USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 21
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The old-time method of condneting sing- ing-selool was also somewhat different from that of modern times. It was more plodding and heavy, the attention being kept upon the simplest rudiments, as the names of the
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notes on the staff, and their pitch, and beat- ing time, while comparatively little attention was given to expression and light, gleetul music. The very earliest scale introduced in the West was from the South, and the notes, from their peculiar, shape, were denominated " patent " or " buckwheat " notes. They were four, of which the round one was called sol, the square one la, the triangular one fa, and the " diamond-shaped " one mi, pronounced me, and the diatonic scale, or " gamut " as it was called then, ran thus: fa, sol, la, fa, sol, lu, mi, fa. The part of a tune nowadays called "treble." or "soprano," was then called " tenor; " the part now called " tenor " was called " treble," and what is now " alto " was then " counter," and when sung according to the oldest rule, was sung by a female an octave higher than marked, and still on the " chest register." The "old " " Missonri Ilarmony " and Mason's " Sacred Harp " were the principal books used with this style of musical notation.
In 1850 the " round-note " system began to "come around," being introduced by the Yankee singing-master. The scale was do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do; and for many years thereafter there was much more do-re-mi-ing than is practiced at the present day, when a musical instrument is always under the hand. The "Carmina Sacra" was the pioneer round- note book, in which the tunes partook more of German or Puritan character, and was generally regarded by the old folks as being far more spiritless than the old " Pisgah," " Fiducia," "Tender Thought," " New Dur- ham," " Windsor," " Mount Zion, " Devo- tion," etc., of the old " Missouri Ilarmony " and tradition.
GUARDING AGAINST INDIANS.
The fashion of carrying fire-armns was made necessary by the presence of roving
bands of Indians, most of whom were osten- sibly friendly, but, like Indians in all times, treacherous and unreliable. An Indian war was at any time probable, and all the old settlers still retain vivid recollections of In- dian massacres, murders, plunder, and fright- ful rumors of intended raids. While target practice was much indulged in as an amuse- ment, it was also necessary at times to carry their guns with them to their daily field work.
As an illustration of the painstaking which characterized pioneer life, we quote the fol- lowing from Zebulon Collings, who lived about six miles from the scene of massacre in the Pigeon Roost settlement: "The manner in which I used to work in those perilous times was as follows: On all occa- sions I carried my rifle, tomahawk and buteher- knife, with a loaded pistol in my belt. When I went to plow I laid my gun on the plowed ground, and stuck up a stick by it for a mark, so that I could get it quick in case it was wanted. I had two good dogs; I took one into the house, leaving the other out. The one outside was expected to give the alarm, which would cause the one inside to bark, by which I would be awakened, having my arms always loaded. I kept my horse in a stable close to the house, having a port- hole so that I could shoot to the stable door. During two years I never went from home with any certainty of returning, not knowing the minute I might receive a ball from an unknown hand."
THE BRIGHT SIDE.
The history of pioneer life generally pre- sents the dark side of the picture; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No, for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation,
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and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them a good hearty langh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the " quilting-bee," " eorn-husking," "apple-par- ing," " log-rolling," and "house-raising." Our young readers will doubtless be inter- ested in a description of these forms of amusement, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoyment to all participating. The " quilting-bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy little inseet that "improves each shining honr" were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the after- noon ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, the hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt; and desire was always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. "Corn-huskings " were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn, which was arranged for the occasion; and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was served; then the "old folks" would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.
The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a holiday in which no man was expected to work. A load of produce might be taken to " town " for sale or traffie without violence to enstom, but no more serious labor eould be tolerated. When on Saturday afternoon the town was reached, "fun commenced." IIad two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Ilorses were " swapped," diffi- culties settled, and free fights indulged in. Blue and red ribbons were not worn in those days, and whisky was as free as water; 12} cents would buy a quart, and 35 or 40 eents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quan- tities were consumed. Go to any town in the county and ask the first pioneer you meet, and he would tell you of notable Satur- day afternoon fights, either of which to-day would fill a column of the Police News, with elaborate engravings to match.
Mr. Sanford C. Cox quaintly describes some of the happy features of frontier life in this manner:
We cleared land, rolled logs, burned brush, blazed out paths from one neighbor's cabin to another and from one settlement to an- other, made and used hand-mills and hominy mortars, hunted deer, turkey, otter and rac- coons, caught fish, dug ginseng, hunted bees and the like, and-lived on the fat of the land. We read of a land of "corn and wine," and another " flowing with milk and honey;" but I rather think, in a temporal point of view, taking into account the riel- ness of the soil, timber, stone, wild game and other advantages, that the Sugar Creek eoun- try would come up to any of them, if not surpass them.
I once cut eord-wood, eontinnes Mr. Cox, at 31{ eents per cord, and walked a mile and a half night and morning, where the first frame college was built northwest of town
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(Crawfordsville). Prof. Curry, the lawyer, would sometimes come down and help for an hour or two at a time, by way of amusement, as there was little or no law business in the town or country at that time. Reader, what would you think of going six to eight miles to help roll logs or raise a cabin ? or ten to thirteen miles to mill, and wait three or four days and nights for your grist ? as many had to do in the first settlement of this country. Such things were of frequent occurrence then, and there was but little grumbling about it. It was a grand sight to see the log heaps and brush piles burning in the night on a clearing of ten or fifteen acres. A Democratic torch-light procession, or a mid- night march of the Sons of Malta with their grand Gyasticutus in the center bearing the grand jewel of the order, would be nowhere in comparison with the log heaps and brush piles in a blaze.
But it may be asked, Had yon any social amusements, or manly pastimes, to recreate and enliven the dwellers in the wilderness ? We had. In the social line we had our meetings and our singing-schools, sugar boil- ings and weddings, which was as good as ever came off in any country, new or old; and if our youngsters did not " trip the light fantastic toe " under a professor of the Terpsichorean art or expert French dancing- master, they had many a good " hoe-down " on puncheon floors, and were not annoyed by bad whisky. And as for manly sports, re- quiring mettle and muscle, there were lots of wild hogs running in the cat-tail swamps on Lye Creek and Mill Creek, and among them many large boars that Ossian's heroes and Homer's model soldiers, such as Achilles, Hector and Ajax, would have delighted to give chase to. The boys and men of those days had quite as inuch sport, and made more money and health by their hunting ex-
cursions than our city gents now-a-days play- ing chess by telegraph where the players are more than seventy miles apart.
WHAT THE PIONEERS HAVE DONE.
Indiana is a grand State, in many respects second to none in the Union, and in almost everything that goes to make a live, prosper- ons community, not far behind the best. Be- neath her fertile soil is coal enough to supply the State for generations; her harvests are bountiful; she has a medium climate, and inany other things, that make her people contented, prosperous and happy; but she owes much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to her present condi- tion and happy surroundings. Unremitting toil and labor have driven off the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. Where but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and school-houses and church spires of civilized life. How great the transforma- tion ! This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspirations of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish ? There are few, very few, of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connecting links of the past with the present. What
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must their thoughts be as with dim eyes they view the seenes that surround them ? We often hear people talk about the old fogy ideas and fogy ways, and want of enterprise on the part of the old men who have gone through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, sueh remarks are just, bnt considering the experiences, education and entire life of such inen, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials, misfortunes, hardships and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western declivity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the sim- plieity of their ways ? Let us rather eheer them up, revere and respeet them, for be- neath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast. These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks npon hominy and, if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand- mills, or pounded up with mortars. Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no elothing except what was carded, spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands; sehools they had none; churches they had none; afflicted with siekness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at onee; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor-saving machinery of to-day they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exer- tions, yet they bore these hardships and pri- vations without murmuring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect of realization.
As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but three-seore years since the white man began to exereise dominion over this
region, first the home of the red men, yet the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the country, conld scareely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of 2,000,000 people, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far ad- vanced as are the inhabitants of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well- cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up, and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, eomfort and Inxury. There is but little left of the old landmarks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.
In elosing this seetion we again would impress upon the minds of our readers the faet that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who pioneered this State, which can be but partially repaid. Never grow unmindful of the peril and adventure, fortitude, self-sacrifice and heroie devotion so prominently displayed in their lives. As time sweeps on in its ceaseless flight, may the cherished memories of them lose none of their greenness, but may the future generations alike cherish and per- petnate them with a just devotion to grati- tude.
MILITARY DRILL.
In the days of muster and military drill, so well known throughout the country,a speeimen of pioneer work was done on the South Wea prairie, as follows, according to Mr. S. C. Cox:
The Captain was a stout-built, muscular man, who stood six feet four in his boots, and weighed over 200 pounds; when dressed in his uniform, a blue hunting-shirt fastened
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with a wide red sash, with epaulettes on each shoulder, his large sword fastened by his side, and tall plume waving in the wind, he looked like another William Wallace, or Roderick Dhu, unsheathing his elaymore in defense of his country. His company consisted of about seventy men, who had reluctantly turned out to muster to avoid paying a fine; some with guns, some with sticks, and others carrying eorn-stalks. The Captain, who had but recently been elected, understood his business better than his men supposed he did.
HIe intended to give them a thorough drilling, and show them that he understood the manenvers of the military art as well as he did farming and fox hunting, the latter of which was one of his favorite amusements. After forming a hollow square, marching and eountermarching, and putting them through several other evolutions, according to Scott's tacties, he commanded his men to " form a line." They partially complied, but the line was crooked. He took his sword and passed it along in front of his men, straightening the line. By the time he passed from one end of the line to the other, on casting his eye back, he discovered that the line presented a zig-zag and ummilitary appearance. Some of the men were leaning on their guns, some on their sticks a yard in advance of the line, and others as far in the rear. The Captain's dander arose; he threw his cocked hat, feather and all, on the ground, took off his red sash and hunting-shirt, and threw them, with his sword, upon his hat; he then rolled up his sleeves and shouted with the voice of a stentor, "Gentlemen, form a line and keep it, or I'll thrash the whole company." In- stantly the whole line was straight as an arrow. The Captain was satisfied, put on his elotlies again, and never had any more trouble in drilling his company.
JACK, ** THE PHILOSOPHER OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY."
In early days in this State, before books and newspapers were introduced, a few law- yers were at a certain place in the habit of playing cards, and sometimes drinking a little too mueh whisky. During the session of a certain court, a man named John Steven- son, but who was named " Jack," and who styled himself the " philosopher of the 19th century," found out where these genteel sportsmen inet of evenings to peruse the " history of the four kings." He went to the door and knocked for admission; to the question, " Who is there?" he answered, "Jaek." The insiders hesitated; he knocked and thumped importunately; at length a voiee from within said, "Go away, Jaek; we have already four ' Jaeks ' in our game, and we will not consent to have a 'cold one' wrung in on us."
Indignant at this rebuff from gentlemen from whom he had expected kinder treat- ment, he left, muttering vengeance, which exeited no aların in the minds of the players. At first he started away to walk off his passion, but the longer he walked the madder he got, and finally he coneluded that he would not " pass " while he held or might hold so many trumps in his hands, but he would return and play a strong hand with them. Accordingly he gathered his arms full of stones a little larger than David gath- ered to throw at Goliath, and when he eame near enough he threw a volley of them in through the window into the room where they were playing, extinguishing their lights, and routing the whole band with the utmost trepidation into the street, in search of their curious assailant. Jack stood his ground and told them that that was a mere foretaste of what they might expect if they molested him in the least.
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Next day the pugnaeious lack was arrested to answer an indictment for malicious mnis- chief; and failing to give bail, was lodged in jail. His prosecutors langhed through the grates of the prison as they passed. Mean- while Jack "nursed his wrath to keep it warm," and indieted a speech in his own de- fense. In due time he was taken before the court, the indictment was read, and he was asked what he pleaded to the indietment. " Not guilty," he answered in a deep, earnest tone. " Have you counsel engaged to defend you, Mr. Stevenson?" inquired the judge. " No; please your honor; I desire none; with your permission I will speak for myself. " Very well," said the judge. A titter ran through the crowd. After the proseenting attorney had gone through with the evidence and his opening remarks in the case, the prisoner arose and said, " It is a lamentable fact well known to the court and jury and to all who hear me, that our county seat has for many years been infested and disgraeed, es- pecially during court time, with a knot of drunken, earousing gamblers, whose Baceha- nalian revels and midnight orgies disturb the quiet and pollute the morals of our town. Shall these nuisances longer remain in our midst, to debanch society and lead our young men to destruction? Fully impressed with a sense of their turpitude, and my duty as a good eitizen to the community in which I live, I resolved to 'abate the nuisance,' which, ac- cording to the doctrine of the common law, with which your honor is familiar, I or any other citizen had a right to do. I have often listened with pleasure to the charges your honor gave the grand jury to ferret out crime and all manner of gaming in our community. I saw I had it in my power to ferret out these fellows with a volley of stones, and save the county the cost of finding and trying a half a dozen indictments. Judge, I did
· abate the nuisance,' and consider it one of the most meritorious acts of my life."
The prosecutor made no reply. The judge and lawyers looked at each other with a sig- nifieant glance. A nolle prosequi was en- tered, Jack was acquitted and was ever after- ward considered " trump."-Settlement of the Wabash Valley.
" TOO FULL FOR UTTERANCE."
The early years of Indiana afford to the enquirer a rare opportunity to obtain a glimpse of the political and even social rela- tion of the Indianians of the olden time to the moderns. As is enstomary in all new countries there was to be found, within the limits of the new State, a happy people, far removed from all those influences which tend to interfere with the publie morals; they pos- sessed the courage and the gait of freeborn inen, took an especial interest in the political questions affecting their State, and often, when met under the village shade trees to discuss sincerely, and unostentationsly, some matters of local importance, accompanied the subject before their little convention with song and jest, and even the cup which cheers but not inebriates. The election of militia officers for the Black Creek Regiment may be taken for example. The village school boys prowled at large, for on the day previous the teacher expressed his intention of attending the meeting of eleetors, and of aiding in building up a military company worthy of his own importance, and the reputation of the few villagers. The industrious matrons and maids-bless their souls-donned the habili- ments of fashion, and as they arrived at the meeting ground, ornamented the scene for which nature in its untouched simplicity did so much.
Now arrived the moment when the business should be entered on. With a good deal of
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urging the ancient Elward Tomkins took the chair, and with a pompous air, wherein was concentrated a consciousness of his own importance, demanded the gentlemen entrust- ed with resolutions to open the proceedings. By this time a respected elector brought for- ward a jar and an uncommonly large tin cup. These articles proved objects of very serions attention, and when the chairman re- peated his demand, the same humane elector tilled the cup to the brim, passed it to the ven- erable president and bade him drink deep to the prosperity of Indiana, of Black Creek, and of the regiment about to be formed. The secretary was treated similarly, and then a drink all around the thirty electors and their friends. This ceremony completed, the mil- itary subject melted into nothingness before the great question, then agitating the people, viz, "Should the State of Indiana accept the grant of land donated by Congress for the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, from Lake Erie to the mouth of the Tippe- canoe River?" A son of Esenlapins, one Dr. Stone, protested so vehemently against enter- taining even an idea of accepting the grant, that the parties favorable to the question felt themselves to be treading on tottering grounds. Stone's logic was to the point, uncon- querable; but his enemies did not surrender hope; they looked at one another, then at the young school-teacher, whom they ultimately selected as their orator and defender. The meeting adjourned for an hour, after which the youthful teacher of the young ideas as- cended the rostrum. Ilis own story of his emotions and efforts may be acceptable. He says:
" I was sorry they called upon me, for I felt about ' half seas over' from the free and frequent use of the tin cup. I was puzzled to know what to do. To deeline would injure me in the estimation of the neigbor-
hood, who were strongly in favor of the grant; and, on the other hand, if I attempted to speak, and failed from intoxication, it would ruin me with my patrons. Soon a fence-rail was slipped into the worn fence near by, and a wash-tub, turned bottom upward, placed upon it and on the neighboring rails, about five feet from the ground, as a rostrum for me to speak from. Two or three men seized hold of me and placed mne upon the stand, amidst the vociferons shouts of the friends of the canal, which were none the less loud on account of the frequent eirenlation of the tin and jug. I conld scarcely preserve my equi- librium, but there I was on the tub for the purpose of answering and exposing thedoctor's sophistries, and an anxious anditory waiting for me to exterminate him. But strange to say, my lips refused utterance. I saw 'en as trees, walking,' and after a long, and to me, painful panse, I smote my hand upon my breast, and said, 'I feel to full for utter- ance.' (I meant of whisky, they thought of righteous indignation at the doctor's effront- ery in opposing the measure under consider- ation). The ruse worked like a charm. The crowd shouted: . Let him have it.' I raised my finger and pointed a moment steadily at the doctor. The audience shouted, 'Hit him again.' Thus encouraged, I attempted the first speech I ever attempted to make; and after I got my mouth to go off (and a part of the whisky-in perspiration) I had no trouble whatever, and the liquor dispelled my native timidity, that otherwise might have embar- rassed me. I occupied the tub about twenty- five minutes. The doctor, boiling over with indignation and speech, mounted the tub and harangued us for thirty minutes. The ‘young school-master' was again called for, and another speech from him of abont twenty minutes elosed the debate. A vice voce vote of the company was taken, which resulted in twenty -
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