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Go 977.2 G62 1142521
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02408 3369
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00good_0
2
KER
١
%
GEN.GE
. RO
ERS, CLARK.
GOV. · POSEY
MAJ.GEN.
MAJ. GEN. ART
ST CLAIR.
THOI
. HARRISON
00
YNE.
A
MAJ. GEN.
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE
STATE OF INDIANA:
BEING A FULL AND AUTHENTIC
Civil and Political History of the State from its First Exploration down to 1875.
INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE
COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND EDUCATIONAL
GROWTH OF INDIANA. WITH HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES OF THE
CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES,
EMBRACING Interesting Narratives of Pioneer Life, TOGETHER WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND PORTRAITS
Of the Prominent Men of the Past and Present, AND A HISTORY OF EACH COUNTY SEPARATELY.
BY DE WITT C. GOODRICH, AND
PROF. CHARLES R. TUTTLE, Author of the " Border Wars of Two Centuries," "Illustrated History of the State of Michigan," etc., etc.
SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCRIPTION.
INDIANAPOLIS: RICHARD S. PEALE & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1875.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by RICHARD S. PEALE & Co., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. 1142521
IN the mechanical execution of this volume we have aimed to reach some degree of perfection. It is true that the Western book manufacturing establishments do not yet present as complete facilities for printing and binding books of this class, as some of the older Eastern publishing houses contain, but we have already made considerable advancement in this important industry; and it is, perhaps, not too much to say that this work presents, especially in its best bindings, a high degree of this progress.
The materials of which the volume is composed, in a literary sense, and the manner in which these are treated, are subjects so fully considered in the General Introductory, that we can- not speak of them here with expediency, yet, to prevent a misunderstanding, we have thought proper to make these explanatory remarks: -
The volume was not intended as an exclusive civil history of Indiana; hence, to persons expecting such, it will bring disappointment and dissatisfaction; nor did our plan contem- plate an exclusive political history of the State, hence to persons expecting a full history of the several political admin- istrations that have characterized the State government, it will bring disappointment also. Neither did we expect to present, in a single volume, all the important events in the
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PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.
pioneer history of Indiana. But, believing that, at the present time, the wants of the people could be best served by present- ing an equal part of each of these great features, we have adopted the plan of the present volume. And, while it must be remembered that neither of these phases, as presented in the following pages, is as complete as it would be were the entire volume devoted to a single feature, yet, since our space is limited, the idea of variety seems most acceptable.
In presenting this, the second edition of the History of Indiana, we have made several important corrections and additions, thereby making the work more desirable.
MAY 15th, 1875.
-
TO
THE PIONEERS OF INDIANA, MEN AND WOMEN, WHO BY GREAT INDUSTRY AND A CONSTANT INTEGRITY IN THE LABORS OF THEIR SEVERAL CALLINGS, HAVE LAID WELL THE FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES OF A GREAT AND PROSPEROUS STATE, THIS VOLUME
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
INTRODUCTORY.
THE positive need of a reliable history of Indiana has been recognized for more than ten years, by nearly all the people of the State. It is equally true that the harvest of ma- terials for such a work was fully ripe. The early explorations of the French in the country of the Miamis; the labors of the zealous missionaries among the natives; the adventures of the fur-traders; the early wars with the Indians; the scenes and events around the old French forts and settlements; the strug- gles between the French and the English; the subjugation of the latter by Americans; the heroic proceedings of General George Rogers Clarke and his brave Virginians; the thrilling incidents and interesting reminiscences of pioneer life; the growth and prosperity of the settlements; the glorious part acted in the War for the Union; and, lastly, the unparalleled advancement in all the great industries and professions of civ- ilization ;- all these combine to render the narrative replete with interest and instruction.
How far we have succeeded in our attempt to collect and arrange these materials in the form of a history of the State, may now be seen; and, we shall regret, indeed, if, after so much labor, our work has been in vain. Our aims and objects have been shaped, as near as possible, by the demands or wants of the people. Hence it has not been an important part of our plan, as it has, of course, been beyond our ability, to present
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10
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
a work of any great literary merit. But such a work at this time is uncalled for, and it would seem that the present volume is needed to prepare the way for its demand in the future. Although deficient in many things, it will scarcely fail of this desired end.
The early history of the Wabash Valley would, of itself, if properly written, make a volume much larger than the present one, and, perhaps, if viewed in the light of narrative excel- lence, more interesting. At the beginning of the eighteenth century communication was opened up between Louisiana and Canada, by the way of the Maumee, Wabash, Ohio, and Mis- sissippi. Indeed this route had been traveled by a few, among whom was Robert de La Salle, some twenty years before, or as early as 1680. But with the beginning of the eighteenth cen- tury a general communication was established. With this came the necessity of forts or fortifications, to protect the route against hostile Indians, and, also, to further possess the country adjacent to it against the encroachments of the English colo- nies, which, until this period, and for several years after, were content with a narrow strip of land on the Atlantic sea-board. Such became the policy of the French Colonial Government sometime between 1690 and 1700, a decade during which the possibilities of establishing a permanent branch of the French Empire in the New World were bright and promising.
In 1700, the French decided to establish this chain of forti- fications without delay, and in one year after, Fort Pontchar- train (Detroit) was established on the Detroit river. During the four years following, rude forts, or stockades, were erected at the head of the Maumee, where the city of Fort Wayne now stands, on Wea Prairie, near the Wabash, in what is now Tippecanoe county, and at a point further down the Wabash, where Fort Knox was afterwards established, and where the
11
INTRODUCTORY.
flourishing city of Vincennes now stands. The first was called Post Miami, in respect to the Indian Confederacy of that name, which had its ancient capital near the site; the second was called Ouantenon; the third, Post Vincennes, in honor of its founder. I am well aware that certain phases of these state- ments will be contradicted by persons who have made conside- rable research, particularly those points touching the exact date of the establishment of these posts; but it is necessary that such contradictions be accompanied by satisfactory proof. A prominent gentleman of this State, who has justly earned a wide reputation for historical information, stated, in a conver- sation with the writer, only a few weeks ago, that the first military occupation of Vincennes took place in 1716. Grant- ing this, we give Post Miami ( Fort Wayne ) an antiquity exceeding Vincennes by eleven years, for it is certain that a military post was established at the former point in 1705.
But in the absence of the records themselves, the date of the first French military settlements in Indiana, can best be deter- mined by observing the colonial policy under which they were made, as also, the year in which that policy was executed. In many portions of the Northwest, the first French settlements were merely the off-shoots of personal ambition, or missionary zeal, as was that at Green Bay, Wisconsin, or that near the mouth of the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan; the former affords us an illustration of personal aggrandizement - presented in the daring and privations of M. Longlade; the latter a grand demonstration of the burning zeal of Fathers Dablon, Allouez and others, early Jesuit missionaries of New France. With regard to these and like settlements, there is ground for dispute as to the date of their origin. But the first settlements in Indiana were not made by chance explorers, or roving fur-tra- ders, or pious Jesuits; they were made under a fixed policy of
-
12
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the French Government-a policy framed by the sagacious La Motte Cadillac, the founder of Detroit. Near the close of the seventeenth century, this bold pioneer and statesman of New France returned to his native country, on a mission of greater importance to French interests than was, at that time, realized by his countrymen. Filled with patriotic zeal, he laid before the Colonial Minister, Count Pontchartrain, the first map of the Wabash Valley ever made, executed by his own hands. . He pointed out the new route that had been discov- ered by La Salle and his associates, through the fertile vales of Indiana, and urged upon the establishment of a chain of fortifications upon it, for the protection of travel. And we fancy Cadillac reasoned in this wise: He pointed out upon his rude map the vast extent and richness of the country adjacent to the route on either side, and indicated the Indian strong- holds, suggesting their value as allies in case of future conflicts with rival colonies. Whatever his arguments were, they were convincing, as the Colonial Minister at once entered upon Ca- dillac's plans. "Pontchartrain," says a French writer, " was delighted with his plan, and at once commissioned him to execute it."
Cadillac returned to Canada and established Detroit, as we have said already, in 1701. It was under this general policy that the first military settlements were made in Indiana. The missionaries undoubtedly visited Vincennes, as did they also the site of Post Miami, long before military posts were erected in those places, but no permanent missions were stationed until after their occupancy by military power. This took place according to the French Colonial records, in 1705, and as near as can be ascertained there is not more than six months' differ- ence in the date of the first establishment of Posts Miami, Quantenon, and Vincennes. Certain it is, that they were all
13
INTRODUCTORY.
existing in the spring of 1706. That these posts were often deserted, and left without military garrisons, is undoubtedly true, but we will venture the assertion that the French Colo- nial archives will show that small garrisons were located at the three points indicated previous to 1706.
The history of these posts from their first establishment until, they were discontinued, furnishes a narrative replete with thrilling incident. It carries the reader through all the interesting scenes of French and Indian intercourse, which presents many romantic, unique phases. In some of these phases, we see Frenchmen degraded instead of savages ele- vated; we see thousands of reckless men, throwing off all civil- ized restraint, and plunging deliberately into barbarism; with the rifle and the scalping knife, they go forth to wreak ven- geance upon the whites, side by side with red men, as if their destinies have become indissolubly united with those of their new allies; we see a type of amalgamation for which the history of the world furnishes no parallel - Frenchmen descending to the level of Indians in social economy, and in many instances, dragging the natives down to a pitch of degra- dation from which a half savage sense of propriety often recoiled with just pride.
And again, the history of these posts carries the reader through curious accounts of the fur-trade, of the manners and customs of the courriers des bois, or wood rangers-a set of half breeds, with a language and characteristics peculiar to themselves. In the light canoe they would float carelessly down the streams, basking idly in the summer's sun, or gaily singing some French or Indian song. At night they slept upon the river's bank, thoughtless of bed or protection. Returning with loads of furs after a long journey, or from the chase, they were greeted by their tawny wives and hybrid offspring with social enthusiasm,
14
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
and, in their low, uncultivated sphere, seemed to enjoy life without many of its cares and burdens. The fur-trade had many distinguishing features. Whiskey was one of the chief articles of merchandise, and in the use of this the savage per- petrated his greatest abuse. Oft have the forests around Fort Wayne or Vincennes echoed with the hideous yells of the pow wow, when barrel after barrel of poisonous liquors was permitted to be distributed among deluded savages. Verily, the fur-trader will have an account to give at the day of reck- oning, in which Indian wrongs will be vindicated.
And, again, the history of these posts carries us through the pious devoutment of Catholic missionaries, through accounts of Christian zeal, persecution, privations for the Gospel's sake. We see missionary priests mingling with the savages, teaching them, supping with them, pointing them to the cross. In wigwams or rude log-huts, these priests gathered anxious, curi- ous pupils and labored to instruct them in a civilization and Christianity that they could never, never comprehend or appre- ciate. But the Indians assented and applauded in their silent devotion, and the missionaries labored on, in a hopeless cause, until a war of extermination ended their labors.
And, again, the history of these posts is filled with thrilling narratives of war, narratives that carry the reader through Sandoskit's ( Nicholas ) conspiracy, Pontiac's conspiracy. Te- cumseh's war, and the long desultory war that, for years, kept alive a feeling of alarm in the pioneer homes on the borders. We see the mighty war-clouds gathering, as the voice of the mighty Pontiac resounds through the forests of the lake regions, and, as they burst in thunderous volleys of musketry, we behold the massacres that characterized the fall of the " fated nine." Who shall paint the darkness and gloom that settled over the western outposts in 1763-4, when the giant of the
15
INTRODUCTORY.
Ottawas swayed, at his imperial command, all the Indian forces of the Northwest? Who shall tell us of the foul conspiracies plotted in forest councils where this proud Ottawa presided? What pen shall ever describe the horrors in the execution of these conspiracies ? The mind turns away from the scene at Michilimackinac, awed with its extremes of barbarity; the heart sickens with a contemplation of Vanango; while the fall of Holmes, on a supposed errand of mercy, at Post Miami, and the capture of Jenkins at Ouantenon, present shameful inci- dents of French cowardice and Indian treachery. But no sooner did the storm of Pontiac's vengeance subside, than another great Indian statesman rose to defend his race. Tecum- seh gathered the scattered forces, and led the last great struggle of the red men, until swallowed up in death and defeat.
As we have said, these things - the important events in the history of the Wabash Valley - would make a volume, one quite easy of construction, but full of deep interest. But with the aim of presenting modern Indiana, its early history has been exceedingly abridged, so that, to a great extent, this field may still be regarded as open to the investment of labor and research.
In the second place, our account of the civil administration of the State and territorial government is necessarily very concise. This would, also, if properly digested, make a volume much larger than the present one; but, we presume it would not be as interesting to the general reader, as valuable to those in search of specific information concerning the civil service of the State. This digest of documents introduces us to the organization of the Territorial Government at Vincennes in 1800, under our own General Harrison; follows the dry routine in the administration of the territory-a narrative interspersed here and there with pleasing incidents; presents the interesting
16
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Constitutional Convention of 1816, which sat at Corydon, and framned the Constitution that so ably preserved the liberties of the people for thirty-five years; it presents also the Constitu- tional Convention of 1850, from which we received the present inestimable Constitution- the foundation of the grand free public school system of the State. It presents the burdens and blessings, the triumphs and defeats of the Old Internal Improvement system- a system so deeply rooted in the legis- lation of the State that it still presents itself at every change in the political composition of the legislature; it carries us through a system of land grants, and commissions thereunto belonging, which the State Government is still trying in vain to fathom; it presents a network of private legislation and an ocean of local laws, the enumeration of which, though not easy, would be a pleasant task, in comparison with the attempt to discover their origin and real designs. But, as already hinted, our occupancy of this field is so limited as to present the widest scope for zeal and energy. Indeed, the materials are ripe, and the demand large, for a Documentary History of Indiana.
In the third place, our county histories present the "might have been," more than they sustain the plan under which they are presented; and, if persons into whose hands this volume may be placed, jealous of the interests of their own counties, condemn the work because of the inequality apparent in the county sketches, we shall scarcely be surprised. Yet, after all, we may honestly rest our case, as to that point, with this explanation. It was not the original purpose to write a history of each county. This must be plain to even a careless thinker, as such a plan would require a scope of at least ten volumes. We regret, however, the want of space for more of these local records. Truly, the history of the pioneers of Indiana is full
17
INTRODUCTORY.
of interest and instruction. It presents a narrative full of dramatic situations and romantic scenes, in which more than a thousand actors render the same part.
The pioneer history of Indiana presents much that is worthy of admiration. In the hardy, honest pioneer we have a grand illustration of true manhood. He left the scenes of civiliza- tion as if moved by an over-ruling divinity, and with axe and gun, wended his lonely way along the bending rivers, deep into forests, inhabited only by wild beasts and straggling natives. Prospecting on vale and hill, he moves forward, guided only by the familiar blaze of the surveyor's axe, through openings, across fertile bottoms, and through rolling woodlands, until the eye falls on the spot of his choice. Here the cabin home is to be erected. Hard by runs a rippling stream, through a fertile ravine, ever telling Nature's mystic story in the voice of tireless waters. Upon this the mill is to be established. Ever and anon, on either side stretches a vast forest of oak, walnut, and other valuable timber, and beneath is a rich, pro- ductive soil, awaiting only the touch of the husbandman to break forth into a golden harvest.
The history of the pioneers of Indiana carries us from this scene through many incidents. We have the building of the cabin; the moving of the family from civilization to that iso- lated cabin home; the toils and hardships of the mother, rearing a family, where there is naught but her own hands to administer in circumstances where the most delicate and tender sympathy is required; the long, weary years of toil and danger through which the father passes, unmoved in his persistent · energy. At his bidding, the forests gradually fade away, and fertile fields spread out in harvest luxury; and, in short, the various scenes in that grand transformation from the wilderness to the metropolis, from barbarism to civilization, from chaos
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
to achievement. . Although we have presented much of this narrative, more than enough to constitute a rare and useful volume remains yet unwritten.
From these hints concerning the manner in which the three great phases of the State's history are treated in the following chapters, it will be seen that, while we do not claim to have elaborated on either, as much of all is presented as will con- form to our original plan - that of producing a work touching upon all these subjects, and at the same time condensing all within the compass of a single volume.
CHARLES R. TUTTLE.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., March, 1875.
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
Brown, Prof. R. T. 239
Brown, Austin H. 195
Hoagland, Pliney
200
Hackleman, Hon. Elijah
146
Hoss, Prof. Geo. W.
323
Brownfield, John
269
Hobbs, Prof. B. C.
263
Hanna, Samuel
120
Hanna, Mrs. Eliza
121
Hough, John.
75
Hendricks, Hon. Thomas A
113
Harrison, Gen. William H.
Frontispiece.
Kirkwood, Daniel
277
Kerr, Hon. M. C.
339
LaSalle, Charles B. 643
Long, Thomas B.
204
Lane, Hon. Henry S
579
Lingle, W. S.
631
Louder, Charles
367
Lockwood, John M.
223
Lewis, Andrew
231
Martindale, E. B.
651
Moody, M. M.
315
McDonald, Hon. Joseph E.
579
Mears, G. W.
239
Mitchell, Hon. William
191
Morton, Hon. O. P.
102
Nutt, Rev. Dr. Cyrus
211
Nuttman, J. D
78
Orth, Hon. G. S
579
Owen, Richard
277
Olds, N. G.
235
Pratt, Hon. D. D.
339
Purdue, Hon. John
137
Peed, H. A.
257
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I
Buckles, Joseph S. 355
Biddle, Judge Horace P.
183
Bates, Harvey
305
Bass, J. H. 140
Bass, S. S.
143
Brackenridge, Robert.
71
Bird, Hon. O. 84
Carpenter, Willard
227
Comstock, James
315
Cason, T. J.
339
Comingor, Prof. J. A. 239
Cumback, Hon. Will 253
Cox, Prof. E. T.
187
Colfax, Hon. Schuyler
90
Campbell, John L.
175
Clarke, Gen. George Rogers.
Frontispiece.
Danaldson, David S. 162
Evans, S. Cary 127
Evans, A. S. 523
Edson, Judge Wm. P.
179
English, Maj. Elisha G
.291
English, Hon. Wm. H.
285
Edgerton, Joseph K.
106
Edgerton, A. P. 130
Fletcher, Prof. W. B. 239
Field, Dr. Nathaniel 347
Fitch, Hon. G. N.
515
Fowler, Moses
152
'Gooding, Hon. David S.
581
Hunter, Hon. M. C.
579
Houghton, Walter R.
277
20
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
Patterson, Judge C. Y 215
Pierce, Martin L .... 134
Posey, Gov. Thomas.Frontispiece.
Ryan, T.
439
Roche, John
117
Robbins, G. W
299
Ross, W. T.
156
Rose, Chauncy
169
Randall, Hon. F. P.
96
Wright, C. E. 239
Shanks, Hon. J. P. C. 339
Wylie, Dr. T. A. 277
Studebaker, Clem
475
Wilson, Col. W. C. 207
Wood, George W.
249
Studebaker, Peter E.
495
Williams, Jesse L.
87
Studebaker, Jacob F
505
Wayne, Gen. Anthony_ Frontispiece
Scott, John T.
245
Yeoman, D. H.
.315
Suttenfield, Mrs. Laura
93
Zollinger, Charles
81
MISCELLANEOUS.
Residence of Samuel Hanna 124
Residence of F. P. Randall 99
Residence of Judge H. P. Biddle 219
Birth place of Judge H. P. Biddle 218
Studebaker Brothers' Wagon Works, South Bend. 615
Studebaker Brothers' Carriage Works, South Bend 435
Bass Foundry and Machine Works, Fort Wayne 621
Scene of the Battle of Tippecanoe 165
Council S ne between General Harrison and Tecumseh 159
Public Scl l Building, Sullivan 453
Ford School Building, La Fayette 385
Opera House, La Fayette 383
Purdue University Buildings 387, 389, 391, 392
Sutherland, John 315
St.Clair, Gen. Arthur. Frontispiece. Tyner, Hon. James N. 579
Thompson, Col. James S.
277
Tuttle, Dr. Joseph F. 172
Trentman, B. 110
Vandgundy, Adam 215
Wolfe, Hon. S. K. .339
Studebaker, John M.
485
Stockton, Lawrence B.
149
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INDEX TO BIOGRAPHIES.
Andrus, LL.D., Reuben 667
Biddle, Judge H. P. 634
Baker, Hon. Conrad 624
Beard, John
645
Brackenridge, Robert
646
Brownfield, John
666
Bates, Harvey 667
Buckles, Joseph S. 671
Bird, Hon. O.
683
Brown, Austin H.
683
Brown, Prof. R. T. 684
Bass, J. H. 684
Bass, Col. S. S. 684
Campbell, LL.D., John L. 639
Cumback, Hon. Will 642
Carpenter, Willard
677
Cox, Prof. E. T. 684
Comingor, Prof. A. J 684
Cason, Hon. T. J. 684
Colfax, Hon. Schuyler 684
Dunn, Williamson
646
Dowling, Thomas
648
Danaldson, David S. 649
Elsion, Isaac C. 646
English, Hon. Wm. H. 650
English, Major Elisha G. 656
Eddy, Col. Norman
659
Edgerton, J. K 663
Edgerton, A. P. 683
Earp, A.M., Jno. E. 665
Evans, Amos S. 673
Evans, S. Cary 684
Edson, Wm. P 676
Fitch, Hon. G. N.
633
Fowler, Moses 641
Field, Dr. Nathaniel
668
Fletcher, Prof. W. B. 684
Gooding, Hon. David S. 680
Hobbs, LL.D., Barnabas C. 628
Hackleman, Hon. Elijah. 660
Hoss, LL.D., George W
660
Hendricks, Hon. Thomas A.
661
Houghton, Walter R. 664
Holloway, Col. W. R. 674
Hoagland, Pliney
680
Hanna, Samuel 684
Hanna, Mrs. Eliza 684
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