History of Protection Engine Company Number
1
Protection Engine and Hose
Company Number 1, was organized in the spring of 1859, with some
forty or fifty of the most substantial property holders of the
town, (four or five of its constitutional members are still in
active service), as a stock and independent company, and remained
as such for several years, when the Corporation bought us out,
and a proper distribution of the proceeds was made to the company
and stockholders. The following named persons are supposed to
be the first officers elected:
Jos. A. Funk, Foreman.
J. A. Robbins, 1st Asst. Foreman.
Wm. Kirtley, 2d Asst. Foreman
Frank Marks, Sec'y
I. J. Morris, Treas.
H. Rouch, Comp'y Engineer.
P. G. Frary, Steward
Up to this time the town, now city, of Warsaw had no organized
fire department, although it was incorporated and had its officers
and councilmen. When the alarm of fire sounded, every man in town
considered himself a fireman, and grabbing a bucket, rushed to
the scene of action-everyone fighting the fire fiend in his own
way, which was always attended with dissatisfaction and confusion.
Hence, the absolute need of a well-organized fire department.
This company has remained unbroken and up to its full number of
members for nearly thirty-two years, and has been prompt, efficient
and successful, and always reliable. The secret of our success
as a company has been that our by-laws have been somewhat rigid,
and have been promptly and faithfully enforced; for, without discipline,
no company of any kind can long exist. At that time, having no
facilities for fighting a fire beyond the common wooden bucket,
this company resolved to purchase a hand engine, hose, and such
apparatus as was necessary to be well-equipped and more efficient.
Accordingly, in the fall of the same year, (1859), through the
active agency of Peter Marvin, then our fellow townsman, the renowned
hand-engine, known for years as the "Old Tub," was purchased
from the city of Adrian, Michigan, for the sum of $300, and with
it 500 feet of hose, which rendered good service for a time. Having
no engine house, the company at once leased ground of Wm. Beatty,
and build the first engine house, on the alley where now stands
Dr. Foster's Drug Store. All the expenses were mostly borne by
this company, for the safety of the town. Prior to this time the
company met in Union block, southwest corner of the public square,
known as the Chapman and Lightfoot block, which was destroyed
by fire on Jan. 24, 1861, together with all the secretary's books.
Hence all record of the company from its organization to Jan.
24, 1861, have been lost, and what we may say of it will be from
our best recollection. This was the first great loss to our town
as well as to the owners, who were C. W. Chapman, P. L. Runyan,
Sr., W. Lightfoot, the Masonic and Good Templar orders and others.
The loss was estimated at $35,000, at which fire the "Old
Tub" was of untold value in saving the entire row of buildings
east of it to the Boss corner. Another fire occurred in November
of the same year, and was found to be in the boot and shoe store
of Geo. F. Birt, the property belonging to Caleb Hendee, and which
is now occupied by John Royston, as a cigar factory. One little
incident occurred that is worthy of mention. It was a snapping
cold November morn when the alarm was given. Promptly this company
was on hand with the new fire engine, all seeming glad of the
opportunity of testing the much-prized machine, and feeling a
pride and security, hitherto unknown to the company. On double
quick the engine was set, and the hose stretched to the scene
of the conflagration, and the breaks fully manned. The boys were
impatient to see her "squirt" and at the first word
given by the engineer down went the breaks and the first touch
of water on the valves, the engine being cold and frosty, it froze
and the engine failed to work. At this juncture, our lamented
fellow townsman, Col. C. W. Chapman, (he having taken no stock
in the engine), appeared on the ground with hat in hand, and in
his usual outspoken way, shouted, "I told you that town would
burn down if you got that d__d old trap!" By this time the
flames were leaping high above the roof, and every moment seemed
an hour. But Firemen B. G Cosgrove and P. G. Frary, equal to the
emergency-as firemen always are-stepped into the kitchen of the
old Wright House, and taking a kettle of boiling water from the
stove, poured it in the engine. In an instant the valves were
loosed and "Down on the breaks" was given, and a full
stream was thrown on the burning building. In an incredibly short
time the flames were extinguished, after the east end of the south
side had burned out and the roof fell in. Then went up a general
shout of triumph over the easy victory won by the boys with the
Tub. A meeting was called that night to which the Colonel came
and made us a speech, took back all he had said, and then presented
the company with the best box stove he had in his hardware store
to keep the engine warm and from freezing. Also Mr. Metcalfe Beck,
of Leesburg, then owning the adjoining building, known as the
"Crystal Palace," gave the company $20 for the services
rendered in saving his building. The boys all felt proud of the
victory gained, though they were very doubtful at the start. The
loss to Mr. Hendee was $400, but he was well insured.
Since the burning of Union Block there have been six or seven
disastrous and costly fires in Warsaw, in which this company always
took a conspicuous part, and is always proud of the record it
made. The most notable of these fires were:
1. The Union Block, which occurred Jan. 24, 1861. Estimated loss,
$35,000
2. The great fire of June 8, 1867, in the old Wright House Block,
which destroyed the Wright house, the Kirtley House, and nearly
all the buildings in that block east to the Baptist church. Estimated
loss, $42,425.
3. The Empire Block, which occurred Jan. 14, 1871, about 11 p.m.,
and which fire originated in the hardware store of Card Brothers.
It is impossible now to detail the many amusing things that occurred
during that terrible night, while battling with the two elements,
the fire, and mud and slush which was from four to six inches
deep. The loss by this fire was, at the lowest estimate, $75,000.
4. The fire which commenced in O. P. Jaques' livery barn destroyed
nearly the entire block, including the Baptist church, Wm. Conrad's
fine residence, Jaques & Berst's livery stable, and other
barns and houses. This fire occurred at about 12 o'clock p.m.
on Aug. 19, 1871. Estimated loss, $35,000.
Other large fires were the Weirick House, Oct. 28, 1879, owned
by the Thomases. In this fire the Thomases, Glessner, Hitzler
and others lost property estimated at $2,500. On Feb. 12, 1882,
occurred the burning of the city calaboose and the renowned "Old
Tub," after it had been of vast value in fighting the devouring
flames at numerous fires. Loss $9.25. The second burning of the
Wright House Block caused a loss to the several occupants of over
$20,000 on March 16, 1883. The burning of the G. B. Lesh &
Co. Bending Factory on Nov. 14, 1885 caused a total loss of $50,000,
while the Thomas and Frary fire in Thomas Woods' room in the Opera
House Block on Sept. 3, 1883 destroyed property to the value of
$2,500. At the fire of July 20, 1885-which was found to be in
the finishing room of A. W. Thomas and Co.'s Furniture Factory,
occurred the death of our honored brother S. B Clark, which was
so sudden and sad. Mr. Clark had been Treasurer of this company
for many years. The last, though not the least fire, was the one
which destroyed the old Chapman corner, in which was Cisney's
dry goods store, and the stores of Lyman Sapp, J. McCauley and
others, causing a loss of $8,300, which was mostly covered by
insurance. Besides these, there have been a score of other smaller
fires in which this company has borne a prominent part.
For the want of the roll-calls I can not give the total number
of members or their names, but since its organization there have
been over 150 names up to the present time the largest number
at any one time being 71. After the purchase of the steamer in
1863, our number was let down to 40 or 45 and since the water-works
have been put in our number has decreased so that all present
the company only numbers about 24 active members, there being
three other companies in the department. Gladly I would like to
give the number of deaths in the department. The first death was
that of Wm. Cristwell in October, 1861. Others that I call to
mind and whose memory we cherish, are David Neff, Julian Robbins,
John Warren, B. G. Cosgrove, Charles Ketcham, Benj. Richhart,
Harry Wright, Wm. Beatty, S. B. Clark, A. D. Pittenger and Wm.
Boydston.
For want of time I cannot think of half of the pleasing incidents
that have occurred with the "old reliable." A mere mention
of some of the jolly times and hearty laughs we have had must
suffice. We all remember with what ecstacies of joy we returned
from the tournaments at Lima, Ohio, Peru, Laporte, Goshen, and
at Elkhart, where we were presented with a fine game cock, the
victor's prize, and we think of the fleet-footed George Garrison,
who on starting to Goshen, waved the white flag and ran with pants
in hand, not to be outdone by trifles. Also we note that for 20
years it has been our custom to have a merry good time at our
annual election of officers, and have our banquets, sometimes
at Firemen's Hall, feasting on crackers, bologna, and cheese,
and other times with our wives and sweethearts (as to-night) at
the hotels or restaurants, and still more notable, when a young
fireman was born-male or female-we always looked for a good time
coming, when the happy dad would come up smiling with joy, plead
guilty and plunk down his dollar, which was always satisfaction
for his good behavior. Among these were Dr. Goodwin, the Colemans,
Alms, Holbrook, Winters, Sheffield, George Morris, and others,
especially Bro. Conrad, with his keg of beer, at the birth of
a boy in 1870, and a pleasant recollection in 1875. Soon after
his marriage to his present wife, and at the close of a regular
meeting at our Hall, the Foreman insisted that the company should
go and take a view of the inside of his new residence. They consented,
and he showed them all through the first and second stories, but
when they reach the attic, which he said was a good place to hang
coats, hats, etc., in bad weather, and to have a dance, the door
was thrown open, and to our great surprise we were confronted
with a splendid supper, prepared by his noble wife for the boys,
to which ample justice was done, and after many congratulations
were extended to our host we retired, hoping for the return of
many such occasions, also of the beer and pretzels at the home
of our honored fireman, Fred Gottsman. These were all happy remembrances.
I also wish to remind this company that on July 4, 1871, was held
the only celebration in Warsaw that done the city credit, and
it was gotten up by old No. 1. Firemen were here from Elkhart
and Goshen, with three bands, and in the contests this company
secured all the laurels. Two hundred and fifty guests partook
of the banquet, the spread was grand, and was a great honor to
the citizens of Warsaw in general who aided us cheerfully. Many
successful festivals we have held and especially so was the one
at the Opera House Feb. 22, 1881, when our net receipts were $233.88,
and what is more, we have always had plenty of money, and have
always been, and are today, on a sound financial basis. Bro. Conrad
will excuse me when I say that we have an honored Foreman-one
who has filled that office with credit and pride for twenty-one
successive years. Few such instances are on record.
Since the organization of this company there have been three Chief
Engineers, P. Marvin, Jos. A. Funk, and Perry Brown, who is Chief
at present of the whole department and has been Foreman of the
hose boys of the company for over twenty years. With reference
to the three principal offices of the company I will say there
have been seven Foremen. Of these, J. A. Funk has served six years,
and Wm. Conrad twenty-one. There have been fourteen Secretaries,
as which C. H. Ketcham and W. Vanator each served six years. There
have been eight Treasurers, S. B. Clark holding the office eight
years and E. A Sheffield the present Treasurer, ten years. The
next longest term of office is that of P. Winters, who has been
Foreman two years and First Assistant ten years. The present Steward,
I. J. Morris, has served over twenty years, of which he is proud.
Now Mr. Foreman and brethren, in closing this imperfect sketch,
I can say with truth that this company has always been united
in everything it has undertaken and has stood shoulder to shoulder,
keeping in mind the old maxim, "United we stand, divided
we fall."
Respectfully submitted,
I. J. Morris
Warsaw Daily Times, January 24, 1891
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