USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 1
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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 00097 1009
Gc 977.201 R89HIS
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY, INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT
Q Hackleman
HISTORY
OF
RUSH COUNTY,
INDIANA.
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, NOTES, ETC., TOGETHER WITH A SHORT HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST, THE INDIANA TERRITORY, AND THE STATE OF INDIANA.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO: BRANT & FULLER. I888.
Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis.
PREFACE.
1191124
15.00 1. 2:
AFTER several months of almost uninterrupted labor, the History of Rush County is completed. In issuing it to our patrons we do not claim for it perfection; but that it contains that reasonable de- gree of accuracy which only could be expected of us, is confidently asserted. The difficulties that surround such an undertaking can scarcely be realized by one who has never engaged in work of the kind. To reconcile the doubtful and often conflicting statements that are so frequently made by those who would seem to be best informed, is a task both perplexing and tedious. Yet we believe that we have been able to present a history of the county that is as nearly complete as reason can demand, and the book exceeds our promises in almost every particular. We have endeavored to set forth the facts in as concise and unostentatious language as possible, believing it is for the facts and not for rhetorical display that the book is desired. The mechanical execution and general appear- ance of the volume will recommend it, even to the fastidious. The arrangement of the matter is such as to render an index almost superfluous, as the subject under consideration is at the top of every right-hand page. For further details the italic subdivisions will enable the reader to refer with readiness to any topic. In the spelling of proper names there is such a wide difference, even among mem- bers of the same family, and it is a matter of so arbitrary a nature, that our only guide was each man's desire. Every clew that gave promise of important facts connected with the county's history has been investigated by those engaged in the work. We believe the volume will be favorably received and highly appreciated by those for whom it was prepared. Our thanks are due to those who have rendered us assistance and to our patrons.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CHICAGO, ILL., March, 188S.
CONTENTS.
PART I-HISTORY OF INDIANA.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
PREHISTORIC RACES ..
17
Antiquities.
19
Chinese, The .. 18
Discovery by Columbus .. 33
Explorations by the Whites 37
Indians, The ..... 31
Immigration, The First
18
Immigration, The Second
20
Pyramids, etc. The ... 21
Relics of the Mound-Builders 23
Savage Customs. 34
Tartars, The 23
Vincennes, 39
Wabash River, The 39
White Men, The First 37
CHAPTER II.
NATIONAL POLICIES, ETC. 41
American Policy, The. 46
Atrocity of the Savages. 47
Burning of Hinton 48
British Policy, The 46
Clark's Expedition .. 52
French Scheme, The
41 65
Gilbault, Father.
Government of the Northwest.
67
Hamilton's Career ..... 64
Liquor and Gaming Laws
74
Missionaries, The Catholic.
12
Ordinance of 1787 ...
70
Pontiac's War.
46
Ruse Against the Indians 64
6
CHAPTER III.
OPERATIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS 75 Agriculture 209
Battle at Peoria Lake 104 Coal. 207
Campaign of Harrison .. 92
Cession Treaties. 93
Defeat of St. Clair ... 79
Defensive Operations. 76
Expedition of Harmer
75
Expedition of Wayne.
79
Expedition of St. Clair.
78
Expedition of Williamson
78
Fort Miami, Rattle of. 80
Harrison and the Indians 87
Hopkins' Campaign ... 105
Kickapoo Town, Burning of ... 78
Maumee, Battle of .. 75 Massacre at Pigeon Roost. 103 Mississinewa Town, Battle at. 106 Oratory, Tecumseh's 114
Prophet Town, Destruction of .. 100
Peace with the Indians .... 106
Siege of Fort Wayne. 101 Siege of Fort Harrison .. 103
Tecumseb. 111
Tippecanoe, Battle of. 9S
War of 1812. 101
War of 1812, Close of the. 108
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION OF INDIANA TERRITORY 82
Bank, Establishment of. 120
Courts, Formation of .. 120
County Offices, Appointment of. 119
Corydon, the Capital 117
Indiana in 1810. 84
Population in 1815. 118
Territorial Legislature, The First 84
Western Sun, The. 84
CHAPTER V. PAGE.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE, ETC. 121
Amendment, The Fifteenth 147
Black Hawk War. 126 Constitution, Formation of the. 121
Campaigns Against the Indians. 128
Defeat of Black Hawk 130
Exodus of the Indians. 131
General Assembly, The First 122
Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Treaty of ... 142
Harmony Community ... 134
Indian Titles 132
Immigration 125
Lafayette, Action at. 127
Land Sales. 133
Mexican War, The. 136
Slavery 144
CHAPTER VI.
INDIANA IN THE REBELLION. 148
Batteries of Light Infantry .. 182
Battle Record of States. 188
Call to Arms, The .. 149
Colored Troops of Indiana ... 182
Calls of 1864 177
Field, In the ... 152
Independent Cavalry Regiment .. 181
170
Minute-Men ... 170
One Hundred Days' Men .. 176
Regiments, Formation of. 151
Regimeuts, Sketch of ... 153
CHAPTER VII.
STATE AFFAIRS AFTER THE REBELLION. 189
Internal Improvements .. 199
Indiana Horticultural Society .. 212
Indiana Promological Society. 213
Special Laws
190
State Bank 196
State Roard of Agriculture. 2019
210
Wealth and Progress 197
CHAPTER VIII.
EDUCATION AND BENEVOLENCE. 215
Blind Institute, The 232
City School System. 218
Compensation of Teachers .. 220 Denominational and Private Institutions. 230
Deaf and Dumb Iostitute .. 236
Education. 265
Enumeration of Scholars. 219 Family Worship. 252
Free School System, The 215
Funds, Management of the 217
Female Prison and Reformatory. 241
House of Refuge, The 243
Insane Hospital, The ... 238
Northern Indiana Normal School 229
Origin of School Funds. 221
Purdue University .. 224
School Statistics .. 218
State Normal School. 228
State Prison, South! 239
State Prison, North 240
Total School Funds. 220
Divorce Laws 193
Finances. 194
Geology 205
Morgan's Raid
Six Months' Regiments. 172 Vigo, Francis.
State Expositions.
Gov. Posey. 117 State University, The 222
V
CONTENTS.
PART II .- HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
GEOLOGY-General Description - Topogra- phy-Drainage-List of Fossils-Eco- nomie Geology-Archaeology 247
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN HISTORY-Early Tribes-The Dela- wares-Treaty Ceding Rush County to the United States-Miscellaneous Items. 279
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION-Early Acts of the County Board-Township Organization -Officers Appointed-The Board of Jus- tices-Early Revenues -- Yearly Finances -The Court Houses-Jails -- Later Town- ships-The County Poor-Medical Soci- ety - Agricultural - Blooded Stock - Roads-Elections-County Officers ..... 284
CHAPTER IV.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN RUSH COUNTY -- Squatters-First Permanent Settlers- Early Struggles for Land-Character of the Pioneers-Life in the Woods-Build- ing the Cabin-Blue Grass-Work of the Men - Wild Game-Work of the Women -Amusements-Hunting-Trade-Agri- culture-Land Entries-Early Industries -Old Settlers' Meetings-Reminiscen- ces, etc .. 310
CHAPTER V.
BENCH AND BAR-First Circuit-Early Judi- cial system-Organization of the Conrts -First sessions-The Young Murder Trial-Trial and Execution of Swanson -Other Murder Cas-s-Compar son of Business of the Farly Coutts with That of the Present-The Megee Will Case- The Court of Comm mn Pleas-Attorneys of Prominence-The Present Bar- Judges and Other Court Officers-Rull of Attorneys .. 397
CHAPTER VI.
MILITARY HISTORY-The Campaign of 180 -Resolutions and Pull e Opinion-Be- ginning of Hostilities-First Company for the War-Flag Presentation-Home Defense-A Lull in the Storm-Renewed Volunteering-Other Companies of Rush County Men-Public Opini o in 1803-64 -Bounty and Relief-Men Furnished for the War-Roll of Honor .. 447
CHAPTER VIL
RELIGIOUS HISTORY-Religion of the Pion- eers-Prevalence of Religious Senti- ment-The Church. s-Traits of the Re- ligious Devotees-Church of Christ- Methodist Episcopal-Bantists-Presby- terians-Friends-Catho i s-We-leyans -Christian Union-Adventists-Colored Churches 524
CHAPTER VIII.
TOWNS-Rushville. Its Founding and First Sertiers-Public Buildings-Sale of Lots -Sites of the Early Houses-First Busi- ness Ventures-Plats and Additions- Mills-Railroads-Incorporatiou-Public Improvements - The Press - Banks - Loan Associations-Secret Societies- Present Business Interests-Carthage- Milroy - Manilla -Arlington - New Sa- lem - Glenwood -Falmouth - Raleigh and Others 628
CHAPTER IX.
SCHOOLS-Development of Education from the Earliest Times-Indiana school Sys- tem-Pioneer School Houses-Local Details in Washington Township-Cen- ter-Ripley- Posey-Jackson- Union- Noble - Walker- Orange - Anderson- Richland-Rushville-County School Of- ficeis, etc .... 789
vi
INDEX.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PACE.
PAOE.
PAGE.
Adams, Edward P. 495
Carr, James R
839
Florea, Cyrus. 375
Akers, Perry
369
Carr, Oscar L.
478
Florea, Joseph S 377
Aldridge, Joseph F
35I
Carson, John
855
Florea, Josiah 376
Alexander, Thomas G. 496 Carter, Daniel T
372
Forbis, James M 567
Alger, Josiah C.
673
Chandler, Martha A.
372
Fort, Brice D.
377
Allison, Amos 477
Churchill, Jefferson 683
Foust, Benjamin.
568
Alter, Charles 477
Clark, Catharine
373
Fonst, Rachel M
568
Amos Family, The. 425
Clark, George C.
684
Fox, William C.
771
Anderson, James W
539
Clark, John M.
562
Foxworthy. Janies H
378
Applegate, Oscar .
426
Clifton, Samuel F
770
Frazee, Aaron
695
Armstrong, Henry
427
Cole, Ulysses D.
687
Frazee, Benjamin 430
Baity, Henry F
496
Collins, William
502
Gahimer, Jacob. 840
Ball, Cyrus W
497
Conaway, John M.
504
Gantner, John 696
Barnard, B. G
676
Conaway, Samuel.
503
Gates, Isaac T 570
Barton, James A
351
Conn, Jesse
354
Gates, Samuel 569
Beale, James
409
Conner, Beaufort L.
541
Gause, Clarkson
571
Beaver, David
427
Cook, Robert B.
771 Gilbert, Charles H 696
Bebout, Abner
838 | Cook, William M.
770
Gilson, Washington. 379
Beckner, Henry W
498 Cox, Cyrus B.
565
Ging, Lawrence. 772
Bell, Samuel J
370 Crane, Isaac
353
Glore, James D. 697
Bennett, Francis M
677
Creed, William H.
839
Gordon, William F 697
Bentley, John B
499 Culbertson, James
429 Gorman, Jobn M 413
Berry, E. H. M. 678
Culbertson, John H
688
Gowdy, John K 698
Bigger, Finley
Cullen, William A.
688
Graham, David
699
Billings, James
370
Custer, Joseph.
856
Gray, James.
414
Binford, Jared P
558
Dagler, William
69.I
Gray, James
772
Binford, Jonathan.
559
Davidson, John.
429
Gray, John T 773
Binford, Joseph.
556
Davis, James R.
355
Green, Eli
479
Binford, Josiah C.
557 Davis, John W.
542
Green, Lot. 414
Binford, Joseph J 560
Davis, Samuel H.
354
Green, Thomas M 701
Binford, Levi
560
Dillon, J. C ..
374
Greenwood, William R .. 859
Binford, Micajah 555
Downey, Jacob F.
506
Griffith, Samuel 4So
Bishop, Purnel
768
Downey, James.
412
Guffin, Andrew
432
Bitner, John.
371
Downey, James H. 505
Guffin, George 433
Blair, William A
352
Downey, Morton H. 692
Gwynne, G. J. T. O'B. 572
Bowles, James
371
Duke, Alfred
692
Haehl, Frederick E.
842
Bowles, Thomas J.
352
Duncan, William
355
Haehl, Frederick J
841
Bowling, John
478
Dunn, Robert
693 Haehl, John M.
S41
Brooks, Melvin W.
428
Ebright, George W.
693
Hall, Frank J.
705
Brooks, William M
427
Ellison, Jerome.
694 Hall, Henry
775
Brown, Barker.
353
Ellison, William J.
839
Hall, William S.
859
Brown, Daniel, Jr
681
Elstun, Freeman.
356
Hamilton, James L 380
Brown, James W
680
Elstun, George B
356 Harton, Joseph 358
Brown, Nicholas
501
Elwell, H. H.
856
Havens, George H.
706
Buell, Dewitt C.
681
English, Andrew B 375
Havens, William.
705
Bundy, William.
561
English, William 507
Headley, Eliza J 842
Caldwell, George T 682
Ertel, Charles. 858
Heaton, Joseph. 433
Caldwell, Harvey 411
Ertel, Philip.
857
Helm, Jefferson. 709
Cald well, James H. 682
Farlow, Joseph M
357
Henby, William B. 574
Caldwell, James M
410
Farlow, Reuben J 3.56 Henderson, J. F 481
Campbell, George W 68z Ferree, John W 357
Hendricks, Isaac 862
Carney, H. S. 428 Feudner, Jacob
694 | Henley, Albert 584
500
Drake, F.
566 Hackleman, P. A. 701
Brooks, Mahlon.
540
Earnest, John B.
567
Hall, Festus 573
Bussel, James
769
English, John A. 840 Hawkins, George W 542
Blount, Jacob B
678
Collins, Eli B.
502
Frazee, Ephraim S. 430
Arnold, John. 674
vii
INDEX.
PAGE,
Henley, Charles 577
King, William L
716 Morris, Theodore 417
Henley, Henry. 576
Kiplinger, B. F. 417
Morris, William 785
Henley, Henry M 580 Kiplinger, George T. 416
Moses, Jolin F 728
Henley, Hiram H. 584 Kiplinger, Harriet 715 Mull, Cyrus 847
Henley, Joseph 575
Kirkpatrick, John W 415
Mull, Frederick. 850*
Henley, Owen S
579
Kirkpatrick, William 415
Mull, Henry C. 729.
Henley, R. Edgar
583
Kirkwood, David W 598
Mull, William 849
Henley, Robert. 578
Kiser, James
781
Mull, William D 849
Henley, Thomas W 577
Lakin, James S.
716
Mullen, Cyrus F 730
Henley, William. 583
Laughlin, Harmony
718
Murphy, James.
440
Henley, William J 711
Langhlin, William B. 718 Murphy, Jesse 786 .
Hildreth, James M. 712
Lee, William H
51I
Myers, John S. 441
Hill, Aaron O 594
Lefforge, Ephraim.
4.36 Nelson, Thomas B.
515
Hill, Allen
595
Lefforge, Isaac.
544
Newby, Thomas T
604
Hill, Amos.
591
Legg, George W
866
Newhouse, Lewis J
418.
Hill, Benjamin
592
Leisure, George W
512
Newkirk, Thomas J 731
Hill, Isaac
590
Lightfoot, A. C.
866
Newsom, Allen W 605
Hill, John R.
593
Logan, James W
Newsom, Luke
60€;
Hill, Micajah.
588
Hill, Milton
590
Logan, Thomas.
846
Nixon, Charles O 731
Hill, Miriam
587
Looney, John W.
782
Nolan, Michael. 732
Hill, Miriam E.
594
Lord, Jonathan L.
385
Norris, Benjamin F 442
11ill, Nathan C.
589
Loudenback, Daniel B.
601
Ochiltree, Thomas M 733
Hill, Owen S.
593
Lower, John W.
720
Offutt, Mary H 516
Hill, Samuel B.
862
Lyons, Charles H
385
Offutt, Rhoda M 517
Hill, Thomas.
586
McCarty, Jacob F
602 Orme, Henry 734
Hilligoss, Sylvester
843
McCarty, John H
603
Osborn, Theodore 736
Hinchman, Allen
777
McDuffie, Mary
514
Osborne, John H 735
Hinchman, James.
775
McFarlan, B. L.
484
Owen, Joseph 486
Hinchman, Robert N
778
Mckee, Charles H.
439
Parker, Olney T 609
Hite, William N
543
McMichael, William J
514
Parker, Priscilla 608
Holloway, David S.
595
McMillen, John T
782
Parker, Theodore F 380
Hollowell, Datus E
863
Machlan, Benjamin
483
Parker, William 360
Ilolman, Joseph
434 544
Macy, John B.
720
Pavey, Absalom. 737
Humes, John C.
434 382
Manlove, George W 871
Perkins, Jehu
738
Hndelson, Robert 2
381
Marlow, Alphonso B 548
Phelps, Henry C. 610
Hunt, Abijah W
435
Mauzy, William H.
782
Phillips, Richard H 518
Hurst, St. Clair.
Maze, William
873
Pitts, Samuel C. 611
Hutchinson, Robert
507
Meek, John T.
359
Plough, John. 738
Inlow, John J.
843
Megee, John D.
723 Plough, Joseph 551
Ivins, John. 864 864
865 596
Miller, Charles S
549
Powell, Homer 422
Jessup, Samuel H.
597
Miller, Hamilton 439
Powell, John M. 422
Jones, George S
845
Miller, Harrison
724
Power, John H. 739
Jones, Thomas A.
846 Miller, Josiah.
847
Power, Richard M 361
Jones, William A.
713
Miller, Thomas
724
Power, William S. 360
Julian, William 358
Mitchell, Thomas V
440
Price, Elihu 519
Junken, Edward A 508 Moffett, John.
727 Price, George W 520
Keisling, George L. 359
Moffitt, Thomas W 785
Price, John F 520
Kemp, Walter L 714 Moore, Joshna. 603 Priest, David F 740.
Kennedy, Archibald M .. 714 Morris, Aaron H 386 |Prill, H. F
487
Hume, George
712
Manlove, David. 868
Peck, John F
389
Hudelson, Benj. F
380 Maple, James 872
Martin, John W. 386
Phelps, Jesse L. 610
Ilunt, Libni
596 843
Meredith, William S. 723
Porter, John. 421
Jackson, B. F
Miles, R. S.
874
Porter, Phebe 612
Jackson, John
Miller, Abram.
515 Poston, Quincy 443
Jeffries, James G.
777
McGinnis, Loyd W
485
Herkless, John B. 573
McMahan, S. W
722
Parker, Philip D 388
Hilligoss, Elias T. 481
McCarty, John
601 Orwin, W. S
734
Overman, Joseph 607
Hinchman, John T.
Machlan, William. 483
Parsons, James L. 736
Holmes, James M
Patton, Samuel R. 550
Madden, Thomas 721
Perry, Robert W 442
lludelson, John M
Lewark, M. V. B
719
Newlin, Stanley C. 441
Hill, Jesse 885
547
Nipp, John 606
Logan, Samuel H
436
PAGE. PAGE.
viii
INDEX.
PAGE.
Publow, Joseph F.
613 Smith, Jetson W
363 Wallace, William E 757
Pugh, William A
741 Smith, Joel F
362 Walsh, John A.
758
Puntenney, George H
741 Sohn, John
522 Wanee, John .. 875
l'usey, Caleb W
614 Somerville, William
363 Weavinger, John H. W .. 394
Rea, David D
874 Sonther, John F
393 Webb, Isaac 758
Redenbaugh, Philip. 487 Spann, Jesse J
752 Weeks, Nathan. 759
Rees, John .. 786 Spritz, Charles S.
753 Welliver, James E 760
Reeve, George W.
443 Springer, William
489 Werking, Samuel 876
Reeves, William F
390 Spurgeon, Joseph
364 White, Albert 623
Retherford, Levi R
742 Spurrier, John A
753 White, Alfred P
445
Rhodes, Abraham.
391 Stamm, J. H. G.
444 White, Edgar T
624
Rhodes, Albert
392 Stewart, James W
552
White, Jonathan S 788
Rhodes, Bazil
444 Stewart, Simeon H
754
Whiteman, William 368
Rhodes, Henry
391 Stewart, William A.
553 Wikoff, Garrett 787
787
Ricketts, William
361 Stowhig, Daniel O
393
Wilson, James
416
Righter, Oliver W
615 Study, John W
754 Wilson, John J
423
Rigsbee, Martin
521 Swain, Alfred
755
Wilson, William H
446
Rowe, George W
362 Tevis, A. D
490
Willey, E. A
493
Ruby, Jacob.
616 Thomas, Daniel L 756
Winship, Albert L 764
Scott, John H
552 Thomas, George W 850 Winship, Amos.
368
Selby, C. M.
489 Thomas, Samuel C.
367 Winship, Benjamin F 368
Selby, James H
488 Thomas, William
364 Winship, Jesse T.
763
Sexton, H. G ..
742 Thornburg, Thomas
619
Winship, Joseph S.
554
Sexton, John C
748 Todd, Andrew J
394
Winship, Lewis E 760
Sexton, Leonidas
746 Tomes, Joseph
853 Winship, Orlando
625
Sexton, Marshall
746 Trees, Cyrus
854
Wolfe, Joel
764
Sharp, William
362 Trees, James \
853 Wright, Harvey
395
Shauck, John L.
749 Trueblood, Edwin P.
621 |Wright, Jonathan G
494
Shawhan, Daniel P
749 Vickery, A. B.
875
Wright, Thomas 396
Shields, Bennett
423 Waggoner, Aris
493
Wyatt, George C. 765
Siler, Jesse H
616 Waggoner, William A.
499 Young, Edward
766
Simms, Michael M.
750 Walker, John.
621 Young, George W
767
Small, Zachariah T. 522 Walker, John W
622 Young, Lewis 495
Smith, Benjamin L
751 Walker, William L.
623 Zion, John Q-
626
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
PAGE
PAGE.
Anderson, J. W
689 Hall, William S., facing .. 860
Miller, Harrison, facing . 716
Arnold, John
275 Hill, Samuel B 707
Moffett, John.
725
Bitner, John
671 Hinchman, Robert N 779
Mull, Cyrus 635
Blount, Jacob B
509 Holloway, D. S
473
Murphy, Jesse.
797
Brown, Barker
365 Hndelson, John M.
383
Newby, Thomas T 617
Clark, George C
257 Hudelson, R. A., facing .
385
Norris, B. F SI5
Clark, John M 563 Humes, John C ..
743
Ochiltree, Thomas M
653
Conner, B. L., facing
536 Jackson, William
293 Power, William S 833
Elwell, H. H
419 Kennedy, A. M.
3II Sexton, Leonidas, facing- 245
Ertel, Charles
761 Lightfoot, A. C
869 Trees, James W 347
Frazee, Benjamin
527 Logan, J. W
545
Walker, William L
581
Gwynne, G. J. T. O'B .-. 599 McFarlan, B. L 49I Wilson, James .. 437
Hackleman, P. A. Frontispiece, McMillan, John T
Hall, Frank J 401 Miller, Charles S 851
329, Young, Edward
455
Rhodes, William F
392 Stinger, Logan
619
WVikoff, Garrett D
PAGE.[
PAGE
HISTORY OF INDIANA:
FORMER OCCUPANTS.
PREHISTORIC RACES.
Scientists have ascribed to the Mound Builders varied origins, and though their divergence of opinion may for a time seem ineom- patible with a thorough investigation of the subjeet, and tend to a confusion of ideas, no doubt whatever ean exist as to the compar- ative accuracy of conelusions arrived at by some of them. Like the vexed question of the Pillar Towers of Ireland, it has caused mueh speculation, and elieited the opinions of so many learned antiquarians, ethnologists and travelers, that it will not be found beyond the range of possibility to make deductions that may suffice to solve the problem who were the prehistorie settlers of America. To achieve this it will not be necessary to go beyond the period over which Scripture history extends, or to indulge in those airy flights of imagination so sadly identified with occasional writers of even the Christian school, and all the accepted literary exponents of modern paganism.
That this continent is co-existent with the world of the ancients cannot be questioned. Every investigation, instituted under the auspiees of modern civilization, confirms the fact and leaves no channel open through which the skeptie ean escape the thorough refutation of his opinions. China, with its numerous living testi- monials of antiquity, with its ancient, though limited literature and its Babelish superstitions, claims a continuous history from antediluvian times; but although its continuity may be denied with every just reason, there is nothing to prevent the transmission of a hieroglyphie record of its history prior to 1656 anno mundi, sinee many traces of its early settlement survived the Deluge, and became sacred objeets of the first historical epoch. This very sur- vival of a record, such as that of which the Chinese boast, is not at varianee with the designs of a God who made and ruled the universe; but that an antediluvian people inhabited this continent,
I
18
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
will not be claimed; because it is not probable, though it may be possible, that a settlement in a land which may be considered a portion of the Asiatic continent, was effected by the immediate followers of the first progenitors of the human race. Therefore, on entering the study of the ancient people who raised these tumn- lus monuments over large tracts of the country, it will be just sufficient to wander back to that time when the flood-gates of heaven were swung open to hurl destruction on a wicked world; and in doing so the inquiry must be based on legendary, or rather upon many circumstantial evidences; for, so far as written narra- tive extends, there is nothing to show that a movement of people too far east resulted in a Western settlement.
THE FIRST IMMIGRATION.
The first and most probable sources in which the origin of the Builders must be sought, are those countries lying along the east- ern coast of Asia, which doubtless at that time stretched far beyond its present limits, and presented a continuons shore from Lopatka to Point Cambodia, holding a population comparatively civilized, and all professing some elementary form of the Boodhism of later days. Those peoples, like the Chinese of the present, were bound to live at home, and probably observed that law until after the con- fusion of languages and the dispersion of the builders of Babel in 1757, A. M .; but subsequently, within the following century, the old Mongolians, like the new, crossed the great ocean in the very paths taken by the present representatives of the race, arrived on the same shores, which now extend a very questionable hospitality to them, and entered at once upon the colonization of the country south and east, while the Caucasian race engaged in a similar move- ment of exploration and colonization over what may be justly termed the western extension of Asia, and both peoples growing stalwart under the change, attained a moral and physical eminence to which they never could lay claim under the tropical sun which shed its beams npon the cradle of the human race.
That mysterious people who, like the Brahmins of to-day, wor- shiped some transitory deity, and in after years, evidently embraced the idealization of Boodhism, as preached in Mongolia early in the 35th century of the world, together with acquiring the learning of the Confucian and Pythagorean schools of the same period, spread all over the land, and in their numcrons settlements erected these raths, or mounds, and sacrificial altars whereon they received their
19
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
periodical visiting gods, surrendered their bodies to natural absorp- tion or annihilation, and watched for the return of some transmi- grated soul, the while adoring the universe, which with all beings they believed would be eternally existent. They possessed religious orders corresponding in external show at least with the Essenes or Theraputæ of the pre-Christian and Christian epochs, and to the reformed Theraputæ or monks of the present. Every memento of their coming and their stay which has descended to us is an evi- dence of their civilized condition. The free copper found within the tumuli; the open veins of the Superior and Iron Mountain copper-mines, with all the modus operandi of ancient mining, such as ladders, levers, chisels, and hammer-heads, discovered by the French explorers of the Northwest and the Mississippi, are conclu- sive proofs that those prehistoric people were highly civilized, and that many flourishing colonies were spread throughout the Missis- sippi valley, while yet the mammoth, the mastodon, and a hundred other animals, now only known by their gigantic fossil remains, guarded the eastern shore of the continent as it were against sup- posed invasions of the Tower Builders who went west from Babel; while yet the beautiful isles of the Antilles formed an integral portion of this continent, long years before the European Northman dreamed of setting forth to the discovery of Greenland and the northern isles, and certainly at a time when all that portion of America north of latitude 45° was an ice-incumbered waste.
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