USA > Indiana > Wabash County > Atlas of Wabash County Indiana. > Part 2
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Upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, many of the French, having taken the oath of allegiance to the British gor- eroment at the close of the French and English war, were very instrumental in inciting the various tribes with whom they had" intercoarse to wage s border warfare nguinst the unprotected frontier of the American colonies. The Minmis were among the had never loved any too well, but during the Intter part of the eight years' struggle, and for several years afterwards. during General Washington's administration, they were exceedingly hostile. At successive periods, they defeuted expeduions sent against them onder Harmer and St. Clair, and only yielded finutty : to the superior intrepidity and perseverauce of that noted Indian fighter, General Anthony Wayne. A treaty of peace was con- cluded between them and the United States authorities, at Green- ville, in August, 1795, at which time Le Gris wes grent chief of the nation, which they maintained in good fuith from that time ontil after the breaking out of the wor of 1812.
Following the example of many of the surrounding tribes at that time, a part of them again started on the wur-path, und were After the close of the war with England, in 1913, terms of peace were ratified with the Indians at a general treaty held in the their existence as a tribe, the Mianus maintained the most peace- ful relations with the whites. During the Blackhawk wur of 1832, they remnined their liem friends. agalo most severely punished for so doing. Many of them still remained friendly to the United States, Int a Inege poction had . rivinity of Detroit; and from that period until the termination of joined in open hostilities in connection with the warlike Shawnces noder Tecumseh, and the Kickapoos and Pottawattomies. They had refused to attend a conneil at l'ignn, Ohio, although informed that their fuilure to do so would be considered as evidence of their By the provisions of forty-four different trenties, which, between the beginning of the year 1795 and the rlose of 1840, had been entered into with the Mismi nution in its several divisions, and the various other tribes within its territory, this title to ull lands lying within the boundaries of the State of Indiona had been extinguished, and they agreed to move to separate districts of country lying beyond the Mississippi River, There were, however, u few individual reserves nude, some of which are still veenpied by them. having withdrawn from the protection of the United States. The position uf their villages on the Mi-sissinewa udfordre them excel- leot opportunities of furnishing aid to others alrendy in the field, or of waging a destructive warfare oguinst the unprotected horder settlements, and their destruction wus accordingly resolved opon by General Harrison, in November, 1412. The duty of carry- ing out this design devolved upon Lieutenant-Colmel John B Campbell, who was furnished with a detachment of six hundred mounted wen and the usual small company of spies and guides. 4 Owing to anavoidahle delays, the expedition did not march from Greenville until the 14th of December, when they set out for their destination, eighty miles distant.
They were ander special orders to sare, if possible, a number of the Miamis, who were known to be friendly to the whites; umong them Richardville, a half-Frenchman, the second chief of the Miamis, Pecou, the principal chief, aud' Captuin Chorley, tue prin- eipal of the Eel River tribes of Mimiais.
The troops suffered many hardships and much privation or, the route, caused by the extreme severity of the weather, and the Datore of the rond over which they were obliged to travel. On the 17th of December they reached nadiscovered an Indian town on the north bank of the Mississinewa, at the month of Josina Creek in this county ; which they de-troyer, killing eight warriors and taking forty-two prisoners, including women and children. Three other villages, situatel Jower down, were fired, and the troops then returned and went into catap, on the site of the village first burned. Here they were attacked before daylight on the follow- my morning by a large party of Indians, preceded by and rerum- panied with a most hidrons yell. Col. Campbell way bolling a consultation with his field officers nt the time, na to who .her they would be warranted in advancing further into the enemy's country in their present rendition, the men heute greatly fatigued, und many of them frost-bitteu, and their horse- suffering from turk ot sufficient furage. The +ud len attack be kr op the council, and left the question wondered; every man running to his prest. During the engugenrent, wtrh laved about an hour, the Ameri- cand Und right killed and forty-two wounded, many of whum after- ward. dad, owing to the exposure and exter me inclanthey of the Wealles Among the killed was the gulfent Lieutenant Wany in where wetory Waltz Township was noted. One hundred and seven bor-m were killed in the battle, and their lony, any's thi: [non- manding offerr, " I have no daghet saved the; tives of a great mate) Dern. The belianes, whose force numbered about three hundred Bett cutbydlelely ruated Filtern deud were found myun tier bell, and it i explained that an equal number were carried away drud ut mortally wounded. Little Thunder, a nephew uf the prent
Mumaj chief Little Tartle, was the most Pensjondos Indian who took part in the engagement, mol desingnshed homeif by his effort- In mypure luis followers with cumrage and contblende.
After the battle est the Misspostenwas most of the hustle portion of the Vami teste godned the British at Detrant, ale a few moved to Una anh the Ih lavares, and witled nuder the protee- tion of the l'uited SUHrs,
Chi Đe evacuation and burning of |1, troit by the Br sich in 1813, al the appreach of tien. Harrison, a number of the Miamis, tind- ing themselves deserted by their British alles, and in ream-t here of great desssanthon, were indneed to ste far yparv. An armosdier Was entered into nt Detroit, un the 11th of October, IsEst, the Terms of which granted n cessation of hostilities until forther artiun round be taken on the part of the government
Ahunt one thousand Miamis, seven hundred of a hon were somen and children, ussetulded at Fort Wayne in the following JJunoury. in an almost starving condition. The Pottawatbernies, in con- sideralde unathere and extreme destitutim, soon fudowrd The warriors were supplied with sufficient ammunition for their hunting parties, and halt-rations of meat nud four, while the women and children were furnished with a small allowance of provisions regu- luriy.
In July. 1&1%, a treaty was held at Greenville, known as the Secondl Treaty of Greenville, at which conditions of perantent peace were established. - hi this freuty, one Captain Charley, whose memory is perpetuated in the name of Charley Creek, and in the Charley Addition to the town of Wabash, rendered bnoself partie. ularty conspicuous; being, with one exception, the only one who was upwilling to accept the terms of peuce nuless tiwy were sich as to allow the Miumis to remain neutral in the war with the Eng- lish. The terms of peace offered were Qually neveuted by his tribe ; but not by him, and a large number of his warriors set unt
From this time until the close of the war, the Mimmis lived on professed terms of peace with the United States, Occasional incursions were made by scattered bands composed of fragments . of different tribes, in which settlers were often murdered, and horses frequently stolen, and these atrocities were in their turo offset by the occasional order of some peucecable Indian by an outraged ranger. Aets of this unture seblom met with dne punish- went according to the forms of law, and the really guilty parties generally escaped unharmed. Such was border life in the times of peace.
During the latter yenes of their occupancy their tribes had grown smuller, nød the guruc, which was their main dependence for sub- sintence, had fast disappeared from a land which was beginning to echo to the ringing axe of the frontiersmag. The territory cedeil at each successive treaty narrowed the limits of their huming grounds; the tide of eastern emigration pouring in to fill up the THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL, ETC. country as soon as it was open to settlement. The treaty of 1826, whirti was helt on ground now within the limits of Walrish | was made during the spring of 1834, but preliminary surveys
City, opeard to settlers the eastern part of this county south of the Wabash River, and oll land lying between the Wahash and Eel nivers. The Miamis were still to ocenpy the territory sunth of the: Wabash, nud east of n line drawn south from the month of the Salamonie, and the Pottawattomies that north of Eel River. This constituted a part of the " "Thirty Mile Reserve," as it wax called. In November, 1938, that was sold to the United States, and in Norember, 1840, the Inst treaty way held, by which nl remaining lands, except a few individant reserves, which are still occupied by thein, were ceded to the United States, to bu varated ufier tive yrary thmne, when they were to be removed to heger handing granule beyond the Mississippi, In 181. the last choose of the Inst treaty was carried into effect, and they were removed, with their families and ull their possessjous, In a country where they were no longer to trimble them, and the forests which had >iltered their ancestors for nges leurard to know them no more, Thus were spattered and separated the last remnants of the unee powerful Minun Nation
that remains of the onee jumerfut triler. Their prior. . r and their errors, their maistoriques nud their sives, which s .army from the bad mrn of the white rare, shall rhine to 1. geh unahated power to degrade and destroy Their mir .is ure ragedly decreasing year by year, and thus, with the Ingles . rivas- zation leaning around them, the last fragments of the of powerful aboriginal nations of North America nie pas .2 may From the earth forever,
OBSTACLES TO SETTLEMENT.
Thongh in 1930 the Indian title had alreply been extin. gruished to a large portion of the land in this tourt of he liana. and Though the few Indians still memminmy were quarefuths distmoved, there was little to indure or attract settlement of immigration. The Gre of the country wa- clothes with a primeval forest, untenanted, save by the roaming lus ao, the prowling bear, the nimble derr, and the hungry wo .?. whose loud ery resanded through the lonely fastnesses, omy to die away with no response hnt its own cehoev.
In this will state, the country was scarcely adapted for the abode of civilized man, and offered to those who might work a henne in its wilds a lifetime of toil and privation. cspsrally if they, abandoning the gun and the chase, songht to chain a living from the pursuits of agriculture. More than tine, it was remote f'nin other settlements and difficult of acces -. there hung no way to reach it save by a long and ardnon- britney through a trackless wilderness, which had little to ffer to cheer the adventurous cinigrant on his lourly way. Sofie found their way hither by following the waters of the Ohio at 1 the Wabash, but this way of reaching it was extremely lions. working up stream and constantly meeting with ohstars'- that made their journey often the occasion of many har ishite. Not only must they take with them their houseloll govjs and wearing apparel, but food and provisions as well, for nothing could he raised until a clearing was made; and often it was the second year before a family couldl raise enough to suhsist apon. During the summer season the cattle and hor -- were left to shift for theioselves, finding such grazing as they could in the woods. In the winter they subsisted mainly by browsing on the tops and branches of trees cut down while cleaning the land.
Notwithstanding the many obstacles which made th's then remote region practically as far away as Alaska now is, a few adventurous spirits had pushed their way hither, but their numbers were few and scattered. toany of them coming only that they might be beyond the borders of civilization.
But the spirit of progress which has ever character zed the present century, would not suffer this goodly land ever to re- main a desolation and a waste, and being neither on the great lakes nor on a navigabile stream, means were taken to mike .t more easy of nevess. The inauguration of the grand ~vstelo of public works in the State of New York was quitily fol- lowed by works of little less magnitude in the State of Ithio.
Then was the project conceived to unite the waters of the Mannice and the Wabash, and thug, by the construction of a Davigalde canal, toake a line of continuous water coro:genica- tion from the Ohio River to the lakes that won't ren les the settlement and development of the country possible.
On the completion of this work then, we may say, was this regioo first prepared to become the home of a busy and thriving people.
The final loration of the route of this important publie work had been made three or four years previously. Among the engineers employed in the location and construction of the canal were Jesse L. Williams, of Fort Wayne, John Roche. of Huntington, and Stearns Fisher, of Wabash, all of whom are now living.
On the 4th of May, 1834, contrarts for the construction of the canal herenbants were struck off at a public letting i . i.t. the " Treaty Grounds," and the week of clearing and er viing was soon begun and pushed rapidly forward. A large naher of laborery were brought in, mostly Irish, aml though ges. tally jurarahle and industrious, yet they were so remate frum "'in re- straints of settied communities that at times it was ditfient: to keep them from deeds of vudlrner.
Below the Treaty gromals, the laborers were Protestants of Orangemen ; up about Lagro they were d'atholies, The anti- pitby between these two factions is always great, and at one time the spirit of controversy rau so high that a geyerat night was indument. This was no idle seriam wo or chance encanter . of a few meeting by arrident, though these were of he queut terarrence, but the respective Portions left their work ing inedy, I aiming thetuselves not only with ases, sjefes, and club ., hnt Ruby and jostolv as well. A general battle casue.1, in which it is stated that a number lost their lives, the engagement Cung i Idare near lungro.
In glanring back ward over the history of this strange and nafur- tunale fonede through the period of now more than two hundred Vrata, we are a long and mourafal picture of ignorance, wiljer-ti- Linn, injustice, war, and barbarity, rontded with the men . de lansing intemperance. They were men of piely and zeal, who succes sively entering the field of missionary Inhors, rudravored to establish bluenig thrin tier foundations of civilization, and the ferrerfitx of Christianity, But these photos hopequinta were few in midler, with I war, and troupes were sent from Fort Wayne for that portare. bat on imperfeet kugstedze of the Miami linguage, without sehenda and withent lesmers, often placing their lives in jeopardy, and in rote instattt'es filling the virtimy of anvage videnre At the prisent duy a few mmnull, mixed, ond miserable handy constante all
The ramal authorities took Afn msoux measures to a in the The Indians, too, tendered their services, and could har ly to Pr-Iramed Trinn wagugg an indiscriminate war upon the la'anis, Some of the ringleaders in the muftneak were jomished; Frit, a4 by the exertions of the caun! authorities init of the tar , were
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last to take up the tomahusk in the cause of the British, when they | with General Cass for Detroit, in the following August, leaving their wives and children at Greenville, to be supported at the expense of the government.
induced to resttter their work. it was ditlleult to find out the guilty ones, and nothing was done to the majority, ouly to rx- det promises of future good Imbaver.
In these days the " right hour league" was unknown. The Ishwervers winked for the greater part of the year "from sun to son." Their wages arr stated to have been from eleven to sixteen dollars jur month and boril.
Towns Built .- Tire pressure n' this large luniy of mien gave a powerful ingetus to building up many of the lonne along thy line of the work. Under this mitluence bagro and Wabash Wweame considerable villages, with varied business interests This prosperity was shared by those who had opened up clear- ings and had raised ereje of rer, potatoes, or other prixduets. all of which commauled fabulous prices,
The Completion of tho Canal was at length an assurent fact so pear at hand that it was deemed best. in honor of' no event so auspicions and fraught with so much of moment to the future of the country, to celebrate the oression with filling core- monies and general rejoicing, aml in order to make it more sigui- ficant, the time chosen was Independence Day, July 4th, 1837.
In the programme it was arranged that the canal boat " In- diana," Capt. Pana Columbia, should have the post of honor by being the first to navigate the canal. but. for some reason, a small boat called the " Prairie Hen," Capt. Wil! Dale, arrived in Wabash a few rods in advance. A large party from Huntington and other points came down on the " Imlinna." and a general celebration was held at the Treaty Grounds. ending off jo a grand hall in the little rouin over Col. Hanna's store, in the evening.
Navigation was sooo nferieril opened to l'eru, and in a few years' time boats passei thtongh the whole length of the raual, thus making a highway of no little importaree.
The County Formed .- Although at that time probably less thna fifty persons, all told, constituted the winte population of Wabash County, politienl importance was anon to be given them, and "An Act to define and establish the boundaries of Wabash and Miami Counties" was passed by the Legislature. and approved January Sitb. 1833. This act supply defined the boundaries of the contemplated countirs, and for several years a forge part of the present conoty remained attached to Huntington County for judicial purposes, Wabash County contains 432 sections, or about 426 square miles.
Organization .- The "Act organizing the County of Wabash" was approved January 22, 1935, and took effect March 1. It 1 other offices were stored here, and were mostly destroyed, none of them, however, being of great value.
named Giles Smith of Grant County, Daniel Worth of lian- : large quantity of old papers which baud accumulated in the
dolph County, Jesse Carter of Clinton County. Bartholomew Applegate of Johnson County, and Thomas Watson of Tippe- canoe County as commissioners to locate the conuty-sent.
Said Commissioners inet at the house of David Barr at the Teratr grounds on the third Monday of May. 1835, and after uxumiving differ- ent locations, selected Wabash as the permascot seut of justice for thie counts.
Al the first election held in this counly after ils organization, Iinn. Jackson and Dan. Ballanger were elected associate Judges of Walmuch Circuit Court. Col. Wm. Steel was elected Clerk of the Cunrt. Sterns Fisher, Alpheus Blackman, and Levi Burr were elected County Commissioners. Josiah 1., Wines was elected shenif. W'm. JJohn :65 was acting Sher.IT by appointment from the Governor. On the 11th day of June. 1335, the officers elect met at the house of Daynl Burr at the Treaty grounds for the purpose of taking and administering the outh of office prescribed by law. But, before procenthog to business they adjourned to the house of W'm. Steele in the town of Wabash, where the ouths of office were administered and the proper bonds Inken. On the 15th of June. 3835, the Board of Commissioners met at the honse of David Borr, and Sterne F'isher was appointed l'resident of said Board. nod it was ancucoced by the sheriff that the Bourd was regularly organized and ready for business. It then adjourned to the house nf A. Blackman in Wabash, where it held a sergino of two and a half diye, when the business of the Board was completed and then ndjourned.
Col. Gogh Bienna was appointed by this Board as Treasorer of the county, and Isaac Thomas wne nppe nied ugent : Isaac Fowler was appointed assessor, and immediately entered upon huis duties, and breessed the county jo eleven and one-half days, nod received twenty. three dollars for his services.
From an extract from one of the first enteries inndle in their Journal (1. 14), it will be seen that they " meent business." for they ordered) that " the public square in the town of Wabash And all public streets around and adjoining said square be cleared off in the following manmer: first, In be well grubben. and all the timber both standing and lying to be cleared off except the soil-timber aml fre woort. Some Heat xhuile irres will be excepded to Hugh Hanna, agent of raid hond, in the execution of the above work."
The First Financial Report .- January, 1836. Hugh Hanna. : county Treasurer, ruhmits his report of rercijas and expand :-. tures as follows: receipts, $9962; expenditures, $36.08, leaving a balance of almart $7 in the tropsuty.
There is nothing fila: having money ahead, but au the board HAW fit to allow Mr. Hanna $1) for his services, the presump tion is that citber the county (or Mr. Janua) was $4 short.
The Wahach Circuit D'ours Inet for the Gort time at the house of David Borr on the fuerth Monday 124th of August, 1835. I've -out Hun, Augustus A hverta. Judyr of Thehth doda sal Pare mit : alas Tun. Isun. Jis koun nod Hon Dan Haljunger. Assorintr Anders; Sam C. Samjde Fog. Prov ning Atturay, Wo. siel, Clerk and Win Jakorok "heraf. After rolling the tillit they adjonthird tu che hutter of Ately w Murphy in the town of Wabash, na fut munter 37. Choriy W t.wmz. H. U. Fample, 'Frame Jedan. .. W. Weight, med Was L. Conpodes wore ednatied to practise an uHurueye in This raust.
The first panel of grand jurors were f'henan Curry, pol. M. Scmans, !
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY .- GENERAL ..
. Ezekiel t'as. Ira Burr Sylvanus Melone, Malon Pearson. Ancsh Har- Toth, JJyr. S Mi C'hure, Theemas Ina, dae. B, l'as- att, und Anthans 11. K, Her of the n gular pam! The sheriff now filled the potet biom the Yowier, und B. W. Laswery. Irnac Thomas was apquanied breman and tico Flerrin. baituf
The first panel of junit jorurs were Jahn Harter, Daniel tirant, Win. Beal, Rode. Hurly, Jonas Kalakan, Madison Sweeter, John Solomon, John I'ly, Shadreck Lawson, duuns Parter, Prier Mills Dan. Beal Andrew Murphy, Isane fowler, Martin Wright, John Simoug- Henry Shappen. ERihn Guerres, Alex. Meth Hand, Ideas Maigan, Levi Lerally, dowl Grant, Wm. Williams, nud Benj. Kaynr.
The first marriage license issued by the clerk after the organization of the county, was lo Edward Tirmey and Mary Hannah, on the tush day of June. 1:33, who were married on the same day by the Rev. Simon P'. fatamier, a C'athohe pras1.
"The first seed recorded in the ruumis after us organization was a ron- verance of the northeast quarter of Section No. 1. Township Na 29. north of range 7 east. hon Sautuel Wiley aud wir to AAmhew Wilson, und recorded July 4. le.i.t.
Licenses .- Whether the Commissioners had an interest in the manntheinre of brass time-pivees, whether they lind a spite against peripatetic horologists, and feared the eflirt of a gene- ral distribution of their wares, or whether they were simply ! netuated by a natural and bonlable desire In increase the conuty teventes, is not the purpose of the present work lo 1 explain, but shuply to record the lart that in March, ISii, the atore anl Board ordered, "that no person be allowed to vend wooden clucks unless he first pay a license of ten dollars."
'This practice of raising money by special liceuse was applied to various occupations amt callings, such as keeping tavern, selling ury guoils, groceries, or liquors, the present system ut' | raising money by taxes levied on property listed by appraisers snit assessors being of more recent date,
County Buildings .- In' 1839, a court-house was built upon the sonth part of the public square by Hugh Hanna. It was a two-story structure, of a square form, terminating in a central spire.
Some years afterward, a row of one-story brick offices, in- tended to be tire-proof, were erected, ami have been used up to the present time by the Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer, and Clerk. They are small and ill-adapted for their use.
The court-house proper, which was a hame building, ras destroyed by fire April 17th, 1871. At this time the upper story was used for a court-room, the sheriff and surveyor being the outy officers occupying rooms in the building
The county bought n Presbyterian church opposite the public square. al now nse it for the purpose of holding courts, etc. A log jail was built in 1835 ; it was afterwards destruyed by fire, the present jail being built in 1853.
New Court House .- The time will soon arrive when the cree- tion of a suitable court-house, witu convenient accomanda- tions for the proper dispatch of public business, cannot be lunger delayed without injury to the best interests of the county.
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