USA > Indiana > Wabash County > Atlas of Wabash County Indiana. > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
It is to be hoped that when the new structure is planted, while avoiding merely useless expense and superfluous orna- mentation on the one hand, and false ideas of economy on the other, those in authority may design such a building as will well serve every legitimate nse and reflect credit ou them- selves and on the county at large.
Travelling by Water .- In the year 1846. a daily line of pocket boats was established on the canal from Lafayette to Toledo, by Messrs. Doyle and Dickey, of Dayton, Ohio.
This is said to have been the first regular publie conveyance estalwished in the conoty, as nu account can be found of any regular lines of stage coaches.
These packets were fitted up expressly for passenger traffic. Sleeping apartments and dining accommodations were pro- vided on board, and as the motion of the boat was steady and 6month, making the then thought extremely rapid rate of eighty toiles in the twenty-four hours, it was supposed by many that perfection in the way of travelling had been reached.
Superior ns were these facilities over any previously afforded, the time soon came when the packet hoat had to give place to more potent rivals in lastning time and space, and upon the opening of the rational, the packet boat became a thing of the
For some years past, the canal itself has been getting out of repair, and is now well nigh useless for the purposes of navigation.
Telegraph .- The invention of Morse, now so perfiet ny to rinder communication between different nations separated by wwir orcan+ n matter ncenpying but a few scentals of tea-, was then bring unule uer of, and in 1819, a line of telegraph was established in the Wabash Valky, following the route of the canal.
LOST FOR A LIFETIME.
The story of Slocum, the white woman, liny bren celebrated hoth in detin uri history, amit from the hurt that the later yiry of her life were spent within the lionty of this county, the record of ter eventful experience bremnes of more than onlinary interest to the readers of this book,
Sume thirty years ago, John Quincy Adams attracted con aderablo
mention in Congress by a strong sper, h in favor of a bill intradgred of the Jand then occupied by the Moon Jadies, cobras of the hunter und onprovrments of P'raher. She um, should Iw grants d'in fer to her und her heus forever. The toll bre uur a law, ondt she occujord this special reserve aatd her death in the spring of ISIi.
The lu-tary of this woman wer remarkable, shr was the denchter of a Quater, who lived in the Wyirning Valley during the Revolution. Several months after the massacre of 175, she was caught up by a Fourty uf marinding Pelaaware Indians, who gut of before any attempt could be made to Hens ler she was five years old at that time Audit a mouth later, her father was shot dead by the Inadims while at work in n Geht wear his himse. Knowing that he was gone ta lux steroal rest, the wplow, in time, became reeamesled in her hne-s, hot ske would never forget her child, the fast sight of which way when she was lier pare Et to come to her lucla.
The sons of Mra. Sucom brrame prosperons business in, nud after the clone of the Revolution they used every efort to receiver their lust sister. In 1781, two of rhem viated Niagara, where a large number of Indians were guthered, made diligent inquiries, and offered liberal re- wards for any information of her. They proseruled the search for several weeks, and returned home with the impression that she was
The mother, however, could not he persuaded that such was the ense. and four years later the Slogmms spent several months in the We .. among the Indian agents and traders, publicly offering S500 to any one who would give uny authentic information of the death of their sister. but their sureess was no better than before. A similar expedition was undertaken in 1797 by four of the brothers, with the same result, As in the loss case, the search brought numbers of stulen children to light, In none was the one partienlarly wanted.
Mrs. Sloenmi never lost faith in her daughter's existence. She he- heved she was somewhere waiting to be clasped in her arms, and she continued the search with searerly any mlermis-ton wotil lan7, when she died, her childtren promising her to use every effort to learn what bad become of the little one alelueted nearly thirty years before. They faithfully carried out this jderige, and in 1 egi unde a long nod expensive jinirnry to Upper Sandusky to ser a woman who, there was no reason to hope, was the one for whom they were searching. Disappointed aquin, they finally came to the concluyou that Frances was dead, and the search ended.
In the month of January. 1835, Col. George W. Ewing, A gentleman connected with the paldie service among the Indians, and aldo to speak several of thetr languages, was benighted near an Indian tuwu kuown ns the Deaf Man's Village, on a branch of the Wabash. De applied for lodging, and was hospoahly received at a respectable dwelling. lle was fatigued and unwell, and after cating lay down opon sume skins 15 The corner. The houseboli consisted of n venerable woman and a number of children, all of whom treated ber with the greatest deference, and who departed to their own rooms.
As U'ol. Ewing lay upon his pallet he watched the old lady moving shout, and noticed particularly the color of her skin and hair. The result of the scrutiny convinced him that she was a white woman, nad he opened a conversation with her. She admitted that his suspicions were correct. She sarl that ali was stolen by the Indians when a vers small child, and she had corefully concealed that fact from those of her owa race whom she met, for fear that her relatives would coinc and tuke her away. She was now so oll that she felt she could not live mach louger, sad if any of her friends were living she would be gind to see them. la short. she was Frances Slocum, and she remembered distinctly the name of her father, though her own giveo oumo was forgotten
C'ol. Ewing was so impressed with her narrative that he addressed a Joug Jetter, giving the particulars, to the postmaster at Lancaster, Pa. Hle had never benrd of the Sinenins, hnt he jnoged from certain answers made by the old luly that her home was somewhere in thut State.
The letter reached its destination, but when the postmaster come to rend it he concluded it a hoax, and fung it aside among some wasto papers, where it lay for two years. At the call of that time the post- master died and his wirlow. in overhauling his effects, came upon Col. Ewing's letter. She had never heard the name of >incum, bat thinking there was sometlung in it, she sent the missive to the Lancuster Intelli- genrer, a copy of which, containing the letter, fell into the hands of Rev. Sumael Bowman, who was ininnately nequamted with the Sincuin family, and be mailed a paper to her brother, who lived in Wilkes- barre.
"The reception of the letter threw the whole community into excite- inout, there being not a particle of duuht as to the identity of Franers. As two years had passed since the letter was written, and as it slated that the old lady at that time was under n premonition of death. an inquiry was addressed to Col. Ewing by John d. Slocum, the nephew af I'rances. A prompt reply, dated at logansport, came to brand saying that the old Indly was still'nhve, and would he glad to see them. The letter contained aminute directions ns to the course they were to take to reach her. Arrangements werr nt onee made to do so. Mr. Istic Slocum and Mrs. Wary Town, brother and sister of Fraores, resided 10 Ohio, but not in the same urighb rhond. Joseph sloenm, of Wilkes- barre, another brother, started in huis entriage, laling his sister, whatu Jeane wrut in advance, it Fring agreed that they should mest at Drar Var's Village, Tanie reached the jare ahead of the others, and ac- empatied by an interpreter, made a call upon the lady, why rrecived them plra antly, hat evidently with anypiemen The brother fiind her to all appearances a perfect Indien, but be last fixed in his ound an on- erring test of her identity. Previous to being carried away. fifty-ne yrars before. her brother Ehrhezer hau era-hed the forefinger uf her fett hand with a hammer. Taking hold ut her hand om) rampr it. ho raw the d: - ligureon nt. " What canard that?" he asked. " My brother etruck it with a hammer a long time ago, ' was the answer,
lle n tained some time in conversation, but the winun det nat erem nl ense, oud he returned to the vilinge af Porn lo aw.al. Ihn arriva! uf his brother and water. When they "amt, The three made them another virit. She treated them with the same kindness as Infore, mit was Piment und wienoord, and when she saw trare in these eyes and every Indi. ptson of a roing " we go" she looked naything tunt ph ard. Tho valy time , he aluiw. d nay signs of emotion was when she was shed her Toky features suddenly he ap, and she molded her land. .. Ve . jos. l'reges, fragen " The visit was prolonged for reverd! days and some months later was repeated, some of the mireen und sophew's joumuy the
Ou the de when little Franees was capitand fifty-mne years before. she was carr al capally through the words ; a mat Irht was made tes- the Sense Haver. In the todos of spring she was taken to Samovar. where she stad antil autumnu, when her Ist. su friends fiing.I to Viseur .. where you livela jear. In a cardauer with the nomadle balai, if ?. .. pr yele. her ! amy was continually changed. Her greatest drend was ef trong di cus red lo ber relatives and teken ia as, and there is the dott that when the wests aucher nis banting up and down the endto the more than oper came w.tlum hadet her bete hill, who carefully avoon J her. It was tertunastr Iln'y lever Het.
Emcees had Inun married to a Miami, he whom she had four chiffrea. SEr was wealthy, and held in the taghest vrieration or ber Write aod seemed to form omite Jo achment for her brothers, whn, of r .. e. w.re uld m.n. aud she offered ikem half uur land at they would Ivo rear her. they In inin jordsid ber lo juen them inzile : vast, hint she Basked them and declared. She was an lash is everything overpt tworth, and each she loved and hed Her death took place in last.
Another instance of a similar nature, which came within the limits of this county also, was that of a daughter of Noes Thorp, of Lafayette. She was stolen when a chuid, during the war of Iste, and grew up among the lundifans, finally marrying a Miami known as " Captain Dixon," who lived wear Ashland. With him she lived very nahappily until a few years ago, when she put an end to her life by drowning herself in the Missis- sinema.
MURDER OF EDWARD BOYLE AND THE FRENCH FAMILY.
The history of Wabash County is in the main a peaceful one. Since the battle of the Mis-issenewa, fought so near its bor- ders, and killing so many of its dusky inhabitants, it has lyeu remote from the scenes of war and bloodshed, and yet ils his- tory would not be complete without pitting in an account of a deed of Woody violence, muparalleled in the annals of the Wabash Valley.
On the north side of the river, near by down to the quiet ham- let now known as Rich Valley or Keller's Station, there lived, in the year 1854. a quiet inoffensive man named Aaron French.
Hle owned no land, but "s matted' on Keller's farm. In the summer season he worked at such odd jobs a- the neighborhood affanlei, chopping, ligging, amil clearing and otherwise helping the farmers, Ile was willing and rendy enongh, bat from a lack of ambition to go far in search of employment, and generat lack of thrift rather than from any positive halnts of idleness. was ofteo unable to provide his family with the rere saries of life, especially during the winter season, when he aud his family of a wife and five children were often so destitute that the neighi- bors had to contribute to supply them with fou.l.
Here they had lived for several years, subsisting in this land to month way, occupying a little enlin hy themselves, when there appears on the scene a man and his wite, of whom we will have occasion to sprak hereafter.
This worthy couple, Buthard by name, took np their quar -. ters with the French family, who were giad enough to adl to their scanty means by sheltering another fam.ly ouder their bumble roof.
foor French not only suffered from poverty, but sickness was ulded to his afflictions, audl be often for a long tune lay :...
In October, 1854, he was sick in this way, and some of the neighbors called to see him. among them was stearns Fisher, and afterwards James Lewis, who came on Saturday evening, October ftb. The invalid told Mr. Lewis a story of his wies, that he almost dlesputired of a recovery nale's he could get to a healthier climate, and that if he could raise some money by selling off what little property he Lad he wouldl try ann get away. On his way home Mr. Lewis pomtered over French's statement, and thought it would be a kindhe-+ to the family. and to a certain extent a relief to the neighborhood to assist him in getting off.
-
A morning or two afterwarils be started to see French. and buy bim out, and thus afford hho the necessary incans to get away with.
Approaching the cabin he encountered the Hubbard couple bearings tub of slope between them, and Mrs. Hubbard at ance spoke up nud said " They're all gone," ard that they were clear- ing up after thr in.
Lewis asked tham how it happened. They told him that French's brother. from mar Cinemasati. had come then in the night, bringing news of his father's death in lowa, ami ti at he bad left them fare, and wished them to go there and have.
The brother had arrived at Peru on the corning train, had cone directly there, and loaded the family into a wagent he had brought for the purpose, nivel started back to l'ore again in the night, so as to ir able to make the early morning train, tis at That time huit two trains a day were run, om in each diner- tion.
Hubbard informed Lewis that he had brought all their things, and of being askedl løy French could irave when he was so wick, saut that the brother had gerry lam brandy, und hat him dancing na the Hour overjoyed at the product of baring.
There were various cinemastat.ces makde: Hubbari'- story a postavilde cone, and Mr. Jest and saleque inquirer. were easily satisfied. No investigation was mak . and the disappear one of French gave rise to but little or no comment.
Husband Med in the enbm, umusturbed by alt, until the spring of 1995, when developments lagen to be made which must have disturbed his equanimity.
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY .- GENERAL.
At this time a party of young men from Wabash went down the canal for the purpose uf lishine The oder was partially Brawn out of the canal that it m :_ the repared. In drawing their semne, they discovered the dead Proudly of'n minn, which had vvis utly been put thete during the winter previous. P'he hnuly bore marks of violence, as havm ; heen liten with a club ar siune on the back part of the head. The arm was also severely bruised and cut in an apparent effort at self-protection.
Coroner David Squires and Constable James Wilsons were sent for, and an inquest hihi. No one appeared who eund identify the dead bang of the stranger, and a description of the body lwing made out, the corpse was buried between the cama! and river.
During these years. 1431 nul 1-55, the Toleilo, Wabash, aml Western Railroad was being constructed. and a large faree of men hud been employed along the line, and the inquiry wrut around In ascertain who might be missing from among this larry floating population.
At this time A. C. Gardner, one of the contractors on the raitrval, and Dr. E. B. Thomas (now of La Grot said that the description given corresponded to that of one Edward Boyle. who had disappeared some months previons.
The grave was opened, and in the presence of Clark Howr. Mason 1. Thomas, and others, water was carriedl from the river, the face of the corpse was washed, and they identilled the dead body as that of Edward! Boyle.
l'p to the fall prevtons this man Boyle had worked on the raulroad, and had boanled with the other handy along the line. In the summer he had been takea very sick, and was attended by Dr. Thomas. At one time his life was despaired of, and he sen: for the priest and gave into his charge some four or live hundred dollars in silver and gold coin, aml directed bien what to do with it in the event of his death. Urou bis recovery. the money was returned to him. Hobiard prevailed on him to go and board with him, and he took las baggage np there mit shortly afterward disajgwmed. This man Boyle hal no family or intimate friends near, so that Hubhard's explanation that he irul gone into the neighborhood of' Lafayette to teach : school was credible, as Boyle wasn man of some literary attain- ments. But the timing of the body of the murdered man in the canal put a different face upon the matter, and deputy- ; sheriff Thomas, constshie Tyler. aml others, went to Hubbard's calin to question him further ahout Boyle's disappearance, having a suspicion that he mich: know more of the affair than he lind previously toll. Arriving there, and listening to the conflicting stories told by Hubbard anl his wife, who were both at the time under the influence of liquor, the party be- eswc satisfied that their suspicions were well founded, and without waitlay for the formality of a warrant, arrested Hub- Istdl aud his son and brought them to Wabash to appear before Jestive .Inines.
Hubbard conducted his own defence, pleading earnestly and ably for his release, and, indeed, at this time there was bn: little positive evnienre of huis guilt. He was put under bonds of $500, failing to procure which he was remailed to jail to ewait hus trial.
Meanwhile. the officers were on the alert l'or further evidence, and talonted. among other expedients, the pinn of secreting themselves so that they could listen to the c movers: tions which took place between Hubimid and his wife when she came to visit him. Arriving at enimgh facts to justify them in the be- lief that he was the murderer, and that Mrs. Hubbard was in possession of the money taken from Edward Boyle, con-table James Wilson and deputy-sherif Mason Thoma-, went to the Anhliard eshin to search for the treasure supposed to be con- cealeri there, and in quest of more positive proof of his quilt. stopping at the " Stone Cut." on the rmiroad, they borrowedl a pick and went on. Before they got to the cabin they mnet con- s'alle M. H. Morgan, who told them that he ad Isane Keller bad just been in the enbin, entering it hy raising a win low, and had noticed a very bad siall about the house.
Mrs. Hubbard was away from home, and Messrs Wilson and Thomas broke their way into the house by pulling out the xinjde which hebl the padlock. Upon raising the floor, and beginning to rlig. it was not long before they encountered the dead body of a child about eighteen months of age. Sending for the coroner, the search was contu. ued until the horriide fate of the Freuch firmly was no longer a matter of doubt.
There lay in one common grave, under the tourof the cabin, with an light n covering of earth over them that the stench wondd soou beenme intolerable, the Int wad remains of jian Aaron French, his wife, and their five chillien. Some of the family had cvplently tu-en mutsvied while aberp, but Mra. I'rench whoweil signs of giving battle and fighting natil thu last.
Over this sickening mass of corruption, with harcly c'htren incity of earth to cover them. Robbant and his wife had ferit for strany months, wearing the clothes of the mieleved faisaly, ning their household others, and with him on the buller ble of the tour, all model that retribution was sure to come.
The greatr catme overseelowel tie forany one, and they Hubbard was and ated at the August form of the Circuit Court, and the Hon, Jeha U. Petthe way nesgued to defend the pri- sainted by Mesers. Wilson and Cox. A play of out guilty wny entered, and a jury was impanelled amd sworn, the uan.es
of the jurors bemg, Jonathan Copeland, Samuel Stewart, A. 1 W. Grant, Heachas Quick. Jonathan Wersner, Elias Parrot, Hours Melher-om Buoch Jackson, L. B. Mu-rhman, R. U. Arnall. Jesse Jackson, nust John Adams
The defeuer way ally conducted. but the testimony being overwhelming, a verdiet of guilty was brought in, and he was senteneed to be hung on the Hth day of December, Isah,
Efforts of comised to get a new tnal or change of wine prov- ing fruitless, the execution took place on the appointed day. Though nominally intended to be a private me, it was practi- cally pubhe, thousands of people fucking to the court-linse square to withh >> it, aml thus the soul of Julm Hubbard wont put into the unknown land. a victim of the extreme penalty of the law. A plaster east of his hend and shoulder, is preserved hry Dr. James Ford, and >how, the likeness of a man who was canalde of making an honorable record in Ine.
The body of Dubhard was duly buried, but it is said was son afterwards disinterred "in the interest of science," am! that it was discovered he lind carried several hullets in his body for many years. How he gut these wounds, or what other ernes be committed, will doubtless ever remain n mys- tery.
In the case of his wife, a change of venue was obtained, und she was tried in Grant County, Judge Pettit enatineting her defence. She was found guilty, and sentenced to penitentiary for life. where she still remains.
Thus emty the history of the greatest tragedy ever committed in the lhoits of the county.
PIONEER JUSTICE.
An incident may be warrated to show how justice was ad- ministered in those early days, the story being told by Stearns Fisher, a prominent actor at that period.
In 1834 David Burr kept a tavern for the accommodation of travellers; this was at the " Treaty Grounds" in Wabash. A vagrant coming along, he set him at work about the tavern. waiting on the table and making himself generally useful. Doubtless the salary attached to the performance of the many and ardnous duties demanded of him was a small one, and we can scarcely blame him for seching to Gill biy purse in nay laudable way. But travellers have rights, and so thought Mr. Mills, a guest at the hostelry of Mr. Burr, when he awuke one morning to find his purse. containing some forty dollars, bad been stolen from him during the night.
Suspicion fell upon the man as being the thief. Whether the missing money was found upon him, or what other farts or train of evidence led to the conclusion, is not stated; but the landlord and his guest beenme satisfied of the man's guilt. Remote as they were from the machinery of courts, together with the reluctance of the guest to take the time necessary to prosecute, they came to the conclusion to administer the pun- ishiuent then and there.
Tying his hands to an elevated railing used to hutch horses to, Thirr went to the woods to get some " guls" or " switches" amil returned, intending to give the man a terrible lashing.
Dy this Ume others had gathered !; Stearns Fisher, and the Indian, Al-lo !ah. Better counsels prevailed, and instead of intheting the smuumary nud unlawful punishment they had in- temled, it was dlechled to let the law take its course, and Al- lo-lah was engaged to take the man to Huntington, which was the lucation of the nearest magistrale.
Al-le-Ish was a wohle-looking spechnen of a warrior, tall and finely fuimed. He was faultlessly attired in the Indian co-mine, lind luty riffe in his hand, and tomahawk and scalping- hinte in his belt. The man was an Irishmnou, a race of men not parcienbirly noted for any love for their red brethren ; and Bijon being untied fram the rail, trembling's obeyed Al-lo-lah when he pointed in the direction of Huntington and told him to - in." Thus the culprit took up his march, Al-le-lah fu !- luwing close at his herls and watching his every motion with the wily sagacity of a savage. Mills followed after on horse- back, aml arriving at Huntington a magistrate was found aml the offender behl to trial. Next day the trio proerwird to Marion, in the same erder as before, Al-to-lah taking goodl ear- of hits prisoner, giving him no opportunity to escape. Arriving at Marion, they found court in session, and the man way at Once put upon his trial, convicted mint sentenced, and on the following day was on his way to Jeffersonville l'enitentiary under charge of the regular officers of the law.
THE LEGEND OF SILVER CREEK.
This stream, passing through the northeast part of' Falgan Township, derives ity name from an incident of horder titres, which, vanously related, is substantialiy as follows :-
Many years ago a party of officials who were on their way to the " payment gronads" which were located at the forks of the Wabash wear the present town of Hunting on, had in their charge a large stin of money tu he ted on paying off' the Indians, under the terms of various trvale's, and who nt stat. . 1 porninda nawetahled at this place to receive the mogry due them. A» the party journeyed om, they kept a dlose guard over their meggiey, Init one day at the moon-lay hap, the customary vyi. laure waw relaxed, and for a moment the trenunre w.4 life Wirguarded.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.