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MAP OF JAY COUNTY INDIANA.
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HISTORY
WASHINGTON D.C. Y TREASU of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA D E. PA R' TA
OF
BUREAU OF STATISTICS EN
4952
JAY COUNTY,
INDIANA.
BY M. W. MONTGOMERY. -
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY CHURCH, GOODMAN & CUSHING, 51 & 53 La Salle-st, Chicago. 1864. C
1
COX & DONOHUE, Binders, 58 La Salle-st., Chicago.
L
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Dedication.
To the PIONEERS OF JAY COUNTY, for their enterprise and fortitude in civilizing the wilderness, and to her VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS, for their gallant efforts to crush this wicked Re- bellion, this Book is respectfully dedicated.
M. W. MONTGOMERY.
PREFACE.
THIS Book is not written for the present generation. He who reads it without keeping this in view, will be disappointed. Not that it possesses any merit which cannot be appreciated at the present time, but because it narrates those events which grow in interest as they recede into the past. There are two periods in the history of Jay County of great interest to her people, viz : that of its Early Settlement and that during the War against the Rebellion. To preserve for future generations of her citizens a correct narration of these epochs, is the object of
July 20th, 1864.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
Chapter.
Page.
I. First Family in Jay County,
13
II. The Second Family of Settlers, 26
III. Orman Perring-The Hawkins Family, etc.
45
IV.
The Fugitive Slaves,
-
54
V. William Simmons-Lost-Found, - 62
VI. Nancy Hawkins-The Oldest Cabin-Incidents, The Pioneers of 1830, 73
67
VII.
VIII. Settlers and Incidents, - 81
IX. New Settlers and their Experiences,
· 100
X. Wild Animals - Indians Fire-Hunting - First Election-Lawsuit-Schools, 104
XI. Organization of the County,
119
XII. Courts-Officers-Attorneys,
128
XIII. Township History, - 147
XIV. Rev. I. N. Taylor-Limberlost Church, 179
XV. Liber College, - - - 189
XVI. Farmers' Academy-General Items,
205
XVII. Jay County and the War,
- 220
INTRODUCTION.
In 1820 the presence of a white family in the territory now embraced within the limits of Jay County had never been known. The aborigines had ranged its forests uninter- rupted in their wild pursuits. In its wilderness they chased their game, they paddled their rough canoes upon its streams, and here and there they kindled camp-fires, built the wigwam, engaged in their savage revelries, or fought their battles. But with the first encroachments of civiliza tion upon their hunting grounds, they took their departure. The flint arrow-head, the tomahawk and the stone battle-axe are the only mementos they have left us. Now, much of their forest is cut away, and civilized men, with all the insti- tutions of society and progress, occupy their places. To de- lineate the causes and primary agents which have wrought out this noble transformation is the pretension of this little volume.
To gather fresh from the lips of the pioneers, while they still remained, the story of their early trials, was neces- sary to the completeness of the work. They are fast passing away. While this work has been going through the press, one venerable pioneer-Samuel Grissell-has departed, and he will never read the pages in which he took so lively an interest. Had the work been delayed a few years, the histo- ry of the early settlement of Jay County would have been wrapped in the uncertainties of tradition. One thing has embarrassed the author at every step: Most of the persons named herein are now living, and he who speaks of living men, bares himself to showers of arrows from the quivers of criticism.
X.
INTRODUCTION.
When the work was commenced, four years ago, very lit- tle was known by the people of the county, generally, con- cerning its early settlement Less than half a dozen persons then living in the county knew who was the first settler, and wrong impressions widely prevailed upon that, as well as very many other subjects. Some have boasted of their knowledge of the early history of the county, yet they could not tell who was its earliest settler, or even who was the first in their own township. To brush away false traditions and reveal facts, has been a leading object in preparing these pages. Much difficulty has attended the investigation. It has required patient, persevering labor to ascertain the truth about many disputed points. To accurately fix a single date has sometimes required days of inquiry and cross-examina- tion. To gather the histories of the companies, while they were bravely facing the foe, has also been a difficult task, but they make a record highly flattering to the patriotism of the soldiers. Jay County has never offered a bounty. Her financial condition has been such as to render this course necessary, unless she should overwhelm herself with debt. At the opening of the war she was without public buildings, or money to erect them. The building of a jail and pur- chase of a poor farm were a necessity. Other public build- ings must soon be built. Thus, while many other counties have given tens of thousands of dollars to induce their citi- zens to volunteer, the patriot sons of Jay have gone forth un- influenced by other motives than pure love of country, which is patriotism in its noblest sense. Nor has there been less volunteering on this account. The number to be drafted in the county under the call of the President in July for 500,000 men, shows that the county is equal to her sisters, which, no bounty being offered, reflects the highest honor upon her people. The number of men to be drafted is 203, distributed among the townships as follows: Richland, none; Knox, 19; Penn, 15; Jefferson, 28; Green, 27; Jackson, 19; Pike, 32 ; Wayne, none; Bear Creek, 5; Madison, 17; Noble, 24; Wabash, 17.
xi.
INTRODUCTION.
How strangely have the fortunes of war scattered the One Thousand Soldiers from Jay ! From Gettysburg to Charles- ton, from Rich Mountain to Pea Ridge and New Orleans- everywhere over the extended theatre of the war have her soldiers fought. In every contest their devotion to their coun- try's cause has been self-sacrificing, and their bravery unfal- tering. A crown of glory and the gratitude of their country- men await them. "he author regrets exceedingly that cir- cumstances beyond his control compelled him to omit any history of the fractional companies, only so far as the lists of the members indicate. Company F, 40th Ohio regiment, has traversed Western Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, and is now participating in the grand operations of Gen. Sherman before Atlanta. Their record is a noble one, of which their children's children will be proud. A sketch of the hard- fought battles and brave deeds of company C, 19th Indiana regiment, would itself make a volume. It is their all-suffi- cient, crowning glory that they participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Gains' Farm, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville and Gettysburg, and are now in the struggle before Petersburg. The repeated efforts of the author to obtain a history of com- pany E, 7th Indiana Cavalry, have been constantly baffled by some strange caprice of the mails.
The author now presents the result of his labors to the peo- ple of Jay County. That the work is imperfect, he fully realizes. When several thousand dates and as many names are given in so small a compass, it would be very strange if errors did not occur. Out of the abundant material that has been gathered, the chief difficulty has been to determine what not to say. But he rejoices in the consciousness that, through it all, he has been constantly governed by an honest purpose to do justice to the subject, so far as his poor abilities would permit. He hopes the reader will find as much pleas- ure in the perusal as he has found in the preparation.
The author's acknowledgments are due to many persons
xii.
INTRODUCTION.
1
for information which they haye kindly furnished. First among these are Mary Studabaker, Mary Brooks and Nancy Hawkins-that daring trio, the oldest pioneers of Jay Coun- ty. B. W. Hawkins has given much valuable and varied information. Without his aid no correct history of the early settlement of the county could have been written. The pa- tient research and friendly interest of Hon. J. M. Haynes have added many facts which would not otherwise have been obtained. From the complete diary of Hon. Theophilus Wilson the sketch of New Corydon is gathered. The history of other villages is not so fully given, because no one has kept so faithful a record of them. Mr. Wilson also furnished other acceptable items. Rev. I. N. Taylor has also contrib- uted a large share of facts, and J. C. Lotz statistics from Washington City. The many pioneers whom the author has consulted and the many others who have written him, have placed him under obligations. The principal facts given in the histories of the respective military companies have been kindly furnished by the following persons: Com- pany C, 39tlı Indiana, James M. Bromagem; company B, 34tlı Indiana, Major Nimrod Headington; company E, 89th Indiana, Captain J. P. Winters, Sergeant J. W. Jackson and Elias Loofbourrow; company H, 100th Indiana, Major J. W. Headington and Rev. E. Tucker; company F, 75th. In- diana, Lieutenant Joseph Lewis, Lieutenant G. W. McGriff and Charles A. Black ; company B, 11th Indiana Cavalry, Lieutenant R. C. Harper ; company C, 19th Indiana, George M. Rathbun ; company F, 40th Ohio, Francis Mclaughlin, at Lancaster, and the members of the company in the field ; the One Hundred Days Men, George G. Montgomery and Captain G. W. Fairchilds. In the Miscellaneous List, valua- ble services have been rendered by Provost Marshal Cowgill, of Wabash, and G. W. Abel. To all these the author owes his thanks; and to his ever gracious Heavenly Father, through whom all blessings come, he would express his pro- found gratitude.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST FAMILY IN JAY COUNTY.
ON the 15th day of February, 1821, Mr. Peter Studabaker and Miss Mary Simison were joined in the bands of holy wedlock at the house of the Simison family, where Fort Recovery,* Mercer County, Ohio, now stands. The newly married pair resolved to go still farther on the frontier, and hew out for themselves a home in the wilder- ness. So they gathered their household goods, and with several friends entered the wilds, soon striking the " Quaker Trace" leading from Rich- mond to Fort Wayne, which they followed until they reached the Wabash river. This spot was their destination, and upon the low bank, near the water's edge, they prepared to "camp." Cutting four forked poles, they drove one end of each into
* See map.
2
14
THE FIRST FAMILY
the ground, laid poles and brush across the top, and their camp was completed. A fire was kin- dled at one end, by which the young wife cooked supper for the company-her first experience in house, or ra.her camp-keeping, by herself. Their simple repast was highly relished and soon dis- patched, and they retired to rest, blankets spread upon the ground serving for beds.
Sleep had scarcely calmed the wearied company when they were aroused by the yells of a gang of approaching wolves. Elsewhere came an answer- ing howl, then another and another, till the forests seemed ringing with their hideous yells. The howling became so terrific, the dog sprang out and threatened to give battle, but soon came bounding back, panic stricken, and jumped upon the nuptial bed. As they lay there, so close to the bank, they could see about a dozen wolves at the water's edge on the opposite shore. Soon they heard the sharp, savage snap of wolf-teeth near their bed, and glaring eyes shone in the darkness within six feet of their camp. The men sprang from the ground in alarm, seized their rifles and fired. The howling pack fled in haste and did not return. Again the men lay down, and soon "tired nature's sweet restorer" calmned their fears, and they slept soundly till morning- perhaps dreaming of the pleasant homes and dear friends of their childhood. Thus camped and
15
IN JAY COUNTY.
slept the first white family that ever trod the wil- derness which fifteen years afterward became JAY COUNTY.
This was on the farm now owned by Samuel Hall, on the south bank of the Wabash, at New Corydon. Soon Mr. S. built a cabin, " all of the olden time," and into it they moved, with the naked earth for a floor. This cabin, the first home of that now widely known pioneer family -- a rude hut twelve by sixteen, of small round logs, with clapboard roof held on by " weight poles,"-was the first civilized dwelling ever erected in our county. Unbroken forests were on every hand; no house within fifteen miles-no mill or store in thirty-five. Their only companions were In- dians-their only foes were wolves.
These animals, always annoying by their con- stant howling, were often very troublesome. It was next to impossible to raise stock of any kind. Once a wolf came up to the house in open day- light, to attack a calf, when Mrs. S. appeared, and it ran off. At other times they were still bolder. One night a pack attacked the hogs. Mr. S. went out with his gun, his wife holding a torch while he shot at them five times, but without effect, and they came still nearer, snapping their teeth almost within reach. They seemed bent on an-attack, and the entreaties of his wife at last prevailed on him to go into the house.
16
THE FIRST FAMILY
Mr. Studabaker obtained a livelihood in various ways-principally by hunting. His delight was to be in the wilderness, beyond the reach of soci- ety and its innovations. He loved the quiet gran- deur of the forest, and the excitement of hunting deer, squirrels, otters, wild ducks, wolves and bears, possessed to him irresistible charms. The game he killed furnished meat for his table in abundance, and of the rarest kind. But they had other sources of income. Even at that early day many travelers passed along the " Quaker Trace," and they all stopped to enjoy the hospitality of these pioneers. In fact, at that time it was rather a matter of necessity, as the distance in either direction to any other house was a day's travel. The " Quaker Trace" was so called because it was opened and traveled by the Quakers of Wayne County, on their way to Fort Wayne to market.
Mr. S. sometimes traded provisions to the In- dians for furs, and by selling the furs added some- thing to his income. An incident of this kind is worth relating.
In the fall of 1821, Mr. S. and Thomas Robin- son, who then lived on the "Prairie," in what is now Adams County, went to Greenville and got some flour, and bringing it to the Wabash, dug out a large canoe and started down the river, to sell their flour to the Miami Indians, in a town at the mouth of the Mississinewa-one hundred
17
IN JAY COUNTY.
miles by the river route, and a few miles above Peru, Miami County, Indiana. Easily and rapidly they glided down the smooth waters of the Wabash. In the afternoon of the second day they came in sight of the town. They soon saw that the Indians were on a desperate " spree," and were all dancing, singing, yelling and fighting. They wisely concluded it would not be safe to visit the town that night ; so they rowed up the river a short distance, anchored their canoe, went ashore and camped for the night. The next day they went down towards the town. Robinson staid with the canoc, while Studabaker went to negotiate a sale of the flour. The first Indian he met was a squaw, named "Bigknife," with whom he was well acquainted. She told him they had had a terrible time the night before, and that in the fighting several Indians had been killed, and that they were then all in their huts, sleeping off the effects of their revelry. He inquired if any of the men were sober. She replied that one was, and offered to conduct him to the hut where that Indian slept. On their way through the village, which seemed almost deserted, they passed by a young Indian who was lying with his stomach ripped open, and part of his entrails lying upon the ground, but still alive. They went and aroused the sober Indian, who after much painting and ornamenting, went with Mr. Studabaker to the
18
THE FIRST FAMILY
canoe. On their way they passed the wounded Indian. A squaw was sitting by his side, weep- ing, replacing the entrails, and with an awl and deer's sinew was sewing up the horrible wound. The Indian looked at the flour, and pointing to the sun and the western sky, said that when the sun reached such a place the Indians would get hungry and come and buy. At the appointed time this sober Indian came down to the canoe, followed by the others, each of whom purchased a small quantity of flour. Our adventurers then" returned, occupying about three days in their up- stream rowing.
This family endured very many severe hardships during their stay at this point on the Wabash. So the first families who settled in each section of the county endured privations and trials which would have overwhelmed others less patient, energetic and brave. To the comfortably situated residents at the present time these trials seem almost incred- ible. Here is a leaf from the life of Mary Studa- baker :
Late in the autumn of 1822, the Indians, as they were sometimes in the habit of doing, stole two colts-one from Mr. Studabaker, and one from his brother-in-law, John Simison. In the early part of winter Simison came to Studabaker's, and the two men set out for Wapakoneta, Ohio, in search of the colts among the Indians of that
19
IN JAY COUNTY.
country. Before leaving, Mr. Studabaker hired a boy from the settlement to stay with his wife, who then had a babe only three months old, to cut the wood and build fires. The men had been gone scarcely an hour when this boy proved treacherous, and left Mrs. Studabaker and her child entirely alone. This placed her in an alarm- ing situation. Iler husband expected to be absent nearly a week ; the weather was very cold, and she had no wood and but little strength. She was fifteen miles from any neighbors, in a wilder- ness full of roving gangs of Indians and wolves. The prospect was a dreary one. She saw her dangerous situation, and with heroic fortitude resolved to do her utmost to save herself and child. She devoted herself assiduously to chop- ping wood and building fires. Quite naturally she sought the kinds of wood which would chop the easiest, and sometimes cnt "buckeye," the poorest of all wood. This made it difficult to keep good fires; but she managed to get along without suffering . much, except from loneliness, until the fifth day, when the weather turned ex- tremely cold. All this time had passed, and she had not seen a human being. Even the sight of an Indian would have gladdened her heart. This day she built a fire, but it would not burn. She chopped more wood and piled the great fire-place full; but all in vain. To use her own words, "It
20
THE FIRST FAMILY
seemed to be, as it is said to be in Greenland sometimes, too cold for the fire to burn." Dis- heartened and despairing, as her last hope, she took her babe and went to bed. Here they must lie until assistance came, or freeze to death! But the kind care of an ever-watchful Father in Heaven was upon her. In about two hours Mr. Studa- baker came home, bringing the stolen colt. He soon built a large, comfortable, crackling fire. How great was her joy at this very opportune rescue !
Mrs. Studabaker gives the following account of the survey of this part of Indiana by the govern- ment surveyors. In the winter of 1821 and 1822 James Worthington, of Columbus, Ohio, son of Governor Worthington, accompanied by nine assistants, came to Mr. Studabaker's, and made their home with him during the three months occupied in making the survey. Having two sets of instruments, they operated in two distinct com- panies, and surveyed the territory now making the counties of Jay, Adams and Wells. They gave Mr. Studabaker a plat of their survey, which was very useful to the carly settlers for many years.
About forty rods below Hall & Arnett's Mills, at New Corydon, is a tree on which many dates have been ent, and among others the figures "1822." They are now grown up, so as to be
21
IN JAY COUNTY.
barely visible, and have every appearance of having been put there at that time. It is quite likely the work of the government surveyors.
The first person born in Jay County was ABRAM STUDABAKER. He was born in the little cabin on the Wabash, September 29th, 1822, a child of the wilderness-the first born of the family and of the county. His life was but a blossom, having died March 11th, 1824, at Fort Recovery. Another son was afterward given the same name.
Mr. Studabaker moved to the Wabash with the intention of making that his permanent home; but the frequent overflows of the river at that time discouraged him, and finally led him to move away. One evening in the spring of 1822 several travelers stopped to stay all night. The Wabash was quite high, but not unusually so. Mrs. Stu- dabaker made a bed on the floor, in which the travelers retired to rest. In the night, one of them thought he felt rather "moist," and on turn- ing over found the puncheons were floating. They got up; one went up in the "loft," and the other concluded to nap the rest of the night away on the logs of wood by the fire place. But the family, being more fortunate, were on a bedstead, and slept there until morning, when they found all the puncheons except the two on which the bed- posts rested, floating about the room. Mr. Studa- baker waded out and brought his canoe into the 2*
22
THE FIRST FAMILY
house, and took the family to dry land in the woods, where they camped until the water went down, which was in four or five days. In this way the Wabash overflowed the land about his cabin, and he moved back to Fort Recovery, hav- ing lived in Jay county about two years.
MARY STUDABAKER has been a pioneer all her life. She was born March 16th, 1796, in Sherman Valley, Penn. At the age of two years her father, John Simison, moved to Kentucky and settled within six miles of Lexington. Residing there six years, they moved to Warren County, Ohio. After living there ten or twelve years, they moved to Greenville, and from there, in the spring of 1817, to Fort Recovery. There was not a single family then living in all the region of the Upper Wabash. They were the first pioneers of Fort Recovery-that place so celebrated in history as the scene of St. Clair's defeat, and Mary was afterward of Jay, and still later of the south part of Adams County. There was a trading house then at Fort Recovery, built by David Con-
nor. It was about twelve feet square, and sur- rounded by pickets-logs set in the ground reach- ing about eight feet high-as a protection against the Indians. Into this house John Simison and family moved. Mr. Simison farmed the ground upon which the town is now built, while his boys did the hunting. He raised most of the living for
23
IN JAY COUNTY.
the family, but had to go to Greenville to find a store and mill. He had a hand mill, and some- times ground on that.
It was while living here that the Treaty was made with the Indians, October 6th, 1818. Dr. Perrine, of Greenville, attended that meeting. Starting in the morning, on foot, he expected to reach Simison's that evening ; but night overtook him while he was in what is now Madison Town- ship. Finding he must camp out, he was much alarmed lest the wolves should devour him. Coming upon a much-broken tree-top, he set about building a camp that would protect him. Out of the broken limbs he built a very small, oval-shaped pen, leaving a hole at the bottom. Into this he crept, and drew a stick, prepared for the purpose, into the hole after him, thus effectu- ally blocking all entrance. Curling np there, he slept soundly. Some time after this Thomas Rob- inson settled beside Mr. Simison-then soon moved into Adams County.
But sorrow was in store for this family. Mrs. Simison died in September, 1820, and on the last day of that ever-memorable year, she was fol- lowed by her husband. His burial took place on New Year's day, 1821. Thomas Robinson and Peter Studabaker happened to be there at the time of his death, and making a rough box which had to answer for a coffin, they buried their pio-
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