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WARRICK
AND ITS
PROMINENT PEOPLE.
A History of Warrick County, Indiana, from the time of its organ- ization and settlement, with Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent People of the past and present
A
-
A
EDITED BY
WILL FORTUNE.
1881.
THENEXT
530104
TILO HIJNO 1 R 1 11
.
TO THE PATRONS, Whose aid has encouraged the prosecution of this work, THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED.
PUBLISHED BY THE COURIER COMPANY, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.
) 1
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL PART.
PAGE
Anderson township. 18
Boonville 21
Boon township 18
County Courts
43
Campbell township. 18
Company E, 120th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 49
Company E, 65th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 67
Company I, 25th Regiment Indiana Volunteers 51
Company I, 53d Regiment Indiana Volunteers. 53
Company K, 42d Regiment Indiana Volunteers 64
Company H, 25th Regiment Indiana Volunteers
69
Darlington.
Early Enterprises 39
Folsomville 37
Greer Township 19
Hart Township
19
Lane Township.
19
Lynnville
37
Millersburgh
36
Newburgh
31
Ohio Township
20
Owen Township
20
Primitive Inhabitants, Incidents of.
9
Pigeon Township.
20
Selvin 38
Skelton Township. 20
Warrick County, Organization and Settlement of. . . 14
Warrick County, Topography, Soil and Products of. 7
Yankeetown.
38
Contents-Continued.
BIOGRAPHICAL PART.
PAGE
Barker. Dr W. L
107
Boon, Ratliff
71
Bone. W. H.
149
Cabbage, James W
146
Cockrum, John B
151
Downs, T. J.
105
Gordner, Charles, Sr
131
Handy, Judge John B.
95
Hart, T. B.
123
Hargrave, W. J
124
Husk, Mrs. M. J.
143
Keegan, C. J., M. D.
135
Kelley, Commodore.
148
Lane, Gen. Joseph.
72
Matthewson, Dr. R. C. 82
Masters, G. L ... 115
Moore, Judge J. W. B 109
McVey, W H., M. D. 152
Oatley, C. L .. 97
Perigo, Ezekiel
80
Phelps, A. M 88
Perigo, Robert.
114
Parke, Charles, M. D
139
Reynolds, John A
144
Scales, William
86
Seitz, Jacob. 100
Swint, William. 101
Swint, Katie A.
103
Scales, Hansel M
128
Scales, W. B., M. D.
132
Schreiber, Gustavus.
133
Schneider, Charles, Sr
136
Taylor, John L ..
137
Tyner, S. L., M. D.
129
Whittinghill, William S.
153
Youngblood, I. E. 141
Youngblood, Rev. John W 119
125
Fuller. Benoni S.
Contents-Continued.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES.
PAGE
Bates, Bela N
155
Campbell, James W 155
Cook, Frederick. 156
Davis, William R.
156
Dial, John C .. 157
Dickey, F. J., M. D
158
Eckstein," Leonard. 158
Ewen, George, M. D
159
Fuller, William W.
160
Graham, Robert M. 160
Heim,"Constantine. 161
Heim, Adolph W 162
Jones, "T. B., M. D. 163
McCoy,"Joseph S., M. D. 164
Moore, R. D. O. 164
Patterson, F. W 165
Pelzer, F. W 166
Tilman, J. R., M D. 167
Wilde, G. O. E 167
Whittinghill, W. Scott.
168
PORTRAITS.
Cabbage. James W 146
Downs, Thomas J 125
Hart, T. B. . 123
Husk, Mrs., M. J
143
Masters, George L.
115
Oatley. C. L.
97
Parke, Charles, M. D
139
Phelps, A M 88
Seitz, Jacob.
100
Swint, William 101
Swint, Katie A. 103
APPENDIX.
County Superintendent's Report for 1880 172
Directory of Patrons. 174
Population of Warrick County 171
Sheriffs of Warrick County.
169
Table of Distances. 173
Treasurer . of Warrick County 170
PREFACE,
No history extant is free from errors. They are generally the result either of indifference on the part of those acquainted with the facts or the lack of information of the historian. This volume is doubtless one with many faults ; but it is offered to the patrons as the best that could be produced under the numerous disadvantages besetting its prosecution, and without entailing an unjustifiable expense upon the publisher. Care has been taken to make the historical part of the work correct, and, although it is doubtless incomplete, it is of extraor- dinary length and detail for a work of its character.
The biographical part is chiefly a record of living men. These are represented from all classes, professional, business and agricultural. To write the biography of a living person is a work of appalling deli- cacy. Speak well of him and his enemies call it servile flat- tery. Speak ill of him and his friends call it the grossest injustice. Thus, it is impossible for the biographer to escape censure from one of the two sources. The different biographical subjects of this work are not unlike all mankind. They all have faults, but it is not our proz- ince to hold those faults up to the public gaze for the gratification of a certain class that delight in the depreciation of their fellow-men. The sole endeavor has been to do the subjects justice as near as possible in the short space allotted. If the biographical part is incomplete, the fault can not be justly attributed to the editor. Trusting that the work will be given a just consideration and that it may be of some value or interest to the posterity of the prominent people of Warrick county of the present it is submitted to the public.
WILL FORTUNE.
Boonville, Indiana, 1881.
TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS OF WARRICK COUNTY
Warrick county is situated in the southwestern part of Indiana, and is bounded on the east by Little Pigeon creek and Spencer county, on the west by Vanderburgh, on the north by Pike and Gibson, on the south by the Ohio river. Its area is about 388 square miles, or 248,320 acres This land is valued at about $3,000,000, and the improvements on it nearly $7,000,000.
The surface of the country is mostly rolling or undulating, although there is a range of hills along the northern boundary. Along the course of Pigeon, Cypress and other streams with which the country is watered, are large tracts of flat, wet land. The soil of the bottoms, many of which are large, is very rich, and corn is cultivated on it with marked success. Most of the upland is perfectly arable and of good quality, annually yield- ing bountiful crops In the northern portion of the county is a fertile fruit-growing soil, though the farmers of that section have not given the cultivation of it much attention, producing only enough for home use Their neglect of this product is attributed mainly to the present finaccessi- bility to the markets, but if the railroad projects now pending are carried into effect, this disadvantage will be obviated. In the southern part of the county corn, wheat and hay are the staple products. The annual yields are large, for which the Ohio river affords convenient access to the markets Principally in the central part, but to a more or less extent over the entire county, tobacco is the chief product. The soil is peculiarly adapted to its cultivation, and it is a remunerative commodity. More to- bacco is raised in this county than any other in the State, and the yield some years has been as high as eight million pounds. The farmers mostly sell their tobacco to the tobacco establishments in Boonville, where it is stemmed and packed previous to its shipment to the eastern markets. To do this new a large number of people of both sexes and all ages are employ- ed from six to nine months in the year, many of whom depend wholly upon it for a livelihood From the sale of his tobacco the farmer realizes from one to ten cents per pound, according to quality ; the shipper from fifteen to twenty cents ; the manufacturer, who pays a duty of seventy-five cents per pound, from $1.20 to $1 40, and the retail dealer from $1.75 to $2.00.
viii
Topography, Soil and Productions of Warrick County.
Cattle and sheep raising can be followed with impunnity, and is, though not extensively. Those who have engaged in it generally find it the most remunerative investment of capital and labor.
A seam of good coal underlies all of Warrick county to a more or less extent, which can be reached by shafts of moderate depth It belongs to the class of bituminous coals, and possesses valuable properties as a fuel, both for manufacturing and domestic purposes. It kindles very readily and produces a strong heat. Experiment has demonstrated its high value as a steam-producing fuel. The low price at which this coal is sold and the almost inexhaustible supply, together with numerous other induce- ments, renders this a desirable place for the location of manufactories. Warrick county's greatest wealth lies in her coal fields. In the language of Col. Mullberry Sellers, " There's millions in it." At present the only place in the county where coal is mined to any great extent is at New- burgh, where, on an average, about 3,000 bushels are produced daily. Smaller mines are located at Boonville, Chandler, Millersburgh and other places in the county, but their shipments, compared with those of the Newburgh dealers, are not large.
During the past few years several mineral springs have been discovered in this county, and a thorough analysis and test of their waters has shown them to possess medicinal properties that are highly salubrious. These springs have become quite popular as summer resorts, and are annually visited by large numbers of people seeking health and rest.
Geologists deem it quite probable that both salt and oil can be found in large quantities along the meanderings of Cypress and other small creeks in this section. In 1814 several men commenced digging salt wells near Cypress creek, about three miles from the river, but owing to the lack of proper facilities for the prosecution of the enterprise it was abandoned. It is also asserted that another party, after going to the depth of 349 feet, near the mouth of Cypress creek, in quest of oil, came to water which was highly impregnated with salt.
In short, Warrick county is rich in its mineral possessions and the fer- tility of its soil, and holds out excellent inducements to both capital and labor.
INCIDENTS OF THE PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS.
WARRICK COUNTY SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO-INDIAN VILLAGE- AN INDIAN TRADITION-CHIEF SETTEEDOWN-MURDER OF ATHE MEEKS-CAPTURE AND MURDER OF THE SHAWNEE INDIAN- REMOVAL OF INDIANS FROM SOUTHERN INDIANA.
Less than seventy-five years ago the territory which now com- prises Warrick county was a dense forest, and the only inhabi- tants were Indians and wild animals. The land which is now dotted over with peaceful and happy homes was then but a boundless field of trees, with here and there only a little path, beaten by wild animals, wending its way through the thick forest to some small stream or watering place. This whole section of country was then a wilderness, in which the red man reigned supreme, and his wild game was doubtless often chased through what are now the streets of the capitol of Warrick coun- ty. Seventy-five years ago the rays of civilization had not pene- trated our forest and the advent of the white man was in the fut- ure.
Scattered along the banks of the Ohio river and in the inte- rior of what is now Warrick county were the rustic, artless wig- wams of savages. These Indians were principally Shawnees. The abundance of game in this section of country made it a fa- vorite home with the Indians. Situated near the mouth of Cy- press creek, on the banks of the Ohio river, was an Indian vil- lage, which, for many miles surrounding, was their central point. This village numbered about one hundred wigwams, but it disap- peared soon after the settlement of white men and very little is known regarding it.
10
Warrick and its Prominent People.
Other localities in Warrick also bear indubitable evidences of having at some time been the abiding place of the aborigines. It is evident that the southwestern part of the county was at one time a haunt of the race known as Mound Builders. In the neighborhood of Newburgh, skeletons, with tomahawks, pipes, and such personal property as was customarily interred with the dead bodies of Indians, have been exhumed.
Among some people there was a fancy prevalent several years ago that much of the wealth of the Indians was secreted near the river in the neighborhood of the mouth of Cypress creek, which attained verisimilitude through a circumstance occurring at the time. A representative of the Shawnee Indians visited Warrick county in quest of gold and silver, which, according to an Indian tradition, had been buried by their ancestors near Cypress creek. The place described was found, but the efforts to find the hidden treasure were unsuccessful. The story created a little excitement at the time and obtained credence among the more credulous class of people, but the matter still remains a mystery.
The Indians that inhabited this section of country were gener- ally friendly and peaceable. While they had a few disturbances, the only white man known to have been murdered by them in this county was a farmer named Athe Meeks
Meeks was an old man and lived near where the iron bridge now crosses Pigeon creek. On the banks of the creek a short distance below stood an Indian wigwam, in which Setteedown, Chief of the Shawnee Indians, lived with his squaw and only son.
Setteedown was a middle-aged man, of large frame, and he possessed great muscular strength. Like most savages, he pre- ferred to live in solitude, and had erected his wigwam remote from the village of his tribe. However, he is said to have been of a sociable disposition at times, always treating his pale-faced
11
Incidents of the Primitive Inhabitants.
friends kindly and often participating in their amusements. If a shooting match was given, Setteedown was sure to be present, and as a participant he displayed remarkable skill. It is said he was very wealthy, and at the time of the settlement of the white men he owned a large herd of cattle and horses, and an exten- sive farm, the eastern boundary of which was along what is now Second street in Boonville.
Setteedown's neighbor, Athe Meeks, was an honest old man, who supported a large family by farming, fishing and hunting. The white man regarded the indolent savage as a nuisance, and the Indian looked upon the white man as a trespasser. The two grew to disliking each other. Meeks was accused of molesting Setteedown's traps and nets. Meeks' pigs would disappear and Setteedown was charged with stealing them. Thus the hatred became bitter and the Indian plotted vengeance on his enemy. * Early one morning in 1811 several of Setteedown's war- riors, armed with rifles, stealthily crept to the skirts of the woods surrounding Meeks' house. While making preparations to attack the house one of the Indians met in the woods, Athe Meeks, Jr., a strong, athletic son of the senior Athe. Fearing he would give the alarm and thus thwart their purpose, the Indian at- tacked him with his tomahawk and endeavored to kill him. In the encounter young Meeks succeeded in throwing his antagonist to the ground and making his escape, although his arm had been bro- ken and badly mutilated while endeavoring to defend himself from the blows of the savage's tomahawk. Hastening on to the house the Indians were now determined to finish their bloody work. An unusual disturbance among the swine was heard and Meeks hastily dressed and started to learn the cause, but as he
*There have been various stories told regarding this tragedy, but we have adopted the version of Gen. James C. Veatch principally, believing it to be the most reliable. His information was all obtained from parti- cipants in the tragedy.
12
Warrick and its Prominent People.
stepped out of his door he was shot through the brain. With a frightful yell the Indians made a rush for the body of the dead man for the purpose of scalping him, but Mrs. Meeks succeeded in getting it in the house before they reached it. The report of the rifle had aroused William, the eldest son of Meeks, who lived near by, and he now came to the rescue of his mother.
The Indians fled and young Meeks followed them, killing one of the number, who was carried a short distance by his comrades and then deposited in a hollow tree, where he was found several weeks afterwards. The young man, who was dressed only in
his " night clothes," without hat or boots, started with all speed he possessed to the nearest settlement, to spread the news of his father's murder and procure assistance in capturing the hostile Indians. Almost completely exhausted he reached French Island, on the Ohio river, ten miles distant. Sam Perkins, the com- mander of a keel-boat managed by seventeen men, was at the Island when Meeks arrived with the news of the murder. Per- kins called his men together, told them about the outrage and urged all to go at once in pursuit of the Indians. The men all promptly volunteered, a few farmers joined them, and Captain Young, a farmer who lived near by, was made their command- er. Eight hours or more having elapsed from the time of the murder before it was possible for the men to start in search of the Indians the latter had sufficient time to get safely beyond the reach of their pursuers. When the men arrived at the Indian camp it had been deserted, and Setteedown and his followers were many miles away. However, a party of armed men secret- ed themselves in the ambush surrounding the deserted camp to watch for the return of any of the Indians. At nightfall an In- dian, who had been out hunting for two or three days, returned to the camp. He was not aware of what had been done in his absence and upon beholding the lonely and deserted camp he
13
Incidents of the Primitive Inhabitants.
·stood motionless with astonishment for a moment. Stooping over the dying embers of the camp-fire he stirred the ashes with a stick for the purpose of learning about how long his band had been gone. As he arose he heard the clicking of rifles around him and found himself a prisoner. He was placed under guard in a log cabin, near where Grandview now stands, to await the time for a preliminary trial. The settlers began gathering around the cabin at night, and William Meeks was noticed among the number. The Indian suspected his fate and he determined to die bravely. He sang the Indian song of death preparatory to his journey to the "happy hunting ground." As he took his last look at the setting-sun, he said, "Indian see no more suns; In -. dian die to-night." When the sun rose the next day he was a corpse- Sometime during the night a rifle had been thrust through one of the cracks in the log cabin and a bullet was sent through the heart of the innocent savage, whose life was the penalty of his band's crime. There are various stories as to the manner and by whom this Indian was murdered. At the time it was generally believed he was killed by William Meeks, but it is also asserted that a man named Thomas Ewing committed the deed. Further, it is claimed by a descendant of Bailey Anderson that while the guards were absent getting water the Indian was bled to death by Anderson ; that it was a family secret, which he has known since 1846.
After this tragedy the Indians soon disappeared entirely from this section of country. It is believed that Setteedown and his band joined the forces of old Tecumseh and the Prophet, and they were doubtless participants in the war of 1812. From our forests the Indian has passed almost to extinction, but he has left among us the strange monuments and exciting traditions of a barbaric race, which will perpetuate his memory. His restless disposition cannot conform to the customs of civilized man.
The wilderness is his home And there he will roam.
ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT OF WAR- RICK COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION OF WARRICK COUNTY-CAPTAIN JACOB WARRICK, IN HONOR OF WHOM THE COUNTY WAS NAMED-REDUCTION OF TERRITORY-REMOVAL OF CAPITOL FROM EVANSVILLE TO DAR- LINGTON-FIRST CENSUS ENUMERATION-REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION-FIRST COUNTY AND STATE ELECTION-ORGANIZATION OF VANDERBURGH AND SPENCER COUNTIES-FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The rise and decline of Warrick county follow in quick suc- cession. Scarcely had it risen as the pioneer county of Indiana Territory ere the decline of its dominions was marked by the or. ganization of a county on the east, one on the west, and so on, reducing its territory on all sides, until Warrick, with its present limits, only remained.
At the session of the Territorial Legislature of Indiana in 1813 a law was enacted " organizing the county Warrick." The lim- its of this county, as described in the bill, were, " All that terri- tory which lies south of a line commencing at a point on the Wa- bash river at the southwest corner of Gibson county, and run- ning east to the western line of Harrison county, thence south to the Ohio river." This included all the territory which now comprises the counties of Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spen- cer, Perry, and a portion of Crawford. Evansville, which was then a mere village, was made the county seat.
The county was named in honor of Captain Jacob Warrick, who was killed in the memorable battle at Tippecanoe. Little is known regarding the life of Warrick, except that he was one of the heroes at Tippecanoe, where he distinguished himself by his
15
Organization and Settlement of Warrick County.
bravery, as an illustration of which we quote from an account of the battle, in Dillon's History of Indiana, the following : " War- rick was shot immediately through the body. Being taken to the surgery to be dressed, as soon as it was over (being a man of great bodily vigor and able to walk) he insisted on going back to head his company, although it was evident he had but a few hours to live."
The county, as organized under the act of 1813 embraced too much territory, and as the population increased the geo- graphical greatness of Warrick was reduced. In 1814 the Leg- islature passed an act creating out of its territory the county of Posey on the west, and Perry on the east. This limited Warrick to what are now Vanderburgh, Warrick and Spencer counties. The capitol was located at Darlington, then a promising settle- ment near the Ohio river, four miles above Newburgh.
On December 4, 1815, the first census of Warrick county was forwarded to the House of Representatives of the Territory of Indiana. The population was enumerated : "White males over 21 years of age, 285; total, 1,415."
As the population was large enough the citizens of Indiana Territory were now clamoring for its admission to the Union as a State, and a memorial was prepared and forwarded to Jon- athan Jennings, who was Indiana's delegate in Congress, pray- ing that the boundaries might be fixed and the Territory admit- ed to the Union as a State. Mr. Jennings presented the mem- orial and had no difficulty in getting a bill passed in conformity with its requests. In compliance with this law an election was held on the 13th day of May, 1816, and the people of Warrick county chose Daniel Grass to represent them in the constitution- al convention which convened at Corydon on the 10th of June following, for the purpose of framing a constitution for the new State. The residence of Mr. Grass was in what is now Grass
16
Warrick and its Prominent People.
township (named in honor of him), Spencer county. He was distinguished in the convention as an active and valuable mem- ber, and was on three of the most important committees.
On the first Monday in August, 1816, occurred the first coun- ty and State election under the new form of government. This election resulted in Daniel Grass being elected State Senator from the counties of Posey, Perry and Warrick. Ratliff Boon was elected Representative from Warrick in the State Legisla- ture. This was the debut of Ratliff Boon in public life. It was marked by no gushes of oratory, but by sound judgment and honest policy. He was afterwards elected to various offices of honor, among them that of Representative in Congress for sever- al terms and Lieutenant-Governor of the State.
In 1818 the Legislature of Indiana passed a bill organizing the counties of Vanderburgh on the west, and Spencer on the east, of Warrick, thus reducing the latter to its present limits. How- ever, Warrick still remains one of the largest counties in the State.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first white man said to have settled in Warrick county was John Sprinkle, a native of Pennsylvania, who founded the town of Sprinklesburg, which was superseded by Newburgh. Mr. Sprinkle removed from his native State to Henderson coun- ty, Kentucky, in the year 1772, where he lived until 1803, when he removed to where Newburgh now stands, and settled with a large family of children. During his residence in Kentucky he had received the title of Major of the State Militia, and was a man of honor and high social standing in his community. He died in 1821. Felty Hay and James Lynn also settled in this vicinity shortly after Mr. Sprinkle.
Early in the year 1805 a man with the homely appearance of the pioneer arrived at the mouth of Cypress creek on the Ohio
I7
Organization and Settlement of Warrick County.
river. His entire baggage consisted of an axe, gun, and sup- ply of ammunition : limited, though useful. This man was Bailey Anderson, the first among prominent settlers of what now com- prises Warrick county. The surroundings pleased him and here he determined to make his home. He selected a place near the mouth of Cypress creek as a suitable site, and commenced the erection of a log cabin. At this time the country was very sparcely settled. There were intervals of miles between the lit- tle homes of the pioneers, and Bailey Anderson's cabin was far from those of his neighbors. The hardships of pioneer life were many and to the rising generation appear incredible. It is told of Bailey Anderson that while building his cabin, he lodged at night in a tree, which long afterwards was known as " Bailey's Roost." This novel couch was made by fastening pieces of timber across two substantial branches of the tree, and over it were spread the skins of wild animals to make it comfortable, and it was thus that Bailey Anderson is said to have first sought repose in his pioneer home.
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