Firsts in South Bend
This is a timeline that shows some of the historic ‘firsts’ in our town.
1820-First settler of European heritage, Pierre Navarre
1820-First trading post
1824-First woman of European heritage to settle in South Bend, Frances Comparet Coquillard
1829-First Post Office
1830-First Postmaster, Lathrop M. Taylor
1831-First jail
1831-First practicing lawyer, Elisha Egbert
1831-First keel boat for delivering freight on the St. Joseph River
1831-First drygoods merchant, Horatio Chapin
1831-First log grade school (not public)
1831-First hotel, The American Hotel, built by Peter Johnson
1831-First newspaper, The Northwestern Pioneer and St. Joseph Intelligencer
1831-First county courthouse
1831-First church organized, Methodist Church
1835-First church built, Methodist-N.B. Griffith, Minister
1835-First incorporation of South Bend
1836-First child born, J.W. Camper
1841-First deputy county auditor, Schuyler Colfax
1843-First Congressman, Hon. Samuel C. Sample
1844-First St. Joseph River dam
1847-First bridge, Marion Street
1848-First telegraph, Mrs. J.B. Reynolds received the first message
1854-First railroad, New York Central
1855-First fire department
1861-First local citizen to die in the American Civil War, John Auten (some believe first Indiana soldier to die in the war)
1863-First public school, Jefferson
1865-First Mayor, William G. George
1866-First school board
1867-First historical society (second historical society in the state of Indiana)
1873-First daily newspaper, The Tribune
1880-First telephone exchange
1880-First Artesian well sunk
1882-First electric trolley streetcar system in the United States!
1889-First city park, Howard Park
