.75, 
 ''John S. Archer, Esquire," according to the 
 quaint old records, "to furnish brick, James 
 Hudson to lay them, supplying also lime and 
 stone, Messrs. Hanna and Edsall, all lumber, 
 timber, nails, glass, etc., besides the necessary 
 carpenter work." 
 
 Public-spirited citizens subscribed $149.00 in 
 cash, besides material and labor to the amount 
 of $499.00, the remainder being paid from the 
 County Treasury. This building was poorly 
 constructed and was destined to remain unfin- 
 ished. It was, however, used for nine years, 
 and Court was held here for the first time May 
 7th, 1832. There are no pictures extant of this 
 first Court House, but it is described by those 
 who still recall it, as 40 feet square, a two-story 
 brick edifice, perfectly plain, with its roof 
 rising to a small cupola, and this surmounted 
 3 
 
by a gilded ball, and weather-vane. It proved 
 to be entirely inadeqnate for the needs of the 
 fast-growing Connty and City, Fort Wayne in 
 1843 having a population of 1,500, several 
 structures were built about the Court House 
 enclosure to supplement its capacity, one of 
 brick, a one-story affair, containing one Court 
 room and two offices on the southeast corner of 
 First and Berry Streets, and on the northeast 
 corner, another, for the use of the County 
 Treasurer and Auditor, while the County Clerk 
 and Recorder had offices, respectively, upon 
 the northwest and southw^est corners. Here 
 also upon the southwest corner stood the 
 County Jail, destroyed by fire in 1837 in which 
 a room was provided in its second story for 
 the ''detention of debtors." This first Court 
 House was condemned as unfit for further use 
 in 1841, and the County Agent was authorized 
 to sell it to the highest bidder. Tradition 
 declares that it actually fell down, the gilded 
 ball and weather-vane becoming the property 
 of Mr. Henry Rudisill and was long preserved 
 and used as the crowning ornament of the 
 chicken-coop at his suburban home on Spy 
 Run. 
 
 THE SECOND ALLEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 
 
 For six years no temple of justice graced the 
 public square until in 1843 the Commissioners, 
 Nelson McLain, F. D. Laselle, and Joseph Hall, 
 awarded a contract to the firm of Samuel 
 Edsall & Company "for the building of a new 
 Court House at a cost not to exceed $15,000." 
 This, completed in 1847, was considered in its 
 day, an imposing affair, and was dedicated with 
 a proper show of appreciation. It was of brick, 
 one story in height of very plain exterior and 
 situated on the east side of the square. 
 4 
 
THIRD ALLEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 
 
 In 1860, the City now numbering 10,300 in 
 population, and the County growing rapidly, 
 sealed proposals were asked for the building of 
 a larger Court House to meet the increasing 
 demand of public business, to be placed in the 
 center of the Public Square and to be built, 
 according to plans and specifications, prepared 
 by Edwin May, Esquire, of Indianapolis. To 
 Samuel Edsell was awarded the contract at 
 $63,613.00 and the third Allen County Court 
 House was completed and accepted July 23, 
 1862. 
 
 This was, as is shown by the engraving, a 
 
 square brick structure, a combination of Doric 
 
 and Corinthian architecture, and had for its 
 
 exterior ornamentation life-size figures of Gen- 
 
 5 
 
erals Wayne and Washington in full Continen- 
 tal uniforms, in niches upon the northern and 
 western facades, respectively. This was further 
 graced by a central cupola with four clock 
 dials, facing the four enclosing streets. The 
 arrangement of the interior, while severely 
 plain, was sufficient for the demands of the 
 time, the only attempt at mural decoration 
 being two figures in fresco on the walls of the 
 Court Room on either side of the judge's stand, 
 Columbus and the Goddess of Liberty. 
 
 The corner-stone, a block of marble, was laid 
 with imposing IMasonic ceremonies, May 1st, 
 1861, and was inscribed: 
 
 CORNER STONE. 
 
 May 1st, 1861, A. D. 5. 861. 
 
 By Sol Bayless, P. G. M. 
 
 Marshall Crow^ 
 
 John Shaffer ^ County Commissioners. 
 
 Isaac Hall ) 
 
 — Contractors. — 
 
 S. E. Edsell and V. M. Kimball. 
 
 Designed by Edwin May, Esquire. 
 
 Superintendent — Samuel ]\IcElfatrick. 
 
 Builder— D. L. Silva. 
 
 This corner-stone is preserved in the present 
 Court House. The total cost of this building 
 was about $78,000, including architect's and 
 superintendent's fees. It was not fire-proof 
 and conse(iuently was an unsafe repository for 
 the valuable documents, etc., that had been by 
 this time accumulated in its store-room. 
 
 Such, in brief, was the history of Allen 
 
 County's first three Court Houses. Once again, 
 
 however, public business demanded increased 
 
 facilities for its proper transaction, and better 
 
 6 
 
protection for the important records and papers 
 in its keeping. 
 
 The City of Fort Wayne, rich in historic 
 interest, in enterprise and wealth, situated in 
 the fertile and conse(|uently rapidly developing 
 Allen County, having attracted and held many 
 business men of large means, with a growing 
 population in 1895 of about 40,000, it was deter- 
 mined, by the County Commissioners, Messrs. 
 Sylvanus Baker, Matthew Ferguson, and John 
 H. Stellhorn, to build once more an Allen 
 Count}^ Court House, and this time not alone 
 for present needs, but, with foresighted wis- 
 dom, for generations to come. They agreed 
 upon a fire-proof building which would fittingly 
 represent in design and construction the dig- 
 nity of the City, the County and the people, and 
 in 1895, after a critical inspection of plans sent 
 in by many well-known architects, of highest 
 standing, those submitted by a fellow-towns- 
 man, Mr. Brentwood S. Tolan, were chosen, and 
 in 1897 the contract was let to James M. Stew- 
 art & Company of St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 THE FOURTH ALLEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 
 
 The present stately edifice, its own commen- 
 tary upon the taste and judgment of the Board 
 of Commissioners, was accomplished from in- 
 ception until it stood a completed achievement, 
 without a law-suit or serious interference of 
 any kind ; and the people of Allen County can 
 look with pride, just and great, upon this, the 
 gem of their many goodly possessions, noble in 
 exterior, and beautiful throughout. 
 
 The corner-stone was laid with impressive 
 services Nov. 17, 1897 ; addresses by Colonel R.S. 
 Robertson and Honorable Wm. P. Breen, fol- 
 lowing prayer by Reverend Samuel Wagenhals, 
 7 
 
of tile English Lutheran Church. An address 
 was also made by Governor J. A. Mount, who, 
 with his staff, graced the occasion, the music 
 led by Professor Guillem Miles, being furnished 
 by a chorus of girls from the Public Schools. 
 
 Imbedded in the corner-stone, which is set in 
 the northeast corner of the building, corner of 
 Court and Main streets, is a copper box made 
 by John H. Welsh & Son, Fort Wayne, contain- 
 ing copies of daily papers, lists of County offi- 
 cials, statements of County finances, data of 
 County business, coins of different denomina- 
 tions and memorials of various kinds. The 
 stone is inscribed : 
 
 ALLEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 
 
 Erected A. D. 1897-1900. 
 
 This stone was laid bv Judge John JMorris, 
 
 Nov. 17th, 1897. 
 
Commissioners from commencement to com- 
 pletion : 
 
 1896 - 97— 
 
 Jasper W. Jones, Prest. 
 
 Matthew A. Ferguson, Vice-Prest. 
 
 John Stellhorn, Sec'y- 
 
 1897 - 98— 
 
 Matthew A. Ferguson, Prest. 
 Sylvanus Baker, Vice-Prest. 
 Chas. E. Orff, Sec'y. 
 
 1898 - 1900— 
 
 Matthew A. Ferguson, Prest. 
 Augustus R. Schnitker, Vice-Prest. 
 Chas. E. Orff, Sec'y. 
 
 Auditor 1896-97— Clarence H. Edsell. 
 Auditor 1897-98— Louis J. Bobilya. 
 Auditor 1898-1900— Wm. Meyer, Jr. 
 
 Brentwood S. Tolan, Architect. 
 
 Successor to 
 
 Thomas J. Tolan & Son. 
 
 Wm. H. Goshorn, Superintendent. 
 
 This most magnificent temple of Justice, cost- 
 ing with its interior furnishings $817,553.19, 
 was dedicated Wednesday, September 24, 1902. 
 in the presence of a large gathering of people 
 from far and near. 
 
 Following the invocation by the Right Rev- 
 erend Herman J. Alerding, Bishop of Fort 
 Wayne, the Attorney for the Board, Honorable 
 James M. Barrett, in an eloquent address an- 
 nounced the completion of the building, its 
 acceptance being acknowledged by the Honor- 
 able Chas. McCulloch. 
 
 Honorable Wm. Bourke Cochran, of New 
 9 
 
York, was the special orator of the day, Colonel 
 R. S. Robertson givmg the historical address, 
 in which he said, "Every detail of use or orna- 
 ment, every decoration inside or out, excepting 
 the mural paintings, was conceived, modeled, 
 cast or sculptured and carried out to a finish 
 within the limits of the Court House Square 
 and most of it within the Court House walls." 
 The Reverend David W. Moffett, D. D., pas- 
 tor of the First Presbyterian Church, pro- 
 nounced the benediction. Shober's and the 
 First Regiment Bands, furnished the music and 
 a special "Dedication IMarch'' composed for 
 this occasion by IMr. Geo. E. Holmes, then of 
 Fort Wayne, was much appreciated and ap- 
 plauded. 
 
 EXTERIOR, 
 
 The nobly proportioned building, absolutely 
 fire-proof, is of blue limestone, from the cele- 
 brated quarries of Bedford, Indiana, and is a 
 combination of the Renaissance, Roman, and 
 Grecian, in architecture. While the graceful 
 columns and pilasters of the first and second 
 stories proclaim the Ionic in sentiment and 
 style, diversity is found in the Corinthian 
 type upon the third story. 
 
 A ver.y beautiful and distinctive feature is 
 presented by the graceful Ionic columns and 
 capitals set twelve feet apart, surrounding the 
 upper part of the building, the colonnade 
 repeating, in smaller size colunnis. about the 
 dome. The harmoniously proportioned dome 
 contains clock dials facing the four corners of 
 the compass, and, surmounting the whole beau- 
 tiful creation, a revolving copper statue of 
 Liberty holding her torch of enlightenment, 
 heroic in size, 13 feet 8 inches in height and 
 costing $1,000. 
 
 10 
 
Calhoun Street Front — 1. Agriculture ; 2. Transportation : 
 o. Commerce ; 4, Spirit of Civilization ; 5, Science ; 6. Inven- 
 tion ; 7, Industry ; 8, Ambition ; 9, Enterprise ; 10, Diligence : 
 11. Knowledge ; 12. 13, Victory ; 14, Washington ; 15, Jurispru- 
 dence ; 16, Law Studv ; 17, Lafavette. 
 
 Berry Street Front — 18, The People ; 19, Jury ; 20. Prose- 
 cuting Law ; 21, Spirit of Law ; 22. Defending Law ; 23. Client ; 
 24, Supreme Court ; 25. Incorruptibility ; 26, Fearlessness ; 27, 
 Learning ; 28. Impartiality ; 29. 30. Fam'e ; 31, Anthonv Wavne ; 
 32. Detective and Preventive Law ; 33, Mercv : 34, John Allen. 
 
 Court Street Front — 35, Music and Stjige Art ; 36, Art ; 
 37. Literature ; 38. Spirit of Civilization ; 39, Theology ; 40. 
 Medicine ; 41, Law ; 42, Faith ; 43, Perseverance ; 44, Genius ; 
 45. Truth ; 46, 47, Peace. 
 
 Main Street B^ront — 48, Army and Navy ; 49, Congress and 
 Senate ; 50, Debating ; 51, Spixit of Government ; 52, Voting 
 Citizen ; 53. Wife and Child of Citizen ; 54. Supreme Court : 
 55. I'ower ; 56. I'rogress ; 57, Sy.stem ; 58, Wisdom ; 59. 60. Pros- 
 perity : 61. Little Turtle : 62. War ; 63, Peace ; 64, Tecumsch 
 
The sketch of the exterior, as shown here, 
 will give a very full idea of it, especially inter- 
 esting, as it was made by the author Mr. Dux 
 himself, and gives his own interpretation of the 
 allegorical designs. He says in a personal letter 
 to the writer, ''The Calhoun Street or main 
 side of the building represents civilization and 
 embraces all branches of it. Law, Government, 
 &c., &c., &c., the other sides represent the same, 
 only more in detail. 
 
 FACADES. 
 
 The Calhoun Street or west side is further 
 enriched with a set of ornamental tablets, 
 inscribed with the names of the twenty town- 
 ships of Allen County, and just below the 
 cornice in the center is the carved quotation : — 
 
 "Forth from this fair life 
 Measureless things are wrought 
 A thought-dawn born 
 
 Which shall not cease to broaden till its beam 
 Makes noon of knowledge 
 For a gathered world." 
 
 Above the entrance on this side is the maxim : 
 
 "Be just and fear not." 
 
 With the inscription on the second story 
 
 above the entrance : 
 
 "Jurisprudence is the knowledge of things di- 
 vine and human ; the science of what is right 
 and what is wrong." 
 
 On the south, or Berry Street side, are the 
 words carved above the door — 
 "Law favoreth Charity." 
 
 The second story bearing the inscription — 
 "Justice — the hope of all who suffer — 
 The dread of all who wrong" — 
 12 
 
surmoimting which, just below the cornice, 
 is the quotation : — 
 
 ''Poise the cause in justice scales — 
 Whose beams stand sure, 
 Whose rightful cause prevails." 
 
 Above the large art glass window in the cen- 
 ter of the Court Street or east side are the 
 familiar lines from Tennyson's ''Locksley 
 Hall"— 
 
 ''Doubt not — through the ages 
 
 One increasing purpose runs; 
 
 And the thoughts of men are widened 
 
 With the process of the suns. ' ' — 
 
 followed just above the door with — 
 ' ' consent makes the law. ' ' 
 
 The upper inscription upon the north of Main 
 Street end is those wonderfully forceful w^ords 
 from Webster's famous speech in reply to 
 Haynes in 1830 : 
 
 "The people's Government; made for the 
 people ; 
 Made by the people and answerable to the 
 people," 
 
 The second story shows Tennyson's beautiful 
 lines : 
 
 "Ring out the thousand wars of old" 
 Ring in the thousand years of peace," — 
 and just above the entrance — 
 
 "Law hateth wrong." 
 
 Above the cornice, outlining the building on 
 the Berry, Main and Court street facades, are 
 numerous panels bearing full length figures of 
 men in groups of three, representing the many 
 explorers, pioneers, warriors, statesmen, jurists, 
 scientists and inventors, etc., etc., who for 
 13 
 
especial ability in the many different fields of 
 effort, have deservedly been awarded enduring 
 places in the annals of our country's history. 
 
 INTERIOR. 
 
 Entering on each of the four sides of the 
 building through triple doors, flanked by mas- 
 sive granite columns, we find handsome mosaic 
 floors of encaustic tiles in vestibules, lobbies, 
 rotunda, and Commissioners' Court Room, the 
 other floors being of cement or hard wood laid 
 on cement. 
 
 The lower corridor is open from end to end 
 and from side to side, through the center of 
 the building, the large pillars of Scagliola sup- 
 porting the center and surrounding the well of 
 the dome or rotunda, while beautiful Italian 
 marble stairways lead from the entrances on 
 14 
 
A CoMSUirAnoiv Kooms 
 B StaibsTo Tower. 
 
 C. PCJBUC €LCVATOft 
 O. £L€^ArOfi 3MAfT 
 £. rfi€SH A/ft /r^TAKC 
 
 f^. .5 TA /KS To MEZZANI£ £l OOK 
 
 C. PniVA T£ ClEVA TOK . 
 
 ft. StairsToJuky Rooms Above 
 
 I. Closets. 
 
 jiWA/O FLOOR C. Pueac £:leva Ton . 
 D. £lc\/ator Shaft. 
 £" Fresh Am //vtahe. 
 f Cashiers. 
 
 G. Psivatc £ie\/atok. 
 M CHECK Desk. 
 I Closets 
 
 G. PniVATC fLEVATOH. 
 
 H. MASTEft Clock Room. 
 I. Ccoscra. 
 
 F//fST FIOOR C. PuBUc £levatok. 
 
 O. Suva nif) Shaft cau/oum ar 
 
 £. fflESH Ain/KITAKC. 
 
 F. SrAiHsToBASEME/rr. 
 
 FLOOR PLANS or ALLEN COUNTY COURTHOUSE. 
 
 SCAlE.fi.-. /■ 
 S.S, TOLA N, AfiCM/T£Cr. 
 
the first or basement floors to the two success- 
 ive floors above, a separate stairway leading 
 from the Calhoun Street door to the third or 
 Judiciary floor, provided for the use of judges, 
 jury, officers, etc., insuring greater dispatch 
 and privacy in reaching the Court Rooms, 
 which are on this floor. Throughout the build- 
 ing Italian marble walls rise to the ornamental 
 plaster cornices. Large columns are used 
 throughout the halls, on the lower floor, of 
 Verde Antique Scagliola, and those surround- 
 ing the well of the dome are of a beautiful 
 cream pink, reminding one of Mexican Onyx. 
 The Scagliola used throughout has been pro- 
 nounced by artist experts to be of unsurpassed 
 excellence. 
 
 FIRST FLOOR. 
 
 Offices for Township Trustees, Sheriff, Sur- 
 veyor, Assessor, Coroner, Health Officers, Su- 
 perintendent of Public Schools, Engineer, Jan- 
 itor, etc., are on the ground floor, as well as a 
 large Assembly Room, for the public meetings 
 of citizens. Here, also, are found passenger 
 elevators and an attractive Rest Room for 
 women, equipped with easy chairs, desks, 
 couches and lavatory. The general disposition 
 of these apartments, can best be seen by a 
 glance at the floor plan given on preceding 
 page, kindly supplied by Mr. Tolan, the archi- 
 techt of this building. 
 
 TABLETS. 
 
 Embedded in the wall on the first floor, front- 
 ing the north elevator shaft is the old corner- 
 stone, taken from the immediate predecessor 
 of this Court House, and on ascending the 
 east stairway, we find placed just beneath the 
 large window, a bronze tablet, inscribed — 
 16 
 
''MEMORIAL TABLET." 
 
 "Building ordered September 4th, 1895. Com- 
 pleted October 3rd, 1900. 
 
 Commissioners 1896 - 97 — 
 Jasper W. Jones, President. 
 Matthew A. Ferguson, Vice-President. 
 John H. Stellhorn, Secretary. 
 
 Commissioners, 1897 - 98 — 
 Matthew A. Ferguson, President. 
 Sylvanus F. Baker, Vice-President. 
 Charles E. Orff, Secretary. 
 
 Commissioners 1898 - 1900 — 
 Matthew A. Ferguson, President. 
 Augustus R. Sclmitker, Vice-President. 
 Charles E. Orff, Secretary. 
 
 Auditor 1896-97— Clarence W. Edsall. 
 Auditor 1897-98— Louis J. Bobilya. 
 Auditor 1898-1900— William Meyer, Jr. 
 
 ARCHITECT— 
 
 Brentwood S. Tolan. Successor to Thomas J. 
 Tolan & Son. 
 
 Inspector — Henry W. Jensen. 
 
 Superintendent — William H, Goshorn. 
 
 Contractor — James Stewart & Co." 
 
 Above this tablet, enclosing the arch of the 
 large art-glass window, are two beautiful sculp- 
 tured figures symbolizing ' ' The County and the 
 Citj^" On the left, a female figure, holding a 
 stalk of corn, represents the products of the 
 rural districts, while on the right her sister 
 figure, holding a distaff, typifies the industry of 
 the city. 
 
 This dignified and graceful allegorical piece, 
 shown as heading to first page, representing 
 17 
 
the bond between the county and city, was 
 conceived and executed by Mr. Wm. Barth, of 
 the firm of Barth & Staak, and presented by 
 him to the Court House. 
 
 rt Room. 
 
 SECOND FLOOR. 
 
 Upon the second floor are to be found the 
 offices of County officials, Auditor's Office 
 and Record Rooms, Treasurer's Office, Clerk's 
 Office and Record Room, with the County 
 Commissioners Court Room in the center of 
 the west side, all spacious in size and hand- 
 somely appointed and for convenience of 
 arrangement unsurpassed, 
 
 THIRD FLOOR. 
 
 Upon the third, or Judiciary Floor, are situ- 
 ated four Court Rooms with Jury Rooms, Wit- 
 ness and Private Consulting Rooms. These are 
 18 
 
connected by separate corridors insuring ease 
 of communication, and greater privacy. The 
 Jury Rooms adjoin the Court Rooms, or are on 
 the mezzanine floor above them. 
 
 LAW LIBRARY. 
 
 The well-e<iuipped law library is placed on 
 the third floor directly in the center of the west 
 side. 
 
 There are about 2,000 volumes on the library 
 shelves, many of wdiich are very rare and of 
 great value. Just at the present time the Allen 
 County Law Library Association is planning 
 the expenditure of one thousand dollars for 
 additional books which will greatly increase 
 the resources of the librorv. 
 
 ROTUNDA. 
 
 The open rotunda extending from first floor 
 to the lovely arch of the dome, flanked by im- 
 19 
 
l^ressive stairways and encircled by massive 
 pillars and fine ballustrades, is the center of 
 the whole masterful conception. Outside, from 
 whatever direction one approaches, the nobly 
 proportioned dome, which is its outer shell, is 
 the first thing to catch the eye, and the torch 
 in "Liberty's" iiand indicates to the passerby 
 the apex of the achievement. Within, very fit- 
 tingly, richer materials and more elaborate 
 decorations have been used than in other parts 
 of the interior, sculpture, paintings, marbles, 
 and a broad scheme of color and ornamentation 
 in stucco relief unite with the lofty architec- 
 tural design to form a most notable interior. 
 
 The floor of the rotunda is square with a 
 central well, circular on the office floor, octa- 
 gonal on the Judiciary Floor, each surrounded 
 with ballustrade of pure Italian marble, the 
 floors of encaustic tiles laid in rich mosaic de- 
 sign. 
 
 The four sides are arched by graceful pend- 
 entives to meet the dome and enclose great 
 semicircular windows filled with stained-glass 
 which together with the stain glass in the top 
 of the dome supply the greater part of the light 
 needed for illuminating the rotunda. In the 
 evening the light is furnished entirely by elec- 
 tricity. 
 
 Encircling the four arched windows are ex- 
 (juisite mural paintings from the studio of Mr. 
 Charles Holloway, of Clinton, Iowa, by whom 
 they were designed and executed. 
 
 The following is Mr. Holloway 's own descrip- 
 tion of the paintings : 
 
 "The sketch on the north arch sym- 
 bolizes a community that is governed by just 
 laws tempered with mercy. Under such condi- 
 tions the people are content and prosperous 
 and connnerce and the manufacturers, arts and 
 20 
 
science flourish. In the center of the arch is 
 the figure of the Law with open book of the 
 code in her lap, and holding in either hand the 
 tablets of the God-given law. To the right of 
 the Law is the figure symbolizing Justice, hold- 
 ing the flaming sword and scales, and on the 
 left is the figure of Mercy placing a restraining 
 hand upon the lap of the Law. On one side of 
 the arch, are symbolized, by appropriate fig- 
 ures, the Industries. Agriculture is typified by 
 the husbandman, holding in his hand the sythe, 
 and with a sheaf of grain by his side, while 
 Commerce is pointing out to him a market for 
 his produce in lands across the sea. 
 
 Below are the figures bringing the products 
 of the soil to the wharf. In front, is the figure 
 with a distaff, symbolic of the industry of 
 Weaving, and in the foreground is the black- 
 smith standing beside an anvil, with a sledge- 
 hammer in his hand, and by his side a machin- 
 ist is testing with a hammer a cog-wheel for 
 flaws. The group symbolizes Manufactures in 
 general. 
 
 On the other side of the arch, in the fore- 
 ground, are shown the sister arts of Painting, 
 Sculpture and Architecture. The architect 
 with his plan across his knee and dividers in 
 his hand, is discussing with the Painter and 
 Sculptor the decorations of his building. 
 
 To the side of them a figure reading a book 
 symbolizes Literature, and next to her Poetry 
 with inspired air is reciting her verses. To 
 the right of the group of Literature, Music is 
 represented by two figures, one playing on the 
 pipes and the other on the lyre. 
 
 The whole subject is treated classically, and 
 in the abstract. 
 
 The subject of the east panel is Peace and 
 Prosperity. 
 
 21 
 
In the center of the arch is the white robed, 
 flower-crowned figure of Peace in a golden 
 chariot, garlanded with flowers, and twined 
 with fruit and olive branches, drawn over the 
 rose tinted clouds with white horses festooned 
 with flowers and leaves. Floating alongside the 
 chariot of Peace are her handmaidens, all robed 
 in white, scattering flowers over the sunlit 
 earth. Below, to the right in the flower-decked 
 valley among the green trees youths and maid- 
 ens are dancing to the music of the shepherd's 
 pipe. Beyond in the sunlight the flocks are graz- 
 ing, in the background runs a train of purple 
 hills. On the left side of the arch winding 
 down the sunlit slope through the trees to the 
 cool shade of the foreground, is Ceres, the God- 
 dess of Earth's Fruitfulness. At the head of 
 the procession, two youths are leading with fes- 
 toons of flowers a white bull garlanded with 
 green leaves. On either side are maidens play- 
 ing on musical instruments. All is joy and hap- 
 piness, peace and plenty. (See frontispiece) 
 
 The subject of the South panel is Despotism 
 and Anarchy. 
 
 Despotism in which the whim of an individ- 
 ual is the supreme law, where the knout and 
 axe are yielded without the thought of justice, 
 and discontent and anarchy are rampant. In 
 the center of the arch under an architectural 
 canopy lies reclining on a gilded couch, the 
 Despot, a sensual animal type, a Nero, sur- 
 rounded by his henchmen and guard ; a woman 
 on bended knee pleading for justice, for her 
 daughter's honor, for her OAvn honor, in vain. 
 A soldier lays his hand roughly on her shoulder 
 and drags her away to be lashed. Below to the 
 right of the center, prisoners in chains are be- 
 22 
 
iiig dragged to the dungeon or knout, old men 
 and youths and fair maidens. The executioner 
 applies the lash to the brawny shoulders of a 
 strong man, who lies in agony. The people 
 crowd around, awe-struck and horrified, some 
 with stolid faces biding their time, others more 
 reckless and with threatening look and ges- 
 tures. On the left side a wild crowd of the peo- 
 ple is clamoring for justice, in the background 
 others are beginning to apply the torch, the 
 people are in arms, the revolt is on, and an- 
 archy follows in its path. 
 
 Following in the train of lawlessness. War is 
 shown upon the west panel. As peace and 
 prosperity are the natural outcome of law and 
 order, so is war and devastation the inevitable 
 result of despotism and anarchy. In the center 
 of the arch is the genius of War in an armored 
 chariot drawn by wild horses and fiends, Avith 
 serpent-entwined hair and pendulous breasts. 
 In the background riding with the dark green 
 clouds across the lurid sky lighted up with 
 the flame of the burning city, are Death, Pesti- 
 lence and Devastation, typified by appropriate 
 figures below. Coming from either side, the 
 two armies are clashing together — the people 
 are gaining, the forces of Heaven lend their aid 
 and shadowy figures from the dark clouds are 
 twirling thunderbolts which compel the enemy 
 to fall back, and be trampled under the feet of 
 the horses of those following — the people rush 
 in with redoubled force — victory will be theirs. 
 Old men and women are wailing over the dead 
 bodies of loved ones. A mother clasps her son to 
 her breast while with the other hand she buckles 
 on his sword, a husband embraces his wife and 
 child while moving on to battle. The dead and 
 wounded, and frightened groups of women and 
 children fill the foreground." 
 23 
 
INNER BALCONY. 
 The inner balcony is just above the dome pic- 
 tures and just below the stained glass cap of 
 the dome. The view down the well of the 
 rotunda from here on a clear day is entrancing- 
 Iv beautiful. 
 
 SUPERIOR COURT ROOM. 
 Beginning a survey of the rooms on the Ju- 
 diciary Floor, we find the Superior Court occu- 
 pying the extreme south end. It is considered 
 by many to be the most beautiful of the four 
 Court Rooms in its color scheme and appoint- 
 ments. The w^alls of a rich Massachusetts 
 Scagliola are panelled in a darker tone, relieved 
 with lighter Alps green borders. On the west 
 side is the Judge's stand, back of which is his 
 private room. All the furnishings are of rich 
 mahogany. Below the ornamental cornice, the 
 walls are encircled with a frieze of bronze 
 24 
 
sculptured panels, the consistent subject of 
 which is Government in its different depart- 
 ments, as Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Industries, 
 Science. These masterpieces are the work of 
 Messrs Barth & Staak, of Fort Wayne, and 
 must be critically examined to appreciate the 
 art and delicate beauty of their conception. 
 
 We are fortunate in having the authors' own 
 description of these artistic creations of their 
 genius. Along the west wall beginning at the 
 left hand corner we find five panels represent- 
 ing as a whole the "Government of the United 
 States. ' ' These show in : — 
 
 No. 1. United States Treasury — Represent- 
 ed by a male figure in center, on left the coin- 
 ing of money, with the United States Mint in 
 the background; on the right, the printing of 
 bank-notes w^ith the United States Treasury 
 Building in the background. 
 
 No. 2. Education — A female figure in cen- 
 ter. Left, mental education shown by youth 
 studying — Owl and Sphinx, emblems of wisdom 
 and the unknown. LTpon the right, physical 
 education exemplified by disc throwers. 
 
 No. 3. Laws — A male figure in center hold- 
 ing the written Constitution. Left, a group of 
 warriors, woman and child, signifies protection 
 for the weak and helpless. Right, man casting- 
 ballot. Capitol at Washington shown in back- 
 ground. 
 
 No. 4. Judiciary — In center a female figure 
 as the Law decides between the guilty culprit 
 on the right, and the accused innocent on the 
 left. 
 
 No. 5. Agriculture — A female figure in the 
 center represents the fruitful earth ; dairy and 
 cattle raising on the left and on the right, man 
 and horse, tillers of the soil. 
 25 
 
Upon the north wall from left to right are 
 five panels representing the Sciences. 
 
 No. 1. Natural History — A female figure 
 with thoughtful brow, seated between Flora 
 and Fauna. 
 
 No. 2. Geology and Chemistry — Male figure 
 in center holds the crystal. Left group signi- 
 fies Chemistry, right group compounding drugs. 
 
 No. 3. Medicine — ^sculapius, the Father 
 of Medical instructors in center, teaching. On 
 the left, Surgery is represented, dissection of 
 bod}^; right, ]\Iedication. 
 
 No. 4. Astronomy — Hipparcus, "Father of 
 Astronomy," in center, with students on right 
 and left studying the Heavens with refractor. 
 
 No. 5. Literature, accompanied by Cupid 
 as Poetry on left and the Drama on right. Con- 
 gressional Library in background. 
 
 On the east wall, opposite the Judge's stand, 
 are five panels, which from left to right, repre- 
 sent the Industrial and Liberal Arts. 
 
 No. 1. Carpentry. 
 
 26 
 
No. 2. Masonry — The triumphal Arch of 
 Constantine, and the Egyptian pyramids in the 
 background represent the results of enduring 
 masonry. 
 
 No. 3. A cartouche holding clock for the 
 room, with figures representing America, past 
 and present. An Indian, on the left, with crude 
 weapons and dress stands for the past — on the 
 right a mechanic holding a telephone, with loco- 
 motive in foreground, speaks of progress in the 
 present. 
 
 No. 4. Iron Industries — At left foundry 
 Avork is illustrated ; at right, machinery and 
 structural iron work, most perfect example of 
 which is sliown in the Ferris wheel in back- 
 ground. 
 
 No. 5. Decorative Art Industries — At left 
 an artisan at work on scroll ; at right, chasing 
 and embellishing a helmet. 
 
 Along the south wall, from left to right, are 
 five panels illustrating the Fine Arts. 
 27 
 
No. 1. Architecture — Represented by a no- 
 ble female figure in center. Left and right 
 students at work and submitting sketches. A 
 cherub as Genius points to the Pai'thenon in 
 background. 
 
 No. 2. Sculpture — A female figure in cen- 
 ter represents this most noble of arts. A genius 
 holds a crown ready for the successful artist. 
 
 Xo. 8. Female figure as Painting, sister art 
 to Sculpture, witli brusli and palette ; Students 
 at work right and left. 
 
 F 
 
 .I!*' -«MIHi _ 
 
 Xo. 4. Music — Female figure seated at or- 
 gan, typifying Sacred Music. Left, Dramatic 
 Music ; right. Song or Vocal Music. 
 
 X^o. 5. Dramatic Art — Tragedy in center 
 with book and dagger ; Youths as actors around 
 lier ; Bust of Shakespeare at left. 
 
 The panel "Music" very justly admired, was 
 executed by a friend of Mr. Barth, Mr. Richard 
 Zeitner, of Cincinnati, a very able sculptor and 
 the panel "Dramatic Art" was also executed 
 by a visiting sculptor, Mr. William Ehrman. 
 
 COURT ROOM NO. 3. 
 
 North of the Superior Court Room, and sep- 
 
 28 
 
ai-ated from it by a narrow corridor, is the ex- 
 tra Court Room, known as Number Three. The 
 walls of Belgium Black and Gold Scagliola are 
 finished above the ornamental cornice with 
 mural paintings by Mr. Florian Piexotto, of 
 New York, and Cincinnati, and Mr. Charles 
 HolloAvay, who also created the exquisite paint- 
 ings in the dome. Important episodes in the 
 early history of this section of the country, 
 part of the great "Northwest Territory'' as 
 it was then styled, are depicted. The paintings 
 upon the south wall by Mr. Florian Piexotto 
 reproduces "the Battle of Fallen Timbers," 
 with "Mad" Anthony Wayne and his brave 
 soldiers putting to rout the Indians and Cana- 
 dians, led by the Chippewa Chief IMasass, or 
 Turkeyfoot, the gallant Wayne having at his 
 command only 800 men as opposed to a liorde 
 estimated at 2,000. This decisive battle took 
 place in August 1794 near Ft. IMiami, which is 
 now the town of Maumee, Ohio, and effectually 
 29 
 
destroyed the confederacy of Indian tribes. 
 This battle took place in a wood in which were 
 many trees felled by a recent hurricane, and 
 among- them the Indians were ambushed. A 
 boulder from whose summit Masass endeavored 
 to rally his fleeing followers, still marks the 
 spot. It weighs about 6800 lbs., and has rudely 
 carved upon it- a turkey-foot, and other Indian 
 characters. After this battle General Wayne 
 and his small army resumed their march to the 
 spot afterwards called Fort Wayne. 
 
 A pretty little painting hangs upon the wall 
 just under this picture of the battle, which 
 shows the spot where it occurred and the mem- 
 orable boulder. 
 
 Mr. Holloway's painting on the north w^all 
 portrays the "Treaty at Greenville," that mo- 
 mentous and important treaty between General 
 Anthony Wayne and the Allied Indian Tribes, 
 headed by Little Turtle. This took place at 
 Greenville, Ohio, in the Fall of 1795, after the 
 Battle of Fallen Timbers, General Wayne hav- 
 ing gone into winter quarters in Fort Wayne 
 before resuming his return east. By this treaty 
 valuable grants of land were conceded by the 
 Indians, and after it, the permanent settlement 
 of this region began and civilization moved for- 
 ward apace. 
 
 The picture shows General Wayne seated at 
 the right with his officers, and the famous In- 
 dian Chiefs of history standing or seated on 
 the ground at left, with that famous and astute 
 warrior, Little Turtle, "the white man's 
 friend, ' ' occupying the central place. 
 
 A later episode in the history of Fort Wayne 
 is commemorated in the second of Mr. Hollo- 
 way's paintings over the door on the east wall, 
 the famous ride of brave William OUiver, Sej^- 
 tember, 1812 who is depicted accompanie"d by 
 30 
 
his four loA'al Indian — one of whom Avas the re- 
 nowned half-breed Logan — upon the perilous 
 ride from General Harrison's headquarters, at 
 Pi(iua, Ohio, through the enemy-infested woods, 
 bearing to the besieged garrison at Fort Wayne, 
 word of approaching relief. It is to be regret- 
 ted that there are no copies of these pictures 
 extant with the exception of the very inade- 
 ([uate one of the Battle of Fallen Timbers here 
 given. 
 
 1 
 
 Battle of Fallen Tlmlicr 
 
 The handsome bas-relief panels, the work of 
 ^lessrs Barth & Staak, encircling this room, are 
 of especial interest, as they are, in many in- 
 stances portraits of men who were instrumental 
 in establishing Allen County, and laying a firm 
 foundation for its future prosperity. 
 
 From left to right around the room, begin- 
 ning at the southeast corner, we see. 
 
 No. 1. Governor William Hendricks, hand- 
 ing to Allen Hamilton his credentials as first 
 Sheriff of Allen County, April 2, 1824. 
 
 No. 2. Committee with General John Tipton 
 pointing to portrait of Colonel Allen, and nam- 
 ing the new count}" in his honor. 
 
 No. 3. Fort Wayne declared the County 
 Seat. Caleb Lewis and Lot Blumfield, of 
 Wayne County, Abiather Hathaway of Fay- 
 ette County, William Connor of Hamilton 
 County and James I\I. Hay of Marion County, 
 appointed by Governor to select the County 
 Seat. This they did at the house of Alexander 
 Ewing, Esq., May 4, 1824. 
 31 
 

 
 •• ^l^^T. 
 
 ^■^ 3-vl I 
 
 Nnniiiii; tlic rouiity Scat. 
 
 No. 4. Meeting of first Board of County 
 Commissioners of Allen County, Indiana. Wil- 
 liam Rockhill, James Wyman and Francis Com- 
 paret were the Commissioners, and with them 
 met Samuel Hanna and Benjamin Cushman, 
 Associate Judges, and Anthony L. Davis, Clerk 
 and Recorder, 26th of May, 1*824. 
 
 No. 5. Judge Samuel Hanna, first Judge of 
 Allen County, represented as "Protector of In- 
 dustries. ' ' 
 
 WEST WALL. 
 
 No. 1. Iron Industries — An early specialty 
 of Fort Wayne. 
 
 No. 2. Seal of Indiana over Judge's seat. 
 No. 8. Transportation — Past and j^resent. 
 
 NORTH WALL. 
 
 No. 1. Bust of Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Allen 
 County's distinguished son, at one time Secre- 
 tary of the United States Treasury. He was 
 first Comptroller of the (kirrency and orig- 
 inator of that office. He is here represented, 
 partly allegorically, as Finance, with Columbia 
 presenting him the United States Treasurer- 
 ship, and Fortune smiling upon him with gifts 
 ill her hand. United States Treasury Building 
 shown in background. 
 
 32 
 
Finance. 
 
 Panels in the alcove on this side represent 
 the canal period of our evolution. 
 
 No. 1. Old methods of transportation, by 
 wagons, etc., etc. 
 
 Xo. 2. Breaking ground for the stupendous 
 undertaking of joining the" waters of Lake Erie 
 with the Mississippi River, by means of "the 
 Wabash and Erie Canal," Feb. 22, 1832. Panel 
 shows ^Ir. Jordan Vegus, Esq., Canal Commis- 
 sioner turning the first sod as he said, "T am 
 now about to commence the Wabash and Erie 
 Canal in the name and by the authority of the 
 State of Indiana." Charles W. Ewing was the 
 orator of the day. 
 
 No. 8. Completion of canal, 1843. General 
 Lewis Cass was orator on this occasion. 
 
 No. 4. Shows the new means of transporta- 
 tion by boats, a great step taken in the forward 
 movement of civilization. The first boat to pass 
 Fort Wayne was the "Indiana," Capt. Asa 
 Fairfield, and plied between Fort Wayne and 
 Logansport. 
 
 Panel on north wall between the alcove and 
 east Avail, commemorates the name and person 
 of Allen Hamilton. The County in the guise of 
 33 
 
a noble female figure, is giving to him the Star 
 of Office in recognition of his worth and serv- 
 ice. 
 
 The clock opposite the Judge's seat is framed 
 with allegorical figures, Xight and Morning, or 
 the "Passing of Time,'' while the panel to the 
 left of it is Agriculture — and tlu^ right. Arts 
 and Sciences. 
 
 This room is used at present by the Daugh- 
 ters of the American Revolution for the safe- 
 guarding of many articles of especial historic 
 interest, which will well repay a visit of in- 
 spection, treasures of "ye olden time," bits of 
 old china and glass, furniture and brasses 
 hoarded with pious care by descendants of the 
 pioneers, most of them from famous old homes 
 which serve to make Allen County a delight to 
 the student of early American life. 
 
 Among the many rare portraits in the col- 
 lection is one in oil of Colonel John Allen, for 
 whom our County is named, which was bought 
 by the County Commissioners from a relative of 
 Colonel Allen living near Louisville, Ky., and 
 is known to be authentic. The artist, Mr. Mat- 
 thew Jouett, of Harrodsburg, Ky., was cele- 
 brated as such in his generation, and deserved- 
 ly so, judging by this fine example of his abil- 
 ity. It was from this portrait that the bust of 
 Allen, which adorns the south front of the 
 Court House was modeled. 
 
 COURT ROOM NO. 2. 
 
 Crossing the rotunda to the north we come 
 into another Extra Court Room, or "Court 
 Room Number Two." 
 
 The walls of this room, to the ornamental 
 cornice, are of dark Tennessee and Mexican 
 Onyx Scagliola embellished further with cream 
 34 
 
white plaster i^anels, in bas-relief, the work of 
 Mr. M. J. Doner, of Chicago. These illustrate 
 frontier life in and around Fort Wayne, par- 
 ticularly as regards the aborigines. 
 
 Beginning at the left corner of the w^est wall 
 and proceeding to the right are panels repre- 
 senting them during war periods. 
 
 WEST WALL. 
 
 No. 1. Indians in council, seemingly decid- 
 ing for war. 
 
 No. 2. White captives. 
 Xo. 3. Torture of prisoners. 
 
 SOUTH WALL. 
 
 Xo. 1. Arrival of General Wayne's army. 
 X"o. 2. Battle between Indians and whites. 
 
 Xo. 3. Burial of Little Turtle. He was ac- 
 corded by the Commandant of the Fort full 
 military honors, as befitted this brave, honor- 
 able, if uncivilized man. 
 
 X'^o. 4. General Wayne's headquarters. 
 
 Xo. 5. Fort Wayne. 
 
 EAST WALL. 
 
 The three panels here express the pastimes 
 of the savages during times of peace. 
 35 
 
No. 1. Jndians shooting arrows at target. 
 No. 2. Indians in canoes. 
 No. 3. Indians dancing. 
 
 NORTH WALL. 
 
 No. 1. Little Turtle advocating peace. 
 
 No. 2. Smoking Calumet, or Peace Pipe. 
 
 No. 3. The trading post of the frontier. 
 
 No. 4. Arrival of first white woman. In- 
 dians welcome her. 
 
 No. 5. Ceremony of washing her feet in to- 
 ken of respect and honor. 
 
 CIRCUIT COURT ROOM. 
 
 On the Judiciary Floor, at extreme north end 
 of building, is the handsomely appointed Cir- 
 cuit Court Room, the harmonious color scheme, 
 chiefly cream and green, found in Light Sienna, 
 Massachusetts' Green and Red African Scag- 
 liolia. The Judge 's stand is upon the west side ; 
 circling the room, above the cornice, to a depth 
 of three feet is a beautiful mural painting, the 
 work of the late Mr. Carl Gutherz, of Wash- 
 ington, D. C. It is deemed especially fortunate 
 that we have been able to secure a description 
 of this work of art in the words of the distin- 
 guished artist himself. This was first printed 
 August 20, 1909, by the ''Daily News," and is 
 given here by courtesy of the News Company: 
 
 ''Among the most beautiful works of art in 
 the structure is the frieze in the Circuit court 
 room, which was done by the late Carl Gutherz, 
 a famous artist who did most of the mural dec- 
 orations in the congressional library at Wash- 
 ington. Mr. Gutherz painted the pictures 
 36 
 
which adorn the Circuit court room at his 
 studio in Washington, and they were sent here 
 after completion. 
 
 The description of the paintings given by the 
 News was written by Mr. Gutherz himself in 
 1901. He died several years ago, Mr. Gutherz' 
 description is as follows : 
 
 FOUNDERS OF LAWS. 
 
 "Supposing the spectator seated in the cen- 
 tral part of the room, facing the judge's seat: 
 You will see to right and left side, over the 
 rostrum, the founders of our laws, Moses on one 
 side, Justinian on the other. Justinian and 
 Moses are instructing and giving the edicts of 
 law to their people for distribution. Back of 
 Moses rises the temple of Solomon, while in the 
 distance, near Justinian, the Christian architec- 
 ture is indicated by the dome of St. Sophia. 
 
 The oak branch forming part of the decora- 
 tion over the pediment represents strength and 
 government and the figures most prominent are 
 the representatives of the law, or the lawyers 
 of the period, who were in those days closely 
 related to the ecclesiastical, and which accounts 
 for the figure of a monk on one side and that 
 of a Hebrew priest on the other. 
 
 In turning completely around you face the 
 end of the room and the wall facing the judge's 
 seat. The pictures represented here are in- 
 tended to convey the idea that the inspiration 
 of all justice is of divine conception. On one 
 side the message is handed down from above, 
 while on the other side the actions of the court 
 are recorded on the divine tablet to be taken 
 to the supreme judgment of all wisdom. "Strive 
 for justice," is the solemn Avarning held up by 
 the angel, while cherubs pluck from laurel 
 37 
 
branches the wreath and tauntingly hold up the 
 golden trophy for tlie victor in its cause ; on the 
 other side the cherub is employed in fixing the 
 seal upon the judicial parchment, while others 
 are scrutinizing the documents. 
 
 Facing the judge's seat these pictures are by 
 their positions especially associated with it and 
 the acts which are considered by them and 
 passed upon by the court. 
 
 The vertical stripes in the corners and which 
 are also separating the pictures on the side 
 wall, framing them in as it were, and also tak- 
 ing the place of pilasters, thereby giving a fea- 
 ture of strength and support between the wall 
 and ceiling and so painted in color and line as 
 to stand prominently forward of the picture, 
 represent in their turn wisdom, strength, im- 
 partiality and the protection of the United 
 States government in symbolic ornament. 
 
 JUSTICE PROMINENT. 
 
 In facing the side wall of the room the cen- 
 tral group most prominent is "Justice," a 
 figure blindfolded by the very act of holding in 
 front of her with uplifted hands the scroll upon 
 which the word "justice" is inscribed in golden 
 letters. She is fearlessly walking into our pres- 
 ence, protected on either side by angels in male 
 attire, the angel to the right with drawn blade 
 and expressing disdain or contempt, hurling 
 back the forces of disorder and crime (figures 
 more beast than human), representing anarchy 
 and the malaria of injustice and shielding the 
 figure of justice. The angel to the left of jus- 
 tice is extending his open hand, greeting the 
 law-abiding people, the humble shepherd is 
 gazing upon him wdth awe and his flock are in- 
 spired with temerity by the holy presence, while 
 38- 
 
the bells seem ringing- restful cadence from dis- 
 tant church towers ; the smoke from a near by 
 hamlet rises serenely to the sky, a beacon to 
 the order-loving toilers, and by the wayside 
 childhood and matron stop and rest to gather 
 knowledge from book and flower — in fact, all 
 the scene is intended to point to peacefulness 
 and order. 
 
 The pictures joining the side to the end wall 
 and flanking the central group, "Justice," are 
 in their turn intended to portray ideas which 
 connects them also to the end wall, thereby 
 forming one continued whole in numerous 
 parts. In this way the picture next to Moses 
 represents apprehension. Vigorous manhood 
 has caught the offender and is bringing the 
 creature before the judge, whose attitude in- 
 dicates his power to punish the breaker of 
 the law. On the opposite end and joining the 
 ''Divine Inspiration" is "The Jury," which is 
 here represented about the era A. D. 500. 
 
 The lawyer of that period is defending some 
 case before the jury composed of people of dif- 
 ferent nationalities and which might have taken 
 place in Rome, Alexandria or Constantinople 
 about that time. The lawyer is a Roman, 
 marked by insignia of his office — his prominent 
 listener, evidently some high personage in dis- 
 guise, his dress is covered by a robe which veils 
 his personal identity. 
 
 COURT AS MEDIATOR. 
 
 In turning to the wall opposite you will find 
 a like diversion ; and here also, the central panel 
 is subdivided into three separate groups and 
 which represent as a Avhole "Arbitration," the 
 court being, in fact, the mediator of two oppos- 
 ing parties, both claiming justification. 
 39 
 
The central group represents the home, the 
 sacred hearth forms the background of the 
 throne for the guardian angel. Kneeling in 
 prayerful attitude appealing for protection are 
 children approaching from opposite sides and 
 the divine spirit of love and home is gently 
 uniting them with her own precious fingers and 
 shielding them with her powerful wings from 
 discordant passion and destruction, represented 
 on either side by the organized mob, which is 
 stayed in the destructive work by the angel 
 spirits of home and peace. Their gestures and 
 attitude bid them to think and reform to more 
 orderly methods ere approaching the sacred 
 precincts of the hearthstone. 
 
 Flanking the central group like the wall op- 
 posite — in fact, a complement of the pictures 
 of the '^Jury" and "Apprehension," are pic- 
 tures indicating the "Protection of the Court." 
 The aged widow and orphan are shielded by 
 the staff of order against tliose that would take 
 advantage of their enfeebled state. The other 
 end of the wall and that which joins the "Angel 
 of the Record" represents "Charity" and who, 
 seated between the two figures representing 
 "Power of Law," is urging her cause and by so 
 doing forms the very apex of the sides of 
 "Justice." 
 
 By the arrangement of the pictures described 
 above there is a continued theme from picture 
 to picture, and by the effect of color and 
 grouping there is preserved a symmetrical ex- 
 pression in the general appearance of the room, 
 attaching the ceiling to the wall and giving 
 light into the corner which w^ould otherwise be 
 oppressive with shade." 
 
 Two beautiful pediments further enrich this 
 room, subjects being the "Four Seasons." On 
 40 
 
the east wall on left of the clock-cartoiiche 
 the attributes of Spring, are expressed by a 
 young maiden holding budding branches, cu- 
 pids scattering roses, and doves hovering near, 
 symbols of youthfulness, innocence and love. 
 Summer, upon the right, as a maturer woman, 
 holds a stalk of corn, signifying maturity and 
 f ruitfulness ; children carry sheaves of Avheat, 
 while rabbits, their summer companions, gam- 
 bol about them. 
 
 The western pediment represents allegori- 
 cally. Autumn and Winter. 
 
 Autumn, the grown man, the hunter, full of 
 life and vigor, his occupation as provider sug- 
 gested by the dead pheasants at extreme left; 
 Avhile Cupid extracts the juice of the grape, 
 both together representing the necessary 
 cruelty of life associated, however, with its 
 joys. Winter, is the old man, completing his 
 circle of seasons of life, its coldness indicated 
 by the maiden warming her hands by the fire. 
 All the playmates are fled save the crows, which 
 Love is feeding. 
 
 Beneath this thoughtfully conceived pedi- 
 ment, are three panels on either side of the 
 Judge's stand, done in bold relief that are most 
 beautiful, illustrating tlie action and attributes 
 of the law. 
 
 Upon the extreme left is expressed: — 
 
 No. 1. Its Restraint. 
 
 No. 2. Wisdom and Justice. 
 41 
 
No. 3. Truth and Strength. 
 
 No. 4. Power to relieve and set free. 
 
 SOUTH WALL. 
 
 On this wall War is represented in its dif- 
 ferent aspects. At the extreme left : 
 
 No. 1. The Call to War: A messenger on 
 horseback gallops with flag and trumpet to 
 sound the call. Upon the left a father inter- 
 rupts his son at work to give him a sword, 
 while Columbia on the right points, urging the 
 soldier on to con(|uer, to battle for the right. 
 
 No. 2. Marching to War. Soldiers bid 
 farewell to loved ones that they may march 
 towards the Sun of Liberty. 
 
 No. 3. War, the terrible : Represented by 
 Goddess of War accompanied by Death, riding 
 side by side, over battle fields amidst groups 
 of fighting men, the dead on either side. A su- 
 perbly spirited and striking group. 
 
 No. 4. Victory, or Triumph. A youth, as 
 the Power of Right overthrows the cruel 
 Dragon of Wrong. Young men and maidens 
 proclaim triumph and crown the victor. 
 
 No. 5. The Return from War. ]\Iothers and 
 42 
 
children on the left, welcome the soldier father 
 home, while upon the right, a widow and child 
 receive the sword and riderless horse of the 
 husband and father slain in battle. 
 
 NORTH WALL. 
 
 These five panels showing the lovely accom- 
 paniments of Peace, are appropriately placed 
 opposite the War panels. From left to right : 
 
 No. 1. Home Industries, w^hich flourish only 
 in peaceful times. 
 
 No. 2. Charity; help to the aged, or sick. 
 
 No. 3. Goddess of Peace welcomed by all. 
 
 No. 4. Hospitality ; receiving the stranger — 
 serving the guest. 
 
 No. 5. Peaceful Arts and occupations. 
 
 The alcove which forms the east side of the 
 room, has at its left side a panel. Industry, 
 and at its right. Science. The interior is fin- 
 ished with panels illustrating the peaceful pur- 
 suits or pastimes, the accompaniments of pros- 
 perous and careful toil. Inside the alcove at 
 left we see: 
 
 No. 1. Hunting. 
 
 No. 2. Horticulture. 
 
 No. 3. Fishing. 
 
 No. 4. Agriculture. 
 
 No. 5. Pioneer Life. 
 
 All these wonderfully fine groups are the 
 product of the genius of Messrs. Barth & Staak, 
 and are, for vigor of expression, wealth of de- 
 tail and beauty of execution, beyond criticism. 
 
 DOME AND BALCONY. 
 
 A stairway north of elevator on Judiciary 
 Floor leads \o the balcony on the outside of 
 43 
 
dome from whence a comprehensive view of the 
 city may be obtained. 
 
 CLOCKS. 
 
 A fine pneumatic clock system has been in- 
 stalled by means of which the thirty-two clocks 
 inside the building, as well as the four in the 
 dome, are regulated by the master-clock stand- 
 ing in the vestibule of west entrance, ground 
 floor. 
 
 ARTESIAN WELL. 
 
 On the north sidewalk there is a remarkably 
 fine Artesian well 300 feet deep which supplies 
 the drinking fountain and is used for all pur- 
 poses where water, or w^ater power, is needed 
 about the building. This well is the second 
 deepest flowing well in the United States, and 
 w^as, when sunk, the very deepest. The water 
 is mineral and absolutely pure. 
 
 On the north and northeast sidewalks are 
 shelter entrances leading to the basement and 
 to public comfort room, lavatories, etc., etc., for 
 both men and w^omen. 
 
 THE TUNNEL. 
 
 A tunnel extends from basement, northwest, 
 corner, under Calhoun street and, running 
 north, connects the Court House with Power 
 Station north of the Jail. It carries all pipes 
 and wires necessary for heating and lighting 
 but is not open to the public owing to its small 
 size. It is reached by man-holes along the 
 route, every part being easily accessible for re- 
 pairs, etc. 
 
 COUNTY SEAL. 
 
 The first seal used by the first Board of Com- 
 44 
 
missioners was in 1841 and was an old English 
 seal which represented Britannia seated on a 
 shield, grasping a trident of Neptune, with the 
 words, "Britania, Rex. Fid Dep." This was only 
 used until such time as another could be de- 
 signed and procured. 
 
 On September 9, 1841, an order was issued 
 for a seal for the new County of Allen, to bear 
 ''a sheaf of wheat in an upright position with a 
 sickle therein; and, in the background, a field 
 of corn with a reaper at work, and, in a circle 
 surrounding said device, the following words: 
 'Commissioners of Allen County, I. A. Seal., 
 The word Seal to be in M. and the Sheaf of 
 Wheat." 
 
 This is the seal now in use and is shown on 
 the cover of this book. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Thanks are gratefully extended to the author 
 of "Reminisences of Old Fort Wayne," the 
 architect and artists, the News Company, the 
 ex-Commissioners and many others, and espe- 
 cially to the present Board of Commissioners — 
 Mr. John B. Wyss, Mr. James D. Butt, Mr. Wil- 
 liam F. Franke with the attorney to the Board. 
 Mr. Edward G. Hoffman, all of whom have so 
 generously and graciously aided us, and whose 
 appreciation of our efforts has made it possible 
 to present to the public this brief history and 
 description of the splendid Court House of 
 Allen County, Indiana. 
 
 45 
 
STATISTICS 
 
 Plans accepted 1895 
 
 Contract awarded May 26, 1897 
 
 Corner-stone laid November 17, 1897 
 
 Building partially occupied . . .December, 1900 
 
 Building dedicat'ed September 23, 1902 
 
 Total cost of building and furnish- 
 ings $817,553.59 
 
 Style of architecture Renaissance 
 
 Materials \^^'Z Bedford Stone 
 
 ( Vermont Granite 
 
 Construction Fireproof 
 
 Length of buikling 270 feet 
 
 "Width of buikling 134 feet 
 
 Height to main cornice 57 feet 
 
 Height to clear story cornice 76 feet 
 
 Height from street to top of statue . . . 225 feet 
 
 Height of statue 13 feet, 8 inches 
 
 Diameter of clock dials 13 feet 
 
 CONTRACTORS 
 
 Brentwood S. Tolan Architect 
 
 James Stewart & Company, of St. Louis- 
 
 General Contractors 
 
 A. Hattersley & Sons., 
 
 Plumbing, electric wiring, etc. 
 
 Fort Wayne Electric Corporation, 
 
 Engines and dynamos 
 
 Wm. Moellering & Sons, Power House 
 
 Louis J. Schwartzkopf Tunnel 
 
 Art ]\Ietal Company Steel Furniture 
 
 H. H. Andrews Company Wood Furniture 
 
 C. C. Schlatter & Co., Hardware and glass 
 
 Diebold Lock & Safe Company, 
 
 Treasurer 's vault 
 
 46 
 
Pheiffer & Schlatter . .Plate ^lass and hardware 
 
 Luininous Prism ('onii)Miiy Art glass 
 
 W. H. AndreAvs Interior decorations 
 
 F. M. Smith & Company Hardware 
 
 Wolf & Dessauer Shades and matting 
 
 Winslow Brothers Co Bronze tablets, etc. 
 
 Rhinesmith & Simonson, 
 
 ]\Iolding and woodwork 
 
 Anton Rieg Sewer for tnnnel 
 
 Lenox & Halderman .... Plastering and stucco 
 Peoria Stone & Marble Company 
 
 Extra marble and tile 
 
 Brown Ketchum & Company, 
 
 Law Library stair and iron in dome 
 
 Tuttle & Bailey Mfg. Co Ventilating plates 
 
 Empire Fire Roofing Co Roof tiles 
 
 F. Miller & Sons Electric fans 
 
 John H. Welch. . . .Copper box for corner-stone 
 
 INSPECTORS 
 
 L. B. Larimore, 
 J. H. Brannan, 
 H. W. Jensen, 
 Geo. Jacoby, 
 Holated & McNaughton, 
 
 Pierce & Richardson, 
 
 Lennox & Halderman 
 
 47 
 
F^3 4 W13 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 753 430 9